Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Firts time Hawaii food
I had Hawaii food for the first time a week ago with Carol in Mahalo Hawaii BBQ (4750 Almaden Expwy, San Jose). After looked at the menu, I thought I was at the a Japanese joint... Katsu, gaint sushi with spam(what it's called?)... Anyway, I got the combination grill - it's quite nice actually, jucy and tasty. Carol got the giant sushi ;-) I had a bite of the gaint sushi - I'd say, I much prefer the lil ones... Is this Hawaii food, or is this fusion? Or is it both?
Working...
The boss fired the designer a while back, so I'm the only one working on the UI, from design to implementation. Been working on the next gen stuff for a while. I've come up with a lot of new ideas, and made drustic changes - not only the lok and feel but also the way how users interact with our product. I'm quite happy with the way it's going, it's way better than the current design. Current one is plagued with design flaws - not my fault, and I didn't design it, actually I pointed out the flaws but the PM and manager didn't listen... Now, they just leave me alone to do my work. The current statistics presentation is horrible, everything is listed on the page, in a loooong list. How the hack the previous designer came up with this crap?!
In the new design, the differnt sections are broken down to tabs. We track the statistics by HTTP response codes, instead of listing all the numbers for each code. I made summary for each type of code, i.e all the 1xx codes going into a row - kinda like summary or subtotal. And if user click on it, it will expand to show the details - individual statistics for each code. Not only the numbers are there, but they are nicely shown in a bar chart as well - for the subtotals. For subtotal/summary, when expended, there're bar charts as well. The page is alot more readable and clean now.
In the new design, the differnt sections are broken down to tabs. We track the statistics by HTTP response codes, instead of listing all the numbers for each code. I made summary for each type of code, i.e all the 1xx codes going into a row - kinda like summary or subtotal. And if user click on it, it will expand to show the details - individual statistics for each code. Not only the numbers are there, but they are nicely shown in a bar chart as well - for the subtotals. For subtotal/summary, when expended, there're bar charts as well. The page is alot more readable and clean now.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Downgrading computer
People usually upgrade their computer, but I'm downgrading...
I just recently upgraded my computer to a AMD 4800+ dual core processor, and replaced all my old HDDs(250x2, 60x2) with a single Western Digital 500GB SATA2 16MB cache drive(sepcial edition WS5000KS). Not that I ran out of HDD space, it's just those HDDs are aging, all of them are PATA, and I want to migrate to faster drives, and free up some cluters. The WD5000KS is also very quite. OK, that's the upgrade part :-)
I wasn't thinking about changing anything else, since they work great. My ATI X800 XL video card handles any game I throw at it, even Oblivion with all eye candies to max. I only experience slow down when running through the field with alot of trees and grass, especially when the day time changes - switch between day and night, and foggy days. So, I don't see why I should change anything else. However, lately I got fed up with crowling under my desk, plug/unplug USB cables for my Thecus YES Nano. So, I decided to change to a Micro ATX case, hence the downgrade... I'm changing from my Antec Sonata. Good thing I got rid of my old HDDs, otherwise they won't fit into a Micro ATX.
The case I'm looking at is the Ultra MicroFly, it's small, and fits any Micro ATX, and with lotsa drive space. Althought, I only have 2 HDDs now: 500GB WD and a 74GB 10K RPM SATA Raptor(my boot drive). But, I'm planning to get another WD5000KS to create a RAID 1(mirror). Why RAID 1? Well, the past year or so, I had a couple of drive crashes, and the data recover costed me about $1,000. And not all data are recovered, actually most are lost - including my precious travel photos, and my Star Wars Galaxies screenshots... :-< I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, twice.... I definitely learned a lesson, and all my friends are taking precautions too. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed at the mean time.... since all my data is on the single 500GB drive.... hope nothing will happen before I get my 2nd WD5000KS.
Since I'm "downgrading"...I need to change MB as well...bummper, should have done it together with my CPU upgrade... Anyway, the Micro ATX MB is a lil harder to get. There're plenty of mATX MB, but I have specific requirements.
First, I need at least 3 SATA connectros(2 for RAID 1, 1 for boot drive), so that ruled out alot of MBs that only have 2 SATA connectors.
