Graduation Dinner

A night to celebrate the times we have spent together. "A (K)night to Remember" was the theme for our graduation dinner. All the new doctors were dressed up, celebrating the end our our journey through medical school. As we embark our next adventure, may we always hold each other dear in our hearts.

Wisdom Tooth

Removed my right wisdom tooth today. It has been giving me some problem with food getting stuck and the gums getting inflamed. Two hours has passed, so far so good.

Another portfolio weekend

The weekend is here again. However, I am doubtful there will be much rest this weekend. I have 2 portfolio to complete and still need to identify a case for my Psychiatry portfolio. After I have accomplished that, there is a whole pile of things to revise and study. That's the life of a Semester 10 medical student.

I was rather pissed off earlier at how poor some people's attitude can be. There are those who looks so highly on themselves, thinks they are so smart and that they can go around insulting and looking down on us. How childish. We should realize that we are never the best and we are never better that others. Everyone is good at something. You may think you are better, but trust me when I say you are not. Do not think so highly of yourself, do not look down on others and do not think you are all mighty. You have no idea what the future holds. Remember this.

I Phone 4S

The new iPhone 4 has been released. As predicted, it is called the iPhone 4S. It looks like an iPhone 4, but has faster processors, better camera and etc. I think the coolest new feature is the what they call Siri. It allows you to give voice commands to your phone and it will interact with you as if it was artificial intelligence. The promotional video looks impressive. You can ask about the weather, traffic, send text messages all just by speaking to your iPhone. If this works out as smooth as the video, the new iPhone will surely sell like hot cakes. I WANT AN IPHONE!!!! hahaha

Meeting a Deaf Patient

Followed a Deaf patient to the OT today. I realized two things.

1. I need to upgrade my level of Sign Language
2. I really should use it more often. I have forgotten so many signs I cant have a proper conversation any more. sigh.

Diablo 3

First heard of the upcoming release of Diablo 3 since Semester 4. The beta version has just been released. D3 will probably be released in a year or so. I played D2 a lot and naturally I just cant wait for D3 to be released. Saw the game play trailer, and it looks good. They have improved it in game play, interface and storyline. Feels more realistic and less game-like now.



There will be 5 character classes. Demon Hunter, Wizard, Monk, Witch Doctor and my favourite Barbarian. Used Barbarian in D 2, will probably use Barbarian again in D3. Many of the new character classes have some attributes from the characters of D2. Demon hunter is somewhat like Amazon+ Assassin of D2. Monk - Paladin, Wizard- Sorceress, With Doctor- Necromancer. But they have been modified to have more specialized characteristic.


Man, I cant wait for this. I'm just worried my PC may not be able to support. I barely have the minimum requirement for RAM, my processor is lacking and my video card is not up to par with the minimum level. Damn it. What should I do? Should I get a new desktop for this? Is it worth it? Checked out the prices. It would set me back approximately RM1600.






Minimum PC Requirements
OS: Windows® XP/Windows Vista® / Windows® 7 (Latest Service Packs) with DirectX® 9.0c
CPU: Intel Pentium® D 2.8 GHz / AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 4400+
GFX: NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800 GT or ATI Radeon™ X1950 Pro or better
HDD: 12 GB available Hard Drive Space
RAM: 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista® / Windows® 7 users, 2 GB for Mac® users)
Other: Broadband Internet connection and 1024x768 minimum display resolution

(Note:  Be advised that some wireless connections do not meet the minimums required to be a true Broadband Internet connecton.  Wireless results may vary.)

