Week 02 of 52 Review

So, after the first 2 weeks of the year, how are my resolutions holding up? Let's review.

1. Lose 2 lbs per month.
a. Weight - There's a problem here in accuracy of the scale. I read 225 but I think it's dubious as weight varies according to the time of day I measure. But I'll call it maintain for now.
b. Exercise - I have been more or less exercising ~5x a week. A bit behind my ideals but still fairly consistent, considering I am not biking at home...
c. Diet - Smaller portions have been a challenge. Especially on weekends. Weekdays, I generally eat less as I can't be bothered to cook. But weekends... I gotta come up with something.

Overall Grade: 3/5. Still a work in progress, but consistency in execution is a start.

2. Manage my finances better
a. Budget - Fail. Have not set a budget. So there's nothing to adhere to. I will set one for Feb 09.
b. Investment - Some research done, now I need to identify which brokerage I would like to use.

Overall Grade: 2/5. Some effort done, but not enough.

3. Get out more
a. My mum just left and it was really cold this past weekend.

Overall Grade: N/A. Will have to wait till end of the month to re-evaluate. Weather has not been kind in Chicago to going out.

4. Career
a. Pilot plant - Learnt how to size conveyors, mixers and RVs
b. Costing - Starting to learn costing (^0.7 measure, ductwork)
c. Academics - Still haven't touched Thermo... Nor Heat Transfer... Fail

Overall Grade: 3/5. Learning Different stuff (Finally!) but still a ways to go.

Well, here's to more progress going on the year.

2009!

First (post)!

Ok, so maybe that was kinda lame. But with the first post of 2009, I will want to set out some of my goals for this year and review 08 for me.

I think 2008 was quite interesting for my career. It marked an evolution in my career as I started taking on more responsibility for start-ups and projects. I was the point man for the company for the one major start-up in Mar. I started to understand more about how equipment worked as I spent time in the field and saw actuators, switches and electrical panels. However, I still am not quite there yet in design, with my boss here, I should be able to learn more.

I think I kinda wasted my time in Chicago as I mostly stayed home whenever I wasn't on a startup but it was a definite improvement over the previous place I was staying. At least there's MUCH MUCH more food choices here. Some friends who graduated also moved into the city, so I got together some, but I can improve of that in 09.

I finally managed to play barre chords on my accoustic, so that's good. However, the playing is still very sloppy at times and needs more practice. Composing songs is way harder than I thought so I think I should concentrate more on playing instead. Ha.

Exercise was very inconsistent. There were periods where I worked out and then there were times I totally slacked. I need to have better discipline when I go out on start-ups. Need to exercise more and eat less. Luckily, most of the startups should be in summer this time. And that means I can actually go outside to jog/walk. But I gotta watch out for my knee.

Overall, I think 2008 was satisfactory. I enjoyed myself in the new city and the stuff I did at work. However, looking back, I realise that I can do much more in both aspects. 2009 will build on that.

To that effect, I will start a new label "Resolutions09", so I can actually follow my progress (or lack of) throughout the year. So without any further ado, I will list the things I want to accomplish for 2009 and my vision for doing so.

1. Lose 2 lbs per month.
- I have worked out a timetable for my exercise routine so I can gauge my willpower.
- I have promised to set out $10 per month to this goal. If I fail in any month, I will set that 10 bucks aside to treat my motivator (if said motivator actually tries to motivate me)
- Smaller Portions!! I don't snack a lot but I think I eat big portions for meals.
- Eat fruits/cereal(?) before lunch. To try to sate the mid-morning hunger pang.
- Track my progress bi-weekly. Starting from now. Wt= 227lb.

2. Manage my finances better
- SET MY BUDGET for the month!!
- Track expenses per week, instead of per month.
- Start Investing! Or at least actively track things I-would-invest-in-if-I-had-the-money
- Track my progress bi-weekly. Trend Interest rates, Property, Select Investment prices (this to be done from DJ or SP500 stocks)

3. Get out more
- I probably have 5-6 startups this year to go to. Which means a max of 5 months free at home in Chicago.
- Go hang out in Borders.
- Go out every weekend to walk the streets.
- Dance classes(?) if they fit my schedule.

