Red Blood Sword imparts NS Knowledge

Haha...that's the photo we taken at the TCZ Gathering~That day the "Guys team" were basically talking about our National Service.

Basically 2 of them have ORD, RBS is 1 year from ORD, and 2 of us are going in soon. So have to gather expert advice. Haha.

Lots of interesting things I heard. Here are some I remember...

- The officers will curse your entire family and ancestors...just "one ear in one ear out"...
- If they give instructions, make sure you listen very attentively because they will ask you repeat what they said...If you can't repeat...
- Treat the rifle as your life...your officers will do anything within their means to try to steal/rob it from you. They will even unscrew the muzzle or openly take it from you. You must hold it even when you're sleeping...
- If you see a wild boar don't move...even if you're urinating...
- Carry lots of energy drinks like "Red Bull" with you...chocolate is nice too.
- There will definitely be some mates with lot of stunts...pray you get a buddy that won't do "stunt" one...and be very careful of Malays...
- SOC (Standard Obstacle Course) passing time for recruit is 10 min 30 if i remember correctly...You won't be able to jump over the wall after the run...-_-

Haha...that's all that I can remember off the head...well...I can't wait for National Service!

My First TCZ Gathering....

Woo...it's very very late now and I'm very tired actually, but I wanted to write this down right now. I'm afraid that I may "forget" what I wanted write if I do this tomorrow.

Anyway, today marks a very special date where I attended my first ever TCZ Forum gathering. It's better to be late then never right? Now thinking about it, I quite regret missing it for the past 5 years. Why did I suddenly decide to attend this year's gathering? Well, I suddenly got the urge to (and Adeline pursuaded me a bit). Well I've collected this series for 7 years. Do I really want to let another 7 years pass by and I don't know a single soul from the comic I've supported for so long? If I look back at this 10 years from now, will I regret that I've never attended the gathering? The answer is a big YES when I asked myself. So anyway that's how I finally made a decision to attend the this year's gathering.

Felt strange. For the first time I'm meeting people that I'm been talking in the forum for years, but never got to see them in real-life. It's like you know the person, yet you don't. I first met with Adeline (Wan Si) , Blood Red Sword (Sen Yen) and another girl at the MRT. BRS began to talk about DOTA...how he met me in Warcraft...-_-

Anyway we reached the Book Fair and the situation became quite "cold" as I couldn't really get into the conversation with the bunch of girls...Later now, Wee Tian Beng arrives and after browsing through the TCZ21, I decided that I'll continue collecting. I want to continue to cherish this series and this memory until the day Tian Beng decides not to draw anymore. So I brought the first 3 books for TCZ 21 and asked him to signed on the first book of TCZ 21 and last book of TCZ 2! Haha. I'm also quite disappointed to hear the news that they will no longer be continuing the "Wu Lin Da Wan Jia" as it has so much potential. The characters and the style is so funny, yet intriguing and makes you want to know what happen next. Too bad the artist got married and decided not to continue anymore...Sigh...a pity.

Anyway, we hang around for a while, and later I was left alone as they all mysteriously disappeared. Luckily, I have my trusty TCZ21...haha. Read finished 1 book before meeting up with RBS and Han Ming. We basically talked a lot about Army Stuffs. Have to learn from "seniors". Later at around 6 we left with Qin Jie for Shaw Towers. Met a lot of forum members there like Elendil, Majastar, JingQin and GlitterSword! Wooo! Haha. They were older/younger than I expected. Basically we got to know each other a bit before heading off the catch the movie: X Men III The Last Stand.

The movie was...well, graphic galore I supposed. Lots of stunning special effects and stuffs. In terms of storyline...well...medicore at best. I doubt there's even a story. That show is just for you to enjoy its awesome special effects. (The moving of the entire bridge left me in awe...) Ending was quite "open" as they saw the bad guy still havent lost his "powers"...hmm...(By the way he's the same bad guy in Da Vinci Code...how the hell he act in 2 movies at once)

The movie ended at about 9 and we headed over to the tcc cafe. That' the time I really enjoyed. The conversation eventually splitted into 2 groups - Boys and Girls. The girls talked about what girls talked about...yeah guys. The Guys talked about...no it's not girls. It's the Army. Haha. Basically the other 3 who's in the army are giving advice to GS and me about what to do, and what not to do in the Army. They also shared a lot of interesting stories like Wild Boars, Commanders trying to steal your rifle (unscrew your muzzle), and how you should take the "Commander Lectures"...haha! I will be "looking forward" to that day~!

