The Fly in the Car question
By admin | October 7, 2008
Exam week…. zzz.
My family and I always wondered why doesn’t a fly/mosquito stick to the rear window in the car when the car accelerates? So I bet everyone could roughly guess the answer but today I ask my Dynamics Professor about it and he explain to me that it was because of the gradient of the air pressure in the car that brings the fly in the same direction as the movement of car. It does move a little bit but its significant enough for us to notice it.
Think you understand it?
Answer this question, if you have a helium balloon inside the car, and when you accelerate forward, which direction does the balloon moves?
Forward
Highlight above for the answer.
The explanation is because Air has a higher mass density and when the car accelerates forward particle with heavier mass will go backwards as by Newtons law. Because Helium is lighter/lower density then Air, it goes forward as all the Air particle is moving towards the back of the car.
Topics: Rocket Science | 1 Comment »
Spy engineering class
By admin | September 27, 2008
I had my Dynamics class today by Prof. Hank Christiensen also known as Dr. C. We were learning about orbits and satellites and all when it turned into a very interesting story telling class.
My professor worked on optimization of satellites. He built numerous satelites that went up into the orbit and most of them were spy satelites. Some were even used during the Vietnam War.
He also joked that he got into Standford because of his brother. His brother was Henry Christiensen. A Ph.D and was the GM of Lockheed Martin Rocket (pretty much a rocket scientist) and so he said how dumb Hank can be when his brother is a genius.
Then he went on to tell a funny story and an embarassing one about the USA feds. His brother was called to be a consultant in Washington one day only to find the address given was the CIA building. He introduced himself to the receptionist and she said they were expecting you. Then he was led into a dark room. There he was explained a situation that a spy satellite had a problem in Russia and they needed him to find a way to fix it. He was given all the information he wanted (pretty much high level security clearence). Later he needed to extract the film (filled with pics of Russia) from the Satellite. As he was leaving, he asked the escort how did they know he was Henry? and he was replied saying that there was atleast 2 person in the room that knew him personally. But Henry replied that he knew no one in there. The escort went back into the room asking who knew Henry personally, and there was no show of hands. That was a huge error on the CIA’s part.
I think its not as cool or funny now, but when I was in class it was hilarious the enviroment was cool and all.
p/s: This post is for me to remember the cool things about my Professor.
Its also quite sad that I can’t intern at the Lincoln MIT lab or the Navy Civil Engineering department because I’m not a US citizen and therefore can’t get a security clearence.
Topics: Life in America | 1 Comment »
Internship, Study Tour or Holiday?
By admin | September 26, 2008
So, as I was like a rep for yesterday’s Engineering and Technology career fair day, I had tons of time to speak with the representatives of various companies like Apple, Intel, Exxon Mobil, Hilton and etc and so I found out that I qualified as an intern in a few companies local and international.
So whats the dillema? I’m studying civil engineering and my focus dicipline would be on structures (Yes, just like Micheal Scoffield) and this summer a group of students will be going to China and go round studying all the mega-structures. Good on my resume. Last about 2 weeks. The cons are, its really REALLY expensive.
The next option is to work as an intern here in America. The pay is REALLY nice, about say USD 15-25 per hour. Yes, its not the best, but I’m getting paid to learn how to do stuff and it will be excellent on my resume. The cons are that I have to work the entire summer and not be able to return home and enjoy unless there is like 5% that Exxon Mobil will agree to send me back to their Singapore branch which is relatively close to home.
The third option is that I just go home and enjoy for 4 solid months 
Topics: Living the American Dream | 2 Comments »
How to Unlock/Jailbreak your Updated Iphone v2.1
By admin | September 24, 2008
So recently my Itunes notified me that there was an update firmware from 1.4 to 2.1 and the upgrades were significant. So I was like oo kay, download and install (click).
After like it was done, my itunes blocked my Iphone saying you do not have a valid phone courier. Big problem now. So I did a little research and manage to unlock it and so I thought it will be nice for you all to just do it yourself and not paying like USD $ 20-40 to get it unlocked.
There are many programes out there that can do the job but I will give you the easiest one. You only need to download 3 files and do a bit of clicking. Some programes requires you to download insane amount of files and the steps are just as confusing as my multivariable calculus textbook.
So first step.
Connect your iphone and update it thru whatever method. I did it with ITunes version 8.
Next.
Download the following files. (note: if link doesnt work, msg me)
http://www.technoh.net/forums/Downloads/QuickPwn/QuickPwn21-1.zip
http://iphonefreakz.com/firmware/BL-46.bin
http://iphonefreakz.com/firmware/BL-39.bin
Next extract the file from QuickPwn21-1.zip. Open the executive file other then the readme file, and following the instructions. There is one part where where it was like Hold the power button for 5 seconds and then hold both the power button and the home button for 15 seconds, something like that, follow it closely. I’m not kidding. If not, it does not work.
The other 2 files BL-46 and 39 is a bootloader and its just a file required by QuickPwn21 to complete the unlocking process.
The Home button is the circle button at the bottom of your phone and the power button is at the top.
Then, all you need to do left is register an account at Itunes because you are all set to enjoy your new Iphone Version 2.1 that has an application store which is by Apple. Lots of freebies in there.
