August-2008-compiled-pdfs-screen

the ridge ridgeonline.wordpress.com

Green Carnival The Grass is always greener on the Other Side ... Your First Five Steps to going Green

Download the album for free! Read the review for more info.

Careers: J.P. Morgan Interview with Eric Khoo

MICA (P) 218/01/2008

The Slip - Nine Inch Nails

02 desk

desk 03

02 editorial

have ming is. It is r a w ris al glob ate c bout obal clim a s g l arnin cing a g a he w f ” y T e “ s r : ce . rts b an ea quen rds r t effo e. W e s o an s m e i c w t n t ow ng e la f co ous o H h o l t m : d a r a n f o e v ri tio ’S for eful ORE e co a pe lear ques nd peac w g c e , LG n r i y h l r A a .T ye me nte AS ea staff mic itabl extre are e cade mia, and rit a hab a been ing. We w en r ne ade inhe e deep of ou ents, ac rations e u s rs? W y e d s a n u i t t e s s g g : n e th ma ers eni ure nder eshmen e op takehold g our fut u h t t in g n I rin a jo p fr es swea u r u e r s r o o f d n h f t e ts ad are our it to o he . Ge even omm ere t calories and h s w e we c e re lac h? unsu urn thos to our p Our Eart b and e s o d rtal. t i u o t u p o P g m n y a r ion. r ca re Libra express g on n to whe pages fo S n i U y d a dN tio an St orts s an ion, atten r Sp nitie opin u , r draw owse ou m u m olo br S Co for c also w NU appetite e n . e NUS your ith th up w o satiate p e e t W lso k turn \ODV We a s also re HWKH O r L a K l u Z  reg HHNV UVWZ ¿  H WK ULVK &KH R CTO u.sg DIRE s.ed IVE u hua T n p A E s i r@ m CR denn iefedito e Lu aryc ch l e C g d ri N EISG S FD NEW Hau DO A E H ha n yukt Jaso Lim Sam e Y t t e A PH Lyn OGR HOT P F O EN HEAD ga P OK alai R UTS m o O a O Y IT n i D An Ad FE CHIE okila ua h K P nis OR T) Den EDIT OP Y (PRIN E L C R Y O T Bhat EDIT LIFES Baaquie has u TIVE S U C h EXE ING i Yee Arzis KET g Pe MAR E) F IN O Won L N l DIA HEAD iling R (O ohai SME DITO Hu TRAN ah bin S EE IV T Tan U r urrai EXEC h Yan H rint na xpop Han y b ed D Print WIRE sh Singh ARY T E e SECR a Gopi Gurm my Sow MA S

TER

photo sxc.hu

WEB i Jian Ho Y

contents 03

new s GREEN CARNIVAL .. .. .. .. .. CORS/FASS MODULE ALLOCATION .. .. .. SHORTCUT TO DANGER YOUTH OLYMPIC VILLAGE NO LONGER AT NUS .. .. .. SINGAPORE ART CAFE

..06 ..12 ..14 ..16 ..18

HIGHER EDUCATION AND NUS

..

..

..20

wir ed

MUSIC REVIEW: NINE INCH NAILS .. INTERVIEW: ERIC KHOO FILM REVIEW: LOCAL FILMS ..

.. .. ..

.. .. ..

..24 ..26 ..28

spo

TECH BUZZ: FUJITSU PRODUCT REVIEW .. SPOTLIGHT: NUS COMMUNITIES SPOTLIGHT: NUS LIBRARY PORTAL ..

.. .. ..

..34 ..36 ..38

.. .. SRC FACILITIES NUS SPORTS EVENTS AHEAD

.. ..

.. ..

..40 ..42

.. NUS SNIPPETS .. COMMENTARY .. .. PHOTO STORY.. BORDERS BOOK REVIEWS THE PEOPLE PAGE ..

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

..04 ..09 ..10 ..22 ..30

CAREERS: JP MORGAN

..

..

..

..32

out

spo

tra

ken

nsm

edi

rts

reg ula rs

spe

cia

l

a

For marketing opportunities, please post your enquiry to [email protected] NUSSU Secretariat, Yusof Ishak House, 31 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119078.

04 nus snippets

NUS Literary Society Creative Writing Competition 2008/9

THE COMPETITION aims to recognise outstanding student writing and to encourage the practice of creative writing among Singapore youths. It contains two FDWHJRULHVSRHWU\DQG¿FWLRQDQGLVRSHQWRDOO186VWXGHQWV(DFKRIWKHWZR FDWHJRULHVLVMXGJHGE\DQHVWDEOLVKHGORFDOSRHWZULWHUZLWKSUL]HVJRLQJWR the top three entrants of the category. Visit http://literarysociety.wordpress. com/about-the-creative-writing-competition RU HPDLO nuslitsoc@yahoo. com.sgIRUDQDSSOLFDWLRQIRUPDQGPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ

NUS Students’ Interfaith Interest Group THE NUS STUDENTS’ Interfaith Interest Group takes UHOLJLRQVHULRXVO\,QLWLDWHGE\HQWKXVLDVWLFVWXGHQWV IURPGLIIHUHQWIDLWKVWKHUHFHQWO\ODXQFKHG6WXGHQW Interest Group hopes to promote the exchange RILGHDVH[SHULHQFHVDQGPXWXDODPLW\DPRQJVW VWXGHQWVRIGLYHUVHIDLWKVWKURXJKLQWHUDFWLYH¿HOG WULSVWHUPHG³+DUPRQ\7ULSV´±WRSODFHVRI ZRUVKLS,WZLOODOVRHQJDJHDFWLYHO\LQLQWHUIDLWK GLDORJXHVZKHUHVWXGHQWVZLOOKDYHWKHRSSRUWXQLW\ to share their perspectives on various issues, such DVPDWHULDOLVPUHODWLRQVKLSVDQGKXPDQULJKWVZLWK SHRSOHIURPDOOZDONVRIOLIHLQFOXGLQJVFKRODUVDQG UHOLJLRXVOHDGHUV%H\RQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJGLIIHUHQW IDLWKVDQGSHUVSHFWLYHVWKH1866WXGHQWV¶,QWHUIDLWK ,QWHUHVW*URXSORRNVWRFUHDWHRSSRUWXQLWLHVIRU VRFLDOLQWHUDFWLRQWKURXJKFRPELQHGIDLWKIHVWLYH FHOHEUDWLRQVDQGPHDQLQJIXOFRPPXQLW\VHUYLFH SURMHFWV(PDLO[email protected] for PRUHGHWDLOV

THE NUS FLIGHT and Space Interest Group is organising WZRÀLJKWVRQDQG$XJXVW(DFKSDUWLFLSDQWZLOOJHWWR À\IRUWKLUW\PLQXWHVRQD-DELUX$LUFUDIW
Jabiru Flying Trips

nus snippets 05 NUS MOTORING CLUB is working together with Mitsubishi Motors Singapore, to bring the popular TV series Mitsubishi Challenge to NUS in September. The NUS-Mitsubishi Challenge is an “Amazing Race” style competition that will require participants to navigate around Singapore in their YHKLFOHVVRDVWR¿QGFKHFNSRLQWVDQG complete challenges in order to gain points. Participants can expect themselves to be stretched both physically as well as mentally as they amass points with the aim of being crowned overall champions. All NUS students, staff as well as alumni are eligible to register for this competition, which will be held on the 13th of September 2008.

NUS Hyperjive 2008

NUS-MITSUBISHI CHALLENGE

CALLING ALL ¿WQHVVHQWKXVLDVWV/HW¶VZHOFRPHEDFN186+\SHUMLYH 7+(PDVVDHURELFVPDUDWKRQHYHQWRI186+\SHUMLYHJLYHVDFDUGLRYDVFXODU ZRUNRXWZLWKRXWFRPSURPLVLQJWKHIXQDQG]HVW On top of an exhilarating exercise, participants stand to win amazing prizes in RXUOXFN\GUDZ([FLWLQJJRRGLHEDJVZLOOEHSURYLGHGWRR$OOWKLV$1'PRUH DWDQDIIRUGDEOH So, what are you waiting for? Tighten those sneakers and stride up with 300 RWKHUVWRH[SHULHQFHWKHEHVWRI$HURELFVLQWKLVXQLTXHPDVVHYHQW 5HJLVWUDWLRQGDWHVWKWK$XJXVWDWDEHQFKDORQJ&HQWUDO/LEUDU\ Walkway, from 10am-6pm. For more information, contact Khairah (94895935) or Agnes (97911725) or e-mail [email protected]

THE NUS STUDENTS ,Q)UHH(QWHUSULVH1866,)( WHDPLVXQLTXH 2XUSURMHFWWHDPVGHYHORSFRPPXQLW\DQGHGXFDWLRQDORXWUHDFK SURMHFWVWKDWWHDFKHQWUHSUHQHXUVKLSPDUNHWHFRQRPLFVEXVLQHVV HWKLFVDQG¿QDQFHWRPDNHDGLIIHUHQFHWRWKHOLYHVRIRWKHUV 7KLV\HDUWKH6,)(:RUOG&XSEULQJVWRJHWKHUPRUHWKDQQDWLRQDO 6,)(WHDPFKDPSLRQVWR6LQJDSRUH 1866,)(FRUGLDOO\LQYLWHV\RXWRRXU:HOFRPH7HDDWWKH%XVLQHVV School on 13 August, 6pm. For more information, please write to [email protected] or visit http://www.sife.org.

NUS Students In Free Enterprise

06 news

The grass

on the other side is... text & photo Lynette Lim | [email protected]

NOT always greener. On our side of the pasture here in Singapore, we enjoy an environment that is clean and protected for us. Here, our grass is green.

issues, but because we do not experience their repercussions, we tend to be apathetic towards it.

Yet over the fence, the world is facing serious environmental issues that are a cause for worry.

“Nevertheless I’m hopeful for change because ultimately, as youths, we are the ones who are going to live through this exciting era of tackling climate change,” he said.

Professor Tan Chor Chuan, Senior Deputy President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), said, “Here in Singapore we live in a comfortable, well-tended environment with clean water and clean air (that) we do not feel or see the immediate impact of environmental degradation.”

Prof. Tan agreed that while everyone has a part to play in saving our environment, youths have a special role, as “they will be the leaders and captains of industry of tomorrow”.

Mr. Ong Wei Tao, chairperson of NUS Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE) and a thirdyear Social Work major, feels that Singaporean youth are in fact aware of the environmental

“If they appreciate the need and importance of environmental preservation, they will be our hope for the future,” he said. Mr. Ong is one of the many student activists in SAVE who are passionate about the environment. He was recently awarded the HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Award 2008. He has been part of SAVE for the past two years, and has been volunteering in the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch) for the past three years. His efforts were recognised when he approached the Campus Sustainability Committee in NUS to do a recycling project. His passion for the environment cause was sparked in a heap of rubbish, at least three metres tall, which he sorted into recyclables of different types (plastics, paper, glass etc) in a recycling centre in Taiwan.

Professor Tan Chor Chuan

news 07

Ong Wei Tao in Tam Dao, Vietnam, to SHUIRUPDVWXG\RIEXWWHUÀLHVHFRORJ\ in relation to climate change and KXPDQDFWLYLWLHVDVSDUWRIWKH+6%& NYAA Youth Environmental Award

“The time taken for a can of drink to be sold, consumed and disposed of might merely be 10 minutes, yet behind that one can is an entire manufacturing and extraction process, which creates a lot of carbon emissions along with it,” he said. “Every single action we make has an impact, and when the climate change issue aggravates, there will be much more suffering and heartache,” he said. Mr. Ong’s worldviews and values changed then, when he linked what he did and the things he consumed to the suffering of the world. Since then he has come a long way.

He himself has made it a point not to print anything if possible, storing most documents as soft copies, over the past year. “We are already seeing a growing appreciation of environmental issues today, and I believe that this awareness will accelerate,” said Prof. Tan. “All of us must try to do our part by being more aware of the impact that our lifestyle and choices have on the environment... and make adjustments to mitigate the negative aspects.” Echoing Prof Tan’s sentiments, Ong said, “Scientists have not been hopeful about the future, but that is not reason to give up.”

