Fullstop Feb 2009

FEBRUARY 2009

The Singapore Public Service: Integrity, Service, Excellence

Looking for temp jobs?

Win s! Good8ie

Where to look Ace your interview Popular part-time jobs Charm your boss Spend your money!

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FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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March to look forward to

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i guys, we’re finally nearing the end of yet another academic year. These past few months have been really hectic for me and I’m sure it’s the case for most of you too. Well, not to worry – the holidays will be here soon! This issue, fullStoP explores the topic of temp jobs. Our comprehensive coverage (pg 3-7) – from where to start job hunting and how to ace job interviews, to how not to irritate your boss and popular temp jobs – should make for useful reading, if you’re seeking extra pocket money and work experience. And for this issue, former editor Sufian – who’s now slogging away, chasing stories and meeting deadlines in a newsroom – spills the beans about how it’s like interning at TODAY. Budding journalists, pg 10 is a must-read.

Still on journalism, we talk about one of the latest trends on pg 11– citizen journalism. Channel NewsAsia’s I-Journalist is back. This time, the documentary features our very own Diploma in Media and Communication students, so be sure to watch it. Lastly, for those who’d like to make use of the sem break to get in shape, flip to our Sports section (pg 12), where we share tips on how you can ace that NAPFA test. But for now, let’s focus on acing our exams. From all of us at fullStoP, good luck and happy holidays!

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Who doesn’t mind an extra bit of pocket money? Since the hols are approaching, we thought we’d teach you how to fish… for that perfect part-time job.

By Dexter Tay

Student Editorial Team Sean Firoz Vihasini Gopakumar Dexter Tay Collin Wang Faris Nurhakim Mon Thi Han Thet Su Htwe Khin Ei Maung Nur Hazwanie Latiff

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Published by Department of Corporate Communications. [email protected]

Atiqah Firdaus Shamir Jacob Sean Lee Siti Suhaina Ho Ren Sen Jason Tung Tan Jit King Jonathan Ng

Editorial, design and marketing services by NTUC Media Co-operative Ltd. For advertising enquiries, ring 6236 5790.

Job worries? It’s a tough time out there for SP graduates—but we can help.

You Could Be Working at SP

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ou’ve studied hard. You’ve aced all your exams. You’re joining the workforce soon. As Mr Tan Hang Cheong, the Principal of Singapore Polytechnic (SP) observed recently: “Our graduating students will enter the workforce at a difficult time. While many of you will be enlisted into National Service or proceeding for further studies, there are those among you who may find it hard to find a job.” “SP will do everything possible to help you find meaningful employment,” Mr Tan has promised. In that vein, SP will, within our means, be offering short-term or contract jobs on the campus to some graduating students. These will include positions in estate management and maintenance, multi-media application development, industrial or research and development projects, and the organisation of activities for current students. “Through these jobs,” Mr Tan continued, “we hope to help SP graduates earn an income and gain valuable experience at the same time.” If you’re interested in a job with SP, visit the Student Service Centre at T16213 or contact 6772-1707.

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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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art-time jobs aren’t always about the money. Okay, we admit. It is about money but that’s not what temp jobs are all about. The entire experience – from job-hunting and interviewing to training and carrying out tasks – is priceless. At the end of the day, like our internship programmes, these part-time jobs make up our foundation and prepare us for the future. The good news is, despite the current economic situation, it’s not impossible to find a part-time job. It all boils down to taking the initiative (and a wee bit of luck). So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get down to work!

Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd.

b o j a r o

f y Pre

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wo months of vacation meant one thing: Time to seek supplement M. With a vacation that long, there was no excuse for me not to help lighten my family’s burden of paying my school

fees. And so, right after my final exam last December, I headed for the nearest 7-11 to buy a copy of The Straits Times. Our national daily is indeed useful – I ploughed through the recruitment pages and recycled the other sections. Temp jobs were plentiful: From flyer distributors and data entry clerks to promoters. But, my eyes were set on the ‘Production’ section: Jobs which many would gladly give a miss, given the long and tiring working hours and peanut-pay. Well, that’s only partly true. Granted, manual labour doesn’t pay enough to make up for the number of calories lost at work, but a long-term temp job of that nature pays well. For 12 hours per night (I was working the graveyard shift – what were you thinking?!) I was paid $80! To me,

Temp jobs are aplenty, says TAN JIT KING, who shares his job-hunting and work experience.

that was an irresistible offer. Of course, with good money comes hard work. Needless to say, factory work was physically taxing. I spent every ounce of energy carrying stacks of paper, feeding hungry and ever-noisy machines, which in turn churned out stacks of booklets and magazines. My trick in enduring those long hours was my mantra: I’m just here for seven weeks – my mission is to grab the cash and get outta here. How difficult can this be? Fortunately, it pays to stay focused. I was the happy owner of $1300 at the end of my stint. Between rest days, I even found time to hang out with classmates, attend CCA outings and spam MMORPG missions (or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, for the uninitiated). Are you ready for your part-time work yet?

