Over Dinner Plates.

After a few nights stay, I ran out of ideas of where to bring my parents for dinner. True, I spent two and a half years in Penang. But we don't eat out often. We students save money. For fuuuuture. :)


Salam.


So it's the...fifth night stay, and it's only tonight, that we ate some place else. It has always been by the seaside and a few other restaurants we frequent when my parents came by to see how I was doing once in a while-but you know, two weeks stay doesn't take that as a deal. Apparently, pals;

we were just going to have our dinner in any restaurants down in Queensbay when Ayah saw a place just nearby. So tonight we had our dinner in an Indian restaurant (it's Penang, best known for Indian restaurants, nasi kandar, pasemboq, Chinese delicacies, and...don't let me go on!) where we got each of ourselves served with briyani.

Oh, I forgot, it was raining. So there were too few people around. In fact there were us three, only.

I hold on to this one formulae on my first visits to restaurants. Walk in the ones with lots of people, it might be  well known for good service and good meals, and avoid ones that are hardly occupied. But it doesn't always work. Like tonight. That's the threehundredandfourteenth time that I got to prove the formulae wrong. It's running obsolete, I know. Don't use that. The one we had our dinner in this evening was splendid. And I'm not saying this halfhearted. I should say that the dishes were great, if not excellent.

The owner and his fellow workers were wonderfull too. The background was a harmonious fusion of classic contemporary Indian music and colourfull ceiling ornaments, service's good, they even sat across our table for a chat.In short, it was a fine dine-out. But I won't be writing if it was only that.


While the restaurant owner greets Ayah, I was putting my senses to work. A simple "Bang," ("Hey there,") distracted my monologue. The owner curved out a McDonald's smile to us. When I say McDonald's, I mean an effortless smile, right from the heart. It was later that he drew the chair out to sit down and have a little chat.

"If this sincerely isn't for business purposes," I said to myself, "this is good enough."

I mean, national unity is beautiful. Come to think of it, our Malaysia is one out of too few the number of countries in which different races call themselves 'at home'. All under one roof. You see, in many countries not everyone enjoy the same blessings of safety and prosperity in equality. Too many, to tell; suffer from civil wars, conflicts and disputes to no end. Our beloved birth land too, once shared a heart-tearing memory of  state of urgency, some time ago in 1969. 13th May. I hate to remember how KL, Penang, and some other big cities looked like in archive photos during the period. It was awful, we were separated, when it is not a lie that we used to walk hand-in-hand before it all happened. Blood coloured the roads crimson, tranquil villages were shaken with the fact that guerrillas could be hiding anywhere in nearby forests, carrying guns of fatality.


The fact is disturbing. Just imagine, how could you afford to live in such horror? I can't even imagine how our ancestors did. If it's nowadays, do you think you can leave your mp3, your laptop, your PSP, your room, your school, college, your house, and biggest of all, your FAMILY? C'mon, I can only stand a week without my cellphone. Now close your eyes and picture how our lives would be like, should a misfortune befall us. We can't even bear a day without technology, now, can you imagine leaving all your loved ones behind, and you won't even have the time to let the thought about not having tech gadgets around cross your mind? All we would have the time for is to think about how to survive. And whether your loved ones are safe. Can you imagine seeking refuge somewhere alien with enough food for only half a day, fasting for the other half and wearing the same shirt for weeks, not certain if tomorrow you'd still be breathing?


I can't afford to lose what we have right now. It's not about how long I can live without my cellphone, my mp3, my laptop or anything else. I love this gift of God. If it's not us, no one else would protect our land from destruction. And we can't be our cancer. We can't afford to live with false hope that we're not dying, when somewhere inside us we're actually bleeding. Our nation must live, and we must keep our faith alive until the end of time. Among ourselves, let it be only trust, love, and not betrayal. We have been living good all the while, and I want to hold on believing that we will stay so, for the rest of the our days' life.


Now smile a bit, I don't want to hurt you with my words. I just want you to get it straight from the bottom of my heart. I mean every single word I say. It's my fear that I wish to share with you, and along with it, is my hope.


I'm a fan of many dishes of non-Malay origin. I'm sure that you too, in many ways, are attached to some other race's culture. We speak Manglish, a unique composition of Malay's "lah..", Indians "uh?", and Chinese's "ma!" in one accent. We all eat Mi Mamak and crave for more, sip teh tarik with its bubbles popping on our lips, enjoy crunching on fried chicken dumplings over evening meetings with friends and head out for Nasi Lemak on Sunday mornings.



