A La Carte

What's your reaction when you first saw the title of this post? You may have thought that I'd most probably introducing some dishes I found tasty. I may have disappointed you for the misleading title of this post, please accept my apologize.

This post is all about a film, a short film which had won the honours over the works submitted by 3600 filmmakers from around the world at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival in 2006. The theme for this festival was about "Food, Taste, and Hunger". Amongst the works submitted by filmmakers, only 32 were chosen to be screened and the one I'm about to show you had topped the 32 chosen films shown in Berlinale Talent Campus.

Enjoy the show.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Inequality

Nowadays the term "equal opportunity" is flying around especially has been practicing by most of the organizations to ensure all of their employees are treated fairly without sacrificing (I don't want to use the term "discriminating", though it may be the truth) the basic benefits.

Recently I've been known about the allowances allotted for each lecturer to visit the industrial training students as a routine to assess their performance during the training period. Unfortunately, I've been excluded from the budget list. No single cent has been allocated to me for this visitation, GREAT, isn't it? I'd voiced this issue to my superior and he'd discussed this issue with the acting dean of the faculty I belong. As expected, the proposal has been rejected by the AD. I'm not surprise when I got to know result as the moment my superior promised to raise this issue to him, I knew it not going to work. Why? Because of that old man (AD). He is soft and indecisive, perhaps the balls somehow have been removed by emperor sometimes ago. Sigh~

Inequality

Look at other side, I shouldn't be so mad on this issue as the unfairness has been practicing in this country. What can I expect a university owned by a political party to be fair enough to its employees since the righteousness of the party has been an opened issue in recent years.

Perhaps my loyalty to this organization has been doubted. The consequences of not being loyalty are well reflected to what have happened to me. I apologize here as I've devoted and sworn my loyalty to the McDonald's. I'm truly sorry if I just not fair enough to you ...

Am I fair enough?

Deeper Thought of A Typing Master Program

Finally, I have come out something which is quite different from the assignments usually given to the students. NO ticket reservation system, NO ATM system, NO library management system, NO hotel management system, NO registration system, NO calculator ... and NO ...

I had planned to give 3 assignments to my students as part of their assessments. The first two assignments are intentionally to warm them up which contribute only 5% to the total coursework mark. The first two assignments are actually quite related to each other and are not that difficult. The assignment 1 was due two weeks ago and the due date for assignment 2 is just around the corner. However, somehow I found out some of them are requesting helps from their seniors to write the programs for them. GREAT, aren't them? No worry, I can afford to give them the 5% for the first two assignments, but, please try to think further, would they able to score in the final if they do not even able to come out the programs as simple as the first two assignments given to them. Perhaps they should stay back with their juniors to brush up the fundamental programming techniques.

Despite the aforementioned situations, I believe they have got themselves warmed up (or forced to be warming up) and ready to enter the battle mode for the third assignment. I assure this time their seniors would not show their sympathies anymore as I have shown to them the demo program I done for the assignment 3. I have no doubt on their (seniors) capabilities as they used to be my students in last semester and three of them are 4 flat students. They have their own businesses (assignments) to take care of and would not have time to prove they are merciful.

Typing Master (Demo program)

In this assignment, I require them to form a group of maximum 3 members. There has no much instructions given to them but only the title and a few basic requirements like computing the error rate, accuracy, typing speed and etc. They have been given the room to design how the program should like and implement based on their design. Although the program seems like tough for them as I found out the students here have never done even a small project/system throughout their entire lifespan in university except for the final year project. What a surprise to me when I got to know about this. Therefore, I have decided to train my students to pick up the analytical skills by giving least specification and have them analyzed what would be required for the system during the process they designing the solution. The assignment 3 may cause them hectic, but I believe they would enjoy the sweetness of their fruitful works at the end of this semester. On top of that, they would have at least something to show to the companies during the interviews they might attend in the future and feel proud to express what they have done past few years in their university life.

