Simon Tay Corner

Migration to a new blog!! :D

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:35:00 +0000

Thanks for all your support! I had moved to a new website at http://simontay78.com and will update there from now on :D ^_^

If there are any enquiries, kindly email me at simontay78@simontay78.com

Regards,

Simon Tay

Helping my friend to set up a Pico Tank!!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:40:00 +0000

My friend Felix had asked me a favor which he disguise it as a "along the way" kind of thingy haha...to set up his small shrimp tank.

This is a very plain set up since not much space is available with some of the hair grass cannibalized from my main planted tank.

You can click on the photo for a larger image to see clearer, I had also donated him about 10 cherries & Sakura shrimps for a beginner start up tank.

The water is from my cycled tank but not sure if the water will have any effect on new soil & tank.

The photo on the right shows some of the red cherries flocking around the tank visibly shocked at the new surrounding and had been swimming in circles for a few hours now.

I do hope they can get used to it soon or I had to put them back into the crowded main tank.

Felix...you own me a meal on this!!

Cherry Shrimp Experiment

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:39:00 +0000

This is my little Cherry shrimp experiment!!

Primary objective is to test these Cherry shrimps' intelligence by allowing them to find the entrance to this crystal box filled with food inside!!

This is not an easy task for animals with stupid minds...to do the obvious!

The shrimps are apparently pretty smart!

Anyone Can Help Identify This Shrimp?

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:01:00 +0000

My red cherry shrimps, Sakura shrimps are living happily with another types of shrimps for some time and I don't even know what to call these shrimps.

They are spotted to have black-white stripes with grey black overall with possible similarities of those from Sulawesi Shrimps..but I am not very sure.

Anyone can identify them?

Thanks!!

My First Electric Bicycle!!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:53:00 +0000

Yesterday was my first day with an electric bicycle!! It is made from China but the design looks uber cool!

This I had been saving up for nearly 3 months and even bought the helmet way back with a matching goggles to go with it! :)

I had used it to travel to nearby bank to deposit a cheque and comes back in time to pay my bills at the AXS Station at Bukit Gombak MRT.

The feeling of total freedom from hard peddling is extremely refreshing! I even heard some chatters by motorcyclist on the road exclaiming in awe that "THAT IS A BICYCLE!!".

The bicycle comes with alarm system linked with motion sensors to prevent any unauthorized "touching", a wheel lock mechanism to prevent anyone from pushing the bicycle away.

I also employ an additional chain lock to deter any kinds of normal thief to have the idea of stealing it.

On top of that, I added a box behind for my "barang barang" (things) storage such as rain coat, chain lock, helmet and any valuables that I felt uncomfortable to put in the basket at the front.

The bicycle is small enough to fit the lift at my home and too heavy for any one person thief to carry it.

The battery also comes with a secure lock so that nobody can extract the batteries without my keys.

The overall feeling is still overwhelming in excitement tingling on my skin....and can't wait for another excursion with my brand new electric bicycle! :)

My next upgrade is a GPS attachment to my PSP (playstation portable) that I think can help me navigate around Singapore.

My First Lesson On Archery

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:15:00 +0000

A extremely loud noise awoken me "early" morning 11am today and I struggled to open my eyes and dragged my leg out of bed to pick up my hand phone.

"Hello!" My friend "C" called me

"Err...yah?" I sleeply replied as I tried to regain my conciousness

"You remember our appointment for the archery course?" He shouted at the other side..

"Arhh Ya ya...ok ok...meet where?"

We had arranged to meet at Bugis Junction and take bus 100 to reach the location near HarbourFront.

We managed to walk up the "100 steps" up the "hill" among the HDB flats up above the community centre.

Suddenly I felt like a ancient Chinese kung fu student going up the mountain seeking for knowledge and skills to become a real kung fu master.

Wind blew around us making it very windy day for us which is very tough for shooting arrows.

We thought we are late but in fact we are pretty early as we sat and watched the "seniors" practice their skills of "sniping" the targets using bow and arrows with impressive accuracy.

I am very very impressed with the modern version of the bows which looked more like a sophiscated weapons then guns!!

The most expensive model (estimated to be around $3000+) comes with light weight but strong frames, modern looking designs, high power, deadly accurate and even comes with sniping scopes!

There are even children as young as 10 years old learning how to shoot arrows!

When it's my turn to try, my instructor, Rick, corrected many of my mistakes and I managed to hit some of the targets but unfortunately I got slightly rope burned on my left hand haha.

