I just applied for a PhD programme

I just sent in my application for PhD in USM yesterday.

I filled in the application forms and got my referees to fill in the forms too. Together with the forms, I need to hand in 3 passport photos, copies of my academic transcripts and certificates, and my brief research proposal.

I managed to get a fee waiver for my application fees of RM70 because I got hold of the voucher from USM when they came over to PISA during the education and career fair.

All I need to do now is to wait for them to process. And meanwhile, I need to read more. The new semester will start in mid-February 2012.

Does experience matter in an MBA?

Does experience matter in an MBA?

I don't know. Because...

I have come across some coursemates who claimed to have over 20 years experience but they were still weak in producing a good assignment.

And yes, they were still some who did produce excellent assignments.

So, I think it all boils down to your writing and academic ability.

There is no point bragging about your working experience spanning over 49 years when that person can't even write a good assignment. When I was a student, they were some who bragged about their extensive working experience and complained that they were given low grades for their assignments. They complained and demanded to know why they were given low grades. Having over 49 years of experience does not mean that you deserve an A! How arrogant they are...

If experience is so important, they might as well award MBAs to all those hawkers, mechanics, plumbers with over 49 years of experience. (No offence to anyone).

I spoke to one of my tutors a few months back and she lamented to me such annoying attitude some managers have. They might be a big boss in their organisation and they still think they are a big boss in the classroom and henceforth, they should be awarded As for their not-so-excellent piece of work.

When some of them demanded to know why they were given low grades, all my tutor did was to put side by side their assignment and another student's assignment, which was given an A. Immediately, they know why they were not given an A.

So, does experience matter? I don't think so.

I think what matters most are your hard work, writing ability, and research ability.

Nevermind is 20 years old!!

I should have written this a few weeks ago to coincide with the right date. Anyway....

The so-called album that killed hair metal is now 20 years old! It was on the news all over...

If you don't know, hair metal ruled the airwaves from the late 70s to the early 90s until this particular album - Nevermind was released on 24 September 1991.

Nevermind was the work of the grunge band called Nirvana.

Nirvana

So, imagine at the time when rockers were wearing tight leather pants/leather jackets /fancy costumes and growing long curly blonde hair; and out from nowhere, there was this unknown rock band from Seattle with its members just wearing t-shirts/flannel shirts bursting out into the rock scene introducing grunge music to the world. Hair metal, bye bye! Hair metal had its glory days and it was time for grunge to take over. That was the rock scene in 1991, 20 years ago. Finally in 1993, hair metal was declared dead. I'm serious.


If you had not listened to grunge before, the MTV below will do the job.

Caution: This MTV is not for the faint-hearted. Get ready for some head-banging!



I don't really like grunge anyway. It's like listening to someone venting their anger and strumming their guitar like a mad person. That is why grunge only lived up to 1996. Grunge seemed to have died out after 1996 only to be replaced by a more radio-friendly alternative rock.


I still prefer hair metal due to its mainstream appeal. Hair metal is much more likeable, radio-friendly, and you need to be a skilled guitarist to be a hair metallist. I still like listening to great guitar solos from a hair metal music.

Writing the proposal

Just the other day, I called up my MBA research project supervisor and I expressed my interest in continuing my PhD. So, I asked her whether she is available to be appointed as my supervisor.

She said "Yes" and she welcomed me to do so. Great!

Now first of all, I have to write a brief proposal before I could submit my application to USM.

I have spend the last few days browsing through some journals to get some ideas of the possible frameworks I could think about.

This is just the beginning of the lonely path of writing a doctoral dissertation.

How long would that be? Five years? Six years? Seven years? Maybe... And it's part time.

Drug Resistant TB Alert!

Tuberculosis (TB) is back with a vengeance in Europe, now!

For those of you who travel frequently to Europe or Central Asia, just be cautious of your surrounding. Having said that, it does not mean you can relax just because you are in Malaysia. Our government has been trying hard for yearssss to bring down the statistics. For example in Penang alone, there were about 200 to 300 TB cases in 2004 but it has risen to over 1,000 cases in 2010. And that is in Penang alone.

TB is spread airborne, unlike H1N1 which is spread via respiratory droplets. The mycobacterium tuberculosis (the germ that causes TB) could stay afloat in the air for at least four hours.

Millions of TB germs are spewed into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, or even if he sings.

H1N1 may kill you within days but TB is a "torturing device" that tortures you for years before killing you! In fact HIV and TB are like brothers and sisters.

Please read the article at The Star here - Dangerous TB spreading at alarming rate in Europe - WHO.

TB is curable but it has returned with a vengeance. They came back in the form of drug resistant TB, which are either Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) or Extensive Drug Resistant TB (XDR TB). These two types of TB are not easy to be cured. So, please do not take this lightly.

Thanks to people who do not know how to observe proper hygiene and those who do not practice simple cough/sneeze etiquette, that is why TB is spreading at an alarming rate.

Just remember the simple rule, if you are coughing for more than two weeks, see the doctor asap to query about TB.

And please, please, please, do NOT see the sinseh (traditional Chinese doctor). There is NO herbal treatment for TB.

You have to see a doctor in a hospital for a proper treatment. And yes, our government hospitals in Malaysia provide treatment at a very affordable cost. And I do really mean it, affordable, like just a few ringgit. Do not delay your treatment because TB is like a tumour. It grows very fast once you are infected and it eats up your lungs. And the damage is irreversible.

Lecturing is no simple job

Many may still think that lecturing is an easy job. No, it is not.

Just look at the weightage of KPIs at University of Malaya.

30% teaching and learning
20% supervision of postgraduate students
10% research fundings
10% consultancy and expertise contributions
5% membership in committees and attendance to department meetings
25% publications

The above KPIs tell you the job scope of an academic in our public university.

To get your article published in a scholarly journal is no easy task as well. Those who have done so will know that the rejection rates are high.

Only those who are really passionate to be an academic will survive in the academia.

Mist at Genting Highlands

What do I like about Genting Highlands?

I like the weather and the mist.

I like the theme park rides too. My favourite ride is the Motion Master virtual ride. Unfortunately, the Motion Master ride has changed so much. It is more like a 3D kiddie movie now. So, don't waste your time lining up for it.

But, the mist is still my favourite. Here are some pictures with mist. I love the mist.

The mist is just spectacular.

Not forgetting Theme Park Hotel, this hotel is just fabulous. Nice and cheap.


After trying all the rides, I would say my favourite ride of all time is the Flying Jumbo. Yes, I can't help but to ride it over and over and over again.