Love Story - Stop Motion

This is awesome.

Double stop motion.

A very cool idea for videos, wedding videos. :)

hackaton 1

Fantastic meetup with friends today. Although we didn't manage to hack out results, but it provides us a good insight on what we are capable of doing/using. Guess we'll just stick the the more simpler frameworks. At least all of us can understand it. :)

The reason why Malaysia MRT development is slow.

Seriously, if they don't know how to do tunnelling properly, they should consult Singapore!

Here's the reason why Malaysia MRT development is slow, and why there are so many issue/problems with the development...

Seriously, not trying to be racist here, but if the government still holds on to Malay rights, they are seriously ruin the country's future.

If they (the local Malays) wants to be part of the development, or country's economy. Then they got to fight hard, fight equally to prove their worth. Even the government manage to spoon fit them into mega projects, they will still not going to do well eventually, simply because they are not up to it in the first place.

(See all the nonsense comments recently? Including MRT issues. You'll understand what I meant.)

Before I came over to Singapore, I always thought its okay to let them enjoy their "Malay rights". But after 5 years here, I realize the Malays here, those around me are outstanding! They fought hard to be the best and prove themselves in the society, and earned respects from others.

The Malays in Singapore are totally different from Malaysia.

Samsung Galaxy Classes

Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Y, Galaxy W....... confusing? Heres the meaning of the classes.

 "S" (Super Smart) – Devices at the very pinnacle of Samsung's mobile portfolio. This class will only be used on flagship devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S, the award-winning smartphone that has already sold 10 million units throughout the world.

 "R" (Royal / Refined) – Premium category models, a combination of power, performance and productivity for the individual who wants to be defined by the technology they carry.

 "W" (Wonder) – High quality, strategic models, perfect for those seeking a balance between style and performance.

 "M" (Magical) – High-performance models at an economic price-point.

 "Y" (Young) – These are entry models or strategic models for emerging markets or a younger audience more sensitive to price.

 Class indicators allow a more specific description of the key selling points of a device:
         

"Pro" – This indicates that the device includes a QWERTY keyboard for speedier email typing and increased productivity for professionals.

"Plus" – This indicates that the device is an upgrade from an existing model.

"LTE" – This indicates that the device is designed to utilize LTE (Long-Term Evolution) connectivity standards, a 4G standard to provide increased mobile network capacity and speed.

References
[1]  http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2011/08/24/Samsung-introduces-new-GALAXY-smartphone-naming-strategy,-expands-GALAXY-smartphone-range

Family. Home.

Very very touching video clip.

Levitation photography

Source: yowayowacamera.com

• positioning at the right angle for reflection, and
• levitation.

Source: yowayowacamera.com

I think, not sure, this photo is taken using

• Long exposure of the dark background, plus
• flash on the person on the foreground.

Source: yowayowacamera.com

• Pure levitation.

Source: yowayowacamera.com

• levitation

Source: yowayowacamera.com

• Very nicely framed levitation.

So gonna experiment on these techniques when I'm free. Hehe :)

Kenapa pelajar Malaysia meniru

Sebenarnya, pelajar di Malaysia tidak suka meniru dalam peperiksaan. Akan tetapi, tiada ikhtiar nak buat macam mana kerana ini arahan dari Jabatan Menteri Pendidikan.

Sebab, setiap helai kertas peperiksaan tertulis: LIHAT SEBELAH.

:p

Facebook "Related to Your Post" section

Oh, a new section "Related to Your Post" has been added to Facebook. It links up and advertises the related Pages on Facebook.

A good way to increase the value of Facebook Page as a platform for businesses. Seems like they are working really hard to get everyone to stay on Facebook, both normal users and corporates.

Not bad. Its a good feature for them.

androp「Bright Siren」(from the 1st full album "relight" )

This is amazing! Unbelievable!

At first I'm still wondering whether this is an (After Effects) AE post production video or not, but apparently they do have a "the making" video.

Salute!

Re: TechCrunch | HP To Apple: You Win.

Very true. Apple is dominating the market, be it PC, HP, or Tablets, everywhere. (Its going to be "Umbrella Corp" soon... Haha)

 Well, Apple is indeed doing great job at the moment, just like Microsoft 10/20 years back.

 One of the torn for other companies is the patent issue. (Most of it are simple design concepts, which I think the patent shouldn't be granted in the first place.) Thats why there is this Googorola coming up to defend Android, and its developers.

 The only company that is doing great in hardware now is Samsung. The mobile phone (SGS2) are great, but the tablet sales got halted by Apple's patent lawsuit in some countries, preliminary court order though. 

