Thursday, February 08, 2007

悠閒台北城夜旅

實驗做完,並跟學長討論完 data 後,心情很愉快,去逛逛吧!

在一個城市生活久了,熟悉了那個地方之後,就會對那個城市逐漸的失去新鮮感,一切融入「習慣的日常生活」,而變得無聊。因此,我喜歡偶而換個心情,以一個觀光客的觀點,隨性的去體驗我所熟悉的地方,嘗試著找出與日常生活不同的樂趣。於是,今天傍晚,就仿照我在LA完的方式,獨自一個人以地下鐵+步行的方式在台北當個幾小時的觀光客。(我平時在台北都以腳踏車為主要交通工具)

* 明日博物館

第一站,就是我之前在 Yahoo blogs 上偶然看到在介紹的 "Museum of Tomorrow",現在正在展出的示來自丹麥的 "theFLOWmarket".

捷運忠孝新生站下車後,穿越以前的光華商場,經由八德路走到市民大道上往東走,走了幾分鐘後,終於看到外觀設計簡單前衛的明日博物館。基本上似乎是個廢棄的工廠或倉庫,經過簡單裝潢而成。那白色的外觀其實是塑膠布包骨架說。而外牆內有很炫的燈透過白色塑膠布倒數著展覽所剩天數。今天剛好是倒數第100天呢,巧合吧。

(嘿,照片中那個人是路人甲,我不認識。看起來似乎她男友正忙著幫她在門口拍照。)


入口處有一面牆上有一排「願望日曆」,每天限量90張給人撕。由照片中可見,都被撕光光了。

館中很空曠,有一個很大的休息區、一個小小 cafe、一個超貴紀念品販賣部、一個空曠的演講廳、和只佔整個場地面積一小部份的這次的主題超市。

theFLOWmarket 是個來自丹麥的奇怪「超市」,賣著各種象徵一些抽象概念的空容器。是個設計師搞出來的,整個還滿有質感的。(上圖中是超市外面的海報)

恩,鐵絲網手提購物籃。一般超市的購物籃不會這麼高級吧。

超市內掛著各種宣傳 a better tomorrow 概念的海報。

商品櫃上百著玲郎滿目的商品。有超大罐的「家庭價值」、針筒裝的「沒有包袱」。另,我很喜歡那個 turn off TV 罐頭,不過好貴 >"<
這是我最喜歡的 "bicycle only" ,一罐 1kg 裝,跟 "Turn off TV" 同樣 100NT。不過這一個我卻忍不住拿了一罐。

"a lack of exercise killers"似乎賣的最好,果然很適合台北人。

冷藏區。

瓶裝的 "no politics" 和一盒一盒的「新鮮空氣」都需要冷藏保存。

「宇宙、地球、我們」大到可以用油漆桶裝。而右邊的「集體意識」是整個超市中包裝最有質感的,不過我個人對沒有賣的「個人意識」比較有興趣XD

超貴紀念品販賣部。

恩,到休息區去幫我買的那一袋"bicycle only"拍個照。

逛完,滿足的離開。下個展期 "Happy living" 3/22 才開始,到時再看看要不要回來參觀吧!

  • 蘋果優仕光華店
下一站是剛開幕不久的蘋果優仕光華店。我買蘋果電腦的店開了個新的旗艦門市部,聽說很豪華。既然就在附近的光華商場,就去逛逛吧。

恩,就是那兩個醜陋的出租廣告中間的那間拉著大大的iPod廣告那間。
其實店內的空間給人的感覺並不大,因為整個是狹長型的。不過幾乎你想的到的蘋果電腦、iPod相關商品這裡都找的到。剩至還有 Wacom board 專區耶。但個人覺得蘋果優仕的最大特色不在店面本身,而是店員的服務態度。這裡親切的服務態度是全台別的地方找不到的。跟一般連鎖店那種帶有商業氣息而有點做做的「親切服務」態度有所不同的,這裡會給你一種「家族」的感覺。大家都是蘋果愛用者,互相好好的對待,那種感覺。

二樓有咖啡廳,開幕期間提供免費咖啡。桌椅都很乾淨漂亮,牆上貼有歷史上各個不同年代的蘋果電腦照片。因為最近在實驗室都在喝來自加拉巴哥群島超高級的淺培龜島豆,所以我很識相的不在此點黑咖啡;而點比較像甜熱飲的拿鐵。叫了一杯熱拿鐵,坐在舒服的沙發椅上,透過漂亮的玻璃窗看看外面的世界。坐在有質感的咖啡廳中看外面的宅男天堂,還真是不同的世界呢。這裡似乎可以帶自己的 MacBook 來上網喝咖啡,這才叫做真正的網咖嘛。(哈我今天只有帶Sony 的 PDA,沒帶 MacBook,所以也就不好意思去問無線網路的密碼了)話說回來,咖啡還真好喝呢,應該有中上等級吧。(至少我覺得比某些外面要錢的咖啡好很多)
  • 坐捷運回站前商圈

台北捷運站1、2號出口那邊現在變成一個可以進捷運站、高鐵、台鐵站的三叉路口。不小心在那發現了台鐵最新的觸控式銀幕多功能售票機,據說可以還可以在此取用電話定的票。而且根據報紙報導,它很穩定可靠,不像高鐵那裝win2000的系統會狂當。可惜這新機型不賣區間電車票,只賣對號列車的。

  • 九豐記牛肉麵

之前從西門町步行到車站坐火車回家的途中經過這家牛肉麵店。招牌寫著「北市牛肉麵節網路票選第四名」。看著高級的內裝,卻是賣攤販的價格(牛肉麵70),就想著一定要找機會來吃吃看。

點了個特價65的紅燒半牛雜半肉麵。據說就是裡面有牛肚、和牛肉等東西...。牛肚很軟但不會太爛。牛肉很特別的是橢圓形的,似乎是小塊的肌肉橫切的,然後裡面帶了一點點的筋,很嫩很軟呢。而湯頭有多重層次感,感覺是用很多不同種的香料、藥材墩出來的,有點像「天香回味」的麻辣鍋,但不會那麼辣。其中最明顯的是八角和辣椒味。唯一比較沒特色的是麵條,就一般牛肉麵攤用的那種。但整體來說,是一碗很特別的麵,65塊很值得。

  • Aftermath

恩,在過完心事一堆的幾天後,找回那單純旅遊的感覺,讓自己輕鬆了不少。終於有心情去日本玩了。就快要出發了,都還沒準備呢。

IFA 終於結束了!!!

爽阿!

我的螢光染色實驗終於告一段落了,有了不錯的 repeatable data 可以幫學長的 paper 加一段^^

恩,終於可以安心的去玩了。過年後再回實驗室接個新的實驗吧。

Monday, February 05, 2007

去人本鐵馬梯的收穫

第二次去人本的鐵馬梯隊,少了一些新鮮感,不過這次收穫還是很多XD

  • 一個晚上組了60台箱裝新車(當然有別人幫忙)後,組車功力大增
  • 在需要教小朋友的壓力下,快速學會了拆裝踏板,還拆裝得超順超快的,連要拿15號阪手都記得清清楚楚
  • 因為每一台新車的胎壓都只有 20 psi,人本準備的腳踩式打氣筒又狂漏氣;用自己的攜帶式打氣筒打氣打到手軟。總之,我現在可以非常迅速的用我那支打到 60 psi (之前打到 40 就累的要死了)
  • 幫別人調安全帽也變熟練了
  • 發現車社那種調高座墊之後要學的上下車法可以在 3 分鐘內把小朋友教會 (囧)
  • 發現剛學會騎車的喜悅可以讓小朋友摔的全身傷痕累累還笑得很開心
  • 從小護士學到說用優碘消毒時要塗完優碘馬上用生理食鹽水洗掉,重複3次。我之前都把優碘留著,難怪傷口爛的更慘,還留疤...
  • 原來紅豆加燒仙草可以作成「羊羹」...orz
  • 發現帶小朋友出去騎車比帶社上的活動還輕鬆。一上路,剛學會騎車的小朋友各個嚇到,再皮的都自動排成一排,一個接著一個成一路縱隊前進,好像火車一樣。甚至過叉路都不用留人反正就把「火車」帶過去就是了。於是我們平安達成了 4 個大人帶領 17 個小朋友騎 10 公里的創舉^^
  • 發現后里是個漂亮的地方
  • 發現在阿倫需要花350元換的變速線在后里只要150(還附一組新的前輪快拆)。也許是鐵馬認識老闆的友情價吧
  • 慶功宴上練就比車社更強的搶食功力,別人用鍋蓋攻擊時還可以輕鬆寫意的用筷子擋掉繼續夾菜XD
  • 回基隆時,上火車前達成 6 分鐘拆車裝進垃圾袋完成,算是一夜60台箱車的成果展現 :P
荒謬的鐵馬梯...

衣服超難買的

10家服裝店中至少有5家專賣女裝,另外4加以女裝為主(男裝只佔整個店面的一個小角落,佔有面積10%);然後1家比較像是賣男裝的(但也一定會有賣女裝)...

為何台灣很少像美國的GAP那樣男女服裝明顯的各佔店面的半邊呢?
---
結果,整個西門町除了 Hangten 這種大眾化平庸品牌外,只有一家店能夠吸引我進去認真逛。

幾年前,男生還有專屬的牛仔服裝店可以逛的;但自從女生也開始流行牛仔褲後,那些店幾乎全部變專賣女生...

Sunday, February 04, 2007

台灣新生兒性別嚴重失衡 20年後 20萬男人找不到老婆-Yahoo!奇摩新聞

台灣新生兒性別嚴重失衡 20年後 20萬男人找不到老婆-Yahoo!奇摩新聞

據說為了「要傳宗接代」的古老觀念,大家要狂生男孩

甚麼鳥

大家都生男孩怎麼「傳宗接代」?當沒有老婆時,誰管你上不上族譜?

況且,根據我兩次去帶人本活動的經驗,男孩大都很皮,不好管,問題一堆。女孩子乖多了,也比較可愛。

---

誰管你族譜?我根本沒看過那東東。不知族譜何在也活的好好的。現實生活中能夠活的快樂、幸福才是重要的吧。

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Sony Cybershot H5

A digital camera with 12x optical zoom. I like it because it's a
consumer grade camera with manual shutter/aperture controls. Yet the
price is too expensive for me at this time. You might ask "Why Sony?
Sony stuff are all expensive." Well it's because I like Sony's user
control interface designs, and I need a camera that uses memory
sticks, which my Clie handheld(PDA) can read.

