Blogging with Wii!!!

Finally, the Connection Works...
Sorry, I can't really add colours to the subtitle, so I just leave it as it is (too lazy to type the codes).

Anyway, I finally managed to connect my Wii to the internet (after many connection errors...). Yup, now I'm using the Wii to type this blog entry out, so I can't really type too much here. Imagine you have to keep pointing, aiming and clicking to type such a short entry... Yup, it might take quite some time to do so.

Ok, for those who have Wii as well, you may be interested in exchanging Wii codes with me, so that we can exchange messages, photos, Miis... I'll find out my Wii friend code, and put it up as soon as possible.

Cheers!!!

UPDATE
My Wii Number: 3213 3945 8580 4701

Runspiration

Making the Point to Run
Just recently, I read one of my friend's blog about running 5 times a week (5km for 1, 3 and 5, and 2.4km for 2 and 4). Initially, I thought it would be a bit crazy to go for a run for so many times a week, but after giving another thought, I felt that it wasn't such a bad idea after all. After reading through the blog and being "inspired" as well, I decided to make myself run more often, starting from yesterday with the 6km run at Bishan Park 1 and 2. Maybe I'll start off with about 2 times a week, hopefully I'll would be able to increase my running frequency (that is if I had that time to do so ). Not only for the preparation for the upcoming MILK run (I'm only running the 4km community run by the way), it is also for fitness purposes, controlling my body mass, and to prepare for the Standard Chartered Marathon (Half-Marathon) this December. Yup, I don't want to get leg cramps again like last year Standard Chartered Marathon (Half-Marathon) (which make me almost immobilised for about a month).

Anyway, from what I know so far, my sister will also be taking the Standard Chartered Marathon this year as well, after pursuasion from one of her friends and me. Yup, initially she just wanted to run for the 10km, but we pursuade her to take up the 21km run instead, because the 10km run is unchallenging and short. Well, we shall see when the registration for Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2007 opens in late-July.

Anyway, just asking, other than Kavan, who is being "forced" by his friend (of course the friend is NOT me) to sign up for the MILK run, is there anyone else joining the MILK run (community run) with us?

Modules Planning
Even though it's only June, which is still about 1.5 to 2 months away from CORS bidding, it's good to plan modules as early as possible, and to plan for alternative modules as well, to avoid disappoint due to clashes, unable to secure modules and so on. Yup, I wanted to take FNA1002X (Financial Accounting) to take advantage of the "freshmen protection scheme", but unfortunately the exam timing clashes with one of my core modules, CS1102C (Data Structures and Algorithms). Wanted to take GEK1002 (Introduction to Japanese Studies) as an alternative, but again the exam timing clashes with another core module, CS1231 (Discrete Structures). I did consider MKT1003 (Principles of Marketing), but if I take that, I have to wake up early in the morning for all the 5 schooling days. After a lot of consideration, thinking and planning, I decided on a Singapore Studies, SSA2202 (Changing Landscapes of Singapore). Ok, I thought I'll be in trouble taking up that module just by myself alone, because the CA consist of a 35% project, which requires me to find another 2 people to do the project with me. Fortunately, the teaching assistant is very kind enough to help me to find 2 project mates for me, and the 2 project mates are also willing to contribute to the projects fairly as well, which we managed to get a B+ in the end.

In order to avoid last minute planning, I decided to plan up some of the modules (especially electives) that I'm interested in planning. The first thing I did was to mapped out my core modules (even though they are mostly preallocated, I still mapped out to see what I have cleared, what I need to take, and what prerequisites I still need for other core modules).

For my course, these are the foundation/core modules that I may need to clear.
Faculty Requirements
ES1000: Basic English
EG1471: English for Academic Purposes (Engg)
EG1413: Critical Thinking And Writing
EG2401: Engineering Professionalism
HR2002: Understanding Human Relations in the New Economy

Foundation Modules
CS1101C: Programming Methodology
EG1108: Electrical Engineering
MA1505: Mathematics I
MA1506: Mathematics II
MLE1101: Introductory Materials Science and Engineering

Core Modules
CS1102C: Data Structures and Algorithms
CS1231: Discrete Structures
CS2103: Software Engineering
EE2005: Electronics
EE2006: Digital Design
EE2007: Microprocessor Systems
EE2009: Signals
EE2012: Analytical Methods in Electrical and Computer Engineering
EE3204: Computer Communication Networks I
EE3207: Computer Architecture

By using what I have learnt from CS1102C and CS1231 about graphs (hehe... :P), this is how I mapped out my core modules.


