Transformers the movie...

Assalamualaikum...

Today, after work, i spent my time with my good friend Mullah -who also happened to be co-writer in this blog. As usual, we had a very long and serious discussion about many things, and today was no exception. From ex-minister Chua Soi Lek's disgusting antic to what happened recently among us and our friends, from our hope and dream of this new 2008 to the philosophy of life itself, we talked freely and without reserve to each other.

And that is when a quote from my favorite movie of 2007, Transformers; came out and for a few seconds halt the flow of our conversation.

'There is more to human then meets the eye'

I remember feeling very good about it when i repeated the words in my mind. The quote above was being said by Optimus Prime (leader of the autobots) in a monologue at the end of the movie. The full quote is like this:

"For now, the Decepticon legions are vanguished. And fate has yielded its reward- A new world to call home. We live amongst its people now, hiding in plain site...But watching over them in secret. Waiting. Protecting. I have witnessed their capacity for courage. And though we are worlds apart, like us, there is more to them then meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime. And I send this message to any Autobots seeking refuge amongst the stars. You are not alone. We are here. We are waiting."

Okay now, since we are not discussing about the movie (oh, i would love to... someday), i want to shift your focus back the single quote in bold above. I remember saying this quote to emphasize something about our self confidence. And then when i see it from another angle, i also can relate it to other important element, respect...

My fellow friend, what i'm trying to say here is: we have to believe there are more inside us than what people can see us from the outside. Put in your mind that whatever the perception, and whatever it is that you think people see about you, they only see a tip of an iceberg, which is just a scratch of what's really hidden. Which is thousand times bigger and greater than maybe even you can't imagine. All you have to do is go find your strength and potential! Unleash it...!! And you will find a new and improved you, full of self-confidence the next time you look in the mirror!

On the other hand, from a totally opposite of view, we must never forget this one thing.. Respect people of whoever they really are! Oh, i can't even stress how important respect is to other people around us... and to ourselves..! First, we can only gain respect by respecting others first, and second, which is the focus tonight, we are actually helping others by giving them 'respect'! Because it's like giving them signal to explore themselves and well... unleash their hidden potential!

Just remember;

'There is more to a person then meets the eye'

Fench Language class... behind the scene...!

Assalamualaikum...

Yesterday (friday), could be one of the most significant day of my life (paused)... or maybe not?!

Hmm, while i wasn't always being known as an analyst that going through every single detail before making decision about almost everything; i also could say that i am no rushing-and-without-thinking kind of person when it comes to make one.

Well; it began yesterday morning, while i sat down -as usual, in front of my laptop- thinking about my english classes, which will be held every tuesday and thursday starting next week. At the time i was thinking about the other two night i was still free, monday and wednesday, when suddenly the old urge and thought of wanting to learn French language crossed my mind... again, for the umpteenth time, i cannot recall.

What happened next was a blur to me. Cause the next thing i know, i was picking up my phone and dialed the office of Akademi Pengajian Bahasa UiTM Shah Alam and asked the operator there whether i can still register for the French class or not. To my delight, the answer was yes, although it came along with a warning that yesterday was the last day to register. After all they already postponed the dateline for one week, the female clerk warned me before i hung up the phone.

To make the long story short, i did get to register for the french class -the last person to do that- just in the nick of time, 15 minutes before the office closed; feeling overwhelmingly proud of myself and full of anticipation on what this new and foreign language will do me in my life..

So, what's exactly the story i'm telling here...? What did i mean when i said yesterday could be the most significant day of my life?... or not?

To answer that question, i would like to quote my boss' word to me not so long ago. He said, 'what happen to you today is the result of what you are doing yesterday, or last week or even up to 20 years ago'.

Well, i don't know about you, but i cannot agree more on that. If you ask me, i can relate most of the thing that had happened or is happening in my life, to something i did or said or thought in the past. Because the truth is, everything we do in our daily life is significant to our future. Maybe our simple and seemingly unimportant decision today, will have greater impact to our future than what we have been so carefully planned and nurtured in our mind now!

Take me for example. Maybe by suddenly deciding to join and learn French class yesterday will lead me to a whole new world or prospect in the future that i can't even imagined today! Or maybe not! We can never know that, nor have we any mean to do so. This is Allah's work, and only He, with His Love and Mercy on us will determine any of this. We can plan and we certainly can pray, but we all know that He is and will always be the best Planner and the greatest Force to decide what is exactly the better outcome for us...

I would really like to finish this posting here, rather than continuing it; because i can sense the issue i was just talking here is only the tip of an iceberg of the bigger issue ahead. Even now, i'm asking myself: is it better to be spontaneous and make our life more interesting, or to be well-planned and cautious while leading a very predictable life?!

