Maybe it's life...

blogging in 2011

2011-01-23T00:07:00.003+09:00

Whoa! i skipped blogging in 2010 completely.

I am seriously writing my thesis this year. I have said to myself many times that i will write it in 2010. But, I write one section and kept it off because of other responsibilities (experiments, conferences, or simply having fun). In hindsight, maybe i had too much of fun.

So, this year my strategy is to organize 3 hours of working and 1 hour of rest (sometimes just 30 mins). But, I need rest to keep myself motivated and also sane. It's been working well for the last 2 weeks. Most of the time I worked for 7-8 hours/day and occasionally I worked for up to 9 hours. But, in the back of my mind I want to add it up to 12 hours.

Late entries...

2009-03-06T22:22:00.005+09:00

I recently installed AirMe on my iPhone which allows me to upload photos from my iPhone directly to the web. The web in my case is Picasa.

So I've been snapping some pictures with my iPhone. Enjoy.

It was the only sunny day this week. I took this B/W photo of the cafe in my campus.

From AirMe

another B/W photo in starbucks.

From AirMe

A Sepia tone view of my desk in my lab. Working with two computers: Mac and PC, made easier with synergy to share mouse and keyboard.

From AirMe

The hall to my lab... spooky. These two photos were taken late at night when most people have gone home.

From AirMe

The day after this photo was taken is the re-opening of the McDonalds outlet near my area. They re-made the interior.

From AirMe

Looking inside, new chairs and tables too.

From AirMe

Yokohama again

2009-02-12T12:50:00.004+09:00

I was around Yokohama last Sunday. I went to Yodobashi Yokohama to look for a good quality headphone. While I was there I wondered around to see what I could find.

Barack Obama wobble head

A dilapidated housing building. I have the urge of going and taking pictures of dilapidated buildings. I can't explain why yet.

Sunset... and that's all.

battlestar galactica

2009-02-11T02:16:00.002+09:00

Wed, Feb 11, 2.16AM Japan Standard time

Battlestar Galactica is on channel 4 dubbed in Japanese. Looks like season 1, episode 4? Chief Tyrol is investigating the blown up water tank in Galactica (Spoiler!!) caused by Boomer. I wonder how they dub the word "Frak".

Frak! I better go to sleep.

Sketches

2009-02-10T22:35:00.002+09:00

Found these sketches that I made around two years ago.

The object is Yokohama Landmark Tower. The tallest building in Japan. Not too tall compared to other skyscrapers because, from what I heard, to ensure its structural integrity since Japan faces frequent earthquakes.

Movie!!

2009-02-10T22:12:00.003+09:00

Here's a movie that I enjoyed watching recently. The title is "Good Dick"

This is an independent movie written, directed, starred by the leading lady: Marianna Palka. The story is about a relationship of two damaged people. It's not in wide release because it is not made to appeal to the masses. The online reviews that I have read is that people who like it love it and people who hate it loath it.

Perhaps, the reason to this is because not all of the story is told to the audience. But I like this method of story telling because it leaves the audience to make up their own opinion about the motives of the characters.

resolution update

2009-02-01T15:19:00.002+09:00

Feb 1st, the first month of the new year has past. The first day of the new year I thought if I could keep my resolution for one month I can keep it as a habit. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep it for one month. I can wake up at 7AM but it's too cold right now. So, I hide under the blanket to keep myself warm which leads me to sleeping again.

Perhaps my subconscious thinks that one year has past since we had the Chinese New Year last week. Between two new years there is a year, right?

Indonesian election

2009-01-28T23:46:00.004+09:00

My country, Indonesia will elect new members of its legislative body in April 9th, 2009. There are 44 political parties to participate in this coming election. Indonesia had its first election in 1955 after that lots of turmoil and we stopped doing elections until the 1971, which at this time until the 1997 the elections were probably rigged to make sure the government at the time stayed in power.

The Asian economic turmoil brought down that government and we had a free election in 1999 with 48 parties. In 2004 the election system was changed to a legislative election and presidential election. Previous elections only elect members of the lower house. They and other appointed members made up the upper house which will elect the president. So, a president will get elected if a candidate can get more than 50% of the popular vote. In 2004 we held the presidential election twice. The first round there were 5 candidates and no one reached over 50%. For the second round only the top two popular candidates ran. I don't remember how many political parties there were in 2004. But I believe it's around 50 parties.

This presidential election uses a simple system. One man one vote, 50% plus one wins. And why change things if it's already simple? But I wish for less parties. In other countries that I know of, political parties forge political alliances before the election. While in 2004, what I see in Indonesia was every party went to the election individually and used the seats that they have in the legislative body to form alliances.

