| squareman |

Trojan Virus Infection!!!

2009-06-29T13:39:00.001+08:00

To stay sharp, keep challenging myself -- pick a tough goal and get to work!

Argh! All around me, people are taking it easy, but I likely to sneaking off to check my work email or go to the office for an hour (which easily turns into three or four). Yes, there are challenges in the work arena right now, and yes, it’s definitely feel like it'll get away from me if I let it.

However, the stars say that I could put a lot of energy in that direction and still not get a lot done. So, I have to force myself to relax and join the fun.

...

E-Day for Me

2009-05-09T19:01:00.002+08:00

Alhamdulillah...

Every thing done as planned
My parent love Her
My sibling like Her

She's my love

Today, I book Her for my future, Insyallah

...

April's Fool

2009-04-01T10:01:00.001+08:00

I'M QUIT...

...

I am Blues

2009-03-27T09:44:00.003+08:00

If I feeling blues, that emotions should be respected, not suppressed.

It might feel like my emotions are taking over my entire life right now, but maybe that's not such a bad thing. If I feel tears welling or a giggle coming up from my belly, I shouldn't try to fight it.
.

Just let it go and let myself feel whatever I feel right now -- it's the only way to move through it. If these feelings seem to be putting me in a grumpy or introspective mood, I should ignore and act cool as always.

I am imperfect human and it is a healthy thing to process all my feelings.

...

Beautiful Words

2009-03-25T11:31:00.004+08:00

I can turn heads with beautiful words today, to use the impressive creative writing skills whenever possible.

Has I been trying to work up the nerve to make a move on someone?

Write them a few note and slip it to them when no one's looking. Or send them an email that makes my goal clear.

What's I write will get noticed and show people that I'm not like everyone else. My extra effort and refreshing creativity is more flattering than any trite come on or hollow gesture.

P/S: Today, I feel to much words to put in place.

...

A Good Day To Make Someone Smile

2009-03-24T14:56:00.003+08:00

I haven't gotten my flirt on in a while, and it's high time I made a few toes curl and giggles erupt from the people I meet every day. There is nothing wrong with making someone else feel good, especially because it will end up making me feel good too!
.

Be more generous with my compliments today.

.
Smile at strangers more often. Send some emails that push the envelope a bit. Flirting is fun. It doesn't have to lead to a marriage proposal...huhu.

P/S: Just do it because I'm good at it! ...

Walking Right In Step

2009-03-16T10:28:00.001+08:00

I will be walking right in step with my friends today -- and everyone is wearing a big old smile. One of the biggest perks of friendship is that we all get to share our thoughts and ideas with each other without fear of recrimination.

I know that these folks have my back at every turn. And I needs to make sure they know that I'll there to support them as well.

Connecting with others is so much easier right now in part because I'm feels much more comfortable in my own skin.

P/S: I keep wondering to seek friendship in my circle.

...

No Excuses

2009-03-12T09:32:00.002+08:00

A new career opportunity looks to be more and more likely to come to fruition for me right now, but I might not feel quite ready to take advantage of it.

Will I ever truly feel ready to take it on?

Fear won't go away by itself. So, it's time to stop finding excuses for not doing something. I should start thinking of potential rewards that I could earn for myself.

Whenever there are unknowns, I can't dwell on the mystery.

P/S: I got to think positively and just go for it.

...

PPSMI: Menanti Suara Mahathir

2009-03-10T12:38:00.001+08:00

Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar

RASANYA tidak adil dan kurang tepat kalau dihemburkan kemarahan seluruhnya kepada Hishamuddin Hussein berhubung pelaksanaan Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matemetik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI). Beliau bukannya orang yang mengagas ataupun menetaskan idea drastik itu yang perlu menerima risiko atas kepincangan sistem pendidikan negara kini.

Semua orang kenal dan tahu sejauh mana kepala Hishamuddin dan juga kehebatannya sebagai seorang jemaah menteri. Dia tidak mewarisi keberanian datuknya, Onn Jaaffar melainkan berkebetulan lahir dengan meminjam sedikit genetik Onn Jaaffar saja.

Kalau Hishamuddin seorang jantan tulen dia tidak akan memohon maaf kepada masyarakat Cina, MCA dan Gerakan gara-gara dia dimarahi kerana menghunus dan mencium keris. Tetapi kerana tidak tahan dibelasah dan dipersalahan atas perbuatan itu akhirnya Hishamuddin memohon maaf kepada orang-orang Cina. Hanya lelaki yang dayus saja sedia memohon maaf atas yang dilakukan itu diterima benar dan betul oleh umum.

Perbuatan itu menjelaskan sejauh manakah kekuatan jiwanya. Sejauh manakah sifat-sifatnya sebagai seorang pemimpin yang ada bertenggek di dalam dirinya. Justeru telatah itu menjelaskan kepada umum sejauh manakah pula peranan dan kebertanggungjawaban beliau berhubung PPSMI yang sedang dikecam dan diserang kini.

Sebagai seorang pemimpin dan bergelar menteri Hishamudin tidak ada apa-apa perasaan pun terhadap apa yang dikehendak orang Melayu kini. Nafsunya terhadap bahasa Melayu sudah impotent. Sebab itu beliau tidak peduli kepada tuntutan dan bantahan rakyat kepada PPSMI. Di sinilah lemah dan rendahnya mutu dan kualiti Hishamuddin selaku seorang pemimpin.

Ini menyebabkan beliau tidak layak pun menjadi pemimpin, apa lagi hendak mewakili generasi Melayu sebagai Ketua Pemuda Umno. Beliau tidak mampu bercakap menggunakan lidah Melayu. Saya yakin Hishamuddin juga tidak tahu langsung apa itu akal budi Melayu, apa itu tradisi Melayu, apa itu adat istiadat Melayu dan apa itu maruah Melayu. Jiwanya juga kosong dan tidak ada setitik pun rasa bangga dengan Melayu.

Kalau benih-benih itu ada tersemai pasti dia akan terasa bersalah dengan apa yang berlaku kini. Pasti dia akan memberi respon baik terhadap bantahan ke atas PPSMI. Namun disebabkan beliau tidak memiliki jiwa Melayu, maka terjadilah apa yang sedang bergelora dan menimbulkan masalah kini.

Mengenangkan Hishamudin, saya teringat kepada luahan Ainon Mohd, salah seorang ahlijawatankuasa GMP, katanya anak-anak bangsawan tidak layak menjadi Menteri Pelajaran sebab mereka tidak tahu apa-apa mengenai bahsa Melayu. Mereka juga tidak pernah belajar di tanah air tetapi membesar dan belajar di barat. "Jadi bagaimana mereka boleh jadi menteri Pelajaran,?" soal Ainon ketika GMP ke Parlimen untuk menyerahakan bantahan kepada menteri, ahli Parlimen. Katanya, MSO boleh quote kata-kata saya ini.

Lama sebelum ini pun saya sudah menyebut dan menulis, anak-anak bangsawan tidak layak dan sesuai untuk diangkat menjadi pemimpin. Alasan saya ringkas saja bagaimana mereka hendak memperjuangkan keperihan dan penderitaan rakyat sedangkan mereka sendiri tidak tahu apa itu keperihan, kepedihan dan kemiskinan.

Macam mana mereka hendak memperjuangkan nasib rakyat marhaen sedangkan mereka tidak pernah merasai dan mengecapi penderitaan dan kemiskinan itu. Anak-anak bangasawan seperti Hishamuddin, Najib Razak dan lain-lain membesar dalam istana yang kaki mereka tidak pernah tersepak tahi lembu, tubuh mereka tidak pernah dihinggap lalat dan digigit nyamuk. Mereka tidak pernah berkubang dalam selut. Bahkan tapak kasut merekas juga tidak aus kerena ke mana mereka pergi mereka akan dibawa dengan tandu oleh rakyat.

Jadi macam mana mereka akan arif erti kemiskinan, kesusahan rakyat. Kalau setakat membaca dan mendengar cerita-cerita mengenai penderitaan rakyat, membaca novel Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan dan lain-lain pengetahuan mereka mengenai kesusahan dan kemiskinan rakyat belum cukup. Seseorang yang tidak merasai sesuatu itu bagaimana mereka hendak bercakap mengenainya?

Benarlah, misalnya isu PPSMI, murid yang menghadapi masalah dengan polisi ini ialah rakyat di luar bandar. Yang tercecer keputusan pelajaran ialah murid miskin. Yang rendah peratus kelulusannya dalam dua mata pelajaran ini rakyat di pedalaman. Ia tidak menjadi masalah kepada murid di bandar, atau golongan bagsawan seperti Hishamuddin Hussein atau anak-anak yang tinggal dibanglow atau istana.

PPSMI bukan saja memberi masalah dalam aspek itu tetapi aspek-aspek lain. Pendeknya ia banyak merugikan daripada menguntungkan.

Justeru para perwakilan Umno hendaklah ingat dan mengerti soal ini. Pilihlah pemimpin yang boleh dipercayai dan tahu akan denyut nadi rakyat. Jangan dipilih berladaskan siapa pandai bercakap, siapa dapat memberi projek tetapi pilihlah yang ada kualiti sebagai pemimpin dan juga beriman. Waktu dan masa anak-anak bangsawan untuk terus mengutip hasil bakul sudah cukup. Mereka sudah kaya raya dan boleh hidup untuk 100 keturunan.

Dan jangan lupa kalangan pemuda kalau nak pilih pemimpin pilihlah anak muda yang berani, berfikiran terbuka dan yang sedia menghadapi apa saja cabaran. Yang tidak takut untuk berhadapan dengan sesiapa saja atas prinsip kebenaran. Mereka yang cuba mencari jalan selamat dengan menutup mulut untuk tidak dilihat buat kesilapan baik dilupakan saja. Pemuda seperti itu pastikan akan mempusakai kelesuan Hishamuddin.

Berbalik kepada persoaalan asal, Hishamuddin tidak perlu dimarahi dalam soal ini. Dia hanya mengikut saja apa yang disuruh olehnya. Dengan kapastiti dirinya sebegitu kita tahu dia hanyalah boy kepada Perdana Menteri sahaja. Apa yang PM suruh dia akan buat tanpa bantahan apa-apa. Di sinilah bahaya kalau orang tidak berapa cerdik, lemah pemikiran, gelap dalam segala-galanya diambil menjadi menteri atas alasan dia adalah anak kepada bekas PM cucu kepada bekas pengasas Umno.

Bagi saya, yang salah di sinilah ialah PM ketika itu yang membuat dasar ini. Mahathir, Mahathirlah yang bersalah dan perlu kena bertanggungjawab. Walaupun beliau telah melepaskan jawatan PM lebih lima tahun beliau kena bertanggungjawab. Kalau Mahathir seorang insan dia harus merasa bersalah atas apa yang berlaku.

Perarakan semalam yang membawa sekeping kertas berupa memorandum untuk diserahkan kepada Yang di-Pertua Agong seharusnya dilihat dengan rasa pilu dan sedih oleh Mahathir. Kalau beliau seorang negarawan beliau perlu merasa bersalah dan harus melakukan sesuatu. Mahathir tidak boleh melepas tangannya begitu saja selepas menembak mati Bahasa Melayu.

Orang yang memunggut jenazah Bahasa Melayu, iaitu Hishamuddin tidak boleh dipersalahkan. Dia hanya budak suruhan yang martabatnya atas sikit daripada sang 'behuud'!

Apa yang kita nanti kini suara dan komen Mahathir mengenai PPSMI dalam blognya.

Social Life Commitments

2009-03-06T09:41:00.004+08:00

It's feel like boring work commitments are taking over my social life right now, but that could just be my way of perceiving the situation.

Sure, I might have to work later than I like, but I still can have fun in the late hours with coworkers/siblings (Balik Kampung Road Trip...hmmm).

At the very least, it's great bonding time. Just because I'm not out on the town dancing with my "Huhu" doesn't mean I won't be able to have fun.

I need to make fun wherever and whenever I can.

P/S: Squareman was a funny guy, who lost in Mars, once.

...

Demokrasi Yang Hilang?

2009-03-04T20:01:00.000+08:00

Oleh: Ketua Perusuh, Bekas Felo Kanan, Institut Kajian Strategik Dan Antarabangsa - ISIS

Kemelut Politik di Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan berkemungkinan tidak akan dapat diselesaikan dengan cepat. Malah usul yang diluluskan oleh DUN Perak yang bersidang pagi tadi nampaknya tidak mungkin akan diterima oleh pihak Barisan Nasional. Walau apa pun yang dicanangkan oleh media elektronik (tv dan radio) serta akhbar harian tempatan, ianya tidak sama sekali dapat memadamkan catatan sejarah yang mana memperlihatkan satu pihak (Pakatan Rakyat) yang bersedia meneruskan demokrasi di Malaysia dengan mengadakan sidang DUN tergempar seperti yang termaktub hak-haknya didalam Perlembagaan.

Pertama kali juga dalam sejarah Malaysia, kita dapat lihat bagaimana Mahkamah (badan kehakiman @ judiciary) dipergunakan untuk satu injunksi menyekat sidang DUN daripada diadakan. Untuk pengetahuan semua, injunksi ini akan menjadi satu “precedence” (duluan kes) yang mana boleh juga dipergunakan di lain masa oleh pihak Pakatan Rakyat untuk menyekat sidang Parlimen atau mana-mana DUN didalam Malaysia daripada bersidang. Lorongan sudah disediakan oleh pihak Barisan Nasional.

Pertama sekali juga didalam sejarah Malaysia (dan dunia), kita boleh lihat bagaimana seorang Speaker yang dituduh melakukan salahguna kuasa dan yang terlibat didalam membuat pertuduhan tersebut adalah pegawai yang sepatutnya mewakili Speaker bagi mana-mana kes mahkamah. Sebahagian pertuduhan daripada injunksi mahkamah yang Barisan Nasional menang petang tadi dibuat oleh Penasihat Undang-Undang Negeri Perak. Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Mahkamah Tinggi Ipoh (Ridwan Ibrahim) pula telah menetapkan bahawa Speaker DUN Perak mestilah diwakili oleh Penasihat Undang-Undang Negeri Perak bagi injunksi tersebut. Saya berasa amat pelik akan tindakan ini namun setelah berfikir panjang maka saya dapati ini semua adalah hasil dari meletakkan Ketua Hakim Negara (Zaki Azmi yang korup lagi bermasalah).

Kita juga dapat menyaksikan buat pertama kali dalam sejarah Malaysia (dan dunia) bahawa pihak pentadbiran bangunan DUN mengunci pintu pagar dan menyekat Wakil Rakyat untuk bersidang didalam Dewan yang Mulia. Tindakan ini amatlah tidak wajar dan diklasifikasikan sebagai menghina Dewan Undangan Negeri dan sesiapa yang memberikan arahan menutup dan mengunci pagar bangunan yang menempatkan DUN boleh dikenakan tindakan penjara dibawah undang-undang. Adakah mungkin pada satu masa nanti jika ditakdirkan Pakatan Rakyat berjaya didalam pilihanraya Malaysia dan seterusnya berhak untuk menerajui pentadbiran Malaysia, akan ada pihak yang membuat tindakan serupa dengan menutup bangunan Parlimen serta menguncinya?

Kita juga berjaya melihat bagaimana pihak Istana menikus dan berdiam diri bila rakyat jelata menuntut hak-hak mereka sepertimana yang termaktub didalam perlembagaan sesudah pihak Istana membuat keputusan yang tidak mengambil kira pandangan rakyat. Bayangkan bagaimana semua kerajaan dapat terus berkuasa jika tiada rakyat yang ingin bernaung dibawahnya. Walaupun dikhabarkan pihak Istana mempunyai kuasa dalam membuat pembubaran DUN atau tidak, namun kemelut yang berlaku di Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan bertitik-tolak daripada kekhilafan Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah (bekas Ketua Hakim Negara) mentafsirkan undang-undang tubuh Negeri Perak dan perlembagaan negeri.

Pihak Keselamatan (terutamanya PDRM @ Polis) diperkudakan sekali lagi oleh Barisan Nasional demi untuk membolehkan mereka mengekalkan kuasa. Walaupun adanya Akta Polis namun dari segi kuasa, Perlembagaan adalah satu kuasa yang utama. Secara otomatiknya adalah salah jika pihak Polis menyekat pihak yang berwajib daripada menjalankan hak-hak dan tuntutan Perlembagaan itu sendiri. Malah tindakan Ketua Polis Perak yang melangkaui kuasa Speaker DUN dalam sebab-sebab berkaitan dengan badan legislatif boleh dikenakan tindakan sama ada menghina DUN ataupun dibawah “Penal Code” yang membolehkan seseorang itu dipenjarakan. Pihak Polis sepatutnya dikerahkan untuk menangani isu keselamatan awam, namun kini merekalah juga yang tidak memberikan perasaan selamat kepada orang awam.

