Bum no more

Ah, pity, I haven't even grown tired of bumhood. I thought I'd be going nuts by now, going stir crazy from sitting at home. But I've actually managed to fill the month off with various activities. Friend visiting from Toronto, volunteering for the Fringe almost everyday, waxing the car, and driving myself insane worrying about the future. Now what will I do? My internship has been confirmed!

Yup, finally, I've got a job for the next little while. Behind me are the days of academic science. Onward to an office job! Corporate headquarters of a biotech company. Time to see how the other half lives.

Movie review: The 40 Year-Old Virgin

Damned funny! Steve Carrell's uncomfortable style is perfect. The lines are hilarious, and of course with a certain proportion for shock value. The friends are good as well since they all have a bit of a side story and life of their own.

Alot of romantic comedies fill plot with hurdle after hurdle for the main characters to overcome. Serendipity is a good example. It was just plain frustrating by the end and I didn't care if they got together. Thankfully, The 40 Year-Old Virgin kept this to a minimum. The speed was good and it didn't dwell on anything too long.

15/18 stars

Woo, I'm a WINner

Got my WIN (Wildlife Identification Number) Card! Now I can trap furry creatures!

Dust magnets

I've fallen for Swiffer products. I especially like using the handheld duster to clean the nooks and crannies of my car. It's hard to get the dust in between the holes of the vents y'know! Along with the dash, various storage compartments, and map pockets, it's all clean enough to eat off of. I'll kill you if you do though. And now they have this new carpet flick! When will this little beauty come to these Canadian shores?!

They concur!

Yay! I'm not crazy! People agree! Please refer to my post on the 21st, then see these supporting stories that came out recently:

August 24th, New York Times:
Relax, Bill Gates; It's Google's Turn as the Villain

August 26th, The Register:
Google - the new Microsoft?

August 27th, C|Net News.com:
Google gets better. What's up with that?

Random picture (night's life)

Cult of Google

I was just writing an e-mail and I wrote:

Thank god for Google maps.

How interesting I capitalized Google but not god. Does that say something about me, or something about Google? Like a Freudian slip...

Controlling the software market only brought Microsoft to the brink of world domination. The backlash has already begun against its successor, Wal-Mart. They both pervade into everyday life. They control and dictate their slice of the world, be it operating systems or the retail sector. There are believers and there are haters. Then there is the agnostic who have given up and simply accepts their necessary dominance. But they were about market share, and money.

Google deals in information. To eventually organize and mine the sum of human knowledge. It is absolutely incredible what the Google people have done with information. It has been said that genius is the ability to see connections where others see none. This is exactly what Google attempts to do, to make information more useful by creating links between them. So one tidbit leads to another. If a machine processes the sum of human knowledge, will the product be human intelligence? Are we not the sum of our own experience? I am actually scared of what Google may eventually do. How much will it know of every one of us. Yet, I am in love with its utility and impressed with each new function. I cannot look away.

I wonder how 'big' Google will get. Sure it's about market share, but does it count when it created the market? It started in websearch, but has grown so much farther beyond that than its competitors. Even the once ubiquitous Yahoo pales in comparison. Microsoft clings on with its MSN services, but it can't really touch Google. And sure Google is still about money, but not marketing directly to consumers like Microsoft and Wal-Mart. If anything, it uses the 'consumers' like you and I as a renewable resource to produce its products, which it sells to companies and advertisers. The stock has already tripled in value since IPO, to peak over $300USD per share; and this in a time when markets are tanking and some whispered recession.

So will we one day live with Google organizing our thoughts over WiFi? Will we relinquish our memories to it like I have done with this blog? Will we depend on it absolutely? Will it end, or will Google be the one to finally become bigger than God?



It's good to have a place to jot down my rants and rambles. And I expect this one to generate some discussion! So don't disappoint me and leave your thoughs in the comments below!

Feng Shui of DNA

The oldest of my uncles is a real neat fellow. He drove an Alfa Romeo in Hong Kong like a maniac. One of my fondest childhood memories. He's also quite a well respected Feng Shui man. People fly him out to read their homes. He also does personal fortune telling. And it's an art dependant on the stars and complex calendrics. He is quite progressive in his application, having moved onto computerized charts many years ago.

One of the most critical parameters in determining an individual's predicted path is their exact time of birth. So critical in fact, that when I had mine done over 10 years ago, my parent's uncertainty in my hour of birth was the difference between a happy life with friends and success, and one unfulfilled with a bad marriage. Truthfully, I'm pretty sure their "uncertainty" was simply a case of not being able to accept an answer to a question they never should have asked. Knowledge of the future doesn't mean acceptance of it I suppose. Good thing I don't believe in that Chinese superstition. I like to believe I can make my life whatever I want it to be. Why would one want to know about the future anyway? If it really is the future, then there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. But I digress. We're getting off the track of my original story.

