Apple to Apple

And since Apple has switched its laptop line into using Intel chipsets, can't we compare apple-to-apple now?

HP Compaq nx6120 Notebook
Intel Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz, 533MHz, 2MB L2 cache), Intel 915GM Chipset
512MB 333MHz DDR
80GB Hard Disk
Intel GMA ccelerator 900, up to 128MB shared memory
15-inch TFT XGA (1400 x 1050 resolution and 16million colors)
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG 802.11b/g WLAN Option Kit
NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000 NIC)
56k Modem, Built-in Bluetooth, DVD+/-RW Drive
ADI AC '97 CODEC, Line Out/Headphone and Microphone Jacks Touchpad with ScrollZone 6-in-1 Media Reader Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Professional bundled with Office Small Business Edition 2003 1 Year Limited warranty
RM 5,299

MacBook 13-inch Black
2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo (667MHz bus, 2MB L2 Cache)
512MB 667MHz DDR2 on two SO-DIMMS, upgradable to 2GB
80 GB 5400rpm Serial ATA Hard Disk
Intel GMA 950 with 64MB of DDR shared with main memory
13.3 glossy TFT widescreen 1280 x 800
Built-in 54Mbps AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
Built-in 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit)
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (enhanced data rate) module
Slot loading superdrive DVD+/-RW & CD-RW, DVD+R DL (dual layer read)
Built in iSight, stereo speakers, omnidirectional mic, combined optical digital audio input/line in
combined digital audio out/headphone out
1 Firewire 400 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports
Mini-DVI output (adapter for VGA, DVI, and composite sold separately)
56k External Modem optional
Magsafe Power Adapter and Apple Remote for Front Row
Mac OS X Tiger, iLife '06
90 days telephone support and 1 Year Limited warranty
RM5,450

OK, maybe the Compaq's screen a little bigger, but MacBook is UNIX-based and it can run Windows. So that's like, 3 OS in 1. After seeing this comparison, I really couldn't find any reason not to try Apple Macs.

More vision

Played forward. Very tired. Visited GG -- nice crib. Defer shutdown trip.

Historical

For RM10, I screwed things up.

For RM10, I'm probably doing it again.

The Gathering

Old friends showed up at Zabid's wedding. It feels good to see them again but it was also awkward because I have lost contact with all these people for such a long time.



Attendance - 6H 1995: Muhaimeen, Zohair, Fazli, Zabid King of the Day, Najwa, Ime, Farah, Zidni, Raja Nadhira, Zarina, Azreen Nur.

Monetary

I went fixing Wira's water pump with dad when we had a nice conversation with the workshop owner Toh Chai. We saw an E280 corroding to rust right by the main roof. What happened was, the owner of E280 was in a little bit of a debt while getting into another crisis -- an accident. He sent it for repair but couldn't pick it up because he didn't have money to reimburse the money already put forward by the mechanics. Even if he could settle the car to go out, it would be pulled by the finance people anyway, who were suing him for failing to pay off the loan. So the car sits there, waiting for people to bail it out.

It's a lose-lose-lose situation to all:
1) Finance - because there's that debt, and money already spent without anybody cashing back.
2) E280 owner - because he's just lost a car and the financial ability.
3) Repair mechanics - because he had paid forward for the half of the repair and received no payment for service in return -- and the car is rusting in his workshop.

Dad says, "Only the car wins. 'Cause nobody touches it."

All because we're in the money-capital-economy that has been set up why you-know-who. Debt cashing in because of interest. Don't you think there's a good reason why the Almighty is forbidding Riba'

One-pager

I was thinking about switching to this:



I don't know. It still feels good to be fully in control of the design. But that's going to sacrifice some of contents. It's like speed and accuracy -- you can probably have a greater capacity for both compared to others, but it is still quite impossible to go both ways alone.

Or whenever visit count drops low, I might as well do.

Childhood Memoir

Zabid is like a brother I never have. I've known him since kindergarten, Taski Saidatina Zainab, which takes us back to about 17 years ago. How many of you still remember a friend from kindergarten? Though we're physically far away from each other, eversince the last day of primary school 11 years ago (1995), we're still as close as best friends could ever will be. The gap never sets us apart. In fact, that's the reason why we're so close.

This friend of mine is getting married soon. Things are going to change. But that doesn't change the fact that we're still good friends and I'm so happy for him.

