Newsletter Feb 2010

The student newsletter of INTI College Subang Jaya

F E B 2010

Insider N

T

I

14 SS 15 Guide To Stay newsletter

I s s u e

How To Live

On a Budget & The Truth Behind Valentines

Well Fed and Boredom -free

INTI Personality : >Danial Bego >Guy in the Stroller >A Member of Altered Frequency

What to Read :

>A Banana’s Point of View.. >Is Twilight My Life? >V-DAY or D-DAY?

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Qisti Parr B. Zahairi Managing Editor J.C. Lee & Qisti Parr B. Zahairi WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Hafizah Jamal, J.C. Lee , Kristy Voon, Nadia Wong, Nahjan Amer Nordin, Naomi Ong, Qisti Zahairi, Vivienne Liam DESIGN Creative Director & Layout Artist Inoue Taki, Kristy Voon PHOTOGRAPHY Kristy Voon, Pok Wern Hsiang OPERATIONS Operations Directors Jared Wong EMAIL editorial.icsj@gmail.com WEBSITE edboard-icsj.blogspot.com

2

BE TC H A D I D N’ T

Know!

The Voice of Spongebob Squarepants, Tom Kenny, makes the character’s unique laugh by saying ‘Ahh’ in Spongebob’s voice while slapping his throat repeatedly.

Facebook has its own psychological condition for those who obsessively use the internet service called Facebook Addiction Disorder, aptly called FAD in short.

SAL9000, a Japan native, married Nene Anegasaki on the 22nd of November 2009. Nene Anegasaki is a videogame character in the Ninetendo DS Dating Simulator Love Plus.

INTIInsiderNewsletter

EDITOR’S NOTE

Hey peeps!

It’s been awhile since the INTI Insider has been released within INTI, but we’re back from the New Year with a bang! In this issue, the whole idea is to just get off the chair, get out of bed, stop stoning in front of the computer and DO something and if you don’t know how, LEARN from EXPERIENCE. You’re probably wondering why the January issue was not seen at all last month. Reason is that we’ve combined January with our February issue for the first time in ED Board history! It is a 20-page issue! Filled with empowering interviews such as Daniel Bego, interesting stories of Valentine’s Day, fun facts of SS 15 area, and many more! Enjoy this issue produced by the ED Board, managed by us and have a great start!

Qisti & J.C. Managing Editors

Economical Love? Did you know?

3

~Valentine’s Special~

BY KRISTY VOON

Everyone knows about Valentine’s Day and how it has been deemed a celebration for lovers all over the world.

But how many of you actually know the origination of such day?

within reach. Buying gifts, be it roses or chocolate, be it cuddly toy or diamond necklace, has now become so automatic that it no longer comes from the heart.

“It’s the thought that counts”. How many times have we heard this before? So what happens if we take the thought and the heart out of the equation, what would we have left?

The Taj Mahal at Agra, India is actually a Valentine’s gift, the most splendid kind.

It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beautiful wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took almost 22 years and the labor of 20,000 workers.

On this so-called ‘special’ day, if my boyfriend decides to get me some chocolate. I would reply with a forced smile, all the while thinking, what a thoughtless jerk! But heaven forbid he forgets to buy anything. That would just be downright insulting.

Story of St Valentine There are many versions of the story, but the most commonly heard one is of the martyr, Valentine, who secretly performed marriages for young lovers, whilst defying Emperor Claudius II’s law to prevent young men from marrying. Valentine was caught and put into prison. On 14th February, before he was killed, he sent a letter to a young girl, with whom he met during his time in jail. It was signed “From Your Valentine”. A phrase still used today.

In one perspective, we are actually celebrating the death of a person who didn’t agree with the law; the death of a martyr who stood up for the freedom of others. On the other hand, it could be viewed as a celebration for someone who believed in love; and one who fought for it with his life.

Valentine’s Day is now heavily commercialized, earning card manufacturers, florists, and even chocolate factories thousands, if not millions, each year.

Is it still a romantic day for lovers or can it now be class as a chance for businesses to earn more money?

Some men might just walk into the nearest florist, and grab some chocolate or a bear, which ever happens to be

The society nowadays has brainwashed us girls into expecting gifts from our significant other half, and guys into buying gifts for their beloveds.

However, does giving gifts on Valentine’s Day mean that you love them more?

And not receiving anything means you’re not loved? Why do we need this day to declare our love for someone?

So this year, do something different.

Maybe opt for celebrating your very own special “Valentine’s” on any day.

You don’t have to go all-out and buy very expensive gifts, sometimes, a homecooked meal, or even a candle-lit take-out is romantic in itself.

And for those of us still single, celebrate our ‘freedom’ by grabbing a few best buddies and go for a night-out!

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

In the middle Ages, people believed that the first unmarried person of the opposite sex you meet on the morning of St. Valentine’s Day would become your spouse.

F E B 2 0 1 0

4

V-DAY or D-DAY

for INTI-ans?

BY VIVIENNE LIAM

The smell of fresh roses fills the polluted Malaysian air. The sight of dark chocolate in over-priced boxes. And the taste of victory cuz you just scored your first Valentine DATE! *Wheee…*

If you notice, those are just guys… how ‘bout the girls?