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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Want to work? It’s really not that hard to nail a temp job – if you put effort into finding one. TAN JIT KING shows you how.

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What’s good for me? Don’t just jump into a job without thinking it through. Be clear about what you can do. Introverts, for instance, may want to rethink jobs that require a lot of interaction, while those with health problems may have to reconsider doing manual tasks. Golden Rule: Be realistic with your options. You can be all gung-ho about job application but don’t be cornered into doing a job you hate.

• http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore So many jobs here – good luck going through all of them! • http://jobscentral.com.sg Though it carries more full-time employment postings, you might strike gold with short-stints of about three months. • SP’s iChat email Emails have been sent to us regarding recruitment – have you checked your SP email today?

Where do I start? Here’re a few job-search sources:

• Family/Friends Word-of-mouth can be surprisingly helpful – and who better to pull strings for you than your loved ones?

• The classifieds section of The Straits Times. Jobs aplenty for flyer-distribution, telemarketing, tutoring, production line and miscellaneous positions.

• Cold calls Ask directly for employment from restaurants, shops or cafes. You never know until you’ve tried.

• Mocca.com You remember the whacky TV ad – “Want to see my bathroom? Check out my matching parts” – that got us laughing? Well, mocca. com isn’t just a place for selling or buying stuff; companies post recruitment ads there too.

Golden Rule If the job’s easy, it probably doesn’t pay well. If the pay’s good, the job’s probably not easy. But if it’s too good to be true – good pay, easy work – then think twice. Though not impossible that such deals exist, don’t be afraid to question the company’s credibility and do your own research.

• http://thejobsportal.blogspot.com Explore job postings and interact with fellow netizens in forums.

P S t n e r r ? u s c a e g r n a i k t r a o h W ents w d u t s VIHASINI GOPAKUMAR finds out which temp jobs are popular among students. Waiters/Waitresses

Why No relevant working experience is required. Plus, restaurants generally have a great demand for part-time as well as full-time waiters/waitresses especially during the school holidays and festive seasons. “I have worked as a waiter at Fullerton Hotel and it was a great learning experience for me. Balancing several plates was an easy feat, and it was definitely a great way to earn some cash.” Darrell Lua, DTRM

Sales promoters at PC shows

Why PC shows – which usually last about four days – present quick buckmaking opportunities. The job’s extremely flexible, and promoters can earn commissions too.

p u s s e m t w ’ e n i o v D r e t n i r u o y Before the interview 1. Research well about the company and what’s required of you 2. Anticipate questions and prepare in advance (Why are you applying for this job? How can you contribute to our company?) 3. Bring along your resume just in case 4. Dress well – it shows you’re serious about the job 5. Be well groomed. Cut your nails and shave (for guys). 6. Brush your teeth but go easy on the perfume 7. Leave home early for the interview

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How do you score at interviews? COLLIN WANG and TAN JIT KING give their views. During the interview 8. Display proper body language – don’t slouch or yawn 9. Appear composed 10. Answer all questions clearly and confidently 11. Interact with your interviewer politely 12. Express your interest in the position 13. Smile!

“The job is really enjoyable because you get to interact with different people and it’s a good way to brush up persuasion skills as well.” Novea Chan, DMC

Internships (with a company related to your field of study) Why Why not, especially when internships give us the much needed experience, exposure and an insight into our future jobs?

