How to create red blood cells using powerpoint

Red blood cells created using powerpoint/word

Yes, creating 3D figures with something as simple as powerpoint is possible :) though it's no walk in the park I can tell you that :P

Anyway, I was trying to create a figure for my thesis and I thought... why not make it 3D? So yeah, took me around 30 mins to finally come up with a 'red blood cell'-like picture lol :P

Okay, well, you're here not to listen to me rant. So here goes! Hope you can keep up :) I'll add in screenshots later when I have the time.

1. Draw an oval - can be any size, you can resize it later. However, size should be 2cm or less for this to work.

2. Remove its outline

3. Choose from one of the preset effects provided - Intense effect, red accent 2

4. Shape effects -> preset -> choose the one at the bottom right

5. Shape effects -> 3D rotation -> perspective relaxed moderately 

6. Shape effects -> bevel -> hard edge

7. Format shape -> 3D-Format -> Depth -> 3pt

8. Shadow -> Inside centre (or you can just remove it, no visible effect after I've added it lol)

9. For more variety -> try rotating at the green dot point or rotating by flipping it 

Also, I have a related Fiverr gig up on my Fiverr account whereby when you buy my gig, I'll create cool 3D diagrams (scientific ones mainly) for your thesis, reference books, conference/journal/research/review papers and others. We can negotiate on how many diagrams I'll make for you for $5. :) So hop over there and check out my gig :) If you're interested in any of my other gigs, do hit me up as well. 

Story ideas and writing

I've been a great fan of writing since I was young. I can still remember my first 'book' that I've written based on a nightmare that I had when I was around Standard 4/5. It took me 2 years to finish it - it's not extensively long since it's sort-of a children's horror story - but then I kinda lost the manuscript lol. Anyway, from what I can recall, that story isn't very well written or developed :P 

Since then, I've been writing essays more often (schoolwork lol! but I do get overboard by submitting a 5-page-long guided essay which had taken me just hours to write. Ahah, good old times :)) and when I hit university level, I gravitated towards poems (not that I fancy myself a poet, it's just faster to write lol - coz it's shorter) and short stories. However, I've been saving those ideas for longer stories... saving but never writing lol. Maybe coz I felt that none of them will ever see the light of day and I'm also kinda afraid that like some of my 'projects', I'll get disgusted/ bored by it when I'm half-way through with it. Not to mention, currently, I'm juggling more than I can handle... writing will just have to wait.....

Anyway, to find out why I was suddenly very interested in writing about well... 'writing', go check out: http://tunkuhalim.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/malaysian-writers-are-so-lucky/

I hope one day I will be one of those 'lucky ones' :)

Things Only People Who Work With Kids Will Understand

I came across this article while searching for something else and I was like, 'wow, this resonates with me so much that I simply must put it on my blog'. So, here am I and here it is :) Enjoy!

Things Only People Who Work With Kids Will Understand

1. Get the purell ready because germs, germs, germs, they’re EVERYWHERE! Children are like little Petri dishes!

This is so true! There was this one time when a very naughty girl, who was just told off by me, smeared her mucus (she has running nose) on the cover of her exercise book.... ewwwwwwwwwww!

2. There is no way in hell that you’ll ever be able to give instructions just once.

Yes, never in my life do I have to repeat myself so many times. It's not that they didn't hear you, they just.... well... didn't listen! Hence, sometimes I get sore throats when I go back home..

3. Snack time should be called “Let’s get crackers on the floor and step on them!”

Letting kids have snacks during tuition and you'll get food on the floor. Definitely, and who is going to pick those up? Not them, not even after you're told them off multiple times. At the end of the class, YOU are the 'aunty cleaner' that have to clean up after the kids... But I dare say I've been skipping doing these sort of stuff :P

4. If you expect children to get in a straight line EVER you’re a damn fool.

I've never tried and now that I've read this, I will never try lol....

5. People who say psychiatrists are over diagnosing ADHD obviously haven’t spent more than 5 minutes in a classroom.

Fcking ADHD, hyperactive maniacs they all are. Seriously, I hate kids...

