According to an article I read on reddit, the human genome is about 3 gigabases long.
A base is either A, T G or C. That means they can be represented by the binary numbers 00, 01, 10 and 11. So, 2 bits can code for any base. 3 Gbases = 6 Gbits = 750 Mbytes
750 megabytes is about the amount of data you can put on an average CD. You can put your complete genetic code on a single CD. We are not yet in the world of Gattaca with its genome-on-a-piece-of-paper uber-technology, but we’re pretty close.
1 CD = 10 hrs of mp3 music = an average movie (compressed) = a typical 2000-era video game = all the genetic information necessary to manufacture 1 Homo sapiens.
That’s not even considering all the intragenic junk there is. It really makes you think just how “advanced” we are, evolutionarily (or creationarily). Either we (as a species) are really not as intricate as we would like to think we are, or God is a really good coder.
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Posted 03 January 2008
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Tech § Life
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某日,金庸補習班的楊過沒交作業,班導郭靖問他為什麼沒交。
楊過答說:「作業為什麼要交?
交了又不一定是自己寫的~~~老是拿兄弟名號招搖撞騙的裘千丈開始不安
寫了又不一定會~~~不小心破了珍瓏棋局的虛竹不好意思的看了逍遙子一眼
會了又不一定考~~~苦心準備當盟主的左冷禪背後響起悶雷
考了又不一定會過~~~白眉應王身邊秋風吹過,陣陣淒涼的落葉
過了又不一定能畢業~~~被古墓派退學的李莫愁臉色一變
畢業又不一定找得到工作~~~樂天的令狐沖酒醉中,沒聽見
找得到工作又不一定保得住工作~~~蕭峰奪門而出
保得住工作又不一定找得到老婆~~~不戒大師跳了起來
找得到老婆又不一定生得出孩子~~~東方不敗和楊蓮亭默默不語
生了孩子又不一定是自己的~~~段正淳的臉開始抽筋
是自己的又不一定養得活~~~葉二娘、歸二娘都忍不住哭了起來
養得活又不一定長得大~~~天山童姥開始做生死符,準備修理人
長得大又不一定孝順~~~石清和閔柔同時心中一痛
會孝順又不一定用功唸書~~~韋小寶冷冷地看著楊過
會用功又不一定考得上~~~郭靖臉上一紅
考得上又不一定會去念~~~明教的張無忌甸甸地不說話
念了也不知道念什麼~~~老實的石破天露出不好意思的笑容
知道念什麼也不一定值得~~~這時香香公主飛舞起來,嗔了楊過一眼
