Twitter

Spies..spies..spies...there are everywhere! At least, closest to home is the lovely Twitter. So read on and see if you can recruit some Al-Qeada into your fold, some commies or terrorists....what will they think of next????

Important Quote

I tend to skip reading quotes whenever I visit my favorite bookstore at Penang Plaza. Nevertheless, I found a new magazine that caught my interest as well as made me buy a copy of the magazine - SME Magazine. It had Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Computers as the feature for that magazine. What is more interesting is that the magazine only cost Rm5 per copy and it's touted to be the most affordable business magazine in Malaysia! A few pages of browsing confirms my interest and it went straight into a priority reading for me everyday from now onwards. Just wanted to leave you with an important quote to you out there, whether it's career or business related...

Don's spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss out the right opportunity.".....Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Computers.

Like many others I know...he is also walking his talk

Check this site out...like many others, he has taken the step....a bold step in walking his talk....

Here!

C Bo???

Are you very certain Dato Seri Dr.Ling "all men need to release additional or overflowing energies." C Boh?????????? Come on lar. I hope you didn't say this off the cuff. I am sure the women's group are after you.....alamak!

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Somehow, I am glad this report came out. I am sure Penangnites can at least be objective and not beat round the bush. It's a worthwhile effort by the private sector heading the call for anywhere, anytime, anyplace connectivity. I am an advocate of bridging the digital divide. I believe the wired internet proponents may have to take a backseat on this. I am sure this report didn't come out for no reason.

SO - WIRELESS@PENANG & WIMAX@PENANG - start your engines!

Current reading - March 8 - The Day Malaysia Woke Up

Lately, I have been trying to get back my reading habit. It has taken a back seat since May 26. I am sure I enjoy reading mostly autobiographies and fiction stories. Nevertheless, I decided to pick this book. Will give you my verdict by this week.

Focus on the real 'killers' in Penang - reproduced from MalaysiaKini

I believe Khoo has gotten to a point like me - go suck eggs and talk about the real killers and problems. Stop screwing around our minds thinking that we are still stuck in the 80s. We are NOT!

Focus on the real 'killers' in Penang
Khoo Kay Peng Oct 14, 08 5:16pm
Penang is a small state. It has a small closely-knitted community. It can count the existence of an active NGO community as one of its blessings. The community should be credited for bringing up several key issues in the state including the PGCC and others.Lately, there are calls for the state government to reconsider allowing the implementation of wireless internet broadband infrastructure in the state due to health fears. The state government recently officiated the launch of a Wi-Fi and WiMax project by a local provider. This project, according to the state government, is not exclusive.The use of Wi-Fi is free but it is expected to be slow because many users would probably jump on the bandwagon. However, the service of WiMax is expected to cost users RM88 per month.As a Wi-Fi user, I can understand the fear of health risks associated with the microwaves transmitted from the signal. However, after weeks of going through relevant information on the Internet I believe experts have not found conclusive evidence to pin a health-related risk to the use of Wi-Fi or WiMax.Internet connectivity and backbone infrastructure is very important to the state's socio-economic development. Granted, technically Wi-Fi may not be able to support critical business systems which require a 100% reliable and fast network. However, a free Wi-Fi service can go a long way in assisting students and others to gain access to the Internet and narrow the gap in information accessibility.At present, there are many other real/substantiated health risks and 'killers' lurking around our society.The NGOs and people of Penang should focus on cleanliness as an important health agenda. I have been back regularly to the state but I still notice that old, dirty habits die hard. Many still use the drain as a rubbish bin. The wet markets still stink! Our public toilets will put some of the Chinese to shame. They have cleaned up for the Olympics but we haven't.Penang needs to usher in a new culture of cleanliness. Take Hong Kong as a good example. After Sars, many Hongkies have participated in the movement to upgrade HK's hygiene level. We should do the same to make it more bearable for locals and tourists.Take a look at the surrounding of Komtar. My friend who visited Penang recently told me about the ugly, dodgy and uncomfortable feeling he had about the area which is supposed to be our town centre. What has happened?Our beaches used to be the envy of many visitors. A number of them used to make a yearly pilgrim to Penang. Not anymore. Now, you can even commit suicide by swimming in the seas. There are a hell of a lot of jellyfishes around. If you are not stung by one of them, you may probably die of arsenic waste poisoning in the water.My advice is, let's focus on cleanliness. This should be our No 1 priority.Next, what about smoking in public places? A number of cities in Europe have banned smoking in open public areas. Not in Penang. It will not be a public area if you do not find smokers puffing away happily. Why can't we impose the same restriction on public places? You would probably agree with me that smoking is more dangerous than surfing the Internet on a wireless network.If smoking is bad for health, I am sure the carbon dioxide which emits from cars, vehicles, airconds etc. are equally bad for health. We should really do something about private car ownership in Penang. At present, it is better for you to walk back home than to wait for a bus after 10.30pm.The public bus transport system is so unreliable that many have to resort to cars. I feel lost if I do not have a car in Penang. Hence, I am also a culprit who is helping a 'killer'(pollution) of your health. More cars mean more fatal accidents too. This is one of the biggest killers in Malaysia.We need NGOs to focus on these too. Yes, I know you have been doing your job. But we need to be more vocal in getting ourselves a decent public bus system.Next, we have the real killers (robbers, rapists, murderers) on the streets. Recently, a wife of a politician was murdered. Gory. Probably many more petty crimes go unreported. A number of observers have warned of higher crime rates.What can we do? We should work together to keep our neighbourhoods and our society safe.See? There are many real killers lurking around the state. Can we just let the Wi-Fi issue ease off a bit and focus on the real threats?