“I wanted to get a feel of how it’d be like to work in an architecture firm as well as to learn on the job from my architect colleagues. This would help prepare me for future studies too.” Claire Lee, DARCH

Telemarketers

Why Many students feel this job is easy money – without needing to do much work. It’s also a chance for them to learn or enhance communication skills, thanks to the daily interactions with absolute strangers. “I loved having to just sit at a desk and call clients. It gave me a chance to learn how to start conversations with people at random.” Gabriel Cho, DASE

Acting

Why Yes, aspiring actors don’t mind small parts. Who cares anyway, if calefare roles get us closer to our idols! (Elvin Ng, you’re so cute!) “I’ve been studying acting, so I wanted to take it to the next level and try to make some money from it. The pay’s a good incentive too. Acting is as glamorous as I thought it was.” Cheryl Cheong, DMC

Flyer distributors

Why This job means having to shove flyers into the hands of passers-by who’re too busy pretending that they can’t see you. But the flexible hours and relatively easy task make up for this. “I have no fixed working hours, and can do whatever I want, as long as I finish distributing my allocated number of flyers. This also means that if I can distribute 2000 flyers in half an hour, I don’t have to work for the rest of the day!” Akhtar, DNS

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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By Dexter Tay

So you’ve landed your new part-time job. Unfortunately, you soon learn that not all bosses are angels. Some can be very demanding and a rare handful just purely psychotic. But there’s no need for a mental breakdown, just yet. Simply follow the CUPID rule if you want your boss to love you to bits.

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Punctuality

It may be fun spending an afternoon in detention class (with fellow slacker-secondary school mates) for being late. But it’s not funny if our lateness involves a pay cut or cold dagger stares from bosses. It’s never too late to start being early. Tips: • Plan your time, for goodness’ sake – no late night partying if you’re working the next day • Before you even start work, find out the fastest way to get to your workplace (and we don’t mean by cab) and anticipate traffic jam.

Commitment

Bosses generally favour committed workers. But this can be tricky especially if you need to balance school work. Tips: • Where possible, choose jobs with time flexibility • If you’ve given your word to work on a particular day, mark it down and push away other appointments • Be honest with your boss – keep him informed of important test/ exam dates or if you need time off to study.

Uniqueness

e m i t g in

Everyone is unique. But not everyone knows how to put his unique qualities to good use at work. Tips: • Mention your special qualities (eg: programming skills; ability to speak a foreign language or even pleasant dispositions such as courtesy) in your resume or during the job interview • Be humble but confident when selling yourself.

HE says

Boy toys Guys have an affinity for gadgets. From bulky gaming consoles like XBOX 360 and PS 3, to portable devices like the PSP, or the NDS, we love them all. Needless to say, items like iPods – along with cool-dude headphones – are must-buys. Clothes Jeans, shoes, accessories, nice clothes. While guys don’t doll up ourselves, species such as fashionable metrosexuals and closeted vain pots exist in our dimension too.

Initiative

Offer to help your colleagues once you’re done with your work. Or ask what else you can do. Many hands make light work. Tips: • While you want to be helpful, don’t take on more than you can handle • If you’re working in an office, learn to do call transfers so that you can pick up calls when everyone else is busy, or perform simple tasks like operating the intercom • Identify overworked colleagues and the sort of tasks which you think they can safely pass to you.

Lioness’ share Guys who appreciate their ears intact and untwisted would prudently invest in something for their better halves. Pretty dresses, romantic dinners, or even a simple cuppa – these are inevitable girlfriend expenses. Transport Nope, I’m not talking public transport costs (though yes, a part of our money should be set aside for that). What I’m referring to, of course, is investing in a learner’s license – but only if we’re paying for it.

Diligence

It’s (almost) every employee's dream to slack at work. Sadly, no one loves slackers unless you’re Homer Simpson himself. So wake up and start working hard. Tips: • Workers who don’t pace themselves at work get burnt out easily so plan your time and spread out your energy • Take short coffee breaks in between work if your boss is okay with it. With rest, you won’t tire so easily.

SHE says

Pretty important One of the ways we gals contribute to the economy is through our innate ability to shop till we drop. So, pretty clothes, matching shoes and accessories are some of the items you’ll find in our shopping baskets, along with skincare and cosmetic products.

You

• are a full-time student in SP, or • an alumni member of SP • have always wanted to be your own boss

We • • •

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Your temp job paycheck has finally come in. And there’re endless creative ways to spend the money. FARIS NURHAKIM and TAN HUI RU JUDY spill the beans on how they would spend.

were the ones who launched the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES!) on Nov 18, 2006 want to encourage youths to be enterprising and innovative provide you funding so you can start your own business

Save and sound Though we’re shopaholics, we’re sound enough to save money for rainy days too. This is a good habit which is never too early to start. Campus expenses These everyday campus expenses include transport fares, meals, textbooks, stationery and the cost of printing notes.