Seems like the H5 doesn't sell well. Why? At first I though it was
because most people just want a light weight, good looking simple
camera. But today I noticed something else: the price, 17900NT is
close to the Nikon D40 DSLR(with kit), which is 20100NT. So, with such
a close price, most people would just go for the D40. Crap, stupid
pricing.

Friday, January 26, 2007

One week into winter vacation

恩,今年沒去花東,都龜實驗室做實驗。

寒假,不知大家都在忙什麼,PTT/PTT2 上異常的冷清。若是因為一群人去了花東,那應該只有車社相關的版才會冷清阿。但我常逛的版全都很乾淨,似乎 BBS 是大學生活的一部份,放假了,也從 BBS 放假。不對吧,不是有在忙課業時才要少掛版嗎?

今天晚上,花東團陸續回到各自的家。不過今年,我不再屬於那一團。因為新進社員幾乎都是花東進來的,似乎車社的「世代」也都是以花東的梯次來算的。 共同的回憶、一同入社的,形成一個獨特的世代,與其他世代也就有了那麼一點距離。社版陸續出現花東團的文章,但我這次是個旁人,對於那些東西永遠只能理解 80%。不知不覺的,成為社上老人,比較熟的人一個一個淡出社團;新生的認識也不多。現在的車社,已經不是我熟悉的車社了。時間在流動,我在改變,大家都在改變。我所熟悉的車社將在幾年後只能在回憶中尋找。

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Info Blockage in Taiwan

Some people in Taiwan are short sighted. I don't blame them.

I feel that there is something similar between Taiwan and communist China: Both have communist controlled news media. Some people say that we have great freedom of journalism, we to an extant, yes, the Taiwanese government doesn't control the media; yet it neither
regulates either. Some news company here are partly owned by the Chinese government (Such as that T**S TV news station, which is a company from Hong Kong, which is acquired by the Chinese communists). Some others are just plain biased in their view and reports what ever the Chinese like. So what's the problem here, and what does that has to do with info blockage?

Obviously, these media report from a Chinese point of view. They believe that China is the greatest, and despises all other countries. Other then local Taiwan news, they focus on Chinese events, squeezing out the news from all other countries. Thus, the Taiwanese who only watch TV and/or read Newspapers as their source of news are ignorant of all that's happening else where in the world. Even worse, some news media give people the illusion that "Main land China IS the world" (A concept originating from the old days of emperors when they used "Under the sky / 天下" as an acronym for the Chinese empire, and saw everywhere else as irreverent places of the edge of the world). I know some Taiwanese companies are saying that they want to enter the global market, but instead only went to China, a clear implementation of this illusion.

More over, our notorious news media has a structure of reports consisting of over 70% fiction. They report everything thats "likely, yet not true", sometimes they make the linkages them selves, such as in "it's not hard to imply from this...". But worst of all, they sometime even "act" out fake news, such as that reporter who played with the fire hydrants in several high speed railway stations, claiming that it's too easy to release the alarms "by accident".

So, living in Taiwan, we really should be careful of what we believe. Choose the news source that has less fake news, and to know about the world, read foreign news sites on the web, such as BBC or New York Times. One advantage we have over real Chinese is that we have un restricted internet access, so we are not restricted to the dumb ass fiction news nor the Chinese propaganda.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

明日博物館

在 yahoo blog 看到這篇,覺得很有趣
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/captain-butter/article?mid=1435&prev=-1&next=1347

真想找時間去看看,看照片似乎很有感覺。

明日博物館
官網
市民大道三段180號,24小時免費入場

~2/28 的展覽是
The Flow Market, 販賣各種東西的超市,如勇氣、新鮮空氣...
3/22~5/17 則是展出 Happy Living
展覽理想家居生活的概念吧

Monday, January 22, 2007

BCT 助教工作

根據助教的 email 通知,我們是 BCT (生技核心實驗) 史上第一批大學部的助教

爽~~!

On spam

I am recently reading Michael Crichton's State of Fear, and I came over this interesting paragraph of some guy reading his email inbox:

"Then he checked his emails, sorting through twenty offers to enlarge his p***s, ten offers for tranquilizers, and another ten to get a new mortgage now before rates start to rise..."

Sweet. Fully depicted what mail people usually get everyday. I have once read in the news that "enlargement pills" were the No.1 most received email in the world... Holy crap!

The jumbo jet reborn

People love revenge stories, sort of.

Several years ago, Airbus was selling planes at historical new highs, while Boeing seemed to be in big trouble, with scarce orders. Airbus was getting all the news with it's new "full double decker", which was code named the A3XX at the time, while Boeing has it's own inner management problems, and struggled even with coming out with a new product draft. They scrambled to answer the A3XX with an enlarged 747, but it seemed that no one was interested.

Now times has changed and it's quite the other way around. Boeing has got traction with it's sells department and got lots of 777 orders, winning back the fame of the plane company to get the most orders from Airbus. Now it's Airbus that's the one with complex management problems. The much anticipated A380 (the official name of the A3XX) double decker seemed to have many testing problems and the release date was delayed again and again. While Boeing, with it's new alternative concept of fast, agile, fuel conserving and comforting interior design has gotten many orders for it's new 787 (previously dubbed 7E7) dream liner, which would also go into production soon.

The 787 (Photos from Boeing.com)

Now, taking the fuel efficient technology and the modern interior design from the 787 development, Boeing is introducing a renewal of the legendary jumbo jet: the 747-8. It uses the same ultra fuel efficient next-gen GE GenX engines, bird-like upward curving wings for better aerodynamics, and is slightly longer then the current 747-400. But for us passengers, the most significant change is the new interior design, with larger, comfortable seats, curved cabin designs for better looks and larger head space, and many other touches to make future flights a more pleasant experience. Of course, airlines may still change this and squeeze in as much seats as they could, as they do now. But at least this is a good start of focusing on the passenger. And as the seats may be changed, I guess at least the new compartments and cabin panals would be still there.
The 747-8 door-two entryway featuring a dramatic sweeping staircase leading to the upper deck photo (Neg#: K63904)
The new 747-8 intercontinental passenger jet is expected to be flying in 2010. Can't wait to get a ride on these new jets.

Links:
Boeing's new plane promotion site
Boeing releases new interior for 747-8
Businessweek | Boeing's reborn 747
More photos from BBC news
Wikipedia | 747-8

*Interesting note: A Google search of "747-8" gave me this: 747-8=739...

Saturday, January 20, 2007

金瓜石、侯牡公路單車之旅

All photos
上次摔車之後,好久沒騎車了。(來個照片遊記吧!)
想說既然學期結束了,就自己來金瓜石、侯牡公路玩玩吧!
金瓜石,主要是想看上次沒找到的,日治時代留下來的神社遺跡。而侯牡公路聽打工那的助教說很漂亮,想說,就來繞一圈吧。這些都離我家很近,卻沒玩過實在很可惜。

今天中午一看雨停了,就很高興的翻出地圖查好路線,整裝上路。
很快的就來到了瑞芳(離我家只有10km),忽然開始覺得,膝蓋上沒有一塊硬硬的痂,總覺得怪怪的,不太習慣XD

剛下完雨的天空很藍,很美麗

經過九份後,從基隆山登山步道旁的叉路往下滑到金瓜石,發現黃金神社竟然被劃歸黃金博物館園區。票價 70 NTD,學生票 50,害我一度想掉頭回家。還好只要不進博物館就不用買票,只是要牽車進去不能騎就是了。在看導覽圖時,有工作人員熱心的過來解釋,服務態度相當棒。看在服務很棒的份上,下次若帶人來我會心甘情願的買票。

太子賓館

日式宿舍

竟然要買黃金博物館的票才能進去

都用圍牆圍起來看甚麼?


我的車在小鐵路上

小鐵路





園區中大致來說非常漂亮,很有日本味的一個觀光景點。台北縣政府把該有的味道表現出來了,只可以有些東西用圍牆圍起來看不到。


總算來到了通往神社的步道。根據路標距離神社還有550公尺,還要扛車爬上山呢。

半路有個很有趣的柱子,寫著「世界人類が平和でありますように」與「我們祈禱世界和平」,下面還貼了個有趣的貼紙 :目


於是我來到了步道上第一個鳥居(yeah~!),據說本來有三個,現在還剩兩個。
一直很好奇「奉納」在日文的意義,找時間去問問久史好了。
遠遠的看到神社了(興奮)

於是,終於來到了景仰已久,台灣僅存少數沒有被國民黨忠烈祠染指的神社遺跡。據說當年是日本的礦產公司老闆為了保佑礦工安全而建的。入口的鳥居上還有刻著建造日期呢:「明治貳年七月吉日」。可惜前方的表參道殘破不堪;前殿的木造屋頂已腐蝕只剩幾根屹立不搖的石柱;而正殿更是只剩下地基。不過雖然只剩下殘骸,卻還是保有其特有的莊嚴肅穆。日本乾淨簡單的風格在此表露無遺。而在週邊的樹木、山壁與遠方的海景襯托下,整個景色變得更加壯觀。

正殿四角的精工

正殿遺跡




石柱上接木造結構的痕跡


正殿的地基...


正殿真的最慘,只剩下一個大洞。


不過從正殿往山下看,風景很棒。

看完神社後,離開金瓜石,回到九份接回縣道 北102,繼續往牡丹、雙溪的方向騎。離開了九份,北102變得更漂亮了,而且幾乎沒車,可以自己一個人享受風與自然美景。也許這就是一個人的浪漫吧。

夜總會與基隆嶼





被陽光照的金光閃閃的基隆山

遠望陰陽海

雖然很多人嚮往外國的風景,但台灣的風景還是有一定水準的。福爾摩沙,美麗之島的名號不是蓋的;有山有海,到處一片綠意盎然。不像加州那樣到處乾乾黃黃的。但重點是,這些美景就在我家旁邊,這也算是一種幸福吧。

路標標示九份到雙溪要 5km,想說既然我只是要到兩者之間的牡丹就要轉上侯牡公路了,應該一下就結束了。結果,5km 只到雙溪鄉鄉界orz 而牡丹位於雙溪鄉內,結果我總共走了 10km 的山路(前半上坡後半下滑)才到侯牡公路路口。這次下坡時,明顯的感覺到自己載上次摔車後,成為下坡速度不超過 40km/hr ,過彎以 30km/hr 以下壓車的安全騎士T_T 不過可以慶幸的是,這 10km 一路上完全都是視覺享受。而本來想在牡丹補給的,卻只發現一個荒涼的國小,只好在空腹,水又喝光了的狀態下殺上侯牡公路。

侯牡公路(印象中是 北37)總長又是個 10km。 前 2km 為陡上,接著下坡 0.5km,然後是跟武嶺有得拼的陡上約 3km,接著就一路滑下去,約在 8km 處進入侯桐,最後 2km 是侯桐通往瑞芳的那段平路 + 一些小坡。前面那兩個陡上還真是夭壽,尤其在能量用完,血糖低的時候。套句客家話:「肚子邊歸農啦」(餓到好像肚皮可以貼到背部去),真是我當時的寫照。但這段縣道好歹也是標示著「示範道路」,一路上路況極佳無坑洞,山中風景很美。而且我還看到一整個家族的台灣藍鵲(只是為了看他們,煞車停下來之後,他們被驚動飛走,而我又要痛苦的上坡起步)。最後,還是回到了熟悉的侯桐。在看到熟悉的景色的瞬間,心裡暗中叫好:「接近瑞芳了,我要補給!」

在夜色中經過員山子分洪道,到瑞芳的7-eleven補給,然後快樂的回家去。

這次一個人的探險,一路上的視覺享受絕對有橫貫公路的水準。既然離家這麼近,以後要多騎^^

Statistics:
Max speed: 52.5 km/hr
Distance : 47.51 km
Ride time: 2:54
Avg speed: 16.4 km/hr
Odometer : 5529.9 km

Friday, January 19, 2007

總預算沒過

喔 yeah! 總預算沒過耶

乾脆解散中華民國政府,解散所有政黨,解散立法院﹔另立新政府算了。

丟掉所有包袱,丟掉所有貪官污吏,來個全新的台灣政府吧!