When there's already too much that we share, will we stay on opposing sides for silly reasons or be by each other's side when hard time knocks on the door? If storm comes, will we be safe together, or will we be looking around for a lost friend?


I don't want to think of reasons why we should fight. I want to think of reasons why we should stay together. Because national unity, is too precious to lose. And I can't live without it. Even if I do, I know I should live better with it. It's our pulse, it's mine too. We should live better as long as we keep ourselves on the path.


Thank You, Allah, for giving me this opportunity to live in Malaysia.


Love you, always. :)

Say hi!

It's my new pal,name is cb! Hello!

How Do You Fix Things Around?

Salam and greetings, you!


Uhuh, as the title suggests. And I'm sorry I've been away for a fortnight now, I was away. Mencurah sayang pada kampung tercinta.

Okay.

Quite frequently I wonder why I argue a lot. It's quite common to argue when we have opposing ideas, but I must wonder why. I mean, I'm curious to know if there is any explanation to this behaviour. I Googled 'perception', and surprisingly-okay, not surprisingly, that's an exxageration. And what was taught in campus has something to do with it, tau.

Okay, let's look at the theory first. Nope, I'm not going to bore you with studying theories, I just need to show you what it's about.

GESTALT'S THEORY: The Theory of Human Perception.

Take a look to the three piccas. Not too long, they strain your eyes. And the effects such as moving dots, or spacing illusion is caused by the brain's left and right hemisphere's perception of the images.

Under thistheory, three categories explain this phenomenon which are

• grouping
• goodness of figures
• figure-ground relationship

Our scope of study in campus is very helpful to analyse children's pattern of thinking, which is essential for teachers to acknowledge in order to design effective lesson plans, and put it into action.

You see, the brain is a powerful mechanism and a great degree of its development process takes place during childhood. Yup, childhood!

In kindergarten it's easy to observe thee process. And believe it or not, problem-solving skill emerges from the very level of infancy, entirely through observations and cognition. While playing blocks for example, we can see a lot of structures-of which are astonishing brainchild of the children-being built. One child will certainly build a different structure from another.


Here's why!


The right side and left side of the human brain are inclined to different modes of functions.

The right brain is basically made up of these attributes:

• random
• intuitive
• hollistic synthesising
• subjective
• perceives a subject as a whole

while the left brain has these characteristics;

• logical sequence
• rational
• analytical
• objective
• perceives a subject as little parts

Most commonly people would adopt one dominant part of the brain, which characterises the person. Among children, it is fun to observe how they respond to the environment since it reveals their style of thinking through the way they observe an object, play, and resolve problems. Ever heard of Gestalt theory? Oh, I think I mentioned it. Gheeks. It'll take you into a greater, more exciting scope of psychology discovery. I promise it won't bore you. Promise, promise. :) Oh ya, what has it to do with right and left hemisphere of the brain by the way? Well, let's see.

Recognising one's cognition pattern helps to classify a person as a right or left-brainer.

And it's not only important to know whether someone is a right-brainer or the other. It is also a must for you to know the categories in which a problem can be grouped in. So here's where Gestalt theory play its part. Problems can be grouped as

Well defined, or specific eg. a broken window that needs to be replaced OR
Ill defined, or abstract eg. how to find happiness, say.

And a problem can be tackled through a several classified approaches that are;

-Productive                           -Reproductive

Productive problems require a solver for an insight, which here carries the definition of 'thinking deeply about a matter, close inspection on a matter, and others similar. Doesn't depend on past experiences but creativity.

Reproductive problems usually tackles problem through functional fixed-ness, using past experiences to solve a problem.

During insight, a solver might restructure a problem to gain different views from which it can be tackled. One's perception towards a matter plays an important part in this stage.


A person whose left brain hemisphere is more dominant adopts productive problem-solving strategy. On the contrary, reproductive problem-solving skills is an option of right-brainers.


Interested to find out more? Clickkky!

Funderstanding

to read simplified facts. Or,

The Quiz

to find out if your a right or left-brainer.

I'm left-brain dominant. Which is yours?

;D

While Mobile Blog Was Around,

Salam!