Anyway, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available in Singapore! The pricing model is exactly as iPad2! Just that hardware specs are better!
1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. :)
1GB RAM
7000mAh
3MP (main) camera :(

:)

war in defence of Islam? What nonsense.

"We are saying here that we will launch an all-out war to defend our faith if they (anti-Islam elements) do not stop (and) use their agents -Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider - which were biadap(rude) towards the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais)."

This is what will happen when people aren't open minded and over-sensitive and over-protective towards religions. (I'm a person that doesn't believe in any religion. I acknowledge those religion that teaches good practices and moral values.)

There are so many other issues that we should focus on instead of fighting over something (nonsense) like this.

For example, global issue - over population.

For example, nation issue - corruption.

The problem is, most of these so called leader aren't well educated. They didn't receive proper higher education (in Science and Technology). They weren't taught to embrace diversity, love peace, accept others, and most important - equal human rights. They always thought themselves as superior.

There are serious hole in Malaysia education systems.

Not sure how long will it takes for those countrymen (those group of people) to accept others, and open up their mind.

Maybe by that time its already too late for them to enjoy peace, because the other global crises, like energy depletion, overpopulation, environment pollution already at its peak.

Google Plus Games

Wow, seems like Zuckerberg is quite active in Google+ Games? :) haha

The Greatest Short Coming of the Human Race is our Inability to Understand the Exponential Function

"The Greatest Short Coming of the Human Race is our Inability to Understand the Exponential Function" by Dr. Albert A. Bertlett, Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder.

This is a series of 8 short videos on the topic of population growth, energy and environmental sustainability.

The video uses simple arithmetic illustration to demonstrate the consequences of overpopulation and some of the false facts that were often fed to us by country leaders, economist, and business magazines.

Highly recommended for anyone (of any age group) to go through the videos.

Hope this enlightens you as much as I do.

Some quotes from the videos,

To be successful with this experiment of human life on earth, we have to understand the laws of nature as they are encountered in the study of sciences and mathematics.

The First Law of Sustainability
Population growth and/or growth in the rate of the consumption of resources cannot be sustained.

Asimov:
In the same way, democracy cannot survive overpopulation.

Human dignity cannot survive overpopulation.

Convenience and decency cannot survive overpopulation.

As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, it disappears. It doesn't matter if some dies, the more people there are, the less one individual matters.

Side note: Sometimes I wonder, is it religions that makes most people stop diving deep into problems? Because most of the time people will try to get away by comforting themselves that "things will eventually be better", "its fate", "its all planned", "the day will come"... and then, they stopped crunching their brain.

莫生气

Sharing a poem that used to hang in my house.

莫生气
人生就象一场戏，因为有缘才相聚.
相扶到老不容易，是否更该去珍惜.
为了小事发脾气，回头想想又何必.
别人生气我不气，气出病来无人替.
我若气死谁如意？况且伤神又费力.
邻居乡亲不要比，儿孙琐事由他去.
吃苦享乐在一起，神仙羡慕好伴侣.

What is RAG?

For those who don't know what is NUS RAG, heres a well documented video from Eusoffworks.

The video shows the whole 3-month RAG process in general.

1. Brainstorming
2. Design
3. Construction
4. Cladding
5. Presentation

Of course, the timeline for each halls/faculties are completely different. Depending on the main factor - manpower.

For KRhome (2008/2009), the detailed process is as follow:

Show encrypted text

Guy travels the world and shoots one second of footage in each location

This is very cool!

 Idea for my photo/video when I travel next time! :) hehehe

Deputy IGP: London riots proof against allowing street protests

[Source] http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/deputy-igp-london-riots-proof-against-allowing-street-protests/

What an non-sense accusation by the DIGP.

#Bersih (means "clean") is a organized and peaceful demonstration. And the police (and the Government) just overreacted.

Maybe its really the time to reform Malaysia Government. To wipe out those leaders/heads who aren't serious or put in effort in fulfilling their role to serve the public.

Some (or most) leaders in Malaysia now aren't really aware of whats going on on the ground. They are just puppets that lives in the older communication world - listen here and there or to their superior. And sometimes misuse their power, for self-gain, hence corruption.

Malaysia is really sick, and people need to stand up to reform a clean, equal, and SMART country. All these is essential in order for a competitive country. (Quite sad to read news now and then about companies shifting there production factory or HQ to neighbouring countries).

So if you haven't register as a voter, do it soon! :)

KR(aSH) RAG 2011 - KReaSHion

KReaSHion is the float for KRaSH (for KR and SH) this year. Its the first time in RAG history, halls combined for presentation.

Some of the photos I (shamelessly) copied from friend's FB album.

Lastly, shameless photo - me in the mist of blue+orange crowd. :)

Should RAG Day be held off-campus?