We talked for a REALLY long time until almost 11:30pm! After that we parted ways and eventually I was left alone with Elendil to catch the last train~Hee. At first didn't know what to talk about with her. Well...what's our common interest? TCZ lah...haha.

So throughout the whole trip was discussing about the TCZ Storyline and the characters in TCZ II. How Die Wu is a bimbo, how the Raving Star and Demon Dragon were saying how powerful they were and then died for some lame cause. Basically TCZ II is very superficial was the conclusion we got. Hahaha...

Well that sums up my first TCZ gathering. Very enjoyable time I had.

IDA Psychometric Test + Mini Primary Sch Gathering

Yes...yes...it's been a long long day.

First went to IDA for this crazy test...1st portion was testing your "pattern recognition"...very difficult. 60 questions to be answered in 20 minutes...I didn't complete it in time. 2nd one was Maths, the killer. I think I totally flop this section. 3rd section was testing your logical reasoning...very difficult. I mean, how do you differntiate between "false" and "can't tell". Well that's lame. Anyway I shall not waste time recording this...

Before I part with Glenn and Mok, Mok brought an "extra large bread" from Breadtalk...a bit stunt. On a side note, he actually kept a Banana in his bag...what the...-_-'

Alright, anyway after the test went to meet with Ron (My only primary school classmate that I kept contact with to this date). He brought Si Jia along (I think that's how to spell her name), whom he insist I knew her...which I don't. She's from 6A and I never been in the same class as her before...Anyway, we ate at Long John...(because I refused to eat at Yoshinoya...) and basically talk a LOT about Primary School Days...

We talked about the teachers: Our form teacher John Lam who always brought us to the computer lab...play games. Told us to do Maths problems and we anyhow do, so can finish faster and play "Touch Typing". Haha. I visited the website and saw Ms Kuar! Oh my god! She's the teacher that taught me when I was in primary 1, and now she is STILL a primary 1 teacher. Dedicate her whole life to education. Basically we just rattle on and on. Bring back lots of memories really. I missed the period in Primary School after the exams, where we just go to school to play games like Uno, Murderer and stuffs. Those were probably the most enjoyable days of my "childhood". Haha.

Si Jia is currently studying at NUS and Ron expressing some intention to sign on with Army...(cause he might get into Air Force)...well whatever. After the meal we went to watch Da Vinci Code...even though I have no idea what the hell it is about. I know a lot of my friends are reading the book though...

Anyway, pretty interesting show. Lots of twists (The bad guys became good, and the good became bad...unexpected). Also lots of puzzles. There were actually 2 parts where I thought it was going to end but it didn't! It's amazing.

First was after the main guy (Robert) dropped the code and the bad guy was arrested, shouting "You knew where the Holy Grail is!"...I thought it was going to end there as the code is destroyed. Turned out he really got the map out...okay...-_-

Second was after they discovered Sophie true "identity" and they both parted. I thought it was going to end again...Nope. Robert suddenly cut his blood for no reason and find some link with the Rose Link...and the story continues.

And finally it ended under the "Starry Skies". Haha. Not bad, indeed. It's been a long time since I watched a movie......

The Celestial Zone Forum Gathering...

Haha. Yesterday someone convinced me to attend the TCZ Gathering that I've not been to for the last 4 years all so. Hmm...well now I'm actually quite looking forward to it. Sounds like there's going to be a movie session after the gathering too.

Well, TCZ really accompied me through quite a lot in life. TCZ first started when I was in Sec 1. It ended when I was in Sec 4. TCZ II started when I'm in Poly 1, and ended in Poly 3. Haha...Well. I'll leave the details up to next time when I write a detail recount about it. I'm planning to do some recount of my Poly Life as the 3 years come to a closing...

That aside, feeling really really happy for myself these days. I've started getting up at 7am again (Not 11am in the past). The feeling of waking up early int he morning is really great. I generally feel must better and happier (instead of like very bad moon when I wake up near noon). Woo!

