Updates

Well it’s been ages since i last post, somehow blogging isn’t something i would do these days, though i still do visit blogs here and there for interesting updates, facts or photography posts which can be entertaining at times, and without you realising, it does take up quite a large amount of free time one can spare.

And if you guys have noticed, i’ve changed the layout of this wordpress, to something that’s easier to read compared to the one i previously had – narrow columns which resulted in long scrolling for readers due to my long posts. Simple as it is now, i guess another best way to enhance reader’s interest and frequent revisiting is perhaps more photos, diagrams, pictures, do they sound the same? And perhaps more personal thoughts that could spur numerous discussions.

So just some quick updates, i just finished/conquered/struggled/heck-ed through my tertiary education, completing my degree with 4 semesters. Incidentally, results will be out i think tomorrow? Not that i’m pretty concern about it, somehow i wish it isn’t out that early, merely for that fact that i reckon my 3 semesters combined result should be slightly more presentable to the HR departments across the zillions companies which i have applied for a permanent job. In case you guys reading have some IT related jobs, preferably consulting side, do drop me a comment or something, and i’ll be more than happy to thank you for your recommendations. I’m still looking out for a job, and i guess i don’t need to stress the fact that it’s hard these days.

As i finished up the above 3 paragraphs, i’m still thinking what photos/pictures i have to share with you guys, and either they are not note-worthy or there ain’t many for me to post up. 

 So there’s something i’ve been deciding to get lately, the Canon EoS  450D – picture on the left. And to make things worse to my  consideration, end april Canon  launched another new version, sorta  like an upgrade from this to EoS 500D. The hefty price tag and some  other factors are some of my considerations in getting a DSLR. Though  i do yearn to pick  up one starter DSLR and start snapping away with  some awesome  photos along the way. Perhaps it’s just part of me  that i’m pretty much  inclined to arts and beautiful stuff. I guess most of  us are anyway. With  the upcoming PC Show, i hope my concerns can  be resolved or  minimally reduced to a level that i’m comfortable in  getting one. By the  way, any comments or suggestions about DSLR is  greatly welcomed. In  fact, if and after i got my own, i intend to  dedicate posts here to share  with you guys all the various tips and facts about DSLR. I’ve been visiting forums and it seems like you don’t get 100% of what you want to know about a DSLR, and you don’t see those professional posting up photos and explaining how they were taken. Usually just tag lines of what set they were using and that’s about it. So fingers crossed, if i do managed to get one, which i’m also considering the option of purchasing it in Japan through my sister, i will promise to deliver posts about what you need to know before getting a DSLR, what are the technical terms of Aperture, Exposure, Focus Length, etc, and photos with detailed location and way of shooting. If i don’t, do drop me a reminder. And for this, there’s a dilemma between a need and a want.

And for those Man United fans out there, this morning match against Barcelona was an utter disappointment. Credits for Barca, whom is of course the better team, i cannot help by cursing at the players who donned the white united jerseys. I know it’s always easier said than done, but the match i saw this morning was quite a reflection of what i see with Singapore National team. You see players strolling back to defend, and defend, maybe to the professional is about holding back and let the opposition come to you, but in my dictionary, defend is about tackling, chasing, getting the ball away and most importantly, keep the ball with you, and find the open route to the defense of the opponent.

What i saw was a team of white, with defenders defending like amatuers, Ferdinand constantly passing the ball back to the keeper, defenders and midfielders trying to hit the longest pass down to someone down the flanks, either to show off their accuracy which failed many a times, or to test the sprinting power of the recipients. Center midfield exposed to the liking of the fast players from Barca, and worse, Ronaldo trying to win the game with his numerous selfish long shots. Sound harsh? But if you realise what they have to do their job, you can only think that their level of commitment either to the game or the club is not worthy of what they deserved. Getting paid $100k++ english pounds per week, worldwide fame worshipped by many, yet they don’t seem to be eager to prove their worth as compared to the millions fans who curse and swear when Barca scored.

Then again, put aside everything, you just wonder why or how someone’s failure or success can mean so much to one who isn’t directly involved. Some weeks back, when Man United defeated Arsenal, a Arsenal fan committed suicide, so now, is a club success purely just within the team itself or the parties supporting and financing them? And if you are the players in the club who has truly not deliver up to standard, do you feel an inch of guilt? Maybe yes and no, for we don’t really need to answer much of our actions to others.

Lastly, just some food for thought. If everyone knows something is not right, yet they does not want to do something to correct it, with fears of losing their status, their pride, their peaceful life, or anything else that matters to them, then what’s the point of education. Not sure how i’m going to argue this point, but in our daily life, we see or we experience alot of things which we do agree they are wrong, but we just ignore cause that’s the easiest way out.

