blackaltis - 412

a tale of 3 honours year students

2010-08-17T22:40:00.002+08:00

Story of 3 hons yr students in a class. 1 boy and 2 girls. However, their behavior and attitude towards studies are poles apart. Let's talk about the boy first.

Many might say that it is highly likely that the boy will be the one to give the biggest headache but in this case it is not so. This boy called A, is well behaved and polite towards his teachers. When it was noticed that he has the potential to do well in maths, it was always the case of trying to give him the space to display his knowledge and understanding by getting him to help the weaker ones. Even though he might need to use another language to explain a math concept, so be it. But the remarkable thing is that he is able to explain and get the message across. Put it simply, anybody teaching him will put their money on him to really score well this time round.

Now onto 1 of the girls named B. Initially, it was felt that she was able to cope with her studies but of late, it got to the school's attention that she was involved in some illicit activities outside. Something along the lines of smelling sticky gum, it was surfaced and now it seems the school is aware and are on the verge of taking serious disciplinary action. Not much is known about her background but it seems that she could be in some sort of problem which caused her to try these bad stuff. Academically, she still does not know her basics well and everybody is rather worried she will not make it again this year. Hopefully in these last few weeks b4 the PSLE, she can buck up and make a breakthrough.

The third and final student labelled C, is the worst ever. Typically that type of arrogant and 'cannot be bothered' with anything, she is a real pain in the a*se. Basically she thinks she knows everything, and assumes that she is so smart (quite the opposite rather). She is so disruptive in class such that it affects the others. She thinks that others are so amused by her words and actions, in fact it shows her extreme childish side. Moreover, she does not take anything seriously until the ultimate phrase of letting reality strike on the afternoon of the 25th Nov needs to be used. But if she decides to turn over a new leaf and make the best of whatever time is left, everybody will still try to help her clear this time round.

Coming up will be more light hearted issues observed and heard......

I m back

2010-08-11T22:46:00.002+08:00

Apologies to my blog which has been left abandoned for such a long time. I was so tied up with school stuff together with other 'distractions' like facebook that I felt so bad. But here I am nonetheless.

I got the posting notification that I am NOT going back to LPS. Instead, I am with Boon Lay Garden PS which is not very near to where I live. Plus the fact that I need to be in sch by 0715 daily, that means Angela and Esther have to arrive at Just Kids by 0645 so that I can at least get through the terrible traffic along Boon Lay Way.

I met my ex-colleague Irene who is now an adjunct staff and she told me that if I found 2 Topaz of 2006 bad, well I 'ain't see anything yet'. True enough, the students here are much worse academically. Yes, there are some bright sparks but by and large, the school's results are below national average. But I sensed God had a plan for me to be here to make a difference. In fact, on the day of the Meet-the-Parents session, it was a confirmation that indeed, God wanted me to be here.

My task was to take double maths: P5 merged and P6 foundation. I got the really weak lot whose foundation in math is rather shocking. But I recalled my own struggles back in my AS Math days in NIE and what my lecturer (the 1 and only wise Prof Lee PY) reminded me about fully understanding the struggles and hardship my students face and help them along.

More than half of term 3 has passed and frankly, some of them are still very lacklustre in their learning especially the P6s. Did I mention I have 3 'honours year' students? I will blog more about them in subsequent posts.

Ok, let me keep you in suspense a bit...will come back and post more stuff.....

BSc (Education) in Mathematics

2010-06-06T17:06:00.003+08:00

No honours. Not even a pass with merit. Just a pass degree. But that is good enough and I am very thankful.

I needed a miracle or rather two of it. But God is faithful. Not only did I clear all modules, I did a little better for AAM333. Honestly, I felt really awful after this paper as there were some very doable parts that I just had some problem trying to recall. In fact, some of the 'sure score' questions surfaced some doubts.

My previous post about AAM342 spoke for itself. That was 1 module which I had wanted to totally escape doing but due to my failure to pass AAM332, I needed to take whatever that was availble and was eligible in order to garner sufficient AUs. RIght from the start of the semester, I found that 342 was something quite abstract and throughout the course, I just could not see how it applied in daily life. Other modules were at least a little more alive in this aspect but I just cant click with 342.

AAM 202 was another nightmare because I actually needed to score 65% in my exam just so that I can safely clear this core module. It seemed to me that my lecturer was all about getting the final answer with hardly any regard for method marks. To him, he will award credit as if we were mathematicians. One mistake which might not warrant losing all marks he will simply award zero marks. Since he was also very fussy about writing out every single explanation, I simply piled my answers with what he wanted. So my speculation is that I scored fairly well in my exam to pull back those marks lost in the quizzes and test.

By far, my favourite module last semester was AAM343 though it was difficult in a way. My lecturer was those extremely helpful kind who would even gives us tips and hints during the exam. In fact, for the 1st time ever in my taking a math exam, I had to explain how to solve a question and draw a diagram if necessary. But all's well that ends well, I did fairly ok for 343.

It has been a very difficult 2 years since I chose to crossover to pursue my education degree. There were many times when i regretted this route and it affected my mood and emotions. Now that it is finally over and friday's results show that I have cleared, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

What next then? Since i faced so much difficulty in all my math modules, it enables me to fully understand the struggles my students face when learning this subject. I guess that going through a difficult journey not only moulds your character and resilience, it can only toughen you to face up to daily challenges.

after such a long while............

2010-05-02T22:06:00.002+08:00

342 was my last paper and it was quite managable. Basically, Dr Lee was so kind to set us a paper that everyone could pass and even score provided you revised in depth of which I could not really do so because of 333 the day before. Speaking of 333, it was quite a nightmare bcos I forgot certain things at the crucial moment but I did manage to put my solutions to the best of my ability.

202 was quite a fair paper except for the fact that we needed to write a lot of things besides the detailed steps. I really wonder what does that shortie really want because he does not seem to believe in awarding method marks. Then comes the most difficult 342. That was such a tough one and I really need a miracle to be assured of a pass. In fact, I felt really lousy after this paper which incidentally was the 1st of my 4 papers. However, i felt better after a session with Dr Lee for 343 and he said some comforting words," don't bother about it once you are done with it. Focus on your next paper."

In short, I really will miss Dr Lee and all his teaching methods and wise words. In fact, he has taught many of the current maths lecturers not just in NIE but in other institutions as well. Ask anyone who teaches maths and they will definitely know this maths expert. I will certainly miss him.

Daddy & Esther bonding time

2010-03-23T21:20:00.002+08:00

Usually when I get a favourable parking lot when I come back from campus prior to collecting Esther from her day care, I tend not to want to drive out and will walk there and back instead. Either I push the stroller or I will just walk there. For the past two days, I have been walking to her day care and we will then catch the feeder bus home. She loves the bus ride and this is a perfect time for us to bond. I will ask her what she did in school and this encourages her to want to speak in either english or mother tongue. Though the bus ride home is rather short, it is something very exciting for a 3 yr old. It is also a good way to conserve fuel as well! Oh did I mention why I do not wish to drive out? That is because I managed to park at the lower decks of which the lot will be taken once I drive out!

F1 season opening...

2010-03-14T23:43:00.002+08:00

Fernando Alonso drove a superbly judged race to emulate Nigel Mansell and Kimi Raikkonen, as he sped to victory on his debut for Ferrari in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Alonso chased Sebastian Vettel’s fleet Red Bull fruitlessly in the early stages, when both were running the super-soft Bridgestone tyres, but had an advantage after they had respectively switched to the harder compound on Laps 17 and 16.

Alonso then began to hunt down the German, whose lap times got slower and slower until the moment of truth arrived on Lap 34. That was when exhaust problems hit the Red Bull and the Ferrari dived past in the penultimate corner, to grab a lead it never lost. Felipe Massa had also closed in driving the second Ferrari and passed Vettel as they braked for Turn One at the start of Lap 35. Crucially, however, Alonso put in some fearsomely quick laps to break his team mate’s challenge, after that there was nobody left to put him under pressure.

As Massa consolidated second place, conserving fuel as a temperature problem in the cockpit obliged him to ease back, it was nevertheless a great day for the Scuderia. Vettel came under increasing pressure from Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren, which was a lot more competitive on the harder rubber. Eventually the 2008 world champion moved on to the final podium slot on the 38th lap after overtaking on the main straight.

Vettel almost fell prey to Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes GP, but hung on for fourth ahead of the Silver Arrow. Almost four seconds further back, Michael Schumacher’s return yielded a hard-fought sixth place, pressured all the way by 2009 champion Jenson Button in the other McLaren and Red Bull’s Mark Webber. Over the last 30 laps they were never more than metres apart.

A great drive rewarded Vitantonio Liuzzi with ninth for Force €ndia, while Rubens Barrichello was in 10th place for Williams, taking the final point.

There was drama from the start when Webber’s Red Bull spouted clouds of oil as the field braked for Turn One, and both Renault’s Robert Kubica and Force €ndia’s Adrian Sutil spun. They eventually finished 11th and 12th, with Jaime Alguersuari 13th for Toro Rosso. Nico Hulkenberg’s debut was marked by a wild spin early on, and the need to claw back to 14th in the second Williams.

Lotus won the race for the new teams, with Heikki Kovalainen placing 15th after a commendably reliable run. Sebastien Buemi was 16th for Toro Rosso though he stopped three laps from the end, and Jarno Trulli’s ailing Lotus was 17th, also three laps down.

