In this project, we have to create and render a scene using a program called POV-Ray for the given open-ended theme “My Toy Story”. We are required to design, model and beautify our own scene, which must consist of objects of different shapes, textures and surface finishes with simple animation. This assignment is worth 10% of the overall assessment for this unit.

We had to demonstrate the use of the required objects/components during the presentation, and being able to change the code to show that we know what we were doing. My tutor (Yasmin) said it was very well done and gave me full marks (according to the marking guide), and told me she would recommend to place it on the unit online gallery.

My Toy Story: Buzz Lightyear

Animation

Early stage of development - putting the "pieces" together. The black lines are placed to intersect at the origin to aid me in positioning.

Original model of Buzz that my image was modelled upon.

More information/source files are available on my school page.

Anyway, this semester has been quite normal for me. Nothing really that interesting or exciting, so let’s keep it to a point-summary.

• I auditioned for FCC’s worship team keyboard position. Hope I can get in as understudy. Nope, the results are not out yet.
• Completed a uni project that was quite fun. Had to build a simple search engine with RPCs and involve parallel processing. More info.
• Added some Facebook functionality onto my website. Notice blog comments are now powered by Facebook, and you can “Like” certain pages on my site.
• Updated the wordscramble game on Facebook to make it look cleaner. Also because the previous service provider clearspring.com is closing down.
• Made a Top 10 Scammers List Facebook app for the Friends For Sale Official Scammer List page.
• Got my driving license and bought a second-hand car
• Singapore Connection sailing (not really) and BBQ event
• Had breakfast at IKEA several times and met up with Justin, Chin Wah, Joshua, Si Rui on separate occasions.
• Joined the “Singapore Facebook” so that I can say that I’ve “been there, done that”

Coming events

• Exams… (second and third week of June)
• FCC youth camp (one hour drive from Perth!)

Have been thinking questions about what if I were to die suddenly, what should I write to be read after passing away, what would I be leaving behind, what instructions should I pass on to my family, what to do with my works (i.e. website), etc.. I was thinking of creating a procedure in the admin section on my website to automatically do stuff when I am no longer around.

It’s almost halfway through the year, and it’s a good time to take some time to reflect and evaluate the resolutions we made at the beginning of the year. How easy to make goals and resolutions but not carry them out! The other way is to be content with everything you have, and live with no regrets, which is currently my mission statement.

Most of the people I know around my age, some younger, are already in some relationship. For me, I am still kinda clueless and lost. My current view on this is that I strongly believe in never rushing any relationship, but to properly learn to truly appreciate and love the other before committing. The three magic words, no matter how magical it sounds to the other person, should not be said without meaning it. Besides love, trust and honesty are the keys to a successful and long-lasting relationship. Just as there are different levels of friendship, there are similar levels of love. Never take love at face value, for beneath it there might be unspoken words and motives.

Sometimes, I wonder if I am too clever for my own good, or stupid without even realising it. Maybe clever in same ways and not so in others. I wish I had friends who will be really frank and honest with me. I’d rather have that type of friends than those that are ‘lukewarm’ and the play-safe type. Plus, there is constructive criticism anyway.

Oh, it’s raining again…

View the results breakdown, marking guide of how I did for each component here.

Read about my previous post on the assignment here.

The assignment was to program a game called Code Cracker for the Android OS.

Here are some screenshots of the program:

Program icon on the android phone desktop:

Initial screen:

Menu options:

Selecting a cell to input a letter:

Game over:

Download source code, program files, user manual on the assignment page.

My lecture finished 15 minutes early at 1145, and I decided to visit the free lucky dip first as it was nearer. Guess what? About 100 people were already there, EARLY, in one BIG crowd with no form of order at all. Not even a simple queue!! When the booth opened (actually just a table), everybody just started surging forward at the same time to one poor person manning the counter. When the organiser gave instructions to form a queue, it was not heeded and everyone still wanted in. EVEN SINGAPOREANS KNOW HOW TO QUEUE WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO!!!! (cannot take that for granted >.<) I omg-ed and lol-ed, watched the crowd grow to about 200+, and then got sick of the way the event was handled and decided not to participate.

I went on to get free hotdogs for lunch, then walked through the job fair. Nothing interesting there, mostly health and engineering companies. Also met with half my group for SE discussion (the other half pon/awol the meeting).