Big note. This only works for the first generation Iphone, meaning only the 2 G version.
Any further questions just drop a message.
Topics: Techies, Tutorial | 1 Comment »
The next best TV show
By admin | September 20, 2008
So I was busy doing research on TV shows airing this fall in America for my TV show guide and I stumbled into one new TV show title Fringe. I was spectical about it but after fast forwarding it, I find it somewhat interesting and there begin my 80 minute pilot episode of Fringe.
So apparantly its a really dull poster, but hey its not a movie. Anyway the movie is a little bit like X-files+Numb3rs+CSI. I am a science student and am really interested with advance science and high tech stuffs. So this show solves wierd high clearance cases like a baby died 4 hours after birth, but the catch is, he died of old age, and the baby was a fully grown old man. So you know the theory about inducing growth hormones and stuff like that. It is really interesting. Might even be better then the highly anticipating show Heroes.
Plots and storylines aren’t the only thing that make a show awesome. It also has to do with cinematography, the cast and stuff and all those factors has a common link which is budget. I can tell that this show has a really high budget and so even the equipments in the background make really good backdrop and props.
After only 2 episodes, I find that the cast was perfectly selected as they fit into their role really well and I therefore grade this movie a 92%.
As of right now, if I ever have the latest episodes from all the shows I watch, I will watch them in this order:
1) Gossip Girl (yeah no kidding, its exciting now)
2) Fringe (really REALLY interesting)
3) House (wanna know what happens to House’s best friend)
4) Heroes (not out yet, so not really eager to watch it yet)
5) Prison Break (slowing down a little)
6) Dexter (Not many ppl seem to like it, but I really do, not just because it matches my name)
7) 90210 (not quite as good as Gossip Girl)
Numb3rs (Gives me the boost to finish my math homework after watching it)
Topics: 2008, English Show | 1 Comment »
My haircut with Paul Mitchell
By admin | September 18, 2008
Initially when I created this site, I was like nah I don’t wanna blog about my personal life, nothing much interesting happens anyway and who read guys blog anyway maybe my darling Bi, but thats about it but like recently I notice a lot of interesting is happening around me, so maybe I should start blogging about me.
So anyway American takes voting seriously and to promote that, my uni had like 2 weeks of campaign to encourage eligible voters to vote. They had like free pizza parties at the courtyard, live music, free prototype Coca-cola products (my uni’s owner also has a huge portion of the coke company) and also free hair cut by Paul Mithchell. It has been only over a month since I had my last hair cut my Kevin Woo (Loreal Ambassador), fantastic hair stylist and his saloon Centro can be found at The Gardens, and I was like hmm Paul Mitchell wah should be quite terror as not too long ago his saloon was feature in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, so I decided to que up. Normally I wouldnt but I happened to be front in line without realizing. So quite sad to find out, Paul wasn’t cutting my hair, some other kelefeh is doing it. Why didnt I see this coming.
As expected the haircut was horrible (that’s why no pics will be posted) as they were not accustomed in cutting thick Asian hair and my hair even for a Chinese is already still pretty thick (guess I wont go bald in future) so bad haircut. Then I went home to google Paul Mitchell, and the embarrassing thing was Paul’s dead since 1989 and I was like asking the kelefeh which happens to be a student at the Paul Mitchell design school, so have u learn from Paul himself? and she gave me a blur stare. Now I see the reason.
So here is a pic of my Mozart style hair (did not cut for 6 months) and my Chinese-American cousins
Topics: Life in America, Pics | 2 Comments »
My Sassy Girl Korean (2001) VS English version (2008)
By admin | September 17, 2008
So first lets look at the Posters
I think the winner is obvious right, I mean so what the guy (Jesse Bradford) just looking somewhere else on the plane and she probably laugh at god knows what compared to the Korean version where Cha Tae-hyun on the other hand expresses such strong torture suffered induced by the gorgeous Jeon Ji-hyun. I am not feeling any sassiness by the Hollywood remake’s poster. Korea 1 - 0 Hollywood
Topics: 2001, 2008, English Movie, Korean Movie | 3 Comments »
The Promotion (2008)
By admin | September 14, 2008
Haha you know the movie Employee of the Month, I find that rather amusing and all. So this movie is set at another corporate superstore where theres competition among colleagues for any form of recognition and in this movie its for promotion purposes.
Topics: 2008, English Movie | 1 Comment »
Fall 2008 American TV Guide
By admin | September 11, 2008
So summers over and so is most of the good movies. Now TV shows are back to rock our world. Here is a compilation list of American produced TV shows to look out for.
If the show comes out on Monday, you probably can get it online about 3-4 hours after the movie usually, sometimes later. So to all Malaysians and Australians, if a show is aired on Monday, probably you would check www.isohunt.com or www.eztv.it the following day.
Topics: 2008, English Show, Top Websites | 2 Comments »
Get Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control (2008)
By admin | September 6, 2008
So I was going thru the net looking for new movies when I stumbled on this one. I was like, er thats wierd another Get Smart spinoff? So soon? So I was like okie, no matter how bad it is, there’s still Masi Oka the timetraveller/stopper from Heroes. So I manage to get a copy of it (don’t ask me how, not here atleast) and it isn’t that good or that bad.
Topics: 2008, English Movie | No Comments »