FEBRUARY 2009

Looking for temp jobs?

Where to look 4
Ace your interview 4
Popular part-time jobs 5
Charm your boss 6
The Singapore Public Service: Integrity, Service, Excellence

Spend your money! 7

Win s!
Good8ie
P1

FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 1

 March to look forward to
d j o b !
H
i guys, we’re finally nearing the end of yet another
academic year. These past few months have been
really hectic for me and I’m sure it’s the case for
most of you too.
Well, not to worry – the holidays will be here soon!
This issue, fullStoP explores the topic of temp jobs. Our
comprehensive coverage (pg 3-7) – from where to start job
hunting and how to ace job interviews, to how not to irritate
your boss and popular temp jobs – should make for useful
Still on journalism, we talk about one of the latest
trends on pg 11– citizen journalism. Channel NewsAsia’s
I-Journalist is back. This time, the documentary features
our very own Diploma in Media and Communication
students, so be sure to watch it.
Lastly, for those who’d like to make use of the sem
break to get in shape, flip to our Sports section (pg 12),
where we share tips on how you can ace that NAPFA test.
But for now, let’s focus on acing our exams. From all of
G o o Who doesn’t mind an extra bit of pocket
money? Since the hols are approaching,
we thought we’d teach you how to fish…
for that perfect part-time job.

reading, if you’re seeking extra pocket money and work us at fullStoP, good luck and happy holidays!
experience.
And for this issue, former editor Sufian – who’s now By Dexter Tay
slogging away, chasing stories and meeting deadlines in a
newsroom – spills the beans about how it’s like interning at
TODAY. Budding journalists, pg 10 is a must-read.

Student Editorial Team

Sean Firoz sean_firoz@hotmail.com Atiqah Firdaus musiq_77@hotmail.com
Vihasini Gopakumar vgjuly_19@hotmail.com Shamir Jacob moltenbullet@gmail.com

P
Dexter Tay dextertay@hotmail.com Sean Lee sean-lee-tr@hotmail.com
Collin Wang slyboy_1990@hotmail.com Siti Suhaina coolstarfish@hotmail.com art-time jobs aren’t always about the money. Okay,
Faris Nurhakim freezegory@gmail.com Ho Ren Sen rensen1107@msn.com we admit. It is about money but that’s not what temp
Mon Thi Han monthihan@hotmail.com Jason Tung jasontungjw@hotmail.com jobs are all about.
Thet Su Htwe wanchinster@gmail.com Tan Jit King jitking84.08@ichat.sp.edu.sg The entire experience – from job-hunting and
Khin Ei Maung khineimaung@gmail.com Jonathan Ng jonjon_091@hotmail.com interviewing to training and carrying out tasks – is priceless.
Nur Hazwanie Latiff hazzie_isms@hotmail.com At the end of the day, like our internship programmes,
these part-time jobs make up our foundation and prepare us
for the future.
The good news is, despite the current economic situation,
Published by Editorial, design and marketing services by Printed by it’s not impossible to find a part-time job. It all boils down to
Department of Corporate Communications. NTUC Media Co-operative Ltd. KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd. taking the initiative (and a wee bit of luck).
fullstop@sp.edu.sg For advertising enquiries, ring 6236 5790. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get down to work!

r a j o b
f o
Job worries?
It’s a tough time out there for SP graduates—but we can help.

You Could Be Working at SP Pre y Temp jobs are aplenty, says TAN JIT

T
KING, who shares his job-hunting and

Y
wo months of vacation meant one thing: Time to seek
ou’ve studied hard. You’ve aced all your exams. You’re joining the workforce supplement M. work experience.
soon. With a vacation that long, there was no excuse for me
As Mr Tan Hang Cheong, the Principal of Singapore Polytechnic (SP) not to help lighten my family’s burden of paying my school that was an irresistible offer.
observed recently: “Our graduating students will enter the workforce at a fees. Of course, with good money comes hard work. Needless to say,
difficult time. While many of you will be enlisted into National Service or proceeding for And so, right after my final exam last December, I headed for the factory work was physically taxing. I spent every ounce of energy
further studies, there are those among you who may find it hard to find a job.” nearest 7-11 to buy a copy of The Straits Times. Our national daily carrying stacks of paper, feeding hungry and ever-noisy machines,
“SP will do everything possible to help you find meaningful employment,” Mr Tan is indeed useful – I ploughed through the recruitment pages and which in turn churned out stacks of booklets and magazines.
has promised. recycled the other sections. My trick in enduring those long hours was my mantra: I’m just
In that vein, SP will, within our means, be offering short-term or contract jobs Temp jobs were plentiful: From flyer distributors and data entry here for seven weeks – my mission is to grab the cash and get outta
on the campus to some graduating students. These will include positions in estate clerks to promoters. But, my eyes were set on the ‘Production’ here. How difficult can this be?
management and maintenance, multi-media application development, industrial section: Jobs which many would gladly give a miss, given the long Fortunately, it pays to stay focused. I was the happy owner of
or research and development projects, and the organisation of activities for current and tiring working hours and peanut-pay. $1300 at the end of my stint.
students. Well, that’s only partly true. Between rest days, I even found time to hang out with
“Through these jobs,” Mr Tan continued, “we hope to help SP graduates earn an Granted, manual labour doesn’t pay enough to make up for classmates, attend CCA outings and spam MMORPG missions
income and gain valuable experience at the same time.” the number of calories lost at work, but a long-term temp job of (or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, for the
If you’re interested in a job with SP, visit the Student Service Centre at T16213 or that nature pays well. For 12 hours per night (I was working the uninitiated).
contact 6772-1707. graveyard shift – what were you thinking?!) I was paid $80! To me, Are you ready for your part-time work yet?

