End of 2007 in just 2 more days.
Time to make resolution.
Lets start simple and easy.
1) I want to be more flexible and I will do more stretching. I will do stretching every other day.
Not been blogging for a while. Part of it is due to being busy. Busy with? Renovation, new toy and then of course work and tiredness.
I seems to be playing middleman now a days pretty offend. Not to long ago, I help my friend obtain a position in my company. Now I am helping to broker another position for a friend of mine. Both are friends.
Which bring me to another topic:-
What do you do if the boss wants to hire but is not too keen on sending the job description?
When one is hiring, there will probably be a position to fill. That position will have certain set of responsibilities and that will require a certain skill set. That skill set will be the job description.
What happen if there is none? Does this mean, you will need to handle everything? Without this, there is no security. Like a "garunguni man" you will be deployed to where there is is shit and need people to clear. How do you feel? What will you do?
I seems to be playing middleman now a days pretty offend. Not to long ago, I help my friend obtain a position in my company. Now I am helping to broker another position for a friend of mine. Both are friends.
Which bring me to another topic:-
What do you do if the boss wants to hire but is not too keen on sending the job description?
When one is hiring, there will probably be a position to fill. That position will have certain set of responsibilities and that will require a certain skill set. That skill set will be the job description.
What happen if there is none? Does this mean, you will need to handle everything? Without this, there is no security. Like a "garunguni man" you will be deployed to where there is is shit and need people to clear. How do you feel? What will you do?
Victory! It is filed as Bug 6600234
Ha. Finally recognition. It is a bug. Hmmm wonder why it was not return in the search. Yet.
Missing Left Mirror.
I fetch my wife to school. (She being a teacher.) And early in the morning what greet me was a broken off left side mirror.
Some fat brute must be rushing off damn fast to have broken off the side mirror. There was no dent, scratches associated with a car bumping it off. Furthermore the mirror has some flexibility to flex forward or backwards.
Oh Well ... $100 down the drain due to someone else's mistake.
Nothing compare to Ms Ho executive decision. That one cost $2 billion in paper lost. We still dunno the real amount.
Some fat brute must be rushing off damn fast to have broken off the side mirror. There was no dent, scratches associated with a car bumping it off. Furthermore the mirror has some flexibility to flex forward or backwards.
Oh Well ... $100 down the drain due to someone else's mistake.
Nothing compare to Ms Ho executive decision. That one cost $2 billion in paper lost. We still dunno the real amount.
"I don't think it is a bug.", he said.
So Mr Sun Tech support guy came back from vacation and finally find time to my query. He called and asking plenty of information which I had already provided in my email. The most important question asked was "Can you recreate it?"
An engage debate beings. The debate revolves around, if the person reporting the bug is responsible to prove that the problem happen or should the tech support people be responsible to prove that what i reported was due to the "Stupid user" syndrome. This is similar to how justice is implemented in US and Singapore. You are innocent unless proven guilty by the prosecution vs You are guilty unless the defense proof that you are innocent.
So after the debate. Yes I proofed the scenario is reproducible.
The steps are as follows.
Prerequisites:
Sun Application Server
Oracle DB. (I suspect that it would happen to other DB too.)
Steps in Sequence:
1) Limit the number of concurrent session for a particular db user to eg: 150.
2) Configure the min/max pool size to be the same and large number like 300.
3) Restart the server to have a clean start.
4) Notice that the server starts up fine and then access the application using the connection pool. This will kick start the initialization of the connection pool.
5) Then you will notice that the connection pool will initialize until it is 150. (as define by the DB concurrent session limit)
6) Using the Server monitoring feature, you can observe that the number of connection created was 150.
7) The DB should report 150 at this time too. The strange thing is that, although there are connection in the connection pool, none of them can be use by the application. The application requesting for connection will report that the SQL Exeception that the number of concurrent session for the DB user has exceeded.
8) Then request the DBA to up the number of concurrent session to 500. This is to simulate a situation which the server encounter problem when initializing the connection pool.
9) Try accessing the application again. This time the application will return with the correct and successful results.
10) However using the server monitoring feature, you will realize that the number of connection has exceeded the number which you define. In this example 300. The total number of connection created and in the pool is 450.
Conclusion:
The server failed to completely initialize the pool to the required size and the application server is not smart enough to detect that there are available connections which the web application can still use. When the problem was resolve, the pool is reinitialize. It failed to detect the current state of the connection pool and re-run the initialization process fully. It then establish the x+(steady state connections) where x is the number of connection previously initialized. Eat these! This is a bug. BUG BUG BUG I tell you.
There are however a few question marks. Is the problem caused by having a large number of connection? Is it cause by having the same min max values? If I need to find this out, might as well give me the source code and I fix it for them. Damn it, earn your pay Sun Support Staff. Where is your customer service Sun Microsystems!
An engage debate beings. The debate revolves around, if the person reporting the bug is responsible to prove that the problem happen or should the tech support people be responsible to prove that what i reported was due to the "Stupid user" syndrome. This is similar to how justice is implemented in US and Singapore. You are innocent unless proven guilty by the prosecution vs You are guilty unless the defense proof that you are innocent.
So after the debate. Yes I proofed the scenario is reproducible.
The steps are as follows.
Prerequisites:
Sun Application Server
Oracle DB. (I suspect that it would happen to other DB too.)
Steps in Sequence:
1) Limit the number of concurrent session for a particular db user to eg: 150.
2) Configure the min/max pool size to be the same and large number like 300.
3) Restart the server to have a clean start.
4) Notice that the server starts up fine and then access the application using the connection pool. This will kick start the initialization of the connection pool.
5) Then you will notice that the connection pool will initialize until it is 150. (as define by the DB concurrent session limit)
6) Using the Server monitoring feature, you can observe that the number of connection created was 150.
7) The DB should report 150 at this time too. The strange thing is that, although there are connection in the connection pool, none of them can be use by the application. The application requesting for connection will report that the SQL Exeception that the number of concurrent session for the DB user has exceeded.
8) Then request the DBA to up the number of concurrent session to 500. This is to simulate a situation which the server encounter problem when initializing the connection pool.
9) Try accessing the application again. This time the application will return with the correct and successful results.
10) However using the server monitoring feature, you will realize that the number of connection has exceeded the number which you define. In this example 300. The total number of connection created and in the pool is 450.
Conclusion:
The server failed to completely initialize the pool to the required size and the application server is not smart enough to detect that there are available connections which the web application can still use. When the problem was resolve, the pool is reinitialize. It failed to detect the current state of the connection pool and re-run the initialization process fully. It then establish the x+(steady state connections) where x is the number of connection previously initialized. Eat these! This is a bug. BUG BUG BUG I tell you.
There are however a few question marks. Is the problem caused by having a large number of connection? Is it cause by having the same min max values? If I need to find this out, might as well give me the source code and I fix it for them. Damn it, earn your pay Sun Support Staff. Where is your customer service Sun Microsystems!
It is a bug!!!
So to find out if it is a BUG, I asked the official people. SUN. The origin of Java. The Write Once, Run anywhere language. So I raise a support request with Sun Support. Although it is not an critical issue, it is still an issue. It may even be a bug.
I email Sun Support with my problem description, the server logs, the monitoring data and the domain.xml early this week. After an exchange of email to get more information, I got my first explanation from Sun.
I was utterly disappointed with the quality. And this is why.
