Should we skip college?

Billionaire to Pay Kids to Skip College



If you have an idea while you are in college, what normally people will advice? Focus on finishing your study first. Then you can do everything that you wanted to do.

Unfortunately this mantra doesn't work anymore, or at least it won't be the wisest thing to do. In today's society, everything is moving super fast and most people are moving at the super fast speed. If you wait until you complete your study, somebody else might come out with the similar idea and your idea might be no longer relevant.

A billionaire is willing to pay people to skip college. If billionaire is willing to do so, what is the message that they are trying to convey?

Most self-made millionaire or even billionaire is dropped-out of college. If they did that and make tonnes of money, which steps should we follow?

Copycat to Success

This is a write-up which I will use for my Toastmaster project speech #10 - Inspire Your Audience. Yes, it should be a motivational speech - however,  I would try to deliver it differently by explaining people on How we can succeed through Copying.

Copycat To Success

We Live in a World of Copycats.

As part of human being, we are naturally the creature of copycat. We copy from the Cradle to the Grave! Copycatting starts the day we were born. We copy the language we speak, the food we eat, the hairstyle, the way we walk and the way we dress. When we were in primary school, we were taught to copy alphabets. When we get older, we copy how others drive a car. When in Rome, we Do as the Romans Do.

James Baldwin once said "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders. But they have never failed to imitate them."

Influencing Your Boss

I have been working in 4 different types of organizations. When I say 4 different, it does not only different organization names, but the industry, the size, the background, country of origin, and so-on. What makes this unique is I have learned different organizations have different direction, management style and disciplines.

However, the fundamentals are much less the same. To survive in all of these organizations, the fundamentals to succeed is still the same, the ability to communicate and influence people. Either working with low-level or higher-executives levels, it gives different outcome from the communication ability.

The Power of Gratitude

Imagine, one day you are complaining about your country:

1. The public transportation isn't efficient enough!

2. I drive a second hand car! I can't afford good car because the government is taxing heavily on cars.

3. The weather is too hot!

4. We got dirty toilets!

5. The broadband are too expensive! and SLOW!

What did you get when you are complaining? You feel that here is not the place that best suit you, isn't it? 

The thing is, you are complaining to the wrong person. When you talk to your friends, you brothers/sisters , or even talking to yourself, what did you get? Nothing but the feel of frustration and worst you are focusing on it! You are actually attracting crap to your life.

6 Levels of Entrepreneurs with Brad Sugars

Are you an entrepreneur? Doesn't metter if you are still employee, you are in the process of 6 levels of entrepreneur as mentioned by Brad Sugar - but in one condition, you must learn as much as possible during this stage.

The second stage is self-employed. It is where you are the see-saw. The third level and above is on my way. I am getting information about it and I will reach the top level of entrepreneur. The sooner, the better. To understand more on the levels, play the video.

Brad Sugar is the founder of ActionCoach - the fastest growing business coaching franchise in the world. If you have a business, and you don't see your business is heading anywhere, hire ActionCoach. They will align you to the right direction and gives you tonnes of money as the result!

Prejudice

Loan / Financing payments are accepted without prejudice to any recovery action, pending or contemplated, for the full outstanding amount(s).

(Pembayaran pinjaman / pembiayaan diterima tanpa prasangka terhadap apa-apa tindakan untuk mendapatkan semula jumlah keseluruhan pinjaman / pembiayaan tertunggak, sama ada sedang dijalankan atau dalam perancangan.)

I have no idea why everytime I pay the loan, this message will appear. Why is the word prejudice is always appearing, either I am paying it on time, or late payment. Anybody would want to give some thought on this?

Frustration , dissatisfaction, disappointment, and discontent

I believe frustration, dissatisfaction, disappointment, and discontent are good things in the face of mediocrity. Man normally transform when they face frustration - and transformation is indeed a good thing. Living in an Ultra World, things aren't always easy. If things are easy, we will always be living inside our comfort zone. There's a saying by Robert Allen - "Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone."

Tribute to Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs has inspired many people. He was not only a great innovator, he was also a great presenter, a great leader, and a great human being. He always has the 10-year ahead vision and doing things people would never think off and widely accepted by the people.

He has gone through the ups and downs of the technology business, created the first Apple Macintosh, been sacked by the people he hired, founded another company, Next, founded Pixar and produce Toy Story, and again bringing the Apple to the top. Ever since he took over back Apple Inc. the shares fold more than 100 times (imagine if you bought the stock that day).

Watch this video on his documentary.

Lesson from Steve

Steve has never been graduated from college. Yet he spoke to a graduation ceremony of Standford. Watch this video to learn some lesson - to follow your heart and about connecting dots in your life.

Making life “easy” for children usually makes life “hard” for them in adulthood.

