I think the past few days have been busy days.first on monday is the release of ACCA result,even though i had passed my papers but i also anxious to know that how are my friends doing,will there more good news or bad news?i also expect that that day will be busy in sending sms asking and replying each other.So from noon,i am waiting for their sms.The first news come from Yan er,she sent me a very simple sms tell me that "I passed!",i think that 2 words tell everything,that she manage to pass all the 4 papers and become ACCA affiliate,then later more news from my friends,some are quite ok,some are not too good and some pass all,but mostly i think is pass few and fail few.For those who pass,i congrate them,and for those who fail,i just see what i can do to help them based on my past experience and the way i tackle my ACCA all these ways.I think that no matter how much i said,everything lies on their ownself,how long they wish to recover from that and what they want to do in the coming month?I only can give advice and also suggest what i could but whether they want to accept is really up to them.
I always tell myself is no matter how life must still go on,and after reading the book "The Present" for the second time it reminds me that we all need to stay at the present,what is the most important thing to do now?Past is past,past is just for us to learn what we had done wrong and done right,we should not wasting time staying in the past and also put ourselves remain in the past tense and not willing to come to the present,i think it is not rational to do that and also not benefit,i always try to convey the messages to those who still stay in the past,i know it is very difficult for some to really recognise it and do it fast,but i think at least we need to try,try not to think,try to come out from the negative emotion and move towards positive thinking,the reason is simply because we experienced the sadness,we don't want to experience it again,so we must do something to make it not happened.I do wished that for those still stay in the sadness can recover soon and for those who are fighting for their coming exam will not experience such sadness.
Then saturday i and my mum wake up very early as we need to go to airport,she is going back and taking the early flight.We walked to the LRT station at about 6.45am and able to reach KL sentral to check in at 7.30am.Then after that we take the KLIA express to KLIA and having breakfast there which we "ta pao" from the Wangsa Maju Station.After sending her to the imigration counter then i decide to take another methos to go to KL,since taking KLIA express will be very expensive.For the last time,i took the KLIA transit and try one of the method that people suggest in the net which can save half of the cost,so i want to try whether it works or not,then i take the effort to do that and find that it really works,just i need to sacrifice half more hour which i think is ok as i don't bring any luggage and also not rushing,so i save nearly 50%.
Then this time i want to try another method which is taking the bus and the KTM,so i find my way to the bus station by asking few staff in the airport and finally get up to the airport liner,it is just a normal bus that will send you to the Nilai KTM station and i am so lucky that i do not need to wait so long for the bus to depart,the bus fee from KLIA to Nilai KTM is just RM 2.50 and the journey is about 35 minutes.Then after reaching the KTM station,i bought a train ticket from Nilai to KL sentral which cost me RM 4.70,the journey is about 1 hours.This is the 1st time i take the KTM train beside from KL sentral to Midvalley and also the first time i can tour around Nilai when i was inside the bus.I found that the station is really simple compare to those KL Sentral and Midvalley where they only have 2 platforms.So after one hour i reached the KL sentral and feel satisfy coz this is the cheapest way to go to KL from the airport and also i feel myself like finish one mission and make it,at least i think i got one more different experience beside the normal way.
After reaching the pasar seni,i straight away went to FTMS college as Low had organised a gathering.Then after reaching there,i only realised that actually he did ask quite a lot of friends coming,it is such a long time i did not join such a big gathering as 13 of us were sitting in a long table in Kenny Rogers and also seem like having meetings.So we eat and chit chat here and there till about 2pm.Some of us got class,some still stay there to continue and some of us go home.It is quite difficult to gather as everyone now is busy for their work,study and other stuff,each person has a different free time so it is nice that we can come out and meet once a while and sharing what happened around us.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Examiners under the microscope
In a world exclusive we decided to turn the tables on the examiners by putting them to the test. LCA’s Michael Mainwaring goes where nobody else has ever dared
A final level paper in strategy started some 12 years ago and will have its third reincarnation in 2007. If I had to describe it in one word it would be disastrous. Decency and good taste prevents me from describing it in two words!
While most of the blame rests with the ACCA, the examiners bear some responsibility. In fairness, however, being an examiner in a strategy paper is an invitation to be shot at. Before accepting the invitation, it is useful to have some sympathy with the target.
