Hajar's Knapsack

2011-11-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

Lama dah tak merapu..

Hari ni nak merapu lagi… pasal pasangan suami isteri contoh yang menjadi idola ku. Kak A, mengandung anak ke 7 dan tak pernah sekalipun aku dengar dia mengeluh walau anaknye (mostly) hero-hero belaka dan rasaku nakalnye sama je ngan org lain. Suaminya, yang lebih dikenali sbg Ustaz memang terkenal dan sering diperlukan dimana-mana, baik di majlis rasmi atau majlis-majlis keagamaan. Walaupun masanya dengan anak-anaknye dan isteri sangat terhad sebab dia kerja di tempat lain, sang isteri takde pun merungut. Kalau balik rumah pulak acapkali diundang ke sana ke mari. Itulah namanya Iman, padaku lah. Alangkah bahagianye mereka.

Baru-baru ni Ustaz pula dah dapat Doktor Falsafah… fuh… hebat sungguh.. dan ini membakar semangat sang isteri tapi tak tau la bila Kak A nak cuti belajar sebab tengah bawa budak. Tahun lepas pergi menunaikan Haji dan tahun sebelumnye menunaikan Umrah.

Korang adakah macam gini??? (kau ada???)

Lepas tu sorang lagi manusia, duda berusia lebih sikit dari aku, baru kot menduda dalam 2 tahun, baru-baru ni bertunang plak dengan gadis yang tengah menduduki SPM. Gilakah kau. Motifffff????? Kalau aku tanya kat kaum Hawa, "ko rasa motiffnye ape".. diaorang mesti kata, "alah, orang lelaki… 'main' lah tu". Aku benci lelaki macam ini dah species yang sewaktu dengannya. Tapi orang kata dah jodoh, biarlah…

Tapi jodoh tu kan kita gak yang carik. Duda tu plak ada anak.. bagi ex-wife dia jaga terus lah kot, tak yah menyusahkan bini baru yang baru terkial2 nak jawab SPM. Mana tau jaga makan pakai orang, anak kecik. No brain.

Aku bosan.. nak kuar minum. Ada sapa nak join?? hehe

2011-10-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

Lately aku selalu teringat kat London. Huwa besnye kalau dapat pergi sana lagi, and even better if I could be a Londoner for at least a few years.

Boleh pakai baju tebal2 stailo-mailo mcm artis walau naik train je. Kat sini naik LRT pun panas giler mana mau pakai baju tebal. Time tu pakai boot la.. tak main la slipar jepun.

Waktu musim sejuk, mesti sejuk gilak… sebab waktu musim panas pun dah sejuk.

Only if…. mesti aku dah pun kat sane nak skrang. Only if… *sigh*

Anyway, bukan semua orang boleh buat kerja gila tu. Aku dah waras sikit skrang, so aku mungkinnye tak termasuk di dalam kategori mereka yang buat kerja gila.

Kat London pun boleh makan asam pedas tau. Tapi mahal gilaks lar… tak berbaloi.

Yang pasti, kalau aku kat London, tak nak buang duit telefon balik Malaysia macam dulu.

Argh… tak abis-abis kenangan lama. Baru aku sedar siapakah Mamat itu yang aku telefon tu. "Encik" lagi. "Eh… eh.. eh.. " katanya bila dengar suaraku dari kejauhan tu. Cinta time tu beb. Feeling abes. Sayang abes. Sanggup telefon dari London, SMS dari London.

Tahukah kau apa itu cinta. Entah. Tak sure. Mungkin. Wujud kah? Ada kot. Berbaloikah cinta ni? Mungkin tak kot. Ntah. Jangan tanya aku. Aku cuma mahu ke London.

2011-10-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

One more day.

Kadang-kadang rasa draging and lagging. Dah bosan kot. Nak merambus skrang tak boleh la pulak.

Baru sedar dan baru dapat tahu yang isteri si DIA seorang doktor. Not just any Dr, Dr. A real Doctor. Patutlah aku ni nobody pada dia. I was just a reporter. And now, just a teacher. His wife is a Doctor. Beautiful, rich, brainy and important. And even better, the husband is somebody, not just anybody. Any woman would kill to have all that.

Bodo. Dulu taknak blajar matematik, fizik, kimia, bio semua pandai-pandai. Skrang menyesal pun tak guna.

Si budak M*&^%$ yang dapat 7-8 A dalam SPM tu pun tak dapat buat Medic la bangang betul, ko ingat ko sape senang ke nak jadi doktor? Agrrhhhhh…..

Talk about jealousy. Aku tak habis-habis jealous dengan life that six-footer. Kadang tertawa sendirian dengan perangai aku sendiri. Dah lama tak dengar dari dia. Living life to the fullest agaknye tu.

Anyway, aku tak rasa salah pun berasa cemburu. Aku hanya manusia biasa, cemburu dengan kejayaan dan kelebihan seseorang. Terutamanya orang yang pernah aku ingati selalu dan penah membuat masa mudaku terisi.

It is not easy to find someone who speaks my language. Sentiasa faham apa yang aku cuba nak cakap. Tak de lah payah nak explain teruk-teruk. Always make me feel important and unique. Huh….. walaupun I'm surrounded with so-called bijak pandai, its doesnt feel the same as being around with 'some people'. Miss them so much. Why la you all seme kat KL dan aku payah sangat nak jumpe you all.

