Year 2 Sem 2 Results

Okay, so I got my results and the above are the results. This is definitely not a good semester for me when you look at the results. Definitely no where near fantastic. Disappointed yes, but I guess this just pushes me to work even harder.


So first off HP1000: Introduction To Psychology.

I was pleasantly surprised at the A+ considering that I didn't do well for my mid term. Got around 43/50. But nonetheless, I guess my class participation somehow pulled me up and I think I did very well for my finals.

The Prof warned that there will be fill-in-the-blanks questions which I guess requires a lot of memory work, which is kinda my forte. That probably explains why I did so well.


Next for EE8092. Yet another surprise that I got an A. Considering that I did badly for my quizzes as well.

Quiz 1: 27/30
Quiz 2: 24/30

I don't think I performed very well for my finals either so I'm kinda surprised that I got an A. I guess its probably because alot of people SU-ed the module, pushing me up to an A.

CS8004: Media in China.

In fact, for this module I did very well for my quizzes.

Quiz 1: 90/100
Quiz 2: 86/100

However, I chose to SU the module because the finals were basically 2 questions only, 40 marks for one and 60 for the other. Naturally, I felt terrified considering that I don't really know what's happening during lessons.

But during the last lecture, the Prof actually gave away the final questions and the best part was this module was an open book. I did regret SU-ing it but I guess that's life.

I prepared for the finals nonetheless, and it was basically a walk in the park, I finished the paper in 1 hour and walked out like a boss.

BF214: International Financial Institutions

My friends warned me about this module long before the semester starts. They said that this module is extremely dangerous as it has a really steep bell curve. I thought I had in the bag when I got 88/100 for my mid term and full marks for my class participation. Furthermore, I believe I did extremely well for my final paper too.


However, I ended up with only an A- which was really disappointing. I guess it was because the final exam was too easy, which cause the bell curve to be extremely steep. I think I need to be more careful in my module selection in the future.


AB213: Research Methods

This module was a complete nightmare basically. It was extremely heavy in research and I highly discourage anyone from coming near this module. Please don't even think about taking up this module. Its really too time-exhausting and it takes away your revision time from your other modules. The worst part is that even if you put in a lot of effort, you might not get rewarded.


I put in so much effort and ended up with only an A-. Definitely not worth the effort to be honest. So I highly recommend that people stay far, far away from this module.


Don't even attempt to take it or you will 100% regret it.


Yep, that's basically the end of the review for this semester. Definitely not a good semester for me. My CGPA even dropped as a result. So I guess I can only work harder for my last 2 semesters.


But, since I'm going on exchange next semester, it won't change my GPA. So I'm glad :)

Dubai's Amazing Underwater Hotel

First Burj Khalifa, and now this underwater hotel.


Dubai is really at the forefront of tourism attraction.

An Inspiration to all

For years, Gac Filipaj mopped floors, cleaned toilets and took out trash at Columbia University.

A refugee from war-torn Yugoslavia, he eked out a living working for the Ivy League school. But Sunday was payback time: The 52-year-old janitor donned a cap and gown to graduate with a bachelor's degree in classics.

As a Columbia employee, he didn't have to pay for the classes he took. His favorite subject was the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca, the janitor said during a break from his work at Lerner Hall, the student union building he cleans.

"I love Seneca's letters because they're written in the spirit in which I was educated in my family — not to look for fame and fortune, but to have a simple, honest, honorable life," he said.

His graduation with honors capped a dozen years of studies, including readings in ancient Latin and Greek.

"This is a man with great pride, whether he's doing custodial work or academics," said Peter Awn, dean of Columbia's School of General Studies and professor of Islamic studies. "He is immensely humble and grateful, but he's one individual who makes his own future."

Filipaj was accepted at Columbia after first learning English; his mother tongue is Albanian.

For Filipaj, the degree comes after years of studying late into the night in his Bronx apartment, where he'd open his books after a 2:30-11 p.m. shift as a "heavy cleaner" — his job title. Before exam time or to finish a paper, he'd pull all-nighters, then go to class in the morning and then to work.

On Sunday morning in the sun-drenched grassy quad of Columbia's Manhattan campus, Filipaj flashed a huge smile and a thumbs-up as he walked off the podium after a handshake from Columbia President Lee Bollinger.

Later, Filipaj got a big hug from his boss, Donald Schlosser, Columbia's assistant vice president for campus operations.

Bollinger presided over a ceremony in which General Studies students received their graduation certificates. They also can attend Wednesday's commencement of all Columbia graduates, most of whom are in their 20s.

Filipaj wasn't much older in 1992 when he left Montenegro, then a Yugoslav republic facing a brutal civil war.

An ethnic Albanian and Roman Catholic, he left his family farm in the tiny village of Donja Klezna outside the city of Ulcinj because he was about to be drafted into the Yugoslav army led by Serbs, who considered many Albanians their enemy.

He fled after almost finishing law school in Belgrade, Yugoslavia's capital, where he commuted for years by train from Montenegro.

At first in New York, his uncle in the Bronx offered him shelter while he worked as a restaurant busboy.

"I asked people, which are the best schools in New York?" he says. Since Columbia topped his list, "I went there to see if I could get a job."

Part of his $22-an-hour janitor's pay still goes back to his brother, sister-in-law and two kids in Montenegro. Filipaj has no computer, but he bought one for the family, whose income comes mostly from selling milk.