未来へ

渾渾噩噩的在迷惘中過了一個學期後,是該找回自己的時候了。

大四上,忙著申請學校,對於未來的不確定趕感到慌張。喜歡上一個不想談戀愛的人也讓我不知所措。修了一些沒甚麼份量的課,也讓我的生活重心不再是課業。整天胡思亂想,對需要做的事情都懶洋洋,考試、作業臨時抱佛腳。只有在實驗室跟學長姊一同做實驗、喝咖啡時才覺得自己踏實而有意義的活著。

奇怪了,既然對於自己想要什麼都已經確定了,還迷惘甚麼? 想要研究病毒作為自己的職業,卻不確定是否能申請上學校。對於她的感覺已經無法再壓抑,卻害怕將來會連朋友都當不成。喜歡旅遊的感覺,卻覺得很花錢,而自己目前為止還是個家中的寄生蟲。

有夢想就該認真、勇敢,盡全力的去追求,不是嗎?
中學時代的熱情那裡去了?
去年暑假的衝勁那裡去了?

人生充滿挫折,想繼續活著就要堅強!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

The 2nd blow

Plutoed from UW applications

Screwed.

Starting to wonder if I would be in the mood to goto Hokkaido this summer...

不管了,先把期末報告跟實驗室的實驗搞定再說...
搞不好先去做一年的實驗助理也可以。再不行就去賣儀器或房地產好了XD

當窗外的兩隻白頭翁在枝頭上對唱時...



我一個人獨自在家裡抱著電腦 XDD

Saturday, January 13, 2007

しぃのうた

しぃのうた
日本 2ch BBS站的可愛動畫

Friday, January 12, 2007

我是大笨蛋

早上想說身上沒錢了,去領個兩千塊吧

昏昏沉沉的坐客運從基隆睡到台北
一下車就去騎車到大一女舍前面的 ATM提錢
很自信的想說,我領過幾次了,應該對 ATM 很熟了吧
快速的插入金融卡,輸入密碼
選了中文
然後,看到「二」字頭的就手比大腦還快的按下去了
按下去的同時,回過神來
...
「幹,是兩萬......是兩萬......是兩萬......是兩萬......
...
身上一向不帶存摺的(怕被偷了麻煩)
無法存回去

於是,今天心驚膽跳的,默默的身懷鉅款
過了一天,然後回家。

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

iPhone

iPhone
So here come the Apple iPhone.

Revolutionary multi touch screen, which could detect more then one touches at the same time. Whole new user interface. Looks real thin and cool.

Here's what I think.
Steve Jobs got a point. Most "smart phones" out there forgot that you make calls with a phone. They got tons of flashy functions, yet it's really hard to make a call. Watching Steve make the call with an iPhone in his presentation seems really simple. I like how all the call related functions are easily accessible, how easy it is to place call, answer calls, and even make conference calls. Yet, I don't like the contact list. It's a long list in alphabetical order, where you need to do extensive scrolling to find what you want. In that perspective, I prefer the Palm OS address book application, where you just write in the name of who you want, and you have it. Other then that, the phone aspect of this gadget is very nice.

The touch screen looks really nice. But with 4 years of experience on touch screens, I would say that these things very from every device, so you could never be sure if you like it or not before you get to use it in person. But no matter how good the touch screen, an on screen is never good. Try typing an email with that thing, you'd be driven crazy before you get to the second paragraph.

The new "swipe & gesture" based control method of the multi-touch
interface seems best for iPod controls. Apple should bring it over to the next version of the iPod.

Safari (the browser), on the phone, seems interesting. It loads quite fast and renders web pages just as a computer would. But that's the problem. It only zooms in and out. What if you find a wide web page with long paragraphs across the screen? Do you want to do excessive scrolling (I did that ocassionally on my PDA, and it is a pain in the ass), or do you squint at the tiny fonts?
With Netfront on my PDA, it wraps the lines fitting the paragraphs on the narrow screen by auto introducing line brakes in the page, eliminating the need for side scrolling. That is a must for mobile web browsing if you don't like itzy-bitzy fonts, yet I don't see it in the presentation.

600USD with a 2 year contract? Yuck! You could get 3 Treos (with contract) for that.

So it is revolutionary, but not affordable at launch. It could take off if prices drop, though. Also, it's not out till June, Apple still might make changes to it, so the problems apparent now, may not be in the future production product.

Links:
Apple - iPhone
Apple - Presentation video
LAtimes hands-on report by David Pouge

The first reply

Quote:
" I regret to inform you that we are not able to offer you admission to graduate study at the University of California San Francisco."

Okay, 1 dead, 7 to go.

Actually, UCSF's program doesn't focus that much on virology, thus it's not the best choice for me. However, this is like a reality check, and it reminds me this:

1. I've got crappy GPAs, and not that good GRE scores. Other then that, I have no special experience nor rewards to report. Yet I only applied for the top schools, where the competition is most fierce. At first I thought only U Penn is the top choice, and other are OK; but I realised later on that all of them are top schools, way to late. Thus, due to my stupidity, my chance of getting an admission is not very high.
2. I still haven't got any idea of what to do if I was rejected by all of them. Do I try for another year? Do I try to find a job in biotech? Do I change courses, and get any job I could get in any field? One thing for sure, job less and without an admission in the US feels like a vegabond far away from everything that I've known.

I usually do not believe in my luck, since it usually sucks, but PLEASE, PLEASE, let my luck be a little better in this critical year of my life, when I am is this incertainty.

Paradox

Loving someone means that you should take care of that special one, and not let them be worried about you.

Yet, it is at your weakest or most confusing moment when you wish the most that there is someone there for you.

I need to be strong, I need to be brave, I need to be confident.

Monday, January 08, 2007

咖啡筆記

有些咖啡喝下去會有滑順感
有:

  • Creamy feel: 只要淺培就可以出來的有如牛奶的淡淡又舒服的滑順感
    這是海島豆的特色(一時忘了最貴的海島豆是什麼,不過據說台灣的豆子也是很棒的海島豆喔,難怪那麼貴)
  • Buttery feel: 深培之後出來的濃郁的感覺,有如奶油一般厚實。

Relationships

Should I hide my feeling or show it all out?

If I put it all out, will someone suffer under the weight?

One thing for sure, we are all learning as we go.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Grad school applications

So glad to say that all applications are finally submitted.

Now on I have to keep track on the process if every thing is properly received, and hope to get interview notices soon.

Interestingly, favorite application targets change. At first, I hope to stay in California so I could stay with friends and family, but now, from a research topic perspective, UPenn and U of Pittsburgh is my favorites due to their great selection of viral labs. I can choose to work on almost any virus I please at UPenn, and the group that discovered Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV), which is one of the most interesting viruses to me, is at Pittsburgh (what a surprise!). As for the 4 UC's, they don't have as much viral studies, so I need to aim on specific labs. And, U of Washington, which I previously assumed to be a safeshot, turns out to be one of the top research institutes... So, turns out that I didn't chose any safeshots, I am either getting to be a one of the best, or failing completely. Isn't that exciting??

Friday, January 05, 2007

紀念

昨天, 我的膝蓋重獲自由.

器材部分, 已經補買了手套&車燈, 同樣摔爆的背包, 還在考慮要買新的還是直接繼續使用破背包......

北海道的日期嘛......煩耶, 障礙越來越多, 而且全是人為因素

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

......

呵,今天又收到了一封賀年卡。裡面附有朋友手工製作的暑假在UCLA的照片集,勾起了當時各種歡樂的回憶。真快,半年過去了呢。短短兩個月,交了一群很特別的朋友。竟然到國外認識台灣朋友,真有趣呢,真的是物以類聚。

一同到 San Diego 玩的朋友中,竟有其中一個被另一個發了卡。看來這半年來也發生了不少事呢。不過怎麼這樣呢,這麼一來,我的朋友中又多了一個好人。

也許,很多這個年紀的人,都在煩惱著感情問題呢。那天在網路上看到別人的blog說ハチクロ這麼一個「所有的人都感情碰壁」的動畫特別能在大學生中產生共鳴。這樣充滿挫折的劇情才比較符合日常生活吧。

Monday, January 01, 2007

First day of the new year

因為週五到新竹玩,當晚只睡了2~3 hours,然後隔天又到苗栗馬那邦山爬了 6hours 的山(photos here) ,回來累的不得了。雖然週日睡了很多,今天元旦還是睡到快中午,吃完午飯又繼續狂睡。新的一年以萎靡的一天開始XD

每次睡眠不足都會失去對情緒的控制能力,結果今天中午呈現一整個沮喪的狀態,所有可以有的負面情緒一次湧上來,甚麼「人生有何意義」啦、「未來沒有希望」啦、「就當個終身黃金單生漢」啦,多麼糟糕的想法都出得來。不過我逐漸會面對了,總之,就去睡飽就對了!


