Binary Binching

Since I'll be graduating next year (hopefully), this holiday will probably be the last time I'll ever get a 3 month chunk of needed rest. The burning question is, should I relax or should I find some work to do?

Let's look at the latter option. For the past holidays, I spent most of my free time working. One of the key factors that spurred me to look for a part-time job is money (or the lack of money). Furthermore, work also kept me sane. I'm someone who is constantly on my feet. Slacking around will make me go crazy and I'll feel lethargic all day long.

But somehow I do feel that I need the rest. During the grueling semester, I've always thought of sitting somewhere (on my sofa, by the beach, etc), enjoying the company of a book or having a ball of a time with friends and loved ones. I miss the smell of the sea, the cooling sea-breeze and the feeling that I've got no school/work commitments to fulfill tomorrow! Hence, this brings me to the earlier option.

When you look at what I've done for the past half-a-year, I think most will conclude that I need time to relax. Maybe spend a couple of weeks backpacking (which I totally want to do) or just relax at somewhere away from the city. Continuing my streak of holiday-less years, I fear that I'll be burnt-out pretty soon. And I hate that feeling of being burnt-out. I had it once last year and I nearly spent my whole few weeks before the exams doing anything but study. My grades reflected on how much I break I needed to take. Sadly, I didn't take much of a break after that semester before I started working as a part-time technician.

But one thing that is keeping me from taking a long break is the lack of money and the need to "do something" (paradox?).

I've given much thought on this burning question. I've decided that I could not go without work but I should take some time to relax. But how?

Well, I'll leave the whole of May for relaxation and recreation time while I finish my reservist cycle (reservist can be considered as rest and relax, lol). By the end of May, I'll spend my time to slowly look for some part-time job that will last me through June and probably till mid-July. In the meantime, I have several things that I need to do (other than the highest priority of spending time with Mer of course!).

1) Start exercising and get out of this downward spiral of eating disorder.
2) Start blogging again. (I sort of find it difficult to start writing articles again)
3) Do some reading of specific tech. topics which I like
4) Learn Chinese
5) Learn Python.

Woot! I need a time-table. =x

What a hectic and torturous semester! I spent the last few weeks sleeping less than 4 hours a night, trying to finish all the projects and at the same time, try to study for my exams.

Finally, semester has officially ended!

The most hurtful thing comes in words. It pierces through your heart and leave a bruise that will probably never heal.

I haven't been updating much lately. I've been busy programing my Intel chip to make it work with any other things. A few months back, there were talks that there is a possibility that the U.S is going into recession. Just recently, headlines were spawning all around saying that there is a consensus that the U.S will go into recession. Sadly, recession has already hit the U.S and we'll probably feel the impact really soon (in half-a-years time max?). And I'd probably graduate in the midst of the recession period.

So during a recession, people will tend to spend less and when people spend less, companies/firms tend to produce lesser to meet the demands. Hence, there is lesser need for a large workforce which they had during "good times" and I'd expect less recruitment ads or jobs available. Now what?

It means that I'd probably be jobless when I graduate and it'll be difficult for me to find a good-paying job as I have to compete for that smaller job pool with a greater supply of workforce (counting those who got retrenched). So where does a fresh graduate with no or little experience stand in the pool of labour consisting of more experienced labour?

My only bet is for the U.S to bounce out of recession real soon but hopes fading away as economists believe that the U.S will get out of the recession earliest by 2010.

Well I guess I have to be mentally prepared that my pay will not be as good as what engineers are getting now when I look for jobs next year. And I have to be mentally prepared for changes in the economy as what is "hot" today in my engineering line might just be lukewarm tomorrow.

Well, I could join the civil service and be a civil servant. But that's the last place I'll go to (last resort when desperation sets in) given the character that I posses.

The near-future looks quite grey and fuzzy. It certainly looks very gloomy. However, a good news is that economists believe that the recession will not be as bad as what we felt back in the late nineties. Heads-up no matter what happens.

The manhunt is on! Season 4 prison break is said to debut earlier than expected. And it is said to be directed and casted in SINGAPORE! Although the story line is still pretty hazy at the moment, it is believed that unlike previous breakouts, the mastermind behind this breakout is not Michael Schofield.

Meet the new brains of Prison Break 4 -- Mas Selamat.

Picture: hardwarezone.com.sg

I spent the whole of today at the electronics lab, writing C codes to make my stepper motor function as it should. That was after staying up late till 3a.m. the whole night yesterday debugging the damn system. My hard work finally paid off. My stepper motor finally hummed and spun with an annoying rat-tat-tat sound after applying a separate 12V DC current to the circuit.

Nonetheless, it was a tiring day followed by an hour-and-a-half science tuition for my neighbour (he has science paper tomorrow). And to think that I would have ended my day already, I flipped through my calender and realised that I have a report due this Friday. Darn. Another sleepless night for me.

