The Blackadder theme for Chromatic Harmonica

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Persona 3 - Poem For Everyone's Souls (Chromatic Harmonica)

PERSONA 3: One of my favourite PS2 games of all time!

Tabs for a 'C' chromatic harmonica.

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Anti-virus and Nirsoft woes.

My Toshiba laptop came with the TrendMicro OfficeScan anti-virus installed by default under the NUS network admin rights. I have always regretted not opting out of that shit.

Recently, TrendMicro has been giving tons of false alerts on many freeware programs that were already on the device for years. Couldn't uninstall it without the password set by NUS Computer Centre. Was about to bring my computer down to IT Care in school to get it removed, luckily a ex-coursemate from CS1010E told me that the passwords are usually one of the below:

• password
• trend
• trendmicro
• nusadmin
• nus

I don't know how many of the above were actually passwords that they used on computers sold in NUS, but the one that did the trick for me was "trend".

Also, recently Nirsoft has had to remove the command line functionality from his programs, I believe there are none left which have not been replaced by the non-command line versions. This was apparently prompted by Google which is now the self-proclaimed police of the internet.

The command line version was infinitely more useful, and is still available to those who know where to look (for now). I won't post the link as it may cause it to be taken down that much quicker, but here are some hints:

• Look for the last compiled Nirsoft package before 17.09.2014. As of now it is still available for download.
• Have you ever played Zahada? If so, the link can be found somewhere on this page. You know what to do. It is literally right here.
• It is technically freeware, so older versions can be redistributed.
• Ask people from forums like HWZ, PortableFreeware or gHacks to pass you the old versions.
• Ask me to pass you the older versions.

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Ni No Kuni - Kokoro no Kakera, Harmonica Tabs

Gonna start tabbing songs in my free time. Tabs are cool, because the same melody can be played for any key diatonic, no need to get a brain cramp transposing notes from the score.

Diatonic harmonica tabs:

4 6 {-6}6
{-6}6: -6 means to do a very quick accent with -6 before the 6
4 6 -6 6 5
-5 {6}-5 5 -4 -3
4

1 3 3
1 3 -3'' 3 2
-2'' -2'' 2 -1 3
2 -1 1 -1

1 3 3
1 3 -3'' 3 2
-2'' -2'' 2 -1 2 -2'' 3
1 1'' 1
1'': Getting B3 is impossible.

I don't like the 2 hole draw bends because I can't do it, and there's no 1'' too. So... Shift up one octave!

Diatonic harmonica tabs:

7 9 {-10}9
{-10}9: -6 means to do a very quick accent with -6 before the 6
7 9 -10 9 8
-9 {9}-9 8 -8 -7
7
First 4 bars can be kept in original octave too.

4 6 6
4 6 -6 6 5
-5 -5 5 -4 6
5 -4 4 -4

4 6 6
4 6 -6 6 5
-5 -5 5 -4 5 -5 6
4 -3 4

-Work In Progress-

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Abnormalize by Ling Tosite Sigure, arranged for harmonica

Work In Progress

I'm not sure if chromatic harmonicas have enough range to play this yet.
My diatonic sure as hell doesn't.

[Update]
Apparently 16 hole chromatic harmonicas have a range of C3-C7. Impressive...

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LAM1201: Video assignment (Felicia and Benjamin)

Dalam video ini, saya berkata yang saya suka mancari dan makan makanan yang baik. Tetapi saya pun mempunyai lebih banyak hobi seperti bowling, gitar, membuat laser, fotografi, dan lukisan.

Laser pertama saya

Laser beroperasi

Saya mula membuat laser dari hari tentera saya kerana ia seronok dan susah. Ia membantu saya mennjaga fikiran saya dari latihan yang sakit.

Fotografi saya

Saya suka fotografi kerana ia membolehkan saya untuk mengekalkan kenangan saya. Malangnya, saya tidak ada masa untuk semua hobi saya kerana sekolah.

Lukisan Saya

Inspirasi daripada "Palepoli by Furuya Usamaru"

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LAM1201: Semoga Bahagia

So much nostalgia, time to learn what this song actually means.

