It's raining again... Alhamdulillah

It's starting raining again here since last week, Alhamdulillah. The cooling effect, temporary fresh air and bright sky after the rain, remind me of my kampung.  Before this, the weather was just dry, hot and you felt very stuffy and stale air due to the high pollution level. Most of the time the air quality is so bad, you throat felt dry and sore, your hair get hardened due to the gratis air pollutant hair gel.....

At least my office is in the south of the city... the effect is lesser. This part of the city is consider the 'the green lung' of the city, lots of trees and a few public park. In spite of that, what i am seeing now, each corner, each patch of vacant land that was previously green and fresh... now explored, building for new mall  and apartment...for the sake of development. Good example is the empty lot behind my office is becoming Bakrie Imperium, high profile apartment and mall.... I don't know the name for another new city under development at Mega Kuningan... Last time i used to fly paper plane from the apartment level 20+ to that open field. The best design was the Paperang glider... it's just glide....like eagle....

Probably, 10-20 years from now, if I return to this city... there's no more empty space of land....becoming mall city. Even today, there are too many malls and ICT.... only a few area gazetted as open air public park such as Taman Menteng or some people called it Taman Kodok (I don't see many kodok there...). Located not far from my office... but unfortunately I seldom go there... 

Today evening, probably it will rain or probably not... People will normally associate rain with macet (traffic jam), wet, going home late or early, slow work progress, network availability compromise... etc.. Let's just see from the positive side, how many disaster happen due to rain. Statistically very few, compare to the rainfall we encounter through our lifetime. Unlike rain,..... ....earthquake or volcano eruption or tsunami, is a sure disaster.

So next time rain falling on our head, be cool and calm like Peter Parker in Spider man 2..... and don't be like Milli Vanilli which only blame it on the rain....

Books for my son

Last night I bought some books for my son.. his birthday is middle of next month. Try to find a decent and educational books, with lots of picture and good story. A few days ago I called him  and asked, what he want for his birthday, he simply answered " Luqman nak buku ".

I went to a nearby mall and went up to Gramedia bookstore, searching for books that's is suitable with his age... hmmm..... There's quite a number of children Islamic book, but I do not prefer them so much, because the book depicted the image of our Prophets in most of the " Kisah-kisah para Nabi " books, although there's no depiction of Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

The price of local published books here is acceptable.... but imported books is expensive...  I managed to buy ' The adventure of Tin -Tin ' books (3 copies) in  Bahasa Indonesia. The original books in English, is expensive... 4 times the local price. I also bought books about pirates with 3D diagram, from a local kid store downstairs. Previously I also bought 3D books about Dinosaur and Jungle animals. It's seem I'm the only person buying books from that kid store.

Probably he will enjoy reading the books, viewing the pictures and learn some Bahasa Indonesia....

It is that time again.....and my memory as Tutor Pusat Asasi Sains UM 93

Dear readers...

I can still remember my first job as part time tutor and lab demonstrator in a local University, back then. My salary was base on hours and each end of the month, I have to submit worksheet for approval to the supervisor or lecturer. On top of that, we also get paid on the numbers of lab report paper we checked....  to be fair, we among the tutors, distribute fairly the paper among us...

The salary was not much and not less.. it's enough for single person like me during that time... just graduated in 1993, where you can still fill a full tank of kapchai with RM2.50... where the price of daily acceptably good breakfast, lunch and dinner, does not cross  RM10 line.... Most of us were just graduated and work temporally, only a few otais were the permanent . Basically I took this job because I have no job at that time..... jobless and living in KL..... I need to pay for the house rent and utility bills also...

After many job seeking, hundreds of application letter, several work interviews...finally one telco contractor company in PJ accepted me. There's no online job application such as jobstreet, jobsdb, jobserve etc like today. Post office during time, is really a post office by function... not like now, where they only busy during festive season handling greeting cards.. and most the people going there now, to settle utilities bill. 

It take quite a courage and nerve to meet my supervisor, saying that I need to resign.. after working there for about 7-8 months.  This was my first resignation tender. He understood and give some encouragement on my future career, though I can sense there's a regret tone in his voice.

After that, I have changed job but not career, many times.. many application.. and many resignation. The longest period job I held was for 9 years....despite the figures, I was never prepared to resign or at least to meet my boss, saying I want to quit.

Once my close friend advise me.... don't get sentimental with your job, love yourself more. People who's sentimental with their job, will have personal feeling affection... they will claimed this were their project, their baby, their hand print were all over, and sometime denying other people contributions... and worst, they feel their jobs and the division he/she leads is theirs... creating a sub domain.. a company within a company. And they think they are the boss, creating their own policy and set new rules.... beside the larger company policy itself.

My current job does not require me to resign.... I will be terminated once the period expire...Once I enter the job, I am prepared for resignation in 6 - 10 months ahead....Furthermore, I contribute to this planet for not wasting a few pages of resignation letter paper....

Nevertheless, I am half prepared...

Why I choose Physics...

"Your grade in Geology is good.. even your Maths grade is quite good.. I don't see any good reason why you need to choose Physics as your major.....you have potential in Geology subject". I can still remember my good lecturer advise me on what Major subject I should take for my 3rd and final year. Its was 1991, ... location Dataran Kimia at Science faculty , or what it is so called with... my friends and I used to 'study maut' there, especially when the final term exam was just around the corner....

During that time, and probably still now, Science student need to take 4 subjects for their 1st and 2nd year course. My choice were.... Geology, Math, Physics and Philosophy of Science. The later is a compulsory subject until the final year. Only during 3rd year and above you are going for Major course... and if you smart enough you can go for double major...  for me double trouble. The basis of selection can be from academic factors such as limited numbers of space for popular subject, prospect for future job, opportunity for further study ...  to very much non to do with the academic .. following friends or girl friends, cost comparison, or just dumb clueless on what subject to undertake...

Despite her advice and disapproval, I chooses Physics as my major subject, not because I dislike Geology... (i have to admit i don't like math.. higher level of math I mean...). I enjoy Geology subject.. and who doesn't... we are studying about the Earth history, learn about dinosaur, precious minerals, Earth formation... and the field trip was entertaining beside educational. My son have hard time believing when he asked me with his eyes wide open "Ayah belajar pasal dinosaur... dia makan orang tak?". Geology is not just a subject, but an adventurous field of study for me that time... 

