Category: Uncategorized

Steeve Kay (EC70)

• U Thaung Sein (Steeve, Multiple Golden Sponsor) called me this morning.
• He had two successful careers: first as an engineer in the semiconductor industry for 15 years, and second as founder and CEO of QTC for 20 years.
• For his third career he launched a consulting firm and an investment firm.
• He will have some free time to pursue his hobbies and help with more non-profit activities in addition to CABA (Charitable Alliance of Burmese Associations) and “Helen and Steeve Kay Health Fund”.

From Saya Allen Htay

Hello Ko Benny, Ko Hla Min, Ko Maurice and Ko Khin Zaw:

I am a little slow replying. Mu Mu and I will participate in the Baby Shower for Khin Khin Latt on 4/20/06 at Ko Khin Zaw and Ma Wai’s home.

I do not know what is customary to bring for the baby shower, that is Mu Mu’s department. As for Ko Khin Maung Zaw, I am planning to bring a bar of lavender soap and a tiny bath towel. Any better suggestion?

Best Regards,
Allen Htay

Editor’s note

Khin Khin Latt is the daughter of U Soe Myint and Daw Aida Than Saw. U Soe Myint is the eldest son of U Thein Maung (Htin Lin, National Literary Award winner). He worked as Editor at Working People’s Daily under U Than Saw. He became Chief Editor at the Guardian Daily newspaper.

Ko Zaw Tun Naing and Ko Nyan Win Shwe
ex-rit singapore wrote :

Please be informed that there will be Ex-RIT, Singapore 7th meeting on

Date: April 30, 2006 (Sunday)
Time: 14:00 to 16:00 (2:00pm to 4pm ) after Appreciation Lunch 12pm to 2pm.
Venue: Yunnan Corner, Nanyang Terrace, NTU

Agenda

1. Review 2006 Thingyan
2. Update 2006 Thingyan Account
3. 2006 Thingyan Video Production
4. Define Price for 2006 Thingyan Video
5. Distribution Plan for 2006 Thingyan Video
6. 2007 Sayapuzawpwe discussion
We will discuss how should we celebrate the coming “Ex-RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe” in April 2007”. We’ll also form sub committees for actions.
7. Any other matters

Please come forward and give us good ideas. Your attendance is invaluable to EX-RIT, Singapore.

Reprints and rrevisions

I often said, “Reminisce the past, cherish the present, and plan for the future.”

Re-prints of old articles help refresh our memory.

The following are excerpts from a poem:

I shot an arrow into the air
It fell to earth I knew not where.

I breathed a song into the air
It fell to earth I knew not where.

Long long afters in an oak
I found the arrow still unbroke.

And the song from beginning to end
I found it in the heart of a friend.

Value of health

• The other day, a young man in his mid 30’s fell ill for three days and then passed away.
• We do not know the value of health until we get sick.
• The growing list of GBNFs remind us to live meaningful lives and to appreciate simple joys.

• 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).

• 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

Zero

• Number
• The Dawn of Nothing

Fortune Telling

• Types — Astrology, Tarot cards, Tea leaves …
• Numerology

Foundation

• Definition (multiple senses)
• Apache Foundation
• Asia Foundation
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Daw Khin Kyi Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• Four Foundations of Mindfulness
• Free Software Foundation
• Lilly’s Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation

GBNF

• BFHA : Bound For Higher Aboade
• GBNF : Gone But Not Forgotten
• RIP : Rest In Peace

Geography

• Discipline
• L D Stamp
• Dr. Daw Thin Kyi
• Dr. Tin Htoo
• Dr. Hla Tun Aung
• Daw Mya Tin
• Dr. U Win

Habit

• Atomic Habit
• Break Habit
• Form Habit
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

History

• Computer History Museum
• Discipline
• History of Computing
• History of Myanmar Engineering Education
• U Ba Nyunt
• Gordon H Luce
• Mr. Hall
• Dr. Kyaw Thet
• Daw Khin Khin Gyi
• Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt
• Dr. Than Tun
• Dr. Yi Yi

Hockey

• Field Hockey
• RU Hockey
• Ice Hockey
• Stanley Cup
• Olympics

Intellectual Property

• Patent
• Copyright
• Trademark
• Trade Secret

Intelligence

• Human Intelligence
• Machine Intelligence
• Military Intelligence
• Artificial Intelligence