I need a plan. Yes I do. If not I will feel like this all the time that I feel bored with what I'm doing at the moment. I need shift in er.. what's the word, paradigm? Transformasi kot. Anjakan paradigma.

I must come out from this comfort zone…. find new objectives, find new challenges. Get motivated. Life is about making changes, continue setting up new standards and meeting those standards. Ewah, senangnye cakap. Hihi.

2011-09-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

Dekat tapi jauh....

Entah kenapa aku sering teringat dia. Tau, tak elok. Mungkin sebab antara byk2 lelaki, aku paling hormat kat dia sebab dia yang paling hormat aku. Lagu-lagu yang pernah kami nyanyi bersama, tempat2 meng-teh kami, tempat2 kami selalu dating, aku ingat semuanya, dan aku boleh tersenyum dengan kenangan itu. Kalau radio main those songs, aku akan tersenyum. Aku berterima kasih aku punya memori indah seperti itu yang mampu mengukir senyuman dibibirku. Terima kasih wahai Encik. Aku rindukan dia, bukan untuk bersamanya, just rindu perasaan sayang dan hormat yang kami kongsi bersama. Tapi kalau 'terserempak' pun dengan dia, aku tidak mampu berbicara hal itu. Its had been burried. Dah tanam pun jauh di sudut hati kami. Dia tahu, aku pun tahu itulah hakikatnya. Mungkin juga ada perasaan terkilan di hati. Entah. Aku tak berani tanya... dulu2 aku penah tanya dan dia kata dia pun masih simpan memori2 itu. Dan aku takkan tanya dah sampai bila-bila..... kita sandarkan aje pada kenangan....

Jauh... dan jauh....

Mungkin sebab tak byk kenangan bersama, takda lagu nak diingati bersama. Yer la. takde perasaan yang 'concreate' pun, more like a brother je.. yer la.. dia kan kawan.. mcm abang... dan untuk itu, aku sayang dia dan aku harap tanpa aku disisinya, dia terus sukses, dan dia tidak terkenangkan aku, bagaimana aku pun jarang terkenangkan dia.

Kenapa...

Aku minat mengetahui kehidupan dia, he look gojes, dengan baju melayu, sampin plak ikat mcm tu.. hui..hui...gojes like ever..... tapi kenapa la engkau masih bujang oii... sedangkan dikelilingi rupawan yang bijak2 belaka..... doaku padamu... moga cepat dapat jodoh.... janganlah memilih sangat...

Aduhi...

Harap2 tak tertemu dia lagi di SNS... letih nak bermain dengan perasaan, jelous pun ada hahaha.. ah... dah la tu... dah tau lama dah tapi otak ni kot saja buat2 tak tahu....

Oh... look at the time.. masa untuk bekerja lebih kuat... bye2..

2011-08-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

I'm preparing my mind to leave the faculty for quite a long time. I think its a good break but at the same time its going to be a very tough time for me. Everyday I told myself "I will have to go very soon anyway... I must be prepared to leave"... The problem now, should I go "very, very far" or not? Deep inside my heart, I want to. Maybe I should. Maybe I should just pack and leave just like I did before. Next year? Please Allah, help me decide...

2011-06-29T01:45:00.001-07:00

Kadang-kadang aku sedih kalau ada student yang sampai merayu-rayu agar aku ambik kelasnye.... yer-lah bukan aku taknak, tapi my 'babies' ni ramai sangat... aku pun taknak gila kuasa sangat macam lah lecturer lain tak best....

2011-06-28T19:15:00.001-07:00

There have been a lot of complain about Dato lately, and I feel sorry for those who have to go rough times to be at a more secured position. Some came to ask my comments and advice from the perspective of so-called 'at our times', and I just tell them to play along.

*Sigh*

2011-03-03T04:29:00.001-08:00

When I received a call from my "information-spy-friend", I'm beginning to feel that RTM was making personal attack on me for highlighting the real problem. It is really frustrating that the Minister In-Charge was not really answering my questions and keep on saying that I am making unfounded accusation on my articles published in Utusan Malaysia. Hey, why would NST and Kosmo followed on my angle if what I wrote was wrong? Are they feeling threatened that somebody was braved enough to say the truth? After all the melancholiac statement I wrote, the authority just simply cant accept the truth. Egois betul, carilah aku kalau berani.

2011-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

Assalammualaikum...

I think I have enough courage to re-open this blog, and I need the support of all my friends so I could once again be close to you all via this blog. Its been a long time since I blogged, and I have no intention to write as much as I used to do as this blogging activity doesnt contribute much to my career.

Anyway, for some reasons, I am excited about amateur radio again. For those wondering why, let just say I am excited because a celebrity and a royalty has just become a ham, and all this is so I could admire him even more. Haha

And just perhaps, I shall see some of you my old friends at SEANET Convention 2012 in Kuala Lumpur.

2007-02-01T22:36:00.000-08:00

Assalammualaikum.. aha, ini special edition. My photo in Legacy Hotel, Malacca attending a seminar on Jan 30. From left: Mr Cool Guy, Madam Boss, Mrs So D Kakak, Miss Che A', Mr Raufsan and Mademoiselle Juliet A.R. There are a few more of my colleagues who were not in the photo which includes Madam Langkawi, Mr Macho Guy and Miss Sarawak who just arrived few days back. We are the ruler of the M*ss C*omm fac in Malacca... hehe.

