27 October 04
I want to hate myself for sleeping too much and forgetting my classes again. Just what exactly happened between summer and now? I used to need only 6-hours of rest, but now I'm taking nearly 9 hours. Grrrr...
Meanwhile, good luck Sheila! There is no way anyone could be that nice unless he likes you.
20 October 04
Once again, I slept past 3 of my classes for about the sixth time in 2 weeks. Scheduling my classes so early was such a freshman idea. So today, I plan to sleep before 12:00 am. Good night!
19 October 04
Yesterday, the rain fell for the first time in 184 days, and for the first time in several months, the right side of my body felt completely broken. My upper triceps are going to be dead for at least the next two days. I just hope that my right thigh will bounce back in condition for the 5K run on Friday. If not, I'll just have to walk the whole way, which I guess is not so bad.I've been planning to go to Japan for study abroad for quite awhile. It's been hectic because I thought the program I wanted to apply for was due this Friday, but it's actually due on the same day a year from now. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the rain to clear so I can take the bus to get a haircut. Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.
01 September 04
Two more days until my internship ends. My aunt just received a new Canon S410 digital camera from me.
Meanwhile, I found out that one of my two roommates is THE state chess champion for his age.
19 August 04
I received spam in my "clean" account for the first time since I re-opened it half a year ago. If it gets any worse than 1 message a day, I'm going to hire someone to track down and do something nasty to whoever's spamming me.
Yesterday's Dodger game was cursed. The game went very well for the Dodgers up to the last inning, with the score at 4:2. As Gagne stepped up to pitch, the usual "Game Over" music played. Gagne, current record holder of the most consecutive saves, is so good that everyone knows that the Dodgers already won the game when he stepped up to pitch. Everyone expected him to pitch 3 consecutive strike-outs, but what actually happened was that the Mariner's scored twice as much during that one inning than in the other 8 innings, giving the Mariners a 6:4 lead. This world is truly messed up.
New avatar: 
03 August 04
Since this week is vacation week, traffic is starting to clear up. It's the first time that I've been able to drive back home on Highway 210 above 60 mph. Parking at JPL has also improved; there are still spaces left at 8am. Consequently, the human to deer ratio has increased, along with the number of people I can find on my department floor. It just so happens that the person most knowledgeable on the task I'm currently doing decided to take a two week vacation to Europe. Grrrrrr...
29 July 04
Finally, halfway through my internship at JPL, I'm starting to really enjoy my work. First, my supervisor is finally giving me tangible assignments. My previous tasks were more exercises than jobs. Right now, I really wouldn't mind working here several more months.
Meanwhile, the new laptop I purchased online hasn't been finished yet. I don't think it will finished building until after Doom 3 is officially released. The current eMachines I'm working is killing me. It's experiencing a major hardware problem. For some reason I need to hit the machine on the side several times in order to make it start up. Even then, the slightest tap will cause it to shut down.
New mini-buttons: 
. . 
17 July 04
All right ... lot's of things going on right now in LA. I'm using a lame 56k dial-up from a free AOL CD at my aunt's house, and I have no desire to post anything from there. Fortunately, JPL has a fairly quick internet connection. The company has been generous in providing a cubicle with a complete set of office supplies. However, the computer I received, a Sun Ultra 10, is a bit too slow for anything beyond typing and going online.
Currently, I am developing a new website titled "Digital Llama", but the front page is no where close to finished, so I'm not going to post the address right now. The good thing about the new site is that it allows php/mySQL, provides 50MB of storage, and is FREE. Well, until then.
-- Artist's Rendering of Cassini next to Saturn
06 June 04
The last few days were hectic for me because I've been packing all my belongings and transferring files from one computer to another. Within a week, I'll be going to San Diego and LA for the UCSD freshman orientation and for my summer internship at JPL. I will be staying at my aunt's house, but she currently doesn't have internet connection, so this may be my last post for awhile. =( I also realize that even if I am able to access the internet, I'll need to relocate to a new website soon because I'm running low on memory (and bandwidth). But hopefully, everything will work out. *fingers crossed*
My (final?) gift: Senior graduation panoramic
(Links to low quality version at deviantART)
06 June 04
Even though I've officially graduated from Lynbrook High School, I still haven't received my diploma. In fact, I don't think I'll ever get a chance to pick it up until the office opens next year. Grrrr....
