…because the SoC PnP logon authentication service failed at about 10pm and only those which are already logged on could remain online.

…because the computer which I’m using for work timed-out and could not get online anymore.

…because having BitTorrent downloading files (legal ones!) perpetually on my laptop kept the connection alive, allowing me to download materials online to transfer them over to the terminal for work.

…because I teach a class on Tuesdays that’s why I brought my laptop down to school.

You know why I feel that SoC’s administration is the most competent administrative body in NUS?

Decided to report the network failure this morning at 9, after waking up and finding that the problem has not yet been resolved. Walked into the helpdesk office and Lay Hoon was on the phone. Overheard the conversation about “not being able to log in at SR1″.

I patiently waited for her and when she was done, she gestured for me to hold a moment while she called for “AV” over the intercom, before hearing me explain my problem.

“You’re the second one you know…” she mentions quizzically.
“It was down since last night. A few of my…”
“Since last night?!” she exclaimed, picked up the intercom and paged for “Network!”

Now that’s what I call good support.

It don’t take very much to deduce that two persons reporting a same problem in different locations is no longer an isolated problem with the equipment at SR1 (needing AV support) but one with the network, and it pleases me that our technical support crew are well trained and experienced to do that in an instant.

So many times have we been pissed at getting dumb support people *coughNUScarparkcough* to realise what the problem really is and what they have to do to solve it. And it doesn’t help that they are the only ones who have the power to fix it.

Now only if we can get the rest of the university as well-oiled as our school’s operations is.

Was on the train towards Jurong East from Bukit Batok, returning home from Diana’s place after the supposedly last gathering for the Worship Team last Sunday, when I heard this announcement for the first time. It goes somewhat like this: “*Ding Dong* The train will be switching over to the middle track. For your own safety, please grab on to a handrail.”

An amused me sat up, nudged a dozing Xiaohei to warn her, and braced myself for the expected tremors thinking how kind of SMRT to prepare such announcements. However the experience left me in much anger as the only indication of the crossing tracks was the slight rumble and thud, that oh so gently would rock a baby to sleep.

Why angry? Because I can identify two specific locations where the trains rock so badly you’d expect the fasten seatbelt sign to light up. Now these are not any random occurrences but are so regular that I use them to wake myself to prevent me from overshooting my stop.

The first would be from Commonwealth towards Bouna Vista. Just after the train passes the road into Holland Village, you’d expect 3 sudden lateral jerks spaced slightly over half a second apart, enough to make people take a step to steady themselves as the train takes a gentle left turn away from the road.

The second would be the entire stretch from Tanah Merah to Simei, where the the east bound train makes a 120° left bend and faces west. The way the train speeds crazily through the bumpy stretch, rocking side to side, make you wonder if the tracks are just straight sections bent at regular intervals.

And it’s so bad when it’s late at night and the train is light, that you get your head bumped against the train wall giving you a rude wake up call from your nap. Seriously it makes good balance practice for any Tony Hawks wannabe.

So what I find disturbing why such spots have no announcements while there is one for something so subtle that most people would not even realise.

Ok I must admit since the Bukit Batok to Jurong East route is not one I take often, what I experienced could be a rare event when usually the train rattles so hard the handrails rattle and the lights flicker. Anyone who frequents that stretch care to correct me?