HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Scam

    Scam

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    It is used by dishonest people to cheat unwary folks.

    Nigerian Scam

    • It is one of the oldest scams.
    • Typically, one gets an e-mail supposedly from a friend asking for help (e.g. need money desperately to buy a return ticket home) and to follow instructions (e.g. transfer money) to get him out of the trouble. There is a promise to repay the debt.
    • Some get emotional & forget logic and the importance of verifying (double checking). They rush off to write a check.

    Why Scam?

    • It does not need much effort to scam.
    • Even if a tiny fraction of the recipients fall into a scam, the scammers get rich.
    • Even if they are caught (possibly after a long time), the resources needed to get back the money (extradition, law suit) are too much and not cost-effective.

    Variations

    • Someone claiming that he / she had inherited millions of dollars
    • A company claiming that you had won a big prize
    • Some scenario suggesting “It’s too good to be true”.

    Scammers

    • Some are sloppy copy cats (with typos and errors in the message). If you are careful, you can easily confirm their scams.
    • Some simply change the settings (Edinburgh, Scotland instead of Nigeria). It’s not difficult to confirm such scams.
    • Some may use malware to take over computers and send scams from the hacked account.

    Right actions to beat scams

    • Call your friend and his/her family to verify
    • Use nick names or sensitive information to check if the sender is a hacker
    • Warn friends and families about the attack

  • Sixth Buddhist Council

    by U Silananda

    Updated : May 2025

    • Date : May 1954 – 56
    • Place : Rangoon (Burma)
    • Prime Minister : U Nu
    • Leader : Revata Thera
    • Number of Monks : 2500
    • Duration : Two years for the Pali Texts
    • Accomplishment :
      Reaffirmed the Texts accepted at the previous Councils.
      Editions of Pali Texts, Commentaries and Sub-commentaries

    References :

    • Sangayana Album

    Editor’s Notes

    • Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana acted as the Chief Questioner.
    Mahasi & Mingun Sayadaws
    • Migun Tipitaka Sayadaw U Vicittacarabhivamsa acted as the Chief Reciter.
    Mingun Sayadaw
    • The Guinness Book of World Records honored Mingun Sayadaw’s Memory.
  • Jew

    Jew

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Usage

    • Member of the Jewish people and the Jewish Community
    • One whose mother is a Jew
    • One who had converted to Judaism
    • Usually believes that he is related to the ancient Hebrews led by Abraham
    • Probably speaks Yiddish
    • Can be orthodox, liberal or irreligious
    • May study the teachings of the Talmud and the Torah
    • Can be misunderstood by others (notably the Nazis)
    • May be stereotyped as greedy (e.g Shylock the Jew in “The Merchant of Venice”) or stingy
    • Can be a descendant of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust

    Russian Jews

    • Many Russian Jews were told to leave.
    • They had to relocate to Israel or other countries (including USA if they had sponsors).
  • Deep

    Deep

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Measure

    We express the depth of a physical object or an idea as Deep or Shallow.

    In computer applications, we use “Deep copy” or “Shallow copy” of objects.

    Deep Thought (CMU)

    • Chess Machine (hardware and software) developed by Ph.D. students at CMU (Carnegie Mellon University).
    • A Ph.D. student designed and implemented a special purpose chip to implement multi-ply search.
    • Two Ph.D. students, who are Chess experts, designed and implemented the algorithms to play championship level chess.
    • Two more Ph.D. students provided feedback and assistance.
    • Deep Thought beat the competitors to become World Computer Chess Champion.

    Deep Blue (IBM)

    • IBM recruited three of the five Ph.D. graduates (who worked on Deep Thought) to develop Deep Blue and challenge Gary Kasparov (World Chess Champion) to a Best-of-five match.
    • Kasparov prevailed in the first encounter, but made a costly error — a prime example of “To err is human” — to lose in the second encounter.
    • IBM made intensive preparations. It hired several Grand Masters to study Kasparov’s games and techniques.

    Deep Learning

    • It is a form of Machine Learning.
    • It has become a core subject in AI (Artificial Intelligence) courses.

    Deep Sleep

    • There are numerous studies about Sleep and Insomnia.
    • Most people need about seven hours sleep. Sleeping more than eight hours may be detrimental to one’s well being.
    • The quality of sleep (e.g. Deep sleep) is important.

