Yet another fuck up by CORS… i shan’t talk about it, let the voices of bloggers tell u more… in any case, i typed an email to Today, but in case it doesnt get published n fails to see the light of day…here it is…

——– Original Message ——– Subject: Top University with less than top IT infrastructure Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:30:43 +0800 From: To: news@newstoday.com.sg I am a current third year undergraduate in NUS, one of the top 18 universities in the world. All undergraduates register and bid for the modules that they want to do in the current semester via an online registration system called Centralised Online Registration System (CORS) (http://www.cors.nus.edu.sg). In short CORS is an online auction system for our modules, and it is also used to ballot for our tutorial slots. CORS is not something new in NUS, and it has been in place for the last 3 years or so. However as I type this email now, I have been waiting for 2 hours to log in to the system, which is heavily overloaded. I am not the only one complaining about this, my classmates are all facing the same issue. This is a rather common problem in all of my 5 semesters so far, but it has been running extraordinarily poorly this semester with recurring server overload issues. Initial glitches are inevitable, but after 3 years of operation, one would expect the University to be more aware of the potential loads on the server and reallocate computing resources accordingly. We see new buildings popping up all over campus, as part of the campus redevelopment plan. Current projects include a music conservatory and a separate high school campus in Clementi, and a new administration block has been completed, probably not cheaply. We are taking over SMU’s Bukit Timah Campus and this means that some redevelopment costs would be incurred. In our push to establish ourselves as one of the top 10 universities, we are rapidly expanding in many key areas but often small details are missed out. A big machine does not depend solely on the latest technology or gizmos to work. Every small nut and bolt plays a part in the machine’s smooth operation. In the case of CORS, the expected server load could have been calculated based on the student population, and also having backup plans. This would make it easier for students to quickly decide what modules to take, and in the University’s words, /”.. an opportunity to educate you on the need to weigh your options, make decisions and live with the consequences of your actions.” / The University has to buck up on this issue, if not it would not be able to inspire confidence, even amongst the student population.

Yet another fuck up by CORS… i shan’t talk about it, let the voices of bloggers tell u more… in any case, i typed an email to Today, but in case it doesnt get published n fails to see the light of day…here it is…

——– Original Message ——– Subject: Top University with less than top IT infrastructure Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:30:43 +0800 From: To: news@newstoday.com.sg

I am a current third year undergraduate in NUS, one of the top 18 universities in the world. All undergraduates register and bid for the modules that they want to do in the current semester via an online registration system called Centralised Online Registration System (CORS) (http://www.cors.nus.edu.sg). In short CORS is an online auction system for our modules, and it is also used to ballot for our tutorial slots.

CORS is not something new in NUS, and it has been in place for the last 3 years or so. However as I type this email now, I have been waiting for 2 hours to log in to the system, which is heavily overloaded. I am not the only one complaining about this, my classmates are all facing the same issue. This is a rather common problem in all of my 5 semesters so far, but it has been running extraordinarily poorly this semester with recurring server overload issues. Initial glitches are inevitable, but after 3 years of operation, one would expect the University to be more aware of the potential loads on the server and reallocate computing resources accordingly.

We see new buildings popping up all over campus, as part of the campus redevelopment plan. Current projects include a music conservatory and a separate high school campus in Clementi, and a new administration block has been completed, probably not cheaply. We are taking over SMU’s Bukit Timah Campus and this means that some redevelopment costs would be incurred. In our push to establish ourselves as one of the top 10 universities, we are rapidly expanding in many key areas but often small details are missed out.

A big machine does not depend solely on the latest technology or gizmos to work. Every small nut and bolt plays a part in the machine’s smooth operation. In the case of CORS, the expected server load could have been calculated based on the student population, and also having backup plans. This would make it easier for students to quickly decide what modules to take, and in the University’s words, /”.. an opportunity to educate you on the need to weigh your options, make decisions and live with the consequences of your actions.” / The University has to buck up on this issue, if not it would not be able to inspire confidence, even amongst the student population.

I realised that Today has good reasons to not publish my letter, as in there are bigger issues to talk about…like remaking singapore as PM Lee said, or even stuff like thi

get rid of crows posing threat to health khoo lih-han:

The numbers of black crows are increasing especially at places like Newton Hawker Centre and Somerset MRT.

At the Newton Hawker Centre, I have seen crows feed on leftovers and leave their droppings on the tables.

This is not hygienic. Couldn’t more workers be employed to ensure that leftover food is cleared away as quickly as possible?

As for Somerset MRT car park, the road is white from the crow droppings which may contaminate the food sold by mobile food vendors.

The relevant ministry should deploy more staff to get rid of these crows. The National Parks Board could also prune trees more regularly at places like Somerset to prevent crows from gathering there