Oh wait! Let’s not forget our single friends as well, ok? It’s nothing like V-Day to bring the singles down. But you know what?

Being single means you have yourself to your own. Who needs a man or a lady to make us feel special? Right???

To many of us, Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate the love you have for a person. Not necessarily your “soul mate” or shall we say, partner but also with dear friends and family. Alas, there are people who claim to differ – it’s an ordinary day lah… Kevin and Advin from Diploma in Mass Communication said they’ll be spending their Valentines Day at home like every other year. Well, at least single people have one advantage – No need to go through the hassle of thinking where to eat, what to buy and not to mention the tremendous human-jam at “romantic” places. That is one extra burden lifted off. However, not every singles think the same way. Some take it as an excuse to go out, hang out, and have some fun with all their single friends. Like Justin, also from DMC programme, single but he finds ways to get into the mood of L.O.V.E with his friends!

“Nothing else besides celebrating Chinese New Year” (ED Note: Great!

The single clan has found new excuse for this year…)

DMC, Sem 6

“Probably nothing.

Meaning I would most probably sit at home and play my guitar.”

(ED Note: Why not strum your guitar to a girl’s heart? *wink*) DMC, Sem 6

Single or not, girls just want one thing – surprise! Whether chocolates, flowers, a RING, or money, girls want to feel special and be pampered on that day. Three best friends from Diploma in Accounting have 3 separate wants for V-Day. One of them just wants to be swept off her feet with surprises, the other wants 99 roses (which has special meaning to that), and the last best friend wants well… good old cash. *wink* So, there are roses or flowers, chocolates, ring, surprises, and money on the list AND that is just 5% of the girls in INTI. Just imagine the list if it was the whole campus?! Dinner, movie, car, diamond ring, house and list goes on... I can only predict what other girls would say (I wonder what happen to I-Just-Want-ToSpend-Time-With-My-Love-One.).

At the end of the day, this old tradition of Valentines Day is something people can talk about. It’s up to you whether you want to take it as a special day or not. Do you?

INTIInsiderNewsletter

“Have a candlelight dinner with love one” DACC, Sem 2

v

“Gathering with few friends, hanging out in the mall or drinking session, since WE ARE ALL SINGLE!!”

(ED Note: Love the enthusiasm) DMC, Sem 6 P.S.: This article is written by a female writer with some help from other fellow INTI-ans. So, just take it!

I

t is a truth universally unacknowledged, that Chinese New Year is a celebration of blank stares, awkward slip-ups and vigorous (if uncomprehending) nods for the average Banana.

5

CHINESE NEW YEAR AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF A “BANANA”

BY NAOMI ONG

and creative ways to make you regret your ‘disturbing’ lack of concern. As the saying goes, what one man sows on the New Year, he reaps the whole year round.

While the vast hordes of the quintessentially Malaysian Chinese make merry this coming lunar year, an evergrowing minority of Bananas continues to suffer in silent dignity. “Wait,” says the incredulous, the unconvinced and (methinks) the naïve. What do you mean by ‘suffer’?

Chinese New Year is a celebration chockfull with money, new things and ‘food, food and food’! How can all that be so bad? While red packets, brand-new clothes and sweet-tasting delicacies are certainly welcomed, it doesn’t detract from the unpleasant fact that while others actually know what they are celebrating; you, the average Banana, are just vapidly going through the motions, all the while fervently – and silently– hoping that the nightmare will soon pass. Sure, it wouldn’t matter so much if you didn’t care about all that in the first place, but your parents will care, and they have many, many nasty

A ‘Banana’ is, as accepted by general local consensus, a slang word used to define a person of Asian origins but with Western tutelage, mannerism and intellect; being ‘yellow’ on the outside but ‘white’ on the inside. More simply, it has come to mean, in Malaysia, as a Malaysian-born Chinese who can’t speak a whit of the Chinese language (in all forms of its numerous dialects); much less be familiar with the more obscure customs and traditions of his or her ethnic origin.

It is also important to note that Chinese New Year, being a ‘family affair’ and a time of ‘reunion’ and ‘thanksgiving’, also presents a rather distressing predicament of crowd-control in the form of one’s very large, and very typically Chinese, extended family. So, not only does the average Banana has to deal with his or her resigned parents

muttering ‘Where did I go wrong?’ every time he or she commits an unspeakable taboo, the poor fellow also gets to be publically embarrassed in front of those gabby aunts, them ‘jolly’ uncles, the smug cousins (first, second and thirdremoved), and –gasp– the grandparents who never quite managed to pick-up English– the same way Mister or Miss

Banana here never bothered to learn Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka et cetera. And even if one manages to (miraculously) not slip-up, the continuous inundation of Chinesenattering relatives is sure to drive one positively barking mad.

The horror.

The whole purpose of this exercise in misery is to prove my point that it is not all fun and joy this coming Chinese New Year. At least, not for everybody.

And while majority-rule is all fine and dandy, the rights of the minority should be protected –as was enshrined in our glorious country’s noble Constitution.

