CODA 5!

So it was 12:30 at the varese room, where the dreaded loading and packing takes place before every concert.

It's been a long, long time since last coming to Victoria Concert Hall... I nearly forgot the tiny lift and the long ascent of stairs. And the backstage, and the main stage, the doors, the cold water cooler.

There was pre-concert prac and the like, then there was "free time" and dinner, and final preparations.

Now the concert itself was a success in some ways and not-so-successful in others, but for me it was kinda spoiled by...

... a spoiled clarinet.

I don't know where or when it happened, but somewhere in the first half I suddenly couldn't play the top joint notes. In the intermission I tried but failed to locate the problem.

And I play first clarinet in the second half, which uses the upper register of those notes a lot.

So essentially I didn't really play the whole second half. I came in when I could, played what I could, but it was kinda sad for me really, my contribution to the music being virtually non-existent.

Anyway for the band as a whole, there were good songs and there were songs where we were too excited. Incredibles and Beauty especially, I thought those two were the most disappointing. On the other hand, Shirim (to be honest I thought this was the most boring song) and Saga were good.

After the concert, the moving of percussion instruments, the loading, the journey, the offloading, and the big carry up to the band room, we went for supper at Macs.

Labels: band

Avatar was the best, really.

1 more day to CODA 5, and also 1 more day to my new computer!

Labels: random

Merry Christmas!

Been doing nothing much the past few days, even though it's been Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Boxing Day (today). Nothing worth blogging about I suppose...

And to think the new year is coming on fast, and it'll be 2010, and I (not to mention everyone else save one) am 17 already. It'll be J2, we're taking our "A"s, graduating from our LAST YEAR in a school Raffles band, and that's the end of our "official" Singapore education...

... then NS, or uni...

So we should enjoy our moments while we have them... thanks all for the lunch and the cake! :D

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PLEASE DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU CANNOT TOLERATE GEEKINESS OR DOTA OR BOTH












































































DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.


/startgeek





Why Mana Leak >> Storm

Storm Spirit: Ball Lightning (level 4)
- initial cost = 7% of total mana + 15 mana
- cost per 100 units = 1% of total mana + 10 mana

Keeper of the Light: Mana Leak (level 4)
- no initial mana leak
- leak per 100 units = 5% of total mana

Ball Lightning has interesting mana costs. Initial and "per 100 units" costs are both percentage based as well as having fixed costs, therefore the costs increase numerically with more mana but overall constitute a lower overall percentage of total mana as mana increases.

This is the core reason as to why more mana translates to more distance moved with the skill.

Examples then. Let's say Storm has a mana pool of 500 mana, and is at full mana.
- initial cost = 7% (35 mana) + 15 mana = 50 mana
- cost per 100 units = 1% (5 mana) + 10 mana = 15 mana

Without interruption, the rate of mana drain would be total mana minus the base cost, then subtracting the cost per 100 units for every 100 units travelled. We then multiply that number by 100 units to find the maximum distance travelled.
- maximum distance travelled = [(500-50)/15]x100
= 30x100
= 3000 units

All and well. But let's say KotL came and applied Mana Leak JUST as Storm took off. The effective "cost" of moving 100 units has now increased.
- additional cost per 100 units = 5% (25 mana) = 25 mana
- new cost per 100 units = 15 mana + 25 mana = 40 mana
- maximum distance travelled = [(500-50)/40]x100
= 11.25x100
= 1125 units

This is 37.5% of the potential distance travelled without Mana Leak!