There were more retirements than usual, with neither BMW Sauber making the flag, Bruno Senna’s HRT eating its engine, the Virgins of Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi falling prey to mechanical problems (after the German had waged a great fight with Kovalainen), Vitaly Petrov’s strong early run in sight of points coming to nothing with a suspected suspension problem which was detected when he made his tyre stop on the 13th lap, and Karun Chandhok crashed his HRT on the second lap.

The result gives Ferrari the perfect start to the world championship with 43 points, ahead of McLaren on 21, Mercedes GP on 18 and Red Bull on 16. Alonso leads the title chase with 25 points from Massa on 18, Hamilton on 15, Vettel on 12, Rosberg on 10 and Schumacher on 8. And the general verdict is that the ban of refuelling, while creating a slow-burn effect initially, made the racing much more exciting.

Did better than expected

2010-03-11T21:34:00.002+08:00

When I saw my score for AAM342 quiz 2 I must confess that I am quite thankful because I thought it will be the same as the 1st one of which I just scraped through. Though it was a wee bit better, considering my confidence and difficulty in this module, I had better be thankful and work towards trying to improve my score in the subsequent tests.

AAM343 quiz was tougher than the previous 2 years. In fact, I realised that my 1st question which was quite a easy one had some errors in it. Wonder how will I score when he returns it to us next week.

Overall, I am not hoping to pass with flying colours but if i can get a score that gets me a pass with merit I am glad.

WaveHouse at Sentosa

2010-03-03T22:42:00.002+08:00

It is a place where you can get to surf yet remain in Sg. No need to travel to faraway destinations and incur all the travel and accomodation expenses. For a novice like me, I sure enjoyed it despite ending the day with some knocks, scratches, 'blue-black' marks and a very mild sprain on my rigth shoulder, it was worth the while. Not to mention getting roasted in the sun despite applying lots of tanning lotion. Perhaps sunblock is better. Vain pot me who wanted to get a nice tan!!!

We realised that every wednesday is a full-day one-for-one for all rides and also F&B. Since the more difficult wave barrel was out of service, we had a great time at the Double Flowrider. The surf board is more difficult to grasp but after numerous fails, I finally managed to stay afloat for about 20sec? Had much better luck with the body board as that was easier to manage especially the part where you do your own launch from the top.

The water jet is really powerful. Once you are in the water, it throws you to the top rather swiftly. That is why the trainers will inform you of the position to adopt when you fall. Most important is to protect your head. Met two new friends who were in the same timing as Ling, Aida and myself. Turned out that they came a week ago to try it out so we exchanged some pointers.

What is my verdict compared to the cable ski which cost virtually the same? Wavehouse anytime!

Old tv conked out...new tv coming in

2010-02-25T22:15:00.002+08:00

The 34" Philips CRTV served the family for almost 6 yrs when it finally decided to retire on tues aftn. 1ed to watch the CNA panel of analysts talking abt the budget statement and when I tried to power up the tv, there was no light and i heard a crackling sound followed by what seemed to be a mini explosion. I knew it was gone. There was no light at all and not even a hint of any life. My guess is that the tube and circuit board had blown. Called up the svc ctr and the base charge was 40 bucks excluding parts. Initially, I thought if it can be fixed at a cost of below 100 bucks, maybe we could consider but this morning on our way to work, Angela and I felt it was not worth the while or risk it breaking down and wasting the repair cost.

I then called the svc ctr to cancel the repair support. On my way home from campus, heard on the radio that Harvey Norman was having a 'massive price reduction' across their whole range of electrical products. Picked Esther from day care and after a quick shower, we went to check out HN at west mall which is just adjacent to where we live. Then it caught our eyes.

42" LG full HD LCD going for 879 after discount with a 3yr factory warranty. I could extend it for another 2 yrs through the HN in-house promotion. Being our 2nd purchase of a tv from HN, my records were still in their data base. Settled the paper work and swiped the credit card in less than 30min. We saw the Samsung and Toshiba which was 100 dearer but decided on the LG as the screen was the slightly harder kind. So delivery on sat and we will have a brand new tv after 6 years.

Now I dread looking at my next credit card statement..........

1 module about to be done in a few days...

2010-02-11T22:03:00.002+08:00

Science will soon be out of the way. That leaves the 4 maths modules. And they are very hectic. I am the most uncomfortable with Modern Algebra then followed by Combinatorial Analysis. I seriously wonder if these knowledge gained will ever be of use in the future. Since they are part and parcel of course requirements, no choice. Just have to swallow all these 'bitter medicine'.

I find that the past 2 years have been a very humbling journey for me as I have always had to taste failure or just passing by my hair's width. However, this serves as a good way to appreciate and understand the hardship my future students go through when they learn mathematics even at the primary level. To them, the CA and SA questions are like how I find some of my modules. So I guess it is a learning journey for me to trek through and get 'tortured', 'whacked' and battered so that I can empathise with them.

Mercedes GP

2010-01-26T15:12:00.003+08:00

Taken from the F1 website.

Although their 2010 car is still firmly under wraps, Mercedes GP have unveiled the new silver and green colour scheme with which they will contest the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The team’s management and drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg all attended the event, which was held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in the German city of Stuttgart on Monday.

The new livery blends the German carmaker’s legendary ‘Silver Arrows’ heritage with the colours of the team's title partner Petronas. As an additional reference to the Mercedes W25 of 1934, when the car’s white paint was scraped off to expose the shining alloy underneath, traces of black carbon fibre will be visible on the nose of the MGP W01.

"Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up!” said Schumacher, who returns to Formula One racing for the first time since 2006 with the former Brawn team. “I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated. We have a very exciting combination at Mercedes GP Petronas.

“We have a world champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia. I am convinced that Mercedes GP Petronas will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go. Driving for Mercedes-Benz again is like the closing of a circle for me as I started my racing driver career with the three-pointed star on my helmet. This is another reason why I cannot wait for the competition to get underway."

Schumacher’s team mate for 2010, Nico Rosberg, was equally enthusiastic, saying: "You can really feel the successful motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz here at the Museum in Stuttgart and to be part of the new Silver Arrows team and that racing heritage makes me feel extremely proud and motivated.

“Since joining the team in November, I have spent a lot of time at the factory in Brackley, at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth and here in Stuttgart, which has given me the opportunity to settle in and get to know everyone. I am looking forward to working with everyone and will give it my all to reward their fantastic efforts with good on-track results this season."

Over 600 guests, including 200 Mercedes-Benz employees, were present at the launch, which was opened with a welcome speech by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. The newly-rebadged Mercedes GP team, however, will continue to be led by Ross Brawn, who took Brawn GP to victory in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships last season.

"It is a privilege to be here at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart today for the official presentation of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One team,” said Brawn. “With your first look around the Museum, you realise the fantastic racing heritage of Mercedes-Benz and we hope to be able to contribute to those successes going forward.

“Our team have been working extremely hard throughout last year and over the winter on the development of the MGP W01 and everyone at the team is looking forward to the start of testing in Valencia next week. We have two excellent drivers in Nico and Michael, who will form one of the most exciting and one of the best partnerships on the grid, and with the support of Mercedes-Benz, Aabar, our new title partner Petronas and all of our team partners, everyone is looking forward to the 2010 Formula One season with anticipation."

Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport’s vice president, added: "With today's presentation of our new team, a new and certainly the most important chapter of over 100 years of Mercedes-Benz motorsport history begins. The new Formula One season will offer challenges which will be bigger than ever before in over sixty years of the sport's history.

“We look forward to the cooperation with our drivers Nico Rosberg who has enormous capabilities and perspectives, and with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. I warmly welcome all our colleagues from last year's world championship team Brawn GP headed by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry to the Mercedes family. There are challenging tasks ahead of us and we will tackle them with power, consistency and full motivation."

The team's 2010 car will make its track debut next week when the first official Formula One test of the season gets underway in Valencia, Spain on February 1.

Pillar knocked my car's rear bumper

2010-01-17T22:45:00.002+08:00

Was reversing out of the church building at Angela's workplace last week and I assumed it was clear behind since I recall there was only 1 car and it was parked rather far away. But I forgot there was a pillar and next things I knew that pillar 'knocked' the rear bumper. It was quite a hard knock but thankfully there was very minimal damage. Only upon very close inspection then you will see there is a scratch. So I will just leave it and if any unlucky person were to rear end and cause some damage to the rear bumper which warrants a replacement, I can save some money!!!

1000th post

2010-01-11T23:24:00.002+08:00

This is my 1000th post since I began blogging about 3.5 yrs ago. Hopefully I can be more regular in posting some of my thoughts.

Began lessons today and so far, everything seems quite understandable. Modern Algebra seems abstract at 1st glance but it is still the start so I can still recall some of my previous stuff. Combinatorial analysis is a continuation of finite maths which can get quite confusing but my lecturer uses unorthodox methods to teach and it makes it quite easy to understand. Modeling with DE is an extension of DE1 of which was my best showing in all the AS modules. Let's see how Algebra 2 is on wed...

999th post

2010-01-05T23:46:00.002+08:00

I was looking at the 1st chapter of 1 of my modules entitled Modern Algebra and it certainly looks very abstract. Some of the things inside are simply foreign to me.........seems tt this module will be giving me a headache.........

