Rowie's Scribbles

Aug 2011

2011-08-22T22:14:00.000+08:00

Well Merdeka Raya is around the corner! You know what that means!

1) Sale EVERYWHERE
2) Patriotism & kuih raya go hand-in-hand this year
3) Clear roads post 6.30pm
4) Sneaking into the pantry to make coffee
5) Cookies cookies cookies!
6) Raya music & patriotic messages burning up the radio waves

Festivities aside, it's been a big year for me; I'm officially an employee at Technip. Never mind that my official post is Graduate Process Engineer; I'm learning a LOT & I'm enjoying my work. I don't have a problem working overtime because I know the effort will translate into something REAL!

Yeah I've neglected this blog but I guess now that I'm more settled, I can get back to filling it up with articles! I'll provide a newsletter for our 2nd anniversary, at least I can work on that on & off. Many things have happened around the world:

1) The uprising of liberal democracy in Libya, Egypt & Syria
2) Teoh Beng Hock's death is still a mystery
3) Google+
4) Acid splasher rampage in KL
5) End of Oprah's TV show

Not to mention my obsession with the TV series Castle (hmm that's an idea for an article!), plus the slew of series that I'm already into (Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Desperate Housewives)! Then there's my new baby, the Hyundai i10 Kappa (Pocket Rocket!)

I'm grateful for everything that's happened & let's hope for the best! It's only August, my dears! :)

BOSET

2011-08-22T21:55:00.000+08:00

Recently I had the opportunity to visit an offshore platform for a site visit. The purpose of the visit is...jeng jeng jeng! Can't reveal much but I had to obtain information to complete my reports (yeah, I've reached the stage where 1 report is not enough!). I'd to take the following route to the platform:

Get a medical checkup > undergo BOSET training > get a safety passport > make the travel arrangements > get my butt there!

BOSET stands for Basic Offshore Safety Emergency Training. The purpose of this training is that I've a chance of staying a live should any one of following occurs:

i) Helicopter crash to the sea
ii) Platform abandonment

Also the training helps one to familiarize him/herself with the routine at the platform, like transferring from a boat to the platform, as well as the procedures to conduct work.

I attended the MIS BOSET which is recognized by Petronas & its affliates (if I'm not mistaken), at SEQU Offshore Training. It's a 3 day course, I don't know the exact fee of the course but I was told its around RM2k! The cert will last 4 yrs so it's not that bad! The course has several modules:

1) Basic Fire Fighting
2) Basic CPR
3) HUET (Helicopter Underwater Emergency Training) & EBS
4) Sea Survival
5) Offshore Orientation

The most memorable is the HUET module; somehow there's something thrilling about sitting in a simulated helicopter & getting submerged! Also the food served was amazing, I put on some weight while I was there, the food was irresistible! :D

I suppose the most important lesson is that one can never be too careful. The procedures imparted are the product of man's response to disasters that have happened & one mistake can have tragic results. It didn't add to my paranoia, but increased my confidence that I'll get to that platform & back in one piece.

In the end, I went for the site visit, got the stuff I needed, came back onshore & boy am I glad that I don't have to work offshore! :)

Music Goals

2011-02-04T15:34:00.002+08:00

Now that I've settled in my new routine, I'm outlining some music goals I want to achieve:

1. Improve my violin skills

I've resumed my violin classes & now I'm trying to master the 3rd position, my bowing is still problematic (I hate hearing notes that aren't supposed to be there) but at least the notes sound more solid & clearer. I've a copy of the Eta Cohen Violin Method book 3, it's a really good book with drills to strengthen the fingerwork & has a nice compilation of songs for practice. The current song I want to master on the violin is Bach's Violin Concerto in D minor, I'm learning different fingering combinations & trying to get the bowing right.

2. Expand my piano repertoire

I want to play these songs by the end of 2011:

Claire de Lune - I can't get past the 2nd page!
Flight of the Bumblebee - I'm still unable to play the piece smoothly
Fantasie Impromptu - suggested by a senior, I've trouble synchronising both hands!
Pop songs - there are many songs I've tried but still not up to playing it with some gusto!

Pretty ambitious but I gotta start somewhere, right?

3. Heaven knows I need a new sing-along CD for the long KL jams! Cee-Lo's Forget You is definitely gonna be on that CD, I'm addicted to that song! I've grown weary of surfing the radio channels to hear a song I actually like!

A short entry for me, I've got some entries half-written for this blog, so stay tuned! Happy Chinese New Year! :)

PS. My music school will be having a concert in March so let's hope I get to put on a good show!

Happy 2011

2011-01-03T00:53:00.000+08:00

Well 2011 has arrived & man, what a yr 2010 was! I started working in Dec & everyday is about learning something new! I realized I really like what I'm doing, I really enjoy coming to work especially since I've so many good friends there & a great group of people to look up to! :)

Now I know I haven't been updating my blog (giving reasons for my absence still doesn't make up for it, I know!) but I've been super busy & we all know it takes time to really focus on writing a proper blog piece! My promise still stands: should I have more time & attention, some new material will pop up here!

I suppose 2011 will be a yr where I will truly learn the meaning of financial independence, adult responsibility & fulfilling my career aspirations. If anything, 2010 has shown me that life can have many unexpected turns & it helps to have family & spiritual belief in oneself to overcome the challenges & become a stronger person at the end of the day!

I've resumed violin classes & I've fixed my piano so I'm tinkling away more often (to the chagrin of my family members + neighbors lol!), so there's 1 facet I'm set on improving! I've come to treasure my evenings with family & gatherings with my friends is a great habit I've started to practice!

I certainly hope 2011 will bring more joy & prosperity, I also know most of that will only come if I am open & willing to work for it, so here's to hoping I'll do way better than last yr! So happy 2011 everyone & good luck!

A Graduate's View: What Is A Chemical Engineer?

2010-09-24T22:01:00.000+08:00

I submitted this article to Cheresources so I thought to publish it here as well. It's mainly directed to students who aren't sure what chemical engineering is all about; a situation I was in 4 yrs ago :)

I remember the time when I’d just finished my pre-university course and wondered: what career do I want to do? I was a brilliant student, business and accounting was NOT for me, and I knew I wanted to go into something science-related but I didn’t want to be involved in research. Be a doctor? Nah I’d probably accidentally kill someone. Be a teacher? I lack the patience and the passion for that.

I came across the term “chemical engineering” and decided to do some reading on that. I had trouble understanding what it pertains to and I wished that someone provided an explanation about it back then! I took a risk accepting an offer to study chemical engineering and four years later, I’m grateful that I took that chance! So here’s my countdown on the top 5 things that make up a chemical engineer!

1) You don’t have to be a chem whiz

- Chemical engineering requires basic understanding of chemistry, physics, math: you’re not required to memorize formula, it’s more important to understand the principles and learn how to apply them to solve a problem/improve status quo. However after a few semesters, your brain WILL remember many formulae!

- You do need, however, to be analytical and think critically: you must be able to look at the problem from a bigger viewpoint but you must also be detailed in your analysis! Problem-solving is a key component in engineering because it is, after all, about making things better for the human race and the environment.

2) Speak up!

- A chemical engineer will have to communicate with various individuals: their superior, their colleagues, their project team mates, their counterparts from other disciplines, vendors and even the client! It’s imperative to communicate effectively not only to ensure accuracy in information distribution but to also create a comfortable and smooth working environment. Train yourself to have good interactive and communication skills because these are important assets to a chemical engineer.

- A useful advice I heard at a seminar recently was that junior engineers should not be afraid to speak up. We tend to think that because we’ve less experience than senior engineers, our ideas don’t matter much. They DO. A chemical engineer must be confident with his/her justifications and be able to present it winningly to the rest because if the idea is a good one, it’s worth a shot. Don’t be afraid to criticize/be criticized: every discussion/debate will change your perspective and you’ll gain more knowledge.

3) It’s a big, big world

- One of the reasons why I was drawn to chemical engineering was the fact that everything around us has, in one way or the other, come in contact with chemical engineering. Raw crude oil is taken from the deep underground reservoirs and processed by chemical engineers to produce commercial products like petrol for our cars and asphalt for our roads. Chemical engineers ensure that propylene undergoes catalytic reaction to produce acrylic acid, a raw material for various products, such as resins and even baby diapers!

- The fact that so many things around us come from chemical engineering is proof that there are various fields within this discipline. A chemical engineer can feel right at home in biotechnology, oil and gas industry, wastewater treatment, plastic manufacturing and petrochemical processing! Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s all about science: it’s good to know the economics of your work. An optimized solution is always the best one. Opportunities are boundless so it is good to explore different fields to find your calling.

4. 4) An ethical profession

- A chemical engineer will be directly/indirectly responsible for the lives of the technicians, operators and other staff working at a chemical plant/laboratory. A mistake in equipment design, or a careless judgment can cause serious injury and sometimes (unfortunately) death. It takes one death to turn a finely crafted project into a disaster. Safety always comes first and it’s the priority of every chemical engineer to provide a safe process/product for everyone else!

- A chemical engineer also has a duty to protect the environment: that’s why so many of them are working hard to reduce the impact of the industries on Mother Nature. Pollution is a severe problem and everyone knows it has negative impacts on the ecosystem and human health. Recycling and converting a waste product into a useful one are principles commonly incorporated by chemical engineers to fulfill this duty.

5) There’s always something fresh

- An important facet to chemical engineering is innovation: there’s always a new product or a new method in the works. Technology is always evolving and a good chemical engineer always keeps track of what’s hot and what’s not! It’s important to have a strong desire to learn new things; knowledge is every chemical engineer’s weapon and updating it will sharpen the blade to find a today’s solution for yesterday’s problems. It’s comforting to know that the old guys are still actively contributing ideas to the profession!

So are you thinking about being a chemical engineer? It’s definitely a fun, challenging and exciting career. It takes brains, guts and heart to be a good one. It’s a job that ultimately aims to make this world a better place! This is the lowdown from a girl who took a risk and spent four years of her life studying an enjoyable course. I hope students out there find this article an easy and useful one!

New Extension!

2010-09-19T21:37:00.000+08:00

I've decided to have a 2nd blog focusing on music to help me put my music links & thoughts in one place! It's brand new, I'm still mulling over the design & the background but do check it out & feel free to give suggestions!

It's gonna be a new experience for me, I think it'll help me to write more constructively in such a "specific" environment! It's an exciting venture for me so I hope you'll like it too! :)

Movie Review: Date Night

2010-09-19T17:25:00.000+08:00

I can't believe I forgot to write a review on this film! I watched it 4 times in the cinema, every time was like the 1st time, this film just tickled my funny bone endlessly!

Plot

Phil & Claire Foster is a married couple with 2 young children from New Jersey. They live an ordinary life & every week they go on a date night, leaving their children with a babysitter. They order the same food, refuse dessert & the demands of their working life made it difficult for them to embark on spontaneous intimacy.

When another couple (their friends) divorce, they realize they need to spark some life in their marriage & instead of eating at the usual place for date night, they dress up & drive out to Claw, a trendy new seafood restaurant. The couple were unable to get a seat & resorted to taking another couple's reservation, under the name Tripplehorns. While enjoying the food, 2 men approach them & request them to leave the restaurant.

The couple obliged, under the pretext that they were found out but when they arrive at the alley, the men turn out to be working for Joe Miletto, a mobster boss. They demanded the Tripplehorns to return a flashdrive stolen from their boss. Claire & Phil failed to convince the men that they were mistaken & they were taken to the park where Phil lied that the flash drive was hidden there.

The couple escaped & decided that the only way to get out of this mess was to get the flash drive from the real Tripplehorns & return it to Joe Miletto. Hence begins the fun ride of cool car scenes, hilarious jokes & unexpected twists to this simple yet ridiculously entertaining movie! :D

Cast

The chemistry between Tina Fey & Steve Carrell is fantastic; their lines are so witty & they carried their characters with such natural talent, it's easy to believe that the story can happen to anyone in real life! The supporting cast did well to provide easy humor & their interaction with the lead stars was very good. I especially liked Mark Wahlberg; he was smooth, funny & has a body certified as eye candy! Even James Franco's cameo role made for some great laughter in the film!

Music

I love the soundtrack, nothing new, but they fit the scenes like a glove, especially Fresh Groove, when we are introduced to Joe Miletto. Even the car chase scene was exciting, thanks to Cobrastyle! Great sound selection, despite not using any brand new compositions.

Conclusion

Definitely a good family show & the underlying values of trust & love in a relationship comes through in the end. Well-paced & well-balanced, this is really one of the best offerings of 2009.

Well, I watched it in the cinema 4 times! That's gotta count for something! :p

Mumbo Jumbo on a Saturday Night!

2010-09-19T12:31:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I had a tiny dilemma but with immense proportions: what was I gonna eat for dinner?

After laying out all the raw materials, I decided I was gonna make:

1) Black pepper stew

2) Stir-fried cabbage

The ingredients are:

1) Garlic: 6 pips for each dish

2) Black pepper flavoring: this Maggi offering was a bribe (private joke lol)

3) Lean pork mean: of course you can replace this with chicken, best to use thigh/meat with bones for extra flavor.

4) Cabbage: I'd half a cabbage so I used 3/4 of that for the stir-fried cabbage & the rest for the stew.

5) Carrot: 1 stick for each dish

6) Corn flour

7) 5 fresh prawns

8) Potato: I'd only one :p

9) Button mushroom: 6 pieces for the 1st dish. You can add some to the other but I felt there's only so much mushrooms we'd eat.

Let's go dish by dish!

Black pepper stew

1) Chop the potatoes into cubes. Dice the carrots & cut the cabbage but not too fine.

2) Slice the meat into thin slices. Dust each one with corn flour. The flour will help tenderize the meat as well as add texture to the soup.