'HVSLWHLQLWLDOGLI¿FXOWLHVGXHWRQRWKDYLQJDQ\SULRU experience in leading an organisation like SAVE, it has nevertheless been memorable for him as he and his team have watched their projects bear fruit. “Rebate2Earth has successfully reduced a VLJQL¿FDQWDPRXQWRISODVWLFEDJXVDJHLQWKH&2 OP (sic), and getting the school administration to support handing in assignments on double sided prints was a sweet achievement for us as well, as we saw the impact of what we did,” he said. The NUS administration has been instrumental in this cause as well. According to Prof. Tan, the university is “moving PRUHDQGPRUHRIRXUSURFHVVHVWR,7EDVHG systems, rather than rely on using large amounts of paper, which are often wasted and which also involve a great deal of photocopying”.

Ong Wei Tao (far left) with two other members of his team at the NUS Bukit 7LPDK&DPSXVSURPRWLQJWKHXVHRI Tupperware’s for taking away lunch.

08 08 news news

Students take the ÀUVWÀYH steps to go

GREEN. text Audrey Ng | [email protected]

HAVE YOU NOTICED how some lecture theatres are not as cold as before? Or how your print-outs turn out double-sided when printing notes in school? These are the results of the 1 Degree Up and SAVE3s campaigns organized by NUSSU SAVE (Students Against Violation of the Earth); the main environmental body in the National University of Singapore (NUS), in an effort to promote environmental awareness on campus.

1 Degree Up aims to reduce energy consumption by setting all thermostats in NUS to 25 degrees Celsius, while SAVE3s, as the name suggests, aims to save paper and trees by setting all printers in NUS to default double-sided printing. According to NUSSU SAVE, students will not be penalized for handing in assignments that are printed double-side. Senior Deputy President of NUS, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, who has a keen interest in environmental issues, said he was “heartened by the student initiatives which have stepped up to take the lead.” Other student-initiated projects by NUSSU SAVE are, Zer0waste, Rebate2Earth, and Food4Thought. As part of the Zer0waste’s initiative to promote recycling and reduce waste on campus, more recycling bins will be placed at strategic locations such as outside examination halls and residential halls. Rebate2Earth was launched on Feb 4, 2008 to cut down on the number of plastic bags used in NUS by charging 10 cents for each plastic bag at the NUS CO-OP. NUSSU SAVE has plans to extend this program to all canteen outlets by late August 2008.

news 09 Our dietary habits have negative effects on the environment, and this issue is tackled by the Food4Thought campaign. It seeks to educate on how to adopt a sustainable diet by reducing one’s meat intake and collaborating with canteen vendors to provide more vegetarian dishes. All these student initiatives are all part of NUSSU SAVE’s goals to tackle climate change and involve WKHHQWLUHVWXGHQWSRSXODWLRQLQWKH¿JKWDJDLQVW climate change. Fourth-year FASS student Ms Jennifer Goh is supportive of students being more involved in environmental issues. However, she thinks “the school should also make it easier for students to be environmentally conscious”. “Perhaps they could place recycling bins in more accessible locations,” she suggested. ³6XVWDLQDELOLW\LVWKHNH\WRVXFFHVVLQ¿JKWLQJ climate change,” said Mr. Chen Zhirong, Projects Director of the Green Carnival. The Green Carnival 2008, NUSSU SAVE’s main DQQXDOÀDJVKLSSURMHFWDLPVWRUHDFKRXWWRWKH whole NUS population to create awareness about climate change and its repercussions. It will also serve as a clear indication of NUS’s FRPPLWPHQWWR¿JKWLQJFOLPDWHFKDQJHSXEOLFO\ The Carnival will display various exhibitions that explore the issue of climate change and provide informative material.

There will also be a photography competition with the theme “Capturing Climate Change” for photographers to highlight their work and bring to attention the persistent issue of climate change. However, Mr. Chen feels that there is a lack of urgency among students when it comes to the issue of tackling climate change. He expressed concern that while people are aware of the negative effects of climate change, there is not enough drive to combat it. Through the Green Carnival, Mr. Chen hopes that people would become more aware of the urgency of the problem and take positive action. The Green Carnival will be held in NUS from Aug. 25-27, 2008.

10 news

Two Cent Saloon In this new regular feature, we explore the pressing issues that you have been thinking of in an informal setting. Designed to engage you, comments and feedback are highly welcome. Enjoy! “INTERNSHIPS” IS THEODWHVWEX]]ZRUGLQRXUDFDGHPLFZRUOGDQGLWZLOOSUREDEO\¿OOPXFKRIWKHFRQYHUVDWLRQV occurring around you now. ,QDFDUHHUZRUNVKRSKHOGE\WKH&RPPXQLFDWLRQVDQG1HZ0HGLD&10 SURJUDPPHODVWVHPHVWHUD VSHDNHUVSRNHDERXWWKHQHHGWRGLIIHUHQWLDWHIURPRWKHUV ,QWHUQVKLSVVHHPOLNHWKHURXWHWRJRLQDFKLHYLQJWKDW 'XULQJP\DUP\UHVHUYLVWWUDLQLQJ,KDGVRPHGLVJUXQWOHGDUP\PDWHVDQJU\WKDWWKH\ZHUHXQDEOHWRGHIHU XVLQJLQWHUQVKLSVDVDUHDVRQ 2QHZHQWDVIDUDVWRVD\WKDWKLVHQWLUHIXWXUHDQGFDUHHULVLQUXLQVEHFDXVHKHLVXQDEOHWRFRPSOHWHD ZHHNLQWHUQVKLSZLWKD¿UP :KLOHLWPD\EHDVWUHWFKWRVD\WKDWRQHPLVVHGLQWHUQVKLSZLOOUHOHJDWH\RXWRLQP\PRWKHU¶VZRUGV EHLQJ DURDGVZHHSHULWLVLPSRUWDQWWRQRWHWKHHPSKDVLVSODFHGRQLQWHUQVKLSVWRGD\ 7KLVLVDQDUHDZKHUHWKH1DWLRQDO8QLYHUVLW\RI6LQJDSRUH186 VHHPVWRKDYHORVWWRXFKZLWKKHU students. ,WLVH[DVSHUDWLQJWRVHHWKDW186RQO\RIIHUVYDFDWLRQLHVKRUWWHUP LQWHUQVKLSVDQGQRWVHPHVWHUORQJ programmes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±VRPHWKLQJDFODVVURRPHQYLURQPHQWFDQQHYHUUHFUHDWH 0\VKRUWHLJKWZHHNVSHOODW67DOORZHGPHWRJDLQVRPXFK1RZLPDJLQHZKDWDVL[PRQWKSURJUDPPH ZRXOGGRLQWHUPVRIJDLQLQJNQRZOHGJHDQGH[SHULHQFH ,ZDWFKZLWKHQY\P\IHOORZ178DQG608FROOHDJXHVZKRRQDVL[PRQWKDWWDFKPHQWOHDUQVRPXFKPRUH EXLOGLQJDVROLGQHWZRUNDQGFUHDWLQJERQGVZLWKWKHSHUPDQHQWVWDII :LOO,RUDQ\ERG\HOVHEHDEOHWRUHFUHDWHWKLVZLWKLQDVKRUWHQHGHLJKWWRZHHNVSDQ",WLVSRVVLEOHEXW KLJKO\XQOLNHO\0RUHRYHU,DPQRWHYHQJRLQJLQWRWKHRWKHUEHQH¿WVRILQWHUQVKLSVVXFKDVRSHQLQJGRRUV WRWKHFRPSDQ\IRUDSHUPDQHQWMRE ,QFRQFOXVLRQ186VWXGHQWVDUHORVLQJRXW,WLVKLJKWLPHWKHVFKRRODGPLQLVWUDWLRQWDNHVDORQJKDUGORRNDW WKHLQWHUQVKLSSURJUDPPHEHIRUHLWLVWRRODWH text-DVRQ+DX_MDVRQKDX#QXVHGXVJ

news 11

Stair climbing is an ungraded yet compulsory NUS activity text & photo &KLQ0HL.XDQ_PNFKLQ#QXVHGXVJ

IF YOU ARE READINGWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHZHOFRPHWRWKH1DWLRQDO8QLYHUVLW\RI 6LQJDSRUHIUHVKPHQRI$< ,IORRNLQJDWWKLVSLFWXUHUHPLQGV\RXRIWKHHQGOHVVVWDLUFOLPELQJ\RXZLOOEHGRLQJDJDLQ  ZHOFRPHEDFNVHQLRUV
12 news

Of CORS Planning text Fabius Chen | [email protected]

WHEN STUDENTS from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) began planning for the new semester, their preparations hit a roadblock. The Module Preference Exercise (MPE) is meant for FASS students to indicate which major modules they plan to take in the coming semester. The faculty will then pre-allocate these modules to students, wherever possible. This time round, however, deciding which modules to WDNHZDVVLJQL¿FDQWO\PRUHGLI¿FXOW For the entire duration of the MPE, from 10 to 15 July 2008, the full listing of modules was unavailable on the Centralised Online Registration System (CORS) website. This meant that FASS students could only view information for modules within their home faculty, on the faculty website. $W¿UVWEOXVKWKLVPLJKWQRWVHHPWREHDELJSUREOHP The MPE, after all, is meant for listing FASS modules that one wishes to take. However, it made planning for taking modules RXWVLGH WKH IDFXOW\ FRQVLGHUDEO\ PRUH GLI¿FXOW DQG problematic.

When fourth-year communications and new media student Ms Irys See learnt of this, her reaction was one of surprise.

In NUS, where university-level requirements see to it that every student has to take at least one module from outside their home faculty each semester, having full access to all the modules offered is crucial.

“I didn’t know I could check the respective faculties,” she said.

As it turns out, full module information was available on each faculty’s website, leaving students to piece together bits of information from different sources.

“In that way, it was irritating that I had to wait for the full listing to be posted centrally and an inconvenience overall.”

Unfortunately, many students were missing this little titbit of information.

It was a hassle that a large majority of students wanted no part of.

news 13

ng Modules Is Hard For the faculty, their efforts in pre-allocating these modules would also be wasted when a student ends up dropping one of them. Moreover, when bidding period starts, the faculty staff will have to keep a close eye on the number of students in each class to ensure that all available YDFDQFLHVDUH¿OOHG $V IRU VWXGHQWV WKH\ PLJKW MXVW ¿QG WKDW D PDMRU module that has been pre-allocated to them clashes with an elective they are interested in taking. It would then take time and effort to re-organise their timetable, ensure that there are no other clashes and ¿QDOO\ELGIRUWKHHOHFWLYHVWKDWWKH\ZDQW For third-year psychology major Ms Alicia Ngerng, it was more than a problem of merely re-planning her classes. “I would also have to forgo one or two bid points when I drop modules that have been pre-allocated to me,” she said. It is standard CORS’ policy that there will be no refund for modules obtained at one bid point if the students decide later on to drop the modules. According to Mr Bernard Lee, it was impossible to properly plan for either Breadth or General Education Modules (GEMs) without knowing the class and H[DPLQDWLRQVFKHGXOHVIRUPRGXOHVRXWVLGH)$66 The third-year sociology major said, “The lack of LQIRUPDWLRQGH¿QLWHO\KLQGHUHGP\WLPHWDEOHSODQQLQJ Not knowing the schedule of non-FASS modules had a domino effect that made planning my FASS modules that much harder.” 7KLV PHDQV H[WUD ZRUN IRU DOO SDUWLHV LQYROYHG DIWHU the full module listing is made available.

This may seem unfair, considering the circumstances that surrounded this semester’s debacle. 7KH RI¿FLDO H[SODQDWLRQ LV WKDW WKHUH ZDV D QHZ member of the CORS team, who took a little more time to list all the information centrally on the CORS website. All these are unnecessary inconveniences that could have been easily avoided, as Lee points out. “It would have saved everyone a great deal of time and effort if the full module listing had been available on the CORS website during the MPE,” he commented.

