Jay Zhou's Movie

I thought I would laugh at this film but I was pleasantly surprised. While it started off feeling like a Sixth Sense rehash, it gained momentum fluidly, and managed to maintain a its cutesy atmosphere all through the first act without much trouble. The second act and the final revelation act, though not as captivating as the first, also resonated due to the effectiveness of the first act; it drew me deep enough into the story to care about the characters and made me eager to learn about the resolution. It was overall a really neat package. There was teenage romance (not to mention Jay Zhou) for the girls, mystery and drama for the more sophisticated viewers, a VERY well-done soundtrack for the music lovers, and quite a bit of comedic shakeups for the ADD Honger audience.

Nevertheless, my complaint with this film is that Jay Zhou can't act worth shit. He always wears that same dumb face over and over, occasionally adorning it with the tiniest smile.

4/5

Crazy Idea

With the change from FAP Exam 1 to Interim Assessment official, the popular opinion on AO is that there will be another a big round of delay before the roll out of the IA, similar to the delay of the roll out of the initial FA. Because under the IA system, Module 6 of the FAP will become locked until the IA is completed, there will be a potential hiatus in the progress of my SOA exams in spring 2008. That is, as of now, if I were to do the IA, there is absolutely no incentive for me to push through the modules as there is nothing to move on to afterward.

Ideally, I *could* go for the May CSP next year, and ignore the FAP. I have only 4 months to study for the CSP, so I don't know how smart that would be. Afterward between May and November, I'll need to finish Modules 1-5 and do the IA, Modules 6-8, and prepare for the DP exam. And so I'll be doing the FA in December 2008. Assuming I don't fail anything, I'll have my Fellowship in probably mid 2009 after doing the fellowship modules (if they ever come out).

The alternative is write the last FAP Exam 1 in December 12--BUM BUM BUM!!! Doing so would make my 2008 schedule a little bit looser. It will definitely keep my exam progress continuous and reduced the risk of having to face the delay of the IA. I can also take a more relax route to fellowship and follow SOA's recommended order: FAP Modules 6-8 + FA + FSA Modules (first 1/2 of 2008) -> DP (Nov 2008) -> CSP (May 2009) -> Capstone.

After reviewing my exam and TA marking schedule, I've tentatively decided to *try* to go for December 12 FAP Exam 1. I have about one month of time before the registration deadline of November 19; let's hope I can make it.

Module Progress: M2S5 slide 28/55.

Off the Market

After 4 years of IB and 3 years plus 1 semester of SFU, it's finally over: another actuary-in-training is off the market. Hourrah for IB French SL. Hourrah for SFU Actuarial Science. Best wishes to all the doctor and lawyer wannabes from PMSS. And since I have less respect for you accountants, I give you guys my sincerest regards :).

Note to self re: Insadong

Or probably BBQs in general: throat will be sore the day after; bad idea if you need to talk the next day, eg. at a job interview.

Nevertheless, I seem to have almost fully recovered now. Off to Quebec on Monday!