SCE Y2 Semester 1 AY2015/2016

Secret War Journal[August - December 2015]

CZ2001 Algorithms

Lectures attended: 90% (Dr. Tan Ah & Dr. Zheng J)
Tutorials attended: 100%
Labs attended: 75%, attendance are taken. Missed one, it was a make-up and I could not make it.
Textbook(s): Computer Algorithms.  Sara Baase & Allen Van Gelder, 2000. Third Edition. Addison Wesley.

Assessment: Lab Presentation (20%), Mid Term Quiz (20%), Finals Closed-Book (60%)
Comment(s):
Many seniors have commented that this is the most difficult module you will ever take during your Computer Science Course and I can see why.

I would think the more accurate description for the module would be the Mathematics behind Algorithms. While they do teach you the logic behind the algorithms, the tests would really test your understanding of the mathematics behind these.

Do pay attention behind the mathematical analysis of the various algorithms, including the proofs (tedious, yes). It may seem like a mathematical module (indeed, it is a similar to a math major module, be prepared) but at least it is not as vigorous.

Do not discount the mid term quiz, the weightage will come back to haunt you during the finals. Securing this 20% would serve as a morale booster during your revision.

Textbook is not essential for this course. However, I found online materials to be useful for further understanding of the concepts taught.

CZ2002 Object Oriented Design & Programming

Lectures attended: 90% (Dr. Zhang Jie, Mr Tan Kheng Leong)
Tutorials attended: 80%
Labs attended: 100%
Textbook(s): Matt Weisfeld, The Object-Oriented Thought Process, 4th Edition, Pearson / Addison Wesley

Assessment: Clicker Quiz (5%), Lab (5%), Group Assignment (30%), Finals Closed-Book (60%)
Comment(s):
This course will touch on two programming languages to teach the object-oriented principles. They are Java and C++ with a heavier emphasis on the former.

One thing to look out for this module would be the assignment. The assignment is group-based and it arrives pretty late, after recess week. Thus, you will be in a rush to finish it. The professor might cancel tutorials to allow more time for your group to finish the assignment. Nevertheless, pacing is important.

Textbook is not essential. Practice is crucial for this module. Be consistent with the tutorials and you should do fine for finals.

CZ2003 Computer Graphics and Visualisation

Lectures attended: 40% (Dr. Alexei Sourin, Dr Jianmin Zheng)
Tutorials attended: 100% (Graded) (Dr. Alexei Sourin)
Labs attended: 75%
Textbook(s): A.Sourin, Computer Graphics. From a small formula to cyberworlds, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 2012.

Assessment: Lab Assignments (30%), Tutorial (20%), Finals Closed-Book (50%)
Comment(s):
This is another mathematics heavy module. The module is actually teaching you how to convert mathematical formulas to 2D and 3D shapes. If you recall all your geometry formulas, now is a good time to apply them.

The second half of the lecture touches on lighting and rendering. It might be a bit strange for physics students but just remember that this is a mathematical model, not a scientific one.

The programming language you will be learning would be a version of VRML designed by Dr Sourin. The programming syntax is not tested for finals. However, it is used extensively for the lab assignments. The lab assignments can be be time consuming in the beginning, given the number of tasks in the early stages. Try to complete them as they are given and you should be fine. Once you have completed the assignments, you would not need VRML anymore.

One interesting thing to note about this module is the graded of tutorials. If your tutorials are taught by Dr Sourin, you will need to submit the tutorials at the start of the respective tutorials. They are graded and will be counted towards your final grades. Also, for Dr Sourin's classes, you will get back your tutorial a week later though there will not be any indication if your answers were accepted. Do take note.

I have heard that the textbook has provided more useful information regarding the topics taught. I did not purchase the textbook and I think it is possible to do well without it. If you find yourself struggling with the concepts taught during lecture, consider getting a textbook to help in your learning.

---

For a full list of the modules I took, see link here. :)

Stitches

Secret War Journal[16 December 2015]

December Vacation 2015

Secret War Journal[December 2015][Updated 3 January 2015]
School is finally over. Finals were definitely not getting any easier after each semester. I will need to come up with a new study strategy in mind to better handle the different demands from each module.

Well, academics aside, with the holidays now in full swing, time to settle some personal matters. :)

1. Read Reaper's Gale
2. Start Practical Driving
3. Get a Laptop Cooler
4. Finish Starcraft II: Legacy of The Void [Brutal] (Computer...keep crashing >.<)
5. Get an earpiece replacement.
6. Complete photobook.

