New Insights

After reading both books, i learnt more about the challenges that we face as a nation.Although, we may not agreed with all Mr LKY ideas, we can't fault him or his team effort and dream for Singapore.We are not a perfect nation, but there are no perfect nation.Something, someone or somewhere got to give.We can't please everyone, every new policies, rules or decision will please some and anger some.Ultimately it should be for the survival of the nation.Time have changed, we are no longer the simple follower as in the past.We doubted, we judged, we questioned.It is good for the nation to know the citizen is watching.This should keep them on their toes.Hopefully this new generation is equally as good or is better than the previous group.As for us, let us just enjoy what we have now and remember everything we ask for have a price or cost to it.Will it better for us in the short term or in the long term?

Back to School!

Back to school again for me.
Was tough initially, but getting on track now.

Had an interesting group with me for group project.
Thankfully they are cooperative and hardworking.

It is my first time attending lecture from foreign countries.
It is refreshing and interesting. Much better than local lecturer.
But unfortunately they are a bit more demanding. Haha.

Here's my course content - interesting right?

Structure and Content
The Bachelor of Science (Hons) program consists of 8 core modules and 4 pathway modules and may be completed in a minimum of 18 months through distance teaching in Singapore.

Term 1
HRM : Strategy & Policy
Economic Policy & Global Environment

Term 2
Managing Change
Cross Cultural Management

Term 3
Management of Organisations
Project Management

Term 4
Business Strategy
Management Research Project

Term 5
Operations & Technology Management
International Business

Term 6
E-Commerce & Applications
Entrepreneurship

Reading

I have not been reading much lately.....as in like novels and such.
Been reading free Stuff Mag / HWZ Mag / T3 Mag....Benefit of working in an IT Firm.
But recently i was introduced a book...and i read 4/5 of it in 2 nights before i fell sick.

Usually, i am not into "Work Related" Books....unless i am studying for exam or researching for projects or work.

But this book really captured my full attention and i can't let it go for 2 nights

E-Book Reader - Environmental Friendly?

Are E-Books getting more popular?

The market for E-Book seems to be growing.

There are many E Readers in the market now.

Kindle, Sony E Reader, Ipad and many more.

Practicality aside, my concern is more on earth friendliness.

I thought conventional books will be more earth friendly compare to E-Book Reader.
But it was not.

Extract from Robert Nagle Article
http://www.teleread.org/2009/07/09/apple-amazon-rated-at-bottom-of-climate-change-scorecard-and-what-about-ebooks/

• Dead-tree books require cutting down trees. (Duh!). Dan Shapley writes, "The paper industry is the 4th largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions among United States manufacturing industries, and contributes 9% of the manufacturing sector’s carbon emissions." Allen Hershkowitz from the National Resource Defense Council agrees, saying, “The paper industry is the No. 1 industrial pressure on forests."
• Umbra Fisk summarizes the research so far into books vs. ebooks:

A MS candidate named Greg Kozak pitted textbooks against e-book devices [PDF] in 2003. He found that paper production, electricity of printing operations, and personal transportation were the main factors affecting the book footprint, while electricity was the main issue for e-readers; and that books were responsible for four times the greenhouse emissions as e-readers. In ‘04, two UC-Berkeley students evaluated newspaper vs PDA-based e-newspapers [PDF], and decided that a newspaper released 32-140 times the amount of CO2, and used 26-185 times the amount of water. A 2007 study in Sweden (here is the abstract) also looked at newspaper and found that newspaper’s biggest impact was in the paper production, while energy was the big impact for reading on the internet; for e-devices (the Kindle, etc.), production of the e-object is the biggest impact. The study concluded that reading e-newspapers had less impact than an actual newspaper.

• The current book ordering system encourages bookstores to order more books than they can reasonably sell. That increases the number of published copies and consequently the number of returns (and the amount of shipping costs).
• A number of print books which are bought are not read. In other words, books are produced with the goal to be sold, regardless of whether it is actually read. One cannot blame the publishing industry if people fail to read the books they buy; but with digital books, energy or resources are being consumed only if the ebook is actually being read.
• E-ink readers are the ultimate low-energy devices. Charges last for weeks or sometimes longer than a month. The only additional step they can take is to make the devices run by solar energy (sigh!).

After reading this article, will you convert to E-Book?