My handling of the bow was very bad and need many adjustments to make it less hazardous to my skin, now there seems to be 2 small "hickys" at my arm that need some handy plus haha.

Overall, it's great fun and fullfilling afternoon streatching my arms and burn some muscles, it's great to have 4 lessons for $100 bucks.

I am thinking of joining the Singapore Archery Club and practice more, maybe I can excel in this but I am not sure...maybe maybe...it's just a great sport and hobby! :)

Brand New Day After Vertical Marathon!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:50:00 +0000

The day after Sunday's Vertical Marathon (72 floors + 01 rooftop), I had suddenly got enlightened that anything is possible no matter how hard it seems to be.

Being slightly asthmatic, I had found myself lying on the ground at mid way of the vertical marathon of Swiss Hotel, Lying there almost giving up...but I tell myself that I had to finish the race...no matter what obstacles I faced!

On the last 20 floors to reach, one of the official offered water but told me if anyone take water won't be able to go up anymore as the water will make the body more difficult to go up.

The split second decision to skip the water drinking and carry on forward even if I am extremely thirsty and however one guy beside me went willingly to the door to have his final sip of water...probably ending his participation?

I was extremely exhausted and almost turned deathly pale due to my late night sleep and lack of water...there are one last video camera on the final 2 floor and I bet the guys below can see my death face up front...dragging myself up via the railings while 20+ fit individuals ran passed me without effort what so ever!

On the last few floors...there is one girl there cheering people on to go on!! I stopped and rested on the railing for dear life! And moved up more!

Step by step...my brain was totally blank...other then that numbing sensation on my legs and my eyes forced to focus on the next step...and another...and another.

It's like walking on the biggest desert with the oasis so near...yet I felt every minute was like years...

One more floor! The girl shouted!

What?!? I scream! And I saw the last flight of steps in front of me before reaching the roof top for the final crossing point...two more guy fly passed me like they were possessed and shouted at me to move aside.

"Go go go!!" I shouted and wave them on...while i cringed on the last railing before reaching the roof top!

I tried to jog towards the finishing line...with the SUN blazing onto my skin burning me, I wanted to scream but no sound came out of my mouth.

I crossed the line and met my friend Jimmy who started off with me but reached there much earlier.

Yo!! You made it! Jimmy shouted at me!

"......." I couldn't speak...and I had grabbed a cold mineral water out of nowhere...and was given a medallion looking thing...on my neck by someone angelic with bright sun rays shining everywhere...while I untie my shoelaces to get the "tag" out of my shoe.

I made a hasty retreat to a shaded staircase below and sat down heavily...still trying to catch my breath.

There was a minor problem for the certificate collection for the age 30 - 39 men and women category that delayed for at least 2 hours before collection was hastily issued out after a women shouted at the girl that unfortunately stand there at the wrong time and wrong place.

There seemed to be a screw up at the printing side that caused the major delay but there was no explanation to us but we were just too happy to bug out of the place as the sun was very relentless at 12pm.

That's my experience for the vertical marathon, what's yours?

What's that about Windows Mobile on the iPhone???

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:32:00 +0000

Using some innovative programming hack to the iphone...this Norwegian guy managed to start his iphone with window mobile OS!!

Norway have long winter and they have to do something...and they do programming!!

So now it's duo-boot for iphone!

A Brand New Modem To Solve Singnet 10Mb BB Disconnecting Problems!!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:10:00 +0000

I had written a long complain previously on the troubled Singnet Broad Band (10Mbps) Connection using the seriously "aged" Thompson Speedtouch 585 v6 2+ modem.

Now that after I had upgraded the firmware and followed all kinds of changes to my modem including removing it's bloody build in firewall and etc. I still encountered the frequent disconnection problems! It's so horrible that I had to think of alternative ways other then changing to another service provider!!

The problem is I am now tied to the contract for another 8 more months and I can't just subscribe another service and pay Singnet without using their services or worst face early termination penalty charges stated in their fine print of the contract agreement.

The only solution now is to fix this damn modem or ....CHANGE IT.

The lines man that came previously to "fix" my connection recommended me 2 options, one is to upgrade the firmware...another is to get another 2+ modem that is capable for 10Mbps connection...

I just bought one SGD$89+ Netgear DG834G wireless modem cum router which is a 2+ modem and it's a pain to install it...but I finally figured a way to install it successfully!! YAY.

Below is the step by step solution to install it properly.

Step 1. Put in the installation CD in the CD/DVD drive (Window XP/Vista)

Step 2. Follow the step by step instruction to do the following.

