Briefing Report, Thurs, Aug 14

There are several things that were mentioned in the briefing they held recently for LUCCT students, well, for the Comm.Students anyway. The briefing I attended was for those in Semesters 3 & 4, the others having had theirs on Tuesday. Among some of the important ones were:

- The Assignment Box policy (pass your assignments to the receptionist) is no longer in effect. You now have to hand in your assignments to your lecturer in person, in class. I guess this means no more handing in assignments before 5. Sigh...
- Another is the warning about annulment (ANN in the transcript). Generally these are given out for those who plagarized in their assignments. The thing about these is that once you've failed, that's it. You're blacklisted from the subject. You'll have to switch to another major.
- Reminders for the Add/Drop date was also given. This semester it is 29 August, so DON'T FORGET!
- Deferment should take place before the Mid-Sem break. After that they'll only give out extensions. However this is on a-case-by-case basis.
- Cyberjaya is no longer a castle in the air, but a concrete reality. Irene, the Sem 3 & 4 Year Leader, has the full details. She's a nice lady, so don't be bad to her!
- International students, please remember to renew your student visas ONE MONTH before expiry at Student Services.


Cyberjaya News

Accomodations

- On-campus accomodations are available. Priority given to International Students and those, I believe, staying under the college itself.
- Make arrangements before January. If you want to go home first, please come back early to arrange accomodations.
- Rental is about RM1500 for a 4-room apartment.

Transportation

- Apparently, and I mean apparently, there will be buses from two areas. One from Kelana Jaya LRT station, the other from the Pasar Seni Station. That means Central Market if you're unsure.
- Fares are approximately RM 4 one-way, which means it'll be RM 8 for both ways.
- There will be four runs, two in the morning, one in the evening, and one at night. *Staying there sounds better and better...*
- There is also a Metrobus service, from Kota Raya to the Multimedia University (MMU) in Cyberjaya. According to Irene, you have to pass LUCCT before reaching MMU. However, this is METROBUS we're talking about. Did I mention Kota Raya too? I don't think so.

Suggestions

Those who would like to go to see the new campus on a sort of like field trip, please leave me a line. Use the below this entry. Leave me your name, email address, school and sem. I need the list as soon as possible.

JA!

Songs and all

I can't remember a song that infected me so badly that I would sing it in public, while commuting, while walking to school, and even search for it on the Internet to put on my handphone that was not Japanese. I just love anime, and particularly the songs from Gensomaden Saiyuki. It takes a lot to get me to like a song enough for me to look for it on the Internet, and to affect me so bad that I would do just what I've described above.

There is a song that did just that. One reason for that is maybe because I'm a born again Catholic. As what NiNziE described in her blog, you never know what you have until it's gone. I have to admit, going to Church did not mean much to me until I started missing it regularly. Now, before you think I've gone all high and mighty on you, let me assure that I have not. I just happened to realize that I love to sing and praise the Lord. If there is one thing I have to be thankful for everyday, it is knowing that the two most important people in my life are safe and sound. *Bonk! Smash!* *Ahem!* Sorry about that. I tend to wander.

You may have or not heard the new song by Black Eyed Peas, entitled Where is the Love? I don't know what is so infectious about it, but it just is. There is something to be said for a song that takes root in your head and heart and does not let go. Maybe what touched me the most was the plea from the Father to guide us from above. It sounds like something the Mother would do to bring us back to Him.

Don't know who I'm talking about? The mother should be none other than Mother Mary herself, the mother of Christ. The song seems to be inspired by her, from the first line, What's wrong with the world, mama? to the last, that's all we got, (one love one love)... When you look at the lyrics, particularly the chorus, you start to realize that this song was not aimed at one particular race or religion, but many. In fact, I think it was written for all races and religions. You start off with a young child asking his mother what's wrong with the world, and the song ends with a reminder that there is only one love, although when I first heard it I thought it was one world. Either way, it is a powerful reminder.

Well, if you can, listen to it. It's on the Black Eyed Peas' album, Elephunk. Here's the link, although as a general rule I don't support buying things. It's from Amazon though, but you may want to download it from a more reliable server like Kazaa! Bear in mind that you need to download the Kazaa program first though.