14 news

text & photo Eileen Poh | [email protected]

WALKING 10 MINUTES through a quiet park, as compared to half an hour on a bus, seems attractive enough for people to risk the potential dangers involved. Clementi Woods, located opposite the National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment, is often used as a shortcut between campus and housing estates located along West Coast Road. The 12-hectare park, used occasionally by joggers, does not lie along any main road, with the exception of its entrances and exits. Sodium streetlights, which give a dim orange glow, light the park at night. Dense vegetation DOVRÀDQNERWKVLGHVRIWKHIRRWSDWK Entrance of the park from the bridge leading to SDE3 Although NUS students do not commonly frequent the route, there are those attracted by the convenience and time saved by travelling through this short cut. Ms. Wong Yen Peng, a third-year Psychology student, said, “Instead of walking the perimeter of the park and then taking a bus to NUS, I can cut directly through the woods.” “It saves a lot of time and there is no need to wait for the bus,” Wong added. Dense vegetation that could provide perfect hiding spots for people with malicious intentions

The 22-year old has used the park as a shortcut to NUS when she was staying over at her aunt’s West Cove Condominiums.

news 15

Clementi Woods came into the limelight with the recent sexual assault case involving a female NUS student on Jun. 20, 2008. The incident has since become a talking point on campus, with students raising concerns of campus safety. A Sunday Times survey of 60 students in the three local universities published on Jun. 29, 2008 UHÀHFWHGWKDWPRVWVWXGHQWVIHOWWKDWWKHLUFDPSXVHV are safe. A subsequent poll of 20 NUS students by the ridge seems to indicate similar views, with many citing NUS as a safe campus.

“People usually take things for granted over PDWWHUVVXFKDVVDIHW\´VDLG0U*OHQ1JD¿UVW year Business student.

Yet there is cause for worry.

“It is only when a matter such as the sexual assault FDVHVXUIDFHVWKDWSHRSOHZRXOGWKHQUHÀHFWXSRQ where they have gone wrong, and what preventive measures could be taken,” said Ng.

Eighteen of the 20 students approached by the ridge felt that the school is responsible for the safety of its students, as long as they are within the school area. Although all the students the ridge spoke to also believed that individuals also share responsibility for their own safety, such reliance, even partial, on school authorities warns of possible complacency. The Clementi Woods incident also draws to attention the fact that students require such incidents to occur to remind themselves that constant vigilance is necessary.

The incident has indeed gotten students more aware and alert on issues of personal safety. “I might consider avoiding it [the park] or have company with me when taking the road late in WKHQLJKW´VDLG0V&KHQJ0XL/LDQDIRXUWK\HDU Sociology student. “There is always the possibility that such an unfortunate incident may happen,” she added. Mr. Ng agrees, “I would rather not risk my safety even if it takes more time to travel a little more.” “Safety should not be compromised,” he surmised.

“People usually take things for granted over matters such as safety,” 

0U*OHQ1JDÀUVW\HDU%XVLQHVVVWXGHQW

16 news

Youth Olympics Village no lon Rise in building expenses incurred from accelerating the construction of University Town was the main reason for the switch. text Eileen Poh | [email protected] Andrea Song | [email protected]

IN AN UNEXPECTED turn of events, the National University of Singapore’s University Town (U-Town) will no longer site the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Aug 2010. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a proposal by the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) on Aug 2 to relocate the YOV to its alternative option, the existing National Technological University (NTU) campus. U-Town was initially presented as the primary site for YOV in Singapore’s bid to host the games. As constructions were underway for U-Town, SYOGOC cited the NTU campus as an alternative site in contingency. Originally scheduled for an Aug 2010 completion date, construction works were accelerated to Feb 2010 to be in time for the games. With a global increase in construction cost and materials, this acceleration would now mean a VLJQL¿FDQWLQFUHDVHLQEXLOGLQJH[SHQVHVIRU186 In a joint media statement issued by NUS, NTU and SYOGOC released to students on Aug 2, SYOGOC concluded that the change of venue to NTU would be a more “prudent choice”. “The decision would be consistent with IOC’s instructions to keep the costs of organising YOG at a reasonable level,” the statement said.

The change of venue comes despite assurance by authorities that the completion will be on time. A Straits Times article on Feb. 7, 2008 reported Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong dismissing doubts that U-Town could not be completed on time. In another article on May 27, 2008, The Straits Times reported Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan giving his assurance that construction of the U-Town is on schedule, in a written reply to Mr. Seah Kian Peng. ³,W>WKHFKDQJHLQYHQXH@GRHVQRWUHÀHFWZHOO on NUS,” said Arif Rahman, a third-year political science student. “I don’t see why they can’t push for a bit more funds.” When the ridgeDWWHPSWHGWRUHDFKWKH2I¿FH of University Town Development, they were unavailable for comment by press time. The switch in venue raises a question – was the earlier plan of accelerating construction of U-Town too ambitious? An expert in real estate approached by the ridge had commented that the project “could be done”. However, the expert, who declined to be named, suggested that the venue change was possibly inline with a series of public building project deferments.

news 17

longer at NUS The government was reported to have postponed a total of $4.7 billion worth of projects to 2010 and beyond in an attempt to ease pressure on building costs, in an article by The Straits Times dated 23 Jul 2008. In response to the change in venue of YOV, Jeraldine Tan, a fourth-year sociology student, said the change did not make much of a difference to her. “It is not like we as students will do anything about it,” said the 22-year-old. Several others cited themselves as “not being bothered where it [the games] will be held at” and “not thinking very much about it”. While others do not concern themselves with the loss, students such Ong Zheng Wei, a secondyear chemical engineering student said he felt “disappointed” at the switch. Lim Yi Shan, a life sciences honours student, agreed with Ong. “I would feel that it really is a pity that NUS has lost the honour of hosting the Youth Olympic Games,” said Lim. However, she added that it was “more important to deliver a better Youth Olympic Games”. “In the end, we still want to make Singapore proud.”

$Q2I¿FHRI8QLYHUVLW\7RZQ'HYHORSPHQWPHHWLQJ ZDVVFKHGXOHGLQWKHZHHNRI$XJDVthe ridge ZHQWWRSULQW$VVXFKZHDUHXQDEOHWRSURYLGH XSGDWHVIURPWKHRI¿FH3OHDVHFKHFNRXUZHEVLWHDW ULGJHRQOLQHZRUGSUHVVFRPIRUWKHODWHVWXSGDWHV

Background on U-Town • When completed, Utown will provide a global learning environment for up to 6,000 students. • Nineteen hectares of land will be occupied by U-Town • U-Town will be connected to Kent Ridge Campus via a vehicular and pedestrian bridge across the Ayer Rajah Expressway. • U-Town will host the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology 60$57 WKHÀUVW research centre within the National Research Foundation’s Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE) • U-Town will also host the Asia Research Institute

18 news

LOST

As Singapore Art Cafe Closes, A Spirit of Esplanade Is text Hannah Yan | photo Sean Lim Chong Meng

AUG 1 2008 may be just another Friday for visitors to Esplanade. But as some music-lovers knew, a part of the Esplanade spirit was to be lost. The Singapore Art Cafe (SAC) located within the library@esplanade was to close down the next day and this was its last Open Mic. In a Facebook message, Mr. Jonathan How, the owner of SAC, sent out to group members one week before, he wrote: “I had to choose between quality of family life and the cafe. I chose the former. but I’m still adamant about having the best of both worlds. So... a revival of the SAC in the future? I dare not EDQJP\¿VWDQGFU\\HV,ZDQWWR´ The message immediately triggered a lot of replies. According to a later message titled “You’re WKH,QVSLUDWLRQ´-RQDWKDQZURWHWKDWKHZDV “OVERWHELMED by the outpouring of support, VDGQHVVHQFRXUDJHPHQWDQGDI¿UPDWLRQLQ response to the news that the Singapore Art Cafe is FORVLQJ´ The cafe has hosted Open Mic every Friday 7pm to 9pm the last three years where anyone is free to come up onstage to belt out songs, be it an original or a cover. The cafe has also hosted another programme S-Pop Open Mic every last Thursday of the month. Occasionally, Jonathan himself would make an appearance and accompany the singer onstage. People who performed in Open Mic were usually working adults or tertiary students who came down after work or school for a chill-out session at the cafe. As word got around about SAC’s imminent closure, more people started turning up for performances ZKLFKVDZWKHFDIH¿OOHGWRLWVPD[LPXPFDSDFLW\ with people seated at the adjacent library area. Likewise, that Friday’s Open Mic was held because

too many people signed up the previous Friday and didn’t get a chance to sing. At the end of the last Open Mic, Jonathan spent some time catching up with old friends and new acquaintances. While some called themselves ³LUUHJXODUSHUIRUPHUV´WKH\FRQVLGHUHGWKHPVHOYHV ³UHJXODUIULHQGV´RI-RQDWKDQ Daniel Jives, a regular patron of SAC who has performed from time to time in the cafe the last two years, said: “The cafe is my second home. It was ZKHUH,KDGP\¿UVWSHUIRUPDQFH´

Biddy, singer from local band Ark Analogy said she has always wanted to come to SAC to sing and has done so twice. “The cafe has really great culture. People who perform here feel at ease and were given the chance. It’s not only the closing down of a FDIHLWLVWKHFORVLQJGRZQRIDVSLULW´VDLG%LGG\ Another singer, Sean Lim who had his debut at the last S-Pop Open Mic the cafe held said “it was a sad RFFDVLRQ´DQGKDGVSHFLDOO\PDGHWLPHWRVLQJDW the cafe before it closed. He sung a Mandarin song E\(ULF0RRWLWOHG³
“After two and a half years, I can ÀQDOO\KDYHDUHVW%XWLW·VDOVR KHDUWEUHDNLQJ7KHFDIHKDVEHFRPH DODUJHSDUWRI PH1RZLW·VOLNH VRPHWKLQJLVJRQHµ 0U-RQDWKDQ+RZowner RI WKH6LQJDSRUH$UW&DIH

news 19 Besides playing host and helping to raise WKHSUR¿OHRIVHYHUDOORFDOPXVLFDFWVWKH FDIHKDVDOVRVHUYHGDVDPHHWLQJSODFHIRU PXVLFLDQVDQGDSODFHWRPHHWPXVLFLDQV ,QFK&KXDVLQJHURIORFDOEDQG$OOXUDKDV SUHYLRXVO\ZRUNHGDWWKHFDIHDVDZDLWUHVV IRU¿YHPRQWKV :KHQWKH6$&ZDVWRFORVHIRUWKHGD\DQG KLVFUHZVWDUWHGSDFNLQJXSWRJRKRPH -RQDWKDQWKDQNHGWKHPIRUWKHZRUNGRQH WKDWGD\+HWROGthe ridge: ³$IWHUWZRDQG DKDOI\HDUV,FDQ¿QDOO\KDYHDUHVW%XWLW¶V DOVRKHDUWEUHDNLQJ7KHFDIHKDVEHFRPHD ODUJHSDUWRIPH1RZLW¶VOLNHVRPHWKLQJLV JRQH´ :LWKWKUHH\RXQJFKLOGUHQZKRUHTXLUHKLV DWWHQWLRQDQGORYH-RQDWKDQGHFLGHGWKDW ZRUNLQJPRUHWKDQWHQKRXUVDGD\DWWKH FDIHZDVQRWDIHDVLEOHORQJWHUPSODQ )DPLO\EHLQJWKHPRVWLPSRUWDQWWR-RQDWKDQ KLVGHFLVLRQWRFORVHGRZQWKHFDIHDQG¿QG DGD\MREZDVRQHWKDWKDGWREHPDGH
20 outspoken

Semesters are really boring, really. text Thet Lin Thu

[BEFORE THE SEMESTER STARTS]: I am really enthusiastic about this semester’s modules. Mathematical Methods in Physics II, Electrodynamics I, Quantum Mechanics I. I start reading up the course pages, visit all the websites, download all the pdfs and free lecture notes on the subject online and fail to read them for the entire semester, but anyway...

[Start of semester]: They are teaching us ‘A’ levels DOORYHUDJDLQLWKDSSHQVDWWKH¿UVWZHHNRIHYHU\ semester. Mini revision. I wonder why they do this at DOO'LGQ¶WUHDOO\ERWKHUWRGR¿UVWZHHNWXWRULDOVLQFH it’s so cheap anyway.

Revision continues. When are they gonna give us the real deal? I visit the library, borrow the classical ERRNVZULWWHQE\WKHPDVWHUVHJ5XGLQ *XHVV what I did with them the entire semester? Lecture notes are boring. When you learn, you learn from Newton and Kant, else you don’t learn at all. That’s probably true.

I go to lectures but fail to see the point. Can’t FRQFHQWUDWHDQGHQGXSWDONLQJDERXWKRZ7KH'DUN Knight doesn’t deserve its No. 1 position at IMDB. 'RQ¶WUHDOO\NQRZZKDWOHFWXUHUVDLG,KRSHKH¶V ORXV\ZLOOFKHFNQH[WWLPH,JRIRUOHFWXUH6XGGHQO\ a friend has a major problem with a CCA which he needs help with. Waste a few days doing CCA. .LQGDZRUWKWKHH[SHULHQFHDQGWKH¿JKWZLWKWKH project director.

