What are the chances of someone else with the name of Alfian Abdul Halin? Well, I'd say very slim. If you calculate the probability using Bayes theorem:

I think it's gonna be quite low also. Hehehe. I won't go on explaining how to do it because I might make a mistake and make a total fool out of myself :P But let's just believe as a prior (which is actually P(A)), that observing 'Alfian Abdul Halin' (the full name) si very2 slim. 

Anywayz, yesterday... I was actually trying to see whether people have been citing the two or three conference papers I've written during the course of my PhD. So I Googled for Abdul Halin Alfian (since you know la Mat Sallehs, they index by the last name... which we Malays technically don't have!!!). Tengok2 terjumpa la pulak website niiii... http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tsunami-losing-traction-in-bukit-gasing/. Walaweh... when I found the match for my name... I was quite awed. Ada jugak orang yg nama dekat nak sama dengan Alfian Abdul Halin? Imam masjid pulak tu? kekekekeke. Tapi nama dia betul sikit la compared to my name. I mean, his name is Alfian Abdul Halim, where one of God's 99 glorious names (i.e. Halim) is properly preceded by the word servant (i.e. Abdul). My dad's name ada tershilap sikit masa nurse tu register... since it's Abdul Halin... Tapi takpe...

Anyway, tu je la nak citer. Lepas ni kalau ada orang tersilap dan panggil saya Imam Alpyan, maka saya tidak akan terkejut. Sbb kompom mereka mistaken idontitey... Oraits... Tq for reading iye :D

A screen shot of that Malaysian Insider webpage

Last weekend, the wife went to her sister's house while the kids went off with their uncle and aunty (Cik Fazli n Cik Na) to the zoo and that Karangkraf exhibition thinggy. So, I was left alone tak tau nak buat apa. In the end, decided to catch a movie with Encik Aizal Kusyairi Cikaro Kiroro. Tengok cerita The Adjustment Bureau. I read somewhere it was something like Inception (that Leo Dicaprio movie yg ciplak idea lagu XPDC - umpama mimpi dalam mimpi :P)*. Anywayz, you can say it was something like Inception, cuma a whole lot lighter. No need to put on your confused-cap :) In all, I give the movie 7.28/10 :D

Then, lepas dah solat maghrib pe semua, we went to ACE Hardware store. Owh, we were at IOI Mall Puchong btw. Tengok tu dan ini, I ended up buying a shower head and some other useless stuff. Bahaya kasik laki2 window shopping kat hardware store. Kang ada je benda alah tak burguna dia beli :P Dekat ACE hardware tu btw, they sold this toilet pump thinggy. Man... the design is soo 'confusing' :P Kalau mau tau apa makna 'confusing' kena mau pigi sendiri la tengok itu toilet pump. Supposedly, in our culture, patut only the guys la would understand the weird design concept :P Kalau perempuan pon faham....? Then... Hmmmmmmmmm.... Anywayz...

After dah penat membeli belah barangan dan menengok2 bar-bq set yg memang tak mampu nak beli kat ACE hardware tu... Mr Azial san decided to belanja me makan Kenny Rogers Roasters. Terima kasih Encik Aizal Cikaro Kiroro. It's been quite a while since I had my last Kenny's Quarter set. Well, it's been a while sebab Kenny Rogers ni dah makin mahai :( When I used to frequent the place, the 1/4 set was only ~RM12 max. Ni dah jadik dekat RM16... saya makan hanya kalau ada orang belanja, ataupun time2 rasa kaya raya :D Annnywayz... Malam tu Alhamdulillaah. Quarter chicken yang dihidangkan amatlah besar. So, berbaloi gak la makan mahal2. The side dishes of Mac n Cheese, Potato Salad and Salad Campur (with some oil dressing, forget the name) were also very2 de good. Kiranya based on that experience, bagus gak la cara staff Kenny Rogers Roasters IOI Mall hidangkan makanan. Hehehehe...

Okes. Itu saja. Terima kasih kerna sudi membaca iya. Assalaam aleykom WBT. 

*Or was it Ekamatra? I'm kinda sure it was XPDC... anywayz

Saja saja takde kerja (walhal ada kerja belambak), I went Googling about the Segway in Malaysia. For those who don't know, Segway ni ialah that very cool two wheeled thinggy (altho yg lebih 2 wheels pon ada), yang nampak macam almost impossible to balance. But due to whatever technology they have, the balancing is quite effortless. You move forward by leaning ure body to the front. The more you lean, the faster the Segway goes. Nak break kalu... just start going back to a straight body position... Pusing2 pun senang, just like turning a bicycle handle... only easier! Anywayz...

I looked for the Malaysian Segway website... found it at http://www.segway.my. Saja la nak tengok berapa price utk this very2 fun and cool thing. I was told in Langkawi that it cost quite a lot... tapi since dah lupa, pegi la cariii.... Tengok2, kat website dia tak pulak tulis harga. Kat website kereta pon ada harga bai!!! Where is the price of the Segway dekat the Malaysia website?