Jubilee

• Silver Jubilee
• Golden Jubilee
• Diamond Jubilee
• Centennial
• Sesquicentennial
• Bicentennial
• Tricentennial

• A : Architecture
• AFPFL : Anti Fascist Peoples’ Freedom League
• AFAIK : As Far As I Know
• AI : Artificial Intelligence
  
• BA : Bachelor of Arts
• BAPS : Burmese American Professional Society
• BARB : Burma Astro Research Bureau
• BASES : Burmese American Society of Engineers and Scientists
• BCS : Burma / Burmese Civil Service
• BE : Bachelor Engineering (or) Burmese Era
• BEA : Bay Area / Burmese Engineers Association
• BIT : Burma Institute of Technology
• BMH : Base Military Hospital
• BMRI : Burma Medical Research Institute
• BPI : Burma Pharmaceutical Industry
• BS, B.Sc : Bachelor of Science
  
• C : Civil
• Ch : Chemistry
• ChE : Chemical Engineering
• CLC : Calcutta Lake Club
• CRO : Central Research Organization
• CURC : Calcutta University Rowing Club
  
• DCS : Department of Computer Science
• DMR : Department of Medical Research
• DTM : Distinguished Toastmaster
  
• EC : Electrical Communications; Executive Committee
• Eco : Economics
• EE : Electrical Engineering
• EI : Electrical Inspectorate; Emotional Intelligence
• EP : Electrical Power
• EPC : Electric Power Corporation
  
• FEARA : Far East Asia Rowing Association
  
• GBNF : Gone But Not Forgotten
  
• HCF : Health Care Fund
• HE : His / Her Excellency
• HMEE : History of Myanmar Engineering Education
  
• ICS : Indian Civil Service; Institute of Computer Science
• ICST : Institute of Computer Science and Technology
• ILA : Intelligence Level Aggregate
• IM : Institute of Medicine
• IP : Intellectual Property
• IQ : Intelligence Quotient
  
• M : Mechanical
• MA : Master of Arts
• MASU : Mandalay Arts and Science University
• ME : Master of Engineering
• MEHS : Methodist English High School
• Met : Metallurgy
• Min : Mining
• MIT : Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• MS, MSc : Master of Science
• MU : Mandalay University
  
• OMA : Old Members’ Association
• OPA : Old Paulians’ Association
  
• Phy : Physics
• PTC : Post and Telecommunications Corporation
• PWD : Public Works Department
  
• RASU : Rangoon Arts and Science University
• RC : Recreation Center
• RC1, RC2, RC3 : Regional College One, Two, Three
• RGC : Rangoon Golf Club
• RIT : Rangoon Institute of Technology
• RU : Rangoon University
• RUBC : Rangoon University Boat Club
• RUESU : Rangoon University Engineering Students’ Union
• RUSU : Rangoon University Students’ Union
  
• SDYF : Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
• SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bounded
• SMS — Simple Messaging System
• SOA — Span of Attention; Service Oriented Architecture
• SOAP — Simple Object Application Protocol
• SOAS — School of Oriental and Asian Studies
• SPARK : Society for the Promotion and Advancement of Radio Knowledge
• SPZP : Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
• SSOT — Single Source of Truth
• SWOT — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
  
• T : Textile
• TBSA : Theravada Buddhist Society of America
• TMC : Tathagata Meditation Center
  
• UBARI : Union of Burma Applied Research Institute
• UCC : Universities’ Computer Center
• UN : United Nations
• UNDP : United Nations Development Program
• UNESCO : United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• UTC : University Training Corps
  
• YIT : Yangon Institute of Technology
• YM : Yegyaw Methodist
• YMCA : Young Mens’ Christian Association
• YTU : Yangon Technological University
• YUBC : Yangon Universities’ Boat Club
• YUFL : Yangon University of Foreign Languages

• 25th letter of the English Alphabet.
• Pronounced as WYE
• Alias for YMCA
  
• YMCA — Young Men Christian Association
  It was founded in Britain and then spread to over many countries.
  Several YMCA’s in the US are credited with
  (a) the invention of Basketball
  (b) the invention of Volleyball
  (c) the promotion of Public Speaking by hiring Dale Carnegie
  (d) sowing the seeds of Toastmasters International (for Leadership and Public Speaking) via Dr. Ralph Smedley
  
• YMBA — Young Men Buddhist Association
  It was involved in setting up monastic and/or Vernacular schools (predating the National Schools. It published the “History of Buddhism” by Mahagandayone Sayadaw with illustrations by Saya U Ba Kyi.
  