,KDYHQRWGRQHP\WXWRULDOVIRUWZRZHHNVQRZ 1DKLW¶VRN7ZRWXWRULDOVFDQEHGRQHLQSUREDEO\ two minutes. I read in the library and ditch the OHFWXUHQRWHVDORQJZLWKWKHOHFWXUHUZKRLV SUREDEO\ORXV\ 7KHTXLHWOLEUDU\JLYHV\RXDOO WKHWUDQTXLOLW\WRWKLQNUHDOO\UHDOO\ORQJDERXWWKH philosophy of the subject. Never mind the tutorials.

,UHDOL]H,KDYHDPLGWHUPLQWZRZHHNV+DYHQ¶W done a single tutorial nor did I go for any. :HHN6WDUWEODPLQJSURIHVVRUVIRUQRWJHWWLQJ wtf the course is about and crappy lecture notes.. :HHN6WDUWEODPLQJP\VHOIIRUIRUZKDWGLG, GRWKHODVWIRXUZHHNV" :HHN6WDUWEODPLQJ186DQGSURIHVVRUV again for having uninteresting, unintellectual and algorithmic course content. :HHN$ZZ,VKRXOGKDYHDUHVWRQ6DWXUGD\V and Sundays. Need to clear away the depression yeah? Need to destress.

outspoken 21

HOORAY!! MID SEMESTER BREAK!! Have midterms next week, but that’s like seven days away. Week 6.5: Haven’t started, will start soon. :HHN'LGQ¶W¿QLVKWKHWXWRULDOVLQWKHHQG

Revelation Space hits hard. I am done for. Go into high school mode. Finish all tutorials. By reading solutions. Actually can’t comprehend some solutions. Curse modules which don’t upload solutions !#$!^&@% ... lousy lecturer wasn’t one of them, his solutions are on the over-detailed side.

? Midterms. Only 20%. They say midterms never GHFLGHWKHJUDGHRQO\¿QDOVGR,EHOLHYHLQ semi-empirical nonsense (as long as there are anecdotes). Statistics is for losers.

Mope around in library from eight to 10. Still catching up for some modules. Some modules cleared. Problem is, the ratio is 5 to 1. And I only took 6 of them. Guess which side of the ratio is which.

84 X 20% = 16.8 I WANT AN A!

/HFWXUHUZDVQ¶WORXV\DIWHUDOOKHKDV¿QLVKHG chapter 10 and is really nice. Decide to catch up and actually overtake.

Midterm results come out. More anecdotes. Still camping out in the library, still have not done tutorials. Books tell one story, notes tell another. Books talk about inevitability of the subject but lecturer and tutor whacks problem-solving algorithms like some humorless AI.

Finished overdue project for one of the modules. Pat self on back. Go out for a drink with project mates. Still have not done tutorials.

Reading week. Time crawls to a standstill, like some indie movie. My life just turned indie. Library Vivaldi concerto (or is it Brahms?) rings in ears (you can hear this piece if you stay late enough in the library, but only on certain days).

Lousy lecturer asks all the questions he said he would ask in his lousy lecture.

Seriously do not do this. Risk failing in life by following in my footsteps.

22 transmedia

SHANTARAM Love, war, honour, spirituality, loyalty, hope, grief, courage, fear and much more ... text Christel Geralyn Gomes | [email protected]

EVERY WRITER WHO takes it upon himself to pen a 933-page novel has the uphill task of sustaining the reader’s waning attention. Gregory David Roberts does this effortlessly. Shantaram opens with a bang, and carries its pace and keeps its grit throughout. Roberts introduces his protagonist, Lin, a prison convict on the run, as he steps off a plane into Bombay’s searing heat and into a world where fate links him to the emerald-eyed beauty Karla, who opens to him the darker side of India; and Prabaker, a Bombay street guide who smiles through his soul. Prabaker soon blesses him with the joys of IULHQGVKLSDQGFRPPXQLW\OLYLQJLQWKH¿OWK\EULOOLDQW heart of Bombay and its steaming seething slum life. $¿FWLRQDOLVHGDXWRELRJUDSK\6KDQWDUDPFRPELQHV philosophical cleverness and wit, high action, an intimate look at Bombay’s rich culture and the darker side of its underworld. There is nothing this novel is not about; love, war, honour, spirituality, loyalty, hope, grief, courage and fear are but a few of the long list of themes taken by the neck and shaken to its roots.

multidimensional. His character is infused with the sort of deeply hungering passions only a writer retrospectively self-aware can pen with such intensity and truth. Elegantly poetic prose meets a society of colourful characters; there is hardly a dull moment. Shantaram is at its core a compassionate, sorrowing, loving and laughing tribute to the human heart and a love song to Bombay – a place the white man has come to call home. A basic knowledge of Indian culture would make your reading experience all the richer, but without, there is plenty to learn from in this passionate account of a man’s incredible journey which is ‘universalised by a complex architecture of allegorical and symbolical sub-strata.’ $OWKRXJK6KDQWDUDPUHDGVOLNHD%ROO\ZRRG¿OP – but better – it is Hollywood that will release the movie in 2009, starring Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachan.

The novel twists its way through a decade of experience shocking you with brutality in the dark corners of Indian prisons, war-caves of Afghanistan and in the whispering private rooms of the Bombay PD¿D But to say the novel is about the dark side of human existence is not even a half-truth. Its hero, Lin, christened “Shantaram” – meaning ‘man of peace’ – by the villagers of a tiny Marathi speaking village, quests to become just that, and his struggles with morality are too often our own. %HLQJVHPLDXWRELRJUDSKLFDOWKH¿UVWSHUVRQ narrative voice of its hero is richly authentic and

photoZZZIXQN\XQFHQVRUHG¿OHVZRUGSUHVVFRP

Be prepared to tumble along on a journey that takes you into a world so few see and even fewer tell about, much less in a voice shining with such pure honesty and vulnerability.

transmedia 23

Midnight Never Come $QDQFLHQWSDFWPDGVHHUVDQGHOÀQVSLHVDGRUQWKLVODWHVW KLVWRULFDOIDQWDV\IURP0DULH%UHQQDQ6RXQGVIDQFLIXO"

photoZZZOLWWOHEURZQFRXN

text/HRQJ6X=KHQ_OHRQJV]#KRWPDLOFRP

$WWKHKHDUWRIWKHPDWWHUOLHVDVHFUHWSDFWEHWZHHQ WKHWZRTXHHQVZKRVHGHDOKDYHEURXJKWWKHPWKH VXFFHVVLIQRWWKHKDSSLQHVVWKH\FUDYH +RZHYHUDOOLVQRWZHOOLQHLWKHUWKHKXPDQRUWKH IH\FRXUWVDVDOOLDQFHVFRQVWDQWO\VKLIWDQGOR\DOWLHV DUHZDWHU\(QWHULQJWKHVFHQHDUHWZRFRXUWLHUV /XQHDIDLU\VS\DQG0LFKDHO'HYHQDQHZO\ PLQWHG*HQWOHPDQ3HQVLRQHUZKRPXVWXQUDYHO WKHWUDJLFLQWULFDFLHVRIWKH2Q\[+DOODQGXQFRYHUD GDVWDUGO\SORWEHIRUHWKLQJVWDNHDWXUQIRUWKHZRUVH &RPSOH[DVWKHSORWVRXQGV%UHQQDQ¶VIDQWDVWLFDO WDOHLVQRWDWDOOKDUGWRIROORZPDNLQJIRUDOLJKW HDV\UHDG%RWKQHZFRPHUVDQGKDUGFRUHUHDGHUV RIWKLVUDWKHUVSHFL¿FJHQUHDOLNHZRXOGEHDEOHWR HQMR\WKHJUDGXDOXQIROGLQJRIWKHSORWWKHVSDUN RIFKHHV\URPDQFHDQGRIFRXUVHWKHWHDVLQJRXW RIUHIHUHQFHVWRUHDOOLIHHYHQWVSHRSOHDQGRWKHU OLWHUDWXUHDOORIZKLFKDUHJLYHQDIDQWDVWLFDOWZLVW *LYHQ%UHQQDQ¶VH[SHUWLVHLQWKHDUHDRIIRONORUHDQG DQWKURSRORJ\LWLVXQVXUSULVLQJWKDW0LGQLJKW1HYHU &RPHDERXQGVZLWKGHWDLORIWKHIDLU\LQKDELWDQWV DQGWKHLUTXLUNV

AN ANCIENT PACTPDGVHHUVDQGHO¿QVSLHVDGRUQ WKLVODWHVWKLVWRULFDOIDQWDV\IURP0DULH%UHQQDQ 6RXQGVIDQFLIXO"7REHVXUH%UHQQDQ¶V(OL]DEHWKDQ FRQVSLUDF\PD\QRWEHIRUHYHU\RQH¶VVWRPDFKEXWLW FHUWDLQO\VWLOOOHDYHVRQHZLWKDFRRODIWHUWDVWH 'HOLFLRXVO\UHSOHWHZLWKDOOWKHPXUGHUDQGP\VWHU\ RIWKH7XGRU&RXUW0LGQLJKW1HYHU&RPHLVDWDOH RIUHGHPSWLRQLQDGHFLGHGO\KDUVKDQGXQIRUJLYLQJ ZRUOG 8QGHU(OL]DEHWK,WKHFRXUWÀRXULVKHVLQXQEULGOHG GHFDGHQFH¿WWLQJLQGHHGIRURQHRI(QJODQG¶VPRVW FHOHEUDWHGPRQDUFKV%XWVXFKH[FHVVHQWDLOVJUHDW GHEWDQG(OL]DEHWKWRRLVERXQGE\WKHSULFHRIKHU VXFFHVV$VWKHUHDGHU¿QGVRXWZKLOH(OL]DEHWK PD\EHWKHUXOHURI(QJODQGDERYHXQGHUJURXQG WKHUHLVDQRWKHUUXOHU,QYLGLDQDWKH4XHHQRI)DLULHV DQGWKHIHDUHGUXOHURIWKH2Q\[+DOO

7KRVHH[SHFWLQJDFHUHEUDODFFRXQWRIWKH EDFNVWDJHZRUOGRI(OL]DEHWK¶VFRXUWZLOOKDYHWRORRN HOVHZKHUHKHUHWKHERXQGDULHVRIUHDOLW\DQG¿FWLRQ DUHDVLQWHUPL[DEOHDVWKDWEHWZHHQWKH2Q\[+DOO DQG(OL]DEHWKDQ(QJODQG,GHQWLWLHVDUHRIWHQÀXLG DQGHYHQWKHQWKHÀXLGLW\RIWHQFRQIXVLQJO\SRLQWV WRDJHQXLQHDQGQHFHVVDU\VWDWHRIEHLQJJLYHQWKH KDUVKSROLWLFDOJDPHVSOD\HGE\DOOPHPEHUVLQWKH FRXUWKLHUDUFK\ZKHUHRQHIDOVHVWHSPD\OHDGWR RQH¶VGHPLVH 7KHFKDUDFWHUVDUHEHOLHYDEOHDQGWKHSORWHDVLO\ NHHSVWKHUHDGHURQKHUWRHVJLYLQJRXWRQO\ WDQWDOL]LQJELWVRIWKHSX]]OHVKHUHDQGWKHUH 7ZRSDUWVP\VWHU\RQHSDUWURPDQFHDQGDSLQFK RIFKLOOLQJ0LGQLJKW1HYHU&RPHPDNHVIRUDQ HQWHUWDLQLQJVXPPHUUHDGDOOURXQG

24 24 transmedia transmedia

Lights in the sky A full length studio album from one of the biggest rock acts today for free??? text Hurrairah bin Sohail | [email protected] artwork http://dl.nin.com/theslip/

ABOUT THE ARTIST NINE INCH NAILS, commonly referred to as NIN, almost exclusively the child of Trent Reznor, is an industrial rock act from America. With almost 20 years in the music business and eight albums to date, there is no doubt that NIN UDQNDVRQHRIWKHPRVWLQÀXHQWLDODUWLVWVRIRXU generation (one that is sadly quite bereft of a share of rock gods). David Bowie has compared NIN to The Velvet Underground and Reznor has appeared on the 7LPHPDJD]LQH¶VOLVWRIPRVWLQÀXHQWLDOSHRSOHIRU the year 1997. Nine Inch Nails melds drum beats, synth loops, jarring guitars and noise on their studio albums and then effectively deconstruct it for the live spectacle.

“Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years – this one’s on me” – Trent Reznor

The revolving door of artists that have played for NIN include Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson), Aaron North (The Icarus Line) and Robin Finck (Guns ‘n Roses) among many others, all of which have made every incarnation of the band a progression from the old. :LWK1,1¿QDOO\EHLQJIUHHRIFRQWUDFWXDOREOLJDWLRQV to record companies, it seems that with the new album The Slip, Trent Reznor is set to move not only his band and music forward, but also bring its distribution, retail and dissemination into the modern era. Totally embracing the digital age, the last few NIN albums have all relied heavily on the internet. Year Zero (2007) was marketed entirely through an online reality-based game, while Ghosts I–IV (2008) and The Slip (2008) have both been distributed online before their physical release.

transmedia 25 But what clearly sets The Slip apart from all of NIN’s preceding work are its lyrics. While Reznor has previously sung about copulating like an animal and feeling you from the inside (“Closer”), on the QHZWUDFN³'LVFLSOLQH´ZKLFKLVWKH¿UVWVLQJOHRII the album, he questions his deviant streak: “Is my viscousness losing ground?” The lyrics “I’d rather die/ Than give you control” (“Head Like A Hole”) have now been replaced by “I need your discipline/ I need your help”.

THE SLIP Transmedia Rating: Nine Inch Nails eighth album The Slip (or Halo 27) has been put out on the independent Null Corporation label, which seems to be an extension of Trent Reznor’s own Nothing Records, and clocks in at around 44 minutes (the shortest NIN album since Pretty Hate Machine). The album is a twisted amalgamation of man and machine, metal and melody. The sound for the record is classic NIN with dark, funky beats, industrial hisses and clicks, aural soundscapes and lush piano. In fact, the songs on The Slip are so reminiscent of Reznor’s work from The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1998) that the album seems like a greatest hits collection, which is not necessarily a bad thing. That being said, this album stands out as some of NIN’s best work to date. The music still retains its ability to transport the listener to an entirely different darker, subversive reality. The drums have a particular snarl, the guitar tones are a shade different and the vocals and synth sound more menacing than ever, even though their delivery is softer this time round, making the album an excellent piece of music. Songs like “Echoplex” make the listener feel as if he is claustrophobic while standing in open space. And WKLVSDUDGR[LFDOIHHOLQJLVWKHGH¿QLWLYHLPSDFWThe Slip leaves on you, with songs like “Corona Radiata” and “The Four Of Us Are Dying” following in the same vein. The latter two are entirely instrumental WUDFNVVKRZLQJ5H]QRU¶VJURZLQJFRQ¿GHQFHLQKLV orchestration and compositional prowess.

Another feature which has been carried forward from Ghosts I –IV (2008) is the fact that all the songs are accompanied by unique pictures or artwork giving all the songs individual identities and making the album a more multidimensional, layered work of art. To top off what is already a truly impressive album, Reznor does Radiohead one better and has made the entire album available for download completely gratis. While Radiohead might have asked (begged?) consumers to pay what they like, Trent Reznor doesn’t ask for a single pence. In his own words on the NIN website, the download links for The Slip were accompanied by the following message “thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years – this one’s on me”. The Slip was released online under the Creative Commons licence and can be downloaded free of any charge from the following link: http://dl.nin.com/ theslip/. I strongly recommend everyone to have a listen, since it won’t be costing you a buck. A physical release of the album is also to follow. The Slip will be released as a numbered digipack. The CD will come with a live DVD of the band rehearsing material, a 24 page booklet and stickers and there will only be 200,000 copies pressed.

26 transmedia

the ridgeWDONVWRÀOPPDNHU(ULF.KRRRYHUDJODVVRILFHGZDWHU DERXWKLVODWHVWÀOP¶0\0DJLF·$QGDELWPRUH text :RQJ3HL
WHEN FILMMAKER (ULF.KRR¿UVWHQWHUV LQWRVLJKWWKLVZULWHUEUHDNVLQWRDVPLOH +HLVLQKLVWUDGHPDUNEODFNWVKLUWEODFN WKLFNULPPHGJODVVHVJROGFKDLQDURXQG WKHQHFNDQGMHDQV³$K)LQDOO\KH¶V KHUH´VD\V)RQJ&KHQJDSURGXFHU DW=KDR:HL)LOPVZKRKHOSHGDUUDQJH WKLVLQWHUYLHZ7KHUHLVDURXQGRI LQWURGXFWLRQVDQGKLVKDQGVKDNHLV¿UP DQGZDUP :KLOH.KRR¶V¿OPV0HH3RN0DQ  6WRUH\V DQG%H:LWK 0H DUHFRQVLGHUHGDQLQWHJUDO SDUWRIWKH6LQJDSRUH6LQJDSRUHDQ¿OP FDQRQWKHUHLVVRPHWKLQJDERXWWKH ¿OPPDNHUWKDWSXWVKLPDWRGGVZLWK ZKDWVXSSRVHGO\GH¿QHV³6LQJDSRUHDQ´ ±DVRUWRIXQGHUJURXQGUHEHOIURPWKH ZD\KLV¿OPVUHYHDOZLWKVWDUWOLQJFODULW\ DQRSSUHVVLYHQHVVLQ6LQJDSRUH¶V HQYLURQPHQWDQGVRFLHW\ULJKWGRZQ WRWKHJXPKHLVFKHZLQJGXULQJWKH LQWHUYLHZ ³,W¶VIRUP\JXPGLVRUGHU,KDYHDJXP GLVHDVH\RXNQRZ´KHGHDGSDQVLQD GHHSDQGRSHQWHQRUEHIRUHEXUVWLQJ LQWRDVKRUWODXJK $OWKRXJK.KRRKDVEHHQNQRZQWRKDYH DQDIIHFWLRQIRUEHHU³$OFRKROLVOHJDO DPRQJVWRWKHUWKLQJV«´ KHRUGHUVLFHG ZDWHUIURPWKHEDUDW*RRGZRRG3DUN +RWHODOVRZKHUHKLVSURGXFWLRQKRXVH =KDR:HL)LOPVLVVLWXDWHGDWWKHKRWHO QRWWKHEDU ³,GRQ¶WGULQNEHHUYHU\ RIWHQDQ\PRUH,¶PQRZPRUHRIDYRGND DQGWRQLFSHUVRQ´KHVD\V

transmedia 27 However, it’s also probably because it’s four in the afternoon and he has a meeting later. In fact, Khoo has squeezed in this interview after another meeting with the Health Promotion Board. “It was for a commercial. Oh, you know the usual. Smoke!, drink!, litter everywhere…” He takes a sip of the iced water and still chewing his gum begins by relating his days as a student in Australia where he studied cinematography at the City Art Institute in Sydney during his late teens. “You know, Australians are very laidback, hanging around getting drunk. I remember there was this bar called The Exchange and we would start drinking at three or four in the afternoon and get trash drunk.” Given all that talk about alcohol, it is also perhaps no surprise that Khoo got WRNQRZKLVIDYRXULWH¿OPPDNHU)LQQLVK director Aki Kaurismäki over “big cocktails and talked till 3am in the morning.” However, behind the camera, Khoo is “strictly sober.” .KRRZKRVD\VKH³ZDWFKHVDORWRI¿OPV that other people don’t watch”, says that ZKDWPDWWHUVWRKLPPRVWLQD¿OPLV³DQ engaging story and the way it’s told.” $ORQJVLGHKLVSHQFKDQWIRUKRUURU¿OPV where he “would get right to the chase and get right to the gore”, Khoo cites the LQGLHÀLFN/LWWOH0LVV6XQVKLQH DV WKHNLQGRI¿OPKHHQMR\V 7KLVLVH[DFWO\WKHNLQGRI¿OP.KRR¶V ODWHVWRIIHULQJ0\0DJLFLVOLNH6WDUULQJ UHDOOLIHPDJLFLDQ%RVFR)UDQFLVDQG secondary school student Jathishweran, 0\0DJLFLVDVLPSOHIDWKHUDQGVRQVWRU\ that Khoo has been pondering for several \HDUVDQG¿QDOO\PDGH,QWKH¿OP)UDQFLV plays an alcoholic who tries to reconnect with his estranged son. 0\0DJLFZKLFKZLOOEHUHOHDVHGORFDOO\ WKLV1RYHPEHUZDVDOVRWKH¿UVW¿OP from Singapore to qualify for the main competition in Cannes.

³,W¶VD¿OPWKDW¶VYHU\SHUVRQDOWRPH because I’m a father myself.” He adds with pride, “Plus, did you know? 0\VRQ&KULVDFWXDOO\FRPSRVHGWKH WKHPHWRWKH¿OP+HFRPSRVHVRQ WKHÀ\,GRQ¶WNQRZKRZKHGRHVLW EXWKHSOD\VMXVWOLNHWKDW´.KRRKDV four sons aged nine to 14. The eldest, (GZDUGKDVVWDUWHGPDNLQJVKRUW¿OPV with a Super 8; James, 13, plays the JXLWDU&KULVWRSKHULVWKHUHVLGHQW FRPSRVHUDQGWKH\RXQJHVW/XFDV ZDVGHVFULEHGDV³DMRNHU´E\WKH affectionate father. In describing the phenomenal response 0\0DJLFKDGDW&DQQHV.KRRLV animated and still seems in genuine awe of the event. “It’s amazing. There were limousines. The precision of the event was down to the second. It was WKH¿UVWWLPHD¿OPZHVXEPLWWHGPDGH it to the main competition. The scale of it was astounding. I’ve never been inside the hall and when I went in, I saw the place and I was amazed. A little 6LQJDSRUH¿OPDQGZLWKWKHFKHDSHVW EXGJHWQROHVV,WMXVWSURYHV\RXGRQ¶W need a big budget and fancy effects, MXVWDVLPSOHVWRU\WKDWLVZHOOWROG´ “There was this big burly man who came up to me after the screening and tried to hug me. This big, huge guy – crying. It was phenomenal.” After 45 minutes towards the end of WKHLQWHUYLHZ.KRRLVYLVLEO\¿GJHW\³, really need a cigarette. But we’re almost done, right?” Almost. After all is said and done, what does Khoo want to leave behind? 7KHDQVZHULVVLPSOH³0\¿OPVDQGWKH stories they tell.”

To read more of the interview, please visit www.ridgeonline.wordpress.com

photo WDQSLQSLQFRPVJJHQTXLULHVKWPOSLFDVDZHEJRRJOHFRPH\HZLWQH]]

28 transmedia

/LPVSHZLQJIUDFWLRXVGHDGSDQZLWDV7HH HPEOHPDWLFRIWKHUHEHOOLRXV\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQ ELGGLQJWRVWUD\IURPWKHDXWKRULWDWLYHROGJXDUG LET’S ADMIT IT. 7KHUHDUHPDQ\¿OPVZKLFKGLVVHFWORFDO FXOWXUHEXWPRUHIRUVDWLULFDOSXUSRVHVUDWKHUWKDQWR IHHOJRRGHIIHFW

6WRUH\VLVDUDUHJHP²DFRQVFLRXV H[SORUDWLRQRIWKHVXEFRQVFLRXVUHSUHVVLRQRI KHDUWODQG6LQJDSRUHDQV

0RVW6LQJDSRUHDQ¿OPVDUHWUDJLFRPHGLHVDQGLQ DLPLQJWRUHYHDOKDUVKUHDOLWLHVDUHRIWHQELWWHUVZHHW 7KH\FKDOOHQJHWKHVHHPLQJSHUIHFWLRQRIWKHLVODQG VWDWHDQGTXHVWLRQRXUSULGHLQLWEXWDWUXHFHOHEUDWLRQ RI6LQJDSRUHFDQDOVRFRPHIURPVLQFHUHSRUWUD\DOVRI XQSOHDVDQWWUXWKVDQGPDQ\RIWKHVH¿OPVGRLWEHVW