Tiada harga...

I tot this was like standard... so carik la website Segway negara lain. Went to New Zealand's Segway website. Watakungchi! Ada harga pulak... 

Ada harga... MAHAI!!!

Assalaam aleykom.

1. Bought some fishing stuff. In all, cost me RM28 (bought fishing line and some hooks). InsyaAllaah, me and the usual fishing crew are going out to sea... this MONDAY! Yeah, I know... it's a working day. But ok what, FISHING is 'work'... kira (kata) kerja la tu kan;

2. Stopped by at Giant Sungai Petani (Kedah). Bought a new small fishing box, one long-nosed plier, one metal line cutter and a pair of new ASADI rubber sandals. ASADI is making quite comfortable CROCS looking sandals nowadays. In all... around RM50;

3. Went to my friend's wife's cousin's wedding reception at this one hall in Sungai Petani. Yes, I know... even for him it's quite a distant relation. Ini kan pulak diri ini yang tumpang makan free. The food was great btw. And I got to sit at a VIP table!!! Anywayz, this is why I have strayed so far up north. You didn't think I was there just for the GIANT trip?;

4. Unplanned car wheel rotation (front go to back, back go to front) + wheel balancing and alignment. Cost me RM35. Buat dekat Bandar Perda. Not exactly 'on-the-way-back'. But I thought I should not go straight home to my asrama for there was nothing waiting for me there. The cina kedai btw said that Silverstone tyres are very2 noisy. I second that;

So that's it. Very2 uninteresting things (except the kenduri. again, the food was awesome!!!). But to a PhD student, this is like getting high at an illegal night club! Hahahaha! Anwyayz, tq for reading :D Assalaam aleykom WBT.

Assalaam aleykom WBT. At my hostel room, the mosquitoes are going berserk! Don't know where their 'pot' or hideout is, but when night falls, they come out (or come in is more like it) by the throng. So when I go to sleep at night, all these freeloaders will come in and 'steal' a few straw-fulls of my blood :P Tried using the VAPE ubat nyamuk thinggy, but somehow they don't seem to be bothered. My roomate Ehsan used to spray using the aerosol thinggy, but that also tak jalan. Can't shut the windows cuz if we do, there is risk of suffocation and dehydration due to overheating... panas itu bilik walupun malam yang hujaaan. 

So, what to do? I go and buy mo-hi-qui-to net! Hehehehehe... Firstly I bought one from a DIY shop. Specially designed to fit onto windows (or doors) to keep out mosquitoes. The claims on the wrapping implied that installation was easy, and the net would stick to provided the Velcro. Tapi in the end hampeh... It was difficult to custom fit it to my room window! Lepas tu pulak, even though the Velcro stuck quite firmly to the net, the tape pulak tak melekat kuat pada window pane.  (in all, lost ~RM50 :P Learn from ure mistakes boy).

Looked something like this... senang nya dia ni buaat... sebelah tangan je... NOT!

Then, decided to go to kedai apek yang berhampiran... Had the green colored net in mind. Tengok punya tengok punya tengok... Alhamduilllaah, adaaa :D Bought 3 meters x ~4-kaki (dua unit yg berbeza but that's how I struck the deal with the makcik nyonya) @ RM7.50 semeter... Tiada tawar menawar pasal I have no skills in that...sob sob... Anywayz... went back and Alhamdulillaah... Installation was quite a cinch (took 1/2 the time compared to the DIY one). The real test however is tonite. Let's hope that it holds out against the dreaded mosquitoes :D Oraits. Assalaam aleykom WBT.

Tingkap tanpa net (orang sebelah punya tingkap...)

Tingkap lepas dah pasang net (still buleh bukak tingkap tapi... alhamdulillaah)

Close-up view

Used tape itam tu je... hopefully strong enough

Tiada tangga, jadik pakai kerusi aja :D

It's been quite some time since I last did my laundry @ the desasiswa Bakti/Permai hostel. Last basuh2 guna commercial type washer was when I stayed @ desasiswa Restu dengan Dr. Azrul (masa tu lom Dr lagik). Anywayz... since I have nothing much to blog about, I will paste some pics that I took of the wash area :)

Borrowed some powder detergent from roomate Mr. Ehsan Abbasnejad, got some change for the machine, and tarus gi basuh. In all it took 20-minutes ++ :D Oraits. Tq for reading n looking at the pics :D Assalaam aleykom.

The washing machine. Yang dalam pail tu baju sapa ntah. Lepas basuh lambat pulak dia bawak keluar.

50-cents and 20-cents only please... and also notice the ferum 3 sulfat

Kinda cekik darah gak RM3. Tapi nak wek camno? Industrialists Capitalists!!!

Beginilah caranya anda membasuh baju iye tuan? (macam Istana Takeshi pulak main tuan tuan iye?)