Del Smith, the millionaire founder and chairman of Evergreen International Aviation, has often said, "Thank God I was born poor; I learned how to work." Like many others who made it to the top on their own, Smith believes that the greatest gift that can be given to a child is to teach him or her the value of work. It is a gift that can never be lost or stolen. It's a natural desire of parents to give their children material things they didn't have as children. Such generosity, however, often deprives children of the greatest gift you can give them: confidence in their ability to take care of themselves. When you make life "hard" for your children by requiring them to learn the value of work, they will have a far greater likelihood of success as adults.

Taken from Napoleon Hill Foundation
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.

Your View Matters

As I grow older (ok, I am not that old enough), I noticed that a lot of people are arguing with each other on small issues that most of the time does not really makes any senses. Statements can produce a whole lot of argument and this will create bigger things; quarrels, fightings or even bad mouthing. The reason is very simple - the quotes below explains everything.

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them." ~Epictetus

Politics are heavily influence by this. In everything, there are always a lot of angles one can view. And whatever one might say, they are probably right depending on which view they are looking at. Currently the issue Mat Saby saying that Mat Indera, the pro-communist guy was the hero of the country has created a nationwide issue with everybody saying things to justify their view is the correct ones.

Previously, the Bersih 2.0 issue also was the nationwide issue. I do believe it is a political influence- or if you did not agree, you just simply have a different view with me. Once a statement is out, everybody is debating based on their view they take of them.

Whatever you view is, my advise is to make sure to always look at the positive side angle and always think about what benefits you can derive from the view that you have given.

Doing the hard thing!

"You need to be willing to do what's hard. Why? Because if you're willing to do what's hard, my friend, life will be easy. If you're only willing to do what's easy, life will become very hard. There is a difference, and I encourage you not to fall for the BS that your mind keeps giving you."

This is quote by T. Harv Eker at his wall today. I post this to my blog to remind myself and remind you, the reader of this blog.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.

Petua Meluaskan Pintu Rezeki

Assalamualaikum…..

Ilmu untuk dikongsi bersama………… dan sebarkan kepada semua

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alhamdulillah masih diberi kesempatan untuk terus menulis dan berkongsi dengan anda semua.
Orang kata hidup dalam zaman ni kalau tak berhutang, kiranya tak sah. Tak kisahlah apa hutang sekalipun. Ada juga yang berhutang sehingga sanggup meminjam dari along dan sebagainya. Akibatnya kaum keluarga menjadi mangsa, sama ada diganggu ataupun dibunuh.

Orang kata tidak mustahil kerana wang kita sanggup berbunuhan antara satu sama lain, dan kerana wang juga kita sanggup melakukan apa saja, meskipun ia melanggar batas-batas kemanusiaan.
Adakah jalan keluar untuk kemelut yang dihadapi ? Bagaimana kita nak meloloskan diri dari beban hutang yang dihadapi. Saya kongsikan cerita dan petua ini.

“Aku tidak melihatmu di masjid semalam,” Rasulullah s.a.w. menegur Sayidina Muaz Bin Jabal r.a, sesesai berjemaah Zuhur.

“Maafkan aku, wahai Rasulullah. Aku tidak berpeluang untuk menunaikan solat Jumaat semalam. Semasa dalam perjalanan ke masjid, aku telah dihalangi oleh seorang kaum Yahudi. Aku dikurung dirumahnya dan tidak dibenarkan ke mana-mana,” jawab Sayidina Muaz dengan panjang lebarnya.

“Kenapa?”

“Aku telah banyak berhutang kepadanya,” akui Sayidina Muaz terusterang. “Sehinggalah aku merayu dan berjanji akan menjelaskan hutang-hutangnya apabila beroleh wang nanti, barulah aku dilepaskan,”
Rasul tersenyum sambil menepuk-nepuk bahu Saydina Muaz berkata, ” Aku ajarkan kepadamu dua potong ayat. Jika engkau mahu mengamalkannya, Allah akan meluaskan rezekimu untuk menjelaskan semua hutangmu, walaupun hutangmu sebesar gunung banyaknya.”

“Mahu..mahu, wahai Rasulullah,” jawab Saydina bersungguh-sungguh.

Rasulullah s.a.w. pun membacakan dua ayat al-Quran dari Surah Ali Imran iaitu ayat 26-ayat 27. Sayidina Muaz mendengarnya dengan cermat dan teliti, sebelum ikut membacanya semula. Selepas itu dia terus mengamalkannya dua potong ayat yang banyak khasiatnya itu. Sehingga Saydina Muaz menjadikan ayat tersebut sebagai wirid hariannya.