Dari apa yang dapat dilihat dan disimpulkan, demokrasi di Malaysia telah mati seawal pukul 10 pagi 3 haribulan Mac 2009 di Ipoh, Perak yang akan kekal dalam sejarah tanahair ini. Yang ujud ketika ini adalah kuasa “autokrasi” dan kuku besi yang sekaligus memperlihatkan bahawa Malaysia kini dipimpin oleh Diktator dan kuncu-kuncunya.

Marilah kita semua pendokong demokrasi membina sebanyak mungkin tugu (batu nisan) yang menunjukkan bahawa demokrasi di Malaysia telah hilang. Apa yang tinggal cuma sisa-sisa sejarah demokrasi yang malu rasanya untuk kita ceritakan kepada cucu-cicit kita dimasa akan datang. Bertitik tolak daripada kejadian hari ini, kita boleh lihat bahawa mungkin akan berlakunya beberapa helah yang kotor dibuat oleh Barisan Nasional bagi menunjukkan bahawa mereka mendapat sokongan rakyat pada pilihanraya kecil DUN Bukit Gantang dan DUN Bukit Selambau yang pastinya akan dimenangi oleh mereka dengan majoriti besar.

Bagi semua pendokong Pakatan Rakyat, saya berharap anda semua dapat bertenang dan tidak dengan mudah menerima provokasi daripada penyokong Barisan Nasional. Biarkan mereka menyalak, memaki hamun dan sebagainya kepada kita semua. Penyokong Barisan Nasional sememangnya lebih hina daripada khinzir yang memakan benda yang kotor, busuk dan rosak.

...

Bakal PM Rendah IQ

2009-03-04T19:56:00.000+08:00

Oleh: Perakexpress.com (Tok Iskandar)

1 Mac 2009. Serangan bermula hari ini.Kesepakatan rakan-rakan bloggers ditagih untuk mencari segala kelemahan dan penyelewengan yang dilakukan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO dan paparkan di dalam blog masing-masing agar MP-MP Pakatan Rakyat dapat bangkitkan perkara ini dalam parlimen, buat report polis dan SPRM.

Tok nak ulas kenyataan Najib semalam, sidang tergempar DUN Perak tidak boleh diadakan kerana perlu menunggu keputusan mahkamah. Tok tak tahu siapa penasihat Najib,Razak Baginda atau Zahid Hamidi, tapi janganlah memperbodohkan diri sendiri depan wartawan-wartawan. Kalau dah tak reti, eloklah diam sahaja. Sekarang satu dunia tahu bakal PM Malaysia IQnya rendah. Nampak sangat Najib tak yakin dengan status kerajaan BN di Perak. Lain kali kalau nak bertindak, berfikirlah dulu.

Apakah Najib akan menggunakan polis untuk menghalang sidang tergempar DUN Perak selasa ini..? Jika ini berlaku, rakyat terpaksa turun ke padang untuk membantah kezaliman yang dilakukan oleh UMNO-BN. Inilah yang diharapkan berlaku kerana UMNO-BN memang berhasrat untuk memerintah ke semua negeri Pakatan Rakyat jika darurat diisytiharkan.

Bukan Najib je tengah pening, Tok tengok kabinet pun pening sama. hari ni kata naikkan tol, esok kata tak jadi. Hari ni kata penganut Kristian boleh pakai nama Islam, esok tak boleh pulak. Polisi kerajaan BN yang sentiasa berubah ini menunjukkan ketidakstabilan kerajaan UMNO-BN yang ada sekarang. Rakyat keliru, pelabur asing pun keliru. Siapa yang jadi PM ketika ini, Pak Lah atau Najib. Masa tol naik, mesyuarat kabinet dipengerusikan Najib dan persepsi Pak Lah dah serah kuasa kepada Najib sudah menjadi perbualan hangat rakyat semua dan ramai yang tertanya-tanya kita ada dua PM ke? Nampaknya ramailah yang terpaksa telan panadol lepas ni. Kabinet tak naikkan harga panadol ke?

Tentang gerakan membantah PPSMI atau GMP, eloklah diperhebatkan kerana demo besar yang nak kita adakan tak sampai seminggu lagi, 7 Mac 2009 dan penyertaan kesatuan guru, persatuan mahasiswa dan kesatuan sekerja CEUPACS atau MTUC sungguh penting. Tok cadangkan kepada semua guru berminat boleh sms kepada Setiausaha NUTP negeri masing-masing nak mintak penjelasan sama ada NUTP sokong atau tidak PPSMI. Tok tengok NUTP sekarang macam tunggul mati. Bila dah dapat beribu-ribu sms Tok percaya NUTP akan sokong GMP dan jika NUTP bacul, guru-guru boleh gertak keluar daripada kesatuan itu atau lantik calon mereka untuk menentang kepimpinan NUTP sekarang yang mungkin pro UMNO-BN.

Rakan-rakan bloggers boleh paparkan no telefon Setiausaha NUTP negeri dalam blog masing-masing. Sepatutnya dalam isu ini NUTP di depan dan bukannya mendiamkan diri. MP Pakatan Rakyat, ADUN-ADUN, barisan pemuda, puteri dan seluruh ahli juga perlu menyertai demo ini sebagai perjuangan kita untuk masa depan anak cucu kita. Sokongan terbuka tokoh seperti Tun Saleh Abas, bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Datuk Shahnon Ahmad, sasterawan negara dan lain-lain tokoh akademik juga diperlukan agar gerakan ini semakin berkembang dan mendapat sokongan padu daripada seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Tok pelik bin hairan kenapa UMNO tak bantah. Kata pujangga bahasa jiwa bangsa. kalau dah bahasa dikuburkan, ke manakah identiti bangsa melayu. Cuba rakan-rakan bloggers siasat siapa yang mendapat tender membekalkan perisian, cd, buku-buku teks untuk sains dan matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris. Jika puak-puak UMNO yang dapat, memang patutlah mereka tak bantah dan pedulikan nasib bangsa Melayu kerana mulut mereka telah disuapkan dengan wang ringgit malaysia. Jelaslah selama ini UMNO hanya jual nama Melayu untuk hidup mewah.

Tok seperti rakyat Malaysia yang lain, nak tahu ketika negara dilanda kemelesetan ekonomi, berapa banyak bangunan pejabat pelajaran daerah di seluruh negara diperindahkan dan diperbesarkan ketika ada murid-murid miskin yang tidak mendapat bantuan biasiswa untuk melanjutkan pelajaran atau meneruskan pelajarannya. Cuba MP-MP Pakatan Rakyat ajukan soalan ini di parlimen dan tanyakan juga berapa banyak blok bangunan sekolah yang lewat disiapkan sehingga menyusahkan murid-murid.

Satu soalan cepu emas, berapa ramai pula guru-guru dan GB yang aktif memegang jawatan dalam UMNO-BN. selama ini sikap double standard kerajaan UMNO-BN sudah diketahui umum. Sokong dan pegang jawatan UMNO-BN boleh bagi kakitangan awam tapi sokong pembangkang tak boleh.

Senario politik yang berlaku dalam politik tanahair kebelakangan ini menjadi realiti kepada rakyat UMNO-BN takut kehilangan kuasanya. Bermula isu rampasan kuasa kerajaan negeri Perak daripada Pakatan Rakyat, ketakutan untuk membubarkan DUN Perak, isu ketuanan melayu dan derhaka kepada Raja-Raja Melayu dan paling mutakhir Sidang tergempar Dun Perak selasa ini.

Rakyat semakin bijak menilai dan mula mempersoalkan apakah pelan pemulihan ekonomi oleh kerajaan UMNO-BN. KDNK negara jatuh kepada 4.6% terburuk sejak 2001. Indeks Komposit BSKL merudum dan kadar pengangguran dikatakan mencecah 80 ribu orang. harga-harga barang keperluan makanan dijangkakan naik seperti gula akan naik 20 atau 30 sen sekilo. Tol juga diramalkan naik tetapi ditangguhkan kerajaan UMNO-BN kerana takut kalah dalam PRK di Bukit Gantang, Selambau dan Batang Ai. Jika kerajaan pusat berani mengambilalih pengurusan air negara, mengapa pula kerajaan pusat UMNO-BN tidak berani mengambilalih syarikat konsesi tol. Apakah kerana UMNO dan kroninya ada kepentingan di dalam syarikat konsesi tol ini. Eloklah SPRM siasat.

Tok dan rakyat dah nampak UMNO-BN takut hilang kuasa. Peluang terbaik memerintah negara adalah untuk isytiharkan darurat dan UMNO telah mula menjaja isu ini di kampung-kampung dan kepada golongan peneroka.

Tok juga nak peringatkan kepada semua MB dan KM Pakatan Rakyat supaya tidak menyimpan musuh dalam selimut dalam jentera pentadbiran negeri masing-masing. Nanti rahsia kerajaan negeri terbongkar dan paling tidak pun mereka akan buat surat layang menggunakan letter head Kerajaan Negeri. Di Kedah, tok heran kenapa pemuda UMNO negeri itu berkokok dalam TV3 suku tentang isu surat layang yang menghina sultan kedah. Kan surat tu ada setem dan bersampul, buat ajelah report polis. jangan sampai rakyat anggap polis sudah mesra UMNO dan bukan mesra rakyat sudah.

Ada yang beranggapan UMNO memperalatkan setiausaha Sultan membuat kerja-kerja keji ini dan eloklah polis siasat perkara ini. Rakyat dah semakin muak dengan budaya samseng UMNO sekarang yang cuba menghuru-harakan negara ini dah sudah sampai masanya mereka pula ditahan ISA. rakyat dah ada persepsi UMNO semacam dah ada cawangannya di balai polis. UMNO pergi lanyak MP Pakatan Rakyat, seorang OKU dalam parlimen boleh tapi rakyat demo depan balai polis kena sembur dengan air pemedih mata dan lanyak dengan FRU. Tak pasal-pasal ada pulak rakyat hantar keldai, baghal atau lembu buat report polis.

Ingatlah UMNO, Polis, SPR, SPRM, Mahkamah dan Sultan bukan hak cipta terpelihara mereka sahaja. Usah bongkak dan sesuka hati melanggar undang-undang negara semata-mata gilakan kuasa.

...

Resume Yuzaidi

2009-03-04T19:44:00.005+08:00

MOHAMED YUZAIDI BIN MOHMED YUSSOF

D-3-22, Flora Damansara,
Bandar Damansara Perdana,
47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

MOBILE: 012 967 8740

E-MAIL: yuzaidi_yussof@yahoo.com

SUMMARY
-----------
I am independent, flexible, responsible, mobilize, organize and planning during work. I would like to progress and experience new challenge in business development. I looking an organization which, provide excellent career progress, good benefits with family coverage, and supporting in improve my communication skill, social skill and being consistent personnel.

OBJECTIVE
-------------
Seek a fulfilling position that will allow me to share knowledge and experience in business planning and strategy, business development, project management and financial services operation.

PERSONAL PARTICULAR
------------------------------
Date of Birth: 28 December 1981
Place of Birth: Mentakab, Pahang
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian
Marital Status: Single

WORK EXPERIENCES
-----------------------
Innovation Associates Consulting, Kuala Lumpur
2008-Present
Consultant

Provides management and IT consulting services in the areas of strategy, business transformation and reengineering, programme management, human capital management, knowledge management, and IT implementation focusing on Government Sectors.
Provide support and brainstorm on policy and strategy-based transformation to corporate and government clients.
Work closely with clients to map out strategic direction, identify growth opportunities while adapting their internal system and culture for continuous innovation.
Collaborate and inspire clients’ staff and stakeholders to generate consensus about future and best actions to take. The transformation solution will be different for each client depending on its potential impact in business success.
Managing large scale transformation requires a comprehensive blueprint as well as accountability for getting work accomplished.

IBM Malaysia, Petaling Jaya
2007-2008
Contract Analyst

Prepare, analyze and evaluate the business contract or draft for IBM Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.
Supervise, monitor and assist Project Managers, Bid Managers and Country Administrators to ensure the complete documentation provide to us for evaluation and validation.
In the legal issues, I am require to assess and review each business contract meet IBM International Standard. I need to work closely with legal team to ensure the term and condition of business contract will protect IBM interest.
Responsible to verify the approved documents checklist and create web-based data processing information and management through IBM SAP application such as WTAAS, APCIS, CFTS and CHIS.
Assist Financial Analyst to prepare the financial budget, financial proforma and project financial planning to determine the financial capability to funding the project.
Take initiative to develop and organize the business tracking worksheet to monitor the projects.

Achievement: Involve in preparing business contract between IBM and Kalbe Farma Indonesia. Total Contract Value (TCV) is worth US$178 millions for 10 years outsourcing Kalbe Farma’s IT department. This business proposal has taken almost 3 months to complete, which personally lead by IBM ASEAN Chief Financial Officer (ASEAN CFO).

Prudential Services Asia, Kuala Lumpur
2005-2007
New Business Executive

Provide business and administrative support for Prudential Assurances Singapore in evaluate new business proposal, process the relevant documents and endorse the insurance policies.
Organize and arrange daily tasks among junior officers and supervise their commitment in order to maintain quality service to customer.
Accountable to perk up the day-to-day premiums and sum assured disbursement operation by Jupiter 2.13 SAP Application to meet standard requirement for our customer and agencies.
Responsible to improve and maintain standard level of agreement (SLA) that agreed by business partners.Involve in preparing financial operation and budget report to management and represent the department in management meeting to deliver excellent turn-around-time (TAT).
Work closely with the Agency Administration Department to improve customer relationship measurement, determine agencies performance and increase business development opportunities.

American International Assurance (AIA), Petaling Jaya
2004-2005
Graduate Trainee

Responsible to assist in the full spectrum of business activities which include business administrative, development, and strategic planning on products and services promotion.
Support sales and marketing by develop new clientele base, maintain good customer relations and expand their financial necessities.
Involve in execute and implement policies to ensure that all the company businesses and activities comply in laws, regulations and rules affecting the insurance industry at all times.
Apart from my interpersonal skills, I had been taught to handle table talk for customers and close the deal on behave of my team.
Have opportunity to spread out my knowledge and skills in information technology (IT) when be part of the team for Business Technology Performance Evaluation (BTPE). The BTPE team involve in evaluate, maintain and develop the e-commerce system for the team.

Nikabina IT MSC, Kota Bharu
Dec 2003-April 2004
Internship Trainee

To work towards achieving company’s specialization in expanding specific accounting services such as bill collection, medical billing and payroll services.
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing to maintain both financial data in computer and paper file.
Provide technical assistance, support and advice to customers and users.
Responsible for maintenance of technical aspects of the company’s website, including performance concerns such as access speed, etc.
Identifying and formulating ways of organize, store and secure data for usage in company’s operations and marketing campaign(s).

EDUCATION
-------------
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Honours) - 2000-2004
University of Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR), Kota Bharu

Dean Honor’s List Award – June 2003 Session

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION
---------------------------------------
CERTIFICATE IN PACS PRODUCT TRAINING - 2006
Prudential Services Asia, Kuala Lumpur

CERTIFICATE IN INVESTMENT-LINKED LIFE INSURANCE - 2004
Malaysia Insurance Institute (MII), Kuala Lumpur

CERTIFICATE IN PRE-CONTRACT EXAMINATION FOR INSURANCE AGENT - 2004
Malaysia Insurance Institute (MII), Kuala Lumpur

CERTIFICATE IN BANKING - 2002
Utama Banking Training Centre (UTAMA), Kota Bharu

CERTIFICATE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 2002
Utama Distance Learning School (UTAMA), Kota Bharu

CLUB/SOCIETY ACTIVITIES
---------------------------------
Member, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2008
Member, Dewan Pemuda Masjid Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2008
Youth Committee Member, Petaling Jaya Volunteer Team, WWF-Malaysia, 2007
Committee Member, PROSTAR Kelantan, National Anti-Drug Agency, 2005-2006
President, UNITAR English Club, UNITAR, 2004
President, UNITAR Community Club, UNITAR, 2003-2004
Project Director, Public Speaking Programme, UNITAR, 2003
Silver Medalist, UNITAR Futsal Competition, UNITAR, 2003
Team Leader, Biro Tatanegara, Ministry of Prime Minister’s Department, 2002
Member, UNITAR Student Council, UNITAR, 2000-2004

SKILLS
--------
Computer - Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft FrontPage, Lotus Notes 8, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Reader, Macromedia Swish 2.1, Jupiter 2.13, WTAAS, APCIS-IBM and Internet

Languages - Excellent in English and Malay, basic in Mandarin and Arabic

Interest - Travel, walking, surf internet, read and collect books, magazines and comics, collect coins, watch movies and TV, listen to music, play futsal and cooking

ADDITIONAL INFO
----------------------
Expected Salary: RM X, XXX.XX
Availability To Start Work: A month notice
Willing to Travel: Heavy (50%>)
Possess Own Transport: Yes

REFERENCES
---------------
Mohd Izwan Bin Mohd Saire
(Former IBM Senior)
Sales Executive,
Juton Malaysia, Shah Alam
Tel: 012 396 6775
Email: izwan.saire@juton.com.my

Lokman Hakimi Bin Ismail
(Former Supervisor)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO),
Nikabina IT MSC,
Seksyen 9, Shah Alam
Tel: 013 934 7799
Email: lokman@nikabina.com
.