Based on my QET results, I'm only exempted for ES1000, unfortunately. But never mind, EG1471 is really quite helpful in my opinion. After studying for 2 semesters, I managed to clear some of my foundation and core modules. Since I have accumulated 44MCs, I have met the minimum requirement of 37MCs to get me to Stage 2 (which is CPE2 for me in this case).


After that, I "white-out" those modules that I have been exempted/cleared, leaving the other modules behind.


Using the graph concepts, I can only take those modules that does not have anymore prerequisites. In this case, I can now take those modules in black, namely CS2103, EE2005, EE2006, EE2009, EE2012, EG2401 and HR2002. Those in red (EE2007, EE3204 and EE3207) still need prerequisites, so I still can't take this modules yet for the next semester.


Well, I wanted to mapped out my Technical Electives and ULR/UEM requirements as well, but the module list is just too exhaustive for a very small page, and it is too tedious to mapped out also, so I'll leave that out for the time being.

Just for those people in NUS Engineering:
Stage 1 -> Stage 2 (eg. MPE1 to MPE2): Accumulate at least 37 MCs
Stage 2 -> Stage 3 (eg. MPE2 to MPE3): Accumulate at least 77 MCs
Stage 3 -> Stage 4 (eg. MPE3 to MPE4): Accumulate at least 112 MCs (excluding IA)

A Carton of Randomised Canned Drinks

Anything? Whatever?
Recently, there's has been these advertisements shown on TV and movie theatres One of them is about the man who who wanted "Anything" but the shopkeeper didn't understand what he meant by that. The other is about the rebellious son who wanted to get the inheritance from his dying father. Initially, the son was jumping to joy when his father wanted to give him whatever, which shocked the other people about the decision the father made, but that whatever turned out to be the "whatever" can drink (too bad for the son).

The advertisement also appears on radio stations (one about a break during some sports training, and the other is about a man who wanted to buy drinks for his indecisive girlfriend) and bus stops advertisement board as well. Still remember about the news where the decorated cans on the advertisement board sign are been withdrawn due to the fear of mosquitoes breeding and the harvesting of cans?

Anyway, I really have to applaud about the creativity of the advertisement that the came out with. Yup, all those advertisements (especially the TV/movie advertisements), and the news regarding about the withdrawal of empty cans (even though that is not really done purposefully, but with some reasons), do give me a deep impression about those drinks. Hmm... A impression deep enough for me to get a carton of "Whatever" (wanted to get "Anything" as well, but there are too much drinks at home, and I don't usually take carbonated drinks).



Well, since the drinks are randomise, you can't really tell what is contained inside the can (the design of the cans are the same). Looking at the ingredients might help a little to determine the drinks, but most of the drinks are just generally label (for example, the ingredient "fruit juice concentrate" might refer to apple, peach, lemon or white grape juice concentrate).

For "Whatever", only Jasmine Green Tea and Chrysanthemum Tea can be distinguised easily by reading the ingredients.
Jasmine Green Tea: Water, Sugar, Tea Extract, Permitted Flavouring
Chrysanthemum Tea: Water, Sugar, Extract of Chrysanthemum, Permitted Flavouring
The other four flavours (Ice Lemon Tea, Peach Tea, Apple Tea and White Grape Tea) are just generally labelled as follows:
Water, Sugar, Fruit Juice Concentrate, Tea Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Permitted Flavouring

Haven't tried "Anything" yet (Flavours: Cola, Cola with Lemon, Apple, Fizz Up, Cloudy Lemon and Root Beer), so I'm not really sure about the ingredients part, but I'm assuming that if the ingredients contained the word "caffeine", it has to do with cola-related flavours.

Now that I have a carton of "Whatever", I'm going to take my time finishing the carton, hoping to try out all the 6 flavours.

Movie at AMK Hub
Well, this is the 2nd time I'm watching Fantastic 4. It seems that those movies that I watched in this vacation "come in pairs" (ie. watch 2 times). Well, nevertheless, it can be enjoyable to watch the movie one more time with my signal friends.

Well, I feel that it is a bit tedious to get to AMK Hub cinema, but since it is just being opened, maybe I need some more time to know a more efficient routes to get to the cinema at the top floor of AMK Hub. Anyway the seats have a similar feeling to that of Vivocity (that is they have that "protruding headrest" on the seats as well). Hmm... A bit uncomfortable leaning on the chair, but nevertheless, the comfortness of the seats is more than good enough. Didn't really get to see how the theatres look like as well were late for the movie. :P

Going Out - Utilising the Train Concession Pass

Going Out
Recently I've been going out somewhere away from home myself, to release all those tensions that I had stored in my body for the past few days, and to relieve my "headaches" as well. Just not really sure why, but I'm feeling kind of vexed for the past few days... I supposed it is because of that letter that I received that day, and also that "another piece of paper" that I received a few days back. Well, at the same time, I'm also trying to utilise my train concession pass since it is currently school vacation for me, so I don't travel as often (even though I still used up all the 4 train rides for a few occasions).