Berkat daripada kata-kata Rasulullah tersebut, akhirnya Sayidina Muaz telah menjadi orang yang berjaya dan maju dalam bidang perkerjaannya. Dengan jayanya itu membolehkan ia melunaskan semua hutangnya.
Mungkin kita juga boleh menjadi seperti Sayidina Muaz yang berjaya melunaskan beban hutang yang ditanggung. InsyALLAH dengan pengamalan wirid ini akan melapangkan pintu rezeki kita. Saya tinggalkan anda semua dengan terjemahan bagi kedua-dua ayat yang dimaksudkan.

Surah Ali Imran Ayat 26.
Katakanlah, “Ya Allah, yang merajai kerajaan, Engkau memberikan kerajaan kepada siapa yang Engkau mengkehendaki, dan melucutkan kerajaan daripada siapa yang Engkau mengkehendaki, dan Engkau memuliakan siapa yang Engkau mengkehendaki, dan Engkau menghinakan siapa yang Engkau mengkehendaki. Di tangan Engkau yang baik; sesungguhnya Engkau berkuasa atas segala sesuatu.

Surah Ali Imran Ayat 27.
Engkau menjadikan malam memasuki ke dalam siang, dan Engkau menjadikan siang memasuki ke dalam malam, dan Engkau mengeluarkan yang hidup daripada yang mati, dan Engkau mengeluarkan yang mati daripada yang hidup, dan Engkau memberi rezeki kepada sesiapa yang Engkau mengkehendaki tanpa perhitungan.”

Prestige Leadership Programme

I am currently in Awana Genting for the PLP, Prestige Leadership Programme. This programme is intended for the middle management which is potential to be the future leaders, leading one division of an organization. PLP is designed for Malaysian GLCs to explore the potential, dig in their talents and equipped them with the necessary tools to become a future leaders.

Today, 5 days past and I am at the final night in room 19554. It was a tiring moment especially the programme running from day to night with little rest in between. Before I came here, I was thinking to absorb all the knowledge possible that I can gain throughout the entire session. However, being a secretariat, with the table location at the back of the room, my mindset is set to be the secretariat more than the participant. After all, I need to be sensitive to the environment. The roles and duty makes my focus changed hence I did not learn the most. Of course by listening passively behind, not much I can learn, unless I participated during the discussion, asking questions and giving opinion during the session.

All and all, I enjoyed every moment I spent here. Aside from the abundance of foods, I have learn a lot of valuable lessons through all the execution of the programme as well as observations. Things does not always goes well, and from all this mistakes and hiccup I learn better. The speakers involves, Dato' and Tan Sri, aside from all the professors. These people, especially the Tan Sri have the ability to give a good insight from the little words that they said. The little words comes from experience and experience is something too much valuable.

Hope to have more opportunities to learn through this kind of programme in the future and may Allah grant my wish.

Kepimpinan Belia Dalam Dunia Siber 2011

Persidangan Belia Dalam Dunia Siber 2011 Peringkat Kebangsaan was initiated by Kementerian Belia Dan Sukan and MMU was invited to supply the trainers and facilitators. What was the most interesting thing happened during the event was my existance there as the facilitator. :)

I have been working in few companies and I understand different working cultures. However, working with government certainly have a different culture and protocols need to be followed. For example, the formal malay language (as per subject Bahasa Melayu in school) is actually what they are practising. It isn't something good or bad, but it is their way of communicating especially in a meeting. Syazly can explains more on this I guess (btw, Syazly is the handsome man that sitting beside me - or I can describe better as the second handsome man after me :) ). And the most exciting part was everybody start to imitate the way of speaking during the event and it continue until now.

It was indeed a good experience to handle 100 crowds from different background, but they are all Belia. The topic was interesting, about dunia siber. But the youngsters catch-up faster when it comes to IT. All the cyber-thingy can be understood easily by them, even they know better than the trainers in most cases. Working with the body who have the funding (i.e. the government) is indeed some kind of luxury where you can stay at the 5-star hotel, having free food and yet they pay you with certain fees. This is the lifestyle that I desire, where I am preparing myself to and hopefully in the next few years I will achieve this kind of job. Giving a speech, people pay me, people give me good accommodation and people feed me with good food. So, let us become trainer, having a lucrative rewards and enjoy luxury lifestyle. :)

How to gain Happiness

"If we want to look young, we must be happy. The happiness of being in love is very noticeable. It is difficult of course to be happy all the time. But if you count your blessings every morning, you will feel happy." - Memoirs Tun M. pg 584

National Achievers Congress 2011

I just came back from the NAC2011 at Sunway Convention Center. The seminar is featuring the Incredible Hulk - Lou Ferrigno as the highlight of this year event. Other speaker such as Ron Kaufman is part of the most well-known in personal development industry and author of many books in the customer service field.

