bryan_79
[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends][User Info]
[My Jap 1st Photo Gallery]
[My tripod homepage]
[Non-LJ friend's page & other links]
Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "bryan_79" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
|
05:56 pm
[Link] | citizenship application
citizenship application guide
|
05:07 pm
[Link] | 
The score is fun, witty, powerful and surprisingly good from John Powell.
Code Blue
Pregnant
Meet Buck
You'll Never Tango
Plates of Woe
Rescues
Welcome to the Ice Age
End Credits
Current Music: Ice Age 3 OST
|
04:27 pm
[Link] |
AGM cum BBQ
Resumed water training yesterday. Bumped into Caron and Soon Hup from KS, and spent sometime chit chat with them to catch up with their status. They were having a friendly race with NJC. Since it's sort like orientation, we spent much time on the shore with coach teaching newbies stroking. After that, went one round towards Barrage before heading back. Talked to newbies too to know them. It's getting tough to retain people nowadays. A bit happy but paiseh when got newbie asked if I have ORD already or not. I told him I was 10 years older than him. After training, went to Jessica's place for AGM and BBQ on Colin's car.
During meeting, was being told that coach wanted to rotate left and right rowers on alternative months. MR500 won't be in the race list as we cannot form 20 crew. Next race will be Regatta in November. Had a small voting and I was appointed as the secretary. Captain is still Jimmy, with Benson being Vice Captain. Xiao Ting was elected as treasurer while Gary, Jun Hong as the PTIC. Started BBQ but the weather was bad and came with a downpour. Everyone escaped to the shelter. Waited until the rain stopped and resume BBQ. Quite a disaster as most are soaked wet despite the use of umbrella. Got myself 3rd prize for lucky draw - a Outback Steakhouse $20 voucher. After BBQ, there was a EMO-talk when Sarine expressed intention to leave with Clara and Wendy pending decisions. Jessica broke out her disappointment and everyone was started discussing about the team. The future is uncertain with so many people left and jumping boat to other teams. I have already foresee this coming long time ago. Guess we are not capable as a team or just we don't belive in ourselves anymore.
Sunny
Kevin
Calvan
Daniel
Sarina
Wendy?
Clara?
Mei Shan
Sherry
Charlie
Glad that I managed to hit 13 chin ups today, broke my record. And I think my unbalance is getting less severe.
|
|
10:25 pm
[Link] | Went to see doctor today. He believes it's not side effects of medication. It could be due to some mild flu virus left over attacking the nervous system that causes unbalanceness. The flu was so mild that I didn't get notice it. But it's true that I did feel chill and sweat a few days before the race day. My near faint experience on race day night could be due to low sugar level. Let's hope that he is right.
|
12:32 am
[Link] | Recently spend more time resting @ home because not feeling very well. Experiencing vertigo/lightheadedness while on the move since after the race day that night. Not sure if it's the side effects of long period usage of gastric medication (omeprazole) or other problems. Hope it's nothing serious. Will consult doctor soon.
|
|
12:27 am
[Link] | Singapore pumps S$16 million into training 150 integrated circuit (IC) designers over 5 years
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is investing S$16 million into a new initiative to encourage postgraduate students to specialize in integrated circuit (IC) design. The Integrated Circuit Design Postgraduate Scholarship (ICPS) aims to train 150 IC designers for the semiconductor industry. IC design has been identified by the EDB as a key enabler for existing electronics applications as well as for newer areas, such as green electronics and bioelectronics.
1. Under this ICPS, EDB will work with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) to reach out to postgraduates in the schools of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (NTU) and Electrical and Computing Engineering (NUS) to take up the specialization after their undergraduate studies.
This scholarship will provide 100% sponsorship to 150 postgraduate students over 5 years. The sponsorship will cover components such as research and course fees, as well as stipends. The scholars will also have attachment and training opportunities with local companies engaged in IC design activities.
2. Mr Damian Chan, Director of Electronics, EDB, shared that Singapore currently has a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem comprising about 40 IC design houses, 14 wafer fabrication facilities and 20 assembly and test plants. In particular, six out of the world’s top ten fabless companies have IC design activities in Singapore. In 2008, EDB attracted 14 new semiconductor product development projects which created 335 R&D jobs, including IC design jobs. In 2009, despite the global economic downturn, there continues to be strong interest in setting up or growing IC design activities in Singapore.
3. With the increasing need for miniaturization, multifunctionality, and energy efficiency in electronics devices, designing ICs becomes even more complex and there is an increasing demand for IC designers with postgraduate training. “IC design is a knowledge-intensive and innovation-intensive activity which is a critical part of the semiconductor value chain. The ICPS will help to address Singapore’s IC design talent needs by nurturing high quality IC designers”, said Mr. Chan.
4. “The world’s advanced economies are all underpinned by high-technology, high-growth and high value-add. The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at NTU will continue to place great emphasis on nurturing and building skilled talent for the continuing growth of our electronics and semiconductor industry. This ICPS initiative by EDB builds on NTU’s strengths in IC design and demonstrates a continued focus on research that meets real-world needs”, said Professor Chan Kam Hin, Chair of NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
5. Said Professor Lawrence Wong, Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS: “In the IC design field, students need to develop sufficient depth in their knowledge before they can embark on innovative design. To cultivate well rounded IC designers, it is essential to have a strong background on devices, processes, and modeling coupled with familiarity of Electronic Design Automation tools to design circuits in application domains, such as digital communications and signal processing. In NUS, not only do we provide design-centric IC design modules with strong emphasis on practical hands-on projects that are relevant to the industry, but we also offer many cross-disciplinary modules that are important for IC design training. This EDB initiative will encourage more students to pursue research careers in IC design and further strengthen Singapore’s knowledge and innovation capabilities and competitiveness.”
6. The EDB is currently in talks with schools and companies to kick-start the ICPS initiative and is optimistic about its role in helping to boost the electronics sector in Singapore. The ICPS is fully funded by EDB with courses from NTU and NUS.
The truth hurts:
- Some companies hire designers directly from China and etc. They are not even local graduates. It's waste of training for local graduates.
- Some companies didn't hire as promised and retrenched designers due to cheaper R&D resources in other countries like China.
- Many retrenched designers couldn't find job or still finding or switched field
- Some trainee couldn't even find jobs in the IC design area and was forced to switch field or lost interest midway and switch to more lucrative finance/banking sector
- Some companies close shop already in Singapore.
- I felt that Supply is more than Demand.
|
|
04:51 pm
[Link] | Got this quote from Friendster today for Cancerian.
The value of money is no match for the value of love, respect and joy in your life.
It's very true. I shall remember it.
|
10:22 am
[Link] | Haha. This is so funny.
Brilliant ad by ANA, promoting weekend flights to Singapore.
The wife asks her husband, "Why don't we go to Singapore to see the Merlion?"
The husband replies, "Why don't you just ask the Merlion come over instead?"
And then after she does, with devastating effect, the husband caves and asks her, "Shall we go to Singapore this weekend?"
Current Mood:  amused
|
12:11 am
[Link] |
A very good read for engineers during free time
Engineering and Technology Careers are Not Valued - Singapore is “High Cost Low Tech”
Engineering: Get out while you can
Engineering - dead end career
Graduate Employment Surveys (published 2009) & Dumping grounds
Supplementary links.
Financial Engineering resources
Salary Guide 2007
|
|
04:42 pm
[Link] | So thinking of becoming a taxi driver? Think again
Quote from TODAY's VOICE
Life as a taxi driver can be very hard. Each day is spent plying the roads aimlessly and looking for customers so I can go home with $50 a day.
The biggest burden is the daily car rental, which stands at $125 daily, which I need to pay regardless of whether I drive or not. At an average fare of $10 per passenger, I need about 17 passengers before I break-even in rental and fuel cost. Just to earn $50, I need to pick up 25 passengers per day!
|
04:03 pm
[Link] | NUH ward charges & treatment charges
Ward charges between Gov & Private Hospital
Singapore Medical Insurance - is it necessary
Quote:
A simple appendicectomy can cost between S$2,000 and S$6,000. Cataract surgery can cost between S$3000 and S$5000 per eye.
An operation to treat colon cancer, between S$10,000-30,000 and a cardiac bypass operation up to S$25,000 and S$40,000.
Chemotherapy for cancer can range from S$10,000 to S$100,000 for a 6 month course depending on the type of medications used.
Arguably, these figures are derived from operation costs quoted to private patients but nevertheless, it gives us a clue as to how much treatment of an unexpected medical illness will cost.
Just a one night stay in an A class room in any public hospital will cost between S$450 and S$550, never mind the other charges like drugs, procedures etc.
A night’s stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will set you back over S$1,000.
Tags: insurance
|
12:37 am
[Link] | Spent 4 hours modifying the DB T-shirt from big size to smaller size that fits myself. Cutting and sewing DIY. Intially wanted to get a mini sewing machine, but guess it won't be cheap. So invested all the patience to "just do it". Most of the time spent on sewing. Hope my lousy sewing can withstand the harsh environment.
 
