San Jose, CA, USA 18-24 Jan 2004

Which paper are you presenting?

It was the first time I was basking in a pool of AMs ... or so I thought it would be. But there were Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Koreans and a few Singaporeans. Just like the quiet town, its demographic composite is widely represented.

This capital of Silicon Valley certainly has plenty of ethnic groups. Perhaps it is SV, so I dare not generalize for other parts of the country.

I was a TECHNICAL delegate at Electronic Imaging 2004, amongst the numerous AUTHORS and COMMITTEE members. Attendees come from academic and commercial background. I think internally, I am somewhere in between.

Some papers were mentally-challenging, while some became sleep-inducers. The conference became an equivalent to my spiritual motivator in the technical aspects. There are plenty of researchers out there trying to solve problems that others and I have been cracking my head over. 

There were many young PHD students of non-US origins, representing some daunting US universities. I felt the urge to head back to campus though I decided 6 months ago that I needed a break from the stressful studying environment in Singapore.

I requested the students to provide me with some elaborations of their papers. Most of them from non-English speaking countries took the opportunity well to convey their ideas thoroughly in a difficult language (since it was not their mother tongue), and I applaud them for their good effort.

So when they asked "Are you here to present a paper?" ...

I replied or 'lied', "Not yet, coz I am still doing my postgraduate, maybe another year" ...

So much for breaking the 4th precept, or was it an aid to pave my future plans?

American Idol

I was here to seek guruship ... but couldn't find a suitable candidate ... well actually I didn't look hard enough.

But one woman almost became my AI ... but I decided to give her up ...

Idol worshipping is not the answer after all ...

I turned my attention to the real American Idol show on Fox channel from Mon-Wed during my stay in Marriot ... Good laugh for an hour every evening ...

AI season III showcases some of the worst popstar-wannabes-but-cannot-make-its during the auditions... and here're the crude comments Simon Cowell made to the contestants ...

"I wouldn't sing to the person who packs your parachute." --- to an airborne officer

"Thank God you don't have to sing to get immigration status here." --- to a Kosovo immigrant

"Let me remind you of something you've obviously missed. American Idol is a singing competition."

A contestant said "I did my best. With God on my side, that's all I can ask for", and Simon said "Well, he's taken a day off, sweetheart."

"You are to singing what Randy is to modeling."

"I was trying not to laugh. I was thinking of puppies drowning, Paula Abdul naked, Randy Jackson naked."

"If you were to win this competition, you'd close down the Fox network. We would be sued."

"I would ban you from singing in the showers."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you attracted every stray cats in Texas."

"That was musical food poisoning."

"If I were to call you mediocre, that would be the biggest compliment you've ever been paid."

"I think we're going to have to cancel this competition. There is not a song you can sing."

One hopeful asked, "Is there anything I can improve on?", and Simon said, "No. Don't sing again."

The hands of Innovation

The Tech Museum of Innovation doesn't house dinosaurs or monuments for visitors to stare at ...

It has contents simplified to educate children and to allow adults with technical background to recapitulate the school days.

For those who have never experienced earthquakes or totally clueless about satellites, space travels, oceanography, chip manufacturing, this is the place to try them all.

Friendly elderly volunteers were seen assisting the young visitors on hands-on stations.

A good guidance is important, to encourage, breed and nurture innovative minds ...

And I believe this country is extremely proud of its scientific achievements ...

Not-so-still-life

These are the exact art houses that you might have seen on TVs ...

White-washed walls with one giant painting pasted in the middle, spacious rooms, windows that allow sunlight to shine through, noble silence from staring visitors and quiet whispers amongst art enthusiasts.

San Jose Museum of Art is not very different from the imageries that I have seen.

Located a stone throw away from The Tech, SJMA is also another educating institute with a different touch. The artifacts draw the attention of the visitors into the world of the painters or sculptors themselves. Every intricate details indicate the state of mind and traces of thoughts the artists bore when he/ she was making the creations. And how often I was amazed by the ingenuity of the artists in conveying their displeasure and disappointment of the society in historical times or the contemporary to the mass public.