Last Blog Entry...(27th May 2008)
UIR has finally come to an end and this shall be my last entry. UIR has always been a easy and enjoyable subject. The most useful and amazing thing which I have learnt from this subject is using Boolean operators in search engine. I could research on my topic with ease. As the effectiveness and the efficiency of using Boolean operators help to focus on only whatever I’m searching for and nothing irrelevant. I notice that it is only after attending UIR, I started using Boolean operators for the rest of my subjects. Another useful lesson which I gained from UIR was how to evaluate a website. As all along, we know that not every information from the websites are reliable. Therefore, one of the practical activities allow us to learn how to go about searching for reliable resources.

In conclusion, lessons conducted had always been fruitful. Almost every lesson I manage to learn something new. Apart from that, I also have gain much knowledge on the topic, “Impact of Drug Abuse on Youths” which I’m still working on right now.

Reflection on Practical 8(20th & 23rd May 2008)
We were told to explore on http://www.talkingcock.com/. There are certain sensitive issues which we are not allow to speak openly in front of the public. Therefore, I am quite glad that this website serves the purpose of allowing Singaporean to practices free speech in Singapore. Another reason why this website is so popular is because is also serves purpose of entertaining the readers.



Evaluating this website, it provides a combination of serious and amusing information regarding various topic such as local news, international news, sports and etcetera. The Coxford Singlish Dictionary is also provide to the users whom are not familiar with Singlish. It also have search functions which I find it really useful. Layout of website is neat and tidy. Clear headings with interesting content. It provides easy directing to other pages as well. Overall this website is user friendly.

We were suppose to do a role play from being the prime minister, Singaporean or foreigner and describe how we would react to this website. Thus, I think I would choose to be a foreigner. As for a role of foreigner, I probably would feel that Singapore governments are strong and reliable. On the other hand, I would also feel that our government does not do a good job in taking care of the Singaporean needs. As far as I can see from this website. Much of the articles showed disapproval of certain way government handles issues as compared to complimenting their act. I would also feel that perhaps using Singlish and dialects is the way Singaporean shows their discontent towards the government. Of which, I do not encourage the use of Singlish because eventually Singaporean will find it tough to kick this habit away.


last friday, we were taught on how to use wiki...

i have to say that wiki is not as easy as it seems to be. it was really user-UNFRIENDLY. this is my experience of using wiki for the first time. i'm really sure that i perfect my alignment, arrangement and i'm really really sure of it. this is because i double checked my work before i post it. in the end when i return to look at my work. the arrangement, paragraphs, and even the font was wrong. so wrong! and in the end i took about 2-3 minutes or so to make my post right.

that's not it! before i can post my work, of course i have to login in first. i remembered clearly that i'm using "NgLiHua" as my username and with the correct password. guess what? i did not manage to login to my account successfully!! despite the fact that i even tried 3 times and all it gives was nothing but error messages. something like they can't find any account of my username... and i only manage to login is through the reset of my password.

Lastly, i guess the only good things about wiki is that i can browse other people's work. :b


My relatives were just back from Hokkaido last few weeks and they are starting to miss the trip there. A trip to Hokkaido is quite expensive, if I’m not wrong, i think per person already cost about 3K plus for 1 week... Stunning right? Roughly about 2-3 months salary! OH MY GOD!!! But then it’s alright since they are working… It won’t be that sinful to pamper yourself once in awhile =)

Alright, back to topic, they shared their experience there with me, and kind of really make me feel like going there for my first overseas visit! I heard from them that Hokkaido has really beautiful natural landscapes! Here it is…


Hmm!! not really attractive... But then this is the only natural landscape photo I got from them.

Let’s talk about the food. My cousin told me that much of Hokkaido's population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido. I took some photos from her blog. Now, see what she meant?



They had also been to city area. Even the commoner, Ah Pek, is so talented! Just take a look at this!


Street painting! AWESOME!! Isn’t it ? He proved to those who say that old people are useless wrong! Really admire this Ah Pek! *salute*

Continue with city area, they were given a rare opportunity in knowing how porcelain souvenirs come about. This is the process of porcelain and glass-making:



And…Finally!! This is the end product!


Nice right? =)

Just like Singapore, they too, also have trishaws.



I always thought that Japanese are so developed to the extend that all of them enjoy high standard of living, high aging population and low infant mortality rate. However, when I look at this picture somehow I think that I’m wrong. Despite that Japan is a developed country but then that doesn’t mean that everyone is working in very comfortable environment. Simply just take a look at the photo, serving tourists with polite smiles and working so hard despite of such strong sun, and it’s just for a living.

I also did some of the research on Hokkaido! Here, this is the link this is really extremely helpful website not to be missed if you are planning to go Hokkaido. Not only they provide the various places of interest, they also provide useful contacts (address and hotline of accommodations) and information such as route search and festival and event. If you are lucky enough like my relatives, you might also see miracle as in trees blooming with Sakura flower. Especially not during this season of May. Overall, layout and appearance of this website is attractive and user friendly as well! Plus the content of the website is really a great help to those tourist whom are visiting Hokkaido. I think they are really quite confident with the content which they provide. This is because, they did not provide any search function for the visitors.

Alright, I shall end my dream holiday now.


Reflection on Practical 6
I’ve learnt about criteria to evaluate and compare a website.

This are the criteria:
- Purpose
- Coverage
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Currency
- Accessibility
- Presentation and Arrangement
- Usability
- Overall Quality

With these, I will be able to save much time looking at websites which is more informative to me rather than to browse almost every website just to search for the information I want. Plus, this criteria will be able guide me to much more precise resources.