The rights of Bananas to not be jeered at, to not be given pitying looks (hey, we have pride too, you know), to be generally left alone peacefully and to be commiserated with during Chinese New Year ought to be respected and given due acknowledgement. And you, the newly enlightened, can now make that difference.

--- Naomi Ong is a defiant Banana, and makes no apologies for it. She is, however, resigned to the fact that an entire day of awkward signaling, vague looks of incomprehension, and selective discrimination is in store for her this month. Not that much has been different for the past 15 years of her cognizant life.

F E B 2 0 1 0

I

6

t’s a new year once again and this year signifies an end of one decade and the beginning of another. The past year seemed to have flown and now it’s time again to make new and bring forward resolutions for the New Year. My resolution for one is to take one day at a time and keep looking forward.

Curious about other people’s resolution, yours truly decided to ask some other students.

I WILL, I WON’T, I WANT, I PROMISE, STARTING FROM NOW, I…

BY NADIA WONG “I will be more committed in doing things I want, to play my part in making the world a better place and to be a better person overall. I would also like to get into the university of my choice.

As AUP society president, I want to bring up the reputation of the AUP society and I hope to be a successful president.”

-Richard Tan, AUP “To excel in my studies for myself satisfaction” -Joey Kok, AUP

“I will study harder so that I can get a higher CGPA.” -Edy Kurniawan, AUP “For the year 2010, I promise to continue on my ‘get fit, lose weight’ motto that has been going smooth and has positively done my body good. Why? I personally believe on first impressions and by saying so, I realize we’ve got to look good to feel good, not only in the inside but def. on the outside too.”

-Divanesh Chandra, CALUK

INTIInsiderNewsletter

“With the start of the New Year and the resolutions I vow to keep, there is one change that can improve my life, both professionally and personally. First try to study hard after being force by my mom, try to bribe lecturers to giving me great marks. If that fails, I need to study even harder. The resolution for my character is that I hope to be as nice to everyone and try my best not to disappoint anybody. I hope to be a better person so everybody can love me!” Aslam, DEEI “Graduate. And after that, further my studies and excel in all my future undertakings. Most of all, I would like to enjoy every day with joy and be thankful for it.” Jillian Kaur, DMC

“I have a few resolutions. One is to do well in my studies. The next is to stick to my exercise routine. It is quite tough but I believe that I should always give 100% and ask God for help. This is because I believe in the concept of a healthy mind and body. -Aaron Jay, ACCA “My mantra has always been to think with my head and not my heart. In the past year, my actions haven’t really reflect this. So my resolution is to stand firmly by it this year. -Li Shean, AUP

“To push and block out all bad things and always be optimistic no matter what happens. I would also like to visit more places and be more adventurous.

Stephanie Aeria, Northwood “This is my last year in INTI so my new year’s resolution is to enjoy every moment of it. It’s the people around me that make coming to college worth it and everyday is a different adventure that I look forward to. When I was younger, I was uptight and this year’s resolution is just have fun and appreciate it, we’re only teens once!” –Pauline Fernandez, DMC

“Not to procrastinate and to do what I want. And my other resolution is to accomplish all my resolution.” –Guo Yi, AUP “To increase my CGPA to 3.5 because I want to and to prove to myself that I can.” Der Yaw, AUP “To continue in either tennis or kickboxing because my mum thinks I’m very unfit due to my lack of exercise.

She predicts I won’t be able to move my luggage when I go to the US.” –Jamie Lim, AUP

“I have a dirty secret. I’ve never cleaned my computer. Sure, I’ve dusted my monitor but I’ve never taken off the cover or tried to reach the crumbs lurking inside my keyboard”

W

ell guess what; it’s about time you spring cleaned your cyber space both inside and out, because your computer could crash ‘n burn if you’re unlucky.

How to Clean a PC inside and out.

Let’s talk HARDWARE. Did you know your keyboard is literally a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria that could make you really sick? How about the fact that a clogged up heatsink or fan could cause components to burn and blow up? Dust clogs the vents behind your computer, which causes your CPU to heat up – and heat is the biggest cause of component failure in computers. Regular cleaning could save you costly maintenance fees down the road.

In the case of desktops, cleaning the inside is a snap. You’ll need a screwdriver and some cans of compressed air (available from computer dealers or office-supply stores). Unplug the power (this is an important step) and move the system unit out to a dry and open area (outside is preferable) and open the sides of the casing but avoid contact with the insides of the computer. Then it’s time to grab that can of air and go postal. Blow air around all of the components and along the bottom of the case, keeping the nozzle about 4 inches away from the machine. Blow air into the power supply box and into the fans as well (from the front to the back of the case). Wipe the insides of the side panels with a dry cloth before reassembling it. It’s recommended that you do this every 3 months if your case sits on the floor, if you have pets that shed or if you smoke. Otherwise, every six to eight months is fine. It will be unwise to open up a laptop’s system unit, so you should only blow air from the outside, mainly from the air intake to allow the dirt and dust mites to be

blown out the air output.