Firstly, in accounting and finance papers there is generally a clear technical or theoretical base to the subject. However in strategy and management there is little consensus over how to manage or how to formulate or implement strategy. What consensus does exist is often fleeting - it is fashion driven.
Secondly, the syllabus that the examiner has to contend with is incoherent and excessive. This isn’t a problem if examiners recognise its failings and examine around them. The syllabus is also seriously outdated (and was from the moment it came into effect).
Strategic planning is unfashionable but substituting ‘strategic management’ for ‘strategic planning’ whilst using the old strategic planning frameworks is not a solution. Perhaps someone should explain to the ACCA the meaning of postmodernism, but as the ACCA is struggling to be modernist in this subject, then this might be a little premature.
Even as an exam in strategic planning, it is seriously flawed largely because the frameworks employed have been vulgarised. How many students are aware that Porter acknowledges that combined cost based and differentiation based strategies can be spectacularly successful? Or that far from being the prisoner of the ‘Five Forces’, the firm can influence them? Or that the BCG is a complex set of interlocking frameworks rather than the ‘dog,’ ‘star.’ ‘cow,’ ‘question mark’ that is typically used?
Move into the related field of organisation or change management or ethics - would the ACCA countenance ethical but illegal behaviour? The shortcomings of the syllabus are even more marked.
Thirdly, there are the global aspirations of the ACCA and the problem of setting an English language paper at final level for students whose native language is not English. Think China. A demanding final level strategy paper set in English and marked to uniform standards would result in high failure rates overseas which would jeopardise global expansion.
Fourthly, it is desperately difficult to write good, relatively short case studies which contain enough complexity to challenge the student but not so much as to overwhelm them (and again remember the language factor).
Finally, how does business strategy link with financial strategy? Is it shareholder value or stakeholder interests? Capital budgeting or strategic decision making? Rational decision making processes, logical incrementalism or empire building visionaries?
These problems partly explain the high turnover rate of examiners in strategy/management papers - four in the past 12 years. Only one of these examiners has made a consistently determined effort to produce good exams. Given that strategy is apparently all about two-by-two grids and matrices, let’s analyse how the examiners have performed using a competence/coverage grid and theory practice grid.
The competence/convergence grid (it is necessary to have flash titles in strategy) assesses whether the examiner knows his (they have all been males) and the extent to which the examiner examines what he knows.
Hopefully in the exams that remain, the examiner will either restrict what he examines or becomes competent in what he is examining.
The competence/convergence grid
* Style of second examiner. Knew very little about strategy or management but good on IT and finance which were intensively examined. A viable style.
* Style of current examiner. An emphasis on growth, entrepreneurship and marketing but a relative lack of knowledge on HRM, IT, finance, organisation, TQM. An over-ambitious style.
* Style of previous examiner – good financial information that linked with case information. Explicit decision not to examine IT and HRM to reduce syllabus load. A good style.
* The ideal style providing the syllabus is well designed and provided the examiner is competent in the syllabus areas.
The theory/practice grid
* Style of the first examiner. Total bullshit cases that did not test student knowledge or analytical ability. Even the ACCA were appalled and removed the examiner.
* Style of the current examiner. The compulsory case becomes mostly an exercise in vomiting a restricted range of frameworks with limited use of case information. Tends to result in a ‘learn and churn’ style of answer.
* Style of the second examiner in his best cases and of the third examiner. Emphasis on linking financial information and case information within the context of relevant frameworks. Makes for demanding but fair cases, provided the examiner puts considerable effort into writing them. A good style.
* Probably not appropriate to ACCA. Requires radical redesign of the syllabus and the means of examination. Need to dispense with simplified versions of frameworks, especially ‘potted Porter’ and a single case study exam paper. Unlikely that the ACCA can attract examiners capable of writing such cases or markers capable of marking them,
The theory/practice grid assesses the extent to which the emphasis is on knowing frameworks on using the case information.
The cases written by the current examiner are not the worst cases in this paper - but that isn’t saying much.
The examiner appears convinced that frameworks are important - and he likes some frameworks more than others, though this seems more a personal preference than a rationally grounded decision.
Lecturers teach what the examiners want them to teach - even if it is outdated, oversimplified or incorrect. We are teaching students to pass an exam - though we would like to teach them something relevant, useful and interesting. Sometimes the examiner allows us to do this. My advice to paper 3.5 students is to erase what you have been taught (but wait until you have passed) and then read some decent stuff on the subject.
