Temptations & Ambitions

Rankings?

World Uni rankings means nothing to me. Yeap. That was what I said in one of my post centuries ago. Brought in by the propaganda, I don't need people to tell me which is good. I do my own homework. Nevertheless, I'm sure there is a commotion of the latest world ranking. I'm taken by surprise too, because UKM has risen so fast up the ranks. What? Did they pay the QS to elevate it? Nah, don't think UKM is that capable. Or overseas propaganda? Nah, UM is worthless to bring down. It's just the pride of most local Malaysian grads (not me though). Or somehow they just struck the jackpot? Weird. The truth is out there, and until I 'out' there then, I won't be able to find it out. Been browsing the Times online (free 14-days with my multiple accounts, for evey time I wanted to see it) and saw the rankings for Science, Biomedicine and Technology, the 3 latest list. As usual, none of the local public Uni is in the technology list. But, UKM is 62nd on the Science Uni list, with UM on the 95th. Surprise!! Nah, just kidding. UKM was in the top 100 last year, a minor improvement means nothing. But I guess UM will be celebrating again for the '95th' position again. Haha.. Back to the last list? Biomedicine. It was the list where UM excel in top 100 last year and they boast of their medic course, by the way. I guess they must have handicap other uni, cause they are not in it this year. And my my... I was looking at Nottingham Uni at 51st (a surprise for an engineering uni to get into top 100 for biomedicine but not in Technology, maybe there's another column for engineering, I guess.), then I saw Malaysia!! UKM in 56th!! At the moment, I was looking for UM. There, I saw another Malaysia!! At 95th placing. But, I realised it's not UM, it's USM. Lolz.. USM is on the rise too? Have to say so. I know UPM and USM will rise too, but UKM will lead the rise because it's the oldest after UM (by a merely 10 years, of course, by excluding the years UM WAS in Singapore, which is the current NUS). In the end, the rankings does not really reflect anything real. The standards of all public Uni will be more or less the same one day, and it won't rise too high, because of our rules and regulations. Yet, there is one thing that matters, UM's pride has been hurt. Sayonara, I don't want to listen to any people boast about UM. All public Uni grads are even.

Holiday Season

forward to a holiday. Nevertheless, I'll always try to appreciate it when it comes. Life is too short to change the world, but yet, it is long enough to leave an impact to those around you. So, I had taken the opportunity to enjoy right after the assessment. And please, for the last time, I'm not the fella who will get an A for any test. Do not associate me with my roomate. Haha.. For the very first time, I felt happy with my performance although I did quite a number of mistakes. Who cares? I just want a B, or preferably B+. That should suffice. The zest for knowledge is still within me, and I've tried hard to kick off the lust for competition. It ain't gonna do any good to my health anyway. Anyway, went with Jo Ee, Ru Hui, Yi Hui, Sharen, Stella, Su Yan, Sze Wern, Ping Ling and Poh Jeann to KLCC. Sorry if I left any names, but I don't think so kua.. Fetched the 1st five cause they had a heavier luggage to bring. They plan to go to Hentian Duta from KLCC after that. Had lunch there, at the food court. Saw Alex and Jean Jean there too, heard that they are watching Ghost movie. Woo..
Curry Duck with rice. Tasted funny, as if the curry and the meat doesn't blend well. And yet, with my eyes wide open (as usual) I told Yi Hui and Jo Ee that it was delicious, hoping that they will try that the next time. Haha.. Jo Ee went shooping for his sister's and girlfriend's birthday gift. He got her girlfriend a necklace with a cross pendant (whatever it is called actually) . His sister? I forget what he got her. The girls went to look for dessert and I walked alone around the few places of happening. Nolstagia. Oh, why am I being so nolstagic? KLCC was the place I had frequented since secondary years, although not as much as most of my KL secondary school friends, I had those memories that made me felt that it wasn't a place I had like to come often anymore. And yet, it also had memories which made me wanted to come. Happy ones of course. So, it remain a neutral ground for me, only going when my friends wanted to.
luggage from my car( Sure they are not carrying them around while shopping), I bade them farewell, and happy holidays. Went to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" with Ping Ling, Poh Jeann and Sharen. It's a miracle that they still show it in KLCC, so we manage to watch it. I really love the show, not really of the fashion, but of the moral behind the story. It closely resemble our real-life, and sometimes I could just see the similarities in my life in a way or two. Yet, in the end, it's still a fairy tale, but the lesson is well taken. Well, at least for a day or two before I MIGHT forget it. After the show, fetched them back to KTSN while I went home to have dinner with my parents. Later on, go KTSN again and get the girls (Ping Ling, Poh Jeann and Siaw Khing) to go lepak at one of the cafe at Sri Pelangi area. It's just quite relaxing having a chat there, because it seems ages since I had yum cha, with all my yum cha kaki gone missing in action. Wai Sun is still in US, Wei Yee in China, Zi Xiang in Penang and Flora in..KL. Takkanla both of us go yum cha oni, sure she also busy lately..Hee.. So, after that, I got them back to hostel just right before midnight. Hehe..
do. First, report of the visit. Second, play arcade. Third, mugging books when the time is right. Forth, hang around doing nothing. I guess the forth is the hardest, since I just can't stop finding anything to do. So, wish me luck, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Post of Misery