Frankly, this is screwed up politics. They make political bargains with their possessions not based on ideology. If the alliance were based on ideology they could make it before the legislative election. Then we don't have to choose from over 40 political parties. The lack of ideology also makes voting feels meaningless. We just come to the booth and place our vote, not our beliefs.

I am sure you are bored. But, if you read this post up to here... Congratulations!

Happy Lunar New Year!

2009-01-26T12:16:00.003+09:00

It's the lunar new year or the new year in the Chinese calendar. Happy New Year!

It's the year of the Ox and fortune tellers said that the economy is not going to go well throughout the year. Gee... Isn't that obvious?

I used to celebrate this day. Now, I don't care anymore. Anyway, if you celebrate it... Have a great time!

synchronization tools

2009-01-21T00:22:00.004+09:00

A few days ago I found a small Microsoft application called "synctoy" which is part of Microsoft Powertoys. What it does is it synchronizes the content between two storage devices. There are options to make backups, synchronize data and refresh the content of one device. This makes my life easier because of the number of files i am dealing with in my graduate research. Usually i copy and paste my files to a storage device and I would use them if i need to work from home. But, sometimes I forgot to copy a few files and I ended not able to do my work at all.

But as always, for almost all Microsoft products there are better alternatives. For synctoy that alternative is "syncback". Syncback has more options available than synctoy and according to its developers it is also faster and more reliable.

The alternative synchronization tool for Mac OS X that I am using right now is "arRsync". But I don't like it very much because of the lack of options compared to syncback. One of the tool that arRsync lacks is "simulation" which synctoy and syncback have. Simulation provides information what files will be copied and why. Another tool that is missing in arRsync is file filter, which filters out files that I don't want to sync with such as system files.

For Mac's iSync, it only synchronize handsets for general file synchronization a mobile me account is required and there's a fee for it. All these applications are free. However you have to pay for other syncback versions: syncback pro, syncback se

here are some links:
synctoy
syncback
arRsync

The new US president

2009-01-20T23:00:00.002+09:00

The first week after I arrived in Japan in the cool mid-september of 2005. I delighted myself with an instant noodle called "cup noodle" that I found in one of the konbini (convenience) store near my dorm. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it.

The name of the cup noodle was "Big W Chicken". Because of its large size and extra chicken in it. the letter "W" here is pronounced "daburu" which sounds similar to "double".

A few months after that then presiden George W. Bush came to Japan and suddenly I found "Big W Chicken" missing from the shelves. I assume there was a conspiracy because the name insinuate a mockery to the then president.

With the inauguration of Barack Obama, I hope that "Big W Chicken" will return to the shelves of Japanese konbini stores.

New Year's resolution update

2009-01-11T22:16:00.002+09:00

I mentioned that my new year's resolution is to wake up in the morning. I have been waking up at 7am for a few days. But, some days I am too lazy to stay awake. I think it's a combination of the cold, sunlight (sometimes I put the window shutter all the way) and not sleeping early.

I set a new goal to sleep early (at midnight). But, even though i am in bed; my mind sometimes wander around and keeps me awake until late at night.

This blog needs more pictures

post

2009-01-11T22:11:00.003+09:00

Seems, I haven't been diligent enough to keep this blog... just random posts now and again.

Anyway, I found this great song while listening to an online radio in my lab to keep the chatter away. This song gives me an eerie feeling.

New Year

2009-01-01T08:17:00.002+09:00

Happy New Year everybody.

It's' that time again to make a new year's resolution . I normally don't make one. But, this time I have one. My new year's resolution is to wake up early in the morning.

To help myself, I read this blog about how the author trained himself to wake up early. He mentioned about setting his telephone to ring at a certain time. However, this is not possible where I live. So, I just set my loud alarm in my kitchen. That has been working well.

Joe's goals also helps me track my progress. I have set a tracking badge on this blog as well.

macbook's aluminum body

2008-12-17T15:59:00.000+09:00

The aluminum body of the new MacBook is a thing of beauty. It is well constructed and dissipates heat very well. But, sometimes I want heat from my computer's body especially in winter. As I am typing this blog, my fingers are quite cold...

My first Mac computer

2008-12-06T01:28:00.000+09:00

I mentioned in my last post that my Dell was going to be replaced by a macbook. The next day... Tada! A package arrived from the Apple store. It came 5 days after I clicked the order button. I am enjoying my MacBook so much that I forgot to make this post. Perhaps because I need to "warm" it up for me.

This is my first Mac computer, I decided to switch after I watched a video for the new MacBook. All I have to say is its a superb hardware in a superb design.

