Blessed!

Thank God for this!

Democracy

1. Democracy:

is democracy the best way of governing a country? if you were thinking so, please consider this situation;

" there are three best friends living together - 2 of them are wolfs, and another one is a chicken. then comes a difficult situation (i.e. they're very starving, and there was no food nearby), in which three of them have to vote what kind of food they'd have for dinner.."

so, according to democracy, the majority wins..but, would it be fair to the chicken? nope..

well, i'm not suggesting that democracy is bad, and thus should be replaced with new way of governing..in fact, most of democratic countries are doing way better than monarchic governments..yet, my point is democracy alone is insufficient. it should be supported with good ethics and high standard of morality of the people..indeed, the people should be educated to always be respectful, and helpful to each others..only then, the country will prosper, and the people can live happily ever after.. 

2. Capitalism

capitalism is always considered as a rotten system..but, is it true? doesn't capitalism promote fair competition? doesn't capitalism produce many blue-chip companies, which eventually providing millions of jobs to middle class?

yet, because of extreme practice of capitalism, America now is so divided - 99% of US accumulated wealth is owned by only 1% of US citizens (read as capitalists)..and also, many so-called capitalists (most of them don't really understand the concept of capitalism) have made used all these middle-class people for their own interest..and the list goes on..

nonetheless, my point is that capitalism isn't really bad after all..in some sense, it does contribute to the well-being of the people...yet, only when extreme capitalism is practiced, the very bad consequences would occur..

3. Temperance 

thus, i believe moderation is always the best way of living..don't ever go for only one radical point of view..always consider different opinions, and only then you would finally find your idealistic paradigm of life..good luck in your searching, and may God bless us in our journey..ameen

Sustainability!

i've been doing some readings on self-improvements books lately, as suggested by one of my friends (JIMBO, i owe you this one advice)..well, to be honest, these books are damn boring, and normally i can only handle 20 pages before i fall asleep..but, at the end, they are worth to read! ;)

but, i'm not gonna talk about the contents of these books for i believe you can find all these wisdoms in any books you read! so, what should i write here? JIHAD? oh, not yet..haha..(you should laugh if you knew this joke)

anyway, i just had a great discussion with one of my friends today, whom by wisdom i do respect..we talked much about the future we might have to face - what kinda life we want, what good job prospect we should look into, and etc..and all of these topics, there was one question that really bothering up till now, which is "how i could be self-sustainable?" (please understand this question from right perspective!)

of course, now, many are pursuing higher level of education, such as Masters of PHD..but, how many really understand the purpose of achieving all these high standards? how many of them are preparing to face the harsh facts of real world? how many of them are really setting their long-term goals? and many more..and alas, i was one of these people, who are planning to get as high level of education as possible without knowing my real purpose! in fact, my goal used to get a good job with considerably big pay from any multinational companies, and after years of service, i would enjoy my big pension with my future grandkids..i may have a considerably good life, but was that the maximum thing i could do? NOPE! what if i were using my skills and knowledge to get myself richer rather than merely making big money for the riches? well, i left this question for you to answer...salam

Information.Regulation.Innovation

this is a good speech in regards to the roles of business and gov. in network age..the speaker also discussed the effects of information, regulation and innovation towards our present world! the speech is simple, but brilliant! enjoy the video!

my first ADVENTURE!

3 years ago, i came to the States with one wish - to graduate as an EE major! and, Thank God, now, i'm just two weeks away from that big day (i.e.  my commencement day)..throughout these years in the States, i believe i have grown up to become a different man - i've started to look things from unconventional perspectives, i've been taught to challenge all norms that happen unquestionably around me, and etc..and perhaps, the best thing i've learned so far is to see my religion from 'real' angle..and for all these things, i'm so grateful..

i can still vividly remember my early days in the States, in which our seniors (i.e. arip, sureen, and tim) were kind enough to be our tour guides in NYC - we've been shown the halal restaurant (at that time, there were not many halal stalls as they are today), mosque, times sq, and etc..and being the first time coming to the States, specifically NYC, i was deadly amazed by the prosperity of this city, called Manhattan - i could feel the energy of all these people, and for that, i am very proud to be called as New Yorker..