值得念也不一定就能成功~~~慕容復以其音還其音的埋頭痛哭
成功了又不一定是英雄~~~成吉思汗不禁老淚縱橫
英雄又不一定受人景仰~~~外頭面壁的蕭峰踹門而入,捻住楊過衣領
受景仰又不一定會幸福~~~九難正在計劃搶楊過的孩子
有幸福又怎著,非得個真實名份~~~此時楊過忽一蹬到桌上引出黯然消魂掌之魂不守舍,東方不敗直噴鼻血的歡呼:「過兒!過兒!」
有名份又如何,卻得不到真情的對待~~~楊過口中還不忘碎碎念,一旁的岳靈珊回憶起與小林子的點點滴滴,傷神的落下淚來
有真情又如何,卻無緣在一起~~~可憐的蕭峰再也按奈不住,吼的一聲,亢龍有悔蓄勢待發
有緣又如何,他未必在乎~~~阿碧無奈的望了頭戴皇冠瘋了的慕容復一眼
就算在乎妳又怎樣,就是看他不順眼~~~阿紫用游坦之的眼珠子狠狠的瞪著那瞎了的游坦之,可憐的他卻渾沒發覺
就算他看得妳順眼又如何,他最愛的是她啊~~~華箏在大漠想著郭靖,淚如雨下
愛著別人又如何,強搶過來不就得了~~~韋小寶抱著阿珂在床上回憶著他的成功史,還不時發出奸笑聲
強搶過來又如何,她又不一定會真心喜歡你~~~公孫止忍不住邊拿著情花邊刺自己邊大叫
真心喜歡你又不一定能白頭偕老~~~陳家洛和香香公主互看一眼
白頭偕老又如何,她心中又不一定只有你一個人~~~譚公滿臉不豫之色,側目斜睨趙錢孫
心中只有一個人又如何,人家也不見得會選妳~~~蛛兒已經開始在慢慢走開
選了你又如何,命根子又不一定保得住~~~吳應熊把玩著高麗使節送來的人蔘愛不釋手
保得住命根子又如何,又不一定會有後代~~~林震南二顆鐵蛋由天上砸向地面的林平之
保得住後代又如何,又不一定有出息~~~朱子柳跟武三通恨恨的瞪著朱長齡跟武烈
有出息又如何,又不一定能行動自如~~~俞岱巖正在試他新發明的免推除濕按摩自走輪
能行走自如又如何,又不一定能遇得著知心人~~~田伯光不顧東方不敗仍偷瞄著楊蓮亭
能遇得著知音又如何,又不一定能隨意笑傲江湖~~~劉正風曲洋同聲一嘆
隨意笑傲江湖又如何,又不一定享受得了成果~~~朝陽頂摔下的任我行想著:那ㄟㄚ捏
享受得了成果如何,又不一定能贏過紅粉佳人~~~王重陽又愛又恨的看著林朝英
贏過紅粉佳人又如何,又不一定能保住美滿婚姻~~~胡青牛唉聲嘆氣的看著王難姑
保住美滿婚姻又如何,又不一定能阻止良人自宮練武~~寧中則及岳靈珊母女抱頭痛哭
自宮練武又如何,又不一定能天下第一~~~林平之與東方不敗開始悔不當初
天下第一又如何,又不一定能認清得了自己~~~歐陽鋒正想著蛤蟆與牛蛙那個大
清楚自己又如何,又不一定控制得了自己~~~包不同曰:「非也非也,吾豈好辯哉」
控制得了自己又如何,人家又不見得知情~~~胡逸之正想著第四十句話要向陳圓圓說啥
知情又如何,人家又不見得領情~~~陳近南無奈地看著鄭克塽,感嘆時不我予命運弄人
領情又如何,又不一定保得住朋友之性命~~~苗人鳳滿懷歉意地望向胡夫人
保得住朋友之性命又如何,又不一定保得住自個之性命~~~吳六奇瞪向歸氏白癡一家人
保得住自個性命又如何,又不一定當得上主角~~~石中玉不服地觀察著狗雜種
當得主角又如何,身心又不一定會好過~~~狄雲想著:水笙會不會跟阿紫或建寧公主一樣
身心好過又如何,還不是醜八怪的渾人~~~桃谷六仙正在討論要派那四個人出來
聰明英俊又如何,又不一定是名家風範~~~宋青書急向俞二叔要求學習那個什麼絕戶手
名家風範又如何,也可能淪為跟班的走狗~~~馮鍚範陰陰地道:第二劍可能會流很多血哦
不是跟班走狗,難道就一定「光明正大」,這是那座大廟(虛竹用語)的匾啊~~~風際中正在寫密函給康敏,風兄感覺好像寫錯字,但喚作康什麼的好像沒幾個,難不成是康康,管它的,先寄再說,免得影響時效性
光明正大又如何,又不一定能勤快不貪吃~~~洪七公丟出手上骨頭後,正在找打狗棒
勤快不貪又如何,又不一定保得住家人性命~~~施琅正在傳令要把海軍集結過來
保得住家人性命又如何,又不一定對得起朋友~~~老頭子看了老不死一眼後向前滾來
對得起朋友又如何,又不一定能不開殺戒~~~莫大又在開始拉他的胡琴
不開殺戒又如何,又不一定能守清規~~~虛竹也開始在準備生死符
