Apple vs Creative - Your views?
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
One just left me for Shanghai this morning and the last message I received was at 5.40 am. Sigh.
Will Creative's patent suit sour Apple's core?
Apple's success with the iPod is leaving competitors in the dust, but at least one of them is striking back. Creative Technology Ltd recently filed a patent suit against Apple Computer Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming the user interface in the iPod, iPod Nano and iPod Mini players directly infringes upon a patent used in its own portable media players.
At the same time, Creative asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate whether Apple has violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing and selling iPods and offshoot products that infringe the patent, designated U.S. Patent 6,928,433 and referred to by Creative as the Zen patent.
Creative is asking the ITC to prohibit Apple from selling and importing iPod and iPod Nano products into the United States, as well as bar Apple from marketing and advertising the iPod and related products. Apple assembles its iPods in China, according to its 10-K report.
Apple was the leading supplier of MP3 players in 2005, with 32 million units shipped, according to iSuppli Corp. Creative was a distant second, with shipments of 8 million units. With iSuppli projecting a boom in both unit shipments and sales of MP3 players, the Creative moves may be a desperate attempt to prevent Apple from bolstering its market share, said Chris Crotty, an analyst for the market research firm.
"I'm skeptical about these patents," Crotty said. "I often wonder about suits that have to do with the look and feel of navigation. From a commonsense standpoint, how else can you navigate through electronics, other than menus and selections? It's like types of doors and windows on a house."
Rival plays
Given the soaring popularity of media players and other portable devices, the possibility of other patent suits is very real, said Martin Zoltick, an attorney and partner in the Washington-based intellectual-property (IP) firm Rothwell Figg, Ernst & Manbeck.
"There's a convergence of technologies in portable devices," he said. "Video and other multimedia technologies are finding their ways into cellphones, as is e-mail."
Zoltick believes rival consumer electronics companies, unable to put a significant dent in Apple's MP3 player market share, will try to attack the company at the IP level.
"Companies spend money to build patent portfolios to gain a competitive foothold," Zoltick said. "It is part of the business reason Creative might have decided to enforce their patents."
Creative declined to comment for this article, as did Apple. But iSuppli's Crotty said, "It seems Apple is not taking the threat [from Creative] very seriously."
Best known a decade ago for its SoundBlaster cards, used in PCs, Creative in recent years has also developed a line of MP3 players, including the Creative Zen and Nomad Jukebox models. It was issued the Zen patent for its MP3 player interface last August.
According to Creative's complaint, discussions between Creative and Apple took place as early as 2001. At one point, the two companies executed an agreement enabling Apple to license Creative's driver source code, with Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs hinting the company was interested in a smaller version of Creative's Nomad Jukebox player.
But according to the complaint, talks soon soured, with Apple proposing that Creative not only license its technology but also spin off its portable media player business into a separate company in which Apple would take a stake. Creative refused that offer.
Apple subsequently introduced its first iPod in October 2001.
Crotty is skeptical whether Creative's legal action can generate much traction for the company. "Why did they wait until now to file the lawsuit?" he said. "Maybe this is the end result of trying to negotiate with Apple and not getting anywhere. It reeks of desperation."
Crotty and attorney Zoltick agreed the burden of proof will be on Creative Technology. But Zoltick noted that the decision to file a complaint with the ITC "puts a lot of pressure on Apple. They had better get their defenses ready."
He also noted that Apple previously filed a patent application for an MP3 player interface but that the application was rejected because Microsoft had patent applications covering similar technology.
In a tailspinMeanwhile, even without the added expense and distractions of a patent dispute, Creative has its hands full as it tries to reverse a tailspin. In its most recent quarter, the company posted a $114.3 million loss, which it said doubled the $55 million to $65 million shortfall expected in its April guidance.
Creative blamed the huge loss on falling memory prices, though the company said in a statement at the time that it hoped the trend would also erode Apple's ability to undercut its competitors on volume purchase agreements.
Adding to its woes, Creative's Zen portable players have had some teething pains in the marketplace. The company acknowledged last August that 4,000 of the players had been infected with the Wullik.b worm, a mass-mailed worm code. The company wound up temporarily suspending shipments.
- Spencer ChinEE Times
Yeah. So that's the big issue about Creative sueing Apple and Apple now couter-attacking by sueing Creative.
Many people had their views on it and as adapted from the Digital Life, there was one guy who stood on Creative's side. This all started over the market of MP3 players which Apple is still dominating despite many electronic manufacturers are manufacturing MP3 players . This lawsuit is about banning shipping of IPod and IPod Nano into the US.
Let's compare the Creative Zen Vision:M and the Apple's 30GB player
They're about the same size and the screen size is about the same. Now this is where the difference come in.
1) Sound quality - Creative is well-known for it's Soundblaster cards to produce amazing sound off the computer. This apply for their MP3 players as well. The Creative MP3 players have amazing sound quality and it's better than the IPod Video.
2) Battery life - For the IPod Video, the 30GB version can play up to 14 hrs of music. Zen Vision:M offers 14 hrs of music as well. But there's a difference in video playback. IPod Video only offers 2 hrs of video playback. Zen Vison:M offers 4 hrs of video playback.
3) Screen - Both players have a 2.5 inch screen but the colour screen of the IPod Video's screen is QVGA transflective over 65,000-colour liquid crystal display with white LED backlight. Creative's screen is a 262,144 colour screen which will give crisp, detail detail even under bright lighting.
4) The IPod Video has a changable battery while the Zen Vision:M doesn't. That's a sad point.
5) Zen Vsion:M has a built-in FM tuner and while you have to purchase an extra FM tuner for the IPod Video.