Part 1
I'm telling you that story, to start this story. When I was very little, I wasn't too fond of the idea of going to school. I was very afraid to go to school. I didn't know how to make friends. I don't know still. But Allah's guidances come in many ways. I was so blessed that during kindergarten, I managed to get to know a wonderful friend named Alif. It turns out that Alif was the one who changed my life forever.

I really didn't want to go to school. Mum & dad couldn't even make me. I was afraid. But because Alif's there everyday, I wanted to go and learn with him. We were such good friends, I never left his side. He showed me courage. One time, I dared to ask for an extra karipap from the teacher. Heh. He kept on showing me confidence. I would be standing by the gate waiting for him before we could walk in the classroom together. One day, he never showed up. I kept on waiting at the gate but he never did. I guess it was the day he moved to other school.

The day he left, I was in great distress. I didn't want to show up at school again. I rebelled against coming to school and retaliated. Nobody could make me go to school. I didn't want to go to school. Not without Alif. But one day I realized that, that's not what Alif would've wanted. He would've wanted me to go to school. To learn. To make friends. I gave it a try and attended school once. That's the moment when Zabid came along. Zabid befriended this smart but miserable little boy. After a while, I felt like going to school again. We became friends ever since. Miraculously, we're classmates too ever since day one in primary school until the very last. We've had close to 7 years of friendship before my days in Alam Shah started. Zabid is a lot like Alif and they both have many friends. I wish to be like both of them.

Part 2
Apart from Sekolah Kebangsaan, I also had to attend Sekolah Rendah Agama. As you could guess I wasn't also that confident to start up. I needed someone to help me. Much of the problem was again, getting along well with friends. Again, Allah's guidance came in a form of another friend, Ulul Ilmi. He's always there to help me. We would play together and I would hang out with him a lot. One day, the day I feared to come the most, he didn't show up at school. I kept on searching and scouted the entire school compound. There was no sign of him. It was a lonely day. I tried being optimistic and thought that perhaps he'd show up tomorrow. He's probably just sick for the day.

I waited for him again the next day. He's not in the class. I sat quietly, almost crying. It's happening again. I was going to lose a very, very close friend. Days went by and I knew another Alif had left me. School time was never the same since.


Part 3
Out of these three guys, Alif, Ulul Ilmi have gone and I'm still keeping in touch with Zabid. Zabid is like the only one left of childhood treasure. He claims that I have saved him in school. I might have taught him a thing or two, ABCs, but in reality, he has saved me for life.

The value of a friendship is more than you can measure. Talk to your friends today, especially the ones who have made a difference in your life. Tell them how much they mean to you

Where am I?

I'm too absent-minded.

And I agree with the concept, "the best man wins."

Or should it be, "the right man wins" ?

Smack

Yesterday, two 9-year old twins, Ismail and Ishak, visited XOM's prayer place and recited a few Surahs by heart. Subhanallah. They have practically memorized, with translations, 10 Juzuks (ten chapters) of the Holy Qur'an. We were given the opportunity to test them also. It was part of a promotion to sponsor them enough shelters, more books, and many more. Suddenly, I felt so small, cornered in a dim room, compared to these two (in some caricatures, this is the time when a sketch of cold wind blowing with a leaf or two flipping here and there signalling arrival of autumn, and there's me standing on the street wearing a thin jacket shivering.) 9-year old efforts had put 23-year old history to shame.

2 years ago...

There's something about this picture that doesn't look quite right...

Striker

We had a Futsal practice at Ampang sports planet earlier today as a preparation for the coming ERC tournament. For the first time ever, key members were excited about me being a full-time forward rather than a supporting role at the back. It feels good to finally get a recognition for a position that I would love to play. I shall not disappoint them and strike when the time comes!

Getting Older(er)...

Heh. We are uncles now. 1 niece. 1 nephew. Nice. Phew.

Motivation

An author is his book Motivation in the Real World:

"One of my motives in writing this book is to motivate you to master motivation. That is, I want you to want to learn how to get other people to do what you want them to do."

OK. You got my attention.

Robocon

Hey, I saw some part of the Robocon 2006. Cool.

Don't try this at home...
(Muzani, post F1 track run.)

Courtesy, please!

If you're road hogging, I'm tailgating you with the headlight on.

Who?

Who is she?

Oxymoronic (Assembly line)

Process will take, by following the belt down the assembly line, 5 minutes. And yet the upper management is furious about something. The part that I cannot comprehend is… we would like to stick with the process (wouldn’t require any change in the system), but then we yell at the assembly workers when the belt takes the unit from point A to point B in 5 minutes instead of 2?

