08S1 GHH Book Prize Winners

It's the end of all exams!! and before the current batch disappear into CPTC follow by attachment, best to pass them the book prize now to award them for their good work!!

This semester, beside the usual Rules of Life/work/management/wealth series and Word Power, I have added a new book called the Last lecture and Dr Randy Pausch (go to the web and type this and you will be ovwewhelmed by the input you can find). The sentimental ones will probably like this new inclusion.

This is my first semester of Specialty Chem module. And the pioneer students....will always be special to me in a in a way. Kabir and Joanna are assignment partners and lab partners...so they get the same high score all the time and it's really difficult to seperate the two in terms of scores. So in the end why not reward both?

ISLP viva champ is of course ZM. She made afew mistakes in common test and frightened by me till cry after that. Promised to do very well subsequently and she did fulfil she promise in VIVA and in the final exam. Oh BTY...she selected the Last lecture!! (so did Joanna)

Sheila did well in her reports...and Edgar/Kabir/Chai Hui are very consistent throughout this module. Hope they enjoy reading the book of their choice and gain something out of it.

HQ probably cursed at me when I forced her do the real VIVA in week 11. she eventually score 92!! Now I hope she change her perception against me abit cos that really anchor her in a good position. Sorry no book for you but I hope enjoy the audio CD instead.

we went K after that...what happen there??....read my next entry. :)

08S1 ISLP paper input

Sometimes, we can't help but knowing some of you actually graduate w/o knowing the full module name eg ISET CL3301 / name of the lecturer / tutor ...now, some of u prove that u also dunno the course of your study even when about to graduate...

Looks like the above 2 can't wait to go jurong island....

The following entry in this year paper is one of a kind....

When ask about chemical hazards...1st page in your text!! with extra handouts / mindmaps to remind you somemore!! In the end the input is

- skin irritation

-stomach irrtation

-eye irritation

-respiratory irritation

last but not least --- BRAIN IRRITATION!!!

this is damn irritating marking it....

We also have a X-man in the class :

human voltage generator??

Many of them, in this semester, simply say 100 V is no effect to one, "BECAUSE IT IS THE CURRENT WHICH KILL NOT VOLTAGE" ...fullstop.

When they go Jurong Island later...faced with the industrial power station of 6600 V...i hope they are brave enough to tell their supervisor : " No worry... it will not hurt anyone de la...I learn in my safety lesson - VOLTAGE DUN KILL." Amend...Amibuddah....一路走好...

Name

I am not sure if your are familiar with the chinese character - 桧 (Gui 4).

A quick Check in the Chinese dictionary will tell you that it is an everygreen tree. This word is actually quite commonly adopted by parents in China for naming of their sons before the Song dynasty (南宋).

Then during the southern Song dnyasty, a person named 秦桧 sold his soul, betrayed his country and framed and murdered the national hero 岳飞 (plus his son 岳云 and son in law 张宪).



The Empror was of course fully aware but he don't think allowing the army to win the war is a good idea. Why? Because then his father and elder brother (康王, 靖王) would be released and returned to China from Mongolia and then it means the end of his good time.



If you visits Hangzhou, there is a 岳王庙 that worship the national hero and there is also a kneeling statue made of cast iron of the traitor and his wife.



When I was there, I too, cannot stop but emotionally shed a tear for the stupidly loyal general and spit at the cast iron statue.



Back in Singapore, if you eat the fried flour twin (油炸桧) you should also know that this delicacy also originated in the same era to mark the deep hatred of the traitor.



This depicable act was so impactful that the historian noted from then onwards, all the parents are so ashame of this particular word, no one use this word to name their child in China any more...



I have a bold prediction...from now on...at least in Taiwan...no parents will ever use one particular word to name their child too...



the word is - 扁!!

NUS lunch visit

After the visit to NTU news / picts were released, I received the expected MSN messages from afew ppl from the other Uni :

"Wah why so unfair!! Whu only NTU? When are you visiting us in NUS?....."