Filipaj also saves by not paying for a cellphone; he can only be reached via landline.

He wishes his father were alive to enjoy his achievement. The elder Filipaj died in April, and the son flew over for the funeral, returning three days later for work and classes.

To relax at home, he enjoys an occasional cigarette and some "grappa" brandy.

"And if I have too much, I just go to sleep," he says, laughing.

During an interview with The Associated Press in a Lerner Hall conference room, Filipaj didn't show the slightest regret or bitterness about his tough life. Instead, he cheerfully described encounters with surprised younger students who wonder why their classmate is cleaning up after them.

"They say, 'Aren't you...?'" he said with a grin.

AP

Columbia University janitor Gac Filipaj poses... View Full Caption

His ambition is to get a master's degree, maybe even a Ph.D., in Roman and Greek classics. Someday, he hopes to become a teacher, while translating his favorite classics into Albanian.

For now, he's trying to get "a better job," maybe as supervisor of custodians or something similar, at Columbia if possible.

He's not interested in furthering his studies to make more money.

"The richness is in me, in my heart and in my head, not in my pockets," said Filipaj, who is now an American citizen.

Soon after, the feisty, 5-foot-4 janitor picked up a broom and dustpan and went back to work.

Credits -abcnews

Facebook IPO date uncertain: report

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Facebook Inc.’s expected May 18 debut as a public company is not a foregone conclusion because of a delay in regulatory approval, according to a media report Friday.

Facebook FB 0.00%  is still awaiting the approval of the company’s latest S-1 registration filing by the Securities and Exchange Commission, business network CNBC said

Separately, Morningstar said the buzz around Facebook IPO makes sense given the company’s potential, but its analysts pointed out that investors may be underestimating the business challenges.

Facebook is expected to sell 180 million shares with a proposed range of $28 to $35 a share in a deal that values the company at up to $96 billion. Insiders and other stakeholders are expected to sell more than 157 million shares in the offering.

In its report, Morningstar analysts said “the enthusiasm for Facebook is not misplaced, but the market may be underestimating several near-term challenges for the company.”

Morningstar said set a “fair-value estimate” price for Facebook at $32, “suggesting that the valuation at the proposed offer price leaves limited upside for long-term fundamental investors.”

“Given the frenzy surrounding the deal, we would not be surprised to see the stock trade above its intrinsic value in the aftermarket,” the report added.

One challenge the analysts cited was the “lack of standards or best practices for advertisers to measure” returns on investments.

“The most common theme we heard in talking to advertisers and agencies was the lack of standards and clear ROI in running social-advertising campaigns,” according to Morningstar.

The firm also pointed to “concerns about capital allocation,” noting that co-founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg “controls approximately 57% of the voting shares of the company.”

The analysts cited Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram, a mobile-photo sharing service, citing reports that “the deal happened with very little involvement” from the board.

“If Mr. Zuckerberg loses discipline in allocating the company’s capital, there can be no guarantee that any such mechanism would prevent the company from destroying shareholder value,” the report said.

Morningstar also called China “the wild card” for Facebook. “Currently, Facebook is blocked in China, and it’s unclear that the company will be able to successfully launch there. Disregarding China, we expect growth in Internet users to be much slower than it was a decade ago when companies like Google GOOG -1.37%  went public, limiting the growth opportunity for Facebook.” 

Jonathan and Charlotte Semi Finals

This is the act from Britain's Got Talent.


Jonathan is the powerhouse but what's so special about this act? I mean we have seen tonnes of great opera singers on the talent shows already. Susan Boyle, Paul Potts etc.


What's so unique about this act is the fact that there's a duo. A little summary about how this act came about. Charlotte was the one that encouraged Jonathan to go on the stage. Without Charlotte, basically we wouldn't witness Jonathan's amazing talent.


Simon Cowell as usual, thought that Charlotte was holding Jonathan back and that he should dump her. But he refused to and said that because they came here as a duo, they are going to stay here as a duo.


That was extremely touching, genuine and believable to me. It was so true. It was real friendship and a touch of love.


Hence, the music they produce is not just of top technical quality, but also full of emotions and a story was being built up throughout this competition.

American Express Internship

Today, I'm here to blog about my internship at American Express.




In actual fact, it has yet to begin. Officially, it starts on the 14 May 2012 next week. However, I must say that I'm extremely impressed already.


Just last Friday, I already met up with my supervisor to talk about the brief layout and scope of the project that I will be working on and afterwhich, we went out for some coffee at Coffeebean where we coincidentally met a lot of big shots.


Then, the following Monday, which was yesterday, I met up with him and the Marketing Director and her intern at Starbucks. The agenda was simple. It was a meet-up to get us acquainted. To be honest, I have done a couple of internships now and never have my bosses been so enthusiastic and caring before.


I'm already feeling important when the internship has yet to start. This really shows how much American Express puts their emphasis on personal development. It really shows you that the bosses really do care about their employees, even the interns!


We talked about everything under the sun and the session was really casual. I felt really at ease talking with them, with all the laughter and stuff. It really put you at ease.


I'm really pumped up about the starting of the internship already and I am extremely confident that this is going to be awesome!


Can't wait for next Monday!

Winners of the Sony World Photography Awards