There are several interesting speakers to name, but the one among all that I don't know prior joining the event which I felt a very good impact is Andy Harrington. He's way of delivering his talk is similar to Tony Robbins, and he did shared with us that he's attended Tony Robbins' "Unleash the Power Within" and "Date With Destiny" Programme And he did share some of his story during that events. No wonder he's method is similar to Tony Robbins - and he also mentioned during his 2nd session that "I'm going to be your Anthony Robbins".

Of course as per every year of the congress, many of the featured speaker will give some information or teach few basic techniques and principles before they sell their so-called 'advanced' 2 or 3 days seminars. And I find out that the way Andy Harrington sells his seminar was quite unique and something that I can learn. And his offering one of the most cheapest seminar which is RM2997.

What so special about him is he really can connect with people during his speech. He did shares some of his techniques such as you need to talk to individual for about 5-7 sec before you scan to other places. I have never tried this before but maybe... I said maybe because it could only my theory... maybe by looking at that specific person, you are talking to an individual rather than talk to many, in terms of your presentation. But then you random to another person for 7 sec. The message will sounds like personal, but it is being delivered to the mass.

Other that that, Kevin Rae also telling something about Joint Venture - the most effective (and probably cost-effective) technique to grow your business. For example, Disney partnering with McDonalds and it really create a synergy between the two. Kids will like the toy as-well-as the food when they gone to McD and the toy will indirectly influence the kids to asked their parents to watch the movie. Brilliant! But there are several steps to create an effective JV. I can't explain it here because I don't have the notes with me. It's in my bag and I am very lazy to open my bag which is 2-feet away from me.

Ron White, the #1 Memory Expert (you can google or youtube the name if you don't believe me!) also shared his technique (which I find quite difficult to follow) on memorizing effectively. According to him, it is nothing wrong with brain. But the reason why people can't memorize is because their brain is not been trained. He taught us one technique of memorizing and the rest of the technique is paid for RM5000++ (seriously I can't remember the price and I actually need to attend his course). To make sure that he is really good, he start his session by recalling more than 40 peoples name and it came to surprise that he can recall each and every one correctly. And to make things more interesting, he call out 25 participants and each give a pair of random number. He can recall all the 50 numbers and not just that, he can say it backwardly.

Before I attend that seminar, I was wondering, why they called up Lou Ferrigno to become their main highlight. Because he is incredible hulk? Or because he won the Mr. Universe twice? Until the last session I can't figure out why is it the 'incredible hulk' is their main speaker. Why not Ron Kaufman who wrote so many books and featured in some megazine - including Malaysian SME as a columnist. Beside he's session was so very much interesting.

The CEO Richard Tan is asking Richard Branson to come for the next year session and if this really happens, the next year NAC would be something that everybody needs to look forward. But if he rejected, hopefully they don't invite George W. Bush as their main speaker.

All-and-all, congratulations to Success Resources for an awesome event!

Alya@Columbia Asia

Alya Mysara, my second daughter was admitted to HTAN - Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah, Kuala Pilah. The symptom was the stomach is abnormally bigger. She was admitted on Thursday to the ICU for babies. After the next day, most of the lab test was found normal. However, the root cause still unknown. They took some sample of the feces and the sample can only be sent to Seremban Hospital and HKL on Monday. The result probably on Tuesday.

Because of the frustration of waiting and slowness of the diagnostic process, I have decided to transfer the baby to Columbia Asia Hospital. After all, the hospital is the panel for my company and the insurance will take care of the bills.

Been admitted to Columbia, the process was so much faster and action taken also firm. Even on Saturday, the doctor at least provide us with some reasonable progress and results of all the test. The visiting hours also more flexible and the location also very convenient for all close relatives to visit the mother and the baby.

As this is the 3rd time my wife stayed at this hospital, the environment is very familiar for me. And for the past 2 times, I've been accompanying my wife and shared the bed at night. But for this time, the nurse didn't allow me to stay overnight. She asked me to go back home or sleep outside. From the words she used, it is clear that the lady stayed at next bed wasn't feel comfortable with my existance. As a tolerate person, I pack my things up and straight away travel back home at 11.30pm. I don't blame the hospital nor the lady because by being in their situation, they have their right in asking so.

Today, as the measure taken yesterday to stop breastfeeding to the baby, the results show some positive feedback. The stomach slowly getting smaller. The doctor asked my daughter to stay for 3 days for observation, hopefully after the 3 days she is back normal and we all can be back home.

Thoughts Become Things!

Have you ever read the Secret or at least watch the video? You might familiar with the Law of Attraction. This is a sample speech of Toastmasters International which the speaker participate in a contest which I don't know the location.

As human being is always forgetful, it is indeed a great reminder in case you did not visualize what you always wanted to have, and it is a reminder for me as well!

Put your law of attraction to work!

p/s: Have you created your vision board?