but, perhaps, during these years, i've learnt to become a better person, if not a leader! it was a privilege for me to lead this UMNO club..well, i was quite sure how hard it was to have that 'UMNO' title! and till now, some people remember me not because of my name, but this 'UMNO' thingy! yet, that's life! you could not do anything to shut people's mouth - the more you fight against them, the stronger they will repel back to you! nonetheless, it was such a good experience for me and my team!

then during last summer, it was unexpectedly that i was offered a chance to do study abroad in Norway - all expenses would be covered by Stevens..this was 3-week program, in which we (10 of us altogether) would have to integrate our engineering skills with entrepreneurial knowledge.Yes, i was excited about that..yet, as it was destined, a week before the program started, our trip was cancelled due to some reasons..it was a bit disappointment to me! yet, as a saying goes, " as one door closes, another one would be opened for you," i was offered to do like 10 weeks research program..and i did finish the program (i was lucky to have a very understanding adviser tho)

next, as fall 2010 begun, i was so busy with my Senior Design project..it was such a burden to mesince all my seniors did well on their projects..so, by hook or by crook, i have to be on the same level as they were..although it was a year project, i already felt the pressure from the beginning of the fall semester..plus, most of our group members were not really sure which project we should go for..at the end, we decided to do a project, called "reconfigurable projected keyboard!" and Thank God, after two depressing semesters, we nailed it! yeah!

yet, the final project was not my only problem - it was the desire to work and gain experience in the States that killed me at most! i can't help to resist this temptation! sometimes, it was good since it 'powered' me up to do all these job application processes (attending job fairs, making different resume for different companies, sending lots of 'follow-up' email, and etc)..but, as time passed by, i noticed that things didn't go well..not only i wasn't offered any jobs, but also i was not called for any job interviews..i know it's not a characteristic of a real man to quit, yet i have to be realistic..now, i have changed my plan, and hopefully, it is gonna work this time. i believe everything decided for me is the best! yet, as much as i believe in God, i'm pretty sure nothing could happen by itself , and thereby, it takes courage and countless efforts to carve our own "history!"

well, all things that i have accomplished, or might accomplish, will not be true without the support of my parents, my close family members, as well as my buddies..in fact, i was lucky to have very understanding friends, who are always there for me - being that they are my batch mates, my juniors or even my seniors..and of course, i'd like to thank my previous, and current roommates, who could stand by my bad cooking! LOL

 ...and of course, my first ADVENTURE tho might not be perfect, but it is something that i would treasure for the rest of my life.. and may God bless all of us and may God bless America for being my second home! ameen!

WHY - a really tough question

this man is so great that he did annoy the interviewer in a very bad extend (i.e. in intellectual way)..anyway, he did make sense since the "WHY" is a really tough question, which requires people to be in the same framework so to allow some facts to be true! enjoy the video, folks!

Inspiring

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed | Video on TED.com

3 things that the guy learned while his plane crash-landed in the Hudson River:

i) everything can change in instance
ii) don't waste time doing things that don't matter (energy management) - we should choose to be "happy" rather than to be "right"
iii) to be a great dad (or person)

Iron Lady

A very secure woman in a man’s world

 

This is a made-in-Malaysia rags-to-riches story. Maznah Hamid had nothing, sometimes not even a few coins for a meal. But today she is the head honcho of Securiforce which employs more than 6,000 people throughout Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok, China, South Korea, Turkey and Germany.Maznah has known many of her employees when they were in their teens and today they are one big secure happy family.

The executive chairman of the security firm is very down to earth. She has no airs or pretensions and, like she says, “I am just a woman doing a job in a man’s world.”On her success, she said: “I am successful because I am a woman in this field. Women shouldn’t doubt themselves because there are times when you need a woman to do a man’s job.”

