log 517

yup, it’s the mid terms. So these days, I spent 100% of my time at home studying and trying to get everything done on time. While doing so today, I feel extremely bored. I’m rather used to listening music or having the tv on in the background while I do my work but lately, I’m just tired of the stuff in my music collection and I haven’t liked Canadian tv since I came back, specially Much Music. Much Music used to be a good music channel but now they model themselves after the American MTV with all the senseless reality shows and other stuff that’s barely related to music. Oh they do play some music videos, but it’s all market driven stuff, in the past years it’s been hip hop and rap, and now with the somewhat alternative rock but without the artistic creativity patched on a semi goth/nerd image fad. Simply said, I’d rather be writing xml schemas by hand than to watch that crap. So back to the topic, I’d just spent a good hour online looking for torrents of music variety shows from Japan and Taiwan. ….you are probably asking why don’t I subscribe to the Japan tv channel on rogers. First, rogers suck. Second, I’m not going to pay an extra $10 per month. With all their marketing packages, you can’t just pick what you want. They are going to make you pick a hand full of other channels you don’t want.

…hurry hurry torrent and get in my hd!

while shopping for groceries the other day, I decided to give those energy efficient light bulbs a try. Actually I have been wanting to replace the old light bulbs for a long time. The GE interview on CNN gave me the push as they said, replacing all the regular light bulbs to the energy efficient ones will save $30 a month for an average house hold. I don’t know how they define "average", but I’m willing to give it a try. Supposely, these bulbs last around 7 years (so that’s 7 years not having to get the leader to replace the bulbs). In the interview, the guy was bitching about how these new light bulbs never caught on. If any GE employees are reading, listen up.

1. the 13w=60w text isn’t large enough on the packaging. I’ve walked passed it many times and passing on it because I don’t know if it is a replacement to my old 60w bulb. hint: leave the tech details in small print, consumer don’t give a fuck about it, they just need to know what goes where.

2. the "secure" plastic package are terrible. Read up on www.tomshardware.com and you will see how many people hate this type of packaging. It’s difficult to open. I had to use my swiss army knife.

3. Your technicians haven’t made enough effort in making the bulbs as a replacement. The energy efficient bulbs emit a white light instead of a yellowish tint from the old bulbs. (Personally, I don’t mind, the white light feels more like day light. But as far as marketing goes, you are trying to replace the old bulbs, make it right!)

just update my resume…  >.<  can’t believe I have to get rid of the "personal interest" section. But then again, it’s either that, or everything will have to be in 10pt fonts. I could delete my first freelance experience instead but that one has the name of a pretty regonizable company on it, would be wiser to keep it on….can’t even start to imagine a couple years down the road. Somehow I wonder if anyone else have the same sort of problem.

The deleted section said: "noooo….don’t delete me, I’m still part of you."
heh heh heh

Finally got the bt to Taiyou no Uta. Been trying to get my hands on this movie ever since I heard the song Yui wrote/sang for it. As expect, it is one of the best movies I’ve seen.  I’ve also got Taiyou no Uta the tv series but obviously, it sucked in comparison to the movie. (unlike Densha Otoko, where the tv series is much better).  The tv series’ plot and character background are slightly differ. I wonder which is closer to the novel or wherever it came from. The actress in the tv series is also no where near what Yui brought to the screen(yes, she sang, wrote the songs, and acted in the movie….man what talent).  The actress from the tv series(I haven’t looked up her name yet) just doesn’t look right for the character. She has this rich pop princess look to her overall appeal, and of course the eyes…here eyes just doesn’t emote the poor sick girl who’s been trapped in darkness all her life look, nor even a hint of artistic talent. She looks as manufactured as Britney or the later generation of dolls singing fabricated music.  Anyhow, working on tranfering the movie from wmv to avi(divx). I would love to have the DVD version, probably will be one of my first purchase next time I step foot in Japan.

started to wear my new boots today. They were pretty easy to drive in, unlike my last pair which took a little to get used to. You know, one thing I really like about boots is that they make me an inch taller. Too bad my jeans is a bit on the short side. …good reason to make another purchase. I so rarely shop for anything other than groceries and computer related products…oh and cd/dvds.

Speaking of which, I stopped by first markham today because my favorite artist just launched her new album, Penny Tai’s "iPenny".  Oddly enough, the one place that sells legal copies is gone. Guess it can’t beat out all 7 other stores that sells pirals there. I will probably stop by time square and hope I can find my cd there. I have a problem with buying pirals. Pirals are usually made by criminals, and the profits goes to you know whats. (drugs, guns and whatever else).  I’d rather get my music online than to support bad people for bad cause. As much as I like reasonably priced music, I just can’t stand stores selling pirals.

set out to get new socks and a new pair of boots this morning and got it done. This pair wasn’t my first choice. I had my eye on the ones that has a sharper profile in the toe, but they don’t have it in my size…smallest is a 10. (I don’t remember climbing the bean stalk.) Anyway this is my acquisition #7 for stuff over $100 this year. Today, I also bought the Sarah Brightman dvd and Jackalope cd. Wasn’t planning on getting any cd/dvds today but they were reasonably priced.

I just had one of my quickest recovery ever. Wasn’t feeling all so great yesterday, so I had some Neo Citran after dinner then took a nap. Yes…I worked till 5am but surprisingly that didn’t affect me at all. Woke up this morning feeling great. Not a single cold symptom in sight.  : )

it’s freaking 5 am and I’m still awake. Just finished some lose ends on an assignment for tomorrow(today). Sure I can slack and just get a B…but I rather get A+.  : )   not making dinner tonight…I’m tired, I will eat out. \~_~/

Didn’t went through with my plans to eat out today. Had some work that needs to be submitted tomorrow so I got into my good-boy mode, went home and worked on the assignment. Feeling a bit under the weather now,…after dinner, I went for a 2hr nap. Now I have to get back to work….must last for one more day, then I can have all the rest I need on the weekend.

Remember from my last conversion with Ms. Mars when she asked me what have I been doing, I answered "just the usual, reading and learning everything useful or not".  As it turns out, not everything I learn is useless. Just yesterday, a good friend was asking me questions about making QuickTimeVR. I just happen to have read and made qtvr movies a couple year back. Something that grew from my interest in taking panoramic photos. Quite glad these knowledge came in handy, does make me wonder what else I’m capable of, out of the blue.

Anyhow, here’s a recent 3D image I made. My friend HC pointed out that the image was too dark. I absolutly agree. While working on the image, I was somewhat in a tech hi just trying to get the rendering setting to exactly what I want. I was so blind to not notice that the image was too dark. Must be more careful next time around.

http://www.shaderscafe.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=321