Ravelling of an Untwisted Mind

~=_TOPGEAR_=~

2006-02-16T22:30:00.000+08:00

Hmmm... seems I've not posted a blog in a while... OK. I'll talk a bit about computer hardware just for the fun of it. As in the world of computer geeks, we always crave for the fastest byte crushing machine that money can buy, theoratically... But of course, most of us ain't got that type of money to throw away. So here's what I've got that's 2 years old (just the main parts), and what's the fastest item I could dream to get from Sim Lim Square today, if money was just pieces of ordinary paper.

This is my current MB (mother board). Its an Albatron PX875P Pro. Beats me why I had gotten an Albatron... Oh I remember, it was a little cheaper than Asustek, Gigabyte and MSI, and it touted the use of highly reliable japanese capacitors. The Intel 875 chipset was the latest then, somewhere around March 2004. Its got onboard LAN, AC97 sound, SATA, dual channel DDR400.
The CPU is an INTEL 90nm, 1M L2, 2.80E GHz, 800MHz FSB, HT, FC-PGA478. HT means Hyper Threading. FSB is Front Side Bus at 800 and fits a socket with 478 pins.

RAM is a pair of CORSAIR VS512MB400 PC3200 512MB 64Mx64 184 DIMM resulting in the use of the MB's Dual Channel and total size of 1Gb. CL is at 2.5. Previously, I was using a pair of Kingstons. The difference was that the Kingstons were slower with a CL of 3. I found a buyer who wasn't so concerned about the CAS Latency of the Kingston RAMs than the price.
Originally I had a Albatron FX5700U graphics card. Mind you that this ain't no slow card. The "U" stands for Ultra. This version of the 5700 series is the fastest of its kind with higher clock speeds for the GPU as well as the DDR2 RAM. It also has DVI output. After 1 year 6 months, I sold it to a friend who wanted a fast AGP card to play SIMS2, at a good price. Good thing is, this 5700 was and is still under warranty. Anything I didn't like about it? Yes... 3 fans make for a noisy card.

So I bought a new MSI NX6600GT-VTD128 (VIVO), this was 5 months ago. A red for the blue eh?! Well... it was hard finding a good deal cause the newer boards all have PCIe slots now and my MB has the older AGP slot.

I am happy for this computer that I have =) Its fast enough for most of the stuff I'm running on it. BUT.... =P Just for the silly sake of carnal wants and wishes, this is what I would want now. Not putting money as a barrier >=D heh heh heh!! Forgive me Lord!
The latest parts are not obtainable yet in Singapore, but this is what I could readily get now from Sim Lim Square.

DREAM MACHINE

MOTHERBOARD
Current Intel based MBs have a shortcoming though. Intel 975 chipsets do not support NVidia SLi, only ATI CrossFire. Similarly, MBs with nF4 chipsets only work for SLi. What this means is that if you want dual graphics cards in your system, you have to choose the right MB for the right brand of graphics card or vice versa.

MSI 975X Platinum. This is one of the two MBs now available using the latest Intel 975 chipset. The other is GIGABYTE GA-G1975X. But why the MSI? Its because if you configure the Giga for CrossFire, you wouldn't be able to insert a sound card as the PCI slots between the 2 PCIe x16 slots are blocked off. Thats dumb by Giga. They actually have the better board.

ASUS P5ND2-SLI Deluxe (nForce4 SLI Intel Edition) nForce4 chipsets for SLi motherboards have been around last year because Intel chipsets do not support SLi. This is the best nF4 MB of the lot.

CPU
INTEL 940, 65nm, 2x2M L2, 3.20GHz, 800MHz FSB, XD, VT, EM64T, dual core.
Just a MB and this CPU together will cost about a whopping SGD1200.
As you can see, I've selected Intel over AMD. But why? AMD CPUs are touted to be faster, and they really are! My reason is that the speed, though faster, isn't big a deal in my view. Value is important too. I prefer faster RAM speeds. Available AMD system boards are only at DDR400, which means that I am forced to buy older slower RAM which I cannot reuse in newer faster systems of the future. Available Intel boards are at DDR2-667.