Will the new scheme be any different? It will depend on the syllabus, the examiner and the mode of examination. Though an optimist by nature, I do not entertain any great hopes.
A final level paper in strategy started some 12 years ago and will have its third reincarnation in 2007. If I had to describe it in one word it would be disastrous. Decency and good taste prevents me from describing it in two words!
While most of the blame rests with the ACCA, the examiners bear some responsibility. In fairness, however, being an examiner in a strategy paper is an invitation to be shot at. Before accepting the invitation, it is useful to have some sympathy with the target.
Firstly, in accounting and finance papers there is generally a clear technical or theoretical base to the subject. However in strategy and management there is little consensus over how to manage or how to formulate or implement strategy. What consensus does exist is often fleeting - it is fashion driven.
Secondly, the syllabus that the examiner has to contend with is incoherent and excessive. This isn’t a problem if examiners recognise its failings and examine around them. The syllabus is also seriously outdated (and was from the moment it came into effect).
Strategic planning is unfashionable but substituting ‘strategic management’ for ‘strategic planning’ whilst using the old strategic planning frameworks is not a solution. Perhaps someone should explain to the ACCA the meaning of postmodernism, but as the ACCA is struggling to be modernist in this subject, then this might be a little premature.
Even as an exam in strategic planning, it is seriously flawed largely because the frameworks employed have been vulgarised. How many students are aware that Porter acknowledges that combined cost based and differentiation based strategies can be spectacularly successful? Or that far from being the prisoner of the ‘Five Forces’, the firm can influence them? Or that the BCG is a complex set of interlocking frameworks rather than the ‘dog,’ ‘star.’ ‘cow,’ ‘question mark’ that is typically used?
Move into the related field of organisation or change management or ethics - would the ACCA countenance ethical but illegal behaviour? The shortcomings of the syllabus are even more marked.
Thirdly, there are the global aspirations of the ACCA and the problem of setting an English language paper at final level for students whose native language is not English. Think China. A demanding final level strategy paper set in English and marked to uniform standards would result in high failure rates overseas which would jeopardise global expansion.
Fourthly, it is desperately difficult to write good, relatively short case studies which contain enough complexity to challenge the student but not so much as to overwhelm them (and again remember the language factor).
Finally, how does business strategy link with financial strategy? Is it shareholder value or stakeholder interests? Capital budgeting or strategic decision making? Rational decision making processes, logical incrementalism or empire building visionaries?
These problems partly explain the high turnover rate of examiners in strategy/management papers - four in the past 12 years. Only one of these examiners has made a consistently determined effort to produce good exams. Given that strategy is apparently all about two-by-two grids and matrices, let’s analyse how the examiners have performed using a competence/coverage grid and theory practice grid.
The competence/convergence grid (it is necessary to have flash titles in strategy) assesses whether the examiner knows his (they have all been males) and the extent to which the examiner examines what he knows.
Hopefully in the exams that remain, the examiner will either restrict what he examines or becomes competent in what he is examining.
The competence/convergence grid
* Style of second examiner. Knew very little about strategy or management but good on IT and finance which were intensively examined. A viable style.
* Style of current examiner. An emphasis on growth, entrepreneurship and marketing but a relative lack of knowledge on HRM, IT, finance, organisation, TQM. An over-ambitious style.
* Style of previous examiner – good financial information that linked with case information. Explicit decision not to examine IT and HRM to reduce syllabus load. A good style.
* The ideal style providing the syllabus is well designed and provided the examiner is competent in the syllabus areas.
The theory/practice grid
* Style of the first examiner. Total bullshit cases that did not test student knowledge or analytical ability. Even the ACCA were appalled and removed the examiner.
* Style of the current examiner. The compulsory case becomes mostly an exercise in vomiting a restricted range of frameworks with limited use of case information. Tends to result in a ‘learn and churn’ style of answer.
* Style of the second examiner in his best cases and of the third examiner. Emphasis on linking financial information and case information within the context of relevant frameworks. Makes for demanding but fair cases, provided the examiner puts considerable effort into writing them. A good style.
* Probably not appropriate to ACCA. Requires radical redesign of the syllabus and the means of examination. Need to dispense with simplified versions of frameworks, especially ‘potted Porter’ and a single case study exam paper. Unlikely that the ACCA can attract examiners capable of writing such cases or markers capable of marking them,
The theory/practice grid assesses the extent to which the emphasis is on knowing frameworks on using the case information.