6) Others would be almost the same. Just that Zen Vision:M doesn't have games while the IPod Video does.
People would normally go for the IPod Video cause everyone's owning an IPod. More of the " monky-see-monkey-do " theory. Everyone's having it doesn't mean you have to have it also. Go for the quality one.
Enough said, with all the differences pointed out, what's your choice? Tmr's the PC Show. If you want to get a MP3 player, make sure you do your homework before getting one.
This entry ain't no biasness to Creative or Apple. I love Apple. Not for their IPods, but for the Macs. They're the best editing tool on planet earth you can ever find. Sad thing that they're expensive.
posted by Rod @ 5:29 PM,
Promise Delivered
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
I shall deliver what I promised :
Yeah. That's Lim Pon in the box.
Had the chemistry test today and think I did okay. But I screwed up the first 2 mark question in covalent bonding. Shit. But it's okay, I have the other 38 marks to ensure my survival. The paper was upon 40 marks.
Went LAN with Yong Jie, Yong Quan and another sec 4 guy. Went to play DOTA and I guess I would have to take back my words that I've said before. DOTA's an okay game bah. I have yet to reach the point where I get addicted to it. This is just the beginning.
Something like a CS Deathmatch mode, You'll revive after you die. But only after a few seconds. I teamed up with the Sec 4 guy and we won the match. Actually if not because of him I would have lost. Managed to understand and get hold of the concept of the game and yeah, if I have another chance to play again I would go for it. My character was something started with R which could throw blades to kill and could give out a roar to cripple the opponents defences, then rush up to kill them. Yong Quan told me that he kept dying. haa. I ran away to heal myself when I had a little life left and rush out when I'm healed a little. A strategic game. Much similar to CS just that it's a FPS player game.
Everyone's leaving me now. Student Leaders went to New Zealand, individuals going overseas. All leaving me behind. My trip to Bangkok and Korea is cancelled. haa. The tour agency could not find enough people for the tour so they had to cancel it. YES ARH! haa. I know you people will think I'm weird. Being happy when I can't go overseas. It's cause this trip will clash with my personal stuff, so I'm reluctant to go.
I still have to go to school tmr till friday for some CCA stuff. Going there to be a baby-sitter and make sure the lower sec members behave myself. I don't get CIP hours or CCA pts for that larrh. Waste my time. I would be able to finish at least a quarter of my holiday hmw. It's 9 -12. Didn't expect even a club CCA would get you going back to school in the holidays? Think even Chess Club members don't go back to school for practice sessions for chess.
The PC Show's gonna be from the 1st - 4th of June. This is the only event that I'm interested now. I can't buy anything. But just go there and look around. I know it would be tempting, but what to do? No money what. haa. I'm still hoping for enough money to change my whole com. Stupid slow and retarded com. Fed up.
I'm fatherless and my mum doesn't want to acknowledge my twin. How complicated stuff can be? But I'm still happy that I have a wonderful mum. haa
___________________________________________________________________________
Had a short chat with Cherie before she had a bath and left for the airport to her trip to New Zealand. She sent me a song that she felt was touching and the song was adapted from a video she had watched.
Cherie :
" they showed us a video of this race called iron man
u knw...
like the fittest man/women in the world takes part
they run swim cycle
it was about a father taking part with his handicap son
the son cant walk cant talk and very disabled
but it was his sons ambiton to take part in the race. so the father completed the race together with his son
like draggin his son on the float while swimming
cycling with his son on the back of his bike
running and pushing the son like on this pram like thing
and they best thing is tt they completed it
cus u have to like complete the race within a time limmit
and they did it together "
That was part of the conversation and that was about the video that she had seen. Even though I might not have watched it, but just reading it off my computer screen made me feel touched and there's this feeling came over me.
A father and the disabled son went through everything together. The father knew that it was his son's ambition to complete it, and without holding back he took his son along with him and completed the whole thing. They braved through everything together.
If a father's willing to go through all that together with his son, that proves that nothing can be compared to love. The father loved his son so much that he was willing to risk everything for him, just to achieve his son's ambition. It's love, which driven the father and the son on. It was a competition and they were at the disadvantage, so what? It wasn't about the money, if wasn't about the fame, it wasn't about the attention that a disabled person takes part in the trilathon..
It was all about love. Love between the father and the son.
The song's title is : Redeemer.
posted by Rod @ 6:35 PM,
P6 Camp 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Yeah. Today was the P6 camp and it was totally a blast. Waking up at 5.15 was totally worth while despite the fact that I slept around 11 plus last night. I was hoping for something to happened, in the end found out that someone had prevented it from happening.
My group was called Losers. I didn't name them that. They named themselves that, what'smore, willingly. I had a group of P6 students from schools namely: Kong Hwa, Yu Neng and Temasek, only these 3 schools, if I remember correctly.
It was kind of difficult to get them to talk to each other at first, except for those from their own school. The programme was planned in a way that hoping all of them would get to know each other, so games were planned for them, objective was for them to have fun.
Game : Dragon's Tail
This game was somewhat similar to the " Lao Ying Zhua Xiao Ji " which translated means Eagle catching chick. Most of you should know how to play that game, yeah, so they played it and some of the leaders formed another group and joined in the fun as well. I couldn't capture all of their faces, but I do have one pic. I'll post it up when I change my mind.
Amalina, having fun!
When we were at the assembly plaza, they were being briefed about the game and I cam-whored a lil. Took pictures here and there haa. There were also other photos which I wasn't inside so due to privacy reasons, I shall not post them up here also.
Jing Han came to school for NPCC and there she was at the assembly plaza with us. Made a pact last night to take pics when we're in school, so it was done.
