sosys | 
06 29th, 2008| 
Well, the school has just finished last week.. the tough time, the think time, the reunion time have already passed… It’s time for us to grow and move to the next level.
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Jun
29
Jun
18
Fuh! Now I’m waiting for the result of my final semester to be released in about 2 weeks time. Tension and of course nervous.
My life is now fill with miserable daily counting down… I’m unsure where to go after this. I have 2 choices : Go for small companies or big companies. Few of small companies offering me jobs in KL and Damansara, yet i’m not sure if they can help me to process the working permit as few of my friends didnt get the working permit..
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May
15
Can you improve your conversation skills? Certainly.
It might take a while to change the conversation habits that’
s been ingrained throughout your life, but it is very possible.
To not make this article longer than necessary let’
s just skip right to some common mistakes many of us have made in conversations. And a couple of solutions.
Not listening
Ernest Hemingway once said:
“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”
Don’t be like most people. Don’
t just wait eagerly for your turn to talk. Put your own ego on hold. Learn to really listen to what people actually are saying.
When you start to really listen, you’
ll pick up on loads of potential paths in the conversation. But avoid yes or no type of questions as they will not give you much information. If someone mentions that they went fishing with a couple of friends last weekend you can for instance ask:
- Where did you go fishing?
- What do you like most about fishing?
- What did you do there besides fishing?
The person will delve deeper into the subject giving you more information to work with and more paths for you choose from.
If they say something like: “Oh, I don’t know” at first, don’t give up. Prod a little further. Ask again. They do know, they just have to think about a bit more. And as they start to open up the conversation becomes more interesting because it’
s not on auto-pilot anymore.
Asking too many questions
If you ask too many questions the conversation can feel like a bit of an interrogation. Or like you don’
t have that much too contribute. One alternative is to mix questions with statements. Continuing the conversation above you could skip the question and say:
- Yeah, it’s great to just get out with your friends and relax over the weekend. We like to take a six-pack out to the park and play some Frisbee golf.
- Nice. We went out in my friend’s boat last month and I tried these new lures from Sakamura. The blue ones were really great.
And then the conversation can flow on from there. And you can discuss Frisbee golf, the advantages/disadvantages of different lures or your favourite beer.
Tightening up
When in conversation with someone you just meet or when the usual few topics are exhausted an awkward silence or mood might appear. Or you might just become nervous not knowing exactly why.
- Leil Lowndes
once said: “Never leave home without reading the newspaper.” If you’re running out of things to say, you can always start talking about the current news. It’s also good to stay updated on current water cooler-topics. Like what happened on the latest episode of Lost.
- Comment on the aquarium at the party, or that one girl’s cool Halloween-costume or the host’s mp3-playlist. You can always start new conversations about something in your surroundings.
- Assume rapport. If you feel nervous or weird when meeting someone for the first time assume rapport. What that means is that you imagine how you feel when you meet one of your best friends. And pretend that this new acquaintance is one of your best friends. Don’t overdo it though, you might not want to hug and kiss right away. But if you imagine this you’ll go into a positive emotional state. And you’ll greet and start talking to this new person with a smile and a friendly and relaxed attitude. Because that’s how you talk to your friends. It might sound a bit loopy or too simple. But it really works.
Poor delivery
One of the most important things in a conversation is not what you say, but how you say it. A change in these habits can make a big difference since your voice and body language is a vital part of communication. Some things to think about:
- Slowing down. When you get excited about something it’s easy to start talking faster and faster. Try and slow down. It will make it much easier for people to listen and for you actually get what you are saying across to them.
- Speaking up. Don’t be afraid to talk as loud as you need to for people to hear you.
- Speaking clearly. Don’t mumble.
- Speak with emotion. No one listens for that long if you speak with a monotone voice. Let your feelings be reflected in your voice.
- Using pauses. Slowing down your talking plus adding a small pause between thoughts or sentences creates a bit of tension and anticipation. People will start to listen more attentively to what you’re saying. Listen to one of Brian Tracys cds or Steve Pavlina’s podcasts. Listen to how using small pauses makes what they are saying seem even more interesting.
- Learn a bit about improving your body language as it can make your delivery a lot more effective. Read about laughter, posture and how to hold your drink in 18 ways to improve your body language.