1) They send me an email with the explanation in plain text. The text was so badly formated that it was unreadable. The sentence was chopped off at inappropriate location. Words was broken such that it did not make sense. (It is not a bad case of Justification gone wrong, it is horrible formating.) The points did not flow. ( As in point 1, 2, 3, 5.... what happen to the 4) The paragraph has no indentation and there is reference to non existent information (eg P15).
I tried to adjust the page size but to no avail.
2) So I replied that I could not understand. So he "here by send the document in word format". That was his exact words. I expected better formatting. But alast........... the same thing. What he has done was to cut and past the text into the word doc. Atrocious formating, incomprehensible English and all. No effort to clean up the formating at all. There was even a few cases of symbols which is evidence that the article was cut and paste from somewhere where the character encoding did not match.
Is it a case of Open Office converting to MS Words? I doubt so. The plain text in the first place already say it all.
3) Lastly, with a colleague we attempt to decipher his text. We found out, it did not answer the question. The text was a rip off from somewhere informing that there is a problem with Sun Java Application Server's connection pool having an issue if there is a firewall between the app server and the db. The text also try to explain how the connection pooling mechanism work.
Conclusion:
After a discussion with another colleague, we decided that it is a bug. Under no condition should the application server create a pool that is more than the maximum pool size specified in the domain.xml.
The person who answered was from XXXXX, XXXXXXX.
Although I still support Java and Sun MicroSystems, this incident is really shaking my confidence. This is why:
I email Sun Support with my problem description, the server logs, the monitoring data and the domain.xml early this week. After an exchange of email to get more information, I got my first explanation from Sun.
I was utterly disappointed with the quality. And this is why.
1) They send me an email with the explanation in plain text. The text was so badly formated that it was unreadable. The sentence was chopped off at inappropriate location. Words was broken such that it did not make sense. (It is not a bad case of Justification gone wrong, it is horrible formating.) The points did not flow. ( As in point 1, 2, 3, 5.... what happen to the 4) The paragraph has no indentation and there is reference to non existent information (eg P15).
I tried to adjust the page size but to no avail.
2) So I replied that I could not understand. So he "here by send the document in word format". That was his exact words. I expected better formatting. But alast........... the same thing. What he has done was to cut and past the text into the word doc. Atrocious formating, incomprehensible English and all. No effort to clean up the formating at all. There was even a few cases of symbols which is evidence that the article was cut and paste from somewhere where the character encoding did not match.
Is it a case of Open Office converting to MS Words? I doubt so. The plain text in the first place already say it all.
3) Lastly, with a colleague we attempt to decipher his text. We found out, it did not answer the question. The text was a rip off from somewhere informing that there is a problem with Sun Java Application Server's connection pool having an issue if there is a firewall between the app server and the db. The text also try to explain how the connection pooling mechanism work.
Conclusion:
After a discussion with another colleague, we decided that it is a bug. Under no condition should the application server create a pool that is more than the maximum pool size specified in the domain.xml.
The person who answered was from XXXXX, XXXXXXX.
Although I still support Java and Sun MicroSystems, this incident is really shaking my confidence. This is why:
AS 8.x JDBC Connection Pool
===========================
Let take the following configurable Connection pool properties from AS8.xe="
oracle.jdbc.pool.OracleDataSource" fail-all-connections="false" idle-timeout-in-
seconds="300"
is-connection-validation-required="true" is-isolation-level-guaranteed="false" m
ax-pool-size="32" max-waittime-
in-millis="60000" name="oracle" pool-resize-quantity="2" res-type="javax.sql.Dat
aSource" steadypool-
size="8" validation-table-name="dual">
In this pool setting in domain.xml, you will notice some of the pool attributes
1. is-connection-validation-required, connection-validation-method, validation-t
able-name
2. fail-all-connections
3. idle-timeout-in-seconds
5. max-pool-size, max-wait-time-in-millis, pool-resize-quantity, steady-pool-siz
e
Connection pool behaviour before P15
1. If . is-connection-validation-required is true,
a. And if connection-validation-method can be table. In the case, before t
he JDBC connection
is returned to the application (when asked by calls like DataSource.getConnectio
n()), the
connection is checked that is it is valid by select count(*) from table. N
ot that the table is
configured by validation-table-name. This is the recommended validation fo
r Oracle and the
table name is normally DUAL
b. If connection-validation-method is auto-commit, then connection is test
ed by sequences of
calls to Connection.setAutoCommit(), getAutoCommit() and isAutoCommit(). It has
been
reported that for JDBC drivers like Oracle, this method of testing is not reliab
le (hence table
validation is recommended for Oracle).
c. If the connection-validation-method is metadata, the database Connectio
n
DatabaseMetaData query is used to test connection is valid. If one notice that t
his is used by
HADB JDBC driver.
2. Next, the fail-all-connections is a flag to indicate that if the while
taking a connection from the pool
and it is detected or encountered an exception, then all the connections in the
pool will be failed (if this
attribute is true).
Normally, fail-all-connections should be false since all the other connections i
n the pool might still be
valid and instead it would be more drastic to fail all of them due to that conne
ction.
3. Next, the idle-timeout-in-seconds is an attribute of how long the connection
can be in the pool if it is
idle. Note that implicitly, there is a background thread that is scheduled every
idle-timeout-inseconds
to do operation on pool cleanup. We will discuss this next.
4. The pool size is governed by steady-pool-size and max-pool-size.
a. Initially when the system is started the pool will be empty. On the first req
uest to ask for a
database connection, in P13, a new connection will be created up to the steady p
ool size.
b. When a new connection is created and all the other other connections in the s
teady pool size is
already taken up (ie there is no free connections in the pool), then ONE connect
ion will be
created.
c. So lets take an example,
Steady pool size is 0, and the max-pool-size is 32 and the pool-resize-quantity
is 2, when you
ask for a new connection, and return the connection, the pool should now contain
1
CONNECTION (for idle-timeout-in-seconds).
So after for idle-timeout-in-seconds, when the JDBC cleanup thread runs, this co
nnection will
be cleared and the pool size will be 0 (since the steady pool is denoted 0)
d. Now as for the max-pool-size, it is obviously binds the number of connections
this pool will
create.
5. The role of the JDBC cleanup thread in P13 is
a. Periodically wakes up idle-timeout-in-seconds
b. For any connections in the pool that exceed the steady pool size, and for the
se connections if
they are idle > idle-timeout-in-seconds, destroy them (so that they poo
l goes down to steady
pool size). Note that the number of idle connections that is clear is BOUNDED to
be only
pool-resize-quantity
c. Note that the cleanup thread also tries to maintain the pool to be steady-poo
l-size.
d. However, do note that connections that is inside the steady-pool remains in t
he pool. The
implication is that these connections can be prone to firewall timeout. The fact
is that if these
connections in the steady pool are not touched, the firewall may decide to timeo
ut the TCP
connections. If that happens, bad behaviour will happen when these connections a
re validated.
Connection pool behaviour at P15/16/17
=======================================
Now all the attributes in the above are still there. However there is some subtl
e behaviour.
In P15, an RFE was implemented so that connections in the steady pool those are
idle more than idletimeout-
seconds will be destroyed. So the following is what the cleanup thread does
1 The role of the JDBC cleanup thread in P15 is
a. Periodically wakes up idle-timeout-in-seconds
b. For all connections in the pool that are idle idle-timeout-in-seconds
, destroy them (so that
they pool goes down to steady pool size). Note that the number of idle connectio
ns that is clear is
BOUNDED to be only pool-resize-quantity. Note that ALL idle connections AR
E destroyed.
c. Note that the cleanup thread also tries to maintain the pool to be steady-poo
l-size. This implies too
that if the above connections is destroyed and less than steady-pool-size then a
number of
connections is created (up to the steady pool size)
Due to this behaviour, the connections in the pool should be firewall friendly a
s long as the “idle-timeout-insecondsâ€
is well below the firewall timeout (Typically that means for a firewall friendly
timeout the value of
idle-timeout-in-seconds should be firewall timeout.
