tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156368752024-03-25T07:32:50.022+08:00The Garden of Forking PathsA place for little short commentaries, musings and drawings.Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.comBlogger5322125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-83345037373923731482023-11-09T10:44:00.000+08:002023-11-09T10:44:00.644+08:00Travails with poor connection from an ISPI have used Starhub broadband for two decades now, the speed and quality have been poor since day one but I didn't change it as it is tied to the TV subscription which my father used to watch.<div><br /></div><div>Right now, the connection is intermittent. It is unusable unless one uses it to surf, for other activities like gaming, teleconferencing, trading, and anything that requires a constant connection, it is impossible, it has been a week now and Starhub has been unable to resolve it. The service staff is polite and apologetic. What can I do?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-7985916254213273632023-08-03T11:33:00.003+08:002023-08-03T11:33:54.928+08:00<p> I have uninstalled War Thunder a week or so ago. I have spent a staggering 5100 hours over the last four or five years and I enjoyed myself greatly. I am taking a break from it for a few months. Afterwards, I will log back in and do a few things. I don't know if I want to play anymore.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-33719360294643060982023-08-03T11:31:00.005+08:002023-08-03T11:31:51.970+08:00<p>I just threw out a stack of old newspapers dating from 2014. They were mainly the entertainment and restaurants secions. I was looking at places to bring Sweetie back then. Time really does fly. It has been nine years.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-89677893317901782792023-07-28T21:23:00.002+08:002023-07-28T21:23:17.776+08:00Uninstalling Diablo IV I played the campaign and enjoyed levelling my necromancer to level 51. After which I stopped, I could not bear to continue to level 100. The story was silly, the campaign tedious and I could not imagine myself playing more. I did play my druid, barbarian, rogue and sorcerer to level 31-32. I have uninstalled last week. It was just enough.Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-48904404838196823742023-07-20T15:59:00.001+08:002023-07-20T15:59:05.647+08:00New Diablo 4 patch<p>There is a lot of anger over the new patch. Phew! I have uninstalled. In any case, my characters are too low level to be affected.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-90295186256042116452023-07-17T21:29:00.005+08:002023-07-17T21:29:48.159+08:00Diablo IV uninstalledDiablo IV uninstalled. A decent game, well-crafted but visually dull. The content is just boring and the story is silly. I will say more about it later.<div><br />Enough of it for now, maybe, I will play more when the expansion is released.<br /><br />I have a level 51 necromancer, level 31 rogue, level 33 druid, level 33 barbarian and a level 32 sorcerer. I realise that I was bored.<p></p></div>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-12637318091419011732023-06-08T00:48:00.003+08:002023-06-08T00:48:29.798+08:00<p> I tried Diablo IV tonight, not bad.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-63085924827869485192023-06-05T09:49:00.002+08:002023-06-05T10:35:18.385+08:00Pixel 7a<br />I ordered a Pixel 7a from Amazon over the weekend to place my five year old Samsung S9+.<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Pixel 7a, first impressions:</li><li>It runs hot, very hot as compared to my old Samsung S9+.</li><li>It is a mid-range phone and it feels like one too whereas, the S9+ was state of the art and a first class mobile. Anyway, the Pixel 7a is just what I am expected, a generic, bland, mid-range but functional device that should serve me for 2-5 years hopefully.</li><li>Interface. The Pixel 7a is somewhat clumsy in its interface design, it lacks a BACK button which the S9+ has thoughtfully provided which made it for a friendlier and faster use. Going back to the previous page or menu is dependent on back and every app in how it is written.</li><li>The lack of an audio jack. Well, I don't use it for music.</li><li>The lack of a SD card slot.</li><li>It is manufactured by Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision), the folks who make stuff for Apple, HP, and many other companies.