2007-01-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

Assalammualaikum.

Hello life.

Welcome. I have a new life now. I have been called Mi*ss Hajar and teacher. Susah nak percaya I am now teaching others to write with the little knowledge that I have. One female student came and kiss my hand, just as same as any student would probably does to her cikgu.

2006-11-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

Assalammualaikum....

No write-up to post, because I cant be posting my report on the proposed Kota Belud commercialised padi farming research I have been working on. Anyway, just feel like sharing some photos I took when I went to Cameron Highlands a few months ago. These are taken using the "classic" SLR (Single-Lens-Reflex) or also known as fully manual kamera, as an attempt to refresh my knowledge on manual photography. I guess I need to take up a refreshing course as most of the photos, even the roses, didnt turn up the way I wanted it. Luckily, the 2nd-hand FM10 seems to be more comfortable with fruits, and these were captured. Dont know how you will rate them, but to me these are lovely, and some stressful days I could just have a good look at these photos, admire the beauty, and my stress would go down. My dream is that I would be able to get myself a good DSLR, although learning how to use it will be similar to hunting - hunting for the right apperture, speed and effect - as one of my fellow photographer had once mentioned it.

2006-10-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

Assalammualaikum,

I went to an interview, ha.. its is a dream job, being able to get paid doing what I enjoy doing... But after that I become a bit depressed when some friends said that "sometimes it is not the capabilities that matters, but 'cablities'"... Aduh, aduh.... its going to be a depressing period till I got the result of the interview..... 73

2006-08-28T02:18:00.000-07:00

This is a short write-up. Frankly, I feel a need to write again. My writing skills is rusting.

NSUNT, 27/08/2006
Headline :Satirical take on Jebat
By Siti Hajar Abd Aziz

WHENEVER the topic of Hang Jebat comes up, people will talk about loyalty, friendship and justice.
Comedy? A rare inclusion. But under the Resdong theatre group of Penang, Jebat was turned into a satire.
And the play performed at Auditorium MTC in Jalan Ampang last Monday proved enjoyable.
Given a modern touch, the audience was kept laughing throughout the 90-minute performance.
The plot had office-attired Jebat (Ahmad Shazli Hashim) taking over the Sultan's palace.
He gives away stuff from the treasury - gifts, mock cheques and mock keys to BMWs - to the people of Malacca to show his generosity.
Combat was not silat but a la Hong Kong kungfu and came complete with glow-in-the-dark swords.
The play was staged to win the Malaysian Theatre Festival 2006's first prize of RM15,000 but there is undoubtedly room for improvement, especially with lighting.
Sometimes, the light effects didn't come on at all.
Backdrop ideas included boxes, ropes and mannequin body parts.
I think there was too much distortion of the main story which, to me, undermined the values one has always associated with this legend.
But we all should make allowances when it comes to experimental theatre, such as this effort by Resdong director Azwan Abdul Wahab.

(END)

2006-04-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

Assalammualaikum..
Hai, takde update pun bising ke? This isnt my primamry blog-lar. I normally keep my articles aje kat sini.

Anyway, hope you guys (and gals) enjoy reading this....

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Web Exclusive: Now you can talk to your astronaut via ham radio
By Siti Hajar Abd Aziz

March 31, 2006
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It’s like a dream come true for Malaysians — to be able send our own astronauts into space.

But did you know that you too can be part of this space programme — albeit in a land-locked way.

Just get to know amateur radio, or an amateur radio operator, and you are on your way to talking to our astronaut while he (or she) is on board the International Space Station (ISS).

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) programme was set up by amateurs from the ISS partner countries in the USA, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada in 1996. It became part of the International Space Station project in October 2000.

The ARISS programme is aimed at allowing students to experience the excitement of amateur radio communication by talking directly with crew members of the ISS, with the help of amateur radio community.

According to the ARISS website, the unique educational experience of speaking with astronauts will hopefully encourage youths to learn about science and technology.

Amateur radio (or hams) operators too have the opportunity to make unscheduled contacts with astronauts from time to time, when the space station make a pass over their region.

Although the astronauts are normally very busy, they do take some time off to make contact with schoolchildren and hams.

Ghazali Hassan, 26, who has just passed the Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) and is applying for a callsign, said he couldn't wait to talk to the Malaysian astronaut.

"Malaysians should also take this opportunity to learn about space communication.

“Monitoring satellite and shuttle commissions have become a popular hobby on its own.

“Teachers should apply for a future school contact, almost guaranteeing that students will have an opportunity to communicate with a space crew,” he said.

Currently, the ISS ham radios are Ericsson MP-X handhelds, and the Kenwood D-700, which has been programmed with numerous channels, including the two-metre radio support voice operations.

Several check-out passes were conducted during November 2000 and the first school contact was made by Expedition One astronaut Bill Shepherd on Dec 21, 2000, in the United States.

To prepare to talk the space crew, one needs a radio with a two-metre FM transceiver with an output power between 25 to 100 watts.

In any radio communication, an antenna is vital, and to be able to make this contact, one needs to experiment with a number of antennas, including a circularly polarised crossed-Yagi, vertical and ground plane types.

