Wednesday, November 30, 2005

National Conference on Programming Sciences 2005 (Atur'05)

Today is my first time to present a research paper in a conference. My paper is about language to vision application. This event was held at Marriott Hotel in PutraJaya. The journey takes about an hour from my home in Klang. The whole event is running smoothly. They also invite guest from corporate IT companies to give an insight into new technologies. The speech given by guest at IBM and Microsoft are really helpful in understanding programming concepts better. IBM speech is on grid computing whereas Microsoft speech is about creating a concept in programming, tools and how to document programming concept so that normal people without technical knowledge with be able to understand it. Another speech guest is from Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri (KPDN). His speech is about piracy. However, I think that his speech gives us more insights and ideas on how to download and copy software illegaly!

The lunch for this event is quite good and have a lot of variety. That day the hotel has special buffet on Western food and local food. Among the food served are chicken marinated with white sauce and basil, variety of cheese, variety of puddings, lamb in soy sauce, salad, and etc. I didn't feel hungry at all during the event as there are breakfast, lunch and tea time. Anyway, any functions that is government sponsered will have nice food. Hehe...

My paper presentation begin after my lunch. At first I am quite nervous about that. But after I start presenting, I didn't feel nervous at all and I still able to talk until specified time finished (15 minutes).

After all, it is a good event but it must be improved. The quality of paper seems too focus on teaching method and in teaching area. More emphasis must be given towards industy based.

Monday, November 28, 2005

A1 Grand Prix Facts

A1 Grand Prix is the first opportunity in any area of motorsport for nations to compete on a level playing field. It is a series where technology and innovation are deliberately equalised and performance is determined by human bravery, skill and excellence. Team and driver combine to create their advantage and the winning nation raises its flag in celebration.

Meaning
The name 'A1' encapsulates the two key aspects of the World Cup of Motorsport, unity and excellence. The letter 'A', being the first letter of the majority of the world's continents (Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, Antarctica and Europe) represents the world and its population. The number '1' signifies the unity between them -- All as One, One World.

Point System
- Sprint Race

The average (based on aggregate) of the best two lap times will determine the grid for the sprint race which will be a rolling start. The sprint race will be between 20 and 30 minutes long.
1st place will receive 10 points
2nd place will receive 9 points
3rd place will receive 8 points
4th place will receive 7 points
5th place will receive 6 points
6th place will receive 5 points
7th place will receive 4 points
8th place will receive 3 points
9th place will receive 2 points
10th place will receive 1 points
The results of the sprint race will determine the grid for the feature race.

- Feature Race
The results of the sprint race will determine the grid for the feature race. The feature race will be between 45 and 60 minutes.
1st place will receive 10 points
2nd place will receive 9 points
3rd place will receive 8 points
4th place will receive 7 points
5th place will receive 6 points
6th place will receive 5 points
7th place will receive 4 points
8th place will receive 3 points
9th place will receive 2 points
10th place will receive 1 points
One point will be allocated to the fastest lap achieved by a team during the sprint race or feature race.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Why is English so hard to learn?

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) I did not object to the object.
9) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
10) They were too close to the door to close it.
11) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
12) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
13) I shed my clothes in the shed.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Driving Test

Malaysian driving lessons should include:
-Driving at night and rain.
-Correct way of overtaking
-Uses of mirror
-Emphasis the danger of speeding and follow too near from other vehicle.
-Using hand brake to stop a car if normal brake fails to respond.
-How to respond incase of emergency

However, cost and time are always the main constraints that hinder government to implement it. The current test is simply not enough (hill, 3-pointer, back parking and on road) and don't represent the situation in real world. That's why our accident rate is high.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Trip to Muar, Johor

I went to Muar, Johor during the first day of Hari Raya with my ex-school mate. We took KTM komuter train from Port Klang Station at 7.15am. The journey with komuter train is indeed boring and long. It takes three hours (we missed a train in KL sentral and have to wait for another 30 minutes) for us to reach Seremban station. We have expected this situation since there 28 stations between Port Klang and Seremban.