能守清規又如何,又不能擔保以前沒犯過錯~~~刀白鳳已暗中在聯絡段延慶
沒犯過錯又如何,又不一定能保得住未婚妻~~~殷梨亭受不了,已衝了出去
保得住未婚妻又如何,又不一定保得住妻子~~~黃老邪正在找尋彈珠土豆…等可彈之物
保得住妻子又如何,又不一定認識斗大個字~~~狗雜種正對著阿秀傻笑
識字又如何,又不一定能參破玄機~~~瑛姑正指使老頑童去剷平桃花島上的樹叢
參破玄機又如何,還不是只能和畜生在一起~~~獨孤求敗忍不住從墓裡爬了出來
不和畜生在一起又如何,又不一定能把話說清楚~~~何足道正在打包準備回西域
把話說清楚又如何,又不一定能前嫌盡棄~~~柯鎮惡不悅地把手杖重重往地上一杵
前嫌盡棄又如何,又不一定能從此過著幸福快樂的日子~~~張無忌手中畫眉筆險些掉下
過著幸福快樂的日子又如何,又不能再蹦出個兒子來~~~周伯通已無法左手畫方右手畫圓
蹦出個老來子又如何,還不是白癡加十八級~~~神拳無敵歸老二的一張老臉已紅得發紫
不是頂級白癡又如何,有可能是個武癡阿達~~~小寶:澄觀師姪啊,有人要把少林寺給挑了
不是武癡阿達又如何,也有可能是個超級花癡~~~段譽感覺真氣已衝到指尖
不是花癡又如何,又不一定能贏得青梅竹馬的芳心~~~令狐沖再也按捺不住
贏得青梅竹馬芳心又如何,又不一定對得起人家~~~郭靖彷彿已心馳大漠
對得起人家又如何,又不一定對得起自己~~~香香公主淚往肚裡吞
對得起自己又如何,難保不會遺臭萬年~~~吳三龜又開始在摸他的鼻子了
不會遺臭萬年又如何,又不一定能光宗耀祖~~~只見慕容復在那喃喃自語
光宗耀祖又如何,還不是個邋遢骯髒鬼~~~張三丰檢視他那油亮油亮的袍子看那不均勻
不是邋遢骯髒鬼又如何,難保內心不齷齪卑鄙~~~田歸農不敢與苗人鳳目光接觸
內心不齷齪卑鄙又如何,還不是個殺人不眨眼的魔頭~~~李莫愁正在磨鐵杵做那冰魄銀針
不是魔頭又如何,頂多也是功夫不到家的倒霉禿驢番僧~~~金輪法王已擺出丟鐵餅姿勢
不是功夫不到家的倒霉禿驢番僧,最後也不見得會文武全才~~~鳩摩智已開始妄動無明
文武全才又如何,又不一定嫁得出去~~~林朝英正在對李莫愁小龍女耳提面命
嫁得出去又如何,還不是草包一個~~~郭芙正在向耶律齊郭靖黃蓉告狀
不是草包又如何,還不是要和別人共事一夫~~~蘇荃雙兒等不知在密謀什麼
不用和人共事一夫又如何,人家也不會多看妳一眼~~~康敏正在想著要再如何算計喬峰
多看妳一眼又如何又不一定能認出喬裝改扮的妳~~~阿朱低頭不語
認出來又如何,又不一定能死得瞑目~~~玄苦大師因惑地看著蕭遠山父子倆
死得瞑目又如何,還不是個登徒子~~~歐陽克正在招喚他的蛇群
不是登徒子又如何,也有可能是個老不修~~~公孫谷主的黑白刀劍已嘎嘎作響
不是老不修又如何,還不是個愛湊熱鬧的電燈泡~~~一燈大師不好意思地看著周瑛倆人
不是電燈泡又如何,又不一定真能放得下~~~只見儀琳雙手合十在默默祝禱
放得下又如何,還不是莫名其妙一個~~~袁紫衣唸道:由愛故生憂,由愛故生怖
不是莫名其妙又如何,又不一定能跟對人~~~風波惡鄧百川等也只能嘆息地望著慕容復
跟對人又如何,又不一定能名師出高徒~~~大武小武神態扭捏地互望著
名師出高徒又如何,還不是只能避走海外~~~袁承志想著自個名字是否對得起先人
不避走海外又如何,還不是只是敗將流寇~~~李自成大吼一聲
不是敗將流寇又如何,又不一定能一統江湖~~~耶律洪基不解地看著蕭峰
能一統江湖又如何,又不一定能長生不死~~~任我行又准備使用吸星大法了
能長生不死又如何,還不如能為美人畫眉~~~張無忌又順便為自己畫了兩筆
能為美人畫眉又如何,又未必能此情長久不渝~~~段正淳的眾家夫人恨恨的瞪了老段一眼
能此情不渝又如何,那也未必能長相廝守~~~柔兒掩面哭泣,公孫止安慰也不是,不安慰也不是
能長相廝守又如何,那也未必躲得過世俗人的成見~~~殷素素再也按耐不住的提劍向前
避開世俗成見又怎著,還是得躲在古墓避嫌~~~楊過憤憤不平,忍不住大罵禮教迂腐,害他想念外面的花花世界
