MY SHORT WAVE RECEIVER

I purchased the receiver, ICF-5900W Snny, in 1970's at the price of about RM200. It was a very fantastic short wave receiver. It was small, light and very sensitive. When I got my ham license I put it somewhere else. It dropped and collected dust. Today I am using it again though it has some physical defects.

The need to use the radio is to know the prayer time when I am at work. The local station will broadcast the prayer time when it comes and news information on what's going on in the world.

From time to time I would put the band switch to SW1, SW2 and SW3 and scanned around. I can hear not only the broadcast stations like the VOA and BBC but also signals from various services. The ship to shore CW are still active and coming very strong. I also would stop and decode the Morse codes for about 20 to 30 minutes before moving on to the other frequencies.

The activity is called Short Wave Listening. The short form is SWL. I have been SWL since I was a kid. Only in the 70's I started to keep a logbook. The logbook contained information on the station heard, frequency, time, date and signal strength. SWLing enriched our knowledge in many aspects and categories from the normal daily event to the progress of technologies.

If we tune on to amateur radio stations we can learn how people communicate and the terms they used. SWLing has declined because of the incoming of computers. Younger generations are exposed to the Hitech stuffs at the younger age. Moreover most of the radio in the shop today are restricted to FM only.

The Sony ICF 900W seems to be still in production. Even if I find the new one, I will not buy it anymore. This is enough for my short wave listening.

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PUSING KEPALA

Ada seorang Guru Besar sekolah rendah bergaduh dengan tukang kebun. Tukang kebun itu membawa parang dan mengejar Guru Besar tersebut. Itulah akibatnya dari pergaduhan dengan seorang tukang kebun. Orang yang bergaduh dengan tukang kebun dan orang bawahan atau orang yang tidak mengaji tinggi adalah sama dengan orang yang dia berkelahi. Kalau dia berkelulusan tinggi atau mempunyai sikap yang positif dan sentiasa membaiki diri dia tidaklah menjadi buruh atau tukang kebun.

Banyak sekolah mempunyai masalah dengan staf bawahan yang bukan graduate. Tapi bukan semua bukan graduate yang tidak mahu berusaha dan malas kerja. Yang malas tu memang langsung tidak berguna, asyik memberi helah satu persatu sampai semua orang pening kepala. Kalau tak larang atau tegur orang lain kata boss lemah. Kalau tegur timbul pelbagai masalah.

Banyak orang kata kita jangan peduli dengan orang bermasalah. Kalau dia gila seorang diri biarkan dia sahaja. Tetapi kalau dia gila menganggui semua orang lain memang semua orang akan pusing kepala.

Orang yang mahu sesuatu tetapi tidak berkeupayaan mendapatnya tetap masih mahu benda itu. Kalau tak dapat juga maka akan rasa kecewalah dia dan bertempil-tempillah dia seperti orang gila. Juga terdapat ramai orang yang hatinya dengki apabila orang lain lebih pandai dari dia, umpama cerita Singapura Dilanggar Todak. Di dalam alam pekerjaan memang terdapat orang sebegini yang sanggup melakkan apa sahaja untuk menindas dan memburukkan orang lain yang lebih pandai.

Orang bodoh mahu menyembunyikan kebodohannya dengan menggunakan suara yang besar atau banyak mencaci orang lain yang lebih pandai. Dengan demikian hatinya akan berasa puas. Dia akan mencari orang-orang lain untuk memperdayakan mereka supaya mendengar cakapnya. Dia akan berasa puas dan pandai apabila orang lain tunduk kepadanya.

Orang cerdik bukanlah sekadar bekelulusan tinggi. Orang cerdik termasuk juga orang yang tidak berkelulusan tinggi tetapi sentiasa berusaha memperbaiki dirinya, rajin dan tidak pernah berputus asa. Dia tidak meletakkan kesalahan terhadap orang lain. Akhirnya dia berjaya. Ramai orang yang tidak berkelulusan tinggi yang akhirnya masuk ke universiti dan memegang profession yan lebih baik.

Pusing kepala kalau kita melayan orang yang bermasalah. Kita sudah jumpa puluhan orang seperti ini. Apa dihairan-hairankan. Sila rujuk balik kepada latar belakangnya dan dengar cara dia bercakap. Salah satu cara mengenali seseorang ialah dengan mendengar apa yang dia becakap tentang orang lain. Janganlah kita dekati dengan orang-orang ini. Satu hari nanti kita akan ditipu dan dibohongi olehnya.

Sifat dan sikap Iri hati, busuk hati dan busuk perut membuat seseorang itu sentiasa sakit. Dia bodoh dia mahu orang lain juga bodoh. Dia tidak boleh dia mahu orang lain mengikutnya. Jika orang lain tidak mahu mengikutnya dia akan mencerca orang lain.

Tidakkah anda menjumpai orang-orang seperti ini ? Jangan peduli tentang mereka. Jangan pusing kepala.

Jika ramai orang-orang yang busuk hati dan busuk perut di dalam satu-satu organisasi, maka busuknya akan merebak. Bukan semua orang boleh tahan dengan bau busuknya. Apa lagi kalau ada khinzir di dalamnya. Baunya lebih busuk lagi. Pening kepala dibuatnya.

Jika anda berniaga mee atau pisang goreng dan perniagaan anda amat maju sehingga anda jadi jutawan, ada orang menasihati supaya anda jangan pakai BMW dan meletakkannya di tepi gerai anda. Kata mereka orang mungkin tidak akan ke gerai anda lagi kerana kata mereka ," Dia kaya kerana kita."

Kita tidak perlu cemburu kerana kekayaan, kepandaian dan kebolehan orang. Jika kita mahu ikut kaya dan pandai, kita harus berusaha dengan penuh tekun. Kita belajar dari mereka bukan asyik hendak menjatuhkan mereka.

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CAN GOVERNMENT BE 100% RESPONSIVE ?

