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Monday, February 24, 2025
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Alien Vs Predator

Shaun
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2
Alien Vs Predator

Back then, Alien was quite a good hit, so was Predator & its series, but what you get when you merge these two movies into one? Closely, a lame but not necessary cheap show without much of a plot unless if you are really a predator or alien fan, otherwise you did better spend money on better shows such as Fahrenheit 9/11, but for now lets say let the Alien vs predator flick be limited to comics & the rather popular PC game versions…

Cheers to Dominic, Qingrui & Alvin for the meet today, had lunch at lido orchard KFC after shopping around Wisma, Taka & Hereen. Changed my classic Singtel plan to the new iOne Plus plan for $25.90 a month with 100mins free outgoing talktime & free incoming all day. Not bad, so don’t expect me to call you, Call me! :mrgreen: Oh yea!

Got a new Creative wireless desktop 6000 (mouse & keyboard) for my new home entertainment PC. Would be starting on a modding project to build a new computer case out of wood, exciting.. since I am involved with quite alot of woodwork for the week building & designing waterpoints for the Army Half Marathon, why not use some excess wood to make a case? we will see when the project is up & going…

For now, gotta book into camp soon…

Fly by computers!

Shaun
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0
Fly by computers!

And well, here am I back from a hard week of work. 😉

I guess some achievements worth mentioning is my 2, 2 hour computers within the period of one month. Firstly with John’s $1500 computer which is up & running, allowing him to play Doom 3 & stuffs. Secondly is Adrain’s 2 hour $1000 computer all built with OS installed in record time, all up & running.. well after dropping by his house after book out to get it assembled today. Both are a basic P42.8GhzE comps with 513MB DDR400 ram, 80GB HD, reasonably feature loaded mobo, DVD-writer & 128MB radeon/nvidia graphics card. As a token of appreciation for the time spent, he even donated me his old PII 400Mhz. *grins* Now I’ve got an extra 32x CD-Rom drive, a PII 400Mhz processor with mobo, 2xbrandless PCI soundcards, a S3 virge 1MB video card, a 200W PSU & a HD of unknown capacity yet. Whee perfect parts for my upcoming family home theater PC, just love bringing life back into old condemned parts… Though they won’t fetch much in cash but maybe, I would try selling some of these stuffs off yahoo or ebay, or sell them to the SimLim cash converters some some pocket money. :mrgreen:

Would be visiting granny’s & going out for dinner around the Eastcoast-Parkway area before calling it a saturday. Would be catching Alien vs Predator the movie with some friends for a lunch outing tomorrow afternoon, hope they get tickets already, cos its gonna be crowded! 🙂

Also, do feel free to check out my final Army Open House flash animation in the galleries too.

Back from earth.. to mars?

Shaun
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4
Back from earth.. to mars?

Had some fun here & there with my new powershot digi-cam & hey! *SHOOTS* a new moblog pic too.. well, I guess its time I updated it too… Today is very much a day spent at home, resting, helping out mum with some chores, doing little webcoding, gaming, working out & my favorite, slacking. A typical sunday, family day. But *sighs*I just can’t wait for the time when I wake up on sunday morning without having the dreaded thoughts of booking into camp that very night, very demoralising at times.

The problem with the army is that it takes out too much of our “youthful times” into doing things we have to force (& bluff) ourselves to like. We are supposed to be free & wild creatures, why the isolation? umm… with the exception of average pay, well too, I can’t really say life there suxs, it do have its ups & downs… But most importantly, the army is a place & job not much of a comparative advantage for me – I can do better elsewhere, fullfilling my wants & interests, therefore my remark.

Mmm, can’t stop playing, Outkast- Roses on winamp today, the songs drilled in my head, argh Kylie! why can’t you get this outta my head!

HalfLife 2, smells like boo-boo!

Shaun
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4
HalfLife 2, smells like boo-boo!

With Doom 3 taking the limelight now, lets not forget about Half-Life 2 man. Noticeably with the lip-syncing software which allows characters in the game to move their lips & talk realistically by just typing in the conversation as text into the speech maker software! Its so good that some mute & deaf organisations in the states are actually looking into it to aid the disabled. Cool!

And heres a 5.57MB video of the auto lip-syncing software at work, featuring the mysterious HL guy & pals singing OutKast’s roses, smells like boo-boo!

Aye! Sail the seven malls!

Shaun
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2
Aye! Sail the seven malls!

Aye matey, did quite some shopping today, namely. Personally it was quite a feat all done in 7 hours today too… Never’ve I been to so many stores, asked/haggle/enquire so many times in my life. 1st afternoon stop is off with me meeting John & Adrain at simlim to get his new computer built. Managed to get up a relatively good system for $1139, includes a P4 2.8E 800Mhz FSB prescott, MSI mobo, 512MB DDR400 ram, Leadtek Geforce FX5200, Maxtor 80GB HD, TDK 8x+/DVD-RW writer, casing & PSU. He would be giving me his old PII 400Mhz comp as a token for helping, hehe some scrapping ‘n’ stuffs to do!