</li></ul><div>It is impossible to get by through life without any mobile apps today. Mobile apps are needed for government services, banking and much much more.</div>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-57045162889730940022023-05-30T16:47:00.000+08:002023-05-30T16:47:05.026+08:00Tropical Forest Sceneries<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgejM9usDIRJ8Cynrodgde7G7CD2R7m0uO6D18uRtOi-1TIui7wjjspXfiSJb_uc29maZiL2N01f4oMhEbpBR1IJXU_tjYWHpx6sP84xRJG8wfZy7Mg5WLNF6IMUXewXbuzEU9vWVeKtAtAmNY_jtZIPL0XzWqCHWhpkvfO4GKnIIyg-mseg/s2048/Tropical%20Rainforest%20Sceneries2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgejM9usDIRJ8Cynrodgde7G7CD2R7m0uO6D18uRtOi-1TIui7wjjspXfiSJb_uc29maZiL2N01f4oMhEbpBR1IJXU_tjYWHpx6sP84xRJG8wfZy7Mg5WLNF6IMUXewXbuzEU9vWVeKtAtAmNY_jtZIPL0XzWqCHWhpkvfO4GKnIIyg-mseg/s320/Tropical%20Rainforest%20Sceneries2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I went to the Tropical Forest Sceneries and it wasn't very good. It consisted of some photos, some books and a few paintings in two tiny rooms. That was it. If you had to make the trip there, well..</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-14557948874221382292023-05-30T12:53:00.006+08:002023-05-30T12:53:55.888+08:00Il-28 shot down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X9C4cWHKQFKwiyiAy9u1KCTRKAFVdOFc0IJReKrydLgAf9mXw4UGGpZkQZ8QU_as9VPSwiCav4X5wT4Y_lZPS1rzzvC1_SjTGq_M5qcyiKCV_xhPJZo8a9jhSZg3AcwrG4MsRkjji2LrwcuN-Faulnn1NtoZblieceom_GPyDtRbEbCVlw/s1920/War%20Thunder%2043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X9C4cWHKQFKwiyiAy9u1KCTRKAFVdOFc0IJReKrydLgAf9mXw4UGGpZkQZ8QU_as9VPSwiCav4X5wT4Y_lZPS1rzzvC1_SjTGq_M5qcyiKCV_xhPJZo8a9jhSZg3AcwrG4MsRkjji2LrwcuN-Faulnn1NtoZblieceom_GPyDtRbEbCVlw/s320/War%20Thunder%2043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The other day, I managed to shoot down an Il-28 bomber with a single APFSDS. I was surprised. The Rooikat MTTD has only a 105 mm main gun without any accompanying machine guns.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-72238462290915011302023-05-29T17:18:00.005+08:002023-05-30T12:09:21.066+08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUJ1vPOMiGHLdA_VrDxk6iQI1o9gMB7A3nEKUKDdstDLKAIKM5V0C8JKTjC2R74Emqr_EjuU29HARiYavxnWjAl3_2D04fXVyLbiQKFXEPcy0-wJNrSVlUE07iUWbI8DQVvBkfcijvy-0NZnwD3LCric64gkSu1Gm0a-Um5hCTNXtNt917g/s701/Watercolour%20paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUJ1vPOMiGHLdA_VrDxk6iQI1o9gMB7A3nEKUKDdstDLKAIKM5V0C8JKTjC2R74Emqr_EjuU29HARiYavxnWjAl3_2D04fXVyLbiQKFXEPcy0-wJNrSVlUE07iUWbI8DQVvBkfcijvy-0NZnwD3LCric64gkSu1Gm0a-Um5hCTNXtNt917g/s320/Watercolour%20paper.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I bought watercolour paper from Overjoyed today. I have not those from Clairefontaine yet. I look forward to using it.<p></p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-89331690263719870632023-05-29T17:15:00.000+08:002023-05-29T17:15:00.481+08:00<p> I have also been reading on postwar British naval policy and warship design. Interesting stuff.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-86331724666156975162023-05-29T17:13:00.002+08:002023-05-29T17:13:56.484+08:00<p> I have taken leave and I have been drawing and painting. And I have been playing War Thunder, far too much of it.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-24098224638630849192023-05-29T17:11:00.002+08:002023-05-29T17:11:31.573+08:00<p> It has been a while since I have written anything. I will gather my thoughts and write something soon.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-55126744289149026202023-01-30T14:20:00.003+08:002023-05-29T17:16:29.356+08:00The news and BBC<p>The BBC seems to be the women and refugee radio chat show these days. I tune in for the news and not an endless series of interviews with migrants and refugees and women. It is rather disappointing. These are agendas that the BBC is pushing these days. And I am not even right-wing nor left-wing. I dislike these culture wars from the left and from the right.<br /><br />When I hear yet another interview with a migrant on the BBC, I just change the channel to a classical music station.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-13674157971845958072023-01-30T11:20:00.003+08:002023-01-30T11:20:21.235+08:00SGX dismal services SGX's website has horrible navigation. In addition, calling them and asking about services is very difficult, I only managed to find a human once. And I have a fair number of questions. Those silly AI type question boxes are useless, much like the government Ask Jaime crap.