2 Next, there is also some subtle behaviour to the way “pool-resize-quantity
†means. In P15, this parameter
applies not only to resize the pool downward to the steady pool size but applies
too in terms of growing
the number of connections in the pool.
Take the same example, Steady pool size is 0, and the max-pool-size is 32 and th
e pool-resize-quantity is
2, when you ask for a new connection, and return the connection, the pool will h
ave 2 CONNECTIONS
(since the implementation will grow them at pool-resize-quantity everytime.).
Now, due to the new cleanup thread and the pool resize behaviour, you probably n
otice that having a low
“idle-timeout-seconds†may cause an extremely many database connection creat
ion calls (since idle
connections will be destroy
Is it a bug?
Sometimes an application server can really be a piece of puzzle that is so hard to solve. Recently encountered this problem when starting up the application server. The server starts up and initialize the JDBC connection pool. However it did not manage to fully initialize the JDBC pool. It is suppose to initialize the pool with 300 connection but it hit a snag at 191. The DB did not allow it to as it has reach the allowable session limit.
A few minute later, the session is release and the application server continue to initialize the pool. It continue to initialize the pool from the start and added another 300 connection to the pool. It now had a total of 491 connection. So is this a bug?
23 Aug: Just to add on, the server did not complain that it has more than the configured connections. The DBA also registered the higher number of connection.
A few minute later, the session is release and the application server continue to initialize the pool. It continue to initialize the pool from the start and added another 300 connection to the pool. It now had a total of 491 connection. So is this a bug?
23 Aug: Just to add on, the server did not complain that it has more than the configured connections. The DBA also registered the higher number of connection.
Humans make mistakes.
I was browsing through the release notes for the Java 5 release 12 release notes and saw this on the list of bugs being fixed. And I saw this entry
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/ReleaseNotes.html#150_12
Human make mistakes.
| 6524112 | tooldocs | all | sloppy developer missed testcase when fixing 6490790 |
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/ReleaseNotes.html#150_12
Human make mistakes.
Fairy Shrimp
This is a fairy shrimp. A cousin of the Brime Shrimp. This species live in fresh water instead of salt water. Other than that, the generally appear the same.
Save Gaea?
Recently a concert was organize and held in promotion of a Greener Earth or a more environmental conscious human. Then some environmentalist, reject the concert as a positive impact stating that the preparation of that concert did more damage to Earth than what it was trying to promote. ie. Artist taking private jet from place to place to performed and the amount of trash it generate, fliers etc.
To me, if you treat Gaea as person, you should give her more space. In recent years, (relative to the age of the earth) human population has grown. There is less space for her and this has caused pressure on her ability to heal herself.
If you take the analogy of Gaea as a human and all the species living on earth as organ or cell in the body, then the human is an unusually large organ. Bordering on being cancerous.
Perhaps human are starting to see that our Earth is ailing. We are trying to save it. In my honest opinion, the way to go is to allow expansion out of Gaea. It is in our nature to procreate. But we can no longer support the large population. (Some countries are still trying to boost the population so as to improve the economy). Technology is the key to living with a smaller population on earth. Technology should not be a commodity where only the rich will have it.
Earth can support our need, but not our greed.
To me, if you treat Gaea as person, you should give her more space. In recent years, (relative to the age of the earth) human population has grown. There is less space for her and this has caused pressure on her ability to heal herself.
If you take the analogy of Gaea as a human and all the species living on earth as organ or cell in the body, then the human is an unusually large organ. Bordering on being cancerous.
Perhaps human are starting to see that our Earth is ailing. We are trying to save it. In my honest opinion, the way to go is to allow expansion out of Gaea. It is in our nature to procreate. But we can no longer support the large population. (Some countries are still trying to boost the population so as to improve the economy). Technology is the key to living with a smaller population on earth. Technology should not be a commodity where only the rich will have it.
Earth can support our need, but not our greed.
Make your money work harder.
Recently I have been trying to figure out how to make my money work harder for me. The simplest, easiest and safest way is to put it into a fix deposit account.
But hey! Banks in Singapore are offering peanuts interest rate for Singapore dollars. But they are offering higher interest rates for Foreign currency. Hmmm.
I did up a spread sheet with the current interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and publish it in Google Spreadsheet. Take your time to analyse it. The example inside is based on SGD and the Foreign currency is USD.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pbzuB1birNRo0hOK2yYjHCg
It is what I think can help my money work harder for me. It is up to you to think.
But hey! Banks in Singapore are offering peanuts interest rate for Singapore dollars. But they are offering higher interest rates for Foreign currency. Hmmm.
I did up a spread sheet with the current interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and publish it in Google Spreadsheet. Take your time to analyse it. The example inside is based on SGD and the Foreign currency is USD.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p
It is what I think can help my money work harder for me. It is up to you to think.
Fixing a shacky LCD Screen
Recently, the laptop lcd (Dell 640m) screen had gotten shaky on me. So I decide to fix it.
First of all, turn the laptop belly up and remove the battery. Remove the 2 screw located at the red arrow.
Secondly, turn it back up and use a flat head screwdriver and gently pry the top out. It should come out easily. Then you will see 4 screw anchoring the LCD screen. Using the philips (Cross head ) screwdriver and tighten it. Presto !!! The LCD is firm again.
First of all, turn the laptop belly up and remove the battery. Remove the 2 screw located at the red arrow.
Secondly, turn it back up and use a flat head screwdriver and gently pry the top out. It should come out easily. Then you will see 4 screw anchoring the LCD screen. Using the philips (Cross head ) screwdriver and tighten it. Presto !!! The LCD is firm again.
Mirror Image
You are not seeing double. Just a well engineered piece of naval vehicle berth side by side.
My new phone.
I got myself a K800i phone yesterday. It looks good and feel good and hopefully its compatible with my new Linux laptop. I am still having problem connecting it using bluetooth.
However, this morning, I tried to charge it again. It did not charge. Shit.
I need to check it using my brother charger.
However, this morning, I tried to charge it again. It did not charge. Shit.
I need to check it using my brother charger.
An emerging trend.
This something which I only started to notice, with the clarify of though of a person who just woke up. (Like a Eureka moment)
I noticed that the leaders of Singapore are never really leaders. The ideas are never really original (Most of the time). Take for example the starting of the use of bio-diesel. They are about 5-10 years behind Europe or America in terms of mindset and use.
The leaders seems to be adopting a wait and see approach and then play catch up when the idea take off.
I noticed that the leaders of Singapore are never really leaders. The ideas are never really original (Most of the time). Take for example the starting of the use of bio-diesel. They are about 5-10 years behind Europe or America in terms of mindset and use.
The leaders seems to be adopting a wait and see approach and then play catch up when the idea take off.
Being Environmental
Roughly a year ago, I was telling a friend of mine, that it would be great if Singapore start to use bio-diesel as a source of fuel.. Only now the government of Singapore start to come public on the move to going in the direction of being a regional hub of bio-diesel.
Apart from the Economical benefits, there is also the environmental one. (The see more $$$ than anything else) . I think it is the way to go. In this sense, I would say, well done Singapore.
You are only a few years behind.