Maytag Commercial Washing Machine

My clothes... tak banyak ye dok for 1 week :P

Outdated sign board saying boys/men should not pass here

Assalaam aleykom WBT. A few days ago, while I was in the toilet doing some very lucrative business (:D)... I saw this ant that was crawling on the floor. Lagi sikit nak sampai kaki aku, seb bek tak sampai. It was very2 de big one! Tengok pon macam konpius campur takut campur taajub! It's a species that is jarang2 dapat lihat.

The size is quite big. I think around 1/3 of my ring finger. That's very2 big for an ant aye? It has very2 big 'tweezers', the but is fluorescent green and the way it moves sorta suggests that it calculates where it wants to go. Took some pics of the insect... anyone ever seen this type of ant before? Alhamdulillaah, sekor je jumpa. Sib bek tak datang segerombolan....

UPDATE: Ok. Alhamdulillaah. Got the answer from Azwad... ini 'ibu' kerengga ghupanya :] - reference:
http://www.thehindu.com/fline/fl2502/stories/20080201508309400.htm

It's been quite a while since my last medical certificate or MC :) But now, I think I am ill, with cough, cold and fever. As Muslims, no matter what the predicament, we say Alhamdulillaah... and Alhamdulillaah I say :D Actually bukan apa, it's been so hot in the past few months, that when I finally catch cold, it means that the cold weather has finally caught up with me! So kira bagus la tu... selama ni panas, now I am succumbing to the cold... this means that the weather is getting better :D It's getting cooooler. Makin sejuk! Hahahaha! Bagus la tu ye dok? It is now cold (for a while...)!!! And I am catching cold!!! It is not hot anymore!!! :D Alhamdulillaah...

Anywayz... Ok, I know I am not making sense, but I am thankful nevertheless as I am now being ill-ed by the cold, and not the scorching heat :D Orait, all I have to do now is to keep warm and eat ubat batuk cap ibu dan anak, ramuan yang asli rasanya enak, sudah terkenal sejak berzaman, menambah seri membawa kebahagiaan.... :D

Oraits... Assalaam'aleykom.

What will I write about today? Actually I cannot yet write or update my blog... this is because the topic that I thought I wanted to write about, I cannot write because I have no materials for it... yet. Make sense? It is ok if it doesn't. Anywayz, I have two topics in my head... but both cannot yet be committed to e-paper due to having no textual and/or digital-imagery materials... They are:

(in pure chedet.co.cc... i will try to write in point form :D...)

1. Topic-1: PROTON EMAS. I praise Proton's effort in designing the EMAS (Eco-Mobility Advanced Solution). But I wonder... have Proton done enough in improving the existing models to even start thinking about a concept? Joining the Geneva Motor Show was indeed an undertaking (albeit a pricey one)... but maybe that money could've been better spent on hardening the chassis, or even making the Persona's rear-end windshield (windshield ek cermin belakang tu...?) a bit more rear-view mirror friendly? Just my opinion :) Could not talk about the topic in full yet because tak sempat buat research lagi pasal ini Proton Emas. But my initial reaction was that la... improve existing models first. Then go concept :) Ok ke pikir camtu? :P
2. Topic-2: FISHING TRIP. Last Saturday, I and a few friends went on a fishing trip. This was not the normal destination of the Tuas-es (in the seas of Yan Kedah). Instead, it we teed off from Tanjung Dawai jetty to a place called Kok Ribu/Seribu? A new place for me. As usual, the targeted species was the Spanish Mackerel a.k.a. Tenggiri. Tapi, tenggiri tidak makan pada hari Sabtu itu. We however got tons and tons of Doraemon fish. Alhamdulillaah, I also managed to get my first Kerapu!!! Could not blog about it fully yet because haven't had the photos 'developed'. By that, I mean transfered to my computer (from the digital camera). Jadik, takde la gambar2 ikan lagi. But insyaAllaah, when I find time, I will put some fish pictures for all to see... if sudi to see that is :D

Okes. Without updating, I have successfully updated my blog. Tq for reading :D Assalaam aleykom...

Assalaam aleykom WBT. This morning (at 12:00 am), me and my family arrived  safely in Bangi. It was the usual 3-4 hour drive from Nibong Tebal to Bandar Baru Bangi, and the whole trip was very2 nice, alhamdulillaah...