下午睡飽後,上P2,發現糖果版有了不少正面而陽光的文章,心情連帶的被帶起來。恩,新的一年還是要抱著希望 : )

去剪了個頭髮,清爽多了是沒錯,鳥巢頭沒了也沒錯,不過糟糕的是,現在走進理髮店還是會被誤認為高中生。(上次剪頭髮還被問「學校規定要剪到那」......orz)高中生的收費很便宜沒錯,但都大四了還剪個學生頭實在是......。可惜我對髮型沒研究,也不知道該剪甚麼頭比較好。
總之呢,新的一年從一顆學生頭開始 XD

這一年,是我離開台灣這個美麗的島嶼前的最後一段時光,也是我的大學學生生活的最後一年。該如何才能讓自己充實的生活,而將來回憶時不會後悔呢?深深的覺得大四是個人生的轉捩點,將來可能踏入社會,可能成為研究生,總之都將比現在更獨立、更忙、更複雜。單純的學生生活即將結束。2007年,希望我能順利的申請到很重視病毒學的program(最近才發現我申請的program中有一大半都不太重視病毒研究),也希望一同申請的夥伴們都友好消息;另一方面,暑假北海道單車之旅,不必希望,我相信應該是沒問題的;感情問題,感覺上好像不在自己能掌握的範圍內,只希望自己的情緒不要再因此而亂掉,無論如何,都能快樂的生活。

最後,A happy new year to every one !

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

悲しい〜〜

上實驗課,我的實驗partner一直在旁邊唱 Wham 的 "Last Christmas"
又一個失戀受害者
とても悲しいてすね...

今日嬉しい

搖搖頭小綿羊
真是個可愛的禮物^^

與德技的水球紀錄 :P

★hansjoerg Hmm [12/16/2006 23:32:27]
To hansjoerg: hmm... [12/16/2006 23:32:37]
★hansjoerg Ha [12/16/2006 23:32:45]
To hansjoerg: Ha [12/16/2006 23:32:59]
★hansjoerg uh [12/16/2006 23:33:19]
To hansjoerg: Ah [12/16/2006 23:33:44]
★hansjoerg o [12/16/2006 23:33:56]
To hansjoerg: e [12/16/2006 23:34:22]
★hansjoerg ...... [12/16/2006 23:34:28]
To hansjoerg: mm... [12/16/2006 23:34:52]
★hansjoerg 你太閒或你真無聊的英語要怎麼說? [12/16/2006 23:35:24]

沈默寡言這玩意兒

人家說我沈默寡言,但這是表象,其根本原因是大腦語言區不發達。
真的覺得我不擅長表達自己。

常常跟朋友在一起時,沒聊個幾句,就腦中一片空白,不知道該說些甚麼了。
這在社辦時尤其明顯。除非有很熟的人,否則都只有當聽眾的份,人家講十句,我大概只插個幾個字。最後,自討無趣,順手拿起桌上的雜誌、型錄開始看。在別人眼中這行為有點自閉吧!

出活動時也是。見到不熟的新生都不知道該說甚麼,結果最後就一直泡在老人聊天團中,要不然就自己一個人飆到大隊前端,新生都不熟。真的不知該如何展開話題。以前還會學學種馬的老招:「什麼名字阿?甚麼科系阿?為何會想來騎車阿?」然後,三句問完後不知該說甚麼,尷尬的安靜之後,就自顧自的往前狂飆。

有時會羨慕一些話題永遠講不完的人。他們總是有無限多的生活小故事、有趣的經驗、新知識可以跟大家分享。曾經想說,要把自己變成一個相處起來更有趣的人,就多看一些報章雜誌、網站,並試著細細品味人生中有趣的點點滴滴。最後發現,我的人生歷練並沒有比別人無聊,只是那些記憶都鎖在一些不容易打開的抽屜中。

發現要暢所欲言,只有在一些特別要好的朋友,或者有特定共同經歷的人面前。尤其是同樣領域出身的,如系上同學,生物相關的東西有很多可以聊。有相似興趣的,如德技這種科技狂,也是特別聊的開。但也有一些特別的人,我們可以無所不聊。這些特別的人有何特點可以讓我放開心胸呢,我也不知道。總覺得自己的內心還有不少我自己都不了解的東西,還要花很多心力去聊解自己。

除了跟不熟的人聊天時常會腦袋空白外呢,有而還有語言障礙。有些東西必須要用英文解釋,我不會用中文講;有些東西則要用中文講,我不會翻成英文;也有些東西要用台語表達,不然也不知道怎麼講。但要找到三個語言的程度都跟我相似的人實在不簡單,於是,溝通障礙就出現了。

能夠使用語言互相溝通,是人類比其他動物多的一項優勢,但卻也產生了一些新的煩惱呢。

Sunday, December 24, 2006

這就是人生阿

沒甚麼好抱怨的
尤其當結果完全是自己的疏忽造成的

挫折與不如意是常有的事
這就是人生

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

New Blogger!

I've moved to the new Blogger system!
Let's see what's new...
When I have time that is.

喜好、人生階段與生活品味

那天在實驗室跟學長一起喝咖啡時,聊到了人在不同的階段下會喜歡不一樣的東西。
就以咖啡來說好了。大部份人一開始都比較喜歡那種加很多糖的咖啡。可能是便利商店的超甜罐裝咖啡,可能是即溶三合一咖啡。不過,我現在每次去實驗室都跟學長們一起品嚐新鮮現磨的黑咖啡。他們自己烘豆子,現磨現泡,每一個步驟都像做實驗一樣的一次一次的慢慢調整各種變因,以測出最好的處理方式。咖啡的味道講究層次感,剛入口可能先有點苦,接著有咖啡豆天然的酸,然後慢慢的把那淡淡的甜味帶出來。香味則依豆子的不同有各種香味,焦味、花果香... 各種奇特的味道都有。我現在發現淺培的咖啡,味道淡淡的卻口感滑順,真的很棒。

這讓我想到我高中時,本來都喝甚麼麥香紅茶、或檸檬紅茶,總之都很甜。然後有一次喝到無糖的烏龍茶,那淡淡的甜味感覺比過重的人工加糖的飲料別有一番風味。那種天然的淡淡的甜味總是可以在舌頭上停留很久,再那裡慢慢的變化。體會過那種感覺後,都會避免喝加糖的紅茶。烏龍茶、綠茶、日式煎茶、香片都有其特別的感覺,只要不要加糖去破壞那種感覺,就會多很多樂趣。

對於音樂的喜好,也會隨年齡改變。中、小學生喜歡的偶像歌手、重口味的情歌都會讓我覺得聽不慣。輕搖滾、爵士、新世紀,都各有適合聽得心情狀態。重搖滾,心情不好的時候偶而也會聽一下。講人生經驗的歌曲也總是比情歌耐聽。

以前,對於喜好跟自己相反的人多少會有點反感,但現在想想,也許人生歷練、心境的不同,都會影響一個人的喜好吧。

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Christmas cards sent

要寄出去的聖誕卡終於搞定了
週一寄出9張,今天寄出3張
不過USPS開始放聖誕假期了,所以今天寄到美國的兩張會被卡到1月1號才寄 T_T
真是晚兩天寄,晚半個月到達

這次狂寫卡片有幾個心得

  • 我的字還是一樣草,還會一行字越寫越往右上方飄...
  • 然後我得手腦並沒有同步,腦中想著一個字,手卻寫出一個長相只有20%類似的另一個字。(如:「過」=>「個」)結果寄出去的東西裡有塗改、有劃掉,還有利可白/帶... (我對不起大家)
  • 莫名其妙的,英文的寫的比較順:中文的構思比較久。阿~從小學的跟幼稚園學的語言使用上還是有差的。
  • 然後,可以理解的,給特別的人的卡片最難寫...
對了,信封上的收件者我都沒寫先生小姐耶,應該ok吧XD
---
小心的貼上漂亮的郵票,然後把信封們一一投入那紅色或綠色的鐵桶,感覺自己的感情與心意隨之掉到筒底,發出響亮的撞擊聲。人們的感情就這樣躺在筒中等待郵差來把他們送到各個收件人的手中。

Apoptosis

細胞生死學老師對細胞自死的說明很有趣XD:
「一個細胞受到外在刺激後,內疚皺縮而死!」

我也喜歡老師對考試的看法:
「考試不是用來打敗學生的。」
偏偏還是有一堆老師喜歡故意刁難學生...

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Infection 很有趣?

剛剛在台大醫院地下室員工餐廳吃午飯,聽到一個穿著醫師袍的醫學生說:「我覺得 infection (感染)還滿有趣的......」

恩,以一個生醫學生的觀點來看,若剛好學到這方面得東西,覺得念得很有趣,可以理解,而且我有同感。

不過,這句話可不能在病房隨便講,若給一個受院內感染之苦的病人聽到這句話,他大概會不寒而慄,狂冒冷汗吧 orz

我以後若要說病毒研究很有趣,也要小心聽眾是誰呢。

Saturday, December 16, 2006

自由電子報-愛上台灣 日女留學生漫畫紀實

自由電子報-焦點新聞

以日本人的眼光來看台灣的男女關係總是很訝異:「台灣的男生對女生這麼好?」這,在台灣已經是常態,所以,眾多好人在競爭激烈之下,加倍溫柔......(抖)

不過,台灣的女性主義者還是舉著歐洲的例子,大聲呼喊著台灣男女不平等。我是覺得,台灣現在已經是個接近平等的社會了。(甚至有些地方,如大學的體育課,還會「重女輕男」呢XD)大家就好好的以互相體諒的態度去生活就可以了吧。

唯一想到需要改進的,就是公廁的女廁不夠大了吧。

Adobe reader 8

Get Acrobat Reader

For all the people that don't know yet, Adobe reader has been updated to version 8. Previous versions had always been slow, such as Acrobat reader 6, which once took 2 minutes to launch on my old computer. And I hated reader 7, too, which loaded a resource hungry "speed loader" every time you boot into Windows, which slows down your whole computer, but didn't speed up the launch of the reader it self a lot. Reader 7 also installs Yahoo toolbar for IE on your system, which is ugly and useless, and has a Yahoo search box in the reader it self...

Now, Reader 8 is different. It's the first version that I will be happy to urge everyone to download.

First of all, the download is still to large in size to be happy with, that's because it still comes with Photoshop album starter edition. I urge everyone to stop the installation of that junk as soon as it starts to install.

But that's just about the only annoying stuff of reader 8.

This version is blazing fast, you can finally open PDF files in the blink of an eye! And I am really happy that no Yahoo junk is bundled with this version. But with the experience of previous versions, the speed is the biggest and best new feature of this version.

Go get it, trust me, you'll love the speed.
*note: Mac users get the English version, the Chinese version is not out yet. However, PDF support is built into the MacOS, so that's not a big deal :)

UCLA databank hacked

UCLA Identity Alert
Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles Division - Press Release
FBI website to aid UCLA hacker probe - Los Angeles Times
UCLA break-in puts data on 800,000 at risk | CNET News.com

Great, I got the mail, I am a victim!!!
Yeah, no news is good news, and so it's usually not good to be part of the news incident.
What? I am just an applicant, just submitted my file this month, in fact, the deadline was just yesterday. And my data was leaked already!!!

