I realise that I am a bit funny. Some of my friends say my mechanical abilities are quite good for an IT student. I do not think too much of it, but it is amusing. Why shouldn't an IT student be proficient (somewhat) in hands-on work? (Well, mechanical in this case doesn't have to mean literally nuts and bolts, but any work that does not need a computer. Quite broad.)
About 2 months ago I assisted in assembling the SP band conductor's chair (Mr Tan's chair). That stubborn chair took at least four people and a sitting model to complete. The model was interchangeable (even I sat on the chair at one point), and was used to apply weight when screwing the screws into the bottom. The sight of four people screwing into the bottom of a chair with someone sitting on top was a sight to behold. Ikea must measure products properly. Someone, I think it was Audrey (a section mate) was surprised that I took to this kind of work.
Then there was the MIT Nightwalk Props. The MIT Nightwalk Props. Creating sadakos, fixing dolls, making bendable arms complete with hands and movable fingers with just masking tape and newspapers (I'm not joking).
Same sentiments expressed here as well. The fact that I seem to take very well to this kind of manual labor was quite interesting. Well, perhaps an IT student like me can think of other, more technological ways to portray sadakos, sudokus and what-have-you. Maybe 3D projections...?
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Friday, June 02, 2006
Update: FOC Miscellaneous Items List
It is now the 2nd of June, a long way away from the FOC, in April. I will give an update as to the Miscellaneous items list.
A foldable chair has been bought, about a week ago. The price was remarkable. $1.50! About the same price as the Mee Soto from SP FC6 Stall 1.
I could not get a penknife in time for the camp, but it didn't matter; I don't usually eat kaya anyway.
Stationery was much needed, especially permanent markers. And the whistle, too.
As for fans, I already had a satay fan, but just in case, I bought a black chinese fan. There were only three left in the store; my associate took two, I took one, and the shopkeeper auntie was happy.
The fate of the fans? One of my associate's ones broke. My satay fan bent. Learning from the experience, I made sure my Chinese fan was not used roughly by anyone else.
The fans provided much needed ventilation especially during the NightWalk and trip to Sentosa. More on these later.
Thus, the Miscellaneous Items were very useful.
A foldable chair has been bought, about a week ago. The price was remarkable. $1.50! About the same price as the Mee Soto from SP FC6 Stall 1.
I could not get a penknife in time for the camp, but it didn't matter; I don't usually eat kaya anyway.
Stationery was much needed, especially permanent markers. And the whistle, too.
As for fans, I already had a satay fan, but just in case, I bought a black chinese fan. There were only three left in the store; my associate took two, I took one, and the shopkeeper auntie was happy.
The fate of the fans? One of my associate's ones broke. My satay fan bent. Learning from the experience, I made sure my Chinese fan was not used roughly by anyone else.
The fans provided much needed ventilation especially during the NightWalk and trip to Sentosa. More on these later.
Thus, the Miscellaneous Items were very useful.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
MIT FOC: The Miscellaneous Items List
The Singapore Polytechnic School of Media and Info-communications Technology Freshman Orientation Camp is coming. MIT FOC, in short.
I have created a list of items to bring, which are actually mostly redundant. The criterion for the list: if something that we need isn't there, it goes into the list.
Thus the list has things like scissors, assorted stationery, can openers, fans (satay or battery-powered), tiny foldable chair, whistle, and the like. Things that you don't bring because you think it would be provided.
But no, the MIT seemed to only have three pairs of scissors (officially). We had to use a can opener from a penknife, which was lousy of course. Goodness knows how we would have eaten the nyonya kaya if there wasn't such a thing. Stationery; because it is the sort of thing that gets lost easily, and who brings these things anyway? It is assumed that they are in abundance somewhere.
It seems to me that such small things are held in low regard, simply because they are easily replaced. I am not one to waste, or throw away something without thinking of how it may be reused.
A foldable chair earns a place in the list because I have been suffering from a sore bum and back pains. It feels as if someone has done a karate chop to my back. My right hip joint is sore everytime I rise up from a cross-legged position. Strangely enough, I don't get pins and needeles, just pains here and there. Moreover, a foldable chair can provide you with a seat anywhere you want, and it is cleaner, too.
A whistle is needed, because we AgressAs are in charge of games. It's hard to keep shouting for people to stop when the time limit's finished, so a short blast from a whistle would do.
