Knoppix (boot Linux from a CD)

Linux is a computer operating system and its kernel. It is among the most famous examples of free software and of open-source development. It is a multi-user, multi-tasking, multi-threaded network operating system.

The term Linux strictly refers to the Linux kernel, but is commonly used to describe entire Unix-like operating systems (also known as GNU/Linux). Linux distributions often bundle large quantities of software with the core system. There are over 300 different distributions available.

Knoppix is a Linux distribution LiveCD. Knoppix is a Debian based Linux distribution running on a CD drive without using the hard drive or installing any files onto the hard drive. Knoppix was developed by GNU/Linux consultant Klaus Knopper.

The popularity of Knoppix is due to many factors. Its extensive hardware detection allows the majority of systems to boot straight into a graphical environment without the need for manual configuration. It connects automatically to most kinds of networks, and includes software both for use as a computer system (notably web browsers, OpenOffice.org, and the GIMP) and for system repair. The complete graphical environment and networking make it much more comfortable than the previous generation of boot floppies for system administrators repairing systems whose hard drives won't boot.

Knoppix 3.9, the latest public release based off the 3.8 edition handed out to visitors at the CeBIT convention, was released on June 1, 2005. It features KDE 3.4.0, Linux kernel versions 2.6.11.11 and 2.4.27, OpenOffice.org 2.0 Beta, The GIMP 2.2.7, UnionFS support, a permanent home directory and system config kept on harddisk, and improved hardware detection.

Download latest Knoppix LiveCD (torrent download)
While you're at it, also download Knoppix Hacks (an e-book)

descriptions and screenshot: Wikipedia.com

Emotions are the byproduct of intelligence

They're not meant to be.
Evolution is a form of devolution.
Religious faith is a sign of insecurity in humanity.
Existence is insignificance if non-existence does not exist.
Being completely sane is the least reasonable way of life.
Matter is what you see, but dark matter is what fills the world.
The virtue of waste gives birth to the infinite human creativity.
Questioning the validity of civialization is the first sign of civilization.


Religion is contrived.









Makes you think.

hard time sleeping

Having a...

It took me too much effort to dig up those memories from the little head of mine, I got too worked up and couldn't sleep.

Here, let me summarize the road trip with highlights:

I was by myself.

As long as I didn't leave my car, it felt like it was just a constant change of sceneries outside the car windows, in other words, a third-person view.

Onsen visits along the way. I must have been to five.

The road just after Ohnaruto Bridge.

I had some close calls.

Suzuka Circuit.

Initial D runs.

Getting up early.

Mt. Fuji.

Surviving it to tell it.

I've managed to procrastinate...

...until now. I want to write about my drive from Shikoku to Chiba. It was the end of February, beginning of March. It took me six days, through 16 prefectures. I slept in my car, in various internet cafes, and only had two luxurious nights in some cheap hotels. I am trying my best to remember, but my memory has a habit of deceiving me.

The route: (the entire way I used no expressway except the two tolled bridges)

Started from Niihama(新居浜市), Ehime(愛媛県), using Route 11,


took Route 192 near the border of Ehime and Kagawa(香川県), through Tokushima(徳島県), then back on Route 11 in Naruto(鳴門市), Tokushima, got on Route 28 which led me to Ohnaruto Bridge (大鳴門橋, tolled),


over the bridge, I came to Hyogo(兵庫県), took the beautifully scenic Route 28, saw some of the best nature, got to Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋, tolled),


over the bridge, took Route 2, past Kobe(神戸市), Hyogo, came to Osaka for the night, met up with Pat's girlfriend, Mami and her girlfriend, Hitomi,


had dinner with and left the girls, I took Route 308, to Nara(奈良県), and slept the night in the montain just enetering the border of Nara, parked roadside near a what-I-came-to-believe abandoned school, quite a nice hide-out, afterall I drove for a good 12 hours,


woke up at 8, barely slept, got back on road, took Route 369, drove into Nara City(奈良市), Nara, visited my four-legged friends, found myself a good onsen(温泉) in Nara City and had a refreshing start at driving again,


took Route 369, through Iga(伊賀市), Mie(三重県), then Route 25, Route 1, to Suzuka(鈴鹿市), Mie, visited world-famous Suzuka Circuit, not to be missed by any motorheads,


took Route 1 again, left for Yokkaichi(四日市市), Mie, continued on Route 1, past Nagoya(名古屋市), Aichi(愛知県), settled the night into an Internet cafe in the suburb towards East,


next morning, got up feeling like haven't slept at all, back on Route 1, decided to take a longer but coastal route, would see more near the ocean,


once in Shizuoka(静岡県), decided to see the great Mt. Fuji(富士山), stopped at Fujimiya(富士宮市), Shizuoka, checked into a hotel and had my first sleeping night. In the hotel it was quiet so I specifically asked for a room with Mt. Fuji view, no extra charge,


woke up next morning with that pic up there, was delighted as ever, showered and packed for Mt. Fuji, snowy drive, got as far as I could, took half a day, got way past "Fuji Skyline"


left Mt. Fuji, took Route 139, from there I decided to go North, through Yamanashi(山梨県), briefly touched Southern tip of Nagano(長野県), to Gunma(群馬県),


If now you think I am nuts, you are absolutely correct. It was too snowy to go into those high altitudes, but I was determined to do some crazy shit! That is, to drive Mt. Akina(秋名山), Usui Pass (碓氷峠), and Mt. Myogi(妙義山)! I know it is a cartoon (Initial D), but I figured why not. I have no pictures for them. YOU TRY DRIVING THOSE MOUNTAIN PASSES AND TAKE PICTURES! LET'S SEE HOW YOU MANAGE!