Apart from the Economical benefits, there is also the environmental one. (The see more $$$ than anything else) . I think it is the way to go. In this sense, I would say, well done Singapore.
You are only a few years behind.
Static Electricity
Static Electricity are electrical charge stored in or on a non conduction material surface. (In layman term)
Ever since I step into my old/new office in Jan. I have been noticing that, I am very susceptible static electricity shock. The cubicle partition wall seems to be storing quite a bit of static electricity. Every time when least expected, I would be shocked (mildly) while brushing pass the partition wall.
I wonder if this is a SIGN?
Ever since I step into my old/new office in Jan. I have been noticing that, I am very susceptible static electricity shock. The cubicle partition wall seems to be storing quite a bit of static electricity. Every time when least expected, I would be shocked (mildly) while brushing pass the partition wall.
I wonder if this is a SIGN?
Ubuntu Installation on a wide screen laptop
I am not sure if you own a laptop or not, if you ever had the same problem that I had when I install Ubuntu. So here is my experience with the feisty installation.
The desktop installer cannot boot up properly as it was unable to detect the monitor/screen properly. The GDM cannot start. So this is what I did. I downloaded the alternate installer and installed the Ubuntu using that. As expected, the GDM did not start up. So using Aptitute, I installed 915resolution.
After reboot, it worked. The GDM started properly and I am back online in Ubuntu!
The desktop installer cannot boot up properly as it was unable to detect the monitor/screen properly. The GDM cannot start. So this is what I did. I downloaded the alternate installer and installed the Ubuntu using that. As expected, the GDM did not start up. So using Aptitute, I installed 915resolution.
After reboot, it worked. The GDM started properly and I am back online in Ubuntu!
Ubuntu Feisty Upgrade.
I finally gave in and upgraded my Edgy to Feisty although it is still in the beta phase.
I was rewarded but at the same time I also encountered a major boo boo.
Well I was impress with the new desktop effects and stuff but my Accessories category failed to work. Everytime the accessories menu is listed the panel restarts. I still have no idea what and where when wrong.
Given the current situation, I am going to re-install the Linux with the Feisty Herd 4 beta again. How it all started was the "update-manager -d"
Well, here I come for some investigation work. Help me if you can. I am a Linux Convert not a Linux Expert.
I was rewarded but at the same time I also encountered a major boo boo.
Well I was impress with the new desktop effects and stuff but my Accessories category failed to work. Everytime the accessories menu is listed the panel restarts. I still have no idea what and where when wrong.
Given the current situation, I am going to re-install the Linux with the Feisty Herd 4 beta again. How it all started was the "update-manager -d"
Well, here I come for some investigation work. Help me if you can. I am a Linux Convert not a Linux Expert.
Questions: Why is time faster when we are asleep than when we are awake?
Do you ever had one of those time when you wake up with a question in mind. Today happen to be one of those day. I realize that I have fallen asleep on the living room. Then I had this question, Why does close to 8 hours pass in just a blink of an eye? ie Why has time moved so fast when I fell asleep?
Some personal knowledge of time:
1) It is an unit that measure passing of a moment.
2) It is derived from the speed of light.
3) It is relative.
4) It cannot be reversed. (At least with the current technology)
I guess time is just a perception thingy. Some perceive that a year is 365 days which in fact is 365.25 days. Hence the leap year. Some see that a work week is 5 days. (Others see it as 7 but not me). So perhaps the brain interpret time differently when we are in the rest mode. The passive rejection of external inputs from the environments coupled with the speed of the neurons firing in the brain caused the perception of time to change.
This is just my simple theory. Share urs?
Some personal knowledge of time:
1) It is an unit that measure passing of a moment.
2) It is derived from the speed of light.
3) It is relative.
4) It cannot be reversed. (At least with the current technology)
I guess time is just a perception thingy. Some perceive that a year is 365 days which in fact is 365.25 days. Hence the leap year. Some see that a work week is 5 days. (Others see it as 7 but not me). So perhaps the brain interpret time differently when we are in the rest mode. The passive rejection of external inputs from the environments coupled with the speed of the neurons firing in the brain caused the perception of time to change.
This is just my simple theory. Share urs?
An Interview
Last Friday, I had my first ever opportunity to be on the other side of the interview table. I was sitting in with my boss to interview this guy. He is a FT from the Myanmar and obtain his tertiary education in UK.
What strike me to write this entry was the mention of the word "Passion". His passion for networking technology and networking has driven him to get work all over the globe. (Well at least in Europe and Asia).
From this I know that he will be a good person to work with and I hope very much that he will join. Passion is a commodity in this line of work that is sorely lacking. It is infectious in a good way. It drive people to do better than what is required, to perform to excel and most importantly to learn.
I had no doubt about his ability. From his mentioned of the open source monitoring tools that he has used, he knows what he needs and where to fulfill his needs. I no doubt can learn from any knowledge sharing session we can have.
On the other hand, observing my boss interviewing another person other than myself, I inferred, that his skills as a interviewer is not really that good. What he asked is have you ever used this equipments, what brand, what version, what model. He will just quote some product and feel that using that product is a great thing. The product he quoted was CA UniCenter Enterprise Management Tool. Nothing too big deal about that product from what I know.
I think an interview should allow one to find out the experience the interviewee has and also to attempt to confirm that he has that knowledge. Of course as a fellow employee in the same team, it will also allow use to make a rough estimate of if he can be a good team player on the same team.
Team dynamics are a science in itself. It will allow 1+1 > 2. That is what I feel I want.
What strike me to write this entry was the mention of the word "Passion". His passion for networking technology and networking has driven him to get work all over the globe. (Well at least in Europe and Asia).
From this I know that he will be a good person to work with and I hope very much that he will join. Passion is a commodity in this line of work that is sorely lacking. It is infectious in a good way. It drive people to do better than what is required, to perform to excel and most importantly to learn.
I had no doubt about his ability. From his mentioned of the open source monitoring tools that he has used, he knows what he needs and where to fulfill his needs. I no doubt can learn from any knowledge sharing session we can have.
On the other hand, observing my boss interviewing another person other than myself, I inferred, that his skills as a interviewer is not really that good. What he asked is have you ever used this equipments, what brand, what version, what model. He will just quote some product and feel that using that product is a great thing. The product he quoted was CA UniCenter Enterprise Management Tool. Nothing too big deal about that product from what I know.
I think an interview should allow one to find out the experience the interviewee has and also to attempt to confirm that he has that knowledge. Of course as a fellow employee in the same team, it will also allow use to make a rough estimate of if he can be a good team player on the same team.
Team dynamics are a science in itself. It will allow 1+1 > 2. That is what I feel I want.
Ranger Office.
This is one of the reason why being a ranger is quite good. For some of the more obvious reasons are:
1) They have this nice office with Aircon.
2) They get to breath fresher air.
3) They get to be closer to nature.
HSBC Tree top Walk - Bridge
This is the one and the only tree top walking experience in Singapore. When you are on the bridge, you will see the Lower Pierce resevoir to the north. To the south you will see Mcritchite itself.
The canopy is yours to see on this bridge. Not that there is much in that span of a 200m or less.
PS: It is grill you will be stepping on. You will be able to see all the way down to the forest floor. If you are afraid of heights, don't look down.
Car Ownership and Road Availability
If you find that driving in the little red dot is getting more and more unbearable, you are not too far from the truth.
Using the data from @ http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/Stats%20In%20Brief%20(2006).pdf
We have this table.
