Studying Mojo

So so so its time for one of my weird philosophies. ( I have lots of them.)

Picture this. YOu have a set of teeth. Every morning and every night (or most nights, I imagine) you brush automatically without giving much thought about it. Two important factors contribute to how clean your teeth becomes: The act of brushing, and the toothpaste.

With very good toothpaste, the act of brushing need not be very hard as the combination will give you clean teeth. As such, you can also say the same the other way around: with a good brushing technique, even the lousiest toothpaste can be used to make your teeth pearly white every morning.

Now replace the whole thing with studying: The toothbrush is you studying, and the toothpaste is the additional help you get such as good textbooks, good lecturers, good tutors.

See, no matter how good the toothpaste is, its useless if there is no toothbrush doing any action. Likewise, you can have the best tutors and lectueres. But it still won't matter when you're not trying hard enough to make it work. And, if you'd realise, you can still brush your teeth without any toothpaste and still keep em clean (what I meant to say is, you can still score good grades even without good aid).

SO! This time around. No matter how crappy my lecturers and/or tutors are, I will work with them and acquire all the knowledge and skills i need not only to pass this time around but to survive the dunia anjing-makan-anjing. (dog-eat-dog world)

Hopefully this metaphore has inspired you somewhat to do better in your studies

Heat Mania

Okay. Feeling much better now. The winds have arrived and a very much cooled Ronnie is typing away.

For the past few days, my room fan feels more like a giant hair dryer than a fan. Crazy weather! The weather reports say that all this happen because of the storms in the South China Sea.. Storms happening in the sea blocks the monsoon clouds from reaching to our island, causing us to face this heat.

Please! I cannot stand another night of sleepless heat!

Last week was my first week back in Swinburne. I was naturally still part stasis part aware of the entrance into my second year. After 4 lectures only do I realise the weight of education bearing on me. Need to get textbooks, check up on notes for next week, get some info from seniors, checking on clubs and associations to jion. Am thinking of taking up some charity work with organisations I used to work with during my Interact years back in form 6. Any suggestions?

Bought a new wardrobe today. This would be my first such furniture. Yes, my family comes from a traditional mindset: Hand-me-downs shoud suffice to keep you lasted until you graduate, move out and get your own place. I came to realise that I can function better with the appropriate items to organise my life (If Americans can have such luxuries, then why should I be deprived?) And so I went out and got a wardrobe with my parents. It costs RM350, so I hope it as worth the cash and lasts as long as I want it to. WIth proper maintenance.

I read somewhere that grapes aren't good for health. They can induce coughing especially in children who suffer from asthma. Who'd thought?? (P.S. My brother has asthma)

Have started doing my homework this afternoon. No more slacking this semester! Am really gonna live out my resolution now. Work hard, play hard, keeping my friends close.

Although, a few more episodes of grey's Anatomy can't hurt

Registeration

I'm not one to complain, but this registeration crap is something worth bitching about. It was no less than total chaos! Let me exaplin it from a student's point of view:

IT all started with the night before registeration. Last year, it was chaos because hundreds of students had to line up to be registered. It was nasty, with students even lining and standing for a good 3 hours just to register. SO this year, the admin people got smart: They only released the new semester timetable the night before at 10pm, and they hid it cleverly deep inside the BLackboard system! Luckily I have good friends who told me it was out. I spent a good 30 minutes trying to work out my timetable, avoiding clashes and selecting the rightest tutorial time for me.

That was not as bad as the real day itself.

Firstly, it didn't matter how early you went. Neither does it matter where you stand in queue. See, they made us all line up on two separate counters. Only after standing in queue for about 15 minutes then do they announce that that particular line is for engineering students, and can everybody else line up on the other side? (Most of us lining up there are businesss students!! )

We felt it was unfair cuz tere was a long queue on the 'correct' business queue, so we just went to the business registeration counter. There we saw this guy giving the number stickers to people cutting queue!! Naturally, we all go cut queue and get our numbers loh!!

And that still doens't matter!! Cuz all that really mattered was the queue into the auditorium. Whoever lined up first got to go in first, register first and go home first!!

Damn pissed I tell you! Dahlah lining up at the registeration counter outside the auditorium was useless, getting number also no use! So i went and queued quickly, and eventhough my number was 30, i got to go in and register as the 10th or 11th person from the business side. From 8.30 am, i managed to get everything done by 9.40am.