Singapore Dreaming 'LUHFWHGE\:RR
12 Storeys 3RSXODUO\UHJDUGHGDVWKHEHVW6LQJDSRUHDQ¿OPHYHU WRJUDFHWKHVLOYHUVFUHHQ(ULF.KRR¶V6WRUH\VLV DOVRWKH¿UVWORFDO¿OPWRVFUHHQDWWKHSUHVWLJLRXV &DQQHV)LOP)HVWLYDO .KRRSDLQWVDEOHDNSRUWUDLWRIORFDOKHDUWODQGOLIH 7KURXJKWKHGLIIHUHQWVWRULHVFRQWDLQHGLQXQLTXHO\ 6LQJDSRUHDQ+'%ÀDWV.KRRFRQFXUUHQWO\H[SORUHV WKHHPRWLRQDODUFKLWHFWXUHRIWKHKHDUWODQGV²ZLWK WLJKWO\SDFNHGOLYLQJTXDUWHUVIRUPLQJSHUIHFWKRWEHGVRI VWLÀLQJURXWLQH :KROO\PDGHLQ6LQJDSRUH(ULF.KRRXVHVRQO\PXVLF E\ORFDODUWLVWHVDQGKLVEROGO\VXEYHUVLYHVW\OHLV VWULFWO\VDWLULFDO %HVLGHVWKHVWURQJDUWLVWLFYLVLRQWKHUHLVDOVRD PHPRUDEOHSHUIRUPDQFHE\D\RXQJ5RGHULFN

+RZHYHUMXVWDV$PHULFDQVVWULYHIRUWKHLU ULJKWVWRWKHSXUVXLWRIKDSSLQHVVZHWRR KDYHWKH6LQJDSRUHDQ'UHDP7KLV¿OPLV DQDXWKHQWLFDQGXQDGXOWHUDWHGWDNHRQWKH GHVWUXFWLYHGHVLUHVRIWKHPLGGOHFODVVH[SORULQJ GLVVDWLVIDFWLRQVVRUHDOLW¶VXQFRPIRUWDEOHWR ZDWFK Perth 3HUWKLVDQHPELWWHUHGWDOHRIHQQXLDQGYLROHQW GLVVLGHQFHDQG/LP.D\7RQJLVFRPSHOOLQJ DV0U+DUU\/HHD\HDUROGWD[LGULYHUZKR GUHDPVRI3HUWKDVWKHXOWLPDWHUHWLUHPHQW UHWUHDWDQGVHOIULJKWHRXVO\OD\VFODLPWRµWKH VLPSOHOLIH¶ZKLOHUDJLQJDJDLQVWKLVRZQGHPRQV

transmedia 29

The Singapore Story: 5 Local Films To Go Nationalist text Tay Huizhen [email protected]

perfect tongue-in-cheek expression of the foibles of Singaporean youth, who race around on motorbikes in dizzying expresswaytunnel rides. Easy on its satirical punches, Eating Air is a lovable MTV romance set LQ0HUOLRQODQGD¿OPZRUWK a watch just to behold the potential of local cinema and its delights. Singapore Gaga

Mr. Lee does what Singaporeans do best — complain, about his dissatisfactions with society. However, his clamour for justice and integrity simultaneously reveals cracks in his own character as he hypocritically preaches loyalty. Think Sean Penn in The Assassination of Richard Nixon, or De Niro in Taxi Driver, and you’ve got the picture. The montage of a delirious Lee on the brink of insanity serves up the difference, and sheds light on local superstitious practices. Perth is a brutally honest picture of a dark side of Singapore most would choose to ignore, and the LVODQG¶VFRQÀLFWHGFRVPRSROLWDQFXOWXUHLVPDGH stark in this bold piece by Djinn. Eating Air Anybody remember the Teenage Textbook Movie (1998)? There are few rom-coms in Singapore which stand out, but Eating Air with its edge and verve, spins it with pizzazz. With perhaps the least obviously enchorial plot of all, Eating Air is a refreshingly raucous exploration of local gen-X life. Crafted for the anime generation and Bruce Lee-fanatics, teenage fantasies of largerthan-life forces take centre stage within the context of Singaporean lifestyles. Directors Kelvin Tong and Jasmine Ng kicks it ROGVFKRROZLWKWKHLUVNHWFKRQJDQJ¿JKWVDQG adolescent angst, and Augie March’s lyrics of how “there’s nothing there, it’s like eating air...” is the

Tan Pin Pin’s Singapore Gaga warrants a mention because its kaleidoscopic view breathes life beyond the pragmatist veil of the island-state and sheds light on its lesser-known facets. The documentary is an hour-long showcase of unsung heroes of everyday Singapore life, from lonesome buskers to wheelchair-bound ‘tissue paper lady’ Liang Yu Tao. A shot of patriotic fervour is administered through interviews with prominent home grown artistes and poignant illustrations of their inspirations from Singapore’s past. A riveting scene involves 4”33’ (4 minutes and 33 seconds) performer, Margaret Leng Tan as she conducts John Cage’s controversial composition at a ‘void deck’. The silence renders Singapore’s aural landscape the real star of the show. 7KH¿OPLVDKHDUWIHOWFODVVLFDV6LQJDSRUHDQVDUH portrayed jocularly and simply as an endearing race—of beautiful souls with their quirks and peculiarities. So Stand Up For Singapore and grab these titles to get into the spirit of 9th August — to feel for oneself the heart and soul of this land, and that of those who inhabit it. A visit to Sinema Old School should do the trick, DQGZLWKDOOVRUWVRIORFDO¿OPSDUDSKHUQDOLDLV guaranteed to put you in the mood for homegrown art.

30 lifestyle

PeoplePage

- Kelvin Lee, Business

A hot girl on my arm is the best accessory a man can have.

Lifestyle asks you: What is the one article of clothing/accessory that you feel is a must-have for your gender when going back to school?

6NLQQ\M HDQVZK LFK¿WZ dressing HOOJRRG up or do IRU wn. Eve good pa n if its ju ir you o st one wn, com tops me bining it ans no w it one has h other to know . - Farah Miller, B usiness

A decent pair of jeans that can be worn on any day, at anytime - even on the days when you rummage through the bottomless pit that is your cupboard and feel nauseous at the prospect of having to dig out something to wear to school - Natasha Mitter, Arts A must have for MY gender? Girls should wear thongs with tight/white bottoms. - Jasmin Kaur, Law  \VDQGKLS QJ0RQGD UL R E  U ¶V R Q I R HUV \ÀDWV OODERXWDS URPWUHQG WHOO\RXD FRXUVH) Q I D R F V V H H R R K K 6 D\V6 s UÀLUW\)ULG , Busines SXPSVIR . e ra Guruge b a ih ro N rd a w ENTIRE

Bag! You can tell a person’s personaility from his or her bag, ie. plastic bag versus leather bag. I’ll go for shoes too, different shoes for different occasions. - Luke Cheong Zheng Chang, Arts

- Grace Chew Lusheng Business

desk 03

32 career

In the JPMorgan Fast Lane Mention JPMorgan, and a vision of gleaming suits and a fast-paced work environment comes to mind. We speak to the people at the prestigious investment bank to get insights into life at JPMorgan. text'HQQLV3KXD_GHQQLVSKXD#QXVHGXVJ AS THE SOFT RAYS RIWKHHDUO\PRUQLQJOLJKW¿OWHUHG into the conference room in Capital Tower, four 186VWXGHQWVEX]]HGH[FLWHGO\7RGD\PDUNHG WKH¿QDOZHHNRIWKHLUVXPPHULQWHUQVKLS SURJUDPDQGRQHFRXOGIHHOWKHLUH[FLWHPHQWWR UHODWHWKHLUXQLTXHH[SHULHQFHV 7KHZHHNORQJ6XPPHU,QWHUQVKLS3URJUDP FRPPHQFHGRQ0D\2XWRIWKHLQWHUQFODVV VL]HRIVWXGHQWVIURP6LQJDSRUH8QLYHUVLWLHV ZHUHIURP1867KHVHVWXGHQWVZHUHSODFHGLQ YDULRXVOLQHVRIEXVLQHVVHVLQWKH¿UP±LQFOXGLQJ 7UHDVXU\DQG6HFXULWLHV6HUYLFHV766 ,% 2SHUDWLRQV,%)LQDQFH6DOHV 7UDGLQJDQG 5HVHDUFK$SSOLFDWLRQV6XPPHULQWHUQVKLSVLQ WKH¿UPRSHQHGDVHDUO\DV$XJXVWODVW\HDU -DQLFH*RKRQHRIWKHLQWHUQVZKRKDGMXVW JUDGXDWHGZLWKDQ(FRQRPLFVGHJUHHKDG DSSOLHGIRUWKHLQWHUQVKLSODVW6HSWHPEHUEHFDXVH ³-30RUJDQLVRQHRIWKHVWURQJHVWLQYHVWPHQW EDQNVLQWKH¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHVLQGXVWU\DQGDYHU\ JRRGEUDQG´ 2QHRIWKHREMHFWLYHVRIWKHLQWHUQVKLSSURJUDP LVWRSURYLGHKLJKSHUIRUPLQJVWXGHQWVIURP 6LQJDSRUH8QLYHUVLWLHVD¿UVWKDQGH[SHULHQFHRI ZRUNLQJLQWKH¿QDQFLDOVHUYLFHVLQGXVWU\ 7KHSURJUDPLVE\QRPHDQVD³VXPPHUKROLGD\´ ,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHLUGDLO\UHVSRQVLELOLWLHVLQWHUQV ZHUHDVVLJQHGJURXSVWRZRUNRQFDVHVWXGLHV ZKLFKWKH\QHHGHGWRSUHVHQWEDFNWRWKHLU PDQDJHUVDWWKHHQGRIWKHLQWHUQVKLS %DVHGLQ7UHDVXU\6HUYLFHV-DQLFH¶VUROH UHYROYHVDURXQGPDQDJLQJFDVKSULYDWHO\IRU

FRUSRUDWLRQV:KLOHVKHDGPLWVWKHUROHLV FKDOOHQJLQJVKHZDVJLYHQDORWRIJXLGDQFHDQG RSSRUWXQLWLHVWROHDUQ ³0\PDQDJHULVUHDOO\KHOSIXODQGZLOOLQJWR WHDFKPH7KHUHDUHDOVR³/XQFKDQG/HDUQ´ VHVVLRQVZKHUHZHSLFNXSYDOXDEOHWLSVIURP WKHH[SHULHQFHVRIRXULQWHUQDWLRQDOO\GLYHUVH FROOHDJXHV7KH\RIIHUPHQHZSHUVSHFWLYHVDQGDQ DGGHGVHQVHRIGLUHFWLRQLQP\OLIH´ 9LVD\RQ9LUDYRQJ%XVLQHVV)LQDQFHPDMRUZKR LVLQWHUQLQJLQWKH)LQDQFHGHSDUWPHQWDGGHG ³7KHUHDUHDOVRLPSUHVVLYHUHVRXUFHVDYDLODEOH IRUHPSOR\HHVWRNHHSXSWRGDWHZLWKPDUNHW GHYHORSPHQWVHJ0RUJDQ0DUNHWV-30RUJDQ¶V SURSULHWDU\UHVHDUFKSURGXFWSODWIRUPGHGLFDWHGIRU LQVWLWXWLRQDOLQYHVWRUVDQGRWKHUOHDUQLQJSRUWDOV DQGEXVLQHVVQHZVOHWWHUV±DOOYHU\JRRGDQG KHOSIXOUHVRXUFHVIRUPH´ %KDUWL%KDUJDYDZKRKROGVD0DVWHUVRI6RFLDO 6FLHQFHLQ(FRQRPLFVUHDGLO\DJUHHV6KHZDV SRVWHGWRWKH(TXLW\5HVHDUFK'LYLVLRQLQWKH¿UP ,QDGGLWLRQWRFKDOOHQJLQJZRUN%KDUWLDOVRKDGWR DGDSWWRWKHIXOOURXWLQHRIGDLO\DPPHHWLQJV ZKLFKPHDQWKHUZRUNLQJGD\VVWDUWDWDPDQGDW WLPHVGRQRWHQGWLOOODWHLQWKHHYHQLQJ ³,GLVFXVVWKHODWHVWGHYHORSPHQWVLQWKHJOREDO HTXLW\PDUNHWVZLWKP\FROOHDJXHV6RPHWLPHV, FRPHEDFNWRWKHRI¿FHDIWHUGLQQHUWRZUDSXSWKH GD\¶VZRUN´ 'HVSLWHWKHLQWHQVHMREFKDOOHQJHV%KDUWLVKDUHG ³7KHLQWHUQVKLSLVZHOOVWUXFWXUHGDQG,JHWWRZRUN

