Busy December
On your mark, Get set, ....... Go Go December!!!
After my last post, must be thinking my busy december would be doing manuscript and preparing for the poster session for my ex-prof? No........... haahaa.... With regards to the manuscript, told my prof that it is ok to let a masters students to continue what I had left. All the graphs have to be redo if want to change anything because the soft copy already died together when my com crashed half a year ago. I also got no time to rush anything out. JX said that our prof still thought that I am still his student studying in NTU.
Think God knows my heart and I also didn't have the heart to tell a lie that make me not to go for the poster session. Thus, out of the blue, my boss told me that I would be going for a business trip from 12th to 16th at Sarawak Miri. Of all the places, why such an ulu place. Well, I feel that this trip will let me learn something out from it. What exactly I do not know but I believe God will use every situation to mould me.
Ok, time to line up my list of events.
1st-5th december => my colleague will be going to Korea for holiday with his family, thus all his work will be thrown to me because I help in doing some of the quotations for the major clients. This means double the work load with the same amount of time. God, grant me the efficiency and the favour whereby purchasers wouldn't be mean to me.
2nd Dec => 30months and counting dear!! \^o^/
3rd december => thanksgiving for North district. This is when we give thanks for the good things God has done for us for the past 11 months. And also saying bye bye to some folks and say hi hi to new peeps!
9th Dec => Dealer's night where dealers for LEGRAND come together for a nite of fun, food and laughter. However, I just going to eat then go attend my pri sch fren's wedding. =)
11th-16th => Overseas Business trip
22nd => Christmas, Actually!
25th => Christmas!
30th-2nd Jan => Company Retreat (Still pending)
I would definitely take some of the free time to spend time with my gf, doing Christmas shopping and maybe even shop for clothes for the CNY.
Things I would wanna do this December
- visit Vivocity (never been there before)
- go Tangs buy Evian bottle Christmas version
- hope there'll be an interesting movie to catch with my gf
What should I do.....
Not sure if many of you knew that I got A+ for my FYP during my final year in NTU. Though it was a great personal achievement, it wasn't reflected in the honours as I only got a certificate of merit. This was because I "bao" another semester. Many people would have increased a class if they had A+ for their FYP project. Eg, a 3rd class honours will get 2nd class lower if they had this grade. Don't know whether it's a blessing or not, due to this my ex-prof wanted to submit my project to a conference and requested me to write a draft manuscript for it. If my hands wasn't itchy to check my ntu email, I wouldn't even know of this. I asked my friends (who also had A grade for their FYP) who were under this ex-prof of mine whether they had such "invitation". Both said no. Hmmm.... Lucky me... below are the emails that my prof send. One can feel that he is a friendly and detailed person but maybe not sensitive enough to feel for the people who had graduated, their priorities and stuff. Read if you have the time.... haha
From my Ex-FYP Prof dated August, but I didn't check my NTU email till September. Logically who would check their NTU email when they had graduated. One of my friends (JX) even said that she forgot the password already.
Haven't talked to you for a while. There will be a conference on thin films in Dec in Singapore. I have submitted an abstract co-authored by Prof Chan, you and me based on your FYP report. The following tasks for us are to prepare powerpoint slides for the oral presentation at the conference and a manuscript for inclusion in the conference proceedings. We will need to submit a manuscript before Nov 06. I would like to request you to help prepare the manuscript based on the results of your FYP report and then we can discuss it and implement it till it can meet the standard set for the proceedings.
The abstract submitted is attached for your reference. The contents of the manuscript can be related to the abstract.
Thanks for your attention and assistance.
Dated September, after I saw the backdated email and replied.
Yes, we will present the paper at Thin Films 2006. As part of the conference papers (about 50%) will be published in two referred international journals, we should try to publish the paper in one of them for which we need to prepare a full manuscript. According to the conference schedules, the deadline for submission of full manuscript is November of this year. Since our abstract submitted was
based on your FYP report, would you help draft a manuscript from your FYP report with about 8 figures/diagrams/graphs together with discussion and analyses for each figure? The manuscript will follow a standard format with several standard sections, such as (1) Abstract, (2) Introduction, (3) Experimental Details, (4) Results & Discussion, (5) Conclusions, and (6) References. I will then make necessary implementations to the draft manuscript.
We can discuss the matter if convenient. Thanks for your kind help.
Dated October, after I procrastinated and said that I had been busy.
I understand that your schedules are tight and am sorry for adding additional
burden to you. As the research work has taken a lot of effort of ours, it would
be a waste if its good results are not published. The attached Author-Guide for
the journal “Thin Solid Films” is for your reference. Eventually, 5 or 6 journal pages should be good enough.