My TWIN
Yeah, she's my twin but yet Rachel doesn't want to acknowledge her. I've finally found my long lost twin after 15 years and we finally reconciled. ahhh. We both have the same retarded smile, according to her.
It's Lynette and the Ding Dong
After the game at the assembly plaza, we headed with the P6 students to the Chem Lab for some experiment. Nicholas and Amirul took charge of the overall experiments and the the P6 students were given a chance to do an experiment that none of us TK students have done before, I suppose. They were given 4 colours of crystals and a bottle of solution, can't rmb what was the solution. The crystals were suppose to grow in time when added to the solution. It was cool, but not as cool as the experiment we did for SPA, the shiny crystals for the result.
This was what I meant
All these were made beforehand. Nicholas performed experiments like burning the magnesium ribbon and the reaction gave out white bright light. The P6 students went " WOAH! "
Then they had some other experiments involving acid and alkali but I wasn't there to see. I was at the back chatting. So I don't know what they were doing.
My hair is still flat despite cutting it a few days ago.
Lim Pon took a pic with Tan Mui Mui
The next programme was Making A Chair in the D&T room. What disappointed me was that I had expected it to be real D&T, as in involving cutting wood and doing finishing, stuff like that. Never did I know that the materials provided were waste wood, clothes pegs and UHU glue. The tube of the UHU glue was like dang small larh. You squeeze 2 times it finishes. Budget
I'll post the pics of what Amirul took in the D&T room with my cam another day.
It was lunchtime and I really ate a lot. In one styrofoam box were fries, 4 chicken nuggets, a small drum stick and a chicken wing. haa. There was also a buffet at the back of the canteen, leftovers cause the people whom the food was ordered for couldn't finish and some adults had to ask us to finish. I took rice. The tau suan looked diluted to me so I didn't take it. I would rather buy tau suan which the beans are like one full bean rather than being grinded into small ones.
After lunch was Scavenger Hunt and the P6 students had to go around the whole school looking for clues to the next had to solve a jigsaw puzzle. All the P6 students had to get their hands tied together with those in their own group with rafia string in this game so as to prevent running around. So while waiting, pics was taken.
Lynette's comments : * censored * I know it looks wrong.
There was also a pic of Lim Pon sitting inside a box. However, I shall not post it so as not to embarrass her.
The last programme was the performace, not really a performance but a cheer competition among the groups in the music room. This was when the real cam-whoring started. The whole time we were taking pics and Lim Pon should be the real culprit. She hogged onto my camera and kept taking.
Cherie and me were comparing our legs. She has a pair of long and slim legs so I was just saying she could be a ballet dancer. So this was the result of the comparing :
A slim and hairless leg vs A muscled hairy leg.
Lim Pon couldn't get enough of the pictures she has taken so she went on and on. And she came out with a couple of dumb and stupid pictures of me. I'm not gonna post some of them up cause I shall use it as a serving of my punishment, but I must first get an approval first
This was what I meant.
Plus this too.
I took this : Sy Jia. This pictures looks good, ya know why? Cause she looks like she's crying and laughing. Of course she's laughing. But that pic made her look like she's crying. Some kind of bland of emotions.
Still remember the jigsaw puzzle I was talking about in the scavnger hunt? The pics were from last year's year book and the pink group, had my pic taken in Computer Club. Lynette then went playing with it and she tore my head out from my body. And she even bit my head off.
That's my head which was between her teeth.
They then started their own jigsaw puzzle : of me.
Just telling you, the body is not mine.
Once again, the body's not mine.
Enough of the stupid jigsaw. They played with me. haa
A group photo, I'm like the only guy inside it?
We continued having fun until they went onto a very sensitive topic: My hairy legs. I know I have hairy legs larrh, okay? Lim Pon cum Professor then said that guys who have lots of hair on their legs and pimples on their face have a lot of male hormones. I felt so manly after that. My hair and pimples have a purpose after all : I'm a MAN.
So then there was a comparison again :
If you can't see properly I'll tell you, I'm the only person there whose legs have hair, I mean lot's of hair. Very prominent.
And so..
My leg was crowned CHAMPION.
Lim Pon shall be known as the photographer for dumb pics.
Zheng Jun. He looks tired.
I was forced into doing this.
And yeah, it was GREAT DAY!
posted by Rod @ 11:00 PM,
Meet-the-oh no!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Meet-The-Parents Session : always the time for nagging, I can't believe I got nagged by a teacher too.
I've found out one thing : Lena Poh's a christian and she's from City Harvest.
Think cause Mr Tchen's having a sore throat and Lena Poh went there to help him say out comments.
I now officially have a TWIN! WE'RE BOTH ALIKE, ain't that right JH? haa.
P6's camp gonna be tmr and I'll have to be in school by 6.45. This is worse than normal school days. But I'm willing to sacrifice anyway. Hope to be able to make new friends there. haa. It's like 1 whole day with them.
There's nth much I want to say now as I'll need to be at the bus-stop at 6.35. which is so freaking early. I'll be like a zombie.
posted by Rod @ 10:00 PM,
Now I seem to lack stuff to blog about.
June Holidays aren't supposed to be called " holiday " at all. Today's the 2nd last day of sch and there're already so much hmw to do throughout the holidays. It's only E maths and A maths. Can already kill one whole week.
Going to Korea from 8 days. I don't see what's nice in Korea also. For me I'm the more of the rooted to the ground kind instead of soaring high in the sky. I'm those who don't like the feeling of leaving somewhere where I'm deeply grounded in. That's just me. I'm going to miss the combined service at Parkview Square larrh! Piang eh. That's what I'm unhappy about.