´,ZRUNZLWK7\SH$FRQÀGHQWLQGLYLGXDOVZKRDUHYHU\VHOI PRWLYDWHG:HHYHQKDYHRXUOXQFKLQWKHRIÀFHWRPRQLWRUWKH PDUNHWµ 0%$VWXGHQW&KDUQFKDL&KHHYDNULDQJJUDL

career 33

and build may personal networks extensively with the best people.” And as fellow MBA student Charnchai Cheevakrianggrai who was assigned to do his LQWHUQVKLSRQWKHWUDGLQJÀRRUSXWVLW³,ZRUNZLWK 7\SH$FRQ¿GHQWLQGLYLGXDOVZKRDUHYHU\ VHOIPRWLYDWHG:HHYHQKDYHRXUOXQFKLQWKHRI¿FH to monitor the market!” ,IRQHQRZJHWVWKHLPSUHVVLRQWKDW-30RUJDQLVDOO KDUGZRUNDQGQRSOD\WKHVHLQWHUQVEHJWRGLIIHU 2QWRSRIWZRVRFLDOHYHQWVVSRQVRUHGE\WKH¿UP – a mid-internship drinks event and the internship JUDGXDWLRQWKHLQWHUQVDOVRJHWWRJHWKHUUHJXODUO\ RXWVLGHRIZRUN&KDUQFKDLDGGV³:HGRKDYHIXQ together and take turns to organize social activities like board game nights and barbeques.” )RUVWXGHQWVLQWHUHVWHGLQDFDUHHUZLWK-30RUJDQ .DUHQ(YHUHWW9LFH3UHVLGHQWRI$3$&*UDGXDWH 5HFUXLWPHQWDW-30RUJDQDGYLVHGWKDWWKH DSSOLFDWLRQZLQGRZLVRSHQIURPWKH¿UVWZHHN of August this year for full time and internship SRVLWLRQV,QWHUHVWHGFDQGLGDWHVVKRXOGDSSO\HDUO\ as competition is stiff.

³/DVW\HDURXWRIDSSOLFDWLRQVIURP6LQJDSRUH UHFHLYHGZHUHRIIHUHGLQWHUQVKLSSRVLWLRQVDQG 15 secured full-time graduate positions.” :KHQDVNHGRQWKHSUR¿OHRIFDQGLGDWHVSUHIHUUHG .DUHQH[SODLQV³2XUVHOHFWLRQFULWHULDDUHQRW solely based on grades. We look for candidates who are well-rounded. There are core qualities that we look for with all candidates. These include DJHQXLQHLQWHUHVWLQWKH¿QDQFHLQGXVWU\DQGWKH VSHFL¿FEXVLQHVVZLWKLQWKHEDQNWKDW\RXDUH DSSO\LQJWRFXULRVLW\DQGDFRPPLWPHQWWROHDUQLQJ attention to detail and belief in teamwork. Many UROHVVXFKDVWHFKQRORJ\EDQNLQJDQGVDOHV  trading require strong analytical and numerical skills. We also need people who have drive and are able to perform under pressure. ³&DQGLGDWHVZKRDUHVKRUWOLVWHGZLOOEHLQYLWHGWR WKH¿UVWURXQGRILQWHUYLHZVZKLFKW\SLFDOO\ODVWV minutes. This interview focuses on the candidate’s ODQJXDJHVNLOOVFDUHHULQWHUHVWVEXVLQHVVDFXPHQ DQGJOREDORXWORRN6XEVHTXHQWLQWHUYLHZVDQG assessment centers will evaluate the candidate’s competencies which could include a combination of LQWHUYLHZVWHFKQLFDOWHVWVLQGLYLGXDORUWHDPFDVH studies and presentations.”

34 wired

ph

oto

go od ge arg uid e.c om .au

Fujitsu U1010 3.5G UMPC Review text Gurmesh Singh | [email protected]

THE FUJITSU U1010 3.5G does indeed live up to its name billing as an ultra-mobile personal computer. In fact, judging by its size, you would be forgiven for mistaking it as one of those portable DVD players.

Browsing the Internet in our test unit with the 3.5G connection on M1 broadband was a breeze with the accompanying software. In fact, loading times for most websites were rather quick.

Equipped with Intel’s A110 processor, it will not allow for any type of gaming. However, it certainly provides enough processing power to get some serious work done.

The U1010 is rather sturdy with the screen not easily knocked out of position. With a simple swivel of the screen, it transforms into a little tablet PC. The passive touch panel allows for rather accurate touch recognition as well.

The party piece in the U1010 UMPC is the ability to make use of your telco’s 3.5G network, which would typically allow you to experience speeds of up to 3.6 Mbytes/sec. Granted, it may not be fast compared with what a typical broadband connection may afford you, but in Singapore’s context, connectivity is virtually island-wide, so it more than makes up for the relative lack of speed.

Another interesting feature is the set of built-in lights which can be used to illuminate the area above the QWERTY keyboard, especially when used in dimly lit areas. The U1010 is rather well equipped for such a small device, with a LAN/VGA adapter connector slot,

wired 35 0.3 megapixel integrated camera, built-in digital PLFURSKRQHFRPSDFWÀ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¿QJHUVLQPLQG 7\SLQJ\RXUHVVD\VRQWKH8ZRXOGWKXVQRW

EHVRPHWKLQJWKDWZRXOGEHUHFRPPHQGHG%DWWHU\ OLIHZLWKWKHVWDQGDUGFHOOEDWWHU\LVUDWHGDVXS WRKRXUV$EDWWHU\GUDLQWHVWZLWK:L)LWXUQHGRQ \LHOGHGDQXSWLPHRIMXVWRYHUKRXUVZKLFKLV UHDVRQDEOH 2YHUDOOWKH8*803&ZDVPDGHZLWKWKH PRELOHXVHULQPLQG7KHVPDOOGLPHQVLRQVFRXSOHG ZLWKWKHIDFWWKDWLWZHLJKVLQDWDSDOWU\JUDPV ZRXOGPHDQWKDWLWZRXOGFHUWDLQO\QRWEHDFKRUH FDUU\LQJLWDURXQGZKHUHYHU\RXJR 7KH8*FDQEHSXUFKDVHGZLWKWKH0 %URDGEDQGSODQ ZLWK\HDUVLJQXSWR%URDGEDQGRU  ZLWK\HDUVLJQXSWR%URDGEDQGSODQ

+DUG'LVN'ULYH LQFK3$7$8OWUD'0$USP 60$57VXSSRUW 3ODWIRUP,QWHOŠ8OWUD0RELOHSODWIRUP  ,QWHOŠSURFHVVRU$0+]  .%/FDFKH0+])6%  ,QWHOŠ*8([SUHVV&KLSVHW  ,QWHOŠ,&+8,2&RQWUROOHU+XE 'LVSOD\LQFK6XSHU)LQH:69*$ ;SL[HOV3DVVLYH7RXFK 3DQHO 0HPRU\*%''50+] +DUG'LVN*% %DWWHU\8SWRKUVFHOO/L,RQP$K :HLJKWNJ 'LPHQVLRQV PP: [PP' [PP+ 2SWLRQDO$FFHVVRULHV 3RUW5HSOLFDWRU86%[9*$H[WHUQDO GLVSOD\ 5-/$1 3RZHU$GDSWHU'&LQ ([WHQGHG%DWWHU\FHOO/L,RQP$K9

*UDSKLFV ,QWHJUDWHG,QWHOŠ*UDSKLFVZLWK'$FFHOHUDWRU +LJK'H¿QLWLRQ+' $XGLR 5HDO7HN$/&+'DXGLRFRGHFZLWKEXLOWLQGLJLWDOPLFURSKRQH &RPPXQLFDWLRQ %OXHWRRWKŠY5HDO7HN/%DVH(WKHUQHW6XSHU$*Œ ZLUHOHVVFRQQHFWLRQZLWKGXDODQWHQQDDQG,QWHJUDWHG&DPHUD 0HJD3L[HO 8VHU,QWHUIDFH .H\ERDUGZLWK*OLGH3RLQWNH\PPNH\SLWFKPPNH\ VWURNH)LQJHUSULQW6HQVRUZLWKYHUWLFDOVFUROOIXQFWLRQV &DUG6ORW [7\SH,,,&)&DUGVORW[6HFXUH'LJLWDO6' &DUG5HDGHU &RQQHFWRU,QWHUIDFH 86%[9*$H[WHUQDOGLVSOD\ DQG5-/$1 YLD/$19*$ DGDSWHUFRQQHFWRU$XGLRLQ$XGLRRXW3RZHU$GDSWHU'&LQ * (PEHGGHG*+6'3$ ::$1FRQQHFWLYLW\ZLWKGXDODQWHQQD 6XSSRUWVWULEDQG8076+6'3$ DQG0+] 6XSSRUWVTXDGEDQG('*(*356*600+]

ph

oto

P

FR PO

P

WZ

36 wired

Online Community R U YO text Amir Hussain | [email protected] Gurmesh Singh | [email protected]

Created for U, Designed for U.

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NUS Online Community, staff, students and alumni now have the ability to connect, discover, extend and leverage on their personal networks. First mooted in 2005 with the objective of allowing students to connect and interact with others in a trusted online environment even after graduation, the NUS Online Community was launched by NUS Computer Centre and Centre for Instructional Technology in 2007 after two years of planning and consultations with individuals and student groups. Students are able to sign up for their personal websites, in which they can set up weblogs, wikis, contact lists, online announcements as well as share ¿OHVDQGSKRWRDOEXPV6WXGHQWVZLWKVLPLODUQHHGV or interests will be able to connect and collaborate with each other and pursue these interests.

onal ternati n I y b Blog H Travel QV2I¿F 5HODWLR

Student clubs, societies and interest groups are able to set up community websites to establish an online presence, publicise events and recruit new members, thereby gaining a much wider exposure with the Online Community. What is great is that students will be able to remain part of the community even after graduation. Another plus point is that the Online Community is built upon trusted relationships within the community as each member is authenticated via the NUS or Alumni User ID. The knowledge that each and every user is a legitimate member of the NUS community allows for a peace of mind, especially when one decides to engage in social, professional and educational activities with fellow community members or groups. The personal and community websites are equipped with “out-of-the-box” features and tools, ready to be used. Even users with no prior IT knowledge will be able to get the website up and running in virtually no time at all. Besides providing personal and community webspaces, web-hosting services are also available. The

Table Top Gaming Interest Group Computer Centre will work closely with interested parties to ensure smooth set-up of required ZHEVLWHVEORJVIRUXPVRUSRUWDOVZLWKLQ¿YHZRUNLQJ days and will manage day-to-day maintenance of the web server. Student groups have full ownership and responsibility for the content development and maintenance of their website. Student groups will be able to focus on content and site development while allowing IT experts at the Computer Centre to look after technical aspects of

wired 37

websites, 250 community sites and 15 hosted sitesKDYHEHHQHVWDEOLVKHG7KHVHQXPEHUVDUH FHUWDLQO\ERXQGWRJURZWUHPHQGRXVO\

NUS Online Community Homepage

$FFRUGLQJWR0U3DXO/LP$VVLVWDQW0DQDJHUDWWKH NUS Computer Centre, bigger and better things are LQVWRUHIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH1862QOLQH&RPPXQLW\ With the Computer Centre team constantly FRQVXOWLQJDQGZRUNLQJZLWKYDULRXVVWXGHQW JURXSVPRUHLGHDVDQGIHDWXUHVZLOOGH¿QLWHO\EH LPSOHPHQWHGDORQJWKHZD\ 'RQRWSDVVXSWKHFKDQFHWREHSDUWRIZKDWLVDQG ZLOOVXUHO\FRQWLQXHWREHDQH[FLWLQJDQGYLEUDQW SDUWRI186OLIH+HDGWRKWWSVVKDUHQXVHGXVJ

FAQS NUS Enterp rise forum

Who can join the community? All NUS students, staff or Alumni member are strongly encouraged to sign-up for a SHUVRQDOSUR¿OHDQGZHEVLWH0HPEHUVFDQ UHJLVWHUE\¿OOLQJDFRQYHQLHQWRQOLQH IRUP How to register for these services? 6WXGHQWVDQGVWDIIFDQVLJQXSIRUWKHVHVHUYLFHV WKURXJKDFRQYHQLHQWRQOLQH IRUPDWWKHIROORZLQJZHEVLWHV 3HUVRQDOVLWHKWWSXQXVHGXVJ &RPPXQLW\VLWHKWWSXQXVHGXVJ :HEKRVWLQJKWWSVVKDUHQXVHGXVJFRPPXQLW\ Featured Sites: NUS Second Life Portal http://community.nus.edu.sg/secondlife

V\VWHPPDLQWHQDQFHDQGVHFXULW\7KHZHEKRVWLQJ VHUYLFHLVSURYLGHGIUHHRIFKDUJHDQGFRPHVZLWK 0%RIVWRUDJHVSDFH

Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum 2008 http://community.nus.edu.sg/krmf2008 NUSSU Ask Senior http://community.nus.edu.sg/ask senior

$PLQLPDOWRNHQFRVWZLOOEHFKDUJHGLIDGGLWLRQDO VWRUDJHVSDFHLVUHTXLUHGDWDPXFKORZHUUDWHDV FRPSDUHGWRVLPLODUVHUYLFHVRIIHUHGE\FRPPHUFLDO ZHEKRVWLQJVHUYLFHSURYLGHUV

Overseas Education Programme http://community.nus.edu.sg/oep

Since its launch in June 2007, 13 Alumni charter sites, 13 Alumni reunion sites, 1514 personal

Special Thanks: Mr Paul Lim, Assistant Manager, NUS Computer Centre

38 wired

Spotlight: NUS Library Announcing the arrival of LINC+, NUS Libraries’ enhanced catalogue! July 16th saw the launch of LINC+, our new and improved library catalogue. This one-stop interface promises to transform your search experience with new features such as faceted navigation, relevance ranking of search results, book reviews from Choice and summaries of book contents. While the traditional LINC will still be around, we hope that our users will embrace the new features LINC+ has to offer.