What

Chill factor With some extra cash, we can afford to chill out with friends more often. And it’s not cheap watching movies, clubbing or just chatting over cakes and coffee.

Contact

One ringggg to rule them all These days, mobile phones have become a must-have. But not just any mobile phone, mind you. The chase for hip, chic and multifunctional phones has become an obsession even among students. Naturally, that’s where a big part of paychecks would go.

Through the YES! Startups, you’ll get tremendous funding support from SPRING. All you need to do is, raise your own funds and SPRING will match every $1 with $4. The maximum grant provided under YES! Startups is $50,000. For more information, log on to http://cet.edu.sg/yes/ or email Mr Arthur Poh at [email protected]

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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Batam's up!

It was all cheers for the first batch of 36 Diploma in Digital Media students attached to Infinite Frameworks Studios in Turi Beach Resort, Batam last December, as part of SP's Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP). The OIP, piloted by the Department of Industry Services to support global orientation, is currently planning to send some 140 Diploma in Tourism and Resort Management students on its next trip soon. "The trip to Batam was memorable. Our attachment to Infinite Frameworks Studios also proved beneficial to our assignments. We learnt about concept planning, working on storyboards and preproduction work, as well as tips on modelling and animation which weren't taught in school." Clara Wan Mei Yoke, 2B03 "The Turi study trip was definitely an eye opener for me, as I learnt a lot during the trip. For example, the character design, story writing work flow workshops and art painting activities were all very interesting and fun to me as we learnt how these things are done in the industry, and how the production pipeline is like." Kwong Han Jie, 2B03

Give photography a shot

Interested in photography? TAN JIT KING asks Lian He Zao Bao photographer Ray Chua, who was in SP for a talk, for some tips. Jit King: What is the most difficult subject to photograph? Mr Chua: People How do you make sure you've got the correct settings before you shoot? Through training and experience How do you deal with difficult situations? I try to be as professional as possible, regardless of the surroundings. For instance, when I shot the Thomson flood, I captured shots of the ground by balancing on higher ground. What happens if the person you're photographing is provoked? Always shoot from a distance to avoid conflicts, but if it happens, try to calm the subject down and explain your purpose. If the subject turns violent, run. As a professional photographer, what are some of your everyday challenges? They include how to breakthrough photography skills, especially since I do this daily. Also, when covering repeat events (like NDP), I need to constantly present my work in a different manner.

The winning team, with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, at the Science Buskers Festival.

Drill factor

The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race that's held around the world, once every four years. Our SMA master mariner and lecturer in navigation, Captain Raj played, an important role in the 2008/9 leg. Capt Raj conducted various emergency drills for the sailors as well as prepared them with sea liferaft operations knowledge for the race.

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Team SP hits the right notes at the recent Science Buskers Festival

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team from the Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Control Centre (ARICC) at Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has won the Most Popular Video Award at the Science Buskers Festival 2009. The festival – organised by A* and Science Centre Singapore to promote the development of communication skills through expressions of science in creative manners – was held from December 18, 2008 to January 17, 2009. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports presided over the final

rounds of the festival and presented the awards to winners. During the competition, the contestants performed a "show-and-tell" on science topics. The team, comprising Kuriakin, Seah Jian Min, and Chua Cai Jun, used a humanoid robot to creatively express the science behind complex engineering concepts such as centre of mass, friction, forces and electromagnetism. And it was their innovative presentation – dancing humanoid robots – that got the attention of both the crowd present as well as the judges.

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Caster

Heading for the working whirl

Carissa

Former fullStoP editor SUFIAN SUDERMAN, who is now interning with TODAY, shares his working experience.

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he holidays are coming soon and this is usually the perfect time to go on a shopping spree. Unfortunately, it’s 2009. The economy is down, jobs are at stake, and everyone’s thinking twice about splurging. But there is a silver lining to all of this. There have been newspaper reports about employers looking for part-time workers to fill various positions. This is the perfect opportunity for you. Grab these job openings before they are being taken up by countless others waiting in the wings. A part-time job can give you valuable experience not often learned in school. This might sound clichéd but it is true. I am currently interning at TODAY. And today, I can finally feel what working adults have always been lamenting about: That working life is taxing. The working world is harsh, brutal and stone-cold crazy. The workload is madness but who am I to complain, especially since I’m enjoying every single minute of it? Journalism is my dream industry. During my internship, I experienced working 12-hour shifts, returning home only in the wee hours of the morning. I’ve been making numerous phone calls and writing so many emails that it has now become second nature for me to keep checking my mobile phone and email every 15 minutes. As an intern, there is always something waiting for you to work on. Even my friends have noticed that I put on a certain