Due to the nature of Ball Lightning, though, things get slightly more complicated when more mana is available. Now, assume Storm has a mana pool of 1000 mana, and is again at maximum mana.
- initial cost = 7% (70 mana) + 15 mana = 85 mana
- cost per 100 units = 1% (10 mana) + 10 mana = 20 mana

Without interruption, the distance travelled is not twice of that when Storm only had 500 mana, due to the base cost and fixed costs.
- maximum distance travelled = [(1000-85/20]x100
= 45.75x100
= 4575 units

When KotL applies Mana Leak...
- additional cost per 100 units = 5% (50 mana) = 50 mana
- new cost per 100 units = 20 mana + 50 mana = 70 mana
- maximum distance travelled = [(1000-85)/70]x100
= 13.07x100
= 1307 units

This is an even more pathetic 28.6% of the potential distance. In fact it is less than 200 units more than what spending 500 mana from a leaked mana pool of 500 would give you.

One more instance, this time with 1500 mana.
- initial cost = 7% (105 mana) + 15 mana = 120 mana
- cost per 100 units = 1% (15 mana) + 10 mana = 25 mana
- maximum distance travelled = [(1500-120)/25]x100
= 55.2x100
= 5520 units

Mana Leak occurs.
- additional cost per 100 units = 5% (75 mana) = 75 mana
- new cost per 100 units = 25 mana + 75 mana = 100 mana
- maximum distance travelled = [(1500-120)/100]x100
= 13.8x100
= 1380 units

Which is a measly 73 units more than what a leaked mana pool of 1000 would give you. The distance moved while leaked is now 25% of the maximum potential distance.

In a table:

And in a graph:

The disparity between the effective distance of Ball Lightning and a Mana Leaked Ball Lightning grows wider as Storm's mana pool increases. Therefore, Mana Leak is more effective at higher levels (and bigger mana pools) than at lower levels.

And since Storm abuses Ball Lightning a lot at higher levels, it is quite safe to say that Mana Leak effectively counters it quite nicely.

Loopholes in this calculation:
1. Storm doesn't always expend all of his mana, much less always starting from a maxed mana pool
2. Mana Leak has 4 levels, ranging from 2% to 5%
3. Mana Leak only lasts 5 to 8 seconds

Thank you for reading. If you did. Which you didn't.





/endgeek

Labels: games, random

Minds Cafe + Dinner at Dhoby + some sort of MRT breakdown = late for RWinds.

But other than that, RWinds was great, with the numbers filling halfway through practice, and we sound quite okay. Personally, still got a few foreign parts that need practicing and stuff.

Labels: band

It's nice to be loved! Okay no I'm not depressed, that's just my insecurity speaking.

Besides, you don't turn seventeen everyday. :D

So today was the JC-Poly Band Festival concert held at the Esplanade. The impressiveness of the bands increased as the concert went on, and essentially the Polish band was the most fun! Not to say that the other bands weren't good, because they were (though some better than others), and overall it was a good 2.5 hours spent.

As usual, the highlights:

And a very happy birthday to Leonard as well, my fellow 20th December 1992 bornee!

Hmm and my blog hit counter hit 5000 too :D.

Labels: band, random

So tonight at the Esplanade outdoor stadium we went to watch the NUS Jazz Band perform:

The highlight of my camera photos wasn't music though:

Go Facebook for more!

After that we tried to sing some songs, went for ice cream, and missed the last train. Yes this post is backdated.

I want to sing! Even though I'm horrible at it it's really fun to sing. And what better to sing than Christmas carols?

Labels: band, random

I never liked going overseas, mainly because of the immense hassle and disruption of the daily routine it creates. Packing (a major anathema of mine) involves a great deal of thinking and rethinking of what I’ve packed, what I’ve yet to pack, and what I’m supposed to pack but have completely forgotten about and will only realize I’ve forgotten in China. Leaving the comfortable nest that is home is also something not done easily, especially with 5 pets to leave behind, even if only for a week.

And of course, I have to sacrifice some things back in Singapore, like going out, attending RWinds, starting homework, etc.

Anyway, I'm off.

Day 1

Waking up at 5 AM isn’t something to be relished, too, especially in the middle of the holiday season. Nevertheless, that’s what a flight at 8 AM requires. Thankfully, the flight was only 3 and a half hours long. Just enough to fall asleep on without waking up prematurely (that is, before landing).

