War of the instincts

The running instinct in me was at war with the homework instinct this afternoon. The former was quite sneaky by influencing that pair of Adistar Ctrl to call out to it's owner to take it out for a 15k outing. However, the latter rose victorious as there was so much to be done as per the post yesterday. In short, both the science modules whose reflections are due this week have been completed leaving the maths modules to be covered. Running instinct was defeated but vowed to mount a morning assualt at NIE car park 4 of which the Adistar Ctrl will be happy because it's owner will bring it out on an outing around the NTU campus once again as the Sundown Marathon is just about 4 months away.

Then the sleep instinct launched the attack when running instinct conceded defeat. This time round, homework instinct had to work doubly hard as it was faced with a very formidable opponent. Once again, homework instinct won but only just! How long more will this battle last? Stay tuned to find out....

Things to do this wkend

These are things that i need to clear by this wkend. It includes those which i intend to complete ahead of schedule...

1. AAM104 tutorial
2. AAM203 chapter 1
3. ACS201 reflections
4. ACS301 reflections
5. ALS101 e-learning report
6. AAM103 revision for quiz

Social activities

1. annual CNY 7th day dinner
2. annual class gathering
3. church friend's son's bday party

Having a cousin & cousin bonding

Shocking news....85k jobs cut in a single day?

NEW YORK, US - AT LEAST 85,000 new job cuts were announced in a single day on Monday as the rampant financial crisis hit more workers across the globe and brought down Iceland's government.
In a sign of the deepening social impact of the crisis, companies announced an avalanche of cuts, piling pressure on US President Barack Obama as he pushes a stimulus plan for the world's biggest economy.
The job cuts came from some of the biggest US corporate names including Pfizer, General Motors, Caterpiller and Sprint Nextel, and news of additional downsizing came from Japanese automakers and Dutch bank ING.
'These are not just numbers on a page,' Mr Obama said as he pressed for urgent action on an $825 billion (S$1.2 trillion) stimulus plan.
'As with the millions of jobs lost in 2008, these are working men and women whose families have been disrupted and whose dreams have been put on hold. We owe it to each of them and to every single American to act with a sense of urgency and common purpose. We can't afford distractions and we cannot afford delays.'
The financial catastrophe also claimed a scalp as Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the resignation of his government after months of protests over economic policies that brought the country close to bankruptcy.
US construction equipment giant Caterpillar said it planned 20,000 job cuts worldwide to cope with plunging sales.
New York-based drug maker Pfizer announced it would acquire its rival Wyeth for $68 billion, the largest pharmaceutical takeover deal in nearly a decade amid a dearth of corporate dealmaking due in part to a credit squeeze.
It said it would also cut its global workforce by around 10 per cent - meaning at least 8,000 posts cut in a company that currently employs almost 82,000 people in more than 150 countries.
General Motors announced plans Monday to cut 2,000 jobs at two US plants as it prepares to submit a long-term viability plan in exchange for billions in loans from the US government.
US telecom firm Sprint Nextel announced 8,000 cuts - 14 per cent of its staff - and top US home improvement retailer Home Depot said it would cut 7,000.
Japan's top 12 automakers expect to cut a total of 25,000 jobs between now and the end of March, a survey by Jiji Press concluded on Monday.
Dutch banking and insurance group ING announced 7,000 job cuts and a deal for the Dutch state to guarantee billions of euros' worth of troubled assets.
Dutch electronics giant Philips said it would eliminate 6,000 jobs.
The announcements by the two Dutch companies came ahead of confirmation that Europe's second-biggest steelmaker, Indian-owned Corus, said it would cut more than 3,500 jobs around the world, most of them in Britain.
Workers arriving to their job early Monday were gloomy about their prospects.
'People feel gutted. I have already had to take a 10 per cent pay cut,' said 45-year-old Douglas Mayhill, a worker at a Corus plant in Port Talbot, southern Wales.
'I was told on Friday I have a choice - either accept a 10 per cent pay cut or take redundancy - that is no choice.'
In Washington, International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said that Group of 20 major countries have made little progress in fighting the global financial crisis since their November summit.
'We gathered here in Washington and said we would recapitalise banks, disclose their losses, implement stimulus packages,' Mr Strauss-Kahn said.
'Very little has been done. I don't say nothing has been done, but it's moving very, very slowly.'
The US Congress was meanwhile due to begin debate this week on Mr Obama's stimulus bill, designed to haul the US economy out of a paralyzing recession.
In his first presidential radio address at the weekend, Mr Obama raised the prospect of double-digit unemployment and a massive erosion of family incomes if Congress did not act on the bill.
In Ottawa, the Canadian government urged a divided parliament to unite behind its plan to stimulate an economy in recession, at the opening of a new legislative session.
'As Canadians expect, the economy will be the focus of our government's actions and of the measures placed before parliament during the coming year,' said Governor General Michaelle Jean in a throne speech outlining the administration's agenda for the coming months.
'Canadians face a difficult year - perhaps several difficult years,' she said. -- AFP