“professional” tone when I get phone calls from my superiors or my interviewees. It is no big secret that I am blunt and unabashedly loud when I talk to people. The working world does have its effects on people like me. These are many lessons which I’ve learnt on the job. Even though I have terrific and helpful colleagues, there are certain things you must learn on your own. One of them is to be polite. Seriously. Saying “Thank you, Please, May I” has helped me a lot. People are receptive when you are polite. This was especially true when I covered a murder case. There were several facts that needed verification. I had to contact a lawyer one night. I said something like “Sorry to bother you at night but there are some facts that need verification.....” The lawyer turned out to be obliging and helpful. Worse, I had to call him again that same night as there were several holes in my story. Moral of the story – Drop your ego, your arrogance, your prejudice. Be nice and people will respond.

Fazilah

We, the citizens of journalism By Novea Chan

That annoying aunty is kicking up a big fuss although it was her fault that she cut someone’s queue. A petty fight – involving an unreasonable bloke and a pregnant lady – ensues on the MRT. Be mindful of your conduct. Someone is watching. That someone belongs to a new breed of public-spirited heroes: The citizen journalist.

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ou notice something unjust happening around you. You want to have a say in it. The heroic vibe in you tells you to do something about it. However, you feel that there isn’t a platform for you to express yourself freely. What do you do? Option A: Scream your lungs out and hope everyone stops in his tracks to listen to you Option B: Rush to Hong Lim Park and let it all out Option C: Whip out your recording device and film the drama Like newly commissioned superheroes, citizen journalists are emerging by the hordes these days.

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But it is the watchful eyes of these citizen journalists that keep us informed of happenings on the ground – while keeping idiots who misbehave on their toes. I-Journalist, a Channel NewsAsia documentary series which debuted last year, is a result of this rising trend of citizen journalism. Last year, I-Journalist was exclusively produced by Republic Polytechnic’s media students. This season though, students from SP are in the limelight. Three groups of students from the Diploma of Media and Communication (DMC) were invited by Channel NewsAsia to brainstorm and pitch story ideas. Of the three groups, one team – comprising DMC/2/B/03 students Caster, Carissa and Fazilah – was picked to produce the first episode of the upcoming season.

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NAPFA test? I think I’ll pass... Do you get cold feet before your shuttle run? Or are you always weighed down with worry at the pull up station? Fret not. Train early and you may just ace your NAPFA test.

By Khin Ei Maung

Pull up

Tips: • Increase core strength by doing push-ups and sit-ups • Lift weights to build up various muscles in your arms

Shuttle run

What: The Institute-VarsityPolytechnic Games (IVP Games) is a series of sports and games organised annually for students of the local tertiary institutions. Who: The institutions involved include the five polytechnics (SP, NYP, NP, TP and RP), four universities (NTU, NUS, SMU and SIM), as well as the combined ITE schools. Why: The IVP Games serve as a platform to foster goodwill and friendship through active participation in sports and to improve the standard of sports among the participating tertiary institutions.

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Yes, it’s time to celebrate. SP’s men’s volleyball team beat longtime rival TP at this year’s Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic Games – bagging the first volleyball gold medal for SP in 10 years.

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uly 2008: SP’s men’s volleyball team lost the gold medal to TP at the POL-ITE (Polytechnic - ITE) Volleyball Games Finals. Fast forward to January 2009: SP’s men’s volleyball team turned the tables around, and tasted sweet revenge. Indeed, our boys have proven that even if the odds are against them – team TP is trained by a national coach and is made up of about three national players – there’s no stopping them from doing their best. After last year’s defeat, team SP took less than six months to bounce back. They trained hard, focusing their determination and energies on their defence tactics. Their efforts finally paid off last January when their impressive defence training helped them beat their longtime rivals on their home ground.

Tips: • Run “low” – or in slouched postures. This shaves off precious seconds as you won’t need to bend much to grab shuttle run blocks • Start reaching for the shuttle run blocks from a distance – this discounts several steps, which in turn saves you up to two seconds of your timing.