3) Chop the garlic. Slice the mushrooms into half.

4) Mix the black pepper powder with 2 cups of water. Stir well.

5) Start the fire. Pour the cooking oil (less is better!) & stir fry the garlic when the oil is hot enough. Fry the garlic until they turn slightly golden then toss in the meat.

6) The meat will tend to clump together due to the flour so make sure they stay as separate as possible. Fry the meat until they no longer stick together & toss in the cabbage pieces, carrots, mushrooms & potatoes. Add in the black pepper mix & add water (as much as you want, I added 1 bowl of water).

7) Let it simmer for 1 hr to get everything cooked & tender.

Now that that's done, we move on to the 2nd dish!

Stir-fried cabbage

1) Chop the cabbage finely. Like, REALLY finely. Do the same for the carrots.

2) Chop the garlic.

3) Start the fire & pour oil when the wok is hot. Similar to the 1st dish, stir fry the garlic until they start to turn golden, then toss in the prawns. Fry the prawns until they're cooked then remove them. Overcooking the prawns will result in limp shrimps later.

4) Add in the carrot & the cabbage, stir fry & add water. Close the lid & let the dish simmer.

5) Add in a dash of pepper & salt. Return the prawns into the wok & mix well.

6) Once the cabbage is soft, it's ready for serving.

Conclusion

It was a yummy dinner, smiles over the table! :) A mumbo jumbo dinner indeed: fast, simple & delicious! :)

What's Next?

2010-09-16T18:11:00.000+08:00

Hey all!

I haven't been free lately, so it's hard for me to find inspiration to write good stuff! I'd the idea that if I were to commit to a routine, it'd be easier for me to produce something periodically, so I'm going to start writing book reviews on works by Nora Roberts, since she's the only author I'm faithfully following these days! I'm now looking for a star rating system as we speak! :p

I may also start a series of engineering notes, focusing on the new stuff I learned & solving calculation problems that I've encountered during my internship. Some stuff is in the works, like natural gas processing & some heat transfer calculations, I'll post them up as soon as I get into the mood to writing them out!

Feel free to drop suggestions, I'm open to other ideas & stay tuned! :)

Movie Review: Letters to Juliet

2010-09-12T16:28:00.000+08:00

I heard that this was a good film but I wasn't so sure because romantic comedies these days tend to be dry stuff...But I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this at home with mom & sisters :)

The Plot

Sophie Hall is a young writer who travels to Italy with her fiancé, Victor, to celebrate a pre-honeymoon, since Victor is going to open an Italian restaurant in New York. Sophie starts to feel distanced from Victor when he explores Italy for inspiration for his upcoming restaurant. She comes across a wall pasted with letters. These letters are by women who detail their heartaches to "Juliet". She observes as a woman collects the letters into a basket & Sophie follows her, only to meet the Secretaries of Juliet. She learns that this group of women write back to the owners of the letters.

When Victor leaves for a wine auction, Sophie decides to join the ladies & received a letter by an Englishwoman, Claire. Claire was 16 when she met Lorenzo & they planned to elope but pressure from her family & her own fear stopped her from meeting Lorenzo & she wrote of her anguish in her letter. Sophie responded & encouraged Claire to have the courage to find Lorenzo & explained that love then is still love now.

The Secretaries are then approached by a young British man, Charlie who confronts Sophie; turns out his grandmother is Claire & she had decided to return to Italy to find Lorenzo, as per Sophie's advice. Charlie is a cynical & doesn't believe in idealistic love stories but both women disagree & they embark on a trip across Italy to search for Lorenzo. In participating in Claire's pursuit for long-lost love, Sophie & Charlie learn the true meaning of courage & love.

The Cast

Initially it's hard to look at Amanda Seyfried smiling during the film because I was disturbingly reminded of her role in Chloe, but after the initial shock, I realized that Amanda Seyfried is one of the most versatile young actresses of today. She portrays her character's sincerity with such gusto & it was a very convincing act. Newcomer Chris Egan could use more meaty film presence but he pulled off the role of cynical, humorous & charming Charlie very well. Vanessa Redgrave is an icon; I believed every line she utters, every expression on her face: a true acting legend graced my screen for this film.

The Music

The soundtrack featured feel-good, light & easy-listening tracks, such as Taylor Swift's Love Story, Colbie Caillat's "You Got Me" & some lovely tunes like "Quando Quando Quando" & "The Magic Flute" (a Mozart's masterpiece). The music went well with the film, though there were times when it seemed too "quiet".

Conclusion

I didn't mention much about the ending because I didn't want to give too many spoilers but it's a lovely story, not like the common rom-com we get these days. It was sweet, romantic, funny & tugs at the heartstrings, like any good rom-com should do. Not to mention the great Italian landscapes; a fantastic backdrop to a good film! A definite must-watch with the ladies of your life! :)

Rowan

2010-09-06T21:25:00.000+08:00

Something random about the name Rowan which I am terribly fond of :p

The rowan tree is a shrub commonly found in northern Europe as well as in the north east parts of North America. Also known as the mountain ash, the rowan tree is believed to have magical properties by various cultures for many years. There are many different legends pertaining to this tree:

1. According to Finnish legend, the land was barren & devoid of life until a goddess, Rauni landed & took the form of the rowan tree. The tree was struck by lightning, described as the mating between Rauni & Ukko, the god of thunder, hence all plants & animals sprang forth from the rowan tree.

2. In England, the tree is where the Devil hanged his mother. Morbid, no?

3. The tree is prominent in Celtic folklore, providing protection against evil spirits. Rowan trees were planted at churchyards to keep the restless spirits in their graves & to protect the church. Women would wear necklaces of rowan berries strung with red thread & the twigs placed over the door/under the bed.

4. The Irish legend Forest of Dooros tells of faeries who love to eat the berries of the rowan trees brought from Fairyland. One of the seeds fell to earth & sprouted, producing berries that are not only sweet but can grant immortal life. To protect the magical tree, the faeries called upon the giant Sharvan in the forest & the few who dared to disturb the tree were never heard of again.

Today the rowan tree is a treasured material for magical practices. It's not only the preferred wood for making wands & amulets, it also purportedly can enhance the seer within by improving psychic abilities.

Laidley Wood (traditional Celtic ballad):

The spells were vain

The hag returned

To the Queen in a sorrowful mood

Crying that witches have no power

Where there is no Rowan tree wood

There's even a song about this tree!

Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree, thoul't aye be dear to me,
Entwin'd thou art wi' mony ties, o' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring, thy flowr's the simmer's pride
There was nae sic a bonnie tree, in all the country side.
Oh rowan tree.

How fair wert thou in simmer time, wi' all thy clusters white.
Now rich and gay thy autumn dress, wi' berries red and bright
On thy fair stem were mony names which now nae mair I see.
But there engraven on my heart, forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh rowan tree.

We sat aneath thy spreading shade, the bairnies round thee ran
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red and necklaces they strang.
My mither, oh, I see her still, she smil'd our sports to see,
Wi' little Jeannie on her lap, wi' Jamie at her knee.
Oh rowan tree.

Oh, there arose my father's pray'r in holy evening's calm,
How sweet was then my mither's voice in the martyr's psalm
Now a' are gane! we met nae mair aneathe the rowan tree,
But hallowed thoughts around thee twine o' hame and infancy,
Oh rowan tree.

An interesting bit to find out about the name of my online persona :)

Disclaimer: I was inspired to use the name after reading the Mayfair Witches saga (the protagonist is Rowan Mayfair, a powerful witch) :p

Movie Review: Going The Distance

2010-09-05T22:36:00.000+08:00

I just watched Going the Distance with uni mates today, I had my reservations seeing that some reviews described the show as one where the audience lapsed into a coma, but it was surprisingly good!

The Plot

Erin meets Garrett in NY & spends a great 6 weeks together before she returns to San Francisco to complete her studies. They embark on a long-distance relationship (LDR), coping with being without the other & missing each other. The strain of the relationship gets to the both of them but true love prevails *aww*

The Cast

The chemistry between the leading stars is critical for any movie, especially for a romantic comedy & this is where the strength of the film lies: the chemistry between Drew Barrymore & Justin Long is awesome, I wonder if they REALLY split up. Christina Applegate was hilarious as Erin's protective big sister, plus the tag team of Charlie Day & Jason Sudeikis provided some of the great laughs in the film.

The Music

Boxer Rebellion makes a cameo appearance in the film, their music is also featured in the soundtrack. The soundtrack makes use of simple, frill-free music to enhance the simplicity of the plot yet perfectly meshes with the complicated mess of romance.

Conclusion

Great film to watch with family, some moments are insanely hilarious, while others will tug at your heartstrings. Good insight into the ups & downs of LDRs; all in all, this is a film that won't fail you if you're looking for something sweet & fun.

Share An Ear?

2010-08-30T23:57:00.000+08:00

Now that I've some free time on my hands, I've returned to playing piano daily, to the despair of my fingers! I've tried out some new songs & uploaded them for y'all to listen!

Painted Heart - Theme song from Painted Skin movie

Riders of Rohan - From LOTR: The Two Towers OST

I'll upload more soon, when I'm free & have practiced enough!

Hmm makes me wonder if I should have kept my piano recordings site :/

Feel free to comment! I'd be happy to share the scores, though I played by ear for the 1st piece! :)

Try Matahariku, a popular Indonesian song by Agnes Monica :)

White Lions: King of Kings

2010-08-29T02:28:00.000+08:00

Have you heard of white lions of South Africa? I chanced upon some images & found out the following facts (taken from Global White Lions Protection Trust/WLT site):

1. They are not albino lions; they're a genetic rarity only found in the Timbavati region.

2. The genetic marker that makes them unique has yet to be identified. Hence they're still classified under the general species Panthera leo.

3. Earliest recorded sightings was in 1938. However oral records of African elders indicates they have been in the region for many centuries.

4. The white lion gene is carried by tawny lions, hence white cubs occur in many prides within the region.

5. Due to their unique features, the white lion was hunted almost to extinction & the last white lion sighted in the wild was in 1994.

6. Currently there is NO LAW protecting the existence of white lions.

These creatures are revered by the local communities in their endemic region. Often described as a gift from god, these animals are rarely sighted in the while due to hunting by humans; Linda Tucker, author of the book Mystery of the White Lions: Children of the Sun God mentioned that when her book was published in 2001, a white lion can fetch a sum of R250 000. In 2003, that price increased to a whopping R1.65 million.

Human greed & obsession has led to rampant in-breeding, which in turn caused the weakening of the gene, rendering offspring vulnerable to diseases & deformations. It is a common assumption that the creature can no longer survive in the wild; yet observations of wild specimens proved that the white lions are effective hunters, often able to bring down an impala kill independently of the pride.

Several zoos have taken the initiative to protect these beautiful animals & the numbers have been steadily growing. The WLT, a NGO, has successfully reintroduced white lions into the wild & observation showed that they are surviving well. An application to include the white lions in the IUCN's red list of endangered species failed because the white lion has yet to be considered as a separate species from the tawny lion, due to the fact that white lions have been born to prides of tawny lions.

It is imperative for more people to join efforts in protecting these creatures & decoding their unique gene to allow for better conservation before they are wiped out from this planet. Do donate to the WLT & show your support to save this rare species!

Movie Review: Vampires Suck

2010-08-29T01:58:00.000+08:00

It was bound to happen. The dream film that all Twilight dissers wished for is out. The parody that makes fun of everything sparkling, wolfish & lame is now in cinemas.

Plot

Becca Crane (oh what a name! LOL!) moves to Sporks & is attracted to Edward Sullens. Remaining faithful to the Twilight Saga where the movie is based on, the plot takes crucial elements & events from the saga & adds comedic twists to it. Since the entire Twilight saga is a joke, you can imagine the hilarity of watching other people imitate the characters from Stephenie Meyer's imagination.

Cast

Kudos to Jenn Proske for imitating Kirsten Stewart right down to the pathetic acting, hair tucking & hesitant movements. Her imitation was flawless & downright hilarious to watch! She stands out from the rest of the cast because I imagine it's tough to play a character with NO character at all! The rest of the cast has limited development because...well, there's not much character development in the original movies, but they did well to bring out the jokes that were plentiful!

Music

The soundtrack comprises some of the music used during key segments of the Twilight films, such as the unusually placed guitar riffs here & there. It became eerie to hear the music being played in a film besides those from the saga. Pretty eerie.

Conclusion

The film had some brilliant jokes (well they ARE making fun of Twilight!) & some pretty lame ones. To be honest, if not for the fact that I hate Twilight, I probably won't be watching this film. It comes off as too desperate sometimes & I always believe that a parody should draw from the original film & twist it to be funny; this film had too many new elements that are, sadly, not new to the world of parodies. A good effort & it was fun to watch. Definitely not for those Twitards :p

Lara Croft & The Guardian of Light

2010-08-29T01:33:00.001+08:00

The latest offering by Eidos & Crystal Dynamics combines several new elements as the Tomb Raider returns to our delight :p

i) Multiplayer option

For the 1st time, the franchise introduces a multiplayer element in the form of Totec, Lara's ally as she powers through mercenaries, giant spiders, trolls & other creatures to stop Xolotl, the keeper of darkness. Teamwork has a strong influence on gameplay: Lara & Totec will have to help each other to progress in the game. However players can still opt to play solo.

ii) Isometric viewpoint

This new feature not only brings an arcade feeling to the game, but it keeps both characters in sight even in dark environments & this is a great change, especially to old-time players, where problems such as difficult camera angles & coordination are smoothly eliminated.

iii) Same tune

The music uses recycled tracks from previous games such as Legend, Anniversary & Underworld. Good balance is achieved & as the game is a departure from the main series, it is a good tactic to establish the distinction between Lara Croft & the Tomb Raider brand.