Let’s move on to your bacteria hot-spot. Disconnect and bring your keyboard to the location you were cleaning your system unit. Turn it around and gently shake it and most of the crumbs and dust will fall out. Then take a can of compressed air and blow into and around the keys. Take a clean cloth and dip it in rubbing alcohol. It should be damp, but not wet. Run the cloth around and outside the keys.

Don’t forget the top of the keys, and if you are doing this on a laptop, take extra care. You may do the same to the mouse.

Now that that’s settled, let’s look into the SOFTWARE part of all this. The Windows operating system is (still) annoyingly complex, and the amount we use our PC’s is growing at an alarming rate. What does this mean?

Quite simply that the days of using your PC for years without having to look under the hood is now a thing of the past.

BE WARNED. Modifying your core Windows Operating System can cause severe damage and even possible data loss, so tread lightly here. To avoid frustration and tears, I’d suggest applications that are geared towards Windows optimization. One program I stand by is “TuneUp Utilities”, with support for the older Windows XP to the newest Windows 7 (if you’re still using 95/98, tough luck). You have to buy it, but there is a free 60-day trial for you to evaluate this piece of software.

However, if you prefer something less pricy, you might want to look at “CCleaner”, which is freeware (freesoftware!). Either way, both do the same thing, optimizing your system and cleaning up gunk. They also clean up traces of any online activity such as Internet history or saved cookies.

The main feature of any system optimization application is, as always, the function to clean up and defragment the Windows registry. Aside from the registry, I’d recommend a monthly hard disk error-scanning and defragment. The process is automated, so no geek degree needed.

So, you already have the know-how and you know what’s at risk, about time to fire up your inner pc-whiz, no?

Top 5 Free Antiviruses

7

1 : Avira AntiVir Personal Edition

2 : Avast! Antivirus Home Edition

3 : Microsoft Security Essentials

4 : AVG Antivirus Free Edition

5 : a-squared Free

F E B 2 0 1 0

8

BRITTLE BONES, STRONG HEART

BY NAHJAN AMER NORDIN

This month, INTI Insider satisfies your tickling curiosity about yet another INTI personality.

NAHJAN helps to answer your burning question about Tan Thong Kai, or “that guy in the stroller”.

INTIInsiderNewsletter

Y

ou may have seen him around campus, perhaps even ending up in the same lift as him – where the silence in that cramped space would suddenly become too palpable.

Were you curious? Did he perhaps make you feel uncomfortable?

The person in question is, perhaps, more familiar to some of you as “that guy in the stroller”.

Yet Tan Thong Kai is just like any other regular 22 year-old college student. In fact, he is currently pursuing his Diploma in Business Administration (DBAD) in INTI College Subang Jaya.

I sat down with him recently to ask him about his condition, his life, and what is next for him. Yet at the same time, I also found myself laughing and making small talk as if I have known him before. During the interview, as cliché as it might sound; I thought to myself that “one should definitely not judge a book by its cover”.

Do you mind explaining your condition?

It is called osteogenesis imperfecta. In simple terms, it is known as brittle bones.

It’s an inborn condition.

Does it bother you what others think of you? How do the people in INTI treat you?

No, I do not bother with people’s perception [of me]. People in INTI are okay; my friends have been thoughtful and helpful. Even my lecturers treat me like normal and I prefer it that way.

How do you perceive yourself?

I see myself as a normal person. In fact, [I see myself as] someone who inspires and motivates.

In what ways do you see yourself inspiring and motivating others?

To me, personal attitude is the reason why people do not achieve their dreams.

Having a negative attitude is like facing a brick wall. So I believe that motivation is the key to getting started, which is why I see myself as a motivator and hope to inspire others to be more outgoing and brave in whatever they are facing. Once they are inspired, willpower comes in next to make sure they accomplish their dreams.

9 So what do you hope to achieve from that?

I know that there are many people who have better advantages than me but somehow never exactly achieve their dreams. So I hope that when they see me this way but still working on achieving my own dreams that they’ll be inspired to push forward and question themselves: “why have I not achieved my dreams as well?”

With that said, who motivates you?

That sounds fun! You told me earlier that you are planning on working on a big project?

I hope to start an event company.

Actually, I am in the process of establishing it right now. We are currently building our contacts network. But so far nothing yet, it is still very early.

That really is something. One last question: what is your advice to fellow college mates and everyone else who will be reading this?

Hannah Tan [renowned local singersongwriter and television personality].

She is hardworking and pushes things forward. She makes me feel that if she can do it, I can do it better!

Do what you think is right and do it ethically.

Have you ever wondered how things would be like if you didn’t have this condition?

By the end of the interview, I concluded that Tan Thong Kai, “that guy in the stroller”, is a people’s person and that he is definitely one of us. Say what you want and think what you will; it matters little to him if others view his condition as a limitation because to himself: it is clearly not.

I have. I do not think that I would be such a dreamer, instead [I will] just be like any other regular Joe. But I see [my condition] as a blessing in disguise – I do not take things for granted and reflect on my place in life.

Are you out to prove anything?

I want to show, not just to my normal friends but also to people with similar conditions, that it is okay to come out into society and make friends. People will accept you for who you are if you first accept yourself for the person [that] you are.

