The Art of Communication

An interesting exchange between two geniuses and both are right!

Einstein to Chaplin: "What I most admire about your art ... is that you don't say a word, and the rest of the world understand you ...!"

Chaplin: "your glory is even greater. The whole world admires you, even though they don't understand a word of what you say!!!"

Basic Digital Photography with Photo Editing

Course Title: As above.
Course Description: This course will cover some photography basics including the aspects on composition and photo editing.
Date: 21st October 2015 (Wednesday)
Time: 2.30PM to 5.30PM
Venue: Woodlands Regional Library
Charge: NLB to confirm.
Maximum number of participants: ten (this is a hands-on course)
Registration is on First-Come-First Served basis. Through any library outlets or online through NLB’s GoLibrary web site.

NB: For the Photo Editing part, the free AutoDesk Pixlr software will be used.

Streaming Players

What is the difference between (1) DVD Player and (2) Streaming Player

DVD Player

Equipment required: DVD player, amplifier and speakers and the media (e.g. DVD discs on songs or movies).

Streaming (media) Player

Equipment required: Streaming Player, TV set (with HDMI input), broadband Internet with Wireless (Wi-Fi) and minimum of 4 Mbps broadband speed.

Different Companies or Brands of Streaming Players have different business models. For example, the Singnet (Mio) and the SCV streaming players are controlled items and cannot be purchased outside in the open market. Their business model is – a monthly minimum charge for a selected number of channels. You can add on more special channels at additional monthly cost or select VOD (video on demand); like what you used to go to the video shop to rent. The disadvantage for the fixed channels is because it is a scheduled program, once you miss; you have to wait for the repeat – not like VOD where you can see it any time or day as you like. So, you can say there are only two official players in this TV/media market, besides the conventional cinemas where you can view other movies or play your own DVD movies.

In some other countries, like in the US, they also have companies like SingNet providing “cabled” modems and streaming services. In additional, they also have satellite TV services and more dedicated Streaming Service Providers. The choices of channels are more. We normally associate their business by the Brand name of their respective streaming (media) player, e.g. Hulu, Roku, Apple (iTunes), Amazon, etc.

There are also other ways to see movies/documentary besides the above by using your own computer. In order for movies to work on your computer, you must first download the (player’s) software provided by the respective companies. The download for the standard player is normally free. More advance player will be provided to you if you sign on to see their “paid” movies or documentaries.

A Note of Caution    

In Singapore context, you can go online to view the movies/documentaries, from approved companies (like Realplayer, iTunes, Amazon) or hooked onto SingTel & StarHub boxes, at a prescribed fee. The rest of the streaming (media) players you get from IT Expo events, with assorted brand names are not properly regulated. You pay a price for the box and that’s it. You do not know where your movies are coming from - desirable or undesirable, good or bad, how good is their Servers providing the multi-channels downloading, etc. Most of the owners of these off-the-self streaming players, when streaming FREE movies, are always not satisfied with the long and repeated buffering time required. For PAID rental movies or documentary, this problem does not exists as the system setup is different. Sometimes you can tell where the movie/film is coming from as they are watermarked.

Singapore River Walk

Click picture to view video

Photography Field Trip - Singapore River Walk (17-03-2012)

Some Photo Tips:

Try to take candid pictures without Flash.

Try not to take pictures with the camera facing the sun.

You will not get good pictures. But if you have to, in particular taking a portrait, then turn on the flash for the face.

Place your main subject with the one-third rule.

For those having trouble holding the camera steady or if you want a sharper image,
try setting the digital camera program to "Sport" mode.

Set the image quality to high. That is, the image should have an image size of near to or more than 1MB (resolution). As a guide, if you want to reproduce any picture to paper print (post card size), it should at least have an image size of 300K bytes.

Pictures tell a thousand words. So, how do the professionals do it? View their works and learn from them. Pictures form a very important part in communication with us. Every one of us sees and interprets a picture differently. A picture/photo is like the music and the art. It has depth, space and evokes our feelings besides bringing the facts in front of our eyes.

Basic Photography

Depth of Field:
Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and the farthest objects in an image judged to be in acceptable focus.  The focal length and the aperture of the lens you’re using and your focused distance governs your depth of field. Long focal length (e.g. telephoto zoom lens) has lesser depth of field. Short focal length (e.g. wide-angled lens) has greater depth of field. With other things being equal, using smaller aperture can achieve greater depth of field.