6. Peanut butter is a hazardous substance.

Let's swap that with pencils, whiteboard dusters, rulers, practically ever fcking thing in the classroom. And you may find yourself marveling at the sort of pointy objects that parents allowed their children to put into their pencil cases and bring to class.

7. You have to find creative new ways to say “no.”

My personal favourite, "see first lah". Even kids complain to me that I always say that.

8. You know all the names of the kids with behavioral problems.

Yes. A great big YES. You NEED to know their names so you can report them to the principle of the tuition centre/ school lol and ofc, to yell at them to shut the f up and sit the f down

9. You’re often treated like you’re a babysitter rather than an educator.

F right I do. Parents actually send their kids 30 mins earlier to class and then dare to complain to the principle that 'why the teacher isn't here yet?' WTF! You think I stay there ar? You just wanted to use tuition classes as babysitting centres mah.... And there will be parents who will ask me to remind their kids to drink more water and eat their food and such stuff. I can do that, but gawd.... I feel like I'm working in a nursery or something

10. You’re used to people asking “Why would you do something that pays so little?”

I often ask myself that question and I ended up slamming my head against the wall, so don't. Just don't.

11. If you come home without markers all over your hands it’s been a good day.

Lol, this is practically an impossible task. No way. Even the simplest word (words that kids younger then them know how to write lol), they can ask you to write it for them cos they don't know (and they actually don't) and of course, your hands will get all dirty and stuff... but this is not exactly something that concerns me a lot. To put it simply, I don't mind having dirty hands, but it's really frustrating for kids to keep asking me to write for them just so they can mindlessly copy.

12. There must be a magician in school because pencils are constantly disappearing.

The stationary that has performed the most disappearing act is not pencils, it's erasers! I will definitely hear at least 5 times in a day, 'Teacheeeeerrrrrrrrrr, my eraser is missing!' or 'Teacheeeeeerrrrrrrrr, I can't find my XX'. Rulers, pencils, books (that are 'missing' so they don't have to do any work, will suddenly turned up in their bags), colour pencils and what-nots.

13. Coloring in the lines is overrated.

Colouring ANYTHING properly is overrated. Enough said.

14. You know you get paid a lot less that your peers but at the end of the day you’d never choose another career path because it’s so rewarding.

Not really. The only class that I actually feel rewarded is the Form 1 science class, but then that class took me the most time to prepare for. In the last class, I taught them 'Elements' (for 1 hr and 30 mins) that had taken me 3 hours+ to prepare for.

15. Getting a shy kid to come out of his or her shell is the best feeling in the world.

Not when the shy kid suddenly became as evil and as monstrous as the devil. 

16. You bought 75% of the supplies in your classroom yourself and you know there’s no way in hell you’re getting reimbursed.

Every fcking photostated extra exercise, every revision questions that I've ever printed from them, I'll never get back my money... probably worth more than RM20 now... and the worst part? Them kids never appreciate anything. Guess I'm just reaching for the impossible, right?

17. The job never just ends at 3pm.

My tuition class on Saturday ends at around 6:30pm but then once I've eaten and bathed, I'll be busy working on the stuff for tomorrow's class. Heck, every during weekdays, I'll be like busy creating questions for them... WTF. I believe this is a new level of employee exploitation.

18. When they make little things and presents for you your heart melts.

Well, so far, none. Um, except that one time I let them have fun with MY marker to draw stuff on the whiteboard. Instead, they are pestering me FOR GIFTS everyday.......

Update: well, the kids do give me impromptu cards for teacher's day which were pretty nice, and there's this kid who gave me a drawing of an odd-looking goat because I let her have some time off and do some drawing+colouring

19. Sometimes you have to throw all lesson plans out the window and just improvise, and that’s okay.

Yup, just like last weekend. I forgotten to bring my essay book to class and that I've placed my essay answer script (that I've written myself, fcking tuition centres) in it. So, I improvised and wrote a whole new essay from scratch lol.... within like 15 mins... record time! Especially when the essay is in Chinese (one of my weaker written languages lol).