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Science Centre Date

Nom Nom Nom.

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Marina Square date: Cosplay exhibition, Seoul Yummy, Pool, and Teddy & Me cafe

No nonsense caps-locked sign.

Stumbled across the Singapore Cosplay Club Show while we were at Marina Square for a dinner date. Browsed through some merchandise and admired the cosplay.

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PC3193: Kerr Effect

The Kerr effect experiment is relatively simple, there is really only one set of data to be collected and each data run only takes up to an hour.

The huge issue with this experiment is the alignment of the optical elements, as with any optics experiment. Even when you align the setup as best as you can, there will be a couple of discrepancies with your obtained data and what is expected.

Here are my report and data:

ANNEX B - Kerr Effect Data

Kerr Effect Report

Apparently, attributing the temperature dependence of PLZT birefringence in absence of an electric field is not enough to explain the discrepancy in half-wave voltage measured.

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LAM1201: Introduction

Selamat pagi kelas, For the first assignment, please set up a blog about yourself. You are encouraged to use the 'blog page' of NUS (http://blog.nus.edu.sg/wp-signup.php). 

1.  Write a short introduction about yourself (di dalam bahasa Melayu of course!)

2.  Write about no less than 50 perkataan (50 words).

3.  Attached a photo of yourself (Gambar anda yang baik)

4.  Hantar URL kepada Tutor A awak (sent url to your tutor A and cc to me please)

Last date of submission 17th September. terima kasih.

Figure 1. Gambar saya.

Sebuah pengenalan cepat:

Nama saya Benjamin, umur saya dua puluh empat tahun. Saya seorang mahasiswa di Fakulti Sains (Fizik mejar). Keluarga saya ada lima orang, saya anak tengah. Saya suka membaiki alat elektronik dan pembelajaran hobi-hobi baru. Saya ada tunang yang saya akan berkahwin tidak lama lagi; saya cinta dia.

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PC3193: Scanning Tunneling Microscope - Manipulating HOPG scans with Gwyddion for lattice dimensions.

If you have had the misfortune of using the Nanosurf STM, you would no doubt be struggling to achieve a clean atomic resolution scan with your terrible self cut Pt/Ir tips.

Fret not. A shitty scan is all you need.

Look at this ugly beast, blegh. Open it in Gwyddion and select the topology channel.

Choose a funkalicious colour gradient that gets your jive on. Here’s a personal favourite.

But since this doesn’t fly with THE MAN, choose Gwyddion.net.

1 - Median Line Correction

2 - Remove Scars

3 - Remove polynomial background

4 - Shift min. data value to zero

5 - Correct affine distortion

Choose 2D ACF & HOPG preset (NOTE: your integrity is tested here, more on this later)

Adjust the grid to fit as well as you can, then hit Refine to get it spot on. If refine fails to get it perfect, retry and do a better job fitting it.

Spank the OK button

6 – 2D auto correlate function

Colour it. Take a moment to notice that it is ugly as heck.

I’m sure you are thinking this:

“Wow, so ugly, why didn’t I just 2D ACF’ed the picture before doing that Affine distortion crap, YOU LYING FIEND!”

Fret not, see, without Affine Distortion, the 2D ACF would give a nice picture with bad results. Observe.

Gross... What about the corrected one?

Nice results, BUT the affine correction overwrites the original image's scale info if you have chosen the "Exactly as specified option" which was used in the example shown. Thus giving you perfect results, at the cost of your integrity.

So either get your scanning angle adjustment right when taking the scan, or just use the "Preserve X scale" option.

K bye.

Excerpt from Gwyddion's web manual:

It should be noted that the correction method described above causes all lateral scale information in the image to be lost because the new lateral scale is fully determined by the correct lattice vectors. This is usually the best option for STM images of known atomic lattices, however, for a general skew or affine correction it can be impractical. Therefore, the dialog offers three different scaling choices:

Exactly as specified

Lattice vectors in the corrected image will have the specified lengths and angle between them. Scale information of the original image is discarded completely.