Dark Tidings Deux

Secret War Journal[6 December 2015]
To be frank, I am not sure if I should publish this post. After all, we did agree not to write about this as part of a new year resolution some time back. But hey, we should also record our struggles as this is about life and life is not just about the bright stuffs. Yep, don't worry, I am still minimising the proportions of it. Your feedbacks have been taken note of. No worries. (Well, I might never ever publish it, like the other posts. Haha. *Shrugs*)

I just came back from a family errand. It has been a long time since I put my thoughts straight into writing immediately upon the occurrence of an event but I figure this demands it for my own sanity. As well as recording our struggles and how we had survived, of course.

There are many things that cannot be described with words. I expected something of this nature but I had just witnessed my father being reprimanded by my grandmother in front of me. I can tell my father was expecting it too, he tried to joke to me that he was scolded by his mother. Yet, I can feel the pain from him. Personally, I am feeling horrible inside as well. Perhaps it was resignation or just us coming to terms, one thing will likely come apparent to us in the future. This will make my father, my sister and I closer.

I have to admit. It is probably a mistake committed in the past. It is not entirely anyone's fault. If people wanted to blame anyone, I guess we all are partly to blame. We, each in our inaction, allowed it to happen. Funny though, how it all sounds when you look at the sidelines. I think some people are wondering how things even get to this state. It is really hard to explain at times. I myself have no idea how to explain to people because I do not want people to be concerned.

Ultimately though, it is how my father sacrificed his pride for the welfare of his children that is worth mention. He has to bear through all the judgement of others. It is definitely not easy.

Well, let's all hope for better days ahead. :)

"The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege." - Charles Kuralt

Be Somebody

Secret War Journal[22 November 2015]

I’m just the boy inside the man, not exactly who you think I am
Trying to trace my steps back here again so many times
I’m just a speck inside your hand, you came and made me who I am
I remember where it all began so clearly

I feel a million miles away, still you connect me in your way
And you create in me something I would’ve never seen

When I could only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe, I hope that they see you in me

After all the lights go down, I’m just the words you are the sound
A strange type of chemistry, how you’ve become a part of me
And when I sit alone at night, your thoughts burn through me like a fire
You’re the only one who knows who I really am.

We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are.
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far.

And we’re all see through, just like glass
And we can shatter just as fast
That light’s been burned out for a while,
I still see it every time I pass
It was lost in the corners of my mind,
Behind a box of reasons why
I never doubted it was there,
It just took a little time to find and even when...

I feel a million miles away, still you connect me in your way
And you create in me something I would’ve never seen

When I could only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe I hope that they see you in me

After all the lights go down, I’m just the words you are the sound
A strange type of chemistry, how you’ve become a part of me
And when I sit alone at night, your thoughts burn through me like a fire
You’re the only one who knows who I really am

We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far
We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far

I’m just the boy inside the man, not exactly who you think I am
Trying to trace my steps back here again so many times

When I could only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe, I hope that they see you in me

Discovery Report

Secret War Journal[26 September 2015]
As part of one of my business modules this semester, I am required to take a few personality tests to better understand myself. Well then, below is the link to the report generated from it.

tl;dr: I am Cautious and Supportive. :)

Link: Discovery Report for Leroy

September Report

Secret War Journal[13 September 2015]
So many things happening! Phew. Going to take a short break to update a bit what has been happening.

We are going to Week 6 this semester already. From the looks of it, this semester will be quite a challenge, possibly the most challenging one we will ever have.

We cleared a textbook by week 4! Wow. Who knew I could read the textbook at such a fast rate? (I probably did not absorb much, information overload!!!)

Academics aside, there had been many catch ups with various groups of friends. I hope to be able to post some of them! :)

Time to get back to work! :O

---

“Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” - Henry van Dyke

---

Source: http://cliparts.co/

Fifty first votes

Secret War Journal[12 August 2015]
I recently got featured in an article regarding the upcoming Singapore General Elections.

(My GRC is not Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, ignore that)

http://themiddleground.sg/2015/08/12/fifty-first-votes/ 

Uprising

Secret War Journal[23 August 2015]


This is from the Movie, The Darkest Hour. It was pretty average.

Gamer Motivation Profile

Secret War Journal[10 August 2015]
I took this profile analysis some time back. I found it quite interesting because it has some surprising results. Indeed, my preference for gaming has changed a fair bit since young.

Full Profile can be found here: https://apps.quanticfoundry.com/gamerprofile/2/139fa5dcb4ce4038868d7b8c2f483e.