The Power of Words

Simple changes in your words might help you to change your world. It is the matter of how you say it determine how people react to it. I learn on my daily job how some people easily convey their ideas and everybody buys that ideas. On the other hand, another people have a good solid idea but because of the way they convey was not good enough people just ignore them. Worse case happens when people took the idea and sell it to other people. This video perhaps can give some illustrations on how to convey your words.

CHANGE YOUR WORDS, CHANGE YOUR WORLD!

Managerial Types

UP THE HIERARCHY

In lower management

You work hard and pray hard.

In middle management

You work smart and pray harder.

In top management

You play smart, move faster and watch who is behind you!

Once you involved in career world, management skills is a necessity in order for you to climb higher or get promoted. No matter which department you are working with now, there will be a manager (or some company might define as head, VP, etc). But first you need to know which type of managerial you are.
In his book "How to Manage Effectively in the New Millenium", Dr. Henry R. Meyer has mentioned there are several types of Management:

(a) COMMANDER : authoritative, stern, forceful.

(b) AVOIDER: sets low goals, not ambitious, routine work, asute.

(c) PLEASER: PR type, applies 'placebo psychology', popular.

(d) ATTACKER: argumentative, demotivating, hot-tempered.

(e) PERFORMER: like prestige, recognition, impressionable.

(f) ACHIEVER: sets high objectives, dynamic, workaholic.

(g) STRATEGIST: Skillful, calculative, diplomatic, suave, intelligent, has showmanship.

Which Managerial Type that suit you?
Me? I believe I am a PERFORMER or a STRATEGIST. But you need to asked those who close to me to give more accurate answer. :p

Reference: Pardon Me, Are You The Boss? Managing Without Executive Diapers! by Dr. Henry R. Meyer

Entrepreneur in Rembau

On my way back to my wife's kampung, I dropped by at Petronas. There is a burger stall, yup - as u can see in the picture. After make a phone call with my wife, we decided to buy the burger.

While waiting, being a 'peramah' guy, I started a conversation. They just started for about 2 weeks. When I asked on their daily sales, he said about 60 - 80. He's working as a postman and doing this business as his part time together with his wife.

Analysis:
The burger per pc is RM2.50.
Frankfurter per pc is RM2.00.
Special/cheese per pc RM3.50 - RM4.30.

If average gross margin is RM1.
80pcs = RM80.

Monthly income : RM2400.
The amount is more than his monthly income as a postman.

I believe after 2 weeks the numbers will grow. They might have sales about 100+ per month. i.e. RM3000 per month.

He's earning the pay as per executive working in KL by doing this part-time and he's living in Rembau.

All the best to the brother and hope he can sustain the business. Hopefully one day he might be another 'silent millionaire'.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.

Waiting for the End

This song is dedicated to bro Farid. Why? Simply because he's using this song as his caller ringtone. In my daily job (also for other personal activities) I always call Farid for consultation, business matters, lepaking and jamming. After thousand and one time calling, the song stick in my mind. The worst part is when I asked Farid about the title of the song, he said he doesn't know and he accept the caller ring tone because it is free.

After a few month of searching I finally find out from local radio station mentioning Linkin Park and this song was on air. Googling the title I finally found this song. Started from there, I viewed the video at Youtube and download it's mp3 and mp4.

Based on current situation, the lyrics kinda suit with the environment. It can relate with what happening around me.

Initially, I hated people who play a single song repeatedly. However, this is the first song ever in the world that I repeat more than 20 times in a row while doing my work. This song has already anchored (as per NLP definition of anchor) inside of me and I will remember Farid with this song.

Hope for a fantastic future undertaking for my very good friend.


Waiting For The End

This is not the end
This is not the beginning
Just a voice like a riot
Rocking every revision
But you listen to the tone
And the violent rhythm
Though the words sound steady
Something emptys within em

We say yeah

With fists flying up in the air
Like we’re holding onto something that’s invisible there
Cuz we’re living at the mercy of the pain and the fear
Until we dead it forget it
Let it all disappear

Waiting for the end to come
Wishing I had strenght to stand
This is not what I had planned
It’s out of my control

Flying at the speed of light
Thoughts were spinning in my head
So many things were left unsaid
It’s hard to let you go

I know what it takes to move on
I know how it feels to lie
All I wanna do is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven’t got

Sitting in an empty room
Trying to forget the past
This was never meant to last
I wish it wasn’t so

What was left when that fire was gone
I thought it felt right but that right was wrong
All caught up in the eye of the storm
And trying to figure out what it’s like moving on

And I don’t even know what kind of things I said
My mouth kept moving and my mind went dead
Picking up those pieces now where to begin
The hardest part of ending is starting again

All I wanna do is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven’t got

This is not the end
This is not the beginning
Just a voice like a riot
Rocking every revision
But you listen to the tone
And the violent rhythm
Though the words sound steady
Something emptys within em

We say yeah

With fists flying up in the air
Like we’re holding onto something that’s invisible there
Cuz we’re living at the mercy of the pain and the fear
Until we dead it forget it
Let it all disappear

Bill Gates & General Motors

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on...