Are you currently facing any difficulties?

(He thinks for a moment) Nothing in particular.

So would you say that you are a happygo-lucky guy?

Yes. I can manage just about anything... except maybe girls. That’s probably my biggest challenge (He laughs).

For many of us, once the journey starts to get tougher (the ground less steady, the hill a little steeper, the climb more difficult) we complain, groan and sometimes even give up. We fail to persevere.

There is a quote that says “the best way out is always through”. That line strikes me as fitting of Tan Thong Kai. True to his words, he is undeniably an inspiration; what he aims to achieve, he follows through. He does not give in to his condition at all. There can be no better example of perseverance.

Get to know Thong Kai better through his blog, www.botakai.com.

How do you cope with that then?

[It has been] very hard…but I’m trying. I cope with sincerity.

What are you up to these days? You mentioned previously about going on a trip to Penang with your high school friends.

I did. These days I’m busy attending ‘Blogger’ events, movie screenings and press conferences.

F E B 2 0 1 0

10

TWIHARD

BY J.C. LEE

OR

T

he Twilight Saga is taking a bite out of the imagination of fans worldwide: who in turn changes into something scarier than vampires or werewolves as J.C. Lee discovers.

TWITARD?

The Twilight Saga is a monster.

The fame that has found The Twilight Saga parallels that of the Harry Potter books, and frighteningly, may soon challenge it. We can see this in the fans: dressing up as its characters, reciting whole paragraphs from its books, and starting a whole tourist economy in the small town of Forks where the book is set in. Among other things.

in sites such as mylifeistwilight.com: on which fans write a funny, though oftentimes scary paragraph on how the books have affected their lives ending with the abbreviation MLIT (My Life Is Twilight).

“Today I got so mad at my mum that I was convinced I was going to phase into a werewolf. I was surprised I didn’t.

MLIT” – wolfgirl, 2009

This series of teenage novels tells the story of Bella Swan as she moves in with her father in a new town. There, she becomes romantically involved with the mysterious Edward Cullen and is consequently drawn into the dangerous world of vampires. Yet the series’ colorful reputation has less to do with its title characters and more to do with its avid readers.

An entire vocabulary that incorporates Twilight references and terms is also being used in their conversations. Common expressions include OME (Oh My Edward), OCD (Obsessive Cullen Disorder), and New Mooned (which refers to the state of depression when the leading male character Edward is away). Those who use these jargons are called ‘Twilingual’.

Pamela Chelin (2008) of Premiere.com was the first to call it ‘The Twilight Phenomenon’ and it has been known as such ever since. Its following has enraptured a generation and is no stranger to the likes of stars and politicians either. Kelly Clarkson, of American Idol fame, has admitted to being a ‘Twilight Nerd’ and has written a song about the series. United States President Barack Obama has also said that he bonds with his eleven year old daughter, Malia, over the books.

This infatuation has taken them so far as, previously mentioned, to start a whole tourist economy in Forks, Washington. Prior to its fame, it was a small town of 3,120 inhabitants nicknamed the Logging Capital of the World. Today, Forks has seen a 600% increase in tourist revenues since the books were published.

Fans of the series most commonly refer to themselves as Twilighters or Twihards, who share their passion on Twilight-themed social networks on the internet. It results

INTIInsiderNewsletter

However, Twilighters are being called something else entirely by Twilight naysayers. Predatory Instinct, on twilightsucks.proboards.com, writes ‘Twitards are the most evil little [expletive] that walk the earth’. This was in reply to the spate of attacks made in the name of Twilight that is being documented on the forum. Flare guns,

baseball bats, and shanks have been said to be used in the attacks though its authenticity is debatable.

This phenomenon has divided an entire generation into either being a Twilightaphile or a Twilightaphobe which, according to urbandictionary. com, is respectively someone who loves or fears the books. While some would have us believe that the Twilight Phenomenon is bad: for fans, it delivers a sense of purpose. Megan Tingley, editor of Little, Brown and Company, writes: “Stephenie [Meyer] has tapped into something very deep in her readers, and they respond on an emotional level” next to calling them “rabid.”

For everybody else, it’s vamptastically entertaining to watch.

11

J.C. Lee is living cheap this month and shares some tips on how to survive in SS15 without seeing the bottom of your wallet.

SS15, Subang Jaya is your World.

Most of you arrive in college at the break of morning. Most of you (ie; brave, brave A-Level students) spend your entire day on campus. Home is just a place you go to sleep. That applies to you, me, us, and students in the several other colleges here. As a result, SS15 is the most crowded of college towns locally. To us, it is a place to study and hang out. To investors, money.

To describe SS15 in so few words, who would not go with ‘not inexpensive’? On top of our education, food and entertainment eats a hole so deep in our pockets it reaches into the back of our eyes. SS15 is like a hooded thug with a gun looking for drug money, ‘Your Money AND your Life’.

But I beg to differ. You can save money if you are not afraid of losing face, here are some suggestions.

