Thoughts

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
—Reinhold Niebuhr

“What do you use two monitors for?… You mean your mouse cursor can move from one screen to another?!”

It’s a rather common question I face when friends see my computer setup. I don’t blame them for asking thus. After all, whenever I did a dual-monitor setup at work to improve my productivity (while reducing Alt-Tabbing), I get a collection of interesting questions too!

Here’s how my secondary desktop at its idle-state looks like with iTunes playing a random track:-

You’ll see DesktopLyrics (with GimmeSomeTune, an automatic lyrics fetcher), iTunes, EarthDesk, and Things as permanent residents in this secondary-screen estate.

Other times, I have Google Chrome running on the bottom-right of the screen with 4 tabs, one for Facebook, another for Gmail, then Munin, and the last for Torrentflux. Safari is still my main browser but I use Chrome for these few site due to its stability and resilience to crashes. The Adobe Flash plugin crashes all the time, so will intensive AJAX sites. I’ll explain why Safari is still my main browser on the Mac in another post. I also use this screen to watch YouTube (in Chrome) or videos.

On my main desktop, I run something called iCalViewer which overlays my iCal calendars over my desktop wallpaper, with events represented by boxes all racing towards the finishing line, i.e. the time now—visit the product page for a good visualisation. This is also the place where I have my primary focus, for reading or for writing. All references go to the secondary screen on the right.

With the invention of widescreen (16:9) monitors, I now partition the screen area to 2 virtual areas. The standard 4:3 area for work, and a tiny vertical 4:9 strip for all other notifications and communication windows. Never under-estimate what this 4:9 vertical strip of space can do, as it has saved me countless of Alt-Tabbing actions and ‘situation awareness’.

I put my various contact-lists (Adium and Skype), Growl notifications, and chat-windows in this vertical space. Only Adium (and countless other non-official IM clients) can consistently and compactly display a chat window into a 4:9 space while retaining usability and readability. This means, the chat-window consists of only a one-liner text entry box and fills the rest of the vertical space with conversation—no formatting toolbars and fancy-feature buttons (think Google Talk client). With tabs right below the text entry box, I can switch between conversations with a click or key-press. Application-specific floating toolboxes or palettes live in this space too.

Another reason why I keep my workspace and web browser in the 4:3 layout and not filling the entire 16:9 widescreen is because of 2 main considerations.

Firstly, according to screen-readability and eye-tracking studies by Google, reading habits of most people are only concentrated on the top-left vertical column of the screen. In short, the eyes prefer travelling in small vertical motions rather than large horizontal distances. This also explains why newspapers typeset text in columns as our eyes have less horizontal travelling to do.

Secondly, most webpages are designed with the resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels in mind, a 4:3 aspect ratio as a lowest common denominator. Stretching the browser window too much horizontally either stretches the site horizontally unnecessarily or that there will be unsightly and uneconomical empty spaces surrounding the site content.

So as to reduce strain on my eyes, I restrict most windows to a 4:3 size ratio unless the application design requests otherwise (Adobe Photoshop is a prime 16:9 example).

This also explains why whenever I’m browsing or navigating for files in Windows or any other application for that matter, I restore (un-maximise) the window, resize it to 4:3 size ratio and turn on ‘Detail View’. I locate stuff way faster by just looking downwards compared to scanning left-right-down, left-right-down.

In fact, I have personally observed the reading efficiency of Windows-users who habitually maximise windows, regardless of the display aspect ratio. Sad to say, their bad-habit negatively affects their productivity. It’s nothing scientific but it’s highly amusing.

Of course, all these window arrangements can only be achieved consistently on the Mac as Windows has amnesia when it comes to remembering windows positions and sizes. This also explains why Windows-users have to habitually maximise their windows—it is the only reliably and quick method to get windows into predictable (and familiar) positions and sizes.

So please, when you’re on a Mac, don’t be frustrated that the green ‘maximise’ button doesn’t work as you’d expected. It’s not meant to! Don’t be lazy but to just position and resize the window into a 4:3 size ratio and the application will remember it; yes, both size and position. If you’re unfortunately on Windows, like I am during working hours, don’t fret—some applications will remember window size and positions; just adjust for those that don’t. If you value productivity, that is.