Graphics Cards
ATI1900 cards are out but is as yet unpriced, so I'll leave that selection aside for now.

ASUS EAX1800XT TOP
This is my pick for the Intel based motherboard. SGD1048. CrossFiring would cost $2096

LEADTEK WinFast PX7800GTX TDH MyVIVO 512Mb
I pick the LEADTEK WinFast PX7800GTX TDH MyVIVO for the nF4 motherboard. SGD1299. This by the way is the faster of the 2 video cards. To SLi would cost $2598.

RAM
GEIL DDR2 667MHz, PC5300 667MHz supports CAS 4-4-4 with 512MB, 2GB Dual Channel Kit. SGD383

The Price Tag? Heh... you'll have to add that up for yourself. Its beyond me. I'll wait for tomorrow's technology to become a bit of yesterday's before you'll find me buying =) Maybe I'll virtually assemble another PC again, this time something I could really afford. Till then... .. .

Talking to Grampa

2006-01-23T22:14:00.000+08:00

I guess there's a reason I can't communicate with my Grampa that well either...

Honestly, its cause his Hokkien was too deep and mine too shallow =p

Made in China

2006-01-16T14:20:00.000+08:00

Its sad to know the the government would rather import immigrants to Singapore and take over our jobs when we have served our NSF and are still liable for Reservist. We are the protectors of this nation but our jobs go to foreigners who are given citizenship. To take our jobs too, they ought to do NSF as well to be fair. They should EARN the rights of citizenship and our jobs. So much for rewarding the blood, sweat and tears of those who have really built this nation as well as protecting her.

Pickles

2005-12-29T14:18:00.000+08:00

Fortunately, its not the edible type...

Tanice with Jennis

2005-12-21T12:51:00.000+08:00

Janice: throws the ball, swings the racket, and misses "sorry..."
Janice: serves ball "aiyah!"
Me: runs like mad across the court "ugh!" ball hits net

Me: throws ball, swings racket, and ball hits net "argh!"
Me: throws ball, swings racket, and ball hits net again "sigh..."
Me: serves ball "ooof!"
Janice: stands still, swings racket, hits a non-existent mosquito "hi...yah..."
Janice: walks to end of court to pick up ball

Janice: throws the ball, swings the racket, and misses "sorry..."
Janice: serves ball "aiyah!"
Me: runs like mad across the court to return the ball "ugh!"
Janice: returns the ball as well
Me: runs like mad across the court "ugh!" ball hits net "ratz!"

Me: serves ball "arrhh..."
Janice: runs, swings racket "..." ball sails over net
Me: runs like mad across the court "huff puff..."
Me: ball hits rear fencing, swings racket, ball hits net, I hit fence "groan..."

Me: walks across half the court to pick up ball
Me: throws ball, swings racket, misses ball and ball hits my head "?!"
Janice: no reaction... wasn’t paying attention because tired
Janice: I got headache
Me: Lets time-out

Condo in Malaysia

2005-11-30T16:21:00.000+08:00

Real Estate... I wonder why they call dwelling property real estate. Is there a fake estate? hmmm...

It started to rain when I was returning home from the MRT station. While those around me started running for shelter, I wanted to run, but could only just walked faster instead and got half wet. If I am not careful, I might end up walking around with a crutch or two, or worse, zooming around in a wheel chair bound. =D I have already experienced having had the need to go around with a walking stick. The public just finds it weird that a young man needs one. Ha ha! Amusing that a walking stick on me makes people glance over. If I were elderly, it would be the norm of society. Stairs are ever a nightmare to me. I don’t really remember how I survived the Tree Top Walk. S.O. must have carried me on her back. I can’t really run... unless I’m forced to.

