Mercury Project for single astronaut We Seven (book by the seven astronauts) The Right Stuff (book and movie)
Gemini Project for two astronauts
Apollo Project for three astronauts
Apollo 1 Fire due to electrical system failure caused the deaths of three astronauts) Needed time to rethink safety measures
Apollo 6 and Apollo 7 after the program restarted
Apollo 8 Orbit the moon and return to earth in December 1968
Apollo 9 Tested the start/stop of Lunar Module engine
Apollo 10 Flew Lunar Module to a specified height above the moon
Apollo 11 Landing on the Moon in July 1969 Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot) Buzz Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) My poem sent to NASA Also published in the Guardian newspaper
Apollo 12 Longer stay on the Moon
Apollo 13 Power failure in Command Module Devised plan to use the power from Lunar Module to return safely to Earth Movie
Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, Apollo 17 Use of rover Extensive collection of lunar rocks One Geologist/Astronaut
Lawrence Dudley Stamp Served as Professor of Geology and Professor of Geography at Rangoon University.
Dr. Tha Hla Professor Of Geology Rector of Rangoon University Retired from UN Anecdotes Defending his protege for States Scholar Two incidents with Director Thar Du (Censor Board, Academy Award) Led students by example (Protests, Ajala) Equal treatment to his visitor (Pro, Anti) Provided drinks (whiskey …) to those who heeded his “guidelines on drinking”
Dr. Nyi Nyi Deputy Minister of Education Supported UCC Project Established the then new Education System (including some controversial issues such as ILA) Author (Ok Aw) Retired from UN
U Ba Than Haq Pro Rector, RASU RU Sports Council
Dr. Maung Thein Professor Told students (e.g. Soe Myint) about applying for courses at UCC Invited Soe Myint and me to give lecture / seminar during the vacation at MASU Some sayas were not delighted with the idea Invited UCC to give a short course on Computers at RASU
U Ba Maw Senior Lecturer He and his students discovered items related to Ramapithicus Higher authorities “warned” him for letting a young US researcher take photos of Ramapithicus and reporting in a US magazine
Miscellaneous
Minor subject for early Civil Engineering students
Option for early Science Scholars
Diploma in Applied Geology (DAG)
Specialization in Gems
NASA astronauts (especially for the Lunar Missions) had to study Geology
Apollo 17 had Dr. H Schmidt (Geologist/ Astronaut, later became a US Senator)
An essay for a test / competition may have a length limitation (e.g. maximum number of words)
Presentation style can vary
Descriptive
Narrative
Argumentative (Logical reasoning)
Abstract
I once wrote “My life as a fighter bomber” (trying to bomb the Nazi forces).
Politically Correct?
One writer (some attributed to Sir Winston Churchill) wrote:
An essay should be like a lady’s skirt Long enough to cover the subject Short enough to be interesting
In the early days, there was no “political correctness” and “gender sensitivity”.
To lighten the atmosphere, I quoted the tongue-in-cheek definition described above in the “Count Down to the Union” series for SPZP-2000.
A brilliant Sayama Lay (with a foreign doctorate) accused that I was irresponsible and had made fun of women.
Ashin Pannagaveska (Bobby, Myo Tun, A69) wrote :
I remember my sixth standard English teacher, our beloved Headmaster Mr.(later Reverend) Booth’s wife, entered me and a few others into the Essay Writing Competition held by the St. John’s Diocesan Boys’ School + St. Mary’s Diocesan Girls’ School Association. I chose the topic “A Visit to the Zoo” and, to my surprise, won the first prize in the middle school category! Two hardback books, one on Quotations and the other on Synonyms, were awarded in a ceremony held at the Judson Church on Prome Road.Pleasant and proud memories!Another vivid memory is of the essay I chose to write in the GCE ’O’ level English Language exam paper taken at Clifton College in the UK in 1960. The title chosen was “A Book or a Film Read or Seen Recently”. I had a great time writing on my favorite author John Steinbeck’s “Sweet Thursday”, which incidentally, I’ve read at least six or seven times since then!
“Chamber’s Cyclopaedia” was one of the earliest encyclopedias. It covered 40+ subjects.
In our younger days, we had “Pear’s Soap” and “Pear’s Cyclopaedia”. The company was probably building its brand name by supporting the publication of an encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia Britannica
My uncle had a set of “Encyclopedia Britannica”. It covers many topics written by SME (Subject Matter Experts). Yearly supplements were published. The final supplement came out a couple of years ago. There will no longer be printed editions. There will only be on-line subscription.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a collection of encyclopedias in multiple languages.
The English edition of the Wikipedia is the largest.
The accuracy of the Wikipedia is comparable to that of the “Encyclopedia” thanks to the countless volunteer contributors and editors.