20. You know what you’re doing isn’t just a job it’s a calling.

Hmm, not really, but I do agree that it isn't A job but it is MULTIPLE jobs. But ofc, you get paid for one job and the pay is as crappy as you can ever imagine (not as crappy as working part-time as a salesgirl lol... that's even worse).

Also, I would like to add a number 21. You'll be spending quite some time of yours stapling/taping kids exercise books that has fallen apart.

Well, these are my thoughts and experiences in dealing with kids. I guess it does depend on which kind of kids you have to deal with. Unfortunately, my tuition centre seem to be a magnet for all the naughty, thick-skulled kids. Sigh. Kids, I really hate em.

Source: http://postgraduategirlproblems.com/

An Improved Introduction to Manglish/Singlish or whatever you call it

The link to my previous blog post on this topic: Singlish and Malaysian Chinese's Manglish

Another somewhat-related topic: the different kinds of Yes in Malaysia

(Adfly warning - It won't let your computer get "cancer" a.k.a. viruses, you know. Just click the Skip Ad button on the top right corner of the page after the countdown reached 0)

Uhm, so.... I've been meaning to write this since last year.... LOL.... and well, now I've finally come to this. Actually, I don't even think this blog post is ever going to see the light of day within this month. It has been and will be sitting in my Drafts section, gathering enough internet dust and cobwebs so that the next time I edit this post, I would probably suffocate from breathing in all those virtual dust.

Do note that a lot of these words have origins in various mandarin dialects or from bahasa melayu or both, so if you're fluent in either one of those, you can be fluent in manglish/singlish fairly quickly. Aside from the words mentioned in the link from my previous blog post, these are some new words that you can learn about. :) I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed compiling this :) 

Oh and for those that have internet memes, I can add them in as well.... but later xD

(In no order whatsoever :P)

1. Kanasai (or KNN)

A rather rude word for cursing.

Example: 

a) - I won't be teaching you how to use a curse word, heh :P -

2. Ah-bo-den/ Ah-bu-den/ any slight variations of this

Literally meaning 'If not, then?'. Usually used in situations when the answer to a question is obvious. It is said in the sort of tone as someone who is speaking while rolling his/her eyes. The 'den' part should be dragged for effect.

Example: 

a) Seeing someone gearing up for a jog, "Eh, you're going jogging ar?"

"Ah-bo-den....."

b) "Wah, you finished already ar? So fast one...."

"Ah-bo-den.... Today's the deadline already mah..."

"WHAT?! Today's the deadline?!?!"

3. Beh tahan/ Cannot tahan/ any slight variations of this

Literally meaning 'Cannot stand *someone*'. The word 'Beh' is Hokkien for 'cannot' while the word 'Tahan' means 'withstand/ stand'. Usually used when you cannot stand someone's attitude or someone in general.

Example:

a) "I really beh tahan his attitude lah. Always want to win one~"

[I really cannot stand his attitude. He always wants to win.]

b) "I beh tahan this teacher nia... He kept giving us so many homework everyday."

4. Jiak sai

The Hokkien equivalent of 'eat shit'. Sometimes can mean literally as 'eat shit' or 'go to hell', or sometimes it can mean that someone is in deep trouble.

Example:

a) "This time I jiak sai liao lah. Tomorrow is the deadline and I haven't even started!"

[This time I'm in some really deep trouble. Tomorrow is the deadline and I haven't even started!]

b) "Wah, you think you more pro than me? You can go jiak sai lah."

[Wah, do you think you're better than me (in gaming, usually)? You can go to hell.]

5. Can/want die lah (or 'die liao lah')/ any slight variations of this

Usually used when in desperation. Having the feeling of wanting to die or almost dying due to overwhelming work.

Example:

a) "I can go die liao lah. So many work I haven't do...."

[I feel like I can die from the amount of work that I have yet to do.]

b) "Wah, give me so many work? Can die lah..../ Can die wey...."

[Wah, you're giving me so much work? I feel like I can die from the overwhelming work.]

6. On! or Jom! (In Bahasa Melayu)

Means what it says. Usually used when you're agreeing to a meet-up arranged by someone.