While I was away, I blogged through my phone. And I did it out of desperate needs to write and share. Ever since, I discovered an additional beauty of blogging, that is; when it can easily be done on-the-go, a photo intact. Two simple, meaningful sentences would be just enough-perfect, to keep the photo company. If I can tell you how delighted I am to mobile-blog, I'd put it this way; "coooooooool!!"


Uhm. But the bad news is that, I have learned to love writing brief entries through Blogger Mobile quite a deal, that I forgot how to write an entry that would suit the normal Blogger. My point is: I can't put my thoughts into-at least-a 150-words-paragraph. If you frequent writing essays, 150 words aren't much. It's too short, in fact. And I can't do that too, now.


I'm working something out to fix this. I hope I'll be posting an entry soon, like the ones you've always known me for. Longer than two sentences.


p/s: how many words are there already in this one?


Byes!

My Joyride.

When there's a good read, and I'm in the car, I call it a joyride. That's my joyride, what's yours? Putrajaya to spend the evening!

(Insert a Title Here) or The Late Show on TV5: Part 2

Previously on 'Anware Tidur Lagi'...


Anware: Eh, tido ke mende?


Join us again as the talk climbs its way up to the summit!


Hystrix: Dinner la. Is it really for Islam and nothing else? We have to study about their background. We do know about extremism, and the core of Islam which is moderation. These people are fighting for the idea of..? Demolishing non-Muslim's power over Muslims, or sovereignty of Islamic countries, or Islam itself? And be it any of those, they're thinking that it could only be achieved through physical attacks? Did the Quran miss the part about intellectual development (to retaliate) or did they misinterpret or had too shallow an understanding of the holy words? No, it certainly has nothing to do with Islam. It is their own belief that is separated from religion itself. Too bad that religion had to be dragged into the matter and be humiliated.

Anware: That being said, albeit the interpretations are put at fault, they're still interpreting the same thing, that is Islam.. As the plane crashed in the two towers they were screaming Allahuakbar, as per most suicide bombers.. Shouldn't this be a cause for concern?

Hystrix: Yes it should, there's an urge for it. Anyhow, their war cry binds Islam to terror, as they chose it to be-so there's no way Islam could be freed from the image until these peoples stop crying ''for Islam and for jihad'' each time they want to slay a Briton. How it is to be done, is beyond the capability of my limited brainpower (knowledge). We might suggest some resolutions but we're dealing with peoples who are entitled to their own principles. It has got to be a total revolution of mindset, if it is to be done.

Anware: The you agree that America, or the world for that matter, should fear Islam?

Hystrix: No. I would rephrase it to fearing extremists, regardless of any social group they belong to. I'd like to bring another point to the surface. We're aware that religious violence occur in many corners of the world. But there's no Christianophobia or any sort. Still, it ended in massive destruction, eg. in Timor Timor and Haiti if I'm not mistaken. Question is, do we fear violence for its motives or its outcomes? So it matters least if an act of violence is based on religious or personal goal. What should be feared is violence itself, for every damage it might cause. Not anything behind it, which in our concern is, the religion of the doers.

Anware: But for a religion that apparently advocates violence, shouldn't it be feared also? And I'm taking this from the Mujahidin who seem so bent on jihad and syahid..

Hystrix: A second please, who says Islam advocates violence? It never did, and never will. Do we know what jihad and syahid is in the first place, before we go off chopping heads? Those days when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was alive, war was a way to conquer lands and expand the Islam empire. Now it (calling for war) has come to the littlest priority, unless under threat; for there is no need to expand authority over other lands. The purpose too, was to spread Islam. And war was the last choice after democracy..so why is it taken as the main choice now? Why now after hundreds of years? Have we ran out of better solutions? Why are you asking me all these, you sound like a forum moderator, d'you know that??

Anware: Memang dok jadi forum moderator pun sekarang.. Wahaha.. Sure you can say all these things, as you can be considered a moderate Muslim..but what about the very real threat of these Muslim extremists? They operate under the name of Islam too.. What can comfort non-Muslim Americans when it comes to them?

Hystrix: All around this globe, there isn't only Muslim terrorists. There are lots of others too, and here is where your question comes forth. But it shouldn't be a threat only to American non-Muslims, but American Muslims too, and the world community as a whole, because this is not about religion..so we shouldn't be talking about extreme Muslims or moderate Muslims..we should be talking about terrorists in general.. Put religion aside now because it's just a reinforcement to tell the world how relevant their cause was.. It's not who should fear 'whom', but who should fear 'what'.. And this group of so-called Mujahidins chose to fight 'for' Islam through a way so peculiarly disconnected, even damned in Islam itself.. See that?