2.4km

Tips: • Pace your run • Focus your mind on completing the run Running tips: • Although you’re running only 2.4km, you should be running up to 4km during your training. • A good way to increase your running pace is the sprint-jog rule. • Start with three minutes of slow jog, followed by two minutes of sprinting. • Repeat this cycle throughout your 4km • Increase your intensity as you go along – such as decreasing your slow jog duration, or increasing your sprinting duration

Before you start

• Consult your doctor before embarking on exercise • If you haven’t been exercising for quite some time, start slow

Training intensity

You should be training for at least one month before the NAPFA test. Each of us has different physical limitations. While some recover fast enough and can afford to train daily, others may need long rest periods between training. Learn to ‘read’ body signals and decide if you want to: • Do light training daily • Train alternate days • Train for two consecutive days and rest the next day, or • Train for three consecutive days and rest for two days

Sit and reach

Tips: • Practise stretching after a short run – when your back thigh muscles are warmed up • Flexibility is increased with practice, so you may want to stretch every night

Sit-ups

Tips: • Do a variety of abdominal exercises – sit ups, crunches, leg raises and planks – to target different parts • Crunches (upper abs) • Leg raises (lower abs) • Planks (core strength)

Standing broad jump

Tips: • Practise standing broad jump on grass patches or sand pits • As you propel forward, keep your knees high – this helps maximise your leap

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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V-Day mess celebrations Dear fellow happily-in-love SP mates, we hope you screwed up your recent Valentine’s Day date. Oh, not that we’re wicked. We just wanna say that it’s perfectly fine if your Feb 14 date turned out to be perfectly un-fine. SEAN FIROZ speaks to some V-Day victims.

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alentine’s Day. Is that something that you can eat? Okay, I sound like a hungry retard. I admit I’m not a huge fan of unnecessary Valentine’s Day celebrations. No offence, but think about it. Buying huge bunches of flowers for your loved one once a year. Doesn’t that remind you of Qing Ming festival, where hordes of Chinese throng the tombs with huge bunches of flowers? Okay, that was harsh. And slightly morbid.

Tan Lee Yen, DMC 1B/01 “I was interviewing a bunch of JC guys at The Heeren on Valentine’s Day. Since they were all holding a bunch of flowers each, I jokingly asked if they had bought it for their dates. They replied that they had none and asked if I wanted to date them! It turned out that the roses were given to them by The Straits Times as part of an event!”

Fine. Bask in love, couples. Spend money on overpriced roses and binge on chocolates all you want. Valentine’s Day is, after all, a time when we can wear our love proudly on our sleeves and play out fastidiously planned romantic outings. If you’re lucky, you’ll even look back at memorable Valentine’s Day experiences with a smile. But if you aren’t, at least you know you’ve got hilarious tales to tell your grandchildren.

Prawn Star Somewhere in ulu Rangoon Road lies a quaint coffeeshop with yummilicious food that deserves stellar attention, as TAN JIT KING and a few Food Connoisseur Clubbers discovered. Where: 137 Rangoon Road Stall: Lam’s Prawn Noodle Nearest MRT station: Farrer Park

Christel Goh, DMC 1B/04 “When I was in Primary 4, a boy bought me a Snoopy doll from a yard sale in my school on Valentine’s Day. I threw it back in his face because it was the same doll that I had donated to my school for the sale!”

Jia Hong says Anelie Mercado, DDM 1A/21 “There was this mood ring that I received on Valentine’s Day while I was in secondary school. But by accident, it got into the washing machine and all the colours faded. The guy who gave me the ring kept poking at it for days. But it stopped as soon as I found out that he broke the choker that I bought for him the same day I damaged the ring.”

My prawn noodles were served promptly and although I was disappointed by its relatively small portion, the presentation – neatly stacked prawns – made up for it. The yellow, starchy noodles weren’t soggy but were instead cooked to near perfect. Almost al dente, if you will. The first thing that struck me on my first bite was the soup – so rich in flavour. The prawns were chewy and juicy, and lent the soup an aromatic flavour. Those with hearty appetites can also order the fried tofu and fish cake as side dishes.

Jit King says Tan Xin Yi, DMC 1B/04 “I was on my way to a hot date with some guy last year. As I was making my way to the train station, I realised, to my horror, that my (menstruation) pad was sticking out of my jeans! Luckily it didn’t happen in front of the guy.”