Example: 

a) "Eh, bro, you want to go with us to the gym tomorrow?"

"On!!!"

b) "We're going to prank Mr Lim tomorrow. You want to join us?"

"On!"

7. Ho jiak/ Ho chiak/ any slight variations of this

Literally means 'Good/nice tasty'. The Hokkien word for 'very tasty'. Usually used for describing delicious food served at a local hawker centre/food court/ any eatery.

Example: 

a) "Is this ais kacang nice?"

"Ho chiak!"

8. Okay bo?/ Lu okay bo?/ any slight variations of this

Usually used to show concern. Means 'are you okay (injured/feeling down) or not?'.

Example: 

a) Seeing you trip over something and fell. "Lu okay bo?"

b) Seeing you cry. "You okay bo?"

9. Chiu~ or Cheh~

A sound made usually when dismissing something someone said. The word can be dragged for more effect.

Example: 

a) "I've gotten that new battle pet in WoW!" 

"Cheh....... I've gotten it last week already lor."

10. Ai-yo

Similar to aiya.

11. Alamak!

Pretty much means 'Darn it!'. Usually accompanied by the sound of a palm smacking the forehead or the action of smacking a hand to the forehead.

Example: 

a) "You did remember to bring that thing I've told you to?"

"Alamak!!"

12. 'You ask me, I ask who?'

A Chinese idiom literally translated into English. It generally means 'I cannot give you the answer to your question. Who do you think I am? A know-it-all?' (in, obviously, a sarcastic way)

Example: 

a) "Eh, do you know whether Ah Meng and Gigi is back together or not?"

"You ask me, I ask who leh?"

b) "Bro, you know the formula for calculating the area of a triangle or not?"

Brother is busy with something and irritably replies "You ask me, I ask who? Go google it lah!"

13. See how lah

The very neutral way of not deciding what to do yet. It means 'I have not yet decided. It'll depend on what will happen next. We'll just have to wait and see.'. You can drag the 'lah' for effect.

Example: 

a) On Monday, "Bro, want to go bowling or not this Saturday?"

"See how lah."

On Tuesday, "Eh, bro, you want to go bowling or not one ar?"

"See how lah."

On Thursday, "Wei, you confirm going to bowling or not ar?"

"See how lah."

On Friday night, "Sht lah, bro. You're going or not?"

"See how lah."

"See how lah! See how lah! Wei, bro .... don't want to go mah say don' t want to go lor!!"

[See how lah! See how lah! Wei, bro, if you really don't want to go then just say you don't want to go.]

14. Mai/ Don't siao siao

Literally means 'don't be crazy'. 'Siao' is Hokkien for crazy. Usually used when someone have said  or done something totally ridiculous.

Example: 

a) "I've did it! I've just put a dead rat into Mrs Tan's drawer!"

"Wei, mai siao siao lah! She's one of the school's best discipline teacher. You'll get yourself caught."

b) "I will be a millionaire in this year!"

"Wei, mai siao siao lah. You are barely earning enough to make a living. Some more want to be a millionaire.... Go buy the lottery lah"

15. Bo bian/pian

The Hokkien equivalent for the phrase 'no choice'. Usually used when you've done something that you do not have (or think that you do not have) say/control over. 

Example: 

a) "Eh, why are you wearing a singlet to class?"

"Bo bian lor. All my clothes were damp from the sudden rain this morning."

b) "Why are you late?! I've been waiting for half an hour now!!"

"Bo bian. Traffic jam mah..." (In a nonchalant tone)

"Beng-beng know sure will traffic jam, why you don't start earlier?!"

16. Gin/gan-jiong

The Hokkien equivalent of the word 'Worried or nervous or heart-stopping'. Usually used when you're anxious over something or someone.

Example: 

a) "I'm going on my first date with that girl from my class. Wish me luck! Super gan-jiong nia!"

b) "Woah! Luckily you managed to break (stop the car) in time. Nearly gave me a heart attack. Gan-jiong ka~ bua xi."