Meanwhile, Graduation went well last Thursday. (Well, but boring. What could anyone expect from a ceremony?) Anyways, Grad Night is actually what the final day for seniors is all about. Most of us partied until the bonfire started, when we bid our final farewells. (w00T for keeping this spoiler free) What's amazing is that even though I had studied all night for a mid-term Thursday morning at 8:30am and partied all night until 8am the next morning, I felt even more refreshed than the day before.
Of course, that was before I remembered that I had a piano recital the next day. So I took a short 4-hour nap and drove to Fremont for recital practice. Needless to say, my body was in a world of pain the next few days.
03 June 04 & FanimeCon 2004
It seems like I'm still recovering from losing my FanimeCon membership badge on the day of Nami Tamaki's concert. The badge had somehow disappeared at that critical moment and ended up on the driveway pavement past the front yard. I don't know how it happened, but I'm still a bit PO'ed about it.
ARRRRGGGGG!! ... missed Nami's concert [Insert sfx: Chewbacca war cry]
Otherwise, last Sunday would've been great. I had just bought a new 208-cd binder and DVD/CD Writer at CompUSA. Then, in the afternoon, I finally finished my last ECYS concert, so orchestra was over (forever, hopefully). I wasn't able to bring my digital camera to the convention on Friday and Saturday, because Mom stole it to take some centerfold pics of bathroom tiles in SF. (Apparently, she thinks those pictures are nicer than ones of cute cosplayers.) Anyways, I was ready to go to the convention to see Nami Tamaki perform, but the badge was missing. What would've been a great Sunday was absolutely ruined.
Cosplayers dressed as cosplayers
Nevertheless, the previous two days @ FanimeCon make up for it entirely. Friday was a bit slow since the SJ Convention Center was nearly empty (probably less than 2000 visitors). The movie I saw with Stanley in the morning, Battlefield Baseball, was really stupid. So for the most part, we went shopping, where I finally bought my beloved Ein plush doll. (See 17 Jan). The "Tomoyo Does Cardcaptor" fan parody was actually pretty funny, but the Cardcaptors AMV that won last year's AMV Comedy Award was at least one level better. The only program that really blew me away was Studio Sokodei's EVA: ReDeath ReDux, easily the best program of the day. Studio Sokodei really knows how to create a professional fan parody. I only wish that there were some place to download it.
Saturday was definitely more crowded. The info booklet finally arrived in the morning, so I felt a bit better that I didn't receive it on Friday. What I did feel bad about was that I didn't have my camera with me. The highlight of the day was obviously Der Cosplay, of which the line for went around two corners of the Civic Auditorium block. The Pocky Girl was quite a loose cannon. I've heard of Pocky addiction, but she made me realize it's potential effect. Anyways, I really feel sorry for whomever she dumped for Pocky. The other moment of truth for Der Cosplay was the black guy who dressed up in a maid outfit. Interesting, but not a pretty sight.
Cute performance, but apparently hated by all guys for saying, "Boys, size does matter." I'm sure she was referring to the giant Pockys she privately munches on.
This guy really has some guts. He must've done some time behind bars in LA.
Afterwards, we saw some martial arts experts perform some crazy backflips and breakdance moves. I think some of those guys were able to clear a meter off the floor during a backflip, which IMHO, looks 100x more Matrix'y than Jordan's Air Time. Oh yeah, Maiya, the girl who sang during Intermission, was absolutely adorable. She looked half-petrified to death because this was her first time performing in such a large crowd, and not because she was embarrassed of wearing such a dress ... well, I guess that too. =)
[HeavySnarker says: The following photos aren't necessarily mine. In fact, the majority of them belong to some Steven C Lee guy. (Now if only some person didn't steal my camera on Saturday ...)]
