the MOnday

23rd August 2010, Monday, Sunny Day

I and KiamFui had lunch at KFC after Critical Thinking lecture class.

This is the first time we had lunch outside the campus. It was really enjoyable.

I noticed this stair case design at KFC is creative.

When I'm enjoying my meal, KiamFui suggested to go to Prima Avenue for some Snow Ice after lunch.

Since I'm already full, I told him that I do not wish to go.

Then he said: “You should go right now or else you won’t have the chance to eat Snow Ice anymore”.

In this case, he used ad populum to a false dilemma to persuade me to eat Snow Ice with him.
Thus, I decided to go to Prima Avenue to eat Snow Ice after lunch.

A car blocking the parking main entrance. The driver immediately drove her car away.

While we were on the way to Prima Avenue, a slow moving car in front of us is slowing us down, that strongly annoyed me because I think it is wasting my time.

So, I persuaded KiamFui to cut the annoying car.

I told him: “ You should cut this driver off, just the same way he cut us off back when the lanes were merging."

I’ve used ad populum appeal to spite trying to persuade my friend to do something as other people are doing it.

Finally, we had tried Snow Ice under hot weather while reached Prima Avenue.

It is really nice to eat. I like it very much.

Green Tea Snow Ice Delight.

Mango Flavor Snow Ice Delight.

87??? Vagueness?? Blur???
87 in cantonese pronounce is BakChi(IDIOT)
yea, that's him, 87 photo shooting. ;)

At the night, I just received a called from my mother.

She reminded me to make sure all the ptptn stuff prepare well.

She said: "I want you double confirm all of the document prepare well. If you didn’t prepare enough documents for Hari Bersama PTPTN, your application will being rejected by PTPTN officer. You’ll unable to bearing the expensive tuition fees. And you’ll be barred by MMU exam unit. Consequently, you’ll withdraw yourself from MMU and lost the chance to study".

In conversation, my mother used ad populum appeal to indirect consequences make me so worried about my future.

After that, I felt worried whole night and double check again all of my documents are completed before sleep.

Wish me Good Luck!

In summary, I realize that fallacies are commonly use in our life.

In my opinion, it's using daily. =)

Mind Mapping and Random Word Association

As promise in my previous post, I am going to share with you all about the process of producing the animation clip with the topic of "Creativity in the context of Multimedia University", starting from getting the idea until the production of the animation clips.

Much of the thinking done in formal education emphasizes the skills of analysis--teaching students how to understand claims, follow or create a logical argument, figure out the answer, eliminate the incorrect paths and focus on the correct one. However, there is another kind of thinking, one that focuses on exploring ideas, generating possibilities, looking for many right answers rather than just one which is creative thinking.

The first requirement to improve your creativity is to see what others are not seeing or at least to make an attempt to see things from a different perspective. This constant practice of forcing their brains helps them to make new connections with often unrelated subjects. There are a lot of methods that can be used to force the mind to make creative leaps such as mind mapping methods and random word association. This helps to come up with what others often call 'brilliant' ideas.

Storyline and Animation Clip Production Process 1: Mind Mapping
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing information, solving problems, making decision, and writing.

As I mention before in the previous post, in order to be creative, one must understand what the aim is and gather as much information as possible by using any possible ways. Mind mapping is one of the way to collect information. As the first step of producing a story based on the topic of "Creativity in the context of Multimedia University", I come out with a mind map as below.

click to enlarge

From this mind map, I choose "SWEET" to continue with the process of producing the story in a creative way. Next, by using the word "SWEET", I come out with the title of "Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland" for the story and the animation clip. Then I draw another focus mind map based on the title.

click to enlarge

 From this focus mind map, I create the story of "Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland" that is shown in my previous post. I also linked the story with the topic of how to be creative.

Storyline and Animation Clip Production Process 2: Random Word Association
Random word association is one of the Force-Fitting Techniques that can be used to 'force' the mind to make creative leaps. A symbol(picture, a word, a sketch, a number or a relationship) that may or may not be related to the problem is jot down. After that, we are required to think of something associated with the symbol. These ideas then become part of the brainstorming solutions. In order to produce a animation clip, I used random word association method to come out with the design of the clip. The random word that I choose is "POPCORN".

Association:
Pop - Pop art design
Pop - Using pop out animation
Explode - Using explosive comic dialogue box
Hot - Using some array of sunlight as the background
Cinema/Theatre - Using image of celebrities
Shape - Using halftone design that looks like popcorn shape
Paper box - Using old paper effects as the background to create the vintage look
Paper box - Using a bog box to contain all the criteria of creativity
Uneven color - Using uneven color for the background
Fun fair - Using happy song as the background music

Based on the association, I finally come out with the design of the animation.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Myth of Creativity and How to be Creative

I am currently pursuing the course of Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Multimedia University. Although this course is categorized under the Faculty of Management, however it is somewhat a hybrid of both Faculty of Creative Multimedia and Faculty of Management courses where most of our assignments require creativity. Few days ago while me and my assignment groupmates working on producing a interactive web page, one of my groupmates claimed that she is not creative and is unable to design a web page. At that moment, I realized that there is a lot of myth about creativity which is not true among the students of MMU. When some problems occur, students of MMU tend to think that "the problem maybe solved by some experts but not by me because I'm not (a) smart enough, (b) an engineer, or (c) a blank (whether educated, expert, etc.) ".Therefore, in this post I am going to discuss about the myth of creativity and also how to be creative.