Still, it's always good to be back in exploring the environments, the game provides plenty of opportunities for that & in the multiplayer mode, competitiveness is introduced as the number of kills/rewards are less & Lara will have to compete with Totec to try grab 'em all.

For more information of the game, check out the official site here as well as Gamespot's coverage here! Tomb Raider Chronicles' brand new microsite is not one to miss!

Movie Review: Inception

2010-08-28T23:47:00.001+08:00

Oh man this is gonna be tough. I watched this film twice in the cinema & I was still blown away when I left the theater the 2nd time. I'm waiting for the dvd to be out because I can't wait to be blown away AGAIN!

The film's fantastic, here's my homage to the film! :) Beware of spoilers though!

Plot

We're introduced into the world of dream espionage, where extractors like Dom Cobb navigates the maze of the mark's subconscious mind to obtain information. Extractor & mark are connected via a sedative administrating device. Dreams are constructed by architects; made to lull the mark into complacency & allowing the extractor access to the deepest archives of the mark's subconscious. We learn that similar to our body's T-cells attacking foreign bacteria invading our system, the mark's subconscious projections can be pretty hostile when they sense a foreign presence around.

Dom Cobb is a dream extractor; along with his pointman, Arthur, they sought corporate secrets from a Japanese businessman, Saito, for their client. Dom has been on the run after being accused of his wife's murder. Saito unravels their plans & offers Dom an opportunity to return home to his children. Desperate to be united with his children again, Dom accepts the offer & proceeds to conduct inception, where he will plant an idea in the mind of Robert Fishcer, the son of Saito's dying business rival. He & Arthur proceed to recruit a team for the mission: Eames, a forger (or shapeshifter in dreams); Ariadne, a talented dream architect; & Yusuf, a sedative chemist.

Dom is often plagued by his projection of Mal, his deceased wife & this projection sabotages his missions. He locks her in the deep recesses of his mind because in dreams, they're still together. The inception process is a difficult one because it involves multiple levels of dream building & as the levels become more complex, the stronger Mal's projection becomes because he has less control over her. He keeps this troubling fact from his team mates, except for Ariadne, who sneaked into his dream & faced a menacing Mal.

An idea is resilient; once it infects the mind of the target, it will change the target & drive him to make the decision wanted by the team. The mission is risky & as the film progresses, we watch how Dom overcomes his guilt & we are further entranced by the power & the danger of the subconscious.

Cast

The chemistry between the actors is amazing; the powerful acting helps us to focus on the idea presented by the film: that dreams are more complex than we can ever imagine. Leonardo DiCaprio has certainly grown up from his Titanic era: this is a man determined to get to his children, skilled at his craft & bound by his undying love for his dead wife. His agony & despair is powerful but not annoying, he emanates the deep love his character has for Mal perfectly. The supporting cast were superb, nothing was out of place & it helped present the idea, a terribly tricky task, clearly & unapologetically to the audience.

Music

You gotta hand to Hans Zimmer. Clever usage of booming low notes drive the film forward, gripping us in the power of the dream. Perfect synchronization with the story & perfect balance of gentle lilts with empowering roars to suck us into the film! Awesome, awesome music.

Conclusion

Christopher Nolan outdid himself; not only did he present a fresh & new story, he did it with impeccable style & appreciating the intelligence of his audience. Leaving the hall had me wondering more about the boundaries of the dream, the line between reality & our subconscious, & the untapped powers of our minds. Cheers to Christopher Nolan for delivering what has got to be the best film of 2010.

Another Step Forward

2010-08-28T15:38:00.001+08:00

Last Thur was my presentation of my industrial training. It was brief & successful; I was walking around on a cloud of relief & feeling a sense of accomplishment - it's finally over. I no longer have the eyes of the university on me, evaluating everything I do; now it's a different ball game altogether.

It feels like 4 yrs have passed by so quickly, I can still remember how my 1st day at university was. I made so many great friends & learned so much about myself. I accomplished a lot & I did my best to contribute to the diversity of the university. I had great experiences in & out of the university, & I'm not ashamed to say that I did good!

I've to say that my family was the my pillar of strength. Despite the doubts I had about university, about my internship, about myself as a person, they never lost faith in me & hence I'd to want more for myself. My success is their success, my work is their work. I may come from a university that many people has never heard about but you will know ME.

So for now, I'm enjoying my time at Technip, I love coming to work learning about everything related to chemical engineering, I love remembering what I learned before & I love finishing the tasks given. I've a long way to go, my career's barely started but I'm glad that I'm on the right track.

When convocation comes on 9 Oct, it'll mark the end of my era as a student & finally officiate my status as an eager graduate waiting to be employed.

Nothing is impossible, people. You just gotta work hard to make sure your dreams come true & that your goals become a reality. Thank you & be happy always!

Merdeka 2010

2010-08-28T15:19:00.000+08:00

53 yrs have passed since our 1st Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman called out the Merdeka cheer after we finally gained independence from Britain.

53 yrs have passed & we have seen so much change, so much improvement & crises in our nation.

As it's been for 53 yrs, 31st Aug will be met with celebration, patriotism & sheer joy in remembering that same Merdeka cheer.

But I feel Malaysia is now at crossroads; every step we take will either bring our country to a better future or stagnant despair. This coming Aug 31st sadly doesn't make me very happy because I don't see much progress as we should be making. All I see is:

i) the ruling party spewing 1Malaysia as the reason to NOT work harder for us

ii) the opposition party having internal spats like dogs over a bone

iii) racism still prevalent in this country: take the case of the headmistress who distastefully called minority groups "penumpang" & that they can return to their "home countries" during school assembly (why hasn't ISA knocked on her door yet?)

iv) an education system that needs a revamp...yet people STILL think we shouldn't use English as the medium for Science & Maths.

v) poverty. mental illnesses. crime. senseless murders: I recall the stabbing of a woman who had just survived cancer.

vi) Malaysian youth = materialism + recklessness.

vii) a harsh & unforgiving society: how can baby hatches be wrong when we're too "scared" to talk about sex education?

What I really want for Malaysia:

i) Transparency. The laws are there. Why are they not in use? Why are politicians making a joke of themselves?

ii) Equality. NEP is no longer relevant. How is a poor Indian or Chinese any different from a poor Malay?

iii) 1Malaysia. I still see myself as a Malaysian Chinese. Do you see yourself as a MALAYSIAN or a (insert race here)?

iv) Development. Collapsing stadiums built on taxpayers' money is the perfect analogy of what will happen if we do not improve ourselves to compete in the real world competition.

v) Maturity. We cannot keep pretending that gays are not humans, that our little girls will grow up & that baby dumping is a trend. Where is the initiative to change society to become more compassionate?

Maybe in the future, I will be looking forward to Merdeka celebrations. But for now, I'm going to work on Mon & on Tue, I'm just gonna sleep in because it's a significant day gone to goddamn shame.

Damn that Nail!

2010-07-03T15:01:00.000+08:00

I stepped on a nail 2 weeks ago; fear of tetanus had me scrambling for the doctor! While I was waiting for the jab, I wondered what IS tetanus? So I decided to read up & write about it :p

The Disease

Tetanus is caused by the spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani that live in soil. Wounds coming into contact with the bacterium spores become a breeding ground due to poor oxygen present. The bacterium will produce the toxin tetanospasmin that results in uncontrollable muscle spasms. These spasms cause the jaw to "lock", hence the disease is sometimes called "lockjaw".

Global tetanus cases

Worldwide immunization coverage

The Symptoms

Typically the spasms will affect the muscles of the jaw; as the disease progresses, the face & neck are also affected. Soon more distant muscles such as those in the legs & arms will be affected by the toxin. Without treatment, death is the final outcome.

The Medicine

Thankfully, the disease can be prevented. Today immunization against this disease is necessary in infants; if one comes into contact with potential spores, injection of tetanus immune globulin is available in most clinics.

The Message?

Always be careful! Injection should be administered less than 24 hrs after the wound is inflicted. Check with your local clinic on the available vaccines & ensure that you & your child have received immunization at appropriate times.

How Safe Are You On The Road?

2010-06-27T15:55:00.000+08:00

Everyday we hear about road accidents. Many lives are lost & forever changed by these incidents: according to the Malaysian Road Safety Dept's official site, there were a total of 397,194 accidents in 2009 alone. From these cases, 6, 218 were fatal.

The fact that people seem to ignore is that these accidents CAN BE AVOIDED. It all boils down to Malaysian drivers practicing safe conduct while on the road. Irresponsible drivers who fail to use the basic tools incorporated in their vehicles & practicing civic consciousness not only pose a risk to themselves but on others, not to mention the trouble they cause for their own family members.

So, just how safe are you on the road? Answer the questions below to find out:

1. Do you make/accept phone calls while driving?

YES

2. Do you send/read text messages (SMS) while driving?

YES

3. Do you beat the red light?

YES

4. Do you speed?

YES

5. Does your car overshoot the pedestrian crossing?

YES

6. Do you wear seatbelts (if you're a passenger)?

YES

7. Do you flash your signal lights when you drive into the next lane?

YES

8. Do you switch on your headlights while driving through an underground parking lot?

YES

9. Do you switch on your headlights when it's dark out (early morning, evening & night)?

YES

10. Do you keep a safe distance between your front bumper & the back bumper of the car in front of you?

YES

RESULTS

If your answers are mostly NO, then you are NOT a safe driver. These precautions are really BASIC precautions; they are the most crucial steps to ensure you reach your destination in ONE PIECE. It's a shame that these precautions are only mentioned briefly to our youths when they prepare to get their driving license; let's not forget that many young Malaysians actually "buy" their licenses, not earn them!

Driving cars is a responsible luxury; we shouldn't take our skills & the precautions for granted. A split second is all it takes to end your life & the lives of others. Drive safe & think about your loved ones. It may be hard to break the habit of reckless driving, but that would be the best decision of your life.

Movie Review: Chloe

2010-06-22T22:16:00.000+08:00

I recently watched this Hollywood remaking of the French film Nathalie at home. The film is said to be more erotically charged than the original, where a lesbian relationship between the main characters wasn’t fully explored. I’d say this film may be too explicit for most people but hopefully my review will give you a peek into the twisted world of Chloe.

Plot

Catherine is a successful gynecologist living in Toronto, Canada with her husband David, a lecturer, and their 17-year-old son, Michael. Despite her career success, she feels lonely and unable to communicate openly with her husband & son. On her husband’s birthday, she planned an elaborate surprise party only to cancel it when her husband was unable to return home from a seminar. She suspects her husband of having an affair with a student & hires an escort, Chloe, to seduce David and prove his infidelity.

Chloe details her meetings with David to Catherine, who is torn between her feeling of betrayal & her fascination with her husband’s sexual encounters with Chloe. Pressured by her insecurity & loneliness, she engages in an affair with Chloe, only to bring danger upon her family.

Cast

Julianne Moore portrayed a woman giving in to her doubts & her passion perfectly. It was easy to sympathize with her character. Kudos to Amanda Seyfried; this was the first time I've seen her in a very serious & dramatic role, it was hard to tell if Chloe was crazy or malicious. Liam Neeson & Max Theriot did well in their supporting roles.

Music

The music was composed by Mychael Danna & it perfectly sets up the tone of the film; there were times when I couldn't tell if the show was gonna get creepy or sentimental because of the music! Canadian indie band Raised by Swans had 2 songs featured in the film, as they were mentioned by Chloe to Michael.

Conclusion

I found the film refreshing & (not surprisingly) European lol! It’s certainly realistic & the value of honest & open communication between family members is championed in this film. It’s definitely not a film for fans of mainstream fare :p

Methane Hydrate: Potential Fuel?

2010-06-22T21:54:00.001+08:00

What is Combustible Ice?

This “combustible ice” was later revealed to be methane hydrate (MH), a mixture of methane (CH₄) & water. Frozen water molecules form a crystalline lattice structure, trapping high concentrations of CH₄ molecules.

MH forms in 2 types of geologic environments with low temperatures & high pressure, where sufficient gas is present:

1. Below permafrost layers of rock

2. Beneath ocean floor (water depth>500m)

The MH deposits may be several hundred meters thick.

MH forms via the following methods:

1. Biogenic: biological activity in sediments

2. Thermogenic: geological processes deeper within the earth

Under atmospheric conditions, CH4 begins to escape the structure, causing the fizzling phenomenon. Put a lit match to the fizzling ice & it will burn. 1m³ of MH releases 164m³ of natural gas. MH was discovered in the 1970s during explorations by oil & gas companies, & was regarded as a peculiarity. Today, the industry frequently encounters MH as they venture farther out to sea in search of fossil fuels.

MH has been discovered in the following areas:

1. Permafrost of Mallik field, Beaufort-Mackenzie region above the Arctic circle, Canada

2. Nankai trough, offshore Japan

3. Gulf of Mexico

4. Prudhoe Bay & Kuparuk River oil fields, North Slope of Alaska

5. Carolina trough, offshore South Carolina, US

6. Messoyakha field, Western Siberia, Russia

7. Cascadia margin, off the coast of northern Washington & southern British Columbia, Canada

Many countries have begun to see the potential of MH to secure their energy resources:

1. Since 2000 – Japan has drilled 36 exploratory wells in Nankai trough – received largest investment & advanced field research

2. 2003 – an international consortium produced natural gas from MH in Canada – included Canada, Germany, India, Japan & US

3. 2007 – Japan & Canada began long-term production tests in Mackenzie delta

4. 2008 – US Dept of Energy (DOE) signed agreements for joint research on MH with India, Japan & Korea

5. 2009 – BPAX & US DOE explored sites for long-term production

Promise & Peril

CH₄ is the primary constituent of natural gas, making it a valuable source of energy. Natural gas is a desirable fossil fuel because it is reliable, efficient & carbon-intensive. Estimated world MH reserves stand at 400 million trillion ft³, dwarfing the 5500 trillion ft³ of proven natural gas resources. This makes MH a promising candidate to be the fuel of the future. However the mining of MH is still in the R&D stage, although Japan is poised to be the 1^st commercial producer of MH.

