Malaysia has been announced by London-based public policy group, The Legatum Institute as the 43rd prosperous nation among 110 countries. Malaysia is also ranked as the 2nd most prosperous among the ASEAN and top 8 among all Asia-Pacific regions.
More information regarding this is available here at <The Star>
Monday, November 7, 2011
Michael Jackson's doctor found guilty
After nearly two years since the death of iconic pop-star Michael Jackson (MJ) in 2009, his personal doctor (Dr Conrad Murray) is sentenced by the court to be guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The court found him guilty for his negligence in overdosing MJ with propofol, and failing to keep a proper eye on the victim's health condition. Although Dr Murray pleaded not guilty, the jury voted unanimously that he is guilty after nearly nine hours of deliberation.
Such a verdict case reminds us all of the "right and wrong" within our human's conceptual system, and in today's society. What's right and what is wrong? The true answer to these two questions can always be unclear. A bright and clear "grey area" dominates the game. Of course as we progress and develop, our society, our country and the world needs a law system to ensure's its safety and functionality. Thus, each place has their own lawful system to ensure such a level of safety. When law dispute like the one appears in MJ's case, it always serves as a lesson, or rather a reminder for everyone to treasure all the things we have now, be it person, or materials. I believe every individual will surely have their own say in regards to this, just like Dr Murray says he is not guilty, and the prosecutors are able to have his say about different points of view, the defendant has his own defending evidence. So who is right, and who is wrong? Only 3 persons; MJ, Murrad and God.
More information on this are available at <The Star> by clicking here
Such a verdict case reminds us all of the "right and wrong" within our human's conceptual system, and in today's society. What's right and what is wrong? The true answer to these two questions can always be unclear. A bright and clear "grey area" dominates the game. Of course as we progress and develop, our society, our country and the world needs a law system to ensure's its safety and functionality. Thus, each place has their own lawful system to ensure such a level of safety. When law dispute like the one appears in MJ's case, it always serves as a lesson, or rather a reminder for everyone to treasure all the things we have now, be it person, or materials. I believe every individual will surely have their own say in regards to this, just like Dr Murray says he is not guilty, and the prosecutors are able to have his say about different points of view, the defendant has his own defending evidence. So who is right, and who is wrong? Only 3 persons; MJ, Murrad and God.
More information on this are available at <The Star> by clicking here
Friday, November 4, 2011
This world needs lots of love and passion
"I love you", is probably one of the most-heard phrases whenever we watch any movies, especially those from westerner producers. But how many of us have ever truly try to figure out the real meaning behind this phrase?
Love and passion seems two very easy words. However, to practice and reflect them in our daily lives is a big challenge. I would say, maybe, in the past it was a lot more easier when the world wasn't as competitive as now, and everyone seemed to be living in a less-stressed society.
On this fine Saturday morning, I decide to wake up earlier and ride my bike to a cafeteria not far away for my breakfast with my family. The place is crowded with people who are busy buying veges and some cooking ingredients. Some are having breakfast in the full-housed coffee shop. So this is the main reason why I choose to use my bike instead of driving, knowing well of the traffic condition at the morning-market (or we call it in Malay language pasar pagi).
As I am reading my newspaper, a loud car-honking is heard. It is a long and loud honk. I notice a middle-aged man is trying to reverse his parked car (Car A) from a parking lot. His path is obstructed by another car (Car B) which is parked behind him. The driver of Car B is nowhere to be seen. After few attempts of effort-wasting honks, he gets out from his car, Car A. Angrily, he spits onto Car B. Not only that, he also kicks, punches and slams Car B. Noticing there are a lot of eyesight fallen on him now, his action grows bolder. He jumps on the car's bonnet, jumping up and down. After he angrily torturing Car B, finally the owner of Car B returns. Embarrassed plus shyly, she quickly drives off.
Now, a small case like this could create such an unhappy event. It is hard to imagine what would happen on the road when more-serious disputes happened. There has been a news saying that a driver's hand was chopped off just because he sounded his honk to wake up a drunk driver who was driving dangerously. Drivers got beaten up because of traffic light dispute, and many more.
The world needs much more attention than we could imagine. While everyone is busy dashing through our daily lives which we often regard as "the most important", we tend to neglect those minor details that each and everyone of us could contribute in making our earth a better place to live in.
Maybe it's time for us to stop for a while and ponder on, "What can I contribute or what bad habit should I get rid of to be more attentive and loving towards the society?" If we find ourselves too busy to start-off, then how do we expect others to change?