The first thing you would notice upon disembarking the plane would be the difference in temperature. Singapore boasts an all-year round summer; Yunnan (云南) province, on the other hand, is known for eternal spring. The temperature, consequently, holds at a maximum of 12°C in the day, and 6°C at night. Perfect.

One thing about going to China on holiday is that it is probably more appropriate to go on tour as opposed to going alone. After glimpsing the public roads a few times, I have to concur. The traffic situation (while not as bad as previous years, our guide tells us) is pretty chaotic; there are about as many motorcyclists as there are cars (and there are 1.2 million cars here), and on top of all those there are all the pedestrians. Perhaps pedestrians would be the wrong word here, because it implies that they stick to the pavement. The commuters on the streets here in Kunming (昆明), whether on wheels or on feet, weave in and out of the fray with so much horn-blasting that I’m quite surprised that there aren’t more accidents than there are already. Thus, it is infinitely better to be on tour, and take a chartered bus around.

Not that I feel particularly safe with our bus driver. He turns out to be a major horn-blaster too.

Today was mainly visiting some historical sights here in Kunming, including the Jinma Biji (金马碧鸡) gates, twin pagodas erected to keep the nearby lakes from overflowing, as well as the longest Chinese couplet written on the walls of another pagoda. History and me don’t link well, but at least the weather’s cold.

Dinner was a...

... “show”. Also, one of those multiple course dinners with an agonizingly long wait in between. Nonetheless, the food was great. I think I’m going to put on weight after this trip.

The hotel room was slightly crummy, had malfunctioning lights, and erratic hot water, but it sufficed by making up with a big comfy bed.


Day 2

Another early morning (great breakfast though). Today we’re headed to Dali (大理), another place in Yunnan province. It’s a 5 hour bus ride there, but it’s broken up into three parts with two intervals.

The first interval was a detour to a valley where major excavation unearthed many dinosaur fossils many years back. It has hence become a tourist destination, and something of a dinosaur museum.

Not all the bones there were real – in fact 40% of each skeleton consists of fake bones to fill in the undiscovered or destroyed gaps.

Of course, there were plenty of electronic roaring dinosaurs to appease the kids.

Next stop was lunch. I must say that the overall hygiene standard in China is a far cry from what I’m used to in Singapore.

Another 2 and a half hours brought us to Dali. Dali is known for having many minority groups, and consequently a very diverse culture. We visited the mansion of a rich man belonging to one such group, the Baili (白理) people.

Dinner, and sleep.





Day 3

The first thing I learnt today was that as much fat as I may have, it isn’t sufficient to insulate me from a wintry (yes, spring gives way to colder climates at higher altitudes) morning here in China nearly 2 kilometres above sea level. Brrrr.

We visited some Buddhist temples and pagodas, and they were an extremely impressive sight especially against a backdrop of mountains, coated in foggy morning air.

After taking those pictures I happened to hear the guide mention that pictures inside the temples weren’t allowed. Oops.

Next up was some shopping at Yangrenjie (洋人街) – Westerner street. Filled with small shops selling cloth, accessories and other such trinkets, it was conversely not filled with Westerners at all.

Our next destination was another area 3 hours away; Lijiang (丽江). More shopping, at a night market which was formerly used for filming 武侠小说s.

Zzz time...





Day 4

About our current hotel, it’s more like a villa. Very cozy.

The higher you go, the MORE FREEZING mornings get. Our accommodation last night here in Lijiang was about 2400m above sea level. Previously it was approximately 1900m in Dali, and 1800m in Kunming. But today we’ll be ascending first to 3200m, at Shangri-La (香格里拉), then jumping up to 4500m (more accurately 4449.5m, rounding error!) as we go up to Meili Snow Mountain (梅里雪山).

It took 5 hours for our bus to climb the steep mountain roads to Shangri-La. With nothing else to do, it was alternating between sleeping and watching the scenery outside, which happens to be rather pretty.