Diablo 3 Recommended System Requirements

PC Requirements

OS: Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 (Latest Service Packs)

CPU: Intel® Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz / AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 5600+ 2.8 GHz

RAM: 2 GB

GFX: NVIDIA® GeForce® 260 / ATI Radeon™ HD 4870 or better

My System
Windows Vista
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz
Ram 1GB
NVDIA GeForce Go 7200

Official Cinematic Trailer

Monk Gameplay Video

Barbarian Game play

Demon Hunter Trailer Video

Swimming pool at Batu Pahat

It appears that there are no swimming pool in or around Batu Pahat. Tried to Google for it, and the only results I found was hotels with swimming pool. Even that was a handful only. Apparently there is a public pool near Minyak Beku but the review was that it is small, dirty and poorly maintained. There goes my plan to be healthy and swim during the weekend. Anyone knows a place where I can swim in Batu Pahat?

Batu Pahat

Finally moved to Batu Pahat. Took me 3 hours ( perhaps more) to drive here from KL. Car was loaded till the roof, resembling a mover's van. I hope BP will be a good experience. Six more months to graduation. I have started feeling the anxiety of starting work already.

Now Everyone Can Fly

Air Asia's motto has been chosen very appropriately. In today's world, everyone can indeed fly. No more was the time when flying included making trips to tour agency to buy air tickets and holidays= join a tour group. Now you can plan, purchase and confirm everything from your room with an internet connection, a PC and a credit card.

It also means that flying is no longer as exclusive and glamorous as it used to be. I remember when I was young, flying by plane was something you really look forward to. We still look forward for the trip, but those days the whole experience of flying was awesome enough. There used to be a cool airport, nicely built and nicely furnished. The staff were friendly and the airport was spacious. Today, flying (especially with a budget airline) is like taking a bus. The terminal is crowded, minimally built, minimal facility (I was sweating in the waiting area), the staff less friendly, the place looks nothing like what it used to be. Seriously, flying now is rather.....  boring.

Nevertheless, I guess we cant complain much can we. Budget airlines has after all enables students like us to travel around. If we really want the awesome services we used to get, just go book a flight on a better airlines. And pay more.. hahaha

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day. To all mothers (especially mine), Happy Mother's Day. =)

Mothers are the most selfless people in the world. They can sacrifice anything for their children. Nothing is too much to ask for. They never complain, they never whine and they are always ready to give. Starting from the 9 months we were conceived in her womb till the very end of our lives, our mother will always be there for us. Perhaps we should do more for our mother's in return.

How did you celebrate your mother today? Whatever you did, I'm sure it your mother will be happy. Mother's are easily contented. All they wish is for their children to be safe, grow up and show love and care for them. It is not hard at all. The important thing is to do this everyday, 365 days a year and not just on Mother's Day.

Love your mother everyday. Do not wait till May to do so because Everyday Is Mother's Day.

Love you always mum. =)

A time of reflections

Week 4 of Orthopaedics.

I guess there are times when we need to sit in one corner, look deeply inside and reflect on ourselves. Reflect on what has been happening lately, how have things been turning out, what we have done lately. Self reflection. Indeed, i need to find my corner.

Things have not been going on well. I wonder, what have I done wrong? Perhaps I should have been studying harder. Perhaps I should have been studying "smarter". Perhaps I should have been nicer. Perhaps less critical. Perhaps I should have been less annoying. perhaps I should just SHUT MY BLARDY MOUTH! Perhaps things would have been better. Perhaps perhaps perhaps.

What is wrong with me? How did I go from someone that is likable to someone obnoxious with symptoms of Mania? I talk too much. I Bullsh*t too much. That's for sure. I don't study enough. My circle of friends is diminishing till the extend i wonder if i even have any friends. Have i been loosing friends or have everyone started becoming tired of my nonsense? Perhaps they have had enough of tolerating me. Is that it? Its depressing to see that everyone has a circle of friends. People they study with, go to wards with, do stuff with. And then i look at myself and Im a damn loner. I don have friends to study with, i study alone. I don't have anyone to go to wards with. I tag along with groups who somehow give me the feeling they just don want to chase me away because I'm from their batch.

