UOC

Have not updated for ages, and guess its apt that UOC has brought me back here again.

With the end of UOC’09, my journey with UOC has come to an end. From a freshman in 06, to logistics in 07, chief programmer in 08, and finally an SA in 09. UOC and V Group never fails to cheer, never fails to bring smiles to all. Cheerfight champion again, after the utter disappointment last year. I always know who can cheer like siao.

The line that brings lots of thought is always when some senior will mention, look at the people around, you will find friends for life, best friends and even your girl/boy friend. I guess its so true for me, brought me a group of a great friends in V group, others from the other groups, a sweet and caring girlfriend, plus lots of memories. The Vivaz girls have now graduated, and I will be setting up on the fight against HRM and FYP in my final year.

Thats all for now I guess. Have really lost all zest to blog, so I guess this will do for now. Although maybe HRM or FYP will bring me back here again. Shrugs.

Updates

Havent updated for almost a month. Lost the zest to blog I suppose.

NTU tutor came and went, my organisational supervisor was very nice with his comments and report. Hopefully it keeps up, I really want that A at the end of it.

Right ankle have been bothering me ever since the sprain a couple of weeks back. And now my right wrist hurts from poor office postures.  Hope to get better soon.

Girlfriend has been very busy, working and school work. Jiayou!

Man Utd have been very disappointing. Sad.

Super random update. Over and out.

Stabbing incident at NTU EEE

With the recent death of a final year EEE student, stabbing his own fyp professor, followed by jumping from the bridge to Research Techno Plaza, has sent shockwaves through Singapore and the region I guess. The details of why he did it are still sketchy, and with all the theories flying around cyberspace, it is indeed easy to create an opinion on it.

For me, I have been reading up on it from all sources ever since it happened, and the basic sorrow is, a promising young guy, 2 months to graduation, with a promising and long life ahead, ending it so dramatically. I shall wait for more confirmed reports regarding the circumstances.

With myself being halfway through my Industrial Attachment, and with Year 4 looming, the big two staring in the face. Human Resource Management, and Final Year Project. Hopefully such an incident will never happen again, and I hope I can deal with them my own way too.

Two points that I personally think should be changed, and hopefully come up from this very sad incident.

1) The stress to undergraduates are indeed very high, the workload is crazy, at least for School of EEE. Maybe after this, they might finally decide to look at the curriculum again, and the modules we are doing. The broad based training  thing that was implemented since before I entered isn’t really great from what I experienced and seen. The EE modules that I have taken have been informative and educating, however, it’s the other ones that are hurting. Maybe doing away with them, and spreading the EE modules out might decrease the stress. Half the year 1 modules, I have not seen any use of it till now. Maybe more informative and hands-on lab sessions could take up some part of that, as a JC student, maybe a course on soldering and use of breadboads and equipments will have been very useful at that initial stage.

Electives wise, I guess it’s a must, to provide a balance, and its one module per sem on average on a module that has significantly less content and demands. I have learnt from the ones I have taken, like accounting, mind over sun tze and biology in popular fiction. Regrets include the cultural modules and innovation, I learnt nothing from them, and it was a complete waste of time. I SU-ed all three after noting the zero interest and use. However, this might have been more of a personal choice, I do regret not making more effort to take economics modules that will be much more beneficial. It was hard to squeeze International Markets with Life Sciences, where I memorized MCQ answers to score.

2) The school, NTU in general need to reach out more. Until now, the general consensus is that the school does not listen. The hatred for the Students’ Union, the belief that they are not doing anything, can be shocking. A good point will be that of the SU before or after exams issue. The explanation given for why not still isn’t fully and well explained. The counter points brought up were not rebutted. Professors are not happy too, gauging from the recent T65 thing. What I understand was that teaching isn’t important, papers and more research papers. I do not know the mathematics or the accounts of it, but with such a big pool of undergraduates, I am giving a good guess that much of the school’s income comes from the undergraduates. The current situation is quite bad, plenty of professors having problems making their points across to us. They are indeed very smart and knowledgeable, but the skill of passing on of knowledge might be lacking for some. This will be due to differences in culture and kind too.

If its true that teaching being not as important as research papers, I guess in the future, all the professors who are good lecturers will not want to take up undergraduate courses. Even if they do, they will not spend as much time into them, when they can spend their energy and time on the important research.

Rainbow

Rainbow

Beautiful rainbow spotted outside Buona Vista MRT

Updates

Valentine’s Day came and went, enjoyed a night out at AbsoluteHaven and Walawala with the girlfriend. Sunday was Vivaz gathering at Crystal Jade Holland V for the delightful steamboat buffet. Shall blog more when I get the pictures.

Rushing off for another night work again. Hope that Khatib will not face any problems tonight.

Facebook – Mixture of Past Fads

The popularity of facebook has been truly astonishing. It has been so successful in mixing past fads and making them better and much more accessible on one portal. They include blogging, mIRC, friendster, flickr, forums, web game sites.