Page 2 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 3
 ten d e d r e n t S P
Want to work? It’s really not

H u n t i n a r e c u r
i n g a s ?
t r k
that hard to nail a temp job – if
you put effort into finding one.
TAN JIT KING shows you how.
h a
W ents w o
u d
• http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

s t
So many jobs here – good luck going through all of them!
What’s good for me?
Don’t just jump into a job without thinking it through. Be clear • http://jobscentral.com.sg
about what you can do. Introverts, for instance, may want to Though it carries more full-time employment postings, you might
rethink jobs that require a lot of interaction, while those with health strike gold with short-stints of about three months.
problems may have to reconsider doing manual tasks.
VIHASINI
• SP’s iChat email
Golden Rule: Emails have been sent to us regarding recruitment – have you GOPAKUMAR finds
Be realistic with your options. You can be all gung-ho about job checked your SP email today? out which temp jobs
application but don’t be cornered into doing a job you hate.
• Family/Friends
are popular among
Where do I start? Word-of-mouth can be surprisingly helpful – and who better to pull students.
Here’re a few job-search sources: strings for you than your loved ones?

• The classifieds section of The Straits Times. • Cold calls Waiters/Waitresses

Jobs aplenty for flyer-distribution, telemarketing, tutoring,
production line and miscellaneous positions.
• Mocca.com
You remember the whacky TV ad – “Want to see my bathroom?
Check out my matching parts” – that got us laughing? Well, mocca.
com isn’t just a place for selling or buying stuff; companies post
recruitment ads there too.
• http://thejobsportal.blogspot.com
Explore job postings and interact with fellow netizens in forums.
Ask directly for employment from restaurants, shops or cafes. You
never know until you’ve tried.
Golden Rule
If the job’s easy, it probably doesn’t pay well. If the pay’s good, the
job’s probably not easy. But if it’s too good to be true – good pay,
easy work – then think twice. Though not impossible that such
deals exist, don’t be afraid to question the company’s credibility and
do your own research.
Why
No relevant working experience is required. Plus, restaurants
generally have a great demand for part-time as well as full-time
waiters/waitresses especially during the school holidays and festive
seasons.
“I have worked as a waiter at Fullerton Hotel and it was a great
learning experience for me. Balancing several plates was an easy
feat, and it was definitely a great way to earn some cash.”
Darrell Lua, DTRM

Sales promoters at PC shows

Why
PC shows – which usually last about four days – present quick buck-
making opportunities. The job’s extremely flexible, and promoters
can earn commissions too.

“The job is really enjoyable because you get to interact with different
people and it’s a good way to brush up persuasion skills as well.”
Novea Chan, DMC

e s s u p
m
Internships Acting

D o n ’ t e r v i e w (with a company related to your field of study)

Why
Why
Yes, aspiring actors don’t mind small parts. Who cares anyway, if

i n t
Why not, especially when internships give us the much needed calefare roles get us closer to our idols! (Elvin Ng, you’re so cute!)

u r
experience, exposure and an insight into our future jobs?