Human needs are satiable. Everybody wants comfort and wealthy living. We all want everything if we cold get them. We also want free and cheap if possible. The list has no ending. When a government says it will be responsive to all, it is something impossible. It is not only the problem of resources but also it can slow down economic activity.

People's preference are too many. Employees want more pay. Wealthy people want to pay less income tax or no tax at all. Poor people want free house. Responding to every citizen's request would be a chaos. Therefore the citizen must be reasonable as well when demanding from the government. It is reasonable if we ask for lower or no hike in toll fee, cheaper cost for utilities, provide roads and utilities, peace and security in daily life and for efficient services.

But people are never reasonable. You give them an inch they want a foot. They want all. Citizens must be educate to think reasonably. Responsible government will see to it that the welfare of the people should come first not suppressing them by imposing higher utility bills, services, tolls and other taxes or chasing them out of the houses if they can't afford to pay the quit rent.

If we hear ten people making a choice they will not be the same. It will be complicated when the demands are in conflict with each other ; half request for all exams to be abolished and the other half don't want it then you can't meet everybody's need. All the 'stupid' people may want to do away with examinations and all the smart people may want them.

At time the government can't even think of majority. In the country of meritocracy only the most smart and clever people makes decision. Majority can bring disaster and chaos. Ask who want free utilities the big majority would vote for it. Majority don't want to pay taxes. That's the reason why government cannot be responsive to all demand and request. 

Assume that we have an absolute responsive government, that does not necessarily means it is an effective government. The word efficient itself means the ratio of the output to the input.  Productions with zero cost input is the most efficient. An effective government is actually the measure of it's achievement with the optimum input. Many a time you can achieve your target but you spend too much time, energy and money. A 40 million dollar government project will finally costs 100 million at the time of completion. It is not efficient and not effective. Being responsive costs have to be put aside.

Because of limited resources and multiplicity of demands, the government cannot be responsive to all. Some concepts are only rhetoric and political people like to use it to buy popularity.

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NIZAR MUST PLAY FAIR

Good, High Court decision is for Nizar. But Nizar has to play fair. There is no reason for Nizar to dissolve the assembly. Of course we all know that BN will win back the state with no vote of confidence since it has the majority of 3 or even 1. Nizar has to win back the BN members to join BA to maintain the status quo.

Of course the way BN had wrested the state was very shameful. It should follow the step by step process, instead Najib was too rushy and had shown the lack of professionalism. There is a Malay proverb 'Gunung dikejar tak kan lari'. If the state belongs to BN by the candidate's majority then BN should have put to the vote in the assembly and won the state amicably. 

The philosophers and the law makers should start thinking about people who jump party. The jumpers do not represent the people. It is not about who gain and who lose if a new law on jumping party is enacted. It is about the people. We do not run our country base on meritocracy. Now that the number of BN and BA is parliament is almost equal it is wise for the debate to go on for quite some time.

Do not fix he time or rush over vital issue. The lawmakers should all think wisely and reasonably. It is for the sake of the nation and the welfare of the citizen.

To Nizar I only have just this to say. Be fair. Play fair. BN has been playing dirty and madealot of people detest the party. Do not make people change their mind on BA.

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PERSONAL GROOMING

Government agencies are engaging consultants to give talks on personal grooming. Participants commented positively on the one day course. My purpose is not to talk on the howness and whatness but to say something about my observations.

I would give As to almost all political leaders. The top on the list is Dr. Mahatir Mohammed. Of course I don't favor his policy. But looking at his personal appearance you have to agree with me. His hair is neatly combed and he dressed very well and tidy. Lim Kit Siang too looks very smart and tidy with his attire. Member of parliaments do not have to walk like ladies in the fashion show.

The worst dressed people were the big towkeys. I saw several with only T-shirt walked tons of money into a bank. One wealthy towkey shown in TV likes to wear a cowboy hat but never wear shoes or sleepers wherever he went.

I don't have manners in dress and eating. I find forks are difficult to use. Eating with hand would be easier if I want to go for crabs or big prawns. They say hands are dirty but I think spoons can be dirtier and may contain dangerous germs especially when you eat in mamak shop.

The Westerners put on proper attire even at home. On the other hand I never wear shirt  when except when there are visitors. Sarong pull up to the knee is very cooling and convenient. 

Basically women take longer time to dress. This is true in Asia. I will let my wife dress first and waited for her to complete before I start to get ready. But most people going for dates, men or women, would make sure they look presentable and smart.

You never see world leaders laugh aloud like we do. Imagine how we laugh at a joke that really tickles us.

Remember of a movie My Fair Lady ? A noble man picked up a street girl and groomed her to be a woman of high class. He fell in love with her but the woman like someone else. There was a song which touched on personal grooming.

You may not like to dress smart but at places you have no choice. It is better to dress well when you go to pray, funeral and feast. We don't wear T-Shirt to attend a funeral and talk aloud or laughing our stomach out at the place.

May be we all should be given a course too.

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Ancient Defense Against Mosquito

More than 60 years ago e use ancient weapon to defend ourselves against mosquitoes. The small insect that feed on human blood can be a killer.

When I was young at 7.30 pm I started to hang the net. The 3 sides of it which were tied to strings were again tied on the 4 nails on the wall. The old wooden house was easy to nail then.

Immediately after hanging I would go in and started looking for any mosquito in it and would kill one by one with both palms clapping the trapped insect. Only later on I went to sleep.

Today people buy aerosol to spray the mosquitoes. We spend much money because the price has gone up to almost RM20.000 a pair. If we were to buy the next it will last us for many years. And this old weapon is a very effective shield against the small enemy.

One con man was hawkering a magic stuff which he said would gurantee safety against the mosquitoes. He put the stuff in a seal small box which he said it must be opened before the night fall. Te stuffs were sold like a hot cake. When the buyers opened the box as instructed they found a small piece of foldered paper. They opened it and found this "BUY A MOSQUITO NET".