"I can't think of a good place for us to meet comfortably in NUS campus mah....MH in NTU did the ground recce for me and located the new sushi shop plus helps me to spread the news too..."

激将法 works always. Within 2 days the location of the meet in NUS was decided...

Munchie monkey in YIH. In the end it turn out to be a cosy place..nice sofa. Food wise...cheaper than sushi, nice brownies but overall standard was true reflection of its cost. But seriously the part that need MAJOR improvements is the service / order quality. Really CMI. 30% of our orders were not correct....maybe it's too much to ask from them to serve before I pay.

5 from chem eng came (BB in the wrong place, as always so she miss the photo session). 4 from Chemistry. Another 7-8 ppl drop me msg that they can't make it due to class...well, maybe next year...

That will be my last visit at this resturant. Next year...will try out the Megabites suggested by Aishah instead.

Anyway...let's focus on the more enjoyable things. Nice to see all of them who turn up for the lunch gathering. It's been quite awhile I see some of them so we have quite abit to catch up. Also a good chance to intro XN to some of the seniors in Chem Eng dept. Glad to hear SH n YY made it to Applied Chem too!

It's a rather relax and happy moments we had there. full of laughters...even with the setback of random ordering delivering food, we managed to turn it into jokes and made our conversation more lively.

After lunch is desserts, after desserts is dice!!

Don't know wht SL always end up sitting beside me in dice games. And she never trusted me since NYP days till now. Catch me like cat wanted to catch mice. But she ended up having mentos for 3rd round desserts. the experience in Kukup never deter her from going against me. Almost wanted her to drink coke to catalyse the reaction in her stomach again.

At 2.30pm..it's time for them to go to tutorial and we had to say goodbye. they are asking about the next outing....and i am lost for ideas myself too. Any suggestions?? Cycling?? Sentosa?? Hmm... thinking....

Chinese History

My eldest sister is a Chinese History grads in Taiwan. In my childhood days, there were rows and rows of books regarding chinese history in the study room and living hall book shelves. So besides 儿童乐园， the other books that I read are those i curiously took out from the selfves. Starting from the simple 西游记，to the slightly more interesting 东周列国志，隋唐演义，岳飞传，to the very long winded 三国演义，水浒传，红楼梦 etc. These are the actual books that i read when I was in my late primary school days.



So not surprisingly I grew up very much interested in Chinese history. When coming for course selection in secondary 3...I actually wanted to study Arts and specialise in Chinese history. This idea, however, is rejected by the 3 sisters,

"you dun earn much by studying history!!"

"dun mix your interest with your study...in that way you will always get to enjoy your interst life long!!"

"Boys better study science subjects!! Girls then study Arts de..."



So how can a poor boy argue with 3 working sisters with working experience?? So in Sec 3, I chose Pure Science + Geograghy instead....not even chinese litreture.



Well maybe they are right afterall...I am now earning a comfortable living as an engineer (of course now converted to a teacher). I still enjoy reading chinese books especially history books. I figure of all books that I read...40% of them are history based. The rest...are then leisure based.



In my book shelfs now, the are rows of history books which I bought and finished reading through the years. Only use of them maybe...is for me to read them through 1 more time when I retire....I have no real application of the knowledge gained seriously...but all the stories, historical events, characters, politics moves, revolutions etc...somehow make 1 a richer person in whole.



When observing a current situation, discussing a case study, leisurely chatting with friends etc, all these useful stories can come in handy and at times they are really the most appropriate to say out rather than to re-invent the wheel.

Too bad my son are into music and cars and daughter are into arts and dance...I guess 1 day I will have to sell them or gave them away...anyone interested??

Visit To NUS

Next wed I will be on leave again...and will be down to NUS for lunch gathering with the NYP grads.

Venue of lunch meet : Munchie Monkey (YIH) Booked a table for 12

date : 20th Aug Wed

Time : 11.30am -2.30pm


If you cab make it to the gathering pls register and let me know when can u reach the lunch place...in case at certain hours there is not enough seats. cheers.

See you all there!!

