HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Salutation

    • Salutations are context and culture dependent.
    • Many Burmese call older people as “Uncle” and “Auntie” although they are not related to them.
    • At SPHS, we call our sayas without the formal U. e.g. Saya Sein (instead of Saya U Sein)
    • I was reprimanded by a senior alumnus for writing Saya Aung Khin instead of Saya U Aung Khin or Sayagyi U Aung Khin.
    • A visiting Professor from Germany wanted to be addressed as “Professor Doctor” (not just Professor or Doctor).
    • Saya Allen Htay (C58) told us that he could not use “Mr” during his stay in Netherlands. He was asked to use “Ingr” (based on his profession).
    • Early surgeons in the UK were not necessarily doctors, and so they did not force people to address them as Dr.
    • People who have Honorary Doctorates usually put “Honoris Causa” (meaning the degree was awarded for esteem).

  • Vocabulary

    Comfort zone

    • Children are not shy and tend to pick up words — often in multiple languages — quickly and easily.
    • As people grow older, most tend to live within their comfort zone. Such people probably add only 10 – 20 new words a year.

    Necessity and Assimilation

    • My friend’s younger brother and sister are medical doctors from Burma who did not know Chinese. They chose to work in Taiwan. After working there for a year, they felt at ease communicating in Chinese. Assimilation helps improve one’s vocabulary.
    • During the Japanese occupation, several Burmese mastered Japanese quickly.

    Improving one’s vocabulary

    • To expand or refine one’s vocabulary, one could and should take extra effort.
    • In our younger days, we learned from a Reader’s Digest section “It pays to increase your word power” by Wilfred Funk, co-compiler of the Funk and Wagnall’s dictionary.
    • We studied Vocabulary Books which cover a lesson a day for three to six weeks.
    • With the rise of Broadcasting and Internet, it is easy to grow one’s vocabulary. One could subscribe to a program similar to (a) “Word of the Day” by Merriam Webster (b) “Word for the Wise“by National Public Radio (NPR).
  • Practice

    Practice

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Wisdom

    • Conventional wisdom says, “Practice makes perfect.”
    • Unconventional wisdom says, “Perfect practice makes perfect.”

    Horowitz (pianist)

    • If I do not practice for a day, only I will know.
    • If I do not practice for three days, my mom will know.
    • If I do not practice for a week my audience will know.

    Brother Clementian

    • In our Matriculation class, Brother Clementian — former Brother Director who continued teaching — gave a weekly one-hour Mathematics test on Saturdays. We had to answer three questions. With the practice, most of us did well in the examination where we had to answer six questions in three hours.
    • It was an example of “Perfect practice makes perfect.”
    • He would hand out the answer papers on Monday. He would call those who did not do well to a special session after school.

    Thoughts on Practice

    • There are several practice sessions before an event (e.g. Entertainment at SPZP). There may be a Full Dress Rehearsal (final practice).
    • Giving a reasonably good “Prepared Speech” requires practice, but the practice should not involve blind repetition. One should try to remember the main points and the transitions.
    • Practice helps a good athlete to become a great athlete.
    • Dr. Richard Yu Khin (MEHS61, GBNF) wrote about the tough practice sessions given by Mr. Matsuda for ten selected Burmese swimmers.
      They had to swim five 50 yard sprints with one minute interval. The coach helped Tin Maung Ni shine in Burma and beyond.
    • TTC (Teachers’ Training College) had a practicing school.

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :
    And why do qualified doctors keep on “practicing”?

  • Number Systems

    Roman System

    Base Numerals and Values

    • I : One
    • V : Five
    • X : Ten
    • L :Fifty
    • C : Hundred
    • D : Five hundred
    • M : Thousand

    Rules

    If a lesser weighted symbol appears to the left of a larger weighted symbol, the lower value is subtracted from the higher value.
    Examples : IV (5 -1 = 4), XC (100 – 10 = 90)

    If a lesser weighted symbol appears to the right of a larger weighted symbol, the lower value to added to the higher value.
    Examples : VII (5 + 1 + 1 = 7), CXX (100 + 10 + 10 = 120)

    Drawbacks

    Difficult to perform arithmetic operations.

    Not easy to read large Roman numbers. Movie companies supposedly use Roman numbers in their copyright dates so that the audience could not quickly figure out if a movie is too old.

    Hindu-Arabic System

    Digits

    In the Decimal system, there are ten digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and most importantly 0 (Zero).

    “The Dawn of Nothing” emphasizes the introduction of Zero thereby allowing the positional system of representing numbers.

    Advantages

    It has several advantages over the Roman Number System.

    • Compact representation
    • Ease of performing arithmetic operations.