2010

2010-01-01T23:08:00.002+08:00

A new year. A new decade. For me, it is something that I am so looking forward to after going through a very difficult year. In fact, I strongly believe that whether 2010 will be good or otherwise greatly depends on how God wants me to live it and how I myself want to make good.

An end and a new start

2009-12-31T23:01:00.002+08:00

It has been a very difficult year for me. Besides course work which took a toll on my health, other aspects of my life were quite messed up. There were many things which I ought to do but I did not. Yet on the other hand, there were things that I shld not have done but did it. However, this the last day of 2009 so I bid farewell to a very challenging year and look forward to something exciting in 2010.

For a start, this is my last semester and it might be quite tough. But with the end in mind, I am determined to finish it well and the good thing is that my proposed timetable appears rather favourable. Then I will be off to school to begin my teaching bond. This is something that I am looking forward to as I have been in NIE for so long. After meeting with my sub-dean last week on my options, he said something very encouraging to me which I would remember when I step into the classroom. Since this course was a very humbling experience for me which included failing 1 module, he said that it is a blessing because I can fully appreciate how my students will struggle irrespective of the subjects they are coping.

Then there is my running program of which I intend to improve my 42k timing so that come 2011 when I intend to run the Stanchart HK Marathon, I am able to finish it below the stipulated cut-off time. THat means, I need to do well in my SD'10 and the SCSM '10. These 2 races are over and above some others which I have in mind. Perhaps I might give vertical marathons a miss this year? Le'ts see.......

So I have closed a difficult year and will open a new one soon. What about you?

disturbing results

2009-12-23T22:46:00.002+08:00

I was quite disturbed by my results this semester. For the very 1st time I entered NIE, i did not clear a module. Yes, I failed 1 module. Initially I felt that I could escape with just a border line pass since I just need the points. However, this was not meant to be.

Damage control was to access what I need to do next semester which is incidentally my last semester before I head back to school. I need to take an extra yr 3 module to make up for this failed one so that I satisfy the criteria to graduate. That means I have to take 2 of the modules which I wanted to avoid. It seems that I have to take this difficult route.

However, despite this failed module which had to spoil the show, my overall GPA actually went up and I scored quite well in some of the other modules. So what leaves me now is to at least try to finish off with a pass with merit though I cannot smell the honours.

Life Transformers 2 (every Mon 8pm Mediacorp Ch 8)

2009-12-14T21:49:00.002+08:00

The 1st season of this variety show showed 12 families who were living in very difficult conditions due to a whole variety of reasons. Extreme circumstances caused them to plunge into such bad living conditions coupled with many other challenges in life. I caught every episode when it was being aired back then as I felt that the lessons learnt were so meaningful. Not that I feel pitiful towards the featured families but it served as a huge reminder to myself that I ought to appreciate the many things in life. It is very tempting to have a craving over that new IPhone, latest computer gadget or in my case, that brand new Toyota Wish or Camry. I must confess that 1 of my desires to upgrade to a bigger and more comfortable car is because of wanting something that would satisfy my earthly desires. Granted, the current Altis is serving us very well and in fact, what more can we ask for since it was fully paid up after just 1 year from the date or purchase. The Lord provided more than what we needed yet the greedy side of mine seems to give me trouble by checking out that brand new Camry!

I hope that those who caught the 1st season and the just-aired 2nd season will appreciate the many things in life no matter how simple it seems. Today's 1st episode showed that despite their difficult financial status, one thing that preveiled in that family is that of love. The 11 year old boy was so mature for his age and it really puts many of my students of the same age to shame. I hope to use these shows to teach my future students some basic values in life and to be thankful with all that they have.

End of sem 3

2009-12-01T00:23:00.002+08:00

I must admit that 2009 is a very tough year in terms of coursework. Squeezing 14 modules in 2 semesters is simply overwhelming and though this semester had less AUs, I had more exams. And all 6 papers were in pairs, meaning, 2 papers back-to-back. At least I am looking forward to the next semester where I have just 4 modules of which 1 of them will be over after week 6. Then it is down to 3 which logically means I should have more time to ensure that my last 3 AS modules can be better. Seems like the best I can attain is just a pass with merit....

Swissotel VM

2009-11-22T16:12:00.002+08:00

I m happy. Mged to get to the top and enjoyed the view. Tough as it was bcos I did not really train for this compared to the National VM when I scaled Republic Plaza. Hopefully in the next NVM, they will allow us to finish at the top of the bdg which is level 66. It seems there are less floors than Swissotel but each level has more steps so the next height of the Republic Plaza is much higher...till Feb'10....

4 more exams to go

2009-11-16T00:14:00.003+08:00

Modules cleared so far: ASK 301 (such a tough paper) ASK 401 (it was very managable though some qns were rather tricky) ACS 401 (handed in the final report a day earlier)

This week, I have to get through AAM331 which is a day before that spastic module called AMX 301. However, I need to re-take my Stats test 2 bcos I virtually blacked out during the test resulting in a not-good-to-mention score. Upon doing my corrections, it is rather fundamental. But I had better be thankful to be given a 2nd chance to do better despite it going to be harder.

Next week, I have my AAM332 and AAM 438. Both are rather difficult as 1 of them requires a lot of understanding the concepts, performing the computations plus the proofs. The other needs good visual spatial skills of which is my Achilles heel. Sometime I REALLY wonder why do these mathematicians have so much free time in the world to think of such abstract theorems and proofs by contradiction. Don;t they have better things to do than to just think of some funny Corollary or a certain rule and then come out with some funny subject? Perhaps that is their passion.

NB real run 09

2009-11-07T21:55:00.002+08:00

In between lessons

2009-10-29T16:13:00.002+08:00

It is the time of the semester that is otherwise known as the peak period. Tests, assignments and other tasks due are piling up. Not to mention the upcoming exams that will be the highlight of the semester.

In the midst of all these tasks, I also have my final so-called test for IDT. All the 2 years of discipling will end next friday but the journey continues. Easier said than done I must confess. Getting started is already difficult but maintain the benchmark is another uphill ball game which requires a lot more work and self discipline. All that leaves for me to conclude is that I know I am inadequate without Him.

A big reminder

2009-10-17T12:24:00.002+08:00

I was lunching with Kwan, a fellow course mate of mine who is a father-of-two boys. We share many common traits and 1 thing that we always use to poke fun at each other are mathematics related jokes.

That aside, yesterday's lunch was rather different. We talked about the tragic incident of a P5 boy who jumped from a building. Many questions surfaced of which 1 of them is: What made him do such a thing? Pressure, we speculated. But who is the one giving him the pressure? Parents, teachers, peers, society as a whole, the education system?

Whatever the reason is immaterial. We concluded that as young parents who will soon advance to parents with school going kids. I asked if we will fall into the category of pushing our students or our own children to the limit or worse still, over the edge. True enough, we want the best and expect the best out of our charges and sons/daughters. However, we should be aware that they too have their limitations. While we should give them the affirmation or praise when it is due, we should also be alert to signs of them being stressed or getting upset over that difficult task.

More often than not, many teachers will push their charges to achieve things that might not be within their cognitive level. As shared with me by Angela, she told me that some of her student's elder siblings in lower primary level are given projects that end up being completed by parents as it is way too hard for the poor kids to complete on their own. Is this a case of letting students discover new information? I think it is more a case of the teacher wanting to have something to put in their annual EPMS so that they can get the desired pay increment or bonus or simply just to avoid getting the dreaded D grade. Since the EPMS is so competitive, us teachers cannot merely do classroom teaching and other 'bare-minimum' duties in order to get a good score. In fact, doing just the bare minimum gets one the bare minimum grade of D which means, no increment, no promotion in grade and no performance related bonus for 3 years.

I am worried that I might end up pushing my students beyond their limit. Worse still, I may even exert too much pressure on Esther to not just be on par but above her peers especially in the academic aspect. However, Kwan told me that as a parent, I can control it and I should. Besides, with the Lord's help and wisdom, I should let Him take control of how He has planned out Esther's journey.

On my way home, I kept asking the Lord to constantly keep me in check as far as my temperaments is concerned. I also prayed that He will give me wisdom and patience on how to parent my daughter. Let her have a happy and memorable childhood. I desire that she will look back years from now having fond memories of her younger days when she could explore many things aesthetically, academically, socially and most important of all, being a person of good character.

An interesting article...

2009-10-10T22:37:00.003+08:00

I stumbled across this article and I find it quite interesting....

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

Flaw in Singapore's education system

I refer to Miss Jane Chan's letter, "Why we can't speak English - or Mandarin - well", as well as Miss Jessica Walker's letter, "Teachers can't do it alone".
While I agree with Miss Chan and Miss Walker that it's a combination of societal influence, family, and educators that make up the language abilities of a child, I also think that we're missing something huge in this picture.For years I have been bemoaning the fact that the Ministry of Education has a huge flaw in its language education system. What many don't know is how teachers are trained.

Firstly, some background information: Recent studies by Patricia A. Duff from the University of British Columbia have shown that it is important to develop a child's first language literacy, before introducing a second. The optimal age for a child to develop its first language skills are between the age of 1 to 13.Granted, in Singapore, both languages (English and a 'mother tongue') should ideally be developed as first languages, the important point to take away here is that the optimal age for first language acquisition, which is between age 1-13.