Commercial and public domain software can help track when a shuttle or the ISS will be in range of the station, and where to point the antenna.

Frequencies used for ARISS
Voice Downlink: 145.80 (Worldwide)
Voice Uplink: 144.49 (Regions 2 & 3) 145.20 (Region 1)
Packet Uplink: 145.99 (Worldwide)

For information on ARISS check out:

http://www.rac.ca/ariss/

http://www.issfanclub.com

** This article is a tribute to ham radio enthusiast Idris Zainuddin (9M2GL) who died at his residence in Jalan Klang Lama on March 28, 2006 at the age of 77. For years, Idris has been a devoted teacher in preparing candidates of the Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) and the Morse Code tests and has assisted in disaster communication with the Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Services Society.

Arigato gozaimas d 9w2jar

2006-01-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

Turning trash into source of energy

By Siti Hajar Abd Aziz

New Sunday Times

Jan 15:
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MODERN man is a wasteful animal, especially so in an affluent society. In Malaysia, it is estimated there is a generation of solid waste of up to a 1.8kg per person daily, depending on the area, and there is a total waste generation of between 15,000 and 18,000 tonnes a day.

All this puts pressure on the landfills in Malaysia which are rapidly reaching their capacity much sooner than planned, making the local authorities turn to incinerators as a way to handle waste.

Incinerators can generate electricity and could help our waste problems.

Prof Dr Kamarulazizi Ibrahim, the director of Centre For Education, Training and Research in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Cetree), said Malaysia is ready to turn waste into a source of renewable energy.

But to him, there is so much more to be done to educate the people to make it a reality.

Kamarulazizi said specially-designed incinerators which can produce energy, including electricity, is available both locally and abroad.

Citing the mega-incinerator project which was proposed in Broga, Selangor, Kamarulazizi said deciding the location for incinerators would be the toughest job.

A RM1.5 billion incinerator, capable of handling 1,500 tonnes a day, was planned for Puchong in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur but after protests, it was "relocated" to Broga.

Now the residents of Broga and the surrounding areas are protesting against the incinerator, saying that it would release cancer-causing emissions like dioxin.

"No one wants an incinerator in their backyard," said Kamarulazizi at the Cetree office in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. Kamarulazizi is also a lecturer in USM’s School of Physics.

"The bankers have been reluctant to give loans to fund incinerators, and this will make building incinerators difficult."

Kamarulazizi, said the advancement in technology allows close monitoring and control of incinerator emission.

"We can assure you that the release of dioxin can be minimised."

Dioxin is a by-product of incinerators or any combustion process, which includes car emissions, backyard burning and forest burning.

Dioxin pollution is also affiliated with paper mills which use chlorine bleaching in their process, and with the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and with the production of certain chlorinated chemicals, such as pesticides.

USM’s School of Chemical Sciences lecturer. Dr Mohd Asri Mohd Nawi. said although all the scary facts about dioxin are true, the chemical can be filtered and decomposed into non-harmful substance before the emission is released into the air.

"This process, however, requires advanced technology and monitoring equipment which can be very costly," said Asri, the former deputy dean of the school and professor in environmental pollution.

Doping Control Centre science officer Hajjaj Juharullah said dioxin decomposes at 800ºC inside an incinerator.

However, the chemical will not be destroyed fully as there is a tendency for the components of dioxin – carbon, chlorine, oxygen and hydrogen – to re-form during the cooling process.

"What we need is a system where the components of dioxin are separated immediately after they are detached during decomposition to avoid re-formation when the temperature in the burning chamber drops," said Hajjaj.

"This way, we can be assured that the dioxin will be destroyed."

Asri said the fear of incinerator is just a "misunderstanding and lack of communication" between the parties who want to build the incinerators and the public.

"The most important part is to communicate with the community before executing an incinerator project so they will be clear on the project, and why there is a need to build one."

Asri said incinerating waste can help prolong the life span of landfills and save lands from being used as landfills.

"In years to come, for places with limited land such as Penang, the incinerator may have to become a reality.

"We can’t run away from the fact that one day we will have to consider incineration as a way to solve our garbage problems, like Singapore, which is already turning garbage into a source of energy."

Sungai Nibong village head Rosli Abd Razak is resigned to the fact that incinerators will be unavoidable in future.

Rosli said if an incinerator can be built in a remote area with no threats to the public and at the same time bring benefits like solving garbage problems, creating job opportunities and providing electricity, it should not be rejected.

"However," he said, "they (those who want to build the incinerator) must seek the approval of the communities where the incinerator would be located.

"The Government or the parties involved must provide details about the project. The public need to be well-informed.

"If incinerator can affect the community, then the Government must be prepared to tell us how this problem will be solved."

While the idea of incinerators has yet to take off, Kamarulazizi said industries will continue to dump their garbage at the sanitary landfills as it is much cheaper than building incinerators.

He warned that landfills can be dangerous, as compressed garbage produces methane gas which is flammable and explosive.

"Poorly treated landfill is like a time-bomb. There have been cases in Europe and the United States where houses built on these landfill are destroyed when the landfill exploded."

Kamarulazizi said inserting tubes into the landfill can help release and prevent the build-up of methane gas and prevent such explosions.

He said some tubes should remain on site even after development so that the remaining methane gas is dissipated.