My RIGHT knee, regrettably, has been through a 'series of unfortunate events' (isn’t that the name of a boring movie?) It hit the concrete of a basketball court once and I couldn’t walk for a month after that. I developed jumper’s knee – overuse disorder called traction apophysitis (For the other knee as well, not to forget strained Achilles’ tendons of both feet. Just to jump higher and dunk the basketball which I did.) It got twisted twice vying for a soccer ball, I could only hobble for a week after those. Thankfully, this right knee did not give me any problems during BMT and even while I was still in the military. (My cousin on the other hand, dislocated his knee cap during BMT. Family gene of weak knees?) And now, its been eight months of Chondromalacia, with a pinch of patellar tendinosis and quadriceps tendinosis. The doctor says my patella (knee cap) is misaligned due to muscle imbalance of the quadricep muscles. Read on and find out what these are...

Chondromalacia (KON-dro-mah-LAY-she-ah), also called chondromalaciapatellae, refers to softening of the articular cartilage of the knee cap. This disorder occurs most often in young adults and can be caused by injury, overuse, parts out of alignment, or muscle weakness. Instead of gliding smoothly across the lower end of the thigh bone, the knee cap rubs against it, thereby roughening the cartilage underneath the knee cap. The damage may range from a slightly abnormal surface of the cartilage to a surface that has been worn away to the bone. Chondromalacia related to injury occurs when a blow to the knee cap tears off either a small piece of cartilage or a large fragment containing a piece of bone (osteochondral fracture).

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The most frequent symptom is a dull pain around or under the knee cap that worsens when walking down stairs or hills. A person may also feel pain when climbing stairs or when the knee bears weight as it straightens. The disorder is common in runners and is also seen in skiers, cyclists, and soccer players. A patient's description of symptoms and a followup x ray usually help the doctor make a diagnosis. Although arthroscopy can confirm the diagnosis, it's not performed unless the condition requires extensive treatment.

Treatment

Many doctors recommend that patients with chondromalacia perform low-impact exercises that strengthen muscles, particularly the inner part of the quadriceps, without injuring joints. Swimming, riding a stationary bicycle, and using a cross-country ski machine are acceptable as long as the knee doesn't bend more than 90 degrees. Electrical stimulation may also be used to strengthen the muscles. If these treatments don't improve the condition, the doctor may perform arthroscopic surgery to smooth the surface of the cartilage and "wash out" the cartilage fragments that cause the joint to catch during bending and straightening. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the angle of the knee cap and relieve friction with the cartilage or to reposition parts that are out of alignment.

PAIN RELATED TO THE EXTENSOR MECHANISM

This title may seem a mouthful. If you read the section on 'patellar mechanics', however, you will understand why a discussion about pain felt around the patella (kneecap) invariably involves a discussion of the 'extensor mechanism', i.e. all the structures involved in extending (straightening) the knee. You will also learn the key anatomy terms.

When there is any abnormality in the extensor mechanism it is the poor old patella which usually takes the strain, and eventually becomes irreparably damaged.

Seldom is there anything wrong in the beginning with the patella itself.

Patellar Mal-alignment & Instability

Pain over the patella area may be experienced when faults in the extensor mechanism pull the patella out of optimal alignment, causing excessive pressure on the cartilage of both patellar and the underlying femur. In severity they may be divided into -

Functional disorder only - In a functional disorder the shape of the patella and trochlear groove are normal, although their relationship to one another may be out of synch., and the joint surface is not yet suffering any damage. Pain and tenderness around the patella may be present but no feeling of instability. The primary problem may be -

muscle imbalance (for example, a weakness of the one part of the quadriceps (the VMO)
poor alignment of the foot or hip or back

Overuse disorders

Overuse of the extensor mechanism in athletes and performers may lead to -

quadriceps tendinosis - painful degeneration of the inside of the quadriceps tendon above the kneecap
patellar tendinosis - same disorder in the tendon below the kneecap. Also called 'jumper's knee'.
traction apophysitis - when the attachment of the patellar tendon to the bone becomes strained -

Osgood Schlatter's disease - traction apophysitis at the attachment of the tendon to the tibial tubercle
Sinding Larsen Johannsen Disease - traction apophysitis at the attachment of the tendon to the undersurface of the patella

A condo in Malaysia? Wish I owned one... instead... I have something else that just sounds like it. Chondromalacia. So its more more real state rather than real estate =D

My New Apprentice

2005-11-07T15:21:00.000+08:00

Not expecting another blog so soon eh? Well... surprise surprise!!