2nd phase of life

So much about my previous post regarding NUS and the system which i seriously dreaded, let’s move on to something i think it’s my 2nd phase of living. By the way, just 1 quick comment before i dive into this new topic, and that’s whether i can graduate this semester remains a question mark. The reason? Long story and it’s about my faculty, School of Computing’s undesirable working structure. I don’t wanna go about whining or complaining, since you guys probably think i’m always doing that, so if you’re interested, ask me personally.

Ok, now, 2nd phase of life. If all goes well, i should be graduating after 6th May, the last paper for this semester. And hopefully, i managed to get a job of what i desire. Though i should be keeping a lookout now, but i’m lazy or not really into the job hunting mood yet. If you guys have some recommendations, do drop me a note.

So, 2nd phase of life, and to me, it’s about getting a job, earning money and if things go well and smooth, save up for a car and perhaps apply for flat early. Speaking of which, i have 2 resolutions for 2009, getting my license, i think probably end of the year, and saving up more money. Sadly, alot of things i yearn to have revolves around money. I think life is about money as a matter of fact.

I happened to read up on the ox’s fortune for this year at Tampines Mall today, in one of the pillars on level 2. I can’t remember everything, but in general it mentioned that we can go for some form of gambling. And that things may come surprising good or bad. And 1 important point, those born in 1985, must avoid attending burial or cremation. I’m not so much a superstitous person, but i of course do hope that the good things will befall on me. So, first thing on CNY, 3rd day, a Wednesday, must try to buy 4D. If i do strike, i shall have the chance of pampering myself with few things in mind. Items to be disclosed upon lucky strike.

I guess i’ll stop here. Gotta be up 9am later, so good nights, and… Happy Chinese New Year. Doubt i will post in the near future. So hope you guys have fun and always remember that life is too short for everything. Live like there’s no tomorrow.

Stupid System

Been really long time since i blogged and i’ve decided to do my posting over here instead of blogspot. The only thing i didn’t like about wordpress is that i can’t embed music directly. (Can i suggest you either click on the mediabox on the right to play the music or turn on your computer’s music before you continue reading. It’s a freaking long post.)

Anyways, school started this week. I really have to say, this semester is going to be my worst and so far i haven’t been getting things to fall in place, the way i prefer them to be. 

I’ve got 6 modules for this semester and only 3 have uploaded materials. Did i missed out stating the fact that school has already started this week? No shit, the other 3 modules, which i will be having lectures on this coming Thursday and Friday, has absolutely nothing in the system we use to “beg” for materials.

Like what the fuck right? Did we not pay them enough?

And i have to stress that they like to upload materials along the way. The only rationale thought i can derive from this act is that they don’t want to bomb us with all the stuff at one go. But to me, i can only see it as they HAVE NOT EVEN PREPARE THE STUFF THEY WANTED TO TEACH OR GIVE US. They might have got the syllabus written out in black and white, on the topics or the COSTLY BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE TEACHING STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT which they will put it as COMPULSORY TEXTBOOK, but the powerpoint slides or the notes for us is prepared on the weekly basis. So much so that, supposed i have lecture for this particular module, say 10am in the morning, there’s a very high chance that the notes will be uploaded the night before if we are lucky, else some time like 7-9am the very fateful morning.

Seriously i have no idea why this kind of system can survive for so long, in such a “well-proclaimed” university. I have no idea how the rest of the universities work, which i doubt they are doing much better. That’s why last Sunday over a dinner with my peers, i proudly make the statement that “What’s the big deal to be studying in NUS?”. 

Not that i can managed to get a place with my not-worth mentioning result from poly, but that once you’re in the university, you either frown upon the system but just keep quiet and have the thinking that “so many have did it, why do i have to complain”, or be like me, who has been constantly sharing all the negative craps.

And today something made me even more pissed off. The stupid tutorial balloting system.

It’s not so much about the system, but still the module bidding and tutorial balloting system themselves are really full of crap and SHOULD BE SCRAPED FOR EVERYONE’S SAKE.

What happened was that i took a module which turned out to have bad response, meaning the number of students taking it was less than projected; only 33. So during our first lecture on Monday, the lecturer told us that there will only be 2 tutorial classes instead of the 4 which was initially stated in the system, some place for students to check the detail of all the modules and the respective tutorial slots and timings pre-planned.

So he asked for a day we would preferred the 2 classes to be allocated for. Ended up, 1 crappy guy who for some shit reasons only managed to bid 3 modules at the moment, told the lecturer if there can be a slot on Tuesdays so that after he get 2 more modules for this semester, he can have a better chance of not having either lecture/tutorial clashes with other modules. The lecturer took that as an option and create a poll for us to vote on the 2 days we would like to have our tutorial. The choice were Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The timing were the same for the 3 days so that didn’t matter.

