New old playground

So after 4 days of lectures, there are some thoughts i gathered. First and foremost, the travelling. Due to the fact that i wasn't born with a silver spoon, i chose not to stay in hall, despite many graduate friends encouraging it, primarily to enjoy uni days and to interact more. But on the hindsight of it, i didn't wish to stay in hall not so much due to the cost, but more on the fact that i didn't want to get myself involved into hall activities. Applying to what i've learnt during this morning boring-est Economics lecture, the Opportunity Cost here is of cause the value of missing out fun and interactions with students across faculties.

Thus as a result of my choice, i have to make do with 3hrs of travelling time each day. And somehow so far i think it's starting to weigh a toll on me with headaches and dizziness. I don't even bother taking out my DS most of the time throughout the journey, simply trying not to aggravate the dizzy spells.

So i guess i have to accustom my body and mind to this for another 3 years down the road. Unless i managed to strike lottery somewhere down the road and get myself a car. Then again, i'll have driving woes during peak hours. Life's full of irony.

Moving on, after attending most of the module lectures, i'm glad most of the modules i took for this semester are somewhat appealing and interesting to a certain extend. Top on the list would be the General Education Module, Introduction to Nanoworld and Nanotechnology.

The lecturer was the key to this interesting module. Universities should use him as benchmarks in hiring lecturers, instead of looking at their stupid Masters or P.H.Ds. MOE should send 99.99999% of the lecturers to NIE to brush up on either their pronunciation and presentation/lecturing skills. Though i must state clearly that, the above mentioned is based on personal opinions, has no intention to influence or condemned any subject, and shall be kept within this virtual post.

Just to share a little about the introduction lecture, we were proposed the question of "What color is Gold?". Well, knowing that his question ain't going to be the simple 1+1=2 kind of answer, i made a wild guess of Red in my heart, with 3 choices of gold, red or green. True enough, my lucky charm worked and i got the right answer. And so he showed us a small bottle of Red solution and explained that if you cut gold to 30nm (NM=Nanometer=10 the power of -9), gold becomes Red. And for all elements, if you cut them into different sizes, the color changes.

A quick explanation on this is that the light reflected into our eyes is different due to the fact that the atoms moves differently with the limited amount of space in the element in Nano size.

Also, as proven with current technology, it's possible to write a single letter in 1nm, and as such, given a pin-head, you can fill up 25,000,000 pages (Standard A4 size) of information on it. Sounds impossible and you might question why is there a need to do so even if it's achievable. Just food for thought, if a pin-head can fill up so many pages, imagine what a 1cm x 1cm harddisk can stored up to?

Therefore in conclusion, Nanotechnology is the next big thing in the world of physics? We don't have to look far, just take a look at your iPod Nano, it's the classic example of where technology is progressing into. Smaller, better, cheaper.

Another module worth mentioning is my Common Essential module, Computing and Society. Basically talks about everything related to computing. Lecturer wasn't that fantastic, but the subject itself is worth exploring. Maybe its only just me, but i only learnt about some facts after viewing a clip during the lecture.

WWW or World Wide Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. In 1994, Amazon.com evolves and it sets the standard for online sales based on the model of automated personalized recommendations. Google started in 1998, and it became the fastest and the most effective search engine.

2002, Friendster evolves and Google launches Google News and journalism organisations cried foul. Google News is edited entirely by computers. In 2003, Google bought Blogger.

During 2004, Google unveiled Gmail with 1GB storage for each user. Microsoft launches Newsbot, a social news portal. Google also bought Picasa, a tool for organising images. Amazon releases A9, a search engine that builds on Google search technology and at the same time incorporating amazon's trademark recommendations. August 2004, Google goes public and bought over Keyhole, a company that maps the world and puts it online. Google begins digitizing and indexing the world's libraries. 2005, Microsoft bought Friendster.

I managed to find the clip, and i'll leave it to you guys to view it. It goes on to talk about what the future might be.