At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,

'If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.'
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating, "If the auto industry kept up with the computer industry then…"

1.          For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........ Twice a day.

2.         Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3.         Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue.

For some reason you would simply accept this..

4.         Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5.         Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6.         The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single 'This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation' warning light.

7.          The airbag system would ask 'Are you sure?' before deploying.

8.          Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9.         Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10.        You'd have to press the 'Start' button to turn the engine off

PS - when all else fails, you could call 'customer service' in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!!!!

Jason Becker's tribute on 26 March

26 March - the day I was born. And yes - 26 March is my birthday (guys, standby some present please!!!)

And this 26th March, the team lead by Joe Satriani featuring Richie Kotzen, Steve Lukather, The Kehoe Nation, Flametal and more is reminding that Jason Becker is not dead yet, by having a tribute concert - JASON BECKER'S NOT DEAD YET FESTIVAL.

Jason was a one of the greatest guitarist in the world. He plays neo-classical metal (speed melodic metal with classical arpeggios solo) and he can play the most difficult scaling at the very young age.

He was diagnose with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease which causing his whole body paralyze since 1989 and the doctor suspect that he might be living for just another 5 years. Because of the high-spirit to live, Jason is now still alive and that is already passed 22 years.

More information here
More on Jason Becker here

Lesson learn: Don't believe what the Doctor is saying.

Tsunami di Jepun

Tsunami di Jepun

1. Saya ingin mengucapkan takziah kepada warganegara Jepun terutama bagi mereka yang kehilangan keluarga, rakan dan kenalan.

2. Memang sangat memeritkan melihat semua kejadian berlaku sekelip mata. Lebih-lebih lagi dalam keadaan kita yang stabil, mungkin sukar untuk membayangkan bagaimana mereka berhadapan dengan situasi yang sukar.

3. Seluruh dunia memanjatkan rasa simpati dan ada yang memberikan bantuan dari segi wang ringgit, bantuan kemanusiaan, doa dan sokongan moral. Ini sedikit sebanyak membantu dalam usaha pemulihan negara tersebut.

4. Keadaan bertambah buruk dengan ledakkan reaktor nuklear yang terletak di Fukushima. Kerosakan pada stesen janakuasa akibat daripada gempa bumi menyebabkan suhu di loji nuklear tidak terkawal.  Setiap minit stesen TV CNN dan BBC menyiarkan perkembangan terkini berkenaan letupan di loji tersebut. Rusuhan di Libya dan Bahrain tiada lagi kedengaran kerana fokus seluruh dunia lebih menjurus kepada negara kuasa ketiga ekonomi dunia ini.

5. Kesan dari peristiwa tersebut terhadap negara dan perantauan sangat jelas. Bagaimana ekonomi di Jepun merundum dalam masa beberapa hari dengan kejatuhan index Nikkei sebanyak 10.55 peratus dalam masa sehari. Walau bagaimanapun, suntikan Bank of Japan sebanyak USD43.3 billion kembali melonjakkan harga pasaran sekaligus memulihkan keadaan ekonomi serantau.

6. Walaupun berdepan dengan masa yang genting, saya yakin Jepun pasti berjaya mengatasi kesulitan yang dihadapi mereka dalam jangkamasa yang singkat. Kemampuan rakyat Jepun dalam menyelesaikan masalah memang tidak dapat disangkal dan budaya ini sememangnya tersemat pada diri setiap warga Jepun. Semoga segalanya kembali kepada keadaan sedia kala.

Can't understand the post? Use google translate and turn it to your preferred language.

More pictures here

Jack Canfield Dream Big - Law of Attraction

I believe many of you have ever heard of the Law of Attraction. And many of you might have watch the video 'the Secret' or probably have read the book. What can we learn from it? To me it is an effortless thing that brings us huge result.

The question is, what did you do after you got the knowledge? Do you have your own vision board or dream book? Answer from me, well, yes. I have created my own blog that I make it private and wrote what ever that I wish I want to have. The result was amazing. In short time of less than a year, I have receive at least 5 things that I wrote there. Of course out of that many, I don't yet receive everything, but out of 10 lists that I put on my side bar a few months back, I have actually receive 2 of it. It was 20% within no time.

I still think that I did so little to make things work. According to the theory, desire and passion can accelerate the speed, I did not view it everyday. Because to do it is one thing, to consistently remember to view it is another thing. That is why I created another vision board which I put right in front of me, to remind me each second what I am heading to!

Hope this can help me to accelerate whatever I need and to achieve what I desire!
How about you? Have you started to design your own vision board?