Cheers, for a better world!
Love and passion seems two very easy words. However, to practice and reflect them in our daily lives is a big challenge. I would say, maybe, in the past it was a lot more easier when the world wasn't as competitive as now, and everyone seemed to be living in a less-stressed society.
On this fine Saturday morning, I decide to wake up earlier and ride my bike to a cafeteria not far away for my breakfast with my family. The place is crowded with people who are busy buying veges and some cooking ingredients. Some are having breakfast in the full-housed coffee shop. So this is the main reason why I choose to use my bike instead of driving, knowing well of the traffic condition at the morning-market (or we call it in Malay language pasar pagi).
As I am reading my newspaper, a loud car-honking is heard. It is a long and loud honk. I notice a middle-aged man is trying to reverse his parked car (Car A) from a parking lot. His path is obstructed by another car (Car B) which is parked behind him. The driver of Car B is nowhere to be seen. After few attempts of effort-wasting honks, he gets out from his car, Car A. Angrily, he spits onto Car B. Not only that, he also kicks, punches and slams Car B. Noticing there are a lot of eyesight fallen on him now, his action grows bolder. He jumps on the car's bonnet, jumping up and down. After he angrily torturing Car B, finally the owner of Car B returns. Embarrassed plus shyly, she quickly drives off.
Now, a small case like this could create such an unhappy event. It is hard to imagine what would happen on the road when more-serious disputes happened. There has been a news saying that a driver's hand was chopped off just because he sounded his honk to wake up a drunk driver who was driving dangerously. Drivers got beaten up because of traffic light dispute, and many more.
The world needs much more attention than we could imagine. While everyone is busy dashing through our daily lives which we often regard as "the most important", we tend to neglect those minor details that each and everyone of us could contribute in making our earth a better place to live in.
Maybe it's time for us to stop for a while and ponder on, "What can I contribute or what bad habit should I get rid of to be more attentive and loving towards the society?" If we find ourselves too busy to start-off, then how do we expect others to change?
Cheers, for a better world!
New Zealand's Christchurch to be prepared for possible powerful earthquake, scientists alerted
A source from The Star Newspaper states that the Christchurch earthquake which struck New Zealand in February this year has caused repair works up to NZ$20 billion, approximately Malaysian Ringgit of RM49.4 billion.
While rehabilitation and repair works are still underway, the country is warned by scientist to be prepared for another powerful seismic threat next year. Chances of the country to be struck by an earthquake ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 Richter is 15% throughout the whole year. The country's researcher, Kelvin Berryman tells the public not to panic. He ensures that the increase of statistical numbers is not merely due to any particular or unusual Plate Tectonics observations. It's based on newly adopted calculation method of probabilities.
But of course, it's always better to be prepared than to take things for granted. Wishfully, the chance for the 15% earthquake to occur is 0.
God blesses us all !
While rehabilitation and repair works are still underway, the country is warned by scientist to be prepared for another powerful seismic threat next year. Chances of the country to be struck by an earthquake ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 Richter is 15% throughout the whole year. The country's researcher, Kelvin Berryman tells the public not to panic. He ensures that the increase of statistical numbers is not merely due to any particular or unusual Plate Tectonics observations. It's based on newly adopted calculation method of probabilities.
But of course, it's always better to be prepared than to take things for granted. Wishfully, the chance for the 15% earthquake to occur is 0.
God blesses us all !
Thursday, November 3, 2011
My philosophy being a journal reviewer
I was given the honor to review an article for an international journal few weeks ago. Being a reviewer, I have my own philosophy which governs me through the review process. Needless to say, the first and foremost reviewing criteria should be based on the guidelines specific by the journal publisher. At this stage, I read through the article word-by-word carefully. Identification of grammatical mistake, spelling error and layout format of the article is at top priority at this initial stage.
Next, reviewing of the article's content and research accuracy. My philosophy is that
"...every piece of research and article is valuable. We can never judge a book by its cover. It is always easier (or extremely easy) to criticize and condemn, than to create from scratch. The authors must have gone through a hard time in preparing the article, I presume (but this may not always be the case. There are authors who merely submit a very initial draft of article hoping that reviewers will help to pinpoint their mistakes without even bothering to proof-read the submission prior to sending)..."
Bearing this in mind, I review the accuracy of research methodology adopted by the author, and the appropriateness of result analysis. Publication of an article in international journal demands a strong conclusion at the end of the paper. It has to be sharp enough to reveal the importance and significance that this piece of article is going to bring into the existing knowledge.