But due to my budget limitation, I have to choose major subject which was cost friendly at that time, despite my interest and capability.....

I go for Physics.  At my time, Geology student have to spend at least around RM1,000 for their final year project... this cost include the field trip cost, mineral slide preparation, map etc... I do not have that amount of money. My loan was just enough (with most of the time deficit...) to cover my daily expenses, acceptable meals, house rental, decent clothing..... on top of the compulsory course fee, examination fee, lab fee etc....RM1,000 nowadays, is just the value of most student hand phone.

Sometime in life we have to make decision and choose not base on our liking or our ability... but on knowing our limitation... only Allah swt knows better.

I didn't regret of my choice and I am grateful... for which I choose my path, otherwise I would have different career and I might know and meet different peoples in life... and at that time you may perhaps read my blog and know me for just any other stranger...not as friends...Or worth case scenario, I won't be able to complete the course due to insufficient monetary fund

Things happen for reason.... but we can make reason for thing to happens....

SMS Muar batch 86....

Dear readers,

I just viewed my friend Facebook, and he just uploaded a few photos of our Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar batch 1986.  They had a informal reunion and meeting up session last week, I regret I can't joint in with you guys....

From the photos, I could see most of us have changed physically... people always say, if thing can't grow taller, they will expand larger.. heheh... But I was astonish to see a few of us maintain the bodily proportion...  Cayalah beb... 

Our bath is probably one of the oldest SMS Muar batch  (2nd batch of form 4 intake in 1985), correct me if i am wrong. But after seeing all my good old friend in the photos, I thought it's only yesterday when we ran to Dewan Makan together after the prep bell rang, we play football together on field nearby cemetery, sunshine or rainy day.... we fight and quarrelled among us....  have crushed on the other girls from different or same class... 

Lots of memory that make me as what I am today...  Each time when I go back to my Kampung, I would take a left glance when I passed my old school, looking back at the memory, bitter or sweet... and wish my son could have a good experience in his life also...

Inferiority in the making....

It was during Physics subject lab class, when suddenly the teacher asked 9 students to stepped forward (5 boys and 4 girls). I couldn't remember exactly the number of students, but I am very sure the total number of the boys is more than 1 compare to the girls. I was one of the unlucky students to be called forward, and soon enough I know that this so called physics educational charade was for me.... 

The teacher, with his typical smile, make a scenario ...."let's say, during one of the preparatory study (prep) at night, one of you (he addressed to the girls) have sudden urge to go the toilet... the toilet is located far away... and you are the only girl student that night... who would you choose among the boy to escort you to the toilet...remember it's a dark and scary night... you could only choose 1 boy who you really trust".... We were all quite puzzled, because he's quite a strict teacher and does not share any jokes with us before this.... 

I don't know perhaps he got this 'education's game idea' from reading magazine or book.... or after watching some stupid TV programme... Remember, this thing happened on 1985, Leo Burnett haven't come up with idea for reality TV show such as Survivor or The Apprentice... If this thing happen now, I won't be surprise.. probably the teacher is addicted to reality TV show, and want to implement this on us...Or perhaps, Mr Burnett got the idea from this teacher... 

So the game begun... one by one, the girls chooses the boy they taught can be trusted most.... during that time I am sure enough I would be choose by the second or 3rd turn... but I was so wrong... 

The finale.....the finalist were, my friend, the last girl and me...  that teacher reminded again the last girl on the scenario.. on the dark scary night, rainy, thunderstorm... whatever... I think if he want this 'reality show' to be more real, he should bring the audio visual sound effect.. or employed some people to intimidate us more...I can still remember the look of intimidation portray on his face....At this point of time, I am still confident, I would be the chosen one... "just look at my advantage"... I said to myself... 

And the game ended... without hesitation, the last hope of mine, the last girl pointed her finger toward my friend over me.....I was left standing there, alone in front of all the students....With a cynically smile the teacher start lecturing me... on what's wrong with me, why I was not selected, why people don't trust me, .... He's start lecturing me.....on the stupid game that he started and give no option to the poor last girl... he's lecturing me on the future guilt and unforeseen bad behaviour that was not done by me yet..... I was proven guilty.. not because of my current or past wrongdoing.. but by future me... 

The laughter by the rest of my classmate suddenly stopped... maybe they feel sorry or bad toward me.. or the "educational stupid joke" by this teacher ended..... I still remember on the other incident, when I was isolated during the Physics subject lab class... I was directed to seat alone, without lab partner, at the corner back of the lab.....that's another story.... 

You can punished or advice student who's misbehaved, but you can't at anytime......isolate or block educational access to misbehaved student.... This is why the government set up Sekolah Henry Gurney....so they also can get education though they're found guilty by law.... 

If his intention to humour us, then he failed, only a few of us laughed and suddenly stopped..... if he wanted to educate us with his sudden psychological skill, he also failed badly,... if he want me to feel inferior, I have to say sorry... he missed by a mile. So what was his purpose, what was he's trying to achieve ...  

Since he asked me to think of my gulit, I kept on thinking... for about 1 week, 2 weeks.. then I just forget and forgive... though he did ask me after that in another session which was more personal...There's a longer version of the story and the sequel, but I don't see any benefit in writing that... 

If any of you or any person you know, a teacher, lecturer, superior, father, mother, older sibling... please don't try this at your classroom,  your children, your younger sibling or your domain. 

I am writing this not because I have personal grudge or unsettled business with whoever.... or I have been psychologically affected  that my view toward life somehow distorted..... or I have inferiority complex spawned by the incident....

 I writing this.. because for me, this is a very-very wrong thing in education..... You cannot simply just implement or instill the feeling of guilt and inferior to anyone or any being.... for the thing that hasn't been committed yet. Even in the court of law, you're innocent until proven guilty. 

9 years later, among all my ex classmate, I was graduated with Bachelor of Science in Physics from a local University.....not because of the 'psychological educational reality show'... but because of the love of that subject... and the lower study cost... 

I still don't know till now, on what was the motive and what he's trying to achieve....clueless and unexplained.... Perhaps if I asked Chris Carter... he probably reply  "the truth is out there".....

When the purse value is more expensive than the money inside...

Today, I went to Blok M to do some air pistol shooting...  first few shots, the result was not so convincing, perhaps it's has been 2 or 3 weeks I haven't went there.  Second target shooting, the result is quite good... maybe I got back my hand, eyes and finger coordination... and 3rd target shooting, the result went back as the first...