1. Bring a plastic mug and tea or coffee sachets for hot drinks.

2. Always compare your choices, obviously. With this said: The Fuguang Vegetarian Fast Food along Jalan SS15/4 offers the cheapest Vegetarian Chap Fan in the area but with limited choice of side-dishes. The MPSJ Wet Market is slightly more expensive, but offers a

A CHEAPER LIVING

BY J.C. LEE

wider variety of side-dishes to choose from.

3. Save no matter how little.

Withdrawing money from the AmBank ATM, topping up your Touch N’ Go card at the gas station, and going to Asia Café’s FTZ Cyber Café on the ground floor rather than the second floor all have a surcharge of 50 cents. As comedian Russell Peters puts it: “50 cent; a lot of money!”

4. Take the bus to Sunway instead! It will only set you back RM1, and is more punctual than our local commuters and cheaper than our taxis.

5. Take advantage of Student offers.

Such outlets such as TGV cinemas offer a discounted rate for those who can present their Student Cards to them.

6. Promote Second-Hand Book Sales.

Colleges in SS15 have now taken to selling their second-hand textbooks in front of their colleges. This is a great way to save: so start selling your old college books to set the ball rolling in our college!

7. Always inquire at the Student Affairs Offices for part-time work as a Student Helper. With INTI College Subang Jaya always hosting a number of official college events, there is always an ever-

present need for workers. Working as a student helper can earn you up to RM 5 per hour.

Without a doubt, all of these tips are hardly going to save you enough for diamonds and cars. If every word from authors of ‘get rich’ books were to hold true: inflation will rise, socioeconomic disparity will grow, and our Business program will be defunct.

We have brushed the surface of true savings, but the real savings comes from word of mouth. Always look for the best prices, always share restaurant suggestion with your friends, and most of all visit http://edboardicsj.blogspot.com to post your budget recommendations and to find other suggestions for better savings.

F E B 2 0 1 0

12

AN INTERVIEW WITH

H

DANIEL BEGO

BY HAFIZAH JAMAL

afizah Jamal sat down with Daniel Bego, a rising Malaysian swimmer, who forgave her being late to talk about swimming, studying and success.

C

ongratulations on your performance at the SEA games.

How does it feel like to win five gold medals*?

It feels awesome! It’s never been done before and I guess I was just lucky.

Did you have a victory dance after that?

Oh no! I was just relieved- relieved it was over!

Did you go out for drinks afterwards?

Yeah, yeah. We went out- the team and other friends went out for drinks.

You’ve broken four of the records. What does this mean to you?

Well, I guess what it means is that the generation now, we’re actually surpassing the previous generations so that’s pretty good.

You’ve qualified for five events, but between your 200m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly, you only had…

Oh, yeah. In between, less than half an hour.

How do you think that affected you?

My coach and I already discussed about that so we did a few simulations to get my body used to the pain.

INTIInsiderNewsletter

13 Really? What kind?

We’d do a sprint set of freestyle and then I’d get up and rest a bit for about 15 minutes and then I’d go down and do another sprint set for butterfly.

There was controversy about the Jaked suits. Eamon Sullivan said “… now that the polyurethane suits have gone, to keep the records would be incredibly stupid.”

In one way I think he’s right because it’s way way beyond what people have achieved before the suits. But then, it’s good to give you that bit of motivation.

So if you can break a record which was done in the [Jaked] suit and you’re not wearing the suit that would make you even better.

Do you agree with its banning?

Oh yeah, definitely. Because with the suits and all, it was just crazy. You have to put a suit on, a new suit on, you take at least half an hour. So, we have to get up and get to the pool at least two hours before our main event.

Why? Because it’s really really tight. It’s basically your second skin after you put it on, that’s why. And also because you want to be really gentle with it. You don’t want to tear the suit because it costs €500.

When did you start swimming competitively?

At the age of seven. We had a gala. We called it Gala Miri, I’m from Miri. It was my first Meet. And I remember us trying as hard as we can to finish the race. (laughs) So, when did you realize, “Hey, I’ m actually good at this.”?

Well I actually didn’t start swimming until I was about 10 years old so before that it was just fun for me. During that period of time it was still fun for me.

Even now, it’s still fun for me. I guess I realized I was good at it when I was 11. I started going for group meets and stuff.

Did you push for this yourself?

I think it came naturally, because my sister was a swimmer before me and she was training before me. So every time she went for training, and she’s four years older than me, I’d just tag along and do my own stuff in the baby pool. (laughs) How long do you swim in the pool?

Two hours in the morning and two and a half hours in the afternoon. So plus minus, four hours and a half.

What’d you do on a free day?

Most of the time, sleep. To do a bit of studies. That’s what I’ve started back just now. Just go and watch a movie or something like that.

Do you feel stressed out a lot?

It’s still fun for me although you have a bigger responsibility to your country and associations and stuff. Yeah, sometimes it feels when I don’t train well you’ll feel a bit stressed but then I tell myself, you know, “This is what I like to do.”

How do you relax?

Close my eyes and tell myself it’s alright.

One session doesn’t mean 10 bad sessions.

What is the biggest sacrifice you had to make to get to where you are?

Definitely my social life. We have friends in a team, but after training when you want to go out and do stuff.