By the time I'm typing this, I'm so in misery.Went for the "year-end prom night turned Oct hi-tea which start at 1 which ain't hi-tea anymore." I parked my car at Chow Kit near the Grand Season hotel, where I lost my handphone a month or two ago. I put my backpack in the bonnet, thinking it will be alright. What wasn't right was that I had my spare house keys and car keys in the bag. Perhaps the car remote alarm was being scanned by some high-tech gadget and mistaken as a laptop. When I drove back home and open my bonnet, the bag was gone!! It's such a mystery! First, my alarm didn't go off. Second, there is no obvious sign of breaking in. Third, My other things in the car was not stolen. Forth, since my car keys is inside, wouldn't it be better to drive my car away as well? And last, I remembered clearly that I put my backpack in the bonnet and Jo Ee saw it too. It's just so creepy, when you lost your handphone at the same spot too. Guess that @%#^$%!@% thief is stupid!

There's my purple expanding file as the backbone of the bag, making it easily mistaken as the shape of the laptop. My 3 pharmacology books, Lippincott, Katzung Basic and Katzung Review form the basic weight of the 'laptop' with at least a total weight of 3kg. My pencil case, my calculator and my Persatuan Pelajar book are there too. It's such a sad case. Now I have to change my house locks, buy a new backpack and the books plus all the stationery, easily cost me RM500 and worth nothing much to the thief. It's a lose-lose situation for it definitely is not worth the thief's effort. Haiz.. Have to say goodbye to my backpack which I had used for about 5 years, the longest serving bag ever. In schooling years, my bag usually last half a year, and the second longest became 2 years, from form2-form 3. I used the last bag since form 4 till now, and looking back at the memories.. Haiz.. My companion for many love-lives had come to an end where we had to part. I hope there will be a new owner who will know how to take care of you better. Thank you for all your effort and because of you, I survived my educational years with pride. *Salute*