Are people just tolerating me because they pity me? Is that it? It feels like Im being included because no one wants to be with me., Because i don't have any friends. Because im a screwed up person. What is happening? How did things turn out this way? I want to be my old self. I want to be what i was. I want to be how things were before. How did it change? I wish someone would tell me.

Am i being too harsh on myself? Am i being delusional? Am i over judging myself? Really? I hope so. I truly hope all this are just made up by my mind. But how would i know? I have had this thought before. I have asked myself this before. I have been through this. Yet i never got the answers to my questions. Could someone tell me? Please. Tell me. I need to know the truth.

Holidays.

Ever since the 23rd of May, I have been enjoying the luxury of holiday. After almost 2 months, I have another month more to enjoy. A very long break indeed. haha Well, since med school is on break, there have not been much updates but I have a feeling there will be some coming soon. Come back in September. That's when the new term starts. The start of a whole new beginning. Cheers.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's birthday. We went bought a small cake and had Thai food for dinner. =)

Happy Birthday Dad!!

2012

Here's another movie to look out for. 2012. I just saw the trailer and it looks potentially good. It is by Roland Emmerich, who gave us Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow - 2 great end of world movie in my opinion. It is due in November this year. =)

So what's the deal with 1012 you say. I watched a documentary on History Channel last year. It was on Nostradamus and the book of and his many prophecies. Those who believed in his prophecies interpreted from his writings that the end of the world will be in 2012. According to what I read on wikipedia, the Mayan Calendar or Mesoamerican Long Count calendar ends on 12/21/12. Some have came to believe that this is because the Mayan believed that's when the world will end. There are other theory as well which you could google 2012 or click these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_doomsday_prediction

http://www.whowillsurvive2012.com/

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/2012-roland-emmerich.html

Do you believe that the world will end in 2012? I sure hope not. I'm still too young. I would be 25 then and it will be my 1st year working as a doctor (I'm due to graduate with MBBS early 2012). Yes the world has been seeing a number of natural disasters but don't you think it's a little too soon for something catastrophic to occur? These things takes decades not years to happen. Anyhow, 2012 looks like something we could look forward to. It is potentially a good movie. Owh, perhaps we should start preparing for 2012. Can food anyone? Survival classes? Flying classes? =)

Target Acquired

I have in my hands something that will soon become almost priceless. 8 tickets to watch Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen. Hahahahaha

Yupe. That's right. I bought my tickets 1 week in advance. I anticipate demand to be sky high and all tickets to be sold out next week. Not wanting to wait any longer than I have already waited, I bought the tickets today. 7 days... 7 days... 7 days... hehehe

Pizza for everyone. =)

Not too long ago, I made a promise to myself. Actually it's more like a vow. If I do pass my EOS 5, I would buy some kids lunch as a treat. And that is the exact thing I did today.

I bought 10 boxes of pizza, 5 boxes of ice cream and dropped them off at Agathians Shelter, an orphanage at Section 8 PJ. Why did I do that? Well, I believe that when something good happens to me, I would like to share it with someone else. I will share my happiness with the les fortunate. As I have mentioned sometimes back, the joy of making another happy is much more than the joy of self indulgence. You know what to now. Go out and spread some happiness. =)

Gym. (Finally =p)

After months and months of inactivity, I finally went to the gym today. Not wanting to pay gym fees, I wnt to the one gym that I paid but hardly used, IMU Gym. haha Yupe. i finally got my lazy butt moving.

I also got a new pair of running shoes. Finally I got myself a proper pair of shoe. Not that my previous pair was bad, it costs RM60 and served me through semester 1-5. But, it is kinda old and does not support my legs well. i don't wanna injure myself and pay heavier consequences hence the new shoes. =)

I also watched X-Men Origins today. Yes its more than a month since its release. I was preparing for exams then and watching movie was way off my to do list. Moments ago, I finished watching Confessions of A Shopaholic. My sister asked me to watch with her. It's quite a good show. The evil truth behind credit cards.

