Tuesday, December 28, 2010

How to do a Ethernet Cable (RJ-45) Termination

For the T-568B Straight Through Ethernet Cable, the termination is as follows:

There are 8-color coded cables to the RJ-45 plug. Facing the Terminals (the copper contacts) upwards and from Left to Right, the color coding should be Pin 1 (orange/white), Pin 2 (orange), Pin 3 (green/white), Pin 4 (blue), Pin 5 (blue/white), Pin 6 (green), Pin 7 (brown/white) and Pin 8 (brown).

View link for more details, http://www.incentre.net/content/view/75/2/

Monday, December 27, 2010

How to Reduce the Size of your Picture

Now and then, most of us may have difficulty sending our pictures through the email. This is because the service provider (e.g. gmail, hotmail, yahoo, singnet, etc) put a cap on the maximum amount of file size attachment we can send at one time. If you have a lot of pictures with high resolution to send, you can simply reduce the file size first. If still in trouble, you can send the pictures in batches, a few at a time. One simple way to reduce your (picture) file size is to make use of the Paint Program in your computer. Note, if you still want to keep your original picture with high resolution, make a copy first and put all your copies (pictures) in one new file folder. With the copies in your new folder, do the following:

1)Place the mouse on the 1st picture, right click the mouse and move the mouse to the selection "Open with"
2) Go to the adjacent menu and select "Paint" program with a left click.
3)With the 1st picture just opened, save the picture under the same file name. This will over-write the existing file and at the same time reduces the file size.
4) Repeat the above with the 2nd picture.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Video Conferencing

In the olden days, when we talked about video conferencing, it is usually an important business meeting where parties around the world can discuss and see each other in a private room in a teleco company.
Now the above is things of the past. You can video conference with your love ones, anywhere in the world without leaving your home. All both parties need are two sets of suitable Wi-Fi enable mobile equipment installed with a suitable program. No computer is required. Just dial the other party like any mobile phone and both picture and voice will be connected.
enjoy ...

Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Art of Education

The art of education is to continue to grow as long as you live.
Every moment brings its lesson.
Every person is a teacher. Grow in all directions.
Develop a desire for goodness, an eagerness for knowledge,
a capacity for friendship, an appreciation of beauty,
a concern for others. Grow !
Man is never finished. Man never arrives.
Education never stops.
A quotation from anonymous

A Lesson on Public Relations - The Customer

Customer is the most important visitor on our premises.
He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him.
He is not an interruption on our work.
He is the purpose of it.
He is not an outsider on our business.
He is a part of it. We are not doing him a favour
by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us
an opportunity to do so.
- Gandhiji

Sunday, June 27, 2010

10 Symptoms not to ignor - on health

1) Unexplained weight loss
2) Persistent fever
3) Shortness of breath
4) Unexplained changes in bowel habits
5) Mental status changes
6) New or more headaches especially if you’re over age 50
7) Short-term loss of vision, speaking or movement control Flashes of light
9) Feeling full after eating very little
10)Hot, red or swollen joint

Do talk to your doctor if you think you have any of the above.
More details, click link

Quotation from Stephen Grellet

"I shall pass through this World but once ...
Any good thing that I can do,
Or any kindness that I can show my human being,
Let me do it now ... and not defer it,
For I will not pass this way again."

Stephen Grellet

Life is like travelling on a conveyor belt

Trouble is ...most of us are on a conveyor belt designed by others.
When on a conveyor belt, think of it in the context of a production line ...
sometimes you go through fire, then follow by through water or get hammered to shape (to conform) or all sorts of quality conformance.  If not, you may land up as a reject and discarded.

On Retirement ...

We don't think it is a "full stop" to life.
It is more like a "comma", a chance for us to catch our breath, discover new things that we love to do and to help others in the same parts of their lives, to find the things that they like as well. It's a chance to change course, pick up a new skill, etc.
Retirement is not an end, but a beginning!

Related topic: The late George Carlin's views On Ageing.

Pike Place Market in Seattle


July 21st, 2007… In summer of 2007, Pike Place Market is celebrating 100 years since it was opened in August 1907. One of the things the organiser has done is to “place” pig icons, 100 of them, I think, all over the downtown Seattle including in shopping centres. Click Pike Place Market below the picture to see some of the pig icons.

It is a place for small businesses with stalls selling fishes around the region (including salmon), home made crafts and other items like dungeness crabs, flowers, fruits of the season, honey, etc.

If you are in Seattle, Pike Place Market is within walking distance in the tourist area of downtown Seattle, a place worth paying a visit and have a seafood buffet lunch in the variety of restaurants and coffee outlets. Short boat rides are also available along the Elliott Bay waterfront.

