abgryan’s Neighborhood

My ex-ex-boss, Greg, has recently (and finally) been promoted to the rank of COL. We always feel that he should have become became a COL much earlier with his capability. We really don't understand why some COCKsters were able to move up the ranks faster than him.

He is a thinker and often give us insights to some issues, in which we will get superficial inputs from some other bosses. He has never ever breathed down our necks before and had given us a lot of autonomy in doing our work. He will tell us where to beef up our argument and of course, correct our grammar errors if there are any. Never once he ever rewrite our papers (i.e. rewriting our submissions in his style) to the extend extent of not being able to recognise our work, unlike a lot of the other bosses who I have worked with. I really miss working with him.  

I could sense that his concern for us then was genuine, though he was quite bad at HR matters during his tour of duty there. Well, one person can never be that perfect right?

I wish I can meet more inspiring bosses like him who are able to show me the way of being a thinker and knows when to empower us. :)

 

[Edited: Corrected some grammar errors with Mr Lim's inputs]

Why is it that when I want to leave I can never do so?

and Why is it that when I wish to stay, I have to go?

The Merlin for Ricochet PC Card

PC Card Wireless Modem

Link: ricochet.wikispaces.com

The Merlin for Ricochet was announced in December 2000, to provide high-speed wireless internet access, for mobile devices.  The Merlin was a Type II PC Card wireless modem, made by Novatel Wireless, supporting Metricom's Ricochet 128kbps wireless internet service.

Metricom began providing 28.8 kbps wireless internet access in the mid-1990's (monthly flat rate of just under $30).  Its service was limited to big cities, and by 2001 it covered 17 city areas in the US.  The early modems, one of which Leo still has, such as the Phase II Modem and the Modem SE, were about the size of a cellular phone (in those days) and used a serial port connection for the computer, with a peice of velcro to attach itself to the back of a laptop screen.  Using AT commands, they acted like a Hayes-compatible modem.  For a review of the early service, click here.

For the technology used by Ricochet for the network, see its Wikipedia entry, hamradio-online and techweb.

Later modems became smaller (with the Modem GS about the size of a pack of cards), supporting serial port and USB connections, with the speed of the connection increased to 128 kbps in 1999 (monthly flat rate of $75).  For a review of the 128 kbps service, click here.  Unlike the connection speeds these days, Ricochet's actual user speeds sometimes exceeded the advertised speeds.  Considering that all this took place mostly at a time before WiFi or even wired broadband service became prevalent, Ricochet was pretty cool, as Leo says.

All the modems, over the years, seemed to sell for just under $300.  Unfortunately, the Merlin was one of the last modems released by Metricom.  In July 2001, Metricom filed for Ch 11 Bankruptcy, with debts over $1 billion, and the service was shut down in August 2001.  After a series of acquisitions and asset-selling, its service continued in limited areas, shrunk and is now no more.

In the 9/11 aftermath, 2 months after the initial shutdown of the Ricochet service, Ricochet was revived in October 2001 and called to the rescue, to provide internet access around Ground Zero.  Read the CNET report.

4th of July Fireworks
Apart from the crappy fireworks sound effect that Leo generates, Dick does enjoy the real thing.  He sometimes goes to watch the 4th of July Fireworks on his work boat in New York City, half live and half on TV.  Dick's previous more detailed description of his wacky mode of seeing the fireworks appear in Episode 97 and Episode 348.

TWiTLive Marathon for the iPhone 3G
With the iPhone 3G launch on 11 July, Leo is going to do a marathon coverage of the worldwide launch, starting with Wellington in New Zealand - which will be 10 July US time.  Audible is sponsoring the coverage and will give away 5 iPhones 3G.

Match Game Back, on TBS
Regular correspondent Toyota Boy reports the news that Match Game is going to be back, on TBS, with Sarah Silverman, Niecy Nash, Norm MacDonald, Super Dave Osborne and Rashida Jones.  Leo predicts, "It's gonna be blue."