Any events coming up this year?

Two events, Commonwealth and the Asian Games.

Participating in both?

Hopefully, I will.

You were Olympian of the Year OCM in 2007, competed in the Olympics, and have a string of medals, is there anything else you would like to achieve?

Well, it’s actually every athlete’s dream to get a medal at the Olympics so that’d be my dream.

How do you juggle between training and college?

I just study when I can. There’s no fine way to juggle both since I’m swimming when I get back from training, I’m so tired I want to take a nap that day and study tomorrow. So I guess I study when I have the time.

So what are you pursuing right now?

Not too sure yet, that’s why I’m doing A-Levels. (laughs) Are you more science-y?

I’d like to think so. (Jokingly) Art is for sissies.

You think that there’s a point where you’ll have to choose between these two?

Every athlete. Unless you’re super super successful like the world champions where they actually, you know, burn a lot of what they do. I guess education is always something to fall back on.

*The writer would like to add that Daniel Bego also won a bronze medal for the 4x200m freestyle relay and regrets not mentioning it in the interview.

F E B 2 0 1 0

14

EATING OUT SS 15

BY J.C. LEE

Indecisive on where to eat in SS15? J.C. Lee dishes out the best places to delight both your gastronomical whims and wallets.

Special This Burger Stall operates out of a blue truck that can be seen on most days in front of the MPSJ Food Court. Having been reviewed in many local newspapers as well, it is highly regarded among foodies in Subang. Its burgers and hot dogs are priced from RM2.20 to RM4.80.

Name: Restoran Pomander Address: Along SS15/4B Famous Dish: Pork Noodles A delectable dish made with minced and lean pork, intestines, liver, vegetables and a helpful serving of deep-fried lard crisps in soup. A small bowl costs RM4.50 and a large bowl costs RM5.50.

Name: SS15 Rojak Stall Address: Along SS15/4G Famous Dish: Rojak This renowned Rojak stall has been covered by local news and has been touted by some as the best Rojak. This dish is served with a generous helping of fried dough fritters and bean curds in a light and sweet peanut sauce. The price of this dish ranges from RM3.00 to RM3.80, depending on whether you wish to have squid or eggs.

Name: Fuguang Vegetarian Fast Food Address : Along SS15/4B Famous Dish: Mixed Rice An economical restaurant that serves rice with three side-dishes of your choosing for only RM2.00!

Name: Tang House of Fishball Address: No. 7, Ground Floor, Jalan SS15/4E Famous Dish: Teow Chew Fish Ball What makes this restaurant economical is that its dishes are all under RM10.

Best of all, you may ask for more noodles (without the condiments) at no extra cost!

INTIInsiderNewsletter

Name: Burger Stall (Night time only) Address : Along SS15/8A Famous Dish: Mushroom Ramli Burger

Honourable mentions:

15

Name: Economy Rice, MPSJ Food Court Address: 1st Floor MPSJ Foodcourt, SS15/8a Famous Dish: Economy Rice, Leng Chi Kang

Name: Za’s Kitchen Address : No. 15-G, Jalan SS 15/4 Famous Dish: Thai Fusion Food

Another popular breakfast and lunch spot for Subang’s many college students, it boasts of cheap prices with a variety unmatched by many of SS15’s many other Economy Rice stalls. You can also order a refreshing Leng Chi Kang to finish off your meal, which comes highly recommended.

Name: Jojo Little Kitchen Address: 30, Jalan SS 15/4D Famous Dish: Pan Mee

Name: Sinbad’s Middle Eastern Restaurant Address: Subang Parade Exterior, facing Housing Area Famous Dish: Grilled Chicken, Hummus A quaint little restaurant serving many Middle-Eastern dishes as its name suggests. The grilled half-chicken comes highly recommended, served with vegetables and a savoury garlic sauce.

The Hummus, a mashed chick-pea based spread, is made very smooth without the taste of chickpeas being too overbearing. The Arabic Mint Tea is also a must try for those with adventurous taste buds.

Name: RT Pastry House Address : B6-G, Jalan SS 15/4D Famous Dish: Green Tea Cake and other pastries

F E B 2 0 1 0

16

I

know what you’re thinking. You came here, glanced through the area once, and thought to yourself, “Oh God... I’m stranded on street food central. WHY?!” Come on, it’s not THAT bad around here.

On the bright side there are things that you can do here to kill time, and no, of course I’m not going to tell you to go study your brains out.

Leave that to the nerds. Hunters on your mark!

HIDDEN GEMS OF SS15

BY QISTI ZAHAIRI Are you bored stiff? Wonder what activities are hidden within these streets? Go hunt for the treasures that magically kills time with clues given to you by Qisti Zahairi on the Hidden Gems of SS 15

1. Kickboxing Center Ever wanted to kick someone in the *censored*? Sign on up for classes !

‘Woo’ the girls and ‘wow’ the guys with the awesome fighting skills that you could develop!

AREA: Next to where the royal patties are eaten.

3. FTZ Hear the echoes of firing bullets, grenades exploding, blades clashing and the thundering roar that screams “OWNING!” at the ever popular FTZ cybercafe.