Secondly, as we all know, Singapore's primary school teachers are known to teach at least two out of the three core subjects, that is, English, Mathematics, and Science (EMS).What most people don't know is that teachers who undergo training to be a primary school educator enter the National Institute of Education and major in only one subject - either English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Physics/Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, History, Geography, Music, Art, or Physical Education.With the exception of Mother Tongue, Music and Art teachers, all other trainee teachers are also expected to take some modules of other subjects, which really barely skim the surface of those subjects, and from there, they are then expected to be able to teach those other subjects well, too.While that is highly disturbing, let's focus a bit here on trainee teachers who major in English. In order to seek admission to NIE, the minimum requirement is a pass in English Language at O Levels.In order to major in English, the requirement is to obtain a good pass the English Proficiency Test (which is honestly a piece of cake). From here, we already know that there are little or no pre-requisites at all, for one to major in English at NIE.

Of course, teachers who score higher on the EPT will be of a better position to apply for a major in English. However, upon graduation from NIE with a BA (Education) or BSc (Education), all newly installed teachers are sent to schools and assigned to teach at least 2 subjects, with 1 being a subject of their university major, and the other, any of the other remaining 2 subjects of the EMS group.Which means teachers who barely scraped a pass in English at O Levels, could now be teaching your children English - and mind you, some of them really have no grasp of grammar rules at all.These teachers are then going to be passing on their lack of understanding of the English Language and its rules, to students aged between 6-13, during the typical primary school years of an average child, whereby language acquisition is at its optimum.Isn't this something MOE should look into, first, if it is now becoming an irrefutable fact that Singaporeans are growing up with an incorrigible command of the English Language (and add to that equation, their Mandarin is no where near first language mastery either)?

I say, don't blame the teachers, don't blame the families, and don't blame society. Blame the ones who crafted our language education and general education policies.

Buzzing cashier stalls

2009-10-01T22:19:00.002+08:00

After watching the last episode of this variety show on Ch 8, we decided to go and give it a try. Chose the chicken rice stall located at Blk 704 Bedok Reservior Rd but it was undergoing renovations. So we headed to another one located at Blk 16 Bedok South Rd which is opposite TJC. Stall 197 sells Japanese food and we ordered their signature dish which was the chicken katsu don. It is tasty and the meat is quite tender unlike some others which are overcooked thereby making it very tough. The miso soup impressed me the most because it was concentrated and tasty with no MSG. I am very sensitive to MSG because I will get very thirsty which means I need to consume lots of water. But this soup did not disappoint. Would I recommend it? You bet I will.

How can a nice meal not be topped up with some nice dessert? It was the Commonwealth Link Food centre next. Obviously it was not possible for us to try all of the 4 types featured on TV but we chose the 2 cold ones. I personally prefer cold to hot dessert. That chilled durian pagant (cant remb how to spell this word) was out of this world. So was the iced mango with pomelo. It is a kind of dessert that you will want to eat on a warm day because it is so refreshing. The million dollar question: Highly recommended? A big yes!

Tremors felt

2009-09-30T20:53:00.002+08:00

I was watching TV at about 1815hrs when I thought I felt something was not quite right. Feeling a little 'dizzy', I felt as if the sofa was 'floating and oscillating'. The 1st instinct was that there was an earthquake in nearby Indonesia. A shot while later, I received an sms about tremors being felt around the Beach Rd and Jln Sultan area. That confirmed my guess. At post time, there as a newsflash on the Asiaone website reporting about an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Ritcher scale had occured in Indonesia. So far, this is the 2nd time that I felt tremors since moving to Bt Batok 6 years ago.

Whatever!!!

2009-09-22T22:20:00.001+08:00

Yellow Ribbon Run

2009-09-10T00:29:00.003+08:00

I went to Changi Prison and ran out of there on sunday morning. Well, not that I committed an offence which warranted a jail sentence and i did a prison break kind of thing but it was the Yellor Ribbon Run. FOr a first time, the organisers did a fantastic job which to me is the 3rd event this year which I really liked the logistics. Since the SBR 09 which left me deeply satisfied, I found that the Yellow Ribbon Run was put together so well and the nice cool and windy weather was the icing on the cake. Though there were slight rain drops along the way, the skies held up till after the run. Thankfully, I was already back home.

I ran the 10k route in my 'BlackAltis' as I need to clock in the 'run-in' mileage. Now that it is already seasoned, I can safely use it for longer distances of which the highlight will be the SCSM 09 in Dec. In fact, i ran about 20k on tuesday around the campus in my old Supernova as it can still hold. Intend to use my old supernova for the New Balance Real Run in early Nov since I really cannot bear to use the 'BlackAltis' for that sort of terrain.

M trying to clock in about 15k tomorrow morning around campus but this time I might do it at a slightly faster pace. Since my 1st lesson only commences at 1530, I can have a nice morning run b4 hitting the books.

another hectic wk

2009-09-05T22:21:00.000+08:00

Last wkend was the 31st anniversary svc. Tmw I am running the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Run which ends at the new CHangi Prison cplx. Then I have quite a lot of work to clear b4 the wk starts.

Undeserving grace

2009-08-29T21:39:00.000+08:00

My cummulative GPA is nothing fantastic. In fact, it is nowhere near that magical figure to be eligible for the stipend. When I checked my bank account, it was in. Rather than guessing or speculating what is the minimum threshold, give thanks for this undeserving grace and His providence especially during this period.

My new 'BlackAltis'

2009-08-22T09:42:00.003+08:00

SBR 09 and also signed up for the Swissotel Vertical Marathon

2009-08-19T22:25:00.000+08:00

This is my 4th year taking part in the SBR and I must confess in terms of logistics and organisation it was the best so far. All the shortcomings that were so glaring last year were resolved and many were happy with the execution. Only thing is that the banana stations could have been more strategically placed. However, this is a very minor issue.

Signed up for the Swissotel Vertical marathon and this time round, I intend to scale the stairs with my digicam because I want to get some great pictures from the top! Just need to pray for favourable conditions just like it was during SBR 09.

Start of a new term

2009-08-11T09:31:00.002+08:00

I begin my 4th and final year today. Basically, my aim is to finish this course well so that the objective of being able to further my studies in the education line is being met. Besides, the many sacrifices made will be worth it.
Just registered for the Swissotel Vertical Marathon and that means, I have 2 events in Nov. Here is a breakdown of the events for the rest of the year.
Aug: SBR 21km
Sept: Yellow Ribbon Run 10km
Oct: nil
Nov: NB Real Run 15k, Swissotel Vertical
Dec: Stanchart 42km ( the pinnacle of all races)

Last week of the hols

2009-08-01T21:35:00.000+08:00

Just another wk to go before term begins. Once again, I have 7 modules and of which I have 6 exams. Despite the reduced 3 hr contact time, I reckon that I need to do quite a bit of reading up especially for the SK science of which I have not 1 but 2 of them. Coming from a 'totally no-biology' background, this is going to be quite a feat. Of course the 3 maths modules look quite formidable as well. However, with the long term goal in mind and the next semester with just 4 modules, I reckon it is worth the while.

Bought a new BlackAltis

2009-07-25T22:40:00.000+08:00

It is a new model and I got it at a steal. Customised colour coded plus every little detail is suited to me. Delievery will take place between 3-4 weeks. Will post the photos when I get it. However, I must stress not to read too much into it.

What is wrong with blogger?

2009-07-21T22:02:00.001+08:00

Something seems quite wrong with blogger.

1st 500

2009-07-16T22:29:00.002+08:00

I tried to register online for the SCSM 09 just after midnight but the system could not be accessed. I then made a decision that I will be 1 of the typical kiasu singaporean and be early at Raffles Place Park where the launch of the event will take place and sign up on the spot. Moreover, I was curious what the goodie bag will be like.

Had an early breakfast and then I took the train to Raffles Place. Saw an ex colleague who was on her Professional Development Leave on her way to her course. Chatted along the way and the journey seemed so much faster compared to travelling alone. I estimated that I might be 1 of the 1st 60 in the queue since I was there about an hour prior to the start. Had a conversation with 2 mothers who were also in the queue signing up for the women's 10k. They just picked up running recently and are incidentally attending the Shape Run and GE womens.

Overall the process was quite fast and I also signed up to be a charity runner. There were 3 to choose from and being in the primary education line, i decided that the Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School for autistic and multiple disabilities children will be my choice.

I will post further details on the link to the website online so anyone can make donations. Any amount is fine. What matters most is that of giving willingly and sacrificially.

Stanchart Sg Marathon 09

2009-07-11T22:43:00.003+08:00

The promotional flier arrived. It confirmed that NB is the apparel sponsor instead of Adidas. Frankly speaking, I prefer Adidas over many other sporting brands anytime. But then again, this could be a brand rotational practice so that each sporting brand gets the chance to sponsor a large scale event like the SCSM. There were 150 pictures of various runners who took part in last year's event and I think I saw 1 or 2 from 2007. These lucky individuals get to run for free if they turn up at the official launch on the 16th of this month.

Discussed with Angela and we will also register Esther for the kid's dash this year. Angela will run the 750m distance with her and depending on how long I take to complete my full marathon, it will be a great opportunity for Esther to probably kick start her running instincts?

latest family pic

2009-07-08T22:28:00.002+08:00

Got my Dell working again

2009-07-04T00:58:00.001+08:00

After getting a replacement for the HDD, my Dell is working once again. Only thing lacking is the office software which I am arranging with my course friend to help me reinstall it. Hopefully this new HDD will be trouble-free

Fed up with Samsung

2009-06-29T22:25:00.002+08:00

I am fed up with the way they run their service centre....