y o
Before the interview
1. Research well about the company and what’s
required of you
2. Anticipate questions and prepare in advance
(Why are you applying for this job? How can
you contribute to our company?)
3. Bring along your resume just in case
4. Dress well – it shows you’re serious about the
job
5. Be well groomed. Cut your nails and shave (for
guys).
6. Brush your teeth but go easy on the perfume
7. Leave home early for the interview
How do you score at interviews?
COLLIN WANG and TAN JIT KING
give their views.
During the interview
8. Display proper body language – don’t slouch
or yawn
9. Appear composed
10. Answer all questions clearly and confidently
11. Interact with your interviewer politely
12. Express your interest in the position
13. Smile!
“I wanted to get a feel of how it’d be like to work in an architecture
firm as well as to learn on the job from my architect colleagues. This
would help prepare me for future studies too.”
Claire Lee, DARCH
Telemarketers
Why
Many students feel this job is easy money – without needing to
do much work. It’s also a chance for them to learn or enhance
communication skills, thanks to the daily interactions with absolute
strangers.
“I loved having to just sit at a desk and call clients. It gave me a
chance to learn how to start conversations with people at random.”
Gabriel Cho, DASE
“I’ve been studying acting, so I wanted to take it to the next level
and try to make some money from it. The pay’s a good incentive too.
Acting is as glamorous as I thought it was.”
Cheryl Cheong, DMC
Flyer distributors
Why
This job means having to shove flyers into the hands of passers-by
who’re too busy pretending that they can’t see you. But the flexible
hours and relatively easy task make up for this.
“I have no fixed working hours, and can do whatever I want, as
long as I finish distributing my allocated number of flyers. This also
means that if I can distribute 2000 flyers in half an hour, I don’t have
to work for the rest of the day!”
Akhtar, DNS

Page 4 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 5
 h a t d o t i m e
By Dexter Tay

s t w n t ? e n d in g
Ju a $p
So you’ve landed your new
part-time job. Unfortunately,

s e s w Your temp job paycheck has finally come in.

bos
you soon learn that not all
And there’re endless creative ways to spend
bosses are angels. Some
the money. FARIS NURHAKIM and TAN HUI
can be very demanding
RU JUDY spill the beans on how they would
and a rare handful just Punctuality spend.
purely psychotic. But It may be fun spending an afternoon in detention class (with fellow
slacker-secondary school mates) for being late. But it’s not funny if
there’s no need for a mental our lateness involves a pay cut or cold dagger stares from bosses.
breakdown, just yet. Simply It’s never too late to start being early. HE says
Tips: Boy toys
follow the CUPID rule if you • Plan your time, for goodness’ sake – no late night partying if Guys have an affinity for gadgets. From bulky gaming
want your boss to love you to you’re working the next day consoles like XBOX 360 and PS 3, to portable devices
bits. • Before you even start work, find out the fastest way to get to like the PSP, or the NDS, we love them all. Needless
your workplace (and we don’t mean by cab) and anticipate traffic to say, items like iPods – along with cool-dude
jam. headphones – are must-buys.

Commitment
Bosses generally favour committed workers. But this can be tricky
especially if you need to balance school work.
Tips:
• Where possible, choose jobs with time flexibility
• If you’ve given your word to work on a particular day, mark it
down and push away other appointments
• Be honest with your boss – keep him informed of important test/
exam dates or if you need time off to study.
Uniqueness
Everyone is unique. But not everyone knows
how to put his unique qualities to good use at
work.
Tips:
• Mention your special qualities
(eg: programming skills; ability to speak a and start working hard.
foreign language or even pleasant
dispositions such as courtesy) in your
resume or during the job interview
• Be humble but confident when selling
yourself.
Clothes
Initiative Jeans, shoes, accessories, nice clothes. While guys
Offer to help your colleagues once you’re done with your work. Or don’t doll up ourselves, species such as fashionable
ask what else you can do. Many hands make light work. metrosexuals and closeted vain pots exist in our
Tips: dimension too.
• While you want to be helpful, don’t take on more than you can
handle Lioness’ share
• If you’re working in an office, learn to do call transfers so that Guys who appreciate their ears intact and untwisted
you can pick up calls when everyone else is busy, or perform would prudently invest in something for their better
simple tasks like operating the intercom halves. Pretty dresses, romantic dinners, or even a
• Identify overworked colleagues and the sort of tasks which simple cuppa – these are inevitable girlfriend expenses.
you think they can safely pass to you.
Transport
Nope, I’m not talking public transport costs (though
Diligence yes, a part of our money should be set aside for that).
It’s (almost) every employee's dream to slack at work. Sadly, no one What I’m referring to, of course, is investing in a
loves slackers unless you’re Homer Simpson himself. So wake up learner’s license – but only if we’re paying for it.
Tips:
• Workers who don’t pace themselves at work get burnt out easily SHE says
so plan your time and spread out your energy Pretty important
• Take short coffee breaks in between work if your boss is okay One of the ways we gals contribute to the economy
with it. With rest, you won’t tire so easily. is through our innate ability to shop till we drop. So,
pretty clothes, matching shoes and accessories are
some of the items you’ll find in our shopping baskets,
along with skincare and cosmetic products.