Esther, David & Derek

Raikkonen leads F1 charge in Arctic Rally

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen swapped tarmac for snow at the weekend as he made his debut in the punishing Arctic Lapland Rally. Fellow Finns Mika Hakkinen and Mika Salo were among the other Formula One names taking part.

Raikkonen looked very much at home in the freezing conditions. Along with co-driver Kaj Lindstrom, he steered his Fiat Grande Punto S2000 to 13th place overall, finishing the three-day event in a total time of 2h, 7m, 48s, less than 10 minutes down on winner Juha Salo.

Hakkinen was not far behind. The former double world champion, at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, came home 19th in what was his fourth appearance in the rally. Salo was less fortunate, retiring his similar Mitsubishi with technical problems.

Is this a good time to get a new/change one's current ride?

Many were quite surprised by the plunging COE premiums. The big car category saw premiums dip to $200! Just a couple of months ago, the small car category premium fell to a mere $2. This sounds like a very good time to jump into the bandwagon. However, I believe that if one can hold out, it is worth the wait. Just imagine: If the COE premium fell by such a huge margin, will the agents drop their prices proportionately? Most likely not. And there is this escape clause which enables them not having to pay out the rebate. Put it simply: if one gets the ultra low COE premium, that will mean your ride will not be worth a lot when you intend to change it before the COE expires. For example: at the 5th year, your $200 COE is only worth $100! Take into the account the depreciation from day 1, is it worth the while? Worse still, if one took out a huge loan, more likely they will be in negative equity. But if you were blessed or cursed to get the ultra low COE, perhaps you should keep your ride for the full 10years? The only thing is: will Singaporeans keep their rides for the full 10 years? Majority do not..

Is CNY here?

I feel as if CNY is not here. Basically, I find that there atmosphere this year is just so different. It feels more subdued compared to previous years and probably it is due to the global recession. Perhaps it is because the CNY this year falls on a Monday and Tuesday which means the weekend prior to that feels pretty normal. The half day before the eve falling on a Sunday just makes it like another weekend.

Furthermore, I have a whole lot of work to clear. I have tutorials to prepare for, upcoming tests and other assignments to be submitted after the long weekend. Sometimes I just feel that having holidays just makes the whole NIE schedule messy. Oh well, i better don't complain.

I am tired.....

Owner of this blog is very tired due to the lack of sleep for the past week so please excuse him as he hits the sack at the end of this sentence.

To all those who have jobs and are still picky, read this...

The article was published in the Straits Times today.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This can be a pretty depressing time if you're a fresh graduate because we all know that with the current financial crisis, landing a dream job is likely to remain just that - a dream - at least for some time.

But take heart that you are in your 20s. You are likely to be working for at least another 20, 30 or even 40 years, so don't be too anxious if you are unable to start work immediately after graduation, or if you land a job that appears less than ideal.

Still, there is no doubt that this is the time when your resourcefulness and resilience will be tested. It takes loads of patience to scour the recruitment pages of The Straits Times daily for jobs and, hopefully, make the rounds of interviews.

If you are not defeated by them, then you will be mentally stronger. When you learn to deal positively with rejections and come out with creative responses, you are building your strength of character.

Looking back, the past jobs that I've held were a result of what were available at the time of my job hunt. Sure, I had a general idea of what I would like to do but many times, the external circumstances and the laws of demand and supply in the job market dictated where I ended up working.

After all, when you graduate in the midst of an economic recession - as I did - you can't be too choosy about what comes your way. The pressure is worse if you are expected to contribute to the family - as I was - because it means you need a constant stream of income.

I certainly couldn't afford to take my time to sit around and wait to land a dream job. It also meant that if I was thinking of leaving the job I was holding, I couldn't hand in my resignation letter until I'd got a new job.

So I do empathise with those who are graduating this year. Yes, I know how difficult a job hunt can get. After all, I've held nine jobs in the past 22 years since my graduation. Call me sentimental, but I've kept all my job appointment letters and every single increment and promotion letter.