In this post, I am going to share some of the myth of creativity:

Myth 1: Only special talented people are creative
The truth is creative genius reveal a lot of very hard work, rather than innate talent.


Myth 2: Being creative is hard
The truth is it is not being creative that is hard, but working on developing that ability


Myth 3: Problems are in our life to make it more difficult
The truth is problems of any kind are the key to learning


Myth 4: I am not creative
The truth is creativity can be nurtured and not just by nature


Myth 5: Innovation is the domain of geniuses
The truth is hard work is required to succeed


Myth 6: I have to have brand new ideas in order for me to be considered creative
The truth is most new ideas are a combination of old concepts presented in a fresh new package that provides us with a sense of novelty


Myth 7: Brainstorming is hard work
The truth is brainstorming can be a lot of fun


Myth 8: Only artist need to be creative
The truth is creativity belongs to everyone


Myth 9: Writer's block is a greatest obstacle in the creative process
The truth is it is one of the obstacles but not the biggest one


Myth 10: Using structured creative techniques will hinder my ability to be creative
The truth is not all techniques are suitable for a person.

In order to give some insight of how to be creative, I decided to produce a story and a very short animation clip with the topic of "Creativity in the context of Multimedia University" by using various techniques such as mind-mapping and random word association (will be discussed in the next post). The title of the story and the movie clip is "Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland of Creativity" .

Story of "Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland of Creativity" 


Once upon a time, there was a wonderland full with vast amount of sweets. We call it, Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland of Creativity. There was a group of youngsters, Pink, Red, Yellow, Purple and Blue.They leave their home sweet home to further their study in this Sweet Wonderland and Experience their lives independently. All of them share the same sweet dream of getting a better life and earning big money in the future.


Each of them have different personality, Pink is the sweet talker. Because of that, she is very popular among the students and always the apple in the eye of the lecturers in MMU. Well the actual reason that Pink likes to have a lot of friends around her is to gather information. For example, she will always get a lot of assignment answers from all of her friends so that she can compare all the answers and modify it and make it as her own work. Besides, as she is the favorite student of the lecturers, she never has any problem getting exam tips from the lecturers. Therefore, Pink is always the top student in class.


Red loves to eat a lot especially sweet things. He is a very smart person and the reason of him being smart is because of the sweet things that he eat. Red thinks that by eating sweet stuff will release his stress and always feel happy. Therefore he can always think clearly and his brain is able to generate more new ideas than others.


Blue is a thinker. He likes to live in his fantasy world. Blue's imaginations are just like the sky and ocean, wide and unlimited. Due to his hobby of loving to day dream, Blue always ends up having his sweet dreams in class. Surprisingly, every time when he wakes up, he will come out with more outrages ideas.As the result, Blue become one of the best investor in the history.


Here we go to the sweet couple, Yellow and Purple. Yellow is good in logic and numbers while Purple is good in colors and shapes. They always discuss together and get opinions from their sweetheart while solving problems. Because both of them are superior in different field, they always learn from each other to beautify their imperfections.


This group of friends, with their different type of personality, makes the most powerful combination in this Sweet Wonderland of Creativity. They all are the criteria of being creative. To be creative, we just need to follow some steps. First, Pink, the sweet talker, she gathers information to achieve her goals. To be creative, first you have to know and understand what your aim is. Then you have to gather as much information as possible by using any possible ways.


The second important step to be creative is to make your brain stress-free just like what Red did. When you are under pressure, your brain will never function in a proper way. Therefore, you have to be happy and stress less in order to come out with different ideas. Next criteria of being creative are "thinks out of box". Blue always fantasizes and because of that he can become a great inventor. You have to think differently than other people in order to be creative. You should think of possible out of impossible.


Besides, having dreams is another method of being creative. Dreams can actually create new ideas through the generation of random thought mutations. Some of these may be rejected by the mid as useless, while others may be seen as valuable and retained. Blenchner, an American psychologist and psychoanalyst, calls this the theory of "Oneiric Darwinism." That is the reason whay every time when Blue wakes up from his sweet dreams, he will get more outrages ideas.


Lastly, it is another misconception that creativity is purely right-brained. The left brain tends to deal with words, logic, numbers and the right brain tends to deal with colors, shapes and rhythm. Actually the real creativity involves both sides of the brain. Just like the sweet combination of Yellow and Purple, the combination of imperfections make perfect. Once again, follow the steps and everybody can be creative just like Pink, Red, Blue, Yellow and Purple. When this five colors combine together, you will get a color that is beyond your imagination.


Animation Clip of "Multimedia University, the Sweet Wonderland of Creativity" 

How Does Decision Come From?

Every one have to solving their problem and make own decision in life.

Since I was young, everything was decided by my mother.