So inconsistent performance.. hahaha...  I maybe should blamed my tiring hand and my impatience urge to just shoot the 10m away target... I remember the owner said "Pak, posisi kaki harus tetap, perasaan harus tenang, koordinasi mata, tangan dan jari harus tepat.... jangan tunggu terlalu lama utk memencit trigger.. nanti tangan jadi cape kerna pistolnya agak berat... tapi harus tenang dan sabar.. jangan buru-buru".... and he's a good shooter, I recalled last time when he demonstrate to me....I will surely miss this activity when I return back... 

After that I went to Pacific Place to check out something... my friend asked me to survey LV items price...  When the sale promoter politely say...  9 to 11 million Rupiah for LV purse...  I either want to faint or just keep cool... that's a month salary for average executive in Malaysia... I just don't understand why woman crazy want to buy this thing.... by hard earned cash or credit... Perhaps if you have this LV purse, you have to have at least RM1000 cash money inside the purse at anytime..... just to give the thing, it's luxurious effect and purpose... any cash amount below that, does not belong inside...  

I took taxi and went to Plaza Indonesia.. just to jalan-jalan.... and watch movie.. 

Segregation base on grade and the long term effect... E1

Last time, during my primary schooling years, there's an English language learning system where group of  students were segregated according to their English skill.  We gone through assessment test and the result will determine where's our group or set... Set 1, set 2,.. up to set 5. Each time during English class, we will go to our determined Set, in different classroom.. mine in Physics lab.

After schooling years, I was lucky enough to enter science preparatory program in one of the local University. First thing after register, we had to take English assessment test, and students were segregated to classes according to the result.. Class A1, A2, A3.. to F1 in my time. 

 Perhaps the idea is,..... it's easier to teach English lesson this way, where's the teacher/lecturer can have different teaching method for each class. True, it's successful in some extend and I am not against the good intention of the system to improve the student English language skill. What I am concern is.... the segregation effect which are base on grade.

We may solved  the English language education, even not fully. While on the hand, we may create other long term, more permanent psychological effect. Such as feeling of inferiority, feel not as good as, not good enough, ... and pressure. Student, or ex student from lesser skill in English will feel inferior with their friends from the upper group...   and student or ex student from the so called higher skill in English feel pressure to maintain performance. It's can't be denied, a small or manageable pressure is good to maintain or improved performance... but too much can be damaging.  When i mentioned about ex student... I meant ex student.. because till now, there's some of our friends out there felt inferior to others, due to this system....

Why don't we classify or segregate the students base on non hierarchical groups..... such as colors... Merah, Kuning, Hijau,... Kelabu... or any names that does not carry any caste, hierarchical position or comparison. People will surely know, 1 is better than 2...  A is better than B... and or t the  way around  (in my case.. the F is the English smart group)..

People may just say, what a 2-3 years period of English classes base on grade, would have any psychological effect on later life.  Adolescent period is a period of our life's where we are searching for our own identity. We perhaps done many stupid things during this periods, caring less about the consequences and the risk, just for us to have our own identity (I still remember the stupid things I have done... kerja2 bodoh). It's very unfortunate if during this fragile period, we introduce the inferiority. Different people have different level of tolerance, many would just go on, forget and forgive. But some of them ... still dealing with the inferiority feeling.

Then again, the reason why the system implemented.... perhaps "the good of the many outweigh the good of the few"... as always dictate by Commander Tuvok in Stark Trek Voyager, in situation where the crews in dilemma.. either to abort the mission and save the team at the expense of the mission..... or carry on with the mission although it's meant their life in danger..

But I do not agree with him..... if the system will make some of our next generation... carry inferiority complex....

Laskar Pelangi... renungan buatku

Aku maseh seolah2 terkesan dari filem Laskar Pelangi... kisah perjuangan anak2 sekolah rendah di sekolah yg cukup dhaif.. kisah kecekalan dan kesabaran guru2nya.... kisah kemiskinan... kisah kejujuran ... dan kisah ketidakadilan

Mungkin kerna kisah ini berlatarbelakangkan tahun 70an.. ia begitu memicu memoriku utk mengenangi zaman sekolah ku sekitar tahun 70an... Zaman abang2 ku berkasut tumit tinggi, berseluar bell bottom... dan baju kemeja dgn kolar sebesar saputangan.. mungkin itu ideanya dulu, tak payah lap mulut pakai sapu tangan, cukup hanya lap dgn kolar baju...  Lagu2 Melayu-Deli selalu berkumandang di radio ... dgn baterinya yg sudah lemah dijemur.. supaya tambah power.

Kisah Harun dan Lintang, membuat aku betul2 terfikir... mungkin kejayaan kita dlm bidang akademik selama ini.. masuk asrama.. SPM pangkat satu... masuk U.. pergi oversea...  bukan semata2 hanya bergantung atas kecerdasan kita sahaja.. mungkin kerna ada insan2 seperti Lintang dan Harun, yg secara tidak langsung atau langsung.... menyumbang ke arah kejayaan akademik yg kita kecapi...  adalah terlalu sombong kalau kita mendabik dada mengatakan kejayaan akademik yg kita capai.. hasil 100% usaha kita... Lantas kita terlupakan teman2 seperti Harun dan Lintang... 

Sebab itu, orang yg kaya ada berhutang dgn org yg miskin dlm bentuk zakat.. dan begitu juga org yg pintar dan bernasib baik... mempunyai 'hutang' dan tanggungjawab sosial ke atas  org2 yg kurang pintar dari segi akademik... 

Mereka yg kurang pintar dr segi akademik.. bukan kerana mereka tidak pintar.. tapi mungkin kerna mereka tidak berkemampuan, terpaksa berhenti mengejar cita2, tiada peluang, disisihkan oleh sistem yg tidak adil........ Dan juga membuka peluang untuk kita  menjadi pintar....

Laskar Pelangi... Terima kasih cikgu dan rakanku...

Akhirnya aku dapat nonton juga filem yg begitu popular di sini buat masa ini.... Laskar Pelangi. Sebuah filem adaptasi dari novel terkenal sekitar 2005, karya Anrdrea Hirata. Filem ini dah ditayangkan sekitar 25 November, tapi mungkin kerana terlalu ngetop... susah nak dapat tiket kalau hari minggu. Tadi aku dapat tiket pun, kira last seat... ada tinggal 3 seat kosong.