<div><br /></div><div>I did manage finally reach a human and she was helpful. After all the assistance I received, I submitted the necessary forms. She had guided me. This was in November 2022.<br /><br />It is now near the end of January 2023 and I have not heard from them. This is annoying.</div>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-15102965447024159532023-01-30T11:18:00.001+08:002023-01-30T11:18:10.310+08:00Churchill VII<p>I have played War Thunder for a few years now. I was abysmal with the Churchill VII tank. I still am. This was a rather unusual game last year where I actually did well with the Churchill VII.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx5cGmy4RTQt10uP-HhB9J0lBdClzQnIPlo5-yMAPaEJjj4pM6S2tM73hKgmNtoFhUFdSmiceLTh0Ra_UJQv_d23WdKqHG6lI-vWaODS02hEqzMJFYwPSjxucz1_8i1haz7vkTW-rXA6if2F8LFWmeody50yiVpnPIZ4z-QtCMUialg3ufQ/s1920/War%20Thunder%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx5cGmy4RTQt10uP-HhB9J0lBdClzQnIPlo5-yMAPaEJjj4pM6S2tM73hKgmNtoFhUFdSmiceLTh0Ra_UJQv_d23WdKqHG6lI-vWaODS02hEqzMJFYwPSjxucz1_8i1haz7vkTW-rXA6if2F8LFWmeody50yiVpnPIZ4z-QtCMUialg3ufQ/w400-h225/War%20Thunder%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-9175466961655269442023-01-30T11:16:00.003+08:002023-01-30T11:16:44.555+08:00 It has been cold. Apparently, Newton and Jurong West have the coldest recorded temperatures over the week here. 22 degrees. I live between Novena and Newton. The wind has been cold. Generally, the wind here is a warm breeze, seldom cold.Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-85081138936613917672022-11-22T14:19:00.007+08:002022-11-22T14:20:33.804+08:00Something is wrong with Facebook Facebook has just disabled my ability to share articles. I was just sharing books from Routledge about Politics, IR and Strategic Studies. The Facebook algorithms allow posts of scantily-clad dancing females, spam and Elon Musk but it does not allow sharing posts of reputable textbooks. There is something seriously wrong with Facebook.Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-42425895364400161442022-10-07T11:39:00.002+08:002022-10-07T11:39:43.708+08:00<p> It is finally Friday!</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-75592596449011621752022-10-04T16:49:00.003+08:002023-05-29T17:10:31.664+08:00<p> I have been listless lately, I need to get my focus back.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-69087394051454456032022-09-27T09:36:00.002+08:002022-09-27T09:36:26.140+08:00<p>I dreamt of her this morning and then I woke up. I dreamt that we were in a taxi and that she was very sweet. It has been quite some years since I have dreamt of Sweetie.</p><p>I remember that years ago, we used to go swimming at Keppel Club. Those days are far away. Now, Keppel Club is getting demolished and I had given up my membership. Some of the places that we had visited have vanished. Such is the rate of change in Singapore.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-28867758123241653822022-09-12T10:26:00.002+08:002022-09-12T10:26:15.635+08:00<p> Do not mistake kindness for weakness.</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-3027863982072043732022-06-20T11:06:00.001+08:002022-06-20T11:06:44.304+08:00<p> Another Monday, another week. This is shaping up to be a busy year!</p>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636875.post-85924598262836137082022-03-30T09:33:00.003+08:002022-03-30T09:33:40.981+08:00Selling a houseMy neighbour spent five years building his house, it is still not completed. Now, he is selling it. <br /><br />I have some theories. I think in the intervening five years, it might have changed owners. The owners might have also bought another place while waiting and has decided to sell. It might have been the original plan just to sell. In any case, taking five years to build is quite something. Lesser structures have been completed in less time. I suppose the Covid-19 outbreak delayed things a fair bit.<div><br /></div><div>Who knows that had happened? I would be glad when the construction is finally completed.</div>Chuang Shyue Chouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497292334309793651noreply@blogger.com0