Plug in the telephone line to micro filter
Find out if the micro filter is dual or single and select accordingly
Plug the telephone line from the micro filter to the Netgear modem properly
Connect the Ethernet cable (yellow given) correctly
plug in the power supply to modem accordingly.
Finally (the missing part) use a small pin to reset the modem at it's back by poke the small hole and hold it for about 15 seconds and let all the correct lights to light up.
Wait for the Lights to light up (Power Supply, Wireless, I-icon, and the number that labels the port used)

Step 3: After following all the instructions to set up the modem go to this website http://192.168.0.1/start.htm to set the final settings for the modem.
(I recommend to use fire fox browser, experienced problems using Google Chrome)

The pop up request for username and password is as follows.

Username: admin
Password: password

Go in the page and select "Basic Setting"

Does Your Internet Connection Require A Login? Check Yes.

Username and Password is the ones that Singnet had given you.

Username: yourusername@singnet
Password: passwordgivenbysingnet

Click Apply then go to ADSL Settings

Multiplexing Method is VC-Based
VPI remains 0 (zero)
VCI goes to 100
DSL Mode change to ADSL 2+

Click Apply then go to Wireless Setting

SSID remain unchanged... (this is for ppl to see what connection this is when they browse for wireless networks nearby so any name is possible even your dogs name like "browny network")

Security Options - here you have to choose your favorite security encryption method to secure your wireless connection so that it won't be used by others without your knowledge.

Use the one you like and set the security properly.

After you set every thing properly click apply.

By right everything should be ok and connection is up properly and connected to internet YAY!

Up to now about 24 hours...++ there is no disconnection to my internet connection so I guess it's the modem problem!! YAY!!

I entered vertical marathon!!!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:25:00 +0000

Yes, I had registered and paid using paypal SGD$35 dollars for the Vertical Marathon in Swissôtel the Stamford Singapore.

This shall be the only chance left for me to slim down and become the man I used to be, I guess I need to start training ASAP!!

This is going to be the next challenge for me to over come my physical limits and achieve the "impossible"!

I won't get medals as I definitely won't win anything...but I will complete the race~!!

Challenge yourself to the top of Southeast Asia's tallest hotel, in a gruelling 73-storey climb.

Only the toughest will emerge top and the champion will fly to New York for the prestigious Empire State Run-up.

Date : 16 November 2008, Sunday
Time : 7.30am
Venue : Swissôtel the Stamford Singapore

My Tilapia Turns Black! Nice!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:54:00 +0000

My friend Felix and I caught several Tilapia (a.k.a. Japanese Fish possibly a Oreochromis niloticus about one month back. I am not quite sure if it's the right name but at first all of them is silver Grey color in my fish tank.

Now, one of them turning in a stunning BLACK color with pink tail.

I read about the male Tilapia will turn black when they are going to mating!! So I may get babies! LOL I think my 2 feet tank is not big enough!!

Random Images of my Shrimp Tank!!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:23:00 +0000

I am taking some photos for the previous experiment for getting rid of BBA but realize there are more beautiful scene in my shrimp tank...like the ones below!

Trying out new experiment to get rid of BBA (Black Bush Algae)

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Currently I have a BBA (Black Bush Algae) problem for my 2 feet planted fish tank for about 2 weeks now.

I had previously ignored the problem but only to find out it had spread across my whole planted fish tank!!

This is the photos of my tank being infected with BBA.

It's dark red in color and very hairy like a bush. It reminded me of those red worms that usually sold as fish food.

However, they are not the favorite food for my fishes s they spread quickly to many parts of the fish tank!!

I had tried switching off my 55Watt lights for 3 days, over dosing of "EXCEL" and putting 5 SAE & 2 Yamato Shrimps with no major improvement....

Now I like to experiment with the BBA in my other shrimp tank which is filled with hundreds of cherry shrimps. Hahaha...I trimmed some of the infected plants from the planted fish tank and migrated to the shrimp tank.

This is day 1 of the test. 8th September 2008 12.52am

DAY 2 of the experiment

There are significant reduction of BBA algae however, more can be done by the shrimps as strands of the BBA still exist on the plant that can be totally remove. Decided to put it longer in the tank to see if the shrimps can remove them totally...clean.

Day 3 of the experiment!!

I can safely say that the cherry shrimps definitely can clean my BBA effectively but it's still not 100% clean up yet...hehe

New Web Browser From Google! Goodbye IE!?

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:39:00 +0000

According to Official Google Blog:

At Google, we have a saying: “launch early and iterate.” While this approach is usually limited to our engineers, it apparently applies to our mailroom as well! As you may have read in the blogosphere, we hit "send" a bit early on a comic book introducing our new open source browser, Google Chrome.

