HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Library

    Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha (Interim Dean) asked U Ba Than to help with the Engineering Library.

    Sayama Daw Myint Myint Khin was Assistant Librarian at the Faculty of Social Science Library. She became Librarian at the Rangoon Institute of Technology.

    The Library was located on the Ground Floor.

    Several years later, the Library was relocated to a two-storey building near A Block.

    Sadly, it was not maintained well.

    The YTU Library Upgrading / Modernization Project was initiated as a Requirement for Certification of YTU.

    Phase One was completed.

  • Ripley

    • Ripley was a correspondent.
    • He created an illustrated column called “Ripley’s Believe it or not“.
    • There are “Believe it or not” museums.
    • U Khanti Kyauk Sar in Kuthodaw Phayar, Mandalay was mentioned as the “Largest Book in the World”.
    • They are inscriptions of the Tipitaka (Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma) that were re-affirmed at the Fifth Buddhist Council (Synod).

  • Reforestation

    Guideline

    • There was a guide line for reforestation (e.g. for teak).
    • Every year, only 1/40th of the teak trees can be cut down for local use and export.
    • An equal number of re-planting must be made assuring that the resources will never be depleted.
    • Moreover, the quality will not be degraded.

    Ignoring the Guideline

    • Many years ago, I attended a meeting at the State Timber Corporation.
    • Surprised and sad to learn that the reforestation rule was not being followed.
    • Due to budget shortage (at that time), more trees were being felled every year.

    Loss of trees and Climate Change

    • During Cyclone Nargis, many large trees fell.
    • According to eye witnesses, large trucks came in to collect the fallen trees [for making furniture?] and left the debris for the locals to clean up.
    • Is it possible that the loss of trees (by nature and due to greedy persons) contributed to the climate change (e.g. flooding)?

    Paraphrase an old song

    “Where have all the teak wood gone?
    Long time passing
    Where have all the teak wood gone?
    Long time ago
    Where have all the teak wood gone?
    Gone to far away land
    When will they ever learn?
    Oh, when will they ever learn?

    Dr. Nyan Taw (SPHS63) wrote :

    Now gone !

    Dr. Nyunt Wai (SPHS63) wrote :

    What is forestry department doing now? Could there be a public participation in reforestation?

  • Neikban Zaw (3)

    A Question an an Answer
    • The article “A Question and Answer” was published in the Dhammananda Newsletter many years ago.
    • “Neik Ban Zaw” is the pen name of my beloved spouse.
    Article by Neik Ban Zaw

  • RU Centennial (2)

    BCS

    • ICS gave way to BCS.
    • BCS exams were administered by PSC.
    • Rosie Gyi (Mai Khin Nyunt) posted about her father U Khin Maung Gyi BA, BCS, BL
    • The comments mentioned two other BCS : U Sein Maung (father of Austin) and U Maung Maung Kyi.

    Old (some rare) Photos

    • Prome Hall Soccer Team (winner of Inter-Hall tournament for two years in the early 1950s)
    • Final Year Engineering Students in 1948 and 1949 (taken at their Reunion at Inya Lake)
    • Soccer teams
      Which played friendly match with a visiting Indian team
      Which won the Merdeka Tournament
      Which won tournaments at various levels
    • SEAP Games
      RU Athletes who represented Burma in the Second SEAP Games in 1961
      RU Belles who carried the Placards of the competing nations in the Fifth SEAP Games in 1969
    • RUBC
      Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948
      Four brothers and cousin (who are all Past Captain and Gold)
      ARAE Champions in 1958 and 1960
    • Some Sayas who are GBNF
      Saya U Pe Maung Tin
      Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha
      Saya U San Tha Aung
      Saya Mr. Kangyi (English)
      Saya U Kaung Nyunt
      Saya U Wun (Minthuwun)
      …
      see Albums

  • Feature

    Requirements

    During the design phase, the product manager and the developers categorize the requirements as

    • Must have
    • Nice to have.