The cases written by the current examiner are not the worst cases in this paper - but that isn’t saying much.
The examiner appears convinced that frameworks are important - and he likes some frameworks more than others, though this seems more a personal preference than a rationally grounded decision.
Lecturers teach what the examiners want them to teach - even if it is outdated, oversimplified or incorrect. We are teaching students to pass an exam - though we would like to teach them something relevant, useful and interesting. Sometimes the examiner allows us to do this. My advice to paper 3.5 students is to erase what you have been taught (but wait until you have passed) and then read some decent stuff on the subject.
Will the new scheme be any different? It will depend on the syllabus, the examiner and the mode of examination. Though an optimist by nature, I do not entertain any great hopes.
Friday, August 19, 2005
A lecturer.....
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience raised a glass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The
absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."
"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour,
I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to
call an ambulance. "In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I
hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry
our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes
increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass of
water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't
carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying
now, let them down for a moment if you can." "Relax; pick them up later
after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The
absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."
"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour,
I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to
call an ambulance. "In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I
hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry
our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes
increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass of
water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't
carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying
now, let them down for a moment if you can." "Relax; pick them up later
after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Hot favourite with the lunch crowd
By K.W. MAK
Photos by CHUA KOK HWA
Hot Mama Restaurant
E-50, 4th Floor, Sungei Wang Plaza
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21481336
Business Hours: Daily, 11am-9.45pm
"Inside the restaurant"
The restaurant is popular with the office crowd during lunch.
I believe in the theory that a crowded restaurant is proof of its food quality. Hot Mama Restaurant is one of those restaurants that is normally packed to the brim especially during lunch hours.
I stepped into the outlet located in shopping mall Sungei Wang Plaza recently and found the prices of the dishes agreeable to my wallet.
After checking out the dishes, and their prices, I found that the most “expensive” dish was priced at about RM14.
This serving is decently sized and the food is tasty.
Traditional Boiled Tapioca paired with a variety of freshly made herbal drinks.
As there are over 90 items on the menu, I eyed the more popular dish, the Cheesy Chicken Canai Treesome.
It is a simple sandwich with egg, mayonnaise, chicken breast meat fillet, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and slices of cheese, with the only exception being the Roti Canai used as the wrap instead of bread.
No pretences as to what this dish is - it is simple, healthy and filling, making it popular with the office crowd.
Ayam Percik with Rice Balls is another favourite, with the sweet tender meat marinated in a blend of tamarind, cinnamon and lemongrass spices.
Hot Mama’s Roast Beef Rice offers beef lovers tender roast beef marinated in various spices and served with a sweet sour tamarind sauce.
Besides the beef, the other highlight of the dish, albeit only a garnishing, is the pickled lotus seed.
Saigon Seafood Fried Mee has lots of prawns, squid, fish fillet, broccoli and bell peppers served with noodles.
The generous portions were value for money.
Desserts are simple with Hot Mama’s Tapioca Sago, a traditional Malay steamed tapioca served with grated coconut (marinated in coconut sugar) and Sambal Belacan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the restaurant that me and michelle went when we went to Sungai Wang to shop.
The food there is really quite nice and also affordable,so if you all have chance,can
go and try it out.
Photos by CHUA KOK HWA
Hot Mama Restaurant
E-50, 4th Floor, Sungei Wang Plaza
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21481336
Business Hours: Daily, 11am-9.45pm
"Inside the restaurant"
The restaurant is popular with the office crowd during lunch.
I believe in the theory that a crowded restaurant is proof of its food quality. Hot Mama Restaurant is one of those restaurants that is normally packed to the brim especially during lunch hours.
I stepped into the outlet located in shopping mall Sungei Wang Plaza recently and found the prices of the dishes agreeable to my wallet.
After checking out the dishes, and their prices, I found that the most “expensive” dish was priced at about RM14.
This serving is decently sized and the food is tasty.
Traditional Boiled Tapioca paired with a variety of freshly made herbal drinks.
As there are over 90 items on the menu, I eyed the more popular dish, the Cheesy Chicken Canai Treesome.
It is a simple sandwich with egg, mayonnaise, chicken breast meat fillet, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and slices of cheese, with the only exception being the Roti Canai used as the wrap instead of bread.