Hope this won't be the beginning of a nightmare years later...

On the incident, I am really surprised that the hacker had access to the database from October 2005 till November 2006, when they finally noticed the break in. That's over a year's access!!!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

起きて、起きて...!

昨天,不,應該是今天清晨,BCT報告打完一部分後想説先去睡好了。結果又有人要我看SOP,在對方說deadline是15的情況下我心軟了,又幫他看完才關電腦。
看完、要去睡時,又被放在床頭的那本村上春樹吸引...
好,2am才睡。

今天本來跟同學約好早上9am要到學校去收拾昨天BCT的實驗, 結果於7am我再度、一連按掉了3個鬧鈴,繼續睡。
40min後被媽吵醒,發覺又爆炸了,衝出門,然後我那爛雨傘風一吹又自動解體了(囧),只好在路邊停下來組裝。然後修好雨傘後遠遠看到一班公車跑了...

明天我要把鈴声換成ハチクロ第一集中竹本的聲音:「森田起きて、森田起きて、森田起きて、起きて...」
XD

'07 車社花東之旅...

這次花東是怎樣阿?
還沒開始宣傳就已經報名人數爆滿,報名提前截止了
而且這都是在強烈要求社上老人不要佔新生名額的狀況之下

是台灣現在的騎車風氣變盛了嗎?還是我們花東已經做出口碑了,光口耳相傳的宣傳就夠了?
這狀況真的很誇張,我完全無法提出合理的解釋。

PTT版宣只 po 了一點,教室版書還沒開始,聯網站上都還沒出現真正的宣傳圖或動畫(只有一個有點正式的活動公告網頁)
這麼重大的活度卻免宣傳,有點空虛的感覺。
好像車社本學期少了甚麼重要的慶典似的。

Whatever,現在社上人才輩出,我已經呈現死老人狀態了
台9 花東段也已經騎爛了,花東也不是很想去,頂多亂入個幾天吧
我比較喜歡探險,開拓沒騎過的新路線
不過對於寒假還是不知道要去那...
但想玩克難一點,比較有冒險的刺激感與成就感。在平日的城市生活中已經過的夠安逸了,幹麼出去玩還要住高級飯店、民宿?也許像環島時那樣騎到那住到那,隨便找廉價旅社,或若有帳篷也很棒。

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Lorenz butterfly plot



Oh, Yeah! Lorenz function 終於用 Matlab 跑出來了,終於看到 3D 立體蝴蝶圖了!

不過呢,ㄜ,喉嚨跟頭都在痛,BCT 報告還是不想動。

Seminar & Murphy's law

今天真是 Murphy's law 大體驗阿
今天報 seminar ,結果早上開始感冒、喉嚨痛

用教室電腦的 office 2003 修過的 Powerpoint file 圖片不見了,害我報告中斷,臨時換成 Apple Keynote 直接輸出的檔案。當初就是因為 windows 上的 powerpoint 中的字體大小跟 mac 上的不同,特別用 windows 上的 powerpoint 把檔案修過。結果反而是非微軟的軟體作成的檔案問題比較小。好啦,微軟的程式在每一台電腦上跑得結果都不一樣,難道是 chaos 系統?!

碰到這麼多問題,老天對我真是照顧阿~~

---

回到 seminar 本身。本來因為時間不足,拿掉很多東西,留了一堆漏洞等著大家問問題(簡直就是填充題)。結果,用英文報完,全班八成以上的人都呆著一張臉看著我,問題沒幾個。也不知道是我的英文不容易懂還是論文本身較複雜。重點是:我留的漏洞都沒被問到~~

不爽。

Sunday, December 03, 2006

通車3天!機場地下道單車男摔死-Yahoo!奇摩新聞

通車3天!機場地下道單車男摔死-Yahoo!奇摩新聞


有人騎單車在台北松山機場復興北路地下道內摔車就直接爆頭掛了。新聞跟家屬都一付是政府工程單位設計不良的樣子。老實說,我覺得有人頭這麼脆弱有點驚訝,不過就假設車速真的很快,而水泥很硬好了。那麼,責任該歸誰?我覺得死者自己要負罪大責任。沒戴安全帽還高速狂飆,真的很沒概念。當然,若硬要說的話,政府的責任在於:沒有宣導騎車要戴安全帽的觀念,也沒有立法規定。

台灣社會中,死者最大的觀念是個不合理的陋習。這次要申請國賠,就像以前有人闖紅燈被撞死還要人家賠錢一樣沒道理。

總之,騎車要戴安全帽是個必須要具體實行的基本常識。

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Christmas cards

December, Christmas is right around the corner. That means it's time to send out the cards again.

Last year, I was still kind of in the blues of the lost relationship of the Christmas before, so I sent out none. This year, with many good friends and many people to thank, I 've got the biggest amount of cards to send out in my life. I usually only send to my cousins, but this year, I've decided to expand my target to good friends, and the professors that wrote recommendations for me. As for friends, I've got classmates, club mates, and even new friends that I met in the US this summer. Now, it's kind of hard to decide who to include in the list...

So I made the list, and went card shopping on Thursday. I had to say that it was not a good experience. About 60% of the cards were either too ugly or low in taste. 80% were too cute in design, looks like they are either for middle school girls or couples. Like, hay, I don't want that much glitter, cute animals, or hearts, dude. This is Christmas, not Valentines!!! What's more, I even see reprints of the cards that I bought, and sent two years ago. Do you make new designs??

So, sifting through the junk, I just got half of the amount that I needed. Guess I would need to do more card shopping elsewhere in the weekend.

There were these cards that cost 40NT (ouch!), and there were discount cards that seem like left over stocks from previous years for only 4NT each (err...). Picking discount cards for friends makes me feel a little guilty, but hay, some of them had better design then the newly printed 30NT cards, and the ultra low price really saves a lot. I could get 10 of those for the price of one expensive card! So, yeah, I did get some 4NT cards, and some others are in the 10~20NT price range. No matter how cheep these cards are, I feel that they are a lot better then "e-cards". Those on-line "e-cards" are flashy and free, but are too easy to send, need almost no effort, and feels more commercial then friendly; in other words, they feel more like spam. With paper cards, you at least get to open the envelope, and touch the handwriting. You really feel that the sender cares about you.

Sure, I'm a geek that use modern digital tech to do many things in every day life. I adapt these tools more then most people. But in some parts of life, I still like the old fashioned way.

柴咲コウ actuality

actuality
柴咲コウ又出新歌了,這次似乎是聖誕節應景歌。看MV似乎是有點孤獨的歌,可惜找不到歌詞,努力聽聽看好了。
上一張專輯,「ひとりあそび」我也聽快一年了。快點出新專輯吧,單曲很貴的耶。

MV,當然還是要用Youtube大神找啦

Friday, December 01, 2006

X-post from PTT2: Creative commons

作者: intellidryad (Ubergeek) 看板: YuFeng
標題: Creative commons
時間: Sat Dec 2 01:49:16 2006

Main site:
http://creativecommons.org/

Creative Commons (CC) is an organization that promotes legal sharing of
intellectual property (IP), founded by Stanford Law school professor
Lawrence Lessig. They provide an alternative kind of licenses that allows
the free sharing of IP, given that it is for noncommercial use.

You can read about it here, with links to free MP3s under the CC license:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.11/sample
(For anyone who would like to read it on paper, I still have the magazine
, and the free CD that came with it)

The CC website has links to sites that provide content under the CC license.
Look around.
For example: http://www.opsound.org/genre/newage/

--
~myblog>> http://www.intellidryad.blogspot.com/ <<~
~Get Firefox! http://www.moztw.org/firefox/ ~

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢兔(ptt2.cc)
◆ From: 59.115.159.28

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

事情解決了真好

今天解決不少事
其中最重要的就還是感情問題。
雖然對方不接受,但這也有點是意料中的事。

不過解決後的心情也讓我自己嚇了一跳。我竟然忽視了自己失去甚麼,而因為保全了一個很棒的友情而感到高興。

沒有可以喜歡的對象,卻也沒有自暴自棄的理由,總覺得不像我,不過這也算是一種成長吧。無論單身與否都可以自在的自處,心理才是真正的健康完整。

---

另外,deadline 12月1日的學校全數解決!!!
小有成就感。

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Self note

Real good friends are hard to find
Treasure it.

Monday, November 27, 2006

幫女生處理電腦問題就是好人?

據說PTT上有個好人的stereotype:專門幫女生修電腦,然後最後被發卡

恩,有個前提,那個主角是個對女生有興趣的正常男人
如果說,去修電腦的是個geek,對電腦比較有興趣,對女生反而比較沒興趣呢?

Geeks rejoice!
I saved this beloved computer!

XD
胡思亂想過頭了

--

我個人倒是去幫過不少人處理電腦問題,不過都是男生 LOL

但現在,除非是非常好的朋友,不然我是比較不想去處理這種問題了
PC just don't work, get a Mac, dude!
明知道PC就是個會出問題的東西,還去花錢找罪受,幹麼?
Windows可以輕易的讓你修東改西,狂處理問題一整天;在那同樣的時間裡,Mac使用者可能已經打完幾篇編排漂亮的報告了。
It does the job.

What the hell?

Something has resurrected from deep down in the subconscious, and started to pester my moods and friendships. I want to bury it even deeper, beyond the subconscious, into oblivion, never to surface again.

Yeah, I picked the easy way out, but it seems to be the only way out if I don't want to crash.

---

Oh, maybe I should really go get a big fluffy pillow...

Sunday, November 26, 2006

龍門露營回來

photos
從宜蘭頭城走宜一&雙太產業道路,經雙溪到十分後切瑞芳回基隆,7pm回到家。
連爬三坐山,陡上陡下,還要趕時間。
同伴中,有人走錯路,有人爆胎,有人摔車。

回到家累癱,又餓又渴,又發生那麼多事,有種冒險回來奇妙的刺激與滿足感。
很少有活動者麼操,但也很少有活動可以像這次讓我有這種感覺,好像回到第一次從花東回來時那種又累又爽的感覺。

這次出活動,有很多都是跟我比較熟的朋友,很高興。

感謝曉嫚帶這學期唯一的大活動,第一天真的規劃得很棒。第二天(今天)真的是辛苦大家了。
不明顯的叉路前還是先收個隊會比較好,而其他的意外,我只能說運氣吧。

曉嫚辛苦了。

Friday, November 24, 2006

社員大會現況


車社社員大會......好空曠
一陣冷風吹來,呼~~~

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Dreams of the future

Life in the near future still comes in various possibilities. I admit that I am someone who likes day dreaming, and to the point that I would be logging it here.