• Y-junction — a junction type (e.g. two incoming roads merge into one outgoing road)

• SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bounded
• SMS — Simple Messaging System
• SOA — Span of Attention; Service Oriented Architecture
• SOAP — Simple Object Application Protocol
• SOAS — School of Oriental and Asian Studies
• SSOT — Single Source of Truth
• SWOT — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Psychology

• Discipline
• Department
• Dr. Hla Thwin

Queue

• FCFS : First Come First Served
• FIFO : First In First Out
• Data Structure
• Deque : Double Ended Queue
• Queuing Theory

Question

• FAQ : Frequently Asked Question
• Q&A : Question and Answer

Retire vs. Re-tire

• U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70) is a Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs. He told me,
  “You should not retire. You may re-tire (as in re-threading a tire).We will try to support you and your projects.”
• I am retired from working to make ends meet.
• Took a few on-line courses (for credit)
  Too taxing and slow
  Opted to audit 100+ courses (covering many subjects)
• Listen to Blinkist
• Listen to Merriam Webster’s Word of the day (WOTD) Podcast
• Ride stationary bike for 40+ minutes daily
• Write or revise several posts every day.
• I am re-tiring as long as my physical and mental health permit.

Rowe Co. Ltd.

• Before nationalization, Rowe Co. Ltd. was one of the busy shops in Rangoon that offered a wide range of products.
• My mom bought a Rayleigh bicycle for me.
• Rosie (Mai Khin Nyunt, ChE71) still has a Rowe’s bag.

Serendipity

Some inventions are attributed to Serendipity.

Three notable examples are

• Discovery of X-rays by Rontgen
• Discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming
• 3M’s Post-it notes

Three

• 3-D : Three dimension
• 3-D Matrix
• 3-D Model
• 3-D Photo
• 3-D Printer
• 3-layer architecture

Tie

• Aequal (in examination result)
• Joint champion
• Joint winner

Tie Breaker

• 12-point game in Tennis
• Extra holes in Golf
• Extra innings in Baseball
• Less misses in High Jump and Pole Vault
• Lower body weight in Weightlifting
• Overtime (selected sports)
  May need double or more overtime (in Basketball)
• Penalty
  Penalty kicks in Soccer
  Penalty shootout in Ice Hockey

Time

• Calendar
• Clock
• New Year
• Time Arrow
• Time Management

• Terms
  Some terms (e.g. Class, Intake, HCF) that are used in my posts are defined and elaborated.
  
• Language
  The are natural languages and programming languages. In our student days, there were only a handful of programming languages.
  It is important to understand and master concepts.
  
• Meaning
  Some words have multiple meanings.
  Meanings change over usage and time. A harmless word in American English might have bad connotation in British English, and vice-versa.
  
• Vocabulary
  It is advantageous to have a good vocabulary.
  One may listen to a podcast (e.g. Merriam Webster’s Word of the day).
  
• Luyechun
  The Ministry of Education ran the “Outstanding Students” program from the Summer of 1964 to 1988.

Class

• The term generally refers to the year of graduation.
• The Class of 69 refers to the alumni from the academic year 1968 – 69, who graduated in 1969.
  The Class of 69++ will also include some alumni who took “sabbatical” (“waso”) and graduated a year or two later.

Intake

• The term generally refers to the year when the group was admitted to RIT, YIT, or YTU.
• Most from the 1st BE Intake of 64 graduated in 1970. Most from the 1st BE Intake of 65 graduated in 1971.
  The Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65 has held Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe for nearly two decades.
• Some Intakes unfortunately lost three years of their schooling, since the institute was “closed” for three years (from 1988 to 1990).

Burma Institute of Technology (BIT)

• The engineering school moved to the Gyogone Campus in 1961.
  BIT was still under the aegis of Rangoon University.
  U Yone Mo was Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University.
• Note: AIT (Asian Institute of Technology) might have been dubbed SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organization) School of Engineering (or equivalent).

Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT)

• BIT was renamed as Rangoon Institute of Technology in 1964.
• The intention was to have Mandalay Institute of Technology [and more].
• Under the then New Education System, RIT became an independent Institute along with other professional Institutes.
  Rangoon University was renamed as RASU (Rangoon Arts and Science University)
• I am not sure why it was not renamed as BIT (Rangoon Campus) a la IIT [Indian Institute of Technology]

Yangon Institute of Technology (YIT)

• Another name change occurred to be in line with the “new” Naming Policy to refrain from using names from the Colonial Era.
• Note: The Naming Policy did NOT have a grandfather clause.
  Some “old” books could not be re-published without the name changes.
  For example, “Trials in Burma” was forced to be re-titled “Trials in Myanmar”.

Yangon Technological University (YTU)

• There was another name change to YTU.
• It may be to sound similar to NTU in Singapore.

Swel Daw Yeik

• It is a synonym for RIT and the engineering schools preceding and succeeding it.
  The term became established at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Rangoon University in 1970, when the Ah Nu Pyinnyar Shins of RIT took part as “Swel Daw Yeik Troupe [Ah Nyeint]”.
• During the Adhamma Era, Swel Daw Bins were razed from the so-called “Tha Bone Kyaung” (which is a disparaging term to describe “Thamudaya Kyaung“).
• With the dawning of the “Pwint Linn Era“, 50 Swel Daw Bins were planted to commemorate the Shwe YaDu (in 2014).
• There are many artifacts with “Swel Daw Yeik” in their name and spirit.
  They include :
  Commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung
  Commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Magazine
  Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF)

Health Care Fund (HCF)

There are several HCFs. They include :

• Steeve and Helen Kay Heath Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas
• U Khin Maung Tun’s Family’s Eye-care for RIT Sayas and Sayamas
• SDYF (which now also handles to two funds described above)
• Class-wide HCFs (e.g. Class of 69, Class of 70 & 71, Class of 72, and Intake of 83)

There has been some “changes” with to the Health Care of Sayas and Sayamas.

• Hospitalization still has the highest priority
• Case-by-case consideration for sayas and sayamas who have to visit clinics frequently
• Eligible sayas and sayamas (age 60+) can have Annual medical check ups
• If funds are available, spouses of eligible sayas and sayamas can also have Annual medical check ups.

Alumni Association of RIT/YIT/YTU (RITAA)

• The Association has provided “SAYA’S CORNER”. Tea and coffee are served.
• Life membership dues is K60000.
• The Association is coordinating the “Library Modernization Project”

Language

There are natural languages (e.g. English, French, German) and programming languages (e.g. Java, Scala).

Context

• Noam Chomsky, a famous linguist, defined the Chomsky Hierarchy for languages and grammars.
• Natural languages are usually Context Sensitive.
  A word often has multiple meanings based on the context.
• Most programming languages are Context Free.

Language

A language has

• Syntax
  rules for forming well defined constructs
  Sample syntax :
  A sentence is a sequence of (a) Subject (b) Verb (c) Object.
• Semantics
  meaning
• Pragmatics
  usage

We had to study English Grammar books (e.g. Wren and Martin) and Myanmar Thaddar by U Pe Maung Tin.

The Burmese language has a structure similar to the Japanese language, but has a structure quite different to the English language.

• Kyundaw Kyaung Thoe Thwa Thee (in Burmese)
• I School To Go (word for word translation into English is not correct).
• I Go To School (slightly different structure is needed for the correct translation).

Meaning

The meaning of words can change with time.

In the early days, a “computer” is a person who computes (e.g. tables for firing artillery). Even in some NASA projects, astronauts ask expert mathematicians (including a black female) to compute trajectories to check against the calculations made by electronic computers in the space capsule.

Also, a “compiler” is a person who compiles data (e.g. historical data).

During our UCC days, several computer books were ordered through the Trade Corporation (and related departments). Some one sent a book “Compiler Construction for Digital Computers” to the Ministry of Construction, and another book “The Anatomy of a Compiler” to the Institute of Medicine.

iPad and iPhone are designed and manufactured by Apple.

The trademark iPad belongs to Fujitsu. Former colleagues of mine worked on Fujitsu’s Intelligent Pad (iPad). The trademark was transferred to Apple.

The trademark iPhone belongs to Cisco, which experimented with “Internet Phone” (or equivalent). The trademark was transferred to Apple.

Vocabulary

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.

Effort

To expand or refine one’s vocabulary, one must take extra effort.

In our younger days, we learn from a Reader’s Digest section “It pays to increase your word power” by Wilfred Funk, co-compiler of a dictionary.

We read Vocabulary Books which cover a lesson a day for three to six weeks. We also get tested along the way.