Hogging the spot-light
I’ve been guilty of this one on more occasions than I wish to remember. 
Everyone involved in a conversation should get their time in the spotlight. Don’t interrupt someone when they are telling some anecdote or their view on what you are discussing to divert the attention back to yourself. Don’t hijack their story about skiing before it’
s finished to share your best skiing-anecdote. Find a balance between listening and talking.
May
7
There is a crisis of insults on the Web. On one hand, the volume of flames is very high yet the quality is poor. Gone are the days of the razor-sharp wit of Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill*, only to be replaced by a string of four letter words typed in ALL CAPS by n00bs (the latest of which is “FAIL”, itself a failure of coming up with a more scathing insult, if you think about it).
*For example:
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go,” says Oscar Wilde.
George Bernard Shaw wrote to Winston Churchill, “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend….if you have one.” And Churchill wrote back, “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second……if there is one“
Well, it’s hard to teach wit - but all of us can learn the next best thing: the approximation of it by obfuscation, i.e. using big, difficult, and obscure words. So, to do our part in improving the quality of insults on teh Interweb, Neatorama.com has come up with a list of 10 Insulting Words You Should Know:
1. FRENCHIFY (v)
Definition: 1) To make French in quality or trait 2) To make somewhat effeminate, and 3) To contract a veneral disease (a 19th century slang).
Analysis: We have the English to thank for this word. Most people implicitly understand that it means to become more like the French, but not a lot know the second or the third meaning. We’re still not sure which is more insulting.
2. BESCUMBER (v)
Definition: To spray with poo.
Analysis: Actually bescumber is just one of many words in the English language that basically mean “to spray with poo”. These are: BEDUNG, BERAY, IMMERD, SHARNY, and the good ol’ SHITTEN. In special cases, you can use BEMUTE (specifically means to drop poo on someone from great height), SHARD-BORN (born in dung), and FIMICOLOUS (living and growing on crap).
Alternative: If that is too vulgar, you can use BEVOMIT and BEPISS, which meanings should be obvious to you, as well as BESPAWL (to spit on).
Oh, and if you want to say poo without looking like you’re saying it, you can use ORDURE, DEJECTION, and EXCRETA. To mean something more specific, you can use MECONIUM (first feces of a newborn child), MELAENA or MELENA (the abnormally tarry feces containing blood from gastrointestinal bleeding), LIENTERY (diarrhea with undigested or partially digested food), and STEATORRHEA (fatty stool that’s hard to flush down).
Here are some words along the same line that may one day prove to be useful for you: TURDIFY (turn into turd), COPROPHAGIA (eating of feces [wiki]), and COPROPHILIA (Think 2 Girls 1 Cup [wiki - don't worry, SWF], if you don’t know what this is, I shan’t corrupt you any further).
Let’s end entry number two with these two amazing words COPREMESIS and MISERERE, both of which mean fecal vomiting. Yes, fecal vomitting. It’s a medical emergency caused by the obstruction of the bowel (source).
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Apr
18
What happened to the good old days, when a scientist could just rustle together some test subjects and let loose in the lab? You know, without having to worry about petty humane things…like ethics!
1. Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Studies
In this Yale University study, participants were told they were part of an experiment on the effects of punishment [wiki] on learning. They were instructed to teach another participant (the “learner”) a list of words, and whenever the learner made a mistake, deliver an electric shock via a generator with levers labeled in 15-volt increments (up to 450 volts–where the label read “Danger: Severe Shock” and “XXX”).
The learner (who, unknown to the participant, was not actually receiving shocks) became increasingly vocal, at one point even screaming, “I can’t stand the pain! Get me out of here!” Because the experimenter urged the participants to continue, nearly 65% of them continued to obey the experimenter to deliver the maximum 450 volts. The participants weren’t sadistic, Milgram [wiki] argued, just socialized to obey authority figures.
2. Stanford Prison Experiments
In the summer of 1971 Philip Zimbardo [wiki] put Stanford Students in jail [wiki]. Students, who volunteered and were paid, were randomly assigned to be either guard or prisoner. The prisoners were surprised at their homes, handcuffed, and taken by police cruiser to makeshift jail in the basement of the psychology department. There they were stripped of their personal belongings and given smocks, nylon caps, and identification numbers. The uniformed guards were simply told to enforce the rules.