---

You Gaming Style: Spontaneous

Your gamer profile consists of your percentile rank across a broad range of gaming motivations.
Your scores are based on how strong your motivations are relative to other gamers. In this customized report,
we’ll explain how to interpret these scores and what motivations we measured.
Check out other profile tools and surveys at the Quantic Lab.

Print chart

---

Download PNG image

Download JPEG image

Download PDF document

Download SVG vector image

The 5 Motivation Groups

We identified 5 clusters of motivations. In general, motivations within the same cluster tend to be positively
correlated, while motivations between clusters tend to be statistically unrelated. We’ll walk you through
the individual motivations in the section below.

A Quick Word on Percentiles

Percentiles are how you rank relative to other people. In this report, your percentiles are how you compared
with other gamers who have participated in this profile tool. A percentile of 80% means you scored higher than
80% of gamers. Conversely, a percentile of 10% means 90% of gamers had a higher score than you. This means that
a 50% is perfectly average.

---

The Action Components (62%)

Gamers with high Action scores are aggressive and like to jump in the fray and be surrounded by dramatic visuals and effects. Gamers with low Action scores prefer slower-paced games with calmer settings.

Destruction (36%): Gamers who score high on this component are agents of chaos and destruction. They love having many tools at their disposal to blow things up and cause relentless mayhem. They enjoy games with lots of guns and explosives. They gravitate towards titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield. And if they accidentally find themselves in games like The Sims, they are the ones who figure out innovative ways to get their Sims killed.
Excitement (89%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy games that are fast-paced, intense, and provide a constant adrenaline rush. They want to be surprised. They want gameplay that is full of action and thrills, and rewards them for rapid reaction times. While this style of gameplay can be found in first-person shooters like Halo, it can also be found in games like Street Fighter and Injustice, as well as energetic platformers like BIT.TRIP RUNNER.

---

The Strategy Components (25%)

Gamers with high Strategy scores like challenging gaming experiences with strategic depth and complexity. Gamers with low Strategy scores enjoy being spontaneous in games and prefer games that are accessible and forgiving when mistakes are made.

Mastery (15%): Gamers who score high on Mastery enjoy playing games that rely heavily on skill and ability. They take the time to practice and hone their gameplay so they can take on the most difficult challenges that the game can offer. These gamers play at the highest difficulty settings and don’t mind failing missions repeatedly in games like Dark Souls because they know it’s the only way they’ll master the game. They want gameplay that constantly challenges them.
Planning (41%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy games that require careful decision-making and planning. They like to think through their options and likely outcomes. These may be decisions related to balancing resources and competing goals, managing foreign diplomacy, or finding optimal long-term strategies. They tend to enjoy both the tactical combat in games like XCOM or Fire Emblem, as well as seeing their carefully-devised plans come to fruition in games like Civilization, Cities: Skylines, or Europa Universalis.

---

The Achievement Components (35%)

Gamers with high Achievement scores are driven to accrue power, rare items, and collectibles, even if this means grinding for a while. Gamers with low Achievement scores have a relaxed attitude towards in-game achievements and don’t worry too much about their scores or progress in the game.

Completion (25%): Gamers with high Completion scores want to finish everything the game has to offer. They try to complete every mission, find every collectible, and discover every hidden location. For some players, this may mean completing every listed achievement or unlocking every possible character/move in a game. For gamers who score high on Customization, this may mean collecting costumes and mounts in games like World of Warcraft.
Power (49%): Gamers who score high on this component strive for power in the context of the game world. They want to become as powerful as possible, seeking out the tools and equipment needed to make this happen. In RPGs and action games, this may mean maxing stats or acquiring the most powerful weapons or artifacts. Power and Completion often go hand in hand, but some players enjoy collecting cosmetic items without caring about power, and some players prefer attaining power through strategic optimization rather than grinding.

---

The Social Components (48%)

Gamers with high Social scores enjoy interacting with other players, often regardless of whether they are collaborating or competing with them. Gamers with low Social scores prefer solo gaming experiences where they can be independent.

Competition (40%): Gamers who score high on this component enjoy competing with other players, often in duels, matches, or team-vs-team scenarios. Competitive gameplay can be found in titles like Starcraft, League of Legends, or the PvP Battlegrounds in World of Warcraft. But competition isn’t always overtly combative; competitive players may care about being acknowledged as the best healer in a guild, or having a high ranking/level on a Facebook farming game relative to their friends.
Community (55%): Gamers who score high on Community enjoy socializing and collaborating with other people while gaming. They like chatting and grouping up with other players. This might be playing Portal 2 with a friend, playing Mario Kart at a party, or being part of a large guild/clan in an online game. They enjoy being of a team working towards a common goal. For them, games are an integral part of maintaining their social network.