Domo-kun Eats Hello Kitty!! Later, we also caught this character busting major moves on DDR.
The winner of 2004's Der Cosplay: "The Yum Yum Doodle Drum Scrum Diddilyumptious Friendly Friends Forever & Ever & Ever League of Love & Justice League" (a.k.a. Pink Panda Molests Boy). Apparently, the nurse to the left needs more experience applying morphine.
The Ruronin Kenshin cast: w00t!
The Kill Bill Vol 1's Crazy 88: even bigger w00t plus GLOMP!!
Two of the many cute girls @ Fanime: more compelling evidence to go next year.
24 May 04
I kinda feel a bit bad about Econ class. On the first day of class, the instructor remembered my name from last quarter. I guess she thought that I was a promising student. Unfortunately, her lectures are dead boring, so I've been taking time off. In fact, I've missed over half of her classes this semester. And yet, because I still manage to ace her tests, I'm left with this guilty feeling. Life just isn't fair.
-- I'm in the Battle Royale mood today. Don't mess with me or my car.
19 May 04
It's almost summer and I still haven't bought a new computer yet, so I took a short break at www.alienware.com. Alienware specializes in high-end gaming computers, so they're a bit expensive. However, I didn't expect them also to be so greedy. After spending $17K on a system, one would expect free shipping. Oh well, the hard part will be convincing my parents to buy it.
- Hey dad, you know that new BMW I've been begging you to buy?
- Didn't I tell you that it's out of the question.
- That's ok. I've already given up on it ... so instead, could you get me a computer?
- Ummmm ... I guess so ... if it's just a computer
- [Turns around and laughs in evil victory] MWHAHAHAHAHA!!
-- My dream Alienware system just happens to cost as much as 1 year of college tuition. Hopeless.
16 May 04
Another door bites the dust after another attempt at our do-it-yourself door remodeling project. My mom asked Tom to help halfway into the project while she went out to buy several more doors (to destroy). Tom was able to cut the doors with freakish precision, which was when I found out that he was a carpenter. I wonder why we didn't ask for help in the first place.
Meanwhile, the indicator light on our mini-toaster sprung back to life after passing out over 3 years ago. I observing from a distance when it flashed on, and nothing was touching it. A miracle by Toaster Jesus.
13 May 04
-- Just experimenting with PS.
5.08.04
Watching GTO has inspired me throw behind my wicked ways and become GLH: Great Leecher HeavySnarker. For this, I will care about the welfare of other downloaders above those of my own by providing my files online. It may take awhile, but I will become just as great as you, Onizuka.
5.05.04
AP tests next week!! If this were still my junior year, I'd be screwed. However, MWAHAHAHAHA, I love being a senior. Tanoshii ne? Meanwhile, Audioscrobbler is really annoying me with their lousy service. They should really update their server soon or else everyone will leave and I'll be lonely. =(
Random manga: Yakitate!! Japan -- An awesome manga about ... umm ... making bread. No seriously, cooking has never been this exciting.
5.01.04
The college selection due dates were today, so I've finally decided which school I'll be going to this fall. My final 3 choices were Johns Hopkins biomedical, UCBerkeley electrical engineering/computer science, and UCSD pre-Bioengineering/pre-Medical. JHU was out of the picture because my wallet died after it saw the projected financial bills. UCB was my favorite of the other two because 1) I know so many people there already 2) Regent's Scholarship 3) They have the larger bandwidth limit (which is still too small IMHO).
However, I wanted to do something different than EECS for once, so I decided to accept UCSD. It just so happens that my cousin from San Diego is going to visit my house to go to UCB. In essence, we're just switching places. =)
4.27.04
Kyo Music City is finally back online after dying last week and forcing me to get all my albums off bit torrent. Lack of funding is probably the main reason for these blackouts. =( What will become of the leeching community then?