躲起來隱居,未必不會有外人騷擾~~~謝遜在冰火島參研屠龍刀的秘密,門外跑來一個天殺的金花婆婆鬧事
避得過外人騷擾又如何,那也未必躲的過情絲糾扯~~~林朝英悠悠的嘆口氣,隨即返回古墓
躲得過情絲糾扯又如何,那也未必能不受功名薰心~~~鳩摩智臉色羞愧的看著諸人,雙手合十的說了一句「阿彌陀佛」
不受功名薰心又如何,那也未必娶到心中所愛~~~風清揚一聽被人舊事重提,不禁老淚縱橫
是心中所愛,無奈同床異夢~~~刀白鳳看著枕邊人段正淳流口水的樣子,不知他又夢到哪位情婦,恨不得把他踢下床
兩情相悅,卻一點都不浪漫~~~林玉龍與任飛燕這對寶貝夫妻的夫妻刀法拆來拆去還是沒默契
能娶到心中所愛又如何,又不一定能生孩子~~~刀白鳳愧疚的看著段正淳
能生孩子又如何,又不一定能教好~~~黃蓉暗運真氣準備要使出桃花絕學
能教好又如何,又不一定能有出息~~~慕容博看著不能復國而發瘋的慕容復,暗運參合指力準備擊殺楊過
有出息又如何,又不是光明正大得來的~~~岳不群他老母從墓裏跳出來:「你這個孽子啊!」把老岳嚇得臉都紫了
光明正大得來的又如何,後來又不是自己的~~~蕭幫主撕開胸衣服,露出狼頭,向天號叫
是自己的又如何,還不是得和別人分享~~~韋家七女擲骰子,誰輸了誰陪,贏的人回房間抱著棉被痛哭:我的手氣為什麼那麼好?
和別人分享又如何,別人還不見得要和你分享~~~周芷若的九陰白骨爪抓向伍思凱,誰叫你亂唱「與你分享的快樂勝過彼此擁有…」
別人願和你分享又如何,你還不見得想要~~~趙敏說:「給你」殷離說:「我不要二手貨」
你想要又如何,還不一定要得到~~~慕容復說:「眾卿平身」阿碧說:「啟稟皇上,你的『包大人』該換了。」
你要得到又如何,又不知道該怎麼用~~~謝遜在冰火島上抱著屠龍刀,心裏想著:如果現在有一客鬥牛士牛排,我一定用這把刀來切
知道該怎麼用又如何,到最後還不是死於非命~~~萬震山不斷嘟嚷著:「是我先發現的,是我先發現的…」
不死於非命又如何,又不一定能上天堂~~~任我行:「老向,我先跟你掛個號吧」天王老子向問天:「我得先問問常家兄弟的名單中有沒有你的名字」
能上天堂又如何,又不一定能長期住下來~~~玄慈方丈:「為什麼趕我走?」天使:「因為你太太住在地獄裏」
能長期住下來又如何,又不一定有美女可以陪~~~段正淳:「沒有美女?那請幫我買張來回票吧!我還是回到凡間去好了」
有美女陪又如何,又不一定是你所喜歡的~~~令狐沖:「一見尼姑,逢賭必輸;全是尼姑,輸到脫褲;頭上無毛,輸到坐牢;頭頂發光,輸個精光」
是你喜歡的又如何,她又不一定是自願的~~~阿珂睡夢中:「塽~~塽~~」小寶:「我又沒對妳怎樣,妳喊那麼起勁幹麼?」
她是自願的又如何,你又不一定知道該如何下手~~~木桑:「少年人能夠不欺暗室,對同行少女規規矩矩的,實在是很難得」袁承志:「師父沒教我如何不規矩,木桑師伯,今天你輸我二盤棋,就教我二招吧!」
知道如何下手又如何,又不一定足有夠資源下手~~~林平之和田伯光垂下頭去
有足夠資源下手又如何,又不一定敢有違倫理~~~段譽又用凌波微步逃避木婉清
有勇氣違背倫理又如何,又不一定得到支持~~~郭靖說我寧願一掌打死你也不願你做錯事
得到別人的支持又如何,自己又未必懂得真惜~~~包不同盯著慕容復,似乎眼睛也可噴火
懂得珍惜又如何,最後還是要親手毀了~~~嘩!鬼呀!對不起,原來只是隔離班的凌霜華衝了進來
相愛又如何,還不是和尚一個~~~虛竹玄慈同仇敵愾
不是和尚又如何,不一定就好~~~紀曉芙、穆念慈喃喃道:不悔不悔
好又如何,不一定能結婚~~~歐陽克開始弄蛇
結婚又如何,不能見面有何用~~~芷若、楊過口噴鮮血而亡
能見面又有何用,人家還不是情有獨鍾~~~儀琳小師妹又要傷心了,而不戒和尚開始找他的方便鏟了
情有獨鍾又如何,人家還不是和別人雙宿雙飛~~~拖雷的斬馬刀已拿在手裡了
不和別人雙宿雙飛又如何,她又不一定真的喜歡你~~~韋小寶正在找他那把硝鐵如泥的匕首
真的喜歡你又如何,也未必能有情人終成眷屬~~~狄雲拿出血刀,陳家洛擺出百花錯拳的招式,準備打帶砍!