To my surprise my bowl of prawn noodles was one of the rare MSG-free ones. Which was why I didn’t mind the slightly bland taste of my soup. Though the soup had a distinctive prawn taste, the dish would have scored if the prawn soup had been left to simmer longer. I was especially impressed by the cook, whose years of experience were reflected in my steaming bowl of noodles. For $4 a bowl, it’s worth it – if you’re not that hungry.

Full of crab Justin says

Good food comes with a long wait. For me, it was up till 2pm – the time which the crab for my crab bee hoon would be delivered to the coffeeshop. Was it worth the wait? Yes for sure. My lunch consisted of a whole crab (shell partially removed) sitting atop of a decent portion of vermicelli. I found the crab fresh and tasty, and I had no complaints about the vermicelli either. Presentation of the dish was pretty good. In fact, I was impressed by it, considering that the dish was served out of a humble coffeeshop. All these taken into account, $10 for the crab bee hoon is definitely reasonable.

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FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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i-JustDon’t Geddit There’re fun applications. And then, there’re those absolutely useless Apple applications. JASON TUNG and HO REN SEN lists five such app-solutely absurd ones.

U

nless you’re a caveman, you would be familiar with red hot Apple gadget applications like Tap Tap Revenge, TapDefense, JellyCar, Dactyl, and Cameraman. Over a whopping 15,000 apps are available in the App Store while more than 500 million applications have been downloaded. Some of these apps are seriously fun, while others can be deceivingly useful. And then, there are the ridiculously absurd ones. Here’re some:

Hold On Point blank

Okay, so you’re supposed to place your finger on the screen for as long as you can. Right… This is perhaps one of the most pointless apps. What’s the point of holding on to your iPod touch or iPhone? It’s not as if we’d win a Honda at the end of the day.

Perfect app for you if…

iPint No pint, no gain

This is the only time when you’re allowed to drink and drive. With a built-in accelerometer, this app allows you to steer a glass of beer while avoiding obstacles. Once you’ve cleared one round, you’re awarded with, erm, more beer, which would increase your intoxication level.

Perfect app for you if…

… you’re Homer Simpson who recently took an interest in F1 racing.

iThrown The royal thrown

Grab your iPod touch or iPhone really tightly with your fingers and swing your arm in a throwing action with all your might. This app measures the strength of your throw and tells you how far your phone would have otherwise been tossed – and destroyed.

…you’re a hopeless Romeo (or Juliet) who presses on despite being asked repeatedly to “just let go”.

Perfect app for you if…

iFart

EyeTricks

My fart will go on

Eye may puke

Hmm… do we need to say much about this? There’s plenty of pure juvenile fun to be had from its OMG library of ‘brilliant’ sounds. It’s guaranteed to give your friends a good LOL. Just poot this application to good use – at the right time

Perfect app for you if…

…prolonged constipation deprived you of your innate farting abilities and you’re desperately missing the sound of compressed stale air.

Page 16 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper

…you’re a wicked pooch owner who loves irritating your pet dog by playing fake fetch

Seeing is believing… not! With this app, you’ll see for yourself that images can be twisted to trick and deceive the naked eye. But be warned. Some of these moving images can cause dizziness. You might puke.

Perfect app for you if…

…you’re an aspiring astronaut – or if your driver parents are aspiring astronauts.

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

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Reviews by the fullStoP team

We're giving away Randy Jackson’s music club, In the hands of love , The pink & the lily and Grace. Email [email protected] with your name, student ID, contact number and indicate which CD you’d like in your subject head. Choose one CD only – and email only once (multiple entries will be disqualified!) Closing date: Mar 20, 2009

Randy Jackson’s music club

With his long history in the music industry, Randy Jackson sure knows how to pull off a great album, as reflected here. You’ll appreciate the effort behind this CD, especially when great performers – like Jason Mraz and Paula Abdul – lend guest star power here. – Sean Lee

In the hands of love

Unless you love arias, you’ll probably nod off as you play In The Hands Of Love, a collection of classical love ballads. Generally, the tracks, which are supposed to be uplifting, didn’t quite do their job. The only impressive element of this album is the excellent interpretation of the oh-so famous (and some say oh-so passé) Titanic soundtrack, My Heart Will Go On. – Atiqah Firdaus

Greatest Hits

Enrique Iglesias showcases 18 of his hit songs in Greatest Hits – featuring a good genre-mix of pop, Latin and R&B. The dance-inducing Bailamos was aptly picked as the first track, setting the musical mood right. A highlight of this album is Enrique’s duets with various stars, including Kelis, Whitney Houston and Nadiya. – Nur Fazilah Abd Latif