So there are 27597 more vehicles on the road. (2 wheeled motorcycles included.) As compared only 105km of roads has been added (not necessary distance from point A to point B. )
For every kilometer of road, there are approx 228 in 2004 and then it increases to 233 in 2005. Well lets discount that most of the time cars are parked in the car park and not all are on the road. If 40% of them are on the road, then it will still be 91 cars on the road in 2004 and 93 cars on the road in 2005.
Using the data from @ http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/Stats%20In%20Brief%20(2006).pdf
We have this table.
| Year | All Vehicles | Motorcycles | Road Length | Lane Kilometers | Vehicle/KM | Vehicle/Lane KM |
| 2004 | 727395 | 137029 | 3188 | 8354 | 228.17 | 87.07 |
| 2005 | 754992 | 139434 | 3234 | 8459 | 233.45 | 89.25 |
| Delta | 27597 | 2405 | 46 | 105 | 599.93 | 268.83 |
For every kilometer of road, there are approx 228 in 2004 and then it increases to 233 in 2005. Well lets discount that most of the time cars are parked in the car park and not all are on the road. If 40% of them are on the road, then it will still be 91 cars on the road in 2004 and 93 cars on the road in 2005.
New Breed of Irritating Drivers
I was driving back to my Mother-in-Law place in Woodlands when I encountered the most irritating driver ever.
I was cruising along the right most lane at around 90++ km/h with 2-3 car length behind the car in front. A white Nissan Sunny came up and cut in behind my lane. I noticed that it had normal head lights while cutting in and suddenly it change to high beam.
The beam bounce of the rear view mirror and proof to be a pain in my eyes. What the fuck is he trying to do? Force me get out and give way to him?
So I turn the rear view mirror up and ignore him. Happily cruising home and keeping a safe distance from the car in front. The center lane open up and he quickly change and move. Given the situation, he changed but before he accelerate enough to over that the car in front of me, he came up to the traffic and had to slow down. Since he got out of my butt, I lowered the rear view mirror.
He change back to the right most lane with normal headlights. Within a second, he was shinning high beam again. I was damn pissed. Wanted to jab the brake and warn him off but I did not.
What does this tell you? Some drivers have simply no courtesy and no patience.
I was cruising along the right most lane at around 90++ km/h with 2-3 car length behind the car in front. A white Nissan Sunny came up and cut in behind my lane. I noticed that it had normal head lights while cutting in and suddenly it change to high beam.
The beam bounce of the rear view mirror and proof to be a pain in my eyes. What the fuck is he trying to do? Force me get out and give way to him?
So I turn the rear view mirror up and ignore him. Happily cruising home and keeping a safe distance from the car in front. The center lane open up and he quickly change and move. Given the situation, he changed but before he accelerate enough to over that the car in front of me, he came up to the traffic and had to slow down. Since he got out of my butt, I lowered the rear view mirror.
He change back to the right most lane with normal headlights. Within a second, he was shinning high beam again. I was damn pissed. Wanted to jab the brake and warn him off but I did not.
What does this tell you? Some drivers have simply no courtesy and no patience.
Stress. A Evolutionary Force.
When face with a certain kind of stress the person will more likely succumbed to the stress and change. The lack of money is a stress. It changes a person perspective of how life should be live.
Stress is a force. It is exerted in physical, mental, financially or even emotionally.
I eat stress for breakfast!! Stress come in, out as daydream.
Stress is a force. It is exerted in physical, mental, financially or even emotionally.
I eat stress for breakfast!! Stress come in, out as daydream.
Freedom and the Internet
Previously, internet was confine to the length of the CAT5 cable. But in recent years, that has change to the radius of your home WIFI router. So that I can now blog in the openness of the void deck facing the gardens.
Now is that call freedom or what!
Now that that has happen, I would wish some one should come up with a notebook screeen shield to block out the direct sunlight when using the laptop in the open. The screen look like an under powered pieces of glass. The back lighting is almost non existent.
The feeling is great.
Now is that call freedom or what!
Now that that has happen, I would wish some one should come up with a notebook screeen shield to block out the direct sunlight when using the laptop in the open. The screen look like an under powered pieces of glass. The back lighting is almost non existent.
The feeling is great.
NS and Reservist.
There was another topic about globalization and I failed to impress on my migrant friends (now turn Singaporean) what is the frustration a native Singaporean face.
I do agree with him that things in general are base on merit. However given the liabilities of reservist that Singaporean males are facing in the workforce, it will never be a fair playground. Although employers are not allow to make such discrimination, it is bound to happen. Let me give an example, suppose you went for an interview and you have an excellent profile but need your to start work on a short notice. However you are not able to do so as there is reservist coming up and you may not defer. The company has another candidate which is of similar caliber who is the next in line. Due to this constraint, the original candidate is not chosen.
These incidents are not uncommon but they are not documented. So who know how much missed opportunity a Singaporean has gone through.
Given the amount of emphasize that the government is giving to the reservist, it is sad to note that the treat money as more important than the time the Singaporean has committed. They are given only the expected renumeration as compensation. What happen to the OT? The missed sales commission? The promotion due to being pass over to lead a project? This are not recognize. The analogy of the country as a company cannot apply. One can switch a company as there are many around, however one cannot just change a citizenship. There are too many factors. One is family others are economics and emotional.
These are the frustrations. But I guess that is what a Singaporean convert may fail to understand. Yes. 1st generation Singapore does not have the liability. Perhaps when the global government is there we will not have such frustration. If we can do things without emotion contributing a factor, I guess it is time we can call ourselves robot.
Decision are made based on merit at that point in time. It has a temporal factor in it.
I do agree with him that things in general are base on merit. However given the liabilities of reservist that Singaporean males are facing in the workforce, it will never be a fair playground. Although employers are not allow to make such discrimination, it is bound to happen. Let me give an example, suppose you went for an interview and you have an excellent profile but need your to start work on a short notice. However you are not able to do so as there is reservist coming up and you may not defer. The company has another candidate which is of similar caliber who is the next in line. Due to this constraint, the original candidate is not chosen.
These incidents are not uncommon but they are not documented. So who know how much missed opportunity a Singaporean has gone through.
Given the amount of emphasize that the government is giving to the reservist, it is sad to note that the treat money as more important than the time the Singaporean has committed. They are given only the expected renumeration as compensation. What happen to the OT? The missed sales commission? The promotion due to being pass over to lead a project? This are not recognize. The analogy of the country as a company cannot apply. One can switch a company as there are many around, however one cannot just change a citizenship. There are too many factors. One is family others are economics and emotional.
These are the frustrations. But I guess that is what a Singaporean convert may fail to understand. Yes. 1st generation Singapore does not have the liability. Perhaps when the global government is there we will not have such frustration. If we can do things without emotion contributing a factor, I guess it is time we can call ourselves robot.
Decision are made based on merit at that point in time. It has a temporal factor in it.
Lunch topic - What is the norm?
A few days back we had this discussion between 3 of us. How much is too much?
It started with some innocent comment about communication and control. Is it too much to for a parent to know his/her children are safe? When does it becomes a form oppressive control? What happen to the kid freedom? Is asking them where they are a form of communication or is it a modified form of control feedback?
What I think?
I think that communication is very important. Communication in all it aspects help to foster bond between the parent and child. Asking where you are shows that you care. This may just be a starting point to another conversation that lead to a life changing experience.
It started with some innocent comment about communication and control. Is it too much to for a parent to know his/her children are safe? When does it becomes a form oppressive control? What happen to the kid freedom? Is asking them where they are a form of communication or is it a modified form of control feedback?
What I think?