No pretences as to what this dish is - it is simple, healthy and filling, making it popular with the office crowd.
Ayam Percik with Rice Balls is another favourite, with the sweet tender meat marinated in a blend of tamarind, cinnamon and lemongrass spices.
Hot Mama’s Roast Beef Rice offers beef lovers tender roast beef marinated in various spices and served with a sweet sour tamarind sauce.
Besides the beef, the other highlight of the dish, albeit only a garnishing, is the pickled lotus seed.
Saigon Seafood Fried Mee has lots of prawns, squid, fish fillet, broccoli and bell peppers served with noodles.
The generous portions were value for money.
Desserts are simple with Hot Mama’s Tapioca Sago, a traditional Malay steamed tapioca served with grated coconut (marinated in coconut sugar) and Sambal Belacan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the restaurant that me and michelle went when we went to Sungai Wang to shop.
The food there is really quite nice and also affordable,so if you all have chance,can
go and try it out.
Haze
The haze situation is deteriorating as seen today.
HAZE
YOUR GUIDE FOR STAYING HEALTHY
WHAT IS 'HAZE' ?
Haze is a phenomenon or occurrence caused by the accumulation of fine particles in the air which are barely visible to naked eye. These particles may occur naturally or may be an outcome of human activities like open burning or smoky discharges from factories and exhaust of motor vehicles.
When these particles accumulate in large quantities and suspend in the air,they can lock out sunlight and visibility will be greatly reduced.
AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API)
The API is obtained from the measurement of fine particles (below 10 microns) and several gases which are hazardous to health such as carbon monoxide,sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The API is used as a guide for measuring air quality and its effect on health as follows :-
API VALUE STATUS
0 - 50 - Good
51 - 100 - Moderate
101- 200 - Unhealthy
201- 300 - Very unhealthy
301- 500 - Dangerous
HAZE THREATENS YOUR HEALTH
Continuous hazy conditions will cause ill effects to all people especially those in the high risk groups such as :-
1. Children
2. The elderly
3. Those with illnesses like, Asthma, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Chronic lung
diseases, Heart diseases and Allergies
4. Cigarette smokers
5. Those who work outdoors most of the time
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO THE HAZE?
The effects of continuous exposure to the haze include:-
* Itchy sensation in the throat, and coughing, increased phlegm
* Difficulty in breathing (wheeze) or nose block
* Pain, irritation, red and watery eyes
* Itchy skin rashes
If above symptoms persist, get advice and treatment at the nearest clinic.
PREVENTION OF HAZE-RELATED ILLNESSES
* Close all windows and doors to your bedroom. Boil a kettle (electric) of water in the room and allow the steam to fill the room. Allow 10 - 15 minutes for the fine water vapor (steam) to collect the pollutants / particles in the air and settle down. After this the room should contain healthier air.
* Usage of face and surgical masks are of no use if they are not regularly changed as they can act as a base for bacteria to grow and result in other infections. Only very close fitting masks that do not allow air to enter through the sides of the mask are effective.
* Limit all outdoor activity as far as possible e.g avoid outdoor sport or physical activities.
* Always wash / bathe as soon as you return from outdoors. This will minimize eye / skin irritation. For minor eye irritation try using over the counter eye drops e.g Eye Mo.
* Use your car air-conditioner when traveling in the car.
* Drink a lot of water.
* Smokers are advised to quit smoking.
* Those who suffer from diseases such as flu, bronchitis, asthma,conjunctivitis,
heart diseases or chronic lung diseases should seek immediate treatment at the
clinic or hospital if their condition worsens.
TO AVOID DISEASES FROM THE HAZE:
Mask needs to be used by all motorcyclists, outdoor workers, those who are exposed to dusty places and those who are in the high-risk group.
The public is advised to stay indoors as much as possible.
Reduce outdoor activities.
Those who are in the high risk group (Children, Elderly, Smokers, Workers in open areas, Those who have; Asthma, Bronchitis, Lungs inflammations,Chronic lungs problems, Heart and Allergy) are advised to continue medication as prescribed and take care of their health at all times.
The public is advised to wash their hands, face and bathe regularly.
Those who are having cough, flu, asthma, eye irritation, chronic lung infection are required to go to the clinic as soon as possible if symptoms persists.
Those who are driving in an air-conditioned vehicle needs to start the air-conditioner and close all windows when driving.
The public is advised to drink as much water as possible at all time.