Voyage of the Glaciers

In summer of 2007, my wife and I went for an Alaskan Cruise. The cruise ship started from Vancouver (Canada Place) and northbound to Whittier in Anchorage. The cruise is wonderful. You can eat as much as you can, 24-hours a day. The ship is very steady – big ship and not crossing any ocean. You don’t even know you are on board the ship if you don’t look out of the balcony. You jog three rounds around the ship, you have covered a mile. The ship has 18 levels, four night clubs, one theatre, five swimming pools (one heated and enclosed), number of jacuzzi whirlpools, five restaurants and one buffet restaurant, shopping areas, photo studio, etc. Activity rooms available for the very young to seniors, even for those on wheelchairs. This ship has a capacity for 2000 passengers.

This cruise to Alaska has given me an opportunity to Reflect on Life. It reminds me of the Five Elements. I found some notes in the Internet on the Five Elements…

The Five Elements, according to eastern philosophy, are the fundamental components of the Universe. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Going to remote areas, where population is zero in the Glacier Bay and Fjords, you have to respect the Five Elements around you – though the obvious around us in the Alaska bays & Fjords are the Wood (the forest), Earth (the mountain) and Water (the Fjords, Bays Rivers, Streams, Ocean, etc). Beneath – Metal (especially Gold) and Fire (Plate Tectonics), the causes of earthquakes.

Within the Bay and Fjord proper, you have the tranquility, calmness, peacefulness and serenity – mother nature in its total equilibrium – the Five Elemental energies in balance. You can also called it, God’s creation.

Read more …Wikipedia – The Five Elements

More pictures on Alaskan Cruise, click here.

YouTube Songs

Links to some youtube songs.
You need to install a Flash player to see/listen to youtube.com songs.




Elaine Paige - Memory


Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone.

In the lamplight
Withered leaves collected at my feet,
and the wind begins to blow

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember
The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every street lamp
seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the street lamp gutters and soon
it will be morning

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
and I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies
another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun.

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler


Oh, oh, oh, oh -

It must have been cold there in my shadow, To never have sunlight on your face.

You were content to let me shine, that's your way, You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory, While you were the one with all the strain.

A beautiful face without a name for so long, A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero, And everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle, For you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed, But I've got it all here in my heart.

I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.

I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be.

I could fly higher than an eagle, For you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything, everything I wish I could be.

Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle, For you are the wind beneath my wings.

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

你的眼神


像一阵细雨撒落我心底, 那感覺如此神秘,

我不禁抬起 头看着你, 而你并不露痕际.

虽然不言不语, 叫人难忘记,

那是你的眼神, 明亮又美丽,

啊 …..有情天地, 我满心欢喜.

像一阵细雨撒落我心底, 那感覺如此神秘,

我不禁抬起 头看着你, 而你并不露痕际.

虽然不言不语, 叫人难忘记,

那是你的眼神, 明亮又美丽,

啊 …..有情天地, 我满心欢喜.

虽然不言不语, 叫人难忘记,

Saturday, June 26, 2010

草原之夜 (The night of plain)


美丽的夜色多么沉静.
草原上只留下我的琴声.
想给远方的姑娘写封信 耶,
可惜没有邮递员来传情
等到千里冰雪消融.
等到草原上送来春风.
可克达拉改变了模样 耶,
姑娘就会来伴我的琴声.

来 ........ 姑娘就会来伴我的琴声.

来 ........ 姑娘就会来伴我的琴声.

哎 ...

PC Accessories

If you are using the computer system for a variety of applications, you may wish to consider getting some of these useful accessories.

PC Solutions

The write-up covers the basic Home PC configuration and what we can do after investing on a computer system.

Gender of Birds


Which of the two birds is a female?
Study them closely and see if you can spot which of the two is the female. It can be done. Even by one with limited bird watching skills. You have to come to your own conclusion basing on your own life's experience!

Answer 1: The bird on the LEFT who remains silent is NOT the female bird.
Answer 2: If the birds were young birds, then the one on the RIGHT is probably female. But if they were old birds (like us) then the one on the RIGHT is the male - since old males are more quarrelsome and talk a lot.
Answer 3: Usually the female of the species is the larger ...... so you guess which is the female bird?
Don't forget that the female praying mantis devours the male after mating.
Answer 4: The bird on the LEFT seems to look resigned. The one on the RIGHT may have started the nagging again.

Gender of Computer

A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House" for instance, is feminine - "la maison". "Pencil", however, is masculine - "le crayon".

A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer should be a masculine or feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation. The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender (la computer"), because:

1) No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
2) The language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3) Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval and
4) As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

(hold on your chuckling guys ... this gets better!)

The women's group, however, concluded that computer should be masculine ("le computer"), because:

1) In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
2) They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves
3) They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time THEY are the problem.
4) As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won!

Chinese + English = Chinglish

Can you construct sentences using numeric and English.
Here is one example ...

