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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Xerox develops paper that erases itself
Ok, rubber erasor manufacturers better be careful: auto-erase paper is possible!
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Palo Alto (CA) - Xerox believes it has found a way to dramatically reduce the consumption of paper: The firm has developed a technology that automatically erases the prints on paper after one day - and allows the paper to be reused "multiple times".
A new technology, which Xerox calls "erasable paper", could dramatically change this scenario: The company said it has developed a technology that blurs the line between paper documents and digital displays and, in its present version, self-erases prints in about 16-24 hours. According to the company, the erasable paper may use "compounds that change color when they absorb a certain wavelength of light but then will gradually disappear."
Far from being a commercial reality, Xerox describes the technology as a "part of a laboratory project that focuses on the concept of future dynamic documents." However, when and if erasable paper will become a reality it will need a special printers as well as special papers in order to create a print using a light bar that provides a specific wavelength of light as a writing source. Xerox said that the print fades naturally over time or can be immediately erased by exposing it to heat. |
Posted at 03:03 pm by alkwhy
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Monday, November 20, 2006
I had completed two games: namely Half-Life 2 and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
ES IV: Oblivion was a fantastic RPG, with superb outdoor scenery, and what looks like endless number of dungeons to explore, countless missions and quests.
I originally wanted to solve every quest before doing the main quest, but after playing it for like 2 or 3 months, it's time to end it.
As such, I skipped the subquests and played the main quest only, which can be completed quite fast.
However, I guess the main quest is only to prepare you for all the other side quests because the reward I got from completion is some dragon armours which are quite cheap.
Anyway, as a summoner-mage, most of the battles are easy, with the exception of the fight with the main villain, cos no matter what I summoned, he can unsummon it very fast, and has an insane regen rate.
After ending the main quest, where Dagon was finally killed by the new King, I uninstalled it and continued to the next game on my list.
Half-Life 2: Episode 1.
I know, it's an old game, but then it's a bit frustating to play, cos sometimes there looks like no way to get through an area, and I can spend like 2 hours stuck there.
So, I loaded it up, and change the difficulty from Hard to Normal.
Hard was very hard, where it only takes a trooper to kill you in a few shots.
In normal, it's easier a lot.
Basically I can go gungho in and wipe out a room of troopers or monsters.
In the final mission part, the "gravity gun" was upgraded, and boy, it's the most satisfying I ever used.
It can suck enemies, and then when u left-click, it will shoot the enemy's bodies forward, and anything that comes in contact will be electrocuted.
The ending's kinda Half-Life 1-ish, with the man-in-black coming out and saying something like good job done, and it's time for the next job.
All in all, it's hugely satisfying (apart from the areas which had me running around finding the next area for hours).
And now, next to complete: Company of Heroes! (playing at the hard difficulty)
Posted at 12:02 am by alkwhy
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Sunday, November 12, 2006
The next biggest thing?
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PS3 fans quit jobs and postpone engagement to wait in line - Video
Burbank (CA) - People are willing to go through hell to get the upcoming Sony PlayStation 3 console and there are already lines forming for November 17th launch. We went to the Best Buy store in Burbank where people started lining up on Monday November 6th, 11 days. Watch our video as one guy explains how he quit his job to stand in line, while another won't be buying his girlfriend an engagement ring anytime soon.
Waiting in line for more than a week is bad enough, but some in the group called off sick and one guy even quit his job to stand in line. To make it even worse, the one who called in sick has postponed his engagement with his girlfriend because the money that would have gone into buying a ring will be used to buy a PlayStation 3.
The last guy in line didn't want to go on camera, but he told us that he wasn't sure if there were enough PlayStation 3 consoles. Apparently Best Buy employees are very tight lipped on exactly how many consoles the store will be receiving.
You may remember the media reports of people being robbed of their Xbox 360 consoles during last year's launch, but this group won't let that happen. They have vowed to 'back each other up' if anything happens and even boasted that an armed robber won't take them down. "He won't have enough bullets to take us all down," said one guy. They added that the police have been quite nice and are regularly drive by to check on the group.