Orang Jakarta nih, kalau filem yg bagus, mereka akan menonton berkali2... ada teman aku cakap " pakcik, aku udah nonton kali ke 4... mau lagi ke 5".. aduh gawat.. kalau 30% penonton mengulang nonton 3-4 kali, gi mana aku mau dapet karcisnya (tiket). Dan filem ini temanya sesuai benar utk ditonton seisi keluarga, so kalau famili, mereka akan bawakla anak2 mereka....penuh panggung...dgn anak2..... ibubapa.. remaja dan org dewasa...

Antara tarikan kuat  aku nak menonton filem ini adalah, berdasarkan cuplikan (sedutan) di TV, bahasa yg dipakai dalam movie ini adalah bahasa Melayu Sumatera Selatan... so sebutan 'kenapa jadi kenape... kecewa jadi kecewe....dia jadi die.....kita jadi kite'. Dan ada lagu "Seroja" yg dipopularkan oleh Jamal Abdillah dan Mawi... dibawa oleh pelakon2 cilik.

Filem ini berdasarkan pengalaman peribadi sang penulis, berkenaan perjuangan kehidupan 10 anak dari keluarga miskin yg bersekolah SD dan SMP (SD tu mcm sekolah rendah... SMP itu dari form 1-3), di sebuah sekolah Yayasan Muhamadiyyah di Kabupaten Gantong, Pulau Belitung yang penuh kekurangan, kedaifan dan keterbatasan.... berdekatan propinsi Bangka. Ketua guru Pak Harfan, para guru2 Ibu Muslimah, Pak Bakri (yang akhirnya meninggalkan sekolah itu kerana mendapat tawaran di sekolah lebih bagus)... anak2 murid terdiri dari Ikal, Lintang, Sahara, Mahar, A Kiong, Syahdan, Kucai, Borek, Trapani dan Harun ( si anak cacat)

Kisah dimulai bagaimana sekolah yg daif ini diancam akan ditutup oleh departmen pendidikan negeri, sekiranya gagal mendaftarkan sekurang2nya 10 pelajar pada sesi baru sekitar tahun 70an. Bagaimana ketika Pak Harfan membuat ucapan utk menutup sekolah itu di hadapan 9 anak murid dan ibubapa, dan ketika Bu Muslimah berlari keluar utk mencari juga murid yg ke 10 setelah menanti hampir setengah hari... muncul ibu dan Harun, si anak yg kurang dr fizikal dan pemikiran... menjadi penyelamat keberlansungan sekolah daif itu.. utk sekitar 8-9 tahun lagi... 

Mulai dari itu... maka bermulala kisah sebuah persahabatan, perjuangan, pendidikan formal dan tidak formal... bagaimana sekolah yg daif dr segala segi... boleh melahirkan anak2 murid yg hebat, manusiawi...  dan menjadi dewasa.  

Dikisahkan si Lintang, anak yg genius dr segi mental arithmetik, anak sulung nelayan yg miskin (lakonan Alex Komang) yang kematian ibu.... terpaksa naik basikal ke sekolah sekitar 40km... so total 80km pergi balik. Dan dia setiap hari terpaksa berhenti di tengah perjalanan... kerana memberi lalu buaya yg bersarang di kubang di pinggir laluan dia ke sekolah... selepas buaya berlalu dan berendam dalam kubang, barulah dia meneruskan perjalanan...   Aku dulu pergi keje dr Shah Alam ke KL... naik motor bukan basikal... lalu laluan motor... takde buaya pun duduk kubang tepi jalan... dapat gaji lagi tiap bulan... maseh bersungut. Bagaimana dia kehilangan ayahnya ...di tengah lautan... tatakala dia menang kuiz antara sekolah... Akhirnya dia terpaksa berhenti sekolah utk menyara adik2nya yg maseh kecik... sebab dia anak sulung, dia terpaksa meneruskan hidup dan menjadi nelayan seperti ayahnya.... Anak yg paling pintar, dan yg paling bersemangat utk bersekolah, dan coba datang paling awal... tapi akhirnya menjadi murid yg pertama terpaksa berhenti sekolah.. akibat desakan hidup...

Kisah cinta pertama antara Ikal (penulis) dan A Ling, sepupu A Kiong... A Ling anak tokay kedai Cina kat kampung... kali pertama Ikal ternampak jari A Ling, ketika beli kapur tulis sekolah.... selepas itu dia menawarkan diri utk beli kapur tulis....siap menulis puisi cinta utk A Ling.

Kisah Mahar, si anak kecil yg memiliki bakat istimewa ... dalam bidang seni, dan sentiasa ada radio bergantung di lehernya.... bukan radio kecik.. radio transistor yg besar zaman 70an. Setiap kali baterinya lemah..... dia jemur atas bumbung rumah.... taktik sama aku guna dulu utk panjangkan hayat bateri... maklumla.. dulu mana ada duit nak beli bateri. Mahar ini la yg menyanyi lagi Seroja.... aku pun baru tahu lagu ni dulu dibawa oleh Said Effendi, penyanyi50-an  kelahiran Besuki, Jawa Timur. Tapi anehnya, dalam panggung tu.. aku rasa aku sorg kut yg menyanyi ikut lirik lagu tuh.... penonton lain macam terdiam dengar lagu tu... tapi jadi gamat bila lagu Rhoma Irama.. Malam Minggu.. berkumandang... waktu bila Ikal nak dating dgn A Ling, dgn bantuan A Kiong.... kelakar tengok.

Kisah Kucai, ketua kelas, yang tak tahan dgn perangai rakan sekelasnya yang digambarkan macam setan... dan mahu berhenti jadi monitor kelas.... dgn nasihat Bu Muslimah, dia tetap menjadi monitor.... 

Bagaimana waktu musim cuti sekolah panjang.. si Lintang menjadi nelayan membantu ayahnya, si Kucai membantu ayahnya yg kerja di lombong timah, si A Kiong tolong jaga kedai runcit.... Cuti sekolah, budak2 ini bekerja membantu keluarga... bukan relaks mcm sekrg...

Watak Bu Muslimah seorang guru wanita yg cantik, single, muda... tapi sanggup bersusah payah utk mengajar di sekolah yg sangat daif dgn segala kekurangan.... seorang guru yg pintar dan kreatif, bagaimana waktu sekolah lain menggunakan kalkulator utk menghitung... dia mengajarkan anak murid menggunakan batang lidi utk mengira.... kerna ketidakmampuan sekolah... seorang guru yg mengajar kerna tanggungjawab, mungkin kerana sekolah itu diasaskan oleh arwah ayahnya... dan satu2nya sekolah Islam di Belitung.