Visit to NTU

It's study break in NYP and time clear leave. I decide to pay a visit to the Uni students. Thanks to fast recce and following up by MH, the ideal location of meet in NTU is finalised very quickly and we have ample time to spread the news.


This is the first time I try Saeke Shushi. But no choice it seems like the most cosy place in NTU for a 10+ ppl gathering. Reserved the corner straight away early and started to spread the news through my blog and MSN. 20+ ppl responded...not bad. Afew are stuck in lab work that afternoon and afew are out on attachment, too bad.

Arrived early into NTU and proceed to parked at Carpark A as hinted by Anna. As soon as I dropped off, guess what...I bumped into ML!! (It's a samll world...!!) She kindly show me the way to the shushi shop and we chatted for awhile...then I let her off to proceed to her lab session. (lab dunt need to eat de mah?).

As soon as it reach 11.15am...familair faces started to steam in ...for food I guess!!!

The above are the 11.30am-12.30 pm round students. Some lamented the 1 hour gathering to too short n they have to rush off for lesson soon after. Can clearly see SY is totally unwilling to leave...

Then comes the 12.30pm-1.30pm group. Mainly Env Eng dept ppl. Student S just came for ice green tea...

Finally it's the 1.30pm-2.30 pm group. 3 of my PEM amd 2 from 03 batch of guys who join NTU after their NS. Heard they say every night hug book till 12.30 midnight....hmmm...sounds familiar...I did the same after my NS into Uni too!!

After paying the bills at 2.45pm I dropped by the new CBC building to greet Profs Leung. He kindly offered to give a tour to the building/labs and guess what...of all labs...he decided to walked though a randon one and guess who I saw?? ML again!! (it's really a small small world!!)

B4 going off...i notice the the school Chair name's sounds familiar...and after asking afew questions I realised that he was actually my sec school classmates in Chinese High!!! (only for 1 month though...). Nice to regain contact with him. It really really a small small world!!!

The visit to NTU ended 4.30pm and i guess it's a wonderful way to spend a relaxing day. Next week wed @ NUS maybe...?? SL....go recce and tell me the right location fast!! hahahahahah....

Spirit of competition

Those of you who play badminton with me b4 will probably notice I am very vocal during the game. I talk alot to my partners. Pointing out the weakness, discussing the strategies, gave words of encouragement, but I dun point fingers for blame.

Volleyball is a team game and the team is only as strong as your weakest member of 6!! If we dunt cover for each other and encourage each other, it's quite impossible to gel the 6 together in a match. And at times luck and form can really swing...and if you dun stand up to be counted and hold the helm in tough situations (when you are really trailing ) , you might as well kiss goodbye to any chance of winning.

Playing badminton, it's the same...there is only 1 person to communicate: YOUR PARTNER!!

Rule #1 : to be FEARLESS. if you are afraid of being hit by the ball...then don't play ball!!

Rule #2 : ALWAYS GIVES YOUR BEST. One enters the court to give your best...no matter how strong the opponent and even you have 0.000001% only of winning chance...you face it and give it your best shot. I would rather lose and earn the opponent respect for putting a damn good fight rather than concede from the begining without putting on any resistance.


Rule # 3- we play to win, and to win fair and square. I would rather lose than win a game via cheating. This is already against the spirit of competition. The beauty of playing sports is to allow you to taste defeats ...and you improve and grow from there. harmlessly with so little risk in stake!!


Rule *4 - winning or loosing is 50% determination 50% skill. NEVER GAVE UP!! FIGHT!! no matter what is the score...you fight for every point!! Till the game is finally over.
(pls also see what happen to manU vs Bayern Munich 1999 champions league final).


Rule # 5- u win as a team...lose as a team. So take care of your team members and team spirits...pat on the back, high 5s, a concern glance, a word of encouragement, a winkle of the eye, a joke, all these ...i believe...do wonders in the field/court to sustain the magic of a team. And if you perform as a team, u can beat the other side of separate individuals.