I think that communication is very important. Communication in all it aspects help to foster bond between the parent and child. Asking where you are shows that you care. This may just be a starting point to another conversation that lead to a life changing experience.
E-Mart - What is it selling that are good?
The E-Mart. Those who are in similar shoes will know what that terms means with respect to being a Singaporean and a reservist. If you are observant enough, you will notice that quite a number of people who jog in the park wear a NB or a Brooks jogging shoes. There are also plenty of people in the train wearing those. It is not that these 2 brands are popular in Singapore. Neither is their design very attractive. The reason that it is common is because it is available to Singaporean reservist cheaply and it looks decent. (It use to be free. It is still free. Sort off )
The Emart sells them to reservist or NSF. Maybe selling is not a correct word. It is more like distributing. So people will get them for their use or their family to use. Grandfather wear it, the younger sisters wear it, the mother wear it. If you look around sometimes, even the non Singaporean wear it. (I guess there are more than 1 source for that design other than the Emart.)
The other alternative item which I think are worth it are the towel It quality is quite high compare to those generally available. And at approximately SGD$6 it is worth it. However those whose waist are not of the normal size, then it might be too small for you. For me, it is only overlapping about 6-7 inches.
This end the review of the Emart "Selling items"
The Emart sells them to reservist or NSF. Maybe selling is not a correct word. It is more like distributing. So people will get them for their use or their family to use. Grandfather wear it, the younger sisters wear it, the mother wear it. If you look around sometimes, even the non Singaporean wear it. (I guess there are more than 1 source for that design other than the Emart.)
The other alternative item which I think are worth it are the towel It quality is quite high compare to those generally available. And at approximately SGD$6 it is worth it. However those whose waist are not of the normal size, then it might be too small for you. For me, it is only overlapping about 6-7 inches.
This end the review of the Emart "Selling items"
6.5 Million?
Today's paper. "Singapore Planning for 6.5 million population". Do we really have that much space for so many people? Hello!! When you make the comparison to other City with so much people, you need to understand that they are cities!!!! Whereas this little red dot is a Country!! Other people living in the cities can escape to the rural areas. They can choose. Where can we go too? Living from hand to mouth, just to pay for a space to stay, where would we have the ability to get out of country, to work or play? If we are moving in that direction, the price of the space to stay is definitely going to rise. Spare a though for those that are not so elite. Who would want to bring up their children into a cramp little red dot then?
Is this a conspiracy theory to get all the Singaporean to stay in country?
Is this a conspiracy theory to get all the Singaporean to stay in country?
Roller Blade.
Roller Blading is a good sports. That is the other only sport that I have been involve in since the days of canoing.
I bought a pair of blades and well after about 6 hours of blading session over a span of say 3 months. I might say, I know how to blade and can be consider a novice.
Yeah!
I bought a pair of blades and well after about 6 hours of blading session over a span of say 3 months. I might say, I know how to blade and can be consider a novice.
Yeah!
400th Post
I think Blogging has become a way for me to grumble about stuff. ie Voice my resentment.
Received a call yesterday, let call this person, L. "Have you sent the documents to her yet? Please sent it in by tomorrow 4pm. I don't need to see it. I don't want to be nagged by her again."
Somehow, our own internal process has just gone out the window. From the statement you would have realize that, when it went out the window was not made known to me. Oh well ... so be it.
The more support I get from my client from doing a good job or playing the correct human factor card, the more painful it is for them when I say "No. I do not want to continue." Time is ticking. So far the work and the work condition is good. But then let see how things go. I might strike Toto you know?
Received a call yesterday, let call this person, L. "Have you sent the documents to her yet? Please sent it in by tomorrow 4pm. I don't need to see it. I don't want to be nagged by her again."
Somehow, our own internal process has just gone out the window. From the statement you would have realize that, when it went out the window was not made known to me. Oh well ... so be it.
The more support I get from my client from doing a good job or playing the correct human factor card, the more painful it is for them when I say "No. I do not want to continue." Time is ticking. So far the work and the work condition is good. But then let see how things go. I might strike Toto you know?
What do you do when you cannot sleep at night?
Night time are a good time to think. There is less noise and less conscious brainwaves being broadcast by other humans.(Those on the other side of the globe are too weak to interrupt).
I would wonder, what make a human, human? When you break down a human, they are basically protein cells. Bits and pieces of protein. The thought processes are basically electrical response at the cellular level and in-between the billion of billions of protein cells, bone cells, fat cell, water....... Things that make up a human. What are coherent thoughts to these cellular entities? Why are we born and what make these molecule and cells and atoms behave like humans? Why is it that when all the required elements, in the right proportion thrown together don't make a human?
Are we mere shell which the soul enter and control?
Why do power corrupt? Why do the government think they have good of the people in mind? Why do they think they are need to play golf? Is it because, just like business, some policy are thought up in the greens? Like our free trade agreement with the US. I recall Mr Goh mentioned that the deal was agreed during a golf session with President. Democratic society? Or capitalistic state? Or Capitocratic state? Where those with more capital are more democratic. Since I contribute more to the economy, I have more say? Group decision is not shared risk. Why do Temesk holding not admit that it has made a bad move in its recent investment in Shin Corp? Why must english be use to mesh up the state of the matters? Why is it a long term investment? Is it because it cannot be cash out, sold? Cos if it was sold, then it would really realize the lost. Currently it is only paper lost. It HAD the potential to recover. Why can't they admitted that the mis-judge a character in TT Durai? The government back him up when he was in his glory day. Now when everything is in light, they back away and distant him from the ministers. Why? A wrong is a wrong. A wrong can be made up but it cannot erase history. Just like that, Mrs Goh thinks that SGD $600,000 is peanuts. Well, comparatively most folks earn less than $3000 a month. Has living too good a life left the leaders too out of touch with the general public? Has drawing too high a monthly paycheck change their perspective of what is important and what is not? If you say public transport.... then why is it privatize? When you say it is transparent, why are some of the public figures hidden? White Horse, why do they deny it and years later confirm that there was such a category of soldier?
Ok. To summarize things. Thinking really take up energy. Cos right now, after about 1/2 hour and a glass of water, the Sandman has come again. I think I am going to bed now. And the neighbour living above us finally has their kitchen light turn off. And the bed room is back to the peaceful darkness. (Except for the light from the laptop.)
I would wonder, what make a human, human? When you break down a human, they are basically protein cells. Bits and pieces of protein. The thought processes are basically electrical response at the cellular level and in-between the billion of billions of protein cells, bone cells, fat cell, water....... Things that make up a human. What are coherent thoughts to these cellular entities? Why are we born and what make these molecule and cells and atoms behave like humans? Why is it that when all the required elements, in the right proportion thrown together don't make a human?
Are we mere shell which the soul enter and control?
Why do power corrupt? Why do the government think they have good of the people in mind? Why do they think they are need to play golf? Is it because, just like business, some policy are thought up in the greens? Like our free trade agreement with the US. I recall Mr Goh mentioned that the deal was agreed during a golf session with President. Democratic society? Or capitalistic state? Or Capitocratic state? Where those with more capital are more democratic. Since I contribute more to the economy, I have more say? Group decision is not shared risk. Why do Temesk holding not admit that it has made a bad move in its recent investment in Shin Corp? Why must english be use to mesh up the state of the matters? Why is it a long term investment? Is it because it cannot be cash out, sold? Cos if it was sold, then it would really realize the lost. Currently it is only paper lost. It HAD the potential to recover. Why can't they admitted that the mis-judge a character in TT Durai? The government back him up when he was in his glory day. Now when everything is in light, they back away and distant him from the ministers. Why? A wrong is a wrong. A wrong can be made up but it cannot erase history. Just like that, Mrs Goh thinks that SGD $600,000 is peanuts. Well, comparatively most folks earn less than $3000 a month. Has living too good a life left the leaders too out of touch with the general public? Has drawing too high a monthly paycheck change their perspective of what is important and what is not? If you say public transport.... then why is it privatize? When you say it is transparent, why are some of the public figures hidden? White Horse, why do they deny it and years later confirm that there was such a category of soldier?