Those who have children, elderly and relatives who are sick in the house,please do not smoke.
Smokers are advised to stop smoking during hours where API is higher than 101.
Those who are in the high risk category are advised to stay indoor if API exceeds 201.
Please be tuned to the radio, TV and major newspaper to get an update on the haze conditions and heed the advice given by Ministry of Health and Department of Environment.
HAZE
YOUR GUIDE FOR STAYING HEALTHY
WHAT IS 'HAZE' ?
Haze is a phenomenon or occurrence caused by the accumulation of fine particles in the air which are barely visible to naked eye. These particles may occur naturally or may be an outcome of human activities like open burning or smoky discharges from factories and exhaust of motor vehicles.
When these particles accumulate in large quantities and suspend in the air,they can lock out sunlight and visibility will be greatly reduced.
AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API)
The API is obtained from the measurement of fine particles (below 10 microns) and several gases which are hazardous to health such as carbon monoxide,sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The API is used as a guide for measuring air quality and its effect on health as follows :-
API VALUE STATUS
0 - 50 - Good
51 - 100 - Moderate
101- 200 - Unhealthy
201- 300 - Very unhealthy
301- 500 - Dangerous
HAZE THREATENS YOUR HEALTH
Continuous hazy conditions will cause ill effects to all people especially those in the high risk groups such as :-
1. Children
2. The elderly
3. Those with illnesses like, Asthma, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Chronic lung
diseases, Heart diseases and Allergies
4. Cigarette smokers
5. Those who work outdoors most of the time
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO THE HAZE?
The effects of continuous exposure to the haze include:-
* Itchy sensation in the throat, and coughing, increased phlegm
* Difficulty in breathing (wheeze) or nose block
* Pain, irritation, red and watery eyes
* Itchy skin rashes
If above symptoms persist, get advice and treatment at the nearest clinic.
PREVENTION OF HAZE-RELATED ILLNESSES
* Close all windows and doors to your bedroom. Boil a kettle (electric) of water in the room and allow the steam to fill the room. Allow 10 - 15 minutes for the fine water vapor (steam) to collect the pollutants / particles in the air and settle down. After this the room should contain healthier air.
* Usage of face and surgical masks are of no use if they are not regularly changed as they can act as a base for bacteria to grow and result in other infections. Only very close fitting masks that do not allow air to enter through the sides of the mask are effective.
* Limit all outdoor activity as far as possible e.g avoid outdoor sport or physical activities.
* Always wash / bathe as soon as you return from outdoors. This will minimize eye / skin irritation. For minor eye irritation try using over the counter eye drops e.g Eye Mo.
* Use your car air-conditioner when traveling in the car.
* Drink a lot of water.
* Smokers are advised to quit smoking.
* Those who suffer from diseases such as flu, bronchitis, asthma,conjunctivitis,
heart diseases or chronic lung diseases should seek immediate treatment at the
clinic or hospital if their condition worsens.
TO AVOID DISEASES FROM THE HAZE:
Mask needs to be used by all motorcyclists, outdoor workers, those who are exposed to dusty places and those who are in the high-risk group.
The public is advised to stay indoors as much as possible.
Reduce outdoor activities.
Those who are in the high risk group (Children, Elderly, Smokers, Workers in open areas, Those who have; Asthma, Bronchitis, Lungs inflammations,Chronic lungs problems, Heart and Allergy) are advised to continue medication as prescribed and take care of their health at all times.
The public is advised to wash their hands, face and bathe regularly.
Those who are having cough, flu, asthma, eye irritation, chronic lung infection are required to go to the clinic as soon as possible if symptoms persists.
Those who are driving in an air-conditioned vehicle needs to start the air-conditioner and close all windows when driving.
The public is advised to drink as much water as possible at all time.
Those who have children, elderly and relatives who are sick in the house,please do not smoke.
Smokers are advised to stop smoking during hours where API is higher than 101.
Those who are in the high risk category are advised to stay indoor if API exceeds 201.
Please be tuned to the radio, TV and major newspaper to get an update on the haze conditions and heed the advice given by Ministry of Health and Department of Environment.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
How to: cope with rejection
‘A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success,’ – Bo Bennett, motivational speaker. Gwen Cheeseman helps you get over it.