Watak Pak Harfan, sekolah ketua sekolah.. yang sangat luarbiasa ketenangannya... sabar... sangat dedikasi dgn kerjayanya... bagaimana dia waktu berhujah dgn sahabat lamanya yg bertanya kenapa maseh bertahan di sekolah yg usang dan hampir tiada murid... dia menjawab... sekolah ini mengajarkan pelajarnya dgn hati... bukan materi...  dan sahabatnya akur.. kerana mereka dari pendidikan sekolah Muhamadiyyah. Pak Harfan terus mendidik sehingga ke akhir hayatnya...  tersungkur di meja usangnya....

Terlalu banyak pengajaran dari filem ini...  ramai orang yg menonton filem adaptasi novel, adalah datang semata2 utk membandingkan dgn novel atau sekurang2nya mencari2 kekurangan filem berbanding gambaran minda yg sudah tertulis setelah membaca novel....  kalau itu tujuannya.. akan hilang manisnya sesuatu filem itu.... kita akan menjadi pengkritik filem yg tak digaji...  Ini terjadi pada aku apabila menonton filem Da Vincci Code setelah membaca novelnya... itu aku dah baca sekitar setahun kut... baru filem keluar... Pengajarannya, aku tak akan baca novel, kalau aku dah nonton filem.. atau aku akan baca novel, dah tak akan nonton filem...... atau aku tak akan buat kedua2nya.. kalau cerita tak sedap... nak buat apa buang masa...hehehe

Filem ini mengikut pandangan aku... selain dari penulis mahu menceritakan perjuangan dari sudut pendidikan dia dan teman2nya... dia mahu melahirkan rasa terima kaseh dan terhutang budi... dgn guru2nya yg hebat... Bu Muslimah... Pak Harfan... dan sahabat2nya... Kalau bukan Harun mendaftar sebagai pelajar ke 10, mungkin penulis tidak akan bersekolah, kerana ketiadaan sekolah utk anak miskin... Kalau bukan Lintang yg terus datang  ke sekolah dan memberi semangat kepadanya selepas kematian Pak Harfan dan Bu Muslimah putus semangat,  dia mungkin tak pergi sejauh Sorbone, Perancis utk melanjutkan pelajaran... 

Dan penulis juga menyindir pemerintah yg tidak mempedulikan pendidikan org miskin, apabila mereka ... anak2 org tak kemampuan, terpaksa bersekolah di sekolah yg dhaif dan miskin.. di salah sebuah pulau yg paling kaya di Indonesia... kaya dgn hasilbumi timah. Bukan tidak ada sekolah di sana, tapi sekolah yg ada memakan biaya yg sangat besar... sehingga tidak termampu oleh ibubapa si Ikal, Lintang, Kucai dsbnya.... disebabkan desakan hidup, ramai yg tidak menghantar anak ke sekolah dan rela membiarkan anak2 mereka menjadi kuli di lombong timah... untuk membantu keluarga....

For me... this is a good film, highly recommended... utk tontonton sendiri, bersama keluarga atau sama pacar... 

http://www.laskarpelangithemovie.com/

Demam Kepialu.. Typhoid fever

Ma assalam sahabat...

Ini sekedar information sharing berdasarkan pengalaman aku sewaktu aku diserang demam kepialu di sini pada tahun 2006 dahulu. Kalau ada teman2 yg dari bhg perubatan, silalah komen. Mungkin pada waktu itu, aku baru start keje keluar ... aku expect semue sama mcm kat negara kita. Makan kat warung2 pinggir jalan kira biasalah... ditambah minum air es. Sedap jugak makanan pinggir2 jalan kat sini.

Walaupun ada kawan dah nasehat awal2, hati2 makan.. aku belasah je.. sedap punya pasal. Akibatnya aku kena penyakit yg sebelum ini jarang kita dengar kat sana...  demam kepialu atau tifus dlm bahasa sini.

 

Simptomnya yg paling ketara, ceret-beret tak henti2.. berlarutan sampai seminggu... nasib baik aku byk keje kat kantor buat planning.. kalau ke site.. naya aku. Kalau ceret-beret biasa, dlm sehari dua apabila toksin yg ada dlm perut hilang, dia akan sembuh sendiri. Yang ini aneh... tak henti2... puas minum Pocari Sweat (kira mcm 100 Plus la) utk kembalikan body fluid yg hilang. Keduanya, demam panas.... disertai sakit kepala...  Aku rasa pelik, sakit apa nih, ceret beret + demam + sakit kepala.. demam dia pun kira macam turun naik.. siang OK.. malam demam.. menggigil.  Dan ada titik2 merah timbul kat tangan dan lengan. Sah kene denggi ni... pada fikiran aku la. Aku tanya kawan aku, dia pun syaki denggi gak. 

 

Tubuh aku semakin lemah,.. sehari boleh dekat 10 kali ceret beret... aku makan Chi Kit Teck Aun, tak jalan.... makan Imodium, tak jalan... makan arang hitam, tak jalan gak. Parah ni...last2 aku ke salah satu hospital swasta di sini...  dahlah mahal, bagi obat macam2 .. satu karung plastik beso...  tak mujarab pulak tu. 

Kebetulan aku kene perbaharui Visa, .... dlm flight pun perut meragam semacam je...  masa beratur kat Embassy kat KL utk proses Visa, aku nyaris pengsan... tak jadi aku buat Visa. Aku tahan taxi, terus ke Pantai Medical Center. Doktor check aku... tanya aku keje mana... dia suspek demam kepialu...  dia bagi aku ubat antibiotik yg power..  full spectrum antibiotic Ciprobay fr Bayers... dia akan bunuh semue bakteria yang ada.. tapi ada side effect... selepas makan akan rasa pening dan hilang balance. Betul, aku makan kat situ gak... bila waktu nak balik ke hotel, kat lobi hospital tu gak aku rasa high satu macam... tak larat jalan, aku duduk je kat kerusi dari jam 11am sampai petang.... Power ubat nih. Aku kira dah okay la...

