Two for the price of one

V for Voluptuously-awesome

"A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having"

I saw V for Vendetta tonight, and it totally blew me away. The film was great on so many levels. An amazing storyline, tons of action, politically charged, a real message underneath, and a super hot chick; what more can you ask for? Watching in IMAX made it even better.

credit: legofish.com

Facebook fasting

I'm going to try an experiment. For one full week, that is between Mon. Mar. 27 - Sun. Apr. 2, I am NOT going to use Facebook. No wall-writing, no messages, no friend-confirmations, no stalking, no nothing.

It'll be a cool challenge to test my self-control. I have 6 important interviews this week, so what better time than now. I did the 30-Hour Famine a couple years back, but I have the feeling this will be even harder than that. MSN Messenger, you're next.

Skule Nite 0T6

Another awesome year of the Skule Nite show! I saw it yesterday and I'd say it was well worth the $10 and 3 hours of my afternoon. I pity the fool who missed it. Hilarious as always. Although I did think it had a bit too many penis jokes. It wasn't like last year's "one-giant-story", but rather a series of sketches that commented on/connected with previous ones in small ways, which was a nice touch. The musical numbers were great too, especially the Indian one.

I went with a non-engineering friend, and I'm not sure exactly how much of the jokes she actually got. The more funny ones were general enough for everybody, but an inside-joke is always a good laugh. Another great thing about it is seeing your friends and the people you know on stage. Their hard work really showed. Great job guys!

End post with one of the funniest skits:
"I speak 18 languages: C, C++, Perl, Python, .. Polish, reverse Polish....
so if you equals equals interested,
call me ... "

p.s. thanks for the Godiva chocolates Elena!

The holiest iPod in the world

I thought this was really cool.

The Pope just got a 2GB iPod nano; preloaded with the Vatican podcasts. Who knew they made weekly podcasts? and the fact that the Pope, who stands for conservative and all traditional views, would have an iPod is pretty funny and awesome at the same time. I wonder what his playlist is like ....

Good to see him join the party with the exlusive list of big-time 'celebrities' like George W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth who also own iPods.

Go Canada Go!

Wow, Canada did so well at Torino 2006. 24 medals? that's crazy. w00t!

Pretty much all of Reading Week, I sat and watched the Olympic games. I was definitely not disappointed, and the entertainment value was extremely high. My family just completely stopped everything we were doing when the figure skating finals were on. Of course, a little disappointment from the men's hockey side, but wayyy overshadowed by everything else that was accomplished.

Proud of the Canadian athletes and proud to be a Canadian. Go Canada Go!

Spoke too soon

I guess my celebration was premature. It turns out I did not get offered to the Actel position after all. After talking to the manager and his team twice on the phone, an interview, and an informal breakfast later, along with the verbal confirmation, in person, that I would be offered the job, it still wasn't official...

I called the manager immediately after the rankings were released and his explanation was that after much debate amongst the team, they decided to switch their decision last minute to someone else. Of course, I was totally devastated. What hurts most is, he told me so early on that I was guaranteed the position, that I practically failed the other interviews I had lined up on purpose. And I totally stopped looking for other jobs altogether. I mean, if he wasn't so positive about it, then I would have been more cautious and gave a damn about the remaining interviews. It would have definitely turned out differently. I suppose it's my fault also for letting my guards down.

Another disappointment is the fact that the rankings were due by the company a full week ahead of time before they were released to the students. So the manager changed my status on the position and didn't even inform me about it. Hence, I was lead to believe a lie for an entire week between the time he submitted the decision to the time it was released. I guess California really is the home of shattered dreams.

Now that I've had a week to digest this, I'm over it and holding a more positive attitude. The next round of job postings and interviews is starting and I hear there are a LOT more coming out this round, around 300 - 400. With that big of a number, there's gotta be some high quality positions I can set sights on.

California, here I come!

*cue in The OC song*

We've been on the run
Driving in the sun,
Looking out for #1.
California here we come
Right back where we started from

Back at the beginning of the year (last September), I thought to myself "Man, wouldn't it be sooo awesome to live in California?". I kept dreaming of it since then, but never really gave a thought that it would actually happen, so soon.

Well, PEY has given the me chance to do exactly that. I've been doing interviews all this month, for 12-16 months internships for next year. I had 3 with ATI, and another 3 so far with Actel. Actel is a FPGA company located in Mountain View, right in the heart of Silicon Valley. To my honest surprise, Actel really likes me, and wants to hire me. The Sr. Manager of Technology Development likes my interest and enthusiasm and sees it as a great fit in their department. We spoke in three different occasions so far, and yesterday he gave me an offer. And I love the position! Of all the ones I applied for, this is the one that's perfect for me. It's in the Flash Technology Development, in which I would help in the design of their Flash device, which is the main product out of Actel.

More details will surely come, but right now, I'm extremely happy and thankful for this opportunity. Think about all the experience I'll gain at Actel and the fun I'll have in California. I'm super excited! Can't wait.

iHeart my iPod collection

*Droolz*

Liver damage report, stat!

