Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Rush of Blood.

So I was indeed worried. Hardly spoke, hardly looked, hardly anything. I hardly could mention her name. It hurts. It kinda hurts. So I’mma put that aside. Maybe fill the times I wished you were here with something else.

Maybe buy a house and start a fire.
Maybe buy a gun and start a war.
Only when you give me a reason to start a war.

Well, blame it on a rush of blood to the head.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Making Teachers Great Pt1

Previously as a part series of How To Make Teachers Great (Link)

At this point of time, my programming teacher simply lost me already. It only seems ever true that programming is a down to earth discipline of sit-still.

And it seems ever more that they are selling this product instead, jamming us with product specs. I mean, it you are teaching us, you’re teaching. Not selling. Let the salesman do that. What to teach? A good rule of thumb; teach the things that a salesman don’t discuss.

Talk about the rival’s better products, or how your investment in this product is a waste as technology is approaching at a pinnacle standpoint with nanotechnology. Yeah, those kind of stuff.

Okay okay, I’m way to harsh here. Let’s give them a benefit of a doubt. Maybe they want to implement experiential learning. So they take one product and showcase the specs then link to the general theories. It’s no doubt a good direction but COME ON, HALF OF THE CLASS IS SURFING FACEBOOK. And don’t you feel a bit creepy when a class is this silent. Or this class don’t even look at the projector screen? Is it even called experiential learning when you don’t even learn the experience?

Manners aside, I think a responsible student also requires a responsible teacher. And these responsibilities morph and change and fluctuate accordingly. I’m not saying that our teachers today are irresponsible. I think MOE has done a pretty fab job of generating passionate teachers who go extra miles. (And of course those that go way extra in the recent cases of unnecessary assistance from teacher to student… sigh) But seriously, the teachers I have would gladly have extra lessons if I don’t understand. No forgetting the countless hours of bickering of particular topics knowing fully that I was sleeping in his classes. In fact, I think teachers are strong to meet demands of pesky students like me.

But the class don’t make up of only pesky students.
All in all, like many other occupations, our world changes every time and the responsibilities also changes. As the time ages, these responsibilities gets bigger. Not to worry, our teachers are strong. But are they strong for the right areas and reasons?

Seriously, I think in this emerging age, schools and classes are overrated.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Sic Itur Ad Astra

Ahh, this is nice. It only happens once a year and definitely it is much craved for. It is the New Year.

2010 has been fun. Did so much things with little time. And it seems only natural to wait with bated breath the days to come. I don’t know with us all, it seems really nice to see an end. Or rather the light at the end being much larger than ever.

But, the end is where we begin. As the days loom by, sic itur ad astra. It’s the only way.

Sometimes, it’s good to aim down the sights before you pull that trigger. You gotta at least know what you are hitting! Like so many others, let me reveal my resolutions (no, not in camera pixels) for 2011. Following demand and feedback for my nature of my blog, let’s face it, it’s a blog. A newsfeed of me and possibly the most egoistic place and most loudest self-blown trumpet ever. DEAL WITH IT.

What makes a man? A manly man.

Is it the Swiss Army knife he brings? Definitely, every man hopes to be the Swiss Army knife of many. Being the everything or at least the best of something. Never get caught at any situation off guard. Need a quick snip for that pendulous thread from your jacket? This pocketable multi-tool of awesomenss sports almost every tool you ever need. NEED, is a word I stress. You DON’T need a chainsaw. A must have. (Credit: Victorinox Handyman)

And for those days that water canteen is not enough, or the days after long meetings with that Son of a Gun, or just something to go down with your boring lunch, you will have the hip flask to thank. Put in your… err… drink and your days seem to be smoother. The slim profile slips into your pocket unnoticed. Because the last thing you want is your boss finding a reason to send you to rehab. The best thing about this is the meaning that is locked with an engraving. A memory that will live. For soldiers, it’s the words of their longed loved ones as they serve away. For that Joe, it’s the long day he survived and the next he will go through. Maybe for me, it’s the ruthless passion. (Credit: Wikipedia; Hip Flasks)