Alam Flora Sdn Bhd senior landfill engineer Amir Jafri A. Rahman said garbage being a renewable source of energy is not a new concept in solid waste management, and was widely exploited in the world.

He said in the context of reducing and re-using waste, the concept held a lot of value when compared to the conventional disposal of waste in landfills.

"Harnessing the energy stored in garbage also helps to reduce its volume, and would, therefore, prolong a landfill’s operating life, reduce the potential for leachate generation and reduce the risk of fires."

Amir said local and foreign technology to turn waste to energy was ready to be adopted by the country.

He said most modern incineration facilities were equipped with the latest environmental control mechanisms, designed to provide the best process control and maximise the reduction of environmental pollution.

"One can barely see smoke rising from an incinerator stack these days, because of the effective pollution control technologies."

Amir said better understanding and awareness of these new technologies was important if the public were to accept incinerators.
There are a variety of alternatives to treat municipal solid waste, he said.

"Composting, material recovery and anaerobic digestion are all forms of energy recovery," said Amir.

"It will assist in the recovery and re-utilisation of materials or energy before the waste is finally sent to the landfill."
As Malaysia has a dynamic population size and a stable and progressive economy, the amount of rubbish is expected to increase accordingly.

To face this challenge to reduce garbage generation, Amir said Malaysians should practise the 3Rs (reduce, re-use, re-cycle) in their daily lives and practise a little common sense to reduce wastage and only use whatever is necessary.

"Malaysian should start behaving and thinking as a community rather than being individualistic."
Tanjong Umno Youth head Shaharrudin Hassan said it was very difficult to change Malaysian attitudes towards cleanliness and garbage disposal.

"Sometimes when I go to some of the mosques, the toilets are so dirty.

"I wonder why this is so when Islam is a religion that emphasises cleanliness.

"This shows how unhealthy some of us can be, and this mentality cannot be changed easily."

Shaharuddin said if research showed that an incinerator did not pollute and had more value than landfills, then it should be considered.

2005-12-28T23:20:00.000-08:00

Angry and loud
SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ

Dec 25:
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Sign language, loud music and laptops were integral elements at an indie band gig in Penang, writes SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ.

HUI Se Di Dai (which means Grey Zone) vocalist Teoh Siang Kuo, 27, looked really angry but no more than the other four band members or than the other participants of Soundmaker’s Gig 9 held in Penang recently.

While strumming and plucking his electric guitar, Teoh screamed and shouted in Mandarin, and showed the audience the "sign of the finger".

If you are wondering if the small crowd at Church Street Cafe on Lebuh Gereja returned the favour, the answer is no. Most of time, the crowd at this gig called The Alternatives were happy to loll back on the chairs or shake their heads to the beat of the music.

Armed with anger-driven singing, twanging guitar riffs and pounding drum beats, the Penang-based Hui Se Di Dai treated the audience to a loud version of its "neo-pyschedelic post-rock concept".

Teoh said the songs were about the band’s frustration with society’s lack of morals.

He said the band members were upset that the actual world was much "darker" than the held-up ideal.

"In school, teachers told us that we should be honest and disciplined, but in reality, you may end up being bullied.

"We are taught about the importance of love among family members, but the truth is fights and social problems are becoming common in the society,"

This is why our songs and music are our way of releasing our frustration."

Teoh said the band played from the heart.

Bringing a different feel to the gig was Dian Bang, a newly formed two-man outfit from Kuala Lumpur who offered their version of experimental noise music.

Using two laptops, Lee Yin Jiun, 22, and Yong Chan How, 25, held the audience captive with their music which had elements of fantasy and Nature.

"Laptop music is quite new and can be produced even when you are at home," said Lee, a mechanical engineering student.

"One can compose a piece of music just by downloading from more than 100 sounds and instruments from the Internet," he said.

Yong said he often gets ideas from art films and documentaries. One of the best places for sound is the National Geographic site.

"Playing instruments is fun, but with laptop music, one person can create his own song without having the depend on others," he said.

Other indie bands who had performed that night were Damn Dirty Apes, Colour My Iris and Whitelight.

* You can catch more indie music in the 12 Bands Of Christmas series which ends with Estranged, Throne Away, Beat The System and Dragon Red. Venue: Jam Asia Rock Station (19-1 Jalan 22A/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur). Date & Time: Dec 30, 9pm. Admission: RM15. Call 03-2095-3045.

2005-09-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

09.24.05
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Posted in Ham Radio, Community at 2:20 am by 9W2JAR

By 9W2JAR (Jaja, Aziz) @ www.hamblog.com

“YLs friend whom I know would rather spend time and money on shopping, facials and make-ups,” said a friend during a YM conference with hams. I had told them to bring more females friends into amateur radio. “I dont know what type of YL who is hooked on radio” he added, probably referring to me.

If you take a look at the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commision ’s register, and be able to identify the list of females, I can say we do have quite a number of licensees. Unfortunately, sweet voices on airwave is rather a treat than usual OM conversations on which road is not congested with traffic and which mud-tyre will be more suitable for a four-wheel.

A trip to RAE shows that there are females attending RAE everytime, but no one really sure what happened to them, “Most are XYLs rather than YLs, and they have too many housework to do then attending to the radio,” said another old-timer in hamming.

