ian unspoken

Ah. Now I’m feeling a lot better.

I have been sooo busy for the past fortnight… finally have the time to breathe. Starting this year, UNSW’s teaching period is reduced to 12 weeks (from 14) but fees have gone up approximately 10%. It seems that most of my courses are not acclimatizing the shorter duration of the sessions. I hope I can pull through this session… Anyway, guess what I have been up to???

Kah Wei, Ee Laine and I were invited over to the Lings’ new home at Stanhope Gardens. We had STEAMBOAT for dinner! Yes, it was my first steamboat here in Australia. It was nice catching up with them.

I’m also currently involved in the UNSW Solar Racing Team. It is so cool! I guess I’m going to be writing algorithms and optimizing the maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) to maximize the efficiency of the photo voltaic panels. Hopefully I would get to go showcase the car at CeBIT Australia and fly somewhere to race the car with the team. Did I just say fly? I love travelling! Most of all, I feel that joining the team would help me understand what I am studying more by putting theory into practice. I’m also planning to apply for an internship position at Intel Penang for summer.

UNSW Sunswift III Gallery

She left us early this morning, to be with the Lord. She had to go through so much pain and suffering due to cancer. Thank God all her suffering is now over. She is now in a better place and her salvation is now complete. Happier, and reunited with Jesus, and with Grand-daddy.

“Thanks for taking good care of me since the day I was born. Thanks for all the times we’ve spent together. Thanks for fetching me around when I was younger. You don’t complain when it is painful. You would never allow me to have any hardship. I could never repay the love you have poured in my life. But I will continue your legacy by showing love to future generations and to others. You have never told me how to live; you lived, and let me watch you do it.

I love you, and I’ll be missing you a lot. See you in Heaven…”

Yes, “Shout to the Lord” which was written by singer/songwriter Darlene Zschech some 13 years ago was performed by The American Idol “Final 8″. It was chosen as the closing song Wednesday night during Idol Gives Back, a music celebration raising awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities It was also reported that the American Idol version is the 5th most downloaded song of the week in iTunes USA (it was the 10th, the last time I checked).

Here are some sample lyrics:

My Shepherd, My Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

The original lyrics start the song off with “My Jesus” but was replaced with “My Shepherd” for American Idol. They were asked to perform the song again with the original lyrics.

(more…)