Preserve area

Lattice vectors in the corrected image will have the specified ratio of lengths and angle between them. However, the overall scale is calculated as to make the affine transformation area-preserving.

Preserve X scale

Lattice vectors in the corrected image will have the specified ratio of lengths and angle between them. However, the overall scale is calculated as to make the affine transformation preserve the original x-axis scale. This is somewhat analogous to the scale treatment in Drift compensation.

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Infrared photos on a rainy day.

IR filter with "hood".

I was looking forward to further testing out the flaring issue caused by using a R72 filter with the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens. More specifically, to test out whether the small step down ring hood could reduce the flare but alas, it decided to rain the entire day.

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Olympus E-PL3 Black and White Art mode

Photos shot with Olympus E-PL3 - Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 - B&W Grainy Film Art mode. 

Pearly's usual haunt.

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Mayim Chinese Restaurant @ Westmall

Mayim Chinese Cuisine

We frequent this restaurant very often as Westmall is close to our homes and there really isn't much to eat at Westmall. Besides Mayim, there is a Swensens, Sakae Sushi, a thai restaurant and the Koufu foodcourt (which I dislike because of the prices of their breakfast set).

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Rocku Yakiniku and Mochi Sweets @ Bugis+

Should have ate somewhere else.

Had a bad dinner experience at Rocku Yakiniku recently.

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Bowling revisited!

We recently decided to start bowling again. Since no other couple activity manages to strike a chord with both of us; thanks to someone's over aggressive competitiveness.

However, there are a couple of issues with this:

1. Bowling is mildly expensive
2. Bowling bag is heavy as heck and there are no available lockers for rent
3. We lack the strength and stamina now
4. The bowling equipment is in bad shape, the balls stink for some reason and my shoes are disintegrating. Although to be fair, my shoes have been disintegrating for about 10 years already...

GM

Ben

EPIC WIN

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Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Lumix G lens with cheap R72 filter - Circular IR flare issue?

Bought a cheap 720nm filter off Ebay to try out infrared photography with the 14mm Panasonic lens.

The results were slightly disheartening, see attached images.

Sexy red PL3, now with shades.

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Liquifying strangers and cloning in Photoshop

Residents taking part in lucky draw

Photo taken during my part time job assisting the Bukit Batok Community Club in screening the Fifa '14 World Cup. I decided to try my hand at using the liquify tool to modify a certain lady who appeared in one of the photos.

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Light meter alternative - DIY printable exposure calculator card!

In anticipation of the Zorki 4K that I have ordered from the 'bay, I started hunting around for an affordable light meter but quickly found out that even the cheaper light meters were already going to cost more than the Zorki. Bummer...

So I set out to learn the Sunny 16 rule, and found a really good article:

http://everydayaperture.com/sunny-16-and-beyond/

But then I needed a form of reference that I could bring around, at least until I internalise everything. 

So I started crafting an excel table, the idea was to print and cut out various slips with columns of shutter speeds corresponding to common ISOs and sliding them up and down against another column containing apertures. It turned out okay, but was unwieldy.

Then I found  the printable exposure calculator by Andrew Lawn:

http://www.squit.co.uk/photo/exposurecalc.html

It's basically my excel table except 10 times more refined.

Left to right: Crap, non-Crap 

I first printed one out on some 70gsm paper and used tape for the window and to reinforce it, but it was too flimsy for my liking. Used white card paper for the next one and it turned out nicely.

Slide the ISO to the exposure value and Done.

 The sliding bit did not slide well due to friction, so I added clear tape to the edges, problem solved.

Leftover plastic for window

The window should be covered with something rigid otherwise the paper tends to bend outwards. I used leftover plastic from those pesky blister/clamshell packagings.

I can't wait for the Zorki, my sis has loads of unused 35mm film in the freezer from her Lomography days, it seems like such a waste so I shall strive to use them all up!

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HDR Black and White first try

Photos shot with Olympus E-PL3 - Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 - Exposure bracketing mode.

I really like this view, not just because it's right outside of my house, but because the buildings form a nice U shape to frame the sky. As long as I don't angle my head down to look at the sewage canal, it's a great view and it's mine to look at everyday.

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