Toilet Tunes

Bathroom Accessory

Link: Taylor Gifts   ToiletTunes

Pinnacle Video Transfer

Video Recorder/Digitisation Device

Link: Pinnacle

The Pinnacle Video Transfer records incoming video (via S-Video or Composite) in H.264 MPEG-4 format, on to any FAT16 or FAT32 formatted USB 2.0 drive (which can be flash-based or hard drive).  It can also record directly on to an FAT-formatted iPod Nano, iPod Video, iPod Classic or PSP (but not directly to a iPod Touch or iPhone).

To record, connect the inputs, plug in your USB storage, connect the AC power, press the Mode button once to turn on the PVT, and wait for all the LED indicators on the PVT for the video and audio inputs and the USB storage to turn blue.  To select the video quality (good, better and best), press the Mode button continuously to cycle through the selections (and you can see the number of blue LED indicators lit up, corresponding to the quality selected).  When you're ready to record, press the Record button (and the "connections" LED indicators will turn red).  To stop the recording, press the Record button again.  Wait for all the red LED indicators to turn blue again before disconnecting.  To turn off the PVT, press and hold down the Mode button for 2 seconds.

Note that the quality selections for good, better and best for different storage devices (e.g. iPod, PSP and USB hard/flash drive) are different, up to 720 x 480 (NTSC) or 720 x 576 (PAL/SECAM) 1.5Mbps video and 192 kbps stereo audio.

The Neuros OSD (Episode 546) has more capabilities (including playback and video out), but is more expensive.

Jogging to DGW
Tim Harbst has been listening since Episode 33, and he jogs to DGW during lunch-time.  He has spent quite a bit of money buying up gadgets, including a Sansa MP3 player, a Sanyo camcorder, a Capresso coffee-maker (Episode 113), a SmartShopper (Episode 424), a GizWizBiz Cap and a set of Match Game Cards for his children last Christmas.  And if Dick will read out his letter, he will fall over in shock during his run.

Coming Up: Thursday Theme
Watch out for tomorrow's episode, when Leo will play the new Thursday Theme by Dan Lueders.

WTHII June '08
Leo still can't figure out the WTHII gadget for June 2008, which Dick will reveal next week.  The photo of this gadget was a contribution by a listener, presumably after Dick's open invitation in Episode 553.

Special Offer on GizWizBiz Caps
Remember the special offer expires on 7 July 2008.  Check out Dick's site for details.

Random thoughts lately captured in a box.

And I thought my days of being ill are over now that  it's summertime. Bleugh.... Why? I was doing well the week before... Grr... Ah well, at least I'll be staying at home so I'll be less tempted to spend the somewhat little money I have. I spent only GBP1.24 today on a first class recorded stamp to post some relevant postgraduate study stuff.

I really do hope I can get another scholarship- it would be a shame if I didn't. Not that I'm being ungrateful; I am happy that I've got an Undergraduate degree now and if I do go back home for good, there will be at least one job waiting for me there. I know I should consider myself lucky; but I guess I'm just not ready to start working yet. It sounds selfish, but I know I'm not ready. And it's not just because of my previous experience as a teacher in one of the high schools in Brunei; and the fact that the love of my life live here is not the only excuse - it's also because there's still more that I wish to study about art. I guess you can say I've not yet sated my appetite for knowledge. I want to know more, more, more!

For once I would like my extended family to be proud of what I'm doing. They may not understand or agree with the things I do - particularly my choices regarding my studies; but I hope that, if I do get to continue my studies, they will learn to be more open-minded and not hurt my feelings by saying that art isn't important. And if they don't, it's their loss I guess; they'll never have had the wonderful experiences I've felt after making those choices anyway.

And an update... Miss Chaos a.k.a Mel will be coming to Cardiff tomorrow! Woo-hoo!

~Finally! Someone who can appreciate my cooking.... I haven't had a guest in a while... :P

Blue Snowflake

Portable USB Microphone

Link: Blue

Blue makes professional high-end microphones, but also podcasting mics.  Leo used to use the Snowball, but he got the new Snowflake from Dr Bott.  It is a USB microphone with a silver ball which slides flat into or sits up at an angle from, the holder.  The holder can also mount itself on to the screen of your laptop with the mic sitting on top.  No special driver required.  Works on Windows and Mac.  The mic works well even if you don't have your mouth up close to the mic.