Polar watch giving problems again

2009-06-25T22:25:00.003+08:00

I was preparing my stuff for a run yesterday morning when I noticed that the watch had no display. I thought it shut down by itself but I could not start it. Decided to send it back for a check. Went to the svc ctr by MRT and I really like the stress-free way of just taking public transport and not having to worry about ERP charges, parking charges and also trying to find a parkng lot in the CBD area.

The people at the service centre were quite taken aback by me appearing again within a short period. I insisted that they do a fine-tooth comb check and it need be, replace the whole unit with a new one.

This morning after a short run, they called. It turned out that there was an exceptionally high power consumption and they replaced the whole mother board. Hopefully, it will be ok until the next service is due.

I seriously need to get below 2h10m for my SBR.

Hello....I can hear u....

2009-06-18T22:05:00.002+08:00

Of Polar battery and air-conditioners

2009-06-15T21:42:00.003+08:00

It was a case of a weak battery. Sent my Polar watch and heart rate monitor to the Boon Tat St svc ctr and decided to leave both components there for them to check. At about 2 this afternoon they called to say that both items were ready for collection. Took the MRT to town this morning because I did not want to have to incur the parkng charges plus the fact that it is very hard to get a lot in town. It sure feels great to go the public route occasionally and leave the car at home. Saves $$$ and i do not need to worry about parking availability and charges. Furthermore, I can take the opportunity to do some brisk walking from the MRT station to the svc centre.

Managed to service my air con units earlier today. In fact, it was my neighbour who called us asking if we wanted to get it serviced since she was getting hers checked. Saw that they changed their old units which was beyond economical repair due to age. It was then I realised that the air con unit in my home has been in service about 13 years ago when the preivous owner 1st moved in. Had a chat with the air con techicians and based on his expertise, my unit was under utilised because the average life span for home units is about 7 years. Asked him what is the damage if I need to replace the entire unit once this current one packs up and he quoted me a little below 3k. It sounds reasonable but I am hoping that it will last for another year or so before it finally retires due to obvious financial constraints.

I really respect this technician for his professionalism and long-term commitment. Since I have 4 units at home, he took a look at all of them and said only 2 need to be serviced. Since the other 2 were still ok, he told me to save that extra money. This is very respectable as he could have simply earned and extra 60 bucks yet he chose to go on a long-term relationship by only doing what is necessary. So when the air con at home finally decides to let go, I know who to call.

My Polar watch

2009-06-12T22:07:00.002+08:00

1st it was the footpod. Now the watch. I wanted to use it for a run yesterday and imagine the shock I got when I realised that the battery in the watch had gone flat. There was totally no display. Seems like there is a faulty battery just like the footpod. Probably I will send it to the service centre on Monday and I might also ask them to check the heart rate monitor battery as well.

The weather these days has been quite warm. This makes it a perfect chance to get a nice tan. I have been going to the CSC opposite for a nice tan and cooling off in the pool. Perhaps I might take a trip to Sentosa one of these days to get a tan by the beach?

Aiming to resume running sometime this week

2009-06-08T11:26:00.003+08:00

It has been more than a week since the SD and what a bad timing to fall ill immediately after that overnight marathon. I guess it was due to fatigue and also because Esther was already ill then. Coupled with the bad weather lately it all contributed to my falling sick. This time round, my throat infection was the worst that I have ever had. It lasted for more than a week and the pain was exceedingly unbearable. Even swallowing any fluids was painful. The 1st round of antibiotics was ineffective so I had to be given another dosage with steriods to control the discomfort. Usually, after 48 hrs of administering antibiotics, I should feel the effectiveness or otherwise. After the 2nd medication, I can feel that it is working. Hopefully once I finish the course on wednesday, I can aim to start running on friday?

There is just about 3 months to the SBR and I am determined to do a PB (personal best) this year. Hope to break below the 2h10m mark which will be a great morale booster to perhaps aim for a sub 5h45m for the SCSM in Dec. For now, my long term aim (in the next year or 2) is to get below 5h15m for a 42.195km so that I am confident enough to try for the Stanchart HK Marathon. I guess going for the 2010 one is quite difficult so let's work at the 2011 Stanchart HK Marathon. I have ever said that I will probably try the 84 km ultramarathon just for the feel of it. Perhaps in 3 years?

Turkish GP Qualifying

2009-06-06T22:09:00.002+08:00

That English Man failed to make the cut once again. Yet his fellow countryman continued to get into the front row though not in pole position. I still think that at this time it is still premature to write off That English Man from retaining his world driver's title. HOpefully this will be a humbling experience for him for his arrogance and stuck-up attitude.

Sundown Marathon 09

2009-06-01T22:58:00.002+08:00

This is my 3rd full marathon and the second time which I ran through the night. Route wise it was virtually identical to that of last years except for small changes especially at the end point which many felt a little cheated. Perhaps it was due to the narrow bridge which would hamper the finishers to be obstructed by non-runners or those who have finished earlier and were leaving the venue.

My footpod showed a low battery warning red light even before the race began. I was wonderign how can a 2 mth old device fail so quickly. Perhaps it is the battery that is a victim of not complying with the 'first-in-first-out' principle.

The humid weather made it so stuffy especially at water points. But I am so thankful that it did not rain. I recall last year when I actually stopped at a bus shelter to avoid the heavy thunderstorm.

Throughout the race, there were times when i really wanted to make this my last night marathon. Especially when running through the heartlands and hearing the aircondioners running and hardly any bedroom lights on sure made me feel like throwing in the towel and heading back to my bed. But i pressed on and finished it.

Getting hold of that finishers medal and t-shirt made all the cramps, sweat and other not-so-good aspects seem insignificant.

What now? Time to relax and stretch those muscles before going for recovery runs. Now to focus on the SBR 21k, NB Real Run, Swissotel Vertical Marathon and the pinnacle of all running events: Stanchart Sg Marathon.

Sundown 09 (pics 1st, my thoughts later)

2009-05-31T23:03:00.004+08:00

Eve of Sundown Marathon 09

2009-05-29T22:29:00.002+08:00

It is finally here. I am not referring to the H1N1 virus of course. The overnight marathon takes place in just a little more than 24 hrs from now. Basically, on the eve of my past 2 marathons and even all my half marathons, I have that kind of 'pre-exam jitters'. However, once the starting horn goes and I click start on my Polar Running Computer, it gets exciting. The process is tough both physically and mentally but the end result is simply great. Unlike some exams where you can do some last minute cramming, it is not possible for running. Consistency is key and I have not been that consistent due to other commitments. However, there is always the next marathon to look forward to. Look out for my report on my 2nd night and 3rd full marathon.

another photo

2009-05-26T22:32:00.001+08:00

My Sundown Marathon jersey

2009-05-25T22:47:00.001+08:00

My DG gp

2009-05-25T00:53:00.001+08:00

a picture

2009-05-18T20:30:00.002+08:00

another photo

2009-05-14T22:37:00.002+08:00

outing to sentosa...

2009-05-12T20:39:00.002+08:00

Great results yet again....

2009-05-10T23:06:00.003+08:00

That English Man finished outside the points in the recently concluded Spanish GP. It was the other English Man that made it his fourth win of the season. Seems that there is REALLY a revival sweeping across F1. Let's hope more of such results will occur until that arrogant, stuck-up and cocky world champion gets dethroned.

wet and dry swimming

2009-05-05T22:41:00.002+08:00

Met up with the usual gang from NIE and had a great session at the Jurong East Sports Cplx. Basically, it was a soaking session since the sun was not that warm only until when we left then it got warmer. Adjourned to Ling's place to have the dry swimming session. Obviously we just played for fun with no $$ involved. Not even using the chips. Must say that my hand was not bad. Managed a few wins!

Off to bed for an early night as I am meeting up with my neighbour for a running session tomorrow morning. Our aim is to run 21k tomorrow since it is our last chance before we need to begin tapering off before SD which is just 3 weeks away.

15k run

2009-05-04T22:32:00.002+08:00

I am glad that I went for a 15k run this morning. Well, not exactly morning but more of late morning and early afternoon. It rained bright and early so I thought all hopes of getting some training today will be dashed. However, at about 1100hrs, I looked out of the window and it looked great. Slight overcast with no sun and it was windy. Put on my shoes and my polar equipment, then I began my 15k conquest. The humidity was quite high which explained my running top being soaked through and through. Now I am looking forward to running the campus on wed with a neighbour of mine who is also going for SD.

Sundown Marathon 09

2009-05-01T23:33:00.001+08:00

Will try to post more often

2009-04-30T22:46:00.002+08:00

Due the busy months of March and April, the tons of assignments, reports and examination preparations caused this blog to have so much dust and mould. NOw that Ihave more time till Aug, I will try to post more often.

Went to 360deg cable ski on tue with course friends once again. This time, the weather was quite bad and it rained heavily just as we were about to go there. As such, we waited at the food centre for about an hour before heading to the venue. I was contemplating if I should give it a shot since I have unfinished business there. I had problems trying to cross the 1st corner due to the sudden jerk of the cable thus falling into the lagoon perpetually. The main reason is that a blind person can see better than yours truly without specs. Those disposable contact lens cannot match my power and even if it can, cost is the main minus point. I also found out that powered goggles are really expensive and if you do not use it often, no point investing in one. I then decided not to waste $$ knowing that I am going to fall off at that 1st corner. It is because you need to do some shifting so that your board will slide out a bit and the tension of the cable will remain constant. Since they do not allow specs to be worn, I cannot even see where I am headed therefore I do not know when to shift. Well, at least I tried it before.