What she had decided for me? She decided my education carrier, attire even FREEDOM (she's not allow me hang out with friends).

But it’s okay, that’s all is for my own good. I appreciated her contribution for me.

Two years ago, she enforced me pursue form 6 after SPM, yet I wanted study creative multimedia at college.

Why she did so? Well, this is the only ways I can enter local university besides that can save up diploma fees. So, I obey her and doing my form 6 and did study slovenly.

After 2 years, I got my STPM certificate (form 6). But I quite disappointed for the result.

In this case, I had been expecting how great it can get my dream course, business administrative if my result gained 3.00 above of CGPA. But the reality is my CGPA only got 2.67 some more got unexpected or unwanted course, technologies management. It’s because less 0.33 of CGPA (the gap between expectation and reality). However, my mother has empowered her authority to me and allowed me to make decision on this time.

I have a lot of question to analyze when these problems occurred and decide solutions. So now, I thinking what reason caused this problem. It’s because I was not serious when study and just did slovenly. I found this problem had resulted me can’t get my wanted course due to insufficient CGPA requirement.

I really want to find a solution to study my selected course from this event exists. On the other hand, It’s have few possible solutions that can take that might have advantage and disadvantage. First choice is study private university MMU, meanwhile I needs to burden the high tuition fees so can get my wanted course which certified international and can back to hometown every week. Second choice is study private university UTAR to get my wanted course, but I have to pay more effort in study because it’s hard to pass in exam some more far away from my hometown. Last choice is do appeal from ministry of education to get my wanted course but its not possible and wasting time.

Finally I had make a conclusion is pursue my degree level with my wanted course which has standard certified although is expensive than other university. Last but not least, I'm happy because I had make a right decision in right way.

In this scenario, i have applied the four-step model to real situation to solving out my problems.

That is the easy steps to solving every things whenever we need to make a right decision.

I got it, are you?

Delay Payment

Last friday(20/08/2010) was the date line for all MMU's student to do their payment for the school fees and this note also posted on the bulletin board since last month for all student .In the early morning my friend asked me the way to do the payment i just realized it was the date line to do the payment for school fees . I had left all my document at home and i was going for one interview on 2pm for my management assignment. After my class i went to the financial division to confirm again,they told me the payment must do by today.I went home to take all my document and come again but the time already 12.30pm that was the lunch time for the officer and they told me to come back on 2pm but the time was clash with my interview time. I tried to use the sound sympathy to speak to the officer that i need to postpone my payment to monday with the reasonable excuse and it worked. The officer told me to come back on monday early in the morning and do the payment as soon as possible. I felt thankful to the officer that understanding my situation and allowed my do my payment on monday.


In this case i applied the ad populum of appeal to sympathy to the officer so that he allowed me to postpone the payment.

Lens

Today I have my dinner with my course mate after our discussion about our next assignment. We are talking so exciting about our coming soon assignment, suddenly a friend ask me about my contact lens that I wear. She said she heard many brand of the contact lens that is comfortable when u wear it.

Jasmin : What is the most suitable lens should I wear and it feel comfortable to me too??
Winnie: This is the lens that brand (XXX) is nice to wear and this is very cheap compare with other brand. Besides that this brand also comfortable when u wear it.
Jasmin : So how is the price??
Winnie : The price is RM XX so it is cheaper compare with other brand so u can think about this.
Jasmin : How can u get this price?
Winnie: Because I am the seller for this brand , and I can give u a lower price.

In this case can notice that Winnie is apply the Ad Hominem of attacking the motive to Jasmin to buy the contact lens from her.

Huh?!?!

Did you ever try someone is telling you a statement and you don't really know what actually is that person telling you? And this make you feel like to say huh?!
We called this statement as a vague statement.
A vague statement means unclear and you don't understand what ideas the speaker intended to convey.
There are 3 factors that will causes a statement to be vague.
Below is three example of vague statement.




















20/8/2010-Uncertainty about what standards are being used as a basis of comparison.
Today i had my lunch with my friend at Spaghetti Grill Restaurant. I order a pepperoni pizza.
I told my fren.
Me: This pizza is delicious!!
I found that I had make a mistake that I told my friend that the pizza is delicious because it is a vague statement.
I made a vague statement because of uncertainty about standards.
The pizza is delicious at what?
Maybe my friend doesnt think the pizza is delicious.

22/8/2010-confusion over context

Today i drove through jalan ipoh and i found a vague statement which is a sign board.
When i saw this sign board , i straight using this "lorong bas". It is because today is Sunday, i can

use this "lorong bas".

After that, i had a thinking. This sign board shown that "lorong bas" is from 6am-8pm except sunday and public holidays.
Does this sign board means sunday and public holidays is not from 6am-8pm so today is Sunday so we can use this "lorong" or
sunday and public holidays whole day is "lorong bas" so as
today is sunday, we cannot use this "lorong" .














22/08/2010-impercise choice of words
In the evening, I had my dinner with my family and i saw a notice in front of toilet.
When i saw this notice i felt like to say HUH?!
This notice is vague as it is a imprecise choice of words.
Not everyone know the meaning of "kecil" and "besar.