Saw a friend posted about voting Rag to be held in SRC permanently (and not outside of NUS).

Replied to the post, and thought of sharing my thoughts here too.

---

The original idea of RAG is to show appreciation to the public for donating. If its held internally, only NUS students knows about it, then it defeats the purpose of "thanking public" in the form of celebrations and performances.

As for the performances, each float has its own message to convey, sometimes not just to NUS students, but to everyone.

The cost of the floats are so high (comparable to Chingay floats). Judging from the feedbacks (in terms of resources and manpower) from all participation bodies (PB) over recent years, I think this "tradition" will not be able to sustain any longer, if its going to be just "another NUS-internal event". Even this year, if its not a combined effort, how many halls actually agreed to take part.

People generally think that RAG a waste of resources. Its more saddening when those words came from NUS students or the students who participated in the event themselves. They don't seem to appreciate the art behind of float creation, the performances, the dances, the technical details of building float...

I think its worth the effort to push this event out to the public. So more people can appreciate it.

NUS held RAG Day outside twice (the last was at Padang, 2007). If those 2 experiences tells us that its not worth it, and the logistic cost is really so huge that its not justifiable, then yeah, then the PBs should strongly suggest to NUSSU to stop holding it outside.

I actually noticed that there are a lot of tourists (I know they are tourist! Haha!) and exchange students, stayed and cheered till the end. I don't think they know the original purpose of the event. But looks like they enjoyed the performance, as much as I do.

---

Side note: Ah, I should remind myself that I've already left NUS and stop worrying about the sustainability of RAG. Just let the younger ppl, who are still involved to decide whats best for them, and RAG. If its going to be transformed, or gone, just let it be. Time changes, people changes.

RAG

I think RAG & FLAG has evolved to a stage where there can only be 2 options for the organizing committees and participating bodies to make.
1. Take RAG to another higher level so that the cost of event is justifiable.
2. forget-about-rag.

Scaling down is not an option.
1. Its meaningless to spend resources on (substandard) performance that you are not going to be proud of at the end of the day.
2. On other hand, its meaningless to spend (huge) resources on performance that is internally held, where the crowd and target audience is so little, and
3. Its meaningless to waste students' time (3 months of hard work) on performance that is not going to reach anyone.

My thought

Since RAG & FLAG has matured enough, why not take it to the national level. I think the performances are something that NUS students should be proud of. It is comparable to most of the charity events out there.

Why not refine it further.

Facebook - start to turn into revenue generating machine.

Just spotted another new type of ads on Facebook - sponsored poll.

I wouldn't say this is a bad thing, Its actually good

• marketing / info channel for companies to research on their brands,
• quick info tool for end users to find out what others think of a brand as well.

There is a notice at the bottom of the poll. Just curious on how "anonymous" is the poll. We will never know if
Facebook decide to sell the info backdoor. 

Well I guess this is part of social media.

[Fail] Google Translate

1. Go Google Translate
2. Select translate from English to Malay
3. Copy paste these sentences:

Do not snatch philippines money
The people of bangladesh are angry
pakistani people hate national row

--

The result :p

Revolutionary Business

Image Source: CLEO magazine

Saw this section this CLEO while having dinner just now. Its on the facts about McDonalds and Apple.

The common thing about these 2 companies is -

• Both faced serious criticism about their product "defects",
• Both very very very (yeah, very x100) successful in marketing,
• Both revolutionized in their own industry/field.

--- 

Side note:

1. I like how McDonalds operates - 24-hours :)
2. I like how Apple brings the smartphone world to another whole new level. If its isn't Apple, we will still be stuck and stagnant in the "Nokia" era.

Flag Day

The world would have been a much better place if everyone has the same spirit.

So proud of this friend of mine.

This year's Flag Day Thank-you sticker.

"Hell yeah, we fucking did it!"

This is the hot topic these few days.

The valedictorian of NTU School of Communication and Information concluded her speech with "Hell yeah, we fucking did it!" (Video minute 5.30).

Maybe most people think that its a wrong phrase at the formal event. But we are we to decide when is formal when is not. After all, what is "Formal" or the rules of "Formality" change over time.

Theres nothing wrong with this. Its freedom of expression. Isn't that what everyone is fighting for everyday?

A graduation ceremony and valedictorian speech marks the conclusion of a triumphant journey. It portrays the feeling and excitement of the class.  It shows the moment of individual's triumph, as well as the whole cohort who stood up and applauded at the end of the speech.

In universities, we were taught to embrace diversities, accept one another. Let us not use our old mindset to judge whats good for the next generation. After all, the young ones are the ones that will define the future.

Move on, and lets not make a fuss out of this. There are more out there for us to accomplish that debating about this.