就算他心裡只有你又如何,還是要承受社會輿論~~~小龍女刀光劍影的飛過來
不管社會輿論又如何,自己沒本錢也無可奈何~~~蛛兒拿出她的可愛大蜘蛛,丟向楊過後掩面痛哭:「別人的臉蛋~是金包銀~~我的臉蛋為什麼~~那麼噁心~~」
看得上你,也不一定愛的對人~~~胡斐衝到對街尼姑庵大喊:「紫衣~~紫衣」
愛對人,也不一定有平靜的生活~~~天山雙鷹搖頭苦笑
有正常的生活,也不一定有安全的居所~~~龍木二島主馬上替自己保了地震險跟火山爆發險,並在俠客島插上「吉島出售」
有正常的居所,也不一定有正常的朋友~~~令狐沖看著桃谷六仙不知道該說什麼
有正常的朋友,也不一定有和善的師姐~~~丁敏君死不悔改偷打了曉芙一下才提劍衝來
有正常的師姐,也不一定有正常的師父~~~丁春秋又放屁,只聽星宿弟子們苦著臉努力吸氣的嘶嘶聲
有正常的師父,也不一定有正常的徒弟~~~何鐵手逼問袁承志:「你到底認不認我這徒弟?」
有正常的徒弟,也不一定有無毒的飲食~~~老頑童從廁所拿出一塊肉在歐陽鋒面前晃呀晃:「要不要再嘗嘗啊?」
飲食正常,過去不一定有正常的奶媽~~~郭襄灌了一口豹奶才開始罵人
有正常的奶媽,不一定有正常的寵物~~~陸猴兒打開了狂暴大猩猩的籠子
有正常的寵物,只會拍翅膀亂叫也沒用~~~每人頭上只聽「啪」一聲,臭氣沖天原來是神雕不爽,所以……
所以啊……幹嘛要交作業?」
現場沉默了三秒鐘,眾人聯手開扁楊過……
We (as in my mom and I) have apparently accrued enough miles (two round trips from Singapore to SF/LA ~= 27000 miles) to get two free round-trip tickets to anywhere in North America… so we’re heading out to Washington D.C., home of the most enormous and powerful government on the face of this planet, next summer. But first, we had to call Singapore Airlines (SIA)…
Mom: You call them!
Me: Mom, it’s Singapore. They speak Chinese there.
Mom: Oh okay.
*mom calls SIA*
SIA: *Indian accent* Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer how can I help you?
Mom: Umm do you speak Chinese?
SIA: Uhh we don’t have anyone who speaks Chinese here right now…
Mom: *hangs up after a while of difficult communication* They don’t speak Chinese…
Me: HOW ON EARTH IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE IT’S SINGAPORE FFS!!! *realization* oh all the Chinese people are sleeping now and the Malays and Indians are getting paid minimum wage to fill in for them at night…
But in the end, we managed to surmount the insurmountable difficulties of Singrish communication, 16-hour time difference and bad reception on my cell phone on an international call to make a reservation, only to be thwarted by the incompetence of United and Delta and US Airways etc whose employees have apparently already left work, so they had nobody to man the telephones and we have to wait for tomorrow to call them (SIA) back and confirm with them… They should learn from Singapore and hire illegal Mexicans to answer phones at night, dammit!