It's... it's a little ironic.

I agree that we should be part of the solution, not the problem, and become more of models, not critics. But this is assuming you have the control over majority of the situations. In the real world, many constraints exist and you can only control a certain part of the function. Many of the engineers control their portions and demand changes, but equally often management/system/resources would restrict such movements (proven during the last Workshop when top 3 improvements voted are work-related – engineers really do want to complete their tasks) Many managers control their portions and motivate others of changes, but equally often, business environment/policies/directors/clients would restrict such movements.

I’m not an expert, but I can observe inconsistency when I see one. At the end of the day, everybody measures the pain-to-gain ratio anyway. When one factor is already in effect, another one will accelerate it…

*Again, as any other commentaries, many of the counterparts are easier mentioned than executed. Identified possible barriers include conservative approach (proven track records), rigid faith in current systems, hidden corporate policies, miscommunication, groupthink, etc. Outlook for execution is the desire to CHANGE from both sides: the openness.

Assessment
I’ve criticized management a lot. So, I was thinking, wait a minute, have I carried such responsibilities myself?

A) I was first offered an official leadership role in 1995. Being a 12-year old boy then, it was personally quite overwhelming to carry a head-boy title so I dropped it after 4 months. I wasn’t much of a leader myself to begin with. Months later, I regretted such decision and learned my lesson. There was a reason behind the appointment and I have missed the opportunity to ‘grow’.

B) After two years of turmoil and recovery, I began accepting leadership roles. Beginning 1997, in fact, late 96, I started off serving as a prefect, one of five appointed for 1997 term. Year 1997 is among the crucial ones, second to 1999, in terms of milestones. I began making more friends than I could handle and flipped several attitudes upside down. 97 was also the biological stepping year, if you know what I mean (in Whose Line cliche & euphemism game tone)

C) In 1998, the real leadership lessons progressed. Usrah every Saturday involved me with a group of first formers. I loosened up the rope too much I received a warning for not taking control once - so much for giving the group members the freedom to express themselves.

D) In 1999, I led one out of five freshmen dorms. Then, came the offer to lead the students to KL Contingent to the National Science & Tech carnival. Before I could say a word, (I couldn’t even find a word), it was anonymously agreed and final. I was still clueless as to how to start or say do-your-best-speech when the meeting suddenly ended. Slow-poke!

I was also practically the IT lead. I failed to respect the actual web team lead, though I have actually given all the efforts to co-operate. This is also a lesson learned throughout high school. I have also tarnished the IT record two years earlier, so I was given a probation.

E) 2000 – Floor Leader. Vice captain. March commandant. etc.

F) 2001-2003: being overseas was a little different. I didn’t quick-launch but more of adapting to the environment instead. My English developed much quicker (though still not up to my expectation.)

G) From 2004-2005, TBP, Engr Honors Society brought me to an even higher level. It was the first time that I represented such an elite group at such an elite level. I felt minuscule. I was overwhelmed, again, but held on to the notion that leaders are nothing without accomplishments. There are goals to be achieved. There are people to be motivated towards those.

All in all, each of us has the leadership in ourselves. In management, you're trying to do things right. In leadership, you're trying to do the right things. It is also the intuition to provide for others and be just in doing so. Remember, you’re not leading if no one is following. You earn the respect, not acquire it. You don’t need to be the most popular, the smartest, or the most dominant. But if you think about others, help them, then you’re the best leader there is on the planet.

Associate

We are pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2005, AHMAD ZIDNI MAT is joining ABC department as an XYZ engineer in TUV group.

Please join me in welcoming ZIDNI to _O_ and wish him success in his new career.

"It's going to be a long winding road."

"Maybe short."

Option

2 more of experienced executives left the company. These are two key personnel of an important group. Even competent employees are weighing their options. What about new-comers?

I would like to be more involved in network architecture and computer systems design, support, or maintenance, with an opportunity to explore management of information system or usability/user-interface design leading to a career in management. -- How about that

Peace

I'm not sure who/what am I missing, but I cried last night. It was peaceful though. Thinking about all the moments I've gone through, the wonderful life I'm having so far -- my family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, good & bad memories -- I have a feeling greater tests are more to come. I will either start losing the pieces I love, or not getting what I have worked for. I just hope I'd be ready when the time comes.

And hopefully, someone will 'rescue' me from this peaceful misery.

Oh Almighty, grant me the strength. And grant me someone I can spend the rest of my life with. She brings me closer to You, I'd be the happiest man on the planet.