Why we balik kampung? Well, the wife went for a scan, and insyaAllaah it's confirmed to be a baby boy... and the Dr. also advised that if we wanted to balik kampung, now (yesterday) was the time. Maka kami pon balik lah. If we wanted to wait to the last minute (expected due date 4th Feb 2010), macam dangerous la kan. Even 1-week before pon quite dangerous. Cuz you never know when the baby's ready to come out. Nanti ada pulak yang go into labor tengah2 highway PLUS.... hehehe. Saya ni tak pandai nak lahirkan anak. Tolong2 support time 'teran' tu ok la :P

Now it's already 38-weeks  ++ , and memang waiting time (tunggu masa) aje la :) We hope and pray to God that all will be ok and fine, and also hope that friends and family can make some doa as well so that everything selamaat :) Anywayz, baby's stuff rasa2 macam dah beli semua. But since our last baby was in 2005, hope that we didn't miss too many things la :D

Wokeh... Wife nak ajak gi umah kakak dia japs. Kat PUNCAK ALAAMM!!! Tapi takpe, walupun kat ujung donia, demi wife terchenta. hehehe. Assalaaam aleykom!

Last night (morning as a matter of fact, since it was almost 5 a.m.) I decided to give my blog an overhauled look :) Unfortunately, the first attempt was a bit hideous because the creativity came from my own hands. I am not that good at designing websites... hehehe. Always tend to overdo things... So I ended up with a hideous blog! Looked something like this ugly ongoing project of mine.

Anywayz, after surfing the net for nice templates the next Sunday morning, I found this one to be quite interesting. Go it from deluxtemplates. I haven't been able to fully customize it yet to fit my blog contents, but insyaAllaah it's getting there.

Okes. Please give any comments so that I could make this blog readable to anyone who is kind enough to read it :D Selamaat...

Took to the tracks this morning... and man, did I feel the effects of long-term inactivity. It's been too many months since my last workout... let it be cardio or weights! Man... I am really2 unfit.

The last time I checked the scales, I weighed in at 84-kilograms! This was of course after Eidul Fitri. Now I should be 0.5 to 1 kilo lighter... Or am I? Nonetheless... I am still unfit. And the aches and pains in my quadriceps (thighs) and lower-leg muscles (what are they called?... calves?) are clear proof that I have once more turned into a slob! ... sob, sob... :'(

Anyway... I don't wanna say that AGAIN... I will climb back on that horse. The horse has long gone... it has left me once and for all. All that's left are these legs. Not a four-legged mammal. But only these legs that Alhamdulillaah... Allaah has blessed me with :D

And it's these legs that must start feeling the pain again if I wanna go back to at least 75kg. Man... seems a very2 long way to go. 9-kilos from where I am right now.

.. Hmmm.... jauh gak tu!

And the aches that I am still feeling right now... hours after my jogging session (which lasted some 20-minutes but with only 4-laps of the 800-meter track completed)... are still apparent... which is making me dread the next running (or climbing, cycling or elliptical-machining) session... How can this be? How can this make me lose 9 kilo of grams!!!

Arghh!!! Man... the times we are in today (this is where I start blaming people who created machines...). The paradigm has really really shifted. I personally blame it on the industrial revolution. Hehehehehe... Humans used to work hard for a living. And I really2 do mean work hard. Physical labor... that was the way to go. Eat what you grow... and burn what

you eat at work. Results? Naturally occurring 6-pack abs... Furthermore, it was 'cleaner' and more 'honest' food back then. Nothing from a tin can with sprayed vitamins in it. Now... you can even get tuna-sambal-cili-api in a can... and also MILK that can last almost A YEAR!!! (what do they put in those cartons I wonder...) But nonetheless... that's the world we live in today. The winds of change has come... so I guess we must just glide to where the breeze takes us.... Or should we?

As for me-self... I must fight this pain. The pain from cardio due to long-term-inactivity I mean :) So that one day... it will just be a lactic-acid story of the past :D Hairul Azwar Hashim (http://www.trikidz.com.my/) ought to know what I'm talking about, for he faced a very similar problem once... but that was like 15-years ago when his tummy was bigger than his beard...

(this is Hairul Azwar btw... before and after pic :D notice the 'tembam-er' version on the left... and after metamorphosis on the right... way to go mamat!!! This mamat is one of my continuous inspirations and hope... that a healthy lifestyle is still very2 attainable... :D)

Anywayz... :D

I will hopefully still run. Pain pon pain lah. This pain will come again the next time... but with the pain must come perseverance... then lama lama... pain pun jadik la gain :D And that's the time when victory is at hand... for when pain dissipates... and slowly dissolves into the wind of change... the era will dawn. The era of... the TROXI KING!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

(dah sewel PhD agaknye tulisan aku ni. Tapi takpe... ok. Have a nice day everyone... and tq for reading...)

Alhamdulillaah. Today I got the road tax for the wife's Perodua Kelisa :D No morphing happened though... the guy came without first being a sexy girl clad in a tight read leather suit :P

Anywayz... my last entry concerning MYEG was just blabbering in general about the

whole experience. But I've noticed that some visitors who happened to land on my blog (from Google or Yahoo!) were actually looking for information about how to get the road tax thru MYEG... Okes. This post will talk about that :D

Okes. Here goes...

STEPS FOR ROAD TAX RENEWAL THROUGH MYEG... (http://www.myeg.com.my)

1. For my case... I already renewed my takaful (insurance). I did it at Syarikat Takaful Malaysia. Easy and simple... and ikut syarak :D So insyaAllaah all will be ok for this life and the hereafter :D Ameennn...

