Suki is One in a Million

HICT’s Open Day & Career Fair 2008 was a "not so good" day – a small crowd in the morning, but it further dwindled in the afternoon. Let’s hope tomorrow is better. In any case, I have a speaking slot at 11:00 AM, and I believe it will be well-attended if we can base this confidence on the number of people who have registered to attend this talk. I am just hoping for a decent attendance. And I have also incorporated a talk on Toastmasters - so that should be equally interesting. Believe it or not, I have just completed my Powerpoint slides that will accompany my talk.

Thanks to Celcom, Suki, the winner of 8TV's One in a Million season one came to HICT to bring some much-needed excitement to our Open Day. I have not heard her sing before, but she's really good... And furthermore, I have to thank Wai How for capturing a photo of me with Suki. Okay, so the photo is not clear and sharp, but I don't care...

Since the last time I reported Andy McDonough's CD sales, we have seen sales surged forward to a total of 580 CDs todate.

I am not really that excited about the UEFA Champions League, but when my three teams are playing – I do sit up and take notice. It’s good to see Celtic gaining some redemption by beating Villarreal 2-0 at home; Liverpool also beating PSV 3-1; but Arsenal was beaten 0-2 to FC Porto.

HICT Open Day & Career Fair

This weekend, a big event in Klang is unfolding… HICT’s Open Day & Career Fair! This is where I am really needing the help and support of all my readers and students and friends to spread the word about this event to everyone and anyone. Use the blogs, Facebook, Friendster, email, word-of-mouth and whatever means to publicize this event. More importantly, those who know someone who has just completed their SPM and/or UEC exams, should be encouraged to come and talk to me about doing the 4+0 Southern New Hampshire University degree programs at HICT. After all, we are offering 5 majors: Business Administration, International Business, Marketing, Communication, and Psychology – the last 2 being brand-new degrees. We are hopeful of getting a mammoth crowd to come because we have worked hard to tell the Klang community about this event. But the point is, we want to sign up at least 96 students for SNHU during this event. It’s always about the numbers, y’see. This target works out to 48 per day (8 hours daily actually), and if we break this number down further, this means we should aim to register 6 students per hour, or one student every 10 minutes. I certainly cannot do this alone, so, I need everyone on duty at the ADP booth this Saturday and Sunday to be focused, persuasive, and convincing. Well, to be honest, not just the people at the booth – but I am directing this message to all ADP students because together, we can make a difference! And I believe we can! Whatever it is, I am committed to work hard to yield these student numbers. For sure, it is a tough challenge to produce these results, but I am ready… As I have said in my powerpoint, study at HICT and bring America closer to you! Sure can wad!

Missing Glasgow

Of course, we cannot talk of Scotland, without talking about Glasgow. Glasgow – Scotland's biggest and most cosmopolitan city, and this is the place where I studied. The city had a vibrant arts scene, cutting-edge music, legendary nightlife, an exciting selection of places to eat out and much more. And this was in the late 1970s. Can you imagine what it’s like now? I am told that the city has really transformed, even the University of Strathclyde where I did my business degree, has undergone a massive change. For one, Balmanno Hall of Residence where I stayed for two years has disappeared. And suddenly, a flood of memories comes rushing back of my days of yore. Certainly, I must return to Glasgow one day…

I managed to locate the trailer of "The Water Horse" – I thought I should post it, since you will not appreciate the Scottish accent, until you hear it...

Missing Scotland

Finally, after a long hiatus, Celtic was defeated. Hibernian clobbered Celtic, 2-0. Well, not a result that I wished for – still it irks me that we lost by two goals. I am shaking my head in disbelief.

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Suddenly, I am reminded of Scotland – the place where I did my undergraduate study. I have missed Scotland terribly. Remember that 2007 movie, The Water Horse? The story of Angus who discovered a large mysterious egg along the shores of Loch Ness, and how he soon realized that the strange and mischievous hatchling inside was none other than that of the water horse, the fabled creature of Loch Ness. And with the water horse growing ten times its size every day, Angus found it increasingly difficult to keep his new friend a secret, and so the story unfolds…

I watched the movie more than once, and a major part of the attraction is the Scottish accent. It's... well, charming, even sexy. I am not sure how else you can describe it, but after having spent 4 years there, I just love it. According to eHow.com, polls have revealed that people believe those with Scottish accents are trustworthy and honest, and the fact that it also sounds pretty cool. And in fact, according to this webpage http://www.friendsofscotland.gov.uk/scotlandnow/issue-02/arts/scottish-accent.html, accessed December 08, 2008, it claims that Scottish is probably the best accent in the world. But perhaps this isn't so surprising when we consider the effects the Scots have wrought in the world of cinema. It asks, “Are there many women over forty who don't go weak at the knees at the sound of Sir Sean Connery's silky purr? Or many women under forty who don't have the same reaction when they hear Ewan McGregor's honey-dipped tones?” When you come to think of it, how very true! I can speak the Scottish accent too. For a start, all you have to do is to learn to roll your Rs. Scots are the only English speakers to employ the rolled R sound and do it regularly, particularly following the letters D, G and T. Secondly, collapse words into as few syllables as possible and drop the G from words ending in "-ing." Replace "not" with "nee." When you are speaking with a Scottish accent, tell someone that you "didnee do anythin' in Ednbrah" instead of saying you "didn't do anything in Edinburgh." And thirdly, familiarize yourself with Scottish slang and vocabulary. Always use the word "wee" when describing something small or young. "Aye," "bonny" and "lassie" are also commonly used and makes your accent seem authentic. Go on, try it…

Barack Obama at SNHU

Since I am now totally immersed in the Southern New Hampshire University 4+0 programmes at HICT, it’s nice, I suppose, to trumpet here that Barack Obama received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from this U.S. university in May 2007 – I just obtained a picture of him with Dr. Paul LeBlanc, President of SNHU – courtesy of Vicky Teo, the SNHU rep here. I wish I can say that I have met him, but this will be too far-fetched, right? Oh well…

Another nice photo of the people who occupied Room 35 at HICT. The guy on the right is a real charmer… Hehe, I know him! No, no, no – the photo doesn't show Room 35, you dunce, this is HICT's library!