Apple iPad 2

Apple CEO Steve Jobs makes his surprise appearance, while he's on his medical leave, he is indeed passionate to introduce the new iPad 2 which he claims faster, thinner and lighter. Thinner than iPhone 4!

Should be one of my wishlist for this year!

AIRASIA flying to Jeddah: Bringing my family to Umrah will be my next short-term goal!

Airasia is planning to expand their operation to Sydney and Jeddah. Oh.. wow! It is time to plan something with the family. Going to tanah haram will be the best moment especially if you could bring along your family and have the islamic environment over the air while you are far away from your daily jobs and tasks.

Read more news below:

March 03, 2011 17:21 PM

Getting New Routes Is Rafidah's Priority As AirAsia's New Indie Chairm

SEPANG, March 3 (Bernama) -- Getting new routes such as Sydney and Jeddah will be the main agenda for Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz as the new, independent and non executive chairman of AirAsia X.

Describing her appointment as one that would not just revolve around attending board meetings without knowing the directions of the company, Rafidah said she would be able to contribute much to the team.

"We are still awaiting approvals for several routes that we have applied for such as Sydney and Jeddah," she told reporters here after welcoming former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who visited AirAsia's office and academy on Thursday.

Rafidah said these routes were important for the country, as they could, besides being a link, bring in foreign investors and tourists from overseas.

"An economic spin-off would take place with the routes. Not only in terms of tourists expenditure but also the promotion of Malaysian products such as its services, hotels, transportation and so on."

Business communities that give importance to low costs will definitely be attracted to using the services of AirAsia when having to travel to the country regularly before deciding on opening up their factory or investing here, she said.

"Not all investors go on first class. You can imagine how many people will come to realise the economic opportunities in Malaysia."

Indeed, AirAsia will make Malaysia the hub for the transit of tourists travelling in the region, said Rafidah who replaces Datuk Kamaruddin Meranun.

"Certainly the new routes will not become profitable and productive overnight but we can build them if we know that there is a market and demand. This will be first agenda because we know there is huge potential," she said.

The former Minister of International Trade and Industry said she took two weeks to decide on the offer made to her to take on the post in AirAsia X.

"I was attracted when offered to be the chairman of AirAsia X. Before making the decision, the management gave me a full briefing and I also visited AirAsia.

"I was impressed with the management style and business model and the measures taken to develop Airasia and AirAsia X. Only after this, did I decide to take on the position."

Rafidah said this was the second posting she had taken up after becoming a board member of one of the subsidiary companies of Johor Corp two years ago.

-- BERNAMA

Dugro: Popular Choice?

My son only drink Dumex Dugro Chocolate flavour. He didn't drink any other brands and flavour. While we go shopping 3 hyper/supermarket have similar view as the picture above. Is it really popular choice?

According to the staff working there, Dumex is doing their rebranding exercise by introducing new packaging. Probably good exercise in business point of view, but they should consider babies out there who does not drink other brands or flavour.

Luckily we bought extra stock. Enough to last for another week. Hope to see the new product with old pricing. :)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.

Happy 2nd Birthday Hafyz

Hafyz with his new gun 2 days before celebrating his 2nd birthday.

It's already past 2 years before this lucky child was born to the earth. His easy going and happy-go-lucky characteristic makes most people are comfortable to interact with him. I don't deny a lot of strangers turn to friends because of his existence when we come together with the family.

2 years already past. Hoping that he can be a behave better this year. His sister will be delivered soon and makes us 4 in the family. Wish all the best to my family. Love all of you!

Jokes: Inherit the farm

A good jokes I read from a post of my friend at his FB wall. It goes like this:

"A dying granny was talking to her granddaughter. "I may die any minute so I want u to inherit my farm including the villa, tractor, the farmhouse and all the livestock and $ 22,389,630.00 cash". "WoW!!" said the granddaughter "thanks granny, I didn't know you even had a farm all this wealth! Where is it??" Grandma : 'Facebook :) "

Julie's Biscuit

I seldom take breakfast. However today, I saw the sandwich biscuit that I bought a few days ago is on the table, so I just grabbed one and bring it to office. While opening, the first piece of it was a defect. If I recall, while working in manufacturing line, the customer complain is very No No... The GM will start and ask why? Action, countermeasure, rework bla bla bla....

Normally I don't have much to say, and enjoy whatever bits and pieces left. But today I have made a wise move to exercise the consumer's right. I captured the picture and send it to the manufacturer's email address at the website.

Still waiting for the response and I want to see their statement, or do they just keep quite.

Orianthi - Highly Strung ft. Steve Vai

The video released a year ago and I have viewed it for quite sometime. But somehow, since the first view I did feel this song is fully composed by Steve. And Steve downgrade himself in the video, just not to overshine Oriathi.

And I am not alone to think this way since some forums is also suspecting the same.