1) Blogging

A real huge threat, it guarantees instant voyeuristic opportunities, as any updates will be announced to everyone immeadiately. Pictures that are being shared previously on blogs, can be made known to everyone, with accompanying captions, and tags of people inside. Any lengthy stuffs can be made known using notes, with a recent example being the infamous “25 things you never knew” note tag going it rounds on facebook. This was already done in blogging a few years ago, everyone will blog about some interesting personal things and get a few people to do it.

Online quizzes that used to be domain in blogs, people will do the quiz and then post it, are all able to be found on facebook too.

Announcements are now far reaching to everyone on facebook, and with everyone constantly checking on their facebook updates, it is indeed widely known. Although this can have bad effects too, both the status of being in a relationship and being out of one is announced bright and clear to everyone. While being in one will bring widespread congrats, being out will only bring awkwardness.

Another point noted by dodo was that there isn’t a need for any prior knowledge about html or web design for facebook compared to blogging tools.

2) mIRC and forums

mIRC

Eat Drink Man Woman

Although it has ceased being popular for sometime already, facebook has copied its slapping with a trout to poking and kind. This was one thing that indeed always was so dump but fun. Another will be the channels, and operators and voices used in mirc, this is sort of replicated in the groups and events in facebook, with the declaring of leaders and admins.

In a way, this also replicates what forums have been doing ever since the Internet became popular. Who knows, very soon STOMP and EDMW will be outdated, everyone will be bitching over facebook forums.

3) Friendster, Wholiversnearyou.com,

One social network to another. Hoepfully it doesn’t go down the friendster way, of ads that intrude so much I thought I was friends with some Oatmeal brand. Although as per friendster, there are doubts regarding its continued existence to the lack of a solid revenue model. Maybe it will just live from donations.

And as per social networks, it supports some sort of a voyeuristic tendency in everyone regarding their friends, or even just acquaintances. Admit it, you will have peeped or stared or looked at friends’, acquaintances’ facebook just to quench a curiosity. I have!

4) Web game sites

VIWAWA

Facebook, with their thousands and thousands of user programmed games and applications, and all of them free, might just one day knock down all the other sites like meebo for example. The applications are really very wideranging, and its amazing that people will even sue over the game, like scrabble. It must have been the danger of games on facebook overtaking that of others. And it might one day.

Singapore Education System

At this current point of writing, I have completed 1 year of nursery, 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary school, 4 years of secondary school, 2 years of junior college, 3 years of university education, with 1 more year to go to complete a Bachelors in Engineering. That will be a total of 19 years of education, in the Singapore Education System.

I cant comment on how things are currently, knowing that there have been many changes since I went through each of the stages. So anything below will be from my own personal experiences.

Primary school was rather good I guess, building up strong foundations for all the subjects to be taught in higher levels. I remembered having a deep love of mathematics, slight interest in science, and a slight aversion to English. There were many interesting programs, including the badge thing, to get to be “certified” zoologists, biologists for example. One had to complete all the relevant experiences under that category and get it endorsed by don’t know whom. I can’t remember now which ones I did, but it was real fun.

It was from secondary school that I thought things could have been more streamlined. A lot of content were being taught and re taught, with just slight increase in difficulty. It was especially true for the transition from lower sec to upper sec, and from upper sec to jc. The content in things like science, were like taught thrice over that period of time. JC had the hardest level of difficulty for sure, but in a way, any poor appreciation, or bad experiences with previous topics will have killed any interest in them. For example, I might have had a teacher I disliked that taught me Science in lower secondary, which influenced my dislike in certain topics. This had a carry on effect, and I will never do well for that.

Instead of re teaching stuffs for 6 years, why dun we streamline them up. Maybe a very basic introduction in lower sec, and detailed study in the following 4 years. Examinations can be done on a one every 2 years basis, and it will all add up to a full certificate at the end. Although I do see problems of people going on the polytechnic route, although I am sure people who have gone through that system will have suggestions to improve it too.

Furthermore, economics as a subject should be taught at a much earlier stage, and combining with current events and happenings will make it very beneficial to all. This will allow youngsters to be more aware of the real world, then just pure studies as it was.

In university, I guess I will wish for more practical stuffs, and more focused modules. Year one was a mash of useless subjects, that until now I dun see any need for. It could have been streamlined and more useful stuffs taught at an earlier stage, or to incorporate more practical trainings. However, I am not done with my degree, so I will be better placed to comment on it when I am done, and have at least some work experience.

Manchester United – MY Team

This will be another topic that is quite close to my heart. As any guy watching soccer will have a team they swear allegiance to, this will be the one about the one I support. Manchester United, Red Devils they call them.

I am sure many people who read this supports different teams, and the Red Devils are much hated too. Although for me, I do not hate close rivals of the Devils, and one will never hear me talk about the hate of other clubs. However, Chelsea did come close, when they bought everything in sight and won 2 titles, but well, they didn’t last did they.

I started watching soccer at the age of 10, intrigued after being introduced to the game that year during PE. All the different teams on TV, with their differing colors and ways to play ball got me interested. However, it was one of this days, back when matches always start at 11pm, that I was hooked like a fish to bait. Checks done when I was older put the date to be 1^st October 1995.