I guess 2 factors affect my projections greatly: my job determines what I do, and relationships define my lifestyle.

First of all, it comes to my grad school applications, if I am accepted, I would be devoting most of my life to scientific research. It's pretty much what I have been trained to do in the 4 years in college. If I am rejected by every program, then I will be finding a job, maybe a biotech sells, or something related, jumping into a totally new way of life. I am now working on the way to grad school, hope I could succeed, yet predict that I would have a 60% possibility of getting admitted, and a 40% possibility of jumping into the employment market.

The other main aspect is love. Actually, I predict a 90% possibility of staying single into the next few decades. In that case, other then my job, I would be focusing wholely on my self. I would be geekier then ever, devoting most of my income to "tech toys", think Honda, Sony, Apple, Cannondell... Maybe even get a small condo of my own, furnish it up with style. The other 10% possibility? I have no idea, yet as a guy, of course I really hope to have a soul mate to share my life.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Application package mailling

其實郵局還是不錯的
國際快捷 (Express Mail Service, EMS) ,300g 以下每件300元 (含掛號)
寄美國4~5天到

郵局到處都有,很方便的

若沒那麼趕,大可不必去花那600~700 給 UPS 寄
UPS 主要是速度快 (2天) ,而且可以上網查進度
但真的超貴的

至於FedEx,只是換個品牌,感覺不出來跟UPS有何差
畢竟競爭激烈,各公司會把價格控制在跟同業價差不超過20元而服務一樣好是可以理解的

不過UPS有捷進留學顧問公司(感謝實驗室學長推薦)代辦
(也就是說請補習班幫你交寄UPS的意思)
大客戶簽約有優惠價,UPS 運費600變400
缺點是你要把你的資料交給那個公司,登錄會員。
我想,這種公司把你的email和電話交給行銷公司的可能性很大。省錢的代價。

總之,早點寄就不必多花錢在高級快遞公司上XD (心虛)
不過,在3間學校距離deadline 10 天的狀況下,我還是寄了郵局的國際快捷
管他的,就跟他賭了,申請「備胎學校」就是這樣用的,若全沒上,那大不了直接就業。以前都被灌輸狂唸書賺好生活,但現在覺得,人懂得越多,責任越重,壓力也越重。社會上中產階級一堆也生活幸福阿~~ 念博士是對於好奇心與新知的追求,想要用學位混個輕鬆好生活錢又多的,醒醒吧!

Prolink chain lube & stuck links

After 2 months in California, I came back home this summer to see that my bike's got a stiff chain with links rusted stuck. I thought it was because I was using Prolink's chain lube, which doesn't have much oil in it, and left it there without use for 2 months. It's said that Prolink chain lubes don't contain oil, but contain "metal protectant particles" and "lube particles".... So I thought, maybe next time I leave my bike a long time without rides, I should add some normal "wet oil" to keep rust away. I also blamed it on my busy schedule before going to LA: I went on a long ride for 5 days, and soon after I came back home, I was off to the US, leaving me no time to clean my chain.

Yet, after a month of busy school work, grad school applications, lab work, and no rides, my chain links got stuck again: this time, even the main gears rusted. Then it struck me: It was the salty moist air! When I kept my bike at my dorm in Taipei, I could keep my bike there with no ride nor oil, yet no rust occurred. Yet, here at home, in Keelung, it's right next to the sea, so while sitting at home, it was actually exposed to the salty sea air everyday.

OK, so what could I do? Maybe just lube it more often, I guess.
---
As for applying for the dorm this semester, the lady at the desk told me "Not yet!" when she saw me, faster then I could walk to her desk. I guess by going in to ask every week, she now recognizes my face. Like: "I seem so eager, so why don't you just assign me a dorm room ??" :D

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Crash

My Clie TH55 crashed in picsel viewer today. It crashed when it was in my backpack, and, due to a test I had to take and a report to type on my Macbook, I didn't notice the crash until 5 hours later. The baby was already overheating all over after being on for 5 hours, and be it soft reset, hard reset, or warm reset, I could not help it as the reset button was simply dead. The battery died out about 10 minutes later.

I was scared. It was never apparent how you are dependent on something before you really lost it. And sure enough, this handheld is the companion that I am most attached to in the whole world. A true geek I am, I am not attached as much to any family member nor friend nor girl as my Clie. In some ways, it's even more important then full sized computers. It truly goes everywhere I go, does everything almost instantly, stores truly personal stuff, and was ultra reliable for the past 6 months.

I went home worried, sad and anxious to recharge my TH55, and see if I could save it. On the way, I contemplated the possibilities. I could send the TH55 to repairs and revert to my NX73, which is really unstable from all the damaged wire, and only capable of PIM and MP3 playback from the CF slot; I could also try to get a 2nd hand TH55; or I could get a Palm TX which is only half as stable, half the battery life, and don't support the Japanese software I use. But yeah, 2 years after the Clie TH55 came out, nothing on the market is as good.

After I plugged it in and restored the data, my TH55 now seems alive and kicking. Thank god! Hope it can still be my best companion for at least another 3 years.

On communication

糖果在版上說,他以後要減少上B時間,增加真實見面的人與人互動。這讓我有以下的想法。

我們高中時代,基本上人與人的互動不受重視,除了同學之間外,大家都是自閉的書呆子,只有唸書考試受到重視。上大學後,想恢復跟人之間的互動,不過現在卻主要透過電腦網路:PTT、MSN、email...... 透過網路,其實都是跟平常不太一樣的自己。少了肢體語言、表情、語調(情侶的話,還少了費洛蒙呢XD),只剩文字來傳達訊息。而且,網路溝通(套用電腦術語)就好像多了一層「保護層級」(protected layer),人們可以更輕易的隱藏自己不為人知的一面。

也許,活在網路時代的我們,應該更加重視 in person 的面對面人與人接觸吧。雖然說網路可以節省未了見面所需的交通時間與費用,不過 face to face interaction 才能真正滿足人類對於群體生活的需求吧。

Saturday, November 04, 2006

好人與宅男們要加油阿!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love-shy
真是慘烈阿,還好我不完全符合這種人的特徵 :P
不過,我曾經當過這種人呢,恐怖阿(抖)

另,原來暗戀有礙健康是吧
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4240579.stm

Sunday, October 29, 2006

單車國片:「單車上路」,一段蘇花上的故事


台灣竟然出現了以單車為主題的電影了,而且還是在我們一旦騎過就絕對忘不了的蘇花公路上拍的喔!身為單車社的一份子,又在環島時親身騎過蘇花,這部電影當然一的要去看的。

蘇花公路是個令人又愛又恨的路段。有自然美景、有可以高速飆車的下坡+髮夾灣、有刺激的隧道;但也有危險的砂石車、消磨體力與意志力的陡上坡和凹凸不平的破碎路面。那辛苦的三座山,有痛苦也有挑戰。據說這部片中有配合蘇花各斷路況語特色而發展的劇情、已荒廢的蘇花歷史路段,還有高成本空拍片段,更增加了整部片的可看性並突顯了導演的用心。

這部片11/10晚場上映,真的很期待。到時一定要去看看在電影中的寶島是否也跟我參加車社騎了2年的體驗中一樣的美麗。


一段清新動人的心靈之旅---預告片登場




30sec 空拍美麗的蘇花公路---預告片 請大家"用力"點閱
播放第二次就會更順暢了
預告片原始連結

電影首頁連結
放映週報專訪-- 一些電影的關鍵命題

Re: On the future of Taiwan - US relations

軍購不過 「美台關係螺旋下降」
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/061028/2/5tef.html

恩,今天美國政府出現了跟我上一篇相同的論調。基本上,不管是誰,只要站在美國的立場用常理判斷,都會有類似的反應。請問,你若被一個朋友耍了五年,其中被欺騙感情60次(軍購案五年中被擋了60次),你還會想陪他玩嗎?人家熱情想幫忙你,你不領情那當放棄嚕。

不過,我上一篇是希望美方再觀察2次選舉,確認這是民意還是純政治操作。不過美方不耐煩啦,今年不解決就放棄了。

---

希望我在這個地方生活的最後一年不會是臺灣自由民主的末日。希望有看到我這篇的朋友下次選舉能選出真心為國家做事的人。

Friday, October 27, 2006

On the future of Taiwan - US relations

press conference (pdf transcript) - stephen m. young, director of the American institute in taiwan, october 26, 2006
video
(From AIT)

Stephen Young's press conference on the blockage of Taiwan's weapon deal with the US has made an impact on the Taiwan's legislature, a negative impact, in fact, when you consider the reactions of the KMT (Chinese National party) and PFP (People's First Party). But the blame isn't on director Young, it is, instead on the irrational response of these two parties. They have been irrationally blocking the budget of Taiwan's national defense for the past 5 years for their own political benefit.

From the view point of a American living in Taiwan, I would sadly propose the following. As Taiwan is a democratic nation, the irrational legislatures are all voted for by the people of Taiwan. Thus, the US government should keep an eye on the next 2 elections of Taiwan. If, after all these irrational moves of these two parties, and the people are still supporting them, then that means that these moves are supported by the people. In that case, the US government should drop all supports of Taiwan's national defense. Although this may have a negative impact on the overall security to the Asian Pacific area, in this case, it no longer makes sense for the US to focus on this part, and the US should find an alternative, such as strengthening defense relations with the Philippines. The US government should save it's resources and focus them on more effective approaches.

If the Taiwanese people doesn't resist Chinese take over, then the US should give up on Taiwan. Of course in the future, they might regret the communist take over after it happened, just as what Hong Kong has experienced; yet if they give up on their selves now, there is no way the US or anyone else can help.

---

Changing my point of view, as a person of Taiwanese ethnicity, I strongly propose that we should show strong pressure to our legislators, that national security is something of great importance, not something to joke with. One approach is to avoid voting for anyone who opposes the security bills. Most of us Taiwanese have not voted wisely, and I hope, after all the turmoil of lousy politics, more people would have put more thought into voting in the future: choosing the candidates that really care about the future of the country, not the one that only care about our enemies.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

World's fastest bike

Human Powered Vehicle 24 hour distance record

A bullet shaped bike that easily goes up to 80mph!
Cool!

Firefox 2


Firefox 2 has just been released, and after using it for 24 hours, I want to say that this is the fastest browser that I have ever used. The acceleration is especially apparent in MacOS, where Firefox 1.5 used to be sluggish. Every thing felt snappy and instant, only your internet bandwidth limits your speed now!