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THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

I need to have a password for several pages of my asp. I don't know how to use the asp global variable because I don't learn it. Almost all of my web application software like message board, forums, comments and feedback are using simple asp codes which I gathered from the internet written by people who want to share their knowledge with other people like me.

My latest project is to allow the form teachers from my old school to key in student's data from anywhere else at their own leisure time so that they would not feel any pressure of work. Simple codings of the password has been done. So are the other modules. But how to link the password to all the modules. I was dumb for a few days. Finally I decided to try the web search again. I type multiple value variables on response.redirect. Hoorah !!! There were plenty of them.

Who provide these knowledge ? A big majority comes from the American citizens who are not thrifty enough to let others learn. Hence a little knowledge of English helps. I just feel sad for those who are anti English language and anti west. I would like to thank you to those who shae your knowledge with others.

DATA SIJIL BERHENTI

Masuk ke laman web http://smtjs.net . Klik Data Sijil Berhenti.

 Masukkan nama pengguna dan kata laluan yang diberi. Tekan butang Sila Klk. Paparan seperti di bawah akan muncul.

Mengklik Pindaan, Buang Data dan Lihat Data akan memaparkan muka surat seperti di bawah. Anda kena masuk Kad Pengenalan pelajar berkenaan. Pindaan akan digunakan selalu kerana anda akan membuat tambahan pada data setiap murid apabila mendapat maklumat lanjut pelajar.

 Buat pindaan. Sila skrol sehingga sampai pada penghujung. Klik Rekod Pindaan bila selesai. Bagi butang Tambah Data Baru paparannya adalah seperti di bawah. Anda isikan borang kosong ini sehingga selesai. Bila anda menekan rekod, borang kosong ini akan muncul semula.

Buat sementara waktu inilah yang anda akan gunakan. Masuklah data sedikit demi sedikit dlam 4 atau 5 orang sehari di mana-mana sahaja anda berada.

 Kita tidak akan menerangkan butang-buang lain kerana ia tidak perlu. Penggunaannya mudah sahaja. Misalnya apabila anda sudah buang anda hendak melihatnya semula sama ada sudah dibuang atau tidak, gunakan lihat sahaja ataupun pindaan dan masukkan kad pengenalan pelajar yang sudah dibuang tadi.

 SELAMAT MAJU JAYA.

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CYBER CONNING

Everyday you receive e-mails that are conning you, fro winning a lottery ticket to the more real life like senders. Banks,Maybank2U, and even your friends. They are not banks or financial institutions that you are involve in. They are not your friends that you know of. While banks would ask you to change your account, you friends will be asking you to help him in sending money where he lost it in a certain country he takes a trip. Your friends are at home and know nothing about it.

Now they go on to the chat boxes, preying  for people. They use proxy servers, put people's picture and create a character. They talked to you nicely. You think they are nice people from the country they mentioned. They are not from there. May be they are from Nigeria where there are a lot of cheaters or any other African nations. They will be telling you about their families or kids. Then they will tell you about their misfortunes. They finally would ask for your financial assistance.

Con man and cheaters abroad or locally, using cyber or otherwise, are immoral people. They do not have shame nor they would feel guilty of their doings. Something in their minds made them that way. Kind people usually fell prey. Even in your workplace or one of your friends can be a con man.

A single con person like a young lady can be very successful. She gets what she conned. She does have to divide the share and she would be safer. In Malaysia Cyber conning prey on victims they know would fall on their tricks. Be careful even of a woman who might say she is poor and in love with you. You might end up marrying a married lady.

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MY FAVORITE TV SHOWS

When I was involved with HAM Radio I seldom watched TV programs. My time then was monitoring while doing computer work. Occasionally I would tune to American Idol. But TV time was short. But things are different now. When tired with computers I would go in front of the TV set. My eyes are glued to it for hours, mostly switching channels one after another.

Channels I would press the numbers on remote control are 800, 700, 556 and 708. I know it does not go to the number I pressed. 800 could take me to sports. 556 to Animal Planet. 700 to AXN and 708 to TV 8. From there I would increment or decrement by the factor of one.

Shows I like to watch is the Oprah, soccer and on animals. However if there is a good movie on any channel I would sty foot on the channel. These few days TV2 is showing very interesting stories.

Programs I would not stop and watch are Malay drama or movies except for P.Ramlee, any kind of talent time or singing competition held by the Malaysians for the reasons I do not like the themes of the drama, the content and the songs. If somehow I come across Siti Nurhaliza I would listen and watched her singing. I like Siti because of her voice.

Chinese classical with sub titles are also my favorite, especially the classical comedies. The Indian channel called VAAN would also be my choice when they have something like a singing competition. I lie to hear the voice of the Indian village ladies singing with their fantastic voice and the sound of the beating tabla tempo. The VAAN channel also have the dancing competition by the the Indian Indians and the Malaysian Indians.

My present taste shift a great deal from my younger days. Old replayed comedy shows does not interest me anymore. I don't go for the comedy series anymore even the Phua Chu Kang. Once I like the dancing show very much but now I only watched the International dancing competition.

I tend to stay away from TV1, TV3 and all channels that talked about UMNO politics. I may not even watch even if PAS or DAP has a channel. During the election campaign TV1 and TV3 were out of bound. I did not watch them at all instead I went to channel 556 or 802. Soccer would be my first choice. One of the channels I used to watch has now been banned by my mind. It is Astro Awani. Today the people there were saying "Only UMNO can deliver to the people..." Yes only UMNO can change the status of the Malay Reserve to Free Hold by giving to the greedy people like giving away Bukit Botak to kids.

TV can be entertaining but it is a media which can subvert people's mind.