By the way, what is the most powerful word in English. 4 alphabet. S-A-L-E. Don't you think so? It stands out, catches your attention regardless of what your doing and even have the power of making many people buy things they do not need. Impressive what 4 alphabets can do. Don't you think?

Steam Boat June 09

We had a steam boat gathering at my place today. Just a small one with sime close friends and lots of food. Scrumptious aren't they? Enjoy! hehe =)

Phacoemulsification

My dad went for an eye surgery yesterday. He had cataract in his left eye and the doctor performed a Phacoemulsification to remove the cataract as well as replace a new artificial lens. (My dad was tested today morning and now have almost perfect vision, better than mine. Damn)

Me being a harworking and enthusiastic (=p) medical student requested to watch the procedure. My dad's Opthomologist Dr Hardeep Singh agreed to allow me in. IIt was a long wait and a short procedure. There were many other patients waiting and my dad was the 2nd last patient for the day. What I noticed while waiting at the waiting area was the average age of the other patients was 20 years more senior than my dad. haha I guess my dad's considered the junior huh. =p

I changed into scrub suit and as always I stood beside the doctor careful not to touch anything as he went through the procedure. Everything was done under a microscope. I only saw his gross movements and only had a slight idea of what he was doing. The procedure is conducted under topical anaesthesia. The lens is broken into smaller pieces (emulsified) with vibration and then aspirated via suction. An intraocular lens implant is then placed into the remaining lens capsule. This is a modern method of removing cataract. An older method would require a large incision in the sclera or cornea. It is still indicated for patients with hard cataract.

As I was sitting in the waiting area before and after the procedure, I realised that many of the patients were Chinese who speak little English or Bahasa Melayu. One might wonder, how does this doctor communicate with his patient? Why do so many Chinese speaking uncle and aunty choose to see a Singh doctor? I found out that Dr Hardeep speaks Chinese. Well, that sure is an advantage don't you think? Many Chinese cant even speak Chinese and we have here a Singh who can. Remarkable isn't it. In fact this is not the 1st time I met a Chinese speaking non-Chinese doctor. I met a MO during my clinic visit to Jinjang Community Clinic as well as an ENT specialist in Jln Kuching (I can't recall his name) who also speaks Chinese. And by speak I mean fluent, not just being able to scold foul words.

Then it occurred to me. Hey, I need to learn more languages. Our country consists of a multi racial community. We have Malays, Chinese and Indians comprising the top 3 races. I spent 11 years in a Malay school so my BM is quite fluent. English is my 1st language, no problem with that. Chinese. hmmmm... I consider myself fluent in Cantonese, okay in Mandarin and able to communicate sufficiently in Hokkien and Hakka so that's quite okay for now. Still need to work on that though. haha

Quite a linguistic huh? Nope. I don't think so. I'm still missing out 2 major groups. The Indians and the Deaf. Thus, I decided I will expand my spoken language to cater for the major groups in Malaysia. Starting June 13th I will be taking a 10 week course in Sign Language. I have always been fascinated by the ability to communicate with facial expression and hand signs. I hope I will be able to communicate and hold a proper conversation with Sign Language. Perhaps this will work to my benefit in the future as I will be able to communicate with deaf patients as well as help intemperate for the Deaf.

Next, I plan to learn Tamil. If all goes well, I would like to learn Tamil. There are more than 2 million Indians in Malaysia. I believe the main spoken dialect is Tamil (please correct me if I'm wrong). As a future doctor, I will be seeing quite a number of Indian patients and there will be some who would prefer to speak in their mother tongue. Knowing their language would therefore improve communication as well as build patient rapport.

That would be my plan. Hopefully I would have the time in Clinical School to fulfil my plans. =)

Port Dickson May 09

These are the pictures from our Port Dickson trip last week. We drove 3 cars down to PD and had BBQ on the beach near Sri Malaysia (can't remember the name of the beach). More pictures on the way.