HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Tin Mg Soe, Khin Mg Win, Myint Thin

    Tin Maung Soe (Tommy, EP69, GBNF #91)

    • Played basketball with U Soe Win (RIT Captain)
    • Passed away on 22 August 2020 (Saturday )
    • His funeral held at Yae Wai on 23 Aug.

    Khin Maung Win (EP69, GBNF #92)

    • Known fondly as “Sargalay” and “Nutty”
    • Usually finished Mechanical drawings in about an hour and still get Grade 5.
    • Later changed his name to “Lada” and “Galon”
    • Training partner for Sai Kham Pan (EP69, Burma Selected in Badminton)
    • Badminton selection at the Township level
    • Asked his friends to pray for him
    • Had an operation
    • Passed away a few days later.
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is sargalay.jpg
    U Khin Maung Win (RIP)

    Myint Thin (M71, GBNF)

    • Matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1965
    • Classmates from SPHS to RIT : Myint Toe (M71), Michael Aye (M71)
    • Admitted to RIT as Mechanical Engineering Roll Number One
    • Selected RIT Luyechun
    • Represented RIT in Rowing
    • Sponsored Sayagyi U Ba Than to attend SPZP-2007
    • Passed away in Singapore.
    • Spouse : Daw Khin Win Ni

    U Aung Myaing (ChE72) wrote :

    He was one year senior to me. However, we belonged to Phaunggyi Zeya 12 while taking the civil service training in 1973. He was KATHA 101 and I was KATHA 102. Our beds were adjacent. Thus we had time to exchange our views on several topics. I came to realize how flexible and humble he was. We established a good friendship.
    After Phaunggyi training, to my memory, we met each other twice: once in Myanmar and another in Singapore. It is worth noting here that our relationship was always remarkably warm.
    May he be dwelling at a higher abode.

  • Brain function

    By Dr. Kyaw Nyunt (Robert Koe)

    It is a myth that brain cells die as you get older.

    You can get smarter up to Age 100 by reading, doing puzzles, engaging in exercise like Tai Chi, playing instruments or learning dances.

    Synapses are like wires that connect brain cells and they grow by above mentioned activities. They don’t die.

    Acetyl choline is important for the cognition and drugs that we are using like donepezil (Aricept) prevent breakdown of Acetyl choline and they don’t work very well.

    I will mention the diet, minerals and vitamins, and herbs that will reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases.

    • Phosphatidylserine. 300 mg. a day to preserve serotonin and dopamine.
    • Bacopa. 300 mg. a day.
    • Ginkgo biloba. 120 mg. twice a day. Avoid if you are taking Coumadin.
    • Vitamin B 12. 800 mcg. a day.
    • Huperzine A (Chinese Club Moss) 0.2 mg. a day.
    • Essential fatty acids. flaxseed oil, fish oil.
    • Acetyl L carnitine. 500 mg. 3 times a day.
    • Phosphatidylcholine in fish, egg yolk, legumes, nuts and vegetables.
    • Turmeric (Curcumin). Cook your curry or go to Indian restaurant.
    • Zinc.
    • Vitamin B 6, B12, Folate and Vitamin D.
    • Jelly fish (Apoaequorin). Prevagen is the trade name for this. 10 to 20 mg. a day.
    • Citicoline is for ATP production and protects against free radicals . 500 to 1000mg. a day.
    • Dental care like flossing, brushing and rinsing to kill P. gingivalis which causes heart attacks, stroke and dementia by way of chronic inflammation.
    • PPIs like omeprazole lowers zinc level and increase risk of dementia.
    • Inorganic copper from copper pipes in drinking water is detrimental. Measure copper level and use reverse osmosis filter to lower it.

      Take care.
      Thanks.