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I WENT TO PENANG HILL

I have been to Grand Canyon, Hawaii and Paris but have never been to Penang Hill until today. My wife had been there before with my kids when she could walk. On thinking that I am already 62 years plus, I should make a visit before I die. This morning I told my wife to get ready for the trip. I took my Saga instead of the 13 year old Kancil.

You can learn a lot from Penang. One special thing you must not miss at Green Lane is the house numbers. Tell me what is the size of your house number ? The other day when I went to Sungai Petani searching for my auntie's house, I hardly read the numbers. Some houses do not display the numbers at all. But the house numbers along the Green Lane may be more than 3 by 3 feet. May be bigger. That's not all. One house is numbered 88A, the other 88B, 88C etc. I think the Feng Sui not only work for the houses but also for the road.

I have not been to the hill, so I followed the road sign. I think they are are well labeled. I got there  without GPS easily. Our plan was my wife would not go up and would stay down waiting for me. She agreed to my proposal. I asked the parking attendant whether the hill train accommodate wheel chair. He nodded his head "No problem," he said. I took out the wheel chair from the boot and pushed my wife to buy the ticket. Indeed we could squeeze the wheel chair in. The parking fee was just RM3.00.

With us were 2 Indonesian girls. Behind were a group of people from India. When the train moved up the Indian began to sing Tamil songs. They enjoyed themselves. My wife thought the  Indonesian girls were Chinese, We chit chat with them. 

Half way we have to change the train. I could transfer my wife with the wheel chair without any hassle. The train staffs came to our help as well. On reaching the destination, I had to push the wheel chair up the gradient. Te scenery was beautiful. We saw Penang bridge, Komtar and ferries. I did not bring camera with me. After getting thirsty we stopped at the restaurants and ordered coconut juice. Each coconut costs RM3.50 but it was big and the juice was delicious.

I left my wife at the restaurant and went up strolling alone from place to place. I met the two Indonesian girls near the Indian temple. They were glad and excited to see me. They need me to photograph both of them. I took some photographs for them

T-Shirts were cheap. The price range from RM5 to RM15. I purchased some for my neighbor and brother in law.

There were many tourists including one Asian American lady who had been wanting to help my wife. It had been a good and interesting day for me. If you have not been to Penang Hill, do make a visit there once.

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THE CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, enforcement, blameworthiness, liability and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving. A head of an organization is accountable for whatever happenings under him. He can't any blame on anybody else.

In many articles I always mentioned the fault of a certain authority when there are misdeeds and other bad happenings that something to do with that organization. It is true the head may not know what's happening under him and in his office. He does not expect his officers to act unruly. But he cannot run from his responsibility. A person who shot a gun and kill a life could not blame his gun or his hand. "Cut my hand and take it with the gun to court. They are doing the killing."

A big majority of the head would just stay in the office and phoning their friends and the Datuk talking about golf or business, leaving the jobs to the junior officers. At any meeting or press conference you notice they will refer or ask their subordinates the answers posed by reporters. In actuality a head must know everyone of his staff behavior, needs and ability and what they are capable of doing at the time of crisis.

No head has the power not to follow rules and regulations. The police traffic officers does not have the right not to stop at the red light. But more often than not you can see heads think they have the right not to follow rules and regulations. The worst they by-passed all the rules of law and replaced them with their own.

We have two things which guide us. The first is believing in the day of judgment and fear God. Secondly have a conscience and follow the conscience well.

If something major happens and we have to resign, then have the gut to resign from the job even though mankind are infallible . But common error are forgiven and it can always be remedied. We hope people who had made errors can put things back right in order. Doing it is more honorable and reputable and making oneself a better head.

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BEING A LEADER

Roh Moo-hyun is about my age. The ex-President of South Korea ended his own life on the 22nd September 2009. He felt disgrace and frustrated when casted aside by his own people. In the age of humanity and benevolent a great President like Saddam Hussein was hanged by his own people, Benazir Bhutto was bombed and a former President was jailed. Avenge and revenge will never end.

Korea is a great nation and conquering at least 30% of the world automobile market. It is a rising dragon. All of the leaders contribute to the progress of the nation.

But Roh, a man of principle, could not shrugged off his memories and the feeling of shamefulness. How about our Malaysian leaders ? Could they bear any responsibility for the many mistakes they have made against their own race ? When there is  a time to rest and go to mosque to prepare for the next life, they still insist on poking their noses in politics and government affairs. Roh is just 62 as compared to someone of 85 in Malaysia.

Yusoff Abdool Kader shot himself just because life is meaningless to him long after his retirement. He is not a political leader but a respectable and a good judge. Truly we can just say life come and go. We will go one way or another, sooner or later.

Being a leader of a ruling government has never been easy. It is difficult to strike at a fair decision. It is not easy merely to accept the majority when a majority of even ONE is stronger than the majority of 100. A wrong decision can destroy a nation, a society and a culture forever. A very strong person can accept of him being ousted for the believe that his decision would be for the benefit of all.

We do not hear ousted or retired leaders spent their time in holly places or doing charity work in the name of religion. Yes the Communist said religion is opium. This non consuming opium could bring ease to oneself. One would feel happy when nearing oneself to God. One would always repent.

A nation must not sow the seeds of hatred among the citizens. You make income tax mandatory people know what you do with the money. People would say you are fair. But if people see you redicule the law, creating a kangaroo court, rob their land and continue using force to exert your power, the seeds of hatred has been sowed. It is bad for a nation. Quietly people might go for the revenge.

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THE PHONY DEGREE

Immoral people can do anything including buying a degree. We tend to think people with PHD and called themselves Doctor Soandso are real academicians. I don't take things for granted. I would observe their behaviors and analyze them in detail except those whom I know who have been to a certain university and had set the qualifying exam. Of course we can talk more on the quality of the degree as a factor of the university, the course content and the process of obtaining the certificate.

People who claimed to be Doctor of philosophy tend to do things in the proper way. If they want to get something thru cheating and hope they will be caught then it  would create doubts in my mind of the authenticity of his degree. He might have cheated also. They tend to do things short cut like buying their way thru using hard cash.