Economic Upheaval

Which direction will Malaysia take? What fiscal and monetary policies will it deploy? With the slump at the bourses throughout the world, I am not sure our new Finance Minister will be ready to take on the challenge. I am not confident that Malaysia will not be sheltered from the possible Tsunami of economic downturn.

Our exports will greatly be affected but maybe a consolation, the USDollar may help more FDIs to consider Malaysia coming from the US perspective. However, as demand slows in the US, do you think the exports from Malaysia will be affected? Certainly! Having said that, with rate cuts across the globe, do you believe that the bourses can be saved? I am sure that many of the local investors were not expecting this glut.

I am certain that Malaysians will be feeling the pinch soon. I believe the press must act responsibly and write articles that clearly tell the rakyat what the impact will be. I guess politics should be rising in temperature and I hope we will not have another "Ahmad Ismail" fever again. What we need is a panadol or many of them to help the ailing economy. I am not seeing anything concrete, do you?

Take a look at this and wake up Malaysia!

Cutting the cords!

Interesting article that I caught via the web this morning. As the world starts to cut its cords via the physical Internet, we have opponents in this very state of ours who are against the mainstream WIFI and WIMAX initiatives. I am certain that these folks have good intention of cutting the darn cords...marking the end of wired Internet. I find it very strange when the rest of the world does that, we in Malaysia are rather apprehensive about the 2 intiatives called by the CM of Penang.

My theory is this - could it be that these oponents are being commissioned by our own folks to go against the initiatives to protect their interest? Or is it because the opponents are being driven to say things by "certain interest groups" within the West? I am sure there are those who opposes the Digital Divide Concept. I for one believe tht there any quarters who may want to see the Digital Divide be what it is - a digital divide. Click at the picture or click here if you want to read more of what the gentlemen and ladies are doing!

I strongly believe the opponents must state their case clearly. Otherwise, I will consider them as opponents of trying to narrow down the Digital Divide and working for certain quarters for their interest. I find it strange that no one writes about the deplorable quality of Streamyx and the poor service that they show at times. Instead, hours are spent talking about the "health impact of the WIFI and WIMAX" which I think is a farce....come on lar....Stop talking on that and talk about our own wired internet. If there are other choices, wouldn't we be looking into it? Or is it that these groups opposing have some ulterior motive? You be the judge!

Thanks for following my blog

I have decided to post on this site on a sporadic basis as I am maintaining my personal blog at http://www.asweviewit.blogspot.com/ and http://www.specialassistant.blogspot.com/ (by invitation only). So keep checking on my personal blog and I will be making references along the way on my http://www.mypenangjourney.blogspot.com/ along the way. Thanks

Obama 2 McCain 0

Gosh....another round of bashing by McCain. How long further can he take?

Walk my talk

I guess someone must have seen my blog. I noticed that Dalat School has taken up my theme for the blog and put it as their main initiative for 2008/2009. Seriously, walking your talk is not easy. Either you have what it takes or you don't. Do I? Well, I am just an ordinary person and I do my best to make changes and I MUST WALK MY TALK.

Resign!

I am man enough to take it up and I man enough to drop it...that is what the saying goes. Being pissed is one thing. Being a hypocrite is another. Hence, I decided that I had enough of the nonsense with the management of my apartment and I decided not to continue to serve the management council's chairmanship. It has come to a point where I can't juggle my time. I believe the current folks in the committee can do a better job. Rather than explaining the steps I have taken, I have decided to resign my post. Some thought I wouldn't do it - but guess what I did!