On Monday, I went to Orchard to walk around the area, one way to released those tensions in my body. Haven't been visiting Wisma Atria, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Wheelock Place and Shaw House for quite some time. Think the more recent one was buying a birthday present at Takashimaya Shopping Centre with some of the Back-Row Clan fellows (which what I called the BRCs). Anyway, the escalator up to the entrance of Wisma Atria is always very crowded, especially when the passengers just got off from the train. Think I'll try to avoid places like Wisma Atria and Takashimaya Shopping Centre for a while, until the underground passage to Wisma Atria is ready and opened for the public.
----- 2 train rides used on that day

On Tuesday, I went out to "train" my body again by "exercising", which is also another way to release . That' Yup, I didn't really do a proper warm-up before all those "exercise", so I went back home with some backaches and cramps... Well, at least I managed to recover most of it by today.
----- 2 train rides used on that day

Today in late morning, I went out to met my piano accompanist for my flute exams at Thomsom Plaza. Well, she needs some time to practise the piano parts, so I'll have to wait for a while before practising with her, which is good for me because I don't have to face my flute exam scores so often, which increase that tension whenever I have to face it...

Movie - Fantasic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Later in the afternoon, I went to catch a movie "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" at Cathay Cineleisure. Well, I decided to take a sneak preview of the movie first before watching with my group of friends (either BRCs or SIGs) to see whether the movie is good. Well, I'm not really sure if it was just me or not, but I think that the movie is kind of short, shorter than what I would expect. The action part is also short in m opinion as well. Just only a short action scene and the movie almost comes to the end already. Hmm... I wonder if I had missed out anything important. Anyway, the movie was still not too bad overall.
----- Another 2 train rides for today

A Recap of Last Week

A Sleepy Week
By right, a normal human beings should spend 33% of the time sleeping. However, right after my in-camp training (ICT), I've been spending more than 50% of my time sleeping (sometimes even as high as 75% in a day). Hmm... Think I must have gotten some sleeping disease while training in-camp. Well, that's something so odd whenever I'm staying in-camp in Sungei Gedong camp (even during the period when I'm still an NSF).

Anyway, on Friday, I managed to make myself to do some intensive exercise. Yup, it's so intensive that I exhaust myself when I got home... Yup, I was feeling very weak while playing the violin during lesson (which sometimes make those screeching or awkward sound due to the poor handling of the bow). After Friday, I continue to spend most of my time sleeping... What a way to spend my holidays!!! I hope I'll really be more awake when school reopens...

Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen
Last Saturday, we went to celebrate Jingliang's birthday at California Pizza Kitchen, organised by HJ (yup, he loves organising birthday celebrations). Why California Pizza Kitchen, someone asked me on MSN. That you have to ask the organiser, the same as to why steamboat at Marina Bay for Weibin's and my birthday as well (I supposed it all depends on what the organiser really want to eat, rather than the birthday boy :P), but anyway, I don't mind eating at California Pizza Kitchen, since I haven't had any pizzas for ages.

By right, we should be celebrating Nicky's birthday as well there, but he seemed to have forgotten the dinner (even though the organiser asked him first). Hmm... I thought my memory is one of the worst in the platoon... Well, he messaged us later about watching a movie, but he didn't come in the end because he wasn't really interested in Shrek 3.

Shrek 3 x2
Yup, I watch this 2 times again, because I didn't really catch some part the first time I watched this movie.

The first time I watched this movie was last Monday (4 June), just myself alone. I thought nobody is interested in this movie, so I catch it myself at Plaza Singapura.

Anyway, the second time I watched this movie was with Wei Qiang, Victor, Jingliang and Weibin. At first we wanted to watch at Plaza Singapura, because of the SAFRA cardmembers discount, but the seats are full, so we later go to Cathay and catched the movie at 10.30pm (even though the theatre only left with the first 2 rows). Hong Joo and Daniel later didn't want to watch because it was too late (even though I don't consider that late). Well, no SAFRA discount, but at least there's UOB credit/debit card discount of 12%. Think next time I'm going to watch movies in Cathay, since they have that discount every day (not really sure when it ends though). Yup, now I managed to catch those "very minor characters" that was stated in Wikipedia in the movie. The movie ends at around 12+am, and as there was no more train services at that time, we need to walk to Somerset to catch the NR buses back home. As usual, the NR bus that pass by Bishan came quite late, making me waiting for the bus for more than 30 minutes, and yup, the bus is very crowded as well as the result...