I will not, i still prefer the good old way, a book in bag, anywhere i go, with a bookmark to mark my page, no batteries needed and can loan it to anyone once i finished it.

I will instead patronize 2nd hand bookshop to help save the earth.

FINALLY IT IS HERE!!!!!!!!

Got it from an online store. The final book from the DarkWar Saga!

http://opentrolley.com.sg/

Pay and collect at Toypost at Plaza Sing.

Fantasy Novels

Finally, i had caught up with Raymond E.Feist, author of my fav fantasy novels.

I had read from The Riftwar Saga Series to The Darkwar Saga Series ( Into a Dark Realm ), Total 24 books including the other novel; Faerie Tale!!!!

I can't wait the final chapter of The Darkwar Saga, Wrath of a Mad God.
I must pop by Sans Bookshop soon to check on the published date for Paperback.

Meanwhile i am reading the book one of The Wheels Of Time Series,
The Eye of the world by Robert Jordan. Recommended by my younger brother.

The Riftwar Saga
Magician (1982)
Silverthorn (1985)
A Darkness at Sethanon (1986)

The Empire Trilogy
Daughter of the Empire (1987) with Janny Wurts
Servant of the Empire (1990) with Janny Wurts
Mistress of the Empire (1992) with Janny Wurts

Krondor's Sons
Prince of the Blood (1989)
The King's Buccaneer (1992)

The Serpentwar Saga
Shadow of a Dark Queen (1994)
Rise of a Merchant Prince (1995)
Rage of a Demon King (1997)
Shards of a Broken Crown (1998)

The Riftwar Legacy
Krondor: The Betrayal (1998)
Krondor: The Assassins (1999)
Krondor: Tear of the Gods (2000)

Legends of the Riftwar
Honoured Enemy (2001) with William R. Forstchen
Murder in LaMut (2002) with Joel Rosenberg
Jimmy the Hand (2003) with S. M. Stirling

Conclave of Shadows
Talon of the Silver Hawk (2003)
King of Foxes (2004)
Exile's Return (2005)

Darkwar Saga
Flight of the Nighthawks (2005)
Into a Dark Realm (2006)
Wrath of a Mad God (2008) - Not yet published in paperback

Other Novel
Faerie Tale (1988)

Demonwar Saga
Rides a Dread Legion (2009) Planned release March 2, 2009
Return of the Demon King (2010) Not yet published

Chaoswar Saga
A Kingdom Besieged (2011) Not yet published
A Crown Imperiled (2012) Not yet published
Magician's End (2013) Not yet published

The books info are from wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_E._Feist#Darkwar_Saga

Me and My Reading

I read alot, My Princess always say i am torturing my eyes.

I don't know why, i just get bore easily if i am not reading,

and i just like reading alot.
Newspapers, Magazines, Comics, Novels, Soccer News on HP Etc Etc.

My reading pleasure

Newspapers - Start the day with Todays or Mypaper,

continue at Noon with The New Paper and end at night with The Straits Times.

Magazines

I will grab a free copy of HWN or GameAxis or

First Magazine free from office if i need something to read,

but sometimes i will read Entertainment or Cars Magazines as well.

Comics

Most Japs and Taiwanese Comics and some old time fav like

Garfield, Snoopy, Calvin and Hobbs, don't mind Archie once a while.

Novels

use to only read most novels with modern story backdrop, books from Jerry Archer, Dean R Koontz, Stephen King and some books like Shopaholic, Tuesday with Morrie.

But i am into fantasy now, addicted, can't stop reading,

i had finished a few books within a span of 3 weeks.

One of my fav Comics Artist - 安達 充, Adachi Mitsuru

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuru_Adachi

Some of his works

My recent addiction - Fantasy Novels

It started off with the Sword of Truth Series by Terry GoodKind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Truth

But what capture me totally is the Riftwar Saga by Raymond E.Feist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riftwar

Do you read?

From Here to Paternity - Matt Dunn

Well... my first library book for 10years turns out to be a winner.
It is one of the best book i ever read, highly recommended for guys. ( Gals too :P )
Touching, Hilarious, Witty with some true insight on guy's mind.

When i borrowed it from the library, i wondered whether i can finish it in 21 Days..but guess what, i finished the book in 5 days only.....

I am gonna find his other 2 books, Best Man & The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook.
Hope they are as good.

Back to the library again.