Those who know me, knew it very well that i like the former -being spontaneous and see how it goes- although i think i will have to reserve it for another posting, hopefully in the near future...

The humble servant to Allah the Almighty

Lose Weight the Healthy, Lasting Way

Assalamualaikum...

(Below is a very interesting article i found in Yahoo! Health column. It was written by a prominent dietitian from Johns Hopkins University, USA. Enjoy...)

The New Year can always be marked by the huge spike in gym memberships and diet programs after the holidays.

For many people, this time of year is a time for change, and often people want to change how they look and feel by losing weight. If this sounds like you, then now's the time to get clear on exactly how a person goes about losing weight so you don't find yourself making the same resolution year after year.

While there are many aspects of diet that you can focus on when trying to lose weight - you can keep track of fat, fiber, protein, or carbohydrates, for example - the key is always about whether you're eating and drinking fewer calories than you are burning.

To lose about one pound per week, you'll need to eat about 500 fewer calories per day from your current daily intake. Weight loss of one to two pounds each week is considered healthy weight loss, meaning that you are losing more fat than muscle.

Start by looking at how many calories you are presently consuming. Use the food labels on products to give you an idea, not forgetting to first read the serving size at the top of the food label. (Many times, we eat what is in the entire package and that may actually be eating three servings, and thus tripling the total calories.) When you grocery shop, compare the labels on similar products and choose the one with the fewest calories.

Become a food label reader and start your weight-loss campaign by reducing the calories you consume. If you are cooking at home, many recipes now have the nutrition facts included. The key is still the serving size.


Even though calories are still calories, a healthy diet needs to come first. Don't plan to cut calories from fruits, vegetables and whole grains, try cutting calories from snack foods, sweets, fast foods, condiments, or drinks.

Of course, I've said nothing about the importance of exercise in losing and keeping off the weight. That deserves its own entry.

ARTIKEL 1 TAMAN TUN - POLEMIK

Assalamualaikum dan Alhamdulillah, aku dapat menulis artikel ilmiah di rumah kawan-kawanku di Taman Tun pada Selasa 01012008. Pada edisi kali ini, aku akan menulis tentang polemik penggunaan kalimah ALLAH di Malaysia. Ini adalah berikutan tindakan Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri mengarahkan ‘The Herald’ menghentikan pengeluaran risalahnya dalam Bahasa Malaysia dalam suratnya yang bertarikh 10 Disember 2007. Akibat daripada tindakan Kerajaan ini, penerbit ‘The Herald’ iaitu ‘Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’ telah menfailkan kes di mahkamah terhadap Kerajaan berikutan dengan tindakan Kerajaan menghalang penggunaan kalimah ALLAH dalam penerbitannya.

Selain itu, Sidang Injil Borneo juga mengenakan tindakan yang serupa iaitu dengan menfailkan kes yang sebegitu rupa kepada Kerajaan. Sidang Injil Borneo meminta keputusan Mahkamah supaya menghalang Kerajaan Malaysia daripada menghentikan pengimportan buku-buku Kristian yang mengandungi perkataan ALLAH. Kesemua fakta bagi polemik ini dapat dirujuk pada laporan The Sun Malaysia edisi Online dan dikemaskinikan pada 31 Disember 2007, Pengarah Penyelidikan Kristian (Kairos), Dr Ng Kam Weng mengatakan bahawa penghalangan penggunaan kalimah ALLAH ini akan menyalahi catatan sejarah di Malaysia. Kalimah ALLAH telah digunakan dalam buku ‘Gospel of Matthew’ edisi Bahasa Melayu pada tahun 1629 dan juga dalam ‘Malay Bible’ (1731-1733).