Apabila sampai hotel, malam tu.. perut aku buat hal lagi... ceret beret byk kali sampai pagi...dalam hati aku, apa punya rawatan ni... tak berkesan pun...   Mujur aku teringat, aku pernah ke Hospital Pakar Shah Alam dulu, sebab aku sakit di bhg dlm hidung, terutamanya setiap kali sujud.. mcm nak tercabut mata. Aku pernah jumpa Doktor Pakar apa nama dia.. aku lupa pulak... dia diagnose... bagi ubat sikit je.. suruh aku spray dlm hidung aku. Alhamdulillah, dlm tempoh 2 hari dah kurang, 3 hari terus pulih. Doktor tu bilang, ada jangkitan di bhg rongga hidung aku, so ada lebihan bendalir dlm tu... tu yg bila sujud sakit.. sbb dia bertakung di bwh. Maklumla, hidung kita ni.. semue mcm udara punya kualiti dia sedut.

Berbalik ke sakit aku tadi... hospital ni ada rekod aku, so nurse tu tanya nak jumpa doktor pakar tu balik tak.. aku jawab, yes. Banyak gak pesakit, so selepas tunggu dekat 1 jam lebih.. aku masuk. Doktor tu tanya aku ada ke mana2 ke dlm 2-3 hari lepas... aku jwbla aku keje sini. Dia run check, tengok simptom.. and dia saspek 3 penjahat... Denggi (sbb demam dan ada spot2 merah kut, Malaria and Kepialu. Utk kepastian kene run blood test.  Aku ckp, aku dah ke hospital semalam, tapi tak run blood test la. Dia ckp dia tak akan run Typhoid test, sebab mahal...  Sebelum ni aku dah cakap.. rawatan ini aku bayar sendiri.. so dia faham2la.  Maka, lengan aku dicucuk la, diambil sampel darah.. dah lama gak takde jarum beso cucuk lengan aku... ngeri gak.. nasib baik nurse yg buat, muda.. cun pulak.. heheheh. 

 

Selepas dlm sejam kut... keputusan test darah keluar... hasilnya, negative for dengue and negative for malaria. So doktor ni saspek, takde penjahat lain... kepialu..  dia bagi antibiotik full spectrum Ciprobay... and dia kata obat ini mahal.. so dia akan bagi sikit je.. tengok keputusan after 1-2 hari.. kalau maseh takde kesan positive.. aku mungkin kene masuk wad. Obat ni dia bunuh semue bakteria, dgn sasaran penjahat utama Salmonella. Aku balik hotel, dgn rasa yg lebih konfiden... malam itu aku makan obat tu... terus rasa high... esok pagi maseh ada ceret beret sikit.. makan lagi ikut dos yg disarankan.. high lagi.. Alhamdulillah.. hari kedua, aku dah pulih... berbotol2 air 100 Plus aku minum. The next day aku buat Visa.

 

Dan utk pengetahuan, kos rawatan aku dgn doktor pakar Shah Alam tu, dengan blood test, obat... 1/3 dari kos rawatan aku kat sini.. dahla doktor biasa.. tak berkesan pulak tu.

Demam Kepialu disebabkan oleh bakteria Salmonella enterica. Penyakit ini boleh ditemui di seluruh dunia dan berjangkit melalui makanan dan minuman yg tercemar oleh najis.

Berikut adalah simptomnya:

• Demam tinggi yg meningkat secara perlahan (39 - 40 Degree Celcius)
• Tubuh menggigil
• Ceret beret yg berterusan
• Sakit kepala
• sendi2 rasa sakit
• tubuh terasa lemah
• dlm kes tertentu, timbul tanda2 bintik merah di tubuh

Berikut adalah saranan utk menghindari sakit ini:

• Elakkan makan dan minum di warung2 atau kedai2 makan yg tidak bersih
• Elakkan minum air ais. Kalau nak minum minuman dingin, mintak air botol yg memang dah dingin. Kerana kerbersihan aisnya tak terjamin.
• Elakkan minum air paip, di negara yg berisiko.. walaupun dimasak. Minum air minuman botol.
• Selalu mencuci tangan dgn sabun selepas ke tandas.
• Bacala doa banyak2 sebelum makan....

macam tuan doktor pulak aku

Air pistol shooting....

It was last weekend, since I don't have anything to do... I went for air pistol shooting at Blok M, Jakarta Selatan. Actually before Ramadhan, I would went there for shooting session about twice a month. But since Ramadhan, maybe due to puasa, I only went there once. So this time, it's about a month plus, my finger haven't touch the trigger.

After saying Lebaran greeting and pay the fee (Rph 25k, for 25 bullets/pellets), I went on trying my skill. Not many people that day, perhaps the usual patrons still on Lebaran mood.

Not a bad shooting at all, considering it's had been more than a month I haven't try it. Perhaps due to not many people and the compressed gas still full, because I could felt the shot was quite powerful. For the information, the bull eye target size is the same size as the bullets, and the target is 10m away (Olympic air pistol target standard)... In Olympic game, normally the shooter hit target within the first 2 ring away from the bull eye.

Like the trainer over here said last time, shooting is a game about consistency, patience, high focus, good corrdination between eyes, hand and trigger finger. And you have to control your breathing, to avoid your hand shaking each time your finger press the trigger. Once you shoot, you would know, if you manage to hit the target.... without pulling the target paper.

I admit, I felt quite relaxed after shooting session...........

New Blog for Photography.. tips, story, nonprofessional review

Dear friends... 

I am thinking of making another blog just talking about photography from the perspective of nonprofessional, less than amateur user, people like me.

  This orang-muar blog will kept like the original, talking about all the stuff, sometime intelligence and most of the time just ... writing... 

See you in the fotografi blog... 

6 Degree of Separation

Dear readers....

When Hungarian author, Frigyes Karinthy wrote on on the idea that every person in this planet Earth can be connected to anybody else, perhaps he didn't realize the impact on our social life today. He hypothesise that any two individuals can be connected through at most 5 acquaintances.

As our life get more modern and complicated, actually our world get smaller due to technological advancement especially in telecommunication industry. The 6 degree of separation theory, became the basis of several famous social networking application such as Facebook, Linkedin, etc. In fact, Facebook which has 4.5 million users (as of April 2007, and counting.. cause I just joined in), calculate that the average separation of their users is 5.73 degrees, with the farthest separation is 12.