Going back to the module, it requires us to create a blog and post about InfoComm Technology. No exams for this module, and i guess it can be quite interesting to learn more about the computer world.

Alright, that's all for now. It's getting late. Hope the classes get more interesting as it goes, and maybe i'll share some of the contents over here. Shall update again.

Till then.

Finally!

[*Post edited after removal of photos and text which poses potential violations of internet blogging due to sensitive information or defamation.]

Alright, after almost 8 weeks of zero post, i'm finally back. I'm not sure how long this post will end up to be, nor how meaning it shall be, i'm just going to try to make this as long as possible. And to assist me in doing up this particular post, i'll just break down into sub-headings and go from there.

1. Army

For the past 2 weeks or so, i've been "AWOL-ing" from my duty. Before you guys go into the idea of thinking how i managed to do so, or even contemplating to complain about my absence just like a famous case some time back (Article 1, Article 2), i shall state clearly that i got official Off from my immediate superior, my OC, due to the fact that i had to settle my University preparations and registration. Just digressing a little, if you guys are interested to know more about the 2 articles, do approach me. Afterall the subject was formerly my coursemate during my Pro term as a cadet in Signal Institute.

Coming back to army, i'm 3 weeks shy from my Operationally Ready Date (07 Sept '07). How time flies. Everything seems like yesterday, from the day i packed my bag and head to Puala Tekong, the trip to *Country A for a month for my Airgrading, the gruesome 9 months of Officer Cadet School training, and now coming to an end of the 9 months tour as a Platoon Commander.

Dozens of friendship made, plentiful of things learnt, wonderful memories, not forgetting the 3 countries i visited: *Country A (4 weeks), Country B (2 weeks) & Country T(3 weeks).

My BMT section during outfield. My BMT section - POP day.

My BMT Platoon Commander, 2LT Wayne.

My AGC 02/06 coursemates.

Course at dispersal.

OCT Delun, 1 of the 8 who made it. Currently in Pearce for Basic Wing Course, all the best.

63/06 Tango Wing.

Tango Platoon 1, Section 1.

Service Term - Social Night.

63/06 SOCC Platoon 1. Nah, 2LT Li is in Platoon 2.

Oversea training.

1st Runner up for 72km during oversea training.

New friend from oversea training.

Commander OCS.

Once again, we met.

Back to the familiar faces after our own Pro Term.

Our Appointment Certificate Presentation Ceremony. The day we got our swords.

Start of Officership.

Sums up the 38 weeks of training.

9th Dec '06 - Commissioning Parade.

Commissioned by President.

There we go, Officers of the SAF.

He came for his son.

2. Nintendo DS Lite

Nintendo DS Lite. And so i got myself a set. Just a quick review on it. First and foremost, i'm sure the first question to pop out would be, "Is it better than PSP?" Well, i don't own a set of Sony PSP, thus the few comments i can give based on the couple of times that i have interacted with a PSP, are that PSP is definitely better in graphics, yet loses out on gameplay, interactions and the sleek design of a Nintendo DS Lite.

DS Lite has far more interactive games, and of course to the likes of Pokemon fans, it has few of it. And many argued that DS is for gals and kids, mainly for that fact the games are simple and cute. No doubt, playing Winning Eleven on a DS is a killer, but you have to give credits for games like Nintendogs, Cooking Mama, Mario Kart, Brothers In Arm, etc. They ride on simple gameplay yet interactive, fun, and never boring.

Battery life wasn't that bad with 5hours of continous play, and adjustable screen brightness to increase battery life. Comes with WiFi enabled, which allows web browsing and of course multiplayer gaming. Thumbs up for Mario Kart if you're planning for some fun with your DS buddies.

The best part i felt was that there's no need to modify the set just to play download games. Simply purchase an additional passcard, popular ones like M3 or R4 and with a micro-SD, you can stored up to 45+ games in a 2GB SD card. You can also view video or listen to mp3 with it, but the screen size and resolutions have no fight against PSP.