  • Visit to MARB

    Dr. Aung Myin Bo, U Kyaw Myint, U Hla Min, U Khin Aung Bo, U Hla Win
    At MARB
    Guest Lecture at MARB

  • Unanswered Questions

    Dr. Peter Tun (GBNF)

    Misguided Guidelines and Policies

    • 120+ Doctors and Health Care Workers in the UK succumbed to COVID-19.
    • An early casualty was Dr. Peter Tun (MRCP, former Associate Dean of Oxford University). He was hailed as one of the “Heroes”, and the Neuro Academy has named an award after him.
    Award
    • Many family members felt that their loved ones paid a high price behind misguided and rigid Guidelines and Policies.

    Unanswered Questions

    • How did Covid-19 start?
      From the wet market?
      From eating exotic animals / food?
      From a lab?

      Some say that the virus is not man-made.
      Some speculate that the virus could have escaped leading to conspiracy theories.
      The Blame game (by countries and organizations) is still going on.
    • Why did the early reports downplay the damaging power of COVID-19?

      Initial reports did not mention that the virus can be transmitted by humans. Later reports show how a single infected person can unknowingly spread the virus to masses attending gatherings, taking cruises.

      Some said that washing hands is good enough. Others pointed out that the hand is only one source of infection.

      Initial reports said that the virus would only attack the respiratory system. Later reports mentioned that the organs and the nervous system could be damaged.

      Initial reports did not include symptomatic patients. Some reports counted only deaths of COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
    • Why did several countries react slowly to the Pandemic?

      Some pointed the fingers to WHO for declaring the Pandemic late.
      Some dismissed the virus as a “Myth” or a “Kind of flu that will go away easily”.
    • Why were the front line health workers in some countries not provided with PPE?

      Some said the policies were guided not by science, but by the availability of resources. Some guidelines were relaxed too much.

      Some said that the policies and guidelines were to save cost (not realizing that the medical equipment may not be easy to purchase or order during a Pandemic).
    • The impact on economy

      The Bull market disappeared.

      Several companies filed for bankruptcy.

      Millions became unemployed (furloughed or terminated).
    • The impact of social behavior

      The levels of isolation varied,
      quarantine / lock-down
      shelter at home / circuit breaker
      self-isolation

      Some people cannot even visit their family members and close relatives.

      Teleconferencing / virtual meeting to see loved ones for the last time; cannot attend funeral services

      On-line teaching / learning needs good Internet connection and devices.

      Domestic and international travel
    • The safe distance

      Most guidelines say 6 feet,

      Some experiments show that the virus can travel farther (up to 20 feet)
    • Why were asymptomatic cases ignored in the initial reports?

      To have good statistical reports

      Many that were infected did not display symptoms, but they contributed to the spread of virus.

      They could “carry” / “spread” COVID-19 (and not easy to “trace” the 0-person / originator of hot spots)
    • Why COVID-19 has different impact on

      Men (60% of cases in UK)

      Asian and Blacks (were hit more in UK)

      Age groups (80 year olds are the hardest hit at first.
      Younger age groups are getting hit.
      Even children (1 to 2 years) are being tested positive,

      Nursing home fatalities are high (e.g. in a New Jersey nursing home, 50 of the 80 elders died of COVID-19).

      Countries (some “poor” nations fare better than “rich” nations)

      Many factors (e.g. genetic make up, health condition, blood type) are being studied, but no conclusive results yet.
    • Most new medicine /cure take 5 – 10 years of development, testing and approval

      Can a “truly safe” vaccine or a cure be found / developed in a few months?

      There is a race to come up with a safe vaccine.
      The stock prices of some bio-tech companies went up.
      Not sure if the cost of the vaccine would be covered (or subsidized).
    • Why many “miraculous cures” were promoted by people who have no medical knowledge

      Ingesting disinfectants
    • Why some do not seem to have compassion

      A few politicians say that “economy and liberty” are much more important than the loss of lives (particularly the “seniors”)
    • Testing

      What is the reliability of test-kits?

      What is the consensus on “anti-body testing”?
    • Wave

      Is the first wave still on?

      Is there a resurgence (or second wave) in some places that re-opened early?

  • RIT English

    From Saya U Khin

    Dear Hla Min,

    I have been an ardent “fan” of your RIT Newsletter updates ever since you included me in your mailing list at the suggestion of Des Rodgers many many years ago.