And to ensure that you don’t file Chapter 11 (WIKI HERE!!!)anytime soon, you seriously gotta have a wallet. Do away with coins and all but if I see a man digging his pockets for a crumpled, squashed note, I can only shake my head in dismay. It says much about you, having little concern about tidiness. Simply put, a wallet is where all your plastic goes. Save some notes there but not too much till your cover is blown. Much like the hip flask, the wallet should ‘get in, get out’. Any unneeded attraction, it will be a thief’s income or a purse. ‘Nuff said. But come on, please respect it. It what defines a man. NOT just the wealth but also the statement. It’s the statement! I will really look into a Victorinox Bi-Fold. You can invest in a Luis Vuitton or a Montblac, just make sure that you don’t look like a pirate when you take out your cash. (Credit: Victorinox Berlin)

Yup, those 3 things should make you a Man. Swiss Army knife states that you are on-ready, everywhere anywhere. A hip flask has an accent of maturity. The wallet demands respect.

Though the definitions of a man varies from one to another. What doesn’t is the need of a definition. Those days, a moustache signals wealth. Nowadays, it just reminds me of grandpa. Today, a contemporary modern male is hardly dominant. I see the need for people to be flexible and good in many shapes and size. Though this world seems demanding, it only serves to be rewarding.

Because the only way is up. To the stars.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Fucked Up

Fucked up attitude.

Suddenly, everything I did felt so fucking worthless. Such a fucked up attitude of mine which constantly forgets my own progress and trade in my joy for something I can’t use. Seriously, there is no use trying when everything is just plain useless. It’s just the same when everything turn to white ash.

No point in everything to do anything.

Today sucks. Yesterday sucks. Everyday sucks. I got nothing done. And deadlines mount up ever higher.

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Nerd-ness of Electricity

I just nerd-ed out for the past half hour to a set of websites that cover about every engineering measuring instruments by FLUKE. And then I downloaded a set of references about True-RMS, Clamp Meters and their usages. WHOAAAA.

Don’t like that lar. I’m in the market for a current clamp actually. A month back, I had to fix the plugs of a water heater. It was in a devastating shape. The heater produced a high current which kinda melted the socket and plug together. My brother and I figured that since it was a home heater, it wouldn’t have these kind of effects. Okay, time for ELECTRICITY 101!

In household electricity, there are 3 things you should know about. VOLTAGE, CURRENT, RESISTANCE. And of these 3, they have a mathematical relationship as such; V = I*R. I’ll be as brief as ever here. Voltage is always 240V in households. Resistance is dependent on Before I nerd out again, of all these 3, CURRENT is the most dangerous.

High current CAN kill you. High current occurs when the RESISTANCE is low and VOLTAGE is high. Since voltage is constant in a household, resistance makes a difference. HIGH current makes high heat that can melt stuff.

Normally, most household appliances can tolerate up to a current of 13 Amps. Special appliances like washing machines, air con units, electrical kettles and water heaters produce up to 15 Amps. And Plugs and sockets usually tolerate till 14 Amps. Thus, my water heater made such high current that it melted the plug!

A little maths and I found out that my heater was producing more than 13 Amps that we originally thought. Uhoh. But maths is not enough. You will really need to measure the current. So here’s where the current clamp comes in.

I really wanted to buy one when I actually found out when one actually costs $200 minimum! WHAT THE. Electrical engineering, expensive business.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Emotions and Heart

Oddity fills the room when a sense of de javu comes to life. You start to question yourself, and then you will realize that at the end of it all, this was what you wanted in the end. But, it is hidden for now.

EMOTIONS are channels for one to express oneself. They range from a mean faced bully to a wide smile of a beautiful soul. They bring out a message to be broadcast to the world. FEELINGS which stem from the HEART run much deeper. They make emotions superficial.

It’s like when you feel sad, you express a frown as an emotion. Emotions are contagious, generally. And it is usually associated with the drive of a person’s passion. But rather, it’s not entirely true. When you are driven, it’s not the emotion that sets the pace. It’s the feeling. It is THAT feeling that grabs you from within as you shout out with emotion.

Feelings bring out emotions. Never has it been the other way around. Many documents have bring out artificial feelings by brewing emotions onto one. Effective at only a short period of time.

To be emotionless is nothing as compared to be heartless. Like throwing your phone out for a day and be contact-less. You will not die. However, a heartless one will reduce the self to a state of either awe or rabid disgust. Some state that it draws similarity to something inhuman. Some just say, it is something no one would want. Or is it really?

Is it really worth to be heartless?

To be heartless differs you from humanity. And isn’t that what you wanted in the first place?
Odd.