After eight jobs, I count myself fortunate that circumstances finally led me to where I am. This is the longest I've ever stayed in a job - nine years. To someone who has spent many hours of her working life going through the newspapers for suitable job openings, it is bliss to find that there has been no reason to do so in the last nine years.

I can still remember how I got my first job.

I began my job hunt just before I graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Social Science/Arts degree majoring in economics and sociology in 1986.

Like today, it wasn't the best of times to graduate. Singapore was still in a recession, which started in 1985 owing to a slump in global trade. I didn't have the option of furthering my studies as I was the older child in the family and it was time to support my parents as well as my younger brother, who wanted to pursue an overseas law degree.

Unemployment was on the rise and executive jobs were getting scarce. The newspapers carried stories of fresh accounting graduates who, unable to find gainful employment, resorted to bookkeeping jobs that paid $400 a month. It was grim.

Amid the doom and gloom, it struck me that the civil service sector was still hiring and the pay was decent. To me, that meant a starting pay of at least $1,000. I decided to try my luck and applied to the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) as an army officer.

I didn't want to take chances, so I got my boyfriend (now husband) to role-play with me just to prepare myself for the job interview. I even compiled 30 questions and answers about the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and civil defence, and very diligently memorised them.

After a couple of interviews and a psychological test, I got the job as a manpower specialist officer in the non-uniformed SAF scheme, and started work at Mindef in Dempsey Road in May 1986, shortly after I finished my final exams. My starting monthly pay was $1,003.

Joining the army wasn't my idea of an ideal job as I would have preferred one with some travelling. But I was determined to learn whatever I could and contribute. It turned out that the army had a pretty generous training budget and I was sent for all sorts of training, from productivity workshops and counselling courses to supervisory skills programmes. I was in the job for two years.

It was the same at my second job at the now-defunct Insurance Corporation of Singapore (ICS). Besides sending us for numerous courses at the Singapore College of Insurance, the general manager took it upon himself to grill the recruits on the different classes of insurance, an hour before we started work daily.

I've learnt many different things from my past jobs and bosses, some more memorable than others. And the experiences have contributed to my wide portfolio of skills and shaped me.

It took a while in my case, but I know now that I really like dealing with people and will thrive in a job that provides some creativity and autonomy, and which enables me to reach out to the masses. The funny thing is when you find the right job, you don't think of it so much as a job but as a vocation.

Opportunities knock more than once. The key is you want to be ready with the right attitude and skills set when they come.

So continue to learn and invest in yourself after your basic degree. Have a three- to five-year plan and picture where you would like to be and how to get there.

Eager to improve myself, I continued to further my studies as I worked. Along the way, I picked up a postgraduate diploma in business administration from the Singapore Institute of Management and an MBA from the Open University, Britain.

While the former was fully sponsored by ICS with a one-year bond, the MBA was half sponsored by my former Finnish employer, Esmerk Information, with no strings attached.

Both credentials have proven useful in helping me be more effective in the various job roles I've had. In my past jobs, I had closed million-dollar sales, managed sales teams and run firms.

Remember that life is full of bends and corners. Just as you think you are nearing a dead end, the spectacle of another long smooth road greets you with new opportunities.

Things to do over the CNY period

1. Revise for 104 and 103 quiz
2. Re-do stats material covered so far
3. Start on ALS e-learning report
4. Start researching for both ACS modules

Zzzzooooooommmm!!

Just testing how long it takes to upload from my hp compared to uploading from the HDD

Will the 'Iceman' bounce back to victory in 2009?

A determined Kimi Raikkonen has vowed to return to his title-winning ways after enduring a disappointing season in 2008. Speaking at Ferrari’s annual ‘Wrooom’ media event, Raikkonen explained that, while he is happy that his motor racing future lies at the Italian team, he wants to achieve more in 2009.

"This is my third season with Ferrari and I'm motivated and I want to win, as usual," said the Finn, who took the drivers' championship in 2007. "Last year didn't go as I wanted, especially during the second half of the season. But we learned a lot. I feel fine at Ferrari, otherwise I wouldn't be here today.

“I'm convinced that it was the right choice when I came to join the team. I've got a contract until the end of the 2010 season. At a certain point during the next season we'll think about what to do. But I think that this will be the last Formula One team I'll race with.”

With wide-ranging regulation changes coming into force this year, including an in-season test ban, Raikkonen is aware that the time on spent on track before March’s season opener will be more important than ever. And the Finn, who is yet to sample the new F60, is clearly keen to get his test programme underway.

"There are many changes as far as technology is concerned,” he added. “I think that it will be extremely interesting. There will be many things to set up and a lot of work for the team. The limits as far as the tests during the winter are concerned and the fact that we can't test during the season is a very demanding challenge.