    Number systems in Mathematics

    • Integers
      Positive, Zero, Negative
    • Real Numbers
      Positive, Zero, Negative
    • Complex Numbers
      Real Part and Imaginary Part
    • …

    Bases and Usage

    • Base 10 : Decimal
      Most common
    • Base 2 : Binary
      Used in computers
    • Base 3 : Ternary
    • Base 4
    • Base 8 : Octal
    • Base 16 : Hexadecimal
    • Base 60
      Angular and Time Measure
      Minutes & Seconds
    • Mixed Base
      Old British Measures
      e.g. Mile, Furlong, Yard, Foot, Inch
  • I (Symbol)

    I (Symbol)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • 9th letter of the English Alphabet
    • 3rd vowel in English
    • Roman Numeral with the value of one.

    I may stand for

    • Current. e.g. V = IR describes a property of Resistance
    • Information. e.g. IT (Information Technology)
    • Institute. e.g. RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology)
    • Intelligence. e.g. AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Intermediate. e.g. I.Sc. (Intermediate of Science), I.A., I.Com
    • Intra. e.g. IV (Intravenous)
    • Iodine or Iodide

    U Win Myint (UCC) wrote:
    I may stand for I and me, not you.

    Uzin Bobby Myo Tun (A69) wrote :
    (I) Inflates the ego that brings one’s downfall!

    Dr. Nyunt Wai (SPHS63) wrote :
    I may stand for the President post of the world government, if there is one (the dream of Bertrand Russell).

    In medical science,

    I stands for

    • Inflammation
    • Infection
    • Iatrogenic ( disease caused by doctor)
    • Icterus (jaundice)
    • Injury
    • Infarction (localized death of an organ)
    • Incompatibility ( blood transfusion, organ transplantation )
    • Ischaemia (decreased blood supply to an organ)

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :
    And “impotence”

    Dr. Nyunt Wai added :
    Ko Johnny Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint Yes. One of the important image imploding issues.

    Michael Po Saw (M67) wrote :
    I can stand for “idiot” as well!

    Dr. Nyunt Wai added :
    idiosyncratic

  • D (Symbol)

    • Fourth letter of the English Alphabet
    • Roman Numeral with the value of 500
    • Diploma, e.g. DAC
    • Directorate, e.g. DHE
    • Distinction
    • District, e.g. D4TM
    • Grade, usually 1.0
    • DC — District Commissioner; Direct current; District of Columbia
    • DD — Doctor of Divinity; Double Density
    • DNA — Deoxyribonucleic acid
    • DND — Do Not Disturb
    • DPI — Dots Per Inch
    • DPU — Dual Processing Unit
    • DQ — Disqualification
    • DS — Double Sided; Data Science
    • DST — Daylight Savings Time
    • DVD — Digital Versatile Disc
  • GBNF from UCC

    GBNF from UCC

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Dr. Chit Swe — Founder & Director of UCC
      There are several posts about Saya.
    Dr. Chit Swe
    • U Ko Ko Lay — Co-founder
      He served as Operations Manager, Scientific Applications Manager, Professor at DCS and ICST
    • Dr. Tin Maung
      He succeeded Saya Chit as Director of UCC. During his tenure, Department of Computer Science (DCS) and Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) were established. He served as the inaugural Rector of ICST
    • CO U Hla Min — Operations
      Joined UCC as Chief Operator. He attended a post-graduate course in UK, where he met his beloved one. He is an early casualty (passing away at the tender age of 30+).
    • U Aung Zaw — Systems Programmer, Systems Division
      Taught at UCC, CSO, Assumption University and in Sydney. Wrote two books “Bawa and Dhamma” and “Cetana Thi Thar Kan”
    • U Mya Thein — Business Applications
      Joined the Department of Commerce, Institute of Economics. Transferred to UCC as Business Applications Programmer. Retired as Business Applications Manager. Taught at UCC, DCS, ICST, and ITBMU (International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University).
    • Daw Nge Ma Ma Than — Business Applications
      Taught at UCC,DCS, ICST
    • U Kyaw Nyein — Scientific Applications
      Joined UCC as Scientific Applications Programmer. Taught Numerical Methods. Joined UNV.
    • U Win Naing — Scientific Applications
      Science Scholar for Mathematics. Attended the 1st batch of M.Sc. (CS) with the Systems Option. Scientific Applications Programmer.
    • U Soe Myint — Operations; Retired as Pro-Rector of ICST.
    • U Maung Maung Gyi — Operations
    • U Maung Maung Lay — Operations
    • Daw Hla Hla Win — Operations
    • Daw Kyu Kyu Lwin — Operations; Moved to Social Security Board
    • Daw Win May Thaung — Operations
    • U Aung Myint — Engineer, Systems Division
    • U Shein Soe Myint (EC83) — Systems Division
      Passed away in Singapore while doing his doctorate
    • U Aung Aung Thein — Systems Division; Colleague of U Kyaw Zwar Soe
    • U Myint Aung — Admin Department
    • Daw Khin Lay Myint — Admin Department
    • U Khin Maung Aye (M73) — 1st batch of M.Sc. (CS) with Applications Option
    • Daw Khin Mya Swe — Attended M.Sc. (CS)
    • Daw Khin Toe Nyein — Attended M.Sc. (CS)
    • U Thein Tan — Attended M.Sc. (CS)
    • Daw Thida Aung — M.Sc. (CS); Classmate of Daw Thida Khin
    • Daw Khin San Hlaing (Cynthia) — She joined UCC as Librarian. She attended M.Sc. (CS) She worked at (or attended) AIT (Asian Institute of Technology) She migrated to Australia

