Lunch plan

The Valley is a very diverse cities and there are all kind of restaurants. Popular one are Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Japanese, and of course American fast food. However, usually I can't make up my mind where to eat until noon. I don't want to spend more than five bucks for lunch. And I don't like to eat food with too much calories. As a result, my choice is limited.

Taco Bell is my favourite. I go there at least once a week. I go to Subway sometimes, but they are expensive. I also go to Burger King. Whooper has high calories but I like Burger King for personal reason. Sometimes I go to Chinese or Vietnamese restaurant. Their price on menu usually is cheaper than $5, but I gotta pay tips ...

Recently I got a 25% off coupon from a Vietnamese noddle house. Then even including tips, I can walk out of the door in five bucks with a full stomach. I went there three time in the last two weeks. But the discount pricing is ending this month. So now I am looking for any restaurant with special discount.

Change of blogging time

Due to the fact that I am slowing running out of topic. And I don't want to just write ordinary daily stuff. So from now on, I will post a new blog once a week on Saturday. Actually I don't know if anyone visit my blog regularly. But I still want my blog posted on a predictable schedule.

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Traffic in the Valley

The traffic in the Valley, most of time, it is JAM!. There are a lot of nice cars driving on the highways, and they drive fast and furious. But it doesn't matter, they are driving 20 mph mostly when they go to work, especially bridging from one highway to another.

There are five major high ways in the Valley, I-101, I-880, I-280, I-237, I-85. All these highways connect and form a large circle surrounding the valley. It is a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, with more highways, there are more bridging. And bridging causes all the traffic congestion.

It is particular worst in I-237, which connect I-101 (West Bay) and I-880 (East Bay). From my observation, I-237 is not originally built as a major high way. For example, I-237 is merely 10 miles long and both ends connect to local streets directly. In recent years, more people buy houses in the East Bay. So they rely on I-237 to go to work. This makes I-237 bridging as one of the worst congestion spots. And even worst, I also take I-237 to go to work.

Fortunately, now the city had built a nice bridge to connect I-237 and I-880. This helps. But unfortunately, bridge rebuild between I-237 and I-101 is still nowhere in sight.

There is one thing quite interesting for the high way traffic in the Valley. It reflects the job market pretty well. In 2005, the traffic is warming up again, and I receives more phone call from head hunters.

Traffic411.com

Yahoo! back to work

It is 10am Monday, someone is still in the bed.

"Wake up, Yahoo, Wake up"

"Who is it?" Yahoo asked.

"This is Google."

*** *** *** *** ***

I used Yahoo since 1995. First I used their search engine. Then Yahoo map, Yahoo mail, My Yahoo, Yahoo Photo, briefcase, etc ... however, there is not much new development in Yahoo in recent years. I still use My Yahoo frequently. I have to keep my Yahoo email account. But some of my friends already forward all their Yahoo mail to Gmail.

Yeah, Gmail, the Google. Other than search and mail, Google is doing a lot of good stuff that dominated by Yahoo traditionally. Ever try Google Map!? You will feel Yahoo Map is for your grandma. Google is waking up Yahoo (or shaking up ...). In fact, from the gossip in the Valley, I know Yahoo is doing a lot of tech development under table now. They are activly hiring. I won't name what exactly the stuff they hire people to do (although I know a little). Basically Yahoo is going to upgrade their existing web service.

Yahoo may not come up any brand new innovative web service. But the competition between Yahoo and Google will surely make web service (and local job market, yeah!) exciting again.

Yahoo Services
Google Services

Toyota Prius

What is the hottest car in the Valley these days. I would say Toyota Prius, the hybrids vehicle. I see Prius everywhere. And people talk about this car all the time. Discuss how Prius can saves gasoline cost. More importantly, talk about the new feeling of driving.

Last month, my sister-in-law bought a Prius. I got a chance for a free ride. Then I understand what the new driving feeling is.

When I jumped into the car, the engine was already on. I asked: where do you put the key? She said: Oh, it has a wireless sensor to the car key, so it turns on the engine itself. Mmm ... OK, that is cool.

Then she started to shift gear, by control a small joystick-like rod next to the steering wheel, by using three fingers. Mmm ... like playing video game ... that is pretty cool.

When the car started running, she controlled the satellite map, CD player, and air condition all by a touch screen display. Mmm ... that's really cool. Then the screen showed the statistic of energy storage, mile-per-gallon plot, etc ... Mmm ... that's way too cool. I started to wonder if I were sitting in a space shuttle.

So, I agree Prius gives me a new experience of driving. For around $26K, perhaps it worths a try, especially the gasoline cost is rocket high.

There is one problem though ... with so much information on the screen, will it be a distraction for driving!?

Toyota Prius

Shortage of Computer Scientists

In July, Microsoft complained there are lack of computer scientist in the US. It is also true that less students enroll in computer science or engineering degree. Microsoft's explanation: "technology field just hasn't done a good job of positioning itself as hip and exciting."

This is far from true, I think.

IMHO, a degree program's enrollment rate is decided by the ratio of "Job Opportunity vs. Study Effort".

Music and art are fun and interesting. It is not the most popular degree program. Medical school guarantee you to have a high pay job, also it isn't the most popular program.

CS/EE program is not easy. But in the old days, you get multiple offer upon graduation. And it is among the highest paid for fresh grad with 4 year degree program. But now, although pay is pretty much unchanged, you gotta be the best students to get a decent job offer.

The best way to make it hip and exciting: add more job opening in the US!

Let's see what Mr. Gate said

Acupuncture

I work in front of a computer 8 hours a days. Plus some more computer time at home (including writing this blog). One problem of mine due to long computer usage is shoulder ache and head ache, from time to time.

Shoulder ache is easier to control as long as I do light exercise in the office regularly. Head ache is a bigger problem. Pain reliever works. But it is just temporally. I prefer a more permanent solution.

One of my friend hurt her shoulder due to injury form playing tennis. Many doctors told her there is no cure and she can not play tennis again ever. Finally she went to acupuncture. And bang! It fixed her shoulder problem. Because of her experience, I gave acupuncture a try.

After visiting an acupuncture clinic twice. My headache was gone. Yeah I got needle pinch on my leg, stomach, and head. But it really isn't that hurt. I continue to visit acupuncture regularly, just for the sake of good health. Now I no longer have headache. Amazing isn't it? It is!

Acupuncture in Bay Area

SPICE model standard

SPICE model is the key to simulate physical behavior of a semiconductor chip. So designers can verify the function of a chip on the computer. For the last couple decades, UC Berkeley BSIM model is the de facto SPICE model standard.

However, BSIM5, the next generation of BSIM, is not selected as the standard SPICE model of next generation semiconductor (CMOS) process, according to Compact Model Council (CMC). In stead, Japanese HiSim model and Philip PSP model (joint effort with U of Pennsylvania) are selected. It is a bit of surprise because Berkeley's BSIM model has such a long successful history. CMC's claim: BSIM5 is just not good enough.

This supposes to be end of story, until I hear something.

BSIM's creator is also the executive of world's largest independent semiconductor fab. Rumor said he thought with the power of his company, BSIM5 will be selected as standard model by default. So he didn't do any promotion for his new model. Unfortunately, the result turn another way.

Now the interesting is: for political reason, the Big Guy will probably support BSIM5 mainly. But the International standard are something else. So what will the rest of chip companies root for? It remind me Microsoft vs. software industry. USA vs. UN ...

CMC
CMOS