Here’s the shit. When i decided to bid for this “cold” module, the reason has to be the lecture has no clash with my other modules and the tutorial slots pre-planned fits my timetable well. Ok, i don’t blame the lecturer changing it to 2 slots from the initial 4 classes due to low intake, but the stupid crap is that the initial 4 classes were, 1 Wednesday slot and 3 Friday slots. Yet after the stupid guy comment, he put up the poll with Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

As a result, i have to base it on the fact that i need some idiots to vote for the same Friday slot so that i can get it. If i will to ballot Tuesday tutorial, it would mean that i have to travel to school for 3hours back and forth, just for 1 freaking tutorial. If i will to ballot Thursday tutorial, it means that my Thursday timetable is 10-6pm with no breaks in between. Not to mention on Thursdays i need to rush from Point A to Point Z in between all the super packed lessons i have.

So now, is it a problem of mine that i have to suck thumb and take things as it is, or can i just freaking scold the BLOODY stupid nonsensical system i’m studying in?

Just to update, the poll as of now, majority of the students voted for Tuesday and Thursday. I even emailed the lecturer trying to reason to him that what he is doing is super unfair and biased to those students who want to have a better timetable and end up making those who make effort to plan in advance suffer. I highlighted the fact that in the system, it clearly stated the 4 tutorial slots which is on either Wednesday or Friday. So there is no reason for him to change and end up the tutorials ARE NOT EVEN on the same 2 days with different timings.  And even if he will to leave the tutorial classes on Wed and Fri, we cannot complain cause it was stated there in the first place before any one of us decided to bid for this CRAP module.

And this is how he replied me:

I’ve already included a Friday slot for choosing in the poll. The Tuesday and Thursday choices are meant to provide additional choices for students other than Fridays and Wednesdays which some of you emailed me saying all the existing original slots do not work for them.

I’m afraid we will have to accommodate each other’s scheduling constraints in the time tables as we go along. Let’s see what are the responses in the poll for the rest of students. Thank you.

I don’t know if i’m trying too hard or what, but i just freaking hate the system whereby everyone is having a bad time planning what modules to take, what to do if we can’t get this module, is this module been offered, can we graduate in time. All these i think are not their concerns anyway. Cause no matter what and how hard you plan, you will realise all the stupid nonsense they have when you face difficulties.

Imagine you badly need this module to graduate and you explain to them that you have to take this module this semester so that you can graduate in time, they will just tell you, it’s 50-50, can’t promise you anything. Like what the heck right? Will increasing 1 slot for the module intake kill the whole department’s workload? What quota are they running on? This module can only teach 100 students because 101 students will make the lecturer teach more?

I don’t know why, but whenever i talk about university system, it makes my blood boils. I just wonder why i don’t have such stupid situation when i was in poly. Trust me, the environment, the system, the lecturers in poly are 1000 times better than university. Especially the fact that university stupid bell-curve system cares for all the stupid muggers, and neglects all the average Joes.

I just have so much to whine, it is whine? I think what i’m stating are just facts, or am i complaining? But do the hatred against drug dealers considered complains? I’m just trying to point out the crappy fact that some time in life, when there’s a system in place, no matter how crappy it is, after we been through it, and even when we have the chance to be in helm of the system, we wouldn’t really bother about it. Either we would have this stupid cocky thinking that, “aiya, i also been through it what”, or “wah lao, complain what, last time was even worse”. So no one will want to make things easier for the next generation, and it’s just like army system, until someone die from it, or something really bad happen, then the committee or the government will start looking at it.

I don’t know what to call this kind of human actions, maybe if we take it with a pinch of salt, we can call it learn from experience? You tell me.

By the way, have you notice the long queues at all the various Ticketing/Concession Booths at MRT stations or Interchanges? Why singaporeans are so freaking kiasu?

P.S.  Writing this post makes me real pissed and the word count is 1566.

It ends tonight

Last paper in 3 hours time. Can’t wait to get it done and over with. Seriously, give me any good reasons about examinations and you will get 2 bad things about it from me.

If you think this world is about living, think again. This world is about yourself. Nothing else matters.

Christmas coming. Anyone know what’s the address to Santa? Cause i have many items in my wishlist.

Cat

 

Skinned

How about a kitten and a puppy?

First Post

As i’m exploring the means of generating blog contents to blogs, i was introduced to WordPress. Though i didn’t manage to get what i wanted which is more user friendly, supports the functions i wanted,

i thought WordPress is alot professional in terms of administrator dashboard, the themes, the widgets, etc.

Alright, that’s all for now. Shall explore and do more updates after my last paper, which ends my semester at 1st December!