Oriathi is a good young female guitarist. As the young blood flows in her body, the desire to play fast song is always there. The 'According to You' and 'Shut Up and Kiss Me' just tell us all that she just shred and tapped the guitar while I don't think it is necessary to do so during the solo. But the solo just suit the song and it is totally look cool. I am young as well, and definitely love to shred the guitar because it just provide the adrenaline and makes me feel good.

Guitar String Changed

When I was a student, I spend most of my time playing the guitar than anything else. I did spend most of my money to buy the axe and accessories that related to guitar. The passion was sooo huge that sometimes, I am able to practise more than 5 hours a day.

Back then, I always changed my string every 3 to 6 months to maintain the good sound and feeling. A rusty string definitely does not produce a good sound, worst, it harden the soloing process.

After started working, I have less time spend on my guitar. I hardly learn new songs and practising new skills. However, I did jam once in a while. If last time I changed the string sometimes in 3 months time, now it is more than 3 years.

Brand
I normally use Ernie Ball Super Slinky for my guitar. I have tried some other brands but I still prefer this pink color guitar strings. For this time around, while shopping, I was thinking to try something new. I bought over the orange colour string called Hybrid Slinky. I believe this strings is more versatile and suit the songs that I played since I play a wide range of genre, from Joget, Dangdut, Blues, Metal, Rock, Indie - you name it.




What's the Different?
The size of the string is slightly different. Hybrid Slinky offers same size string for the first few strings and bigger size for the last 3 strings. This will add a heavy bass sound while maintaining the smaller strings for soloing and plucking.
Super Slinky: .009 .011 .016 .024 .032 .042          
Hybrid Slinky: .009 .011 .016 .026 .036 .046

Fret

While I didn't change my string, so can't I clean my fret. All those daki-daki already absorbed as part of the wood. Some might say that is something that raise the value of the guitar as it goes older. But personally, I enjoyed better after clean it up! 

Final Result

 

The photo says it well. Now I started to play some of the old songs that I already forgotten. Surprisingly most of the songs I can't play as good as the old time. Practising will require time and commitment. I am now try to practise back one of the song that I left for sometimes.  You can see a lot of "Cliff of Dovers" by Eric Johnson scrobble through my last.fm page. 

Yup, let go jamming after this.

Transfering File to External Hard Drive using Mac

Learn something new today: Windows format the drive using NTFS. Mac using HFS+. Therefore, Mac can read content on Windows external hard drive while it cannot write.

No wonder I can't use external hard drive which is My Passport Studio for Mac to back-up my Windows PC. And now I am having problem saving some of my file using the old external hard drive. If you are switching to Mac, hope you will take note on this issue.

CEKES 2011

I felt very fortunate that I was choosen for one of the representatives to in-charge as committee for CEKES 2011. Back in 1998, I was selected as one of the students that accompanying a group of Japanese students in Borneo Jungle School. It was really fun when we are mingling around people from different culture especially Asians.

Benefits of joining these activities:
1. You'll notice your English is at super level - Even I don't feel my English is good due to too many grammar mistakes (probably can find in this post as well).
2. You tend to use body language more to communicate - You'll notice 50% of your jokes end-up with a silence and people try to figure out the motives of your communication.
3. You got to explore your own home country's POI - I first know that Lembah Danum was the oldest forest in the world when I joined Borneo Jungle School and first time I've seen Melaka's Monorail during the study trip. Hehe...

Why did the Korean were here?
They were funded to learn and enhanced their English proficiency. As in their country with only single race, single culture, single language... It is obviously difficult to talk in other language. Most of the time I spoke English was when I talk to my Chinese or Indian friends, colleagues or bosses. While if in the room, everybody is Malay I will only speak Malay or at most 'rojak'.

Who are they?
They are all students from Changwoon National University in Korea (CNU). All are Engineering Students. It makes sense that Engineers need to learn English. Back in 2007, when I was working with Pioneer, a Japanese company, some of the so called 'Support Members' from Japan could not speak English well. The difficulties of communication end-up in wasting more time pressing their electronics dictionary or using translation website.

Who has been benefited from this training?
Of course in terms of revenue, the company gain the monies. In terms of knowledge, the participant (and perhaps the trainer) gain the most. But other parties gain them as well. The Professors get to play golf at nice climate (it's winter over their place now). The tourism has opportunity to promote Malaysia. The committees get the chances to learn, travel and make new friends. And most important, the funder gets to spot the next generation leader to work for their company. It is definitely win-win-win to most parties.

And the program has come to the end. It was an exhausted month and I have learn lots of new skills.

Happy New Year 2011

Thank God for giving me the opportunity to live on the year 2011. I am truly grateful for all the happiness and good events that happened to me for the past years.
Happy new year all. May this new year brings more prosperity and brings in more cash in my pocket!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.