Current Mood: satisfied
Current Music: Transformers OST
|
|
09:53 am
[Link] | Was asked to join movie outing organized by Dante Yeo to watch Ice Age 3 @ Iluma. Paid $13 for the 3-D version. The 3-D effect was quite good and quite worth it. Although didn't watch part 1 & 2 before, it's still an enjoyable movie afterall. The score is by John Powell, resembles very much to Hans Zimmer's Kung Fu Panda in one way another.
Rating: 4/5
|
|
10:46 am
[Link] | Heal The World - Michael Jackson
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson & David Foster
There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much
Brighter than tomorrow
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space
Make a better place ...
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make it a better place
For you and for me
If you want to know why
There's love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares of joy, forgiving
If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear or dread
We stop existing and start living
Then it feels that always
Love's enough for us growing
So make a better world
Make a better place ...
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me
And the dream we were conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify its soul
Though it's plain to see
This world is heavenly
Be god's glow
We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel you are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn their swords into plowshares
We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space
To make a better place ...
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care neough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me
...
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me
...
Heal the world we are living
Save it for our children
Listen
Current Music: Heal The World
|
|
12:48 am
[Link] |
Very useful phrases
Learnt today about 10/90 Principle. Find it very useful.
10% of our life is what happens to us (which we cannot control). 90% of our life is how we react to it (which we can control)
And another principle:
"Life is like a boomerang. Whatever we do, give and react will come back to us one day later".
|
|
10:23 pm
[Link] | Took a glance of bumblebee @ NTUC Fair Price Hougang Point after work and they are selling the canonball bumblebee at $27.90. Then head down to Dollz @ Wheelock Place orchard to take a second look. The normal version looks nicer but selling at $34.95. It's a japanese version and the store owner told me they only have limited stock. The US version ($28) was sold out. I have never seen such version @ BHG or Suntec Carrefour. I couldn't resist anymore and bought it on the spot and paid $34. Regretted when I went to RapidCulture @ Cineleisure and discovered that they are selling the US version at $29.90. It's looks exactly the same as the Japanese version but cheaper. I paid $4 more.
  