Internet Search Facilities

For UIR lab on Friday (9th May 2008) we were told to complete practical 4-5. practical 4-5 is about internet search facilities. In simpler, we were taught to use various search engines available on the internet. For example MetaCrawler, Google, Yahoo and Yahoo directory. I find that lab session conducted on Friday really benefit me!

Now, let me share with you! An effective and efficient way of finding research. I guarantee it really works! Well, I mean at least it works for me :) Alright… for instance, I’m searching for information regarding the impact of drug abuse on youth.

Search engine: Google
This is what I’ve type in: impact of drug abuse on youth
Figure 1


And for another one, different keywords
This is what I’ve type in this time: (impact OR effect) AND (drug AND abuse) AND (teenagers OR Youth)
Figure 2


If you were to look at the list of results given clear enough, you may actually notice that though Figure 1 there is less result shown (648,000) however, the result given wasn’t exactly the ones which I’m looking for. Whereas, on the other hand, Figure 2 shown (790,000) result found. However, the precise information which I wanted was there. The secrets of the effective way of finding research are using keywords variation and using operators such as (OR / AND .. etc).


What do I mean by keywords variation? This is somehow similar using thesaurus. For example: if you keyword is abuse, that will make your keywords variation misuse or etc.
Or impact = effect
Or teenagers = youngsters

Google VS Yahoo VS metaCrawler
(Similarities and Differences)

metaCrawler
Capability: search results include result from various search engines such as Google, Msn, Yahoo and Ask.com
Size of hits: 54


Google
Capability: search result gives a list of information (include some irrelevant information)
Size of hit: 790, 000

Yahoo Directory
Capability: search result gives a list of information (include much more irrelevant information)
Size of hit: 175

Overall, I still prefer Google as my search engine. For I’m more familiar to it. Plus it really provides me with much more relevant information as compared to the rest of the 2 search engines.


KA-CHING!! $500! MONEY!! (>^o^)>~$$$ HERE I COME!!! first item that i would like to spend on will be.. tada~!


Item name: BG-2001-7ER - Baby-G
Item functions:
- Water Resistant 100 Metres
- World Time (29 time zones (48 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off)
- 1/100 Sec Stopwatch
- Shock resistant
- Auto-calendar
- 12/24 Hour Formats
- Countdown Timer
price: £60.00 hmm.. convert to SGD will be around.. 183.43


Reason for why i would like to have this watch is because this watch is CASIO brand! Casio watches are super durable, i can use it for more than 3 years. the one i'm wearing now is the Casio watch which i bought it 3 years ago. Plus! i love the functions and design of casio watch! plain and simple! One word to describe BG-2001-7ER - Baby-G - BEAUTIFUL!!

Oh Goodness.. my Mother will surely scold me!! ha! nvm.. let continue shopping until i'm flat broke.. :p

Shop shop shop.. second item for me will be...


Item name: Ipodnano (8G)
Item functions:
- Watch up to 5 hours of TV shows, music videos, movies, and podcasts.
- iPod nano sports a larger, 320-by-240-resolution display that’s 65 percent brighter than before.
- Browse music by album artwork with Cover Flow.
- 6.5 mm thin
Price: $285.00

i found this at http://www.ebay.com.sg/ Cool huh!! i've been eyeing this Ipodnano since months ago.

alright, now is the time to do calculation:
$500.00 - $183.40 (183.43 round off)- $285.00 = $ 31.60

ok! next.. time to buy a gift for my sis! *evil grin* since her birthday is coming.. hmm..


Item Name: Ancient Princess Chiffon + Laces Embos Blouse - White
Price:$22.90

hmm.. now i left $8.70.. it's time to save some money! at least i'll spare my ears from my mother's nagging! =D

shopping is so tiring.. =(


No lesson for UIR on Tuesday (6th May 2008). =) however there are still work for us to do.. =( that's E-learning activities!!

For tutorial 1-2, we were told to go to OLE discussion board to do our activity on briefly explain how Internet has enriched my academic life and comment on the need for "Advocacy" websites. Manage to finish quite fast for this tutorial=b i think internet really help a lot in our life. For example in this case, without internet i won't be able to post my blog entry, can't submit my e-learning activities and etc.. simply can't imagine how tedious life will become without the internet. It's like we got to start from the basic, no short cut, wasting a lot of precious time which consequently resulted in so much inconvenient! i've read some threads from my class too most of what i've read agree that internet is really important.

i certainly feel that there is a need for advocacy website. this is because it is only through these websites, society can then realise that there are actually some group of people whom they are being disregarded and their problems still remain unsolved. Some threads from my classmates really help me expand my thinking regarding the need for advocacy websites. A very good topic for discussion!

alright! shall end here!


Hello people,

This is my first time writing a blog. I’ve been spending bout 20 minutes thinking about what I should say. Finally I’ve come to a conclusion! Blogging is so difficult. Guess I’m really not use to it. Alright, before I introduce myself, I would like to thank one person. That’s one of my poly best mate - JESSY PHUA PEI LI (aka sbpmama) because of you this blog have such cute skin. Thanks a lot!

Now I shall briefly introduce myself. I’m LiHua. I love photography and sleeping. I get annoyed by people waking me up from sleep or don’t let me sleep. (WARNING!: Don’t ever try waking me up from sleep, unless important =b). I’m currently studying in Temasek Polytechnic, year 3. Life here in TP is not really smooth for me. However, is also a place where I get to meet quite a lot very nice people.

These are my two favorite website:
- http://www.tnp.sg/
- http://www.youtube.com

Glad I manage to switch class for this subject(UIR). This is because liting and jeremiah are here!! Anyway, UIR is not a really difficult subject. From what I’ve been doing so far. It’s all about finding research and about blogging. Maybe there is a lot more but this subject really stir up my interest! =d