The main concern with MH mining is the instability of MH. MH are only quasi-stable; this property causes MH to dissociate when surrounding conditions pass out of the stability regime (when temperature increases or when pressure decreases). This poses a hazard on various levels:

1. Safety hazards during mining: uncontrolled gas releases during drilling; collapse of well casings; gas leakages to the surface.

2. Conversion of MH-bearing sediment into a gassy, water-rich fluid: may cause landslides, tsunamis – evidence of MH causing seafloor landslides has been found along the Atlantic Ocean margin in the US.

3. Acceleration of global warming: the content of CH₄ in hydrates is approximately 3000 times more than that present in the atmosphere. CH₄ is 10 times more effective than CO₂ in causing global warming. Unsafe mining practices may yield rogue CH₄ to the environment & increase the rate of global warming.

However with governments providing financial support for R&D in MH, some promising avenues have been identified:

1. Using CO₂ injection: CO₂ hydrates are more stable than MH. The trapped CH4 in the MH is exchanged with injected CO₂, hence releasing CH₄. This method is an attractive CO₂ sequestration step as climate change legislation continuously dictates the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

2. Extra-terrestrial MH: NASA has identified the existence of MH in ices on the moons of Saturn.

3. Synthetic MH: various efforts have been made to artificially create MH in the lab, such as ice-seeding method (Durham et. al, 2010). Research is underway to understand the geophysical properties of MH & production of pure MH.

Conclusions

As the world’s oil & gas reserves deplete amidst increasing demand for fossil fuel, MH is emerging to answer the call for alternative energy sources. Despite its immense potential, lack of knowledge on this substance has limited our strategies to make it a commercially viable energy source. More research & initiative is needed before we can tap MH as the substitute of oil & gas. Until then, this fiery ice will remain a fascinating treasure under the cold ice & deep blue.

References

1. Cohen, D.M. (2009, May). Hydrate production & CO₂ injection: Two birds with one stone. World Oil Magazine, 230 (5), 21.

2. Dillon, W. (1992). Gas (Methane) Hydrates: A New Frontier. Retrieved from US Geological Survey site at http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/gas-hydrates/title.html

3. Durham, W.B., Kirby, S.H., & Stern, L.A. (1998). Polycrystalline Methane Hydrate: Synthesis from Superheated Ice, and Low-Temperature Mechanical Properties. Energy & Fuels, 12(2), 201-211.

4. Schmidt, G. (2004). Methane: A Scientific Journey from Obscurity to Climate Super-Stardom. Retrieved from NASA GISS Research Features at http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/features/200409_methane/

5. Maize, K. (2008). Methane Hydrates: Gold’s Predictions Vindicated. Retrieved from Power Magazine Blog at http://www.powermag.com/blog/index.php/2008/11/13/methane-hydrates-golds-predictions-vindicated/

6. Mielke, J.E. (2000). Methane Hydrates: Energy Prospect or Natural Hazard? Retrieved from National Library for the Environment site at http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/energy/eng-46.cfm?&CFID=1255395&CFTOKEN=96369856

7. Pentland, W. (2008, October). Methane Hydrates: Energy’s most dangerous game. Retrieved from Forbes.com site at http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/07/f-forbes-naturalgas.html

8. Walter, K. (1999). Methane Hydrate: A Surprising Compound. Retrieved from LNLL Science & Technology Review at https://www.llnl.gov/str/Durham.html

Internship Woo!

2010-06-22T21:51:00.000+08:00

Well I just started my internship at Technip Geoproduction (M) Sdn Bhd, at Wisma Technip located on Jalan Tun Razak. I was pretty lucky as this was the only 1 out of the 11 companies I contacted that accepted my application. I first heard of this company when one of my seniors conducted her internship there & is now a graduate engineer at the same company.

The internship is a compulsory requirement for my graduation from UMP:

1. Duration: 6 months (June – Nov)

2. Work scope: anything related to chemical engineering lol!

3. Allowance: depends on the company.

4. Supervisor: depends on the company.

Since the company is in KL, my food & accommodation is settled hehe! So far I’ve been here for nearly 2 weeks, so here are my impressions:

1. I hate KL traffic jam! It takes me about30 min to go to work but an HOUR just to get back! Even leaving at 5pm doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride home >.<

2. I hear ambulance sirens everyday, sometimes 8 times! I guess this is justified by the fact that there are several hospitals down the main road.

3. Everyday I record stuff in my log book: new terms, concepts, processes…anything to fill it up!

4. I have a love-hate relationship with the World Oil, Hydrocarbon Processing & Offshore Engineering magazines; it’s interesting to read the articles but it can be really boring too!

5. KL food is expensive >.<>

What do I think about the company? I think it’s cool:

1. It’s an MNC so you definitely feel the vibe of different nationalities & cultures here when there’s French dudes in the elevator speaking adorable English! Everyone’s speaking English here which is cool & there are various opportunities for the staff to be stationed overseas!

2. Plus there are monthly lectures by senior engineers for the younger employees to discuss project updates, new technologies, company policies etc, which I feel is good for one to enhance their knowledge (the only way for us to go up the engineering ladder!).

3. The company’s strict about internet browsing: even CNN & BBC are off-limits! Facebooking is a no-no. They detect potential spam mail in the intranet too. I’m fine with these constraints: they may be frustrating at times when they block useful sites from us, but then we have a pretty extensive department library so that shouldn’t be a problem!

4. The company has sports activities, an interesting newsletter & other events encouraging mingling among the staff. I’m planning to join the weekly badminton training for ladies; I also heard there’s a band here :p

I haven’t done much yet as the engineers are busy, but I certainly hope that I will be able to continue working at Technip. Plant design everyday: Fun, no? :p

Article on manipulative politicians takes on fairy tale sheen

2010-06-22T21:42:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time in a land far away…

A typical beginning with a non-typical ending!

It may be an analogy of the world oil scenario today but it’s a pretty good piece of literature, I was very impressed! Written by Les Skinner, I came upon this article in the World Oil magazine while at work. The article gave a smart & creative description on how politicians manipulate the industry for selfish reasons.

I couldn’t find the article online & I shan’t post the entire article online. I suggest getting the magazine which has other interesting articles (Expanding Roles of NOCs, 131-141). You can also get the article straight from here (http://www.worldoil.com/May-2008-Drilling-advances.html). But if you’re unable to get the magazine, drop a comment & I will try to provide the soft copy for you :)

We need more articles like this for the laymen to understand the industry’s perspective on crooked politicians!

Reference: Skinner, L. (2008, May). A tale of two craftsmen. World Oil Magazine, 229 (5), 29.

Movie Review: The Cove

2010-05-31T22:37:00.000+08:00

This 2009 documentary highlights the dolphin slaughter at Taiji, Japan. Headed by Ric O'Barry, the film covers the following issues:

1. Dolphin captivity

2. Dolphins as intelligent beings

3. Mercury poisoning

4. Lack of awareness

5. Empowerment of activists

I'll do this piece in a slightly different format from my previous movie reviews, seeing as this film is WAY different from the rest.

Story

Ric O'Barry was the man who helped capture & train 5 dolphins for the phenomenal film Flipper. The film started the storm that was dolphin parks. However one of the dolphins committed suicide in his arms, sparking his transformation into one of the most prolific dolphin activists on the planet.

The film then covers the history of whaling & the actions of the international community for & against this activity. It also discussed the effects of mercury poisoning as a result of dolphin meat consumption. The film followed the cast as they set up secret cameras to eventually record the dolphin slaughter for the world to see.

Cast

Ric O'Barry is a very determined activist on a mission to stop the killings at the cove. He believes that "focusing on that small body of water" would be the start to stop dolphin slaughter in other parts of Japan & the world. He is accompanied by a team of activists who are diligent in setting up the cameras amidst the tight security & braving interrogation by the fishermen...not to mention being followed by the cops! A brave & inspiring group of men & women who would do what's right to save one of nature's most beautiful creatures from a senseless death.

Music

Penned by J. Ralph, the music is a powerful engine, transporting us through the film with Japanese nuances and amazing dynamics. My favorite piece is Dolphins & Ric, which provided the support towards the end of the film, where notes were flashed about the actions taken by various parties in response to the film itself. That was a fabulous composition.

Conclusion

A moving documentary, its very well-structured to give the suspense of an action film, yet the reality of it is shocking. This barbaric slaughter is an unreasonable clinging to an outdated & unnecessary tradition. Japan's excuses show that they'll stop at nothing to protect a ridiculous pride:

1. The killing method has been improved so that more than half of the animals are killed instantly

2. The Taiji fishermen are told to kill the dolphins as "pest control" since the dolphins consume their fishes

3. The recruitment of countries like Cambodia & Laos to support their whaling agenda

Support the Cove at their site or on Facebook.

The Taiji dolphin slaughter is scheduled to resume every September. Unless we stop it.

Nuts about GLEE!

2010-05-31T17:09:00.001+08:00

As some of my friends noticed, I'm a HUGE fan of GLEE! The American musical-comedy TV series is the latest craze on Malaysian shores & I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a GLEEK! :p

It revolves around the McKinley High School show choir called New Directions comprising of very different individuals in it together for different reasons. I just watched the 20th episode & I'm loving' it! :D

Similar to HSM?

To be fair, I've never watched HSM: I've avoided it like the plague lol. But friends who watched both series generally described GLEE as the "smarter version of HSM".

Ouch!

One thing for sure, is people don't just burst into song on GLEE; there's usually a stage or a proper avenue for their performances. It's like a REALLY long-running cabaret show IMO! :p

PS. I REALLY don't think Vanessa Hudgens can sing without irritating me.

The Appeal

I suppose why people are into the show is the characters are not the popular, hip kids of high school; there's the invalid nerd, the Asian goth, the star wannabe, the dimwit footballer & other assorted freaks. I relate to this series easily because:

1. I was never part of the popular crowd lol

2. UMPO has yet to be recognized as a positive force of nature

3. I've had experiences where people label performers as whimsical & useless

Plus I appreciate the combined dance & singing performances; I mean the cast can REALLY sing! :0

Another thing I like about GLEE is the variety of music it covers:

Theatricality covered music by Lady Gaga; I especially love the Poker Face piece, I didn't know it was Poker Face until the chorus!
Gold Digger was a HOT HOT piece!
I like the focus each episode has on a certain music genre/artist (refer to The Power of Madonna!)

I've a lot of songs by the GLEE cast, the songs are great sing-along material! :D

The story is really fantastical, it's got both a cynical edge & a whimsical look at high school life: we've the pregnant teenager, the turbulent love lives of teens, the desperate search for recognition & popularity, plus the nasty conspiracies that sneak around the halls of McKinley High.

Conclusion

I'm a GLEEK! I'm a GLEEK! I love the series & I can't wait to see & hear more from this great production!

Plus Sue Sylvester is IRRESISTIBLE! Don't stop believin', folks! :D

Baby Hatch in Malaysia: Its True Purpose

2010-05-31T00:48:00.000+08:00

The 1st baby hatch was set up in Petaling Jaya for mothers to leave their unwanted babies for adoption (TheStar). I applaud the move by OrphanCARE to save the lives of these abandoned babies & provide hope that they would be cared for in a loving home.

I'm shocked, however, by comments by some Malaysians that this step would encourage youths to have unprotected sex & it doesn't solve the problem of the rising number of teens having premarital sex. What do you guys want, actually? Problem isn't really the number of teens fooling around; the hatch was set up to save abandoned babies from a certain death.

I wish more Malaysians would be supportive of caring & positive acts to aid our society.

Had YOU been willing to talk to your children about sex;
Had YOU been willing to teach them about protection;
Had YOU been willing to offer support when they needed it most;
Had YOU been willing to put aside old-fashioned values to solve a modern problem;

We wouldn't have to set up a baby hatch in the first place.

I'm glad & proud that MY parents were willing to talk to me & my sisters like adults & teach us the importance of being responsible. I know if I have an unwanted pregnancy, I can talk to my parents & work out the solution. I wish more parents out there would be like mine.

The life we have to guard the most is the child because it's not his/her fault that he/she was brought into this world under such controversial circumstances. The baby hatch is a small step for us to redeem ourselves.

Debate: Arau Open 2010

2010-05-27T21:04:00.000+08:00

UMP debaters (English & BM) participated in the Arau Open Public Speaking & Debating Championship (AROPSDEC) recently organized by UiTM Arau (Perlis) on 20-22 May. The CA was Dr Omar Salahuddin & in the seminar organized before the preliminary rounds, he mentioned that the standard of debating has dropped among Malaysian institutions, it was time to stop the jaguh kampung mentality & to expose our young debaters to the REAL level required in competitive debating.

The tournament was different on several levels:

1. Only 1 motion was released per round, as opposed to 3 motions in usual tournaments...Probably to exert pressure on teams to focus on what were relatively, well, pressing issues ATM.

2. I'd the feeling that the teams & the judges are very new to the Australasian debating style; I saw new faces & many familiar faces were not around. It was heartening to see that these new faces were enthusiastic about the tournament.

3. I suspect that many judges failed to analyze the principles of the debate & focused instead on mechanism. This is unfair to teams who DID debate & focused on providing explanation on principles as is expected.

4. A very clear adjudication briefing reminded us that both matter & manner were of equal importance, & tips were given on how to conduct a fair adjudication. Briefings like this are, IMO, rare in local tournaments.