Then I went around Simlim enquiring for my intend canon powershot A80 price, leading to one conclusion, the lowest price may not be the best bargain… I especially hate 👿 & very fad up with one particular camera store on the 1st floor, tended by some dishonest indian fat-ass offering inconsistent prices, rude & smokes in front of their customer (potentially me & nobody else inside), f*ck the $450-480 low (inconsistent) price tag, everything’s already very very bad. He even said this to me: “you go out & draw the $$ if you want to pay with cash, credit card I got to pay $$ to bank, you do then I bring box to you, if not you leave” Too bad I didn’t note the store name as I was too angry storming out of that shitty- ass store the next moment. Will tell ya the name if I visit SimLim again, its some 2nd store small store on the left placing the jade ship. BLACKLIST ‘EM! 😈 ….

Furthermore, all the stores in Simlim are retailing the China made version of the camera, shitty too! it just not a place as a general electronics hub, more of a computer hardware/software hub, now thats what I only like about SimLim!

Met up with Qingrui, Dominic & Byran for a short dinner meet at Breeks, marina after shopping around Raffles, Suntec, Millenia Walk, etc for more camera research, got some modelling cement from a Suntec hobby store (finally I can actually start on my comanche helicopter model), neato! Finally get to see better service around the vicinity, made my day definately better. As the shopping progressed, I was particularly impressed that Harley Norman actually stocks up the japan made models the Canon A80 camera, but it going at $649. There comes a question I (a customer) would ask: Price vs Service. & I can tell you I am one person who don’t mind paying $649 for the camera if you offer good service- & thats exactly what I’ve got at Harley Norman, Milliena Walk, from salesman by the name of Sofia. Very friendly, charming & very prompt in service, he even “jump queued” to tend to me, telling newer customers to hold. Very, very impressed, something I guess I couldn’t buy- good service. Included are 2 free 128MB CF cards & a cam pouch. Paid for the $649 camera without hesitation, & walked out with the camera & a very much happier person.

Took some test shots of the city skyline on my way home for dinner in my dad’s car, the camera’s seriously not bad, the reviews & homework are really paying off. The only low down is the weight of the camera, otherwise its perfect, no wonder its also Yahoo.com’s top digicam. Sightings of the day: Half of marina sqaure is under renovation, causing lots of inconvience to many around, even Mandrain Hotel is getting a major face lift.

So…. the seven seas 😆 in seven hours:
>> SimLim >> Parco Bugis Juntion >> Raffles City >> City/Raffles one Link >> Suntec City >> Millena walk >> Marina Square

Then home… end!

Friday 13th

Shaun
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0
Friday 13th

Hello all, its so much for the battle course this whole week, and yea long weekend! I am home now, after dinner with my parents at adam hawker center, not to mention some ice-cream thereafter. Checked out doom III at guerrilla games shop at serene center, going for $66.60, 😯 expensive! Would be waiting for the price to drop to bout $49.90. Though it may seems unlike me but I don’t see it worth to get a game which I don’t really have time to play so soon… just these busy days. Moreover, I haven’t played so many games I’ve brought over the months:

  1. IGI 2
  2. C&C Generals
  3. No one lives forever 2
  4. Simpsons hit & run
  5. Jurassic Park, Operation Genesis
  6. Comanche 4
  7. World War 3, black gold
  8. Submarine Titans.

Well at least they are good at collection dust & now residing, still wrapped in their boxes, waiting to be installed… 😕

Dang, I regretted not booking for an immediate test date after failing the other time, dang! now the next test date open would be in october… but by then my PDL would have expired, so got to freaking renew. Why is it so hard to book a test? damn BBDC only know how to make people wait, wait & eat people’s money for revision lessons. Prices for tests are $150, $100 for use of car for 100mins, $30 for warm up & $20 for the tp testers only. BBDC & SSDC – oligopolys for the driving market in Singapore :mad:, with the exceptions of private instructors…

Would be dropping down Simlim with John, Adrain & Guowei for some shopping tml. They would be building a new comp, naturally, I guess they wanted me as their hardware advisor… Mmm see how it goes then. Time for some CS now. :mrgreen:

Singapore Idol

Shaun
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2
Singapore Idol

The national day parade had just ended & Singapore idol is now screening on TV. On a sidelook, one may noticeably note the array of people in for the auditions the possible *talents* & William Hung wannabees on TV. Not to mention the judges taking a very definite role (& impersonations) similar to that of their foreign counterparts. Very *original* & *creative* works indeed! 🙄

Haven’t got DOOM 3 yet, as I see no need to rush to get it, considering its price at its peak now. Furthermore, the need to purchase it is more of an unnecessary urge & a treat for eyecandys, not much of the story we all already know. BTW, did I mention that there were plans to make DOOM 3 the movie? yes it was in fact planned a long time ago. Leased by ID towards Warner sometime ago, its in the hands of Universal now. A very straightforward thing, but it would be a first for movies based on a computer game’s storyline, well besides the upcoming alien vs predator one too.