Well, at least I'm sort of enjoying the stuffs I'm doing this semester (maybe not so much of econs.. urghh.. not econs definitely) and hence, I feel less tired and more motivated. haha..

I'm nearly drained. Gonna get a shot of coffee before I jump start my tired engine.

Let's have a photo-shoot outing this weekend? Let's go Johor during your 1-week term break!

Ahhh.. I've been asked several times but had to turn down due to my work commitments. Who ever said that University life was relaxing (I knew my JC tutors once said that) must be kidding or probably lying.

So what do I do during the weekends?

1. Finish up the tutorials needed for next week.
2. Do some research on my 3000 word essay.
3. Finish up my Operating systems programming lab
4. .....
5. .....

And it's not that I've been slacking the whole week prior to the weekends. I can't even remember the last time that I managed to get 6 hours of quality sleep. This semester is especially crazy. The pace, the workload and the expectations.

So what about the term break?

I wasn't spared for the term break either.

1. Project 1st presentation due (Futuristic Airport).
2. Project hardware report due (Talking cash register) which consists of circuit schematics, component placement on the PCB board and specification list.
3. 800 words reflection paper due.
4. Econs mid-term test.
5. Operating systems mid term test.
6. Human resource project (not due but have to start working on it).
7. Operating systems project on Emulators (also not due but have to start working on it).

Great. I think I had probably missed somemore here and there. Another term break exhausted by school work. To think of it, I should have been used to this workload after 3 years in NUS. But somehow, I feel out of place this term. I'm kinda envying those who've left NUS for overseas exchange or internship! It seems like everyone is missing this semester due to the many overseas exchange programs that NUS have. I wanna go enjoy myself overseas too! BOOOO!

Well, I shall stop complaining and get back to debugging the damn PIC. I can't seem to make this stepper motor work since God knows when! GAH!

I read this on STOMP and I got quite disgusted by the idea of pee spread on the MRT floor. I guess we Singaporeans aren't still accustomed to the presence of foreigners here in Singapore.

We may look at the incident as an uncivilized thing to do. In our perception, I would say yes! However, in the view from that woman, she might find it perfectly normal to let her son pee in public (especially when there's no toilet around, or at least she might not be aware of the toilets available at every station). That could be the culture back from where she's from. And she might not be aware of the societal norms in place here.

I guess this comes to a culture shock amongst us but I'm not saying that we shouldn't feel disgusted or angered. I still believe in the saying, "When in Rome, do what the Romans do." I just hope that something could be done to prevent this in the future. jeez..

This is definitely old news but nonetheless, news worthy. As the Youth Olympics is going to be held in about 2 years time, construction uf the Uni Town has to be completed by then. And if you haven't noticed, that place is pretty clean right now (i.e no construction yet). However, since PM Lee assured the Olympics committee that the Uni Town will be completed by 2010, I doubt there'll be any delays.

The idea of a Uni Town is really exciting. It's akin to a lavish neighbourhood of NUS students and teaching staffs. The facilities that are going to be in place are top notched. Furthermore, campus is just a few kilometers away! It is so convenient!

On top of that, the amenities that are going to be integrated in the Uni Town is simply amazing. Unlike SMU (Singapore Management University) where the university is located in the heart of Singapore's happening city centre, NUS Uni town brings the festivities to itself. Taken from the University Town webpage, here are some of the artists' impressions of the upcoming NUS Uni Town


Uni Town aerial view


Uni Town shopping centre (plaza)


The Forum @ Uni Town

As part of the NUS community, I feel so proud that NUS is the first University in Singapore to have the "Uni Town concept." But sadly, I would have graduated by then and would most probably be unable to enjoy the experience living in a town of your University.

An estimated 5000 officials and athletes will converge at the Uni Town in 2010. In a circular to the NUS community, NUS President, Prof Shih, believes that the key success of Singapore's win in the bid for the Youth Olympic games is the NUS University Town.

I'm so happy when the Youth Olympics venue was announced today. Singapore had won the competition to host the next Youth Olympics! And I'm so excited for the nation! She has been longing for this day and now it is reality. I bet the mood at the Padang was awesome!! Too bad I wasn't there to experience the celebration. haha..

I was talking to Mer about the youth Olympics and how it will be kinda exciting to actually welcome these athletes from different countries to Singapore. On top of that, we'd be able to watch the Olympics LIVE for the first time! It's the experience that matters and I can't wait!

I feel that Singapore has just opened her doors to the world, akin to an open-house. I bet Singapore will make an awesome host! Congratulations!

I simply love the video that they made for the bid to host the Youth Olympics games. If you haven't watch it, here's the video from Youtube.