    Indian Word

    • Deep is an Indian word meaning Light. The extended meaning is Wisdom.
    • Several Indian names have “Deep” (e.g. Deepak).
    • Deepavali is the Indian Festival of Lights. Some call it Diwali. During our younger days, Hindu friends would give us Indian sweets as part of their Diwali celebrations.
  • DSL

    DSL

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Digital Subscriber Line

    • DSL allows a relatively high speed Internet connection over ordinary copper telephone lines.
    • ASDL (Asynchronous DSL) is a variation of DSL.

    Dana Sri Lanka

    • Dana Sri Lanka was co-founded by Sayama Daw Tin Tin Myint (Emma, “May Tin”, “Mae Daw Gyi”, ChE70).
    Emma
    • DSL has provided financial assistance to Burmese monks studying in Sri Lanka.
  • Analogy & Analog

    Analogy & Analog

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2035

    Analogy

    • Comparison of two things that are similar.

    Analog

    • May stand for “a person or an object which may be compared to another”.
    • Devices may be analog, digital or hybrid.
    • An analog device uses information represented by a continuous variable.
    • An analog thermometer measures temperature via the expansion of the mercury in its bulb.
    • The speedometer displays the speed of a car via the needle on its dial.
    • Some early computers are analog. e.g. Differential Analyzer
    • The sounds produced by a musical instrument are analog.
    • Analog information may be digitized by using appropriate sampling techniques.

    Converter

    • ADC is a tool to convert Analog to Digital.
    • DAC is a tool to convert Digital to Analog.
  • Autograph

    Autograph

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Some famous people are asked to sign autographs. Athletes sign on sneakers, balls, bats, T-shirts. Keynote speakers sign on the program sheet.
    • Attended lectures at the Computer History Museum and asked for autographs.
    Autograph of Computer Chess Pioneers
    • During our younger days, we carry small books known as autograph. Some friends just signed their names.
    • Others wrote or quote verses.

    Example (1)
    I wish to be a China cup
    in which you drink your tea
    And every time you take a sip
    It’ll be a kiss for me

    Example (2)
    Seasons may come. Seasons may go.
    Flowers will wither in due course, you know.
    But there is something as fresh as dew.
    That is the love and affection I’ll always have for you.

  • SOA

    SOA

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    SOA may stand for

    • Span of attention
    • Service Oriented Architecture

    Span of attention

    Most people have a short span of attention.

    The following are some examples emphasizing SOA.

    • Elevator Speech : Sell oneself to a potential employer/customer during an elevator ride
    • 10 – 30 second Sound Bites
    • A short paragraph
    • One Minute Manager
    • Five Minute Biography

    Architecture

    SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) is a kind of architecture used in Computer Systems and Applications.

  • A tribute to all teachers

    by Khin Maung Gyi

    Updated : May 2025

    Dr. Khin Maung Gyi (Kevin, SPHS59)

    “The Gardener”

    (A tribute to all teachers)

    Let me introduce to our teacher

    Who is also a guardian and preacher

    Guiding and nurturing from a youthful age

    To raise us up with a healthy image.

    As soon as the morning bell tolls

    He started his routine – heart and soul

    Never does he skips a single day

    Sickness and malady are kept at bay.

    He may be tired, his voice may whimper

    His zest and zeal, nothing gets dimmer

    Never to be seen in fits or rage

    Happy and contented on not so high a wage.

    His loving kindness is like a mountain

    Goodwill from him flows like a fountain

    He looks after us as one of his own

    His empathy towards us is very well known.

    Hearing the success of his ‘daughters and sons’

    He beams as though ‘a war was won’

    He is now overjoyed and highly thrilled

    His life seems to be thus fulfilled.

    KMG (Khin Maung Gyi, SPHS59)

    SPHS59

  • AAA

    AAA

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Association

    AAA stands for American Automobile Association.

    In California, the AAA branch is called CSAA (California State Automobile Association).

    The benefits vary depending upon if one is a regular member or a premium member.

    Services include

    • Towing
    • Jump start
    • Lock out
    • Out of gas
    • Maps
    • Battery replacement (Optional)

    Battery

    • AAA is a battery size.
    • AAA batteries are smaller than AA batteries.
    • The price and quality of the battery varies with the manufacturer, technology and intended usage.

    Computing

    In computing, AAA stands for

    • Authentication
    • Authorization
    • Accounting

    Authentication may be based on

    • What you know (e.g. password or pass phrase)
    • What you have (e.g. special token for login)
    • What you are (e.g. fingerprint)

    Authorization may be based on

    • Role (e.g. Administrator)
    • Time / Period (e.g. working hours only)
    • Types of allowable resource (e.g. sensitive data)

    Accounting may be based on

    • Paid subscription
    • Pay as you go
    • No charge
    • Discount