Anywho, I spoke to that uncle from Hong Kong today. He had some questions about DNA. I've heard my share of goofy misconceptions, such as how transgenic tomatos are not safe since they have DNA in them. Apparently, the newest development in the Feng Shui field is that instead of making calculations based on time of birth, it should be time that the fetus is infused with DNA. A bit weird, but well within the superstitious constructs of fortune telling. The misconception was that DNA is infused duing a point in time during pregnancy when the pain is the greatest. I had to explain that the DNA is there from the beginning when Harry sperm met Sally egg. Either way, hour of fertilization or hour of the most pain in pregnancy, it's gonna make his calculations a whole lot more complicated and uncertain. Maybe that'll help other parents believe what they want to believe.

Birthday present for me

And it wasn't my birthday. It was my Grandma's 88th. But we're Chinese, so us kids got red envelopes from her full of money. Don't ask me to explain, it's just the way it goes and I ain't complaining.

Fringe-tastic

So I've been volunteering for the Fringe. From the cross-section of folk during the first volunteer meeting, I knew it was gonna be interesting. Young and old, all more into the performing arts than I. I'll have to bring back those old junior high drama club memories.

I helped with the Fringe Parade first. My job was to walk behind one of the cars, a la In the Line of Fire. I was ready to take that sniper bullet. Or cattle prod performers, as was the case of my actual assigned task. I was gonna take lots of pictures, but it was a bit gloomy so few people came out. The ensuing Free-for-All event was more fun. It's the part at the beginning of any Fringe where the performers get to put on a teaser for their shows in the coming week. I was looking forward to seeing it so I can choose something funny to spend my Volunteer Fringe Bucks on. But alas, I was sent backstage to usher performers in line for their five minute sales pitch. This turned out to be quite fascinating though. Everyone from a single woman not in costume, to an 11-member ensemble with their own kitchen sink. To see the nerves and tension before going on stage. To see them mouth their lines and visualize their act. This is their moment to shine.

My main task however is to work on the Fringe Flash, the volunteer newsletter. It's a chance to be creative, and brings back memories of the junior high yearbook club. Yea, I know, I was uber cool back then. But as you can see above, I'm getting the hang of the Adobe Creative Suite. I managed to find a less than legal version for home use. Not illegal, just... not... legal. I've always wanted to learn how to use this professional software suite. There are truly some amazing things that can be done with them. It's hard to be motivated enough to just sit down and learn to use something this complicated, so it's good I have this opportunity to use it in the context of an actual project and goals. Hopefully, I can post some PDFs for your perusal soon!

Fall style

While the previous template style was very cool, with its scrolley goodness, it's time for a change. The PNG graphics were slow to load and processor intensive anyway. So we'll give this subdued basic style a try for a while till I find something funkier.

Movie review: Infernal Affairs III

Woa. It's like the producers read my blog, went back in time and filled in some blanks for me in Infernal Affairs III.

Whereas the prequel (IA2) covered the initiating events that led to the first movie, Infernal Affairs III develops the story in the time frame between and after the first movie. Where I asked for character background of the main moles, this was provided. The undercover cop is seen through flashbacks in his happier days before the first movie, we watch the undercover gangster spiral down.

Again, this installment is really a companion to the series rather than a standalone story. One would likely be lost without having seen the first two. In fact, it has its full impact only if seen in close succession. There is a significant distinction between IA3 and the first two chapters in that this is a completely different genre of movie. The first two are classic ganster movies, a battle between the good guys and the bad. The war takes a back seat in IA3, and only serves as a backdrop for the battle between good and bad within one person. In that way, it has twists like Memento or Fight Club. So for those looking for a multi-chapter story like the Godfather or Star Wars, they may be dissappointed by the shift. I enjoyed the change in perspective, to see the story told from a totally different angle; psychological rather than action-packed.

7/10 again

Just like Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions really make up one movie and must be judged together, I think the IA movies seen together are greater than the sum of the parts.

12/14 for the set

Movie review: Infernal Affairs II

Well, had to see the prequel, especially in this age of prequels. This one's pretty good too, although I'm not sure how it would stand as a movie in itself. But as a companion to Infernal Affairs, it fills in years of history. Gone are the two main actors, replaced by less well known ones to portray their younger versions. Not that it matters, since it's more about the bosses on either side, who start off much greyer than their black and white roles in the first movie. This movie is about how each rises to the top.