Subtle Communication. Listen more.

2009-03-04T09:37:00.002+08:00

I know that it can often be efficient to speak directly and honestly, but my communication style today should be more subjective and supportive as I attend an interview session meeting them.

Instead of responding immediately when someone says something that I might don't like, wait and listen to more of what they have to say.

Let them explain themselves completely before I go at them -- especially if this is a person who I'm just starting to get to know.

As I am a gentle person, bend over backwards to make them feel safe.

Bogged down in them

2009-03-03T13:11:00.001+08:00

Today, I feel there will be a lot of details throw at me, but try not to get too bogged down in all of them too early in the day.

I don't have to solve every problem before lunchtime!

Skip the martyr act and just tackle one thing at a time. I'm not plan to out to impress people and out to get things done.

So, take it slow and steady. Not only will help reduce stress in my current happy life (with HER).

It will help keep everyone else around me, to see me as a do-er instead of a freak-out-er.

P/S: I'm a do-er things slow and steady...
.

Me & Her

2009-01-11T20:38:00.007+08:00

HER
SHE's a tramp aggressive.
SHE loves being in long relationships.
SHE likes to give a good fight for what SHE want.
SHE extremely outgoing.
SHE loves to help people in times of need.
SHE's a good kisser. (I like...huhu)
SHE has good personality.
SHE's stubborn.
SHE's a caring person.
SHE's one of her kind.
SHE's talkative.
SHE's not one to mess with.
SHE is the most attractive person on earth!!!

ME
The Passionate Lover Love to bust.
Nice.
Sassy.
Intelligent. (Dumb...???)
Sexy. (Typical...???)
Predict future.
Irresistible.
Loves being in long relationships.
Great talker.
Always gets what he wants.
Cool.
Extremely fun.
Loves to joke.
Smart. (Dumb, Dumber...???)

What're you think? Do we fit to each other?...hehe
...

If You Want Me, Talk To Me!

2009-01-07T19:55:00.003+08:00

Try to make sure that all verbal communication is concise and to the point. Don't just yak and beat around the bush about what want to say.

People simply don't have time to make small talk, there is too much going on.

While I want to chit chat and get social, it is not going to be possible right now. So take a cue from the busy folks around and keep it short!

Sent emails instead of talking, too.
...

--TerNyata--

Ku lihat dia

Pandangan pertama

Ternyata indah

Senyuman liriknya

Ku ingin dia

Saat pertama

Berjumpa dengannya

Membuat ku gelisah

Waktu berlalu

Hari demi hari

Hatiku dambakannya

Untuk bercinta lagi

Ku lihat dia

Pandangan pertama

Berjumpa dengannya

Membuat ku gelisah
Waktu berlalu

Hari demi hari

Hatiku dambakannya

Untuk bercinta lagi

Estrella - 2007
...

Child in Me

2009-01-05T20:03:00.002+08:00

There is a ton of ridiculous energy in the air.

My friends and I are probably going to be acting like a bunch of children today -- but in a good way! There is a job to complete and deliver, but we should have fun too.

Kicking back and having fun will be the order of the day, and we all will spend our day reinventing what it means to have a good time.

The silly, the inane, and the downright goofy are all we're going to be interested in. Laughter will follow all day long. And our belly laughs just might be the loudest!

...

A Big Head

2009-01-04T16:07:00.001+08:00

I'm only acting modest because I don't want to come off as being too cocky, cos' I'm not being honest to myself!

I going to get some praise today, but don't feel guilty to enjoying it! Muhaha...

When I do something remarkable, it's only natural for people to remark upon it and give me a round of applause.

So why fight it? I don't have to ever worry about people thinking that I have a big head. They know me better than that -- just give them some credit!

...

Stylist Punk

2008-12-30T20:41:00.002+08:00

Changing the style every now and then is a fun idea.

I'm in a mood to mix things up today, which is healthy --- changing my approach or style every now and then is a good idea.

Just feels to stray too far from my usual routines, or else I will get too preoccupied with managing people's reactions!

Shop at the same stores for new outfits, but pick out some new colors I don't usually wear. Like pink or purple?

Change is good, but it shouldn't come too abruptly right now. I should always stay true to who I am.

...blurrr...

...

Happy BestDay to ME...Yesterday

2008-12-29T14:45:00.003+08:00

Age is just a number
Love is blind
Life is unpredictable
Death is certain
ALLAH is everthing

ALLAHUAKBAR...

Today, I do not let what other people are doing with their money influence what I do with mine. Even, my new potential lover is going shopping today.

If their recent investments have turned out to be good ones, it might be too late for me to hop on the bandwagon.

Easy money is not worth very much, and I am capable of enriching my coffers the old-fashioned way -- by earning cash!

My financial goals are unique to me, so just copying another person's plan is not going to be very useful.

I just go, see, fit it and buy it...no question ask!!!

...

Drama, Drama, Drama

2008-12-14T15:28:00.003+08:00

If someone is rude, try not to take it personally.

I should watch out for any spontaneous comments that come out of the mouths of friends or coworkers today. These people could be misspeaking, or they could be finally saying what they really feel deep down inside.

No matter why they're saying or what they are saying, I just need to try to handle it with my usual aplomb.

As usual, do not react in a negative way. If I get defensive or take it personally, it's just only create a bigger drama than really want to deal with.

...

Happy Weekend at Home

2008-12-13T17:36:00.004+08:00

Going out with friends and having lots of fun is a great thing to do.
But I feels that it's should not be doing it every single night, especially on weekend.

If all I do is go out and socialize, I might be avoiding something that I need to deal with. I feels it is time to stay closer to home for a while. Get back in touch with myself, and lets think about the things I haven't wanted to think about, like my big plan to FCUK?

They are not that bad.

Big issues tend to crumble if I look at them honestly and try to dissect them.

...

Fire my brain

2008-12-04T10:03:00.003+08:00

Today, I feel my creativity is on fire right now. It's time to try and use it to my advantage!

I hope it will help me to see new uses for old tools, a quick solution to a nagging problem, and even a fun way to put a smile on someone's face. My perspective is fresh and innovative now, and while my visions might alienate a few folks who just don't get it. I feel this might be a right time to impress and entertain the majority of the people who will be around today. It's a day when I can score a lot of points.

...

Mathematic is Beautiful

2008-12-02T11:55:00.002+08:00

Sejak naik turun harga minyak, aku jadi suka matematik. Kerana matematik membuka mata aku utk melihat sejauh mana aku kena tipu. Tu sebabnya kita kena jadi pandai mengira supaya tak terkena tipu-menipu dalam menjual-beli.

Hari ni kerajaan umum nak turunkan harga minyak lagi limablas syen. Terus aku check harga minyak terkini dipasaran dunia. Latest aku check jadik USD54.39 setong. Ok. Jom kita start kira.

1 tong = 159 liter = USD54.39
USD1 = RM3.5974
So, 159 liters = USD54.39 = RM195.66

Oleh itu, 1 liter = RM1.23
Subsidi kerajaan = RM0.30 seliter,
Maka RM1.23-0.30 = RM0.93

Harga kita kena bayar = RM2.00
Duit kita bagi free kat kerajaan = RM2.00 – RM0.93 = RM1.06

Seronok ke? Ermmm...

It's Just Co-incidence

2008-12-02T11:51:00.000+08:00

I was dreaming last nite. My recent dreams have been vivid and rather entertaining, but do they hold valuable insight into how I can find happiness? No, I don't think so.

They're just ideas my subconscious is playing with, and nothing more. I should be careful not to read too much into the numbers that keep popping up. I might play them in the lottery, but don't expect a big win.

My prosperity is much more likely to come as a result of my hard work right now. Money still has to be earned (mostly on the payday...!).

No One Perfect!

2008-11-30T20:30:00.000+08:00

There is a big disconnect between what people are saying and what they are doing today. There's a bit of hypocrisy going on, but it might not be in my best interest to make a big deal about it.

After all, when I point a finger at someone else, there are four more pointing back at me.

It's time to be loose about what I expect from people. No one is perfect, and everyone deserves a second chance in life from time to time. I'll need one some day for myself.
.

P/S: Heaven, I need your guidance to success in my every businesses!

.

Hope and Goal to Move

2008-11-24T11:03:00.002+08:00

It might be time to give up on a goal - I had high hopes, but things don't seem to be panning out the way I wanted them to.

And it's wise to know when to cut my losses and move on. Sometimes the pain of letting go is far less than the pain I'll feel if I keep banging my head against a wall. So, if that cutie just isn't succumbing to my charms, then I might find a new cutie. Or if that goal just seems to getting farther from my reach, then I should reach for a new one.

Sembahyang tanda bersyukur

2008-10-29T12:41:00.001+08:00

Oleh RAMLI ABDUL HALIM - Utusan - 27-Oct-2008

SEMBAHYANG lima waktu yang diwajibkan ke atas umat Nabi Muhammad SAW yang merupakan penghulu bagi segala anbia yang juga merupakan nabi dan rasul akhir zaman pada hakikatnya mempunyai nilai yang cukup tinggi kerana proses penerimaan perintah sembahyang oleh Rasulullah itu sendiri bukannya satu kerja mudah.

Berbanding dengan nabi-nabi lain yang mula melakukan sembahyang atas beberapa faktor, tetapi ibadat sembahyang yang diwajibkan ke atas umat Nabi Muhammad SAW diterima perintah oleh baginda secara terus dari Allah dengan baginda dibawa ke Sidratul Muntaha yang letaknya melepasi lapisan langit ketujuh.

Sidratul Muntaha itu sendiri adalah tempat yang tidak boleh didatangi oleh manusia lain, kecuali Nabi Muhammad, malah para malaikat juga tidak boleh ke sana.

Pemergian baginda SAW pada malam 27 Rejab tahun ke-11 kerasulan baginda (yakni dalam tahun 622 Masihi) dinamakan Israk Mikraj yang mana selain daripada menerima perintah kewajipan sembahyang, baginda juga berpeluang berjumpa dengan para nabi dan rasul, malah berkesempatan beramah mesra.

Rasulullah juga dipertontonkan dengan manusia yang menanggung seksa kerana memusuhi Allah dan Rasul-Nya serta mereka yang menikmati nikmat kerana bertakwa kepada Allah. Pada mulanya sembahyang yang diperintahkan adalah sebanyak 50 waktu.

Macam mana pun atas cadangan dan desakan Nabi Musa a.s. yang menyebabkan Rasulullah SAW berulang alik naik turun Sidratul Muntaha, maka jumlah waktu sembahyang hanya tinggal lima waktu sehari semalam sahaja.

Nabi Musa yang merasakan jumlah sembahyang lima waktu sehari semalam itu akan malas dilakukan oleh umat Nabi Muhammad meminta baginda membuat rayuan pengurangan jumlah waktu sembahyang tetap baginda enggan kerana malu kepada Allah.

Sebenarnya sembahyang lima waktu itu adalah himpunan sembahyang-sembahyang yang telah dilakukan oleh lima orang nabi dan rasul kerana ada sebab dan peristiwanya sebagaimana berikut;

SUBUH: Manusia pertama yang mengerjakan sembahyang subuh adalah Nabi Adam a.s. iaitu ketika baginda keluar dari syurga lalu diturunkan ke dunia.

Semasa dikeluarkan dari syurga dan diturunkan ke dunia kerana kesalahan memakan buah khuldi yang dilarang, yang pertama yang dilihat oleh bagi ialah kegelapan.

Baginda berasa sangat takut. Macam mana pun apabila fajar menjelang Subuh dunia mulai terang dan kerana bersyukur apabila dunia mula menampakkan akan terang dan tidak gelap lagi, Nabi Adam a.s. pun bersembahyang dua rakaat.

Rakaat pertama sembahyang baginda adalah sebagai tanda bersyukur kerana baginda terlepas dari kegelapan malam manakala rakaat kedua adalah bersyukur kerana siang telah menjelma.

Zuhur: Manusia pertama yang mengerjakan solat Zuhur ialah Nabi Ibrahim a.s. iaitu tatkala Allah SWT memerintahkan baginda agar menyembelih anak baginda Nabi Ismail a.s. sebagai melepas nazar baginda.

Seruan itu datang pada waktu tergelincir matahari (bertepatan dengan waktu Zohor), lalu sujudlah Nabi Ibrahim sebanyak empat rakaat.

Rakaat pertama kerana bersyukur bagi penebusan, rakaat kedua tanda bersyukur kerana dibukakan dukacitanya dan juga anaknya, rakaat ketiga: tanda bersyukur dan memohon keredaan Allah SWT manakala rakaat keempat tanda bersyukur kerana korbannya digantikan dengan tebusan kibas.

Asar: Manusia pertama yang mengerjakan solat Asar ialah Nabi Yunus a.s. tatkala baginda dikeluarkan oleh Allah SWT dari perut ikan Nun.

Ikan Nun telah memuntahkan Nabi Yunus di tepi pantai, sedang ketika itu telah masuk waktu Asar. Sebagai tanda syukur kerana dikeluarkan dari perut ikan Nun, maka Nabi Yunus a.s. bersembahyang empat rakaat kerana baginda telah diselamatkan oleh Allah daripada 4 kegelapan iaitu:

Rakaat pertama tanda syukur dari bebas dari kelam dengan kesalahan, rakaat kedua bersyukur kerana kelam dengan air laut, rakaat ketika kerana kelam malam dan rakaat keempat kerana kelam perut ikan Nun.

Maghrib: Manusia pertama yang mengerjakan solat Maghrib ialah Nabi Isa a.s. iaitu ketika baginda dikeluarkan oleh Allah SWT dari kejahilan dan kebodohan kaumnya, yang di kala itu telah terbenamnya matahari.

Kerana tanda bersyukur bagi sembahyang tiga rakaat dengan rakaat tanda bersyukur kerana baginda berjaya menafikan ketuhanan selain dari Allah yang Esa, rakaat tanda bersyukur kerana berjaya menafikan tohmahan ke atas bonda baginda Siti Mariam yang telah dituduh melakukan perbuatan sumbang manakala rakaat ketiga tanda bersyukur kerana berjaya menyatakan kepada kaum baginda bahawa Tuhan itu hanya satu iaitu Allah SWT, tiada dua atau tiganya.

Isyak: Manusia pertama yang mengerjakan solat Isyak ialah Nabi Musa a.s.. Pada ketika itu, Nabi Musa telah tersesat untuk mencari jalan kfeluar dari negeri Madyan.

Sedang dalam dadanya penuh dengan perasaan dukacita kerana sesat ekoran doa seorang alim yang diupah oleh Firaun agar mendoakan supaya Nabi Musa a.s.

Orang alim dan doanya sangat mustajab itu pada mulanya enggan akur kepada arahan Firaun dan enggan menerima upahan dalam bentuk jongkong emas kerana diketahuinya bahawa Nabi Musa a.s. adalah nabi dan rasul.

Hasil siasatan oleh pegawai-pegawai perisikan Firaun mendapati orang alim itu sangat sayangkan isteri dan dia adalah seorang suami yang sering mengalah kepada isteri.

Kelemahan itu diambil kesempatan oleh Firaun dengan memberi upah emas kepada isteri orang alim itu supaya meminta suaminya berdoa supaya Nabi Musa a.s. sesat di padang pasir negeri Madyan.

Bila diminta dan dirayu dan direngek oleh isterinya, orang alim itu tidak dapat menolak. Bagaimanapun, dia memberi syarat akan berdoa dalam kandang kuda.

Orang alim itu menyangka bila berdoa pada tempat yang kotor, doanya tidak akan mustajab. Macam mana pun doanya tetap mustajab dan Nabi Musa a.s. tersesat manakala orang alim itu mati dalam keadaan berdosa kerana mengikut kemahuan Firaun.

Bagaimana Allah SWT menghilangkan semua perasaan dukacitanya Nabi Musa a.s. apabila beliau akhirnya tidak lagi sesat dan ketika itu adalah waktu Isyak yang akhir. Sebagai tanda syukurnya, Nabi Musa bersembahyang empat rakaat dengan rakaat pertama tanda syukur kerana baginda akan dapat kembali ke pangkuan isteri dan kampung halaman. Rakaat kedua tanda bersyukur kerana dapat bersua kembali dan berganding bahu dengan saudara Nabi Harun a.s. bagi menyampaikan seruan Allah.

Rakaat ketiga pula kerana selamat daripada tindakan Firaun manakala rakaat keempat tanda bersyukur selamat daripada pengkhianatan anak Firaun terhadap baginda dan umat baginda yang bertakwa.