Other notable changes includes a built-in spell checker (yeah!!!), a new default theme, antiphishing, and a close tab button on every tab. But still for the speed alone, you MUST upgrade!!! :D

Some caveats, though. I now have many unsupported extensions, and there was a crash or two from time to time. But Firefox now recovers right from where you crashed, showing what you left open before the crash, so that makes things a little easier.

Read more:
Mozilla CEO: Firefox -- Moving the Internet Forward
Mozilla Firefox site

Saturday, October 21, 2006

夜衝

剛剛約10:30pm跟人家用MSN聊,才發覺有流星雨;簡單查了一下新聞,就很嗨的帶著柚子、水(看流星雨也要吃柚子?!)到我家頂樓去看。恩,柚子吃完了,光害太強,啥也沒看到。

不甘心,拖著我妹就一同夜騎到約一公里外的社區小公園去,想說那邊光害較少。躺在地上很涼很舒服,空氣很好,也沒甚麼蚊子。
妹:「阿看到了!」
我:「啥?」(正想開PDA的相機拍照...)
...
我:「靠腰,手機圈外!」
(正擔心父母會不會半夜爬起來發現我們不見了,檢查手機有沒有收訊)
妹:「又看到了!」
我:「阿?」
...
我:「じゃ、帰ります」(很晚了,想回家了)
妹:「又看到了!」
我:「............」
...
於是
我妹看到約4、5顆流星
我看到約4、5隻飛蛾從頭上飛過

Friday, October 20, 2006

語言的感覺

在台北生活久了,習慣了純粹只有中文(官方稱為國語,其實是滿州話)的生活。只要不在家裡,就只用中文。逐漸的,台語開始有他的特殊意義。現在,只要在偶然的機會,聽到台語,就有莫名的「家」的親切感。雖然說中文每天都在用,跟別人用中文溝通,還是比台語多了一層距離感。中文,是官方語言,有官方權威的味道;而台語之於我就代表著台灣人的人情味語家鄉味。也所以,每次出去騎車,總是很喜歡那種用台語跟各地的人聊天的感覺。

而英文,是我兒時的語言,也有那麼一點特別的感覺。雖然久沒用了,偶而會吃螺絲,但還是有那麼一點正面的感覺在裡面。

暑假在美國跟台灣朋友一同開車出去玩時,其中兩個一直用台語吵架,雖然有點吵,卻心裡也有點開心說。沒想到,若家人不算的話,在美國兩天之內聽到的台語,竟然比在台灣一週內聽到的還多呢!而跟我們一群台灣人一同出遊的那個廣東人竟然也逐漸通懂台語了,後來聯CD PRO2的KUSO台語影片都看的懂了說^^

今天沒去騎車

昨天晚上才收到一封邀請我今天去一同騎鶯歌的活動。晚上了,來不及借車,而且還是自己的車騎起來比較習慣。早上6點起床,不知道要如何把車弄到台北,看著閃耀的陽光,好像是在對我這個沒宿舍的基隆人的嘲笑。怒,回去睡回籠覺。

可惡的GRE subject,不知要如何準備,沒時間念,而且准考證一直沒寄來......

Friday, October 13, 2006

Walkman S700 series release | もっと、音楽とひとつに

WALKMAN
NW-S706F
Sony Japan announced the new Walkman S700/S600 series, anouncing that with "clear base", "clear stereo" and built in noise canceling with better supplied headphones(S700 only), these would be provide the best sound quality in Walkman history. New features also include ATRAC advance lossless support, line in recording from any music source (eg, from your CD walkman), and FM radio tuner(S700 only). Also, as with previous Sony Walkmans, it has the "3 minute charge for 3hours play" rapid charge function and 50 hours long battery life. The new design has a metalic plastic lid on a die cast metal body, and a color OLED display which can show you the album cover art. The models include the S700 with 1,2 & 4GB varients, and the S600, which lack the FM tuner and noise canceling, in 1 & 2GB sizes.

If I have extra money, I would definitly go get one; alas, I don't have the extra dough. Also, it's a shame that thus far the iPod (which I really don't like) is still the only portable music player that truely supports the Mac.

More reports:
So-Mo (Japanese)
Mobile01 (Chinese)
ATRACLife(English)

New GSM Treo: the Treo 680

Treo 680 photo
Palm just announced their new product: the Treo 680, a lower priced GSM PalmOS smart phone with an emphasis on the simplicity of use, nice try. They made the phone number dialler app better by integrating it in to the application launcher. Also, it look better now without the antenna and the new rounded look, athough there were reports of decreaced signal reception with the Treo 750v, which was the first Treo to get the antenna-less new look.

The marketing they gave this thing, with the big anouncement event and the nice website intro movie, is something we haven't seen from Palm for a long time. Although Sony is doing this kind of marketing campaign for almost every major product release, it's a good start for Palm to take a page out of Sony's book.

But still, the product it self doesn't attract me that much. It's still a Treo, with not much change since the Treo 600. Give us a design like the TH55, of the Sony Ericsson M600, then you'll get everyone drooling to get one.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Google buying out YouTube

Here's how the 2 founders of YouTube put it:
(Original link)

Sunday, October 08, 2006

What to love in life

Sure, life sucks, and sucks badly. But there should be something to love in life, and I thought: "what in life do I love most?" I'm sure to most people, there should be some name of someone special as the answer. However, in true geek fashion, this is what came to my mind:

My Sony Clie TH55 handheld (some people call it a PDA...)
It's beautiful, lightweight, goes where ever I go, shows me the news, and plays my favorte tunes. But best of all, it does everything I expect it to do, and does it smoothly and fast. Since PDAs have limitations to what it can do, I once thought I would like a MacBook better then this. But turns out my MacBook is heavy, overheats, shuts down automatically, and some 3rd party software does freeze from time to time. While my MacBook auto shuts down, and my PC is going sluggishly with frequent crashes, my TH55 has already showed me today's news, while playing great music with that. While all my computers, PC or Mac have problems, my TH55 runs crash free for weeks.

The 2nd best thing in life should be my bike. It take me to amazing places with no need for gas, and no additional pollution for me to breath. It's in second place because the derailers screw up from time to time, and you have to take care of it a lot.

Is there anything else in life to love other then these 2? I hope so. But as life sucks badly, I haven't found anything else, yet.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Replication...

If the average marrage age continues to rise, there would be some day when over 90% kids would be defective in someway; when all of the parents are over age 50; when kids never get to see their grandparents.

If more and more of the highly educated population choice to give birth at an older age, or even avoid having kids, then the knowledge and book loving charectors of humans would soon be extinct.

It's an age when the people who consider their selves "smarter then average" are actually "dumbber then average" .

下週一放假

喔,所以人事行政局「忽然」想到說下週一可以彈性放假,形成5天連假。
WTF?
難道大家給個月前定好的行事曆都是搞笑的?週一的工作/課程移到那個週六,難道大家週六原本都沒事?真是方便阿!
很好很好,現在學校也不知道是否跟進,沒消息。真不知道上BCT週六班的要怎麼辦。

第一次看到政府官員可以理直氣壯的說:「人都是事到關頭才想到。」那官員的薪水可不可以月底才「突然」想到說沒預算?

Cyclub site renewal & addition of English version

lang-bar It all started last semester, just before the finals. Our club director found out that our school, in order to promote "globalization", is doing a "club site English translation" program, and is offering each club an award of 3000NTD for accomplishing that goal. At the time I simply agreed to do it, assuming I'd have some free time in the summer. But as a sentimental guy, my feelings once again got the better of me.

I was in a high mood at first, posting questionairs and plans on our BBS system board. But then, turns out that no one cares about that god damn web site, my postings were practically ignored, except for 1 or 2 close friends who did respond. I felt isolated and neglected. In summer, in the US, turns out I don't have that much free time, and I relented. Actually, it was some technical problems that were the last straw to brake the camel's back: I can't figure out how to set the upper side mergin of webpage elements, and thus, can't get the newly designed language selection bar to stick gaplessly to the top. So, tired, neglected and fed up, I gave up.

The submission date came and went by, but I didn't resume work on the site, since no one cared. I wanted to do something that'll make me feel that I'm needed in this world, not doing something that no one cares about.

Then, several things came up. By playing with the HTML file that Apple's iWeb generated, I learned how to use layers. With this new tool, most of the restrictions of web design were gone, and that previous technical obsticle was accidentally solved. Since the program deadline was long gone, I just did some minor experiments on the original page. Tired with the worries of the grad school application, I started to do more and more tweeks to the site; with layers, HTML coding was once again fun and challenging. And also, a new Japanese friend told me that he learned about our club from our website, my work was proved useful, at last!

Two days ago, someone told me that the program deadline was extended farther back (not much clubs signed in I guess), and asked me to do it. In a good mood at the time, I went : "OK", and the work started. Me and my helper worked for hours on this project, going to sleep at 3am for the last 2 days. At last, yesterday (should be early this morning), it was finished. I was excited, and posted a notice on our BBS board to let everyone know before going to bed.

Sure enough, only the one who asked me to do it cared. Like what were we working day and night, and sacrificing our time for? Like yeah right, I did all this so you guys have more money to throw pizza parties? Great!

Sunday, September 24, 2006

ARRRRRRG! SOP!

SOP General outline

What and why I want to study at grad school

  • Simple introduction or what in my life pointed me toward my intrest in this field of research
Experiences in the field
  • College experiences relevant to my intrest
  • Research experience, what I learned from them, the responsibilities I had, who I worked for. How I think this research experience is relevant to my research field of application
(Short comment on GRE or GPA scores, explain)

Future goals
  • Goals in grad school, what I hope to learn, and why I am confident to be successful in grad school.
  • Why the program in question is a good choice for my career goals, what is especially appealing about the school/program to me. (change this according to the school/program in question)
  • Mention what type of work I wish to do after grad school, list the possibilities. (focus on the program in question)
Summarized from all the outward links from the Wikipedia entry on SOP.

Friday, September 22, 2006

嘉年華?同樂會?工地秀?

昨天到醫學院去參加Lab Meeting。台上有學長姐在報paper、報data,窗外有一群人用大聲公、大喇叭跟他們比大聲。

有演講、有口號、還有唱歌、露天卡啦OK咧......

那歌也很奇怪:「阿扁你快下台,阿扁你快下台......」
吵死人,你以為這樣忘我的喊阿扁下台,他就要下台喔?憑甚麼?

那是個娛樂節目。
各種節目一個接著一個上場,24/7 non stop entertainment,有得吃、有得看、有得玩,一整群人很high。

原來一人捐100是娛樂費。

老闆說:「他們在唱KTV喔?」

台大醫院的病人全部不用休息,學生全部不用聽課,倒扁秀場最大。

---

「我們反貪腐,不過民進黨的陳水扁無論定案與否,罪該萬死;國民黨的許財利就算被判刑了,他市長還是做不錯阿!」

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Yet another computer battery explosion

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2069019

This time it's a Think Pad, and it exploded RIGHT IN LAX airport!!!
What's more, it's said that no police nor TSA official showed up, that's strange...

