Ordinary Teacher

Cramped

| Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

It's been a while for me to write anything here, the new semester had begun and the new timetable is not being favorable to me. Although I only have 12 hours of contact hours, but the classes were scattered and I barely have enough time to sit. I'm always on the move.

I've also been appointed to become the new manager for the KMJ volleyball team. I did Mr. Razak a favor because his previous manager couldn't make it this time as he is getting married in August. For me, switching from table tennis to volleyball is never a problem as I am interested in both sports.

As for me, life in KMJ is getting from bad to worst. Not only all of the staff here no longer happy with the way things are handled by the management nowadays, I'm also considering a move somewhere else. But since I'm still fresh in service, moving away from KMJ is almost impossible to do, especially if I want to move to a totally different department in the Education Ministry. But I'm keeping my options open. However, there is a side of me that keeps whispering why I chose education in the first place. I love teaching. I love meeting students. I enjoy their success although the quality of students are deteriorating.

I'm split into two, I can't wait for the situation to be resolved. Until then, I'm a wreck.

P.S. I Love You

| Monday, May 19, 2008

Assalamualaikum

Today is wesak day, so it's still holiday for me. Unfortunately a very terrible one for me. I wanted to have a break instead I have food poisoning. Last Saturday I was forced to attend a neighbor's wedding reception. The food looked fine, but apparently me, my mom and dad ended up the next day spending most of our time in the toilet.

I still suffer until today and I feel as if nothing stays inside my stomach for more than 4 hours. Did went to clinic this morning to get some medication and we've also went to Carrefour to repair my mom's glasses. I took the liberty to browse through the book store in case I wanted to start over my reading habit...

Now that I am too tense working, I thought it would be a good idea to spend my leisure time with reading. I grabbed few books like the movie adaptation The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and few others. Suddenly, I opted for this one book from an author not familiar to me, Cecelia Ahern. The book is entitled P.S. I love you. It is also a major film starring Hillary Swank (Karate Kid) and Gerard Butler (300). I wasn't into reading love books but after flipping through the synopsis, I was urged to know more. Here is what it said at the back cover.

My new book

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry.

They were childhood sweethearts - no one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other.
Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly.

But as her 30th birthday looms Holly discovers that Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, gently guiding her into her new life without him, each signed 'PS, I Love You'

I needed to know more so I bought the book...hopefully I have time to spend and read it. My mom was giggling to know I wanted to read this kind of books...but hey, there is always a first time for everything.

Until then, take care now bye bye then.

Happy Teachers Day

| Friday, May 16, 2008

Assalamualaikum

I'm taking this opportunity to wish all teacher's who have taught me a very Happy Teachers day. Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed.

Although I teach, truthfully I have never experience it like school teacher experience it. I did get presents during my practical time at Sri Aman but that was like a sample of what I was suppose to get when I truly posted. Unfortunately, I got myself posted into a matriculation college. Well surprise...surprise, teachers day falls during orientation week. The week when none of the students actually know us pretty well to even bother to celebrate it with us.

But a few SMS here and there did made teachers day a little bit more meaningful. Apart from feeling being appreciated for what we did, I really feel I've done some good. It's not the present that matters, but the thought that counts (although presents will do me no harm...hehehe).

I'm really glad I'm a teacher...

Registration

| Monday, May 12, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

Students registration is over....!!!! Alhamdulillah.

This week is the orientation week...and I have 18 mantees to handle this week.

Next week, classes will start and I got a news that I will be teaching Accounts students. Now that's a challenge....most of their additional maths result are 5, 6 and even 7....huhuhu...now that's a challenge for me.

Well, look on the bright side, if their results are bad, they can't pin it solely on me. Hiks. But definitely I will give it my best shot to try and get the best out of them.

This Friday also we will be having this closing ceremony for the orientation week. In conjunction with Teacher's day, maybe and just maybe my name will be included into the choir team...again! But this time around my tonsil maybe will restrict me from joining again like last year. I can't believe its been a year since I last sang my throat out. How time flies so fast...

Ok la...kinda having a headache coz I stayed up last night watching Enchanted. Hiks...

Mama's Day!!!

| Sunday, May 11, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Today we pay tribute the most important person in everyone's life...Mother a.k.a Mama a.k.a Umi a.k.a Mak a.k.a Ibu. In the memory of their pure love and sacrifice, we were able to see this lovely world.

To me everyday is Mother's day...today is just an excuse for us to show more appreciation by presenting them present or treating them with pleasure.

Thank You Ma for always being there for me in times of need. Thanks for all the love you gave. Thanks for being my beloved mother. You are my light of my life, without you who knows where I'll stand today.

Many of us don't appreciate their presence, many have missed them once their gone. Let us all remind ourselves to at least appreciate our Mothers by giving them a phone call once in a while to show that we care. We will never realized who we have all this while until they are gone.

For all the mothers around the world, thank you for your sacrifice of raising your children and making this world a better place to live in.