If you serve the internet thoroughly you will find a large number of articles of phony certificates . It is interesting to read and find out more about them.

Looking at some people with PHD at times create doubt in our mind. Not only in the manner they want to get things short cut but also the depth in their thinking, biasness, and the way they talk. I have met people from Vietnam, Thailand and Western countries and felt very comfortable with them. They really show their mental ability.

Intellectual persons must have a certain standard and class. Not in the dress and appearance but in the way they do things. Just do things in a proper way. The standard of morality must be high. People are observing them wherever they are.

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PREPARING BEFORE I DIE

I have all the disease and sickness and live on medication. I don't think so I can live till 70. My left elbow is shorter than the right one due to a motorcycle accident I had had. The collar bone fused on top of each other. I bear the pain until now but I just ignore it. My blood pressure and blood sugar level are depending on the daily medication and I am expecting the kidney problem is coming on.

What's my problem ? Death is not a problem. But my death can cause problem to those people and schools using my computer soft wares. The thumbprint need an annual service. So many others. I have to figure out the plan not to make the users suffers when I am away.

I have to teach and transfer my knowledge as fast as possible. I am doing it to a small group of teachers but it is too slow because of their workload. To get their free time is very hard. Hopefully I can finish what I intend to do. Secondly I have to improve my program and quickly handed to each user so that it  can do the annual service automatically. This I have not done yet.

Whatever I will have to move fast so that people will not suffer when I die.

One of my friends said, "Why you always talk of death ? " The answer is simple. We are already old. But how many old people ever think hey are going to die ? They make themselves busy in politics and other matters and never come across their mind about death.

The early warning has come. I can't hear well. I can't see well. The cataract is attacking me. I can't think as sharp as before. I can't climb slope or do jogging as active as before. I already felt the difference. With the remaining days I want to enjoy the technology as much as I could and travel as much as I can. I accumulate the pension money for both.

Once I thought I want to enjoy a hobby called HAM Radio till my last day. But I have to give it up sooner because of the new comers and the too kind hearted radio authority. In my long years in the hobby I have never seen bad people as I begin to see now. I can't stand them anymore.

But death know no age. Some people call it destiny. If you are destine to go at 30 or 40 you will go at that age. You may be attacked by flue, dengue or heart ailment. You may be knocked down by a car. Islam says "You must pray and do good deed and all what God wants as if you are going to die tomorrow. And you must work very hard as if you are going to live forever."

How old are you ? Don't you think you are going to die soon too ?

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Zahid Hamidi and the Communists

I don't meant to insult anybody at all. I am not a pro-Chin Pen either. But let us all together think a little, not about Chin Peng but about what we are seeing.

The TV showed Zahid Hamidi who said that he will not allow communist to be anywhere in any political party or in the NGO. His face showed anger at the sound and word of Communist. Is there anything wrong with it ? Certainly there is nothing wrong.

During the emergency period Malaysia closed all relationship with Communist countries, banned their publication and closed all doors. In our passport we were barred from visiting Communist countries and Israel.

Remember TDM made a visit to China before one general election just to get Chinese support locally to vote for BN ? Then leaders after leaders went to China. We sent our Olympic team to Peking. Today thousands of Chine tourist visit Malaysia and a great number of Malaysian visited China. We bought and sell things to the Chinese. China is the father of Communism.

Zahid should call for the stoppage of all relationship with the Chinese and Vietnamese. Let all the Malaysian investors in Vietnam come back here. 

You can make your own conclusion.

Just for argument's sake; why do we want to stop our people believing in communism ? Because they repress religion ? They destroyed mosques ? They imprison and kill people ? If Zahid does not like Chin Peng he should give other good reason. If Zahid think Communism is bad, tell why the Malaysian should throw away communism. The other alternative is to cut all relationship with China and Vietnam.

The father of Capitalist, America, has a close relationship with China. The Americans do not declare China as it's enemy but Osama ben Laden and other terrorist group, and probably against the Muslim. Armed struggle to spread Communism is over. Zahid could reject Chin Peng because he had taken up arm to kill fellow Malayans as well not for independent but to make this country a Communist state of the day. But his words does not show his intellectual capacity. Zahid I know is a smart person.

At time we can't think straight.

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5 to 7

5 to 7 has some meaning to me. For many years since 1978 I would stay at home between 5 pm to 7 pm. It was a radio time for me. Those days my wife would not bother me at this time. But she was stuck  to the wheel chair very now and then she would ask me to go to buy dinner for her. Pak Chop mee goreng had to be early because he would stop frying after 5.30 pm. Some time we went to Kuala Kedah for laksa. By the time we reached home it would be past 7 p.m. I always grumbled.

These few months 5 to 7 is a heaven for my wife. Instead I would ask her to go out for a ride and food. Nothing pressured my mind and I feel very free. I do what I like. Most of the time I would do something attached to computing mainly writing or improving my software. That consumed a lot of time and the day passed by so very quickly.

I do read blogs from time to time; the Lim Kit Siang and Soosan's Loone. I prefer LKS's blog to Soosan's because the later consists of feedbacks written by people of whom I believe to be intellectuals or probably doctors, lawyers or engineers. I just want to learn English and enjoy raeding the arguments put forward. It is not because I like LKS or Soosan. I don't simply believe what I read but I have to wait for the truth.

7.30 p.m. is a prayer time. Prayer is short for me but I need to clean myself first before I meet God. At night before I leave Ham Radio, I did not work the long distant stations anymore. I had talked to thousands of stations all over the world and many of hem had died. I just monitored Morse codes communications. From time to time I would come on the repeater to talk to nice people.