Several high rating TV series adopt this idea, such as LOST, Six Degrees, Lonely Planet Six Degrees. in LOST, all the characters are link and connected to each other in connection that they don't realized or understood. International award-winning and local film also embrace this sociological idea, such as Crash, Babel.. and CINTA.. 

So perhaps, if one day I meet you on the street, restaurant, bus station, or anywhere else...just remember, we are no stranger... we are friends within 5 steps away or less. 

By the way, we are all son of Adam (A.S.) and Eve.

Krisis ekonomi... The Greed Game

Para pembaca yg dihormati... 

Berikut adalah link2 yg bagus kita baca dan lihat... sekurang2nya kita ada kefahaman sikit atas apa yg berlaku dgn ekonomi sekarang... jgn hanya masuk youtube nak tgk video clip lagu terbaru.. atau nak tgk kucing buat perkara pelik.. ini macam aku lah

Ini laman web Ustaz Zaharuddin.. banyak kupasan berguna ttg ekonomi Islam dan masalah ekonomi sekrg...

http://www.zaharuddin.net/

yang ini dokumentari dari BBC.... sngat bagus utk org yg malas membaca.. macam aku.. heheh...

ada 6 cuplikan... tonton satu per satu..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS92xfN4PKg

Krisis Ekonomi.. suatu kupasan ringkas

Ma assalam sahabat2... 

Semalam hari minggu.. aku terfikir nak beli kasut sukan and jogging track bottom, memandangkan badan aku pun dah bertambah comel... gara2 terlebih makan lemang, ketupat, lodeh, asam pedas, rendang, ayam masak ungkep dan lain2 yg sewaktu dengannya... 

Dalam malas2 tu aku bukak web site Ustaz Zaharuddin... pakar ekonomi Islam Malaysia yang sekarang melanjutkan pelajaran di UK.. aku selalu jugak follow up artikel2 dan pandangan beliau....Tujuan aku kali ini, nak tahu, apa cerita sebenarnya tentang masalah krisis ekonomi yg melanda dunia, bermula dari krisis kredit perumahan di US.... Aku cuba gak tgk2 dlm al Jazeera dan BBC (CNN malas aku nak tengok, balik2 citer Bush, Obama, McCain... and terbaru Palin)..  tapi news ni banyak menceritakan kesan dan akibatnya krisis ini.. dan apa yg akan jadi akan datang.. diaorg tak cerita sangat apa punca utama.. dlm bahasa yg aku fahami (kalau bahasa ekonomi aku tak faham la)... 

Alhamdulillah, info yg aku cari aku temui... baca punya baca, sampai nak keluar beli kasut dgn track bottom pun macam nak tergendala... berikut adalah kupasan ringkas dari aku.. mengikut kefahaman aku yg terbatas...  kalau sahabat2 ada pandangan yg lebih tepat.. sila betulkan.. 

Krisis ni bermula ....... setelah tragedi September 11, pasaran NYSE merudum teruk disebabkan pelabur2 panik dan menarik balik pelaburan... pakcik Alan Greenspan (penasihat ekonomi US pada waktu itu) menurunkan kadar faedah kewangan di US.... untuk merangsangkan ekonomi US..  disebabkan kadar faedah yg sangat rendah...  pelabur2 melihat ini adalah peluang besar utk membuat keutungan...  pelabur2 ni termasuk Hegde Fund Manager2 .. yg memperdagangkan wang org lain utk keuntungan yg gila2 banyak.. 

Hedge Fund manager ni... kerja dia membuat pelaburan base on leveragging.. artinya membuat investment dgn duit pinjaman...  dgn mengenakan service caj sekitar 2-3%  atas jumlah pelaburan... dan mendapat bonus sekitar 20% atas keuntungan pelaburan... tanpa menerima risiko.. kalau pelaburan untung... dapat bonus 20% (in term of money, dlm berjuta2 USD dlm sekali big deal ) on top of the service caj.... kalau pelaburan rugi, diorg just bagi alasan, salah market  atau politik...  (best kan keje mcm ni.. kalau untung.. untung gila.. kalau rugi.. untung juga... tapi sikitla).... disebabkan nature keje hegde fund manager yg berisiko terlalu tinggi (risiko terhadap pelabur, bukan hedge fund manager), disebabkan melabur wang berjuta hingga berbillion USD.. mereka tahu, mereka akan sentiasa diselamatkan oleh pihak kerajaan sekiranya mereka pelaburan mereka collapse.. sebab  kalau mereka didakwa... dampak ekonomi lebih parah jadinya... (ini lagi best keje mcm ni.. dahlah takde rugi.. untung.. untung.. untung... takde risiko lagi... risiko mati je kut)...

Disebabkan kadar faedah yg sgt rendah di US, maka byklah pelabur membuat pinjaman utk pelaburan... melalui hegde fund manager... dlm tempoh yg singkat je... muncullah berdozen2 jutawan baru... the new super rich... bukan atas usaha mereka atau kepintaran mereka... tapi atas wang pinjaman...  kalau dulu super rich adalah hasil usaha, industri dan kepintaran mcm Bill Gates, Steve Jobb, Rokefeller, Lim Goh Tong dll...  zaman pasca 7/11, super rich adalah terdiri dari hedge fund manager, yg mendapat durian runtuh hasil wang pinjaman...

Apabila terlalu banyak pelabur membuat pinjaman, bank2 di US kekurangan duit... dah semue org datang buat kredit...  maka peningla bank2 ni mcmana nak dptkan hasil lagi... So dgn kepintaran dan kelicikan bank2 di US.. mereka membuat skim pinjaman perumahan utk golongan yg tak berkemampuan (subprime mortgage plan)... mereka melihat pinjaman perumahan utk golongan yg mampu (prime mortgage plan) adalah plan yg sangat bagus dlm menjana modal utk bank2.. so mereka pun membuat plan terbaru ini dgn mengandaikan pulangan yg sama...  masalahnya.. golongan subprime ni..adalah golongan yg memang tak mampu membuat pinjaman perumahan... ex convict, jobless, bad credit defaulter dll..  

