RedAsh's Blog

A Sunday. Sunday always seem so short to me. I have no idea why Mum. The good times really flies...

Oh yea Mum, it seems to me that I have yet to told you my plans to sign up with the SPF. I may start as a junior officer, but hell, I am using it as stepping stones towards my next step, the CPIB. But that will be 2 years later. Then after CPIB, and hopefully I had already gained my Master by then (I am still tinkering between PMI or financial). I shall opt for some position at the Bank. Hope that my CAT2A clearance will help out.

One thing that allures me is about an article I read up lately, now there is a lack of security PM. Reason? I think because of the high project failure rates, and the criticality of security, the failure of a security system means the end of your PM career... A HUGE tradeoff for maybe a small gain... or a gamble for fame... but it looks like a good prospect afterall since the money seems awesome... but am I game enough? or more precisely... can I handle it?

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Ok mum, its 11pm now. Time for 2nd part of inclusion for today's revision report. Kinda slow but I will turn on full power tomorrow, no time to waste anymore I guess.

Before going to bed, I figure I need to tidy up the CIS 314 notes, as those are what I will be going through for the next 3 days, Monday to Wednesday for CIS 314. Then Thursday for CIS 316. Then Friday for 326. And Saturday and Sunday again for CIS 314. Hope I can make a comeback on Software Engineering. I scored CIS 210 lowest for last term.

Anyway, a quick revision on CIS210. I had came to instill the 3 "Causes and Effects" for "Why the need for SE?", 5 software characteristics, and 5 internal software qualities.

The 3 "Causes and Effects" for "Why the need for SE?" is done by comparing "Programming in the Small" (PitS) with "Programming in the Large" (PitL),

First is that PitS is an personal endeavour, while PitL is an collective endeavour. Which also leads to the second, collective requires all the stakeholders involved to facilitate a proper communication system. This effect results in the need for fostering productive communication, and "resolving conflicting goals".

Last is that PitS is a one-off product as the user is usually the programmer as well. But for PitL, they are not of same entity, as such, there will be ever-changing requirements to be made. This results in the need to "plan for future evolution"

The 5 characteristics of software are intangible (no physical form HENCE no mass manufacturing process to consider) and therefore an absense of wear and tear (more usage = more reliable), configurable, custom built (implying low reuse) and lastly, malleable (which means implementing changes, yet each change usually potentially introduces new faults and failures.)

The 5 external software qualities to strive for are
1> correctness - test for the system conformance to specs
2> realiability - test for system failure rate; who is different from fault rate
3> robustness - test for system to cope with incomplete specs; means coding more than the spec requires, but this also means the returns and the resource cost tradeoffs.
4> Efficiency - looking at system performance
5> Ease of Use - user's acceptance to the system.

The 5 internal software qualities that are strive by developers are
1> Verfication and Validation - the former checks for system conformance to specs, while the latter checks for adequacy of the system to the specs.

2> Maintainability - the ease of maintainence... corrective for correctness, adaptive for realiablity and robustness, and perfective for efficiency and ease of use. Basically maintainence is to enchance current software qualities.

3> Repairability and Evolvability, the former refers to corrective maintainence, and the latter refers to adaptive and perfective maintainence. Evolvability supports mallability and vice versa; while repairability supports correctness and reliability.

4> Reusability - refers to the ability for the component to be use in another system. And it is rare in terms of software due to its custom built nature. Reuse emerge from continual maturity... it supports all other internal qualities

5> Portability and Interoperability - portable refers to able to be used in mroe than 1 hardware platform, while interoperable means the software ability to "cooperate" with other software products (of different vendors etc). This support overall efficiency and ease of use and also help recoup costs.

Thats all for now mum. Now its 12 midnight. After some more max pushups then off I go for a bath with my newly purchased "red mug" like the I use back in Yishun (before it was used as a paint tub by DAjuju)... K mum nities ! =D

Yo Mum, learnt quite a lot of things today. And it is only 1pm. An early night sleep really does wonder! Its been so long since I sleep early, wish me well on continuing what I am doing now ~ hope it become a habit. =D

I did some arm exercise, on my biceps. Learn about my shoulders muscle group, they are call the Deltoids, and it is 3 segments, front, rear, side. Thankfully, a search at Youtube reveals that those muscle can be trained using dumbbells =D

Also finally conquer something about CIS317. Nothing great, but it is definately a step towards what I should be doing. Hope my brain continues to stay focus. "Its a marathon, not a sprint" =D

A quick report on my revision on AIS.
Question 1, What is AIS?
Answer:
It is an integrated framework, within an organisation system that consumes physical resources,
And it transform the economical information into financial statements,
And so as to allow the operation and management of the business activities,
and to allow the reporting of the achievements to interested parties.