Some says ham husbands told their wives to take up the exams, maybe for easier communication, or just for the pride to be a spouse or family with callsigns. Another told me it only ended restricting their husbands' movement. “Abang di mana? Balik cepat! (Hubby, where are you? Come back at once!)”.

Nevertheless, there are family and siblings who make full use of their ham ticket to contact each other on their two-metre. Sometimes the little brother calling for the younger brother, sometimes the husband calling for the wife. Very seldomly, a daughter calling for the father. These are however, quite unique cases.

An OM even joked with another OM on air and gave him “88″, and with a laugh”, said this: “I have been dying to use this Q-code but I have yet to get the opportunity, so I decide I give it to you.” Poor thing.

When I started hamming, ham friends even told me that my voice had stopped those who about to feed their mouth with rice. It is such a treat, I guess. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

To me, amateur radio, is something unique. You befrended voices, and after exchanging anecdotes and jokes, that voice sounds more soothing and therapeutic than you ever imagine. You’ve got a friend, and how they looked like in real life doesnt matters. I must say hamming helps to reduce stereotype.

Its already a universal language, I must say. Regardless of background, age, race, religion, profession or boundaries, we can always start a conversation. You know somebody, and I know that somebody. Thats somebody knows me. World is quite small eh? This is hamming. Friendship through the airwave. Not sure if echolink or e-Qso works the same, but making acquintances on the airwave is just so thrilling.

So? What type of YL is hooked on radio???

2005-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

09.19.05
Hamblogging in Malaysia
Posted in Uncategorized, Community at 8:17 am by 9W2JAR
By 9W2JAR - Aziz, Jaja @ www.hamblog.com
Hamblogging has begin to infect the Malaysian hams community. Although the number of Malaysian hams have yet to reach 2000 callsign, hamblogging activities has begim to influence the opinion of communities and authorities. One such sample of an effective hamblog is Martsnewshosted by some members of the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society. Their weblog has continously giving critical yet developing opinions towards the society and the authority, all in the name of a better communication for the future. Hamblogging would probably begins when a veteran ham, 9M2AR, an ex-teacher, spent more time on his own server and started to make remarks on the use and abuse of Malaysian airwaves. Ironically, Malaysian ham’s community has never been missed from the issue of political and identity. This is where hamblogging come to play, to get consensus on matters regarding rights and privelleges, democratically, silently yet effective. The rest of the hams, some still unsure on what to blog, started hamblogging the traditionaly way, telling their own personal stories, and some relay their conversation on air with fellow hams. Hamblogging will gradually move into a better spin when the freshie hambloggers begin to understand the impact of blogging. To look at Malaysian hams more closely and in a digital way,visit 9M2SY weblog and start clicking. Hamblogging has definately added more human touch to hamming here!
73 from Malaysia

2005-09-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Assalammualaikum.. sorry busy sikit tada masa nak update blog nie. Anyway thanks pada sesiapa yang put a link to my Weblog ni, and to those yang nak Website dia di link dari sini boleh hantar mail kat saya, and say its a mutual benefit. People surf you Weblog from mine, people suft my Weblog from yours. Together, we ride the blogsphere pulak.

73

2005-08-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

* I used to be in-love with her. Now I just love her. 13 % (2 votes)

* No to both. I am not in-love, not also love. We just comfortable with each other. 20 per cent (3 votes)

* I have always be in-love with her. I know its burning in my heart. 47 % (7 votes)

*Honestly, I am not sure about my own feelings. 20 % (3 votes)

**Total 15 Votes

Only half of the guys who voted in my poll has confessed they still very much in-love with their wife. Unfortunately, there is no further information on these men, such as how long they have been married, and whether they have a lot of kids or not. I believe this are some of the factors that strenghten one's relationship.

Its good to know that people can be honest about their feelings. Well yeah, sometimes you just stay in a marriage because you get so comfortable with each other, eventhough the feeling of love is no longer there. To those who are not sure about their feelings, its time for you to find out. Who knows the feeling of burning love still there somewhere, waiting for the time to be repolished. To all who has responded in this survey, thank you very much.

2005-08-07T01:21:00.000-07:00

New Straits Times » Showtime

Tok dalang’s magic
SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ

Aug 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harsh language and a lack of a story doesn’t stop SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ from enjoying the mastery of tok dalang Abdul Majid Noh.

IF shadows could tell a story, then the wayang kulit must be the best story-teller.

It doesn’t matter that it is almost a non-story as the case with Menaruh Harapan, presented at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang recently.

What mattered was the movement of the puppet and the visuals it created, which blends well with the sound of the gong, gedombak, kerincing, canang and serunai.
Just by a few flicks of his wrist, Wayang Kulit Seri Asun’s tok dalang Abdul Majid Noh, a showmaster, from Kampung Kunluang, Kedah, weaved his tale, complete with jokes and modern songs.

Although his accent made the story slightly difficult to understand, Majid's hand movement made his puppets come to life, keeping the audience well entertained.

Majid’s is the wayang kulit gedek style, the form which is said to have originated in Kedah and heavily Thai influenced.

The show opened with the chanting of some Thai verses and prayers, just to make sure that everything goes well.

His performance was characterised by playful banter, much to the delight of the audience who were free to view the “shadow play” on the screen or to watch the master and his musicians behind the screen.