AREA: Next to a food court. You’d have to be blind not to see it.

5. Serene Sound Ever want to be the next rockstar, the next John Lennon, or even the next Mozart?! Head on over to Serene Sound music school to learn the materials starting from scratch.

AREA: Near a place where cake actually makes sense.

2. Rack Cafe Want to play some foosball or maybe a game of pool/snooker? Then step right up and take the batter at Rack Cafe.

AREA: Opposite a place called a bakery, but is not a bakery.

4. RC Dreamz Toy Make your dream of racing in a grand prix or fly across the skies via remote a reality with the help of RC Dreamz Toy! AREA: A place with a black & white as a mascot that is next door to green, red, and white paper.

6. The Comics Corner Embrace your inner geekness in collectables such as comic books and trading card games like Pokemon, Magic, or even Yu-Gi-Oh. Enter the haven known as The Comics Corner at your own risk.

AREA: Same row as a place where buffalo’s have wings.

ANSWERS: 1. Next to Burger King. Jalan SS 15/4d.

2. Opposite Pan Bakery Restaurant. Between Jalan SS 15/4b and 15/4g.

3. Next to Asia Cafe. Jalan SS15/8a.

4. Near Affin Bank, where a black & white patterned cat awaits. Jalan SS15/8a.

5. Near the Cake Sense bakery. Jalan SS15/4d.

6. Same row as Buffalo Wing’s Restaurant. Jalan SS15/4.

INTIInsiderNewsletter

Those are a few of the hidden gems that can be found in SS 15.

Discover more yourself by taking a stroll.

17

Kristy Voon meets with the 26 year old Terry Yeow, a member of the local band, Altered Frequency, to ask about his experience whilst studying at INTI.

L

et’s start with a simple one, what did you study at Inti?

I did A-Levels at the Subang campus in 2001; then moved onto doing software engineering in 2002 at the Nilai campus.

Whilst you were here, did you ever perform?

Yes. I took part in two Battle of the Bands with two different groups. The first year, we came third; the second year, we placed second. It was a great experience to be able to learn things from one another. I hope INTI will carry on this tradition.

How would you describe the environment around the college?

The two campuses are very different in themselves. There was a lot of character building, because there wasn’t much academic help from the lecturers, we were left to learn from our mistakes. It was a great experience.

How did you get involved with Altered Frequency?

We were all friends way before the band even formed. I wasn’t actually one of the original members in the band.

When he dropped out, they started looking for a new member, but even more so, they were looking for a friend who could join them in their team.

I understand, recording sessions can be tiring, but do you have fun during them?

Up Close &

Personal

BY KRISTY VOON

Of course! They may be exhausting but it is a very good experience. Our producer, Nick Lee, us a perfectionist, so we could be recording up to six hours straight. It becomes very challenging, and we all learn a lot from them. Being in a closed space with only the few of us brings us closer together.

F E B 2 0 1 0

18 Yes, the next album will be a more personal acoustic album. It should be out sometime early 2010.

Then what about as an individual?

What do you strive for?

As a musician, I constantly push myself to learn new things; more genres of music. I’d love to blend jazz and rock together.

What would you say to college students nowadays?

You only go through college life once, so make the most of it. Join in extracurricular activities. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Just go and have fun.

How did it feel to sign up with the international distributor, Super D? We were all pretty shocked because it happened so quickly. It was a blessing when Super D contacted our record label, FourFourty Records, and asked whether there were any CDs available they would like to promote. A copy of our new album was immediately sent to SuperD, and the next thing we know we were being heard all over the world.

It’s great knowing people all the way in places such as Venezuela are listening to our music.

Altered Frequency is also the first Malaysian Band to be on iTunes.

What do you make of the local music scene? And having gone down that road, what advice would you give to any bands trying to make it big?

There are a huge number of local bands that have the potential to make it big. I just wish the local distributors would be more encouraging. The advice I’d give is to know what you want to achieve as a band. It can’t be just the number of records, or fame. You must have a purpose because all these materialistic things will fade away.

What do you do outside of Altered Frequency?

Each of us has a day job. I’m doing counseling work at the Student Services Department in Sunway University College. We are all very busy, and sometimes, practicing as a band actually

INTIInsiderNewsletter

becomes a chore. But I still find the time to jam with other musicians whenever I’m free.

You talked about having a purpose as a band, so what is AF’s purpose?

We write and produce songs that can impact not only in [our generation’s] music, but in life as well. We live our songs to send out the message. For example, if we wrote a song about abstinence, and if we don’t carry it out, we would be sending the wrong message. And our music would become pointless.

What are the band’s plans for the future? Any new albums?

If you would like to hear samples of Altered Frequency’s “Transit”, please visit our blog at edboard-icsj.blogspot. com.

19

F E B 2 0 1 0

Happening: Campus Events

26th February Friday

Visit to Council Camp Saturday Dusun ECO 27th February

COMING SOON IN MARCH MAPCU 3-on-3

Basketball Way Out Experience

@ Zoo Negara Sports Carnival

INTIInsiderNewsletter

F E B 2 0 1 0