Second, the SATA needs to be SATA2(3GB/s) instead of 1.5GB/s one.
Third, I need A PATA for my DVD drive. Some MB I came across, don't have PATA...
Looking at the online e-tailers, most of them don't even have these in stock, so my selections are quite limited. I'm holding out a lil longer, since the Black Friday is almost there...
I just recently upgraded my computer to a AMD 4800+ dual core processor, and replaced all my old HDDs(250x2, 60x2) with a single Western Digital 500GB SATA2 16MB cache drive(sepcial edition WS5000KS). Not that I ran out of HDD space, it's just those HDDs are aging, all of them are PATA, and I want to migrate to faster drives, and free up some cluters. The WD5000KS is also very quite. OK, that's the upgrade part :-)
I wasn't thinking about changing anything else, since they work great. My ATI X800 XL video card handles any game I throw at it, even Oblivion with all eye candies to max. I only experience slow down when running through the field with alot of trees and grass, especially when the day time changes - switch between day and night, and foggy days. So, I don't see why I should change anything else. However, lately I got fed up with crowling under my desk, plug/unplug USB cables for my Thecus YES Nano. So, I decided to change to a Micro ATX case, hence the downgrade... I'm changing from my Antec Sonata. Good thing I got rid of my old HDDs, otherwise they won't fit into a Micro ATX.
The case I'm looking at is the Ultra MicroFly, it's small, and fits any Micro ATX, and with lotsa drive space. Althought, I only have 2 HDDs now: 500GB WD and a 74GB 10K RPM SATA Raptor(my boot drive). But, I'm planning to get another WD5000KS to create a RAID 1(mirror). Why RAID 1? Well, the past year or so, I had a couple of drive crashes, and the data recover costed me about $1,000. And not all data are recovered, actually most are lost - including my precious travel photos, and my Star Wars Galaxies screenshots... :-< I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, twice.... I definitely learned a lesson, and all my friends are taking precautions too. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed at the mean time.... since all my data is on the single 500GB drive.... hope nothing will happen before I get my 2nd WD5000KS.
Since I'm "downgrading"...I need to change MB as well...bummper, should have done it together with my CPU upgrade... Anyway, the Micro ATX MB is a lil harder to get. There're plenty of mATX MB, but I have specific requirements.
First, I need at least 3 SATA connectros(2 for RAID 1, 1 for boot drive), so that ruled out alot of MBs that only have 2 SATA connectors.
Second, the SATA needs to be SATA2(3GB/s) instead of 1.5GB/s one.
Third, I need A PATA for my DVD drive. Some MB I came across, don't have PATA...
Looking at the online e-tailers, most of them don't even have these in stock, so my selections are quite limited. I'm holding out a lil longer, since the Black Friday is almost there...
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Killer NIC
...that's just a fancy name for a Network Interface Card(NIC)... If you have a computer, well, I betcha you have one, otherwise you won't be reading this... you already have one on your motherboard, but an integrated one instead of seperate plug in card - like the good 'ol times... ;-)
It has a 400MHz Freescale processor, 64MB of DDR RAM, runs a special version of embedded Linux, and costs $300. WOW!
Fot this price, it better speed up your system - or your network for the matter... But, if you use DSL/Cable, DSL will be the bottle neck, what's the point? Then again, unless you're on T1/T2 or T3... well, still, what's the point? T1 network will be so fast, you will have no need for this card. However, if you drive a Ferari, then, this just maybe the NIC for you, but don't expect any network speed boost.... check out the full review by ExtremeTech
For $300, I'd rather get a top of the line dual core CPU or a video card...
It has a 400MHz Freescale processor, 64MB of DDR RAM, runs a special version of embedded Linux, and costs $300. WOW!
Fot this price, it better speed up your system - or your network for the matter... But, if you use DSL/Cable, DSL will be the bottle neck, what's the point? Then again, unless you're on T1/T2 or T3... well, still, what's the point? T1 network will be so fast, you will have no need for this card. However, if you drive a Ferari, then, this just maybe the NIC for you, but don't expect any network speed boost.... check out the full review by ExtremeTech
For $300, I'd rather get a top of the line dual core CPU or a video card...