Pada pandanganku, soal penggunaan kalimah ALLAH tidaklah terhad kepada fakta sejarah semata-mata. Buku ‘Gospel of Matthew’ diterbitkan pada zaman pemerintahan Portugis di Tanah Melayu ketika itu dan pengeluaran buku ‘Malay Bible’ adalah pada zaman pemerintahan Belanda. Akan tetapi, soal di sini adalah soal latar belakang budaya di Malaysia. Aku bersetuju dengan pandangan Dr Feham Mohd Ghalib, iaitu Ketua Bahagian Bahasa al-Quran, UIAM, yang mengatakan bahawa, penggunaan kalimah ALLAH di dalam Islam adalah berbeza dengan penggunaannya dalam agama-agama lain. Lagipun, terjemahan kalimah GOD dalam Bahasa Malaysia adalah TUHAN dan bukannya ALLAH. Tambahan pula, merujuk kepada surat pembaca kepada laman web Malaysiakini yang dikemaskini pada 31 Disember 2007, Paul Warren mengatakan bahawa dalam ‘Bible’, TUHAN telah memberikan namanya sendiri iaitu YAHWEH. Jadi, siapa yang betul dalam kes ini???? Adakah pihak ‘The Herald’ ataupun ‘Bible’???? Sesungguhnya, penerbitan risalah Kristian dalam Bahasa Malaysia hendaklah diberi perhatian sepenuhnya oleh Kerajaan. Pengeluaran buku-buku Kristian ini adalah bertujuan untuk menambahkan lagi masalah umat Melayu-Islam di negara kita yang sudah dibelenggu dengan masalah-masalah penyalahgunaan dadah, masalah sosial iaitu Mat Rempit dan Bohsia, AIDS dan tidak lupa, masalah kepimpinan. Kepimpinan Pak Lah, yang merupakan graduan Universiti Malaya dalam jurusan Pengajian Islam dan daripada keturunan Ulamak iaitu Sheikh Abdullah Fahim, telah tercabar dan dicabar dengan masalah-masalah sebegini rupa yang jarang didengar dan diperkatakan semasa zaman pemerintahan Tun Dr Mahathir ketika dahulu.

Mudahan-mudahan artikel yang ringkas ini membuka mata, fikiran dan hati kita terhadap isu-isu yang melanda umat Melayu-Islam baru-baru ini... Jumpa lagi.....

Mullah TTDI..

Have a good life in Australia…

Assalamualaikum...

Last night, I went to KLIA to say goodbye to my one and only good female friend in this world. Together with 2 friends, we arrived at KLIA at 9 p.m. and have about half an hour to chat and taking pictures before she went through the departure gate with her husband, who would accompany her for 3 years there while she continued her study in PhD.

I still remember for the most part last night, I just became an observer and felt content to just listen to the others talking and laughing to each other. My mind wandered around for a little while before out of a sudden it brought me back a few years back, to some good old memories… and of course, to some bad old memories too. (Forgive me if I choose to keep them for myself for they contained my deepest secret and private thought).

My friend Mas; as I know her, is the toughest and smartest young lady I’ve ever met in my life (once again forgive me because I haven’t had so many lady friends, as I am a very… very shy person when it comes to women). I remember when we were working together in a project called e-PMIUM a couple years back. She was brilliant as she was aggressive and as the director of the project, I can truly said, that her contribution has definitely be an asset to us and enough to make a difference on the project. Her ‘no-nonsense ness’ (is the word correct?) attitude with undeniable passion and focus on what she did, proved to be the elements of her successes, whether in life or in work.

All in all, I just want to wish her, to have a very good life there while continue to achieve her dream. In one way or another, she actually inspired me to become a better person and to achieve greatness in this life...

Adios Mas, or should I start to call her Dr Mas?!

Let's Exercise...

This last month of 2007 is a very enjoyable month for me. As it edging towards the end and 2008 starting to gloom ahead, i cannot help but wonder what a year i have had in this soon-to-end 2007!

But please bear with me for a while. This time, i just want to talk about one particular thing: EXERCISE.

2007 mark a major change in my way of life, especially in terms of diet and health control. Just so you know, i arrived in 2007 as a rather slim young man after being fat for almost 6 good years before. So, you can imagine how excited i am for finally get the result i wanted. True to what people said, being slim (or if better - being fit ) isn't just about health or your look. It also affect your confidence greatly! How you present yourself to others, and even to your own self!!

I still remember the feeling i have when i speak with other people especially those i barely know. I keep thinking about what is their opinion about me that they're keeping inside their head. Are they keep looking at me as a fat boy instead of paying attention to my speech or other good quality in me? and so many others. I know i was a little bit self-conscious when it comes to my appearance and about what people would think of me, but i couldn't help it. And the result is, my self-confidence and self-esteem became very low, and so seldom can i step up or rise on certain occasion that i was in need to...

But all that started to changed when i began to pay attention on my diet and living style. When i started to shed more and more fat off my body, i realize my self-esteem getting stronger and stronger. Looking for a book and tips about diet from famous nutritionist such as Dr. Atkin (famous with his established 'Atkin's Diet') and the others, i started to count my intake of calories as well as starting to exercise...

Exercise... and that bring me back to what i want to talk about here today. As i write this posting, i actually just finished playing Badminton with my house mates and a good friend of mine. Well, i wish i could say that i was really good in playing badminton, but as the accurate word to say about my skill is 'just moderate', i found myself fully enjoy this game, and can't get enough of it. I can play for hours until my muscles got crammed, and still i want to play it again that very evening or tomorrow morning.

