Joe is now 22>



Happy birthday to Joe Wong who turns 22 today.

Sigh, all the hard work we put into the our mobot went into the drain. Despite some improvement last night, it didn't move today. Anyway, the past 2 semesters working on it was a learning experience. I got to learn how to program a microcontroller. Only a few of the many competitors made it the finish line through all the gates.



I watched buggy as well today. I think it was an event more for the less geeky people of the campus. The buggies went really fast especially down the road at Flagstaff Hill. TV Cameras were mounted at almost every streth of the course and it was like watching an Olympic race. There was a crash on the last race of today and it occured right in front of my eyes at the corner. Fortunate enough there were haystacks at edge of the roads to prevent the buggies hitting trees or whatever large stationary objects there were. I kinda like the idea that the drivers are women who are short and light while the pushers are guys. The finals is going to be tomorrow.



Oh crap! Yet to start on fininishing my Optics notebook.

The 3rd and final 1-hour exam for Physics II. I'm really nervous because I think it will be tough. Just tried 2 of the 4 past exams and most of the time, I can't understand the question. The questions were not like the homework ones.



Pray for me!

finally, i'm done getting my mergeSort to work... i couldnt come up with my code so i sought help from my textbook. to understand it was troublesome enough. there was one example that i googled which was easier to understand.



i brought 7 of my friends for Easter Vigil mass today. I've never been to any Mass that as traditional and grand as tonights. The choir was accompanied by the Carnegie Brass Ensemble who plays only during important masses. The last one I attended was for the farewell mass of the auxillary bishop. I could feel the floor vibrating by tonight's brass performance. The civility of the congregration here impress me. As we entered the Cathedral after the Service of the Light, not even a single person talked or even whispered. We took the middle row so we could fairly see the Bishop and his priests on the sanctuary. As soon as we entered, the lead cantor sung the Easter Proclamation One of the best hymns in Christendom I must say. A chant it is but the lyrics is a grand exultation of God's glory. "This is the night when first you saved our fathers; you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea.... This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilment are restored to grace and grow together in holiness..." Then there were the 7 readings after each a psalm was sung by the cantor. I didn't realized the gloria until half of the song was gone through. It was not the usual one sung by the choir. There were not many people baptised as compared to back home. Here, it was around 15 people. In Bintulu, it's 200 per year on average. My uncle, who leads the RCIA in Kuching, said it's around 400 every year. Either the population is bigger there or perhaps my uncle is really an evangelist! Tonight was the first time I saw a fixed, marble font was used for baptism. Before the final hymn was Mendel's Hallelujah sung by the choir. It was really like that version sung by the Mormon Tarbenacle Choir. I don't think any church choir in Malaysia can execute such hymn.

behind planned schedule for the weekend.



i must finish my homework by Monday.

2 Java assignments (Tues & Thurs), Physics 2 (Tues), Cal II (Tues)



Physics 2 Exam on Wed

"We sat one seat apart today. Wish I sat nearer."



I've been planning my future courses for the next few days. Summer school registration is this Monday. Thinking of doing Calc3D and Concepts but I'm doubtful whether this summer is going to be summer or hell if I do that. For summer session II, I have 15-113 C Programming in mind with Differential Equations. I have been advised by some seniors that doing math courses in summer teach you nothing but I'm really tempted to do so since I'm behind in my Calculus thanks to being dumb in the placement test.



Another good Spring weather today although a bit chilly but the sun is up bright with very few clouds. I attended Good Friday service at St. Paul's right after class. Another ceremony steep in tradition I must say. The diocese really take the liturgy very seriously and "accurately" here. I remembered one priest mentioning once that he was the Liturgical Master for the diocese. That reveals how big the liturgy is to them. I don't the Miri diocese has a proper priest in charge of it. The garments worn by the priests, deacons and altar servers here are real proper ones. Tailored to perfection and quality. Back home, our cassocks were made of regular white sheets. I wish I can tape of the high masses on cable and send it back home for my altar server friends to watch.



Oh, there was this cute little girl behind Bishop Wuerl during the procession today. Later I found out that she's the altar girl who holds his Mitre (the "hat" won't by the bishops and cardinals).

the formal report for physics lab is really a pain on the arse. there's so much things to be look at and make sure they are right. more technical reports to read and write as a future engineer.



It's Holy Week this week so I tonight, I went for the Holy Thursday mass at St. Paul's next door to Webster. My brother and I have always look forward to the high Masses on the Holy Week. Probably because we're altar servers who got to serve with the priests then. Even now, I was excited to attend this evening's service. St. Paul's celebrates Christ's Last Supper very steep in tradition with the gothic interior of the Cathedral as well as the choral music provided by the choir. It's an experience that touches the faith I must say especially during the transfer of the blessed sacrament. Unlike back home, the diocese of Pittsburgh takes the liturgy very seriously. Every priest who celebrates mass here have their hangs closed like Mother Mary does. Their movements across the sanctuary are graceful. Very much like temple worship, something that the modern church has missed especially back home in Malaysia where the renewal movement is much more active. I can't wait for tomorrow's Good Friday service and Saturday's Virgil Mass.



My mother was very surprised when I told her that Americans don't have good Friday as a holiday. Fortunately, Professor Powers cancelled tomorrow's afternoon class. I guess our Jewish brothers are away at home celebrating Passover.



Got tonnes of work to do though especially for Java.