As for fans, it goes without saying. A battery operated one would be more silent, but a big satay-man-type fan would also do. Of course, if I want a manual fan, I would be better off using a more compact foldable Chinese fan, but it doesn't seem singular enough, compared to a satay-man fan.
I'll see what I can do. More on the other things in the list, if possible.
I have created a list of items to bring, which are actually mostly redundant. The criterion for the list: if something that we need isn't there, it goes into the list.
Thus the list has things like scissors, assorted stationery, can openers, fans (satay or battery-powered), tiny foldable chair, whistle, and the like. Things that you don't bring because you think it would be provided.
But no, the MIT seemed to only have three pairs of scissors (officially). We had to use a can opener from a penknife, which was lousy of course. Goodness knows how we would have eaten the nyonya kaya if there wasn't such a thing. Stationery; because it is the sort of thing that gets lost easily, and who brings these things anyway? It is assumed that they are in abundance somewhere.
It seems to me that such small things are held in low regard, simply because they are easily replaced. I am not one to waste, or throw away something without thinking of how it may be reused.
A foldable chair earns a place in the list because I have been suffering from a sore bum and back pains. It feels as if someone has done a karate chop to my back. My right hip joint is sore everytime I rise up from a cross-legged position. Strangely enough, I don't get pins and needeles, just pains here and there. Moreover, a foldable chair can provide you with a seat anywhere you want, and it is cleaner, too.
A whistle is needed, because we AgressAs are in charge of games. It's hard to keep shouting for people to stop when the time limit's finished, so a short blast from a whistle would do.
As for fans, it goes without saying. A battery operated one would be more silent, but a big satay-man-type fan would also do. Of course, if I want a manual fan, I would be better off using a more compact foldable Chinese fan, but it doesn't seem singular enough, compared to a satay-man fan.
I'll see what I can do. More on the other things in the list, if possible.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Why Do Lift Doors Have Those "Windows"?
The "windows" in lift doors are there for three reasons.
They provide a novelty for those curious kids (who gravitate towards the doors).
They prevent claustrophobia.
And also, these windows help prevent crime. No criminal worth his salt would perform such acts when there is a viewing glass on every floor.
They provide a novelty for those curious kids (who gravitate towards the doors).
They prevent claustrophobia.
And also, these windows help prevent crime. No criminal worth his salt would perform such acts when there is a viewing glass on every floor.
The first entry in a blog is usually to test the thing. Thus, with the proper setting up of The Black Book on a legitimate (if not renowned site), I hereby declare The Black Book (version électronique) open.
Enough of this nonsense. For those who mayn't know, the Black Book, for me, began in 2003, as a written journal (or notebook, rather.) I began its first sentences in my Chemistry class (where I usually fall asleep in 10 seconds). The Book was a way for me to remain awake. When I wrote those first sentences, I envisioned that one day, they will appear on the Web, for others to read. After all, what you write must surely be read, shouldn't it? Well, these blogs have made this possible. (Remarkable stuff.)
I call it a notebook, because it isn't updated on a very regular basis. Rather, if I feel something needs analysis (a bit cheem here, but that's how i write), I will enlighten the pages of the Book. Or if I come across a Highly Singular Occurrence. More on that later.
So, at times I will write about more present occurrences. Or, if I don't have anything to write about, then I will publish some excerpts from my Black Book (version écrite), which I had originally intended to do. Some entries will contain little mentions of events as they happen and as they occur to me, whereas some will be full-blown discussions on a particular topic.
I end the testing here.
Enough of this nonsense. For those who mayn't know, the Black Book, for me, began in 2003, as a written journal (or notebook, rather.) I began its first sentences in my Chemistry class (where I usually fall asleep in 10 seconds). The Book was a way for me to remain awake. When I wrote those first sentences, I envisioned that one day, they will appear on the Web, for others to read. After all, what you write must surely be read, shouldn't it? Well, these blogs have made this possible. (Remarkable stuff.)
I call it a notebook, because it isn't updated on a very regular basis. Rather, if I feel something needs analysis (a bit cheem here, but that's how i write), I will enlighten the pages of the Book. Or if I come across a Highly Singular Occurrence. More on that later.
So, at times I will write about more present occurrences. Or, if I don't have anything to write about, then I will publish some excerpts from my Black Book (version écrite), which I had originally intended to do. Some entries will contain little mentions of events as they happen and as they occur to me, whereas some will be full-blown discussions on a particular topic.
I end the testing here.
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