Lastly, it's also definitely cheaper in cost as compared to a Sony PSP. Head down to Sim Lim Square, and you would probably get the console around $220-$240, R4 with 2GB micro-SD around $70. Top it up with screen protector and a casing, you'll be having endless gaming hours for $300+/-. Of course, i don't work for Nintendo, the choice is still yours if you're contemplating between Sony PSP and Nintendo DS lite. Last advice, make your friends around you get one too, that's where the fun actually comes from.

3. *University

As i'm about to start my school term this coming Monday, i finally ended my modules bidding yesterday. I'm sure you guys have heard bits and pieces about the bidding system in *NXX. Well, after personally experiencing it myself, all that i have to say, can be sumed up with a 4 letter word: L-A-M-E. I've no idea how long that bidding system has been in placed, nor that i'm interested to hear why it's a good system by the school, the only thing i could comprehend out of it was that its just a system to benefit the school, with no intention of making *NXX a better schooling environment.

Just a quick comment on how it works:

For a start, i'm given 650 points for Programme Account and 350 points for General Account as a School of Computing(SoC) student. And to my understanding, each faculty has their own allocation, meaning some faculty students may get 600/400 instead. And basically this 2 categories of points allows you to use them based on the type of modules you plan to bid.

With that you start your bids. The information given for each module you plan to bid are, vacancies, number of bidders, highest bid, lowest bid, next min. bid. Based on these, you're able to see the demands and also what's the best bid to get a seat.

That's all? What's so difficult? That's where you're wrong. *NXX instills more fun into the bidding.

There are rounds during the bidding period, and at each round, certain types of modules are available for bidding. During each round, there's another period of open bidding and closed bidding. Closed bidding usually last 4-2 hours just before that particular round ends. And that is when you only get information of vacancies and numbers of bidders. Throughout the whole period of a round, you can drop/add modules, increase/decrease your bid.

Isn't it fun? Yeah right. It's stupid.

Without having going through much modules, i start to see modules with bids over 1500 pts and number of bidders exceeding the vacancies. And so you start to ponder and stupidly you realised not just year 1 students are fighting for the modules, that of course explains the 1500+++ points available to be used by the seniors.

Well, even so, they will used up all their points after few 1500 points modules bid right? Wrong. Why? Cause the points used for the bids will be refunded down to the lowest winning bid. Say for an example, 100 bidders for a 50 vacancies module. The highest bid is 1500pts, the 50th student who got the place bidded 500pts. As such, all the 50 students get refund of their points regardless of their bid and is only deducted 500points.

So what? So.. the student who bidded 1500pts get back his 1000pts, and what? Of course throw them all into another module, and he will once again definitely get the module he wanted.

And now, i bet it wouldn't take you long to understand that year 1 & 2 students will definitely not get the popular modules. Well, if that's the case its still not so bad, i just have to make do with less popular modules. But wrong, wrong again. Some modules are neccessary to clear and you have no choice but to take it. So what? I have to wait till i'm year 3 or 4 to take it? Cause that's when i finally managed to store up to 1500++ points to bully the freshmen.

Ain't it stupid?

For my case, as a poly student, i'm exempted from certain modules. Calculating my programme requirement, i needed 160 Module Credits(MC) to graduate. That's about 40 modules with 4MC each. I've got 9 modules exemption, thus left with 31. Any primary 3 student would be able to tell me if each semester i take 5 modules, with 1 semester 6, i'm able to graduate in 3 years time for my 4-year honours programme.

Now, with this bidding system, if any point of time during my semesters, i screwed it up due to modules being overbidded, i'm going to waste another semester just to clear modules to graduate.

Oh yeah, i'm already an adult, so i should be responsible for my education and should dutifully ensure i do not get myself stuck in a situation whereby i need to get Dean's approval to study 6-7 modules so as not spill over to another semester just for 1-2 modules? It's crap. Paying $6,000 every year just to get myself shoot in the arse for not being a dilligent student. Am i here to study or to get myself busy counting the number of MCs i'm lagging behind?