Anware: I know of some people who would disagree strongly with that, but unfortunately that's all the time we have this evening.. I hope this discussion has been able to open our minds to new perspectives about the issue.. Thank you for tuning in, and see you next time only on TV5.. Hehe.. (???)

Hystrix: Hey, where's the conclusion part? (trying to answer the previous question) The only way to stop the discomfort is by stopping the polemic itself, that can be done if terrorists are treated to re-align their goals.. It's like reality therapy. -off air- Goodness, it's the end of the misery. Tension gile topik late show with Anware Suratman malam nih..huh.

Anware: Hey, that was 'Anware Tidur Lagi' okay? Spinoff from 'Jangan Tidur Lagi'..


(I think it really made me tak boleh tidur lagi, discussing THIS, right before you sleep. Good thing I didn't dream about it.)


My friend here is always full of thoughts. And it's always great to think. Your opinions are welcomed!



(c) 2010. Proudly brought to you by Whatever You Say I Am and luna-stella, hums on the sidewalk for TV5. Salam and good night!

(Insert a Title Here) or The Late Show on TV5: Part 1

For I really don't have an idea for a title. Cut it out.

Islamophobia. (Hey, this word isn't in the dictionary!) Join in the show as host, Anware threw dozens of questions to guest panel Phyto Hystrix in TV5's top hit, 'Anware Tidur Lagi!'


Anware: Should Americans fear Islam?


Hystrix: Nope, but they should do terrorists, who aren't necessarily Muslims; or pure Muslims heart and soul.

Anware: But who are you to brand someone a pure Muslim?

Hystrix: Not close to qualified. But we know that Islam doesn't allow killings and suicide in the name of jihad, don't we?

Anware: Not according to some people.. To some people, that is TRUE Islam..

Hystrix: Understandable..but come to think of it. How did Islamophobia start. If it wasn't because of aggressive reactions from some group of people towards oppressions which was initiated by the West, the purity of Islamic principles couldn't have been belittled.. It's a trap, and they fell into it.

Anware: A quote from a book by an Islamic cleric, he said that no non-Muslim shall rule any inch of Allah's world, and if there are, then Muslims need to do everything in their power to take it back (basically).. Does this not show that Islam condones violence?

Hystrix: Opportunists often define to their own advantages or interests, that's how I would conclude. A verse in Quran explains about a Muslim's task as a caliph, which are to protect the land they live on, not to destruct and to maintain wise management on its resources.. Can you manipulate it (the verse) to fit a particular circumstance? I can, and I think that was how it begun. The quote can also bring a positive hint. Protecting Allah's land could also be done in a non-aggressive way isn't it? There are always better options and killings should always be the last resort..


Anware: Opportunist or Mujahidin? Because they believe they're doing all this in the name of Islam and nothing else.. Is the core of the problem Islam?


There was no reply from the guest panel. The host inquired again after half an hour of silence.


Anware: Eh, tido ke mende?


Had the guest panel run out of ideas to rebut, or did someone fall asleep during the show? Find out on the next episode of Anware Tidur Lagi!


Salam!

Perkara Berfaedah yang Dipelajari Semasa Cuti.

Kelepet.

1. Definisi kelepet.
2. Teknik-teknik mengelepet. (cth: berlagak selamba, mengaplikasikan ayat drama, mimik muka yakin)
3. Aspek-aspek pengelepetan. (cth: umur individu sasaran, strategi pengelepetan.)
4. Impak positif pengelepetan. (cth: meningkatkan keyakinan diri dan kemahiran interpersonal.)
5. Impak negatif pengelepetan. (cth: terkelepet. penurunan kadar motivasi intrinsik. dimarahi/dibelasah oleh individu yang terkelepet.)
6. Faedah mengelepet. (cth: mendapat apa yang anda mahu.)

Tahukah anda, 653 otot muka akan digunakan secara aktif semasa mengelepet. Tahniah, anda telah menjadi mangsa kelepet saya yang ke-38. Tahniah, anda terkelepet sekali lagi!


Ingat rakan-rakan, jangan sia-siakan masa cuti dengan aktiviti tidak berfaedah. Selamat belajar!


Gurau je. Udah, esok kita pegi cuti, membuang tensen. Jaga diri.


Salam!