2. After finishing all that, keep your takaful (insurance) confirmation slip handy...

3. Goto http://www.myeg.com.my... At the main page, click on the 'ROAD TAX RENEWAL' link. Easy peasy... :) - see image below...

4. Since you already bought your insurance (as in my case)... just ignore that big blue link saying 'CLICK HERE TO BUY INSURANCE' at the road tax renewal page. Just key in all the details... and after that... just click 'PROCEED'... the page after this should display all your details (if I remember correctly) pertaining to your car, as well as the takaful/insurance information :D After checking... proceed to payment (but if the info. is wrong, I have no idea how U can correct it. Supposed to be correct...)

5. Finally, select the payment method... and finish up the transaction... Oh... and key in the mailing address. Shouldn't forget that one :)

That's basically it. There's RM12 (RM10 for delivery and some RM2 fee for what I forget) extra though that you have to pay (for my Kelisa that is... shouldn't be any different for other cars I guess...). So, if you think not lining up at the post office or JPJ is worth RM12... then MYEG is da way to go :D - as for me, I'm just lazy. But I think RM12 is ok... even though I'd prefer it to be below RM10 :D

In 2-working days, insyaAllaah the road tax will be delivered to the mailing address you specified. Oh... and I recommend sending it to your office address... because for me, mostly no one's at home from morning till evening... so most probably the delivery guy won't be able to deliver... as a result you'd be the one who has to go and collect... There goes the RM10 :P anywayz... :D

Okes. Hope this info has helped... TQ for reading :D Salaaam...

Alhamdulillaahirobbil'aalameen :)

Exactly one day before going back to kampung for Aidilfitri holidays, the mommy cat (who made home next to my washing machine) decided to move her kittens elsewhere. I was a bit distraught but consoled myself thinking that 'mom knows best!' ... well, actually God knows best... but you get the idea :D Anywayz...

After coming back from raya holidays, I was a bit sad to see that the mommy cat was very2 thin. Ayo... no food for almost 1-week ++. Banyak kasihan. She was ripped (meaning no visible fat) to shreds. I could even see some of the bones from her rib cage. Alhamdulillaah, there were some cat food still lying around, so I kasik la makan. She ate like there was no 2moro! I tried to look for the 'kids'... but they were no where to be seen :( This was like 2-weeks ++ ago... Never saw them since :( I mean... I couldn't see where small kittens could stay, without getting drenched by the constant downpour we've been having. I mean like... every day rain rain rain. And since cats don't like water... was really worried about the kittens. Was especially worried that some or all of them wouldn't make it!

Suddenly, last night... I heard the weep of a kitten coming from the back of my house. Wallaweh!!! Was overjoyed least to say. Went out straight away... and saw one of them trying to get milk from its mum :D Needless to say, it ran away when it saw me coming. A bad move though, cuz I was led straight to their 'hideout'... which was actually just at the storage area outside my house...

And it was there that I was very2 thankful to God... ALL FOUR WERE STILL ALIVE AND KICKING!!! They tried to hide under the wire-fences rolled up neatly at the back of my 'shed'... But since the opening was big enough for my hand... I managed to sneak in and grab em. Managed to reunite myself with three of them :D The other one was a bit smart and tucked itself in a bit too far. Anyhow... I am overjoyed. All are ok alhamdulillaah :D Now, just wanna make sure the mum gets enough cat food and milk :D Still got 4 growing kids to feed.

Okes. tq for reading ya :D Assalaam aleykom!!!

Assalaam aleykom :D

A few days back... I was picking out the laundry from my washing machine. As I was putting the damp shirts and pants and skirts and others into the laundry basket... i heard what sounded like squeaks. Not suspecting anything, I thought it was the sound of my slippers. You know la... when cheap slippers have holes in them, and when they come in contact with water... they tend to squeak or (kinda) whistle when U apply extra pressure on them.

Anywayz... after a few too many squeaks... I decided to take a look at the slippers, as the squeaks were getting rather frequent. The suddenly, I felt like something was watching me. I mean, you get that feeling like ure being observed... ure every move watched and scrutinized... ure very breath measured for the slightest change in tempo... ure... ok you get the idea. Tapi takkan hantu atau Jinn... Cuz it was too early in the day for that kinda stuff to happen :P Then suddenly... something moved in front of me. KATA KUANG!!! Tengok2, dekat tepi washing machine, ada la this mak kucing (Mommy Cat), yang dah terberanak sampai 4-ekoq! Man... I mean, so brave this cat to beranak next to my washing machine. Normally, when ever I go out to buang the trash, she'd be almost running for her life at my very sight! So for her to give birth within the compound of my back-entrance is rather shocking! :P But anyways...