Sunday Quick Post

time. Got my 2nd module results, an A. Nothing much to be happy, not that I care about my grades, as long as it is a pass. Felt happy for the coursemates who survive the scare from the first module. Most of us from STPM got at least a B, mostly A and A-. Hope they had the incentive to go through the 5 years. Hehe.. Overall, the results was VERY VERY much better than the previous module. I just felt bad for those who failed the last module. Anyhow, most did better this time around. But, that's all I gotta say, because I just need to read what I like, and not what is for the exam.
show. There were 3 emcees, one speaking one language each, that is, Chinese, English and Malay. The one speaking Malay were awful and the English emcee were kind of Ok. While listening, (it's too dark to see them from far anyway) I heard some Mandarin with familiar intonation which I couldn't really forget. I tried to stare but everything is just too dark. The shadow of the figure were quite familiar, but I dare not conclude. It was till when the camera was on her that I saw her face. Yes, the Chinese emcee was her indeed. Couldn't really imagine it was her, because she had always seem less participative all the while in TARC. I was truly glad for her. Perhaps I had been the one that had her tied down. A bird set free is always happier. At times, I might had doubted my decision, but now I know that I had made the right choice. There is no regret and perhaps much relief to see her much happier. And me, in my medic life, and no one knows of my path. I could be happy, and I could be lonely at times, but I will still strive ahead, for there is no point looking back, and the future to uphold.
we went to the McD near KTSN (beside Tawakal) to have lunner(Lunch + dinner) at 5pm. Back to the place I used to play the playground during my kindy years. Hehe.. Overall, it's an enjoyable trip, for in a single day, I travel from the past to the present, and then, to the future.

Sunday Post

so I gotta retell everything. Nothing much, just that my team got Silver for the SUKEM chess, and all our 5 active chess members were shortlisted for MASUM, to represent UKM. But even if I go, I'll be the reserve only. There'll be a 2-weeks training camp and 1 week competition. Just really want to go to learn something, since it'll be fun!! And perhaps, I'll be able to get to know other Uni students (esp girls..haha). So typical of me. But then, Lye Fen will be able to play for UKM, I think. She's quite good, and her standards are somehow..better than me most of the time. n_n" Anyway, perhaps chess is the game I enjoy the most, because I'm way above average, for a person who seldom practise chess and play once in a blue moon. Hehe...

After the briefing at 5pm-6pm, me and my group had to discuss to do our project. We were suppose to organise a programme from a range of themes, and to act a sketch on how we organise the majlis pereasmian in 10 minutes. We had to do the usual paperwork as in proposals, report, and invitation letters, approval letters, etc. Being the vice-secretary for the group, I just can't avoid paperwork. The report and letters were assigned as my tasks. I'm just too used to be a chairman in my beloved TARC's Science and Maths Society that I almsot don't know how to do paperwork!! Luckily, being a responsible chairman last time, I always look through my Secretary and Vice-Secretary's work. So it's time to apply those knowledge!! Thanks Mek Zhin and Hon Leong, though I know both of you won't be reading this. At least I'm familiar with the procedures and able to work out something, though the format is slightly different. Anyway, everything went smoothly for the sketch too, just that the emcee wasn't that proficient in his language. I was surprised because he was the one volunteering, and I expect him to be at least good in the intonation, especially when he was reading from the text, and not a prompt speech! He was even having difficulty in reading the text, obviously that he was reading it for the first time!! *Roll Eyes* I was the 'obor' boy, carrying a fake fire torch made of color paper, running with the lit torch by the VIP as a sign of officiating the event. And for your note, the presentation was on Saturday, from 11am-1pm. By the time I reached the hostel, I slept again. I'm really so lack of sleep, since we had to rush the paperwork until 3.30am!

