The art of study

In study, just focus on what you can learn and forget about what you can get (the score), then, eventually, your study will be meaningful.

Happy Chinese Rat Year

Very recent I have this painting publish in one of the Chinese news paper. The coming CNY is rat year, so I painted two rats... (yes, this is just another Cheng's showing off, but try to get use to it though, because as my skill improving with times, you're going to see or hear more and more stuff like this). However, the texts are narrated by my Chinese brush painting teacher; I have no talent in that area.

May this coming new year brings you happiness and prosperity! Gong Xi Fa Chai$$$

Curious kids

In the photo are my beloved niece and nephew (see the reflection at the right conner). It has been more than six busy months I didn't see them before my last visit to Damansara after a seminar at KL. I found that they have grown a bit taller and the look of my niece has changed a little, but they are still very curious about things new to them;
She asked if she can carry my bag, I said yes and found it funny for her such small figure carrying such big bag, so I asked for a shot. It was after I reviewed the picture in my laptop that I found my curious nephew was checking out my camera bag at that instance (and was without my consent, just as he usually did) :)

My New Year Gadget

Have you ever seen such a small computer? It's the world's SMALLEST laptop! and it's mine!!! MINE! My 2008-New-Year gadget Fujitsu U1010!
Now everywhere I go I'll bring it along and keep telling people "it's the world smallest!" Including here in Friendster, now, "It's the world's smallest!"
Yea I know it's kind of showing off but please understand that if I didn't do it now, I may not do it 3 months later... as it will not stay the world's smallest - soon a new model will take over the title, perhaps a new model of Sony VAIO?
A friend asked me how it works? So far I can say it works well once you get use to the small 5.6" LCD display. My only complain is the 2 hours 15 min battery life isn't long enough for me. Other friend ask me why do I buy it for? I use it as a talking dictionary (especially during my Japanese Class), as a storage that I can perform file transfer in anywhere, as an organizer, as my photos portfolio as I may show others my photos without having to bring along a bulky laptop, and last but not least - to show off :) Some friends also asked me how exactly are they differ that I need to have two laptops? Hmm... well, let me put it this way:
The 1st laptop is like your big wife that you need it for functionality; to get your daily works done. While the 2nd laptop is like your small wife that you own it because it looks gorgeous; You feel happy to bring it along everywhere you go and it makes you look cool, e.g. Others can't resist peeking at it (especially at Starbucks) and think "what a cool stuff this guy have!"
Well, I'm just trying to explain with the used of analogy which I think helps, no mean of sexism... so relax female readers, don't set a ban cheng's blog campaign, please...

Secret

These days, I’ve been spending hours researching and reading materials pertaining digital photography, and had missed quite a number of movies that I think of to watch. Awkward it might sound, but as a self-proclaimed-moviegoer, I really feel guilty to have missed those shows. However, I think I didn’t miss the real hits.

Well, which one am I going to share here? Secret…

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, if you are big fan of Jay. So for non-Jay supporters, you may stop reading from here and go browse other sites of your interest :)

Ok, just kidding, this isn’t about Jay, I’m not that BIG fan of Jay either (as my loyalty is still firm to his former boss Jacky Wu). It’s about the movie itself that I wish to talk about, but just happen that Jay is the leading actor in it.

Since ‘The blood diamond’ and ‘Protégé’, ‘Secret’ is the 3^rd films that really hits me deep at the heart. I must confess that when I first saw the poster of the ‘Secret’, the intention to watch never across my mind (Movies that focus on romance, love, and tears are not my favorites). But at last I watched it due to a friend’s strong recommendation (when I say strong I really mean STRONG... I think she must be a real BIG fan of Jay or else why should she bother to convince someone who’s mind is made of stone). To my surprise, I really found the film enjoyable right from the beginning to the end, in almost all the aspects… almost. I especially like the music, and the cinematography… the angles, the backgrounds, the scenes… so simple, yet so delivering.

At the middle of the show, I started to wonder who the film director is. I wish to find out because I look forward to watch other movies directed by him (sorry for any female readers, but when come to film directors, no female is in my list yet). So I went search the internet and guess what? I can’t believe my eyes when I first read that Jay was not only the actor, but also the producer, the director, and the writer. Wow! I can never imaging Jay have such great talents! Since then, the way I see Jay have changed. He has so much more than what I can expect from someone at his age… really so much more.