Actually I've kinda vowed not to take in any pet cats anymore. After so many foiled attempts, I can't bear the feeling of having to depart from them when they finally pass away. So, I was thinking of throwing them out. But where? I mean... where can these small kittens stay that doesn't have other alley-cats possibly scrounging for their very flesh? And don't let me get started with the doggies. Man... the ones here have cats for breakfast, lunch and also high-tea :P

So after considering the pros and cons... I just decided to let them stay lah. But won't treat them as actual pets la (hopefully...). Just decided to maintain feeding the mommy cat, so that she'd be able to produce milk for her little ones. No getting tooo close such as to angkat2 and belai2. I will only do that with my wife (minus the angkat2 of course... she preggy now... heheheheh). Anywayz... now the kittens seem to be getting bigger... Good lah tu :D And the mommy oso now is already so berani with me. No more running. Now siap suka gesel2 lagi. Even gesel-gesel with my wife oso. hehehehe. okes. anwyayz... below are some pics. Enjoy iya :D

Already brave. Let's me come near without growling...

Very2 close up pic. As you can see... she likes me alot now (because I give you FOOD!!!)

Early stages of discovery... "DO NOT EVEN DARE TO LOOK, HUMAN SCUM!!!!"

Sudah bergelimpangan after habis tonggang susu ibu... Susu Ibu, makanan sejati utk baby baby

Close up ...sleeping... "HOIT! GET THAT FLASH OUT OF ME EYES HUMAN!!!!"

Very2 cute

Okes... no flash this time... just macro shot

Another pic of them sleeping together

The auntie. She still runs away in fear at my very sight. But I still give her some leftover food from time to time

Mommy cat... after licking, ...what?

Alhamdulillaahirobbil'aalameen

Today, myself and my good friend Aizal Kusyairi paid a visit to Low Yat Plaza to get my brand new system. I initially only asked the guy about RAM configurations... but Aizal being Aizal... he had to overdeliver... and instead came up with a whole PC configuration! Thank you very2 much bro :D

Reason to buy the PC? Well... lately I've been commuting from my house in Nibong Tebal to Penang (Island). Have to do this... because now my wife is pregnant (3-4 months)... so I have to be around the house to attend to her and also my daughter's needs :D

Due to these, I have to do the work in the lab (where my workstation is), and also try to get home in time to pick up my daughter from school (must bertolak at around 4:40pm the latest from Penang island to avoid traffic congestion). The major drawbacks however are twofold.

Firstly, I spend around 1.5-2 hours, daily, commuting... That time might be better spent writing MATLAB codes or coming up with my thesis outline or even a conference/journal paper. Secondly, the cost is quite unbearable, as the TOLL ALONE IS RM11.20 per day :( So, I think I need to station myself at home for most of the week. One solution is to buy a PC workstation, so that can work from home. The current laptop I have is a bit too slow (RAM pon 1Gig je...) to handle each 40,000 images per video file for my work.

So tu la pasal why I need to get this system. Bukan pasal mengada... but it is indeed a necessity :) Anywayz... what started as a memory related question (to Aizal) is now a full system with quite impressive specifications (tq again banyak2 En Aizal Cikaro):

1) AMD Phenom II X4 955 Processor (Yes, I've gone anti-Intel again) - 3.2 GHz (8Mb Cache)

2) Asus AM3 M4A785TD-M EVO Motherboard

3) Crossair DDR3 1333 4GB (Pair) RAM
4) Asus LCD Monitor (VH222H) - with built-in speakers (quite ok the sound)

5) Western Digital Hard Disk (BLACK) - 1 Terabyte 7200RPM SATA

6) Cooler Master ELITE 334 PC Casing

7) SAMSUNG (kampung dusun) DVDRW SATA

And all of that, running on a Windows XP Pro... very2 de fast one :) Alhamdulillaah. The system is now in its final stage of installation (Microsoft Word, Antivirus etc.). This is happening as we speak (read for you and write for me :P)

Anywayz... Just to share a silly but USEFUL experience (as how most experiences are)

We faced a glitch whilst initially trying to power up the machine. Tried to switch it on after installing the CPU, heat sink, RAMs, hard disk etc. The LED light on the ASUS motherboard was on! But for some reason, the CPU fan was not spinning :( This was really2 really2 really2 not normal. Thought about many techie reasons e.g.:

1) RAM tak betul... maybe this motherboard only supported 1GB installations... Aiyaaa.... But if the RAM was the problem, the fan should still be turning

2) Not enough power form the power supply. But we were already running a 460 Watt Cooler Master...