  • Hazards of PPIs

    By Dr. Kyaw Nyunt (Robert Koe, Florida, USA)

    Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which suppress stomach acid is used long term by many without knowing the detrimental side effects.

    The only condition that needs long term is Barrett’s esophagus proven by biopsy.

    Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole are some of those drugs.

    The popular ones are Prilosec and Nexium and people can buy without prescription.

    Doctors don’t discuss about side effects.

    Hazards

    1. Pneumonia.

    2. Clostridium difficile colitis because stomach acid is needed for protection.

    3. Kidney failure. Interstitial nephritis.

    4. Heart. Patients taking Clopidogrel after the heart attack will have risk of another one because PPIs reduce the effects of Clopidogrel.

    5. Gut bacteria overgrowth leading to irritable bowel.

    6. Hip fracture due to interference of calcium absorption.

    7. Malabsorption. Iron, B12, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and will lead to iron and B12 deficiency anemia.

    8. Bacterial Gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella.

    So you learn about PPIs side effects.

    You might not know that reflux is usually caused by esophageal motility problem and incompetent valve at the lower end of esophagus.

    Stomach acid production reduces as you grow older and you don’t want to worsen it.

    Take care. Thanks.

  • The Great Gandhiji

    • Born as Mohandas K. Gandhi. 
    • Indian lawyer.
    • Returned from overseas to lead non-violent boycotts.
    • Subsequently known as Mahatma, Gandhiji and the Apostle of Non-violence. 
    • Assassinated by a Hindu Extremist, who did not like Gandhi’s tolerance for non-Hindus.
    • The movie “Nine Hours to Rama” did not fare well in the Box Office.
    • The movie “Gandhi” won an Oscar for Ben Kingsley for his portrayal as Gandhi.
    • I wrote a poem for the Centennial of his birthday.
    • The poem was published in the Working People’s Daily (WPD) on October 1, 1969.
    Poem

    The Great Gandhiji

    A man of true principle
    With spirit invincible
    He sacrificed his pleasures
    Faith and freedom were his treasures

    No arms did he carry
    No threats made him tarry
    No torture or prison
    Could change his decision

    He led all protests
    Despite threats and arrests
    All races and creeds
    Revered his deeds

    He could not see his dreams come true
    The whole world grieves his loss too
    Though he cared not for fame
    His name will indeed remain
    In history, O Great Gandhiji

  • Best Friends Forever 69ers

    Health Care Funds

    U Aung Min (M69) is Chair of the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund). He regularly sends out monthly and quarterly reports including the list of GBNF.

    U Aung Min

    The major donors of the 69er HCF include

    • Ivan Lee (U Khin Maung Oo (M69, New Jersey)
    • U Sein Myint (EP69, Singapore)
    • Daw Myint Myint (C69)

    There is also EE69er HCF. U Sein Myint is a major donor of the fund. The donors’ list is maintained by Sa Maung Maung (EP69) with the help of U Shwe (EP69).

    Gatherings

    There are gatherings mostly for breakfast, but occasionally for lunch and dinner.

    69ers (mostly M69ers but also friends from other disciplines) usually have a Monthly Breakfast Gathering at Taw Win Hnin Si (Royal Rose). The gatherings also celebrate Birthdays and Anniversaries.

    EE69ers tried to meet once every two months.

    Lunch Gatherings have been held at

    • Crystal Jade
    • Shwe Bei
    • Westin Royal

    Breakfast Gatherings include

    • All Disciplines
    • M69ers
    • EE69ers

    Ad hoc Gatherings include

    • Welcoming 69ers from overseas
    • Hosted by visiting 69ers
    • Garawa to Sayagyi U Ba Than (around his birthday : October 2)