---

The Immersion Components (59%)

Gamers with high Immersion scores want games with interesting narratives, settings, and customization options so they can be deeply immersed in the alternate worlds created by games. Gamers with low Immersion scores are more grounded in the gameplay mechanics and care less about the narrative experiences that games offer.

Customization (65%): Gamers who score high on this component want to actively express their individuality in the game worlds they find themselves in. In games like Mass Effect, they put a lot of time and effort in the character creation process. In city-building games or space strategy games, they take the time to customize exactly how their city or spaceships look. To this end, they prefer games that provide the tools and assets necessary to make this possible and easy to do.
Fantasy (62%): Gamers who score high on Fantasy want their gaming experiences to allow them to become someone else, somewhere else. They enjoy the sense of being immersed in an alter ego in a believable alternate world, and enjoy exploring a game world just for the sake of exploring it. These gamers enjoy games like Skyrim, Fallout, and Mass Effect for their fully imagined alternate settings.
Story (46%): Gamers who score high on Story want games with elaborate campaign storylines and a cast of multidimensional characters with interesting back-stories and personalities. They take the time to delve into the back-stories of characters in games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, and enjoy the elaborate and thoughtful narratives in games like The Last of Us and BioShock. Gamers who score low on Story tend to find dialogue and quest descriptions to be distracting and skip through them if possible.

---

Source: Quantic Foundry

Tokio Marine Insurance Singapore

Secret War Journal[19 May 2015 - 6 August 2015]
Surprisingly, I almost did not end up working in this company. I am glad that I chose to work here in the end.

I was assigned to the Marine Claims Department. On the first day, I was not really sure what to expect.

Bee Kee, the manager for Marine Claims helped to get me up to speed on the first day.

With the help of  my colleagues, Li Xian, Sarah, Amanda and Theresa, I quickly learned the skills required to complete the task.

Some of the skills I learnt during my work there included Marine Insurance and the related risks borne by the insurers. There are many flavours of Incoterms and I was given the opportunity to roughly learn about them and understand the difference between the common Incoterms used in Marine Cargo Commercial Invoices.

Amongst others, I came across many Business Law concepts which I learnt during my schooling in my University (it is useful!) when I was reviewing some of the agreements between Tokio Marine and its agents.

From them, I have a better understanding on the General Insurance Sector in Singapore.

Thus, I prepared a instagram post for them, (forgive Instagram's formatting)!

Last day of work today!

This post is dedicated to the nice colleagues from Marine Claims Department! 😀

In a flash, 3 months have gone by working here. I have learnt a lot more on Marine Insurance and the claim procedures. I wouldn't be able to perform without the kind and patient guidance from my fellow colleagues. Thank you Bee kee, Li Xian, Sarah, Amanda, and Theresa! Not forgetting Wei Wen, I am sure you will enjoy your time there! Hopefully you will return to Marine Claims after your rotations. 😃

It has been a great pleasure working with you all! All the best to your future endeavours!

It will feel strange to not go to work next week and go to school instead. Hahas. 😮 #TokioMarine #Toyota

A photo posted by LeRoy Lim (@lord_yorel) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:58am PDT

In addition to my colleagues, my lunch companions help to enrich my work experience during the short 3 months. The perks of working in Tanjong Pagar area means that you are spoiled for choices on what to eat everyday. There are many cafes and restaurants to dine at, including the various stalls at the Hawker Centres.

From an initial small group comprising of Soo Wah, Brandon, Pei En, Clarissa, Zai Hao and Yin Yu, it grew to its peak to include other interns and temporary staff, Reena, Nicky, Zhane, Cyrus, and Wei Wen.

I will not forget the challenges of getting seats in a crowded hawker centre with such a large group. Very often, my colleagues would ask me, "How do you all manage to find seats during lunch?" It is not easy and sometimes it takes a bit of time to find the tables.

Occasionally, we complain about the time wasted to find seats and would just order takeaway and have our lunch at Tokio Marine's breakout room. :p

---

Bonus Corporate Events
I was very fortunate to be with Tokio Marine during this period because as it happens, the recreational committee has prepared a series of annual events for this period.

In the process of being invited to these events and participating, I helped out as a temporary representation for the Recreational committee for Marine Claims Departments.

TMiS Bowling Competition
Within the first week of joining Tokio Marine, I was informed that there was a TMiS Bowling Competition coming up! I participated the event as a supporter and received the company shirt.