I remember it was the commentator, although I have never found out who, who hyped the match like nothing. He kept repeating the story of some player, coming out of a ban to play his first ever game against the hated rivals. He referred to that night in Selhurst Park, to a man named Eric and his return. When indeed he was introduced, there just an air of this guy, he was just so aloof, it was as if he had no nerves playing in front of so many. And that collar, what arrogance. His name was Eric Cantona, back from a 9 months ban plus community service after scissors kicking a fan at Selhurst Park. I still remember the game, Nicky Butt scoring a goal after 2 minutes with a pass from him, Robbie Fowler scoring twice for Liverpool, and then the stage was set. Ryan Giggs was fouled, a penalty was given, and who better to take it I guess. Cantona was so calm, but his burst of joy and hugging of that post behind Daivd James’ goal post was etched in my mind. Oh, did I mention I was hooked. I swore allegiance from then on. I became a Man Utd fan, a Cantona fan.

Cantona, sheer arrogance

It certainly helped that Man Utd was on a roll at that point, winning and winning and winning. They still are. There were the bad years, but the good years were never far away. The history and traditions were amazing and so many nights watching all ended in glee. Although any losses, especially the ones against rivals had me in a bad mood on Mondays. I will not buy The New Paper on the days after Man Utd lost.

Although how I got hooked has been in my memory, however maybe it was the passing of time, another famous night left an even deeper impression. The drama, the change of emotions from despair to sheer joy. Nothing beats the morning of 26^th May 1999, the 1999 Champions League Final. 2 goals in injury time, to go from losers to winners, and the famous lines of the commentator, Clive Tyldesley

Solskjaer after scoring THAT goal

I quote,

“Can Manchester United score? They always score!”

“Name on the trophy!”.

“Is this their moment? Beckham… into Sheringham… and Solskjær has won it!”

“Manchester United have reached the Promised Land.”

1999 Champions of Europe

Following years after, more success follows, although it was rather hard to beat 1999. 2008 came close, but it was just different. The heroes have come and gone, the new ones will definitely be Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.  Although one guy still there, another amazing player. Ryan Giggs. Whoaz. That will be for another entry I guess.

Rooney, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs

FANatic

This guy has been to more Man Utd matches then Sir Alex Ferguson himself.

Hats off to Mike Dobbin. You got my deepest respect.

Engineering vs Business

Some reminisces of an age-old dilemma for many, from my own perspective and my own decision.

In this present economic recession, the trickle of business jobs have got me thankful that the choice I made 5 years ago have not yet been proven to be a wrong choice.

It was the first year of National Service, just as I was getting into the groove of being used to my unit and vocation that I started thinking long and hard about the course I wanted to change into. Computer Engineering in NTU was my accepted choice, albeit of a folly as I had not much passion in programming. Thus after looking through at available courses, and with my grades I short-listed to two that I was sure I will get in. It was either a degree in EEE, or a degree in Business. I still remember the reasons for and against for each.

Business

Pros 

1) 3 year degree 

2) Good market, prospects and high pay

3 ) Relatively easier syllabus 

4) Interest in entrepreneurship

Cons

1) General degree, limitations to kind of job

2) Face the reluctance to present and public speaking

3) High level of competition from peers
Elect.

  Engine

 Pros

 1) Steady market, relatively high pay for engineering

 2) Influence from dad

 3) Wide ranging jobs, management possibilities

 4) Professional degree

 Cons

  1) 4 years degree, 6k more

 2) High level of competition from foreigners

 3) Relatively tougher syllabus

Seriously, it was quite balanced for the pros and cons. In the end it could be said I wasn’t ready to take the risk. I was swayed by the reason that an Engineer can be a good Businessman, but a Businessman can never be an Engineer. The childhood desire to emulate my dad was also a big pushing factor, and the cons of Electrical Engineering that really might have a problem were the syllabus and competition. Cost wasn’t much of a problem, as family finances have been rather secure, and I could take a loan for the extra year if need be. However, I am the kind that does not mind giving it a good try at it.

Business can be picked up easily I thought, and I still think so. Experiences with business undergraduates have made me proud that my mom instilled the need to read the papers, I find myself better read than quite a number of my peers. Although sadly, I will lose out on presentations and confidence in public speaking. Electrical and systems principles cant be picked up easily, although I have been surprised recently to find out that SIM do offer part time degree in engineering.

With the current economic gloom due to the banking crises, with my current experiences during attachment and also all the 104Aus of academic stuffs I have done, I am quite happy with where I am currently. Although I still face a fight to get my 2nd upper, engineering has been the right choice for me. Although the depression means a reduction in engineering jobs, the 4 years course has also allowed me to be shielded in a way. I have got another 1 year 4 months before I will step into the job market, hopefully, and that’s a big hope, that the economic will be on the way up by then, jobs will be plentiful, and I will be able to get an engaging job, with a good pay and ways to rise up the ladder if I am good. I know pretty well though, I gave up the chance of a an extremely outstanding pay from the onset, as many business graduates used to get and brag about in the years gone by.

But I guess I believe hard work and capabilities will shine in the end, and I have to keep value adding myself.

Above are just my personal thoughts, it might and will likely change in the future. Constructive comments are more then welcome.