Now I'm really wondering, am I someone who's really very friendly and my looks don't scare people away? haa. I think so.
My barber talked to me like a friend today. I've known him for quite some time, cause I would always go to him for a flat-top cut.
This was what he told me :
Barber : You know, I've striked 4D first prize. 3rd time. Ever since I opened my shop here, I've striked 3 times. 1st and 2nd time starters, now 3rd time 1st prize.
Me : woah. that's impressive.
Barber : I'm like your permanent barber now. I don't think I'm moving. Holiday's next week right?
And sometimes he would ask me whether my father's at home, have I eaten and stuff like that. Okay, please don't try to kidnap him or rob him just because he won first price. haa. If you do I will have no one else to cut my flat-top and my hair will turn to an afro for about half a year. Cause I need to go around the whole Singapore to find a good flat-top barber.
Couldn't watch today's Talent Search. I was in the COE doing D&T IPW and I ran out of the COE without asking permission when I saw Ming Jie started dancing. He's great and has a potential. I'm not saying this in a sarcastic way, I'm serious. His dance was great, with the chair he had on stage with him.
Another performance was a group of Malay guys singing this song, I don't know what's the title but it went : Holiday!
And the rest of the song I couldn't hear anything except Holiday! Not that I'm saying they sang badly, it's blaming the sch's sound system. It's too budget and cheap to even hold a performance properly. With just 2 pathetic speakers drilled to the front wall, left and right, how much effect can you make to enrich the sound?
Even my primary school could afford 4 small speakers at the back of the hall despite not being an autonomous school. They don't have extra funds.
So the conclusion is this : TK's still poor. Neh mind, maybe about 1 year plus more and I'll bid good-bye for a much better-facillitated school.
posted by Rod @ 7:21 PM,
Quoted from Ronald : If you want a post, you must be willing to sacrifice your time.
It's really true, ain't it? Some people don't blog because they have no time while others blog due to the lack of posts. Others just simply have no time to blog.
Well, if you are committed to something, you definitely must make time for it, despite of what the circumstances may be. It kind of difficult to be totally 100% committed to something. In life, we each have our own different stuff to face and handle and we're being put in a different situation to handle and a different world in living.
I did say it's difficult, but I didn't say it's impossible. That's the difference.
I didn't expect myself to be playing soccer with church people today. It happened.
I was put in a great team with Ivan, the only person in the team whom I know his name. The others I weren't sure. I might be friendly but there are still people out there that I have yet to know.
St. Wilfred Stadium, carpet grass. When I left there was a soccer match that was about to start. Official refrees were there and I assumed it to be the S-League. Not many spectators were there as it was a stadium, but of course there still were, but all sitting on the at the side and benches watching. I wonder if the refrees got booed at and called " Kayu ".
I hope so. Otherwise it ain't an exiciting match. If not you will see the game going smoothly.
I burnt part of my skin at the heel of my left leg and part of it came off. haa. So now I have 1 exposed wound. And I still have a scar on my left leg, not forgetting it.
It is said that girls don't look nice with a scar while guys must have at least 2 - 3 scars. Girls with scars are known as being rough while guys with scars are known as macho, no scares known as sissy. It's some kind of " oldfolks tales " which spreaded around. What do you think of this statement? Agree or Disagree?
There's an encore telecast of the Singapore Idol 2 Auditions on Channel 5, which many people around Singapore had a great laugh about.
1) Campfire in the moonlight / Can't fight the moonlight
2) The Trench Coat
3) Kung Fu Rapper vs Singapore Cow Boy
4) Nong Nong Ago ( this is dang funny )
5)Hullahop Guy
6)The lady with passion: She sang " Hero "
7) The guy who held the longest note ( I believe I can fly aiiii, aiii, aiii, aii )
8) The guy who put too much lip-gloss ( wanted to be the next Sly Sim )
9) The mirror boy ( she, sorry I mean he, looks like a girl )
We were making fun of no. 4 during A maths lesson and Miss Wang got very intense over it. Apparently, she hated it.
posted by Rod @ 9:28 PM,
Mrs Chee can definitely teach better than Mrs Tan. Even if those not thought by her would even agree with me on this statement.
I can't believe that I understood the topic on bonding and structure very clearly, crystal-clear, with just relying on the teaching of Mrs Chee. No wonder the seniors say that Mrs Chee is a fantastic teacher. She jokes and teach well at the same time, unlike Mrs Tan.
With her that monotonous voice, slow talking, I can easily sleep in class. Even though it's after exams, there's still lots of work to do.
Now I have to set up a stall selling food or drinks on the TK Golden Run day. haa. We shall see on that day. Have to plan things out during the June Holidays.
When I was returning home today, Amalina was just telling me the impression that she had for me in the past. Guess what she said?
A person who always dao people and looks very fierce, what'smore she actually hated me. haa. And when she saw my name on the class list last year for 3C' 06, she was like, " Oh Man. "
haa. But there's no hatred between us now. Maybe it's because she misintepreted me in the past. And she didn't know the reason why she felt that way. haa. And Yong Jie told me that I look like some big size JI member. I mean, I'm not that tall. I just looked buffed and big size. I'm not suprised how people who didn't know me felt that way about me.
But I can assure you that I don't dao people now. Seriously.
posted by Rod @ 5:48 PM,
20 May 2006
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Just felt like updating cause it was quite a fruitful day for me today.
So I went to school in the morning, for a dry-run of the P6 camp on the following Saturday. Not many people turned up, and I nearly didn't want to go cause I was almost late, waking up at 7.45 when it suppose to start at 8.