I am soooooooooo dead...

The Exams Date
Now, who can recommend me the tallest building or structure in Singapore, so that I can jump off from there?

*Feeling Stressed* :`(

Just yesterday, I received a letter from the Singapore Symphonia Company Limited, regrading the date of my flute exams. After opening and reading the letter, I had a BIG shock.My date of exams is on 3rd July 2007. That is just so near from today!!! Oh dear, the accompanist for my flute exam may not be free on that day (anyway, it doesn't matter since I haven't practise with the accompanist yet). So, I need to find a new accompanist, and this accompanist must really be good enough to be able to play the piano parts in less than 1 week, and hopefully we are able to practise in at most 2 weeks time. Haiz... In such a very short period of time from today to 3rd July, it looks like I really need to spend the whole day practising my instruments for the whole of June (and possibly half of July for my violin exams as well, which is on 18th July).

Ok, looks like it's time to fail, which means I'll waste the money for the exams... Ok, NO work for me (which means no income, but never mind, for the sake of exams... Hmmph...

A "Challenging" Task

The Accompanist
Before I start, anyone wants to be my piano accompanist for my upcoming violin exams? Well, all I have to say that I'm still at the beginners grade. :P

Anyway, just recently, I've been ask to play for someone for flute exam. That's means I might be taking up 2 people for the accompanist, one Grade 1 flute and the other Grade 4 flute. When I received this message, I started to panic. Haven't been playing the piano much often, especially during the period of "green" and "books" (yup, it's that "green" that degrades my piano skills from Grade 8 to Grade 5). Well, I still accept this assignment since the person can't really find an accompanist (by the way, I'm just an "emergency" accompanist, which is to accompany those people who couldn't find an accompanist when the exams are nearing).

The Grade 1 Flute piano part is fine, but the Grade 4 Flute piano part... Hmm... While trying out the parts, I realised that I started to lose my agility and flexibility... Well, at least it is still a little better than the "post-green" period. There are quite a lot of "jumping" chords, and I always had "misses" while playing those chords, which also means I kept playing the wrong notes.

Well, never mind about that. Anyway, "practise makes perfect", so I'll "try my best" (even though I'm always very lazy to do so) to dig out some of my time to play the piano parts (and not to forget to practise my pieces for my exams as well).

From this month onwards, I'll have my flute lesson on Thursday evening. This means that my weekends will be free (so more time to get lazy... :P). Anyway, as the level goes up higher, and now that I'm going for individual lesson, the fees also increase by $63 (including GST). Hmm... Kind of get a little too expensive... Well, think after I finish my flute exams (be it pass or fail), I'll stop my flute lesson, which can be temporary or permanent, depending whether I want to continue next time or not.

The Nintendo DS
Just recently, the US version of Pokémon Diamond/Pearl was released and sold here in Singapore. Kind of tempted to get a Nintendo DS Lite, but still thinking whether I should get a DS or not. Of course, there are also other great games for the DS as well (like Mario Kart, Brain Age, Animal Crossing DS, Final Fantasy etc.) and I've been thinking for quite a long time about whether I should get a DS Lite since last year, but still haven't make a firm decision. Well, once I have that money, I might consider getting one. :)

1 Back, 2 Gone

ICT Finally Over...
Ok, finally the 1 week low-key ICT is over. Well, have to say that this one isn't as exhausting or tiring than what I expected, since most of the time we were in the lecture room having lesson (and test as well, which I fortunately managed to pass very barely). Well, the next one (if I'm not wrong, it would be high-key) would be more tiring and exhausting, I presume, because we may have to go outfield...

Well, we got $111.54 for this ICT. If you don't know why it is $111.54, I'll give you the calcalations here. Since our ICT falls on 4 of the days in May (including Vesak day), and 2 of the days in June, it is calculated as follows:

$570*(4/31) (this is for May) + $570*(2/30) (this is for June)
= $111.54838709677419354838709677419...
= $111.54 (round down, yup, sadly this is the case...)

Not so bad, considering we managed to get paid even when we stayed at home during P.H.

Anyway, I managed to pass my IPPT while serving my ICT inside camp, so that means I have cleared my IPPT for this window. Ok, now I can put IPPT aside until my next birthday (yup, now I really hate my birthday...).

Well, I'm back home from ICT just yesterday, and my sister is going to Japan today for a leisure trip for 1 week. Yup, I just came back with my family to send my sister off to Japan. Tomorrow, my father will also be going off to USA for a business trip for 1 week as well. Look like my home is going to be much quieter, with my father and my sister away from home for 1 week.