The 'cool' search engine

The internet has grown immensely and some people think that it's time for search engines to do so too. A new search engine sprung from the Silicon Valley named Cuil, pronounced as "cool", began processing requests for the first time last Monday July 28th. http://www.cuil.com/ . Cuil claims it searches more pages on the Web than anyone else—three times as many as Google and ten times as many as Microsoft. The President and co-founder of the Bay Area start-up company, Anna Patterson is an ex-Googler who holds a computer science doctorate and mother of four. She began programming during a difficult pregnancy - how cool is that! Patterson leads the company with her husband, CEO and co-founder Tom Costello, who researched and developed search engines at Stanford University and IBM. They are joined by a third founder, ex-Googler Russell Power, and Vice President of Products Louis Monier, a veteran of Google and eBay who also was the founding technology chief of the AltaVista search engine. Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge or wisdom. Cuil says it has come up with a search engine that indexes 120 billion Web pages, ranks results by relevance instead of popularity, organizes the results by ideas and protects the privacy of its users. Inspite of all that, I found a lot of my search items using Cuil became confusing after some time and I resort Google-ing them back. Nevertheless, Cuil brought me to a free Malay portal website that have the same name as my blog... hmmm.. without the dot and blogspot you'ld reached there yourself. Although, I must say there's nothing much to see and read. Go on 'google' Cuil and experience it ... :-)

Blogsini's New Template..

Blogger has frequently prompted me to change my template to their new ones. After a long thought (scared my postings will suddenly disappear with the change), and now that I have some spare time.. not to mention moood, I have decided to at last change Blogsini's template. The previous template was quite a chore to deal with. Had to use some brain cells in Html editing! My MScIT qualification is made to good use after all.. :-) The new template is more user friendly with drag & drop features when adding new elements. There are 15 templates to choose from, with 3 or 4 colour choices. I don't quite prefer plains and whites, and I like 'My Profile' to be on the right. So I skipped the 'Minimas' and the 'Lefties'. I also don't prefer the backgrounds with dots, bubbles or pillars. That left me with 'Son of Moto' and 'Thisaway'. I chose the latter because its more my style.. However, Atiqah doesn't agree with this peachy, brownish colour. She says the previous pink colour is more vibrant! I don't know...... there are only 4 colours for this 'Thisaway' template: peach, blue, green & pink. Not too many choices! Any suggestions...?

Lotion & Cream Making Made Easy..

Last month I attended again a class under the Adult Education. No... not baking and cooking for me. This time it was Basics of Lotion Making with Lori Stoia. Before this I also took Soap Making Made Simple with her. Please read my May 2nd posting, if you'ld like to see the soaps I made. Lori taught us how to make the products from scratch. I am glad her recipes has no alcohol content. It's very simple actually and the result is guaranteed. Memang jadi macam lotion yang kita beli di pasaran ! We worked in twos and Amida was my 'lab-partner'. We know it would be more fun if we attend class with friends whom we could make mistakes and giggle with. The class shared together 2 digital weighing instrument, a microwave and 2 stick blenders .. we were always the last to finish.. Mana tak nya.. banyak ketawa! We had fun stamping and coloring our own signature labels. I named mine " Sweet & Simple " by Lady of Leisure (LoL)...he..he.. kelakar! With Amida, Cynthia and our products...

Adult Community Education (ACE)