Flipping through the papers, my horoscope for the week warns of hot & sharp objects.. mmm 😈 & traffic related incidents, I am not driving anyway so blah blah. It ends lastly with a possible change of appointments in late week… Mmm possible. 😕

Oh well, that ends another weekend, & time to get back into camp.
Oh yea, its still August the 9th, almost forgot. Happy Birthday Singapore!

National Weekend!

Shaun
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0
National Weekend!

National day is today, & whee red & white madness everywhere…:shock:

Ok now for some site based updates for the day… did some minor upgrades & fixes around the site, firstly with the addition of the new projects page. Showcased there are more or less my progress & current task(s) I am involved in, that includes assignments & commissions, a rather general “work to be done section”. Secondly, upgraded the blog search function & upgraded the links sections with new headers & added new links to the hardware & art sections. I am working on a new poll which would be ready by the next weekend. Also, to end things sweet I’ve already started on the modeling tutorial- already compiled the images needed so we should be able to see it up in the weeks to come :wink:.

End of sunday, as we know it.

Shaun
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0
End of sunday, as we know it.

Let me recap some happenings yesterday night. 🙄 Had an early dinner at home, mom & dad had some loh (black sauce) egg & meat dish with rice and soup, they are always good at such dishes, not bad. Then they all always go bout talking of going into the food business, well thats all talk anyway, no action for now. Visited granny in the evening then dropped by Suntec thereafter as my mum wanted to deposit some carrefour lucky draw coupons. Since we were coming from the eastcoast area towards city, we were warmly greeted by the fireworks released on the National Day preview along the ECP and Benjamin sheres bridge, quite a spectacular sight. & there we were at Suntec, Sis wanted to repair her Nokia 7250i, but the service center was closing & didn’t allowed anybody in. Kinda raided the Carrefour’s supermarket later for sushi & bread for tomorrow’s breakfast. To much of horror, Tower Records at suntec had been severly downsized now bout 1/3 the original floor area with Courts taking over the floorspace, & they are having some 50%-70% off sale, looks bad wonder how long can they hold on.

Moreover, Court’s “so-called” price slash doesn’t raise any brows either, a Canon powershot going at $649 plus a 128MB CF and bag? tough luck! I know of stores going at $586 plus a 128MB CF… Due to all those shopping, PK computers was closed for the day before I could even get to it & amazingly Times the bookshop was still open (bout 9pm) but they didn’t have anything good either.. dang magazines… Suddenly I get to know that the Vin-Mart DIY hardware store isn’t the store I used to know as “tools-R-us” very little goods are stocked there now, not to mention their all patentic torchlight section (yea I was looking for a diver’s one).

And so it was (and still is Sunday) 😎 Very much spent my time relaxing & spending time infront of the computer. Did some surfing for ideas for my home theather PC (HTPC) & hey, DDR dance pads for PC (with converter) Mmmm, imagine hooking that to the living room’s TV for a good dance, not to mention getting my mum to try as she all too engrossed into losing weight now. Dang Itching to play some DDR now, had been sometime since I last DDRed in arcades too. Monday’s tomorrow & its actually the start of a fresh new month, August. Arghh! why do the weenends have to be so short…

5 Funerals & an elder Petanque competition.

Shaun
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0
5 Funerals & an elder Petanque competition.

Just came back from a swim from the swimming complex. One thing I noticed around the neighborhood is the amount of activity going on, the number of cars parked around and not to mention lots of catering trucks… Well what can I expect for, living in a matured estate. The funny thing is that a large bunch of elderly were having games of Pétanque (a mini bowl/shotputt) competition at same time the garden’s sand pit with tents and loudspeakers all set up.

Interestingly cute in the mist of the immediate activities.

Doom 3 released on the 3rd Aug in SG

Shaun
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2
Doom 3 released on the 3rd Aug in SG

Doom 3, its finally here, in a few days time! Check it out at Funan’s software store, The Software Boutique’s promo.

And oh yea, on the driving test, I failed it :mrgreen:, think I drove too much like Michael Schumacher, the second time thats it. Oh well next test should be in september. 😉

Relaxed?

Shaun
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0
Relaxed?

My driving test is on tomorrow afternoon and I am feeling (yet strangely) very relaxed compared to my previous test. Guess considering that it would be my second attempt, moreover if I fail, its just “oh well time to book another test then”. 🙄

Found some time to actually site down and relax today. Had a few rounds of counter-strike in the morning, playing on some taiwan server, man are they such easy frags dudes. Spent some hours touching up on some updates on my AOH flash intro and creating the event map. Updated the drawing tutorial as I felt it was wayyy to old. Anyway do feel free to check out the new tutorial article up on the tutorials section of the site, spanning an additional page on photo shopping. Its kinda up there but otherwise incomplete in some areas, would finish it up by the next book in.

But didn’t find time to leave the house, guess I would have to catch Will Smith’s new show I, Robot next week then.

May my next post bring good news of my driving test… :mrgreen: *duh*

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