2009 has been a mixed year and it is a year of change for me. I've finally adapted to my new job although I'm still quite tired when I come back from work everyday. I think it must be the age. As predicted last year, my new flat is ready and I've begun my renovation work. I've even changed guitar sections in the alumni group. :)
For 2010, I guess it'll still be pretty much a year of transition and finishing what I've started in 2009. I'm still learning quite a bit in my new job and somehow, I start to find that exciting. Oh well. I must be a bit crazy up there to say that. I will have new projects on-hand which I will take from initiation to post-support. Hopefully I won't burn out trying to manage them and my new phase in life.
Yup! I'm finally tying the knot this year and this year will mark that transition. However, I believe that both of us are more excited over the new flat than the wedding. Some parts of the wedding process can be fun (e.g. photo-taking) but some I personally feel is just a chore. Oh well... Renovation is going smoothly till now and hopefully I've made the right choice in selecting my contractor. So far so good. However, I do believe that this coming Chinese New Year, I'll have a logistic problem because of my complicated status (legal vs tradition). I'll also have to balance my new status with my commitments to my other group of friends whom I meet every week. Hmm...
Last but not least, my guitar. LS seems to have grand plans for us to conquer the world... Oops, I mean umm, upgrade our guitar skills to a higher level. I still feel my sigh reading sucks but after switching to another section, I find that it has been more manageable for me. :D It's still quite difficult for me to find time to practice because I still fall asleep the moment I touch the bed. The problem is that for this year, I don't really see how I can find more time considering the transitions that I'm doing. I shudder to think of LS's plans for us (which he did shared briefly). :D
I guess I'll have to concentrate one thing at a time... I've always been good in time management. Please don't fail me now.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Do not Worry. Think instead.
Topic(s):
Self Improvement
I quote from Harold B. Walker:
When you worry, you go over the same ground endlessly and come out the same place you started. Thinking, on the other hand, makes progress from one place to another. ... The problem of life is to change worry into thinking, and anxiety into creative action.
The key distinction between worrying and thinking is something that this quote describes beautifully. Worry does not get you anywhere, but thinking may.
Think about the solutions to the problems you're facing and not worry about it as there will be no outcome after all the worrying.
When you worry, you go over the same ground endlessly and come out the same place you started. Thinking, on the other hand, makes progress from one place to another. ... The problem of life is to change worry into thinking, and anxiety into creative action.
The key distinction between worrying and thinking is something that this quote describes beautifully. Worry does not get you anywhere, but thinking may.
Think about the solutions to the problems you're facing and not worry about it as there will be no outcome after all the worrying.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Off-Peak Car (OPC) Scheme Changes to start from 25 Jan
Topic(s):
Singapore Ramblings
Seems like the government has finally put a date to the changes to the OPC scheme. From 25 Jan onwards, all the changes to the OPC scheme that were announced last year will be in effect. For more details, refer to my previous blog post here.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Why do you need Laylio? FStream can do the job
Topic(s):
iPhone Tips
Updated 13 Jan 2010: Added 93.8FM link
Updated 15 Jan 2010: Added 95.8FM link
Updated 6 May 2010: Added 89.7FM, 90.5FM, 92.4FM, 94.2FM, 96.3FM, 96.8FM, 97.2FM link
Updated 7 May 2010: Updated the rest of the links
I saw a new app called Laylio in the iPhone AppStore today. Previously I was already using FStream to listen to the radio but of course the curious side of me wanted to try the application.
Unfortunately, it's quite disappointing. The App says that you might not be able to listen to the radio stream due to network congestion but that is absolutely not true. Why do I say that? I tried the very same station using FStream and I have absolutely no problems streaming the radio.
To find out the URL of the online radio is actually quite simple, for a techie that is. It involves going into the webpage and looking at the source codes. Anyway, the following is the list of the current online Singapore radio stations that I have:
To add this in FStream, do the following:
That's it. Upon playing, it will automatically detect the radio stream type and bits per second.
You will not get the streaming problem you encountered for Laylio (as of the date of this blog post). Hope this is useful.
Updated 15 Jan 2010: Added 95.8FM link
Updated 6 May 2010: Added 89.7FM, 90.5FM, 92.4FM, 94.2FM, 96.3FM, 96.8FM, 97.2FM link
Updated 7 May 2010: Updated the rest of the links
I saw a new app called Laylio in the iPhone AppStore today. Previously I was already using FStream to listen to the radio but of course the curious side of me wanted to try the application.