Save and sound

You Though we’re shopaholics, we’re sound enough to save
• are a full-time student in SP, or money for rainy days too. This is a good habit which is
• an alumni member of SP never too early to start.
• have always wanted to be your own boss
Campus expenses
We These everyday campus expenses include transport
• were the ones who launched the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme fares, meals, textbooks, stationery and the cost of
(YES!) on Nov 18, 2006 printing notes.
• want to encourage youths to be enterprising and innovative
• provide you funding so you can start your own business Chill factor
With some extra cash, we can afford to chill out with

d t h e What friends more often. And it’s not cheap watching

r
Through the YES! Startups, you’ll get tremendous funding support movies, clubbing or just chatting over cakes and coffee.

n b oa h i p
from SPRING. All you need to do is, raise your own funds and

o s
SPRING will match every $1 with $4. The maximum grant provided

Hop preneur
One ringggg to rule them all
under YES! Startups is $50,000. These days, mobile phones have become a must-have.
But not just any mobile phone, mind you. The chase for

e
Contact
r
hip, chic and multifunctional phones has become an

en t For more information, log on to http://cet.edu.sg/yes/ or email Mr

Arthur Poh at artpoh@sp.edu.sg
obsession even among students. Naturally, that’s where
a big part of paychecks would go.

Page 6 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 7
 Batam's up!
It was all cheers for the first batch of 36 Diploma in Digital
Media students attached to Infinite Frameworks Studios in Turi
Beach Resort, Batam last December, as part of SP's Overseas
Immersion Programme (OIP). The OIP, piloted by the Department
of Industry Services to support global orientation, is currently
planning to send some 140 Diploma in Tourism and Resort
Management students on its next trip soon.

"The trip to Batam was memorable. Our attachment to Infinite

Frameworks Studios also proved beneficial to our assignments. We
learnt about concept planning, working on storyboards and pre-
production work, as well as tips on modelling and animation which
weren't taught in school."
Clara Wan Mei Yoke, 2B03

"The Turi study trip was definitely an eye opener for me, as I learnt
a lot during the trip. For example, the character design, story
writing work flow workshops and art painting activities were all
very interesting and fun to me as we learnt how these things are
done in the industry, and how the production pipeline is like."
Kwong Han Jie, 2B03

Give photography a shot

Interested in photography? TAN JIT KING asks Lian He
Zao Bao photographer Ray Chua, who was in SP for a
talk, for some tips.

Jit King: What is the most difficult subject to photograph?

Mr Chua: People

How do you make sure you've got the correct settings before
you shoot?
Through training and experience

How do you deal with difficult situations?

I try to be as professional as possible, regardless of the surroundings. For
instance, when I shot the Thomson flood, I captured shots of the ground by balancing on higher ground.

What happens if the person you're photographing is provoked?

Always shoot from a distance to avoid conflicts, but if it happens, try to calm the subject down and explain
your purpose. If the subject turns violent, run.

As a professional photographer, what are some of your everyday challenges?

They include how to breakthrough photography skills, especially since I do this daily. Also, when covering
repeat events (like NDP), I need to constantly present my work in a different manner.

The winning team, with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports,
at the Science Buskers Festival.
Drill factor
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race that's held around the world,
once every four years. Our SMA master mariner and lecturer in
navigation, Captain Raj played, an important role in the 2008/9 leg. Team SP hits the right notes at the recent Science Buskers Festival
Capt Raj conducted various emergency drills for the sailors as well

A
as prepared them with sea liferaft operations knowledge for the
race.
team from the Advanced Robotics and Intelligent
Control Centre (ARICC) at Singapore Polytechnic
(SP) has won the Most Popular Video Award at the
Science Buskers Festival 2009.
The festival – organised by A* and Science Centre
Singapore to promote the development of communication
skills through expressions of science in creative manners –
was held from December 18, 2008 to January 17, 2009.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports presided over the final
rounds of the festival and presented the awards to winners.
During the competition, the contestants performed a
"show-and-tell" on science topics.
The team, comprising Kuriakin, Seah Jian Min, and Chua Cai
Jun, used a humanoid robot to creatively express the science
behind complex engineering concepts such as centre of mass,
friction, forces and electromagnetism.
And it was their innovative presentation – dancing
humanoid robots – that got the attention of both the crowd
present as well as the judges.

Page 8 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 9
 Caster

Heading for the

working whirl Carissa

Former fullStoP editor SUFIAN SUDERMAN, who is now interning with TODAY,
shares his working experience.