Mystery Spot
It was an very interesting experience I have to admit. The first place we were shown changes people's height - at least looks like it, step onto a spot, and suddenly you look like have grown a few inches. And even use the spirit level we can see the place is leveled, but as the guide put a ball in the middle, it started to roll to one side... what the hack?!
Next, it was just on the foot path leading onto the cabin, I felt really comfortable standing there, but as the guide pointed out, everyone is standing(or rather leaning on an angle), even though I thought I was standing up right, look at the people around me, yep.
Then we went inside the cabin, immediately I felt dizzy and disorienated, because everything is slanted. The guide was standing on the edge of ledge, and leaning so far forward, and he didn't fall. It just got weirder and weirder... It was a fun place to visit.
We had lunch on Beach St, one of the Mexican resturant. Forgot what's the name, it was not far from Cliff St, and next door to another resturant called La Hacienda. Well, I'll just call it Casa de Mariscos, since it specializes in Mexican sea food dishes. I had Fajita de Camaron and Carol had some sort of sea food soup served in a stone pot - very neat, it was delicious too!!! Before we decided to eat there, I saw some Latinos inside, so I bet on that - even though the La Hacienda next door seems to have more people. My bet paid off :)
Next, it was just on the foot path leading onto the cabin, I felt really comfortable standing there, but as the guide pointed out, everyone is standing(or rather leaning on an angle), even though I thought I was standing up right, look at the people around me, yep.
Then we went inside the cabin, immediately I felt dizzy and disorienated, because everything is slanted. The guide was standing on the edge of ledge, and leaning so far forward, and he didn't fall. It just got weirder and weirder... It was a fun place to visit.
We had lunch on Beach St, one of the Mexican resturant. Forgot what's the name, it was not far from Cliff St, and next door to another resturant called La Hacienda. Well, I'll just call it Casa de Mariscos, since it specializes in Mexican sea food dishes. I had Fajita de Camaron and Carol had some sort of sea food soup served in a stone pot - very neat, it was delicious too!!! Before we decided to eat there, I saw some Latinos inside, so I bet on that - even though the La Hacienda next door seems to have more people. My bet paid off :)
Daylight saving save the day
I'm going to Stanta Cruz Mystery Spot today for a date, and my alarm didn't go off. I was really paniced, I'm still home at the time when I'm supposed to pick her up... But look at my cellphone and clock, they have differnt time, then I realized it must be end of the daylight saving time...kewl... Now I have plenty of time get dressedm and maybe even have some breakfast...
Friday, October 27, 2006
Not employed.. according to credit bureaus
Well, that was quick they got back to me with the result of investigation, but nothing changed, actually it did, they just deleted my employment history all thogether. It's even worse than before - at least I had some record though it's out of date, now I have none. I called them up, and the recording says, it can't be updated. Gee, great...
Up late again...
Last night's digging got me interested, so I got a free credit score report. Well, above average... Anyways, filed for investigation with the bureaus to update my employment history... Yeah, and played a bit of Oblivion... I was so bored... gotta study... now.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
YOU DON'T KNOW HALF ABOUT ME...
NO, YOU DON'T.
Have you ever tried the www.annualcreditreport.com for your free annual free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion? Well, I did, just now, for the very first time... That's why I'm up so late... well at least for today... not playing Oblivion...
And now I'm very sad... not that I have bad reports - stella actually(I think)... But about the accuracy of the information there. 1 out of the 3, has no record of my employment history what so ever, nada. Hmm, I must've got a money tree or cash cow stached somewhere so I can pay my rent and food.... The other 2 has only one of my previous employers. My previous previous employer and my current are not in there. And 2 of my previous addresses are listed as commercial address... I have to admit I was a workaholic before, but even that I spent most of my time at work in a cubicle NOT at home!
How fracked up... check yours... and don't be too surprised...
Have you ever tried the www.annualcreditreport.com for your free annual free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion? Well, I did, just now, for the very first time... That's why I'm up so late... well at least for today... not playing Oblivion...