Boyz II Man - A Song For Mama

You taught me everything
And everything you've given me
I always keep it inside
You're the driving force in my life, yeah
There isn't anything
Or anyone that I can be
And it just wouldn't feel right
If I didn't have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You will always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin' you is like food to my soul
Yes it is (5x)

You're always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin' me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You'll always be
You will always be the girl in my life

Chorus

Never gonna go a day without you
Fills me up just thinking of you
I'll never go a day without my mama

Chorus

Yes you are

PTK Frustration!!

| Thursday, May 8, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

Crumpled...just like me

Greeting readers, yesterday I talked about being optimistic...well today, it all went down the drain. I am feeling rather blue and disappointed with myself over my Penilaian Tahap Kecekapan (PTK) results. I flunk both papers. Can you believe that? I studied my ass out for that exam and didn't even manage to pass either paper. What a waste!!!

I can say that this is like High School Form 1 all over again for me. The same feeling of failure but different circumstances. I hate this feeling and it is going to haunt me for the next couple of days. Not that I like writing about my failure, but I feel I needed to vent this feeling out before I burst into tears. People around me are busy asking someone else's result and here I am stuck in my cubicle with a long face trying to avoid facing anybody.

God please give me strength to face this at least until the next exam comes. (I really wish that the government abolish this exam...it's killing me)

Being Optimistic

| Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Assalamualaikum

Today will be the end of my one and a half week holiday back @ home, I will be leaving KL first thing tomorrow morning straight to Tangkak and report for duty. This Sunday, the new batch of matriculation students will walk in and register themselves.

Unfortunately, sorry to say that the quality of students enrolled here for the past few years have should I say deteriorate and last batch was kind of a headache to me. Not all but majority of them was undeserving bunch of ungrateful nincompoops.

What I can hope this incoming intake will be better than before (wishful thinking), but a teacher must never give up hope of educating but it's really frustrating when you realized that you were the only one showing enthusiasm instead of those who should really matters.

Every year, the result of any major examination here in Malaysia seems to increase no matter what. Sometimes, students even came to me after a difficult math's paper and asked whether the results graph will be lowered or not. I mean hey, we don't have to cover our asses for these bad results that they have. The effects? Many dropouts or jobless graduates here in Malaysia. Who's to blame? Just think about it. There is a flaw in the system somewhere.

All I can say is that maybe the system should be revised so that we don't let through those who are not qualified to be in higher education. Maybe their fate lies somewhere else and they might be more successful that way. We do not want to shape Malaysia as a fake country who produce countless numbers of graduate with no job. It's the quality that matters not quantity.

Anyhow, it is going to be another long semester ahead, and let just hope for the best. Until then take care now bye bye then.

Travian - Browser Game

| Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

I was recently introduce to this game by a good friend of mine...all of the sudden I found myself indulged in this online game....so, what is it all about anyway??

Travian is a browser game featuring a world with thousands of other real players. One begins the game acting as a chief of a tiny village.

I've always wanted to act like a chief of some kind of a village...so this is my opportunity.

About the game:

  • No downloads necessary, the game is directly playable.
  • You play with thousands of real players in a persistent ancient world.
  • Build up villages, wage wars or trade with your neighbors.
These are few screen shots I've taken from the website...

Center of The Village

The surrounding of the village is full of resources like woods, clays and irons

This is where your Village is situated among other villages

Of course my village haven't got to that level yet but it's still expanding. Hiks.

Travian has a very large community and the number of players are hundred of thousand players all around the world. However, Malaysians like me have the option to play in a smaller community in Malaysian Travian.

If you are interested, please sign up...and if you want to form an alliance with me please do leave a message. Hiks.

Until then, I've got a village to run...hehehe. Take care now bye bye then

Transformed

| Monday, May 5, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

Alhamdulillah, today I was able to finish the transformation of the Ordinary Teacher Blog. It's been a while since I switched my layout, and today I was determine to rejuvenate the mood of writing here. I needed a new, hype yet simple layout to satisfy my taste and I managed to find the right template here.

Indeed I was jealous of those Wordpress layout design and I searched the web for people who converts them so that I can use it in Blogger. Thank you Blogspot for this wonderful new interface where I was capable of doing the modification in less than few hours. Of course, if I were to use the old blogger, I'll definitely won't be able to finish it in one day.

I hope that with this new layout, I will have more enthusiasm to write more often.

Until then take care now bye bye then.

Next - The Incredible Hulk

| Sunday, May 4, 2008

Assalamualaikum

Next in line is The Incredible Hulk Movie.

Synopsis
Scientist Bruce Banner desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk. Living in the shadows--cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross--Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross, and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power. As all three grapple with the secrets that led to The Hulk's creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination, whose destructive strength exceeds even The Hulk's own. To stop it, one scientist must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or find heroism in the creature he holds inside--The Incredible Hulk.

What's the Story?
What began as a sequel has become a complete do-over for our not-so-jolly green giant. This time around, Bruce Banner is on the run from General Thunderbolt Ross as he desperately searches for an antidote to the gamma radiation that has given new meaning to "anger issues." As if it's not bad enough that his ultra-ripped bod is designated official military property, a new nemesis emerges! When Emil Blonsky toys with the power that has made Banner into the Hulk, it transforms him into a true abomination.