T
he holidays are coming soon and this is usually the
perfect time to go on a shopping spree.
Unfortunately, it’s 2009. The economy is down,
jobs are at stake, and everyone’s thinking twice about
splurging.
But there is a silver lining to all of this. There have been
newspaper reports about employers looking for part-time
workers to fill various positions. This is the perfect opportunity
for you. Grab these job openings before they are being taken
up by countless others waiting in the wings.
A part-time job can give you valuable experience not often
learned in school. This might sound clichéd but it is true.
I am currently interning at TODAY. And today, I can finally
“professional” tone when I get phone calls from my superiors
or my interviewees. It is no big secret that I am blunt and
unabashedly loud when I talk to people. The working world
does have its effects on people like me.
These are many lessons which I’ve learnt on the job. Even
though I have terrific and helpful colleagues, there are certain
things you must learn on your own. One of them is to be
polite. Seriously. Saying “Thank you, Please, May I” has helped
me a lot. People are receptive when you are polite.
This was especially true when I covered a murder case.
There were several facts that needed verification. I had to Fazilah
contact a lawyer one night. I said something like “Sorry
to bother you at night but there are some facts that need

We, the
feel what working adults have always been lamenting about: verification.....” The lawyer turned out to be obliging and
That working life is taxing. helpful.
The working world is harsh, brutal and stone-cold crazy. Worse, I had to call him again that same night as there

citizens of
The workload is madness but who am I to complain, especially were several holes in my story. Moral of the story – Drop your By Novea Chan
since I’m enjoying every single minute of it? Journalism is my ego, your arrogance, your prejudice. Be nice and people will
dream industry. respond.
During my internship, I experienced working 12-hour

journalism
shifts, returning home only in the wee hours of the morning.
I’ve been making numerous phone calls and writing so many
emails that it has now become second nature for me to keep
checking my mobile phone and email every 15 minutes.
As an intern, there is always something waiting for you to
work on. Even my friends have noticed that I put on a certain

That annoying aunty is kicking up a big fuss although it was her fault that she cut someone’s
queue. A petty fight – involving an unreasonable bloke and a pregnant lady – ensues on
the MRT. Be mindful of your conduct. Someone is watching. That someone belongs to a new
breed of public-spirited heroes: The citizen journalist.

Y
ou notice something unjust happening around you.
You want to have a say in it. The heroic vibe in you
tells you to do something about it.
However, you feel that there isn’t a platform for
you to express yourself freely. What do you do?
Option A: Scream your lungs out and hope everyone stops in
his tracks to listen to you
Option B: Rush to Hong Lim Park and let it all out
Option C: Whip out your recording device and film the Communication (DMC) were invited by Channel NewsAsia
drama
Like newly commissioned superheroes, citizen journalists
are emerging by the hordes these days.
But it is the watchful eyes of these citizen journalists that
keep us informed of happenings on the ground – while
keeping idiots who misbehave on their toes.
I-Journalist, a Channel NewsAsia documentary series which
debuted last year, is a result of this rising trend of citizen
journalism. Last year, I-Journalist was exclusively produced by
Republic Polytechnic’s media students. This season though,
students from SP are in the limelight.
Three groups of students from the Diploma of Media and
to brainstorm and pitch story ideas. Of the three groups,
one team – comprising DMC/2/B/03 students Caster, Carissa
and Fazilah – was picked to produce the first episode of the
upcoming season.

Page 10 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 11
 NAPFA test?
I think I’ll pass...
Do you get cold feet before your shuttle run? Before you start
• Consult your doctor before embarking on exercise
Or are you always weighed down with worry • If you haven’t been exercising for quite some time, start slow
at the pull up station? Fret not. Train early and
you may just ace your NAPFA test. Training intensity
You should be training for at least one month before the NAPFA
test. Each of us has different physical limitations. While some
recover fast enough and can afford to train daily, others may need
long rest periods between training. Learn to ‘read’ body signals and
By Khin Ei Maung decide if you want to:
• Do light training daily
• Train alternate days
• Train for two consecutive days and rest the next day, or
• Train for three consecutive days and rest for two days
Pull up
Tips:
• Increase core strength
by doing push-ups
and sit-ups
• Lift weights to build
up various muscles in your arms
Sit and reach
Tips:
• Practise stretching
after a short run –
when your back thigh
muscles are warmed
up
Shuttle run • Flexibility is increased with practice, so
you may want to stretch every night
Tips:
• Run “low” – or in
Yes, it’s time to celebrate. SP’s men’s volleyball slouched postures.
team beat longtime rival TP at this year’s This shaves off
precious seconds as
Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic Games – bagging
the first volleyball gold medal for SP in 10
you won’t need to bend much
to grab shuttle run blocks
Sit-ups
What: Tips:
years. • Start reaching for the shuttle run blocks from a distance –
• Do a variety of
The Institute-Varsity- this discounts several steps, which in turn saves you up to
abdominal exercises
Polytechnic Games (IVP two seconds of your timing.
– sit ups, crunches, leg

