Conquer

Do you still remember the days when we used to play ‘Conquer’ using our maths exercise book (one that looks like a zoomed in graph book)? Well.. it’s back!! And it’s all thanks to the praying lecturer; all he does is mumble in front and is barely audible even when the whole hall is silent. So in order to kill time, I made my coursemates play games with me; we tried a 5×5 tic-tac-toe (it was dumb and quite impossible to win), and then the game conquer came up. Its a very popular game among young boys of age 8-12. Almost every guy, if not all knows how to play.

Let me explain the rules; 2 players are required and u just put a mark (usually cross or circle) on the line intersection and that’s basically all you need to know bout the rules. And you try to cover up ur opposition’s markings and conquer his turf. Pictures below will give you a better picture.

With this lect teaching us, I’m sure we will be playing more of this game and the dynamics…oh well..

Used to be really good at this game, but what merit does it have haha

On Un-Professionalism

Today’s Tuesday. A day like any other perhaps, except for the fact that my mood started to go downhill when I tried to made an enquiry on my student bill. It is the case where your problems seemed to them so minor that you’re more of a nuisance than anything else.

I called the CEE office, thats Centre for Extensive Education for short. This is where they handle student affairs, mainly for the part-time students. As for billing enquiries, this was entirely up to the finance dept so I proceded to dial the number given to me. I was greeted somewhat by a staff whose name I cant recall. She wasnt of much help, but what really got on my nerves was that she treated me like some sort of kid. I handled myself professionally, and she was pretty shocked when I’m not as she expected – a full-time student. That is, I may not exactly be some inexperienced student asking some stupid question, but a working adult who simply wants a satisfactory answer on a certain discrepancy on my bill. When she figured she couldnt handle the conversation anymore, she proceded to override all my questions by repeating the same “university procedure” lines and talking when I’m talking.

I was furious of course. Believe me, when you’ve been in the working world for so long, you’d be shocked too when seemingly another “adult” cant conduct a proper conversation when you’re merely trying to ask something.

If that was bad, what happened next was worse. I called the office again later and talked to the “Head of the Finance Dept”. This Mr Tham was no better than his staff and proceded in the same manner to be very unprofessional in handling student enquiries. As a matter of fact, at the end of the conversation, he was starting to get rude. Now, is this is the way the “Director of Finance Dept” of UTAR handles himself in front of other people?

This might seem like me firing an irate letter; instead of writing to them, I blog here. This is sad mainly because these people treat others with no respect at all. Even more so because the majority of the people who liaise with them are students, and to them are to be frowned upon. This is sick mainly because on no account should others be “looked down” on. I wonder what else has the “real-world” got to offer that I have not seen?

That was some ride..

Just went on a life threatening ride with our fellow author here, PS. I gotta say for someone who doesn’t have a motorbike license, I sure have some ‘balls’. It seems like a light drizzle when we got out of the house and I volunteered to give him a ride back on his bike; for I am more stable because of my size and also I can see better. That was a big mistake. What seemed to be drizzling turns out to be raining; quite heavily in fact but we were out so might as well go on, right? The fact that we had been stuck in my place for like 4 hours made us more eager to go off. Raindrops were hitting my face pretty hard, the visibility of the road was still alright though.. every moment’s a heart stopper, not knowing whether or not the bike will skid from the lack of grip on the road. It was an eye opener for me; so next time we (drivers) see motor cyclist riding fast in the rain, please do be considerate and imagine yourself in their shoes. They just want to reach to safety as soon as possible. If possible do give way and not ‘push’ them. Anyway, by the time we reach PS’s house which is nearby (about 2.5 km), I was completely soaked, kinda like a natural shower. Couldn’t be more relieved to be able to write this post now. Haha

Nasty Neighbours

So much for racial integration. I remember this particular article I came across in the “Tamadun Islam” subject I was undertaking last year where it roughly goes like this; “we must treat our neighbours with utmost respect and always look out for them if possible because they are the closest to us, even closer than our relatives”. Well, my neighbour in Bangi has just shown me otherwise. That it is NOT neccessary to treat neighbours nicely, especially when they park their cars at the vacant space opposite your house (which is not yours).

So the story goes like this, my housemate had to park her car at the ‘restricted’ place because there were just too many cars on the street we live in so soon after that, she noticed this strange paint patch on the left side of her car (different colour of course). At first, we thought it was from parking in the faculty whereby maybe someone accidentally spilled paint on it. So she ignored it for she is someone who doesnt really care much bout her car. It was only few days ago that our fellow students caught the culprit in action; spilling paint on one of our other neighbour’s car (student as well-la). So much for the “treat your neighbour nicely” concept huh..

