21 Oct 10: Python

When I started the Financial Business Informatics (FBI) course in TP, Problem Solving and Programming (PRSP) was one of the subjects I had to take. Before, I had no interest in programming, but I soon found it so elegant and logical, and since I didn't have Mathematics as a subject anymore, this became sort of it's substitute. I found it easy to understand, and found myself sailing through the class (I got an A). And although I'm not too proud of it, after the 6th lesson, I started to not pay attention to my teacher, and instead did the assignments in class. When I encountered something unfamiliar, I opened up the instructions sheet that my teacher, Ms Nami, had uploaded. This meant that I finished way earlier than my classmates, so I started on my project for the subject. Once, I realised that the class had gone quiet, so I asked my friend what we were supposed to do. He showed me, but I couldn't find the html file. I had done the php assignment earlier, but it needed to reference a html file, and I couldn't find it at that point. I took a look at what the php file required from the html file, and referred to past html files to create a new html file for this php project. Only when I had successfully completed the assignment did I turn to my friend and brightly said "Done". He looked at me and asked why I was so slow; he'd finished a long time ago. Only then did I realise that Ms Nami wouldn't have set us the task of making a html file when we weren't even taught. Apparently, when she had told the class to do the php assignment, she'd uploaded the html file there and then, and I hadn't bothered to check or ask for it.

That was the turning point for me. I realised that I wasn't just good at this, I had a knack for it. The next few weeks, I completed my project assignment with 3 weeks spare, while my classmates struggled with the last question: creating a Minsweeper game that plays itself, generating random numbers to open up random positions. That took me a while, but I eventually puzzled it out by myself.

Back to the present. Uncle Michael sometimes works with my dad, managing IT portions of projects. He owns an IT company, and has recently started teaching me this programming editor: Python. Since Monday (18th Oct), he told me to create a program that can check websites for certain pieces of information. Specifically, searching the html of a webpage to find the name and last price of Stocks. I stumbled over the first assignment, because I was unfamiliar with Python, and had no tutorial to guide me. My codes were messy, and the first 2 attempts I made only worked with assumptions. My search tool was clunky, and all these problems arised because I didn't know Python well enough. Eventually, I succeded. Actually, it was this afternoon, when I finally found the missing puzzle piece, and it worked like a charm. Assignment 2 (also finished today) was to upgrade this program: using a .txt file as a reference, without constant user input, so that when one item is changed on the .txt file, the Python file can still run. One only has to input data into the .txt file once, and the program runs.

For example, if I want to check my portfolio of 3 stocks: IBM, Dell and Citigroup. All I have to do is type it in the .txt file, along with the quantity of stocks and purchase price, and my program will check the respective webpages for the last price and current value of the stocks. If I want to add one more stock, say BAC, I just add it to the bottom of the .txt file and my program takes it all in stride, producing perfect results.

I'm very proud of it.

18 Oct 10: Options

I just finished attending a 2 day course called Optionetics. They taught me how to trade Options. Trading options are usually better than trading actual stocks, because there's much less risk involved. However, it is also tougher to understand, if you don't have a background in stocks and technical analysis.

I'm gonna open a trading account on my next birthday in February. Yay!

14 Oct 10: I'm back

Oh I've grown into a lazy sod, I have. Totally didn't blog about anything these past 3 weeks.

I've been working 8-5.30pm every weekday, so I've been kinda tired. Weekends are for Magic, and I've been quite busy since the new set came out. Filled with deck ideas. But that's for www.planeswalkerz.blogspot.com. 

Anyway new developments: I started learning Options. Daddy's been teaching me and getting me to read books about it. I'm going for a 2 day course this Sunday and Monday. Quite interesting. It's like stocks, only with much less risk. That's awesome.

Skating: I've finally learnt the J-turn. Can't apply it on the cones yet, but I found the trick: I have to toe my left foot even before I pull it back. Then swing my shoulders for extra boost. I've also learnt Chap Chap, although still choppy. At least I've got the movement down, and my speed is picking up. My Korean Slide is still really slippery, I can't guage the roughness of the floor properly, so sometimes I lean back too far and fall backwards. Other times I don't lean far enough and I stop suddenly. I also fell alot. Feels like the floor beat me up.

Lol. Oh yea, 3 days ago on monday, I helped this girl who lost her way. I was walking back from Brendan's and she stopped me, asking for directions to Bedok South Road. She was heading towards Chai Chee, and since I was going to Bedok South myself, I invited her to follow me. Found out some interesting bits of info:

1) Her name's Vanessa
2) She's a year 2 in TP
3) She's in GET (Games and Entertainment Technology)
4) She smokes

Yeah it's kinda disappointing that she smokes (HATE SMOKERS), so I didn't ask for her number.

At least I feel good that I helped someone. :)

21 Sep 10: Work started.

Alright! I learned the K-Slide, or Korean Slide, today! Fun fun! Now I have a cool way to stop. My power slide is getting boring.

Work is pretty meh. Yesterday I was folding cardboard boxes, today I was in the clean room with Troy. We had to put on so many pieces of clothing that I felt like a Muslim woman- everything must cover up, only eyes can be seen. I put on my lab coat and was like, Good afternoon, Doctor Marcus, is our patient ready? Then I saw us in the mirror and was like: Its day 21 of the zombie outbreak. We still have not found a cure. And then I went inside and was like, woah, we're all blue ninjas!

...

17 Sep 10: Workforce Appreciation Day at RWS

7.50pm I'm at Resorts World Sentosa!!! And I get to go on all the rides free!! A unlimited number!!! And it's free!!! Whoo!!! Lol. I'm going on the roller coaster first. Related to Shrek I think. I haven't had dinner yet. Starving.