J
Games) is a series of sports raises and planks –
and games organised uly 2008: SP’s men’s volleyball team lost the gold medal to target different parts
annually for students of the to TP at the POL-ITE (Polytechnic - ITE) Volleyball Games • Crunches (upper abs)
local tertiary institutions. Finals. 2.4km • Leg raises (lower abs)
Tips: • Planks (core strength)
Fast forward to January 2009: SP’s men’s volleyball
• Pace your run
Who: team turned the tables around, and tasted sweet revenge. • Focus your mind on completing the run
The institutions involved include the five polytechnics (SP, Indeed, our boys have proven that even if the odds are Running tips:
NYP, NP, TP and RP), four universities (NTU, NUS, SMU and
SIM), as well as the combined ITE schools.
against them – team TP is trained by a national coach and is
made up of about three national players – there’s no stopping
• Although you’re running only 2.4km, you should be running
up to 4km during your training.
Standing
them from doing their best. • A good way to increase your running pace is the sprint-jog broad jump
rule. Tips:
Why: After last year’s defeat, team SP took less than six months to
• Start with three minutes of slow jog, followed by two • Practise standing broad jump
The IVP Games serve as a platform to foster goodwill and bounce back. They trained hard, focusing their determination minutes of sprinting. on grass patches or sand pits
friendship through active participation in sports and to and energies on their defence tactics. • Repeat this cycle throughout your 4km • As you propel forward, keep
improve the standard of sports among the participating Their efforts finally paid off last January when their • Increase your intensity as you go along – such as decreasing your knees high – this helps
tertiary institutions. impressive defence training helped them beat their longtime your slow jog duration, or increasing your sprinting duration maximise your leap
rivals on their home ground.