Three Good Reasons
  1. Edward Norton, whose struggles to deal with rage made him famous in Fight Club and American History X, is the perfect choice to play an ordinary guy with an all-consuming alter ego.
  2. If the first attempt at a Hulk movie left you feeling a little green, good news! This version has a whole new cast, a whole new mood, and even a whole new retelling of The Hulk's origin.
  3. The filmmakers have said this movie is directly inspired by the "Incredible Hulk" TV show from the 1970s. If you need proof, listen carefully to the music at the end of the latest trailer.
What I think...
This time around, the movie is like trying to make amends for the lack of "something-something" in the first installment played by Eric Bana. Edward Norton is the new Hulk and Liv Tyler is the new Betty Ross. The Hulk even had some face makeover, this version look a little bit more ferocious than the previous one. Take a look....

The muscles seems to be much2 tighter
compared to the previous one....
isn't he cute? Hiks...

Let's just hope they make him better this time...

Hancock - Another Superhero?

|

Assalamualaikum






There are heroes... there are superheroes... and then there's Hancock (Will Smith). With great power comes great responsibility - everyone knows that - everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock's well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake.

The public has finally had enough - as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think - until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock's greatest challenge yet - and a task that may prove impossible as Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he's a lost cause.

That's a little description of the upcoming movie featuring Will Smith. Let's face the facts that not all superhero are well-liked by public and Hancock seems to be one of them. Maybe a little twist to all the too-good-to-be-true superheros that has been hitting the cinema lately. And that maybe...just maybe if there is really any superhero in this world, Hancock is the perfect example of what might really happen....a disaster. Hiks.

Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta

| Saturday, May 3, 2008

Assalamualaikum

I finally remembered that I needed to somehow upgrade some of my N95 stuff, and this time I've decided to upgrade my Nokia Maps. Although it is still under development process, I still curious to try this unfinished software.

This is where all the Beta Software are developed

Upon upgrading, I noticed few noticeable feature have been added like the walk navigation and the all new black interface which I believe is better looking than the previous version. However, after updating my map, I realized that the Map of Tangkak is no longer in my phone. What was left of it is just a landmark I marked as my Home there with no road visible anymore. I'm quite frustrated with this but I realized this is the risk I chose to take when I choose to upgrade in the first place....maybe later they will resolve this thing. Hiks.

If your Nokia supports Map feature, and if you want to try this beta version...please visit here.

Until then, take care now bye bye then

Iron Man : Teacher's View

| Thursday, May 1, 2008

Assalamualaikum,

The day had come that I went to watch the movie I've been waiting for these couple of weeks, Iron Man. Went to Berjaya Times Square and got the tickets from the Imax Cinema. This is the first time I've ever tried watching here. It is said to be one of the largest screen in the world. By the way, there is some special promotion with discount on the tickets on Iron Man movie.

Fun but there is a sinister to it

Here goes nothing. Overall comment : four and a half star. Here's why...

First of all let's talk about the characters...

Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) :
Fairly ok...but I've expected a taller Tony than Robert Downey Jr. But he fits the job quite well

Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes ;Soon to be War Machine (Terrence Howard):
Terrible selection of actor. I would have expected somebody like Wesley Snipes to fill in this character.

Virginia "Pepper" Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow):
I always imagined Pepper Potts to be a black haired not a blonde. But she was alright to me.

Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger (Jeff Bridges):
This character is a more realistic enemy but I would prefer Iron Man's greatest foe, The Mandarin.

Storyline:
I hated the way the original storyline was altered to suit current issues. For example, the original storyline from the comic was that Tony Stark was supposed to be kidnapped by Wong-Chu, a communist who set up a booby trap at Vietnam (American foe at that moment).

Where in the movie, he suddenly been kidnapped by a Afghan terrorist (American current enemy considering they haven't found Osama Laden). So I guess this part is a bunch of CRAP, STUPID and a CHEAP PROPAGANDA by the director Jon Favreau. I don't appreciate changing the storyline for a cheap shot like that. I would have like it to remain like in the comic book. I believe that any Iron Man's die hard fan would have appreciated originality.

Funny how one of the Afghan in the movie during making the ransom video refer Tony Stark as "Syaitan Nirrajim"...which means "condemned setan"

Stages of developing Iron Man

I also liked it when Jim Rhodes looked at the Mark 2 prototype of Iron Man and said "Maybe nextime...", and I was hoping that the War Machine character will soon follow thus Iron Man 2....Hiks. Oh, lets not forget that Stan Lee always makes cameo appearance during the party Tony Stark attended...thanks Stan for all your wonderful comic characters.

Other than that I like the whole build up process of creating the Iron Man. He is by far one of the most realistic comic character I could ever think other than Batman.

For more detail about the true origin and storyline of Iron Man...read here.

Until then...this is a movie to watch for its effects but it does offend some people...I was one of them.

Take care now bye bye then...