Here's the lyrics, courtesy of Astraweb:

Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Album: Elephunk
Title: Where is the Love? *

* first single; send corrections to the typist

what's wrong with the world, mama?
people livin like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world's addicted to the drama
only attracted to the things that'll bring the drama
overseas ya we tryin to stop terrorism
but we still got terrorists here livin
in the U.S.A, the big C.I.A
the bloods & the crips, and the KKK
but if you only got love for your own ways
then you only leave space to discriminate
and to discriminate only generates hate
and when you hate, then you're bound to get irate
madness is what you demonstrate
and that's exactly how anger works and operates
man ya gotta have love, this'll set us straight
take control of your mind and meditate
let your soul gravitate, to the love ya'll

people killin
people dyin
children hurt and
women cryin
will you practice what you preach
and would you turn the other cheek
father father father, help us
need some guidance from above
these people got me got me questionin
where is the love?
(love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
(where is the love the love my love)

it just ain't the same
old ways have changed
new days are strange, is world insane?
if love and peace is so strong
why are there pieces of love that don't belong
nations droppin bombs
chemical gasses fillin lungs of little ones
with ongoin sufferin, as the youth die young
so ask yourself, is the lovin really gone
so I can ask myself, really what is going wrong
with this world that we livin in, people keep on givin in
makin wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
not respectin eachother, deny thy brother
a war is goin on but the reason's under cover
the truth is kept secret, and swept under the rug
if you never know truth, then you never know love
where's the love ya'll? (i don't know)
where's the truth ya'll? (i don't know)
and where's the love ya'll?

people killin
people dyin
children hurt and
women cryin
will you practice what you preach
and would you turn the other cheek
father father father, help us
need some guidance from above
these people got me got me questionin
where is the love?
(love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
where is the love?
(love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
(the love) where is the love?
(where is the love the love my love)

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
as I'm getting older, ya'll people gets colder
most of us only care about money makin
selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
wrong information always shown by the media
negative images is the main criteria
infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
..
whatever happened to the values of humanity?
whatever happened to the fairness and equality
instead of spreading love we spreadin animosity
lack of understandin leading us away from unity
that's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin under
that's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin under
gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
now ask yourself

where is the love?
where is the love?
where is the love?
where is the love?
father father father, help us
need some guidance from above
these people got me got me questionin
where is the love?
now sing with me ya'll (one love one love)
we only got (one love one love)
that's all we got (one love one love)
and something's wrong with it
something's wrong with it
something's wrong with the w-w-world
we only got (one love one love)
that's all we got (one love one love)

Assignments Galore

Sigh, another week and I already have a bunch of assignments that are waiting for me to start researching and writing. Most of them are free choice, so I'm pretty much happy with them. What I'm not happy about is the amount of research I have to put in. At least there are some group assignments. Let's see, I have to get my scripts ready for my Broadcast Journalism class, and then there's the group assignment research for Research and Presentation 2... My assignments for PR, and also the critical attitude. As you can see, all the strike outs represent my modules.

At least I can look forward to the writing. If there is anything I love, it's writing. There is nothing more exciting than looking at a blank piece of paper after having done your research and being filled to the brim with ideas. That was how it was with my Research and Presentation classes last semester. I picked cloning as my subject, made up three questions, mostly factual ones, to give me an outline about how to answer those questions, and then ran away with it. The first thing we had to do was to draft a research proposal, and then make an information bank. I hated the info bank because I had to do a lot of referencing, and with Curtin insisting on the APA referencing style, there was plenty of headaches for me. Then again, I had fun writing and researching the topic.

Let's see... and then there's my PR projects. Well, this semester concentrates mostly on the techniques of writing in PR, so I guess I can use those techniques when I'm going out to work later. According to some people, the majors I chose were quite unusual. Not many take PR and Journalism, which is what I've done. My lecturers once asked why I took these subjects, and my reasons were that these two were the same sides of the coin. The response was that they were not quite the same, but then again...

The only reason why I'm rambling like this is because I'm sitting on a short chair and that means I can't type very well. Write more later!

Taken off a reviewer...

NiNziE's Lib.

why is it that, as natural human behaviour, when somebody cares, there is always an existing need to not acknowledge it? its like you know that the person cares so much, and is showing (too much of?) it too, and, you tend to be over confident and think that the person will be there tomorrow showering the same feeling.

the value of it all can never be fully acknowledged, untill one fine moment that care, or rather, that person, is gone. just ask yourself. what if? are you going to regret it for not showing the person how you appreciate it? are you?

you dont know what youve got, to fully appreciate it, till its gone...

I've got two answers to this, both of them intertwined closely with the evolution of culture and upbringing of humans. If anyone has noticed, human beings, no matter the culture, have been taught that they are lovable, but not in the romantic sense. They are lovable and adorable as friends and family, as well as objects of lust and desire, but liking someone in a romantic way feels weird. Most of us tend to think that we are not lovable in that sense.

Another answer is taking things for granted. As humans, no matter what we say we are only concerned with the present. No matter how far ahead we try to think, everything takes place in the short-term. The long term effects would only affect our children and those after them. We never think how we would cope when that person we love dies, only do it when it happens. It takes a few deaths and near-deaths to make us appreciate what we truly have.

I should know. Narrowly losing my grandmother and my boyfriend made me aware of how transient life is. Thanks, the two of you, particularly my dearest boyfriend, for being there when I needed you. I love you both.