Even though wayang kulit originates from the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana,

Majid has modified a bit the characters of wayang kulit which originates from the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana,

“There is not much conflict in the characters such as Pak Itam, Etong, the giant, the King and the Queen, and they are now more focussed on the issues of peace and love.

“I know the language is a little harsh, but I hope by presenting wayang in such a casual way that it will kindle public interest in this heritage performing arts,” he said.

Majid and his team have also performed in Germany, Thailand and China.

Before Majid’s wayang kulit troupe goes abroad, the players are sent for a short language course of the country they are to visit, so that they can introduce some words of the country in their show.

“By this, I hope they enjoy wayang kulit better.”

USM’s School of Arts lecturer Dr Jamaludin Osman, in a recent talk on wayang kulit, said the Thai accent is one of the special features of wayang kulit which shouldn’t be removed from any play.

“Even if you can’t understand the whole story because of the language, wayang kulit is very much enjoyable because of the way the tok dalang weaves his magic behind the screen,” he said.

“It is works the same way as with Bollywood movies where the Malaysian audience, who mostly do not understand the language, enjoy the movie.”

The wayang kulit has good and evil characters and lots of conflicts.

“The visuals can still move people emotionally.”

Jamaludin said with good planning and commercialisation, wayang kulit has the potential to go big.

Those who want Wayang Kulit Seri Asun to perform can call 012-4786614.

2005-08-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Hello, Assalammualaikum

I forgot that hamming and blogging this two different things. While hamming give much restriction to what you want to say, blogging give all the freedom to write almost anything under the sun.

However, I decided not to mix the two. I am now removing all my personal contents into a different blog which will be only accessible to "Bloggers, Friends, and Fans".

It is now to play some game of restrictions. So people, if you think you can accept the nature of blogging, and be able to respect my views, or you just simply love the way I write, email me in not less than 50 words on why you like to know the URL of my blog. The sentense must start with.....

"Assalammualaikum/Hello..
Hajar, nama saya/callsign ialah (isi tempat kosong) dan e-mail (isi tempat kosong) Saya ialah seorang (Blogger/Rakan/Peminat). Saya ingin tahu URL blog anda kerana................................."

Only those who submit an email to me at jaja_juliet@yahoo.com and comply to these requirements will be granted the information of my new blog, and must agree to my other terms. The name of successful application WILL BE PUBLISHED on this blog.

Happy writing!
73-Juliet-Alpha-Romeo

2005-07-04T23:06:00.001-07:00

More privileges for the Nine-Whiskeys, More bands for the B Class Malaysian ham
By 9W2JAR (Aziz, Jaja) on www.qrz.com

Malaysian hams now are available on selected HF and VHF frequencies, namely the 10m, 6m, 2m and 70cm. Malaysian amateur radio regulator, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commissions in its 55-pages Guidelines for Amateur Radio in Malaysia published in October last year, stated that the “B Class” ham operators can now work on 28.0 to 29.7 Mhz (10m), 50.0 Mhz to 54.0 Mhz (6m), 144 Mhz to 148 Mhz (2m) and 430 Mhz to 440 Mhz (70cm). Previously, the “B Class” operators, with prefix callsign 9W, only works on 2m. Currently the class of emission granted by the MCMC granted is AE3, F1A, F2A, F3E, J3E, R3E . The new bands introduced is being utilized fully by some of the hams in Malaysia. One of the young hams (9W2QC) managed to speak to NASA's astronaut, Mike Fincke KE5AIT, who was on board the International Space Station (ISS) operating NA1SS and got our beloved country's name, "Malaysia" pronounced in space.

2005-07-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

New hams get HF privileges granted from The Southgate Amateur Radio Club"

Some good news for hams in Malaysia who have been waiting all their lives to receive High Frequency operating privileges. 9W2JAR reports that this dream has finally come true for some of them.

Jaja says that a total of 19 "B license" hams passed the Morse Test held at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission headquarters from March 29th to the 31st. They were granted the 9M2 prefix callsign as new Malaysian ham radio ambassadors.

This was the first time the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has organize the Morse Test since it took over the management of Amateur Radio hobby from Department of Telecommunication a few years ago.

The last time a Morse Test was held was in the year 1997.

9W2JAR

2005-07-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

Publication : NSUNT
Date : 29/05/2005
Page Number : 14
Headline : Breathing new life to bangsawan
Words :
528
Byline :
By Siti Hajar Abd Aziz
Text :

NEW technology, popular songs are all part of an effort to reintroduce youths to Malay opera - bangsawan, discovers SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ in Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh.

HOW does one differentiate a normal play on stage from the once-popular bangsawan - the Malay opera? Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Prof Madya Dr Abdul Samat Salleh said bangsawan is known for its spectacular elements in it, which a regular play may lack.

Samat, who directed the recent bangsawan opera Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh, said one of the spectacular element in his play was the scene where villager Kembang's stomach expanded when she suddenly become pregnant after eating a delima fruit which had fallen from the sky.

Another was the scene where the prince and his assistant, Meletup, were dragged to the stars on an invisible flying carpet.

Samat said other elements which should make up a bangsawan staging are the lively dance performances and the songs during the play's scene changes.

"In the old days, the public would attend bangsawan not for the story alone, as classic Malay tales such as Hang Tuah or Tun Fatimah have been told numerous time.