[ka~ - means 'until'; bua - means 'half'; xi - means 'dead']

17. Chop/chup

Somewhat means 'Time out!'. A way to interrupt someone when he/she is talking. It can also be used to try to break up a fight. It may be considered rude by many people, attempt this at your own peril. You can say it repeatedly for more effect.

Example: 

a) "...and she's like 'Why did you not tell me that?' but I was going to tell her. It's just that...."

"Chup! Let's just order our food first, ok?"

b) "Chup, chup chup, chup, chup!!!! Let's not fight over this small matter, okay?" (The third party in a fight will usually say this.)

18. Wah, pro liao lor/ any slight variations of this

To compliment someone on their accomplishment - whether it is a small accomplishment, like managing to do a hard, but small task or a bigger accomplishment, like winning a competition. However, this is generally used in the context of gaming. Can be spoken in a sarcastic tone.

Example: 

a) Someone managed to solve a particularly hard math problem. "Wah, pro liao lor. Come teach me?"

b) "Lol, you guys gang bang me? Wah, pro liao lah you all? Wait till I respawn...... (*a hanging threat*)"

19. Kok-tao

Literally means 'Knock head'. Originated from the Hokkien dialect. Usually used in situations where you'll be asking yourself (usually in exasperation) 'Why did I do/say that?'. It can also be used when someone else did or said something particularly stupid. Can also be used in desperation. It can be accompanied by the action of exasperatingly knocking someone's or your head on anything solid.

Example: 

a) Your friend just messed up his pickup line for a cute girl he had his eyes on for a long time. 

"Wei, you can go kok-tao liao lah. Like that also can mess up!"

b) "Exams are just a few days away! I feel like I wanna kok-tao liao lah."

20. Long-piak

Has a meaning that is similar to 'Kok-tao', but this is more extreme. This literally means 'slamming *oneself* into a wall' or 'Running into a wall' in Hokkien. So, this phrase may somewhat imply suicidal tendency. 

Example: 

a) "I want to long-piak already lah! My boss is breathing down my neck for that project progress report and I haven't started on it yet! And not to forget that other project...."

21. Du-lan

Means 'very annoyed/frustrated'. Can be used to explain feelings someone have towards someone else's actions, attitude or general being, or something that is bothering them a lot. 

Example: 

a) "I'm very du-lan with her and her constant nagging. Can't I ever get a moment of rest?"

b) "I think that dog du-lan me already after being constantly tempted by doggy treats but not actually giving it any (extra ones)."

c) "I du lan that program already lah. It kept popping up errors and I can't get my work done!"

22. Pek-chek

A more extreme version of 'du-lan'. May be accompanied by the feeling of wanting to wring someone's neck or something's virtual neck.

Example:  *replace all the 'du-lan' examples with 'pek-chek'*

23. Xia sui

Means 'lose face'. You can lose your own face or your friend's face (by letting him/her down).

Example: 

a) "I'm a guy and I have to wear this tutu outfit for my group's presentation. Xia sui nia..."

b) Spoken to you by a friend, "Wei, I train you so long already and you still lose to that bastard? Xia sui me nia."

24. Gostan

Has no origins as far as I can tell. The word just popped up out of nowhere lol. It means 'reversing a car' or 'putting a car in reverse'. Usually, when you use the word 'gostan', it is automatically understood that you're referring to a car. However, this word can also be used casually for people as well, but this type of usage is very rare.

Example: 

a) "Wei, don't stand there. I'm going to gostan (the car). Later, I langgar you, then you know..."

b) While teaching someone to dance, "Okay, you then shake your hips a bit, then gostan a few steps, then side step twice..."

25. Win liao lor

A famous internet meme quote, this phrase is usually used to sarcastically acknowledge someone's 'victory'/ praise someone (usually) over some petty matter that no one cares about.

Example: 

a) "Yes! I've finished collecting my Digimon stickers!"

"Wah, win liao lor.." Without really paying any attention to him/her/while still doing your own thing.

26. ...one~

It is usually added to the end of sentences to imply certainty (Giving the sentence a bit of 'don't worry' sort-of feeling). Must be dragged for the desired effect. The usage of this word is rather hard to explain lol. Perhaps, I'll let the examples do all the talking.