Sundown Marathon is just about a month away and I have not been very consistent. Seems that completing the 42km this time round in less than my targeted 5h30m is quite hard. Coupled that it is overnight, I think I will aim to complete it at least around the 6hr mark which is an improvement from my previous 2 marathons.

End of a hectic semester

2009-04-27T22:53:00.002+08:00

7 modules this semester is really demanding not just mentally, psychologically but also intellectually. The amount of work to be done was quite massive and with the numerous due dates that overlapped, it was all hell break loose when doubts began surfacing especially when things do not make sense.

Overall, AAM203 was quite managable. Though that lame fellow set some weird questions, I guess I invested a lot of time in the last 2 chapters of which contributed almost 50% of the paper. Now I hope that my answers are accurate.

Next semester? Well, it is 7 modules once again though the contact hours are slightly less. However, I think I might need to strategize more effectively so that it will not be so pressurizing nearing the exams.

Wood Wedding Anniversary

2009-04-24T23:01:00.004+08:00

Got this from Wikipedia. I did not know that the 5th wedding anniversary is called wood aniversary. I know what is silver, gold and diamond only!! Well, am working towards that!! My late grandparents almost celebrated their diamond (60th year) anniversary but unfortunately my grandpa passed away 4 mths prior to that date. But they had a wonderful marriage which was a role model for me. I recall a family friend who sent me an email 2 days after my wedding 5 years ago. The last sentence made and will continue to make a deep impression in my mind. That sentence is "The wedding event is over and marriage life begins. THe former lasts only a day but the latter lasts a lifetime".

1st
Paper

2nd
Cotton

3rd
Leather

4th
Linen, Silk

5th
Wood

6th
Iron

7th
Wool, Copper

8th
Bronze

9th
Pottery, China

10th
Tin, Aluminium

11th
Steel

12th
Silk

13th
Lace

14th
Ivory

15th
Crystal

20th
China

25th
Silver

30th
Pearl

35th
Coral, Jade

40th
Ruby

45th
Sapphire

50th
Gold

55th
Emerald

60th
Diamond

70th
Platinum

3 done so far

2009-04-23T22:28:00.002+08:00

AAM 104: As usual, that ah m*ng set a paper which was qutie tedious though there were some questions that were 'bao jiak' type. But under exam conditions, what seems managable seems hard as well. I found that compared to previous years, this year's paper was more demanding. So hopefully, he will be kind as far as the moderation is concerned.

AAM 204: This time round, ah b*ng was very kind. Basically this paper is testing on our application. We could refer to anything and gain access to all files to solve the questions. The only catch is how much to write. Since all computations were done on the computer, how much to write really depends on your own discretion.

AAM 103: That china man set a very simple compared to the past two years. Not that it is so simple that you can complete them accurately in half the time but it is easy to garner enough marks to pass. But there are those usual questions that throw you off guard and makes you wonder how did he come out with such questions.

Left with AAM 203 to go which is quite a tough one.....Anyway, it is our wood wedding anniversary tomorrow.......

Shanghai GP

2009-04-19T17:01:00.003+08:00

Once again That English Man did not win nor finish in the podium. In fact, both Red Bulls took the 1st 2 positions. Let's hope That English Man will be kept from the podium for as far as possible so that he will lost his World Championship Driver's title to someone else.

Fonntline Ch 8 on 17th Apr

2009-04-17T21:51:00.002+08:00

I think this week's episode is very relevant to those who are still gainfully employed yet conplaining about their job scope, benefits, wage, superiors, customers, colleagues etc.

Peak period

2009-04-11T21:43:00.002+08:00

AAM 104 Number Theory 16th Apr
AAM 204 Computational Mathematics 21st Apr
AAM 103 Finite Mathematics 23rd Apr
AAM 203 Statistics 1 27th Apr

Integrity & character

2009-04-04T11:14:00.002+08:00

What's up with That EnglishMan and his team? They keep getting into some funny issues with respect to integrity and honesty. 2 seasons ago they got into that spy scandal which was a huge disgrace to them. Just at the start of this season, he and his team misled the steards during the Aus GP and get into some serious trouble. Don;t they ever learn from their mistakes? I am looking forward to the team receiving the due punishment which the FIA says they are still not done dealing with them. What's the use of having a world champion who lacks the basic integrity and character?

Revival in F1?

2009-03-28T15:29:00.002+08:00

Go and check out the qualifying results in the Aus GP. If it carries on this way, perhaps it marks the end of the Ferrari and McLaren domination of the sport. For ages it has usually been the red scarlets versus the silver arrows and occasionally the renaults in the 05 and 06 season. However, with the still to be confirmed diffuser issue, perhaps we will see some of the other middle players rising up to the podium. However, all i want to see is That Arrogant Englishman lose his title this year and make him eat humble pie.

my new toy

2009-03-25T21:21:00.003+08:00

Apologies for going AWOL for so many days. Been so tied up with course work and it just got so overwhelming that I went for some retail therapy today. Total damage was $372 at the Athele's Circle for something that is said to be the companion to a runner's shoes.

Forget me not

2009-03-19T10:59:00.002+08:00

Went to visit mum yesterday and I had to painstakingly sign a document authorising the home to the use of restraints as a last resort should she get exceptionally aggressive or violent. This as explained by the staff is one of the common signs of mental deterioration due to senile demantia. It was a difficult decision to sign on the line but for the sake of her own safety, the other residents and the staff, I had no choice. This is similar to the painful task my brother and I had to take 4 years ago to put her up at the home due to her mental condition.

Then the next shocking thing that occurred was that she mistook me for somebody else. Though I had anticipated the there will come a day when my mum will not be able to recognise anyone of us, I felt that it came a little too soon. It is not surprising that she might not be able to recall that she already has 3 grandchildren but then again, this is all part of the downward trend for demantia patients.

It is no use regretting that we did not spend enough time with her but the least that we could do is to try to the very best of our ability to visit her more often. There were times when I really wished that she would be normal but things do not always turn out the way we desire. For those of you who are blessed to have loved ones and friend who are normal, cherish their presence, relationship and friendship because by the time you want to appreciate or spend more quality time with them, it might already be too late.

Disturbing article in the New Paper dated 14 th Mar

2009-03-14T22:19:00.002+08:00

When I went to Shop N Save to purchase some weekly supplies, the headline of TNP caught me attention. It mentioned that there were 13 students who were arrested due to being in pocession of weapons like knives and choppers. I bought a copy and when I read the article in detail, I was quite perturbed that students brought such things to school just to scare others. Perhaps they were victims of being bullied? I really thank God that Sg is very strict as far as banning the pocession of firearms is concerned. Imagine that students bring guns to school just like some countries which have had shooting cases.

I can only pinpoint that the internet plus the lack of proper education by parents are the main causes of such shocking behaviour. I feel that the schools are already being over stretched so the home must support in reinforcing certain values on the students. Parents cannot expect that the schools will take over the role completely. It is a collaborative effort to ensure that the students learn the right values and the home helps to cement it in. So I hope those who think that the school is responsible for such deeds, think again....

Fellow runners out there: any of these apply to u? (part 4 finally)

2009-03-10T21:24:00.003+08:00

At last, all 4 parts have been posted. Seems that quite a number apply to yours truly...

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

...you are embarrassed to wear sandals because of your hideous sock tan, but you where 'em anyway

...you are not embarassed to show someone where your hamstring "really" hurts

....you know splits are something that not only cheerleaders care about

...girls: you're embarassed to wear a bikini because of your shorts/bra/tank-top/t-shirt tan lines

...you have hundreds of safety pins scattered around your house

...you enjoy running in the rain

...you carry a waterbottle to every class

...you double knot all your shoes out of habit

...you have a watch tan that never goes away

...you feel naked without your stop-watch on

...you enjoy playing duck duck goose with a youth group knowing you can outrun them- you then get sad when no one picks you as goose

...when you pack a seperate bag for your running clothes

...when pasta is the only food you'll eat two nights before a race

...when you try to convince people to run a 5k because it's "only" 3 miles

...when your friends think they need to practice more before they can run with you

...Every time you see a runner when you're driving you feel like you too should be running, even if you ran 15 miles earlier in the day

...You shower about 12 times a week

...you're not a masochist, but you enjoy ironing out tight muscles and tendons on a foam roller

...You see your opponent shitting on the side of a road during a race and don't think twice about it

...You really have to take a shit during your 90 minute run, but without any leaves or toilet paper handy, you rip off the bottom half of your t-shirt and use it

...your toenails are black

....you feel lost without your water-bottle

....you have running withdrawl if you don't run everyday

....you consider school as just a break between runs

....your room smells like Icy-Hot and New-Skin

....you are bankrolling your physical therapist's next vacation

....your girlfriend can bench more than you....you can count all your ribs.

Fellow runners out there: do any of these apply to u? (part 3)

2009-03-09T21:57:00.002+08:00

read on from yesterday..........especially the 1st one about sleeping in running shorts. Well I sleep in my running attire as it is multi-purpose. Those adidas or FBT jerseys are just so comfortable and gives off that sporty look.....