God has not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives thro’;
God has not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.

God has not promised
We shall not know
Toil and temptation,
Trouble and woe;
He has not told us
We shall not bear
Many a burden,
Many a care.

But God has promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

God is always faithful, regardless of our faith. God is always listening, whether we talk to Him or not. Most importantly, God’s grace is always sufficient for us.

Well, that’s it, Delirious? just had their last performance, a swan song of sorts. Of all music bands, christian music in particular, they hold a special place in my heart. They were the first band that introduced me to the rock genre of gospel music, with world famous tunes like, “Did you feel the mountains tremble…”, “Majesty”, “The Happy Song”, “History Maker”, “Rain Down”, and “I could sing of your love forever”, with Smith Martin’s distinctive and one-of-a-kind voice.

They had their last gig in London, United Kingdom. Though I wasn’t able to make it for that one, but I was glad that I’ve gone for at least 3 of their previous live performances.

Well, all I can say is that Delirious? will be sorely missed.

I run a piece of software called EarthDesk which sets the picture above as my second-screen desktop wallpaper, updated every few minutes with live data.

It’s rather therapeutic watching the city-lights go on at night and fade off on sunrise. Then, clouds perpetually cover the place where I live. I get to watch tropical cyclones form and move around.

Quite entertaining, just like a fish tank.

One of my friends suggested I check out this interesting site, Project Euler, to keep my brain teased and concurrently challenged in coding up solutions. It is somewhat similar to CodeGolf but different.

What Project Euler aims to do is to maintain a repository of member-contributed mathematical problems in ascending order of difficulty. A problem is considered solved when you submit a correct answer into the answer text box. Upon completion of a problem, you gain access to problem notes (if available, written by the author) and a special forum thread which discusses or exhibits solutions to the problem.

The fun part is that syntax and schematics of how you arrive at the answer doesn’t matter. You can cheat all you want but it defeats the purpose of even solving the problem—you’ll be better off doing penmanship. What’s different about Project Euler is that you can use any method, software, or language to arrive at the answer; the degree of difficulty completely lies in your hands. You can choose to come up with clean algorithms, copy algorithms off the net, or recursively brute-force your way through, Project Euler doesn’t care. As long as you submit a correct answer, the treasure box opens and you get to see different perspectives to solving that particular problem.

The best part of solving a problem is to see geniuses coming up with artistically sparse, concise and elegant solutions in a language of their choice. Trying to understand what goes on in that few lines of powerful code really challenges and changes your ability to think.

With 266 problems (as of this writing) waiting for you to chew, you’ll have no shortage of brain exercises, providing you with ample fun for your otherwise idling time, perfectly suitable for boring meetings too!

Some time back while having coffee with a couple of friends, one of them happened to put the following words together into a sentence, “Thio Li-Ann”, “Teach” and “Human Rights”. We laughed.

Till now, I still can’t help but snigger at the thought.

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine,
we consciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Sometimes when I feel like giving up, throwing in the towel, or kicking the bucket, I’ll always read this beautiful prose by Marianne Williamson and be reminded that we’re born to manifest the glory of God within us.

As I’ve have been listening to dance remixes, I always wondered how DJs transition and mix between each track, while maintaining the tempo at a constant. Obviously, with technology these days, it isn’t that difficult but still requires some bit of skill. Imagine the days of turntables and a mixer board only.

I guess DJs are a spontaneous bunch of skilful sound engineers.

One of the things I’m trying very hard to improve is my expression through written and verbal methods. I find it troubling and difficult to express what and how I feel in accurate and concise terms. Unintentionally, it leaves people with an inaccurate impression of what I originally intend to mean. The implications aren’t so bad when the subject-matter is largely technical, but when it comes to things that matter to the heart and soul, unintentional problems and misunderstandings can arise.

Although I’m an INTJ according to some personality tests, I have great passion in trying to empower people I meet to be able to do “meta-learning”. Rather than knowing as much data as possible to be knowledgeable, why not know as many possible methods of seeking out information and solutions instead? That way, whatever problems that you come across, you’ll have the tools and skills to discover the solutions and answers yourself.

As I hand over my work in the current organisation, I’d spent almost all available time trying to impart thinking ability rather than rote-memorisation abilities. The nature of my work is largely ad-hoc problem solving and fire fighting; being able to know how to come up with solutions when you’re out of ideas is the key to surviving comfortably.