As we believe in access to information for everyone, we've now made the comic publicly available -- you can find it here. We will be launching the beta version of Google Chrome tomorrow in more than 100 countries.

....This is just the beginning -- Google Chrome is far from done. We're releasing this beta for Windows to start the broader discussion and hear from you as quickly as possible. We're hard at work building versions for Mac and Linux too, and will continue to make it even faster and more robust. Read the full article at Official Google Blog!!

- World rejoice to the latest offering from our favorite search engine!! An internet web browser! This will definitely be the latest hurdle that Google need to clear for developing useful web software such as Google lively that encountered several errors using different browsers and operating system.

However, web programmers like me and my colleagues are dreading the prospect of requirement to support yet another web browser. Old websites programmed using old programming languages might not look the same or may not even function properly....

but obviously Google have the resource to actually fix the problems given their almost unlimited budget unlike the "other" browser.

Update: After viewing a comic from Google explaining more about the new Google Chrome web browser, I am extremely pleased that Google had include "Gears" that allow developers be able to develop web application that can be cross-platform to other browsers as well.

This means less headache supporting websites designed on Google Chrome and it's a full open sourced web browser makes it easier for other browsers to implement similar ideas.

Lets hope that Google can deliver yet another powerful software that can empower everyone that uses the internet!

I am seriously excited with the new browsers no doubt there might be bugs on the initial release but I seriously believe it will be resolved very quickly.

Injured leg argh...

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Recently, I had bought a skateboard and relived my old childhood memories of skating around the neighborhood free like a bird.

All starts well with the new toy and I practically skate to work everyday!! I mean skate from home to MRT and from MRT to office and it reduced the time required to walk.

However, I am not a expert in skateboarding and realized I do not know how to stop properly. I press down on the floor too hard to slow down or push forward.

few days back, I felt the weird sensation on my right ankle after a "wipe out" fall during one of the night skateboarding session after work downstairs.

The pain slowly grows from minor issue to constant irritation, then comes today I finally feel too painful to even walk properly.

I went to a Chinese traditional medicine shop near Tiong Bahru MRT (7 min walk) at night and he pour some strong smelling oil on the injured part and RUBBED!!! ARGHHhh!!

I had almost screamed out but I grit my teeth and hold to the cushion on the bench while he push and rubbed!

Then my leg are wrapped in the sweet and strong smelling medicine and now wrapped like those dumping.

The instruction is that I cannot wash the injured leg for at least 2 days and possible 3 days!! Luckily, I managed to bath with one leg on a chair to reduce water flowing on it.

It's painful to bath sitting down, now I experienced first hand how the old folks feel when they are immobile and in pain. It's definitely not a fun event...

Tomorrow, I will still go to work...haha unless my hands are injured...I still can work arghhhhh haha..or maybe I take MC? No no ...too much work liao!

My Cherry Shrimps MULTIPLIED!!! hahahahahaha

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:06:00 +0000

I had bought 1 month back about 20 cherry shrimps from local fish shops at Clementi (C238).

I done the following.

Transferred some "cycled" water from the other fish tank into a new tank.
Put in new water + few drops of "de-chlorine" solution
Put in 2 bags of blackish blue stones (look light blue when in water)
Put in 2 sponge air bubble filter (shrimp friendly)
Put in the Cherry Shrimps (Very hardy for this species)
Put some Taiwan Moss or ferns in
Put a 55 Watt lights on top
Put a overhead fan and on it 24/7
Put a digital aquarium thermometer inside and make it below 29 degree Celsius
Feed the cherry shrimps with "Japanese" label food found in C238 twice a day
If found moldy food, fish it out.
Wait for them to breed!!!

This is what I have right now!

Great Song!! WELCOME TO BEIJING 北京歡迎妳 BEIJING HUAN YING NI

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:04:00 +0000

Yeahhhhh....Just heard it yesterday and is hooked to it for a while. Yes, I did not really watch television for few months now since my television is spoiled and I had replace it with 4 fish tanks instead.

My only source of information now is internet & radio, so less power wastage hehe...

This song is nice and can see many chio (beautiful) singers! Yeah!

Singapore's Sun Yen Zhi is inside as well! Coool!

This is the theme song for the "100 DAYS COUNTDOWN" celebration to the Beijing Summer Olympics was officially released on Thursday April 17, 2008.

Invisibility cloak 'step closer'

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:51:00 +0000

According to BBC NEWS:

Scientists in the US say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people invisible.

