Intro to MicroE Design & Fabrication

I have finally finished studying this book. Phew~~! You know what?! Since I am pretty much a ‘bio’ type of person, I have always been paying salute to those people who specialized in EE (Electrical & Electronics), Physics or equivalent. How on earth could they have comprehended all these uh?! :)

This book is good in terms of providing a very basic overview of what I aim to understand. Basically it covers the following:
Basic Electronics
Fundamentals of Integrated Circuits
Crystal Growth and Wafer Preparation
Circuit Design and Layout
Wafer Fabrication
Assembly, Packaging and Final Test
Circuit Types
(感谢Mr 同事 借我这本书,并且无限归还期)

Now at least I know roughly what are these terms about : “p” type, “n” type, CMOS, bipolar, Bi-CMOS, doping, n well, source and drain, gate, flats, scribing, ingot, photo mask, reticle, lattice, patterning, photolithography, anisotropic etching, ion implantation, dopant ions, diffusion, anneal process, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), metallization, CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) ……
(ok, if you don’t know what I am talking about then perhaps it’s time for you to take up one similar book to start reading too, ha! :) )

Night View of Singapore

Here you go the night view of Singapore from Equinox, the top of Swissotel.

~7.30p.m. ~8.30 p.m.

~9.30 p.m.

无眼看

Sometimes I pity those air-stewardesses who need to deal with barbaric and inconsiderate people.

During the flight from KL to Penang, there was this male passenger who put his luggage bag underneath the seat. He was told by the aircrew to place it on top cabinet since his seat was next to emergency exit doorway. He at first reluctant and then later he said OK but he needed the air-steward to help carrying on top because he got back ache. The air-stewardess said “I will help you, you just need to give me one lift to assist me putting it up”. Yes, after a few attempts, she managed to get it on top without second man’s help. His luggage size is much bigger than the standard size allowed to carry on board, and heavy too. Wouldn't it be 'easier' for him to check his luggage in?!

The most irritating part is this indian guy started to switch his handphone ON when the plane was descent for landing. Mind you, not yet landed, but just about to start landing! We were still high up in the sky. Phew~! Then he started calling (not yet landed still) ! I guess he couldn’t get through and repeated calling and calling…. numerous times.

As far as I am concern, most airlines advise passengers to turn off all electronic devices as the aircraft door is about to be closed. After take off, passengers may be told which devices can be operated during flight. Once descent for landing has started, passengers are advised to turn "off" electronic devices.

For safety reason, passengers were requested not to use cellular telephones as they may interfere with flight communications or navigation.

From the way he tried to hide it from other passengers’ sight while both switching the cellular telephones on and starting to make calls, I knew well he was AWARE of this regulation.

So, how could this fellow still be acting in such a selfish way har?!Grrrr………..

Johor

It was lucky that I did not freeze myself off during sleep as I have left my sweater in their company car the night before.

The second day (16/9/05) was an even more rushing day. Since I woke up later than planned, I have got only ~ 15 min to take my breakfast at Swenson and check out before the driver came to fetch us at 7.30a.m. Therefore this time I really did not have much appetite for breakfast.

The journey to this plant took us ~2 hrs. This was a newly set up plant, more spacious and impressive than the one in SG. The managers here are more handsome too (Ha!). We started what we should do immediately upon reaching there as we knew very well that we were short of time.When it came to one particular process which I was told to emphasize on, I took nearly 1 hour. I felt sorry for them too as I have dragged their lunch hour a little bit late.

We drove to town to have our lunch at Beijing Restaurant. 6 persons in total. I was told that the taukeh of this restaurant has opened four restaurants under the same name in Johor alone, covering both halal and non-halal markets. This time we had chinese food (Yes!). The dishes were delicious but still I got to close-one-eye-up when talking about cholesterol. :) There was one special tiny cup of vege juice for everyone before the main dishes were served. It was 菜心汁 - vege blended together with pineapple. Hmm...surprisingly very good taste.

After lunch, we continued till ~4.00p.m.before we departed to airport. We dare not take the risk of departing any later than that since the roads' traffic to Senai airport was told to be 'unpredictable'. From there onwards the most torturing part of the 2-day-audit-trip began. The long journey from Johor -> KL -> Penang nearly drove me nuts. We waited about 2 hrs at the Senai airport -> transit in KL we waited another 2 hrs (connecting flight from KCH was delayed due to aircraft down at Miri). I was very exhausted that I dozed off during the flight from Johor to KL. But then I became awake again when it reached KLIA, hehe. (why?! coz got more stores / things to see already mah :)).

I went out to departure hall there for dinner, walked around and bought 1pc of Famous Amos handmade soft cookies. (I started to like this particular fresh-baked soft cookies since my first try on it last year at KLIA. I am not one who is into either biscuits or cookies but then I really like this kind of really-soft 'wet' cookies) . I visited the bookshop and found out that both Candace Bushnell and Sophie Kinsella got new releases oh. Hmm...I shall check them out further at Penang later. I met colleague and friends too in the same flight.

The KL-PG flight took off at ~ 10.40p.m. finally. Reaching home already ~ 12 midnight. Gosh!

Equinox - foie gras

First day (15/9/05) :

We had a quick lunch at singapore airport ~ 11.30a.m. We proceeded to the vendor's plant in Yishun and started our 'work' per agenda ~ 1.30 p.m. - 6.00p.m. It was tiring in overall but I got to learn a lot too.