Got the inspiration from a Taiwanese comedy show:
吾誠彼娘之非悅 = 我真他媽的不爽
君去食穢物也 = 你去吃屎啦
汝爹之高堂個龐然大物 = 你奶奶個熊
My own creations:
噬吾褌矣 = eat my shorts!
汝实乃下品也 = 你這賤貨
汝肏汝娘者 = mofo (not too sure about the grammatical accuracy of this)
令堂碩大無朋可阻京杭渠道哉 = yo momma so fat, she can block the Grand Canal! (my attempt at a Chinese-specific yo momma joke)
We had lunch with an elderly stock trader and his wife today at this Thai place in the Capital Mall. After friendly, ritualized greetings and cheery banter, the gent let it slip that his father was a KMT soldier. That immediately grabbed my attention. Upon further questioning I discovered that his father was a Chinese Air Force pilot, (which he referred to as the “Flying Tigers”, which was an American unit), and he kept emphasizing that “he fought the Japanese, NOT the communists”.
It turned out that he HATED the Japanese, and for a very good reason: He told me that his family of 10 was fleeing to Chungking with the Imperial Japanese Army in full pursuit, but Japanese cavalry managed to catch up to them. The Japanese started slaughtering the refugee convoy, but his uncle had enough sense to hide his family in a haystack. Unfortunately, his baby brother started to cry, and to prevent the Japanese from finding their entire family and killing them all, his mother SUFFOCATED HIS BABY BROTHER TO DEATH so that the rest of them might live… What a sad tale… But it got worse.
He then told me that after his father retired from the air force, he stayed behind on the mainland rather than go to Taiwan, thinking that he was not a KMT member so he would be fine. But the communists, being the traitorous DOGS they are, locked him up for TWENTY YEARS, for no other reason than the fact that he fought Japan, killed Japanese, defended China, and was a HERO. He died in prison. Calling them commie bastards would be an insult to bastards everywhere.
Stories like these make my blood boil. His father gave so much to defend China, yet died a condemned man in the very country he was risking life and limb to protect… 一定要為這些抗日英雄的英靈平反!
Helped out today at this charity event thingy in Centralia to paint houses for people who are too poor (or maybe just don’t have the physical stamina) to paint their houses.
Our assigned house was in Rochester, so we drove up there in a fleet of vehicles to a rather… old… neighborhood. Because we were in so many cars there simply wasn’t enough parking space in front of that house’s lawn, so we all parked elsewhere along the road in front of the neighbors’ lawns. Then this 40-something woman came out and complained “YA’LL CANT ALL PARK IN FRONT OF MY LAAAWWWN!” (complete with Southernese…) Redneck. White trash. Blondy-headed ho. Skank. Douche. Cheebye. BIATCH. Just jealous of our middle-class modes of transportation. Willing to bet she thinks she’s Christian and goes to church occasionally. Probably lives on food stamps. Which are paid for by middle-class people’s taxes. We’ll probably end up paying for her Social Security 30 years later. Ungrateful scum. That’s why we need to abolish welfare, so we don’t feed people who don’t create wealth. The world would be a better place. Moving on.
The house was brown and the fence was brown and the trim was brown. To be honest it wasn’t as run-down as I imagined it would be. The owners wanted the house brown (they like their houses brown it seems) and the fence and trim white. First we painted the fence and then, while we were painting the back of the house this really annoying (and fat) girl REALLY REALLY wanted to use a roller, so we let her. After 2 minutes she was bitching and moaning and complaining about how hard it is and how she shouldn’t have volunteered to use the roller. I asked her to give it to me if she was too tired, but she so obnoxiously guarded onto it, not giving it to anybody and not using it to paint the house either. Really wanted to slap that little biatch. But then I’d get slapped with a trillion-dollar lawsuit and be reamed in the rear forever. Decided it wasn’t worth it. Almost, but not quite over the threshold yet…
Took a break, painted more stuff, had lunch, then painted, had break, painted. Then I left at 2:00 PM. End of story.
Bitches.