Some things aren’t meant to be – even if you get to the final stages of interview you still can’t be sure you’ll end up with the position you’ve applied for, and you should always be prepared for that. Sometimes a miscommunication means they can’t offer the job to anyone, and financial cuts can mean the role is withdrawn at the last minute.
Let things go – if you’re upset following an unsuccessful application, don’t be afraid to go with your emotions. It’s unhealthy to bottle your feelings up and it can do more harm than good. Choose a good friend or a member of your family that you can really talk to and tell them how you’re feeling. This will help you move on and release any emotional tension you might be harbouring.
Know what you need – it may be that the job market has changed since you were last looking for work. Speak to people who are working in a similar role to those that you’re trying for and make a list of the skills you might be missing. Find out what kind of people are being employed in these roles and how you can tailor your interview skills to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Organise a meeting with a recruitment consultant. You don’t have any obligation to sign up with them if you don’t want to, but they may be able to give you a valuable insight into how to get the job you’re after.
Don’t be afraid to ask – when you have been turned down for a role, it may be daunting, but ask for some feedback as to why you were unsuccessful. If you’re feeling low after being rejected it may seem like the last thing you’d want to do, but feedback can be invaluable. Gaining an insight often means you discover where you went wrong in the last interview, enabling you to succeed in the next. Make sure that it is clear when you write to them that you are seeking help in understanding why you weren’t successful, not complaining because you didn’t get the job.
Don’t be negative – it’s all too common to feel like a failure if you are knocked back from an interview. Focus on the areas you did well in and learn from what you did wrong. For example, if you feel you lacked confidence, ask a friend or colleague if you can practise your interview technique with them. And make sure you give your friend a list of any questions you felt you struggled with in your last interview.
Rejection, rejection, rejection – if you are rejected several times in a row, make sure you request feedback. Compare responses and see if you can spot a pattern or a particular point which is made by all of them. Rather than looking upon this negatively, realise that the feedback may help you unlock the key to your future job success. Remember that if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, you can’t fix it. Think positively – every job you don’t get should teach you how to get your next one.
Some things aren’t meant to be – even if you get to the final stages of interview you still can’t be sure you’ll end up with the position you’ve applied for, and you should always be prepared for that. Sometimes a miscommunication means they can’t offer the job to anyone, and financial cuts can mean the role is withdrawn at the last minute.
Let things go – if you’re upset following an unsuccessful application, don’t be afraid to go with your emotions. It’s unhealthy to bottle your feelings up and it can do more harm than good. Choose a good friend or a member of your family that you can really talk to and tell them how you’re feeling. This will help you move on and release any emotional tension you might be harbouring.
Know what you need – it may be that the job market has changed since you were last looking for work. Speak to people who are working in a similar role to those that you’re trying for and make a list of the skills you might be missing. Find out what kind of people are being employed in these roles and how you can tailor your interview skills to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Organise a meeting with a recruitment consultant. You don’t have any obligation to sign up with them if you don’t want to, but they may be able to give you a valuable insight into how to get the job you’re after.
Don’t be afraid to ask – when you have been turned down for a role, it may be daunting, but ask for some feedback as to why you were unsuccessful. If you’re feeling low after being rejected it may seem like the last thing you’d want to do, but feedback can be invaluable. Gaining an insight often means you discover where you went wrong in the last interview, enabling you to succeed in the next. Make sure that it is clear when you write to them that you are seeking help in understanding why you weren’t successful, not complaining because you didn’t get the job.
Don’t be negative – it’s all too common to feel like a failure if you are knocked back from an interview. Focus on the areas you did well in and learn from what you did wrong. For example, if you feel you lacked confidence, ask a friend or colleague if you can practise your interview technique with them. And make sure you give your friend a list of any questions you felt you struggled with in your last interview.
Rejection, rejection, rejection – if you are rejected several times in a row, make sure you request feedback. Compare responses and see if you can spot a pattern or a particular point which is made by all of them. Rather than looking upon this negatively, realise that the feedback may help you unlock the key to your future job success. Remember that if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, you can’t fix it. Think positively – every job you don’t get should teach you how to get your next one.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Misc Tests Results
What wise quote fits you?
Your wise quote is: "Our greatest glory is not
in never falling, but in rising everytime we
fall" by Confucius.
Yes indeed, you see true strenght can only be
seen when a person has "fallen". Only
then one can tell how they will handle it. Just
don't make others fall so you can know who they
really are. You on the other hand may be a very
quick recoverer and don't let people bring you
down. You are your own, and you're find with
that. Emotional issues is something you handle
rather nicely.