Then we were brought to The Equinox, Swissotel The Stamford for dinner. Altogether 6 of us. Hoho...the food was very good indeed but I must confess that the panaromic view stole the show. Standing high up at the 70th floor, the night view of Singapore from the top of Swissotel was simply spectacular! The restaurant's three-tier design and floor-to-ceiling windows promise every table has a view. Our table was overlooking the whole downtime Singapore, the business district, the Esplanade and the Singapore River.

I would say that this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had so far.

Each of us ordered the set dinner except one lady who is a vegetarian. It is very thoughtful of this restaurant to take care of vegetarian diners too.

Our set dinners started with lip-smacking hors d'oeuvres:
~bread
~fresh oysters (per additional order) - very juicy and solid, from new zealand(?!). The best part is they did not seem to have that kind of 'weird' sea-taste.
~smoked salmon
~cream soup with lobster in stick
~foie gras (goose liver) - this is my first time on 鹅肝. Actually none of us knew what this dish on the menu stated was until the dish came and people started asking what this dish was actually. Someone mentioned "it's liver." "Er.. it is the duck liver" "Er...Goose liver ". Then all of us especially me started "Oh! that's 鹅肝 lah! Aiyoyoh...". I have seen many culinary programmes mentioning on it many times but I have never tasted on it so far. Just one week ago, I came across a TVB8 chef programme in which one chef was interviewed on what his favourite dishes were and he recommended another chef's on this foie gras dish at one of the Lan Kwai Fong's (兰桂坊) restaurants at HK.
Main dishes : Either tiger prawn with scallops set or lamb ribs set.
(I ordered the tiger prawn set)
Dessert : sorbet. (hmm...this is definitely a lot better than normal ice-cream or pudding)
Also : Savouring red wines throughout the whole dinner. :)

This whole Equinox dining took us more than 2 and 1/2 hrs. It was served in slow pace albeit the concern of us desiring to leave at 9.00p.m. Hmm...ended up nearly 10 p.m.when we reached the hotel. That of course also meant -no Takashimaya for me. :(

Upon finished checking in, it was already ~10.30p.m. (we actually waited kinda long to check in due to over-booked rooms). I went straight to the 7-11 at Paragon to 'shop' first before returning to room for shower and joining them back later at Rose Lounge, Level 1. I did not order drinks anymore as I have really had enough for tonight. We just sat there and chit-chat for a while before the 'cinderella' time hit off.

(The follow-ups of this post are Johor, Night View of Singapore and 精致菜肴 ).

Dream Bedrooms

Under the fwd mail titled "Dream Bedrooms", I like these three out of all the 26 pictures. They look cozy, not too bright and also not occupied with too many stuffs.

Save money

My saving money tips.

1) Don't go shopping malls simply to kill time .

2) Don't simply buy anything. Think twice before buying. (My lelong experience told me - to buy is very easy, but in order to sell your items off is not). This mainly includes clothes, accesories, cosmetic and other products.

3) For health consumable products, make sure I'll be confident in finishing up at least 70% of the products then only I buy. (still trying .....:))

4) Accumulate and run several errands at one time.(I know penang is a small island and people tends to travel here and there wildly day in day out with no sweat. Remember this : petrol, money, energy & time ar all inter-related.)

5) Stand firm when signing up courses. Sign only when necessary. Must dare to say NO to 'promotion'.

6) Reuse and recycle. (This is more towards hobbies rather than saving :) )

7) Do housekeeping often. This way will alert me on how 'complete' I have for my stuffs.

8) Cancel additional credit cards. Immune to their gimmicks.

Basically, cut down the times of 'going out' = cut down your expenditure.:) But....hunting for food once in a while will certainly violates above rules right?! then it's OK lah. ha! :)

I want to stress that I do not like people behaving very stingy. Therefore I am not going to be one either. Spend wisely rather than thriftlessly.

I am so happy when knowing that the longest shopping mall at the coastal highway is resuming construction after being abandoned for soooo many years. Another one is the upcoming Giant at Jalan Tengah in a few months' time. All these are located at south-west region of Penang. VERY GOOD!

"I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You"

I actually came across this Evita soundtrack last year when I was kinda 'stuck' in having to use my bro's car for a period of time.

This song is so lyrical that I can't help listening to it again and again. I like Madonna's voice in this soundstrack for it's crystally clear.

[Eva:]

It seems crazy but you must believe
There's nothing calculated, nothing planned
Please forgive me if I seem naive
I would never want to force your hand
But please understand, I'd be good for you

I don't always rush in like this
Twenty seconds after saying hello
Telling strangers I'm too good to miss
If I'm wrong I hope you'll tell me so
But you really should know, I'd be good for you
I'd be surprisingly good for you

I won't go on if I'm boring you
But do you understand my point of view?
Do you like what you hear, what you see
And would you be, good for me too?

I'm not talking of a hurried night
A frantic tumble then a shy goodbye
Creeping home before it gets too light
That's not the reason that I caught your eye
Which has to imply, I'd be good for you
I'd be surprisingly good for you

Also like:
Another Suitcase in Another Hall
High Flying, Adored
You Must Love Me

The original CD went missing. I managed to get another 2nd-hand original CD (good condition : 9/10) through lelong at minimal cost.