Unfortunately, it's quite disappointing. The App says that you might not be able to listen to the radio stream due to network congestion but that is absolutely not true. Why do I say that? I tried the very same station using FStream and I have absolutely no problems streaming the radio.
To find out the URL of the online radio is actually quite simple, for a techie that is. It involves going into the webpage and looking at the source codes. Anyway, the following is the list of the current online Singapore radio stations that I have:
- 89.7FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/ria897/fm897.asx
- 90.5FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/gold905/fm905.asx
- 92.4FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/sym924/fm924.asx
- 93.3FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/yes933/fm933.asx
- 93.8FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/938live/fm938TO.asx
- 94.2FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/warna942/fm942.asx
- 95.0FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/class95/fm950.asx
- 95.8FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/capital/fm958TO.asx
- 96.3FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/xfm963/fm963.asx
- 96.8FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/oli968/fm968.asx
- 97.2FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/love972/fm972.asx
- 98.7FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/987fm/fm987.asx
- 99.5FM: http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/radioliveplayer/asx/lush/fm995.asx
To add this in FStream, do the following:
- Use the iPhone's Mobile Safari, access this blog post and copy one of the above radio station links by tapping and holding on to the link URL.
- Tap on FStream
- Tap on Favourites
- Tap on Edit
- Tap on Add new webradio
- Key in the name of the radio station in the Name box
- Paste (Tap and hold until the magnifying glass appears) the above URL link to the URL box
- Tap on Save
- Tap on Done
- Tap on Play
- Tap on the radio station that you have just added.
That's it. Upon playing, it will automatically detect the radio stream type and bits per second.
You will not get the streaming problem you encountered for Laylio (as of the date of this blog post). Hope this is useful.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Google Nexus One is available to Singapore
Topic(s):
Technology Ramblings
Google newest phone built by HTC, Nexus One, is just launched. I do not want to repeat the specs of the phone. You can see (and purchase) the phone at Google's website here. It costs USD 529, excluding shipping. The cost is quite high because it is not tied to any telco.
I've not used the Nexus One or any Android phones before so I cannot comment on it's functionality. Everyone is obviously comparing the iPhone with the Nexus One. I personally believe both have their fans and both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Usually I will take note of 1 particular section of a phone's specifications. Below is that section comparing the Nexus One and iPhone 3GS.
Note that this is just what I'm interested in. Different people have different views. I personally don't care how many megapixel (MP) the camera has because I know for the fact that the MP of the camera does not translate to a better picture. I take much better pictures with my iPhone's 3MP camera than a SE W595 5MP camera.
I've not used the Nexus One or any Android phones before so I cannot comment on it's functionality. Everyone is obviously comparing the iPhone with the Nexus One. I personally believe both have their fans and both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Usually I will take note of 1 particular section of a phone's specifications. Below is that section comparing the Nexus One and iPhone 3GS.
| Nexus One | iPhone 3GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Height x Width x Depth (mm) | 119 x 59.8 x 11.5 | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 |
| Weight (g) | 130 | 135 |
| Talk time | Up to 10 hours on 2G Up to 7 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G Up to 5 hours on 3G |
| Internet use | Up to 5 hours on 3G Up to 6.5 hours on Wi-Fi | Up to 5 hours on 3G Up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi |
| Video playback | Up to 7 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Audio playback | Up to 20 hours | Up to 30 hours |
Note that this is just what I'm interested in. Different people have different views. I personally don't care how many megapixel (MP) the camera has because I know for the fact that the MP of the camera does not translate to a better picture. I take much better pictures with my iPhone's 3MP camera than a SE W595 5MP camera.
Multicore Netbooks or smartphones?? Fix the power consumption first!
Topic(s):
Technology Ramblings
I read with amusement on news regarding equipping netbooks and smartphones with multicore processors. To me, it doesn't make sense to create a multicore processor for netbooks and smartphones if their battery life can only last a few hours.
Personally, I believe the fundamental problem with netbooks and smartphones are:
That means that makers of netbooks and smartphones should concentrate on making their devices smaller and more power efficient. Ditch the multicore processor idea until you can resolve this problem. The sizes are getting smaller but I do not believe there's much improvement regarding the battery life.