It's been a pretty long while since I posted an entry. This would be my first since starting the new term. As you might have guessed, I have been quite occupied. But not in the sense I usually tend to use that word. I can actually say many non-academic things have been on my plate in the last little while. I feel like this will turn into a long entry, so I'm gonna make the reading somewhat easier by highlighting the main theme of the paragraph.

Ok so, let's see.... first week back to Skule was Godiva Week (ERTW!). It was hella fun, especially the Chariot Race. I missed a couple of the big events, but I still managed to hang out in the Atrium so much that I drank for 6 days in a row; something I've never done before. Don't get me wrong, the amount consumed each day wasn't big, but by the end I was beat!

The second week was burned up entirely by interviews. I had 3 interviews with ATI for various 16 months PEY positions. All 3 positions are hardware ASIC related. I'm actually surprising bad at these interviews. This came as a real shock to me, but I really suck at answering technical questions, under the spotlight. My inability to correctly solve simple questions really jabbed my confidence, and ultimately now my chances of landing the job. I have a few interviews with Actel this coming week, so hopefully I will do much better.

This past Saturday was UTEK (University of Toronto Engineering Kompetition). I chose to help in organizing this event. Our team of 9 had to go through grueling 8am meetings every week since Sept. to sleepless last-minute preparations, all to hold this one-day annual event. To sum the day up, it was hectic as hell and many things could have gone a lot smoother. In the end, it was a success. I feel quite bad for Rob, the chair of UTEK. The night before, he had to change a flat tire at 2am in the raining morning; during the day of, he lost his laptop which contained 3 years worths of work that wasn't backed up, and Jose's wallet was stolen too; and to top it off, he practically emptied his bank account in preparation for this (which will be reimbursed of course). However, our big feast afterwards paid-for by the Alumni office, made all the grumbling and the stress worth it. Good times that night.

Last but not least, my school work. This term has been quite easy-going. So far, my hands haven't done the dirty business with my textbooks yet, and I've been wasting an incredible amount of time watching season 1 of ROME. Wow... that show is sooo good, I can honestly say: the best dramatic TV series, ever.

I will try to update my blog more often, so as to not make such a big void in my archives.

A new term

So tomorrow starts another term. The 3rd year Spring term. After a 2 and a half week break, I feel ready and excited to go back now.

The downer is last term's marks are posted and boy, are they disgusting. The lowest average ever since coming to university. I was expecting low marks, but still, to actaully see it scripted in my record, it's a different story. And I just realized how much this will hurt my chances of admission into grad school. When applying next year, the marks they'll look at is obviously the 3F and 3S terms.

Therefore, this means I must perform almost flawlessly this time to balance last term's Quasimodo of a mark. I do feel this term looks easier than last. The courses sound interesting and I'm excited for another run at Skule. Here's my timetable:

Happy New Year!

May 2006 bring everyone happy times and lots of blessings.

I tell you the worse currecy
that ever grew among mankind is money. This
sacks cities, this drives people from their homes,
this teaches and corrupts the minds of the loyal
to acts of shame.
- ANTIGONE, Sophocles

Written in 442 B.C., yet still applies every bit as much today.

Extreme Makeover: Website Edition

Ok maybe not "extreme" per se, but still, my website has been updated. It's bigger, a little faster, and now with even more hilarity, hidden easter eggs, surprises, and even prizes! Yes, real prizes. Take your time and check it out.

Christmas cheers everyone!

Merry Christmas !

Hope everyone has a fun holiday. While enjoying your fat, juicy, plump, turkey, I hope y'all remind yourselves what the meaning of Christmas is really about. Hint: contrary to popular belief, it's not centred around the Xbox360.

Oh, and happy Hanukkah too! (to all those who apply)

God bless.

Chronic(what?)cles of Narnia!

This has got to be the best pre-recorded piece on SNL ever. Big big props to Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg. Just watch and see, you'll be impressed.

Chris Parnell & Andy Samberg - Lazy Sunday

The stache and the goatee is coming off

Phew... finally got through another season of playoffs of university. This was the longest exam period I ever had, 2 and a half weeks! My facial hair is even of, dare I say, "respectable" length?

What of the exam results? I really have no high hopes for it this term. Doesn't matter how well I do on the exams, I lost enough marks during the semester to bring down the final grade significantly. And I don't expect much from the exams anyway.

This is the problem/side-effect of doing well last year. Now everyone expects for me to be on that same level; my parents, my friends, even myself. Oh well ... at least it's not like I'm gonna lose a scholarship, since I never had any to begin with.

The only thing on my mind now is a whole lot of relaxation and going out to enjoy the season.

Christmas spirit

Everywhere I look,
On the streets,
In my neighbour's yard,
In the newspapers,
On my computer screen,
Over the airwaves,
In the digital coaxial cables,
All my friends,
and their msn names,
My parents,
Everywhere I look,
There's Christmas spirit flowing.
But here I am,
Stuck in the exam phase,
Shackled to my desk,
Bounded like Prometheus.
Help me get through this.

Procrastination is the Devil

So here I am wasting time playing with Photoshop, in the middle of exam period. This was fun. I made a comic-fying version of a photograph (an old one at that).

BeforeAfter

Hehe, Aanchal has a stache.

*much thanks to the Attack of the Show for the know-hows.

Exams, exams, exams

Exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams, exams,