F-stops:

F-stops are the measure of the size of the opening or aperture in the lens. Remember, the larger the f-stop number, the smaller the aperture. The smaller the f-stop, the larger the aperture and the more light the lens will let through to the image sensor. Aperture Priority (fixed f-stop) is good for low-light conditions.

Dealing with Insults ... Lord Buddha

Beautiful Quotes ...

If you are right then there is no need to get angry
And if you are wrong then you don't have any right to get angry.

Patience with family is love,
Patience with others is respect,
Patience with self is confidence and
Patience with God is faith.

Never Think Hard about PAST,
It brings Tears ...
Don't Think more about FUTURE,
It brings Fears ...
Live this Moment with a Smile,
It brings Cheers!

Every test in our life makes us bitter or better,
Every problem comes to make us or break us,
Choice is ours whether we become victim or victorious!

Search a beautiful heart not a beautiful face.
Beautiful things are not always good,
but good things are always beautiful.

Remember me like a pressed flower in your Notebook.
It may not be having any fragrance,
but will remind you of my existence forever in your life.

Do you know why God created gaps between fingers?
So that someone who is special to you,
comes and fills those gaps by holding your hands forever.

Internet Radio & TV

What is Internet Radio or TV? Our conventional radio or TV receive the programs through electro-magnetic waves (or radio waves) or like StarHub through underground cables. Internet radio/TV receive the program through the Internet network and the programs are transmitted to the radio/TV through a house Wi-Fi wireless. 


The difference between the old and the new concept is that, the new has no program schedules. The programs are always there available 24/7. You can select your programs and watch/hear (anything you wanted to watch/hear) and where/when you wanted it. It will also has the search feature to allow you to find anything you wanted to watch/hear. Being digital, the sound and picture quality are better. This is better than the current option where the programs are scheduled and you have to record anyting you wanted to watch/hear later.

If you have trouble setting up your new Internet device, try to check up your model, how to reboot your device. Some just need to press and hold the Power (OFF) button until the unit turn off; then touch the power button to restore power.

After the settings are done and your device don't seem to be working, you can try to turn off (completely power off) your provider's modem, wait for a few seconds and then power the modem on again. It is good to have your Internet device in the OFF possition when the modem is rebooting itself.

Beware of Phishing Emails

First let us understand the meaning of "Phishing" or "Phish".
Phishing means stealing passwords and personal information on the Internet.
"To Phish" is to set up a phony URL (Web Site) or to imitate or to impersonate one original site which people sign in to by giving their passwords or credit card details.

Phishing emails are fake emails, presumably from your friends, indicating a financial problem and requires help or giving you instructions as to how to pass the money (or send the money) over.

To give you one possible example, let's say your computer and/or your friends' computers are infected with "malware". They have "fish" out your "contact list" or address book and even know some of the email passwords. Now what the scammer will do is first to "create" one NEW email account, very similar or close to your best friends (whom they think are most likely have financial trouble).  Don't forget this scammer can read and monitor all your networking emails.

What the scammer has done is setting up an email account, very similar to one of your friends, say, your friend's email address is "geokcheng396", the scammer will create one as "geokcheing396" and with the same service provider. If not careful, when you respond, you will fall into his trap, as like all of us, we usually click "REPLY" to reply the email of our friends without even checking who we are talking to.

How to reduce the risk of getting into trouble when using the Internet to network?

1) When you receive a Phishing Email involving one of your friends, pick up your phone and contact her. Is it true you sent out this email.
2) For sensitive emails relating to confidential information or financial matters, do check who you are "replying" or talking to. Do not just click the "Reply" button. Also, do check carefully the email address. It may not be your friend's.
3) When transmitting money, don't just believe what is said in the email instructions - even though they may be from the right person. Pick up the phone to "re-confirm" the instructions given.
4) Evaluate the minimum risk involved in transmitting money through the bank. You have the bank TT and the Bank Draft. Doing it yourself through your own computer, online, may not be the best option available.
5) For you and/or your friends, try not to use those free and public email accounts to discuss and give instructions on confidential and financial matters. Use PacNet, SingNet, StarHub and the like for better traceability in event of a problem.