Inside the brown box is the official box from Apple. I remembered the time I got my first notebook, the Dell in my previous post. Apple's box is almost half the size of what I got from Dell. This is part of Apple's effort to be more environmentally friendly.... So, they say.

The inside of the box looks very well designed. There's no room for the MacBook to slide during the transport of the box. It looks they put a lot of attention on the box as well as the computer.

First boot. So, excited...

In a dark room with keyboard lit.

Since this is my first MacBook, I will have to adapt with its user interface. So, I will be posting that next time.

I hope I don't sound too much like a fanboy in this post...

Laptop

2008-11-29T23:41:00.000+09:00

Bottomless laptop. My Dell D610 that I have for 3 years. Soon to be replaced with a macbook

Hectic, Shibuya

2008-11-29T22:33:00.001+09:00

Panoramic view of one section of Shibuya.

Going to Shibuya

2008-11-29T21:36:00.000+09:00

I went to Shibuya this Saturday. I've been to Shibuya many times, so why is this one special? Today I went there on my bicycle. The route that I chose took me along a river and then the main street. After that just go straight to Shibuya.

Cranes... A construction site on the other side of the river. Tamagawa river.

Follow the highway!

Route 246!

It was a nice day. So, it's better to be outside. These boys are playing their PSP/nintendo outside

Small street, Japan

An elevated siren. I didn't know it could do that.

Another small street...

A small park looking somewhat miserable and forgotten...

The great crossing at Shibuya...

Shibuya 109, a department store for trendy fashion.... 95% of the stores inside are for women. As you can see they are getting ready for Christmas.

Che on a T-shirt

2008-11-26T02:29:00.001+09:00

Che Guevara's face on a T-Shirt. Costs 3200 yen (before tax). He's a socialist but if he sells t-shirt that will work for any capitalist.

His pose reminds me of someone...

Hmm... :)

Saturday, around Tokyo station

2008-11-24T23:26:00.000+09:00

A silhoutte view of one of the corner towers of the imperial palace with a sunset backdrop. This picture was taken with iPhone's camera. The camera is terrible. But, you can still take amazing pictures with it. I edited this picture with Picasa to bring the colors out a little more.

I love sunsets. There's a moment when the sun is setting that will fill the sky with blue and red color.

This is the view of Tokyo station from the Imperial palace ground. It's autumn now, as you can see the ginkgo leaves on the left and right side are yellow.

Random picture

2008-11-20T20:58:00.001+09:00

Random picture moment. This is the back of the former city government building in Sapporo, Hokkaido. I am quite pleased with this picture because it turned out really well. It shows the building in its majestic form. Although only the back side but it's still majestic.

The front side of the building was too crowded. I hate it when there are strangers in the picture.

Television.

2008-11-20T20:49:00.001+09:00

I read today sad people watch more television.

Here's the link to it. It's the first story: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=788ff63e-ffe9-477e-9953-da15b06f2a19

I have a TV, but I am not bothered to watch anything in it. Because they are all crap. But considering the amount of videos I am watching over the internet. I must be really sad.

I do feel sad or stress most of the time and watching online videos is a release. But, I am finding it harder to control nowadays. Because, after watching videos I forget most of the things I should be doing.

New Star Trek Trailer

2008-11-18T23:22:00.000+09:00

There's a new trailer for the new star trek movie.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/startrek/large_trailer2.html

There's a link for it. I am so excited with this one. Zachary Quinto (Heroes' Sylar) is playing as Spock. I am not really sure about the actor playing as Kirk though. John Cho (Harold and Kumar's Harold) is also in it. As Sulu perhaps...

Taking a sick day

2008-11-18T16:22:00.001+09:00

Argh! Backache. I am resting at home now because I am having a muscle strain on my neck. Regards to improper sleeping posture.

But this strain is also aching my back. How it's related I don't know. I was kicked in the back once during a game when I was about 14. To this day I feel I have a weak back. Some loading on the left shoulder (I was kicked on the left back) I will start feeling aches.

So, doing as much school work as I can from home. Which means little work. I rubbed muscle reliever on my back and neck so hopefully they will get better soon.

Blue

2008-11-17T20:29:00.001+09:00

Different shades of blue. A view from Arami dam, Japan

first post

2008-11-16T23:56:00.001+09:00

Blogging.I am always curious why people blog.

I usually write a sort of life journal on a book and I had also written some on my iPhone since it's portable. The act of writing is a fluous action and it keeps my thoughts flowing. While typing is discrete and I cannot capture all my thoughts while typing.

I guess the advantage of blogging is in the communication a blogger has with his/her readers.