These pricipals has been instilled into me and followed me for years...even into my army days. I still can vividly remember the days of training together, eat together, play together...as a team...preparing for competition. And with my platoon soldier too...we even sleep together.


I hope these values I pick up along playing the sports can be of use to you in life too.

May the spirit of competition be with you.

NTU Lunch gathering 14 Aug

Yo NTU ppl,
I will be on leave on 14 Aug (thur) and plan to drop by NTU from 11am till maybe 2pm+.

Ming Hui is helping to recce a place not so crowded and can sit n chat. Most likely we will be meeting at the Jap resturant Sakae Sushi...to be confirm with the next 2-3 days.

I intend to invite Prof Leung for lunch too...if he is free to drop by.

Are u free during that period?? I need to know the total number of NYP graduates coming too...(so that i can take MC last minute if not enough money).

Long time no see...hope to see you there...if you plan to come...do me a favour n register here. Thanks. See you soon!!

Volleyball

It's 1.30am and I just crawled out from bed...I knew if i dun write this down, I will not be going to be able to sleep for the rest of the night...so might as well do it cos it invokes quite alot of memory and emotions....

Many of us grow up taking up sports, either physically and / or mentally to get fit / socialise / toughen our mental and physical sharpness. During my teenage years, I took up Volleyball as a sport.

My Secondary school is Chinese high school. It was the "Volleyball Empire" during the 70s. In the school, there are 20 outdoor volleyball courts...yes you read it correct...20!! Still, after school time, there will be no empty courts available and students have to quarrell and almost push and shove their way to get into a court to play. That's how crazy the school is about the sport and that's where i 1st started playing the game...from 0 knowledge and a shortie (4th shortest in class at Sec 2).

Luckily volleyball allow 12 to play at the same time...so I do get quite abit of chance to learn and practise. Including warm ups. And trust me...there are many many splendid players in the school, who are playing for combined school, even national levels. So rookies like us when facing them, we must be prepared to "吃球餅"...meaning kenna hamtam by the opponent's thunderbolt spikes.

You probably can never imagine the feeling of the impact...most likely one would be on the ground, feeling the earth is rotating faster and unevenly. Then next think you know is someone handed you your broken spec and time to go get it change (AGAIN!!). Compared to badminton smack and ping pong ball...the frequency is alot higher too as the game is all about spike, spike, spike. That how we grow up....and learn the skill.

But soon we were into the game, we know that there will be NO FEAR. FACE IT and retrive it instead.

From newbie...to be the class reserve...and then I work my way into HJC reserves...and finally in NUS volletball team, still not the first 6 but at least in the 1st ten. Volleyball was my passsion then.

My coach in NUS told me I was selected in the school team not because I have fantasit skill, but instead I had the right attitude and was very mobile at the back. I also grow up alot taller during that short 2-3 years due to constant jumping...and reach 1.76m eventaually.

In 2nd year of NUS I had a bad v bad knee injury and forced to retire cos I am not suppose to jump anymore to aggrevate the injury. That's where I switch from Volleyball to squash and tae-kwan-do.

But the involvement in the sport has thought me alot of things...beliefs and habits which I am still displaying when i am playing other games...(like badminton). So what are the lessons I tresure?? Please read the next entry. :)

DVD DVD DVD!!

It's end of semester ...lessons all ended and just ready for exam and marking papers. My CL3363 SpecChem term test even finished marking and grading. so it's time to relax abit...

Busy watching DVDs for the past week...guess it will be the same pattern the next 1-2 weeks. Just finished watching "24" season 1 and just started season 2...it's rather addictive and keep me from switching off my computer.

Thanks to Xiao Peng You, I can now also watch some Chinese movies...finished "投名状" (4.5 星) , "见龙御甲" (3) , "夜宴" (4), "铁三角" (3.5), "父与子" (3.5), "江山美人" (3)...
Next on line is : "天堂口", "色戒", "兄弟", "C+侦探", "Escape from Yellow staone"...etc

After that? English movies of course...Spidy 3, Alian vs predator, 10,000 BC, Harry Potter etc