The motions were:

Round 1 THW force priests to marry or leave the holy order

Round 2 THW take guns away from the Malaysian police

Round 3 THW endorse the nuclear option in Malaysia

Round 4 THW prosecute the executive board members of oil companies for environmental crimes

Round 5 THW mandate airlines to weigh passengers with their baggage

Quarters THW not protect Greece's economy

Semis I forgot the topic :p

Finals THW command South Korean armed forces to seek reprisals against North Korea

UMP English teams won 3 out of 5 preliminary rounds; unfortunately our margin points were not enough to help us break into the quarters. Nevertheless we did achieve the objectives of our participation:

1. Learn the Australasian debating style

2. Improve on point elaboration & manner

3. Improve team dynamics

4. Enjoy Perlis!

It was a great experience for me, because I got the chance to spend time with my debating family & to try my hand out at adjudication. I'm proud that our teams did well & we're more inspired to do well in future tournaments! :)

Subsidy Rationalization: Time to Let Go

2010-05-27T20:41:00.000+08:00

I attended that Subsidy Rationalization Lab Open Day held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center with Becca. I expected an exhibition but I didn't expect to see the following individuals discussing the subsidy reform plan for Malaysia: Datuk Seri Idris Jala (CEO, PEMANDU), MP Tony Pua, & Mr. Azman Mokhtar (MD, Khazanah Nasional) among others (I confess, I can't recall their names :p).

I entered late but I got the gist of the forum:

1. We need to remove subsidies

2. How to remove subsidies? How long will it take? Which ones should go 1st?

3. Despite the subsidy removal, we must ensure that the welfare of the poor is protected.

Food

I don't have all the statistics but RM3.1billion for food (flour, sugar, cooking oil) is WAY too significant for us to ignore. Our prices for sugar is RIDICULOUSLY low (the lowest in ASEAN, in fact), the subsidies are effectively beneficial to the industry & smuggling of OUR sugar across borders to OTHER countries is rampant. Time to order teh tarik kurang KURANG manis & to cut out them sugary drinks & kuih. Diabetes is on the rise & we COULD use a little less sugar in our meals.

Education

The government has subsidized our school fees, exam fees & even textbooks! I remember during my school years, whenever mom complained about having to fork out money to buy books, it wasn't a pinch on the family budget. I think at this point of time, we can't take education for granted. It shouldn't be a free ride if we can afford it. Many middle-income families can certainly afford primary & secondary education. I say we should keep the subsidies for poor & low-income families where the subsidies would not go to waste.

As for tertiary education:

The university fees for international students are significantly lower than in other neighboring countries. No offense, but I'm sure we don't NEED to subsidize foreigners when we have a lot of local kids needing financial help!
One of the options provided at the exhibition is to provide private places in public universities: meaning allow students to join & pay the full amount of the fees (zero subsidy). This is a good measure, when the university has paying students, it has to improve its facilities & the quality of the education.
The fees will increase by RM800 for technical courses (engineering, medicine etc) & RM500 for non-technical courses (accounting, social science etc) to start off the subsidy removal process.
I think we need to reform the allocation system. Despite the government saying that the racial quota is no longer in place, the reality is otherwise. We have students with poor entry qualifications gaining places in public university while others with stellar academic achievements are turned away. We need more transparency & not just in university allocation but also for scholarship awarding. I believe scholarships should be given to students who are having financial difficulty & race/religion should NOT be a factor to give away taxpayers' money without justification.

Fuel & Electricity

If I heard it right, the amount of gas in Malaysia isn't enough to fuel the entire country so we still rely on coal-fired power stations for most of our electricity. I've discussed this topic with friends countless times:

Improve public transport & provide fuel subsidies for our buses & trains.
The poor rarely have cars; some don't even have motorbikes! Here we see the largest consumers of fuel are the middle-class to upper-class Malaysians.
Tony Pua: in Klang, every baby will have a car. Think about that.
Malaysia is becoming a car country, which means the government can't sponsor each family cheap fuel.
Remove road tax. It's an unnecessary cost once people stop to drive that much as the result of fuel price liberalization.

Households utilizing RM20 & less of electricity do not have to pay for it = RM14+million last year. When you consider the fact that the average household is using more electricity (a home entertainment set & PC center is the norm today), that's a LOT of subsidies.

What Malaysia needs is the subsidy reform. We cannot survive with such a huge budget deficit & we don't want to turn into Greece. This has been said many times, but the government needs to take charge & ensure that the people TRULY come first & that the time to perform is NOW. I certainly hope that Malaysia will still be a good, if not better, place for my children to grow up in & this can only be possible if we see past our greed & get down to making things right.

Home Sweet Home!

2010-05-07T12:34:00.000+08:00

I'm happy to say that I'm back in the comfort of my home! I'll be driving back to UMP on Sun for debate training (got 2 upcoming tournaments) but these past few days have been blissful!

TV...Internet...a firm bed...a comfortable loo...garlic bread...stove...fridge...yogurt...newspaper...

The simple comforts that make up a home are all here!

I even rented a new book:

Not bad, huh? I'm enjoying myself, recuperating from all the months of sleepless nights...I can barely get my body up every morning because I'm loving mah bed! :D

I'll write more once my mind & body are awake :p See you soon!

Dream Song List for Convocation

2010-04-25T17:34:00.001+08:00

A chat today made me wonder: what songs would I like to hear reverberating through the hall during my convocation ceremony? I went through my song collection & selected the following:

1. Let It Be - The Beatles

When I find myself in times of trouble,

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness,

She is standing right in front of me

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken-hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted,

There is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me,

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music,

Mother Mary comes to me,

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

2. Kenangan Terindah - Samsons

Aku yang lemah tanpamu

Aku yang rentan karena

Cinta yang telah hilang darimu

Yang mampu menyanjungku

Selama mata terbuka

Sampai jantung tak berdetak

Selama itu pun

Aku mampu tuk mengenangmu

Darimu...kutemukan hidupku

Bagiku...kaulah cinta sejati

Bila yang tertulis untukku

Adalah yang terbaik untukmu

Kan kujadikan kau kenangan

Yang terindah dalam hidupku

Namun takkan mudah bagiku

Meninggalkan jejak hidupku

Yang telah terukir abadi

Sebagai kenangan yang terindah

3. Happy - Leona Lewis

Someone once told me, that you had to choose.

What you win or lose,

You can't have everything.

Don't cha take chances

Might feel the pain

Don't cha love in vain

'Cause love won't set you free.

I could stand by the side

And watch this life pass me by

So unhappy

But safe as could be.

So what if it hurts me?

So what if I break down?

So what if this world just throws me off the edge

My feet run out of ground

I gotta find my place

I wanna hear my sound

Don't care about all the pain in front of me,

I just wanna be happy,

Just wanna be happy.

Holding on tightly, just can't let it go

Just trying to play my role

Slowly disappear.

All these days I feel like they're the same

Just different faces, different names,

Get me outta here.

I can't stand by your side

Watch this life pass me by.

So what if it hurts me?

So what if I break down?

So what if this world just throws me off the edge

My feet run out of ground

I gotta find my place

I wanna hear my sound

Don't care about all the pain in front of me,

I just wanna be happy,

Just wanna be happy.

4. Pomp & Circumstance - Sir Edward Elgar

I love the grandeur of this piece :)

5. You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

When I am down, & oh, my soul so weary
When troubles come & my heart burdened be
Then, I am still & wait here in the silence
Until you come & sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

6. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Just a small-town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born & raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine & cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on & on & on & on

Strangers, waiting, up & down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh the movie never ends
It goes on & on & on & on

Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people

7. You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones

I saw her today at the reception,
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was a footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need.

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing "we're gonna vent our frustration,
If we don't, we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse"

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need.

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill
We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was "dead"
I said to him:

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need.

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need.

8. Imagine - John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no country
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

So...
I'm not sure if any of these songs will be played during my convocation ceremony, but it would be nice to have good inspirational music on one of the most important days of my life.

Ignorance Breeds Cruelty

2010-04-18T14:29:00.000+08:00

It was heart-wrenching to read this news article today. It's hard to believe that humans can be capable of such cruelty & can commit such a humiliating act to another person.

Then there were students posting memos reminding the rest of us "less-than-holy" peers not to get caught up in romance & our hormones to avoid descending into the "darkness" & "path of sin". I laughed out loud & sighed with frustration reading the immature statements of so-called university students. It just shows how ignorant young adults can be; recap Indonesian students condemning condom use as legalizing casual sex.

I've a few things to say:

Prohibiting doesn't work

We've been advising people not to "couple up" so as to avoid the risk of having sex but unwanted pregnancies still happen. No matter how the authorities may TRY to stop guys & gals from mingling & going out dating, humans will be humans ie. rebellious & curious. Throw in hormones & you've a potent mix. It's silly to stop couples from going out because they're determined to go out anyway & we're not sending the message that we're suppose to deliver: practice caution. Discouraging communication between the opposite genders will either create gals who are too frightened to talk to a guy because, hey, he's thinking of drilling you, or guys who are hell-bent on getting laid when all restrictions are off.

Educate to protect

One problem with our society is that sex is still a taboo topic, despite our exposure to free information & the globalization of our nation. It's amusing to note that even full-grown adults can consider sex as a duty of a wife to her husband, that it's disgusting & it'll make a girl wanna kill herself (yes, I've heard crap like that before). What our society needs is HONESTY. Talk to us, talk to our children about what sex is, about the consequences, about the options available. I don't condone casual sex but I am an advocate of SAFE SEX. Control your lust if you must, but if all else fails, at least you know you can protect yourself & your partner.

Respect Our Women

To the guys who say:

1) "if you love me, you'll have sex with me"

2) "she deserved to be raped coz she dressed so sexily"

3) "it's your fault that you're pregnant"

My response? Screw you. Respect the female race. We are mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, nieces...if one of your female relatives were caught up in rape/unwanted pregnancies, would you condemn them? I HATE it when some guys simply assume that it's the woman's fault that she got knocked up. Have you ever thought where the freaking sperm came from? This degrading view of women has to go if we want to move forward. Treat your girlfriend/partner with respect. No means no. A pregnancy is a shared responsibility, not the burden of one person alone. If the couple is willing to talk through the issue, that poor woman in the earlier news article probably won't have her fetus STOMPED out of her womb.

RIP to the unidentified woman in that news article. RIP to the innocent babies dumped like garbage. I sincerely hope there'll be a brighter & more secure future for Malaysian women. We deserved to feel safe & we deserve to be taken care of, not accused of being the guise of Satan to lure "holy" men from the path of righteousness. So yes, I'm writing out of fury, but no one deserves to have her body violated like that.

Goodness of Watermelon

2010-04-03T23:17:00.000+08:00

Well one of the best things of the watermelon is that you can eat it in a variety of forms: be it a fruit, a smoothie, an ice-cream, juice, etc.

I'll run through the goodness of the watermelon for our refreshing pleasure! :)

1. Anti-cancerous properties

Watermelon is rich in lycopene, a carotenoid known to protect the body against prostate, breast, endometrial, lung & colorectal cancers, not to mention lycopene also boosts sperm concentration & mobility. Lycopene is known to fight cholesterol as well. Tomatoes are a close second to watermelon in lycopene content.

2. Anti-oxidant properties

The fruit is also rich in vitamins A, B & C. Vitamins A & B are powerful anti-oxidants that neutralize free radicals, in turn reducing the risk of clogged arteries due to cholesterol build-up & inflammation of arthritis & asthma. Vitamin C (taken along with an high intake of beta-carotene) can prevent heart disease, asthma, colon cancer & symptoms of osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Weight loss aid

Water melon has a 92% water content. 1 slice of watermelon has approx. 1 g of fat. Adding watermelon to your diet will help you stave off hunger & reduce your calorie intake. What else could a girl ask for? :D

4. Prevent Macular Degeneration

In a study published in the Archives of Opthalmology, it is mentioned that 3 of more servings of food will reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in adults, by 36%, compared to 1.5 servings per day. Watermelon is a great solution because it can certainly pack a lot of fruit servings in 1 day!

5. From Citrulline to Arginine

Watermelon has exceptionally high contents of citrulline, an amino acid which our bodies use to produce arginine, another amino acid. Arginine is utilized by the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body, improve insulin sensitivity (in obese Type 2 diabetic patients with insulin resistance), & by the cells lining our blood vessels to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, & it is the compound enhanced by Viagra to prevent erectile dysfunction (ED).

After reading online, I realized how nutritious this humble fruit can be! The watermelon is refreshing on a warm day & really delicious! Cheers!

Curry Laksa at Teluk Cempedak

2010-03-07T10:06:00.000+08:00

It was crazy: the idea was to leave UMP at 7.30am, drive up to Teluk Cempedak (TC) & have curry laksa. Apparently this shop made really good curry laksa (halal too!) & it gets really crowded by 9am.

The shop is located in the row of coffeeshops along the road towards the beach, you can't miss it. They sell wan tan mee besides their popular curry laksa & the prices are affordable! Mom will like this place lol! :)

See the curry laksa? The cockles are fresh, the chicken meat is almost fat-free & the soup is well-balanced; not too much santan & not too dilute!

If you're up for a morning visit to the beach, drop by this shop for breakfast, it'll be worth your while :)

PS. Sorry for the lack of details, at 7.30am my brain wasn't functioning, but I got the gist that I was eat yummylicious curry laksa :D

It's Been Awhile...

