Looks like Cadence is finally on offensive and pushing Specman strongly over SystemVerilog. As a long time user of Specman, I would like to see Specman wins the HVL war at the end which will make my skill and experience more valuable.
Continue reading Challenging Misconceptions About Verification Languages
Printing body part using 3D bio-printer sounds like sci-fi coming to reality. It can print tissues now, but sooner or later, they can print a whole limb with bones and tissue. Maybe we can even print a complete human and use the 3D bio-printer as a cloning machine.
早前閱讀彭志銘的「小狗懶擦鞋」﹐喜歡他把難登大雅之堂的文字﹐柔合很正經很學術的文筆風格﹐讓我學更加認讓自身的言語文化。這次再看他的「香港潮語話齋」﹐雖然內容也是報紙專欄結集成書﹐也是以從另類角度說香港語言文化﹐不過這本書卻讓我有點兒失望。作者還是同一個人﹐文筆仍有輕鬆有趣﹐可是這本書的內容鬆散﹐文章資料不足水份泛濫﹐甚至讓我覺得有些被搵笨的感覺。
書名雖然稱作香港潮語﹐可惜書中介紹的潮語不潮﹐有些潮語已經落伍過時﹐八九十年代曾流行一時﹐但現在已經沒有多少人再說。這類語言冷知識的書藉﹐最好看是解釋每個詞語的來龍去脈﹐為什麼這個詞語會代表這個意思。作者在書中提供的解釋有部份很牽強﹐有好些文章更只是解釋潮言的意思﹐沒有說明這些潮語的起源和出處。其實很多潮語是見字知義﹐不用多解釋讀者已經明白其意思。作者給我的感覺是沒有做好功課﹐像舊作考究粗口般去仔細考究潮語。這些文章的水準作為報紙的專欄還可以﹐但如此質素拿來出書賣錢則很不負責任的行為。
書中介紹的潮語來源可以分為以下幾類﹐有些潮語是英文音譯中文﹐有些則是借用日文漢字﹐有些是荒僻古字咸魚翻生﹐還有一些是廣東鄉下俚語﹐忽然間被電視藝人發揚光大。這本書的最大問題是不耐看﹐雖然我已經離開香港十多年﹐可是書中介紹的潮語我竟然差不多全懂﹐那些潮語實在太顯淺了。我看完這本書除了多懂一兩個潮語正字﹐知道hea的正寫為迆﹐好索的正寫為好嗍﹐全盒實為攢盒外﹐也沒有學到甚麼新語文知識了。
Having so many labor problems, no wonder multinational companies are leaving France on the first sight of trouble. Wipro is an Indian company, the only reason buying overseas hi-tech firm is to learn their technology. After they learn everything, there is no reason keeping the France operation. Wage is much cheaper in India.
After eight week of wood working class, I have built my first table. After going through all the steps and trouble from raw lumber to a finished furniture, I appreciate all different kinds of furniture made available by modern manufacturing process. I can’t imagine how much time it will take if I have to build all my furniture myself. The cost of the wood and tools I bought plus my time, cost a lot more than the price I pay at a furniture store for a similar table.
Due to the lack of cost efficiency, I probably won’t take up wood working as a hobby, but I must confess that seeing the finishing product gives me a sense of satisfaction. I think wood working is a must-have skill for the man of the house, it the basic of home maintenance. My wood working skill also gives me better eyes in telling the quality of furniture. If I need a piece of unique special purpose furniture that is ridiculously expensive, I know I can always build it myself.
Here is the second half of my table building experience. Please see part 1 for steps 1 to 11.
12. Sand the table top to make it a really smooth surface
13. Glue the legs, sides and back pieces. Hold the shape with bar cramps.
14. Drill packet hole for mounting the top and bottom
15. Screw in the bottom piece
16. The table frame is finish
17. Cut the groove for the drawer bottom.
18. Assemble the draw with counter sink screws
19. Counter sink screws sinks into the wood to leave a flush surface
20. Cut wood plugs to cover the counter sink holes
21. Glue the plug, saw off the top and sand it flat.
22. Fasten the drawer rail with counter sink screw
23. Fasten the drawer front with bubble screw and washer
24. Slide in the drawer and the table is done!
Here is some lessons I learn what not to do in wood working
1. Don’t put much force onto the power screw driver, otherwise the wood will crack
2. Don’t drill too close to the edge or using a too large drill head, otherwise the wood will crack
3. Don’t twist the drill, otherwise the drill bit will snap.