Chef Suzanne in action at her Chocolate Candy Making Class which I attended for 2 sessions - 3 hours for each sesion. I love the idea of utilising existing facilities and infrastructure in more ways than one - as what is being practised by the Union High School District (Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah). School facilities are being used during night time and also weekends to cater for the education of the adults community. There are many-many courses to choose from and these programs are accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges. So, a person who for some reason or another did not finish high school and opted to work instead, can continue their education at ACE and then go to a Community College and get transfer credits for a degree at a local university. That is what we call Life Long Learning - Pembelajaran Se-panjang Kehidupan. The 2 guys are my cooking mates getting ready to coat the mashmallows. The mashmallows were not 'halal' so Nikki ( my daughters' violin instructor ) got my share. Kevin made sure he took home the cherries which were marinated with brandy - how thoughtful of him! The 3 ladies are mother & daughter team (Ellen & Jean) and Janine. I got to know about ACE when a brochure arrived in our mailbox, so I signed up! The courses offered under the Career and Technical Education are either I am already good at ( ha..ha..) or too specialised like Nursing, Security Guard Training, Cosmetology, Nanny ( funny, right? but they offer it ), Accounting, Building Maintenance, Programming courses ( Unix C/C++, Perl, Bits to Java..), Electronics, Computer Tech and more.. All of which certs issued. Fees..? It ranges, but one example : Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate Program costs in total $525 for 25 sessions. Whereas, for Intro to Computers for Older Adults costs $45 for 7 sessions. One session lasts for 2 to 3 hours... Rasa2 nya worth it la tuu..! Then there's Citizenship classes and they are ...free! The class is to prepare a person for the citizenship interview. The instructor for Soap Making Made Simple with a sample that she made. Go visit her blog, its interesting. Tak kedekut ilmu dia nie.. http://homemadebathproducts.blogspot.com .
Adult Secondary Education is also free and it prepares a person to pass the High School Exit Exam in order to obtain a high school diploma. English as a Second Language pun ada... What do you think of Parent Education... ? Motherhood 101, Sibling Solutions, Wiggles & Rhymes - lagu2 nursery rhymes.. Everything needs to be taught these days, and has to be paid for too ! One of the sisters of mine here who join me in this class, putting in coloring and fragrances in her soap before pouring in the moulds.. Classes untuk Active Adults 50+ which are way cheaper ( which I am not eligible yet, honestly...tak boleh join! ), ada dancing.. languages.. painting.. literature.. writing.. yoga.. taichi.. quilting.. sewing.. finance.. and many more under this category. A few of the soaps that I made.. cantik & wangi ! Interested? Boleh order... no problem, payment to my M'sian account.. ;-) Seriously.. they are decorative soaps, jadi bagus untuk dijadikan hantaran ! Kalau nak guna untuk mandi pun apa salahnya... Memang 'halalan toiyiban'. Hmmm, apa lagi yer...ada Community Enrichment classes - Arts & Crafts, Cooking, Health, Home, Music & Dance, Physical Fitness. Yang paling best tu under Special Interest : 1. How to Play Mah Jong, 2. Single? Attract & Choose a Lasting Relationship That Works, and ... last but not least ... 3. " Anybody can Blog! " :-)

My take on the US School System..

My daughter Atiqah goes to Monta Vista High School (MVHS), - located 40 minutes walk from our home - the high school which is said to be one of the finest in the state! It is no wonder advertisements of Cupertino's residential neighbourhood - apparently made to Taiwan & Korea customers, not surprised if it goes to India as well! - describing a modern living in a scenic resort lifestyle also includes the high school as one of its attractions. To ensure community dollars are spent on students residing within the district's boundaries, the Union High School District which is similar to our Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah, has recently instituted a residency verification by checking the resident's housing title or leasing agreement, driver's license and vehicle grant. It started early of this year and it will continue every year at the beginning of Spring Semester. Formerly, when it was not so strict, people living outside of this area 'cheat' by borrowing someone else's leasing agreement. You'ld be surprise to know what people are willing to do and sacrifice just to get their children into the US School System and eventually gaining entrance to Colleges and Universities here. Atiqah tells me that a few of her friends here are not staying with their parents but instead with relatives or even with 'my mom's friend'. They pay for room and board, of course.. but such sacrifice at that age! I remember myself also, in a boarding school and away from my parents (and missing them most of the time) during my adolescent years, but that was between Seremban and Selama. A stark difference in distance between Taiwan or Korea to California! My new friend from the SBS (Study Buddy Society) program which I am now volunteering at MVHS, is renting an apartment here with her twin sons who are 9th Graders. They came here last year and her husband stays in Taiwan running their business. She says they have to sacrifice for their sons' education. I think they are also fortunate to have the money to do so! Of course, I do count my blessings too.. alhamdulillah..;-) As of the 2006-2007 school year, Monta Vista has a student body of 2,573 students, of which a majority (68.7%) are Asian American. Only 28.2% of the population are white : A 2005 Wall Street Journal article claimed that Monta Vista is currently experiencing a "white flight" caused by white families feeling overwhelmed by the recent influx of Asian American immigrants. And we know how most Asians are.. when it comes to education! Very competitive...