Of course, the list of goodies doesn’t end here! More enhancements will be introduced in LINC+ and the library portal in phases. These cool enhancements include expanded search results from multiple sources, coverage information of e-resource titles, and a history of your loan record. So come try it out for yourself at http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg!

LINC+ Roadshow 2008 Date

Time

Faculty

Venue

Aug, 25th Mon

10 am to 4 pm

FASS

Central Library Walkway

Aug 26th Tues

Aug 27th Wed Aug 28th Thurs

10 am to 4 pm

FoE

Outside LT 6

10 am to 1 pm

SDE

Next to Co-op at SDE 3

11 am to 2 pm

LAW

Block B, 2nd Storey, BTC

1 pm to 4 pm

SoC

COM 1 Level 2 Foyer

10 am to 4 pm

FoS

Outside LT 24/25

10 am to 4 pm

YLLSoM & Outside LT 24/25 FoD

1 pm to 4 pm

Business

Aug 29th Fri

Outside MBA Student Lounge

To introduce our enhanced catalogue to our users, we will also be having a LINC+ roadshow in late August. This roadshow will move from faculty to faculty, and staff and students who come by the booth can hope to learn more about searching effectively in the new LINC+ as well as give us your feedback! These are the times and locations for our roadshow - hope to see you there!

wired 39

E-Resource Day NUS Libraries Presents E-Resource Discovery Day! Come join us on Tuesday, 9th September, from 10am to 5pm, for a time of fun, discovery, and excitement at our E-Resource Discovery Day! This event will take place at the Forum with E-Resource vendors showcasing NUS Libraries’ databases, E-books, E-journals and giving away lots of freebies! Gain knowledge, be entertained, eat good food and win fantastic prizes like iPods, iPod Nanos, MP3 players, laptop bags, book YRXFKHUVÀDVKGULYHVRSWLFDOPLFHHWFZKHQ\RXSDUWLFLSDWHLQRXU lucky draws and event day E-resource competition! For those who wantWR¿QGRXWPRUHDERXWVSHFL¿FGDWDEDVHVFRPH attend the impeccable series of seminars lined up for you! These 30-minutes vendor presentations will touch on the scope, coverage, and strengths of various electronic resources and attendees will also be given tips on how to maximise the effectiveness of their VHDUFKHV Some of the e-resources highlighted are: Business Source Premier, Scopus, Web of Science, Engineering Village 2, Proquest Dissertations & Theses, SciFinder Scholar, LexisNexis Academic and the list goes on! All participants of the online E-resource quiz will be entered into the lucky draws and will also stand a chance to win prizes in the event day competition! 9LVLWKWWSZZZOLEQXVHGXVJQXVeresourcedayLQGH[KWPORXU event website for more details!!! Hope to see you there!

40 sports

text See Jie Yi | [email protected]

IF YOU ARE A SELF-PROFESSED SPORTS JUNKIE but you’re not aware of the best places to sweat it out, look no further than within our own campus! A wide variety of sports facilities are available, enough to cater to mainstream sports lovers. the ridge presents to you a brief introduction of the best places available on campus.

First up on our list is the NUS Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC) located at the heart of the school, right beside the Yusof Ishak Hall. Any student can easily book a court or equipment by presenting your matriculation FDUGDWWKH65&*HQHUDO2I¿FH For those itching to play outdoors, the SRC is the place to be. Just

grab a ball, group yourselves up in two teams, and you will be able to maximise your fun at no cost! Choose from a range of netball, handball, basketball, sepak takraw and volleyball courts to FDWHUWRVSHFL¿FQHHGVRUVLPSO\ reserve the four multi-purpose courts for your different needs. To top it off, there are another 13 tennis courts with two practice walls, all conveniently situated side by side. For those who want low impact exercises, the SRC also has an Olympic-sized Swimming Pool. Entry to the pool is absolutely free for all students of NUS! However, do take note that the swimming pool could get rather crowded on days when various clubs conduct their trainings (usually around evenings). Therefore, the ridge advises that it would be better to check the weekly pool schedule to avoid the over-crowding.

‘

Keep in mind that you are sharing these facilities with the rest of the student population, therefore, remember to be considerate when using them.

‘

If indoor sports are your cup of tea, the SRC houses badminton and squash courts to meet your demands. Nets, venues and everything provided, you will only need to bring along your racquet for a no-fuss game with your buddies. Or if you are up for a game of ping pong, table tennis tables are always readily up for loan. the ridge reminds you that you would need to reserve these venues beforehand. You would be able to do so simply with the click RI\RXU¿QJHUV6LPSO\DFFHVVWKH SRC’s online sport facility booking

sports 41 system at http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/sports/fac/ facbookings.htm and the venue is all yours. Not to forget, the gym is found at the SRC, second level in MPSH3. Although there is no FKDUJH\RXZLOOQHHGWRÀDVK\RXUPDWULFXODWLRQ card in order to enter the room. Remember to bring along your own towel for hygiene purposes.

As a whole, the place is well-stocked with a complete range of gym equipment to work most of your body muscles. But do take note that the gym has been known to get rather cramped due to its high usage during the school term, so try to head over in the earlier half of the day. Despite its run down façade, the SRC’s facilities and equipments are generally in good conditions after its major overhaul in 2006. Keep in mind that you are sharing these facilities with the rest of the student population, therefore, remember to be considerate when using them. Alternatively, you can consider going to the Kent Ridge Guild House (KRGH) found right behind the Arts Canteen. Although the Guild House is under the NUSS Graduate Club, NUS undergraduates are also entitled to use its sports facilities. Pay a mere $67 for 6 months (equivalent to $11.20 per month) to sign up for its membership. Enjoy a spectrum of sports facilities over at there that are generally in better conditions as compared to those available to the general student population. Other than tennis and squash courts, there is a swimming pool, billiard tables and gym provided in the clubhouse. Non-members are allowed to utilise the sports facilities, but at a much steeper price.

KRGH provides an experience that closely resembles country clubs and club houses but at a more affordable price and conveniently found on campus. Sports facilities wise, the ridge would recommend it as a place suitable for those who would prefer a more exclusive and private exercising experience. There are also more services provided at the Guild House which includes private training sessions with instructors in the gym. However, KRGH is currently undergoing refurnishing and redevelopment plans. As such, only the squash courts and ¿WQHVVFHQWUHDUHRSHQIRUXVH The rest of the sports facilities will only be up at the end of the year. The Guild House is open daily, even during public holidays. For those who are planning to live on campus, there are other alternative choices for you. All hostels and residences are equipped with their own gymnasiums and other sports facilities, differing from place to place. Most of these facilities are free for all residents of the place, but we would highly advise you to check out the cost individually.

42 sports

TeamNUS looks ahead text Lee Wenting | [email protected]

TEAMNUS SPORTING fervour is set to hit greater heights with a whopping calendar lined up for the varsity’s student athletes. The Sports and Recreational Centre (SRC) is committed to the provision of over 60 competitive and recreational sports activities for the NUS community, organising a series of events and competitions, ranging from the ITE-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Games, Singapore Universities Games (SUniG), Institutional Invitations to Inter-Faculty Games (IFG) and other mass participatory events. Riding on the fresh wave of enthusiasm after the Orientation week, staff and undergraduates can look forward to the IFG sports carnival in the month of 6HSWHPEHU65&¶V6HQLRU6SRUWV2I¿FHU5DKD\X Binte Mohd Din said that the annual Games with the ten faculties pitting their battle of wits and strength µZLOOXQGHUJRDQRYHUKDXOE\LQFUHDVLQJSUR¿OHDQG publicity, so as to promote campus vibrancy and VSLULW¶$VIRUD¿UVWLQKLVWRU\WKHµ6KLK&KRRQ)RQJ Challenge Trophy’ named after the NUS President shall be awarded to the overall winning faculty at the closing ceremony on 4 October 2008.

Not to be outdone by The Nike Human Race, NUS will host a marathon run unique on its own. Organised by the NUS Students’ Sports Club on 17 August, RUN NUS 2008 offers various categories to participate from, the Competitive Individual (10km), Mass Run (5km), and Team Relay (2km). Participants running within and around the campus will also pass along the Kent Ridge Heritage Trail where battle memories stretch back as far as 1942. Visiting nostalgia aside, the competitive categories will also crown the hall and faculty winners from the Championship system. Stepping onto a higher plane, the Sports Excellence Programme (SPEX) encourages tertiary athletes to pursue the pinnacles of sport through local competitions like the IVP, SUniG, National League Tournaments, to name but few. With pride and prestige at stake, these local competitions pit our varsity teams against other institutes of higher OHDUQLQJLQD¿JKWIRUVXSUHPDF\DOEHLWLQDQ atmosphere of goodwill and friendship.

sports 43 Held in the month of September, the 2008 SUniG offers twelve sports for competition. The winning university is decided from the overall Gold-SilverBronze tally. Garnering a grand total of eight gold, four silvers and seven bronzes, NUS will be ¿JKWLQJWRVXUSDVVODVW\HDU¶VUHVXOWVDQGGHIHQG her championship status. 0DQ\WDOHVRIRXUDWKOHWHV¶FRXUDJHDQGWHQDFLW\ in the IVP Games have long wound into campus folklore. The IVP Games are largely held in January, the second half of the academic year, except for Swimming and Track & Field, which will be held late this semester. NUS defends a proud heritage in the annual participation of the games, and handsome efforts have not gone unnoticed. Top student athletes and teams nominated by their SHHUVDQGRI¿FHUVDUHFRPPHQGHGLQWKHDQQXDO teamNUS sports awards, a gala night where athletes congregate to celebrate a year of toil for the teamNUS community.

Whilst spirits are high, two areas that SRC DUHZRUNLQJDWDUHWKHSUR¿OLQJRIDWKOHWHV DQGVSHFWDWRUVKLS/HDGLQJVSRUWV¿JXUHVDUH highlighted to help raise awareness about the sport they represent, as triathlete Mok Ying Ren and Liang Youyun from Taekwondo are raised to become household names amongst the NUS community. Where sport is more than just the playing, the SRC are also looking at ways to boost FURZGVXSSRUWLQWKHµOLYH¶JDPHVFRYHUDJH Get set for a red-hot sporting calendar AY2008/2009. Whether you are a spectator, athlete, event organizer, journalist or volunteer, there awaits opportunities and choices for you to take and seize. Even then, TeamNUS will not be just a prestigious brand name on its own, but an invaluable experience, for every sportsperson to carry down the years with pride.

02 desk

desk 03

&OHDUYLVLRQ)$303DJH &

&RPSRVLWH

0

<

&0

0<

&< &0<

.