Or maybe it just applies to the same race or religion? Why are they so possesive over a piece of parking lot which is not theirs in the first place? If it’s in front of the house, you’re more than welcomed to do it; heck if it was me, I’ll probably do it too. I’m not saying that all of them are like that but this particular house.. and they are the people who are so ‘devoted’ to their religion and yet this is the kind of deeds they do. It’s ironic… if you ask me..

On Friends

Friends, they come and go. It was Monday night, the first day of New Year- and I was bored. So before life starts being routine again on Wednesday, I thought I’d call my friends out just to hang out.

Of course then we realised that another of our usual member of our “circle of friends” (do read PS’s post on the concept on friendship) is probably not going to be with us anymore. Its just regrettable actually, that people seem to drift in and out of your life.

In this world, do we have friends only to cling to each other together, and then forget them when we no longer need them? I think thats sad, when we start to grow older and lose the true meaning of friendship. The kind we used to have when we were little kids in school and your best friend shares snacks with you, lends you his eraser, plays games with you, and hangs in there when you’re in trouble. Now, as so-called adults, our friends are those who probably hang out after work with you, sometimes just a casual lunch, and…..thats it. Think about it.

Do any of you still keep in touch with old friends? Even if a new 2007 doesnt mean much to you, maybe you’d like to start. Who knows, your life could just be more worthwhile?

2007 Countdown @ 1U

Right after the Sepang outing, me and my girl went 1U for countdown. Apparently it’s the first time they have countdown in 1U and I thought maybe we should go and have a look.

It took me a good 40 mins to get a parking at 8, imagine if I had come a little bit later. Went around almost the whole parking in the new wing and half off the old wing before I actually got a parking. Good thing we drove a small car

After dinner, we headed for the celebrity concert thing at Central Park Avenue which is outside of the new wing. It was only bout 930 and the place was crowded with people already. The people was ‘high’ and there were groups of people spraying soapy stuff from cans, was kinda annoying. I mean what do they achieve by doing that? Wasting money buying stuff like that and annoy people, I wish someone would beat them up. Haha And then there were people talking back. For example, the MC above the stage would ask some questions like : Are you hoping for 2007 to come quick or something? and some dude would shout NO!!. It’s seriously stupid in my opinion. First of all, would the MC hear you? Secondly, you’re making a fool outta of yourself; people around you would just look at you and think; what a dumb ass. So anyway we stood there for bout an hour plus and left after the ‘interesting’ celebrities finished singing. Headed for the top level car park in the Old Wing; apparently we weren’t the only ’smart’ ones, people are already gathering at the car park to wait for the fireworks. And I had to say it was really lucky for us for we got to witness both the fireworks from The Curve and 1 U from there. The timing was a little off tho.. apparently 2007 arrived earlier in the Curve haha. I took a few pictures and it didn’t turn out well. Maybe it was impossible to take pic of the fireworks or maybe I lack the expertise to do so. Below are a few pics, you judge for me. The videos was alright though…

And as for what I hope for in 2007.. I guess nothing much. It just means that the 365 days in 2006 has passed. That’s all, nothing’s gonna change, at least not drastically from the transition of 2006 to 2007 for me. Let’s get real, its the same for everyone. What’s gonna change? I’ll still be in my old ride, still unable to survive, still struggling with life. 2010 would be a brand new start for me, I reckon. For now, my biggest wish would be for time to pass quickly until 2010.

Anyway, don’t wanna be a spoil sport. So

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! to all my friends and maybe you guys have the best of luck in 2007.

Snails Outing

It’s stil a good 12 hours from 2007 and I am here at Sepang again with the Snails. The Snails is like a car group in case you’re wondering what it is and consists of mostly my cousin and his friends, no particular model of cars altho majority of the group drives Impreza. So anyway thanks to Alex’s (my cous) way of persuading, he managed to book half the track for personal group use. The south side of the track is closed of the new year drifting event, didnt get to see any of those though.. So they only got the track from turn 1 to turn 7 if I’m not mistaken. So as usual, I was the cameraman. Got a few videos with great difficulties, the car I was in had his suspension stiffen to an almost unbearable state. The journey there was… fun.. feels like I’m in a nigger’s car, ya know with all the bouncing hahah..

I was really hoping that Alex would let me drive on the track tho.. at least I got to drive on the way back haha

Anyway, here are some pics I took (notice the new car here, drool ).