2010-02-27T00:42:00.001+08:00

Wow...how time flies, before you know it, it's already the end of Feb. I didn't post at all because I haven't the time/frame of mind to sit down, gather information & put it altogether here, so my apologies >.< style="font-weight: bold;">

1. Academic: things are really getting stressful now. I'm not inspired to get things done, I've 1 week left to complete my PSM & Plant Design...the research project is a pain; the last run I did yielded negative results so I hope I've time to get the data I need. Plant Design requires Utilities & Equipment sizing summary; the former has never been asked for previously so I'm clueless as to know what utilities we're using etc. I feel I've run out of steam. I don't find what I'm learning this semester enjoyable at all. If anything I realized I'm more of a study-theory-&-score-in-test person: research is not for me, pursuing a Masters degree doesn't seem appealing anymore >.<

2. Industrial training: I'm in the middle of compiling company profiles & contact details so I can start sending applications. Industrial training will be from 14 June to 26 Nov...6 months so it's crucial for me to find a good place to work at. At least that's coming along better than PSM & Plant design >.<

3. Orchestra: A LOT OF CHANGES!

New trainer: Awesome guy, talk about commitment! Very experienced, understanding & great to work with! :)
New repertoire: We're actually trying jazz pieces! We're covering more genres & focusing on what we can manage.
New name: UMP Orchestra = UMPO :D
New look: We finally have a logo!

New structure: The organization is bigger now; not only do we have performing members, we've a stage crew too to help out with logistics etc during shows.
New policies: Membership is now restricted to individuals who can play instruments until we are able to pull in trainers who can provide proper tutelage for newbies.

*For more information about the UMPO & its new direction, check out the site here :)

4. Sports: Now that the sports complex is open, I play badminton almost every week. I feel stronger & healthier, not to mention that it's a great way to bond with friends :p I thought of representing the university at tournaments but time is against me :(

Damn the courts are nice!

5. Debate: I've decided I probably won't debate anymore this semester. Due to certain circumstances, I think I'd give adjudication a shot...A good chance is by being the CA for the upcoming VC Cup Debate tourney in UMP. I plan to make it as structured as possible & provide fair motions for everyone.

I definitely have ideas for future articles: based on the poll, I guess a newsletter is in the works! :p I'll probably update movie reviews, recent trips etc. Stay tuned & happy 2010! :)

Coming to the End of 2009

2009-12-17T14:41:00.000+08:00

As the Xmas spirit blooms & people gear up for the year end holidays, again the time comes to reflect on how 2009 has been & what 2010 can be. It's been a tumultous year for us...the following words should pretty much cover how I felt 2009 was like:

1. Iran elections

2. Swine flu

3. Credit crunch & unemployment

4. Cyclone Nargis

5. China earthquake

6. Plant design & PSM

7. Earth Hour

8. Malaysian by-elections

9. Obama

10. Windows 7

11. Maguindanao massacre

12. 1Malaysia

13. MACC/Teoh inquest

14. Malaysia Lotus F1 team

15. Malaysia bans Allah from Bible

16. Kampar river bridge collapse

17. Fatine & Ian Young

18. Teaching Science & Math in Malay/English

19. Orchestra training

20. Debate competitions

So much has happened within the space of 1 yr, both locally & abroad. One has to ponder what these events mean & how they affect our lives. Each event is a stroke on the bigger picture, that is life.

I'm going philosophical, aren't I? :p

Oh well. Coming to the end of 2009, I'm coming closer to the end of university life, to the start of having a career, to possibly finding a life partner & having kids bla bla bla...I'm not excited about the final semester: it's gonna be tough, I know I'm gonna be scolded & pushed to my limits, but that's the path I'll have to take.

I want to take this opportunity *ahem* to thank my family, my friends & everyone who had a part to play in making me the person that I am, in helping me achieve whatever accomplishments I've made in 2009 & that I'll try to do better in 2010 & the future.

If the 2012-is-the-end-of-the-world prophecy is true, then I'm glad I've tried to be a better person & to do good on this earth.

Goodbye 2009 :)

PS. I know it's a bit early but I may not have time once I reach UMP on 27/28 Dec :)

Movie Review: The Princess & the Frog

2009-12-15T13:39:00.000+08:00

I've been excited about this show since I saw the trailer :)

After the FEStKUM 2009 Acoustic Competition, me & the girls headed out to Bukit Raja Mall to watch the show (the guys slept in...their loss! :p), so here's my take on Disney's return to 2D animation! :)

The Plot

Tiana is a young girl whose mother makes dresses for Charlotte, the daughter of James La Bouff, a wealthy man in New Orleans. Her mother tells the story of the Frog Prince: Charlotte dreams about having a prince sweep her off her feet, while Tiana is determined to rely on no prince to get where she wants. Tiana & her father shares a dream to open a restaurant one day.

The film fast-forwards to the future where Tiana works 2 jobs to get enough money for the downpayment of an old sugar mill. A talented chef, she intends to transform the sugar mill into the restaurant she & her (now) late father dreamed of. Her mother & friends claim she works too hard but Tiana is determined to make her father's dreams come true.

Prince Naveen from Maldonia & his assistant Lawrence arrived in New Orleans & they are expected to come to the La Bouff's estate for a ball. Prince Naveen's parents cut off his inheritance until he weds a suitable lady, but he's not willing to settle down; he's more interested in playing music & having fun, irritating Lawrence with his carelessness. He is tricked by Doctor Facilier (referred to as the Shadow Man) who transforms the prince into a frog & Lawrence assumes the prince's human form. Lawrence is given an amulet containing the prince's blood; it's fragile & if broken, Doctor Facilier will lose his deal to his "friends from the other side". The Shadow Man plots for Lawrence to marry Charlotte so that he can gain access to James & control New Orleans.

Tiana attends the ball & is told that someone else has already beaten her offer for the old sugar mill unless she can bring up enough money in a few days' time. She meets Prince Naveen (in froggy form) who promises her money if she would kiss him to help him return to his human form. The kiss instead transforms Tiana into a frog & the two of them travel deep into the bayou where they meet Louis, an aspiring trumpeter & Ray, an aged firefly. Together they searched for Mama Odie for help to reverse the spell. The group had to evade poachers with guns, "friends" sent by the Shadow Man & to learn the difference between what they want & what they need. The ending is not so predictable & it was full of lovely twists.

The Cast

I love the voice of Tiana, by Anika Noni Rose; the smooth creamy accent is a dream! Bruno Campos made Prince Naveen sound incredibly charming & fun; Keith David is awesome as the evil Doctor Facilier: his voice dripped with cunning & evil :p The other cast were amazing: Jim Cummings pulled off the Cajun accent for Ray & the comical Louis was voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley. Jenifer Lewis provided the voice for Mama Odie, the blind voodoo priestess who is the film's Fairy Godmother :) I'm just crazy about the New Orleans accent; who could resist that magnolia tune?

The Music

The music is certainly amazing; Randy Newman cast his magic for all the songs from the movie, except for Never Knew I Needed, which was produced by Ne-Yo. The songs are a wonderful mix of jazz, R&B, blues & gospel sounds; I especially love the trumpet solos played by the character Louis! The singers were mostly the voice actors for the film & it was certainly a musical treat :)

Conclusion

It's silly that some people question that Tiana is the 1st Disney African-American princess...does that matter at all? I love the costumes & the setting in the film: very authentic! The story was unpredictable, there were many funny parts & sweet moments; I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried towards the end, partly because of the story & because the film brought back the Disney feeling. I certainly think the movie is great fun for everyone from everywhere & I can't wait for Rapunzel & Prince of Elves coming out next yr! :)

12 Subjects Nod for SPM...Yet...

2009-12-08T20:18:00.000+08:00

According to this article, students can take maximum 12 subjects for SPM but only the grades from the 10 "core" subjects will be taken into consideration for scholarships.

Redundant, much? Today's article clearly shows the lack of choice in the student's hands: there's no flexibility, they have to drop subjects they may want to take (especially vernacular subjects) for their future. Some people voiced that this new move is biased against vernacular subjects. I have to agree that this move is unfair & perhaps racist.

I am puzzled with the government's decision in this matter. Why can't they just calculate the best 10 subjects rather than SELECTING which subjects to be considered from? I'm fine if they maintain the main 6 subjects (Bahasa Melayu, English, Maths, Sejarah, Pendidikan Moral/Islam, EST) as compulsory subjects to contribute to the overall grade, but the rest should be optional.

PS. I feel EST is a silly subject but that's for another article one day.

Students should be allowed the freedom to take on whatever subject he/she wants to be tested on & to include in his/her results. I can understand the fury from various groups regarding this matter. What the government should do is to take the grades from the core 5 subjects & the next top 5 grades from the other subjects.

I don't see the justification to deny students their right to choose the subjects to take for SPM.

When is the Right Age to Marry?

2009-12-08T18:15:00.000+08:00

I went out with Grandma today & she made a light threat that I marry before her time is up.

*knocks wood*

*true story*

That made me think: assuming she's still around for the next 10 yrs, I've less than that to find someone to spend the rest of my life with. In Malaysia, the minimum age of marriage is 18 with parental consent, 21 without parental consent. Having been in 2 serious relationships & both lasting for 4 months, I'd say I've little to no experience in having a deep relationship with another person. I'm 23 now, I remember being 18 & bragging that I'll have at least 10 boyfriends before I wed at 30.

Pfft. How reality has changed that estimation for me; at best, I can hope to meet Mr. Right within the next 5 yrs & start preparing for life as Mrs. Right. It won't be easy finding Mr. Right especially when Mom has a list of requirements for me to follow; I swear my ears ring everytime she tells me that "your husband will be my son, so choose wisely!"

But when is the right age to marry? The average age of marriage has risen, especially in recent yrs. In 1991, men & women were getting married at 28.2 & 24.7 yrs. In 2000, this increased to 28.6 & 25.1 respectively. Yet when I hear that someone is getting married at my age, I feel that's too young. Some students at uni are married & having babies; I go "What about studies?" How can one be ready for marriage when he/she hasn't fully cemented his/her life emotionally & financially?

Everyone has different priorities in life. I suppose when some people have finally found love, they don't waste time getting married. A few general pointers are in order:

1. Don't confuse love with lust: Being young & inexperienced often means naive & easily duped. For girls, just because a guy says he loves you, it isn't necessarily TRUE. Be realistic, some guys ARE really out there for a free ride. Be careful with giving out your heart.

2. Don't rush into it: Life is a long journey. There's so much to discover & to learn about this world. Marriage CAN be a burden if you can't manage it, especially if you're not ready. Take your time to learn who you are & who you can be, before you share yourself with someone else.

3. Be prepared: Marriage isn't just about being with someone you love but about committing to that person. Marriage is work. Be ready for bumps along the way & it helps to be stable financially, emotionally, physically before taking the plunge.

4. Be sure: If you have doubts, it's probably not the right time to get into it. Weigh all the alternatives, balance your heart with your mind & seek counsel from others. Marriage cannot be taken lightly & it should NEVER be a means to an end.

I've not much to say on the matter since I'm not exactly experienced in this lol...At least I've some loose ideas about how I evaluate whether I'm ready to commit. Marriage is a wonderful thing; I hope to have the same happy union as my parents :)

Grow Up!

2009-12-04T00:39:00.000+08:00

I was browsing through the Star online when I came across this article.

Malaysian transsexual Mohammad Fazdil/Fatine married Ian Young in a civil partnership in UK. Due to immigration problems, she may face deportation back to Malaysia. The article mentions how she's facing hostility towards her union with Young.

I saw a Facebook comment directing people to the FB page of the couple & encouraging people to make comments. Fatine said her family has disowned her, yet they're facing scrutiny back home.

My opinion?

GROW UP! I get it that homosexuality/sex change are unacceptable in Islam but give them a break!

1. They aren't asking everyone to change their sex

2. They weren't insulting the religion

3. They are together for love

4. They aren't harming anyone

Are these reasons to act like a freaking baboon?

It IRRITATES me to see comments like "I want to Clorox my eyes after seeing their wedding photos". What's your effing problem? Why can't people leave others alone? No one made you a freaking apostle!

Religion is a promise between the individual & the faith/God. There's no mention in that promise to be subjected to discrimination & threats by other people who are also subjected to the same faith/God.

Would God want you to threaten Fatine? Would God applaud your efforts to send hate mail? Will you get more bonus points for it?

Is it SO hard to mind your own business? I see these threats as an direct insult to the right of an individual to pursue happiness. I'd be severely pissed off if you zealots start trying to control MY LIFE & MY RIGHTS to happiness.

Cheers to the happy couple!

Crap. If Malaysians can't show MATURITY to accept other people's differences then FORGET about being a developed nation when they can't be sensitive to other people's feelings.

Wait a minute. I'm talking about Malaysians. We still don't see each other as Malaysians yet, but rather as Malays, Indians, & Chinese.

Shame. I've had it with people demanding to control the lives of others.

I'm not a religious person but the way I see it, God will judge Fatine when the time comes.

YOU ARE NOT GOD.

GET OVER IT.

To Fatine & Young, I wish you both the best of luck. Looks like a bunch of nosey people are out to bug you.

The Message behind Sleeping Positions

2009-11-09T19:12:00.000+08:00

I just decided to do this article while surfing the web at the library :D

Based on the image below, we look at several sleeping positions & the message behind 'em:

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, has analysed six common sleeping positions - and found that each is linked to a particular personality type.

1. Foetus

Tough on the outside, sensitive at heart
Initially shy when they 1st meet someone but they soon relax
This is the most popular sleeping position

2. Log

Easy going, sociable
Enjoy being part of the crowd & trusting of strangers
May be gullible

3. Yearner

Have an open nature, yet can be cynical & suspicious
Slow to make up their minds but once the decision has been made, it is difficult to change their mind

4. Soldier

Generally quiet & reserved
Do not like to fuss
Sets high standards for themselves & others

5. Freefall

Gregarious & brash people
Can be nervy & thin-skinned sometimes
Not receptive to criticism/extreme situations

6. Starfish

Great friends because they are great listeners
Ready to offer help when needed
Do not like being the center of attention

Source

So which sleeping position do you adopt? Post your replies & see if the description matches your real personality! :D

Sudoku Jackpot!