I know, kinda of early. so I suppose the rest who didn't turn up were actually still at home sleeping. For the dry-run we were suppose to be the participants for the games and yeah, tried a couple of them. Everyone had fun until the scavenger hunt part. Cheryl was complaining and I'm not suprised, cause it's like we study in TK and the clues that were given made the location of the next clue so obvious to us. But that wouldn't be the case for the P6 students.
So after the dry-run went out with Nette, Cheryl and Amelia for lunch.. Or was it breakfast? I don't really know actually. Went to Macs and had a couple of laughs and jokes. Lynette was just saying that when she was young, as in baby, didn't have much hair and as she grew up, hair started growing fast. While, I had the same problem too.
When I was young, the hair on my head was just like a coconut tree, or should I say palm tree? very little hair and it was in the middle. And as time passed by, hair started to grow trememdously and some of you might have seen my EZ-link card, I had the umbrella-style. My hair grows fast. That's why I cut the flat-top style to ensure that my hair's being cut to the shortest and keeping in style at the same time. That's why I'm unwilling to change my hairstyle. It's going to stay with me for the rest of my life, we'll see.
And everyone, look out for the Monday's Issue of the Newpaper!
It's going to be amazing and I'm going to buy it. There's an advertisement that you should look out for!
The moment that you do not ignite will pass away into eternity and will never be remembered again.
Everyone has a moment in their lives, the past, that they want to remember for the rest of their lives. It's something that had made an impact that you want to remember it, that you will never want to forget it.
I have so much that I don't ever want to forget. I back up my smses on the com, back-up the contents in my com eg. pcitures of my class on a regular basis. Why do I do that? Cause I don't want to lose them. They all mean a lot to me and each of them has a sentimental value to me. I value them, that's why I do that. I save every single conversation that I have on msn. Why? Cause I treasure every word that has been typed in the conversation window. They all mean something, in a way or another, to me.
Many moments of my life had been ignited. I remember those who were there for me in times of trouble, need. But of course I don't take all these for granted. I clearly remember. Maybe 5, 10 years down the road all of us in TK whom we once knew each other, chatted with each other, spent time with each other, would be seperated and going about our own lives. May not be that far, 2 years later it will eventually happen, whether you like it or not, it's gonna happen.
All we have is this much amount of time. It's all up to you on how you wanna go about doing it.
__________________________________________________________________________
I had a belated Mother's Day Dinner at my grandmother's place tonight. And I have this baby cousin who's the limelight of every single gathering that we have cause he's cute. He got to sit on my lap twice. As you know, toddlers hardly feel tired when they're around a group of people. And this was no exception for him.
It's really cute to see him jumping and running around. He's breave also. Trying stuff from eating hot chilli which is meant for satay. A beensprout actually fell into a plate of chilli and out of his curiousity, he put the beensprout into his mouth. You should've seen his facial expression. Didn't manage to capture an image of that cause he was around my aunts and uncles so it was kind of crowded. Then he went on trying to drink Coke. A toddler had actually got hooked on to it and it was a sad thing as they can't drink much due to the caffine content. I felt sad for him, cause 1 can of Coke for me is nth.
Tried to take pictures of him but couldn't cause he's always not facing me. sigh. But I do have smth.
He gave me a blur-look cause I used my camera phone equiped with flash. He got amazed cause to him, it was an object which was capable of emitting light.
Sad and pitiful look, could you ever imagine how he would look like when he wasn't given the Coke?
Mr Brown's podcast has been increasing popular especially after the edition of the one about the Bar Cho Mee, in conjunction with the James Gomez Affair. If you have not listened to it, please go here. He's really a very funny guy, and do listen to the edition about the advertisement of the Visa card. The podcast was about going to the market but got disappointed upon knowing that the birds were sold out, blaming the ang moh who bought them all.
I shall end here and my dear readers, take care!
posted by Rod @ 11:29 PM,
posted by Rod @ 11:05 PM,
I'll just type a short post for today. A very short one.
Can't wait for the Primary 6 camp. Went there to help out and we even had to fill in the past and the history or the achievements of TK into our brain just in case the P6 students were to ask us.
Science Talent Class and so on. I'll maybe just say something: Come into TK, and make you sure you pray very hard that you will get Mr Tan Kee Hoe as your Chemistry Teacher in Upper Secondary. And if you get Mrs Tan, I feel sorry for you.
And also, D&T is fun! the camp had even stuff like making a small chair using wood provided by D&T room. I guess I would be helping them make instead of them making it themselves? haa. Better don't, integrity is one of the school values. We were termed as the " Ambassodors " of TK. Heck, I don't care about that anyway.
Sometimes we have to pay a price for doing something that we enjoyed doing. But somehow, payback time will always come. Sigh, I got mine. You all will have to look out on what it is. I will still have to post it up here anyway. Cause that was my punishment.
posted by Rod @ 9:48 PM,
I just don't know why I keep running into teachers recently. Miss Gwendoline Lim was whom I saw this afternoon, at City Hall MRT Station. Just at the entrance of Citylink. She didn't teach me before but she somehow recognises me so I said hi.
I would be glad if that flow keeps on going and flowing. Eventually one day, hopefully, would be able to see Mr Tchen with his wife and children. Apparently, I don't know whether it's a girl or a boy cause I'm not interested to know about his life. But it would be great to see what kind of woman would Mr Tchen marry and what kind of women would have fallen for Mr Tchen. By saying this, I can prove it to you that every woman would be very fortunate to have Mr Tchen as a husband as he's labelled by girls as the " Mr Nice-cum-Cute Guy " .
However, he wasn't that nice today, raising his voice and shouted at the people making noise outside the classroom. Bet that many girls got scared.