Bulletin Board outside of schools is really a good idea.

The way I look at it, studying with the best has also a downside if one is 15, new to the language and no countryman to freely converse with! I think Atiqah would be better off if she was eligible to start somewhere in Middle School when we first arrived in the US. It would give her more time to enjoy and adapt herself. However, she never complains about the schools - be it Newton South or Monta Vista - nor the teachers, and never miss even a day of classes. Tak pernah ponteng! With so much to cope with, I think I would be so overwhelmed ..

The road that Atiqah takes walking back from school everyday and for me every Mondays and Wednesdays when I do volunteer work at MVHS... Actually, 40 mins of walking is a looong way, but not an ounce shed!...uurgh...

The US School System starts with Elementary School (Grades 1 to 5), Middle School (Grades 6 to 8), and High School; which caters for 9th (Freshman), 10th (Sophomore), 11th (Junior), and 12th Graders (Senior). Most schools start somewhere in September of each year with the exclusion of MVHS which starts one month earlier. The children here begin formal education at the age of 6. That means a January-born child goes to school 7 or 8 months older and a November-born child goes to school 1 or 2 months younger. The cut off age is in December where the child goes to school the following year... but they are still considered as 6+ , right? Atiqah turned 15 last November and 10th Grade in the US school system. Although ecstatic about missing PMR ( and hopefully SPM too! ) my daughter knows she has to play catchup real fast with the US school system and syllabus. Like any other International Student, meaning English is not the primary language, she is placed within the ELL (English Language Learners) group. Some schools call it ESL students (English Secondary Language). These classes go through the same syllabus as the regular classes but at a slower pace. There are 3 Levels of ELL classes in MVHS and Atiqah is currently in ELL3. At this level she can now take some courses (subjects) in regular classes.

The pathway that I take in between houses to reduce a few hundred steps...

Up close the plant really looks like some form of sea-creatures or aliens from outer space... try clicking on it, you'll see what I mean..

Selecting the courses reminds me of my University days. Here, the students get to pick what they want to learn base on their capability and performance for the duration of their 4-year stay in High School; as long as they cover the core main courses such as Math, Science, English and History. There are also Technology/Career Courses, Leadership Courses and Language Courses offered. These will add credit to their College applications. Dalam Math ada Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonometry. Dalam Science ada Biology, Chemistry, Physics. English pulak ada World Literature, American Literature, British literature.. History offers World History, US History. Geography is not offered as a course but I see Geography lessons covered in History, isn't that strange? I suppose if you wanna learn about a country's history, you also will have to learn where it's located, population, climate, and other geographical stuff. All the core courses also offer AP (Advance Placement)and H (Honor) classes which are added bonus and even could be requirements to the IVLeague Universities. I am not sure whether IB (International Barclaureate) courses are offered at Monta Vista. I think my daughter is not up to that level yet...The level she's at now pun dah tercungap-cungap! People say it's easy studying in schools overseas than at home.. well, I used to say that too! 20 years back maybe so.. or maybe, the system implemented which makes it easier. I have seen the high school work that she has to do everyday, a lot !: Essay writing, Projects, Debates, Journals, Presentations, Speeches.... Which some of the work I think we did in College!
One of the many tuition centers in Cupertino... don't talk about the fees.. memang mahal!

To make it worse, dulu tak ada 'big' exams.. now California enforces CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exams) and Massachusetts with their MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System). Kalau tak pass tak boleh graduate from high school and tak dapat High School Diploma. I haven't begin to story about SAT exams.. which is a requirement for most Universities. I sympathise with her, but sometimes I myself am not able to assist ... causing tensions on both sides. Ya la pulak... kita kan dah lama tinggal sekolah. Like parents back home, my only solution is to get external help in the form of 'tuitions'...
I'll story more about SBS Tutoring Program at MVHS... it's interesting & worth modeling. Maybe, a few of our Boarding Schools might already have this kind of program.