Ertinya kesemua waktu sembahyang yang diwajibkan ke atas umat Nabi Muhammad adalah merupakan amalan-amalan tanda ketakwaan terhadap Allah oleh para nabi dan rasul dan nilainya tidak boleh disamakan dengan apa jua bentuk kebendaan.

Kalau nabi dan rasul pun bersembahyang sebagai tanda syukur dan untuk melayakkan diri masuk ke syurga, siapa kita yang bukan nabi dan rasul untuk tidak sembahyang di samping melakukan pelbagai kemungkaran dengan bila mati kita mahukan syurga!

RAMLI ABDUL HALIM adalah murid tua (bekas pelajar) Madrasah Al-Balaghulmubin Rong Chenak, Tok Uban, Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

Reasons I Still Not Rich

2008-10-12T12:07:00.002+08:00

Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say.

The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life.

The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. Caring what your neighbors think, not being patient, having bad habits, not having goals, not being prepared, trying to make a quick buck, relying on others to handle your money, investing in things you don't understand, being financially afraid and ignoring your finances.

Here are 10 more possible reasons you aren't rich:

You care what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don't view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

You feel entitlement: If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

You lack diversification: There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

You started too late: The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you're always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you'll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

You don't do what you enjoy: While your job doesn't necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don't like just for the money, you'll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

You don't like to learn: You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

You buy things you don't use: Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven't used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.

You don't understand value: You buy things for any number of reasons besides the value that the purchase brings to you. This is not limited to those who feel the need to buy the most expensive items, but can also apply to those who always purchase the cheapest goods. Rarely are either the best value, and it's only when you learn to purchase good value that you have money left over to invest for your future.

Your house is too big: When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.

You fail to take advantage of opportunities: There has probably been more than one occasion where you heard about someone who has made it big and thought to yourself, "I could have thought of that." There are plenty of opportunities if you have the will and determination to keep your eyes open.

Second wives?

2008-10-09T14:38:00.002+08:00

A WRITER'S LIFE By DINA ZAMAN on The Star, 9th October

Polygamy has nothing to do with culture or religion. Men, and women too, cheat because they can.

WHEN a male friend told me he planned on taking a second wife, all I could do was try not to choke on dinner. Are you serious, I asked. He said yes, he had fallen in love with a single mother, but it was not his fate to marry her.

Thinking it was perhaps due her compassion, her earnest desire to bring up her sprogs in a Godly way and that life was indeed a struggle, I choked on my dessert when my friend told me the first thing he noticed about her was that she owned a great set of jugs.

Now, my friend takes his religious obligations very seriously. His first wife wears the hijab. So to hear him admit that it was his paramour’s cleavage that caught his heart was quite shocking.

It was due to women like me, whose so-called Western, secular and feminist ideas of polygamy that pushed it underground. I then asked him, whether his equally-pious wife agreed to him taking on another wife, and he said no. She gave him an earful.

But our friend was on a roll. Now that his journey into polygamy was thwarted, it was all our fault. We modern Malay women, be they religious or not, were forcing men like him to marry in Thailand or Iran, where they practised nikah Muta’ah.

He was emulating the steps of our good Prophet Mohamed, he argued.

“You have got your Islamic history upside down! Nabi married war widows, and his first wife was older than he. Aishah was the youngest. And I don’t think our Prophet married any woman because she had great breasts!”

“You don’t understand.”

“Okay then. Why don’t you sell your car and take a camel to work then?”

I’m realistic. I know men who adore their wives and love them to bits, but they can still love their mistresses and other wives. Am I condoning affairs and polygamy? No. But this happens. It has nothing to do with Islam or being Malay, though polygamy is part of the culture.

We’re Asians. We have a long history of concubinage. There are good men who are faithful, and there are good men who have other wives. There are also bad men who are faithful and also bad men who are unfaithful.

Just like our politics, love in Malaysia is a circus. Weeee!

I’m not going to bore you with what polygamy in Islam is about, as it has been written before and talked about to death. Women’s rights activists have long fought for this “crime” to be illegal, but we face a tough fight. Sometimes it’s not the men who are itching for it, but yes, our gender, too.

In the 80s, when I was young and clueless, meeting mistresses and second or third wives would be sinful and against my principles.

These days? “Oh, you’re a mistress?” “Oh, you’re a hidden wife?” Yawn. Wear tudung or mini skirt, got. Educated or stupid, got. Some of our mothers are The Other Women, and are good mothers. So how?

Is this phenomenon particular to our culture? Oh no. Read the British newspapers. Mistressing is talked about to death in feminist columns.

But I thought after that dinner with my friend, I’d revisit the issue again. Some of the findings from my five-sen survey:

1). Theoretically ... polygamy is OK. But must ikut hukum Allah lah. There are conditions.

2). Ya, but… actually, kan, for career women like us, it does work. Nak jaga laki 24 jam … gue tak larat la. Biar bini nombor satu jaga. After all, in Islam, polygamous wives are taken care of legally. Better a Muslim second wife than a common law wife.

3). But really. Think about it. Convenient, what. You see him once a week, makan once a week, have sex once a week...

4). Sex once a week?! Baik tak yah jadi bini nombor dua macam tu! Chit. Once a week mana cukup?!

Why do men cheat? Again, just an observation dwelled upon by friends and myself. For a lot of polygamous men, they marry good women who fit their criteria of holiness, wifeliness and motherhood.

Intimacy between the men and their wives are perfunctory. It’s make-the-baby-cover-the-face sex. With their girlfriends and second wives, it’s Penthouse all the way, baby. It’s the soul thing.

At least this is what I got from talking to quite a number of married men. It’s not because of the first wives’ lack of trying; they want to have healthy intimate lives, but the bees in their husbands’s bonnets keep reminding the men of the Madonna-Whore syndrome.

Malaysia is not a place for single women desiring Hollywood-movie type of marriages and love. KL especially is a city for marriages and affairs. And it has nothing to do with money. There are rich men who cheat, and I know of a despatch boy who has two wives!

There are many single-again women like my friends and I, who still believe in marriage and love. But I can tell you, should we walk down that path again one day, we’re going down it with our eyes open and keep a part of our hearts to ourselves. Because you never know.

Perhaps my friend, an activist who makes a living entering and staying in war zones, is right.

“We have women like you, me, your mother, your aunt and friend who fight so hard for women and children and yet face a brick wall, simply because we ‘understand’ so much, and forgive all the time, which is why cheating, affairs and polygamy are rampant, to the detriment or contribution (depends how you look at it) of our well-being,” says my friend.

Another friend, Sharizal Sharaani, put it succinctly: “Men (and, yes, women too) cheat because they can. Full stop.”

The writer still believes in love and marriage and wants to move to Corfu.

Building Relationships

2008-10-07T11:34:00.002+08:00

Theodore Roosevelt once said that “the most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people”.

Indeed, having good relationships with your colleagues, customers, vendors and so on is key to your career and business success. It is even more so if the business that you are in has everything to do with people, for example, insurance.

“Building relationships with customers is an important aspect of our business. The stronger the relationship is, the more trust the customer will have in you and the more likely he or she will buy from you again or refer new customers to you,” says Yeap Chiang Ning, a wealth planner with Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad.

There are countless ways in which a solid business relationship can be built, depending on the nature of the business, personalities of the individuals or what the ultimate objectives are. Building relationships is key to business success.

However, as any sales or insurance agent would agree, successful relationships take time to flourish. The real challenge therefore lies in one’s ability to nurture these relationships and turn them into long-term partnerships which are mutually rewarding.

Here are a few simple tips to help you build that lasting relationship with your customers;

Be sincere

Build a relationship with your customers not because you have to, but because you want to and you genuinely believe that you can help make a positive impact on their lives. Consumers today are becoming more discerning and they can tell whether you are sincere or not almost immediately.

James Chui, a Prudential wealth planner who is based in Petaling Jaya, offers an interesting perspective: “Just remember this - take care of your customers like how you would care for your girlfriend, wife and family members, and everything that you do will naturally come straight from the heart.”

You are important to me

No matter where your customers stand in society, they are your most valuable assets. Let them know that they are important to you and how much you appreciate their support.

Penang-based Yeap, who has been with Prudential since 2005, makes sure that she is always there for her customers whenever they need her help or advice. “I am prepared to go that extra mile for them. That’s the least I can do, not only as their servicing agent, but as their friend as well,” she says.

Educate them

Knowledge is power and what you know can enlighten and change another person, if you share it. “I constantly keep myself updated with new product knowledge and financial-related information. When I meet my customers for lunch or drinks, I will take the opportunity to share some of the knowledge which I have learnt with them. They like it a lot,” Yeap says.

Remember those special days

Everyone is delighted to have his or her birthday and anniversaries remembered. So, it will be good to keep a list of all your customers’ birthdays, anniversaries, special events, graduations and so on. When the date comes, don’t forget to send your customer something.

Peter Then, a Prudential wealth planner based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, believes that this little gesture will go a long way in strengthening the agent-customer relationship. “I like to surprise my customers with little treats on their special day. They appreciate the fact that I remember them on those special days. That means a lot to them,” he says.

In a nutshell, wealth planners are entrusted to look after their customers’ financial well-being by offering them a comprehensive suite of products. Beyond that, the wealth planner’s ability to connect with the customer through respect, sincerity, knowledge of the customer and what they want is crucial in building and maintaining a lasting relationship.

This is the key ingredient to make it in the insurance business and ultimately, be the face your customer can trust.

*Article by Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad

First October = First Syawal

2008-09-27T08:24:00.002+08:00

P/S:

Baju raya tahun lepas dipakai lagi,
Hari-hari dicuci biar berseri,
Blog diupdate sebagai pengganti diri,
Bukan sengaja lupakan tradisi,
Tapi ikut teknologi di hujung jari.

"SALAM KEMAAFAN DI AIDILFITRI",
Dari Yuzaidi.

Marketing Lesson

2008-09-26T10:28:00.003+08:00

I see a gorgeous girl at a party. I go up to her and say, “I am very rich. Marry me!” That’s Direct Marketing.

I'm at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of my friends goes up to her and pointing at me says, “He’s very rich. Marry him.” That’s Advertising.

I see a gorgeous girl at a party. I go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day I call her and say, “Hi, I’m very rich. Marry me.” That’s Telemarketing.

I see a gorgeous girl at a party. I go up to her and say, “I’m rich. Marry me.” She gives me a nice hard slap on my face. That’s Customer Feedback.

P/S: I'm a good marketer...huhu

Communicate to a being

2008-09-21T03:56:00.007+08:00

Verbal communication will get distractions out of my system. Should I call up a friend?

Recent developments in my romantic life is on my mind, big time, today. In fact, they are keeping me from giving my full attention to other important matters and important people. So in order to clear the clouds from this head, I should need to talk it out. Verbal communication has long been one of my strengths, and today I hope it will help to get some distractions out of self system. Probably, call up friends and ask them if I can spill out a few guts to them. Wish they'll say yes -- they always do.

P/S: Thinking to organize break fast with my fellow IBMers today...

F**k Lah’s economic

2008-09-18T23:55:00.001+08:00

SEPT 18 — Wall Street Journal Asia

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced this week that he has enough parliamentary support to unseat the current government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. If he does, Abdullah's lacklustre economic management will be largely to blame.

The prime minister has not introduced any substantive reforms during his nearly five years in office, preferring to rely instead on opening up the government purse. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan announced in 2005, he expanded public-sector spending to RM200 billion annually from RM160 billion. In his Midterm Plan Review this year, he increased this outlay to RM240 billion. The national debt now stands at RM285 billion, up from RM192 billion in 2004. The official fiscal deficit has risen to 4.8% of GDP this year, from 3.2% last year. Revenue is being spent faster than it is coming in.

It's hard to argue that these outlays have served the broad public interest. Much of the funding has been channelled to elites in the majority Malay community, under the country's pro-Malay affirmation action programme. That has created discontent with many Malay who don't see the full benefits of the programme, and among the minority Chinese and Indians, who are excluded from it altogether.

Abdullah's stewardship has had a real impact on the economy. Capital flight has risen sharply; Malaysian investment abroad now exceeds inward foreign investment. The Kuala Lumpur stock exchange has lost almost one-fifth of its value this year to date. Malaysia's currency, the ringgit, saw its biggest one-month loss last month since the end of the dollar peg in 2005. Although GDP growth has averaged a robust 5% annual growth under Abdullah, that record is now under threat. Inflation reached a record 8.5% this summer. Job creation has reached record lows, as unemployment, particularly among young majority Malays, remains high. Ironically, only the opposition-led state governments are attracting new foreign investment — and without the federal government's help, no less.

Abdullah's 2004 attempts to promote growth and investment — such as through the promotion of the biotechnology and agricultural industries — have failed. He also fumbled discussions with the United States on a free trade agreement, which have now stalled. What Malaysia really needs is education reform and the liberalisation of its labour markets to improve its economic competitiveness.

The political opposition, in the form of Anwar and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition, have seized on these issues. They have promised to root out corruption and to implement a new economic policy to address the concerns of all ethnic communities in Malaysia. Their platform aims to move beyond populist spending to introduce structural reforms in government procurement programmes and in the management of government-linked companies.

When Abdullah assumed office in 2004, he inherited an economy in need of structural reform. Malaysians have had to pay for his poor stewardship through higher prices, stagnating wages and growing private sector debt. Soon, Abdullah may have to pay the political price for that record.

Stay healthy with muslim diet

2008-09-18T23:12:00.004+08:00

Some religions have tenets that govern what followers can and cannot eat. Muslims follow a halal diet, or “permissible” foods under Muslim dietary law. Foods that are forbidden are haraam and it's easier to list the foods that aren't allowed instead of what is allowed. The forbidden foods are meat from animals that die from disease or that are not killed by another Muslim, the meat of carnivores, all cuts of pork and pork products including JELL-O, cheeses made with pork renin, and alcohol.

Non-Muslims may think that a halal diet means eating vegetarian if their Muslim friends refuse meat at meals. Some Muslims may choose not to eat meat because they cannot be sure the meat is halal or they may choose to be vegetarian or vegan for other reasons. However, all other meat (chicken, beef, lamb, goat, fish) can be eaten as long as it is prepared accordingly and not contaminated by haraam foods. It's actually easy to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet when following a halal diet, and staying healthy on a Muslim diet is equally as easy.

Here is some more insights on what it means to follow this diet and how to go about staying healthy on a Muslim diet.

Healthy eating
Chapati and rice are staples of the Muslim diet. Chapati is made with whole wheat flour and whole grains tend to be nutrient-dense. They are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and tend to have a low glycemic index. Eating more whole grains is associated with improved insulin sensitivity, better glycemic control and a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and it’s good for staying healthy on a Muslim diet. Eating chapati filled with vegetables and beans is a very healthy meal and can provide adequate amounts of fiber and protein.

When preparing rice, choose brown rice over white for its glycemic index. Brown rice won’t cause a rapid spike in blood sugar; it will provide fuel for your workout and keep you full longer. Rice and beans is a common meal across all cultures. They are complementary proteins and, when combined, they can provide all nine essential amino acids that are found in animal proteins.

Benefits of spices
Halal food is often prepared with an abundance of spice. The most common spice used is curry. Curry powder does have health benefits, and contributes to one staying healthy on a Muslim diet. Turmeric is an ingredient in curry that is an antioxidant and can lower the risk of developing colon cancer, heart disease and arthritis. There is another benefit to eating spicy foods; capsaicin found in hot peppers helps curb appetite and increases metabolic activity because it is a thermogenic agent. That can be a plus if you find yourself always reaching for unhealthy snacks with very low nutrient value. So, if you love the spicy foods you can prepare on a halal diet, go for it. You can add spice and flavor to meals by using ginger, curry, paprika, and red pepper. However, beware of some of the spice mixes; they are high in sodium.

If you work out, over time, the combined benefits of spicy food and strength training can increase metabolism. This is just one of the many ways staying healthy on a Muslim diet is possible.

Portion size
The halal diet encourages healthy eating, but it is important to eat enough. A 165 pound man needs approximately 2,800 to 3,200 calories a day to maintain his weight. The average man needs to ingest one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. Adequate amounts of protein can be obtained from beans, nuts, eggs, yogurt, milk, and cheese. You need protein to build and repair muscle, skin and hair, but you don't have to overdo it. Roughly 25% to 30% of your calories should come from protein. One cup of milk has eight grams of protein. An eight ounce container of yogurt has about 11 grams of protein, a cup of beans has 16 grams of protein, and a three ounce cut of meat has about 21 grams of protein. The other 60% of your total daily calories should come from complex carbs and 10% to 15% should come from fats.

