N.T.U.

That was the last straw.

I’d actually decided not to go public with this one, but what happened today was the last straw. It was nothing much actually, but since people have been ranting about how graceless we all are by not returning the plates and trays on national news, I shall rant about how graceless some people are on my very own net news.

Caveat Emptor: This post can be very objectional due to its subjective nature. Bias has been reduced as far as “news” is concerned. But fallacies can still be traced. Heck, it is just my own domain of readers, not a domain of national readers anyway! So this is not like some rantings in the press; just my own rantings in WordPress.

STRANGE TIMES: DIG IT LIFE

“A Technological Breakthrough”

NTU, Singapore – Nov 12, 2008. Students at the Nanyang Tech Uni have made another technological breakthrough in trying to achieve a painless way to be a gracious society: the NoQ.

NoQ, in other words “No Queue”, allows users to avoid queues when they make purchases at the eateries on campus. The system increases efficiency and cuts waiting time by up to 100%. This effectively saves robots on the campus the hassle of oiling themselves if they had to wait too long for their food.

In its trial run today at the McDonald’s outlet, NoQ effectively transported a couple from far to a spot in front of this writer who was trying to get a Hot Fudge Sundae. It all happened in a matter of a split second–even the McStaff did not realise that this writer was supposedly next in line.

The NoQ system was actually in its beta stage as early as a few months back. Previously, this writer had also experienced the power of NoQ and was completely dumbfounded with awe to do anything in retaliation.

According to this writer, the users of NoQ were global: Singaporean and international students alike.

NoQ, not to be confused with Ave Q (an M18 play featuring puppets) is a complete suite of utility applications for work or play, for robots or puppets.

On a weekday in July at about 12pm, the first of the plethora of NoQ applications was unveiled in a lift at the same building. Alarm Version V was activated when this writer’s ELS-coursemate accidentally stepped on the toes–literally–of a puppet with exaggeratingly big mouth. The male puppet sounded a siren of Hokkien vulgarities laced with the eff word. Alarm was indeed eff-ective and it left spectators enchanted like a (Hokkien) Mummy’s curse.

On a Sunday in September at about 6pm, this writer spotted Bench-marked Version V, another application of NoQ, at the adjacent building. Across a Korean couple who looked as if they were about to make out any time soon, acronyms like “EEE”, “ECE”, and others related to Engineering were seen carved on the wooden benches. Bench-marked was indeed extraordinary when you looked closer: it is simply magical when letters like E’s and C’s are eff-ectively cross-referenced to engineering, Hokkien vulgarities and other body parts. Talk about repressed robots and sexually suppressed puppets. (Say, wasn’t it in the news in previous years that dorms in NTU were sleazy and female underwear tended to go missing?)

And sullen food sellers (of cheap food) or overpriced meals (but with better service). Of course, in this case quality (of food, of behaviour) and price (of food, of education) are directly proportional. Where art thou, Grace, in such an equation?

I’m sure the foreign workers in this part of Singapore are better behaved than these future cosmopolitans.

*

Writer’s after-thought: Maybe it was my 10-year-old “college-team” T-shirt that irked people today. I’d still go there for dinner, but maybe less regularly, certainly not the foodcourt with dubious food items (newspapers in fish slice soup, anyone?) and sulky service (even the cleaning aunties look less appreciative now than before the implementation of Clear Your Tray Campaign.) But the Malay stall still has the most sedap food. Subway had tested my patience, while Canadian241 is actually Canadian1:1 there; Old Chang Kee’s food isn’t exactly good, while McQuality is the place for NoQ. I’m sure their staff had no idea how the new queue system works–strange because this new way of queuing (and I’m not talking about NoQ) had been in place since late last year. I think I would switch back to Nanyang Poly from now if I want a McDinner. Otherwise it could well be AMK hawker centres from now on where price is not exactly related to quality.

There are some noble souls in NTU, no doubt, but all it takes is a (few) black sheep to turn the place into an industrial soot-coated University.

(Say, is the cliche “black sheep” racist?)

On the topic of colour, maybe I shall do a Robert Downey Jr and put on some white paint on my skin (not the Iron Man suit) and see if I get a breakthrough in NTU!

Another silly Motivational Poster

Found yet another silly sign on campus. This time it is bad because this is supposed to be a motivational poster, and motivational poster is supposed to be inspirational. Lying can be inspirational, but I doubt that is what such posters should do.

Whoever bought this poster better ask for your money back.

Non Mihi Solum till the Wee Hours

Good times make good memories

Nov 6 marks the end of the Modernised Journeys of 1508. Traditionally they would have to do their research in the comfort of the libraries, type their reports using typewriters, and present their projects with paper charts on easel and sheer vocal power. The ways have changed, and the mindset perhaps, but the journeys can still be hoped to bring about the same benefits of a sabbatical. Well, maybe just a pseudo-sabbatical.

If there is any consolation, Project Work is like an Honours Thesis where its substance is assessed by the Superviser and another academic. On another level, PW is like a Masters Thesis where its quality is run through by two randomly assigned academics. On yet another level, PW is like a polytechnic “FYP”: instead of doing the project as a “Final Year Project”, it is done as a “First Year Project”.

The Superviser awaits as anxiously as the student for the results. Months of blood and sweat have been poured in the PeWter cauldron, literally. Blood when the Superviser almost tore his hair from the scalp in frustration over the changes made that became worse with each change; sweat simply because of the heat in the college classrooms. The results will come to a boil only after a few months. Come what may, we have toiled and if efforts count not–and I hope not, so be it.

While beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and the Darwinian relationship between the strong and the weak resides in cases of rejected youths, music plays on as the soundtrack of our eventful lives. The quantum of solace isn’t far away. Bond. Familial bond.

It was a moving tribute. Granted that I don’t like to do eulogies, the thoughtful visual montage for the class by the class was nostalgia and anticipation rolled in one. It was a happy ending. Happy that this year, they were shown mercy and allowed a second chance because I know they can do well with the another year. Happy with the hope that the class can stay connected with the members who will be leaving the family. It will be a new beginning.

I wish Catherine and Jonathan of 1508 the best in the new year.

I thought I said that somewhere…

Now, didn’t this sound familiar:

Blackburn boss Paul Ince slammed referee Mike Jones for sending off striker Benni McCarthy for two “nothing incidents” and risked controversy by claiming: “It is not a game for women.” (Emphasis my own.)

Quoted from: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=242607&cc=4716&league=ENG.1

No. 15

What a strange coincidence… No.15 seems to be the number of the week.

Friday dinner in NTU Broadway Chinese Restaurant: sat at Table 15

Saturday wedding dinner at Grand Corpthorne Waterfront: Table 15

I’m not sure if I was seated at Table 15 for the Thursday meal with 15(08) in Seoul Garden. But I’m looking forward to another wedding dinner on Monday to see if it’s going to be another week of 15. There’s also another wedding reception on Saturday to look forward to. And another wedding next month too.

(Now playing: Five For Fighting’s 100 Years)