I just had to write to practice my typing =P Not! I had to write to celebrate the condemned departed =) The Echo Three Niner Eight is gone!!! Ha haha!! Yeah Mon!! I must give thanks to God for helping rid of that lemon phone for a good trade in offer too. I shall only feel regret that another poor soul might be inheriting its torture <="p Do not underestimate the power of the Dark side.

I overcame the taint after sending it in for warranty covered repairs. The service centre was filled many repair requests for its clone brothers and a cousin called V3. A week later, I saw an ad in the papers for a NOKIA deal costing $110 less than usual. So I jumped at the chance =D

Replacing the fallen cell phone by my side is my new apprentice, the 6170! Woo Hoo! The force is strong in this one. Together, we shall rid the world of the evil Moto Cell Phones. The best thing so far is the MahJong Game =p

Waylaid by E398

2005-11-01T21:46:00.000+08:00

Hmmm... Something on the topic of the word “waylaid”. After having checked the dictionary of its real meaning, I’ve found that it has been misused, as to its meaning. Supposedly, it means to have one’s attention diverted such that time is wasted, making one ‘way late’ =D ha ha. But its true meaning according to dictionary.com is: 1.To lie in wait for and attack from ambush. 2.To accost or intercept unexpectedly. What it really means is that I have to buck up on my vocabulary. =P

My main topic is my E398, if you know what that is. It is a lousy cell phone, that's what it is! (Ho2 Kuah3 Bo2 Ho2 Jiah4) I’ll be all too happy to get rid of this piece of junk, having suffered it for a year. Unfortunately for the Japanese company, it brand name which I shall not reveal to protect the innocent who is a consumer, it has lost a customer of its cell phone business as well as others whom this entity will be discouraging to take up its line of cell phone products. I think it has the worst text messaging interface! The quality is terrible! The charging socket is poorly designed! I’d had to wiggle it just to have it start charging, and sometimes it didn’t really even charge at all, even though and screen says it is! And the volume buttons don’t work?! All this nonsense within one year? Even the paint on the buttons are coming off!! Mind you that I did NOT misuse this phone. Ach... enough of my griping.

I shall return to my trusted brand known as Nokia =) Better not let me down Nokia.

Unrhyming 'Peom'

2005-10-26T23:47:00.000+08:00

Ah... At last you say... those who are crazy enough to subscribe to this blog. Finally, another entry can be read...

"Stress is undoubtedly present.
A heavy burden of responsibilty rests upon strained shoulders.
Failure might suffer day and night.
The utmost preparation is nevertheless clouded by Murphy's Law."

"Alas, worry is but silly; the past is not the present.
Love leads to Truth; Patience reaps Acceptance.
The sun comes up; the flower remains because it has deep roots.
Forgiveness gives peace to the suspicious heart; Torment loses its grip."

Don't understand eh? Well... don't ask... Its just a harebrained 'peom'.

See to evil hear no evil

2005-09-19T21:48:00.000+08:00

I shall begin this first genuine post at blogger.com by saying how lousy friendster is. Its gotten so slow, I might as well have an old 2400bps modem to compose my blogs there. Even signing in requires the same patience as communication with the Voyager spacecrafts. Thus, I have defected to blogger.com and will now leave the 2 blog entries in friendster to rot. Actually not... The 2 blogs you see below have been salvaged/rescued, with minor adjustments, and reposted to live again.