Losing weight on a Muslim diet
If you’re trying to lose weight, don't skip meals. Your body will assume it’s starving and your metabolism will slow down. This is counterproductive. Instead, cut calories by 500 per day. That will equal one pound of weight loss per week, which is healthy. To gain weight, increase your diet by 500 calories for a healthy weight gain of one to two pounds a week. Be sure to eat complex, not simple, carbohydrates. Choose low glycemic foods; they won't spike blood sugar too quickly. Cook with healthy fats, such as olive oil or canola oil. After your workouts, choose post-workout meals to replace utilized carbs and protein; a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a good balance of protein and carbs.
healthy eating

P/S: As with any diet, when eating according to Muslim law on a halal diet, be sure you’re eating everything in moderation to stay healthy.

Jobs not to outsource

2008-09-13T14:52:00.003+08:00

Unless you are an elected official or burn the midnight oil as a performer at an adult entertainment club, it is likely that you have had concern about losing your job to the winds of outsourcing at some point. This concern is certainly valid since some counts have nearly 1.6 million jobs moving overseas in 2010 -- up almost threefold since 2005. Furthermore, these are not just manufacturing jobs that we’re talking about. Of course, we’ve all heard of the computer programming and data entry jobs that find their way overseas to places like India, but the U.S. job marketplace is also starting to see jobs in sales, architecture, legal, and even management positions being outsourced.

Fortunately, the situation is not hopeless. In addition to the Bureau of Labor reporting that there are more workers in America than ever before, regardless of the outsourcing trend, there are many jobs that are unlikely to be outsourced. Here are a few to consider:

Health care

It is not exactly convenient to fly overseas when it comes time to visit the dentist or the doctor’s office. Furthermore, with a large segment of the population aging, we will also see record numbers of people entering nursing homes or assisted living facilities -- and odds are that these denizens will prefer to stay in the U.S. than relocate to an overseas facility for outsourced care. In short, people will need medical care and it needs to be in their backyard -- not a different country.

In addition to the traditional fields, such as a nurse or physician, there is a wealth of other positions that make the health-care field go. Consider a career as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician or perhaps a research or science career within a pharmaceutical company. Health-care administration and management is a rapidly growing field and allows for the application of an array of business and professional skills as well -- after all, health-care establishments are businesses and need to be properly run. As long as people live in this country, health care will remain here at home and the jobs that support the industry won’t be outsourced.

Construction

I think we can all safely say that it would be hard for someone overseas to build your house. Although many technological advances have been made through the years, buildings are still built the old fashioned way -- by hand. This is not to say that you should leave your office job to pour cement -- though it can be quite profitable.

Think about the industries that cater to construction. If you like being outside and tasked with the responsibility, a job as a construction manager might be your calling, especially since it’s not easy to crack the whip (among many other management duties) from an outsourced location across the ocean. Engineering jobs, regardless of the concentration, are also in demand in the U.S. and essential to the construction industry.

We have all heard that these types of jobs are being outsourced, but the reality is that they are not. Consider a country like India: it needs to keep as many of its engineers as possible since it has a population that’s roughly four times greater than the U.S.’s and shows far more construction and development growth than us. India also produces far fewer engineers than U.S. universities do. It would seem that for the foreseeable future, construction and engineering jobs will most likely remain intact and immune from outsourcing.

Real estate

Your house is here, the office building you work in is here, the land you want to buy is here, and the people that make real estate happen are here. Realtor and the myriad of other jobs that encompass the real estate industry -- everything from attorneys, mortgage officers, appraisers, insurance agents, and even decorators -- are possible career options that likely won’t be outsourced. Additionally, real estate is a highly regulated industry in the U.S. and many jobs require licenses that must be obtained and maintained. It is, therefore, difficult from a legal standpoint to outsource real estate jobs. Financial services, another highly regulated industry and one that also has the keep-it-at-home mentality, offers similar protection from outsourcing.

Education

The population of our country is growing and the enrollment rate at higher-education institutions is expected to grow at an even faster clip in the years to come. This means that there will be a demand for jobs in education and despite technological advances that enable online learning and courses, the vast majority of education will remain at brick-and-mortar facilities.

Even if you feel that you are not cut out to be a classroom teacher or a university professor, the trail of jobs within education does not stop there. Universities, in particular, operate as self-sustaining businesses with full finance, food service, administration, leadership, and security positions. Grade schools are also seeing an increase in jobs that are not typically thought to be related to teaching, such as guidance counselors, resource officers, speech pathologists, and even behavioral therapists.

You can even think beyond traditional schooling and turn to such things as working for a professional training or consulting firm or a continuing education firm. As long as people in this country seek education, whether it’s for children or professionals seeking to augment their career path with new skills, there will be a need for trained educators and supporting personnel -- none of which can be easily outsourced.

Public service

The military may also be an interesting option since there are countless jobs that run the machine, and most are not directly combat related. The jobs available in the military are as varied as in the civilian sector and because the military operates much like a business you can expect to find work in communications, management, food service, administration, personal care, therapy, technology and computers, finance, and much more.

USMilitary.com is a great resource that provides dozens of examples of job openings among the military branches along with the civilian equivalent of the job. Similar capacities, though not as diverse, are available through local public service organizations, such as the police or fire departments. The facts remain that you cannot fight a fire or serve and protect from overseas, and you have to be a citizen to serve in the military. Add those things together, and these jobs are certainly outsource proof.

Outsource outcry

Of course, the best vaccine you can have against losing your job to outsourcing is to ensure you continue to be valuable to your organization. If you continue to build on the knowledge and skills that make you integral to the success of your organization, it will be difficult to replace you -- especially from overseas. You may also want to consider the most outsource-proof job of all -- running your own business. Certainly, there are risks involved with that approach, but it will be totally up to you whether or not to outsource yourself. If none of the above interest you, you can always strive to become an elected official -- I doubt the U.S. will outsource its government anytime soon.

Mafia Lessons: Raise A Man

2008-09-12T06:29:00.002+08:00

Even if you’ve yet to prove that your boys can swim, maybe you’ve already thought about how to take a boy and raise a man, and how to instill in him the virtues of manliness. The first step is to be clear about what manliness is. With many empty qualities floating out there for men to desperately cling to, it can be difficult to define. However, if you’re looking to raise a good old-fashioned paisan of a man who does well with the ladies, makes a good income and doesn’t shy away from cafones and the occasional rat, then don’t go anywhere -- Mafia Lesson has some foolproof tips up his sleeve for whipping a boy into shape without relying on such banned techniques as whipping, beating, spanking, and shaking (although… no, never mind). Here’s how to raise a man.

Put him in the ring
If you’ve ever seen the brilliant Martin Scorsese flick Raging Bull where Robert De Niro plays the former middleweight champ Jake La Motta, then you know that a boxing pedigree can help your kid be as tough as nails. Of course, most professional boxers also happen to be meatheads. All you want, though, is to toughen your boy up so that he’s able to deal with the school bully when the time comes.

Of course, another option is martial arts, but they’re a waste of time. Unless your kid goes on to be an MMA guy, there’s no use in learning karate or kung fu. Remember: This is Malaysia where bullies still use their fists to prove their point. And as kids get older, the situation doesn’t really change much since all you really need when dealing with slimy swindlers is how to land the first punch. And boxing will teach your kid how to sneak a surprise attack while also preparing him to block that first punch.

Teach him to shoot something
As with most things in life, timing is everything when you’re raising a kid. If your boy has a good head on his shoulders, there comes a time when he should learn how to handle a gun, as this will help you raise a man. Ideally, you would be an avid hunter who takes weekend deer-hunting trips or guns down quail to grill on Sunday nights. Nevertheless, boys are inevitably curious about guns, and it’s better that you show him how to shoot before he tracks down his own silly reasons for pretending he’s in a video game.

So, if you live in the city, take him to some grimy alley and let him shoot rats. If you live in the country but don’t hunt, line up a few empties and let him pop them off.

Give him some work
Everyone needs to work, even little guys. Too often, parents are content sending their kids to school and then sticking them in front of the TV or the computer when they get home. This is the lazy man’s approach to parenting and it will fry your son’s brain. You may recall your own youth and the kind of raging energy you had. Boys need to play, they need to compete in sports and they need to be outdoors. So, when he’s too young to hold down a job, make sure to keep him busy by having him paint the house, cut the grass or pick up the groceries.

It’s also a good idea to build the boy’s self-confidence by sending him on important errands that he can’t tell his mother about. Maybe this means spying on someone’s activities or being a low-level messenger. Either way, the idea is to provide the boy with things that are exciting, that teach him responsibility and that fuel ideas of his own self-worth.

Send him to a strict private school
The trouble with most public schools is that they’re chronically underfunded. Not only that, but there is no unifying vision at these places. Sure, anyone can go, but is it really in your son’s best interest to learn in a place where discipline is as obsolete as the guillotine? Instead, try a little old world order when you want to raise a man. A good strict school will teach your boy the values of tradition and history while instilling in him a reasonable sense of moral order. Besides, the reason many young kids fly off the handle and make terrible decisions when left to their own devices is because they’ve haven’t been taught anything about their past, their history or their ancestry. As a result, they’re so future-obsessed that they have no profound sense of right and wrong.

Take him to a strip club
Yes, the strip club, that timeless establishment where boys will be boys and women will strip. Aside from being a good rite of passage for a young man, the strip club is a place where business happens, where men meet to unwind, where men smoke and drink and talk dirty to their hearts’ content. For a young man, the strip club provides a fine setting for his mind to learn about what men do in their free time. Not only that, but it might help him understand why you’re so late in getting home every once in a while.

Teach him how to cut a piece of meat
When I first left home, I got my first and only present from my father. It consisted of a meat cleaver, a set of steak knives and a knife-sharpener. He was making the point that a man may not know how to blend spices like the Iron Chef, however he should not only know how to carve the Christmas turkey but also how to prepare and cook a good piece of meat. So when you fire up the barbecue, get your son involved. If you want to raise a man, make him drop a steak on the grill, teach him how long to leave the steak on the heat and have him slice the meat. That way, you can relax with a cigar while little Johnny takes care of making it rare.

Today is Thursday

2008-09-11T07:07:00.003+08:00

September 11, 2008 (V7 for Al-Qaeda Wars against US)

For Capricorn

The Bottom Line

Don't strategize life based on how much money you want. Focus on quality of life.

In Detail

This is not a good time to strategize your life based on how much money you want to make. Your career advancement should be structured around what you want to learn, what you want to gain experience doing, and the types of people you want to interact with. Doing something just because it will earn you more money than something else is way too shortsighted. And you don't want to be stuck in a trap later on, unable to break free. Focus on what you want to do, not how much you want to make.

Samad is Utusan

2008-09-05T09:57:00.006+08:00

Oleh ZAINUDDIN MAIDIN, Utusan Malaysia, 5 September 2008

Sekalipun Tokoh Wartawan Negara, Abdul Samad Ismail telah meninggalkan Utusan Melayu lama sebelum pemergian abadinya dengan bertugas di akhbar-akhbar lain tetapi tidak ada suatu zaman yang lebih besar dan lebih bererti sepanjang 84 tahun usianya kecuali hari-harinya di Utusan Melayu selama lebih 17 tahun. Hari-hari inilah yang terus memburu hidupnya, menjadi ceritanya sepanjang masa, mempengaruhi dan membentuk keperibadiannya, menjadi kenang-kenangan hebat, indah dan keagungan hidupnya.

Menurut riwayat isterinya Allahyarhamah Hamidah Hassan, Samad tetap orang Utusan ketika berkerja di Berita Harian dan pada satu masa Samad adalah Utusan dan Utusan adalah Samad (lihat buku A. Samad Ismail Journalisme and Politics susunan Cheah Boon Kheng).

Memulakan kariernya di Utusan Melayu di Singapura pada umur 16 tahun ketika Utusan yang dilahirkan pada 29 Mei 1939, baru berumur setahun jagung, Samad tidak sahaja sebagai wartawan tetapi juga pejuang yang berhempas pulas bersama-sama pengasas Utusan Melayu, Yusoff Ishak dan beberapa orang wartawan yang jauh lebih dewasa daripadanya untuk memastikan Utusan Melayu terus hidup sebagai suara dan wadah perjuangan bangsa.

Samad tidak mengambil kira tentang kedudukannya dalam Utusan ketika itu sehinggalah beliau ditahan di bawah undang-undang darurat pada tahun 1951 kerana kegiatan politik kirinya dalam Parti Kebangsaan Melayu (PKM) dan Putera-AMCIA. Utusan terpaksa mencari istilah nama jawatannya.

Hanya setelah dibebaskan pada tahun 1953 barulah kedudukan beliau dirasmikan sebagai Timbalan Pengarang “tetapi itu pun tanpa surat rasmi” katanya dalam tulisannya di Utusan Melayu keluaran 50 tahun pada 29 Mei 1989. Menurutnya pada mereka yang terdidik di Utusan sebanyak sedikit nilai hidup zaman permulaan mereka di Utusan Melayu masih kekal hingga sekarang.

“Pada kami Utusan adalah warisan bangsa yang diamanahkan kepada kami untuk membela dan memperjuangkan cita-cita kebangsaan.”

Pemisahannya daripada Utusan Melayu tanpa kerelaannya menjelang kemerdekaan Malaya pada tahun I957 adalah suatu episod yang amat melukakan hatinya.

“Sampai mati pun aku tidak akan lupa aku tidak dapat melihat perayaan kemerdekaan tanah airku,” katanya kepada wartawan anak didiknya di Utusan Melayu, Allahyarham Ali Salim yang terkenal dengan panggil Jiro.

Samad dihantar menjadi wakil Utusan Melayu di Jakarta kerana menurut apa dimaklumkan kepadanya oleh Yusoff Ishak, Ketua Pengarang dan Pengarah Urusan Utusan bahawa beliau tidak disenangi oleh kerajaan Perikatan yang bakal berkuasa di Malaya dan sekiranya beliau terus mengetuai Jabatan Pengarang Utusan Melayu, Utusan tidak akan mendapat lesen cetak apabila berpindah ke Kuala Lumpur. Bagaimanapun singa UMNO, Syed Jaafar Albar yang mempunyai hubungan baik dengan Samad pada masa itu memberitahu Samad dalam sepucuk suratnya bertarikh 2 Julai 1957 bahawa hal itu “palsu yang direka-reka oleh kapitalis – yang oportunis.”

Siapakah di belakang perancangan pertukarannya itu tidak diketahui tetapi ramai orang tahu bahawa Lee Kuan Yew, Ketua Menteri Singapura yang pernah menjadi peguam Utusan mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Yusoff Ishak. Kuan Yew tidak senang dengan Samad yang bersekongkol dengan kumpulan kiri dalam PAP yang diketuai Lim Chin Siong. Samad adalah salah seorang pengasas PAP bersama dengan Kuan Yew tetapi kerana tidak sefahaman, beliau mengundurkan diri.

Kuan Yew melantik Yusoff Ishak menjadi Presiden Singapura yang pertama setelah beliau meninggalkan Utusan atas desakan anggota Jabatan Pengarang dan kakitangan Utusan Melayu di Kuala Lumpur dalam tahun I959.

Pak Samad tidak disenangi dan ditakuti oleh Kuan Yew mungkin kerana kepintarannya dan juga pengaruhnya yang luas di kalangan masyarakat Melayu, puak kiri daripada semua kaum termasuk kesatuan sekerja dan kalangan pelajar menengah Cina di Singapura. Di dalam buku memoirnya yang kedua From Third World to First World, Kuan Yew mendakwa Samad sebagai anggota Parti Komunis Malaya sejak tahun 1950. Buku ini juga menceritakan peranan Kuan Yew dalam konspirasi dengan Kerajaan Malaysia bagi menahan Samad di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dalam tahun 1976 selepas kematian Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdul Razak. Ia menampakkan dendam yang tidak berkesudahan Kuan Yew terhadap Samad sekalipun beliau telah berhijrah ke Kuala Lumpur setelah meninggalkan Utusan Melayu untuk berkhidmat dengan Berita Harian sejak 1958 apabila pulang dari Jakarta.

Di Straits Times (ST) Kuala Lumpur di samping tugas kewartawanannya, Samad meneruskan peranannya sebagai seorang nasionalis dan pejuang politik dengan merancang pengambilan alih Straits Times daripada penguasaan asing yang bertunjang di Singapura. Ini menepati apa yang dikatakan oleh isterinya Hamidah; “He was not too anxious to surrender his individuality to his new employers.”

Berbeza

Menurut Cheah Boon Kheng yang ketika itu bertugas sebagai penulis rencana di Straits Times, Samad telah mengambil kesempatan untuk meneruskan agendanya ketika tindakan perusahaan ‘kerja perlahan’ anggota Jabatan Pengarang Straits Times di Kuala Lumpur kerana tidak puas hati dengan perbezaan gaji dan lain-lain layanan kerja yang terlalu jauh berbeza dengan pegawai-pegawai asing. Boon Kheng menulis dalam A.Samad Ismail Journalisme and Politics bahawa Samad yang merancang gerakan yang membawa kepada Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdul Razak dan Tunku Razaleigh ketika itu Menteri Kewangan mengarahkan syarikat Straits Times memindahkan pemilikannya ke tangan rakyat Malaysia.