Example: 

a) "You say one~ ah?" [You give your word, yes?]

b) "This machine is very awesome one~ It can cook anything for you!" [This machine is, for sure, very awesome. It can cook anything for you!]

c) "I beh tahan him nia. Always want to win one~" [I cannot stand him at all. He always wants to win.] 

-- Analysis: In this case, the 'one~' conveys the same meaning as the word 'always'. So, by having two words of the same meaning, it provides double power to the meaning 'always'.

27. Siao eh...

Literally means 'the person who is crazy'. It is usually used as a way of somewhat affectionately calling someone that you are very close with. It means pretty much like the word 'homie' in the West. However, this may be considered rude by most people.

Example: 

a) "Eh, siao eh, want to go play laser tag later?"

28. Beng-beng/Meng-meng

Means 'I could have sweared that'. For things that you are very sure of but somehow, it's no longer true/there.

Example: 

a) "I beng-beng saw your wallet right over here. Now, it's gone!"

b) "You beng-beng said you want to belanja [treat] us, but now you want us to pay you back? WTF!"

29. Chui xi

Literally means 'finding death'. This can be used to describe people who have a death wish or people that you think have a death wish.

Example: 

a) "Wah, look at that car speeding like hell.... the driver really must be chui xi one ah."

and not forgetting the very famous...

30. Don't play play :)

A famous quote from Phua Chu Kang. It means 'don't do stupid stuff'. Is similar in meaning with 'mai siao siao' albeit a less extreme version. 

Example: *You can replace the examples for 'mai siao siao' with 'don't play play'*

31. Jit bai diou ho/hor seh liao
Literally means "This time I'm/we're/you're/... done!" or "This time I'm/we're/you're/... completely fcked up!". It means someone has messed up so bad that they're so going to get it (the consequence) later on.

Example:
a) "Fck, I haven't finished Ms Lee's homework yet."
"Lu (you) jit bai diou hor seh liao lah! Don't forget that Ms Lee's the most feared discipline teacher in our school."

For more, stay tuned! I'll see what else I can come up with :)

The different kinds of Yes in Malaysia

I thought of something like this some time ago but unfortunately, 1. I'm not that good an artist and 2. I kinda forgot about it after awhile lol :P

Anyway, for you people who are or will be visiting Malaysia. This is a good guide to the different kinds of 'Yes' in Malaysia.

Credits to the original artist. Awesome job depicting this!


UPDATE: Apparently the image link's broken... somehow. Sorry! I'll see if I can find the image again and link it right up.

Sleep well, Tiger of Jelutong

Well, Karpal Singh, a prominent lawyer/politician has passed away due to a car accident a few days ago. This incident does reminds me of the mortality of humans, no matter how awesome you are, but that's a story for another day. 

The name 'Karpal Singh' has been spoken rather frequently while I was growing up. From his successful court battles to standing up for injustices no matter the situation and to his political antics, he never cease to be himself - to be a man of principle.

I've never known him myself, of course, but I've read plenty about him. He strikes me as a voice of reason in the Malaysian political arena. He would even go against members of his own political party if he thinks and believes that those party members are committing acts of injustice against the people. His firm stance as the upholder of justice has pitted him against various opponents - from the large corporations seeking to oppress news of their wrongdoings to the public to one of the highest ranked persons in the whole country - the sultan (king) - but, needless to say, he had won in some of his bids for justice and he had lost some. That's the normal give-and-take cycle of life.

It's our country's huge loss to have lost someone like him. Let today be a day of mourning and remembering and let tomorrow be the day each of us takes up a part of his work in this life and to learn from him - that is to fight injustice and be people of principles. That is, in my humble opinion, the best way of remembering someone.  

For more articles like this, you can check out some of the written articles by reporters of The Star.

Language is Music

I just thought that this is too awesome to not be shared :) That's why I love languages. You are free to mould it into sentences that can describe your thoughts... it practically gives life to your ideas, your aspirations, your feelings.... 

I'm not sure who originally published this - the source stated in the pic is too blur to decipher. Anyway, credits to whoever who produced this.