And now I'm very sad... not that I have bad reports - stella actually(I think)... But about the accuracy of the information there. 1 out of the 3, has no record of my employment history what so ever, nada. Hmm, I must've got a money tree or cash cow stached somewhere so I can pay my rent and food.... The other 2 has only one of my previous employers. My previous previous employer and my current are not in there. And 2 of my previous addresses are listed as commercial address... I have to admit I was a workaholic before, but even that I spent most of my time at work in a cubicle NOT at home!
How fracked up... check yours... and don't be too surprised...
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Fusion
When you talk about fusion, the first thing come to my mind usually is food: California French, Tex Mex, Fusion Chinese etc etc.
Now AMD has completed the acquisition of ATI. This is what they plan to do:
It's quite amusing to see this actually going to happen... as I was talking to a friend about this a few months back ... jokingly.
The reason we have GPU today is due to the fact that CPU is just not powerful enough in the past to do 3D rendering - CPU is only general purpose. And graphics rendering needs have very specific requirement - floating point calculation. But the GPU today has become so powerful that sometime not all it's calculation power is fully utilized, if I remember it correctly ATI was going to use some of it's GPU power to do physics calculations.
The CPU on the other hand has came a long way as well. From the humble 486 to today's dual core! if you can put 2 or 4 cores into a processor, why not put in a GPU or 2. GPU was split from CPU, and now it's going back into CPU... On one hand, once GPU is fully integrated into CPU, we'll have more space on motherboard. But, on the other hand, we can no longer upgrade them seperately, but I guess it's OK for main stream computers - like those used in offices or in laptops.
Is this Fusion going to be yummy? We will see.
Now AMD has completed the acquisition of ATI. This is what they plan to do:
CPU/GPU Silicon "Fusion" - Another Industry First for Customers AMD plans to create a new class of x86 processor that integrates the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) at the silicon level with a broad set of design initiatives collectively codenamed "Fusion."
It's quite amusing to see this actually going to happen... as I was talking to a friend about this a few months back ... jokingly.
The reason we have GPU today is due to the fact that CPU is just not powerful enough in the past to do 3D rendering - CPU is only general purpose. And graphics rendering needs have very specific requirement - floating point calculation. But the GPU today has become so powerful that sometime not all it's calculation power is fully utilized, if I remember it correctly ATI was going to use some of it's GPU power to do physics calculations.
The CPU on the other hand has came a long way as well. From the humble 486 to today's dual core! if you can put 2 or 4 cores into a processor, why not put in a GPU or 2. GPU was split from CPU, and now it's going back into CPU... On one hand, once GPU is fully integrated into CPU, we'll have more space on motherboard. But, on the other hand, we can no longer upgrade them seperately, but I guess it's OK for main stream computers - like those used in offices or in laptops.
Is this Fusion going to be yummy? We will see.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
What the frack!
A Hongkong exporter forced out of business because they helped to distribute Sony PS3. If you sell something and it's considered trade mark infringement, then everybody stop selling PS3!
I thought Sony Online Entertainment is fracked up that way they treat their customers(shoud I remind you? NGE, CU). But Sony Computer Entertainment is just as fracked up.
I quite Star Wars Galaxies last year because of the NGE, and so did the people I know. The SOE is like a Sith lord, they will lie to you, they will manipulate you, and they will stab you in the back and spit on your face, and take away all you have. They are evil! A lot of people playing(or used to play) Galaxies want a roll back of the NGE. NOT for me, I'm done with Sony. Even if they roll it back, I would never go back again.
I'm thinking about buy a new stereo system, it might have been a Sony one, but now, it will NOT be a Sony. I will never buy ANY Sony products at all. They will never get a peny from me, NADA!
I thought Sony Online Entertainment is fracked up that way they treat their customers(shoud I remind you? NGE, CU). But Sony Computer Entertainment is just as fracked up.
I quite Star Wars Galaxies last year because of the NGE, and so did the people I know. The SOE is like a Sith lord, they will lie to you, they will manipulate you, and they will stab you in the back and spit on your face, and take away all you have. They are evil! A lot of people playing(or used to play) Galaxies want a roll back of the NGE. NOT for me, I'm done with Sony. Even if they roll it back, I would never go back again.
I'm thinking about buy a new stereo system, it might have been a Sony one, but now, it will NOT be a Sony. I will never buy ANY Sony products at all. They will never get a peny from me, NADA!
Monday, October 23, 2006
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