I am concentrating on web programming, trying to communicate with remote servers using Visual Basic and ASP programming. Connecting to MySql database is easier with Visual Basic. ASP could easily read Microsoft Access and MySql database whereas I am not successful in using Visual Basic to connect to access files. Because of the problem right now I am developing some programs using VB to talk to Mysql. It worked very fine. Again it helps me to pass my time.

Will the 5 to 7 be used again for radio ? I don't know. Right now it is off my mind. Unless I hear some nice things happening which at this rate I don't think will take place. I don't see effort to revive the traditional ham radio and the real ham operators who know what ham radio is really about. Nobody cares about ethics and nobody cares about standard.

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AMANAH SAHAM KEDAH

Only yesterday 29/05/2009 my wife told me that she watched a TV program showing the current value of several amanah saham. Amanah Saham Kedah, ASK, was priced at 25 cent. Many other amanah valued at less than 40 cents. The original value was one ringgit.

I was not taken aback at the news because I have known it since he beginning. My prediction of the decline or failure was based on several observations before this. Political people, at the time was UMNO, could never manage funds. They are more interested in enriching themselves rather than helping the people. Secondly they talked aloud thinking UMNO was a great and strong party but their knowledge was almost none and they do not have foresight. When people were rushing to invest in ASK, I told my sister and friends not to do so.

Financial companies that arose based on politics usually have short cut ways in making themselves successful. They would resort to making things mandatory for government institutions to buy from them like Takaful  forcing school children to purchase it's insurance. Some institutions with this strong backup survived by the immoral means. At the time when money crawled in they would be thinking how to divide the wealth among themselves.

Any professionals managing financial institutions must not be politicians. I would know whether DAP or PAS would do the same if they are in power. Politicians are so involved in politics and busy in thinking how to get wealth that they could not be effective in handling public funds.

ASK had spent money to pay salaries and sent their people overseas. I know at least one person who was employed before. This person had always thought that he is a very smart guy, boasted and campaigning for Dr Mahathir and against Abdullah Badawi. Imagine what kind of person ASK employed to manage the investment body.

To keep short I do not believe all the Malay financial management body. As a school administrator before I have a very tough time meeting even one managing their funds in the right and proper manner. Almost all do not know how much were the last balance of each fund. And almost all spent more than what they have and you can see cheating here and there. Ask them of their current liability they would ask their clerks who in turn would start looking after the local orders.

The main problem with this institutions they do not compute how much they have, how much they owe, how much is their running expenses and where to invest safely. 

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LAND ACQUISITION ACT

In the General Election 13 campaign UMNO could be beaten when the topic on  land acquisition act sweeps among the many voters. There is no way that UMNO can defend it because many voters are losing their land to housing developers. Right now people are starting to talk about it.

Land acquisition is not the transfer of the property from individuals to the government to build schools, hospitals or constructions for public interests but taken by big companies at a very low price and later sold at a very high price. Even hill tops and forests are being destroyed for money. 

People in Kampong Baru were united to fight the battle against the law. UMNO business communities once were thinking of sharing the wealth among themselves.

If you have been to New Zealand you will see that the country does not have uncontrolled development as what we are having here. Traveling from North to South small towns are smaller than Jitra by 5 folds. You can count the houses and shop houses. Who says New Zealand is not a progressive nation ?

Acquisition to make paid toll road benefits a small group of people attached to BN. It would be different if the government acquire it and used the road tax money to facilitate the by pass traffics.

There are many things done during Mahathir's time are not aware or forgotten by Najib. But Najib is following the path of Mahathir in the road of gaining popularity like promising wealth to the people and billions for the citizen while at the same time arresting people who goes against the government.

Who in UMNO is advising Najib to tell the truth, to be sincere and most of all not to follow Mahathir's footsetp ? Shahrir did mention something about the crooked bridge. The rest ?

We don't know who really is running the government right now ? I just believe there are people behind in the cloak, probably conning the politicians and may even be the cabinet ministers too. Somebody must have pushed for the land acquisiton act which are robbing land in the name of development.

I don't see evil in many Prime Ministers. I see it all starts during TDM's time. He created fear in Najib or faced the risk of being ousted by his supporters like what had happen to Pak Lah. As I have said before BN did not lost those few states because Pak Lah did not use police force or cheat but because TDM in his road show called for UMNO to go against Pak Lah.

Look what is happening in Pakistan today. THINK.

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THE PURPOSE OF A TEST

A test can be of essay type or multiple choice depending on the purpose of a test. All the questions must meet the set intention. Certainly a test should not aim to fail or pass a person. At the end of the test the person should be able to apply what it is tested for.

Some examinations want to test how much knowledge a person has either on general matters or specific one. Multiple choice questions allow guessing. Even illiterates can get marks by the law of probability. It is good for a written short answers or essay type to be included. Passing both can be an indicator that a person really know what is being tested.

Item analysis is to analyze whether a question asked is relevant to the test . It is not pertinent to ask about the price of a car in a driving test, not even for the bonus mark. And the item must be able for application, like the speed limit or the usage of the seat belts.

There tests to check the ability to think and solve problems beside for the later application. If you are in computer programming class you may be tested your ability to solve problems because it is the main ingredient in writing soft wares.

In fact setting up a test is not easy. It needs to go several phases. And we need an experience person with knowledge to organize a test sequence.

It is bad after a passing an examination not to know many basic things of the subject matter. I would blame the questions or the wrong strategy in test setup. Probably it allows guessing or remembering the answers. I remember correcting a SPM Bahasa paper about 35 years ago, where a student just write an essay which is not relevant to any of the question. This candidate must have learned it by heart. The last things he wrote, "Please pity me. I am from a poor family. My farther divorce my mother......" 

One of the persons who was against a test or an examination was Ivan Illich. His argument was put forward in his book De Schooling Society. he had followers too.