I was a volunteer to correct discrepancies (mostly entries on Burmese/Myanmar). For example, a young author wrote that St. Paul’s High School was the first among the De La Salle Schools in Burma. He was unaware that St. Patrick’s High School in Mawlamyaing was the first (and was established a few months earlier than St. Paul’s).
No Absolute Perfection
There is a slight chance that there are errors in an encyclopedia (or an equivalent “book of knowledge”). One author was unaware that Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira Gandhi. He was a pilot and entered politics only when his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi (touted as Indira’s confidante and successor) died in a plane crash.
Collaboration
The advent of Internet and the rise of “Collaborative Work” have lowered the time and cost to maintain encyclopedias.
A few years back, I received a call to submit entries to “Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife”. I emailed to the editors that I was willing to help them on the Burmese section. They sent me four samples and asked me to send back one short article (not exceeding 500 words and with two or more references) on a chosen Head Word (e.g. Burmese American Festivals). They reviewed my article and accepted me. The remuneration was $10. I replied that I would like to have a copy of the 2-volume encyclopedia. A deal was struck. They would give me the encyclopedia if I submit at least 8 articles. Nine articles were accepted. Two articles were merged with the work of other authors. One author was a Burmese College Professor. Another was probably a graduate student, who inserted the wrong date for Martyr’s Day. The Editors promised to correct his error in another edition. I received a 3-volume encyclopedia (initially projected to be 2-volume) and an additional $10.
Google Books
Some are not aware of “Google Books”.
If one goes to “Google Books” and search for my name, one can find the nine articles.
Burmese Encyclopedia
In my younger days, my parents bought me “Myanmar Swel Sone Kyan” (Burmese Encyclopedia).
I heard that the “Myanmar Swel Sone Kyan” is under re-development with the help of SME (Subject Matter Experts).
Dr. Htay Lwin Lwin (EP74, GBNF) RIT Luyechun MSc.(CS) from UCC Ph.D from Syracuse University Passed away in San Jose (where he was teaching at SJSU) See my posts about his Last Journey
U Myint Swe (EP74) Worked in Singapore and USA Vice President, NorCal RITAA Spouse : Daw San San Nwe / San San Swe (EC74)
Daw Khin Swe Oo (EC74) Retired Associate Professor, YTU Moved to Singapore Spouse : U Than Lwin (UCC, CSO, Singapore)
Sai Aung Thurein (EC74) M.Sc.(CS) from UCC Worked in Singapore and Australia Spouse : “Swe” (EE74)
Dr. Charlie Than (M74) Navy, Maritime University and MEC
U Maung Maung Thant (M74) Rowed for Ye Gyaung Lu Nge
U Sann Aung (M74) RUBC Gold U.S.A Photo Lab
U Win Myint Aung (ChE74) Pen name : Win Myint (Myeik) Spouse : ChE (daughter of SPHS Saya U Kyaw Sein)
U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin
3rd UNSG and first Asian UNSG
Passed away in USA
Body brought back to Burma (for final resting place)
Dy. Minister who paid respect to the body at Mingalardon air port was dismissed
Students were dissatisfied at the Higher Authorities for not honoring Burma’s son
The Ah Yay Ah Khin caused the death, imprisonment and career loss of several innocent young people.
Ko Win Htein (Dat Pon) published a book with rare photos and articles
I posted an article “Burma’s Son” about U Thant.
I spoke about U Thant at his Centennial Celebration in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I was fortunate to be an organizer for the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes.
The first SPZP was held in San Francisco, California, USA in 2000.
The Singapore alumni hosted the SPZPs in 2002, 2007 and 2010.
The Myanmar alumni hosted the SPZPs in 2004, 2012 and 2016. The next SPZP scheduled for December 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic.
The precious memories are shared by alumni — young and old, far and near, weak and strong — via pictures, anecdotes, poems (in both Burmese and English).
SPZP Organizers
Sharing is Caring
There are many Subject Matter Experts (SME) in the group. They can share their knowledge, experience and wisdom.
Sayas and Sayamas Retired, Semi-retired, Active
Family members of Sayas and Sayamas Children, Grand children and Great grandchildren
Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins Cartoonists Composers Dancers (Minthas, Minthamees) Journalists Lu Shwin Daws Musicians Vocalists Zat Sayas
Athletes Burma Selected University Selected Selection for Halls, Disciplines and Classes
Authors
Bloggers
Organizers and/or Executive Committee Members Annual Dinner Associations Magazine Social and Reading Club Student Union
Video clips of Events, Exhibitions, Competitions. Seminars
Miscellaneous
Kabyars to commemorate RU Centennial December 3, 2020 Organizers: Tekkatho Ka Laung Ah Thin from the 50s and 60s
Master Plan to bring back the Glory to RU Autonomy High Quality Education and Research Pleasant and Healthy Environment Upgrade to Buildings (including Hostels) _
BBC Myanmar Saya U Ba Toke Selected Sayagyis and Sayamagyis
HlaMin 