The same goes to Tennis. Or maybe i can say, even more than that. Even with constant frustration and upsets for failing to execute the beautiful shots that i always saw on TV (if there's an excuse, i would say that tennis is way, way harder than badminton, especially the one without basic of tennis: like me) i still want to play it. No matter what, i want to go out there and keep trying to hit the ball as hard as i can, and as 'in' as i able to!

And lately, my 'resumes' of exercise just getting wider. The latest entry on that list is Basketball. Once again, i am no expert, but through sheer determination and interest, i am more than able to hold on my own when facing my other more experienced friends. God, it's hard, but who can blame me for wanting to try. And now, the latest 'venture' of exercise that i have in mind is Table tennis, and i know i won't have to wait long for that to happen... as long as i keep my mind into it.

Okay now, why do i tell you all this? To show that i'm a very active person? Or to brag about my 'limited' talent in sports? Obviously the answer is no, because what i'm trying to tell here - more to myself actually - is that we can do whatever we set our heart and mind to. You don't have to be Lin Dan, or Roger Federer, or Michael Jordan to play those sports. All you need is your will power to do it, and you will find yourself doing it... with much fun and enjoyment that even you yourself will be surprised...

And if that's not enough, just know that you have to do it for your own good, and not to mention for your health too. As for me, i know that i am more 'kaki bangku' than what i want to admit, so that's why i opted to play on my strength rather than on my weakness. Furthermore, i just learn somewhere that sometimes we have to try many things until we find our true 'niche' in this life.

So, be it in sports, businesses, or other things in our life, don't afraid to try and take the risk. Because somehow, somewhere, we will finally find what we are really looking for...

English Literate...?

Assalamualaikum...

This is my posting at Seven Heroes blog... (without editing, sorry!) Enjoy while read it.

Today is a 'comeback day' for me to write in this blog after almost half a year absent now. Looking at the good writings of my dear friends in this house prompted me to post something in here even though i have no idea what to write about at this very minute...

Then, after pondering quietly for a while, i decided to write about the latest event, or more accurately, the newest excitement in our house: The emergence of English literate conscience among us; which still in it's early stage, but getting noticed and gaining interest by the time nevertheless...

As for now, i could say that nobody in his/her right mind will deny that English literate is very important in our lives. Put aside the notion that english language was coming from 'Barat', english is 'bahasa penjajah', or even english 'bukannya bahasa Syurga!', we have to agree that English is one of the important factors in our daily need.

The modern world now needs people with good/excellent skills of english. It's not because english is the best language in this world, because it is NOT! But, we happened to live in the age of modernization that happened to be championed by the Americans and Europeans! The Westerners!

Face the facts! We, Muslims always being downgraded because of our lack of empowerment in English language. Can't we see, that the Chinese and Indian changed their language from english to their 'pelat malay' as soon as they realized they are talking to Malay people, the Muslims?! Sometimes i wonder if they also looked down at us with pity in their eyes. What to say? poor Muslims, cannot even said one proper sentence in english!

It's time you know, for us to change. The chinese and indian in Malaysia are very lucky. They will at least armed with 3 languages ( their own, malay, english ) when they venture into their adulthood, looking for jobs or opening their own businesses. But we Muslims; we arrived at our adulthood world with only 1 and a half language ( malay and a very bad english ) hoping to land a good job with a good paycheck, without even realized we are being laughed and becoming jokes behind our back...!

So my friends, what do you say? We can do this! We can be good if we want to! We can compete with the others if we realized our weaknesses and try to mend it in the best way possible. Ask yourself and you will find the answers deep inside you. If you don't want to do it for you, do it for ISLAM!

AidanZ

After so... looong.....!

Assalamualaikum...

Well, it has been a long time since i last post anything here, emm, 5 months and a half to be exact!

And if you think that is not enough, i even forgot about the username of this blog and my username for gmail account! Only after a vigorous search and several upset remarks that came out from my mouth while conducting the search, i got both the username and without further delay, straightaway use it to write in this column...

A lot of things has happened to me in the last 5 month. Things that altered my life and even my perspective of life itself! While i wouldn't say that everything is good and being favorable to me, i would say i have learned more about life in these 5 months than in my whole life before.

The truth is, it's not like i didn't learn anything before. But while i did learn something new everyday, i never opened my eyes fully and wholly toward the real depth and meaning behind it. In short, it's like studying all over again, only this time with real feelings and with.. well... reality!

And i for one, am very grateful to Allah for His blesses in me, and for allowing me to learn and embrace all the changes around me with open heart and clear mind...