    You have made a great contribution to the RIT community by bringing the RIT alumni, sayas and sayamas together through your reports, messages, photos, etc. in the RIT Newsletter and also through your persistent efforts in carrying on the good work against all odds. Who is going to fill your shoes after you retire?

    I spent the best years of my life (1964 ~ 1968) at the RIT and I cherish the good old days I had at the RIT with my former colleagues at the English Department such as Saya Desmond Rodgers, Saya U Win Mra, Saya U Joe Ba Maung, Saya Sao Kangyi (deceased), Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla, Sayama Daw Tin Tin Mya (Terry), Sayama Daw Charity Sein U, Sayama Daw Khin May Lwin (Muriel), Sayama Daw Tin Tin Oo (Toni), Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (Anne), among others; my former colleagues at other engineering departments and non-engineering departments such as Saya U Tin Maung (Civil), Saya U Christopher Maung (Civil), Saya Allen Htay (civil), Saya Dr K.C. Khoo (Chemical), among others; and my former students Tin Tin Myint (Emma), Khin Phyu Latt (Christine), Tin Tin Hla (Su Tin), Sai Kham Sang, Pamela Myo Min, George Lim, among others.

    I hope you will have a great time at the birthday party that will be hosted in your honor on August 20th [2016] at Half Moon Bay, California, by your former classmates, colleagues, sayas and sayamas.

    I shall also be wishing you a happy birthday in absentia from this part of the world, and hope you will have many happy and healthy returns of the day in the years to come.

    Sincerely yours,
    Lucian Chen (Saya U Khin)

    Scrabble

    • Saya Des and Saya U Khin were Scrabble Champions at the tournaments held at Guardian premises and YMCA. Chambers Dictionary and Jones Pronouncing Dictionary were used to confirm/deny the word challenges. They were always present on Saya U Khin’s desk.
    Scrabble

    Champions

    • Saya U Win Mra was Burma’s Pole Vault Champion before he was asked to “retire” by the doctors. Saya U Win Mra and Saya Des are excellent guitarists and singers. Saya joined the Foreign Service. He was Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations.
    Win Mra
    • Saya Joe Ba Maung (GBNF) was Burma’s Tennis Champion in Singles and Doubles (with U Than Lwin). Saya joined Burma Railways.

    Status / Notes

    • Khemarat was the pen name of Saya Sao Kangyi (Tony, GBNF),
    • Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla transferred to UNDP.
    • Sayama Terry migrated to Australia. She was a Beauty Queen in her college days.
    • Sayama Charity retired as Professor and Head of the RIT English Department. Met her briefly at SPZP-2012.
    • Met Sayama Muriel when she and Saya U Aung (Alphoso) visited Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt in Milpitas, California. We had lunch gatherings.
    • Sayama Toni is a cousin of Ko Thet Tun (Henry, M75). Their maternal aunt is Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt (spouse of Saya U Tin U), Met her briefly at SPZP-2012. She is a Khamee Khamet of Saya U Win Mra.
    Sayama Toni
    • Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (GBNF) published several books/booklets. She wrote about her mom (Daw Khin Saw Mu) and aunts (Daw Khin Mya Mu and Daw Tin Saw Mu). She is the niece of ICS U Tin Tut, U Kyaw Myint (Head of Tribunal for Galon U Saw’s case), U Myint Thein (former Chief Justice and writer/translator “MMT”), Dr. Htin Aung (former Rector and author of books about Burma — history, drama, folk tales).
    Daw Khin Saw Tint

  • National Foreign Language Center

    NFLC

    • There is a NFLC (National Foreign Language Center) at the University of Maryland (College Park), USA.
    • It used to provide free (or limited) access to Federal employees and eligible educators to study languages (e.g. French, Chinese, Arabic).
    • For a number of years, it chose from among the languages used by minorities to add introductory level courses to its library.