What wise quote fits you?(pics) UPDATED
brought to you by Quizilla
How do you see life?
Life is good and bad. You know it can never be
perfect and that it never have been, and you're
fine with that. You still feel it's important
to live life since it can end any day and not
sulk because of some little failure in life.
You are often a happy person, still you don't
laugh all the time. You have a somewhat calm
aura and most people feel comfortable around
you.
How do you see life?
brought to you by Quizilla
How is your soul?
Your soul is caring.
Other people are your concern, even if you
don't know them. If you see a person trip you
worry is he is okay. You put your loved ones
first and you're very mature. When someones
sick you're nurturing and always try to help
family and friends when failure strikes them.
You can be called the motherly one, if you are
in a group of people, which doesn't have to be
bad. Love is something that's already in you
and you have a lot to give whether you believe
it or not. Your friends probably love you very
much and come to when they need help since
you're reliable. People can feel secure with
you and generally like you.
How is your soul?(pics)
brought to you by Quizilla
What is your element?
Your element is Earth. You have your feet on the
ground and are in touch with reality. Some may
say you need to lighten up, but you are just
not that way. It's not that you don't enjoy
having fun, you only find it in more calmer
activities such as writing or reading a book.
But before you have your fun you always make
sure your work is done. You are considered the
reliable one among your friends, you would
never betray anyone just like and are not
influenced on peer-pressure. Friends and family
can always come to you for guidance because you
are wise and smart. You know what is right and
what is wrong and you study hard to become
something big in the future. The bad side is
that your friend/s feel ignored when you spend
more time with books and papers rather with
them. You are not such a people person and are
sometimes a question-mark on how to behave
around them at certain times. Luckily it always
works out, somehow. Love is not really desired
in your world right now, maybe in the future
when you've got a work and so on under control.
After all, you are a perfectionist. Rate and
message!
What is your element? [with pics + 7 outcomes + detailed answeres!]
brought to you by Quizilla
Your wise quote is: "Our greatest glory is not
in never falling, but in rising everytime we
fall" by Confucius.
Yes indeed, you see true strenght can only be
seen when a person has "fallen". Only
then one can tell how they will handle it. Just
don't make others fall so you can know who they
really are. You on the other hand may be a very
quick recoverer and don't let people bring you
down. You are your own, and you're find with
that. Emotional issues is something you handle
rather nicely.
What wise quote fits you?(pics) UPDATED
brought to you by Quizilla
How do you see life?
Life is good and bad. You know it can never be
perfect and that it never have been, and you're
fine with that. You still feel it's important
to live life since it can end any day and not
sulk because of some little failure in life.
You are often a happy person, still you don't
laugh all the time. You have a somewhat calm
aura and most people feel comfortable around
you.
How do you see life?
brought to you by Quizilla
How is your soul?
Your soul is caring.
Other people are your concern, even if you
don't know them. If you see a person trip you
worry is he is okay. You put your loved ones
first and you're very mature. When someones
sick you're nurturing and always try to help
family and friends when failure strikes them.
You can be called the motherly one, if you are
in a group of people, which doesn't have to be
bad. Love is something that's already in you
and you have a lot to give whether you believe
it or not. Your friends probably love you very
much and come to when they need help since
you're reliable. People can feel secure with
you and generally like you.
How is your soul?(pics)
brought to you by Quizilla
What is your element?
Your element is Earth. You have your feet on the
ground and are in touch with reality. Some may
say you need to lighten up, but you are just
not that way. It's not that you don't enjoy
having fun, you only find it in more calmer
activities such as writing or reading a book.
But before you have your fun you always make
sure your work is done. You are considered the
reliable one among your friends, you would
never betray anyone just like and are not
influenced on peer-pressure. Friends and family
can always come to you for guidance because you
are wise and smart. You know what is right and
what is wrong and you study hard to become
something big in the future. The bad side is
that your friend/s feel ignored when you spend
more time with books and papers rather with
them. You are not such a people person and are
sometimes a question-mark on how to behave
around them at certain times. Luckily it always
works out, somehow. Love is not really desired
in your world right now, maybe in the future
when you've got a work and so on under control.
After all, you are a perfectionist. Rate and
message!
What is your element? [with pics + 7 outcomes + detailed answeres!]
brought to you by Quizilla
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