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THE WAY THINGS GO

The way things go I think there will be some bad omen  coming in the later years. Banging on Sabah and Sarawak to rule the Prime Minister has to come from either of the two state otherwise not even the army or the police can stop the big Tsunami. Now it is not the issue of the Chinese but the issue of corruptions and greed. It is the issue of morality. MCA is facing problem of being totally erased. UMNO will have to face problem of deleting the Malay Reserve and allowing their land to be robbed.

What else is left ? Certainly the police. That is when all the bullet proof gadgets will be used up. But the citizens will not fight the police force. The police will have to fight against the ailing economy due to the boycotting and foreign sanction. The fate of the country is unknown.

Is that what the leaders want ? Is that what the police want ? Nobody should keep quiet about the PKZ or Perak. PKZ is about billion of dollars. Perak is about Kangaroo. PKZ involves everyone's money, not PAS or DAP's money. UMNO and MCA members are paying for it as well. The police's family is paying too.

You will be surprise to hear young men expressed their absolute hatred on the authority and the government. This is not healthy at all. The feeling of dissatisfaction is everywhere but it could contain and sense less danger. I remember reading the history of Cambodia and Vietnam when the soft spoken village people cut the body of their ardent enemy who came to settle in their land, took the heart out and bite it. I can imagine the intense of their hatred and anger.

Of course it may not happen now. If the seed is allowed to be sowed, grow and spread then the future of our generation is very very bleak.

The police should learn from history too. Even the authoritarian Communist government of Soviet Union fell. Likewise an Iraqi's experience. Cruelty does not pay. It is not the people's power that brought those nations down but it is by the will of God. I have never thought that PAS can be strong forever but it is beyond my reasoning that it is a popular party now.

When Lim Kit Siang attacked Najib, the later must take court action against him. The police could have informed Najib but not taking action itself. The police action made Lim more popular among the people and moving the Chinese community nearer to DAP. Younger Chinese are so appreciative of Lim that they want him to be a Prime Minister. Who made Lim Kit Siang popular ? 

Do you realize that it is BN and the authority who has been giving oomph to LKS. They provide clear paths when corruptions and misdeed happen.  People like us cannot tell the police what to do. But we can tell them to think.

I observed PAS when facing problem. PAS always Sembahyang Hajat. TDM may be laughing at PAS for seeking God's help. Many are skeptical too. But looking at PAS  becoming stronger and stronger, I believe their prayer has been answered. UMNO members are fighting against each other for power and it never can end.

I feel very sorry indeed.

Update.

What has happened at Penanti ? From the news at TV1 we were made to believe that people hated PKR and  did not go out to vote. Is that so ? Those anti-PKR should have gone out and voted for Aminah to make sure that PKR would be wiped out. I have thought PKR was going to have a tough fight with Aminah but instead the later lose her deposit.

Even before the result was announced I told my wife that the police was silly for taking action on Lim Kit Siang on the eve of election day. It acted on impulse rather than on deep analysis and thought. Similarly the Malay switched their support from UMNO to alternative party after they had judge the police action on Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar Ibrahim was not the issue but the whole judiciary system and the way the police handled the case angered many Malays and even non-Malays too.

Many people have negative thought on Musa and Ghani. Now on judges. It is not because Musa, Ghani and Patail decision did not coincides with what people's desire but on the way they handle critical issues. It is true that government servants must follow orders. But there are always alternatives not to fight against your boss. The police or Ghani could have told the boss that the order might bring UMNO and BN down.

Mahyudin is now asking for the Malays to unite. Who is actually selling the Malays, calling them stupid in public, making the ulama' as enemies, wanting to close down religious schools, wanting to out the Sultan, trying to portray Islamic party as terrorist and condemning PAS ? Who caught and put the Malays under ISA ?

In one of my essays I wrote about the good of a man. Good or bad man does not born with race. There are good and bad Malays as well as any other race. The Chinese are suppressing the Chinese and the Malays are oppressing the Malays too. There are robbers from all races. There are many thousand and million Chinese who are Muslims. There are many Malays who disregard religious teaching by accepting corruptions, cheating and bluffing. There are many Malays who are not happy with the Sultan even from UMNO like TDM. Mahyuddin cannot accuse the Chinese are anti Sultan.

When Elezebeth Wong had a mental torture and later came back to accept her post, I saw Malay women beside her wept their tears. There were bond between human beings regardless of races. Mahyuddin may not be able to comprehend this. So are many others. It is all about the good of a man which recognize no racial barrier. ONE Malaysia has been in existence before Najib announced it.

Though the Malays are not as smart as the Chinese, they are not as stupid as what many UMNO leaders think they are. Underestimating the capabilities of the Malays or PAS is one of the weaknesses of the UMNO leaders. I always remember some leaders said, "BN can rule the country because we have smart and professionals people with us. Look at PAS have." At one time Samy Veloo even said, "Can the Quaran build road ?" implying PAS only knows religion and composed of uneducated people.

People are seeing arrogant people saying, "I am not arrogant. I want to listen to people."

The call for Malay unity is just to maintain the status quo, for the survival of some UMNO people in politics. It has never been honest and sincere. Even UMNO members cannot see eye to eye, what more between UMNO and PAS. What hen is meant by UMNO needs to change ? What sort of attitude ? From liberalism to authoritarian ? 

My question again; what makes the result in Penanti ? DAP factor ? Police factor ? Najib factor ? Aminah ? In my mind it was the police factor. Don't be emotional and rushy. Just do the deep analysis.

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ERASE SCHOLARSHIP

Use Zakat's money wisely like sending the poor and very bright Muslim students for further study. The Muslims are willing to pay extra funds for the purpose. Even Friday prayer's special scholarship weekl collection of a dollar minimum would be ample.

Instead as had been said that Zakat money had been plundered by a few politicians for sinful purposes. I did comment about the fearing of a politician rather than God when in the sermon we are asked to fear God than man.

The government should halt all scholarships for good and the students are allowed to take as many papers as they are capable of. The Ministers and high ranking officers should not get jealous just because their kids are not smart.