7/10

Movie review: Infernal Affairs

A great movie from my homeland, Hong Kong! I rarely watch chinese movies nowadays. I don't recognize any of the new stars, they're often vehicles for promoting pop sensations du-jour, and well, they often suck.

Infernal Affairs is a griping tale of two moles; a policeman in the mob, the other a gangster in the police force. And I checked, they actually meant to use "Infernal" instead of "Internal". And I'm using "griping", not just as a generic movie review term, but it really was! I felt the turmoil in each character as they betray those that trust them, and the race to uncover each other. Can you condemn someone for doing the exact same thing you are?

This is also quite reminiscent of Face/Off, with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage, especially in that one of them is bound by the condition that only very few knows his true identity, and therefore holds the key to his release from this mission. I would have to give Infernal Affairs the nod over Face/Off though. One of the most exciting parts of the movie was watching the cops and robbers battle each other, not with force, but with the intelligence that each mole was providing and shifting the balance of power back and forth. The ending is also worthy of praise, having not taken the cliche happy route.

Highly recommended! It'll be interesting to see the prequel and sequel!

20/23

Car shopping

No, not me, a friend is buying a car. Although I am kinda tempted...

Anywho, went with a friend to test drive cars. Went through the usual Toyota, Honda gauntlets, but he narrowed it down to a Mazda 3 Sport or a Volkswagen Golf. More features or better quality? Low interest and high cost or high interest and lower cost? Will it be Zoom Zoom Zoom or Farfegnugen?




I have also been enlightened to the finer points of leasing a vehicle and newer diesel cars.

Leasing: An increasingly popular alternative. Hard to pass up the significantly lower monthly payments. Sure you don't get to own it afterwards. But lots of people sell their car after the first few years anyway. You get the most trouble free low maintenace years. Very tempting.

Diesel: Gone are the days of stinky loud diesel engines. Sure they're still stinkier and louder, it's not that much more than gasoline engines. May be worth the difference in fuel and maintenance costs! Also very tempting, especially when my car just gulps gas...

Golf-o-rama

Been taking a break from the blog, but don't fret, I haven't left it! Hey, less happens in my life when I'm out of work and am no longer aware of what day of the week it is. Haven't even watched any videos to review!

I have been golfing lots since the friend from Toronto has been visiting. We go way back and dove into the bottomless golf pit together. The only other time I've played in the last two years was in June, for nine holes, in soaking rain.

Riverside: Just 9 twilight holes here, but may as well have been all 18 since the holes at this course are fairly similar. Not easy or anything but definitely gets boring after a while.



Victoria: One of my favorites. Perhaps because I actually got a birdy here once on its signiture uphill hole! Probably one of the best in the city for sure.



Millwoods: Another in the usual Edmonton rotation when we used to golf more frequently. Not a bad course at all, but nothing too fancy either.



Jagare Ridge: Much fancier and snootier place here. Aimed at the country club set. Also a bit expensive, although a cart is included. Basically it's good they made that a mandatory part of the fee since the course would be very difficult to walk due to many many steep paths. The course itself was very nice. It was fairly difficult as well, requiring quite a few well placed tee shots to be safe. Their hotdog buns were also unique. Possibly baked on site.



Black Bull: With accounts of it being one of the most challenging courses in Alberta, it might have been a jewel in the rough. I wasn't impressed. It was nice, but a bit ghetto. Also, holes were hard, but mostly because they're really long rather than strategically hard like Jagare Ridge or Cougar Creek. Quite swampy in parts. Definitely WAY farther out of the city than the 35 min. quoted on their site. No hotdogs to speak of.

Cougar Creek: Probably the nicest course I've been to. Green conditions weren't quite as nice as previously, but the course itself is beautiful. Imaginative holes throughout, right to the last signiture tee off over their lake. Also one of the better hotdog to bun ratios available. Definitely worth visiting again.



I also started using some new golf balls! Neon coloured balls! Not just neon, but the outer covering is also translucent, giving the ball a very unique appearance when the light defracts through the dimpled clear surface. And they're easier to find in the rough, where I play most.



This will probably be it for golf this year, but the planning for the next has begun. Since my friend will be getting married, he's hoping to have the stag at Kananaskis Golf Course. As nice as Cougar Creek is, nothing compares to playing with the backdrop of the Rockies. It was nothing short of magical the last time I was there. This time, gotta hit all 36 holes...

Kinda, sorta, mayhaps

It's like getting a job, but not really yet. I had one more interview today. This time in town at a relatively young biotech/pharmaceutical company. They have amazing offices on the top floor of a building overlooking much of the city. It's hard to put a finger on it, but the feeling of being in a corporate world is a stark contrast to the academic atmosphere. If all goes well, they will be sponsoring my AHFMR internship applications. First rung in the ladder.