Fruits Day
The next event was the annual fruits day for Tokio Marine! This coincides with the durian season in Singapore. Its biggest highlights are its durians! Other fruits include cherries, coconuts, grapes, lychees, mangosteens.

TMiS Movie Night
Finally, the last highlight of the recreational events is the annual movie night for the entire company! This year's Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.

As it was close to my last day, the event really felt like a closure to me.

---

Thinking back, it is amazing that I get to know so many different colleagues from different departments and have lunch together. For this, I must thank HR department for giving us the opportunity to get to know each other. The staff welcomed us and made us felt like we belonged here.

I had a wonderful experience working in Tokio Marine. If you will be going to work in there, I am confident that you will have a great time. :)

Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures that were taken during my work there! :)

---

Disclaimer: I have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Tokio Marine. Thus, I have only covered briefly on what I learnt without specific details. Hope you all understand. :)

NBS Y1 Semester 2 AY2014/2015

Secret War Journal[Jan - May 2015]
Semester 1 has officially ended with the passing of 2014. During the first semester in NBS, I took 2 business modules.

---

AB0601 Communication Management Fundamentals

Lectures attended: No Lectures. It is 100% seminars.
Seminars attended: 100% (Ulrike Murfett)
Textbook(s): Communication Strategies for the Global Workplace, 2/e [ISBN : 9789814628327]

Assessment: Written Assessment (30%), Assignment (20%), Oral Presentation  (30%), Class Participation (20%)
Comment(s):
To some, it is the dreaded presentation module. We have to admit that most of us are not born talented presenters. But hey, this is what this module is about. Granted, 3 months is not enough time to transform you into a professional presenter but it's a start.

Students with prior experience with presenting will definitely have an advantage for this module. I believe that if you do not, you will still learn a lot because that is the whole point of coming to school right?

In this module, you will learn basic concepts regarding approaches to presentation, various means of communication including non-verbal forms and email etiquette. All of which will be useful for you in the working world. This is definitely a module that is highly applicable for your future career.

Unless your style requires little practice before the actual presentation, be prepared to invest quite an amount of time for your presentations (at least 2 but subject to your tutor).

The textbook is written by my tutor! :) It is not compulsory but if you are worried that you will forget what you learnt, get it. E-book version available.

AB1202 Statistical & Quantitative Methods

Lectures attended: 100%. No easy feat.
Tutorials attended: 100%. (Chin Chee Kai)
Textbook(s): Bruce L. Bowerman, Richard T. O’Connell, Emily S. Murphree (2014). Business Statistics in Practice, 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill International Edition.  ISBN 13: 978-125-906039-7.

Assessment: Course Participation (20%), Quiz (20%), Final Examination, Open Book (60%)
Comment(s):
If you think stats was easy, you will be in for a surprise in this module. This module requires a lot of practice. Think of this module as though it is a mathematics subject, you need to practice and experience to perform.

Students who took A Levels Mathematics will benefit as the first half of the module is similar to what you had learnt during your Junior College times. Do not let your guard down though, as the new topics in the second half are important and will determine whether you score well or not in this module.

My tutor is one of the recommended tutor to have. He is decent, he will explains concepts well during tutorials and ensure that your doubts are cleared. He will also elaborate on the concepts further to allow you understand better and apply in different situations. Expect tough questions to be answered during tutorials. ;)

Getting a graphic calculator is important (It is costly, yes. Alternatively, borrow it from someone for this semester.) It may feel like you are taking the short way out but you will need to get familiar with it as much as possible before the big day itself. Of course, if you have the time, and passion, please do know how to get the solution without the use of the calculator because understanding the concepts is key to scoring well in this module.

I would recommend getting a textbook, the physical one. I made the mistake of getting the E-book before purchasing the hardcopy (my wallet). You will be reading extensively and the e-book platform they are on will just slow you down. Besides, you will need the extra practice from the textbook.

AB1601 Organisational Behaviour & Design

Lectures attended: 100%. Only 1. It's a review lecture, and it's important.
Seminars attended: 100%. (Ms Shan Wen)
Textbook(s): Customized version of Kreitner, R. & Kinicki, A. 2013. Organizational Behavior. 10th Edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Assessment: Creative Thinking Individual Assignment (20%), Critical Thinking Individual Assignment (20%), Team Presentation including Peer Appraisal (10%), Final Examination, Open Book (50%)
Recommended Tutors: by seniors: Don Willis, Cheryl Tay Lee
Comment(s):
Think HR, think Psychology. Fun subject to learn, not easy to score.