Little did I expect however, in the words of Henry Ford, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it”. I can only resign and sigh, wishing them all the best.

One of my good friends once asked how I seem to be able to have access to timely intelligence information pertaining to everyday life and happenings in the organisation. I’ve always maintained that it’s the result of a robust “Int[elligence] Network”. The concept is extremely simple—people volunteer interesting information of what they see and experience during casual conversations. As long as you do more listening than talking, you’ll be able to gain a wealth of information. It sounds awfully like gossip but it isn’t as long as you don’t volunteer nor listen to unreliable information about other people behind their back.

With a little bit of induction-deduction and a lot of listening, you’ll be able to obtain a lot more information than most people. A plus if you are observant as there’s as much information volunteered as restrained; double-plus if you ask the right questions; triple-plus if you know the right people for the right type information. With a good memory and pleasant working relationships, you’ll be powerfully connected.

So really, these are the little things in office that keep me mentally entertained in an alternative way; true to Apple, Inc’s philosophy—Think Different.

Today, something rather bizarre happened. While I was ordering coffee, I felt like having a hot coffee as the environment was rather cold there and drinking something warm would feel good. Little did I realise, I made an order for an iced version instead, without even realising the thought inconsistency. I was offered a packet of sugar which I promptly refused as my drink to come is cold.

It was only when my coffee arrived that I realised that the coffee is cold and that I actually wanted hot coffee instead in the beginning. All these happened within the span of 20 minutes.

This is really bad; I’m severely sleep deprived and still jet lagged. I shall have a sleeping pill tonight and hope that I don’t wake up at 4 am tomorrow morning again, as it has been the last 4 days.

If this still doesn’t help, I need to find a way to reset my Circadian rhythm, fast.

I’m freaking myself out these days as I realised that I can hardly conduct a coherent conversation without pausing too much to think of the appropriate word to use for expression. This is kind of strange as I always believed that my train of thought is based on any language that I have access to. I have thus discovered that it is not entirely so. I can actually think of an idea or concept and not have the words or language to express it without intensive thought.

This isn’t a good ORD present.

Not to mention, I seem to be losing control of my thoughts as they speed past so fast that I hardly know what I just thought about. Not to mention the absentmindedness and really short linguistic memory. It also seems to have a side-effect of causing insomnia. Feels like the mental degradation that I’ve started experiencing since Sec 2. Could it have been OM training that once stretched my mind and that the lack of it now which is causing this mental dystrophy?

Another costly by-product of NS.

With my logical reasoning out-of-control at time, emotional management goes haywire. Things that I don’t have to consciously deal with starts to come in and pile up. Then, my mood gets awfully affected. I’m glad I don’t have the urge to drowning myself in alcohol as it’s an unfortunate positive feedback loop. Imagine feeling depressed and one keeps consuming depressants?

Drives me nuts.

Maybe all the above are just side-effects of my trip to Australia. We had really poor sleep cycles as we were subjected to 26-hour shifts to maintain 24-hour manning of the place. In addition, during the off-shift periods, the only time when it is possible to sleep is during sun-down timings. Coupled with a horrible, narrow and short cot bed, sleep quality is no make-up to the deprived sleep.

Back in Singapore, I still have “Jetlag”, wanting to sleep at 8 pm (10 pm), waking at 4 am (6 am) the next day. I’m trying my best to readjust my sleeping hours by sleeping later, hoping to wake up later, but so far it isn’t successful. I still wake up at ~4 am. I believe that I’m sleep deprived to some extent.

Mental service injuries?

I think my action plan for the next few months immediately after my ORD would be to engage more in thinking conversations or witty games (which I missed since school ended). Maybe (re)learn a language? German or Japanese looks easy enough. I’ve got all the necessary reference materials in my shelf already. In addition, I think musical (re)development would help in some obscure way — I shall give my piano and guitar some good tickles.

Then I was wondering, would rearranging a new bookshelf for my overflowing pile of books help? It sounds pretty fun and would make things a magnitude neater. Hopefully driving some order back into my subconsciousness.

Emotionally, running back into the embrace of our Heavenly Father works all the time. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.