So first up, Usui Pass: (damn twisty)


Then, I managed Mt. Myogi: (icy as hell)


Then I took Route 18 and got into town Akina(real name: Haruna <榛名町>), was too late to do anything, so I went to sleep in an Internet cafe outside of Haruna. They don't have one.


I woke up next day, back in Mt. Haruna and drove it like there is no tomorrow, to find out there were three runs, fairly far apart, had problem finding the right one.


Loved it, but it was time to go, took Route 17, past Saitama(埼玉県), finally to Tokyo, crashed at New Koyo (a budget hotel), said hi to Bobby (guy works there), driving into Tokyo City was a bitch.


The next day, I finised the last leg of the trip driving to my destination Chiba(千葉県).


road maps: Yahoo! jp

free fax via email

An experiment started in June 1993 now makes it possible to send a FAX (for free) to many different parts of the world by using internet e-mail. Any e-mail software can be used to send a text mesage, however formatted documents with fonts and pictures require a more sophisticated e-mail utility.

The Phone Company (TPC) offers free fax service via email as well as your web browser, or you can download their 3rd-party software to send a fax using the Internet or your modem. I don't work for them and am no way affliated with them. I sometimes get behind with job application because I need to go out and find a fax machine, but with this, as long as you are somehow connected to the Internet, you can fax. I have used their email-fax and it works every time. Formatting issues aside, they do a decent job. Where else can you get something like that? Well the Internet is meant to be free.

TPC logo: tpc.int

finally got what I wanted

I came to Japan for a couple of reasons. One of them is to do some "soul-searching", whatever you consider that to be.

To me, it's a time I look inwards, no, not like that, to see who I really am. When I was in Ehime, that didn't happen. I was too busy, too outgoing. I partied and made at least a dozen friends, whom I've treasured dearly while our paths crossed. I'd love to see them again and again and again but I can only do what I can. Once in a while, I have to move on.

I have been in Chiba for more than two months now, I haven't made one friend. Well I have had some adventures but no one I actually see on a regular basis. Those I meet are far from me at least in Tokyo which is 3 hours away. And the last time I saw anyone socially was one month ago.

This is the perfect opportunity as I am working my ass off - six days a week, 40 students a day (actually on avg. 20), on top of that, two public schools. I need the experience. I need the money. I need the piece of quiet, away from people. I need to concentrate. Why do you think I pick 'em countrified cities? I am more than glad "it" finally gets here. Mind you, I wouldn't trade my first Japan experience for the world.

I am avoiding people. They might be great people. We might click. I might fall in love with one of them. None of that matters. None of that is on my mind. I want this inner peace. I want to soul-search. And conveniently it saves me money. And no, I don't feel the least bit lonely. From now on, I hope this continues. I hope I don't run into anybody who is genuinely interesting. I am keeping on my little journey to that place I seek so frantically. At least for a while.

Murakami

I don't know if this is right, but who am I to judge?

I certainly have contributed enough in terms of paying for Murakami Haruki's books. I think I have all his books in my possession, except a few. All paid for one form or another, some Japanese original texts (first published version, used) as well since I have been in Japan, still mostly English though.

Heck I even have the original 2-volumn Norwegian Wood, the black and red set, yes take that, any Murakami fan out there. Take that! Now who goes the distance to collect? It is the third Nowegian Wood I've bought to date. I have also purchased two translations of The End of the World and the Hard-boiled Wonderland. I've read both of these novels over five times each, in three different translations, over a ten-year period of time. On the other hand, I have only read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle twice, plus once incomplete. I've read Dance Dance Dance, South of the Border, West of the Sun, A Wild Sheep Chase, Sputnik Sweetheart, and The Elephant Vanishes : Stories, twice+ and in two translations each. I read Underground only once, and... to be continued, list goes on...

read On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning

I am quite the pirate, but I buy the things I truely enjoy, hope you do the same.

classic MJ 69 points against Cavs

1990, the year Michael Jordan peaked as a scoring machine, not as an all-around player. The thing about MJ's scoring ability is that it's always been a double-bladed sword that cuts both ways. The more he scores, the less the others are involved. A one-man show he is! The Chicago team was once called "Michael and the Jordanians". Later in his career he found the sweet spot where he could score as much as he wanted and the team still won.

Yes you may argue that Wilt Chamberlain scored more points in a game, and you are absolutely right. But Jordan's got that special something, that insatiable competitive drive, those great hands that are much bigger than what a person who claims to be 6'6" should have. He is indeed probably only 6'5". A dunker, a sharp shooter, a fade-away perfectionist, a play maker, a clutch go-to guy, an icon, a champion, you name it, he has achieved it.