SO I guess this defines the 'dog-eat-dog-world' persona everyone talked about. Oh well. Some things aren't worth bragging about. As long as we get it done, I guess we should overlook how it was done. Or is that being insensitive and jerk-like? You tell me.

List Twenty

Got tagged by both Naomi and Jason. Now if you know those two very well, you'll know that they're both very very evil people for tagging me Here goes! Twenty people:

1. Jason
2. Melvin
3. Darrel
4. Shariman
5. Wei Khee
6. Ivor
7. Ching Yiew
8. Bertram
9. Dan
10. Choulyin
11. Lilian
12. Calista
13. ELaine Simon
14. Naomi
15. Felicity
16. Jessica Lim
17. Yogi
18. Aprilla
19. Sam Poh
20. Angela

How did you meet 14? (Naomi... Haha! How cun)
I think I knew about her since Form 5, since she was partly organising the Prom between our schools that year. Then I got to knwo her better through Rovers in Form 6 and now we're in the same uni

What would you do if you had never met 1? (Jason)
Waa... Such a deep question. But I'd guess life won't be the same! We were friends since Primary 6 if i recall correctly. Through high school and even form 6, Jason has always been there to help me, no questions asked. And! We just can't get enough of ALIAS!

What would you do if 20 and 9 dated you? (Angela) & (Dan)
OH my. If i went on a date with Angela... I won't show up! (Cuz I'll get a black eye from Rovi later!) Dan's different tho. He's my wife. He listens to whatever I tell him.

Would 6 and 17 make a good couple? (Ivor) & (Yogi)
Omigosh!! No way la!!!!

Describe no 3 .. (Darrel)
I agree with what Jason wrote - he's political and an eternal joker but fun and caring.

Do you think 8 is attractive? (Bertram)
..........................

Do you know anything about no. 12's family? (Cali)
I know where she lives! I know where her mom and dad goes to work! CUz she and I have a secret pact and thats all im tellin

Tell me something about 7.. (Ching Yiew)
He's a smartass who knows how to run a business and is making a living for himself while at the same tiem studyin at Swin with me

What is no 18's favourite? (Aprilla)
She likes all them girl stuff - accessories, fashion, shoes, bla bla bla - But i know for sure is that her most favourite is... Number 9!!

What languange does 15 speak? (Felicity)
After going through MUET with her and Azzie, PA classes in school and also hearing numerous of her anecdotes about Lao Tze and her uni life, I conclude that Feli can speak English (very teng at it too!) , Bahasa Melayu (but not so teng lah!) and Mandarin plus Hokkien (can can only!) oh oh and French! (But never hear her practice wan!) If we were on the subject of "What language can Feli understand?" Then I'll add Bidayuh (a tad bit)

Who is 19 going out with? (Sam Poh)
La di la di la

How old is 16 now? (Jess Lim)
Same age as me

When was the last time you talked to 13? (Elsi)
She and I used to blabber away on the phone for hours when she was back in town! But lately cannot lah, cuz each other busy with their own things. Someday soon I hope?

Who is 2's favourite singer? (Melvin)
YMel likes jazzy, sort of like energetic but also mellow songs like Snow Patrol and James Morrison. And Daniel Powter.

Would you date 4? (Shaman)
No answer required.

Would you date no. 17? (Yogi)
We're just friends! But who knows?

Is 15 single? (Feli)
Yepo, since the last time I saw her.

What is no 10's last name? (Yin)
Tan

Would you ever consider being in a relationship with 11? (Lilian)
Haha! SHe is one of my chimuis cannot simply go into relationship esp since she is in one herself lar!!

Which school does 3 goes to? (Darrel)
"Sammy Velu's University" - Jason and Darrel's insider joke

Where does 6 live? (Rovi)

His real house is a stone's throw away from mine. His current location though, is disclosed.

What is your favourite thing about no. 5? (Wei Khee)
I know a lot about him... he's my buddy in Swin. Stuff like, who's hot and who's not you know? But we're watching over each other's back in an un-gay way so yeah. WHat I like about him is that he think things through before making a decision - something which I should have learnt a long time ago. I'm still pretty hasty now.

Time for me to be evil! I tag Wei Khee and Lilian. Dun wanna tag Choulyin cuz she's working and is pretty busy, but if you can find the time to do it, do do do! Tags like these teaches us something new about each other.