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Posted 08 September 2007
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Life
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I just got my new laptop (HP dv6000t) and it comes with Windoze Vista Home Premium. Booted it up, got rid of bloatware, and installed Firefox. Then I noticed that by blog posts in Chinese being rendered into glyphs that rather resembled hiragana and katakana… despite the fact that they’re using UTF-8 encoding… Luckily I was able to fix the issue and live to blog the tale.
Hysterically funny. I used the mother of all Chinese f-bombs – “KNNBCCB” – today. In America. On A Singaporean. An f-bomb so vile that educated and civilized people must only say its acronym-ized form. The clueless Xinjiaporen (could also be Malaysian judging from Singrish accent, though Malaysians in general do not behave this stuck-up) had the gall to diss China when I was present. He was so taken aback by the sudden use of choicy words in his native tongue (a safe assumption since this word can be considered to have transcended language lines and passed into the Singlish vocabulary) that he was unable to mount a response in the time it took me to walk away. The odds of two people who can both speak Singlish (or can swear in Hokkien) coming within 5 ft of each other in a small city on the west coast of the US is quite slim, really.
南人相傳,秦漢前有洞主吳氏,土人呼為吳洞。娶兩妻,一妻卒。有女名葉限,少惠,善陶(一作鉤)金,父愛之。末歲父卒,為後母所苦,常令樵險汲深。時嘗得一鱗,二寸余,金目,遂潛養於盆水。日日長,易數器,大不能受,乃投於後池中。女所得余食,輒沉以食之。女至池,魚必露首枕岸,他人至不復出。其母知之,每伺之,魚未嘗見也。因詐女曰:“爾無勞乎,吾為爾新其襦。”乃易其弊衣。後令汲於他泉,計裡數百(一作裡)也。母徐衣其女衣,袖利刃行向池。呼魚,魚即出首,因斤殺之,魚已長丈余。膳其肉,味倍常魚,藏其骨於鬱棲之下。逾日,女至向池,不復見魚矣,乃哭於野。忽有人被發粗衣,自天而降,慰女曰: “爾無哭,爾母殺爾魚矣,骨在糞下。爾歸,可取魚骨藏於室,所須第祈之,當隨爾也。”女用其言,金璣衣食隨欲而具。及洞節,母往,令女守庭果。女伺母行遠,亦往,衣翠紡上衣,躡金履。母所生女認之,謂母曰:“此甚似姊也。”母亦疑之。女覺,遽反,遂遺一只履,為洞人所得。母歸,但見女抱庭樹眠,亦不之慮。其洞鄰海島,島中有國名陀汗,兵強,王數十島,水界數千裡。洞人遂貨其履於陀汗國,國主得之,命其左右履之,足小者履減一寸。乃令一國婦人履之,竟無一稱者。其輕如毛,履石無聲。陀汗王意其洞人以非道得之,遂禁錮而栲掠之,竟不知所從來。乃以是履棄之於道旁,即遍歷人家捕之,若有女履者,捕之以告。陀汗王怪之,乃搜其室,得葉限,令履之而信。葉限因衣翠紡衣,躡履而進,色若天人也。始具事於王,載魚骨與葉限俱還國。其母及女即為飛石擊死,洞人哀之,埋於石坑,命曰懊女塚。洞人以為祀,求女必應。陀汗王至國,以葉限為上婦。一年,王貪求,祈於魚骨,寶玉無限。逾年,不復應。王乃葬魚骨於海岸,用珠百斛藏之,以金為際。至征卒叛時,將發以贍軍。一夕,為海潮所淪。成式舊家人李士元聽說。士元本邕州洞中人,多記得南中怪事。
Story sounds familiar, eh.
The heavens are conspiring against me, as someone in my family would say. I got the graphics card I bought a while back, and installed it and everything looked fine. Then my computer wouldn’t start. Played with the BIOS, set to disable onboard graphics and prioritize PCI - nada. Then I read the packaging and slapped myself silly. It needed a 300 Watt PSU, and when I checked my PSU, it was only rated for 250 W. I believe then was a justifiable time to say, FUCK! But at least I could blame it on amazon, who didn’t put that pretty vital piece of information on the description page, (and I already did, so I’m going to have return it to them).
Maybe I’ll buy some books instead. Perhaps whatever cosmic forces at work here would find that more to its liking.