With the rise of Broadcasting and Internet, it is much easier to grow one’s vocabulary.

We can

• subscribe to Merriam Webster for “Word of the Day”.
• listen to “Word for the Wise” by NPR (National Public Radio).
• use “Visual Dictionary” and “Visual Thesaurus”.

Lu Ye Chun

Beginning

The Lu Ye Chun (Outstanding Student) Program was established in 1964.

Eligible students from 7th Standard to 10th Standard were chosen to attend the Ngapali Lu Ye Chun Camp.

The Lu Ye Chuns include

• Ko Win Aung (M70)
• Ma Pwint Than (EP71)
• Ko Kyaw Zaw (EP72)
• Ko Win Myint (UCC)

Extension

The Lu Ye Chun Program was extended in 1965 for eligible students from Universities and Institutes.

There were three Camps
(a) Inlay Camp for high school and university students
(b) Ngapali Camp for middle school students
(c) Rangoon “Combined” Camp

Inlay Lu Ye Chun

I was selected as RIT Lu Ye Chun for the Inlay Camp along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ko Zaw Min [Nawaday] and Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Margaret).

Grapevine says that a 3rd BE student had schedule conflicts to attend the Lu Ye Camp.

As a senior student, Ko Sein Shwe was given one Bar. I received three Stripes. Margaret received two Stripes.

Ko Kyaw Sein Koe (Victor, GBNF), Ma Anita Aye Pe, Ko Khin Maung U and Ma Than Than Tin (Cherry) were selected as Lu Ye Chun for IM(1).

Ko Soe Aung (IM2, elder brother of Ko Soe Myint [UCC], Ko Aung Kyee Myint (Agri), Ko Tun Naung (BDS), Ko Min Oo (Mathematics), Ko Ye Myint (Chemistry), Ko Myint Thein (Physics), Ko Soe Lwin (Physics), and Ko Tin Hlaing (Lay Dwin Thar Saw Chit, Burmese) were Lu Ye Chun for their respective disciplines.

Those from Matriculation include Ko Win Myint, Ko Aung Win, Uttam Singh, and Ma Pwint Than. They joined RIT.

Others include :
Ko Aung Shwe (brother of Tekkatho Phone Naing), Ko Than Sit (GBNF), Ko Aung Kyaw Nyunt, Ko Aung Myint, Ko Thein Lwin, and Nelson Kaw.

Multiple Lu Ye Chun

Some were selected Lu Ye Chun for two or more years. They include

• Dr. Khin Maung U
• Dr. Thynn Thynn Lin
• Dr. Pe Thet Khin

Camp Staff

In the beginning some officials from “Lu Nge Ye Yar” served as Camp Commander and staff (for Logistics).

Selected University teachers (e.g. Dr. Daw May May Yi, Daw Po) and High School teachers (e.g. U Aung Gyi, U Khin Aung) were assigned to manage the Lu Ye Chun students. Some (e.g. U Than Tun Aung Hlaing, U Khin Maung Htwe) were chosen to lead some activities (e.g. Volleyball).

A medical doctor (e.g. Naing Tint San) was assigned to take care of the health of the Camp attendees.

Later, Sayagyis (e.g. U Ba Toke) served as Camp Commander.

Visiting Lecturers

U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and Dr. Nyi Nyi are among the Visiting Lecturers for our Inlay Camp.

Many years later, I would be invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at the Ngapali Camp along with Saya U Kyaw Myint (Physics, DHE).


End

The Lu Ye Chun Program ended in 1988.

Reunion

A few years back, a formal Reunion of Luyechuns from 1965 – 1988 took place.

Ko Win Aung and Ma Pwint Than can provide the details.

I met Saya U Aung Win at Yangon SPZP.

I had phone contact with Dr. Uttam Singh (known as Uttam S Gill, NASA).

I had a surprise reunion with Ko Win Myint at the dinner hosted by Ko Wai Lwin and Ko Nyan Tun U for Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and selected sayas attending the SPZP in Yangon. Ko Wai Lwin invited Ko Ohn Khine and me to attend the gathering.

Bogyoke Win Myint was then Deputy Minister of Construction. He told me that he was inspired by Ko Sein Shwe to join RIT and that he had published some books.

I also met Ko Htun Aung, spouse of Ma Pwint Than. All three of us met again at the Exhibition Booth by U Myo Myint. Ko Htun Aung introduced his brother “Maung Hmaing” (author of the RIT incidents).