“If we can start with a competitive car, things will work out just fine, otherwise it could be difficult to catch up. I think that also our working style will change, at the works and on the track. Fridays will not be dedicated just to setting up the car for the race anymore, but also for trying out new solutions."

As well as adjusting to the varied rule changes, Raikkonen will also be working with a new race engineer this year. Chris Dyer, with whom he won the title in 2007, has moved on to another role at the Italian team and will be replaced by Andrea Stella, who has been promoted from his position as Raikkonen’s performance engineer."After many years in the same position Chris wanted to change and now he'll work as coordinator of all the engineers working at the track and at the test sessions,” Raikkonen explained. “I worked very well with him and Andrea, who has always been part of the group of engineers working on my car. We already worked with Andrea in his new position during the tests last December and it went very well.”

Next week Raikkonen will sample the F60 at Portugal's Algarve Motor Park, before heading to Finland to compete in the arduous Arctic Lapland Rally from Thursday.

Will Toyota make a breakthrough this year?

Toyota unveiled their 2009 car in innovative fashion on Thursday, as the new TF109 made its world debut in a specially-made, big-screen movie trailer, made available to fans online.

With revisions to the Formula One regulations set to shake up the order, the Japanese team are hoping the TF109 can take them to their first win since entering the sport in 2002...

Work began on the TF109 last October, with the car’s new shape heavily dictated by the FIA’s regulation changes, with wider front wings, narrower rear wings and fewer additional aerodynamic devices.

“Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula One,” declared team principal Tadashi Yamashina at Thursday’s launch, a proclamation that comes in light of their improved showing last season, which included two podiums and top-ten starts at 14 of the 18 races.

“After eight years in Formula One we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably,” said Toyota Racing President John Howett. “There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for.”

Toyota continue with an unchanged driver line-up for 2009. Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were critically-acclaimed co-stars for the team last season and they will again be supported by Japanese reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi.

"I still have plenty I want to achieve in Formula One but my dream now is to win the first race for Toyota," said 34-year-old Italian Trulli.“I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula One than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith.”

Glock, whose Toyota race career began only last season, added: “If you look back at the cars I have been racing for the last five years they have all been quite different, with the 2004 Jordan, then Champ Car, GP2 and the Toyota TF108, and I have been competitive in each of them. That shows how quickly I can adapt to a different car so I don’t have any concerns at all about adjusting to the 2009-style Formula One cars.”

The 2009 changes have presented Toyota and all the Formula One team with a significant design challenge. “This complete programme has been more demanding on our company than any previous new car project I have been involved in,” said Pascal Vasselon, senior general manager (chassis).

Christmas Tree

Terrible Tuesdays

My Tuesdays are really packed. Start at 0830hrs bright and early for 5 straight hours of which by about noon my stomach is already growling. Thankfully my coursemates cant hear else it will be so embarrassing. There is then a 2 hr break before I have another 2 hours and by then I feel mentally drained. Though it is only week 2, I am already getting into the momentum of trying to complete the weekly tasks so that I do not fall behind....

Got my new HP EliteBook today

Went to collect my new notebook today during the 2 hr break after maths and before science. The only time consuming part is that of the equipment checking part when the support staff helped to do some initialization and other setup so that everyone who is entitled to the notebook can be connected to the network at once.

Since it is using the Windows Vista, yours truly is still trying to navigate my way round. I think the most important part is to ensure that any editing done on office must be saved on an older version just in case I use my Dell notebook which is using and olde version of Office.

Let's see how long can the battery last....

Passion to teach

The article below was taken from the 'asiaone forum website'. Please read the phrases in bold and the paragraph that is in the HUGE font.

------------------------------------------

I READ with interest the letters by Mr Ho Kong Loon ('Get feedback from teachers', Wednesday) and Mr Ee Teck Ee ('What matters is their quality', last Saturday), regarding teacher recruitment and the soon-to-be-released outcome of the primary school education review.

I have written on the matter before, and I reiterate how I wish others would acknowledge how noble the teaching profession is. I could not agree more with the criteria Mr Ee mentioned required of teachers: compassion, passion and professionalism.

I went for an interview last year to become a teacher out of my love of children. It saddened me that I was offered the job but not in subjects I had the passion to teach, nor at the level I wanted. I know myself well, I know my strengths and, although the interview panel tried to convince me I could excel in the other areas (I thank them for their vote of confidence in me), I politely declined the offer.

