15-FEB-2014
Feb 16, 2014 - Back from the death - First ride...
Today I took my 1st ride since Dec 2012. My 1st ride since coming back from death. Life is good and nothing is the same ever again, for the better.
Nov 2013 - Life After death...
It has been a while that I did not even come to my own pbase. More exactly, since before Xmas 2012.
It was almost a long year of despair, hopelessness, indifference, blank, darkness.
Now that I'm back. Life after death. My perspective changed, for the better. Thank God.
11-SEP-2012
Sept 11, 2012 - Vibram Trek LS fivefinger shoes
I recently found out about the Vibram fivefingers shoes (
http://vibramfivefingers.com/). After reading about them, I decided to order a pair of Vibram Trek LS in Kangaroo leather. These shoes are so much more comfortable to wear and walk and run than normal shoes as each toe is allowed to flex individually and naturally. They may look funny but they are so comfortable to wear, almost like walking on barefoot.
Sept 7, 2012 - Exercise with the Android...
I recently bought a bluetooth Zephyr HxM heart rate monitor to strap on my chest when I run and walk on the treadmill. It transmits my heart rate in real-time to the Android Samsung Galaxy player and the application saves all my exercise sessions. I love it! The Zephyr HxM has an internal accelerometer too but the application did not use it. I still haven't found a good app for treadmill exercise.
August 5, 2012 - 22:31 PDT - Touchdown is confirmed!
Curiosity landed perfectly on Mars! It was a spectacular engineering feat!
The President's science adviser, John Holdren said:
"if anyone had any doubts about American technological leadership,there's a one-ton, car-sized piece of American ingenuity, and it's sitting on the surface of Mars right now."
The director of JPL, Charles Elachi, said, as he paraphrased Teddy Roosevelt's quote:
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
August 5, 2012 - Landing day!
Finally, this is the moment: Mars Curiosity landing day! Go Curiosity!
Awaiting the Mars Curiosity landing on August 5, 2012
The Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) of NASA/JPL is going to land on Mars this coming August 5, 2012, on 22:31 Pacific time. Check out:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
Watch the video "7 Minutes of Terror" and you will picture the complexity and the challenges of the engineering involved.
I'm so excited and proud to be part of it.
This is a picture of our team (among other teams) where all 3 generations of rovers were on display. I'm fortunate to work on 2 of them: the medium size Mars Exploration Rover (launched 2003) and the large size Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory, launched 2010). The smallest one is Sojouner (Mars Pathfinder, launched 1997).
10-JUN-2012
June 2012 - Copperplate Calligraphy
While using fountain pens and dip pens, I was naturally attracted to the beauty of writing in different kinds of ancient scripts. Being one who believes in books, instead of classes, I ordered a book called 'Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy' by Eleanor Winters. Let's see how far I can get with this book!
If you don't know what 'Copperplate' is, that's the type of script showed on the cover of this book.
Mars Science Laboratory rover
NASA/JPL's MSL was launched successfully on Nov 26, 2011. It was very excited as I was watching it live as the telemetry came down. It's now on its way to Mars, exploring the unknown. The Entry-Descent-Landing (EDL) in August 2012 will be especially exciting.
In this picture are the 3 generations of Mars rovers: the smallest one was Mars Pathfinder's Sojourner rover. The middle one was Mars Exploration Rover's Spirit and Opportunity rovers and the largest one is Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover and the rover weights 1984 lbs (900 kgs) and is the size of a Mini Cooper automobile.
July 30, 2011 - Fountain pens...
A fountain pen is a delicate writing instrument. Writing with one is a joy and requires special care and attention. One cannot drop a fountain pen or manhandling it. Treat it right and it will reward you. There is nothing better than to write and to let the thoughts flowed on the tip of a fountain pen nib...
http://www.pbase.com/motorcyclist/fountain_pens
12-JAN-2011
Jan 12, 2011 - Hit-Air airbag vest for motorcylist
Today I just received my Hit-Air airbag vest for motorcyclist from www.safermoto.com (a US distributor of Hit-Air airbag vests and jackets.) Hit-Air, www.hit-air.com, is a Japanese company specialized in airbag systems research for motorcyclists since 1995 and the products have been evolved for the last 15 years. While the airbag vest for motorcyclists is still fairly 'new' and 'unknown' in US, it has been widely used in Japan, Europe and motorcycle racing.
24-NOV-2010
Nov 24, 2010 - Riding the San Gabriel mountains...
The Rincon shortcut has been closed for several years and was recently reopened. I and my friend Vu decided to take a day off and do some dirt riding. The road and scenery were awesome. What we did not expect was to see snow at this time and the temperature was 34F, near freezing. It was a good day's ride.