Researchers at the University of California in Berkeley have developed a material that can bend light around 3D objects making them "disappear".

The materials do not occur naturally but have been created on a nano scale, measured in billionths of a metre.

The team says the principles could one day be scaled up to make invisibility cloaks large enough to hide people.

- Harry Porter Cloak anyone?? I made the image above...hee using photoshop: XD

Testing of some random photoshop skill

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:32:00 +0000

I did this like in 5 minutes....but obviously it's a rash job hehehe...using just my PSP Chotto 1.3 Mega-pixel camera and photoshop CS2.

Bought Another foldable bicycle!

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:50:00 +0000

I just purchase another foldable bicycle and this time in IMM near Jurong East Interchange in Giant Super Market.

This bicycle is called Ready2Ride fold-able bicycle with bigger wheels then the last purchase of the fake "A-bike".

I tested it immediately after I reach home by Taxi and yes the bicycle folded and fit neatly in the boot.

I have to admit it's flaws first, the bicycle does not fold elegantly causing it frustrating to new user like me to fold it quickly. Maybe it will need more practice but the size of it may ensure that it will not see it on any MRT or Bus during peak hours.

The plus points are plenty.

The ride is smooth enough for novice cyclist like me
It took the full weight of mine...which is nearly 85kg (It's the truth!! Just weighted!)
Pretty standard gears changing allow me to go uphill although with some effort.
Low center bar makes it easier for me to alight (Females wearing long skirts rejoice)

The real test is when I cycled to nearby shopping center (West Mall) from my house to visit a friend. During the whole journey, I encountered 2 chain drops which force me to stop and fix it...dirtying my hands. The seats was not fasten strong enough and it dipped after dropping down a curb, fixed in another round of stoppage.

The usual pain on the ass comes together with most bicycle but this is much better then the fake "A-bike" that had smaller wheels.
Overall, I give it 3.5 Stars over 5 since it served my purpose of cycling to nearby shops and foldable if I need to transport via cabs or MRT/Buses during off-peak hours.

There is another bicycle that I saw in the bicycle shop today that looks like a 'HARLEY" with lower incline back and huge wheels!! That may be my next target...err am I becoming obsessed with buying bicycles? No, because I firmly believe bicycle will be the future of transportation.

Basket! My Tilapia Eaten My Oto Fish!! (Still Munching away now)

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:41:00 +0000

Wah lau...I see these Tilapia poops a lot hence purchased 6 sucker (Oto) fishes to clean up the tank...but guess who clean up who? Yes...that' my SGD$1.50 Oto fish in the mouth of the Tilapia fish!!! ARghhhh...

Photoshop Stuck on Hand Tool/icon

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:47:00 +0000

As I am editing some images at home today using CS3, I almost flipped out in horror that the mouse icon is stuck on Hand Tool/Icon. I can't do anything at all...and I search for solution online and found the simplest solution.

It's just to restart the application (Photoshop) and try it again...bah!

Flight of the Conchords Ep 4 If You're Into It

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:10:00 +0000

If you want me to
I could hang 'round with you
If I only knew
That's what you're into.
You and him
Him and you
If that's what
You're into
Him hanging 'round
Around you
You're hanging 'round
Yeah, you're there too.
And if you want me to
I will take off all my clothes for you
I will take off all my clothes for you
If that's what you're into
How 'bout him
In the nude?
If that's what
You're into.
In the nude in front of you
Is that what you'd wanna view?
If it's cool with you
I'll let you get naked too
It could be a dream come true
Providing that's what you are into
Is that what
You're into?
Him and you
In the nude?
That's what he's prepared to do
Is that the kind of thing you think you might be into?
And then maybe later
We get hot by the refrigerator
In the kitchen next to the pantry
You think that might be what you fancy?
In the buff
Being rude
Doing stuff
With the food
Getting lewd
With his food
We heard that's what you are into
Then on our next date
Well, you could bring your roommate
I don't know if Stu is keen to
But if you want we could double-team you
How about you
And two dudes?
Him, you and Stu
In the nude
Being lewd with two dudes with food
Well, that's if Stu's into it, too
All the things I'd do
The things I'd do for you
If I only knew
That's what you're into

Lyrics credit: whatthefolk.net

Flight Of The Conchords - The Humans Are Dead

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:48:00 +0000

The Human are dead!! Hahhahaha...
Shut the motherfuxking system down!!

Flight of the Conchords- Business Time (In HBO Channel)

simontay78@peakoil.com (Simon Tay) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Wahhahaa...It's Business Time!