Ok. To summarize things. Thinking really take up energy. Cos right now, after about 1/2 hour and a glass of water, the Sandman has come again. I think I am going to bed now. And the neighbour living above us finally has their kitchen light turn off. And the bed room is back to the peaceful darkness. (Except for the light from the laptop.)
Almost done.
Ok. This is my flat. Almost complete. They are finishing the surrounding area. The question now is when we can get the keys and start the renovation. Another big lum sum of money is being pictured going down the drain. I am going to make it worth my while.House Theme?
What should a your house or home feel like? Does it need a theme? Must it be presentable or just comfortable will do?
?? To spend or not to Spend? That is the question.
?? To spend or not to Spend? That is the question.
Phrase of the day
"What matter more is the perception rather than the reality of things".
from someone in channelnewasia.
So true. So so true.
from someone in channelnewasia.
So true. So so true.
Thought of the week
Human are fickle minded. They are stereotypical. Which is why we can find that we can generally group them into category and why human can be studied. 'Cos if you find one person with that kind of character, you can find another one of similar character else where. We cannot however rule out that there is always a possibility of uniqueness.
Ok. So why I am writing all these? Sometimes being honest has consequences. But I shall be honest with my opinion here nevertheless. Take it or leave it. Judge it for yourself.
Just started work this week after a moderate period of rest. Back to the same company that I left, as an contract staff. Why I went back? I guess was the way in which I was asked to return. As a norm, the office has an electronic access entry and going in an out of the office requires an access card. It took them 2 day to issue me with an temp card. Whoa and behold! It was the same card I had. Hmmm. Either they had expected me to go back within 3 months or someone did not do their job.
So I check out the IT support, people which I knew. They gave me my account to access the office network and email and stuff. Another surprise, my mail was flooded with emails. The old mail are still there. Not efficient.
So I guess, from the few incidents the opinion is form and reinforced.
Ok. So why I am writing all these? Sometimes being honest has consequences. But I shall be honest with my opinion here nevertheless. Take it or leave it. Judge it for yourself.
Just started work this week after a moderate period of rest. Back to the same company that I left, as an contract staff. Why I went back? I guess was the way in which I was asked to return. As a norm, the office has an electronic access entry and going in an out of the office requires an access card. It took them 2 day to issue me with an temp card. Whoa and behold! It was the same card I had. Hmmm. Either they had expected me to go back within 3 months or someone did not do their job.
So I check out the IT support, people which I knew. They gave me my account to access the office network and email and stuff. Another surprise, my mail was flooded with emails. The old mail are still there. Not efficient.
So I guess, from the few incidents the opinion is form and reinforced.
Teachers and Teaching.
I remember back in those days, when I was still green, inside and out. (ie, green in the ways of the world and wearing the ugly camouflaged No.4) Everytime when we have an exercise we would have a safety briefing and there would be tons of safety regulation books to bring out and to go through. The briefing would be boring and long. (I am not saying that this is bad, unnecessary or anything. It is more like common sense at work. If you happen to have no common sense, then people around you would inject some into you. Usually append with the F!@#$#% and end with #$@#. You tend to remember more from the #@$$@# than from the "Please do that" )
I found out some interesting happening within the government's offices from my daily chats. Namely the SAF and MOE. There is a new department called School Safety in MOE. The government being the good people that they are, provided SAF personnel with an avenue to work after their retirement age. (FYI: SAF combat personnel are no longer an asset after their age of 45. They can no longer hold combat position. They will be switch over to administration or instructional role. Of course the position of General is exempted. Not that they have seen any life action before.)
These retired people from the Uniform services, namely the SAF, Police Force or the Civil Defense take up position in the other various ministries. MOE being the largest employer in Singapore (In my opinion only. Vague recollection of seeing it somewhere before. I did not really check it out), absorbed quite a number of these retired personnels.
They take up position as the Operation Manager of the School. They bring with them the years of experience in running the uniform groups into the schools. Sometimes they bring about a discipline and injected some into the students. Some other times, they help out with the logistic of the school, in helping to co-ordinating the building management and school buses. It relieved the School Administrator of some work. The teachers work load still remains the same.
Safety is an important aspect in our daily life. It is aided by common sense. This group of "retired" people from the Safety committee wants to document down the safety procedure in school. So what did this committee do, they delegate it down to the people on the ground to generate, collate and compile it for them to review. So these people who has no prior knowledge of the situation on the ground start to review this documents. What can they do? Do they know what is right? Have they done any job? Did they come down to quietly observe the situation? Sounds like easy money to me. They are bringing the "Eye power" from the SAF to MOE. 3G army so what? You still need people to run it. Scholars only read about it and talk about it. You need people to talk the talk and walk the walk. Do what they preach.
Who are the people on the ground? The teachers! The HODs! The principals! Every day they spent time handling the normal school stuff. They also had to handle the discipling, the morals, disputes, the homeworks, the parents, the queries brought up by the parents, the CCAs of the students, the co-ordinating of the CCAs events, school functions, staff welfare, small financial matters, photocopies worksheets, read emails, update the daily class lessons, do projects from MOE, provide feed back to new systems, mark test papers, handle teacher work load, arrange meetings, conduct workshops, managed expectations of the parent or public, source of vendors, generate publicity for the school, attend meetings, write email, write report, perform ranking of staff.... the list goes on. (I am sure there are more. But not being a teacher myself, these are some of the activities which I see happening from some of teachers, friends. And no wonder a large number of teacher marry within the same profession. They had no time to have a normal social life.)
So why do these committee had to generate additional work for the poor teachers? Why ask the teachers or HODs to come out with a school safety document? This is a huge task. Ask the committee to do some work. What is being done to help them? Mr Education minister can you say thing? You had admitted that the 5 day work week was an impossible thing. Yes, some teachers had to work on Sunday and public holiday too. And they do not get off-in-liew to compensate them for working on a rest day. (Like bring the children to the National Stadium for National Day parade)
Teaching is a joy. Imparting knowledge and morals is noble profession. However it is is being killed by tons and tons of paperwork. Sometimes unnecessary paper work. Too much meeting means lesser time to do work. Too many committee means too many meeting. Education industry has change plenty, but something still stays the same. Grooming and imparting values take a lot of time and it cannot be hurried. Express or Normal. EM1 or EM3, it is the same. Used to be that there are teachers who are in the teaching force all their life. Now, most wants to retire early. We still only have 8 hours a day.
Please don't give them more unnecessary work. Let them teach.
I found out some interesting happening within the government's offices from my daily chats. Namely the SAF and MOE. There is a new department called School Safety in MOE. The government being the good people that they are, provided SAF personnel with an avenue to work after their retirement age. (FYI: SAF combat personnel are no longer an asset after their age of 45. They can no longer hold combat position. They will be switch over to administration or instructional role. Of course the position of General is exempted. Not that they have seen any life action before.)