Tapi disebabkan sifat ketamakan dan kerakusan bank untuk menjana modal.. untuk diberi ke hedge fund manager... skim ini berjalan juga... walaupun mendapat tentangan hebat dari pakar2 ekonomi US... Punyala senang nak dapat kredit perumahan di US waktu itu, tanpa tax statement, tanpa salary statement, tanpa downpayment, tanpa collateral, tanpa penjamin.. cume kene ada tangan utk sign agreement je... bank2 akan mencari org utk diberi pinjaman perumahan...  tanpa check secara detail latarbelakang peminjam...  berbondong2lah org US buat pinjaman, kira mcm skim cepat kaya kat Malaysia la..  dan banyak yg tidak tahu bahawa interest yg dikenakan adalah variable... bukan fix + BLR,... tapi berkadar meningkat mengikut masa... 

Pintarnya golongan bank ini, mereka menjual hutang2 subprime ini dan menjadikannya sebagai suatu bentuk pelabuaran lagi... bank credit perumahan menjual hutang kepada bank investment... bank inverstment menjual pulak kepada bank inverstment yg lagi beso.. mcm Lehman brother, Barclay, Hypo, Morgan Stanley, Merril Lynch etc... 

Aneh kan, kita biasanya melabur atas sesuatu yg jelas dan tangebile la.. mcm melabur atas kelapa sawit ke, kambing ke, minyak ke, ... ini melabur atas hutang org...   kalau org tu tak bayar, boleh ambik ke org tu?

Analoginya macam ini la...   A berhutang atas B sebanyak 1 juta dan wajib byr sebanyak 1.5 juta dlm masa 5 tahun kut... disebabkan B nak duit cash segera.. B jual hutang A ke C... dgn 1.2 juta... so B dpt duit cash 1.2 juta...and C akan dapat untung 0.3 juta dlm masa 5 tahun.. C pulak menjual kepada D, E, F.. mengikut tahap risiko yg mereka sanggup terima...

katakan la

mamat D; dia jenis nak no risk.. so dia dpt pulangan rendah tapi terjamin

mamat E; dia jenis nak medium... so dia dpt pertengahan pulangan dan risk

minah F; dia jenis high risk.. dia dpt high gain.. tapi highest risk... 

D,E dan F ini... kira mcm bank2 jatuhla sekrg, Merril Lynch, Barclay, Bank kat Iceland, Lehman Brother etc....

untuk sistem ini berjaya... A mesti sentiasa bayar hutang... dan bunga yg dikenakan mestila tinggi...  Kalau A tak bayar hutang... sistem akan runtuh...

Ini yg terjadi kat US sekarang..  para peminjam subprime mortgage plan gagal bayar hutang, iyala.. dr awal2 mereka kan memang org yg tak layak.. and secondly.. bunga yg dikenekan variable.. naik setiap tahun...  apabila ramai yg default... maka investment jadi runtuh...  bank jadi takut utk berikan pinjaman sesama bank.. sebab mereka pun takut bank itu menjalankan skim investment ini... 

Dan pelabur2 jadi panic... keluarkan duit dr bank... labur ke tempat yg selamat... emas dan perak... Itula, manusia bila dah terdesak akan kembali kepada Allah..Macam org sakit nak mati... ada dia teriak biniku, keretaku, PS3 ku, sahamku.. dia akan teriak Allah.. atau Tuhan....

Emas dan Perak adalah bentuk pelaburan paling stabil, tidak dipengaruhi politik, masalah kewangan, dan paling mudah ditukar bentuk ke wang ... ckp je nak jual emas.. pasti ada org nak beli... ckp nak jual rumah, org akan tanya.. rumah kat mana, status freehold ke tak, dekat kilang atau kubur tak, ada security tak dan seribu mcm pertanyaan.....

Dan apabila keadaan dah jadi gawat mcm ni.. apa kerajaan US buat.. diorg buatla plan bailout... utk selamatkan industri kewangan dr terus jatuh, dengan menyuntik lebih banyak wang...  dan bagaimana US dpt byk wang, kerajaan dia cetak lebih banyak wangla... bila wang lebih banyak berkitar dlm pasaran... inflasi akan berlaku... ini yg berlaku.. 

Harga minyak jatuh sekarang pun.. dampak dari krisis ekonomi ini.. kekurangan permintaan...  faktor yg menentukan harga sesuatu komoditi... Supply and demand.. bila supply berlebih (sbb pump byk sgt baru2 ni sbb harga tinggi) dan demand kurang... automatic harga jatuh... 

Yang jadi mangsanya siapa... rakyat biasa yg membayar cukai... sbb wang rakyat digunakan pemerintah untuk bailout syarikat2 besar... dahlah kene dampak kegawatan ekonomi, minyak harga naik, makanan mahal, interest naik.. wang cukai dirompak utk selamatkan syarikat besar....

Dan apa jadi dgn kawan kita si hedge fund manager...... 

diorg tak kene apa2 pun... satu habuk dampak krisis ekonomi pun tak melekat kat muke diorg...  malah diorg sekrg jobless,  duduk, and tengah fikir nak habiskan duit yg berguni2 banyak diorg kumpul waktu ekonomi booming... dengar cerita... semue resort kat Bahamas, Canary, Carribean, hampir penuh sekarang.. sbb si hedge fund manager ni dok sana... jobless... sambil memikirkan apa lagi barang mewah diorg nak beli...  and waiting list utk kereta Bugatti makin bertambah, begitu juga kete Roll Royce terbaru...  Pasaran barang2 mewah maseh seperti biasa.. malah lebih aktif.,... 

And latest news, kerajaan US nak turunkan interest rate lagi... bukan ke ini akan start the cycle again...  The super rich get richer.... the poor get poorer... 

 

Mula kerja.. after cuti Raya 1429H

Ma assalam sahabat2...

Hari ini aku baru mula masuk kantor.. selepas bercuti kira2 10 hari kut.. kalau nak kira cuti panjang memangla lama.. tapi mcm tak cukup pulak..  

Bangun pagi ni bukak TV.... harap2 la Selamat Pagi Malaysia atau MHI ke... tapi kecewa .. Berita TVOne... tukar2 channel RCTI, TPI, Global....   terpaksala terima hakikat aku dah sampai sini dan kene start gi keje walaupun hati dan perasaan kat Muar, Johor.

Waktu naik ojek ke kantor, terasa agak kelainan.. sebab udara di sini berseh.. tak mcm selalu.. maybe org kota belum pulang sepenuhnya... tunggu ajela hari Senin depan nih... kualiti udara pasti akan menurun dengan mendadak macam pasaran saham dunia sekarang...  Punyala teruk kualiti udara.. sampai tekak pun boleh jadi sakit dan perit... so dinasihatkan minum air kosong banyak2.