Click to download this monster game (Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers - March 28, 1990)
about the video:You can collect as many Jordan DVD's as you find, but a full classic game is hard to come by. Usually most of them classic games have really shaky picture. This one is however clean and relatively crisp. Doug Collins did a fine job commentating the game as he knows Michael quite well having had coached him in his earlier years in the NBA.

about the game: Cavs back in those days had a funny policy when they played against #23 - do not double-team the guy early on. Let him score and let the other guys depend on him. What a foolish decision. But thanks to this foolishness we can witness what MJ was capable of. I still think he should have gone for another point to try to reach the 70/+ territory.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former National Basketball Association player, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

A remarkable force at both ends of the floor, Jordan ended a career of 15 full seasons with a regular-season scoring average of 30.12 points per game, the highest in NBA history (ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.06). He won six championships, notched 10 scoring titles, and was league MVP five times. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, and led the league in steals three times. In 1991, he was named Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." These and other achievements have persuaded many fans that Jordan was the best ever to play the game. (Others call Jordan overrated and point to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Shaquille O'Neal.) -Wikipedia

FUNDAMENTALS. You don't see Jordan missing open jumpshots or blowing layups. The man is deadly if you give him an open look or scoring opportunity. He performs even better when under pressure. The players these days can't hit an open jumpshot even if given plenty of time to set up. Lack of focus or mental strength is the problem. Too many youngsters playing their Nintendos or PS2s instead of practising their game (eg. Darius "Hype" Miles) during the off-season. Practise improves skill and Jordan's skill is so immense that he can score with ease. 8 points a quarter and 32 points a game is not a problem. In his younger days (pre-1990), Jordan arrives 2 hours before games to shoot around. Now, he can't do that because fans would swamp him with autograph requests.

ATHLETICISM. Everyone loves it when Jordan pulls-off an acrobatic reverse layup. Everyone loves it when he slashes through the keyway and hammers it home. Everyone loves his hangtime and leaping ability. Jordan is like the Energizer Bunny, you just have to wonder where he gets his energy from. Many times have Jordan kept on at full-speed late in the final quarter while the opposing players are exhausted. The man is a super-athlete. 3.3% body fat, 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, 48 plus inch vert, free-throw slams. Jordan is the most electrifying athlete to watch. ditto

KILLER INSTINCT. The man is an assasin on the court. Once he sees the opposing players demoralised, he uses that as motivation to demoralised them more. Hasta la vista, flashback to the Lakers in the 1991 finals and Portland in the 1992 finals. Magic and Sam Perkins didn't know what to do to stop Michael. And then Clyde Drexler and Buck Williams with the look of defeat in their faces, they were about to surrender to the Jordan assault. And Jordan won't back down a bit or ease off. He will play hard until the final whistle is blown and the game is won.

HEART. Michael has a huge heart. He wants to win more than any other ball player. Game 5 of the 1996-97 NBA Finals where Jordan was seriously-ill from food poisoning (rotten pizza) and yet manages to score 38 pts and lead the Bulls to victory. If the Bulls lost, there could be a Game 7 and the Jazz would probably win the championship. Jordan's will to win is incredible and it filters down to his teammates, Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, Harper, Randy, Luc, Dickey and Buechler. He plays each game like it's his last game. Makes it worthwhile paying for the ticket to watch him play.

BASKETBALL IQ. The man is a genius. He's the Albert Einstein of basketball. He has the ability to see gaps in defenses and physically take advantage of it. Everything seems to go into slow-motion when Jordan attacks. It's probably because he executes his play so quickly that the defenses don't have time to react. He could visualise where the double-team is coming from, even before it happened. The man loves basketball. He studies videos and scouting reports to discover weaknesses in the defense. His knowledge of the game is second to none in the universe.

SHOES. We love the shoes. Those Air Jordans are the greatest marketing coup by Nike. Each new release of Air Jordan represents the bleeding edge of shoe technology. Visible Air, Zoom Air, Carbon fibre sheaths, Ballistic nylon uppers, Huarache inner sleeve, Lace-locks, Jordan Shroud, Carbon Comfort Plate, double-stacked zoom air units, Techflex... The shoes raise the level of innovation and technology in sneaker production. Companies like Reebok, Adidas and Converse were blown away by the popularity of Air Jordans. Also we love the TV advertisements too. Especially those creative and funny adverts by Spike Lee. What would we be wearing now if it weren't for Air Jordans?

LOVE FOR THE GAME. It's clear that the man loves the game. Two comebacks from retirement is proof enough. He enjoys the game and like all athletes, he just can't get enough of it. When you love something, it's real hard to let go. All the accolades, the admiration, the attention... it's real addictive.

-Jordan EXTREME

conference finals

Ah...the surprise! not!



Game 5 Phoenix Suns v.s. San Antonio Spurs






Game 4 Miami Heat v.s. Detroit Pistons
Game 5 - Miami Heat vs Detroit Pistons
Game 6 (registration required)

photo credit: Yahoo! sport