Another thing from Amirul's blog, stated something that he didn't had the heart to tell me what Cherie said. In this case, I would say that, you know, I would not want to know as since they didn't tell me, which means they didn't want me to know. So, I won't pursue ; but whatever it is, I don't see myself getting affected by it. Another thing, I told him to take something down from his blog. And yeah, thanks Amirul and I appreciate it. Just a little explaination: It's personal and I don't wish it to be publicised or else tongues will start wagging. And when they start wagging and I hear stuff which are being made up, it will piss me off badly. So ain't it a good way for peace in both parties?
Yeah, so let's not got to there shall we?
I don't wish to elaborate on my results. It has been quite a day for me. Knowing almost all of my subjects except for some. D&T and Geography Elect. will be tmr. Thursday is a holiday so I guess no Social Studies for me? So will only get that on Friday.
Well, I've nth much to say now.
posted by Rod @ 6:37 PM,
EDS night 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
I'm actually blogging around 12 plus, which is already a Sunday. But this post should be remembered for a Saturday. haa
Had a great time today with 3 other people, namely : Amirul, Lynette and Cherie That was for an EDS performance at Dunamn High. Before I go into that, there's something I must boast about, here it goes :
I saw Miss Sri, Miss Erma and Miss Low at Suntec today. They didn't spotted me. That's why I had this backview photo of them. Besides that, I saw Miss Evelyn Koh, together with Miss Goh and Mr Wee walking together. Do the both groups of them know that they're at the same location or they didn't know anything at all? Sad that I didn't take a pic of Miss Koh. She and the rest walked so fast.. Ahh, can't even take a photo now that she has left TK. Ahh.. Speaking about the EDS night, it went okay and yeah, quite fun cause Amirul and me were like joking about this pervertic guy all the way. Yes, I did take photos. However, due to some personal reasons and consequences that will take place if I ever post the photos up, I will make a loss and fail in the IPO management system. This kind of things take time, only Amirul knows what I mean.
Actually, not all the photos can't be posted.
Cherie took this.
I don't know what's Amirul doing.
Please do not try this at home
They made me do the " Saturday Night Fever " pose.
Yeah, and now what I want to clarify is that : I explain things about what Amirul said.
Okay, June is a primary school friend of mine who asked me out for this concert. She wasn't sitting with me, she performed. So what happened was I bought tickets from here and the lady-who-calls-herself- Sexy Lady came over with me to see the " transaction " being made. And from there, she started saying stuff that has no logic at all.
And everyone knows when one starts saying, the other two will agree and follow on. That was exactly what happened. For I say again, June is just a friend of mine and there's nth between us besides friendship.
However there's one thing I can't deny. Man, Cherie was hot that evening.
Amirul said that I always wear a shirt inside before going over with the normal shirt. Look let me tell you, if had not been for the black shirt, I wouldn't have the chance to take the white shirt off and let someone else use it. See? It's such a perfect plan!
P.S Cherie : Sweet November is indeed hotter than sexy June.
posted by Rod @ 11:59 PM,
Just some replies to tags.
Rachel : Oh. I didn't know that. I'm the newbie in this business. But I don't think I'll buy the next issue. I'm not addicted to it.
Jing Han : Me turning into a girl? haa. That will nenver happen. haa. I will kena disicipleship before that happens. Make everyone feel worried for me. Buying mags doesn't really make you a girl. If I'm not wrong Amirul buys mags also, but don't know what's the title of it.
Amirul : I was just playin' lah. Don't mean it at all. haa.
Yeah, so now I'm no longer going to update about the CCA Leadership Camp cause Amirul's doing a good job for that and I don't want to steal his business. haa. Just kidding. I'm just pure lazy. But yeah, he's really doing a good job for that. Make my com lag on his blog for about 2 secs.
I have the urge of posting this. I just love the way he poses.
Yeah, and I love Amirul too. haa. He was just saying that he misses me the way I am in class. I guess I have to disppoint him now. I've changed.
The hyper me in 1E and 2E during lesson and outside curriculum time isn't in me now. It still is.. But not as hiong. Let me explain myself : Yeah, in 1E and 2E, half the time in class I was cracking jokes and laughing. Now, sadly to say, I'm no longer that. I still am..
Urrr.. Wait.. Let me think of another way to say it. Okay, I still am. But just cracking jokes with the people around me, esp Lim YongG. Then what'smore I'm secluded in one area : I sit at the window. Not bad seat lah, I'll be the first one which the wind would blow.
I'll stop here. haa. Happily chatting with Rachel. Wa Lao.. She and that gorgeous yong lady were at Marina Square larh. Amirul, such a waste!
posted by Rod @ 11:43 AM,
CCA Leadership Camp
Thursday, May 11, 2006
I've took down my previous post cause Amirul said I've spoilt it. Yeah, so took it down.
Yeah, so I'll skip the front part. Went bowling with the 2E guys and it was totally rocking. haa. Had a lot of fun and laughter.
Next time I shall keep quiet. Don't post or else will spoil everything. Just kidding.
This post will be about the CCA Leadership Camp. Just got the pics and I was bored, so edited it out of pure fun. haa
And one thing to clear, I was trying to see how many people I can trick in one day. Looks like I've tricked 7 guys by telling something which was not true. haa. Amirul was one of my victim for the day. We were all talking and talking until the topic was Guo Xi and I've learnt something new today.
Heard that he was the one who drove Miss Koh out of the school, as in scared her away until she left. Now, how true is that? I don't know. I shalln't say much or else Guo Xi will kick my S'pore butt on Monday. haa
Some of the pictures here are repeats that appeared on Amirul's blog. I didn't know that he was going to blog on that too.