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

...you sleep in your running shorts because they're more comfortable than whitie-tighties, not to mention you don't need to change for morning practice

...you can correctly pronounce names like "Hicham El Guerrouj" "Kennesia Bekele" and "Haile Gebresilassie"

...you've learned that shopping after a long run or hard workout for food is bad, because when you get home, you realize all you have to eat for the next week is queso dip, mission tortilla chips, and a 5 pound bag of twizzlers

...you've ever found yourself running around an airport thinking "if i can just get in three more miles, I'll meet my mileage goal"

...you've become a member of the "Century Club", and by that I don't mean the older brother of the "Power Hour". (100 miles in 1 week of training)

...you wear sandals despite having the ugliest feet in the world, along with several missing toe nails

...speciality running shops are better than the mall

...you get upset and impatient when results from the race you ran aren't posted online by the time you get home

...LetsRun.com is your homepage

...you spend so much time on LetsRun that any one of the following could/has happened: you've been fired, you've been divorced, you've failed 1 or more classes, you have a regular posting handle and participate in all the Brojos prediction contest, and/or you've actually won a LetsRun.com prediction contest

...you need a magnifying glass to see your name in the paper.

...you have chafing in strange places

....you spend more on training clothes than school clothes

....there's nothing like intervals to start the week off fresh!!

...you talk to your coaches more than your parents

...off-season training starts a week after Finals

...you run when you feel like it, be it 6AM or midnight

...you know what "Badger Miles" are

...you use "Badger Miles" on your long runs and easy days

...you have the guts to do the steeplechase

...you do anything to try to heal an injury except go to a doctor or athletic trainer because you know they will just tell you to "Stop running."

...you wear a black, plastic sports watch with your dress clothes

...you can remember a time from a race 4 years ago, but you can't remember your friend's birthdays

...Your heart rate is below 50 and you are not dying

...You know how many grams of carbs there are in a banana

....You can name a person from Namibia, Djibouti and Zimbabwe

...You've said "she'd be one hell of a pole vaulter" at a strip club

Fellow runners out there: do any of these apply to u? (part 2)

2009-03-08T23:02:00.003+08:00

Continued from yesterday.....

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

... you are a man, you eat all the junk food that there is and still weigh 119 pounds

... you dont care when you hug a sweaty girl

... you can sit in the cold whirlpool and still hope you will have 15 kids

...ultimate frisbee is the only other sport your good at

..."Quarters" are not a monetary unit

...You have recorded a marathon or track meet over your wedding video

...Your fridge contains two types of drinks: Beer and gatorade

...you waste ridiculous amounts of time engaged in meaningless arguments and discussions about running

...you get hit by a car and you don't bother to get the license plate of the person who hit you because you still have 6 miles left to go

...your carry-on is a spike bag

...the first question anybody asks you once they find out you are a runner is "Have you ever run the marathon?" even if you explain that you are a miler or 5k runner - then they immediately lose interest in the conversation

...You say things like "long and hard" to your female friends and it is not a sexual inuendo

...You hate Runner's World

...you are used to the sound of a gun

...you make hundreds of left turns each week

...you and your teammates have meaningless debates about training, running, and coaching, especially when you're drinking

...you can run a beer mile faster than most people could run a regular mile

...you have running shoes in varying degrees of decomposition: used, well-worn, spent but still good, and useless-but-I-still-wear-them-because-they-still-feel-good

...you keep shoes and running clothes in your car so that if you're ever on a roadtrip and drive by a place thinking "it'd be sweet to run here..." you can get out and go for a run

Fellow runners out there: do any of these apply to u? (part 1)

2009-03-07T17:44:00.003+08:00

Saw this on facebook. Those in bold apply to yours truly...more to come in the next post

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

For anyone who is crazy and obsessed with running, or whoever just loves the sport

......you can use "easy" and 10 in the same sentence

...your shoes have more miles on them than your car does

...you go to a golf course to run

...you schedule dates around meets

...you've been to a golf course in every city but not to play golf

...you find yourself saying, "it's not really a hill..."...you're running and you don't know why

...more than half the people you know don't know what XC is

...you can't go a day without some little brat saying "Run Forest run"

...you've ever relieved yourself (1 or 2) in a heavily wooded area. Hell, it doesn't even have to be heavily wooded, just somewhere in the outdoors

...Ibuprofen is your recreational drug of choice

...You look into the toilet before a big race to inspect the size of the log you just dropped

...National collegiate "powerhouses" are Colorado, Stanford, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Arkansas

....not Florida St, Miami, USC, and Oklahoma

...you are from the US and you think in terms of meters not feet or yards

...you can look at a grass field and guess its circumference almost exactly

...you are up watching ESPN at 2am (when they actually show the race coverage)

...you have 5% body fat yet you don't live in Somalia

...you consider a 15 mile run a good cure for a hangover

3 yrs old

2009-03-06T12:35:00.000+08:00

The blackaltis turns 3 in about a week from now. I just incurred quite a sum of money for the inspection, road tax renewal, insurance, servicing plus replacement of the tyres, brake pads and battery due to wear and tear. Guess the damage? I think I rather not disclose it.....With all these expenses, I will be keeping the car for quite a while since it drives well and serves us pretty ok. Plus the fact that with the recent major servicing, it drives really great.

Shocking News

2009-03-02T21:42:00.002+08:00

Find it hard to believe tt such a thing can occur here in Sg. Thankfully there were no guns unlike in the US.........

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

Taken from the AsiaOne website

Student in NTU stabbing identified

The student involved in the stabbing of a lecturer at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been identified as a David Widjaya, according to a report that appeared in the Lianhe Wanbao.
The student, who committed suicide after stabbing the professor, Prof Chan Kap Luk, was a fourth year engineering student.
Prof Chan was alleged to be his supervisor on a project.
The stabbing occurred at about 10.35am Monday, at S1A, a nine-storey building in the engineering faculty at NTU.
Police recovered a 10-cm-long knife at the scene, believed to be the weapon with which Widjaya used to attack Prof Chan.
According to the Chinese daily, the student was alleged to have stabbed Prof Chan outside his office on the sixth floor. He then ran to the fourth floor and slit his wrists, before jumping off the building.
The motivation for the attack is still unknown, pending further investigations by the police.

Stab wound to back, multiple cuts on arms

Prof Chan suffered serious injuries as a result of the attack and was taken to the National University Hospital for treatment. Wanbao reported that he sustained a stab wound to his back, as well as multiple lacerations to his arms.
According to eye-witness interviewed at the scene, they believe the cuts on his arms were a result of his attempt to fend off subsequent blows made by Widjaya after the initial stabbing.
China student called the police
Wanbao also reported that another final-year student, a Chinese national, was the one called the police after witnessing the incident.
The eye-witness told reporters that he saw the Indonesian-Chinese student sitting at the ledge of the walkway between the two neighbouring buildings of the faculty before leaping off the ledge.

Word spread through the net

News about the incident spread quickly around campus. Wanbao reported that a student posted online that he had heard of the incident shortly after it occurred.
He and his friends spotted bloodstains along the walkway and saw the attacker lying on the ground below.
According to him, the attacker was believed to be wearing a dark coloured shirt and beige shorts.

The gp that went to EPS

2009-02-27T23:00:00.003+08:00

A very meaningful article

2009-02-26T23:40:00.002+08:00

Happened to read this article in the Asiaone website. Those who have a job and are complaining, read this article.

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

IT WAS a Friday night when I walked into my usual Japanese restaurant.

To my surprise, the small place was packed and I was glad I had made a booking, despite being a regular patron.

Another surprise awaited me as I took my seat at the counter: There was none of the usual greetings and smiles from the chefs. In their place were black faces. There was no eye contact; it was as if we customers were 'transparent'.

Something told me there was more to the extraordinary situation than meets the eye.

The busy waitresses were told off rudely by the two chefs either for not writing the orders clearly or for not serving food fast enough, all these within earshot of the customers sitting around.

My heart went out to the poor girls.

The atmosphere was tense, like that in a courtroom. Halfway through my dinner, my curiosity got the better of me and I asked one of the chefs what the problem was.

Unknowingly, I had touched a raw nerve, sparking an outburst. The reason for the outburst?

He felt that the crowd was more than they could handle, that their boss and supervisors were not doing anything to reduce their workload...

The two chefs were even contemplating resigning to teach the owner a lesson, without giving enough thought to the consequences - to them and their families. Unfortunately, their attitude is not uncommon in the workforce.

There are workers who prefer days when there are fewer customers and less work, or who go on leave or call in sick during busy periods. To them, busy days are a chore. But have they thought about the consequences of not having enough work or customers?

How long can a company, no matter how big it is, last if there is not enough business? The workers may end up without jobs.

The work in most jobs is often periodic in nature - there are peaks and troughs. What workers need to do is to learn to compromise, to give and take. Unfortunately in life, taking is easier than giving.

If there are genuine grievances, these should be discussed with management in a constructive way.

Suffering in silence is not the solution. Bottling up frustrations is bad enough. Venting them on customers is even worse. The company's image suffers. Resigning en masse is not a way of getting back at the boss. It is plain stupidity and workers will end up losers. You can never fight an institution.