4. Career
- Design my first pilot scale equipment
- Learn about the pros & cons of different equipment. Why is stuff used for specific apps and not others?
- Brush up on thermo!!
- Monthly Review on what I have accomplished in the month.

Wow, this is quite a long post. Well, here's to wishing everyone (and myself especially)the willpower and luck to get through 2009 without breaking any resolution!!

Movie Reviews!

So, I just went to California and spent a whole week for vacation. And it was FANTASTIC. Even though the Lakers couldn't win the Celtics, the weather was still gorgeous, the people still handsome and the food was oh so mouthwatering.

I don't have many pictures with me right now as I really relied on other people's cameras alot but I did see 3 movies in that one week. So instead of talking about my vacation, I'll talk about movies.

The first movie I watched was Kung Fun Panda. From Dreamworks.

It's an animated comedy about furries who know kung fu. If that idea appeals to you, go and watch it. If not, then you might want to watch it for the various movie stars who voice this show. Jack Black and many others do a good job of giving their characters life. It is believable that if the actors were animals themselves, they would symbolize the animals that they voice. So go and watch it. If not for what I said already, at least to hear the secret of Mr Ping's secret noodle soup. The one thing I didn't like about the movie was that even though it did not have the gestalt-ish movie movement in most children shows (e.g. power rangers), the ending of the movie was pretty lame.

The 2nd movie I watched was Wanted.

It's a movie loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name. And it's a good summer movie. No depth of thought, lots of action scenes, nifty special effects and Angelina Jolie. ANGELINA JOLIE. HOW CAN YOU NOT WATCH ANGELINA JOLIE?! That said, if you don't really like action films or want something deeper like A Beautiful Mind (or, if you like, The Cube) you might want to pass on this one. But then again, ANGELINA JOLIE! ZOMG!

W.A.L.L.E (I don't know how to do that circle font thingy).


It's G.O.O.D. If you like robots, who can have a romance, and when the guy speaks like 20 variations of the 3 words throughout the whole movie. If you don't like that, I would say go watch it if you have nothing better to do. It's a touching movie and although the story meanders somewhat, the animation is top notch and the crazy robots will make you smile. If you were considering between W.A.L.L.E and Kung Fu Panda though, I would say go for the practitioners of furry fury.

That's it for now. I will update more when I get the pics.

豆腐！豆腐！

This post is about 功夫灌篮 (Kung Fu Dunk). And yes, I know it says 大灌篮 in the pic but it's called 功夫灌篮 in Singapore. So that's that.

It's a light hearted comedic action movie that draws on an anime background and is really a lot of fun. There are ridiculous dunks, random plotlines (or plotholes, depending on your perspective) and not enough pretty girls (but enough pretty boys I think).

Still despite all of it's flaws, me and my friends couldn't really condemn it as a bad movie. I felt that the movie was worth the admission ticket. The acting is ok, the action scenes are cool and Jay Chow can really ball. And the soundtrack is really catchy and was a real plus for me.

我不卖豆腐(豆腐) 豆腐(豆腐)
我在武功学校里学的那叫功夫 功夫(功夫) 功夫(功夫)
赶紧穿上旗袍 免得你说我吃你豆腐

I never believed that 豆腐 could actually be a catchy phrase for a song, but I now know better. With lyrics like this, how can the song not let people laugh?

And since it's Valentines day and also since Valve is releasing a new TF2 map, I have an urge to share the love.



Pyros Rock! Happy Valentines day everyone!

Note to self: Get Capo and practice this.

Anticpation.

So I caved in and got myself a Yamaha Blem GigMaker Acoustic Guitar Pack Natural, whatever that means. Hopefully now I can just strum along to favourite hits like King of the Road, Good Riddance (Time of your life), 晴天 and noob hit 对面的女孩看过来. It should be coming tomorrow or early next week. It's a lot more pick-up-able than an electric keyboard. And it's easier to out sing your own mistakes. Haha. But then again, it means that you actually have to get the tune right. Oh well, I'll treat this as karaoke practice for next time when I go back home.