Sebelum itu Kesatuan Kebangsaan Wartawan Malaysia (NUJ) yang saya sebagai Presidennya dan Hor Sai Kong daripada Straits Times sebagai Setiausaha Agungnya telah menyampaikan sebuah memorandum yang bertajuk Expatriates in The Malaysian Press kepada Perdana Menteri Tun Abdul Razak menuntut supaya wartawan tempatan mengambil alih Jabatan Pengarang Straits Times. Bagaimanapun pada mulanya kami menghadapi masalah untuk mendapat temu janji dengan Tun Abdul Razak. Saya telah menjemput Datuk Harun Idris, Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia untuk bercakap di Utusan mengenai perlunya pemilikan media oleh rakyat Malaysia sendiri terutamanya akhbar Inggeris.

Oleh kerana sudah timbul bunga-bunga persaingan politik antara Datuk Harun dengan Tun Abdul Razak pada masa itu maka langkah membawa Datuk Harun ke Utusan telah membantu memudahkan pertemuan kami dengan Tun Abdul Razak. Tiba-tiba Hor Sai Kong memberitahu saya bahawa jalan terbuka sekarang. Saya tahu siapakah yang mengaturkan pertemuan itu. Pucuk pimpinan NUJ dengan diketuai saya (Utusan Melayu) dan disertai Hor Sai Kong (Straits Times), Philip Mathews (Straits Times) dan C.C.Liew (Sin Chew) telah menemui Tun Abdul Razak di pejabatnya untuk hanya kira-kira lima minit sahaja bagi menyampaikan memorandum berkenaan yang mempunyai fakta lengkap jumlah rakyat asing dalam Jabatan Pengarang Straits Times, pendapatan mereka dan keistimewaan yang mereka dapat yang jauh lebih baik daripada rakyat tempatan dan carta jabatan pengarang yang menunjukkan bilangan dan kedudukan wartawan asing di Straits Times termasuk dari Singapura.

Memoradum itu yang bertarikh 17 Januari 1972 menekankan tentang ancaman terhadap pembangunan nasionalisme dan budaya Malaysia sekiranya orang asing terus menguasai Jabatan Pengarang akhbar-akhbar di Malaysia terutamanya akhbar Inggeris tetapi tidak mencadangkan pengambilahan syarikat Straits Times oleh rakyat tempatan. Saya masih menyimpan memorandum itu hingga kini.

Kami tidak bercakap panjang dengan Tun Abdul Razak kerana kami yakin segala-galanya telah diterangkan lebih dahulu kepadanya oleh Samad Ismail. Setiausaha Akhbar Perdana Menteri, Abdullah Majid meminta supaya kami tidak menulis berita pertemuan itu tetapi saya telah menyiarkannya di muka hadapan Utusan Melayu dan Utusan Malaysia.

Tidak lama kemudian berlakulah perubahan drastik dengan nama The Straits Times ditukar menjadi New Straits Times (NST) dan jabatan pengarang dan pengurusannya disusun semula dengan memberikan kedudukan penting kepada anak tempatan. Lembaga pengarah NST yang baru dilantik terdiri daripada semuanya rakyat Malaysia. Boon Kheng menyifatkannya sebagai suatu kejayaan kudeta Samad Ismail di The Straits Times.

Sesungguhnya hubungan Samad yang begitu rapat dengan Tun Abdul Razak, tidak menyenangkan beberapa pihak dalam UMNO yang mahu mencabar kedudukan Tun Abdul Razak sebagai Presiden UMNO.

Dalam pertarungan ini sekali lagi Samad Ismail dimomokan memainkan peranan ‘komunis’ di belakang layar dan Kuan Yew di Singapura yang tidak senang dengan pemulihan Samad yang rapat dengan Tun Abdul Razak kemudiannya melihat ini sebagai suatu kesempatan baginya untuk menyekat kemaraan Samad dalam politik di Malaysia. Berikutan dengan kematian Tun Abdul Razak, berlakulah tangkapan yang popular dengan panggilan “Tiga Abdul” iaitu Abdul Samad Ismail, Abdullah Ahmad dan Abdullah Majid di bawah ISA pada tahun 1976.

Ketidakpercayaan Kuan Yew pada Samad tidak pernah berakhir walaupun Samad telah berpindah ke Malaysia. Saya sendiri dapat merasakan ini apabila di akhir tahun 1964, kami wartawan-wartawan Malaysia menghadiri suatu majlis di Temasik kediaman Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Singapura di Kuala Lumpur yang diberikan oleh Kuan Yew dalam usaha merapatkan diri dengan wartawan Malaysia. Kuan Yew bertanya kepada Firdaus Abdullah (sekarang Profesor Datuk Firdaus) dalam bahasa Melayu: Saudara dari mana? Bila Firdaus memberitahu bahawa dia dari Berita Harian, Kuan Yew terus bertanya kenapa Samad tidak datang dan Firdaus memberitahu ‘dia melawat’ US Seventh Fleet yang berlabuh di Filipina atas jemputan. Dengan spontan Kuan Yew berkata “Habislah rahsia Amerika dia tahu.”

Saya hanya berkesempatan bergaul dengan Samad sesekali ketika mengikuti lawatan Tun Abdul Razak ke negeri-negeri Pantai Timur di awal 1970-an di mana saya sedikit sebanyak dapat menyelami perasaannya terhadap Utusan dan nasionalismenya. Saya lebih banyak tahu mengenainya dari wartawan yang pernah bersama berkerja dengannya seperti Jiro, Mazlan Nordin, Pak Melan dan mereka yang pernah berkerja di bawahnya.

Nama besar

Samad telah meninggalkan nama-nama besar anak didikannya dalam dunia kewartawanan dan kesusasteraan dan juga politik tetapi beliau tidak pernah mendakwa mendidik mereka menjadi besar dalam dunia masing-masing dengan sifat kerajinan, kesungguhan, komitmen dan dedikasi yang merupakan keperibadian Samad. Antara mereka ialah sasterawan dan wartawan Keris Mas, Osman Awang, Mazlan Nordin, Melan Abdullah, Osman Wok, Azhari Taib, Samad Idris, Osman Abadi dan ramai lagi. Mazlan Nordin (Tan Sri) masih gigih membaca dan menulis hingga ke hari ini.

Samad yang memperkenalkan Hadiah Kajai yang merupakan hadiah tertinggi kepada wartawan Malaysia terulung menerusi Institut Akhbar Malaysia (MPI) sebagai menghargai mahagurunya dalam dunia kewartawanan ketika usia mudanya di Utusan Melayu. Dalam tulisannya sempena keluaran khas Utusan Melayu 29 Mei I989 sempena Utusan Melayu 50 tahun di bawah tajuk Mengenang suatu zaman yang begitu besar, Samad berkata “Daripada Kajai saya belajar budaya kerja, nilai profesional saya, komitmen kepada bidang hidup saya dan saya rasa tanpa ketegasan Yusoff Ishak barangkali Utusan tidak akan survive.Beliau telah memberikan corak dan bentuk pimpinan yang diperlukan oleh Utusan di zaman itu; “tegas dan keras.” Samad melihat mereka yang berkerja dengan Utusan di zamannya merasakan “Utusan melambangkan segala yang luhur, mulia dan suci daripada perjuangan bangsa.”

Sesuatu yang saya ulangi membacanya berkali-kali dan mengharukan perasaan saya ialah bahagian terakhir tulisannya itu yang berbunyi:

“Seperti seorang ayah atau ibu yang lebih suka mengenang anaknya yang besar dan yang sudah dewasa, seolah-olah anaknya itu masih berusia enam tahun maka begitulah saya lebih berminat melihat Utusan bukan dalam bentuk dan rupanya sekarang, pada saat ini tahun I989 tetapi Utusan dalam zaman remajanya dan dalam zaman kecilnya.

“Mungkin kerana saya ingin mengenang ciri ciri manis sahaja daripada sejarah Utusan, atau mungkin saya keberatan menghadapi kenyataan sebenarnya bahawa di sebalik yang manis,terselip juga yang pahit.

“Tetapi saya akui ini adalah kelemahan saya sebagai manusia atau sebagai ayah yang hanya ingin mengenang anaknya yang sebenarnya sudah berumah tangga sekarang, ketika anaknya masih kecil lagi, ketika masih ditimbangnya lagi.

“Saya tidak akan jujur kalau saya tidak mengatakan bahawa sikap dan tanggapan saya, nilai dan norma-norma saya terbentuk dalam zaman saya berjuang di Utusan.

“Zaman itu tidak akan berulang lagi. Ia telah berakhir. Tulisan ini sekadar satu nostalgia sahaja untuk mengenang satu zaman yang begitu besar ertinya pada hidup saya dan teman-teman lain.”

Ketika tersebar berita saya tersingkir daripada jawatan Ketua Pengarang Utusan Melayu pada akhir tahun 1992, anak didik kesayangan Samad, Sasterawan Negara, Osman Awang menelefon saya; “Zam, saya rasakan sepi hari ini. Saudara adalah warisan terakhir Utusan.” Saya tidak tahu sama ada ini benar atau tidak tetapi apa pun perbezaan pandangan politik saya dengan Pak Samad, Osman Awang, Said Zahari dan Pak Sako tetapi ada suatu jalinan perasaan warisan yang mengikat erat antara kami yang diharapkan akan terus turun dari generasi ke generasi.

Utusan adalah suatu lambang perjuangan berani, nekad dan penuh dengan komitmen yang dilambangkan oleh penglibatan wartawan-wartawannya menerusi penulisan dan sebagai aktivis politik secara terang-terangan sejak awal penubuhannya seperti Pak Sako, Tajuddin Kahar, Melan Abdullah, Said Zahari dan lain-lain tetapi Samad Ismail lebih tersembunyi di sebalik tabir politik yang pelbagai dari kiri hingga ke kanan.

Sekalipun tidak berada di barisan depan parti-parti politik yang disertainya sejak usianya yang begitu muda namun peranan kewartawanan politiknya menyokong gerakan anti kolonialisme menerusi gerakan nasionalisme Nusantara dan antarabangsa dan politik dalam negara dengan daya inteleknya yang tinggi dan kebijaksanaan perancangan dan penyusunan organisasi menjadikannya nama besar dalam dunia politik, berpengaruh, ditakuti dan senantiasa disyaki dan diikuti yang membawanya masuk dari zaman penjajahan hingga di tanah airnya yang merdeka.

Kehidupannya yang penuh dengan tekanan, cabaran, buruan, kejayaan dan kegagalan, timbul dan tenggelam menjadikannya wartawan lain daripada yang lain, menyebabkan beliau mendapat perhatian dan simpati, disegani dan dihormati. Beliau dilihat lebih besar daripada tokoh-tokoh wartawan lain di negara ini.

Kembalinya A. Samad Ismail ke rahmatullah adalah pemergian abadi seorang wira kewartawanan politik yang terhebat di negara ini. Saya mencatatkan kembali sebuah sajak pendek dalam tulisan terakhir di kolum Awang Selamat pada Mingguan Malaysia 1 November 1992 yang rasa sesuai untuk dibacakan semula sempena pemergian A.Samad Ismail ang telah menanam benih dan idealisme perjuangan dalam Utusan Melayu.

Kawan kawan,
Dari 1939 sampai kini

Api ini tidak pernah mati

dimarakan ganti berganti

dalam chahayanya anak-anak menari

satu tangan terbakar

sejuta tangan menggengamnya
lebih erat lagi

maka keramatlah sebuah institusi

yang memahkotakan rakyat

dari generasi ke generasi.

P/S: Farewell Comrade, May ALLAH be with you...AMIN

Happy Ramadhan to ALL

2008-09-02T20:14:00.002+08:00

Assalammualaikum warahmatullah..

Sempena ketibaan bulan Ramadhan, bulan penuh rahmat dan pengampunan, saya memohon ampun dan maaf atas segala dosa, kejahatan, kesilapan, dan ketidakadilan sekiranya pernah saya lakukan kpd kamu, secara sengaja atau tidak. Secara terang atau tidak, dan dgn fikiran yg waras mahupun dgn amarah dan bisikan iblis laknatullah. Saya juga dgn penuh rasa kasih, kasih kpd saudara seagama, mengakui memaafkan segala dosa, dan kesilapan sekiranya pernah kamu lakukan kpd saya, secara terang mahupun sebaliknya. Semoga kita menyambut Ramadhan dengan penuh rasa takut kpd Allah, takut kpd azabNya, dan takut kpd Neraka jahannam. Semoga kita penuhi masa Ramadhan, dgn pengampunan, taubat, dan kesucian hati.

English:

As Ramadhan coming, the holy and spiritual month with full of forgiveness for those who pray for it.

Kedah bars concerts

2008-08-29T09:31:00.003+08:00

The Star, Friday, 29 August 2008, By Sira Habibu

ALOR STAR: It’s goodbye to rock, reggae, pop and dangdut concerts in Kedah. The Pakatan Rakyat state government has imposed a blanket ban on such concerts until further notice because, it said, such shows could have a negative influence on youths.

“We do not condone any gelek-gelek (gyrating movements) on stage,” said state executive councillor Dr Ismail Salleh.

“We are currently formulating a comprehensive guideline for concerts. Until then, concerts of such nature are banned,” he told The Star here yesterday.

Dr Ismail, who is state PAS liaison committee member, said the state government was not against entertainment.

“We just do not want to allow the type of entertainment that could negatively influence people,” he said.

Dr Ismail said concerts involving nasyid and patriotic songs were allowed. He said the Ambang Merdeka concert at Stadium Darul Aman tomorrow night would proceed.

“We have invited artiste Roy and Kopratasa band to sing patriotic songs,” he said in response to a last-minute cancellation of a daytime mini-concert in Menara Alor Star recently. Dr Ismail said the guidelines on concerts set by Jakim would be implemented in Kedah.

“The federal guidelines are there but, so far, only Kelantan has implemented them,” he said.

P/S: What happen to Islam Hadhari Pak Lah? They make a rule but didn't implement it...such a Musyrik...

IAC

2008-08-20T21:06:00.003+08:00

Alhamdulillah...Finally I joint one of top notch consultancy firm in the country.

Innovation Associates is a group of companies, focused on providing end-to-end solutions to our clients specializing in consultancy, IT solutions and outsourcing.

They are staffed by a team of experienced consultants, IT and HR specialists managed by former Partners of Ernst & Young Consulting and Vice Presidents of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGE&Y). This endows Innovation Associates with local leadership and expertise enhanced by international knowledge and experience. Over the years we have also garnered valuable insights on strategic business and economic issues, national agenda and global knowledge on best practices.

The team has successfully completed large scale projects involving complex business transformation and systems implementation. Most of the projects span across several key industries such as telecommunications, energy, financial services, agri-business and public sector.

P/S: I will join Education and Training Project Management in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after Idul Fitri...INSYALLAH...AMIN

UiTM = Bodoh Sombong

2008-08-13T15:25:00.000+08:00

When you, as bumiputeras, object to allow 'others' to study in UiTM, you are deemed to be intellectually afraid to compete academically with 'others'; in this case, 'the non-bumiputras'.

And we are talking about an intake of only 10 % non-bumiputeras, who may NOT even be the cream amongst them.

And when you are scared to compete academically with "others", even if you think you are the best of the lot, you are nothing more than a "one-eyed king in the kingdom of the blind."

Tan Sri Khalid wasn't asking you to compete with the world's best students, nor did he suggest that you compete with the cream of the non-bumiputeras, that's assuming they would be interested to apply for their course of choice at the UiTM.

It says a lot about your weak mindset when 90 % of you are NOT ready to take head-on 10 % of non-bumiputeras in your class rooms and compete with them in the academic exams. You will always be known as, what we call, "intellectual cowards".

The proposal has nothing to do with wanting to deny 10% bumiputeras of tertiary education as there are other universities in the country .

Tan Sri Khalid, as a Malay/bumiputera himself who had seen enough in the private sector of the kind of quality of bumiputera graduates being mass-produced by some of our local public universities, is making his proposal for your own good, for the good of UiTM, for the good of the Malay/bumiputera community and for the good of the country.

The reasons for your objection are more due to your lack of sense of security, your self-worth, your self confidence and your paranoia of 'others', inculcated by the racially-based parochial policies of this UMNO-led Government over the last 50 years.

And that is sadly, the truth, however much you would want to deny.

In any case, the quality of education in UiTM is nothing to crow about when compared to most other local public and private universities. Don't even try to match UiTM's academic performance with renown universities in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Incidentally, we do NOT agree with blogger Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad that the proposal has anything to do with politics. That is a silly and ridiculous accusation.