3) Might have accidentally scratched the motherboard surface while trying to pasang the CPU's heat sink & fan

4) Motherboard was not original... suspected a 'rogol-ed' version :P

Lepas dah lama godek... I finally tried to unplug the CPU. Tengok2... we plugged in the wrong power socket to the motherboard. Dayem... We accidentally plugged in a 6-socket adaptor to a 4-socket... ended up karen tak masuk la! This is almost equivalent to not being able to switch on your PC, while the problem was that the power cable is unplugged. Lama jugak la we took to solve this simple thing :P This shows that sometimes (or sometimes, most of the time...), the answer is so simple yet we overlook it due to the other stuff that we have to do :D

Okes. Tu je kot. Tq for reading :D

It is as they say... the end of the month! :) Not actually the end of August, but the end of the salary a.k.a. GAJI month :) Supposedly, tomorrow is GAJI TIME!!! It's when all we govt. people (most of us lah...) will get our monthly salaries. So, for a short while, we are all 'thousand-airs'... For a short while, our bank accounts will be full! For a short while... we feel at ease because the Maybank2u.com ACCOUNTS DETAILS page is no longer like the image shown below (screen captured at around 3-5 minutes ago):

Anywayz... this screen will be no more cometh 2moro :)

Alhamdulillaah :D Money will insyaAllaah come...

But as it comes... it goes just as fast. It is normally on the same day we were made 'rich'... that we make others rich... and richer to the richest! These people/companies/parties owe me some thanks, because now they are on their respective yachts sailing the seas of the Caribbean!!! Maybe even stopping at the Anguilla Beaches! :P Anyway... they are:

1. Public Bank (Islamic) - I am buying my car from you
2. Pejabat Bekalan Air , Penang - Alhamdulillaah, aplenty water each month
3. TNB - Electricity people, you are thunder-clappily-rich!
4. M. Derafi Hassan - RM320 per month to you... for a very comfi. terrace house
5. Tahfiz An-Nur - Plz ajar Farhanah sampek pandai iya :D RM250/month
6. Maxis - RM60 sebulaaannn... Ananda Krishnaa... kasik la rebate buang 100-200?
7. Petronas (and sometimes Shell or Caltex) - varying amounts
8. USM - RM180 per month for Asrama... but USM is naik gila already. They will increase the rent to RM300 per month!!! Squatters!!! I call you now... USM ingat dia kasik kondo ka sampai nak charge RM300... kueng krong thip betul sometimes I think...
9. Tabung Haji - Ok... takpe. This one is my money oso. Cuz it is my savings :D
10. Takaful Ikhlas - I am making someone by the name of Ahmad Azal Afarouk richer by the month :D

And I believe, without even realizing, the list goes on and on and on.

Anyhow... I don't quite mind that much in making these people richer :) Cuz it's sorta like, I scratch yer back, you scratch mind kinda relationship.... But of course, I do more scratching lah. Hehehehe. But in all... it's ok :D

So tomorrow will be the day insyaAllaah, that the $$$ will come. And of course, it will also be the day that it will go... But takpe. Cuz in every coming and going... there will always be next month! Hehehehe... insyaAllaah that is.

Okes. Thank you for reading this point-less post :D Salaaam and Ramadhaan Mubarak to all Muslims :D

Assalaam aleykom WBT :) And a very good day to all... Alhamdulillaah, had a good drive today from Nib. Tebal to USM. I must say that the (almost finished) improvements made to the bridge has certainly made the traffic a whole lot more bearable for bridge-folks :) Used to be a crazy bottle-neck from the toll plaza entering the bridge, but now... just by adding one (or is it two? tak perasan pulak...) lane(s)... things seem to be clearing up :) I can even leave my house at around 7 a.m. and still be able to catch the "good-flow" onto the bridge.

Anywayz... Today's post is not about my drive or the 20-something-year old Penang bridge. It's about Miley Cyrus and her song... THE CLIMB :) And as you can see from the title... ada relation la pulak between M.C. and oso P.H.D. Hehehehe... what de relation? Okes....T'is like this...

Evertytime I hear her song on the radio (or on my phone. I know lagu bebudak... tapi ok gak apa melody dia :P) one part (the chorus ke? Ke apa ke ntah orang panggil...) relates to my current situation really well:

Ain't about how fast i get there

Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side

...

...

...

It's the climb.... Yea yea yea yeawooo yo yo ala gazambo and the rest...

So I think all PhD-doers can oso relate to what I'm relating to. If cannot? Okes, I will explain.

Actually... the PhD is not about how fast you finish it. Some tho, are genius enuff to finish before time (which is great for them! syabbas!). I have no rows with them. But just don't make that a yeard stick of the quality of the degree :) Don't be:

"I did it in 2.33-years! Wallaahooo!!!!"

... Or...

"Saya habis PhD saya umor 21 tahun awak tau dok.... [disusuli gelak setannn....]" etc.

And it also ain't about the DR that you're gonna get at the end of the journey... The Doctor of Philosophy is a great title to achieve, mashaAllaah :) But it all don't end there... T'is just a beginning :D Don't expect or be:

STUDENT: "Selamat pagi Dr. Takrom Bilaghlul"

...Or...