of my group members. The ndian driver was fluent in his language, and trying to belittle us. He ask what's our course and the fees. I told him it's about 15k for the whole course, and he couldn't believe it! He say no such free thing. I explain everything as he ask what's requirements. Obviously he know nuts. I just say you need good grades and goood co-cu, and he boast his daughter got 8A's in SPM and A's for her Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics(as if its a pre-U exam apparently). He ask in a arrogant remark how to apply. So I know he know nuts. It's given for STPM and matric, so his daughter must not be taking either of it. So i just say it's for STPM and matric. He refute my eplanation, saying her daughter is doing CAMBRIDGE A-LEVELS, which is internationally recognised, and the toughest exam and the internationally recognised exam, so no way local public Uni won't accept it. He even belittle us saying STPM and matric is can only go local Uni. As if he know anything about STPM and matric!! Matric can apply certain countries, just that you'll be needing higher qualification, and those with higher qualification is in local Uni. And STPM is also internationally recognised, as if he knows anything. I retold this incident to many of my friends, and some even made remarks that his limitations of knowledge is the reason of him behind the wheels. Lolz.. I agree in a way, but not necessarily sometimes. So I'll reserve the comments. I even challenge the taxi driver's knowledge about the pre-U exams, since I'm a K-Alien, and I know about almost every single pre-U exams. He didn't even know the structure of Cambridge A-levels as much as I do. That was really a stress relieveing, because the taxi driver changed the topic after that, when I even mentioned the prospect of studying overseas with the Health Act protecting certain nations such as the EU. He say Malaysia is unfair and bias to certain races from the rules created, right in front of my two Malay friends! I don't care, and almost want to say, "if you're not happy, go to other country", or something like "that's because you're incapable". But we reached our destination, and the stress relieving session with him is over. Of course, I'll feel better shooting him right at the haed with his pants down, but he charged us RM6 for that short ride. That has to be the price to pay for not keeping my humility. I just know that, since KL have a bunch of irresponsible taxi drivers. Just hope that they will be punished one way or another. You readers just pray that he won't be seeing me as a patient in the future. Wahaha..
I lashed out at the taxi driver. He may be ineducated in way, but that does not mean I have to belittle him. That will make me as illiterarte as him. So, maybe I'll have to keep my temper in check. I'm just so evil at times that I can't believe it. I'm no white knight or white angel. At most, I can only be a Dark Knight, or perhaps, a Dark Angel.

CHESS DAY!!

tournament chess, I'm representing KTSN to play chess in UKM Bangi. Today's quite tiring, because we had to play 6 rounds, and another 6 rounds tomorrow, from 9am-6.30pm. Today got 6 of us, because the guy reserve didn't come, and left with 4 guys and 2 girls. The team event has 5 boards, so usually Kanit, being the reserve, play lesser, taking alternate turns with Lye Fen. Amin, the 2nd year Medic senior helm the charge on the 1st board, followed by Khang Lin on the 2nd, Saifullah on the 3rd, and me, of course on the 4th. Haha.. I had the least responsibility, because 4th is usually the weakest player in every team. Anyway, we won the 1st 5 rounds, 4-1 against Kolej Rahim Kajai, 3-2 against Kolej Tun Dr Ismail (our medic seniors in HUKM, and the only game that I lost for the day), 4 and half- half againt Kolej Ungku Omar, 4-1 against Ibu Zain, and 4-1 against Ungku Omar. Nevertheless, we lost 2-3 to Kolej Burhanuddin Helmi on the last round (I won). We are 2nd on rankings on the 2nd day, after Kolej Keris Mas who won almost every round by 4 half- half. Our hope of getting a medal is still there, but to get the gold..Uh oh.. Mission almost impossible, provided we win them 5-0. Of course, that rarely happens, because I'd seen them trashing every single opponent team. Lolz.. All the best for tomorrow then.
the SUKEM chess event is held. It's at Kolej Pendeta Za'ba, being so nice, because it's the newest hostel in UKM. The cafeteria is well furnished, and looks like food court area. There's also a few huts in the centre of the cafetaria, being made in the open air. I'm so envious when I see them surfing the net with their lap tops using the WiFi connection. Why aren't there such facilities in KTSN? -.-" After the event, I wanted to go to the Pesta Tanglung carnival in UKM. But since it's raining, I can't possibly walk there from Pendeta Za'ba, especially when I don't know the way, and it's so dark. Mind you, the hostel is up on the hill, one of the downside of it. So, I really missed the opportunity to go there. Haiz.. Anyway, that's all for now. Want to sleep to replenish my depleted energy level. Goodnite.