Mr Tchen is in this photo. Girls SCREAM!
I admit that I was playing with leaves. haa
That's Terence, Nicholas, Wei Jie and Guo Xi ( anti- clockwise )
Check It Out! ( Hint : Lynette )
Look! There's money falling from the sky!
The last group pic taken for the camp
Heyy Mr. Singh, I'm gonna turn off so tell me when you're done, kay?
posted by Rod @ 11:25 PM,
A'ight. This shall be my first post after the mid-years.
Maybe elaborate something about the exams today before elaborating on what happened after that.
Chemistry, I should say, that it's one of the most difficult paper of all. Not everyone finished the paper though. I didn't complete my graph question in the Section B. Ahhh, so screwed. This is the first time that I feel that physics is so much easier than chemistry. I can tell ya that 3A people will think otherwise. They will say that both papers are easy.
SPA was kind of simple and difficult at the same time. Chemistry was easy, I mean, we all have done the experiment before. Just that this time the apparatus were different, not all, just some.
Physics was the worse. Everyone's answer was different. I got my k for a postive value. What to do? I didn't spot the eqn: ( d = ki + c ) as a Maths formula. So I threw in the 1/n = sinc formula. found n as the gradient from the graph. I was correct at first. I should have just stopped my working there. Yet, I was dumb enough to sub my value of n that I've found into the 1/n = sinc formula and calculated for the value of c. Next, I sub in the values of d, i and c into the general equation. My k somehow ended up to be 3.03.
Mr Tchen then said that, " This is an O'level Cambridge Paper. But don't worry. We teachers will try our best to do something to help you. But if you do not take this SPA seriously, there's nth much that we can help you " Seriously, I think you should know what they meant. I don't wish to say here or else I could be suspended from blogging, being sued by Cambridge.
Today's bowling with the guys was great. Just needed that to relieve some of the stress in me. I'm so gonna burn a hole in my pocket soon now that the exams are over.
Maybe just wanna clear something. I don't have any good photoshop skills. All I do is to edit photos. But not creating them. Photoshop is about the creation of photos, as well as editing.
posted by Rod @ 5:52 PM,
Sometimes I really wonder. Am I just slow or others are doing much faster than me?
A Maths Paper was okay today. Just that I wasn't sure of my answers especially for surds. My brain wasn't working well though.
Why? Cause I have D&T Paper after the A Maths. Everyone went home at 9.06, I went home at 12. D&T Paper just suck big time. I spent don't know thousands of minutes on a 5 mark question, drawing and sketching and adding notes to it. Stuff like examples of Ferrous and Non-ferrous metals I couldn't remember and when I was asked to state a suitable material of plastic, I just threw out whatever word that came to my mind. Others got it correct while I think I'm the ONLY dumb idiot.
Watch this.
Name a non-ferrous metal which is an alloy.
Ans: Brass
My Ans: Stainless Steel ( stainless steel is a ferrous metal )
Name the composition of it
Ans: Copper + Zinc
My Ans: 98% steel, 2% iron. ( wrong composites )
Even if my ans for the first one is correct, I would have got the second one wrong. Cause this is the composition of Stainless Steel : iron + 0.2% carbon + 18% chromium + 8% nickel. See what is it like to study D&T? Man, you even have to remember all these details. Core Geography don't even ask you what is the larva made of and what are its composites.
Many Core Geography students complained of how sick it is and they want to drop it. Woah, please don't do so. You haven't seen what's D&T like yet. We don't just play with tools and machines, don't forget we have theory to study too.
My brain just got stuck until I couldn't even remember the tools name although I know how to draw it. I had to draw an odd-leg caliper, but the question stated that we had to sketch one tool which is able to locate the centre of a rod. So I drew the odd-leg caliper but didn't know what is it called. So from a 3 marks question. At most I get is 2. See how dumb I was now?
So after the test I went around checking on other people on how they fared. First one was Yong Quan and this was what he said:
" I still had 1 hour left after doing the paper. "
I could't finished and left the last 6 mark question partially done and that was what he told me. 1 hour left? the freaking paper was 2 hours, and he finished the paper within 1 hour.
Second person was Wei Rong. This guy is a perfect genius. For the test each of us had to take 5 pieces of writing paper, same as Core Geography and History Elective. This guy not only finished the paper, he had one extra paper to draw on.
Not only one drawing, but the whole page was filled with drawings. So I guess he passed his art last year and was able to sketch well for D&T. Freak, why does almost every stage in my life have to revolve around drawing? Does it kill not to draw for a day? I had enough in primary school and Tan Mui Mui had to fail me in Sec 2. Is the government so desperate to find artists in S'pore? I feel like going to the rally and telling Minister Of Education off, too bad that it was during the examinations period. Why don't he draw something for me to see first then come and tell me whether art should be done in Secondary Schools.
Ridiculous.
Back to the topic as I was saying, one funny part about it was that Lenny's phone rang during the exam. He should count himself lucky that it was outside the classroom or else he could be accused of cheating. But I guess that Mr Tchen was kind, went out of the classroom and helped him turn it off. The song was loud that everyone heard it, some song I heard on the radio but forgot the title.
Tmr's A maths Paper 2 and MT Paper 2. I hope I won't scrw it up this time. My D&T can be officially counted as " No Hope Already Lah " Paper. Man, I can't wait for just 2 more days. So near yet so far.