All the tough talk by Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad and others in opposing Tan Sri Khalid's proposal is being "bodoh sombong."
Malaysian Unplug

20 Dates for Under RM20

2008-08-13T15:13:00.002+08:00

If you're not careful, dating can be a really expensive pastime. To impress your date, you may pull out all the stops -- fancy meals on the town, lavish trips, or high-priced events. But in many cases, there's no need to spend tons of money to create a fantastic date.

For instance, think of all the favorite dates you've experienced. I'm guessing some of them were memorable moments that didn't cost you a lot of money. As long as a date features an activity you and your date enjoy together, there's no need to splurge for every occasion.

I've devised a simple list of 20 date ideas for under 20 dollars.“Whether you want adventure, romance, outdoor exploration, or cultural exposure, there are plenty of low-cost options to choose from.” Whether you want adventure, romance, outdoor exploration, or cultural exposure, there are plenty of low-cost options to choose from.

Adventurous Dates:

1) Play tourist in your city for a day. Buy a guidebook and discover interesting walking tours.
2) If you and your date enjoy photography, pack your cameras and go on a photography adventure together.
3) Dine at an affordable restaurant offering Eastern cuisine -- like Chinese or Indian -- and enjoy a cheaper and more exotic meal than your usual date fare.
4) Check out your local paper or the Internet for free events or festivals in your area.
5) Visit your city's famous landmarks that you probably take for granted or haven't seen since you were a little kid!

Romantic Dates:

1) Hang out at a cozy or charming cafe for a dessert and a drink.
2) Meet for a glass of wine at a wine bar in an interesting area before taking a stroll in the neighborhood.
3) If you've hung out a few times... invite your date over and make a gourmet pizza together.
4) Take a Salsa dance class, which is often cheap or free.
5) Rent a rowboat with your date on a sunny day.

Outdoor Dates:

1) Go on a bike ride or walk that includes a destination offering ice cream or a cold drink.
2) Shoot hoops, play frisbee, or rollerblade. Sports are great for competitive flirting!
3) If one or both of you have a dog, visit a dog park together.
4) Plan a picnic. Impress your date with a fun dish.
5) Go fly a kite (just don't tell your date that or he/she may get offended...)

Cultural Dates:

1) Check out your city's indie bands. It's a great way to support local musicians and the cover is cheap.
2) Go see live comedy. Even if it stinks, you'll still laugh.
3) See an old film at a repertory movie house.
4) Attend a lecture or a workshop on a topic that you're both interested in learning more about.
5) Enjoy a gallery or museum together (many galleries even have pay what you can).

When planning your next date, remember that you can have fun without spending lots of money. Instead of succumbing to a lavish dating routine, substitute the ordinary extravagance with one of my creative options.

P/S: I choose Adventure Date no. 2...say sweet...click2

Woman seeks rich husband

2008-07-27T18:56:00.001+08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Deal or no deal? An online exchange between a woman looking for a husband who earns more than $500,000 a year and a mystery Wall Street banker, who assessed her potential for romance as a business deal, has cause quite an Internet stir. The anonymous 25-year-old woman recently posted an ad on the free online New York community Web site Craigslist, http://newyork.craigslist.org/, appealing for advice on how to find a wealthy husband.

"I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all," the woman, who described herself as "spectacularly beautiful" and "superficial," wrote.

"I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. $250,000 won't get me to Central Park West," she said, asking questions like "where do rich single men hang out?"

The mystery banker, who said he fit the bill, offered the woman an analysis of her predicament, describing it as "plain and simple a crappy business deal."

"Your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity ... in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!" the banker wrote.

"So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset," he said. "Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!"

"It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease," he said.

While the woman has since removed the ad from Craigslist, it -- along with the response -- has become a popular email joke that, bank JPMorgan Chase says, led to one of its bankers mistakenly being credited with writing the response. Brian Marchiony, spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, said the banker did not write the response and that his email signature accidentally became attached to the ad and response when he forwarded it to friends and it then wound up on blogs. Craigslist was not immediately available for comment, but a spokeswoman told The New York Times that "it does look as if the post was made sincerely." (Reuters) Wed Oct 10, 10:39 AM ET 21-Nov-2007

Malaysian Cab in London

2008-07-27T09:23:00.003+08:00

The next time you hail a Black Cab in London, don’t be surprised if the driver greets you with “Selamat datang”. You may have bumped into David Chan Phong Mun, 45, one of the handful of Malaysians out of the estimated 25,000 Black Cab drivers in London!

The former Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) student not only drives the £34,000 (RM238,000) 2.4cc, five-seater limousine – which is as famous as London’s double-decker buses and Underground Tube trains – he also owns it. Touted as one of the world’s most popular taxis, the purpose-built distinctive cab comes equipped with a ramp for wheelchair passengers as well as special grips for the blind and the elderly.

But getting behind the wheel of the Black Cab is not as easy as it seems.

David Chan, one of the handful of Malaysian Black Cab drivers in London. Said Chan: “It took me nearly three years to obtain the green badge that allows me to carry passengers anywhere in London.” Indeed, Chan has likened the sitting of the series of tests for the badge as “even more stressful than getting a university degree.”

“Apart from the 400 fixed routes in London, you have also to remember every street, lane and each of the over 1,000 pubs, bars and restaurants in central London alone. “And London keeps changing, which makes it even more difficult. You can’t sleep the day before the test; you’re like a convict facing the gallows,” he added. But it’s worth the effort as Chan can finally be his own boss after getting his own Black Cab and badge in 2002.

“You can earn good money and enjoy freedom at the same time.

“If you’re hardworking, you can earn between £6,000 and £8,000 a month (RM42,000 and RM56,000), which is even higher than what some professionals, such as doctors, earn,” he smiled. For many drivers, it’s sheer hard work as they normally drive between 12 and 14 hours a day, seven days a week, subscribing to the belief that one should make hay while the sun shines.

A typical day in the afternoon shift begins around noon and ends about midnight or even 2am, depending whether the driver gets enough sleep. The Black Cab’s fares can be pretty intimidating, with a boarding rate of £2.20 (RM15.40) and rising thereafter by time or distance. Thus, an average fare per hour can come up to about £20 to £22 (RM140 and RM154; 6am-8pm); £27 to £30 (RM189 to RM210; 8pm-10pm) and £40 to £50 (RM280 to RM350; 10pm-6am). Lucrative it may seemed, many drivers have had their fair share of unpleasant encounters – robberies, verbal abuse from passengers stuck in traffic jams and drunkards as well as decent-looking people who walk off without paying.

“You win some, you lose some,” said Chan as a matter-of-factly.

For the Segamat-born Chan, his life has come full circle – from the time he finished his studies at Segamat High School in Johor to pursuing his A-levels at TARC in Kuala Lumpur in 1976. After working nine months as a croupier in Genting Highlands, he decided to head for England in 1979 at the age of 19.

Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport, he had an embarrassing incident which he remembers to this day. “While taking the train from Heathrow to Liverpool Street station, I panicked when I could not find the bell to press for the train to stop,” he laughed. That was his first time travelling in the underground train and nobody told him what to expect. It took Chan nearly one whole day to reach his sister’s house in Romford, Essex – a journey which normally takes an hour.

Determined to improve himself, Chan enrolled in a diploma course in Building (General Construction) at a college in Hackney, before obtaining a degree in quantity surveyance. He later qualified as a chartered quantity surveyor.

Between 1986 and 1998, he took on a host of jobs – quantity surveyor, courier delivery staff and finally, taxi fleet manager. With his knowledge of taxis and London’s streets, Chan decided to apply for the Black Cab badge in 1999. And the rest is history. Despite staying in Britain for 26 years, Chan’s heart still lies with Malaysia, saying he plans to retire in 10 years, probably in his hometown of Segamat.

Looking back, he wished he spent more time with his parents in Segamat and shown greater appreciation for them when they were still around.

For Malaysians planning to work in Britain, Chan’s advice is “Be prepared to work hard and save every penny you earn.” So, in case you’re in London, watch out for Chan’s Black Cab with registration number ULU 177. Better still, email him at david chan473@aol.com should you require his service. But be a wee bit generous with tips-lah to a fellow Malaysian!

Cook once a week

2008-07-24T12:21:00.003+08:00

Time is of the essence, and nobody knows this better than I. To help everyone make fine food fast, I have put together some cooking tips, tricks and recipes. If you're a man that has no time to even eat, then this article is specially made for you. It might even help out all you other lazy bones out there who are terrified of cooking something fast, easy, healthy, and most of all... tasty.

get ready, set, cook

All of the dishes listed below can either be served or completely prepared and ready to cook in just 20 minutes. There is really no secret to the way I cook. With some commonsense tips that really do work, cooking can be fun, even for men.

Here are some suggestions to help make preparing meals more enjoyable:

Prep all recipe items before cooking. It's easier to do one type of work all in one shot, using the same tools. People aren't splitting their attention by trying to cut a vegetable and watch a skillet at the same time. Arrange the ingredients in the workspace in the order in which they will be used, and cooking will be more controlled.
Make a double batch. Whenever possible, make a double batch of soup. Serve half the night it's prepared, and freeze the other half for an easy, quick meal some other night.
Stock some stock. Keep a few cans of chicken and beef broth handy. Most commercial brands are excellent. When there is extra time, prepare homemade stock.

Use the cleanup of one meal to save time on the next. Whenever there are leftovers, consider how they will be used before storing them in the refrigerator. Pick the chicken or the turkey carcass, tearing the meat into bite-size chunks for soup or a salad the next day. Cut the beef or ham into strips or chunks for tomorrow's stir-fry or stew recipe.
Keep a sharp edge. Keep cutlery as sharp as possible. It makes for faster and safer work.
Plan ahead. Try to choose one evening a week to do "make-ahead" cooking. Make a couple of sauces that can be frozen and then easily thawed for quick use another night. Create two or three pasta dishes, such as lasagna or ravioli, that will freeze well and can be defrosted as they bake in the oven or boil in a pot.

Watch thickness. One way to speed up cooking time is to keep fish fillets no thicker than 1/2 inch and fish steaks no thicker than 3/4 to 1 inch.
Think small. Keep the size of ingredients on the small side. Mince onions, garlic and herbs. Make julienne vegetables longer and thinner. For a "chop," make the pieces about 1/4 inch square. Everything will cook much faster.
Lose the shells. Always remove the shells from shellfish and mollusks when possible, even if it means adapting a recipe calling for shells on. It will shorten cooking time.

Pound them. One of the easiest ways to speed a boneless chicken breast recipe along is to place the meat between two pieces of waxed paper and, using a wooden mallet or large serving spoon, pound the meat to a thickness of less than 1/4 inch.
Make it hot, hot, hot. Make sure a pan is hot before beginning to cook, and cook over high heat, which requires extra attention but greatly speeds things along.

P/S: Most of the time, I'm so busy doing stuff during the weekdays that I tend to become extremely lazy during the weekends. How, might you ask, can I cure this bout of couchitis? Easy, cook something fun, fast and energizing...Yum-Yum-Yum

The best employees

2008-07-24T12:14:00.003+08:00

In a small town in the U.S., there is a rather sizable factory that hires only married men. Concerned about this, a local woman called on the manager and asked him, "Why is it you limit your employees to married men? Is it because you think women are weak, dumb, cantankerous... or what?"

"Not at all, ma'am," the manager replied. "It is because our employees are used to obeying orders, are accustomed to being shoved around, know how to keep their mouths shut and don't pout when I yell at them."

P/S: Ahaksss...

Best Jobs To Impress Women

2008-07-22T21:41:00.001+08:00

Contrary to what the leathery cougars of Wisteria Lane might have you believe, it takes more than attorney, doctor or pool boy credentials to get the girl, even if you do have six-pack abs. So let’s look at some of the best jobs to impress women. Sure, the leaders in these fields usually make decent money and have the kinds of personalities women dig, but these guys tend to back it up with genuine character and style.

Of course, it’s understood that this review can function as a road map for poseurs. You know, the average actor, rock star or -- if you’re George Costanza -- architect wannabe next door. If you can’t cut it as the real deal, we've provided tips to help you fake it; just hope she doesn’t do a little research and bust you for embellishing your resume for hormonal gain.

Chef - Let’s be honest: There are easier ways to get laid than by becoming a chef. You’re working when everyone else is out having a good time. For that matter, you’re working because everyone else is out for a good time. Survive culinary school, then the backstabbing and burnout on the way up, and you might just nudge six-figure territory someday. Clearly, you’re not doing it for the dough -- it’s about the passion you have for creatively and uniquely interpreting your dishes, and of course having a job to impress women.

Fake it: Adopt a charismatic, screw-you attitude like that of Anthony Bourdain, watch the Food Network for a week straight and don’t eat at chain restaurants -- ever.

Entrepreneur - So, you’ve just barely made it through another day of hell in a cubicle without strangling anyone. You’re in your boring car, crawling along in six lanes full of corporate drones just like you, with nothing to anticipate over the horizon other than a dull evening. This is about the time most people feel the urge to break out on their own as entrepreneurs. Most control these desires and fall back into their rut, only to repeat the same mundane process the next day. However, a few run with the urge for change and become entrepreneurs. These guys can come from different walks of life and have vastly different training and capital. Most, however, are willing to take risks and refuse to settle for less without giving it their all. Working nights and weekends, especially early on, is a given. If the early years don’t bury you or your venture, you’ll be in the minority. As an entrepreneur, you’re well aware of all this, but you have the vision to persevere. It may not be easy, but it is one of the best jobs to impress women -- they will admire your courage, independence and perseverance.

Fake it: Refer to your day job as a consulting gig.

Veterinarian - The bond between people and their pets that can be stronger than a parent/child relationship. Often, pets aren’t just part of the family; they are the family (which can make dating a lot less complicated). Veterinarians understand this bond and take pride in their work, whether it’s a simple checkup or treating the ill and injured. Like human doctors, vets must spend a number years in training before they can become licensed. Unlike people docs, vets earn less (about $80,000, on average), but they still put in long hours. On the plus side, vets get to play multiple medical roles within their practices and get a great deal of satisfaction from their work.

Fake it: Go the New Age route and claim to be able to communicate on a conversational level with pets. You may just land a series on Animal Planet.

Photographer - Your camera is a window to the soul -- be it yours, your subject’s or both. A lot of women like that connection and appreciate a man with an artistic eye who can capture a moment in time and say it all with a single image. Others just lose their inhibitions for the lens. Of course, that’s once you’re established and making about $46,000 yearly or better. That only comes after a lot of formal and informal training, not to mention gigs you reluctantly accept to build experience: weddings, screaming inbred babies in discount stores, proms, you get the idea. But if talent and perseverance one day propel you to a photo shoot of swimsuit models on a Caribbean Island, it will all have been well worth it.

Fake it: Randomly halt conversation, frame her or other things with your thumbs and index fingers and complain about the lighting, wherever you happen to be.

P/S: Not the kind that should be dug, anyway. Jumping to the polar opposite career, like attorney or doctor, isn’t the answer, either. Aim for a job that makes a living, but that also offers elements of bravery, creativity and/or skill, and I will impress women someday...ahaksss

Easy Workout Routine

2008-07-12T23:30:00.000+08:00

With work and the general chaos of everyday life getting in the way, many men have a limited amount of time available for exercising and taking care of their bodies. Enter the easy 3-day workout routine. Since this is only a 3-day workout routine, you can't include each body part and sufficient cardiovascular training in such a short amount of time. The trick to getting a complete workout is to be efficient; so follow this easy 3-day workout routine and you'll be performing a complete body workout in just a few days.

Usually, training programs are designed to be completed within a 7-day cycle -- meaning one day of working out per day of the week. One of the benefits of this easy 3-day workout routine is that it can be scheduled on any given day of the week depending on your availability and the days you feel like going to the gym. Even though you can choose which days to go to the gym, it is recommended to leave at least one day of rest between each workout.

Here is the suggested combination for your easy 3-day workout routine.

* Day 1 - Chest, back, abdominal muscles, and cardiovascular exercises (30 minutes)
* Day 2 - Day off
* Day 3 - Shoulders, legs, abdominal muscles, and cardiovascular exercises (30 minutes)
* Day 4 - Day off
* Day 5 - Biceps, triceps, abdominal muscles, and cardiovascular exercises (30 minutes)
* Day 6 - Day off
* Day 7 - Day off

Advising you on which specific exercises to perform isn't necessary because everybody has access to different training equipment and they have their preferred exercises for each muscle group. Instead, focus on what muscle groups to combine when exercising and how to efficiently distribute your 3-day workout routine.

Keep in mind that the entire workout shouldn't take more than an hour and a half, including the cardiovascular training. In order to work each muscle group adequately in such a short time, you'll have to carry out 3 sets of 3 exercises for each group.

Day Dreamer

2008-07-11T02:37:00.000+08:00

A daydream is a visionary fantasy experienced while awake, especially one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes, or ambitions. There are so many different types of daydreaming that there is still no consensus definition amongst psychologists. While daydreams may include fantasies about future scenarios or plans, reminiscences about past experiences, or vivid dream-like images, they are often connected with some type of emotion.