Page 12 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 13
 V-Day mess celebrations
Dear fellow happily-in-love SP mates, we hope you screwed up your recent
Valentine’s Day date. Oh, not that we’re wicked. We just wanna say that it’s
perfectly fine if your Feb 14 date turned out to be perfectly un-fine. SEAN FIROZ
speaks to some V-Day victims.
V
alentine’s Day. Is that something that you can eat?
Okay, I sound like a hungry retard.
I admit I’m not a huge fan of unnecessary
Valentine’s Day celebrations.
No offence, but think about it. Buying huge bunches
of flowers for your loved one once a year. Doesn’t that
remind you of Qing Ming festival, where hordes of
Chinese throng the tombs with huge bunches of flowers?
Okay, that was harsh. And slightly morbid.
Tan Lee Yen, DMC 1B/01
“I was interviewing a bunch of JC guys at The Heeren on
Valentine’s Day. Since they were all holding a bunch of
flowers each, I jokingly asked if they had bought it for their
dates. They replied that they had none and asked if I wanted
to date them! It turned out that the roses were given to
them by The Straits Times as part of an event!”
Anelie Mercado, DDM 1A/21
“There was this mood ring that I received on Valentine’s
Day while I was in secondary school. But by accident, it got
into the washing machine and all the colours faded. The
guy who gave me the ring kept poking at it for days. But it
stopped as soon as I found out that he broke the choker that
I bought for him the same day I damaged the ring.”
Tan Xin Yi, DMC 1B/04
“I was on my way to a hot date with some
guy last year. As I was making my way to the
train station, I realised, to my horror, that my
(menstruation) pad was sticking out of my
jeans! Luckily it didn’t happen in front of the
guy.”
Page 14 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper
Fine. Bask in love, couples. Spend money on overpriced
roses and binge on chocolates all you want. Valentine’s
Day is, after all, a time when we can wear our love proudly
on our sleeves and play out fastidiously planned romantic
outings.
If you’re lucky, you’ll even look back at memorable
Valentine’s Day experiences with a smile.
But if you aren’t, at least you know you’ve got hilarious
tales to tell your grandchildren.
Christel Goh, DMC 1B/04
“When I was in Primary 4, a boy bought me a
Snoopy doll from a yard sale in my school on
Valentine’s Day. I threw it back in his face because it
was the same doll that I had donated to my school
for the sale!”
Prawn
Star
Somewhere in ulu Rangoon Road lies a quaint
coffeeshop with yummilicious food that
deserves stellar attention, as TAN JIT KING and
a few Food Connoisseur Clubbers discovered.
Where: 137 Rangoon Road
Stall: Lam’s Prawn Noodle
Nearest MRT station: Farrer Park
Jia Hong says
My prawn noodles were served promptly and although I was
disappointed by its relatively small portion, the presentation –
neatly stacked prawns – made up for it.
The yellow, starchy noodles weren’t soggy but were instead
cooked to near perfect. Almost al dente, if you will.
The first thing that struck me on my first bite was the soup – so
rich in flavour. The prawns were chewy and juicy, and lent the soup
an aromatic flavour.
Those with hearty appetites can also order the fried tofu and fish
cake as side dishes.
Jit King says
To my surprise my bowl of prawn noodles was one of the rare
MSG-free ones. Which was why I didn’t mind the slightly bland taste
of my soup. Though the soup had a distinctive prawn taste, the
dish would have scored if the prawn soup had been left to simmer
longer.
I was especially impressed by the cook, whose years of
experience were reflected in my steaming bowl of noodles. For $4 a
bowl, it’s worth it – if you’re not that hungry.
Full
of crab
Justin says
Good food comes with a long wait. For me, it was up till 2pm –
the time which the crab for my crab bee hoon would be delivered
to the coffeeshop. Was it worth the wait? Yes for sure.
My lunch consisted of a whole crab (shell partially removed)
sitting atop of a decent portion of vermicelli. I found the crab fresh
and tasty, and I had no complaints about the vermicelli either.
Presentation of the dish was pretty good. In fact, I was impressed by
it, considering that the dish was served out of a humble coffeeshop.
All these taken into account, $10 for the crab bee hoon is definitely
reasonable.
FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 15
 i-JustDon’t
Geddit
There’re fun applications. And then, there’re
those absolutely useless Apple applications.
JASON TUNG and HO REN SEN lists five such
app-solutely absurd ones.
U
nless you’re a caveman, you would be familiar with red
hot Apple gadget applications like Tap Tap Revenge,
TapDefense, JellyCar, Dactyl, and Cameraman.
Over a whopping 15,000 apps are available in the
App Store while more than 500 million applications have been
downloaded. Some of these apps are seriously fun, while others can
be deceivingly useful.
And then, there are the ridiculously absurd ones.
Here’re some:
Hold On
Point blank
Okay, so you’re supposed to
place your finger on the screen
for as long as you can. Right…
This is perhaps one of the most
pointless apps. What’s the point
of holding on to your iPod touch
or iPhone? It’s not as if we’d win
a Honda at the end of the day.
Perfect app for you if…
…you’re a hopeless Romeo (or
Juliet) who presses on despite
being asked repeatedly to “just
let go”.
iFart
My fart will go on
Hmm… do we need to say
much about this? There’s plenty
of pure juvenile fun to be had
from its OMG library of ‘brilliant’
sounds. It’s guaranteed to give
your friends a good LOL. Just
poot this application to good
use – at the right time
Perfect app for you if…
…prolonged constipation
deprived you of your innate
farting abilities and you’re
desperately missing the sound
of compressed stale air.
Page 16 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper
iPint
No pint, no gain
This is the only time when you’re allowed to drink and
drive. With a built-in accelerometer, this app allows you
to steer a glass of beer while avoiding obstacles. Once
you’ve cleared one round, you’re awarded with, erm,
more beer, which would increase your intoxication level.
Perfect app for you if…
… you’re Homer Simpson who recently took an interest
in F1 racing.
iThrown
The royal thrown
Grab your iPod touch or
iPhone really tightly with your
fingers and swing your arm in
a throwing action with all your
might. This app measures the
strength of your throw and tells
you how far your phone would
have otherwise been tossed –
and destroyed.
Perfect app for you if…
…you’re a wicked pooch owner
who loves irritating your pet
dog by playing fake fetch
EyeTricks
Eye may puke
Seeing is believing… not! With
this app, you’ll see for yourself
that images can be twisted to
trick and deceive the naked
eye. But be warned. Some of
these moving images can cause
dizziness. You might puke.
Perfect app for you if…
…you’re an aspiring astronaut
– or if your driver parents are
aspiring astronauts.
FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 17
 We're giving away Randy Jackson’s music club, In the hands of love , The
pink & the lily and Grace. Email fullstop@sp.edu.sg with your name, student ID,
Reviews by the fullStoP team
contact number and indicate which CD you’d like in your subject head. Choose one CD
only – and email only once (multiple entries will be disqualified!)
Closing date: Mar 20, 2009
Randy Jackson’s
music club
With his long history in the music industry, Randy Jackson sure knows
how to pull off a great album, as reflected here. You’ll appreciate the effort
behind this CD, especially when great performers – like Jason Mraz and
Paula Abdul – lend guest star power here. – Sean Lee
In the hands of love
Unless you love arias, you’ll probably nod off as you play In The Hands Of
Love, a collection of classical love ballads. Generally, the tracks, which are
supposed to be uplifting, didn’t quite do their job. The only impressive
element of this album is the excellent interpretation of the oh-so famous
(and some say oh-so passé) Titanic soundtrack, My Heart Will Go On.
– Atiqah Firdaus
The pink & the lily
This may only be her second album but Sandi Thom has already ventured
into the Top 100 spots in the UK charts. Her folk beats and wickedly out-
of-this-world vocals have singled her out as a singer who makes genuinely
ear-pleasing music. What can we say. This chart-topping crooner is
definitely a rising star. – Sean Firoz
Grace
As the title suggests, Grace is one album recommended for New Age or
instrumental listeners. Packed with musically inspirational tracks, Grace
takes you on a spiritual journey that relaxes your soul. Feeling stressed?
Relax, and be embraced by the beauty of this amazing CD as you
temporarily drift away from reality. – Tan Jit King
Folie a Deux
Fall Out Boy’s fourth album is an interesting offering with its mixed genres,
eras and tempos, evident in tracks like I Don’t Care, America’s Suitehearts and
Tiffany Blews. This CD shows that the band is heading in the right direction
– it pleases fans and appeals to non-fans. – Shamir Jacob
Page 18 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper
Greatest Hits
Enrique Iglesias showcases 18 of his hit songs in Greatest Hits – featuring a
good genre-mix of pop, Latin and R&B. The dance-inducing Bailamos was
aptly picked as the first track, setting the musical mood right. A highlight
of this album is Enrique’s duets with various stars, including Kelis, Whitney
Houston and Nadiya. – Nur Fazilah Abd Latif
Call and response
True-blue Maroon 5 fans, it’s time to stage an uproar. Such outrageous
mangling of their songs! This album may feature some of Maroon 5’s most
popular songs such as This Love, Makes Me Wonder and She Will Be Loved.
But they definitely veered off way too much from the original tunes which
made them chart toppers in the first place. It’s obvious that, in an attempt
to give Maroon 5 tunes a musical twist, the beauty of the original tunes has
been massacred. On a positive note, special collaborations with legendary
singers including Pharrell Williams, are refreshing. – Vihasini Gopakumar
A Hundred Million Suns
Still staying strong is this famous little Irish band called Snow Patrol. Best
known for Chasing Cars in the hit drama series Grey’s Anatomy, Snow Patrol
is back with a hit list of quirky songs and more amazing guitar skills. For
people who are into alternative or indie rock, this album is for you. Pay
attention to the lyrics and you’ll be hooked. – Sean Firoz
Manga
Ah! My Goddess
In a nutshell: Author: Kosuke Jujishima
Keiichi Morisato dialled a wrong number and was connected to Heaven
instead. A Goddess was subsequently sent to grant him a wish. Without
thinking carefully, he blurted “I want you to be by my side forever.” His wish
was granted. Literally. Just when he thought he could live with the goddess
stuck to him, his life headed for a whacky turn – one filled with quirky
acquaintances.
Review:
This series is one not short on content. The stories, based on various
themes – including motorcycles, modern day fantasy and family love –
add variety to reading. Each chapter presents simple plots, which never
fail to wrap up with an impact. This long running series started way back
in the 90s and began with less than impressive drawings and storylines.
Over time, fortunately, author Kosuke has made vast improvements
(just compare the 1st and 36th issue), resulting in more polished manga
sketches and more interesting manga characters. – Tan Jit King
FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper • Page 19
 Preparing Ready
& Confident Managers