Now, with the article completely reviewed, I am preparing a reviewer's report to be submitted to both the author and editor-in-chief. In the report, appraisal and credits are mentioned to encourage the merits of authors. Necessary corrections are attached, and comments are included to ease the authors in revising the article.
I have had this experience when I submitted an article to a local magazine publisher in the country few years ago. It was my very first time. The editorial committee, I have to say, is far from being professional despite having a great name for their magazine. Upon submitting the article, I waited for months without news. Several attempts to email the editor remained unattended. Months later, I received the reviewed article from the editor. The remarks found in the report are words such as "Hate this word! Why do you keep on insisting on unnecessary plurals? Since when this word appears in English?" It is a very unethical comments from reviewers, I would say. Instead of improving the article, it seems more like an attack to the author. I was asked to revise the article as required. Revision is done, and I even extended the original article's content by double.
I resubmitted the article to the editor after being revised. I waited for few weeks. And 2 years later until now, the editor does not give me a clear feedback of the article's status. Is it accepted, published or being discarded already? No one knows. My email is unattended, again.
So bearing this lesson in mind, I keep telling myself that now being a reviewer, I will not let a single author whose paper is reviewed by me to undergo such uneasiness. I do my best in keeping my review as fair as possible. Bearing in mind that every piece of article is valuable, I will give improving comments to respective authors, even though their papers are rejected. It is hoped that they can further improve their papers, and have them sent to other journals once the papers are ready!
So folks, do not be afraid to write. I started-off writing years ago. The first few attempts are hard though, but if you are really interested in academic writing, do not give up. We can do it!
Good luck!
Next, reviewing of the article's content and research accuracy. My philosophy is that
"...every piece of research and article is valuable. We can never judge a book by its cover. It is always easier (or extremely easy) to criticize and condemn, than to create from scratch. The authors must have gone through a hard time in preparing the article, I presume (but this may not always be the case. There are authors who merely submit a very initial draft of article hoping that reviewers will help to pinpoint their mistakes without even bothering to proof-read the submission prior to sending)..."
Bearing this in mind, I review the accuracy of research methodology adopted by the author, and the appropriateness of result analysis. Publication of an article in international journal demands a strong conclusion at the end of the paper. It has to be sharp enough to reveal the importance and significance that this piece of article is going to bring into the existing knowledge.
Now, with the article completely reviewed, I am preparing a reviewer's report to be submitted to both the author and editor-in-chief. In the report, appraisal and credits are mentioned to encourage the merits of authors. Necessary corrections are attached, and comments are included to ease the authors in revising the article.
I have had this experience when I submitted an article to a local magazine publisher in the country few years ago. It was my very first time. The editorial committee, I have to say, is far from being professional despite having a great name for their magazine. Upon submitting the article, I waited for months without news. Several attempts to email the editor remained unattended. Months later, I received the reviewed article from the editor. The remarks found in the report are words such as "Hate this word! Why do you keep on insisting on unnecessary plurals? Since when this word appears in English?" It is a very unethical comments from reviewers, I would say. Instead of improving the article, it seems more like an attack to the author. I was asked to revise the article as required. Revision is done, and I even extended the original article's content by double.
I resubmitted the article to the editor after being revised. I waited for few weeks. And 2 years later until now, the editor does not give me a clear feedback of the article's status. Is it accepted, published or being discarded already? No one knows. My email is unattended, again.
So bearing this lesson in mind, I keep telling myself that now being a reviewer, I will not let a single author whose paper is reviewed by me to undergo such uneasiness. I do my best in keeping my review as fair as possible. Bearing in mind that every piece of article is valuable, I will give improving comments to respective authors, even though their papers are rejected. It is hoped that they can further improve their papers, and have them sent to other journals once the papers are ready!
So folks, do not be afraid to write. I started-off writing years ago. The first few attempts are hard though, but if you are really interested in academic writing, do not give up. We can do it!
Good luck!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Twisting fate of Ronald Weasley in Harry Potter
Are you a big fans of Harry Potter out there? I am once one of the big fans of the movie, especially the first few episodes. The role of Ronald Weasley (Ron) did catch my attention since his first appearance in the very first episode of the movie; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
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| Ronald Weasley |
But very little did I know that the author of the best-selling novels, J.K. Rowling does actually plan to have Ron killed in the original story-plot. More amazingly, he is supposed to be dead not only at the end of the story. Instead, his role is to be ended in the midway throughout the tales.
Luckily to the fans and supporters of Ron, J.K. Rowling does changes her mind though, in the end.
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