Friday, April 25, 2008.8:50 PM

Honda's Robot conducts Detroit Symphony!

THIS is one way to raise money for your orchestra. We just have to THINK.
There are so many things music can associate itself with, if you think about it.

Humanoid robot to conduct Detroit Symphony Orchestra

May 13 concert slated to generate attention for technology and music education

April 24, 2008 (Computerworld)
By Sharon Gaudin

A humanoid robot will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra next month, mixing two different cultures -- technology and music.

Honda Motor Co.'s Asimo robot was built to help people and to someday assist the elderly and disabled in their homes. While many features are still in development, Asimo has already become something of a robotic ambassador.

Jill Woodward, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, said she hopes having Asimo conduct a song in the sold-out May 13 concert will spark interest in science, technology and music among adults and children.

"It's an interesting marriage of technology and culture," said Woodward. "He's being programmed [to conduct the orchestra]. The musicians will have to follow him and do what he says. It will be interesting to see if he has, shall we say, a different take on the piece."

Woodward added that she hopes the robot will draw attention to the symphony's Power of Dreams music education program that is funding an effort to teach inner-city children to play stringed instruments. "Asimo inspires kids in technology, and now he's interested in music," she said, laughing.

Honda has donated more than $1 million to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for its music education fund.

Asimo will conduct the orchestra for one song -- "Impossible Dream" from the musical, Man of La Mancha. The robot also will present a lifetime achievement award to world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who will play at the concert but will not be conducted by Asimo.

The day after his concert debut, the Asimo robot will demonstrate its conducting abilities to local music students. Yo-Yo Ma will join in to give a master class to a select group of students.

In February, Honda showed off Asimo's ability to climb stairs and run at the Kennedy Center in Washington as part of the Japan Culture and Hyperculture festival.

Honda began working on robots back in 1986, first building a pair of walking legs. In 2000, the company's engineers unveiled an early version of Asimo, or Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. Asimo made its debut in the U.S. on Feb. 14, 2002, when it rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Today, the robot is able to walk forward and backward, climb up and down stairs, and even run at speeds of nearly 4 miles per hour.

Over the next five years, Honda is slated to establish a program to provide private lessons to aspiring students with financial need, support the orchestra's youth ensemble performances and raise funds for efforts such as the African-American Fellowship Program.

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Thursday, April 17, 2008.11:38 AM

White Gold - The True Cost Of Cotton

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008.3:20 PM

Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids

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Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids part2

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Friday, April 4, 2008.11:24 PM

Impossible students or impossible teacher?

I have this secondary 1 bassoon student, whom I have not yet met. However, I have already come to find him SO annoying, pesky and rude that I am so glad I don't have to see him for more than 6hours this year.

Thank you, A.S.

No. of smses: at least 10
No. of calls: 6 of which I only picked up 1 (had no idea he called 5 more times as my phone was on silent mode and I was busy with my bassoon)

Level of irritation the above contact caused me: 9/10
Intensity of murder intent: 9/10


The SMSes
Slightly irritating: "Are you going tmr to my sch if you dun reply i m not going"
Rude: "If i dun rcv any sms from you then i m not going tmr you also dun need to go if i dun rcv any sms from you" (Er what are you talking about?)
Bizarre: "Just asking wad is ur service provides" (That sounds wrong...but I think you mean service provider.)
Rude and immensely irritating but amusing at the same: "When i called you you sound quite fierce" (punctuations please!)
Pesky: "Are you coming tmr?"
Irritating: "Sat? 10am?" (Yes for the 1000th time. Our language of communication is English, I believe.)
Making my blood boil: "Ok you sure you will come?" (I suspect that's why he asked for my service provides. Wait. Service provider, to be correct. Maybe my smses were intercepted by Aliens before it got to my student.)
Amusing: "Oh ok slp dun be angry I shall not disturb you any further Sry slp accept my forgiveness" (That was his reply to my sms - "If you continue saying or asking things that are inappropriate for a student to say, i shall reconsider teaching you. Please kindly bear this in mind." Also, stp usg abbr 2 mch it mks me dizzy. U r confsg pls n slp. Do you also want to kowtow and offer me tea?)
Irritating: "Um just to confirm is it this sat 10am?" (My smses to him got intercepted by aliens. I'm sure.)
The last straw: "You sure you tmr 10am coming?" (I am so going to give you some colours to see for our first Teacher-student meeting.)

Story of annoying student and losing-her-patience teacher to be continued...after the first meeting tomorrow. I'm sure my darling student will provide me with lots of materials to write on.
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My primary 5 malay student, to whom I have to teach mathematics to, is asking me if I do feel like killing her.

Yes, I do. Sometimes.

But I can't murder my cash cow. Oh well.

She hates mathematics to the core. I even have to resort to tearing papers or looking for sweets to make mathematical concepts easier to grasp. Oh, come...on...

She also does not pay attention and whenever I ask her if she understands what I'm explaining, she says yes. Then when it comes to doing a similar question, she comes up with this "I don't understand..." pet phrase to deal with me. I so feel like a cassette recorder.

I doubt she's dumb. She simply doesn't want to understand and remember whatever was being explained. It's in one ear and out the other.

Maybe, this is a sign...that I'm not fit (enough) to be in the teaching profession.

But I should probably just take my money despite having to age 5 times faster than teaching someone who likes maths better. Sigh.

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Thursday, April 3, 2008.11:41 PM

Kota Kinabalu getaway?

That's Mount Kinabalu! Excellent sunrise views and scenery...But it's not quite possible to ascend to the peak without being rather advanced in rock climbing! T-T


However, there're still tons of things one could do in Kota Kinabalu if mountain climbing isn't your forte. Kayaking, diving, snorkelling, wind surfing and whatever water sports you can think of, it can be done cos this place has glorious beaches and is surrounded by some five or six small islands. Think that is enough to keep one busy for 3 or 4 days at least. Sounds so exciting! (Hm...I sound like I'm paid to promote Kota Kinabalu... :D)

As I googled Kota Kinabalu, I came across this blog that advertises on adventures to Kota Kinabalu (particularly climbing) and which comes under STB. Price seems quite steep though. Not that the mountain isn't. :p

Rappelling amidst swirling clouds sounds inviting! The rock climbing pictures are so deterring... :c
Scary!!!!!! Look at their helmets. But falling from that height sure will 脑袋开花 lor.

I wonder how sturdy these tiny bridges are...?

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