Cited a “Top PEO in Singapore”

-Edupoll Survey 2008/09

• BA (Hons) Accounting
• BA (Hons) Business & Management Studies
• BA (Hons) Business Studies (Int'l Business Management)
• BA (Hons) Business Studies (Human Resource Mgmt.)
• BA (Hons) Business Studies (Marketing)
• BA (Hons) Banking & Finance
• BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems
• BA (Hons) Int'l Hospitality Mgmt. (Casino Mgmt./ Events Mgmt.)
• MBA
• MBA Project Management

• BA Hospitality & Tourism Management

• BA Tourism Management
• BA Business Management
• BA Consumer Studies & Management
• BA Management & Marketing
• BA Management & Retailing
• MBA
• MBA Public Services Management Anthony B. Jose
• MBA Hospitality Management MBA Graduate
• MBA e-Tourism Management

Viktorya Bulakh
BA (Hons) Business Mgmt. Studies
Scholarship Winner
Zhao Long
• BBus Logistics & Operation Management Graduate, BA Accounting
• BCOM (General Commerce) ERNST & YOUNG
• BCOM (Economics)
• BCOM (Finance)

“Career Ready &

• Master of Professional Accounting (MPA)

Confident”
• DBA Strategic Focus
• MBA
• MBA Marketing
• MBA Strategic Planning
• MBA Human Resource Management
• MBA Finance

Enroll now!
Balestier Campus, 9 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329975 Tel: (65) 6252 5550 Hotline: 6252 5500
Website: www.easb.edu.sg Email: enquiries@easb.edu.sg
Page 20 • FullStop • FEBRuary 2009 • your campus newspaper
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