Call and response

True-blue Maroon 5 fans, it’s time to stage an uproar. Such outrageous mangling of their songs! This album may feature some of Maroon 5’s most popular songs such as This Love, Makes Me Wonder and She Will Be Loved. But they definitely veered off way too much from the original tunes which made them chart toppers in the first place. It’s obvious that, in an attempt to give Maroon 5 tunes a musical twist, the beauty of the original tunes has been massacred. On a positive note, special collaborations with legendary singers including Pharrell Williams, are refreshing. – Vihasini Gopakumar

A Hundred Million Suns

Still staying strong is this famous little Irish band called Snow Patrol. Best known for Chasing Cars in the hit drama series Grey’s Anatomy, Snow Patrol is back with a hit list of quirky songs and more amazing guitar skills. For people who are into alternative or indie rock, this album is for you. Pay attention to the lyrics and you’ll be hooked. – Sean Firoz

The pink & the lily

This may only be her second album but Sandi Thom has already ventured into the Top 100 spots in the UK charts. Her folk beats and wickedly outof-this-world vocals have singled her out as a singer who makes genuinely ear-pleasing music. What can we say. This chart-topping crooner is definitely a rising star. – Sean Firoz

Grace

As the title suggests, Grace is one album recommended for New Age or instrumental listeners. Packed with musically inspirational tracks, Grace takes you on a spiritual journey that relaxes your soul. Feeling stressed? Relax, and be embraced by the beauty of this amazing CD as you temporarily drift away from reality. – Tan Jit King

Folie a Deux

Fall Out Boy’s fourth album is an interesting offering with its mixed genres, eras and tempos, evident in tracks like I Don’t Care, America’s Suitehearts and Tiffany Blews. This CD shows that the band is heading in the right direction – it pleases fans and appeals to non-fans. – Shamir Jacob

Page 18 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper

Manga In a nutshell:

Ah! My Goddess

Author: Kosuke Jujishima

Keiichi Morisato dialled a wrong number and was connected to Heaven instead. A Goddess was subsequently sent to grant him a wish. Without thinking carefully, he blurted “I want you to be by my side forever.” His wish was granted. Literally. Just when he thought he could live with the goddess stuck to him, his life headed for a whacky turn – one filled with quirky acquaintances.

Review:

This series is one not short on content. The stories, based on various themes – including motorcycles, modern day fantasy and family love – add variety to reading. Each chapter presents simple plots, which never fail to wrap up with an impact. This long running series started way back in the 90s and began with less than impressive drawings and storylines. Over time, fortunately, author Kosuke has made vast improvements (just compare the 1st and 36th issue), resulting in more polished manga sketches and more interesting manga characters. – Tan Jit King

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper •

Page 19

Preparing Ready & Confident Managers

Cited a “Top PEO in Singapore” -Edupoll Survey 2008/09

• • • • • • • • • •

BA (Hons) Accounting BA (Hons) Business & Management Studies BA (Hons) Business Studies (Int'l Business Management) BA (Hons) Business Studies (Human Resource Mgmt.) BA (Hons) Business Studies (Marketing) BA (Hons) Banking & Finance BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems BA (Hons) Int'l Hospitality Mgmt. (Casino Mgmt./ Events Mgmt.) MBA MBA Project Management

• BA Hospitality & Tourism Management • BA Tourism Management • BA Business Management • BA Consumer Studies & Management • BA Management & Marketing • BA Management & Retailing • MBA • MBA Public Services Management • MBA Hospitality Management • MBA e-Tourism Management

• BBus Logistics & Operation Management • BCOM (General Commerce) • BCOM (Economics) • BCOM (Finance) • Master of Professional Accounting (MPA)

• • • • • •

DBA Strategic Focus MBA MBA Marketing MBA Strategic Planning MBA Human Resource Management MBA Finance

Anthony B. Jose MBA Graduate

Zhao Long Graduate, BA Accounting ERNST & YOUNG

Viktorya Bulakh BA (Hons) Business Mgmt. Studies Scholarship Winner

“Career Ready & Confident” Enroll now!

Balestier Campus, 9 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329975 Tel: (65) 6252 5550 Website: www.easb.edu.sg

Email: [email protected]

Page 20 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper

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