    Burmese

    • One year NFLC chose to develop Listening and Reading Comprehension listening for basic Burmese. NFLC sent request to Burmese associations to help with the project.
    Hla Min
    • I was accepted as the Language Advisor for the Burmese project.
    • The listening comprehension consisted of broadcasts (e.g. “Win Pe Lwai Eik”).
    • The reading comprehension consisted of short articles (e.g. Amyotha Pyinnya Wun U Po Kyar).
    • Specific fonts and browsers were needed to read the script for the Listening and Reading Comprehension.
    • An English translation was provided.
      My task was to ensure the quality (e.g. correctness of the translation).
    • Exercises were provided

    Access

    • As a contributor to the project, I had access to LangNet
    • NLC no longer offers free access.
      Individuals and groups can subscribe to NFLC’s courses for nominal fees.

  • Trademarks and Names

    • There are rules and restrictions for registering and using trade marks.
    • There have been law suits to settle trademark violations.

    Apple

    • Apple Computers (in USA) was sued by Apple Music (in UK) for trademark violations.
    • The judge decided that the name “Apple” was being used in two different industries.
      Little did he know that several decades later iTunes (owned by Apple Computers) would be playing the Beatles music (owned by Apple Music).

    Google

    • Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
    • Googol is one followed by 100 zeroes.
      It signifies a very large number.

    iPhone

    • iPhone is a trade mark owned by Cisco.
    • Apple has an agreement with Cisco to use it for its smart phones.

    iPad

    • iPad is a trade mark owned by Fujitsu.
    • Apple has an agreement with Fujitsu to use it for its product.

    Name change of products (to avoid Trademark violation)

    • NPL (New Programming Language) was renamed by IBM as PL/1 (Programming Language One) due to protest by NPL (National Physical Laboratory)
    • FOURTH was renamed as FORTH
    • PEARL was renamed as PERL

  • Burmese Names

    Rules for Names

    • When we were young, we were taught that a name should have a Christian name and a Surname.
    • Later, we were told that a name should have a First Name, a Last Name and an optional Middle Name or Initial.
    • Those rules do not apply to Burmese names.

    Names with one word

    Several well-known Burmese names have a single word. They include

    • Thant (3rd Secretary General of the United Nations)
    • Nu (1st Prime Minister of the Union of Burma)
    • Thein (Journalist)
    • Thaung (Journalist)
    • Mya (Politicians and Entrepreneurs)

    The names are prefixed with

    • Maung
    • Ko
    • U
    • Thakin
    • Name of publication (e.g. Kyee Pwa Yay, Kyemon)
    • Place (e.g. Hinthada, Pway Bwe).    

    Names with two words

    Most early Burmese names have two words. The names are chosen by parents and/or grand parents.

    The names might comply with one of the common naming conventions.  For example, a Sunday born will have “Ah” (Sunday group) as the first word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the second word.

    The pattern is  DOW (Day of week) group followed by DOW + 1 (following Day of week) group.    

    Examples :

    • Aung Khin (for Sunday born)
    • Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
    • Soe Lwin (for Tuesday born)
    • Hla Myint (for Wednesday born)
    • Myint Thein (for Thursday born)
    • Than Naing (for Friday born)
    • Htay Aung (for Saturday born)

    Naming Patterns

    Another pattern is to have the same first and second words.    
    Examples : Aung Aung, Khin Khin, Zaw Zaw, Hla Hla, Myint Myint, Than Than, Htay Htay    

    Some siblings will have a common first name. For example, Ba Thein, Ba Tu, Ba Phyu    

    Some siblings will have a common last name. For example, Myo Paing, Soe Paing, Win Paing, Kyaw Paing    

    Names with three words

    Some Myanmar/Burmese names have three words. The names may or may not comply with a naming convention :

    For example, a Sunday born will have “Ta, Hta, Da Dwe, Da Oke Chike, Na Nge” (Saturday group) as the first word, “Ah” (Sunday group) as the second word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the third word.

    The pattern is DOW – 1 Group as first word, DOW as second word, and DOW + 1 as third word.   