A sample copy of a previous paper of ours published in Thin Solid Films is also attached for your reference. Thanks for your kind help
Dated one week ago, after I read it I "pia" my weekend to come out a manuscript for my ex-prof.
Haven’t heard you for a while. Would you update me the status of the paper?
As the deadline is 30 Nov 06 and we may need to implement the paper, I would
have your first version at your early convenience.
Thanks for your great effort and good to have it this week. I would say that
it is a good chance to get your hard work published and recognized. Otherwise,
it would be waste of the efforts on it.
Dated on Monday, after my ex-prof received my draft. Hmmm... I know my prof was very nice to me during my ntu days but I also put in my hard work to earn my A+ (of coz with God's strength and favor). But asking a NTU graduate whom is in the working world and not doing anything related to the field is abit "duh" right? Now still want me to present poster to the public on a working weekday?!!
Thanks for the draft and your great effort. I will read it and get back to
you shortly.
Our poster is scheduled on 13 Dec. in the Lyrebird Room, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, 392 Havelock Road, with the following detail:
Wed. 13 Dec. 15.55-17.30 Poster Sessions
Would you present our poster during the poster session?
Dated Yesterday, lagi best.... after reading I think i'm going to faint already. What do you think? What should I do? The graphs' origin I also don't know where I put them already after my com crashed. All the graphs are all "screen shots" thus uneditable. The amount of things to be changed seems like mountain high although faith like a mustard seed can move them easily. haha.. okok, enough of being cranky. Appreciate my ex-prof for being so detailed and giving the steps on what to do... BUT.... easy to say but not easy to do.... deadline 30th Nov..... Hmmm....
I went through the paper and it looks most stuff has been there which I greatly appreciate. The following comments on the paper are for your consideration:
1) Introduction: It has talked some too much about the substrate materials which are actually not the focus of the paper. Background info relevant to lubricant materials and preparation/applications of lube layers for HDD would be more helpful.
2) Remove Fig 21 (1st one), Fig 1, Fig 5.
3) Re-plot Figs. 3 & 4:
(i) use symbol+line for all plots;
(ii) use same font types & sizes for labels, legends, ticks numbers for both graphs; (the font sizes and types in Figure 4 look better)
(iii) remove the filled colors of graphs;
(iv) use either white/black or gray-scale for whole graphs;
(v) remove graph titles;
(vi) remove graph frames;
(vii) move legends into graphs;
(viii) delete “/HFE7100” in legends;
(ix) label of x-axis for Fig. 3 “concentration” is changed to “Lube concentration
(wt%)”;
(x) for Fig. 4, change 1st letters of the labels of both x- and y-axes to capital
letters;
(xi) If possible, change “angstrom” of the labels of y-axes to “Å” for both
graphs.
4) Figs. 6 & 7: change scalings to form:
5) Is the micrograph in Fig. 7c elongated along y-axis? If so, restore the aspect ratio to the original one.
6) Re-plot Figs. 8 & 9:
(xii) use same font types & sizes for labels, legends, ticks numbers for both
graphs; (the font sizes and types in Figure 4 look better)
(xiii) remove the filled colors of graphs;
(xiv) use either white/black or gray-scale for whole graphs;
(xv) remove graph titles;
(xvi) remove graph frames;
(xvii) move legends into graphs;
(xviii) insert “(µm)” after “Distance” for the labels of x-axes for both graphs;
(xix) change “hr” to ‘h” in legends and leave a space between a number and “min” or
“h” for both graphs;
(xx) If possible, change “angstrom” of the labels of y-axes to “Å” for both
graphs.
7) Renumber Fig 2 to Fig 1; Fig 3 to Fig 2; Fig 4 to Fig 3; Fig 7b) to Fig 4a); Fig 6 to Fig 4b); Fig 7c) to Fig 5a); Fig 7a) to Fig 5b).
8) If possible, add a few more references from recent journal papers as info from internet websites are not counted reliable references and they may have to be removed from the paper eventually. The attached articles are for your reference and see whether they are useful as additional references.
You may work out a new version at your early convenience and see whether we can catch the deadline for submission this time.
Thanks for your effort and precious time.
Don't leave it on the desk!
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.
Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major. Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman but was studying with the intent of going into the seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well-liked and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the Professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?" Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200? That's pretty good Steve," Dr. Christianson said, "Do you think you could do 300?" Steve replied, "I don't know. I've never done 300 at a time." "Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson
"Well, I can try," said Steve. "Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of 10 for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it!" said the Professor. Steve said, "Well, I think I can. Yeah, I can do it."