4.25.04
I've been jaded recently, but there's one manga series titled, "Monster," that has really caught my attention. It's a detective story about a surgeon named Tenma who saves the life of a boy who possesses the ability to manipulate other people's minds through fear. Soon afterwards, three staff members of the hospital are murdered at the same time the boy disappears from the ward. Nine years later, Dr. Tenma flees as a fugitive after being suspected as the culprit. He then embarks on a journey to look for the boy he saved, only to discover that he's being constantly trailed by the police, private detectives, and various serial killers.
While Dr. Tenma is the main character, the story is also told through many make-shift detectives also searching for the special boy named Johan and the secret Kinderheim 511 experiment. The most engaging quality of "Monster" is the amount of time spent on character building. Each one of the detectives and victims has a distinct personality that is enjoyable. They all come in contact with each other at some time in the story, and nearly all of them wind up dead (often suicide *scary*) for finding out too much information. The other unique quality of the series is that it's epically long, even though it's only about a single political conspiracy based in post-WWII East Germany. Anyways, go read it (cuz I absolutely love it), or watch it after it comes out on Anime this month!
4.18.04
I finally beat FFVIII after spending countless hours collecting random power-ups. The final boss was hideously easy, so I took on the next challenge, a Lvl-100 Omega Weapon, and got my ass kicked. It took me two tries to beat this toughie, and I all I get for winning is a stupid message:
4.13.04
Ahhhh ... I've been so busy lately (*cough* *cough* FFVIII), so I'm going on hiatus until I finish reorganizing my hard drive and mp3s.
4.05.04
A Conversation between 2 guys from Samurai Deeper Kyo Episode 2
LY: Wouldn't it be nice to have some good sake?
Saizo: Lord Yukimura, it is not good for you to drink too much
LY: What are you, my wife, now?
Saizo: If it pleases you, my lord.
4.02.04
Back from vacation just 1 hour ago. I'm still woozy from being in the car 6 hours from LA and then shopping half-asleep @ Costco. The good news is that both my aunts in California were happy for no apparent reason when I came to visit. While I was there, I also checked out UCLA and UCSD. UCLA's really pretty, and the students seem interesting (as in they don't hide in dormitory bomb shelters *cough* *cough* UCB). Actually, it's just that UCB is really ugly in comparison. However, I heard that it's incredibly crowded during school days. UCSD, on the other hand, is a bit too large for my taste, and I didn't find anything interesting about it. It was a waste of my time to have stopped by.
Anyways, Yale wait-listed me. I think I'm going to ditch them for that. So far, my record is 7 acceptances, 1 rejection from MIT, and 1 stupid wait-list from Yale. If only I cared more...
3.29.04
UCB tossed me their Regent's scholarship today. I told my mom, and she was like: "Finally, ehh?" Later, after we found out that my cousin had also made it into UCB, she started jumping all about and WHOOPing.
I may have been adopted.
3.28.04
Joined the AudioScrobbler community today. Some of those people are really hardcore listeners -- makes me dizzy with love.
Random Site: The Yoko Kanno Project
3.28.04
When I rack up enough vacation money, I'm going to Tokyo to check out those Godly toilets--you know, the ones with seat warmers and all those fancy buttons.
3.26.04
Finals are finally over, so I'm playing catch-up this week. I've realized that the best weapon design in the pistol classification are the "Ballers" from Hitman 2. No other weapon packs as much punch in such a small package. In fact, a single shot will make a body backflip 2 meters in the air. With good aiming, you can actually juggle bodies in the air. As an added bonus, Hitman 2 uses rag-doll physics, so it's quite interesting how objects fly off into space.
Img 1: The highlighted body was actually launched/"juggled" from the location where Agent47 is currently standing to the top of the building. From there, it slid down to the highlighted location before I remebered to press the print screen button.
Img 2: This body was launched from the same location as in Image1.
Img 3: Another juggling photo.
Although none of the pictures show it, it's possible to juggle a body continuously or off the screen. An expert can probably get 6 shots into the body before the gun reloads, and then shoot another 6 rounds into the body. (Note that this is incredibly hard since the baller bullets seem to move less than 200mph, which makes it difficult to estimate free-body collisions.) On one occasion, I was able to juggle a enemy so high that I couldn't find his body anymore because it flew off the map vertically.