As we reach Seremban at 10 am, we have planned to buy bus ticket straight to Muar. But to our disappointment, all the bus tickets to Muar has been sold out. It is a silliest choice for us to have a vacation during Hari Raya and the biggest mistake is that we didn’t book any tickets at all. With out any choice, a bus ticket seller advice us to go to Segamat first then change another bus to Muar. We accept the advice and our journey continues. What we didn’t think is the distance between Segamat and Muar is actually quite far. Looks like I have to study back my geography lessons. The journey from Seremban to Segamat takes about two hours as not highway route to Segamat. We reach Segamat at 1pm. The bus ride is actually not bad as I have chance to see place that I never been before like Gemas, Tampin, Pedas, and Rembau.

As soon we reach Segamat, we broad a bus to Muar. We were quite shocked with the bus fares from Segamat to Muar, RM6.10! The we start thinking that our journey still quite far. This proved true as the bus will go through areas such as Jementah, Tangkak, and Gunung Ledang before reach Muar. We then reach Muar at 4pm! From there, our friend fetch us to buy delicacy and then go to his house to bath and rest (9 hours journey). His house semi-D house is quite spacious. At first I quite concern whether we will cause inconvenience if we stay at his house and plan to stay at hotel. Since his house has an empty room, I think it is ok.

At night, we go to a restaurant in Bakri to try out its foods. The restaurant is full of people and we have to wait for 20 minutes before we get a table to sit. Many customers look like they are from Singapore. There we ordered the famous ‘Ikan haruan’ bihun. The taste is sour and the fish meat texture is soft and nice. Other dishes like Yam meat, roasted chicken, spicy tauhu with onion and spicy squid are not bad. Only the roasted chicken is quite regular.

On the second day, we go to eat dim sum for breakfast. There got a lot of variety to choose from. Some dim sum I never see before. Among dim sum are: black pepper pau, lotus leaf glutinous rice, stewed meat pau and variety of siew mai. Each of us (4), order different dim sum and each dish we separate it to four pieces. So, each of us can try each dish in the shop.

After the breakfast, we went to Gunung Ledang to see the scenery there and have fun at the waterfall area. The bottom part of the mountain is easy to climb. Just like climbing 25-30 minutes of stair. The waterfall scenery is spectacular but as usual, some parts are polluted by rubbish (ugly side of Malaysians). Many people bring food up to the mountain just for picnic and some of them didn’t clean the place after eating or throw rubbish into dustbin. If the trend continues, maybe next time, Gunung Ledang won’t be a nice place to visit anymore.

In the afternoon, our journey continues to Panchor. At first, I don’t even heard of this place. Of course, this place is very remote and far away from the main road. We went there to taste its prawn and seafood. The prawn is quite large and the taste is quite natural. The prawn is not heavily salted and it is fried. Then the seafood sup with yam is also tasted quite natural.

At night we went to Parit Jawa to eat its roast sting ray and crab. The roast sting ray is delicious but a bit too spicy. That day is my first time to try crab and the experience is bad. I wonder why some people like to eat crab whereas it is so difficult to eat (I prefer prawn. Hehe...).

On the third day, we have went to the Muar food court for breakfast. There we try the fried oyster, chee chong fun (filled with char siew), chai pau and fish ball mee. After breakfast, we went to Tanjung Emas for sight seeing. My school mate and I went back to Klang after we visit Tanjung Emas. Tanjung Emas is just like Tanjung Harapan in Port Klang and the only difference that I can see is we can view Muar city from Tanjung Emas whereas Tanjung Harapan can’t. But in Tanjung Harapan, we can view many large ships and cruise ships. The journey back is much better as it only takes five hours. I learn a lot of new places during this trip and I get to know that many parts in Malaysia which are still not developed. Thanks a lot to a friend who brings us around during two days trip in Muar.

The moral of the story is always plan for a trip and book bus ticket early especially on festive seasons.