These retired people from the Uniform services, namely the SAF, Police Force or the Civil Defense take up position in the other various ministries. MOE being the largest employer in Singapore (In my opinion only. Vague recollection of seeing it somewhere before. I did not really check it out), absorbed quite a number of these retired personnels.
They take up position as the Operation Manager of the School. They bring with them the years of experience in running the uniform groups into the schools. Sometimes they bring about a discipline and injected some into the students. Some other times, they help out with the logistic of the school, in helping to co-ordinating the building management and school buses. It relieved the School Administrator of some work. The teachers work load still remains the same.
Safety is an important aspect in our daily life. It is aided by common sense. This group of "retired" people from the Safety committee wants to document down the safety procedure in school. So what did this committee do, they delegate it down to the people on the ground to generate, collate and compile it for them to review. So these people who has no prior knowledge of the situation on the ground start to review this documents. What can they do? Do they know what is right? Have they done any job? Did they come down to quietly observe the situation? Sounds like easy money to me. They are bringing the "Eye power" from the SAF to MOE. 3G army so what? You still need people to run it. Scholars only read about it and talk about it. You need people to talk the talk and walk the walk. Do what they preach.
Who are the people on the ground? The teachers! The HODs! The principals! Every day they spent time handling the normal school stuff. They also had to handle the discipling, the morals, disputes, the homeworks, the parents, the queries brought up by the parents, the CCAs of the students, the co-ordinating of the CCAs events, school functions, staff welfare, small financial matters, photocopies worksheets, read emails, update the daily class lessons, do projects from MOE, provide feed back to new systems, mark test papers, handle teacher work load, arrange meetings, conduct workshops, managed expectations of the parent or public, source of vendors, generate publicity for the school, attend meetings, write email, write report, perform ranking of staff.... the list goes on. (I am sure there are more. But not being a teacher myself, these are some of the activities which I see happening from some of teachers, friends. And no wonder a large number of teacher marry within the same profession. They had no time to have a normal social life.)
So why do these committee had to generate additional work for the poor teachers? Why ask the teachers or HODs to come out with a school safety document? This is a huge task. Ask the committee to do some work. What is being done to help them? Mr Education minister can you say thing? You had admitted that the 5 day work week was an impossible thing. Yes, some teachers had to work on Sunday and public holiday too. And they do not get off-in-liew to compensate them for working on a rest day. (Like bring the children to the National Stadium for National Day parade)
Teaching is a joy. Imparting knowledge and morals is noble profession. However it is is being killed by tons and tons of paperwork. Sometimes unnecessary paper work. Too much meeting means lesser time to do work. Too many committee means too many meeting. Education industry has change plenty, but something still stays the same. Grooming and imparting values take a lot of time and it cannot be hurried. Express or Normal. EM1 or EM3, it is the same. Used to be that there are teachers who are in the teaching force all their life. Now, most wants to retire early. We still only have 8 hours a day.
Please don't give them more unnecessary work. Let them teach.
Ubuntu Edgy Eft on Intel T2400 processor
Haa. Finally understand what all those article in the forum meant. I shall put that down into simple layman terms.
What I was trying to do was to update my standard Edgy Eft installation of Ubuntu to an SMP version of Edgy Eft.
Hardware:
Dell Inspiron 640M/E1405 with a Intel T2400 Duo Core processor.
Steps:
- Using the Synaptic Package Manager. Go to the Base System (Restricted) on the right hand side.
- Mark the Linux package. The description will say complete generic Linux Kernel.
(see the screen shot)
- Install the package and reboot.
- During the boot menu, choose the generic version and boot up that image.
- After system up, execute the command "cat /proc/cpuinfo". You should see 2 cpu registered. Alternatively the system monitor should show 2 cpu instead of 1.
- (Optional) Uncheck the Linux 386 package. Update the "/boot/grub/menu.lst" and remove the 386 option.
Thanks to the folks in the Ubuntu Forums! Thanks to google too!
Now you know too!
What I was trying to do was to update my standard Edgy Eft installation of Ubuntu to an SMP version of Edgy Eft.
Hardware:
Dell Inspiron 640M/E1405 with a Intel T2400 Duo Core processor.
Steps:
- Using the Synaptic Package Manager. Go to the Base System (Restricted) on the right hand side.
- Mark the Linux package. The description will say complete generic Linux Kernel.
(see the screen shot)
- Install the package and reboot.
- During the boot menu, choose the generic version and boot up that image.
- After system up, execute the command "cat /proc/cpuinfo". You should see 2 cpu registered. Alternatively the system monitor should show 2 cpu instead of 1.
- (Optional) Uncheck the Linux 386 package. Update the "/boot/grub/menu.lst" and remove the 386 option.
Thanks to the folks in the Ubuntu Forums! Thanks to google too!
Now you know too!
Linux Ubuntu- Edgy Eft
Today is official. I am a 95% convert to Linux platform for my desktop.
Apart from Picasa, I am doing everything on my Linux desktop.
Google please update your picasa for linux. So that I will totally convert.
Go Ubuntu!! Go Linux!!
Will post my adventure on the installation soon. I hope.
Apart from Picasa, I am doing everything on my Linux desktop.
Google please update your picasa for linux. So that I will totally convert.
Go Ubuntu!! Go Linux!!
Will post my adventure on the installation soon. I hope.
Quotes
I tried to capture the exact words that was on screen but before I can do that, the commercial was discontinued.
This is from the Discovery Channel.
"In Life, nothing is certain.
If you feel frighten, don't.
Embrace uncertainty and allow it to lead you to places.
Allow it to lead you to places.
Don't waste time on regrets.
Take each moment as it come.
And you if you find yourself lost,
simply take a break and start over again."
I am 95% sure I got the wording correct.
But heck this statement is motivational.
This is from the Discovery Channel.
"In Life, nothing is certain.
If you feel frighten, don't.
Embrace uncertainty and allow it to lead you to places.
Allow it to lead you to places.
Don't waste time on regrets.
Take each moment as it come.
And you if you find yourself lost,
simply take a break and start over again."
I am 95% sure I got the wording correct.
But heck this statement is motivational.
Hello 2007
How did my 2007 start off?
If it made any sound, it would be like the turning of a page in a 1000++ page story book. IFF.
I know some had a loud bang! Other whizzing and popping of champagne. Maybe some minute number of people celebrate the passing of 2006 with some loud snore. Mine was just another page.
I spend the last few minutes of 2006 at a good friend house. A modest 3 room flat that was very much cosy for the newly wed. Some drink and home brew made me grounded for a few hours. During these festivities season, the traffic police are very much active and it is wise to avoid them and have a brush with the law with you standing on the wrong side of it. So just like another page, with lines and lines of sentences, we exchange notes, share our recent holiday photos. We talk about car, houses and career.
"What about the future?", people will ask. I don't know. What I want for the future? How about world peace? Nah. I am not that noble.
If it made any sound, it would be like the turning of a page in a 1000++ page story book. IFF.
I know some had a loud bang! Other whizzing and popping of champagne. Maybe some minute number of people celebrate the passing of 2006 with some loud snore. Mine was just another page.
I spend the last few minutes of 2006 at a good friend house. A modest 3 room flat that was very much cosy for the newly wed. Some drink and home brew made me grounded for a few hours. During these festivities season, the traffic police are very much active and it is wise to avoid them and have a brush with the law with you standing on the wrong side of it. So just like another page, with lines and lines of sentences, we exchange notes, share our recent holiday photos. We talk about car, houses and career.
"What about the future?", people will ask. I don't know. What I want for the future? How about world peace? Nah. I am not that noble.
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