    During extensive testing and often much later, bugs (of varying severity) show up. Some subtle errors are dubbed “features”.

    Facebook

    In group photos with Yours Truly, Facebook would tag me as my brother. The error might be due to the

    • Imperfect facial recognition system
    • Unintentional tagging by some user hitting the wrong key when asked to tag
    • Guesstimate (“guess estimate”) algorithm to “match” faces and names (in the post)

    I would often get friend requests from questionable Facebook users.

    • There are several who belong to 50+ groups.
      Not sure whether they are Robots, Spammers or People with lots of free time
    • The meaning of a friend (e.g. A friend in need is a friend indeed) has been “downgraded”.
    • Some have no photos and bare info on their timeline / profile.

    The “View As” feature contributed to an opportunity for data miners, hackers and crackers.

  • Computing Aids

    • Abacus
      2-5
      1-4
    • Calculator
      Electronic
      Graphical
      Mechanical
      Programmable
    • Computer
    • Logarithm
    • Slide rule
    • Tables

  • Trips

    With Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and Ko Ivan Lee in East Coast of USA

    With Sayagyi U Aung Khin, Ivan and Fred in Windsor, Canada

  • The Buddha and His Teachings

    Author : NARADA MAHA THERA
    VAIJIRARAMA, COLOMBO
    First Edition : 1964
    4th Enlarged Edition : 1980

    Introduction

    Part I : THE BUDDHA

    1. The Buddha — From Birth to Reunciation
    2. His Struggle for Enlightenment
    3. The Buddhahood
    4. After the Enlightenment
    5. The Invitation to Expound the Dhamma
    …
    12. The Buddha’s Ministry
    13. The Buddha’s Daily Routine
    14. The Buddha’s Parinibbana (Death)

    Part II : THE DHAMMA
    THE TEACHINGS OF THE DHAMMA

    15. What is Buddhism?
    16. Some Salient Characteristics of Buddhism
    17. The Four Noble Truths
    18. Kamma
    …
    35. The Way to Nibbana (I) — Morality
    36. The Way to Nibbana (II) — Concentration
    37. Nivarana or Hindrances
    38. The Way to Nibbana (III) — Insight
    39. The State of an Arahant
    40. The Boddhistta Ideal
    41. Parami — Perfections
    42. Brahmavihara — The Sublime States
    43. The Eight Worldly Conditions (Atthalokadhamma)
    44. The Problems of Life

  • Local Talent

    The English section of BBS (Burma Broadcasting Service) had a program for Local Talents.

    • A typical session is allocated 15 minutes.
    • An individual or a group can sing or play about five songs.
    • A typical remuneration is 45 Kyats per session.

    Groups and Individuals

    • Dream Makers (Reggie Ba Oo, Eddie Ba Oo, …)
    • Immanuel Four (Members of the Immanuel Church)
    • LPJ (Love Peace and Joy) (Victor Khin Nyo, Thein Tan, …)
    • Playboy (Thann Naing, Tommy Kyaw Naing, Kyaw Naing, …)
    • TAMPS (Tin Aung, Austin Xavier, Mra Tun, Pierpont Morgan and Sydney Sann Aung)
    • Shamrock Boys (Nyi Nyi and Myint Soe)
    • Win Sisters (Joyce Win [Nwe Yin Win], Hilda Win)
    • Super Star (Peter Ba Thein, Han Ngwe Tun [Raymond], …)
    • The Wild Ones (Paw brothers, …)
    • Victor Ohn Maung
    • Ricky Zaw
    • Andrew Kong
    • Saya Des Rodgers

    Some people (e.g. Thein Tan, Reggie Ba Oo) played on more than one group.

    A few own a set of Guitars (Lead, Rhythm, Bass, Steel, Hawaiian, 12 String, …), Percussion, Keyboard.

    Several later turned professional.