Also, the Ambler Warning is a fantastic book. If you like the Bourne series, it's written in the same author's style. I would say it was written by the same author, Robert Ludlum, but it's not exactly true. I think he passed away in the midst of writing this one and someone was commissioned to take over. It's a book about a spy who's a walking lie-detector and he's been sabo'd to lose his memory and set-up as a hit man. So the superspy (Ambler) takes it upon himself to find out who did this to him and extract some revenge. It's an action packed book with a bit of whodunit at the end. Highly recommended for any one who likes action.

And to commemorate the latest Resident Evil movie, here's a history of Resident Evil, done to the NUMA SONG. Be prepared. I found it hilarious, but then again, that's just me.

Man Vs Wild

I never really did any true survival skills training in the army since I never really was expected to charge hills in the forest anyways. However, recently, watching the Discovery channel show Man Vs Wild, I have an urge to train up and see what's it really like. Although I failed once during the adventure race in that park in the middle of Indiana, I think I would like to try again.

In any case, that show is so cool. The host even has a kick ass name. Imagine a survival show host called Bear? How awesome is that? And he shows you all kinds of neat stuff, from escaping quicksand to building a shelter in the snow. I just spent the last 3 hours of my life watching back to back to back episodes of that show when I should have been doing my laundry. Oh well, at least doing laundry is easier than eating maggots for lunch.

To people who have Discovery, I say give it a shot. I think you'll find it fascinating.

One for the Road

I just can't enough of traveling it seems. After (finally) finishing with one job last week (Friday), I'm going to another job site 600 miles away this time.

But before I go (leaving at 6am tomorrow), I'm gonna say a few things.

1. It's really the end of an era for the Champions of Excellence as I know them to be. No longer will I hear the cross hallway shouting of explicits during late night Dota Extravaganzas. No longer will I be able to meet most of my friends around a table in the middle of the room and eat/steal other people's potluck food. I will miss those good times (not to mention times when people make a fool of themselves reciting the alphabets).

2. Shrek 3 is a refreshing change from the previous 2 in my opinion. It's not a straight parody of fairy tales anymore and instead tries a different kind of plot instead of just playing off stereotypes. There are definitely less jokes about fairy tales this time and more action/drama elements. I think the best of the trilogy was the first Shrek, but I doubt people will regret spending $8 to watch this.

3. STARCRAFT TWO!! If that didn't sink in, I'm repeating it again. S-T-A-R-C-R-A-F-T 2!! I wonder how many people who have forsaken gaming for other things like "life" or "significant other" will find themselves struggling with that pledge to stay clean from gaming after the release date for SC2 is out.

Ok, see you guys next time from Far Far Away...

洋人和我的差别

我想先说好我不是看不起老外.单单只想highligh他们被上士司谴责的时候的反应。我想我一百年之后还是不能像他们一样。

让我先给一些background.在我公司，除了我之外，还有多一个新的化学工程士师。他和我一样，是普渡同一届的毕业生。他最近转换到我的部门，和我一起做projects.他最近的project犯了一个超大的错误，当上士叫他把公司想要bid的project的经济算术(hmm, not sure about this translation here)时，他忘了数一个equipment.如果上士没好好查他的数字的话，公司就会损失超过USD500,000.而且，他犯了错之后，就去旅行。不能联络到他。

那昨天，我们和上士开会时，上士为了这件事而大骂他一顿。他的回应是“我很了解我自己犯的错有多大。从此以后，不会有这种事发生了。“可是上士还不满而说“我相信你是不真真正了解你的错有多大。会害公司损这么大的一笔钱不是一件小事。如果你不加把竟劲的话。。。“

到了这种地步，如果被骂的人是我,我就会安静得点点头，再声说“对不起”。可是我的同事，他却说“我明白。我不会再犯这种错。”好像没什么内疚的样子。这就是洋人和我的差别吧。是好是坏，我不知道。只知道，如果是我，我不会那么有“balls"...

And a brief review of the DS-X for the interested. The DS-X is a brilliant piece of equipment that basically transforms the DS into anything you want it to be. A PDA, a game machine, a psychedelic MP3 player... Nothing is out of it's scope. And the best part is, it's just 1 piece of equipment. So no transfer is required between equipment before stuff gets onto the DS. In fact, I'm going to have a quick go at Robot Wars Taisen now. =D

Edit - Did some 改正。