Students, I would really like to see you all excel. Show others your capabilities; Disprove the claim by Jobstreet.com the undergraduates nowadays have been lacking of analytical skills; Prove yourself and show them you are BOLEH!!!

The End

Finally, the C.P.U workshop which I had mentioned in my previous post had reached a successful ending. The response from the students were quite moderate and we had about 200 students participated on this event.

Basically, this workshop had been divided into two sessions, the first session involved some talks from the invited speakers, studying skills and motivation videos. We had been honoured to invite the representative, Mr. Teoh, from Jobstreet.com to give the speech about the future trend in ICT. I have been impressed by his talk as he had presented an insightful picture about the current and future trend of ICT industries in Malaysia with the statistical data. Definitely I hope all the participants (no matter you are a student or lecturer) would benenited and inspired by his talk.

Representative from Jobstreet.com

While the next session we had actually prepared five games for the participants which required them to form a total of 15 groups before playing the games. Each of the groups was led by one or two helpers who have been the seniors. The role of the lecturers was acted as facilitator to oversee the entire progress and ensure the games were run smoothly within the time frames. The objectives of preparing these games were to cultivate the team work spirit among students, to train them the time management skill as they were required to finish the tasks given to them within the specific time frame. Most importantly, to promote the interaction between the freshmen with their seniors and lecturers.

Last but not least, I would like to extend my greatest gratitude to all my colleagues and student helpers who worked together to bring the glory of this event.

Registration

Division of PA

Security & MC

Speeches by Deputy Dean - Dr. Lim and Mr. Alex Ooi

Games competitions

Helpers and Dr. William (Chairperson of C.P.U)

Group photo - Helpers & Committees

Middlesex University

Few days ago, I had a short conversation with the deputy dean (DD) of my faculty when I accidentally met him at the staircase as he was on his way heading back to his office. It had been my honour to have the precious moment to talk to him about my PhD plan.

I am quite appreciated of his concern about my progress to preparing for my PhD studies. During the conversation, he had referred one of his friends whom will be joining UTAR soon and has the close connection with the Middlesex University in UK to me. According to him, due to the close connection of his friend with the Middlesex University, I can actually register my name under that university as a part time PhD student under the supervision of his friend and I do not required to reside in the UK for the entire PhD period except viva. The tuition fee is quite acceptable as if compared to those foreign universities in Malaysia. At the end, I would get a certificate issued by the Middlesex University. What an attractive deal, isn't it?

The next day I received an email he sent to his friend and CC to me. I was quite surprised that he had recommended me to his friend about the story he mentioned to me earlier. I really appreciated of his concerns and kindness to recommend me a potential supervisor for my PhD studies. Although I prefer to be a full time PhD student to enjoy my last student life, I would take his advise into the consideration especially during this time of economic crisis which seems quite difficult to obtain a scholarship.

Thanks DD.

Another Nice One !!!

As recommended by a friend about this piano cello version of Love Story by Taylor Swift and Viva La Vida by Coldplay. Could you imagine what would happen when they meet each other? Let's John Schmidt tell you the story and I bet you gonna love this masterpiece!!! Enjoy!

Love Story

Taylor Swift - Love Story

We were both young, when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts-
I'm standing there, on a balcony in summer air.

I see the lights; see the party, the ball gowns.
I see you make your way through the crowd-
You say hello, little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles-
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet"-
And I was crying on the staircase-
begging you please don't go...
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet, because we're dead if they knew-
So close your eyes... escape this town for a little while.
Oh, Oh.

Cause you were Romeo - I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet" -
but you were everything to me-
I was begging you, please don't go-
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes-

Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.
Oh, Oh.

I got tired of waiting.
Wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you was fading-
When I met you on the outskirts of town.
And I said...

Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting, for you but you never come.
Is this in my head, I don't know what to think-
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said...

Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad -- go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby just say... yes.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.

We were both young when I first saw you.