Ironically, I wish I were just like my old blogs. I am needing to be salvaged, rescued, reposted in a nice new job to live again. I'm suffering from what my S.O. terms as a quarter life crisis. Its when you are in your first career transition and you don't know what the heck you want to do next. I don't know myself <="( Its agonizing. Wasted time really. Sigh... Tommorrow, there's an interview for a job that I'll probably not take. Just going there and hoping the job is more to what I would like to do. I'm pathetic. On the brightside, its always good to gain interview experience and this is good exposure opportunity.

Can't see friendster, can't hear a new job soon either. Bwah haha!!
Cheers

Long Suffering Significant Other

2005-09-15T12:17:00.000+08:00

“Long Suffering Significant Other”. You will cross the use of this expression when you read my S.O.’s blogs. It is sort of a description that she has used to portray me. Read her blogs and perhaps you’ll understand what I’m saying.

Women are generally more emotional, and men, rational. With that said, I suppose that men do pride themselves in their rationality, even occasionally for those who do not admit to it. Unfortunately, if such pride were to go too far, they will find themselves unable acknowledge their mistakes, even to the pride they have, which makes it a paradoxical vicious cycle upon themselves. I’m not concluding though, that this pertains specifically only to the male gender.

What I am relating here does occur between my S.O. and I. Sometimes I am just too incorrigible for her. I’ve been a rather big failure in this department, I shall declare. She has been the long suffering and very hardworking one. And I? The useless bumming zero from the scum gutter getting on her nerves! There is something seriously wrong with me and I’ve yet to figure out my own inner soul.

She has done me proud =) You should see how she worked for her degree, has fought head on with the stress of her first job, getting underpaid, babysitting a dung dog, and still find the motivation to see all that through. Have I ever come close to that? Yes, but perhaps I’ve forgotten how now and I don’t know why my motivation has left. I have much to learn from my S.O. She also deals better with the tiffs that both of us have. Shame on me eh?! Aren’t men suppose to be the stronger vessel?

This blog probably doesn’t make much sense after reading it. Frankly, I’m lamenting. I ain’t too good at articulating my thoughts into sentences and words very well. You can see the distinction between this blog and that of my English Major S.O. My blogs are philosophical? I wish... Nevertheless, I shall conclude this as follows...

When you read her blog, do note that the true Long Suffering Significant Other is not I, but HER.

Mirrorrexia

2005-09-09T12:13:00.000+08:00

You know what the disorder termed as anorexia is all about? Well, the good doctor here is gonna educate the public on a little known disorder termed as mirrorrexia. In reality, there are many many sufferers. Its just that medical science has not classified it yet nor has named it. Well... I guess that makes me the discoverer then right? =D Or rather... I’m just the one who has named it.

Sufferers of mirrorrexia, one being my S.O. (Significant Other), and majority are female, though males are also quickly adding up, look in the mirror only to find, or rather, feel, with prior precognition, that they are not appropriately presented to the public, despite the fact that they are. My S.O. has loosely defined this disorder in her own words though I can’t quite remember how it goes. Its something like this: “My clothes don’t match my hair or my hair doesn’t match my clothes!” The factors these sufferers face include the wearing of contact lenses or glasses, how the hair is done up, the condition of the hair, facial complexion, boundaries of the eye brows, size of the eyes, clothes; top and bottom pieces, shoes, handbag, etc.

The side effects of mirrorrexia sufferers is next to be discussed. The biggest problem is being late for dates and appointments, due to all that time spent in front of the mirror. Lack of sleep from the stress of thinking about how oneself is presented to the public. Restricted access, because when one is dressed a certain way, these sufferers deem it inappropriate to go around to certain public places as it is felt that they would be looked down upon, even though they are actually nicely attired. Another side effect is known as “The long suffering S.O., of the party affected by mirrorrexia.”

With that said, I’m not justifying that it is appropriate to meet the president or go to church in a singlet and shorts nor slippers. Its time for dinner... The doctor is “OUT”.