There are a number of components that make up your final grade for this module. I would recommend putting in effort for the assignments as they play a large part to your grades.

First, the Creative Thinking Individual Assignment. This is generally unrelated to the module as a whole. Let loose your creativity and critically analyse a given document/file. Take care to not write the same things as your classmates, this is a creative thinking assignment after all. Think of novel ideas and insights and you should do fine.

Second, the Critical Thinking Assignment. This has more relevance to the module. The nature of this assignment is similar to the first but without the creativity component. It can be easier and more difficult at the same time. You will be expected to go more in-depth and critique the article given.

There's nothing special about the Team Presentation unless your tutor decides otherwise. Do take note of the Peer Appraisal, do not forget to do it!

My tutor was a PHD student and she is a very motivated tutor. She offered consultation slots for us to clarify any queries regarding the concepts or doubts regarding the assignment. She also took the time and effort to do up her own slides for the seminars. That is no mean feat.

This is a open book final examinations format, buying the textbook is highly recommended. This is a content-heavy module, you would be thankful for it being open book. :P

---

I did not include the number of AUs for each module. If I receive feedback that such information would be useful. I might update it in the primary list. :)

For a full list of the modules I took, see link here. :)

Near the End

Secret War Journal[20 July 2015] - Listening to "Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz"
3 more weeks to the end of Holidays.

So much to blog about, so little time left.

A bit more to finishing the post on the NTU Modules update for the Semester 2. I feel really bad that I have not completed the second half but the June Syndrome is especially bad this year. I mean it is already near the end of July and I'm still feeling it. Granted, it started later this year. I had been giving myself distractions in the hopes of preventing it altogether but that only delayed it. I guess they were not kidding when they say you should let it out of the system instead of holding it. Lesson well learnt I say.

Still, if everything goes as planned, I should have the post out by the end of this week. *Fingers crossed* :P

*Takes a look at Wishlist*

There are a few things I have yet to start on. Not good. Fortunately, I had completed the theory portion of C++. I hope to be able to do some hands-on during the next weekend.

That aside, I need to visit my maternal grandparents. At least one more time before school starts. Gods, I miss them. I miss my grandmother's cooking.

My part-time work is ending soon. I will definitely would want to blog about it. Hopefully, I can finish it by National Day.

Until then, do not expect much. Hope this update was informative. It is not much but hey, at least you know I have not forgotten this place. :)

SCE Y1 Semester 2 AY2014/2015

Secret War Journal[Jan - May 2015]

CZ1005 Digital Logic

Lectures attended: 70% (Dr. Chan Syin & Dr. Suhaib Fahmy)
Tutorials attended: 92.3%
Labs attended: 100%, attendance are taken. Every 2 weeks.
Textbook(s): Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design, 2nd Ed., by Stephen Brown and Zvonko Vranesic, McGraw Hill, 2008, ISBN-10: 9780071265980.

Assessment: Coursework (30%) - Written lab quizzes (at the end of each lab class), Closed-book exam (70%) - 2 hour written paper
Comment(s):
Before I begin, bear in mind that I took this module without the majority of the Computing Science students. Thus, many details on how this course was conducted would differ from how this course is normally conducted. I took this module during Semester 2. Hence, if for whatever reasons you are taking this module during Semester 2 (especially if you're in BCG or BCE), this will be relevant to you.

One important thing to note when you are not taking with the main cohort for this module, chances are there are very few other coursemate taking this module in this semester. What this means is that there is a very high chance that there is no bell curve. Of course, that is not guaranteed but you should be prepared of such a possibility.

The first half of the lectures are conducted online. Hardly any face-to-face interactions are required. All lectures in the first half are recorded and upload online just like any other e-learning course. Before you disregard this altogether and save it for cramming in the final weeks, I will advise you not to. There are many reasons. Notably, every lab session will test on the previous week's content. More importantly, the lab tests contribute 30% of your final grades! As a result, you should never disregard the marks from the lab tests. From my experience, going through the recorded lectures and the lab manual concerned one day before should do fine. Try to score as high as possible for this component as it will help to relieve a lot of stress on this module.

The second half lectures are conducted traditionally, which I preferred. Here, you will learn more in-depth in a hardware describing language called Verilog. Prior knowledge will aid you a significant bit in this module, especially during the lab sessions.

Tutorials wise, nothing much to comment on. No attendance were taken. It was a simple going through of answers. You could try to clarify answers during the tutorial though I found consulting the lecturers to be more productive in nature.

Textbook? Not compulsory. E-book editions are available too.