    Examples :

    • Tun Aung Gyaw (for Sunday born)
    • Aung Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
    • Kyaw San Win (for Tuesday born)

    Names with four or more words

    • Thane Oke Kyaw Myint
    • Khin Maung Thet Cho Oo (Cartoon character)

    Names of siblings

    Some siblings have the first two words in common.

    Examples : 
    Khin Maung U, Khin Maung Than and Khin Maung Win are named after their father U Khin Maung.

    Khin Maung Gyi and Khin Maung Lay (Mutu) are named after their father H.E. U Khin Maung Latt (AFPFL).

    Nicknames

    There are some who are better known by their nicknames. They include

    • A Pho Gyi (Han Sein)
    Han Sein
    • Ajala (Moe Hein)
    • Bei Oo (Kyi Kyi Sein)
    • Chauk Pay (Htein Win)
    • Cowboy (Tin Nwe)
    • Kabar (Myint Thein)
    • La La (Aye Win Hlaing)
    • Lake (Win Maung)
    • Moke Saik (Myo Hein)
    • Mutu (Khin Maung Lay)
    • Sargalay (Khin Maung Win)
    • Shwee (Kyaw Zan Hein)

  • Variants of Myanmar names

    • Ant and Aunt
    • Aung and Oung
    • Aunt and Ant
    • Aye and E
    • Bo and Boh
    • Boh and Bo
    • Din and Dyn
    • Dyn and Din
    • E and Aye
    • Gyaw and Kyaw
    • Gyi and Jee
    • Hpyu, Phyu and Pyu
    • Htain and Htein
    • Htaik and Htike
    • Htein and Htain
    • Htike and Htaik
    • Htoon, Htun and Tun
    • Htut and Tut
    • Htun, Htoon and Tun
    • Jee and Gyi
    • Kai and Khine
    • Khin and Kin
    • Khine and Kai
    • Kin and Khin
    • Kyaw and Gyaw
    • Kyawe and Kywe
    • Kywe and Kyawe
    • Lin, Linn, Lyn and Lynn
    • Linn, Lin, Lyn and Lynn
    • Lyn, Lin, Linn and Lynn
    • Lynn, Lin, Linn and Lyn
    • Maung, Mg and Moung
    • Mehm and Min
    • Mg, Maung and Moung
    • Min and Mehm
    • Min and Minn
    • Minn and Min
    • Mo, Moe and Moh
    • Moung, Maung and Mg
    • Mra and Mya
    • Mya and Mra
    • Nay and Ne
    • Ne and Nay
    • Nyane and Nyein
    • Nyein and Nyane
    • Nyun and Nyunt
    • Nyunt and Nyun
    • Oo and U
    • Oung and Aung
    • Pay, Pe and Hpay
    • Pe. Pay and Hpay
    • Pike and Pyke
    • Pyke and Pike
    • Sain and Sein
    • Sein and Sain
    • So and Soe
    • Soe and So
    • Tha and Thar
    • Than and Thann
    • Thane and Thein
    • Thar and Tha
    • Thaung, and Thoung
    • Thein and Thane
    • Thoung and Thaung
    • Tin and Tyn
    • Tun, Htun and Htoon
    • Tyn and Tin
    • U and Oo
    • Wai, Way and We
    • Way, Wai and We
    • We, Wai and Way
    • Win, Winn and Wynn
    • Winn, Win and Wynn
    • Wint and Wynt
    • Wynn, Win and Winn
    • Wynt and Wint

  • Companies and Products

    • The Beatles founded Apple Music.
    • Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers.
    • Apple Music sued Apple Computers for trademark violation.
    • The judge ruled that the two companies belonging to different domains could use the same name.
    • Due to convergence of technologies (a few decades later), the Beatles’ music would be played on iTunes.
    • Googol signifies a very large number.
      It stands for 1E100 (one followed by 100 zeroes.
    • Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
    • iPhone is a trade mark owned by Cisco.
    • Apple made an agreement with Cisco to use iPhone for its smart phones.
    • iPad is a trade mark owned by Fujitsu.
    • Apple made an agreement with Fujitsu to use iPad for its product.