More sick things about D&T
1) I heard that we might have to go back to school on Thursday to hand in our folio for marking. [ Thursday is a marking day, a day for me to rest, play, have fun and enjoy. Do you think I will go back to school for that, seriously? Come'on man. ]
2)Heard that we have D&T IPW on Wednesday. The last shift of SPA ends at 3, and that's the last day of the exams. [ What makes you think I would stay back for that? PCK's quote during SAR's period : " Use your brain lah ! " ]
I just can't wait for the next issue of the 8 Days to be out!
posted by Rod @ 4:30 PM,
Ahh.. yes. People are just talking about how retarded and stupid the paper was. Cause they didn't learn nor study what had came out for the paper today.
Merger and Seperation.
Precisely, I nearly became one of the claimed idiots after the paper to study Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka. All thanks to Mrs Tan Tsui Fang. She isn't a bad teacher afterall. She gives clues. A mindmap about whether the merger was a success or a failure, done nicely by her and printed out, got into the hands of her students and Yes, the answer to the essay question for the day. Saying all these might make you think i studied and able to score high for it, but to tell ya, I didn't really study it at all.
It just couldn't enter my head!
My class is interesting for today, should I say everyday. I don't know about yours. As the papers were passed down the rows and even before we wrote our names on the question paper, what was everyone's first reaction to it?
Ans: Turn to the last page and check out what was tested for the essay qn. Have a good laugh and swear silently at those who told you not to study for Merger & Seperation as it had already been tested so many times or swear at yourself for being stupid enough not to study that.
And the next thing you know everyone's hands have already started moving. This paper would also make your hands ache and you find yourself flicking it a few times before continuing writing. Amirul complained of that for his Geography paper. It would be my turn soon, for my D&T paper. Stated: " I could imagine Roderick taking this Geography ". Yeah, I know I can't draw, so relax, but I can draw D&T stuff, not art. I don't know what Geography students have to draw anyway. Rivers, valleys, mountains.. I'm not a pure Geography student. And I failed my art in Sec 2 too. Don't ask me.
ManHood
Just look at how much hair is gone when I shave. Poor thing.
Yeah, and also, I didn't expect to see the sickest thing in my life hand-written on pieces of paper. It's in words, not pictures or drawings. Sick. A product from the Chicky Club. Beware that it might try to claim innocent lives. Not all the members, but only one sick guy. So sick that once you read you will have an enlightenment on who it is. SICK.
posted by Rod @ 7:10 PM,
Just wanna update a lil. I need not turn up for school tmr! YAY! others will be doing their Pure Geography, Literature and Biology papers in the morning while on the other hand I'm still sleeping till the sun shines on my butt. haa. This is the first time ever happened in Education history for me. Need not turning up on a weekday during the examinations period. Sad thing though, that I have to stay back on Monday for my D&T paper while the others are back home mugging away for the paper on the next day.
I totally busted myself for the E. Maths paper today. Mind went blank, forgetting my formulas and staring at questions for a couple of minutes, and yet still no answer got into my head. Paper 2 was just crazy. All thanks to some stupid hint that Mr. V. Tan gave that the paper will be almost similar to the last year's paper. Such a cunning teacher, just can't wait to see my fail and say " Hi " to me for his remedial.
Hmmm.. Maybe I'll share an experience of mine now since I need not sleep early.
Magazines like 8 Days, Lime.. Are all mostly targeted at female teenagers and adults. Guys like me however don't get hooked up with them cause there's nth interesting inside ( to us ) and nth much catches our attention.
So I entered 7-11 to get a copy of the latest 8 Days ( tell ya why later ), and normally they will put all the magazines on this shelf. Being a normal person, I turned to the guy wearing the red shirt instead, cause I didn't see it there. Basically the reason why I specified the colour of the shirt (the other is green) is because in 7-11, different shirt colour mean different positions, as in "ranks". So I wasn't sure of whether was he the cashier or smth.
Me: Do you have a copy of the 8 Days?
Guy: Yeah, it just came yesterday.
*he takes a copy from the shelf at the behind the counter*
Me: How much is it?
Guy: $2.
Me: *thinking* HUH?
I thought he was talking Gibberrish or some other funny language. What shot through my mind was that, " A magazine for S$2? You gotta be kidding me. Am I on Gotcha or smth? "
Being a typical noob and newbie in buying magazines like this, I'm unaware of the market price of them. I've nvr bought one in my life before. Guys who are tech geeks or follow-up with tech stuff would be aware that a tech magazine can easily cost up to S$12 and above. That was why I didn't believe.
My first magazine ( tech exceptional )bought in my entire life.
Mission Impossible 3. I can't wait to watch it, including X-Men 3 : The Last Stand. ahh, that would be the last movie for X-Men. Flipping here and there, nth much but mostly advertisements. like Nokia N91 ( Ahhh.. I want N92 ). Design your own shoe contest and so on. Magazines will not be what they are without advertisements, same theory applies to teach mags as well.
Boxers even appear on advertisements. ( assorted designs, just like chocolates )
Allright, here comes the serious part now. * Drum Roll*
It's Red Rain. It even went on 8 Days. They've been playing for 8 years and played 140 concerts last year in 21 countries. So right now I'm spreading the news of good stuff that you shouldn't miss. Tickets are free, I bet you guys will be tempted to go. Ain't it a nice way to start off your holidays by attending a concert?
posted by Rod @ 11:08 PM,
A Shout To All My Friends Out There!
Thanks for visting my blog even though it's the examinations period. haa
I've nth much to update about. Probably at the end of everything then i shall type a post about the examinations. but of course, I do have smth to say :
It's Red Rain!
Exams are already over for a long time and this will be a good way to start your holidays. Be expected to be blown away by their music and it's a great way to get yourself in the holiday mood.
Approach me for further details and for the tickets. Don't miss it. =)
posted by Rod @ 7:37 PM,