2009-11-08T17:44:00.000+08:00

One of the things I look forward to when I read newspapers is the sudoku section. I enjoy this game very much; it's just a matter of placing numbers in the appropriate boxes to make it right :D

There are several sites where one can head to for free sudoku puzzles:

Web Sudoku

Sudoku.com

Daily SuDoku

This game is easy: each box, row & column must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Example: Given the following puzzle...

Legend:

Blue line = possible location of number

Red line = eliminated locations

It's a series of elimination:

It's also a series of deduction:

The process is repeated & checked until the solution is as follows:

Try out the puzzle the next time you pick up a newspaper, it's fun & quite challenging! :)

Golden Oldies

2009-11-08T16:40:00.000+08:00

I always listen to music while I'm studying, it helps calm me down & somehow gives me a sense of focus on whatever I'm studying :)

Today is a lazy Sunday; I woke up early & went for brunch with Jelly-Dine, read NST, then got to work. I compiled songs perfect for easy listening during a hot Sunday afternoon:

It Must Have Been Love - Roxette
Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Unbreak My Heart - Toni Braxton
Last Christmas - Wham!
Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston
Valentine - Jim Brickman & Martina McBride
Two Less Lonely People in the World - Air Supply
I Can Love You Like That - All4One
Memory - Barbara Streisand
Everything I Do, I Do It for You - Bryan Adams
The Power of Love - Celine Dion
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
I Miss You Like Crazy - Natalie Cole
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Songs like this bring back memories of listening to the radio at home/on the long car drive to Penang, I remember Dad would tell us about the song, to really listen to the lyrics & appreciate the story behind every tune.

Man I miss home a lot :(

I'm gonna burn this play list so I can reminisce while driving home :D

*Credits to Jelly-dine, I stole the songs from her external hard disk ^.^

PME Tutorial 1: Depreciation

2009-11-07T19:38:00.001+08:00

Since the finals is coming this Tue, I should have some interest in what I'm studying.

Pfft.

Depreciation is the systematic allocation of an asset's cost over its depreciable life. Business assets can be depreciated only if they meet the following basic requirements:

The property must be used for business purposes to produce income.
The property must have a useful life that can be determined, & this life must be longer than 1 yr.
The property must be an asset that decays/gets used up/wears out/becomes obsolete/loses value to the owner from natural causes.

The general equation is:

There are 3 depreciation methods (that I understand so far :p):

1. Straight-line depreciation

2. Sum-of-years'-digits depreciation

3. Declining balance depreciation

Consider the following example:

B=$900, N=5yrs, S=$70

1. SL depreciation

2. SOYD depreciation

3. DB depreciation

Both methods achieve the same result (S=$70 in year 5) but the graphs would differ.

There, I kinda remember how to utilize these 2 methods. Mission accomplished :p

Movie Review: This Is It

2009-11-07T19:16:00.001+08:00

I watched this last Friday, the "threat" that the film is showing for 2 weeks only really worked :p We went to Teruntum in Kuantan, battled the after-office traffic jam, held our bladders until the very end of the show (well, me & Dine did haha), controlled hunger until after the show, to watch the magic of MJ.

The movie is basically a compilation of video footage taken from rehearsals for MJ's big comeback concert; I suppose if he lived & the concert went on, the footage would've been made into a behind-the-scenes feature.

Man, the rehearsals were amazing. The film took us from the audition for MJ's principal dancers, to the finishing of the songs he prepared for the fans, the lighting, the special effects...If MJ lived, this concert would redefine the standards of live performance. The song selection was amazing, with songs from his Jackson 5 days, Thriller was superb, & powerful songs like Earth Song rocked the theatre.

Without giving away too much (coz I truly recommend very MJ fan to watch this film for him/herself), this film reveals the genius that is Michael Jackson. He's so involved with every part of the rehearsal, fine-tuning the details...I can see why he was so overworked, yet his passion to deliver an amazing experience to his fans & to take them to places that they've never been is clearly displayed in his dedication.

I cried throughout the film, I grieve more for him, he was truly an artist & I feel his heart is gentle & pure, his music relays the pain he feels & the magic he delivers is astounding. Man, he can still dance & sing. His talent is still there, despite being almost 50 yrs old. I was heartbroken when I noticed he looked underweight, his already slender frame seemingly more fragile.

Watch the show while you can, it's truly an experience to know the man behind the image of the King. Long live Michael Jackson. We love you & you will live forever in our hearts.

Tobacco & Malaysian Society

2009-11-07T17:56:00.000+08:00

Malaysians may see cigarette prices rising by 11% next yr. The issue about social health vs personal choice has been around for quite a while & it's something that we need to address seriously as the number of Malaysian smokers aren't decreasing.

About 50% of men & 30% adolescent boys smoke in Malaysia, which is appalling: lung cancer cases is on the rise. The government has placed gory images of the effects from smoking on cigarette packs but this practice has little effect as people are unaffacted by the images/buy personal cigarrette holders minus the images.

What can we do to stop the rising number smokers? We know it's bad for our health; it doesn't only affect the smoker but the people around him/her. The various associated health risks still doesn't nick the shell of a smoker...The best way to solve this issue is to prevent an individual from taking his/her 1st puff. We have to stop the youths from picking up the habit for we know nicotine is terribly addictive.

This is difficult to achieve as many youths pick up the habit through influence from peers or family members. Would increasing the prices of cigarettes help? According to this news piece, BAT reasoned that increased cigarette prices will encourage illicit trading. So if the price of cigarettes is increased, the government must couple that with better enforcement & stricter rules about smoking in public places.

This article is good & I will extract major points which I feel is crucial to stop the increasing number of smokers in Malaysia:

1. Increase the price of cigarettes: by increasing taxes on cigarettes, it will leave a bigger hole in the pockets of consumers & hopefully discourage them from smoking 'em so frequently. However this may promote the growth of illicit trade. The government must work tirelessly to ensure legal sales of cigarettes & to make sure the effect of the price increase is optimum.

2. Reduce the number of outlets selling cigarettes: Cigarettes are found almost everywhere; the local coffeeshop, the petrol station (isn't this weird? I thought smoking was banned at the station), grocery stores etc...Limiting the availability will discourage smokers & ensure better control of cigarettes sales.

3. Ban smooking in public places: people still smoke in restaurants, in schools, shopping malls, in universities etc. A strict ban will stop the spread of 2nd hand smoke & protect the general public. Smokers are free to indulge in smoking...in their own personal space. It's a shame to see a no-smoking sign up & youths smoking right below it. Ignorant? Or lack of emphasis by the authorities?

4. Continuous education: In my generation there are still many youths smoking. This stems from the idea that smoking is "cool". In university, guys take to smoking in the hostels, tossing used cigarettes in sinks, despite the university emphasizing that smoking is banned. Shame, I thought university students are slightly more intelligent than the common youth. I guess there are varying levels of intelligence eh?

5. Send a clear message: Smoking is bad, folks. The government & society should take more proactive steps to make sure this directive is given & taken. Sorry for tobacco companies but your products aren't welcome here. Smoking brings terrible effects to society, & protecting society is more important than the financial benefits from maintaining the tobacco industry. The RM1.28billion industry is not worth the reduction in Malaysians' quality of life. The government *wait, taxpayers who may not be smokers themselves* subsidizes 90% of healthcare costs in public health centers...We've forked out RM3billion for smoke-related illnesses. Imagine what we could do with RM3BILLION...Gosh my heart aches...

Get real people. Spread the message. I'm sorry if I've offended any of my smoker friends but y'all should know that smoking is downright BAD for you & the people around you. Get tough, get smart & get clean.

Down with tobacco! Time to snuff out the smoke.

New Reactions Feature!

2009-11-04T18:41:00.000+08:00

I just notice that the Reactions feature has been embedded! Y'all can tick your opinion at the bottom of the article, the choices are:

1. Legendary
2. Excellent
3. Average
4. Poor

This would help me gauge your response to my blog & help me to improve! I request that please tick your honest opinion & do leave a comment so I can try to improve this blog :)

Thanks for your support!

When You're Stressed...

2009-11-04T18:03:00.001+08:00

...you start thinking about weird stuff. Some of the lines I've heard tossed about while rushing through this semester were:

1. My head feels heavy, yet my brain mass isn't increasing ~ Red Hot Chilli Popia
2. Bunuh diri (kill self) ~ Yours truly
3. Wan die liao ~ Yours truly
4. What def? ~ Yours truly
5. Tired ~ Almost everyone

Red Hot Chilli Popia even composed a short song in between reports...

*sigh* The crazy things we do. I am now craving for McDonald's, mom's spinach, garlic bread, fried mushrooms, kuay teow soup & ham choi soup...

Upcoming schedule updates:
10Nov: Project Management & Economics Final Paper
18Nov: Wastewater Treatment Final Paper
18Nov-3Dec: Debate training
3-7Dec: Royals Intervarsity Debate Tournament

In between I'm involved in debate research, music classes...I'm in the midst of preparing a music course syllabus for next semester (can't reveal much as I know little!). My blanket needs to be washed, I'm perpetually hungry & I miss my family terribly.

I've been obsessed with the following movies:
1. Hairspray
2. Lion King
3. Sinbad: Legend of the 7 Seas
4. Bambi II (not Bambi!)
5. Without A Paddle

And hooked on the following songs:
1. Come What May
2. Ever Ever After
3. You Can't Stop The Beat
4. Paralyzer
5. A wide array of Disney music: I even burned a CD with a collection of Disney soundtracks to listen while I drive! o.O

How I Met Your Mother Season 1 & 2 are being replayed every week on my laptop.

So people have different ways of dealing with stress, yeh?

I'm feeling guilty because I put my thesis on the back burner & I've yet to meet my supervisor to check on my progress. He's a great supervisor; I'm just a lousy charge *sniff*

There. Whine over *temporarily*

I know I repeat this many times but I'll be back with PROPER articles soon :)

Care to Donate A File?

2009-10-26T14:12:00.000+08:00

Seems like I will need a new file just to compile all my plant design notes. Patents, spreadsheets, online notes etc...Now I'm simply piling them on my cupboard, 1 thick pile of papers...

*sigh*

This Wednesday is the big day, when we present our plant design progress to the panel who are out there waiting to drain the blood from our veins....We've to present introduction, market survey, plant location & most importantly, spreadsheets of mass & energy balances.

*sigh*

We're rushing to finish everything, it feels like there's not enough time to complete it but this is the 1st time I truly feel that we've NO CHOICE in the matter. It's do or die at this stage.

I've been thinking of new articles to put up here:

1. Beyonce's canceled (I don't believe it's postponed, as people so gullibly believe) concert...because Malaysia has terrorists? SHAME!

*Sugar plum princess wrote a letter to the Malay Mail about it & it was published

2. Coverage of recent issues: I haven't had time to read up (thanks to academic constraints) so I really need to get back to this after Wednesday.

3. Plans for this blog's anniversary (argh!)

I hate being apologetic but yes, I'm sorry for not updating this blog, I'll get back to it as soon as I can! Feel free to suggest new articles for me to write...Judging by the poll, suggestions from thy readers are most encouraged! :)

New Year, New Song

2009-10-14T13:19:00.000+08:00

The Mid-Autumn (or Mooncake) Carnival (Pesta Tanglung) is back at UMP! Organized by the Pesta Tanglung Secretariat under UMP's Chinese Culture Council, the event will be held this Saturday (17/10). Last year me & Fei Fei wrote the theme song for this event.

This year...We did it again! We were less prepared this time; what with PSM & academic stuff bugging us, so we finalized the song just last Sunday night :D

The song is STILL under renovation (hehe), but you can listen to the piano version here.

Check out the performance video!

You may also download the simplified piano score here.

Enjoy!

Exciting News!

2009-08-29T20:55:00.000+08:00

Rowie's Scribbles is edging closer to its first year anniversary! :D

In October I plan to do something special for this blog & for my dear readers, so do answer the top poll on the left, & let me know what you would like! I've already prepared a newsletter of sorts, with articles that I've never published (& will never publish) on this blog :p

1. A contest: the blog would run a contest, probably covering different themes...my only problem is the prize! I thought of giving the newsletter to the winner of the contest, but feel free to suggest other prizes (or donate some haha)

2. Articles by reader's request: readers may submit (via e-mail) ideas for an article; I'll look through & write up as much as I can. Articles should not contain offensive matter & be as interesting as possible! (I don't want to yawn as I write it!) :p

3. Newsletter: this is by far the easiest option of the lot; simply leave your e-mail address & I'll send the newsletter to you! ^.^

I appreciate any feedback, the poll is very important so vote & stay tuned! :)

Ugh...Stuff It!!

2009-08-26T17:21:00.000+08:00

I've had it with PAS Youth. One would think that they'd be the image of the modern young Muslim but they're just a bunch of young extremists in the making.

Now they want to ban MLTR from having a concert in Malaysia. Seems to me they keep banning concerts by foreign artistes. What the hell is their problem? Did they forget that Malaysia comprises of non-Muslims too? Did they think that music is REALLY such a bad thing?

I'm fed up with a bunch of megalomaniacs TRYING to dictate what kind of concert is appropriate for Malaysians. Well here's what I think: Malaysians are individuals who have proven, time to time, that we're capable of SOLID REASON & we have a right to PERSONAL CHOICE.

Since when was MLTR "raunchy" for crying out loud? The credibility of PAS Youth in this matter is obsolete.