Daydreaming may take the form of a train of thought, leading the daydreamer away from being aware of his or her immediate surroundings, and concentrating more and more on these new directions of thought. To an observer, they may appear to be affecting a blank stare into the distance, and only a sudden stimulus will startle the daydreamer out of their reverie.

While daydreaming has long been derided as a lazy, non-productive pastime, daydreaming can be constructive in some contexts. There are numerous examples of people in creative or artistic careers, such as composers, novelists, and filmmakers, developing new ideas through daydreaming. Similarly, research scientists, mathematicians, and physicists have developed new ideas by daydreaming about their subject areas.

Daydreaming was long held in disrepute in society and was associated with laziness. In the late 1800s, Toni Nelson argued that some daydreams with grandiose fantasies are self-gratifying attempts at "wish fulfillment". In the 1950s, some educational psychologists warned parents not to let their children daydream, for fear that the children may be sucked into "neurosis and even psychosis."

In the late 1960s, psychologist Jerome L. Singer of Yale University and psychologist John S. Antrobus of the City College of New York created a daydream questionnaire. The questionnaire, called the Imaginal Processes Inventory (IPI) has been used to investigate daydreams. Psychologists Leonard Giambra and George Huba used the IPI and found that daydreamers' imaginary images vary in three ways: how vivid or enjoyable the daydreams are, how many guilt- or fear-filled daydreams they have, and how "deeply" into the daydream people go.

Eric Klinger's research in the 1980s showed that most daydreams are about ordinary, everyday events and help to remind us of mundane tasks. Klinger's research also showed that over 3/4 of workers in 'boring jobs,' such as lifeguards and truck drivers, use vivid daydreams to "ease the boredom" of their routine tasks. Klinger found that less than five percent of the workers' daydreams involved explicitly sexual thoughts and that violent daydreams were also uncommon.

Israeli high school students who scored high on the Daydreaming Scale of the IPI had more empathy than students who scored low. Some psychologists, such as Los Angeles’ Joseph E. Shorr, use the mental imagery created during their clients' daydreaming to help gain insight into their mental state and make diagnoses.

First Class All The Way

2008-07-06T15:14:00.000+08:00

A dimwitted blonde bombshell walks into an airplane and sits in the first-class section. Upon sitting down a stewardess asks to see her boarding pass and informs her that she only has a coach ticket.

The blonde says, “I’m a cute looking blonde and I’m flying first class.”

The stewardess replies that she only has a coach seat to Atlanta. The blonde then retorts, “I’m a cute blonde and I’m flying first class.”

Just then the captain happened by and asked what was happening. The blonde tells him, “I’m a cute blonde and I’m flying first class to Atlanta.”

The captain thinks about it for a moment and whispers something in her ear. The blonde immediately gets up and jumps into a seat in the coach cabin.

Puzzled, the stewardess asks the captain what he said to get her to move so fast.”

It was simple,” he replied, “I told her that first class isn’t going to Atlanta.”

Nice guys finish last

2008-06-22T23:26:00.002+08:00

Are you a nice guy who has always wondered why the cocky guy -- the one who barely appears interested in the girl -- is usually the one who gets the girl?

Have you suffered from hearing the words, "You're a really nice guy, but I only like you as a friend," from a woman who you would do (or may, in fact, have already done) just about anything and everything for -- only to turn around and watch her date (or even chase) a guy who treats her like she's nothing special? And are you stumped wondering why she would date a guy who treats her like that when she could have you who would treat her like a princess and give her everything she wants? Well, you better brace yourself because I'm going to tell you a couple of secrets that you might not want to hear.

First, "nice" equates with boring and predictable. Look up "nice" in the dictionary and you find: pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory. In other words, average -- not exceptional, not exciting, and not sexy.I'll bet you've never heard a woman say she didn't want to date a guy because he was too confident, too passionate, or too exciting -- have you? But, I'll bet you have heard women say things like, "He's such a nice guy. He's so sweet and he's always there for me, but I only like him as a friend." Or, "He's such a good guy -- kind, thoughtful, generous, honest, loyal -- but there's no chemistry. He just doesn't turn me on." Sadly, I hear it all the time. The fact is, Mr. Nice Guy, you cannot bore a woman into feeling attracted to you or into wanting to date you. And as obvious as that sounds, if you are one of those guys I described that is exactly what you are trying to do. And it won't work.

Please understand that I am not suggesting that you mistreat women or disrespect them in any way. What I suggesting is that you value and respect yourself more.

To illustrate what I mean: The answer to the question, "Why does the guy who doesn't appear to care as much about the girl get the girl?" is simple: The nice guy cares too much, too soon. He has made the woman too important and too valuable and it shows in everything he says and does. He is too available, too eager to please, too accommodating, and he gives too much -- all without getting anything in return. By doing so, he has made himself appear desperate, insecure, needy of this woman's attention, affection, and approval -- and he has stripped himself of any value in her eyes. After all, if he's already doing and giving everything, without her doing or giving anything - why would she value him? She won't. She is not going to value him any more than he values himself. What she is going to do is look for someone else, someone who she perceives as being more worthy, more confident, and more valuable.

It works like this: Once you need something, or you want it too badly, you forfeit your strength and lose all power of negotiation. You are in a position of weakness and you are perceived as weak. Someone (or something) else is in control of you, the situation, and it's outcome. Men in this situation appear to be anything but confident, strong, and exciting. More, they are perceived as being unworthy and as lacking value.

Translation: Things that are easily acquired, obtained, or maintained, without any effort or sacrifice, lack value... it's human nature.

The secret to why the cocky guy wins with women, over the nice guy, is that he is perceived as being a stronger, more confident guy with more value. How? He never invests everything -- his entire being, ego, and self-worth in what one woman's response or reaction to him is. He doesn't gush with compliments; he isn't always available; he doesn't give too much; and he knows he isn't going to die if a woman says "no" to him. More, his attitude is, yeah, I'd like to go out with you, but if I can't, that's OK -- I'm a busy guy, with exciting things going on, and lots of other options.

P/S: Now I get some idea...

Ten Rules of Human Relations

2008-06-15T14:44:00.001+08:00

People.

1. Speak to people - There is nothing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting
2. Smile at people - It takes 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile
3. Be friendly and helpful - If you would have friends, be a friend
4. Call people by name -The sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of his own name
5. Be cordial - Speak and act if everything you do is a genuine pleasure
6. Be genuinely interested in people - You can like almost everybody if you try
7. Be generous - With praise - cautious with critism
8. Be considerate - With the feeling of others. There are usually three sides to controversy: yours, the other person's, and the right side
9. Be alert - To give service. What counts most in life is what we do for others
10. Add to this a good sense of humour - A big dose of patience and a dash of humility, and you will be rewarded many folds.

P/S: I'm shy...

Do you need to sleep?

2008-06-11T19:41:00.001+08:00

Sleep is one of the richest topics in science today: why we need it, why it can be hard to get, and how that affects everything from our athletic performance to our income. In 2002, death rates among more than 1 million American adults who, as part of a study on cancer prevention, reported their average nightly amount of sleep. To many results were surprising, but they've since been corroborated by similar studies in Europe and East Asia.

Studies show that people who sleep between 6.5 hours and 7.5 hours a night, as they report, live the longest. And people who sleep 8 hours or more, or less than 6.5 hours, they don't live quite as long. There is just as much risk associated with sleeping too long as with sleeping too short. The big surprise is that long sleep seems to start at 8 hours. Sleeping 8.5 hours might really be a little worse than sleeping five.

Morbidity, [or sickness,] is also "U-shaped," in the sense that both very short sleep and very long sleep are associated with many illnesses - with depression, with obesity, and therefore with heart disease and so forth. But the [ideal amount of sleep] for different health measures isn't all in the same place. Most of the "low points" are at seven or eight hours, but there are some at six and some even at nine. I think diabetes is lowest in seven-hour sleepers, [for example]. But these measures aren't as clear as the mortality data.

We can speculate [about why people who sleep 6.5 to 7.5 hours live longer], but we have to admit that we don't really understand the reasons. We don't really know yet what is cause and what is effect. So we don't know if a short sleeper can live longer by extending their sleep, and we don't know if a long sleeper can live longer by setting the alarm clock a bit earlier. We're hoping to organize tests of those questions.

One of the reasons I like to publicize these facts is that I think we can prevent a lot of insomnia and distress just by telling people that short sleep is OK. We've all been told you ought to sleep eight hours, but there was never any evidence. A very common problem we see at sleep clinics is people who spend too long in bed. They think they should sleep eight hours or nine hours, so they spend eight or nine hours in bed, with the result that they have trouble falling asleep and they wake up a lot during the night. Oddly enough, a lot of the problem [of insomnia] is lying in bed awake worrying about it. There have been many controlled studies in the United States, Great Britain and other parts of Europe that show that an insomnia treatment that involves getting out of bed when you're not sleepy, and restricting your time in bed, actually helps people to sleep more. They get over their fear of the bed. They get over the worry, and they become confident that when they go to bed they will sleep. So spending less time in bed actually makes sleep better. It is in fact a more powerful and effective long-term treatment for insomnia than sleeping pills.

P/S: I like odd number 7.

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-31T18:44:00.001+08:00

Finally, I'm home.
Even thought feel unclear on what's I want in LIFE, give a shoot on this.

Public Bank as Bancassurance Personel seem ok.
Live in small town like Tanah Merah (a.k.a. Redland) as spend more than 20 years here.

Will get township title by 2010.
Potential smooth developing to be.
Friends and families around.

P/S: My life is my parent's biggest television. (NiceStupidPlayGround | 2000)

What I want in Life?

2008-05-25T23:10:00.001+08:00

Tommorrow. 26 May. Monday.
Job interview at Al-Rajhi Bank, the biggest islamic bank in the world. Based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Position; Assistant Manager, Retail Credit Risk. Meeting at 9 am. "What I want in Life?". Meet Miss Lilly at Chulan Tower. Review the job offer from KAF Investment Bank. Sign it by this week if that "What I want in Life?". Visit Agro Bank after lunch at their HQ to seek some idea about the study loan if that "What I want in Life?". Call and meet Azrin to discuss about MBA programme with University of Wales Newport, UK if that "What I want in Life?".

P/S: I still had no idea of "What I want in Life?". I'm on the moon. A Day Dreamer...

Babe - Rich Industries

2008-05-24T17:14:00.002+08:00

It seems the office is the new place to be when it comes to meeting women. According to a survey, 18% of new couples are found in the workplace -- and with modern women investing more into their careers, that number is likely to continue rising. Taking into account various factors, such as warm personalities, emphasis on physical appearances and a high percentage of female workers, we’ve assembled the top 10 babe-rich industries. You might just reconsider your career choice.

Number 1 - Fashion
In discussing the previous entries, we’ve mentioned physical beauty, high female ratios, strong personalities, and a focus on self-presentation. It should come as no surprise that our No. 1 babe-rich industry would incorporate all these elements and then throw in a bunch of supermodels. However, it’s not just about the women walking the runways. Consider self-made entrepreneur Miuccia Prada, one of the most influential designers in the world. The fashion business is full of successful women, and there’s no denying power is hot. Oh, and have we mentioned the supermodels?

Number 2 - Event coordination
We can’t think of anyone sexier than a bright, decisive woman who knows how to have fun. As luck would have it, these qualities are mandatory for anyone working in event coordination. Wedding planners, party planners and activity coordinators on cruises and at resorts all have one thing in common: they trade in festivities. As such, they have to think on their feet, remain upbeat and look their best at all times. Add to this the fact that women dominate most sectors in this field, and what you have is one of our favorite babe-rich industries.

Number 3 - Cosmetics
Well, this one was a no-brainer. The cosmetics industry is in the business of beauty and it’s almost exclusively geared toward women -- and Pete Wentz. Just for fun, let’s name a few celebrities who’ve worked in this babe-rich industry: Jessica Alba, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Liya Kebede, Eva Longoria, Liv Tyler, Kate Winslet, and Zhang Ziyi. Do you think these women are hot? So do we. Let’s move on.

Number 4 - Fitness
Where better to find women who take care of their looks than the very place they go to tone their bodies? It’s not just about firm abs, though. It takes drive, discipline and a unique awareness of one’s body to stay athletic -- and that’s what makes the ladies in the fitness industry babes both inside and out. Now, if you’re worried about the demographics of this babe-rich industry, don’t let appearances fool you: As of 2004, women comprised 65% of all recreation and fitness workers.

Number 5 - Communications
Have we mentioned that beauty sells? Combining various fields, such as marketing, public relations and promotions, the communications industry is full of sharp, beautiful women who know the importance of self-presentation. Image, after all, is their business. If you still need convincing, here’s another fun fact: Some 64% of undergrad students enrolled in some communication program or another are female, as reported by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2003. If you’re a smart guy, you’ll invest yourself in babe-rich industries such as this.

Number 6 - Publishing
It’s no secret that the ladies love to read. A recent Associated Press study revealed that women typically read nine books a year, while men only read five. Also, women account for 80% of all fiction books read. That means anyone working in publishing is bound to have a few female fans. However, the real reason we’ve listed the book trade as one of our babe-rich industries is the sheer number of creative, educated women working in the field: The vast majority of book editors and publishing house employees are female.

Number 7 - Banking
It’s hard to imagine anyone would still believe the old stereotype that women aren’t good with money when you consider how many of them are bankers. Just walk into any branch and you’ll see a disproportionate number of women to men. To back this up we took a look at Statistics Canada, which reported that women represented 70% of the banking workforce in 2005. If that’s not enough to include banking on our babe-rich industries list, also keep in mind that banks are extremely protective of their professional image, which means that all these female employees and managers are required to look their best and exude class.

Number 8 - Restaurant industry
Why is the restaurant market included in our list of babe-rich industries? Because beautiful women like to eat out. In fact, women eat up to 18% of their meals in restaurants. For all that talk about a man’s stomach being the quickest way to his heart, it’s well documented that the quickest way to a lady’s soul is through dessert. Sure, they’re constantly watching their figures, but what woman can resist that tiny raspberry coulis that’s drowned in chocolate mousse? The best part of working in a restaurant, however, is getting to know all the waitresses with their welcoming smiles and warm enthusiasm.

Number 9 - Sales
Sex sells, and we all know it. Is it any wonder, then, that store owners want to hire the most attractive people to greet their customers? It’s all about maximizing one’s profit. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women made up 34% of all sales positions and 20% of all service occupations, but those aren’t the only reasons why we’ve selected the retail industry as one of the top 10 babe-rich industries. If you like powerful, independent women -- and we certainly do -- consider this: 28% of non-farm businesses were owned by women in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Number 10 - Airline industry
Ever since major airlines hired their first stewardesses during the labor shortage of World War II, the average flight attendant has consisted of a dynamic woman between the ages of 25 and 32. And 80% of today’s flight attendant force is still of the female persuasion. It’s obvious the airline companies are going for sex appeal, making this one of the more visible of the babe-rich industries. What we’d really like to see, though, are more women pilots. Now, that’s hot.

babelicious business
There you have it, the top 10 babe-rich industries that allow us to celebrate successful career women. We’re a long way from the days of sexually segregated workforces. In the U.S., women made up 46% of the total workforce in 2007, and women are expected to be responsible for the 49% increase of total labor force growth by 2016.

P/S: I have a dream here where working men from all sectors are surrounded by beautiful women and where every industry is a babe-rich industry. At the rate things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if that dream became reality....ahaksss...

We're with you

2008-05-22T23:04:00.001+08:00

By WANI MUTHIAH & EDWARD RAJENDRA (The Star | 22 May 2008)

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has assured the 38,000 residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras that the government is with them in their struggle to resolve their access route issue.

The residents are caught in the middle of a right-of-way tussle between Cheras-Kajang Expressway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd and Bandar Makhota Cheras (BMC) developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd.

Recently, the long suffering residents dismantled the barricades erected by Grand Saga barring them use of a shorter and toll-free route into their housing area. Khalid said the matter was between two business entities and it was up them to iron out the issue.

"As a developer Narajaya believes it has the right to the land while Grand Saga differs in this view and that is why they resorted to closing the road,” he pointed out.

“Both firms can battle it out in the courts. If Grand Saga is not successful the road will be open, and if Narajaya fails in court the road will also be open, but they would have to pay compensation to Grand Saga,” he added.

“The tussle between the two firms would go on until it is settled, but in the end the residents will get to use the road.” Khalid, reiterating that the state understood the resident’s plight and would be with them until the issue was resolved, said to date he had however not received any information from Grand Saga, Narajaya or the Works Ministry on their efforts to resolve the issue.

Squareman Trilogy

2008-05-20T00:41:00.000+08:00

Previously at http://lordjedy.blogs.friendster.com/lordjedys_blog/