For those who haven’t watched the movie, why not give it a try. Though you may not enjoy it the way I did, but be prepared that the show might evokes some feeling of your old days - when you first learn about puppy love.

So, was that what I got from the movie?

... It’s a secret :)

30 August 07 (Thursday)

Kalau Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta

It's written in my profile that my Favorite Books are Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics... some might think "arhh! What a tech geek!" or "Just kidding right? who on earth would find those books interesting?" It's normal for ppl to think that way as the titles that ended with "ics" are usually serious stuffs and does cause headache to some people.

The fact is, if this happen to you when reading the “-ics” stuffs (you feel headache), it’s because you failed to relate what you read (the contents) to the real life phenomena. That is, when you can’t see the physical meaning of what you read, and are trying to memorize each fact, statement (of theorem) or equation, blindly.

This happened to me when I’m doing my certificate (General Mechanical) in polytechnic, my “study” is nothing more than mere memorization. I managed to score good grade though (very good indeed), but found my study stressful and boring.

I realized there must be something wrong in the way I study (in spite of my good grades), because the “knowledge” that I acquired is mere memorized facts; they can’t be applied to solve the real life problems as there are no real understanding.

So when I’m doing my BSc, I’ve resolved to go for knowledge, not grade. When reading, I try to visualize (or you may call it using the imagination) the subject matters in order to see its physical meaning and try to relate it to the real life phenomena. For instance, when I read the definition of density, I won’t simply memorize the fact density equaled to mass per volume, instead, I would try to visualize there being some objects that is containing in a volume. This is what I mean by seeing the physical meaning. Then I would try to visualize how molecules of water containing in a volume are more pack to each other when compare to the molecules of oil. This is what I mean by relating it to the real life phenomena. Once you “see” the subject matters CLEARLY and EXACTLY (in your mind) then you can say you have learned it.

So the “actual” study is reading exercise that involves a lot of mind activity like this. Memorization that didn’t involve the mind to venture deep into the subject matters is not real study, because there is no real learning take part – you just memorized some facts but you didn’t see the subject matters yet!

There is a malay saying:

“Kalau tak kenal maka tak cinta”

This is true in almost all expects, including study. So don’t worry if you think that study is boring, or that you don’t like the courses you are taking, it’s just that you haven’t get to know your subject matters well. All you have to do is to put efforts into knowing your subject matters, once you did, you’ll find them fascinating! I know how frustrating and how interesting study may be, because I’ve been through the “using memorization” and “using imagination” stages, so I know.

So this is just a sharing based on my own experience. By the way, how about stuff like this:

…In daily life, the concepts of Mr. Right and Ms. Right are also idealizations, just like the concept of a reversible (perfect) process. People who insist on finding Mr. or Ms. Right to settle down are bound to remain Mr. or Ms. Single for the rest of their lives. The possibility of finding the perfect prospective mate is no higher than the possibility of finding a perfect (reversible) process. Likewise, a person who insists on perfection in friends is bound to have no friends.

Yunus A. C. and Michael A. B. “Thermodynamics”, Fifth edition.

Are them really boring stuff?

The choise I'll make...

It has been quite some time since I owned my first digital camera. I’ve seen improvement in my photography skill. In fact, some of my works have received compliments from my friends. All this really make me feel good. But, in life, the Sun is not always shines on our side… the moment I started to feel like flying high on the sky, the clouds turn dark and lightning strikes…

Recently I’ve submitted ten photos for review in one of the stock-photography-selling website… making sweet dream of selling photos for side income. But so disappointing that out of ten that I’ve sent, all were rejected! The reasons are mostly about picture quality which in their technical terms: “Noise--Noise, film grain, over-sharpening, or artifacts at full size.”

It’s really embarrassing to tell others that you are having problem with image quality when you are using a Leica camera, a brand that doesn’t need advertising… because it’s very obvious that the problem must be from the person behind the camera – me in this case : (

So this leave me two choices; to run away from the critics, leaving the professional community and be a champion of my own little world among laymen who didn’t ask much about photo quality, or to take the challenge boosting my works to another level until I meet the professional requirements.

I’ve always teaching others that in study, making mistakes is never a problem, the point is to learn from it so that you do it right the next time. So I guess now is the time for me to show it with my action…

Give me some times and I’ll show you my works!

One of the quotes that I like very much:

“When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Anonymous

July 16, 2007