Some passing customers asked if the line was for concert tickets or for a musician signing, while others gave weird looks, but these guys took it in stride, saying, "They look at us like we have nothing to do... but we are getting a PlayStation 3."
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Posted at 04:46 pm by alkwhy
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Selamat Hari Raya and Deepavali
Happy DeepaRaya, everyone!
I am currently on holidays, and is back at BP. :)
Dota, anyone?
Posted at 02:47 am by alkwhy
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Monday, October 16, 2006
World Trade Center Review
Just watched the movie "World Trade Center" last Saturday.
It's kinda a bit of a disappointment, given that I expected it to be filled with suspense and action.
Instead, it's more like a survivor movie, where we are forced to watched through without falling asleep, as Nic Cage and the other guy traded their life stories.
It's like I am inside a kopitiam, with both of them.
There are some touching moments, but these scenes are few and far between.
Rating: 5/10
p.s. I should have watched Rob-B-Hood instead, but bcos LordAlv already watched, we were left with no choice.
Posted at 12:28 pm by alkwhy
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Wednesday, October 04, 2006
DOTA's Greatest Love Story
Long long ago, in a small Orcish village, there lived a man (or Orc), called Lavin.
Lavin was a promising youngster, whom devoted his life to two thing - perfecting his martial skills; and, taking care of his beautiful lover, Slithice.
Slithice was once a vagabond traveller, roaming beyond the seas in search of new things, before she felt in love with the inexperienced, but well-trained Lavin.
As she watched him train everyday, he taught her many fighting tactics used by seasoned warriors of his village.
She also learned the methods of trapping from a raider, which she practiced diligently.
In the village, everyone is skilled in at least one martial arts, as in that time, they were wary of an external threat, namely, an undead horde whom was named The Scourge.
Alas, on a doomed day, the Scourge finally attacked the village.
When the attack happened, Slithice was as usual practicing her trapping skills with the raider teacher, while Lavin was in charge of protecting the front gate.
Lavin fought valiantly, as were the other Orc warriors beside him, charging at the undead with bloodlust.
However, they were vastly outnumbered, and as Lavin watched his comrades fell one by one, he was forced to retreat back to his hut.
When he reached his hut, he could not find Slithice anywhere, as she was still at the raider's hut.
Thus, he hurried to the raider's hut, and he finally caught a glimpse of his beloved Slithice.
But, just behind her, is a frenzied undead ghoul, whom was readying itself to pounce on the unawared woman.
Summoning his last energy, Lavin sprang forward, unleashing his devastating blade skills on the ghoul.
As Slithice turned around to see the commotion occuring behind her, she was devastated.
The frenzied ghoul was too fast for the fatigued young warrior, and was ripping him apart.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" she screamed, as young Lavin was slayed by the claws of the undead being.
She stood there, motionless.
There was nothing she could have done to save him now.
Enraged, she wanted revenge, but at the same time, the sight of the ghoul struck a deep fear inside her heart.
Remembering the words of wisdom bestowed by her mother, "Never fight a losing battle" and "Save the green mountain, no need scare no wood to burn," she sang a song.
The song is actually a powerful incantation that would put all her enemies in the near vicinity to fall into a deep slumber.
She fled the village, and seeked refuge in a nearby town, whom was under the protection of the Sentinel, sworn enemies of the evil Scourge.
From that day onwards, she lent her powers to the Sentinel, and gave her all, in the name of her love, Lavin.
Her new name that she has taken up in the Sentinel is..........
(drums roll......)
Posted at 06:19 pm by alkwhy
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Sunday, October 01, 2006
One small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind
The most famous words from the lunar expedition would have to be those spoken by Neil Armstrong.
Most people had heard the quote, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.''
Indeed, some critics have blamed Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man ...'' in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control. (note the missing "a" in "for a man")
However, Armstrong maintained that he did say the grammatically correct sentence with the "a".
So, now, there's finally an answer for this confusion.
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HOUSTON (AP): That's one small word for astronaut Neil Armstrong, one giant revision for grammar sticklers everywhere.
An Australian computer programmer says he found the missing "a'' from Armstrong's famous first words from the moon in 1969, when the world heard the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.''
The story was reported in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle.
Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man ...'' in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control.
Without the missing "a,'' Armstrong essentially said, "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind.''
The famous astronaut has maintained he intended to say it properly and believes he did. Thanks to some high-tech sound-editing software, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford might have proved Armstrong right.
Ford said he downloaded the audio recording of Armstrong's words from a NASA Web site and analyzed the statement with software that allows disabled people to communicate through computers using their nerve impulses.
In a graphical representation of the famous phrase, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a'' was spoken and transmitted to NASA.
"I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful,'' Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word.'' |
Posted at 10:46 am by alkwhy
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006
For the last few weeks, I have been downloading The X-f*les (name censored to prevent legal action in the future :) using Bitcomet.
It's a 3GB package, and I have completed 89% of Season 1.
After my afternoon nap, I woke up to the amazement of having only 9% completed in Bitcomet. WAT THE BLOODY HELL?!
I looked at the properties of the dl-ed files, it confirmed that only a few percents were downloaded. ZZZZZZz
In the end, I think I found the problem, I have accidentally put the "Internet Temporary Files" folder as the download directory.
Thus, it must have been deleted by ZoneAlarm, or Windows itself, since when "Internet Temporary Files" folder size exceed a certain amount, it will be cleared by ZA or Windows.
ZZZZZZZ.
Luckily Season 2 is still ok, so hopefully can watch Season 2 1st.
Posted at 07:49 pm by alkwhy
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Monday, September 25, 2006
On the way back to Melaka, me and Lord Alv stopped by Yong Peng to fetch Fur Bell and Tortoise.
FurBell: "You know Yong Peng got some famous things or not?"
Ronan: "Eh, fishball lo."
Tortoise: "And?"
Ronan: "And? Hmm...... fishball, and a reptile that could talk?"
Tortoise: "What reptile?"
Ronan: "I thought tortoise is a reptile? And, you are talking now?"
Tortoise: "Zzzzz."
Ronan: "Ok la, enough cold joke, tell me got what other things here la."
FurBell: "Yong Peng here got a famous peanut shop la. It got open branch at KL also one."
Ronan: "Is it?"
FurBell: "Yeah la, we (she & Tortoise) work there last time one. Later you go straight and turn right then can see the shop already. We go down buy something."
Ronan: "Ok."
Tortoise: "But a bit paiseh le. Last time work there one, the boss talks very long one le."
Ronan: "Hmm... Ok, 5 mins after you all go inside, I will horn then you have excuse to come out. Tell him we gan shi jian (rushing for time)."
FB & Tor: "Okok."
Anyway, in the end, we all went to the shop, since me and LordAlv has never been there before.
The shop's name is "Huey Shen Enterprise", and their slogan is "The 1 And Only One in Malaysia".
There were a lot of peanut based products, with free samples (shuang!), and therefore, we had a field day testing most of them.
In the end, I bought 2 things, while LordAlv and the others bought another 2.
The ginger sweets. Tastes a bit spicy, but it's good for the throat. Thanks to FurBell & Tortoise for sponsoring :)
The most famous product, the so called "水晶花生王" (Crystal King of Peanuts). There's two boxes of it in the bag. The products were all handmade.
Btw, can you see the white paper at the top of the box? It's written there "Special" and "Sold only in Yong Peng".
The other peanut product I bought. It's called the "水晶花生王后" (Crystal Queen Peanut)
Btw, who knows how to spell "hua shen" (peanut) in pinyin? I tried "hua shen" and "hua sen", but they are incorrect. zzzzz
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(update) Thanks to ViMing, Sukiyo, Tortoise, and INOEU for the "hua sheng" pinyin. :D
Posted at 04:51 pm by alkwhy
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Monday, September 18, 2006
I have been looking at various loan calculators, and I found that they are not comprehensive enough.
They normally just let you set a fixed interest rate which will be used for the rest of the calculations.
I have done a small excel file which allows the following:
- setting the interest for every year, or according to the BLR.
- showing the cumulative interest, sum paid, interest per year.
It's way more flexible than the programs that I downloaded.
Finally, what I learnt in industrial training (excel) is paying off.
Posted at 02:09 pm by alkwhy
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