Okay, time for football - what with me keeping tabs on two games. A pleasant surprise greeted me because both my teams won. Arsenal whipped Wigan 1-0, Adebayor scoring in the 16th minute; while Liverpool triumphed over Blackburn 3-1; Alonso (69), Benayoun (79), and Gerrard (90+5) finding the net. The way to go, guys!

The Land of Food Blogs

Zhongg Internet Digest (http://www.zhongg.com/linkfest/the-ultimate-list-of-malaysian-food-blogs/#comment-16959) has identified more than 65 active food blogs here in Malaysia – and this amply illustrates why eating is indisputably our national No. 1 pastime. Still, I hear from the grapevine that a food blogger (www.foodposition.com) has indeed heard about us, and is definitely going to drop by and check out what we have to offer at HICT's Blackout Bistro. Tan Wei Wei and Toh Chin Hooi: You’d better believe this… Although this place is closed during December – most students are on a long break – it will, however, open its doors for 2 days (13th and 14th) in December 2008 because the college is having its Open Day & Career Fair on those stipulated dates. Just knowing Rachel Tan is in charge of the kitchen, can create sufficient kinetic energy to push moving objects (e.g. hungry people) to head for this little charming place on Level 5 of Klang Parade. Simple but interesting food beckons…

I am thinking out loud here, but there are so many food blogs out there that many a time, it is difficult to quantify the given feedback. When someone says “the food is good” – just what exactly does he or she mean? I too am not certain. May I suggest that food bloggers should take a leaf from Michelin by awarding stars to restaurants offering the “finest” cooking? The Michelin Guide awards restaurants between one and three stars, and they are coveted. 3 stars means the restaurant merits a special trip; 2 stars indicate the restaurant deserves a detour; and 1 star means that if it's on your way, you should stop. I think this is a great suggestion, don’t you think?

The Ups and Downs of Petrol Prices

Today, as all motorists are already aware, a 10-sen reduction in the price of petrol takes effect - thus making fuel at pumps the cheapest since March 2006. This means that the petrol (i.e. RON97) is now at RM1.90 per liter. This is the fifth or sixth (?) reduction in price - but it is funny because to be honest, I don't quite feel the impact of these price reductions. It's all psychological of course because when the government increased the price in June of this year, it was a whopping 78 sen, but when it retreated, the prices came down by only 10 sen or 15 sen at a time! What many of us have forgotten is that when the petrol price skyrocketed in the first place, all other prices blithely soared soon after. And so our steep cost of living shot enthusiastically upwards from high to crazy high! Besides, the fact remains that this new price is still about 30 sen higher than global prices which stand at about RM1.60 per liter. Secondly, the next fact to consider is whether the government will allow petrol prices to continue to dip (not necessarily in tandem with the decline in world petrol prices), or whether it will peg petrol prices, so that we can build our reserves in the event that the economy goes into a freefall next year. But then again, if the government cannot even be trusted to spend our money wisely nor even work towards reducing, if not eliminating the scourge of corruption that plagues this country – what is the point? Hello, when's the next elections again?

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Rafa Benitez shot his mouth off yet again. This time, he had the audacity to say that fans should be happy in spite of the goalless draw Liverpool snatched against West Ham. What utter nonsense! What complete rubbish! What baloney!

Planning Speech No. 3

I am going for a different style in preparing for my speech No. 3 - I am not sure why I want to do this but I suppose I cannot just depend on forever speaking off the cuff. I mean, have you ever have to give a speech under impromptu circumstances? It is not only nerve-wracking; in fact, it is more than just accommodating butterflies in your stomach. No, they’re more like torpedoes bombing your gut!

So I am now writing out my speech and even rehearsing it - well, not 21 times as K Loghandran advised, but perhaps once or twice, or maybe even thrice. Even the subject seems quirky - I want to talk that "being thin and sexy is always in style", or something to that effect. This may be a naughty response to (fellow Toastmaster) Kenneth Shee's speech last month about the story of the fat man - I really don't know but what the heck, I wanted something that is fresh, a brand-new perspective, a divergent way of expressing myself. I wanted to experiment, to try out, and to see if it works just as well. So far, I am fleshing out ideas and committing words to paper. An interesting exercise, I must say. Let's hope this works out... Anyway, my speech is about getting to the point. And my point is about making a change in the way I do my speeches.

Also we all know by now that Liverpool has drawn its last game against West Ham, a sad 0-0 scoreline that is as uninspiring as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Yawn. I am sure Life can be more interesting than this...?

The Gunners Believe

Gallant Arsenal produced a stunning win over Chelsea - Robin van Persie volleyed twice into the goalmouth in the second half (59th and 62nd minutes) to give his team a much-needed life-saving boost. The photo below says it all... And Arsene? Somebody wrote this about him: "... a manager who knew he could not countenance defeat". Yep, that's him alright.

HICT Toastmasters did not have their November meeting for some forgettable reason, and they won't have a December meeting either because students are on a long break. So looks like I will have to do my speech No. 3 at D' Utama Advanced Toastmasters Club again...

For those who knew that I had wanted to do my M Sc in Marketing in November/December 2008 wil find out that I have not started... Sigh.

It is moments like this that I draw upon the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin who advised, "Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve". Okay, I know what I must do. And I am resolutely working on it.. I must get back on track...