Since the battery's all burned out, it's still not clear if the battery came from Sony, but either way, Sony is already in deep shit.

Monday, September 18, 2006

The end of summer (柴咲コウ/invitation)

一個精彩的暑假,就這麼隨著開學而結束了。
用一首充滿夏天的感覺的歌:柴咲コウ/invitation
來悼念這個充滿回憶的夏天。

(video from here | Official site )
接著的這一年也會充滿挑戰,加油吧!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

06 Fall semester time distribution

School has yet again started, but this time, my last year both in university & Taiwan. This time, I should be really careful of my time management.

Main:
1. BioTech lab class assays
2. Other class assays
3. GRE subject test prep
4. Grad school application
5. Paper reading
6. Other reading
7. Lab work

Leisure:
8. Part-time job
9. Hokkaido trip planing
10. Rest & Contemplating
11. Excersise

Should cut back:
12. Cyclub activities
13. Reading geek sites & other computer/internet related time waisting

Flexible, but should limit:
14. Socializing

This is really crowed, maybe I shouldn't take Intermediate Japanese class?

Friday, September 15, 2006

Bizzare Ad of the Zune

Maybe you've heard that Microsoft has come out with an answer to Apple's iPod, and dubbed it the Zune.
Looks nice, but I 'd like to see it in person before I decide if I like it or not. The user interface, looks cool; but I don't think it'll work with a Mac, so, not for me, I guess.

Anyway, the Ad is really cool(and it did gave me a good laugh), check it out!

Original page

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Day of new software testing

Yesterday was a day fo playing with new software :)

1. iTunes 7 (for Mac and Windows)
-Seems like many people have been reporting lags and sound quality problems with the windows version of iTunes 7. So, windows user please don't update untill a newer version is avaliable!-
With Steve Job's anouncement of the new iTunes movie store and new iPods, Apple also released a new version of iTunes. My favorite new feature is: CoverFlow. Although Apple bought this from a 3rd party developer (there was a iTunes plug-in called Cover Flow), but it's still really cool, reminds you of those huge 100 CD changer Jukeboxs.

Other then that, the sidebar is now more organized, and there are minor face lifts, such as the buttons and scroll bars. And there's the new iPod related updates to drive the new functions of the new iPods (which really doesn't matter to me). Oh, and one more thing, the icon is now blue, instead of green.

2. Skype for Mac 2.0 Beta
Another update of Skype. Seems like they're focusing on the Mac version this summer. This update seems to be touting the video call function, which is already in the 1.5 video beta that I was using. So, I don't see any change other then a number change. But there could always be those "minor bug fixes"...

3. yep (Mac only document organizer)
They say it's the iPhoto for your PDF files. I like the idea of an organizer for my PDF documents, but I still find the tagging management system a little clutter some. And it's a little hard to delete stuff. But it's a free beta, so maybe it'll be great in the future. It is a great concept!

Some thoughts on viral genome research

Here's some important notes from reading a paper:

To examine the function of a viral gene:

  1. See when (eg. stage of gene expression) & under what conditions/environments is the gene expressed, by testing the transcribed RNA
  2. Confirm the above by examining the protein expression
  3. Do a gene knockout:
    -Choose a gene inhibition/knockout method, double check the method to see of it works by testing the RNA/protein output
    -Use that method to examine the viral infection after knockout (Positive and negative controls are essential here)
In a simple flowchart, that's examining the following levels in order:
RNA expression -> Protein expression -> Phenotype

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This is starting to make sense. Doing virology, we could more easily do the 3rd step in the flowchart, and get some real data. In contrast, immunologists are often stuck in the 2nd step, and can't make farther sense out of their discovery. (Could you knock out IL-2 in a real human?) Guess this is the kind of stuff I should to put on my statement of purporse: why I like virology over other things.

Monday, September 11, 2006

罷工?

若是電視新聞媒體要罷工,我舉雙手贊成

要是某水果日報搞罷工,我更高興

讓大家靜一靜,也讓洋基隊能好好的打求,免受搔擾

老天不允許作亂

有群人唯恐天下不亂,想要無止盡的在總統府前面作亂

雖然說總統做的不是很好,不過現階段我們需要的是穩定的社會。
對總統不滿可以陳情,可以抗議;希望他下台,可以依法定民主程序罷免
罷免不成功,代表支持他下台的人不夠多,應該理性的接受,大不了下次選舉再努力

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不過至少,靜坐的目前不多
已經連續兩天了,都被豪雨伺候
後面還有個颱風等著要來

Have fun!

Friday, September 08, 2006

Knowing more about my self

I started this summer vacation with a goal of contemplating many questions, trying to know more about my self. I wanted to grow stronger, internally. With the belief that changes and adventures make people learn more, that is just what I did this summer.

First of all, I planned an independent group on a biking trip to Wuling, the highest point of Taiwan's roads. We took a route that has never been taken in the cycling club's history. I now have the experience and confidence to plan adventurous biking trips, and I now am very sure that I love bicycle tourism.

Then the trip to UCLA for research. I originally wanted to get more research experience, and another bullet point to put on my CV. But I got lots more. I made sure that my favorite field is virology, instead of immunology, and I have a more clearer idea of what it's like to be a grad student in the US. Farther more, by living in the Co-Op, I now know how students, with the enthusiasm and confidence, can do a great job in operating an institute such as the Co-Op housing association. I know a little more about countries and cultures around the world, and I can clean bathrooms and paint walls better now :D

Finance and credit arangement in the US is sophisticated, you may need help at first, but it's really not as hard as it seems on paper, and I'm glad I get to try it a year before I move over to the states. Also, taking a driving trip is easy and enjoyable. Maps, guides, Google earth and Earthcomber on a handheld may all come in handy, but Google earth is by far the best. Making random itinerary changes also adds to the fun and excitment.

The future no longer seems so uncertain, since I've got a taste of what to expect. I guess the point is making sure what you love. The topic of research, the work, the place you love determines what you'll do, where and what grad school you'll apply for. In addition, as a geek, I also have an idea of what car, what computer, what handheld I love. Now there's one question of the future left, relationship. Should I once again try my best in finding a mate? What I can do with a relationship? Now that's really hard questions, but one worthy of contemplating on.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Back in TW

恩,2天前回來了。
Oh, the heat! 亞洲島嶼國家的24小時高溫蒸汽浴真的很難受;LA就算太陽再大,整個暑假都還是有涼風吹的說。
回來大致上都滿順的,天氣都不錯,飛機一路上都不太晃。從美國到日本的路上,旁邊坐了一對日本母女,試著交談了一下,不過又證明了自己的日文辭彙認識的不夠多。基本上在美國、日本都火速通過行李、證照&海關檢查。一直到回到台灣,碰到以下照片中的景象:

我們偉大的政府不是常常在喊要拼觀光嗎?喊的陣天架響,結果在人家還進不了國門就以這種方式迎接觀光客,真是高招啊!通關時,似乎境管局的官員都在吃中飯,3~4班飛機的乘客一次擠在那。(一班飛機約200人吧,自己算一下吧!)我到時,至少有1~2班飛機的人已經卡在那了,等了半小時後,直到後面又來了2批人(包括我這批)後,才開始增加人手。人家美國和日本都有派人只揮「你排這裡比較快」,我們就沒有。本來想說,是不是跟美國一樣,外國人比較慢;仔細觀察下,台灣人、外國人都卡在那... = =|||

過海關前,有台灣精品展覽:Giant TCR(是Advanced嗎?沒看清楚),T mobile粉紅塗裝
台灣海關也是就可一場。本來看到申報單上說行李總額超過2萬就要報稅(沒錯,2萬!),啥?我光一台MacBook就爆了喔?結果行李提領區寫著:6萬元。很好,申報單沒有update...

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回家隔天,想說兩個月沒騎車了,來運動一下吧。很慘的是,號稱很乾淨的Prolink似乎不能像溼油那樣一直黏在鍊條上。兩個月沒上油,練條約有超過30%死目... (阿KMC原廠的黃油都跑哪去了?) 在上油又擦掉3次循環後,終於把鍊條完全救回來了,不過變速管線也卡卡的T_T

僑車僑很久之後終於上路了,在看了一個暑假的頭文字D並買了新的水袋的情況下,很熱血的以均速24殺到瑞芳,然後,我在上北106前的緩坡就虛掉了。兩個月沒騎車果然很慘,超緩坡竟然以時速7龜上去,體力恢復成新生等級。還好沒去衝環島,否則搞不好光到北宜就滑下來了;亂入泛舟團大概也免了。在真正開始爬得時候,速度有起色,不過是消耗膝蓋的那種暴力騎法,轉速完全帶不上來。爬了2/3之後,我餓了,沒帶補給品... 速度又掉到5km/hr,真慘。最後還是給他撐到106的最高點,開始往下滑。過彎時,腦中竟然出現頭文字D的台詞:「流して...」(應該是叫人家用慣性甩尾滑出去吧) 心裡驚了一下,單車若真的滑出去,不得了啦,要下山谷了。結果,壓車過彎變得怕怕的,煞車按很多... 我壓車也退步了T_T

Friday, September 01, 2006

Camera & GPS module for PSP released in Japan

PlayStation.com(Japan) | お知らせ | “アソビが変わるぞ。”PSP®「プレイステーション・ポータブル」向けカメラ、GPSレシーバー発売

Great. Now, in addition to the world's heaviest portable music player and one of the heaviest portable games, you could also get to have the heaviest crappy camera. 1.3 Megapixels with that kind of weight and price? No thanks.

As for the GPS. The only PSP map software I know of is for Japan only, so it's still useless out side of Japan. Also, I think using a touch screen would be easier than a joy stick to control the map. A similar case with mobile web browsing.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

綺麗なウォークマン Sシリーズ ・ The beautiful Walkman S series

Here comes the new S series.
It's waterproof, includes FM radio and step counting funcitons, and supports MP3, AAC, WMA, ATRAC3, a broad format support that's not normally expected from Sony.
Best of all, it's got an alluminum casing, and the shape and jog controls are all just like the in-line remotes of previous Sony CD walkmans. Now this is a looker.
Also, you get the "3 min charge, 3 hour playback" and 18hours long play time as with previous Sony Walkmans.

If only it supports Mac OS, I'd likely buy one. But before it does, I'm still sticking with my Sony Clie :)

Links:
ソニ☆モバ posting
Sony's press release
Official website