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind." Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the Professor pulled out a big box of doughnuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of doughnuts; they were the extra fancy BIG kind with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these doughnuts?" Cynthia said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a doughnut." "Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in the desk. Dr. Christianson then put a doughnut on Cynthia's desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a doughnut?" Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a doughnut." Steve did ten push-ups; Joe got a doughnut. And so it went, down the first aisle. Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their doughnut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacked for female companionship. When the Professor asked, "Scott, do you want a doughnut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?" Dr. Christianson said, "No. Steve has to do them" Then Scott replied, "No, I don't want one then." Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a doughnut he doesn't want." With perfect obedience, Steve started to do ten push-ups. Scott said, "Hey! I said I didn't want one!"
Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desk and these are my doughnuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a doughnut on Scott's desk. Now, by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now, the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a doughnut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "NO!" Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve would you do ten more push-ups so that Jenny can have a doughnut she doesn't want." Steve did ten; Jenny got the doughnut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten doughnuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each doughnut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push-up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all those uneaten doughnuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the Professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?" Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You're in charge now. You can do them any way you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No. Let him come in." Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in, you will have to do ten push-ups for him." Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a doughnut." Dr. Christianson said, "Okay Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a doughnut?" Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "Give me a doughnut." "Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a doughnut?" Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a doughnut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time, sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?" Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you." Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Linda can have a doughnut that she doesn't want." Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.
Then, Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a doughnut?" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?" Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a doughnut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a doughnut." As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into Thy hands I commend my spirit.' with the understanding that he had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up his life. And, like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk uneaten." Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant," said the Professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the Professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept his gift to us, the price has been paid.
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
--Author Unknown
Rush to wait, wait to rush....
Reading the title, I believe many guys would know which organisation i'm referring to. This post is a summary of what had happened to my primetime weekend.
Yesterday afternoon, I was recalled to report to camp at 2pm and this is the first open mobilization that I've encountered. Guess we were the "lucky" lot to be chosen by Mindef to "audit" our unit's readiness with regards to NSmen because there was another company who reported but they just scanned and were allowed to go back home. Our unit is also quite kiasu, they had personnel to personally call each of us that very high chance we would be recalled back and reporting time is 2hours instead of the usual 4. This was to ensure no "hiccups" in the attendance. One of our fellow platoonmate was MIA and could be charged for not reporting back camp for no valid reason and was uncontactable throughout the whole period.
We were told that it would be a full day event and all activities that we had planned can forget about it. One of my friends agreed to come for our YAS service but due to this unforeseen circumstances, it had to be postponed. Sigh...
People said that when one gets recalled back just need to sign and can leave already. We had to draw arms, draw store (eg, life jackets and etc) and even live ammunition. We already know that once these stuff are drawn out, it'll be very very very draggy due to the sensitivity of ammunition and safety. To make things worse, nobody seems to know what the commanders are thinking of and all of us are reacting to instant orders. When one order is given, all of us would follow and complete the order asap. Many times, we are so efficient that we are just waiting for the next order to be passed down.
Time flies really fast on a prime time saturday and we were just practically waiting our time away. Rushing to draw equipment and wait for next order, rushing to go cookhouse have our dinner and wait for next order, rushing to layout our items for inspection and wait for inspection and next order, rushing to keep everything and wait for next order. We all know that once the live ammunition is ready to be returned it would mean the end of exercise. We rushed to load up all the ammunition onto the 5-tonner and we were waiting for the order to tell the ammo party to return the ammunition to the ammo dump elsewhere outside of camp. Imagine the order was passed down at 930 and was ready at 10pm. The actual time that the ammo party left camp was 0100hr. By the time all the ammo are returned and back to camp, it was daylight 0610hrs.
Before we were allowed to go back with our barang barang, we were told that there will be new standards for the army uniform. We were issued 3 sets of badges to be sewn and the name have to be reprinted because of the different background previously. This meant that extra work have to be done. I have to go to beach road twice (once to send to sewn and once to collect) before my next ICT to do up the uniform. I guess it will take about S$30 bucks for 3 sets ba. Everyone was very disappointed and angry because firstly, their weekend are spent just like that. Sunday most probably will be sleeping at home to have the energy to last another working week. Secondly, it is not because we had alot of things to do but most of the time (70%) are spent waiting. Thirdly, we wonder will we get paid for the time spent in camp and how much would it justify for social costs involved. Fourthly, it again proved that the organisation has not improved in the management, their forte is still "rush to wait, wait to rush".