Interested Parties include Internal (employees as source of motivation, managers and board for attention directing, decision making and problem solving) and External (taxation authoristies, customers, partners, stock exchanges, press, investors)

It main purpose is to reflect business activities, which are book-keeping, attention directing and problem solving.

Question 2, Why is AIS important?
Since an AIS is supposed to reflect business activities, it represents an dominant view over the entire firm, - in terms of ideal maximium profit.

AIS also provides the a common, though no universal, terminology to describe its content. This common language is used to describe the firm's goals and objectives to all members of the system, and as such, provides a selection of calculated ends.

AIS provides clear rules and procedures to recording, processing and reporting. This structured systematic approach allows the the description, and therefore simplification, then ultimately consolidation of the complex business activities.

Question 3: What consitutes a good AIS?
As AIS strength focused alot on quantitative measurement and their representations, a good AIS therefore allows accurate and correct measurement to be taken. As well as the means for ...

Oh dear mum, my memory failing, ok, back to revision.

Mum, I am back from visiting Grandma. She looks fine. As far as I know, she had a mint stroke that resulted into her current condition. Somehow, she keep look away from me... somehow she feels that she kinda own something from me... I hope i did not pressurise her too much =<(

I brought Dad along, and he called her "Ah Ma" its been a while since he call her that way i suppose, as all others exclaimed when he did that. Anyway, it is only a short moment, they all went home, all are present except DaJuju and wives of the uncles, and definately, 2nd aunt's husband. They went back first as I wanted to bring Dad for a light supper at Mr.Bean.

When we went down, we saw the rest of them still awaiting for the vehicles. we "long ban" Small Aunt's lorry to Simei interchange. Then I brought Dad for a small snack treat at Mr.Bean. Some Soya Bean Drink, A "bowl" of Soya Bean Curb, and a cone of Soya Ice Cream. I had mine sugerless, while Dad followed my pace and opt for less sugar instead - he did complain that those are rather stale, but when I ask him if he nids more suger syrup, he rejected ~ as health consciesus as ever. We had a talk on Mary, and her Kidney issue... and we also chat about you Mum and "Ah Gong". I mentioned that you are in the "Yellow River Road" waiting for our reunion... I do look forward to that day, though now is still not the time, Mum, for I yet to do you proud.

Despite the small supper we had, we felt very full.

Mum, I hope that I can really focus the crucial things in my life. Please help me to iron out the distractions and the temptations that my mind is alluring me. I nid your blessing more than ever...

Ok to end this blog, let refresh some stuff I pick up from CIS 210 (part A). The key here is about the need for a new engineering discipline, software engineering. Software is an intelligent effort, an effort that requires creativity. And management, a non-creativity activity, in necessary to ensure that creativity can be realised completely, or so to gain a level of completeness. This is known as the SDP (Software Development Process). The characteristic of the SDP will help or hinder the construction process.

One thing I like about what I learnt is that Hardware are measured objectively, while software are measured subjectively. A very clear cut description to distinct the 2.

The key reason for introducing the whole SDP discipline is to enforce 3 things that are identified when comparing and contrasting Programming in the Small and Programming in the Big perspectives.

They are,
1> Reconcile conflicting goals,
2> foster productive communication, internally bet developers and externally bet. specifiers and users,
3> to plan for future evolution.

sO mum, that pretty sums up what I have gather for CIS 210. Tml, first thing is to do some legs stretch x50, follow by sit ups x50. Finally, some 3 sets of knuckle push ups x3 sets of maximium possible? with 2 mins break in between. Hope my muscle really grows =D

Oh yea, not forgetting Delthoids group development. That will in the noon with more sit ups before lunch. Hope my will surpass my stomach signal. Also, I sense that my liver is up to something not good. I will try my best to align with it so as to recondition my body for optimal health.

Nities Mum =)

Today, I waste this one day of my life to get to know DMC 4. I had conquerored it, thanks to YouTube.com. It is fantastic. A storyline driven by the key characters of DMC 1~3, to create DMC4 - to create a successor. Gaining some muscles along the show; pumping bells and rolling balls.

Anyway, after that I took a nap. woke up to read an article from gantthead and learn a bit more about US government PM. Some new interesting things I learned:

green-lighting = green-light + "ing" <= I lol after i figure out this
carte blanche = unconditional authority; full discretionary power

Also read up on some stuff on chaos management = change management. One nice phrase, "change management" is part of a good IT organisation, yet few are expertise with it". You have it doesnt mean you can do good with it. Just like my lecture notes... I have the information, but they are yet to be my knowledge...
and my exams are in 2nd MAY 2008! ARGH!!!