There has to be guidelines on what kind of concert is appropriate. Simply slamming at foreign music shows shallowness & certainly this isn't the trait of a government we want.

Plus it shows how PAS Youth has little to no faith at all in the idea of personal choice & the rights of Malaysians to make that choice.

If MLTR doesn't rock this September, then forget the idea of a progressive Islamic country.

Just forget it.

Sigh...Swamped!

2009-08-26T17:06:00.000+08:00

Sorry folks, I know I haven't been posting much lately but I've been swamped with work: thesis, plant design project, studies (I'm ignoring the pile of assignments screaming at my face), orchestra, debate...

I guess this is where I'll truly be tested of what I'm made of.

I've disappointed some people, but most importantly, I've disappointed myself. I regret for not being up to MY own standard & not delivering as promised.

That will change, hopefully.

So thank you for your faith & interest in this blog, I promise to update it with interesting articles ASAP! :)

Back to Disney!

2009-08-08T11:52:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I've updated this blog...many ideas ran through my mind about what to scribble: the (now-removed) blanket ban on alcohol sales in Selangor, the recent anti-ISA protests in KL etc.

But Disney is a lovelier topic :p

I've been re-watching classics like Beauty & the Beast, The Little Mermaid & Aladdin: the sheer quality of these films sets the benchmark for what is awesomeness in an animated film. Animated films today are no longer of the...well, animated breed. Films like Finding Nemo & Ice Age no longer have the "classic" films as they implement 3D CG animation.

So it's a good thing that Disney is looking back to produce potential classics via combining traditional 2D cell animation with 3D CG animation, and I feel a rare surge of emotion as I anticipate the release of 2 new Disney films, The Princess & the Frog (2009) & Rapunzel Unbraided (2010):

Trailer for The Princess & the Frog:

Concept art for Rapunzel Unbraided:

So to Disney fans out there, hang on coz I'm betting these 2 films will be jewels in Disney's crown of animated films.

Boy, I can't wait :)

Music Education in Malaysia

2009-08-02T14:42:00.000+08:00

An article in the Star newspaper Education pullout section (Let's face the music) by Johami Abdullah perked my interest on a warm Sunday afternoon. This article touches on what I wasn' t aware of but it's certainly something we should be concerned about.

Major issues highlighted in the article:

The Education Ministry announced plans to REDUCE the time allocated for Music Education in the primary school curriculum.
Certain schools drop or replace the Music Education subject: contradicting a Parliamentary Act which states that the subject is compulsory in the primary school curriculum.
Memorandums sent to the ministry have been ignored.
Lack of representation at higher divisions.

I see 1 major problem with the ministry: they fail to RECOGNIZE the importance of implementing Music Education for our children. They are IGNORANT to that importance. Nowadays parents need to have their own initiative (not to mention $ in their pocket) to develop their children's musical skills.

As mentioned in the article, other countries like Japan & Germany (which we term as advanced & aspire to be) mandated their students be given music education & special rooms are provided for this purpose, fully equipped with instruments & related materials.

What is our ministry doing to fulfill their responsibility to uphold Music Education as a vital part of our education?

The only times students receive music education from the government is via school bands or schools that actually STILL teach Music Education.

This site discussed the positive impacts of music education:

1. Skills gained while learning music is transferred to studying at school.

2. Learning music improves brain development

3. Develop ability of careful observation, pattern recognition & qualitative judgement among other skills.

4. Music education is enriching & mobilizes the glory of being human.

There are many benefits to teaching Music Education & being an individual with a strong love for music, I feel the ministry mustn't ignore the potential of developing this subject in our education system.

It's bad enough that y'all teaching Science & Math in English, there's no reason to endanger the status of Music Education as a platform for developing a more mature & advanced Malaysian generation.

Signing in...

2009-07-29T17:23:00.000+08:00

...the library can be a bad sign. The internet connection here is REALLY bad. I couldn't come on for the past 2 weeks (I'm beginning to think it's 3 weeks), & my work is extra-stressful coz I don't have the internet readily available for my research!

The library PC's are usually fully occupied since the internet problem is widespread at university.

Ugh.

I feel like everything is moving so quickly & I still haven't caught up with the pace.

Ah woe is me.

For good reason.

I'll try to update my blog, heaven knows there's so much on my mind but I'll try to post something new! :)

Signing out...

Goodbye, Michael

2009-07-10T13:01:00.000+08:00

Yesterday at Malam Gagasan Budaya 2009, the Orquesta performed a Michael Jackson medley as a tribute to the King of Pop. Due to time constraint we only managed to combine Beat It & Black or White. This Saturday hopefully we'll get to add in more songs & write in parts for other instruments.

Thinking about that medley, I proceeded to play some of my favorite MJ hits:

1. Beat It

2. Billie Jean

3. Black or White

4. Heal the World

5. Man in the Mirror

6. Smooth Criminal

7. Thriller

8. Dont' Stop Till You Get Enough

By Heal the World, I find myself unable to contain my grief. I weep as I write this. On June 26, Michael Jackson, beloved musician & pop icon, passed away. I will not enter the deets around his death; it is understood that he was working hard to get back into shape for his upcoming tour. Drugs cut that work short.

I remember watching his music videos on TV, singing along indiscriminately (I was too young to know the lyrics back then). Rumors about his striking physical changes didn't bother me. His acquittal of child molestation charges was in line with my belief that he didn't do anything wrong.

He was a musical genius, a man-child & a significant presence throughout my childhood.

Goodbye Michael. You will be missed. You'll live on through your music, there's the eternity you deserve. I feel it's apt to end this post with lyrics from his song You Are Not Alone, for I feel here he's speaking to us that death isn't a true end:

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

Just the other night

I thought I heard you cry

Asking me to come

And hold you in my arms

I can hear your prayers

Your burdens I will bear

But first I need your hand

So that forever can begin

Le Sigh...

2009-07-10T11:14:00.000+08:00

I didn't know I'd had to write about the PPSMI issue again so soon (the last time I wrote about it was here). The result is out: the Education Ministry will revert back into Malay (mother tongue for vernacular schools) by 2012.

Damn it.

I laughed out in mostly horror after reading the following statements by our PM, Datuk Seri Najib (taken from TheStar):

1. The aim remains the same. There is no change. Only the method in reaching the objective is now different

Gimme a break. No change? Now our teachers are gonna take the lazy way out, our youths are gonna take the lazy way out.

Yet we still wonder why the quality of our education remains 2nd-class.

2. He said increasing the time allocated to teaching English, introducing English literature and language laboratories, among others, would be a better method in boosting proficiency in the language than using it to teach Mathematics and Science.

Well it sure would help if English was used for Science & Maths in addition to improving the method of teaching. It's a pointless move, there's no check & balance to ensure the kids will take the effort to learn English when they're out of school. And people are scared of making English a compulsory subject to pass for the SPM.

3. Najib said reverting to Bahasa Malaysia would not pose a problem as it has been proven that “we have be able to produce doctors and professionals by teaching the subjects in Malay.”

“Many doctors went through the education system in Malay right through university. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has produced a number of good doctors."

“There is no question about quality being compromised or affected,” he said.

A big big joke. Are you gonna change the medium for teaching engineering subjects into Malay now, coz, OH, other universities did it.

Bah.

4. “But we see only 8% of teachers are really confident in teaching in English. In reality, it is not really happening the way we had envisaged,” he said.

Then in 2012, 0% will be confident. Perfect. It's natural that only 8% will be really confident, these teachers are the by-products of the Malay-medium system, if you enforce the English

medium policy, they'll HAVE to improve.

5. Later when asked about former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad being “disappointed and saddened” by the decision, Najib again said that the aim of the change was to boost proficiency in English among Malaysians, particularly the young, remain but only the method of achieving the target was different.

I don't understand this at all! How do you achieve the aim when the main motivation for youths to achieve it is lost?

I'm frankly disappointed with this news. Thank goodness I'm gonna be out of this system. I'll probably take my kids to Australia if this policy continues.

Some of the Old & the New

2009-07-08T00:45:00.000+08:00

A little run through of Rowie's Scribbles through the old & the new:

1. Poll analysis: I confess I'm kinda running out of ideas for the polls on the side bar. Thought-provoking, fun, witty is outta my head for the time being. I appreciate suggestions to provide the platform for deeper analysis.

2. Orator section: I've been toying with the idea of providing an Orator section to put articles related to debate. I've decided it should help organize this blog & encourage better articles related to debating. So the new section is up, folks!

3. Link bar: I've thought of providing links to sites I'm interested in, like the UMPlife forum, OG sites (official website, forum, YouTube channel), Cheresources, etc. I wonder if it'll clear up the clutter or make things worse, hmm...

4. Rowie's Scribble's Anniversary in 1 month: Yeah you heard me! This blog has been on since October last yr! I'm thinking about doing something special but I'm not sure what, ideas include reviewing favorite articles & who knows, a mini contest! (the prize has already been done) :p Stay tuned!

I want to thank everyone who's been supporting this blog, I certainly don't regret starting it! It sure helped me to expand my views & to connect with people & share opinions.

Thank you & keep up the support! :)

Argh! Pokemon Frenzy!

2009-07-06T23:49:00.000+08:00

The last thing I need to rant about is how crazy I am about Pokemon Emerald! I'm not even squealing about the new games (coz I don't have them >.<)!

*pinch pinch*

Oh NO! Madness has taken over!

It's midnight, so crazed am I, that this has to be classified as a Scribbles article!

On with the madness! I can't understand why I'm developing this frenzy with Pkmn!

I'm actually checking my PokeNav for match calls & finding trainers to bust.
I make it a point to rename every Pkmn with names from gods/godesses. Arrogant, much?
I'm also strategizing my troop according to the area that I plan to travel to.
I can almost remember which moves can create the critical hit

Oh boy...

Manja Princess infected me with it. I knew it. All the hugging was bound to transfer some Pkmn virus. The only thing I'm regretting now is I'm unable to trade online to get more Pkmn.

Trudging along...trudging along...Lalala...

So there's the end of my rant. Or teeny breakdown.

Doesn't it look pweety?

End of personal blabber! Thank you for reading! ^.^

The Big 5 for the OG

2009-07-06T22:39:00.000+08:00

The start of a new sem always got me thinking about my goals:

1. What do I want to achieve?

2. Why do I want to achieve (1)?

3. How do I achieve (1)?

I have stepped down from the Principal post at the OG; not a choice I made happily, but one that must be taken for progress. I am still participating actively in the group & I naturally have plans for this sem (at least).

Some of the ideas churning in my mind now:

1. Organize a more streamlined theory class

I was always worried over 1 dilemma; what happens if we have more than just Grade 1, 3 & 5 classes? I estimated 2 hrs per section; even now 9am-1pm on Saturday mornings only gives me 4 hrs; this sem showed that we can do it. How? The theory exam is always in late Aug. New intake (potential students) enter in early July. Organizing classes for Grade 1 can take the stress of Mdm June as she finishes the revision for the exam. This makes it easier for her to take over the Grade 1 students after the exams & continue teaching 2 sections.

2. Music from the Movies

Writing about movie music inspired my idea to have a concert performing popular show tunes. It's familiar, fun & easier. I was also inspired by MPO who performed music such as Star Wars theme in the last season. Tunes that I would like to perform:

Mission Impossible: we performed this previously as Bonang D'Rhythm (combination of orchestra & gamelan)
The Departure: for now, I can play this song on piano, I'm working on a full length composition
James Bond: I loved this song since I was a child. It's definitely one of my top choices.
Disney favorites: there's a LOT to choose from this category, it's full of winners.

3. MPO Trips

The OG has always organized trips to watch MPO concerts. This sem will be no different. As soon as I get the brochure for the new season, we will begin planning. MPO concerts have been getting better: it's a shame we missed performances featuring piano & horn soloists. Hopefully our members will get more exposure to the vast history of music & walk away learning something new.

4. Music Recitals

This idea has been simmering on the pot for a while but due to time constraints, we never got to pulling it off. The purpose of music recitals is to give new members a chance to perform in public & to hone their showmanship skills. It also serves to boost their courage & confidence to display their talent on-stage. Hopefully this sem with more students gaining a better grasp on their technical skills, we'll be able to hold a few recitals this sem.

5. Music Activities

Last sem some of us had ideas about further enhancing our members' appreciation of music. We wanted to teach the history of music, the different eras, various composers, the orchestra, the music instruments etc. Plus the activites would encourage more interaction among members; the main divide now is between performing & non-performing members. I remember snapping photos from books at Kinokuniya to get inspiration. Again, last sem was a bitch with time so we never got around to it...I sure hope we get around to it this sem!

Conclusion

This may sound weird, but I feel age creeping up on me. I realized, with sudden clarity, that I don't have much time to change these ideas from mere thoughts to real action. I know that I tend to get carried away with other stuff *cough*lazy*cough* but this time I have to own up to what I should've done a long ago & try my best to get things done. So there, my Big 5 goals for the OG. Let's hope they'll be achieved.

Poem: Against Unworthy Praise

2009-07-06T12:45:00.001+08:00

Another favorite by WB Yeats :)

O heart, be at peace, because
Nor knave nor dolt can break
What's not for their applause,
Being for a woman's sake.
Enough if the work has seemed,
So did she your strength renew,
A dream that a lion had dreamed
Till the wilderness cried aloud,
A secret between you two,
Between the proud and the proud.

What, still you would have their praise!
But here's a haughtier text,
The labyrinth of her days
That her own strangeness perplexed;
And how what her dreaming gave
Earned slander, ingratitude,
From self-same dolt and knave;
Aye, and worse wrong than these.
Yet she, singing upon her road,

Half lion, half child, is at peace.

I felt homesick today so here's a hint about my mood :)