Either use Zakat's money or a special fund as I have said before. All collections should be banked at the trusted bank. In this case I would suggest Bank Negara. We don't need many people to manage the funds to cut down the running cost and to ensure the greed will not eyed on the money. No politician shall be allowed to get involved.

All poor and smart students are eligible. Rich and wealthy people try to use their own finance. But air tickets and partial fees could be considered. We don't need a special awarding agency to avoid building and staffing cost. Make it a part of an organization's job . Education department or a school can be appointed to process This once a year job. Committees to choose the candidates for the award should be set up.

Of course we need to have somebody to overseer the funds collected. If a dollar a week is collected it would be about 3 to 4 million per week could be accumulated. None should go for any sort of investment. It is not to get profit but solely to provide service to the poor but smart kids.

Either Zakat or the special fund is self earned money not thru the taxation which involve all races and religions. Everyone will be demanding for scholarship and it could hurt feelings.

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ENGLISH OR BAHASA REVISITED

I would like to remind you again that I had never obtain any credit in English. Putting in another way, my English is horrible and bad. So are many other persons. My Mandarin and Thai is worst. But I enjoy using them. One radio friend keeps on talking bravely over the radio fluently but many parts of the grammar were wrong. As both of us speak broken English, we continue to enjoy our conversation.

I feel the advantage of knowing a little of the language. I can read the internet and learn many things. I learn computing myself until I have confidence in producing soft wares. When I read articles written by one Tengku Aziz in Lim Kit Siang's blog, I found that his command of the language is very fantastic. I regret for being lazy in school.

I dare myself to write articles in my web page . No teacher will fail me. And I enjoyed talking to the world thru the radio.

One Indonesian called one European radio station. The European spoke English and the Indonesian spoke Bahasa Indonesia. When people refused to talk to the Indonesian, he kept on calling all the stations he heard and spoke Indonesian. The whole episode was embarrassing and shameful indeed.

We don't look down upon those who could not understand or speak English. They are not stupid or uneducated. On the other hand they must not despise those who were on the English conversation. A few tend to be rude and show their rudeness by calling name. 

But a nation must have a national language and used it in all government services. The Prime Minister can choose to talk in Bahasa in United Nation though his English may be superb. The encouragement of learning foreign language should not be restricted to English only. Mandarin, French, Thai or Japanese could be introduced in schools too.

However if you are involve with international dealings or culture then you must know English. You would not want to employ non-English speaking person to do with international dealing.

In Amateur Radio English is vital. At one time it was mandatory because all the essay type test papers were in English. The policy was due to the international nature of the hobby. The IARU which control international policy printed articles in English and one other language. It does not have any Malay version. When a hobbyist said that he can't understand English therefore he will have to stay away from the publication, it is a very sad thing indeed.

I speak Malay most of my time. I bought English paper to ensure I will not forget the vocabulary. I spoke English on the air because I am using an international property, yet I would speak Bahasa to those who have no confidence in their English. I write my web page in English for international audience as well.

But I will not give face to those rude people who like to criticize English speaking hams . I will bang them hard. In fact I am of the view that those who want to indulge themselves in international property and hobby should be able to speak English or understand it. If the Malaysian authority has the view that they do not necessarily know English then it is the responsibility of the authority to translate any publication produced by the caretaker of the ham radio for the understanding of all. This is vital in order to stop all the existing abuses on the air.

To those who do not know what ham radio is , English helps. But we have to have a national language for our national identity.

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TRENGGANU'S STADIUM

I heard 3 Wanita UMNO discussed on several subjects including the failure of government projects. All pointing the mistakes away from themselves to justify that failures were not due the fault of UMNO,BN or government. And in between they criticized the opposition especially Anwar Ibrahim whom one of them mentioned the word 'mad'. Now the 300 million dollar project collapsed . The blame will be pushed to everyone else.

I remember the big boss said to us, "Head of Departments are responsible and responsible for whatever happen under them. He even must know the dead rats in the compound." But when come to them they are shedding off the responsibility and refused to accept accountability. This is not the only happening.

Contractors were calling foul as someone was demanding big money from them. They would not report because they got some income from the projects but they will do in the cincai way. Part of the money were distributed among the technicians who overseer the project and the person who approved them.

But the soe accountability falls on the BN government. UMNO had claimed thatit has all the professionals with them. They have the expertise whereas PAS only know about religion, and Islam only knows religion. 300 million is not a small amount. I believe everyone will go scot-free.  Now you start hearing everyone is washing their hands clean, pointing the faults somewhere else.

In the Manik Urai's by-election a lot of campaign stuffs will focus on this issue and the corruption in BN's government. The present UMNO will blame it's predecessors i.e. Ahmad versus Idris. From the previous rumour even Khairy was mentioned in Trengganu's project scheme. Who will get the oil money and how. But when this one goes sour the intensity of the heat increase.

While DAP is making a very loud noise, many are just shaking heir heads.   

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NUCLEAR  VS STAR WAR ARSENALS

America and Israel are both prepared against any threat for Iran and North Korea. What we don't know is whether the anti nuclear missile technology is being transferred to South Korea. The laser technology used as the Star War weapon has not been deployed in the international battle yet. The existing weapons could not be matched by any power yet.

It would be wise for the Iran and North Korea juts to keep the weapons for themselves and not to transfer them anywhere. The number of arsenals and manpower could never match the hightech and modern weapon.

Most countries are far behind the Americans and the Israelis in the development of nuclear head. The leaders should contain themselves and control their emotions and try not to be war monger. Instead of going to any form of war countries can work together for the betterment of all mankind without any form of bias.

Star War weapons are not something fantasy. It has been developed even before Reagan's time. Thinking in a simple way, we should know the distance between ISS and the earth under it is very much nearer than from Iran to Israel. Missile shot may explode just a minute after launching in it's own country.

Iran and North Korea should stop aggravating international community.

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