Ah Lek was asked to make a sentence using 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1

This is what he came up with ...

1 day I go 2 climb a 3 outside a house to peep.
But the couple saw me, so I panic and 4 down.
The man rushed out and wanted to 5 with me.
I ran until I fell 6 and threw up.
So I go into 7-eleven and grabbed some 8 to throw at him.
Then I took a 9 and try to stab at him.
10 goodness he ran away.

10 I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7-eleven.
Next day I called my boss and told him I was 6.
He said 5, tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work.
He also asked me to go climb a 3 and jump down.
I don't understand.
I am so nice 2 him but I don't know what he 1.

Wheels of Life

From a pram to a wheelchair.

In the men's restroom

In the men's restroom. Be careful when using your mobile in the restroom.

Faith


And I said to the man who
stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may
tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness
and put your hand into the
Hand of God. That shall be
to you better than light and
safer than a known way."
from the peom "God Knows"
by M. Louise Haskins

How A Child Learns


HOW A CHILD LEARNS

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, she learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, she learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, she learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to apprecaite.

If a child lives with fairness, she learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, she learns to like herself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

(Dorothy Law Nolte)

If you are interested in "Quotable Quotes" you can find one web site in

www.creativegrowth.com/qquotes.htm

The Internet

The Internet is like a Global City. It has Government Institutions (gov), various kind of non-profit Organisations (org), Commercial Complexes and shopping malls (com), Educational Institutions (edu), etc. So, to go to a proper place, you need an address. For the Internet, we called this the Web Address or the World Wide Web (www). It is also called the URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL has three parts - (1) the unique (domain) name, (2) the type of business and (3) the country the domain is registered.

What is Email?

Email is about communication.

Through emails, the two persons can be at different places. Messages is received immediately. Reply can also be immediate. Like in letters, you can attach photographs (in digitized format) or any digitized document.

To send and/or receive emails, you need to have a valid email address. If you do not have one, you need to get one and properly registered. Example of an email address: @.com..

To send or to receive emails, you require:

1) A computer set to connect to the Internet.

2)A connection to a service provider.

3) A email programme.

4) A valid email address of sender & receiver.

Catching up with IT

Many of us in our fifties and older may not have the opportunity to use computers or any IT gagets, like the digital camera, the way our younger generations have.

The acronyms the younger generations use, like CPU, RAM, CD-Rom, VGA, USB,
DVD, LAN, LCD, iPhone, Blackberry, etc. may all be greek to us, seniors.

Nowadays, the computer is a way of life in work and in play. So we seniors who do not have the opportunity to pick up this skill in our younger days will miss the fun computers can bring to our lives.

It is not difficult to pick up some basic computer skills. The only difficulty is to form a common group willing to meet at a fixed venue.

Topics of interests can be discussed and finalised to meet the needs of the group in question. These topics may include but not be limited to the following:

1) Learn how to take control of your Computer. Acquire some basic knowledge.

2) Send & receive emails.

3) Internet Surfing.

4) Use a digital camera to take pictures, download to the computer and finally compile the images to a slide show.

5) Microsoft Words, PowerPoint, Excel.

6) Learn how to "burn" a slide show, playable on the computer and the standard DVD player.

7) Blogging.

8) Web design/publishing.

9) Photo Editing.

10) Create a Karaoke Chinese or English song using Microsoft PowerPoint.

11) Online transactions, shopping - worldwide.

12) There is no end to learning. I am still learnig ...

Email me if you have the interest. The computer is just a smart tool, understanding it can make our lives more meaningful and interesting. Also if we believe in knowledge, like learning space of a child, has no boundary - then we are just beginning to understand the power of the computer!

I share with you two "Reflections on Life" I received from a friend who cares ...

1) Reflection on Life - Point of View (Movie play in RealPlayer)

2) The dashes in our lives

Butchart and the Japanese Gardens

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGd-wuNMHKc
The video show are pictures taken in Butchart Garden in Victoria - the British Columbia's provincial capital It lies at the southeast end of Vancouver Island, 90 km southwest of Vancouver. One of the ways to reach Butchart Gardens is from Seattle, purchasing a Victoria City and Butchart Garden Tour on the Victoria Clipper. Butchart Gardens has an area of approx. 20ha/50 acres. This Garden was started in 1904 by Jennie Butchart to beautify the quarry pit resulting from her husband's cement business. Still operated by the family, the grounds are maintained year round by a team of gardeners. The floral attraction is the beautiful sunken garden with its green lawns, trees and exquiste flower arrangements that create a whirl of colour. The other Gardens include, the Rose Fountain, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden. An average visit is about 1 and a half hours, in time to catch the 7.00 pm boat trip (about 3 hours) back to Seattle (on a day trip ticket).
The second part of the video show are pictures taken from the Japanese Garden in Seattle (Washington).