Education institutes are supposed to provide educational service to the country, and not try to be creative, making big statements like this allows us to have total freedom to plan how and what we want to study. I don't know, maybe there are some students who want to only take 2-3 modules and take like 5-6 years to graduate?

Just a month ago, we are told to go to a website to check our Qualifying English Test(QET) results online. No one could access that page. Why? Cause that page requires a login to their intranet, thus to view it you need to install a VPN client before gaining access. And for some reasons, that took the web master 1 day or so to get it stated clearly in the website and make a mess out of it.

And guess what? You have to spend 5 minutes to access the page that shows just your result and legend of what the grades meant. Tell me it's a result of how smart technology has brings us to. I see no big deal to release the result in a single page open to all, which requires no login.

Yeah, i may have complained too much, but if you ask me, my title for this section basically summarized how *NXX functions. And my friend was telling me how students from *NXX quit to join *NXX. Now you know why?

4. Thoughts

Before i wrap this post up, just some random thoughts. I was browsing through my sister's blog earlier this morning, and i'm full of envy. Looking at her travelling around the world from one continent to another and eating from restuarants to restuarants. How i wish i get to this in the near future. As for now, i have 3 years to go before i start my working career, and hopefully from there enjoy my life as i go along. Looking back at the last 22 years, i just hope in the next 22 years to come, i continue to bring joy to many. Good or bad.

Till then.

Devils amongst us all.

It's been real long since my last post. Haven't got much writing juices in my brain, and the only 500 words i did was this morning for my QET in NUS. Been rather busy with preparation for my uni, i'm still lost with what to do, where to get things sorted. Thinking about what major to go into as well. I guess that's all for now, will be updating again soon.

In case you guys are curious about the title, i just felt that devils are always lurking around us. Just like how Murphy strikes upon us. That's all folks.

Till then.

Movies [Updated]

Additional of 4 more movies. Fantastic 4 was pretty good, kinda shame that the plot was too short. Surf's Up is a thumbs up, kinda reminds me how fun skating is. Hot fuzz wasn't that bad, and Death Proof is the lamest of all, and trust me, if you really need to, download it and watch it whille you're listening to some MP3 or news.

Till then.

What's my biggest dream?

Nothing in particular. Maybe you guys can tap on my title and tag my comment box. What's your biggest dream?

Till then.

Responsibilities against dignity

Finally ended the exercise of the year, also the exercise for me before i head back to good old school days. Nothing much happened during the week, just the usual strict demands and lectures from my OC. So as the exercise ended, which is joy for many, but sad to say for me, it marks the start of reports writing for weeks to come. Blunt and unprofessional as i may sound, i would have seriously walk off if i'm not carrying the bar black and collecting the $960 allowance. Everyday i question my responsibilities as an officer, for which the respect and recognition i receive can never justify it.

Since blogging became so common, every details in each post have to be carefully scanned through for any possible disclosure of restricted information. Cases of NSF personnel being charged for posting training photos and comments have been on the rise. So as i go about trying to pen down how i felt about my work and the organisation, i have to think through thrice. Whether my remarks do defame or leak any form of information.

And for this, i guess i'll probably not go anywhere deep and dangerous. In short, ask me personally, and you shall know.

As i yawned my time away typing this, i realised i haven't been blogging often enough to keep my writing juices with me. The length of this post should speaks volume about it.

Till then.

What I've Done

The past 2 weeks have been rather crappy, in terms of army, life, friends, everything. And so, i guess i have to wait for the cursed spell to end yet again.

Till then.

Regrets

So i got a new request for this post. There's quite some thoughts in my mind lately. Not entirely related to regrets, just the usual food of thoughts i always had in the past. But, i just don't have the writing juice in my brain for now. I guess when i do a real post in time to come, it would be a longer one. That's about all i have now, since i haven't start anything about regrets, maybe you guys reading this can just tag on this thread and start putting down your regrets in life. Like it or not, regrets are inevitable. Choosing not to tag me after reading this can be a regret too. Depends on what would happen in the future, say this gonna be my last post, or this is the last time you ever see this. Since no one can predict, watch the space after this for an answer. Till then.

