BB10 Launched!

BlackBerry 10 is finally here.  After a long time seeing iPhones and Android phones dominating the mobile phone world, I have gotten a little tired of them.  I have waited for a new phone that calls for a new user experience.  Now BlackBerry 10 is out with unique features not seen in iOS or Android devices, it really settles the deal for me.  The new BlackBerry 10 may just be the phone that gets BlackBerry(formerly RIM) back into the mobile competition. 

Tension Rises with North Korea

Recently North Korea tested missiles again.  This sparked tensions in the South Korea and the UN, and the UN had decided to impose sanctions on North Korea.  North Korea perceived this as a hostile move on the UN's part, declaring to take "strong physical countermeasures"[1] on South Korea if South Koreans "participate in the ... UN 'sanctions.'"[1]  This causes a lot of tensions in the US as well, not to mention other parts of the world.  As for me, I too was feeling very tensed when I was reading the article.  I hope nothing too serious would happen.   

References: 
[1] The Telegraph, "North Korea threatens South Korea over UN sanctions" 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9825776/North-Korea-threatens-South-Korea-over-UN-sanctions.html [Accessed Jan. 25, 2013]. 

Engineers are Uncaring

Swedish researchers conducted a study on how caring people are in their respective fields of study.  The result was very interesting -- engineers are "less caring and empathetic than those who [are in medicinal profession]." [1] However, not all engineers are uncaring and cold.  The study shows that the computer scientists are in fact "warm [and] caring." [1] I am glad I transferred from engineering to com-sci now.  According to the study, I am warm and caring too.  

References: 
[1] Lewis Page, Engineers are cold and dead inside, research shows, The Register, Jan. 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/21/engineers_cold_and_dead_inside/ [Accessed: 22 Jan. 2013].

Florescent Light Causes Sleeping Problems

I learned something new yesterday -- florescent light bulbs emit blue light, and it causes sleeping problems.  In nature, blue light comes from the sky.  Our bodies create a chemical that keep us energized when we see blue light.  However, when light bulbs emit blue light at night, it keeps us awake, and we have trouble falling asleep.  

PowerPoint is Evil?

In my CMPT320 class I had an opportunity to explore the different views on Microsoft PowerPoint.  Some assert "PowerPoint is evil" (Tufte, 2003); some other simply "[heart] PowerPoint" (DavidByrne.com, 2003).  It is interesting to see different perspectives on PowerPoint, while it is only a presentation tool that can be used in different ways.  And everyone can have a different take on the same tool when they use it, so can we really blame the tool for not performing to our satisfaction? 

Reference: 

DavidByrne.com (n.d.) I [Heart] PowerPoint. Retrieved from http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/david_byrne_artbio.php#Lectures_Presentations

Wired (September 2003) PowerPoint is Evil. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

Life of Pi

I finally went to see Life of Pi the other day.  The movie was inspiring. Even though it is basically about how a man and a tiger survive together on a boat, it in fact provokes deep thoughts about life.  It tells of how a person's life and belief changes when he face an extreme situation. 

Berry Awesome

Welcome to my blog! This is the first time I am trying blogging, and I am only doing this because it's my CMPT376W assignment.  But since I've made this blog already, I think I might as well make all my posts interesting.  So stay tuned for my interesting comments!