CZ1006 Computer Organisation and Architecture

Lectures attended: 100% (Dr. Goh Wooi Boon & Dr Oh Hong Lye)
Tutorials attended: 100% (Dr Oh Hong Lye)
Labs attended: 100%, attendance are taken. Every 2 weeks.
Textbook(s): 

1. Linda Null & Julia Lobur, Computer Organization and Architecture, Jones & Bartlett Learning (3rd Edition), 2012
2. Randal E. Bryant & David O’Hallaron, Computer Systems – A Programmer’s Perspective, Pearson Education International (2nd Edition), 2010
3. John L. Hennessy & David A. Patterson, Computer Architecture – A Quantitative Approach, Morgan Kaufmann (5th Edition), 2011

Assessment: Coursework (40%) - Written lab quizzes (at the end of each lab class), Closed-book exam (60%)
Comment(s):
Remember CZ1002? Well, this is basically a continuation to that and CZ1005. If you are strong in the two aforementioned modules, you will do fine in this module.

Dr Oh Hong Lye is a good lecturer and tutor. I had the good fortune of being in his class. One thing to take note though, many students will go to his classes, even if he is not their tutor. Every week, I have issues finding a seat in the classroom as it is very packed. Dr Oh explains concepts in detail and is willing to answer your questions should have any doubts on the topics at hand. This will be very beneficial for you.

Programming languages that you be touching on would be mainly Assembly. There are generally quite basic in nature so you should do fine with a bit of refreshing before the exams or lab quizzes.

Like most Computing modules, the textbooks are not essential. Practicing is more important. Do note that this module is heavier on theory. (Yea.... Memory work....)

CZ1007 Data Structures

Lectures attended: 90% (Dr. Hui Siu Cheung & Dr Jing Han)
Tutorials attended: 70%
Labs attended: 100%, attendance are taken. Every week.
Textbook(s): “Programming with C”, B. Tan and S.C. Hui, Prentice Hall, 2011
Assessment: Coursework (50%) - 2 Assignments, 1 lab quiz, Closed-book exam (50%)
Comment(s):
This is probably the one module I had the most fun with during my Year 1 Semester 2. Yet, at the same time, it was one of the module I complained the most to my peers.

Do not confuse this with CZ2007 or CZ4031, you would not actually work on a database. You will only learn basic concepts on how programming languages store data and various methods in doing it.

The programming language you will be using for this module would be C. Here's where I have some gripes on how the module is taught. The module is using a obsolete standard for C. If you have self-taught the language complying with the current adopted standards, be prepared to adapt accordingly as your code may not run in accordance to the old standard. If I recall, they are using C98.

I am not exactly sure why they are not teaching the new standards, several emails were exchanged between the professors and I. The reason given was to maximise portability which can be true. However, as an counter example, most compilers have adapted the new standards because, well it is the current standards right now. That aside, just remember to take note.

Lab sessions are conducted weekly. There is no work to be submitted at the end of the lab sessions, just attendance is taken. Towards the end, the lab questions and the tutorial questions are the same, making one of them kind of redundant.

Textbook is not essential.

---

Note: I underloaded this semester because I was exempted from CZ1008. Thus, CZ1008 will not be covered by me. Sorry.


For a full list of the modules I took, see link here. :)

Symptoms of Pain

Secret War Journal[7 June 2015]
I do not usually bite my own fingers.

I only do that when I am in physical pain.

God had taught me
Pain,
Patience,
Perseverance, and
Hardship

Pitch Perfect 2

Secret War Journal[14 May 2015][Spoiler Alert]
There are really a lot of movies to catch this season. Continuing down my invisible movie bucket list, we are going to catch the much anticipated Pitch Perfect 2.

To be frank, before last week, this movie was not on my list. (I am sorry to all the fans out there. It was not intentional.) I was informed of its greatness when my cousin went for its sneak preview. She gave good reviews on it. Naturally, I am all psyched to watch it. :P

Ever since then, I had been finding opportunities to watch it. Indeed, one day, the opportunity came. During a lunch catch up session with Cynthia, Jie Sheng and Wei Ting, we decided to head over to Seletar Mall for a movie. Jie Sheng, who also wanted to watch Pitch Perfect 2 too, was agreeable to the idea of watching it.

Bear with me here, I did not watch Pitch Perfect 1. (I was told I did not need to really watch the first one. I was not misled. :) As a result, I cannot say I can fully grasp the meaning behind every scenes. What I do know is that, this is definitely not a movie suitable for children. At least I would not recommend to children. There are many mature (, sexist, and racist) jokes which I felt would not be appropriate for them to watch.