And my decision......(University Choice)

Today's a great day for me! Woke up very early, went for morning jog in the Stadium and did the 'Hour of Power'. Was deadbeat after that but felt great the whole day.

Actually, I've already sort of made up my mind the day when I wrote the entry for SOC event. Still, I was "reluctant" to actually go "submit" the offer form as I want to wait...dont' know for what. Haha. Well, you can't run forever. And here's my choice:

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) of Singapore, Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science)

Yes! This is a magic moment! It is after careful consideration and extensive research that I finally made this choice. Here are the reasons for picking this over NUS.

1) A Clear & Comprehensible path

Most important reason probably. NTU course structure is clear, easy to understand and you know exactly what to expect. This means in Sem 1, you take these modules. In Sem 2, you take these modules. They give you electives, you choose some out of the group. In simpler terms, it means same system as Poly.

NUS course structure is extremely flexible...perhaps a bit too flexible. The whole path is like a spider web, where you can jump anywhere you like. I saw the PDF file for the course, and it goes something, "Make up 16 MC from any level 4 and above modules", and much of these modules have pre-requisites or leads to something. In other words, it's "plan every move carefully".

It's not that I don't like to have some flexibility in selection, but I think this is a bit too much. I've seen the electives at NTU, and every one of them is classified clearly into groups, and what field that group of modules is related to. NUS is, well, one "chunk" of stuff for you to dig out for yourself. I need more assurance, and I am happy with the Poly System.

Adding to that, I also know exactly in NTU which module in the 4 year course I am exempted from. This information is vague to say in the least in the NUS one.

2) NUS Module Bidding System

This sorts of tie in with the 1st reason. Even if they say this is the "last thing you want to worry about", the fact is you can't just ignore its presence. I feel that this system at NUS takes away my certainty and instills doubt. What if I am unable to get in a module I really want? What if I am forced to take another module just because I didn't bid enough credits? At NTU I can be assured I will get the modules I want. I don't have to worry about "scrambling" modules to make up enough MC for graduation.

3) Mathemathics...

This is my "supporting" reason. From the information I've gathered, NTU only have 1 maths module, while NUS have a ton of them. I shall be truthful to myself and say that I'm not a maths person. I'll even go as far as to say that I would want to get away with minimum maths. I know Maths is an essential in a Computer Science module, but why do I have to take up freaking 5 modules on Maths? I've seen in forums, students in US which take topics like CalculusI to IV. It's hell. NTU only have 1 Maths module in the first year. I"ll study real hard, put in lots of effort, do well and get it over with.

4) Messy NUS...

The above are the 3 main reason I have chosen NTU. Another I would mention is that NUS generally just seems "messy". This is evident from the SOC Event. I am not talking about the physical apperance of their staff...what I mean is their programmes. They seems to have lots and lots of programmes. (Which I can't even remember their acroynoms) They have stuffs like scholarship programmes, research programmes, special students programmes and lots of the likes. I was flooded with all these information that day, but it just doesn't seems to click to me. One I vaguely remember was taking away 1 year to do research and engage in some other activities. I feel all these additional stuff will just add on to my burden once I enter the school instead of "enriching" me. Bottom line - I don't like it.

In addition to all of my detail research, I've also posted in forums to get as much views and opinions as possible. The general view I get is that

"If you are keen on Computer Science, it doesn't matter if you go NUS/NTU. NTU may be new and there's no graduates yet. So there's no telling how employees will view them. But the course credibility is just as good."

"Based on the final year projects of my SCE friends, I would say that the projects offered at NTU are more of the 'implementation' kind and the projects offered at NUS are more of the 'theoretical research' kind."

So, after almost 3 months of consideration, I have made my decision. Whether my decision today will prove to be right or wrong remains to be seen. I believe both paths will lead to the same goal, only the route/methods are different. Sometimes the best path is not the ideal path. It's not clear now which one is the best, but NTU is the ideal path for me.

I shall stand by my decision. Perhaps I'll look back at this post 3 years later and see if this is the best path.

Well...that's a burden lifted from my shoulders. I shall go "submit" the confirmation form now. Scream with me! Wooooooooooooooo!

Edited:

The course you accept

NTU - Computer Science

has been registered by the
Joint Acceptance system.

Thank you.