We went on a Dragon roller coaster. Not just any dragon, but on Dragon. Whoo!! That was exhilarating!!! But kinda short. ADRENALINE RUSH!!! I'm feeling good about my decision not to bring a bag. It would've been a millstone. We're going on the Shrek 4D Movie/Ride.

Shrek was pretty meh. Okay it engaged most of your senses except smell an taste, and it did have pretty funny puns, but overall boring. Especially after the ride. We had dinner. I had a Tandoori Chicken Wrap, which came with Lays potato chips and a Sprite. I wanted a Milk Shake, but their machine was broken. I settled for an ice cream sundae. It was $11.80 in total, but with my $10 voucher, I paid just $1.80, as far as I'm concerned.

Lol me and my food.

Anyway, we went on to Jurassic Park. The Canopy Flyer was first. Waited 40 minutes only to go for a 1 min ride. I was so bored I measured the intervals between each car that left. 25 secs. Lol. 

After that we went for the Revenge of the Mummy ride. Now THAT is a ride. It was the best ride by far, and we went twice! The first picture they took, I wasn't even aware they'd taken a photo. My hands were up and covering my face. Lol. The second time I did my best to look bored in the picture, but I'd angled my face a bit too much, and I just looked stupid. Sigh..

We wanted to go for the Rapids ride next, but it was closed due to technical difficulties.

Overall the RWS is quite fun, but it was too bad the Red and Blue Roller Coasters weren't open. I wanted to go for that. None of the other rollercoasters went upside down... 

I eventually left at 11.30, and I joined the longest que yet: the que for the monorail back to Singapore... Lol.

11 Sep 10: Asking a girl out for the first time

Today was... Weird, to say the least. I can't decide whether it was a good day or a bad day. I suppose a fully bad day would be better, cuz then I'd be able to be miserable in peace. Now everytime I think of all the bad things that happened today, I rememeber the positive things, and it totally spoils my negative mood.

I was playing in the Saturday Standard at Paya Lebar as usual, and I got the worst luck: land flood, land screw and colour screw. For those who don't play or understand card games, just know that it SUCKS. But it wasn't all about that.

I asked a girl I liked for a date. I was brooding about it since last week, since the post where I said "Begin each day as if it were on purpose. Live each day as if it were your last. End each day with no regrets." and I finally plucked up the courage to do it in a really stupid way. I smsed her. And that really screwed me.

Okay here's what happene in chronological order:
I registered for the tournament.
Sent an SMS to her, asking if she had any plans for this coming Monday.
Reply arrived: she said no and asked why. (At this point I was still feeling pretty good about it.)
Sent response: "wanna watch a movie?my treat"
Tournamnet started, match 1 finished.
Checked reply: she wouldn't allow me to treat, but sounded good, why not invite a few more people?
I sent back: "I was asking you out on a date"
Second match started, finished.
No reply
Third match started and it all went downhill from here. Got land flooded, then land screwed.
No reply
Fourth match: against Brendan. Sigh. Here I got colour screwed. And lost.
No reply
Then I got a BYE and that improved my mood abit.
Finally a reply: "sorry, I'm not keen to go on a date"
Devastation. (okay not really, but I did feel really disappointed)

Me = Stupid

Looking back, I should have asked her in person or over the phone. I mean, I wouldn't have had to wait for her to reply. But since I chose to sms, she could take as long as she wanted. I asked her later what took her so long to reply: did she recieve my SMS at the time I sent it, was she seriously considering it, or was she just busy? She said she was not with her phone until then. Sigh.

Strangely, I feel a mix of emotions: sad and disappointed, yes, but also... light headed and free. Like a great burden has been removed. At least, now I know she's not interested, I'll be able to put my energy elsewhere.

Lesson learnt: speak in person or over the phone. It's much easier to judge a person's response, and I'd get an immediate answer.

2 Sep 10: 2 Weeks???

Whoa crap it's been 2 weeks and 2 days since my last post. Man have u gotten lazy.

Anyway, it's about time I posted something, so here's a summary about what I've been up to lately:

JA Company is up and running. We're in the last 4 weeks of the competition and starting to feel the pressure. I've made 3 web pages for the company. Okay well not MADE in every sense of the word, but I copied some stuff and formatted it into a Facebook Page, a Blogshop and an Online Order Form.

Exams are just round the corner (next week!) and I'll admit I've not been giving my 100% to study. Sigh... I so can't wait til it's over. What kind of holidays are these? We get 8 weeks of no school, but 2 exams slapped right in the middle, at the 4 week mark. What logic is this? Lol.

Anyway, I've learned something last night (and that's saying something since I've not been studying :P ). I finishe reading this storybook titled Deadline. It's about Ben Wolf, an 18 year old boy who finds out he only has one year to live because of a blood disease. He decides not to tell anyone, and to make as big an impact as he can on this earth before he leaves. He'd really witty, and resourceful, and as the story unfolds, I reflect on how I would react if I was in his shoes. What would I have done given his circumstances? And it's not just the blood disease thing, it's his "projects" which he does to make himself known and remembered. It was very interesting and a wonderful page turner, and as I finished it, this is the lesson I took away:

Live each day a if it's your last.

I actually put a status update on my Facebook account a long time ago:

"Begin each day as if it were on purpose. Live each day as if it's your last. End each day with no regrets."

I have to say I haven't been following this philosophy, and it took me this book to realise it. I'm gonna adopt this philosophy (again) and I WILL make the effort to enforce it within myself.