In just a few short days, the guards began to devise sadistic and degrading rituals for the prisoners, many of whom became depressed, anxious, or apathetic. Although they knew that this was just an experiment, all of
the guards and prisoners adopted their rules, completely overriding their own individuality. The outcome was so dramatic, the experiment was stopped after only six days.
3. Little Albert
John Watson [wiki] and Rosalie Rayner conducted one of the most famous and controversial studies in psychology using an 11-month-old boy who came to be known as Little Albert [wiki]. With Little Albert, Watson demonstrated that many fears are conditioned through an association with other fearful situations.
Before the experiment, Little Albert was a normal baby who was afraid of loud noises but not much else. Little Albert loved playing with small animals until Watson taught him to become afraid of a white rat by repeatedly banging a steel rod with a hammer whenever Albert was given a white rat to play with. Little Albert’s fear generalized to other similar objects, such as Watson’s white hair and a Santa Claus mask. Watson clearly demonstrated that fears could be conditioned, but his methods have been roundly criticized, especially since conditioning was never reversed.
Feb
25
Huih.. After 3 months break from summer holiday, I have finally returned to Monash… I’m still at the holiday mood now.. Is that any way for me to extend my holiday and at the same time graduate this June ? haha
This semester is my last semester for me (*I Hope*) and also for me to do my final year project.I have decided to take Animal Face Recognition Project as which it detects animal faces when given pictures/video. As for now, human detection technology has been widely implemented such as when you use Nikon Coolpix L12. This camera is equipped with the capability to recognize human faces in the camera screen so that the camera can focus on the quality/results.
As human face recognition has been widely used in the latest camera technology and surveillance camera, my final year project is doing animal face recognition.. The idea may come from WWF (World Wildlife Fund) whereby they are trying hard to find animals in the jungles with hidden camera on tress. Without animal face recognition, the observers need to sit in front of the monitor to monitor the movement of the objects for 24 hours. By using animal face recognition, the observers will be notified when an animal is detected and the pictures are captured and stored in the database. Cool is it? haha.. but not cool when it comes to my project… I hope God will bless me for this 3 months project. 
It was a hot hot day today as Malaysia is now facing continuous haze from burning Indonesia forests. Well, please please dont burn your country’s forest…Global Warming is widely spread, im feeling hot day after day…Many people has tried to prevent much worse Global Warming. Just yesterday, Virgin Airlines operated one of their airlines using bio-fuel petrol. CoOl!
Here is 21 steps to prevent global warming :
Step 1:
Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever possible.
Step 2:
Consider investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle to help prevent against further global warming.
Step 3:
Replace all the lightbulbs in and around your home with energy-efficient fluorescents that use fewer watts for the same amount of light.
Step 4:
Clean or replace your filters monthly.
Step 5:
Choose energy-efficient appliances when it’s time to buy new ones.
Step 6:
Decrease your air travel.
Step 7:
Wash clothes in cold water and line-dry whenever possible.
Step 8:
Use a low-flow showerhead, which will lessen the hot water used but not drop your water pressure in the shower.
Step 9:
Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged materials to prevent further global warming.
Step 10:
Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items off when they’re not being used.
Step 11:
Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load, and if available, use the energy-saving setting.
Step 12:
Insulate your home better, and don’t forget to repair or replace worn caulking or weather-stripping. Insulate your water heater.
Step 13:
Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of your waste as possible.
Step 14:
Bring your own reusable canvas grocery bags when grocery shopping.
Step 15:
Plant a tree.
Step 16:
Have an energy audit done on your home so you can find the trouble areas and fix them.
Step 17:
Use nontoxic cleaning products.
Step 18:
Shop locally for food. A farmer’s market is an excellent place to visit. And choose fresh food over frozen foods. Fresh takes less energy to produce.
Step 19:
Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure often to save gas.
Step 20:
Eat less meat and more organic foods in your diet to do your part in preventing global warming.
Step 21:
Go to School and Study and Do Research about Global Warming.. :mrgreen:
happy Studying to all who are still in college/University! :arrow:
sosys on 
Dolphinz on 
Spring on 
kricia on 