Lunch at Shangri-La was justified by the mounds of meat. At such high altitudes, it is imperative for locals and other residents to keep their energy up by consuming lots and lots of meat. I’m fine with that :D.

Before taking the cable car from 3200m to 4500m, we were advised to stock up on...

...oxygen tanks. No kidding. At 3200m a lot of us were already short of breath; at 4500m we’re bound to be oxygen starved.

Personally I think they’re just placebos. I didn’t feel much different after using it.

It was nearly an hour’s journey to the top, with a stop in between, so more pictures.

The top of the mountain would be a comfortable temperature if not for the FREEZING HOWLING WIND that really threatened to knock me off balance. Pardon the blurred pictures; my hands were shaking hard.

I’m a sucker for beautiful scenery. Picturesque landscapes are what make holidays worthwhile to me. Especially since Singapore is so deprived of them. And mountaintop views are amongst my favourite. It’s a unique feeling to stand on top of the world and look at the towns and cities below like ant’s nests, feel the snow and the cold, and look up at the distant, even more immense peaks.

Don’t ask me why I brought the TR windbreaker.

Next destination was an old town, also serving as a tourist market. And there was this giant, golden... spinny pillar thing.

Tonight is going to be the coldest night so far, with subzero (down to -11°C) temperatures here in Shangri-La. And they say the heater turns off at midnight. Better get to sleep.


Day 5

The heater didn’t just turn off. It started blowing out cold air.

Another long bus ride back down the mountains to Lijiang. Somehow, the 5 hour long trip up became 3 hour trip back down. More pictures.

Next up were some beautiful gardens. Snow-capped mountains in the background, clear blue (or green) waters (apparently the clearest natural waters to be found in China), and plenty of trees waving green and yellow in the cold morning air make for lovely viewing.

After which, a trip to the “old town” of Lijiang made for excellent shopping opportunities and more nice photos.











Day 6

An amusing sign I spotted at the entrance to our first sightseeing spot today, advertising the conditions on which a discount could be obtained for the entry ticket.

TICKET PRICE REDUCE SCOPE
Show good credentials for free:
1. shot of one metre children;
2. people for retier of fullpay;
3. more than 70 year old people;
4. disabled soldier, martyr family members, more than two grade soldier;
5. legal holiday soldier to tourist thisscenic;
6. model worker of country level;
7. disabled people (except be engaged in labour service and the commerce).
Show good credentials to half-price:
1. students;
2. soldier and retired cadra from armed forces.

Anyway, the show was something directed by 张艺谋, but was ruined for me by the bunches of tourists, mostly internal tourists, who were making so much noise and standing up and walking around during the show.

And there was a 1,200 person crowd swarming the exit; the only exit.

Next was a park with such beautiful water that words fail.

AND OMG THE YAKS SO CUTEEE.

After that, more statues and murals.

Another visit to the “old town”, this time in all its night time glory.

Day 7

Apparently, the prosperity that Kunming (and Yunnan province as a whole) have today is largely owed to the 1999 EXPO that was held in Kunming, bringing Yunnan to the world at large. We visited some of the famous attractions that were showcased during that time at 七彩云南, but I only was interested by the animals.

Next was 九寨沟, a series of caves gorged out by the river over centuries. First was a little scenic boat tour, then we were brought through the caves, all 1,300 steps of it.

Note that all the pretty colours here are caused by artificial lighting. It kinda spoiled the caves for me.

And to get back to the entrance of this place we had to take a:

*don’tlookdowndon’tlookdowndon’tlookdown*

As our last proper meal in China for this trip, dinner was on the esoteric side, held in a traditional grassy room. The roast duck was nice.

The capper came when the bugs arrived. Fries anyone?

Day 8

After some medicine selling (which involved a demonstration of the guy burning himself on heated metal then curing himself with some cream) and last minute shopping...

Home.

It's great to be back!

Labels: random