(I went to check again, it is rated PG-13 for sexual reference. Wow)

That aside, the performances were really good. I mean really good. No wonder people were recommending this. As strange as it may sound, I actually felt that Das Sound Machine performed better than the Bellas. I mean, yes, I see the value of having an 'original' song among the mashup but I think most people would frown about that in A cappella (or am I wrong?). The performance by Das Sound Machine was really more solid, professional and impressive. They really felt professional while the Bellas looked like they were just performing for a CCA (which they both literally are, I guess that was meant to be the joke). Hence, I was really confused how the Bellas managed to win Das Sound Machine in the finals. *Scratches head*

But that is just me thinking too much. :P

Avengers 2: Age of Ultron

Secret War Journal[12 May 2015][Spoiler Alert]

I seldom watch a movie twice in the cinema. I would think that I would watch the movie a second time in the cinema because it was really awesome. Nay, we all know that that is unlikely. You can always wait for the DVD to starting selling to rewatch. There shouldn't be any rush right? I will get back to you on this when I find myself in this situation.

Rather, I found myself watching Avengers twice, not because it was nice but because Avengers is too popular. Hahas. The first was for Mother's Day, the second was an outing that was planned quite some time ago. Since it was planned some time ago for Avengers, it is not very appropriate to change the movie that we planned to watch, isn't it? (Obligations)

Review
I am sure that by now, you have had heard or read many reviews about Age of Ultron.

I must admit that this sequel failed to meet expectations. However, whatever its faults, it was still a decent movie. It is not a movie that deserves to be watched twice but it is definitely worth the movie ticket to watch it for entertainment.

My biggest gripe with the movie was actually the plot. (ye, I know many people complained about the huge cast but hey, this is the Avengers. That is to be expected.) Never mind the fact that they changed a big portion of the original story on the creator of Ultron and Vision but the amount of loop holes in its place. Okay, there are many loop holes in the comics too but I am comparing with past films. There was not much explained why Vision just decided to join the Avengers. The Avengers did not even so much as try to convince him to join them. It felt very convenient at that point of time for the Avengers to gain a much needed ally against Ultron.

And really, Ultron was shown to be kinda smart in the beginning. It does not seem to make sense that he did not have a plan B in mind if he should fail in its ploy. It could be something simple like placing another instance of him in some remote town or something. That way, even if all the robots were destroyed in that city, he will survive to execute his plans again. Again, very convenient.

Finally, why did Ultron not just use Loki's Scepter on the twins to prevent them from double-crossing him? Now, who's the naive one? :o

All these sounds like a good idea for how it should had ended, huh? Hahas!

Nevertheless, if you are not that concerned about the plot and just want to enjoy the action scenes, this is a fabulous movie for it!

---

Aside from the movie, we did not really do much that day (for the second outing). I really should remember that Mind Cafe's happy hours end at 6pm. *scratches head* 

Summer Vocation 2015

Secret War Journal[May - August 2015][Updated 31 July 2015]
Finals are finally over. For a period of time, I thought that I was among the last of my peers to finish his examinations. Guess not.

Objectives for this holidays:

1. Clear BTT (I need to check my BTT test date before I commit this)
2. Clear IPPT
3. Find an internship / job
4. Clear Dragon Age: Origins (The game says I had only cleared 19%. What!)
5. Learn C++
6. Watch Game of Thrones Season 1 (It had been sitting there for far too long)
7. Read 3 chapters of Reaper's Gale

---

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

Ben & Jerry's FCD

Secret War Journal[15 April 2015]
It is going to take some time for me to write about the NIS interview I went for today. I would probably post some time after my finals.

Coincidentally, today was also Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day. From a far, the queue really looked very long. It occupied the entire outdoor area outside the stall. Not wanting to queue in the hot sun, we decided to eat at Soup Spoon. It was around 4pm then. I was under the impression that this would be my tea break or early dinner since it was in the early evening then. As it turned out, Lai Yin skipped lunch for her interview. Consequently, that became my second lunch. :O

After our heavy lunch, we went back to take a look at the queue at Ben & Jerry's. The length was largely unchanged. There, we observed that the queue was actually moving quite fast. After some discussion, we decided to queue for free ice cream! (Hahas.)

First Free Cone Received. :)

There we go. Mission Accomplished. Time to head home.

---

WHAT IS FREE CONE DAY?
It’s Ben & Jerry's way to celebrate and say thanks for another year of support, and they've kept it up every year since, spreading the peace, love & ice cream around the globe!

#FCDSG #Donated

---

Be sure to catch it next year and remember to support them!