Yay.

IACM Cert

Progress!

I finally made some progress towards completing my procrastinator’s list.

Let’s see, first I decided to learn Japanese, and actually started memorizing the hiragana version of the language. I wasn’t planning to do so much in a day, but I was spurred on by Tabby and Erwin to learn about half of the hiragana characters. Having a sensei and a fellow student around helps make it fun! I just hope I don’t forget too much of it by the next session.

I also managed to learn a bit about photoshop! They actually quite a few tutorials online, so I think I’ll just try working through them and see if I find any of the effects useful. Someone needs to think of a graphic project for me to do man.

For some miraculous reason, I also managed to work on my “thwart list” today! I managed to find out how to play in an international lStarcraft league and went on to try 2 games. Lost terribly. I really gotta learn to play better. also managed to arrange KTV for tmr, write this post, and think i’m gonna be on Rappelz for a while after this. I need to make an Easter cake!

I am so suprised at my productivity today. Hope it lasts. And hope I manage to make time to actually exercise.

The procrastinator’s list

You know we always have a list of things we REALLY feel like doing whenever the holidays come around, then feel bad about not accomplishing anything by the time holidays end?

Well, here’s my list of things to feel bad about by the time I enter grad school:

1.) Start learning Japanese or French.

2.) Learn Photoshop.

3.) Read some of those books i bought in NYC 2 years ago.

4.) Exercise. (I suck at this!)

For good measure, I’ll also list down the things that are likely to thwart my attempts to be productive and useful:

1.) Rappelz

2.) Starcraft

3.) A multitude of other computer  and video games that will have no bearing on my life and advance me towards geekdom.

4.) KTV!!

5.) Whining on this blog.

Sucks. Now I’m feeling bad even BEFORE the holidays end.

It has been an Epic Journey

…and I am DONE with my thesis.

Technically, I’m not yet done with school, but it is just one more presentation next tuesday, as well as a final test next Friday. School is more of a part time leisure activity now than full time procrastination.

It also means that I can start typing crap on this blog again. After yet another LONG absence.

Most important update: I’m going to Maryland for my PhD!! And to answer the inevitable question: “Where the * is Maryland?”, it’s a 20min mrt ride from Washington D.C., a 6 hour bus ride from NYC and all the way across the world from Singapore.

Hopefully, I get to catch up with all my friends before I leave. That’s gonna be like a major project during the hols, other than getting ready for a lifetime of university life.

Catch you again!

Of geniuses and I

Either my USP prof thinks I’m some super genius, or he keeps mistaking him for someone else.

Lesson 1

(While takling about a project involving programming)

Prof: ….So, Tai Tong, everyone is going to be looking up to you in the project group, since you’re in Computer Science and know how to do the programming.

Me: Er……I’m in Business?

Prof: …..Oh……..

Lesson 2

Prof: How many bits are there in a byte? The computer science student is not allowed to answer.

(1 second of silence)

Prof (Pointing to me): YOU are also not allowed to answer.

Me: (er………..ok.)

Lesson 3

(Nothing happened. Whew!)

Lesson 4

(Asking the class who knows what programming languages)

Prof :…..Tai Tong, you definitely know a lot of programming right?

Me: Erm. I’m a business student.

Liew. I hope my groupmates aren’t expecting too much from me. I think not. All of them seem rather amused during these situations.

New Books!

Thanks to Justin being on the Borders mailing list, I found out about the 40% discount at Borders if you buy 4 books or more. Really glad I went and picked out a few great books:

The Future of Management by Gary Hamel
The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

I think I understand why girls love to shop at sales. It just feels so good to compare what you would have paid ($140) against what you actually paid ($85). Rox.

Now I only hope I have the time to read them during the sem.

Daily Good: A story about a girl’s first homerun

The content below is taken from the website DailyGood. It features true stories about inspiring people in daily life, and there are some really great ones one the site.

In a small town in the middle of Washington State, in a field inside a chain linked fence, in a game fewer than a 100 people saw, a home run was hit — not memorable for the distance it traveled or the game it decided, but for the meaning it carried. Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her career. Central Washington senior Mallory Holtman was already her school’s career leader in them. But when a twist of fate and a torn knee ligament brought them face to face with each other and face to face with the end of their playing days, they combined on a home run trot that celebrated the collective human spirit far more than individual athletic achievement. ESPN reports on an unforgettable expression of sportmanship.

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture

Hilarious!

The lyrics are in the information box at the side of the video. Some teenager should track how many his/her mom says in a day.

Done with Applications!

I’m finally done! Wow. I never realized how tiring the process of applying for schools can get. The essays were really frustrating, since I had to customize stuff for each school and answer the different essay questions that they posed.

One good thing that came out from the process is that I feel much more certain and confident about doing a PhD now. I guess its a self-affirming process too. Maybe I’ll reproduce some of the stuff I wrote on my apps, as well as the material that I threw out. Maybe.

Now I just have to cross my fingers and wait. Oh yes. And go to school. 2 more mods and a thesis waiting for me before I graduate. Onward!

George Bush and the Shoe

Hey I know I’m way late, but I’m still putting the video up here anyway. Basically, George Bush was under attack while he was in Baghdad – by shoes. Excellent reflexes for his age. That was some really childish action. See below.