It also made me wonder about the process of recruiting teachers. I agree wholeheartedly that mid-career individuals may make good teachers because they bring experience and maturity, but as in any job, there will be the good and not-so-good. Do not let a few rotten apples spoil the barrel.

Having said that, I would like to see teachers recruited based on their character and personality as well. I am sure there are tests to ascertain these qualities. Not assessed based just on academic results.

Measuring passion, compassion and professionalism, which are intangible qualities, is tough, perhaps impossible, but one criterion is how involved the potential teacher is in charity work. Graciousness begets graciousness and I would love to see teachers, tasked with the burden of being good role models, with such basic good qualities. Is this too idealistic?

And parents, let teachers do their job. Do not

mollycoddle your child, interfere or, worse, question

teachers' authority. It shows a lack of respect for the

education system and, worse, makes the child lose

respect for his teacher.

Our education system is an excellent one. But if teachers cannot complete their curriculum during school hours, cancelling art and music lessons in the process, I wonder if it is a case of cramming too much in too little time.

And yes, tuition is meant for weaker students. Do not stress the child with extra lessons when he is doing well or even if he is an average student. I am all for letting kids enjoy their childhood and not rushing from school (which already gives too much homework) to more dull academic classes.

Happening fri

Had a whale of a time ytd. Met up with David and Charlene to go have some 'sinful' food in JB called bak kut teh. Thankfully, Charlene asked her dad for directions and we then topoed our way around after making some U turns and 3pt turns. We took Charlene's car and I drove. Well, amd proud to say that I did not stall the car even though I had not driven a manual for quite some time!! Do kind of miss changing gears and depressing the clutch. (Altis only comes in auto)

Had another prog at night with my 'unforgettable' gang of 4 at Yellowjello pub. One of our common coursemates was singing in a band and we went there to support. And the songs were all retro. (now you all know my age) Sure brings back memories.

Now back to work as it all starts piling in...

1st wk

All modules this semester are very hectic. Being 3 AUs each, this semester is my heaviest in all the 4 semesters. In fact, all of us have begun work right from day 1 and judging from the things due, I am already formulating the strategy to complete some things ahead of schedule. That includes my other things like running and some recreational activities as proposed by my coursemates. For now, it is strongly recommended that we get into the momentum.

Ferrari to be the 1st to launch their new car

Ferrari’s 2009 car is to make its debut next week, the Italian team have announced. Details of the as-yet unnamed machine will be revealed online on the morning of Monday, January 12. On Monday afternoon, Felipe Massa will then become the first driver to experience the car, as he puts it through its initial paces at Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit.

Later in the week, on January 15, Toyota will unveil the TF109, whilst McLaren will debut their new challenger, the MP4-24, a day later. Over the course of the following week there will also be launches for Renault, Williams and BMW Sauber.

Follow-on to ytd's post

My new laptop is not being purchased but rather on loan till the end of my studies. Basically, it is like getting a company 'car' while you are still with the firm and when you leave, it's got to be returned. Obviously the option to purchase is available. But the residual value is way too high ....

Getting a new laptop.....

ANyone heard of or used this before?

HP Elite 6930P Full-featured notebook comes with
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600,
2.4GHz
- 4GB Ram
- 14.1 LCD
- 250GB HDD
- Built-in Camera
- USB Mouse
- Carrying Case

Smile.....

888th post

This is the 888th post of my blog. I only noticed it when I logged on and clicked, "new post". Was just printing out some of my course materials for both my science modules when I realised that with a combination of quadruple maths, double science and some other seemingly redundant module, looks like I had better get a spare cartridge just to stand-by. Hopefull HP will lower their prices in the wake of the economic downturn. Staff @ HP cartridge manufacturing, do you hear my plea?

Hectic semester ahead

Bought some of my books needed for this semester and the damage is already $120. Why can't the price of books be cheaper since times are bad and oil prices have fallen so much? At post time, I have just downloaded some important information for my various modules and by looking at them, the next 4 months will be very challenging. It is going to be a whole lot of assignments, test, quizzes and exams. Not forgetting my other commitments....

The bottom line is simple: 24hrs a day is a constant. Things we need to do are variables. Therefore, prioritize.

1st post for the new year

Happy New Year! Some may not be keen on the new year for a whole variety of reasons. Others are so looking forward to 2009 as it is filled with many aims and objectives to be fulfilled. Whatever it is, I strongly feel that there are certain issues that cannot be avoided so why not face up to it and overcome it? On the other hand, I feel that looking forward to the new year would be an encouraging one as you never know what is in store for you in every aspect of your life. So live it to the fullest and have a great year ahead.