Mum, todays hopefully still good to go. I had a good sleep and it is now 9pm. Kinda early from my usually post. Cuz I wanna watch the news at 10 (same time doing some exercise), bath at 10:30. Then prepare for my next day to be done before 12pm. Mum help me with these. Hopefully, I can create a habit out of it. Just a simple time table. Thank You.

Mum, Last night, I mean yesterday. I had set up the perfect stage for the thief of my money.

For the past few days, dating from last week, someone is taking money from my wallet. So yesterday, I prepare $42 in my wallet. And I will not spend anything.

Indeed, in the morning, $10 gone. I called Ken. Then when that "trash" returned, at midnight I checked, another $10 gone.

Under what situation does the money is taken in 2 instances instead of 1? When the theif needs to sustain her expenditure the next day.

Irregardless, whats really interesting is that Ken stood up for her, stating that he is her "Guardian".

Anyway, it is more of an arguement between Ken and I after that. Ken told me that I should not deal with Karen directly. He did not realise that what I had done is what he did, and he is not even apologitic about it; if he is really sorry, he should apologise for what he did to "her" first then apologise to me, not to just me.

Throughout the entire session, he keep announcing "dont care about the past, lets focus on the current." Yet, he keep digging up the past. The key reason is that his past is full laiden with faults.

For instance, mum, remember that Ken use to "take" money from Dad's wallet as Dad always hangs his pants on the door. $50 notes each time. One day, Dad suspect in-house thief and he suspects Ken as you told me about Ken's theif after u had uncover those hidden "extra allowance" cash notes leftover. So you cover up by using your own $50 notes... but Dad's no fool, he knew it is Ken all along for he is the only outdoor personnel in our family then. Kinda ironic for Ken mentioned that he started earning $$$ and his money that are stolen by Karen when she is K2 and discovered by Dad are not returned to him... and did he returned to Dad what he had taken from Dad?

He also state that I should just look after myself and stay clear from "trash" and dad. He also mentioned that I should be ashamed of myself for Living on Dad's instead of using my own saving. The funny thing is, by principle, I am in the fault if I demanded money from Dad. But thus far, all my claims to Dad gone through the commitee. If there are problems, they should approach me instead. Anyway, this "trap" I had set up for 2~4 years to display the incompetence of the commitee, will be frutile with Ken's intervention.

He also mentioned that I am a psyko, for abusing Karen. When I demanded details, he brought up Karen's teacher's intend to make police report. He did not realise that much earlier to that, I am in no fear of jailing for that time, I am only crazy about Jyeshin's future... what kind of future she will be getting - I want her to surpass me. Proof? One time I wacked Jyeshin really seriously on her hands and legs, where bruises are visible to deter her from hanging out with her friends and any BGR chances. When I took her to a Doctor immediately, I did not care about me getting caught, cause I am indeed responsible for those bruises; that time, I only wanted to ensure her legs and hands are not too seriously injured that it will be detrimetal to her future.

Unlike Ken's where once he discovered Karen took a photo album he had bought and he used a metal hanger to beat up Karen badly till her one of her fingers actually became twisted. And he is not even sorry about it, he went out with his ex-GF LiPing immediately after that; Hell yeah, LiPing was present - no wonder she left him. Anyway, the real question is "What is (the late) Jyeshin to him?"

Till now, that "Trash"'s future is sealed to doom. For Ken stated that he will look after her his entire life. How? He did not even bother about her future. He did nothing to save her schoolwork. He does not even bother her lifestyle, her daily doings, her seriously-illed social life... and he state he will use his "money" to look after her - Dad's money? When just last week, he called up 2nd Aunt to say that he is going to throw that "Trash" to the Girl's Home?

Taking yesterday situation, he thinks it is fine to steal now but now later, for that is what he did in the past. And hell, did he change? Nope, now he tries to "Steal" Dad's money. He keep stating that he will be taking over Dad's workshop, but his ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER than his words. When Dad wants to transfer the workshop's deed to him, Ken state that he has no fund; so he suggest joined named. In that way he has access to workshop fund; something Uncle William suggested in the past. Well done, so he is after Dad's money afterall.

Anyway, Mum there are many more things that you had mentioned and had happened as you predicted. Good thing that happen yesterday is that I cleared out most of my trash and "hotspots" after referring to this "LadyFLY.com" website. That is a good site, it teaches me the way things should be done in a motherly way - with Patience and Perservance.

Mum, Bless me, for the war between me and Ken is inevitable...