Mari Mari Tengok TV

It has been raining in the morning for the past few mornings. No complaints about that; waking up to a rainy morning is refreshing and just makes me wish I could just stay in bed all day! And I did

So far, have not been up to much stuff. Downloading enrolment forms, getting my result slips and photocopying it, tidying up my room to get rid of all the junk for the new semester ahead, making schedules and plans for the next time round.

Kuching Fest is on this week, I hear. Food food food!

Oh, and does anyone have any suggestions of what series to watch? All suggestions are welcomed, TQ

Wine's Best Taste

You Are Chardonnay

Fresh, spirited, and classic - you have many facets to your personality. You can be sweet and light. Or deep and complex. You have a little bit of something to offer everyone... no wonder you're so popular. Approachable and never smug, you are easy to get to know (and love!). Deep down you are: Dependable and modest Your partying style: Understated and polite Your company is enjoyed best with: Cold or wild meat

What Kind of Wine Are You?

Saw this test on Jason's blog and decided I was up for the try. Have only tested one type of wine before, and that was at Poh Peng's place when I visited him with Azzie during CNY 2005. I don't even know what type of wine it was! I do recall it being a tad bit bitterish but not too bad. Lol and now I'm a Chardonnay? I've gotta try that. Maybe I should wait for J.G. to get back, since he's the best wine expert in my books

How to Buy Cheap College Textbooks (WikiHow.com)

Register for classes as early as possible. Start researching courses as soon as you can, and solidify your schedule early. If you have to change classes at the last minute, it’ll be hard to escape high textbook prices.

Find out what books you’ll need for your classes. Go to the bookstore just to browse. Leave the wallet at home, but bring a pen and paper. Look for your classes and the new semester's required books. Ask the bookstore employees to assist you if needed. If your classes' book requirements are not in yet, inquire as to when they will be and come back on that date. You may also be able to get this information off the bookstore’s website or your classes’ web pages.

Write down the following information for each book:

the name and volume/edition of the book

• the name of the author
• the book’s International Standard Book Number (ISBN), found on or near the barcode on the back of book
• the price

Try to find the books in the library. Check the catalogs of your school library and the local public library. If you can’t find a book there, try to obtain the book via interlibrary loan. Depending on the library’s borrowing policies, you may be able to check out books for the whole semester or at least for as long as you’ll need them. You’ll want to get on this early, though, because supplies will be limited.

Search for books on the Internet. If you can’t get a book at the library, or if you’ll need to be able to keep a book or write in it, look for better prices online. Usually all you’ll need is the book’s ISBN. In the search box of your favorite search engine, enter only the ISBN number, without the dashes that separate the digits. You should come up with several exact matches; in the unlikely event that you don’t, try searching by title. Verify you have the correct book using the other information you wrote down.

Buy bundles. Bundled books save you money by allowing you to buy your books in one shrinkwrapped package, often at a discount.

Shop around online. Most likely just about any price you find online will be cheaper than the bookstore, but check as many sites as possible to find the cheapest possible book. Check out online auction marketplaces. While you won’t be able to find as many books at auctions, you may be able to find screaming deals.

Check out local bookstores. You may be able to find a good deal locally, especially once you factor in shipping charges. Even if you can’t quite match an online price locally, you’ll be able to see the book before you purchase and you’ll get the satisfaction of helping local merchants.

Consider used books. Used books are almost always cheaper than new ones, and if you can find a used version online in good condition it may be a good bet. You may also be able to get used books at your campus bookstore, especially if you shop early or pre-order. Compare prices to find the best deal. Also used books may have the previous students notes in them which is a plus because you won't have to make them.

Inquire about earlier editions. If the current edition's used price is still too much, use the book name to find an earlier edition: enter the book title in the search box and remove any references to what edition it is. Before buying, ask your professor or TA if the earlier edition is acceptable. It is often not acceptable because of changes to editions and page numbers, not to mention content, and you don’t want to have to pay for a book twice.

Scour your campus. Some colleges have student groups that sell used textbooks for older students or that otherwise facilitate buying and selling of books. Ask your friends, look at flyers around campus, and watch the student paper for deals.

Resell your books. If you don’t foresee that you’ll need a book after the semester ends, try to resell it as soon as possible. Find out what your campus bookstore and local booksellers will pay, and consider putting up flyers around campus and/or selling it online. If your book is in high demand, you may be able to sell a book online within a day, and at a much higher price than you’ll get at the bookstore. See the Related wikiHows below for more information on how to do this.

http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Cheap-College-Textbooks