The problem with emo

Once again, it's been some time since my last post. Nothing in particular to post here, just making use of this medium, and hopefully it does, to reach out to my peers out there. Hope you guys are doing well and fine. Lastly, i'm searching high and low for this converse shoe: All-Star eyelet. I was told only Heeren and Bugic boutiques are selling this limited edition. And to my disappointment, the color i wanted, Natural, is long sold out. So if anyone out there managed to find it somewhere, somehow, i'll be more than happy to thank you for informing me. Else, i hope everyone have a fun week ahead.

Till then.

Read my lips

After almost a month of zero post, i guess it's time for me to drop a note and of cause as you can see, a new layout. The past few weekends have been rather meaningful and occupied, and this explains why i haven't really got much time to blog, not to mention changing a new skin after almost a year.

So, i'll let the keyboard do the talking now.

I'm going to start with what happened more recently and slowly go back as i probably would have forgotten the stuff which happened more than 2 weeks ago. For a quick start, i finally submitted my application to IDA scholarship and had my psychometric test over at Civil Service College yesterday. For the benefit of those who hasn't got a clue what the hell it is, it's a test whereby there were 3 sections, and each of them were given 30 minutes to answer them and that includes shading of bubbles on the OMR form.

The first one is what i would call patterns reasoning. Given 9 shapes/patterns, one of them is left blank. So you have to figure out what's the most suitable shape/pattern to fit in. The challenge and difficulty increases as you go along. With 8 options to each question and 36 questions to answer in 30 minutes, try imagining how fun it is.

The second part is on mathematics. Given a short scenario, you have to answer 3 questions with 15 options. The questions requires quite a bit of calculation and of cause no calculating devices were allowed. Likewise, the difficulty increases as you go along, there were 10 scenarios and thus 33 questions to be done in 30 minutes. For this section, i can bet with my last dime, majority of us didn't finished it. And with 15 options to each question, trying to "ti-kam" would also require you to be super lucky.

The last section is somewhat called verbal reasoning. Given 15 short read ups, with profound grammar and words all squeezed in a single paragraph, you have to answer 4 questions each, and answer them either True, False or Can't tell. Seriously, i think i "ti-kam" my way for this entire section. 60 questions under 30 minutes works out to only 30 seconds to try figure out whether the question is true, false or can't tell from the passage.

With almost 150 personnel taking the test, i just wonder what's my odds making it through to the interview stage. And if i'm not wrong, yesterday was just one of the many dates the test is conducted for the scholarship applicants.

And so with this, i guess i can only pray and hope for the best.

Moving next, Sam is back. After making a trip down to Tamworth, like what i did a year ago, he came back with a failure, but i'm sure with many fond priceless memories too. Judging from the way we discussed about the instructors and the stuff over there, i'm sure it's an experience anyone will never forget. Minus the very fact that we both didn't make it to be a pilot, the fact that we did had our shot at it was just as good, if not better.

The whole of last week was pretty tiring. My battalion is on exercise, and its a overnight exercise which stretches for 4 days. And since i'm an officer, like what my men always like to argue with me on, i did 2 night shifts, stretching from 9pm to 9am. To be more accurate, i had to do longer than that, since i was there on Tuesday morning and only get to feel my bed after 26 hours on Wednesday morning. And 5pm from Wednesday evening to 8am Thursday morning. There were reasons why it ended up like that, but i guess i'll skip that part, for they are unpleasant issues to be discuss here. In short, it sucks to be an officer, and worst when you're NSF officers. Go figure out.

There will more of such exercises to come and all that i can look forward would be end of May, and perhaps the 1 week of battalion off just before my birthday.

I guess i'll just end here. Pretty brain dead now. Leaving ya with a new layout and also a new song. Somehow i like it alot, for the lyrics's pretty meaningful. That's all folks. If i'm neglecting you guys, i just hope you all understand. I have my own reasons.

Till then.