"What they expect are some comedy and lively entertainment during the scene change. This is why bangsawan actors and actresses should be able to sing, act, dance and be comedians too."

Samat said apart from the strength of the actors and the actresses, a bangsawan staging depends a lot on the use of painted backdrops to portray locations and scenes.

"With the technology today, we can even project images on the wall on stage to show where is the scene acted, such as the sky image we use to show that the scene is up on the stars."

Samat said Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh is an effort to reintroduce bangsawan to the new generation.
"It is a unique part of Malay culture which should not die."

Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh is about a fairy king who turns his seven daughters into fruits and sends them to Earth after Bapak Jin (father of all genies) and his friend, Jin Afrait, as well as the seven mambang princes (fairy princes) ask to marry the princesses.

The fairy king is determined that only the ones who manage to find the seven princesses can marry them.

It becomes more challenging and exciting when a prince on Earth wishes to have all the seven princesses as his brides.

The cast of Jula Juli kept the audience entertained with their songs and comic acts during every scene change, especially Yusri Edoo, the father of the genies.

Yusri sang like popular singer Misha Omar, and he was rather good with his expressions and body language especially in Misha Omar's popular number, Pulangkan.

Juli Juli Bintang Tujuh was presented by Bangsawan Sri USM group of Penang with members of the cast comprising mainly students from the university's School of Arts.

The eye-catching performance of the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur dance troupe helped make Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh quite enjoyable.

This is the fifth time this bangsawan has been staged since its first showing in USM in December.

The good turnout is good news for bangsawan.

(END)

2005-07-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

Publication : NSUNTDate : 12/06/2005Page Number : 04Headline : Logged areas ENRICHED ANEWWords : 742Byline : By SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZText :

A NEW planting technique developed by FRIM is helping to rehabilitatedegraded sites, SITI HAJAR ABD AZIZ reports

DO your bit for the environment - plant a tree in your garden. A mangotree will do nicely, and if your garden is large enough, make it a duriantree.The trees will not only help to make the Earth greener, but given goodsoil, and enough water and sunlight, they will also reward your familywith literally fruits of your labour.But this is not quite as straight-forward in the case of trees that areplanted as part of the silviculture treatment to enrich a forest areaafter it has been logged.Such seedlings frequently die while attempting to establish themselvesamong the giants in the forest, or be smothered by merciless climbers andweeds.Responding to this challenge, Forest Research Institute Malaysia'sNatural Forest Management and Silviculture Unit has come up with a newforest rehabilitation technique.FRIM research officer Dr Raja Barizan Raja Sulaiman says the improvedplanting method is designed specifically to help rehabilitate degradedsites in a logged hill dipterocarp forest.Survival rates are higher and growth is much faster with the newtechnique, says Raja Barizan, adding that it also helps to sustain thesupply of high quality timber.The Forestry Department is responsible for monitoring, managing andregulating the country's forests and resources through measures such asenrichment planting programmes on degraded forests.Enrichment planting involves introducing selected valuable timberspecies in degraded forests areas without eliminating existing trees."The semi-mechanised process allows the use of big healthy plantingmaterials of suitably high quality timber species," explains Raja Barizan."It also takes into account access to sunlight to allow the trees togrow faster and healthier."In a study carried out in the Serting Forest Reserve in Kuala Pilah,Raja Barizan and colleague Dr Shamsudin Ibrahim monitored for two yearsthe growth of Shorea leprosula (Meranti tembaga) planted in three areas,namely logging roads, log yards and skid trails.She found that the plants could be left to establish themselves evenwithout special care like weeding and canopy opening."The planting technique provides sufficient light for early growth ofthe plants, while after two years, most of the trees have grown muchhigher than the weeds or climber trees".In the study, Raja Barizan used a machine, the Skid Steer Loader, whichis equipped with a hydraulic auger that can help improve the soil'sphysical properties at the planting point."The machine is found effective in preparing big planting holes andalso versatile enough to operate in difficult terrain such as steepslopes, and slippery and soft ground," she said.Raja Barizan said under the Selective Management System introduced in1977, the Forestry Department has undertaken a meticulous selectionprocess in respect of which timber trees to fell, and which to keep inall forest reserves in the peninsula.She said once the logging exercise was completed, the department wouldagain survey the area and decide whether the forest needed help toregenerate or be left to grow naturally and become productive again inabout 30 years."The process is very time-consuming, but through this technique,replanting can be done immediately after the completion of loggingactivities."Instead of seedlings of less than a metre in height, we recommend theuse of plants that are one to two metres tall, depending on theeco-physiological properties of competing species," Raja Barizan adds."The planting method also does not need a fixed layout plan as it canallow for access roads and terrain conditions."Although the method requires a big start-up cost, it is very cost-effective in the long run, particularly given the minimal need for supervision and maintenance of the sites.

"Currently, the crawler-tractor is used to harvest hill dipterocarpforests in Peninsular Malaysia. This technique results in excessiveopening of the forest canopy."

"It also causes too much soil disturbance due to construction oflogging roads, landing sites, a maze of skid trails and tree fall gaps."These degraded areas will be targeted by us for the new plantingmethod, thereby enriching them with plants of indigenous species."Raja Barizan said the method, if properly implemented, can ensure acontinuous supply of quality timber.