Happiness is Joy

Okay, the past three posts have been filled with my complaints about my relatives and my parents. This week, though, I’ve found something new. I was reading through the Catholic News, a Singapore publication for the Catholic Church, and I came across some really interesting quotes. Of course, this is just to cover up the fact that at the moment I have nothing noteworthy to write so… heheh:

“Decide to be cheerful. Render others cheerful. “ (Hmm… looks at relatives)

“Praise the whole creation with your cheers.” (Don’t believe me? Look around you. Look at the people around you. If you’re outside, take a deep whiff of the air. If you’re outside in city on the road, look at the children instead. There’s something to be said for the innocuous, naïve way children, flora and fauna alike praise God.)

“Be a rock against sadness, pessimism and hopelessness.” (Here’s a twist on a saying: Are you the waves or are you the rock? Are you part of the problem or the solution?)

“Switch on and keep on all the cheerful buttons in yourself.” (BE HAPPY, CHEERFUL AND ENTHUSIASTIC- I think.)

“Whistle, sing and smile at life, feel like dancing.” (Need I say more?)

“See the bright glory of God everywhere and everyone.” (See the second quotation.)

“Say yes to life, immensely, cheerfully, ecstatically and enthusiastically.” (Don’t exist, but LIVE!)

Bring your precious contribution to the happiness and ascent of humankind.” (Uh… I’m a little stumped here ;p)

“Believe in the immortality and everlasting effects of your goodness.” (When you throw a stone into a pool the ripples will last forever.)

And the conclusion:

“If you do this you will honour God and attain the highest goal of Christianity.”

Christians are called to serve God with a light, cheerful heart. After all, what could be better than bringing joy into someone’s life? Joy is the one thing you cannot have too much of, next to love, of course.

Write some more soon!

Family Probs, Part Three

There is something to be said for relatives who seem to think they have the right to trod on you, simply because circumstances have given them the right. I should know. I have several relatives like that. The most annoying things of them all is that they are blood relatives. That’s the part that has me sick and wish that I was born an orphan.

I’m 19 now, as I have mentioned before. I live with my grandparents. It’s not because my parents can’t keep me at home, it's because my grandparents and more specifically my grandma needs someone to stay with her and keep her company so that she does not get bored.

The thing is, my grandmother also has the worst sense of timing. Guess I inherited that from her. She tends to fall sick whenever something big is about to happen or coming up. The last time it was my mid-semester break. The week before that I spent a couple of worried days at home. As she was in the hospital during my mid-semester break, I offered to stay one or two nights with her. Let’s just say that for an old woman, she puts up one hell of a fight.

When she got back from the hospital, I was more or less elected to look after her as I was staying in her house. That was not too bad. What was bad was that I rarely got enough sleep, if ever, when she was recuperating. Add to that I had to be in college before 9 and rarely made it back before 6, you could see the injustice of the situation when someone comes up to me and say that she expects me to get all distinctions in my studies, simply because I’m not doing the housework and that I do nothing at home.

Now, I admit that I lazed around and I did the bare minimum of housework when college was in session, but I was on holiday when my grandma made her recovery. She moved about pretty well. But I still did the mopping and occasional sweeping, as well as washing the dishes and hanging up the clothes. There’s nothing much I can do.

The thing is, this relative of mine, also calculated the amount of money my parents were spending on my education. I know that it is a high amount and I know that I only got merits and a pass for it. I’ve tried to point it out to her, but she does not listen. Those are my results when my grandma was sick. I was up most nights taking care of her, taking her to the loo, feeding her and giving her her medication, but do they remember that?

No, all they care is that I’m a spendthrift lousy little excuse of a girl.

BAH! TO HELL WITH THEM. I’M ONLY HERE FOR MY GRANDMA AND THAT’S IT!!

Family Probs, Part Two

Sigh… Having had a day to calm down and to let my godmother talk to me has worked wonders for my thinking. I know what I want to do and I know how to get there. The thing is, I have a general road map of what I want to do. Now all I need to do is to figure out the detailed itinerary.

She also reminded me that at the end of my college education, my parents would have spent RM54k on my education (fees only-not including daily expenses, etc.). She said that I could not repay them even in ten years’ time. I of course, beg to differ. I guess that she has a point. She reminded me that well, I should not be watching television all the time, that the industry is very competitive, etc., things I already know.

I know that my parents are working their butts off to put me through college. I know that it entails a huge sacrifice on their part. I guess that I have been taking things for granted. But I also know this. Though getting a degree and a job is great, it does not mean that I abandon my life. We live in this world after all. We are not hermits.

Mom, Dad, please forgive my ranting in the previous posts. I appreciate what you’ve done, truly, I do, but I also want my own life. I want to live as an individual. College life is not just simply about studying, it’s an educational experience for the parents as well. Let me go. I know how to sail my boat.

I love you both.