She remembers clearly her early days .Ten banks turned down her application for business loan. “All of them told me they had no money to lend me! Some even doubted that my business would succeed because of my gender,” she says.The irony is that the same banks that turned her down now needs her service.

“They used every excuse they could find not to give me the money,” she laughs. And now she is laughing all the way to the bank.

Maznah was born in Air Hitam, Kedah, to parents who divorced when she was just five years old. Brought up with the help of her grandparents who were both conservative and religious, she confides that it was her upbringing which made her very timid.

“I felt so alone as a child and a teenager and was very quiet – you wouldn’t believe that now, of course,” she says, sitting forward in her chair, “but I was.”

“Do you know that my grandmother told me that I should study to become a religious teacher? I actually wanted to become a diplomat because although I was quiet, I was very good at communicating and expressing myself. I even helped my friends write love letters!

“It was a very confusing period because I didn’t know what I should study in order to become a diplomat. The first step I took was sign up at a language centre to better my English. Later, I took up business courses but I was still without direction. All I knew was that I wanted to be rich and successful,” she states.

Rich people

After taking up these business courses, Maznah realised that she wanted to become an entrepreneur only to have her grandfather tell her that entrepreneurs are drop-outs who will eventually end up selling fish and vegetables in the market.

Undaunted, Maznah took her certificates and became a tutor and translator for several embassies.

“I met so many rich people during this time. I saw how they lived and liked the lifestyle – they were earning RM100,000 and up and what was I driving? A car that couldn’t go uphill!”

“I was not shy to ask them, ‘How do you earn so much money?’ They replied that I have to become an entrepreneur. A person may not have a sound education background, but what they will always have are resources,” she adds.

Where financial resources were concerned, Maznah had a grand total of RM5,000 – her life savings. She put all of it into a security service company. Consider for a moment that she had no idea how to run a business, let alone one that dealt with security. All she knew were the basics of security operations, law and firearms.

Immense responsibility

Her earlier contracts included providing security for her clients’ homes. Maznah could not afford to hire many people and ended up guarding the premises by herself while her husband did the patrolling.

“It was also at this time that I got pregnant with my first child. My husband and I stayed in a rumah haram (illegal housing area) and there were no facilities as you can imagine.

“When I delivered my baby, my husband and I made a joint declaration that we would never give up because we wanted to provide the best for this child and others should we have them. We worked so hard and there were times when we even brought the baby along!

“My husband is an amazing man and I thank God everyday for him,” she says, glancing at a family portrait which takes centre stage in her office. “Being with him is very empowering for me because he truly is a secure man and has been through everything with me. We even had similar nightmares!” she said.

What Maznah is referring to would be the immense responsibility of taking care of someone else’s valuables. “I used to not only have nightmares, but insomnia, migraines and ulcers,” she grimaces at the memory. “When I saw how much of trust they put in me, I said to myself, ‘I wonder if they’ll trust a man this way!’”

Thirty years down the road and Maznah has built her company to include logistics services, cash-in-transit, cash management, high-tech cargo management and armoured trucking service.

The Malaysian iron lady has these words of wisdom:v “We are only as weak as we think we are. Even if someone tells us that we can’t, we have that choice to prove them wrong. People ask me about retiring and I want to laugh. There’s so much left for me to do.”

source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/05/06/a-very-secure-woman-in-a-mans-world/

my comment:gender, race, or religion doesn't matter..what really matters is to "believe in your guts" and to "work hard"

W.S Rendra - "MASKUMAMBANG'

my favorite lines;

"...kerana politik tidak punya kepala, tidak punya telinga, tidak punya hati, politik hanya mengenal menang dan kalah, kawan dan lawan ...... kerana politik tidak boleh menjamah kemerdekaan iman dan akal di dalam daulat manusia.."

- al-fatihah to Allahyarham Rendra - may he's placed among the good one! amin

[my dream car]

this car is so awesome! am absolutely speechless [drooling] when i first saw it..well, i don't really care about its performance or safety! what really matters to me is its classic look! haha

p/s: *nie masuk list wajib beli*