STUDENT: "Encik Mat Samid.... saya nak tanya...." [DR MENJAMPUK DENGAN GANAS]

The DR: "HOIT! What did you say? I didn't spend 4-years for some half-brained paramecium to call me ENCIK!" - ni exaggerate je ni... hehehehe. I myself will never do this insyaAllaah.

Someone once told me (A professor) that it's the training that we get during the PhD is what matters. How to do the research. How to get yerself into deep dung, and then get yerself out of it... and at the same time emerging triumphant!!! Yeahooo!!!! ... In short... sama macam apa Hannah Montana kita kata la... IT'S THE CLIMB!!!!! (Perasan tak, kalau buang 'L', jadik nama bank! HAHAHAHAHA! ok, iklan je tu...). Pendek kata, it's the journey that counts :) Tak sangka she can make a PhD song. Hehehehehe...

But of course, hopefully we get a good "travel guide". Some are fortunate enuff to get very2 good ones (DLYNN!!! AKU JELEESSS :P). But for the vast majority, most have to climb on their own. But nonetheless, it will be a good journey also insyaAllaah. Good guide or bad guide... the climb will be challenging nonetheless.

The main supervision that we need of course, is from the ALL MIGHTY ALLAAH :D Ask from him, and insyaAllaah all will be well.

Orait. anyway... itu lah kisah Miley Cyrus dan PhD :D T'is da climb MAT NABIL TAJUDIN!!!!

Salaam

Just came back from our latest fishing trip at Tuas Yan...

We are so thankful to Allaah because of 2 things:

1) We were not capsized by the storm that (seriously) so suddenly and so quickly came

2) The bounty of Mackerels, all of which are WHOPPERS!

Anywayz, trip started out as usual... with myself and Azrul waking up in the wee hours of the morning (3:25 am). Freshened ourselves up right after waking, and pushed off for breakfast (at Subaidah de Kedai Mamak) at around 4:00am. Then, made our way out of Penang Island via the Penang Bridge at around 4:45am. Reached Yan Kedah at around... 6:25am? I think (Oh, stopped for a while at Gurun Tol for some 'business') :D

Trip was cut short because a Storm suddenly came out of no where. We couldn't make a run to shore because of 3 things:

1) Shore was too fay away (45-mins to 1-hour normal speed boat ride)

2) If the waves and wind caught up with us, the boat will almost definitely be capsized

3) No where to latch on to if caught in the middle of the storm. At least, by not going anywhere, we'd be "safely" tied to the bamboos at the Tuas...

Storm came at about 1:00pm. Boat rocked quite violently... Myself and Azrul were quite frightened because it was our first time. But when seeing the other more experienced members still laughing and fishing... our minds were set (a bit) at ease. Alhamdulillaah, it did not worsen for if not, I don't think I'd be writing this entry today :P hehehehe... anywayz.... Had to back at around 2:30++pm, as the other boats were heading home as well. Trip home took around 2 hours ++, as the tekong had to maneuver the boat thru rocky sea conditions... Annywayz...

We managed to bag 5-mackerels. All of which were WHOPPERS, as I mentioned earlier. The biggest one being around... 8 kilograms ++ I reckon? Quite a lengthy and heavy bugger as it proved to be, as we carried the dead animal 10-floors up the desasiswa Restu stairs... ok... bukan stairs la... we took the lift of course :D

Had to bring it there first, because the fish needed to be distributed among me and Azrul (half half laa). Dissected the fish in the hostel shower room (on the wash area :P). Of course, we cleaned the place up good after the bloody process. Azrul took his part to a friend's fridge outside USM, while I brought it home to Nibong Tebal, where my lovely wife expressed-ly prepared what turned out to be quite a delectable meal! :D Sayaaang bini aku :) hehehehe.

Anywayz... here are some pics. Enjoy!!!

Oh... and in case some want to know, here are the details for a typical fishing trip to Tuas Yan, Kedah.

Jetty: Kuala Dulang Kecil, Yan, Kedah

Boat rental: RM450 (normally lah...)

Tekong: Our tekong that day was Mr. Fazli... boat owner was the ever famous Baie

Tuas: Baie (new tuas)

Number of participants: 6

Tekong: 1

Wokes.... TENNGIRI (almost) GALORE!!!!!

Fesyen Baru punya headgear

Fesyen Baru punya headgear - mcm pak arab pulak dari depan :P

Sunrise... tapi macam sunset ye dok?

Bot ber plet number PKFB 764 (Penang mari kot yg ni?)

Bersedia utk fight tenggiri... yeahooo!!!

Mackerel 8 kilograms ++

The biggest (8kg ++) and the smallest (3kg ++)

Storm clouds a comin'!!!

The defeated giant... you will end up in my WOK insyaAllaah

Alternative headgear... Peng-Sawah Padi theme

Any Last Words?

Before Post Mortem

Kekejaman!!! Hehehehe. No lah... Removal of the innerds and gills are obligatory tasks. A dirty job, but someone has to do it :P