Family Probs, Part One

I hate my parents. I really do. More specifically, I hate my father. It goes to show the level of someone’s understanding when they can’t understand what I am saying though I am speaking in clear English to them. Is it too much to ask to have an intellectual discussion with my dad’s friends? Just because they can’t understand it, doesn’t mean that I am speaking rubbish. Then again, my dad probably would not understand that. I wonder if he even understands the meaning of the word. No, my dad is from a family of people who speak good English. He knows the meaning of the word. I’m wondering whether he understands it.

My dad is of the opinion that teenagers and those who are still studying should not talk about world events. For one, they are still young and inexperienced. For another, what does it have to do with their studies? Well, excuse me for trying to see how I can make the world a better place. Excuse me for trying to stand out from the crowd. Excuse me for being born!

I’m studying in the media field. Generally that is known as the Communications field. I need to know what is going on in the world so I know how to communicate better with my peers. Furthermore, I’m aspiring to be a journalist. My need to know what is going on around me is even bigger. It’s a pity though, that his own experiences have coloured his mind. He has a closed mind. My father, open-minded? As long as it doesn’t concern his family.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against fathers. I just see that mine has no mind at all. He refuses to see any way but his way, simply because he is certain that he is right. He hates those whose families are even slightly better off than ours because they are ‘spoiled little rich kids.’ If my father has one redeeming quality, I don’t see it. All I see is a man who can’t hold down a steady job, is determined to fault others for it, and thinks that staying home all the time is the best way to save money.

I know that there are a host of other issues that I have not brought up, but I intend to tackle them later when I am in a better state of mind and won’t bitch so much about. All I can say is this. My father should stop using the “I’m worried about your protection” excuse because I know that you’re not. All you’re worried about is how much money you’ll get from me when I start working permanently.

Fanfiction, and then some

As I have mentioned before, I’m a fanfic enthusiast. I love reading and writing fanfiction. I generally focus on the anime titles I’ve read as well as English books that deal with fantasy and/or science fiction, e.g. The Belgariad, Star Wars and Harry Potter, just to name a few.

Reading and writing in this genre gives the opportunity for the fans to tweak the story to their liking, and to add their own touches to the world. Some authors like this so much that they allow others to write and publish fanfiction stories based on their works.

The first ‘universe’ (for the lack of a better term) that comes to mind is the Star Wars universe. You can find books dealing with the time before Episode 1: The Phantom Menace ° right up to the latest series, The New Jedi Order, which deals with the descendants of the original Star Wars. Might I mention that upon reading these books, one can see that the strictest measures have been taken to ensure that everything proceeds in a orderly and linear fashion? In fact, at the beginning of the book a layout shows which novels have appeared and in what order they took place in the Star Wars universe.

However, there is another universe that is far more populated, and in my opinion, opened the door for fanfiction to gain recognition, is the Dragonlance series. In MPH Midvalley, the largest bookstore in the Klang Valley here in Malaysia, nearly three-quarters of a four-tiered rack is given over to the series. That may seem little, but if you compare it to the amount of titles in other places, it gives you an idea just how popular the series is, and how dedicated the universe is. Unfortunately, you would have to read the Dragonlance Chronicles ° first to understand. After that it’s what I call the Twins saga ° of the series.

If you’ve managed to reach this far and are still wondering what I’m talking about, fanfiction is generally written by people other than the authors themselves. The authors contribute only the ideas and the characters. The fanfic authors take the ideas and see if they can run away with it. The best ones succeed. I know cause I’ve seen it. ; p

Many people turn their noses down at this genre because they assume that writing fanfiction is easy. In fact, it is far harder than any of the other genres. The challenge is to take something that originally belongs to someone else and to make it uniquely your own, yet at the same time, recognisable.

A quick look at the number of Harry Potter fanfiction (not fan) sites will attest to this. I have yet to find any that do not deal with slash (if you don’t know what this means you’re too young to know) but keeps the meaning of the characters, or do not keep in character and makes the OOC (Out Of Character). This includes mine, of course. * Grin * Here's the link

I brought this up because well, it would make you understand about the references to my Matrix post. I write fanfiction because I’m either not satisfied with the ending, I want more, or, I fell in love with the characters (Sigh… Kurama… Drool… Hakkai *whack!* *Ouch!* * sounds of someone snapping out of a trance *).

Ahem! * hack! Cough! *

The Matrix does not make me feel any of these. In fact, it is one of the very few things in my life that I’ve either seen, read, or understand, that I want to dissemble it and to talk about. It’s quite hard to find a movie that raises so many philosophical questions at one go.

Oh well… I’ve run out of ideas so far, but please, stop by my other blog and tell me what you think about it. See ya around!

° Star Wars Ep. 1= If you don’t know what this is, google it.
° Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of- Autumn Twilight, Spring Dawning, Winter… something! (Not in that order)
° Twins saga: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, something of the twins.