The ideal battery life for me would be at least 5 days of battery life with normal usage. No, I do not mean standby time. I mean using applications / Wifi / 3G continuously for 5 days. I never did care about the phone's standby time. To me, that's a totally useless statistic for me.
And don't blame the battery "department" on the power woes. They are not the only ones at fault. Resolve the battery life problem, then talk about multicore processors.
Personally, I believe the fundamental problem with netbooks and smartphones are:
- their size; and
- battery life.
That means that makers of netbooks and smartphones should concentrate on making their devices smaller and more power efficient. Ditch the multicore processor idea until you can resolve this problem. The sizes are getting smaller but I do not believe there's much improvement regarding the battery life.
The ideal battery life for me would be at least 5 days of battery life with normal usage. No, I do not mean standby time. I mean using applications / Wifi / 3G continuously for 5 days. I never did care about the phone's standby time. To me, that's a totally useless statistic for me.
And don't blame the battery "department" on the power woes. They are not the only ones at fault. Resolve the battery life problem, then talk about multicore processors.
Monday, January 4, 2010
U-Save Rebates for 2010
Topic(s):
Singapore Ramblings
Some changes were made to the U-Save rebates scheme for 2010. Starting from December last year, it seems that the government is finally trying to make the line clearer between Singapore citizens and non-citizens. They seem to be making incremental changes to their policies as they go along. Elections coming soon?
HDB flats which are fully sublet to non-citizens will no longer be eligible for U-Save rebates. This is similar to HDB flats which are owned by non-citizens, which are currently already not eligible for the rebates. U-Save rebates will continue to be disbursed to Singaporean-owned HDB flats which are owner-occupied or which are sublet to at least one citizen tenant.
The rebates which are used to offset utility charges directly are as follows:
HDB flats which are fully sublet to non-citizens will no longer be eligible for U-Save rebates. This is similar to HDB flats which are owned by non-citizens, which are currently already not eligible for the rebates. U-Save rebates will continue to be disbursed to Singaporean-owned HDB flats which are owner-occupied or which are sublet to at least one citizen tenant.
The rebates which are used to offset utility charges directly are as follows:
| 1-Room | $100 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Room | $100 | |
| 3-Room | $90 | $70 |
| 4-Room | $85 | $65 |
| 5-Room | $50 | $40 |
| Executive | $30 | $25 |
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
11 March 2010, Nodame Cantabile: The Final Movement I
Topic(s):
Thoughts
A 2-part finale of Nodame Cantabile, The Final Movement is to be released in Singapore in 2010! The first part is due to be released on March 11 2010! I believe the finale is to be centred in Paris. The first part is already showing in Japan now!
I've been chasing Nodame Cantabile drama since I was introduced to it by my other half. One thing I like about the drama is that the actors and actresses really trained themselves to be at least proficient in the instrument (or conducting) before they started filming. The playing is much more realistic than Beethoven Virus which I did not quite like.
Can't wait for this to hit Singapore. March 11... So long. :( Found a trailer of the final movement part 1 below. You can also refer to the Nodame Movie Offical Site here.
I've been chasing Nodame Cantabile drama since I was introduced to it by my other half. One thing I like about the drama is that the actors and actresses really trained themselves to be at least proficient in the instrument (or conducting) before they started filming. The playing is much more realistic than Beethoven Virus which I did not quite like.
Can't wait for this to hit Singapore. March 11... So long. :( Found a trailer of the final movement part 1 below. You can also refer to the Nodame Movie Offical Site here.
Do not lose sight of your end goal
Topic(s):
Self Improvement
I quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt:
One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment... if it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along.
Making a decision is better than making no decisions at all. Things will continue to move along and the only way for the situation to move on is to make a decision. If the decision is not correct, don't be afraid of making changes along the way. The key is to fixate yourself to your end goal. Decisions are just by-products to achieve your goal.
Do not lose sight of your end goal.
One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment... if it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along.
Making a decision is better than making no decisions at all. Things will continue to move along and the only way for the situation to move on is to make a decision. If the decision is not correct, don't be afraid of making changes along the way. The key is to fixate yourself to your end goal. Decisions are just by-products to achieve your goal.
Do not lose sight of your end goal.
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