The Japanese version difference is the instruction manuals and catalogue are in Japanese. Another model that looks quite cool is Sideswipe and is being sold at RapidCulture.
Current Mood: happy
Tags: transformers
|
|
11:36 am
[Link] | James jio for dinner and end up buying a Transformers toy @ Carrefour Suntec. Argh, cannot go out with big spender like him. Bought it because the toy - smokescreen is one which resembles G1 robots - Jazz. The rest of the toys looked awful and terrible from the movie part 2 (excluding Optimus Prime & Bumblebee). Anyway, quite like it and I think it's quite a good buy @ $28.
  
Tags: transformers
|
|
05:35 pm
[Link] |
Singapore Dragonboat festival 2009 @ Marina Barrage
Went to Cold Storage @ Bugis Junction to get some energizing bars and drinks for the team around 9.40am and took MRT towards Marina Bay. At Raffles Place, bumped into Daniel around 10.15am and he was waiting for Sarina to arrive from Jurong East. Sarine arrived around 10.50am and we took shuttle bus from Marina Bay towards Marina Barrage where we bumped into Sean on the bus. When we arrived there, Emily, Clara and Jessica was already there to secure a place. Emily distributed the T-shirt but it seemed that everyone was complaining about the size being too large.
  
I was in Team A and the race was in heat 28. The race was supposed to be around 2.30pm, but I think it started much earlier. My heart beated very fast when the race started and I was taking sometime to really bring my energy level to match the speed. Perhaps I didn't do enough warm up. Along the way, my sitting pad was sliding and I really couldn't care much and let it fell off to concentrate on my rowing. I heard shouting like "Bryan! Watch your timing!" from KT. Of course, I was trying my best to follow the pacing and cangkul into the water and kick. I didn't really bother about looking at other boats, though I felt that we were in sync with the winning boat HSBC initially. But somehow, in the middle, the two boats besides us managed to released a burst to move away from us. We were maintaining our speed. But it seemed that maintaining our speed wasn't enough to win the race. I was a bit disappointed that we came into the 4th place (5 mins) instead of 3rd place, by loosing out 1s.
Our Team B wasn't doing very well but I believed that they have tried their very best. Kudos to those who took cover for Team B as well.
  
But it was truly my first race and I believed that I have gained some experience from it. We really have to do harder next time. The pacer was complaining that our back pack wasn't enough to give a charge to the boat. Well, the race is over. Will try to move forward. I believe that our timing wasn't that great and we need to achieve for 4 minutes plus in the future in order to compete with other strong teams.
|
01:31 am
[Link] | Awesome CGI fight scene between Optimus Prime and Megatron. This should be how the live action movie looks like.
|
|
10:03 am
[Link] | My recollection memory of Michael Jackson.
Ha. Actually, it's his impersonator - Edward Moss.
|
[<< Previous 20 entries] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
bryan_79's journal