Frontline staff are the ones that make or break a company. The chefs lost their restaurant a few loyal customers that Friday night. I, for one thing, would have second thoughts about dining there again.

Let us appreciate the fact that we are still employed in these difficult economic times and treasure our jobs.

Flying Fox @ Edgefield Pri

2009-02-25T21:25:00.003+08:00

Day 2

2009-02-24T20:15:00.002+08:00

Cable Ski

2009-02-23T22:17:00.003+08:00

It was fun. Though I did not manage to complete 1 full loop due to lack of techinque but the consolation was that with each attempt I ended up further and further away from the launch site. It looked scary at the start but once you get the kick, it is addictive. Perhaps I will do better next time...Basically, the 27bucks per hr is worth it.

Some pics

2009-02-22T23:05:00.003+08:00

More F1 testing

2009-02-18T22:07:00.001+08:00

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen charged to the top of the timesheets on Tuesday, as this week’s test continued in Bahrain. Clocking a best lap of 1m 32.102s around the Sakhir circuit, Raikkonen’s quickest time was over a tenth of a second faster than that of Jarno Trulli in the Toyota.

Despite setting the fastest time, the Finn endured a frustrating session, after a problem with the cooling element of his car's KERS device marred his final day in the Ferrari. Forced to stop for three hours of repair work, Raikkonen managed to cover 107 laps. Team mate Felipe Massa will test the F60 on Wednesday.

"Until today the car's development went well, although we were mainly concentrating on its behaviour and the tyres," said Raikkonen. "Anyway we drove many laps. The whole car improved during this test, but it's still too early to say where we are compared to our competitors."

Trulli, meanwhile, carried out set-up, tyre and suspension work in the TF109, completing 149 laps in total. With his Sakhir test now over, team mate Timo Glock will take charge of the cockpit on Wednesday.

“This has been a very good test for us,” the Italian explained. “I've covered well over 2000km in three days and I feel happy with the car. It seems competitive and reliable so a start like this gives us a solid base for the season ahead. There is still a lot of time before the first race and there is plenty of scope for teams to make big steps between now and Melbourne. So we will have to keep pushing hard to keep up the momentum in the factory and at the remaining tests. Still, so far so good.”

Third fastest was Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber. Heidfeld concentrated on the mechanical set-up of the F1.09, evaluating various specifications of dampers and torsion bars. The German, who covered 104 laps, also carried out some practice starts in the morning and towards the end of the day.

“Today I drove the new BMW Sauber F1.09 in warm weather conditions for the first time, so the most important thing for me was to learn more about the general balance of the car,” he said. “Overall it was a good day because I tried a lot of different set-up solutions. I already feel happy about how the car reacts to changes.”

Heidfeld's day, however, wasn't entirely trouble free. In the morning, the car stopped on the track when a standard kill switch accidentally cut off the main electronic control unit and engaged the automatic fire extinguishing system. But with some modifications to the switch linkage - and a cleaned up car - he was able to get back out on track.

Testing continues in Bahrain on Wednesday.

Unofficial Tuesday times from Bahrain:

1. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:32.102

2. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:32.230

3. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:32.585

1 down 2 more to go

2009-02-16T21:23:00.001+08:00

Stats was basically alright except for a few careless mistakes plus some which i was not very sure. However, I think I had better focus on computational maths tomorrow and then it will be number theory on thu. I still need to complete my finite maths of which the last 3 questions are quite a handful...

Hellish wk ahead

2009-02-15T23:55:00.002+08:00

Those guys who served their NS in the Navy will probably know of the infamous 'Hell week'. Or thsoe who attend the 'Combat Survival Course' or the 'Ranger' course will surely have stories to tell. Basically, the hell week for this semester is this week. Perhaps it might be the last one or the one where I have 4 things in that week will be a lot worse?

Something unorthordox

2009-02-14T21:05:00.002+08:00

I went for a 15k run yesterday afternoon at about 1300hrs. Yes, there is no typo error. Revising for my 3 tests next week just got too overwhelming and I had to put it aside for a while. Left campus and came home before putting on my shoes and hitting the road. The afternoon sun plus the humidity was really demanding but it was a fantastic sweating session. It may seem a little unusual to run in the blazing sun but I just needed that outlet. Moreover, the evening is definitely out. Surprisingly, I did not feel that tired because the adrenalin rush was quite phenomenal. This is not the 1st time I did something like this. Last year when I was completing my DCE201 assignment, the much dreaded writer's block kicked in so I no choice but to leave it aside for a while and go for a run. Needless to say, the inspiration came and after that session, I came back and finished it in no time.

Another busy wkend ahead

2009-02-12T23:18:00.002+08:00

Revise for AAM104 quiz 2
Revise for AAM203 test 1
Revise for AAM204 test 1
Choose questions for ACS301
Confirm articles for ACS201

Where can I squeeze in time to put in some distance into my shoes?

Whatcha staring at???

2009-02-11T20:59:00.001+08:00

More photos taken on sunday morg

2009-02-09T21:33:00.004+08:00

National Vertical Marathon 09

2009-02-08T22:19:00.003+08:00

Pre-race jitters

2009-02-07T16:50:00.002+08:00

I usually have pre-race jitters regardles of whatever event I am going to participate in. Whether it is running the full marathon of 42km or just a simple 10k running event, I usually have the jitters on the eve of the event. Perhaps it is my excitement level that is building up? It is especially so when it comes to me taking part for the very 1st time.

Tomorrow is the National Vertical Marathon. I signed up for it as I wanted to experience it first-hand. Heard many stories of people getting slight dizziness and the feeling of floating once past the 40-something storey. However, like in all races, I aim to give my best shot and enjoy myself.

So glad that I have finished my e-learning report for ALS101 as it is quite a ......oh well, don't complain.

Revising for maths quiz

2009-02-05T22:17:00.002+08:00

Revising for AAM103 quiz tomorrow.

'Auspicious' apples

2009-02-04T21:49:00.002+08:00

Marina Bay Circuit to be fine tuned....

2009-02-03T20:45:00.002+08:00

Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural Singapore Grand Prix, organisers have announced that the layout of the Marina Bay circuit will be improved further ahead of the 2009 event.

Following consultation with the FIA and the teams, minor changes will be made to Turns One, 13 and 14 to further increase the potential for overtaking, whilst road surface improvements will be undertaken at Turns Five, Six and Seven, and revisions made to the pit-lane entry and exit as well as the Turn 22 runoff area.

“While the circuit and the event exceeded expectations around the world, as with any brand new event, there are always things which we now know we can do better,” explained Singapore’s technical and race operations director, Michael McDonough.

“Minor modifications are proposed on the track, at Turns One, Seven and 14 in order to improve overtaking opportunities whilst the main changes will be to the Pit Entry and Pit Exit to provide added margins of safety for cars entering and leaving the pit lane.”

The changes to Turn One will involve modification to the geometry to reduce corner speed so that it provides potential overtaking opportunities in the braking zone at the approach to the corner. The modifications will involve relocating the corner apex, reducing the corner radius and thereby cutting the estimated cornering speed.

When the cars took to the track last September, some drivers took a far wider line in this corner than expected, turning in from the concrete verge next to the wall. Kerbing will therefore be installed on the entry to prevent this.

Turn 13, the tight left-handed hairpin after the historic Anderson Bridge, will be amended to increase cornering speed, providing additional speed on Esplanade Drive and increasing the opportunity for overtaking in the braking zone at Turn 14. With the revision, the cars are now likely to reach speeds of approximately 275km/h along Esplanade Drive.

In addition, the geometry of Turn 14 will also be modified to improve overtaking opportunities in the braking zone. The changes will involve relocating the corner apex to reduce the corner radius and reducing the estimated cornering speed of the cars.

During the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, a significant speed differential was observed at the apex of Turn 22 between cars entering the pit lane and those lapping the track. To reduce any risk of interference between them, a dedicated pit-lane entry will be constructed.

The pit exit will also be changed. Last year it entered the circuit into the braking zone for Turn One, immediately after the pit wall. Following suggestions from the FIA, the pit lane will be realigned and lengthened for 2009, exiting on the drivers’ left at Turn Two, away from the racing line and onto a part of the circuit where the cars will all be accelerating.

Finally, the runoff distances at Turn 22 will be reduced, providing better spectator circulation in the area. The 2009 Singapore Grand Prix will take place from September 25-27.

An instinct update

2009-02-02T14:44:00.002+08:00

Running instinct and Adistar Ctrl were overjoyed this morning. After days of indulging in all the CNY food goodies (More like sinful food), both of them were taken on an outing around NIE for about an hour. Initially, sleep instinct tried to wreck harvoc early this morning but failed. It only did some damage during the 1st science 201 lecture. However, all parties are happy as they all had their fair share of 'victories'.

So when will running instinct and Adistar Ctrl go on an outing again? Probably it will be on wednesday morning and it might be a slighty longer one. Asics Gel is getting envious being cooped up at home but will get it's turn when both shoes do their rotation.

Progress report

2009-02-01T23:21:00.002+08:00

AAM 104 tutorial (left with 2 qns, the rest done)
AAM 203 chapter 1 ( attempted but with lots of doubts)
ACS 201 reflections (completed)
ACS 301 reflections (completed)
ALS e-learning report (just started......need to get this done quick...)
AAM103 quiz revision (not started, to get cracking after running tmw)

War of the instincts

2009-01-31T19:30:00.003+08:00

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....