That's all for now, and i truly hope this 'starting-again-thing' would be resolute for me this time!!

Permulaan Menulis

Assaamualaikum dan Alhamdulillah, aku dapat menulis dalam blog Abang Zahar @ Aidan Z setelah mendapat jemputan baru-baru ini. InsyaALLAH jua, tulisanku ini adalah permulaan bagi siri-siri tulisan hasil pengalaman, pengamatan, pembacaan, perbincangan dan pengetahuan selama ini. Untuk permulaan adalah majlis penikahan dan kenduri Ajis pada 13072007 dan 14072007 baru -baru ini.

Untuk pengetahuan, Ajis merupakan kenalan rapatku sejak 2001 lagi dan secara kebetulan, aku dan dia hampir serupa dan bagaikan kembar. Kami belajar di Universiti Malaya, belajar di Jabatan Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dan duduk di Kolej Kediaman Kesembilan selama 4 tahun berturut-turut. Cuma, Ajis dapat menghabiskan pengajiaannya pada tahun 2005 dan aku pada tahun 2006 dan sekarang, Ajis sudah berkahwin dan aku masih bujang lagi...Hahahahahaahaha...

Secara kebetulan juga, pada tanggal 06072007,seminggu sebelum majlis pernikahan Ajis, atukku, Aboh meninggal dunia pada hari Jumaat bertepatan pada 1115 di Katil 16, Aras 4A, Hospital Putrajaya. Alhamdulillah, aku berada pada kedua-dua peristiwa tersebut dan menyaksikan akan kedua-dua peristiwa tersebut. Firman ALLAH Taala dalam Ayat 2, Surah al-Mulk: Yang Menjadikan mati dan hidup, supaya DIA menguji kamu, siapa di antara kamu yang lebih baik amalanya. Dan DIA Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Pengampun. Melalui ayat al-Quran ini, aku berbaik sangka kepada ALLAH Taala yang menguji akan daku dan banyak hikmah yang tersirat dan tersurat yang masih belum aku temui....

Kepada para pembaca sekalian, minta maaf kerana ini adalah 'posting' yang pertama dan agak peribadi sedikit... Dan kepada Abang Zahar, thanks for inviting me..... I am honoured to write in this lovely blog..... Hehehehehehehehe.... Jumpa lagi......

Mom - The Crown of My Heart

That Saturday morning, as I promised my mom, I took her to Putra Specialist Centre, Malacca for a final check on her cyst inside her uterus. With final check, I mean last check before the surgery, which was supposed to take place three years ago!

There was no sense of urgency at the moment, considering this wasn’t a life and death situation, at least not that I can think of. So, with no expectation, I walked into the hospital and made an arrangement for my mom to see one of the doctors there.

Dr. Tan Lee Nak.

That’s the name of the fine lady doctor that’s going to check upon my mom. “Obstetrician & Gynecologist”, said the sign on the door I entered with my mom. (Pakar Perbidanan dan Sakit Puan).

‘So, Doctor Tan, how’s my mom?’ I asked when the doctor came out from a small room adjoined to her office, with my weary-looking mom by her side.

Doctor Tan took her time before answering my question. With her finger pointed to unmistakably a picture of female reproduction system on the table (thank god I paid attention to my biology class), she drew one big circle on the right side of the picture. The right ovary...!

‘What is...?’ I cannot complete the sentence.

‘This circle represents the size of the cyst inside your mother!’ The doctor explained calmly. ‘The cyst is attached to your mother’s right side ovary and it’s getting bigger and bigger by the time’.

What?! My jaw dropped. It can’t be... I said to myself.

‘Err, doctor...’ I finally managed to say. ‘Exactly.. how big is the cyst inside my mom’s uterus..?And.. is it.. is it.. dangerous?

Once again, Doctor Tan took her time, before launched into a rather long explanation.

‘By now, you should know what is it the cyst that we’re dealing with..’ said the doctor. And then without waiting for my respond, she continued,

‘To answer your question just now, the cyst that attached to your mother’s right ovary is big. I can’t really say how big it is, but it is big. And to be honest, it can be dangerous if it stays in there any longer. Why? Because first, the cyst might burst open and the liquid inside it can be toxic to your mother’s body. Second, and more important, the cyst sometimes.. is an early indicator of cancer...!’

‘Did you say cancer... doctor?!’ I can’t stop myself. My heart is pounding, and by now, flashes of bad things started to flood inside my mind.

For a minute, the doctor looked startled by my hard expression. Then, she smiled and says,

‘Yes. But I still didn’t finish my sentence...’

As I nodded and say sorry, she continued,

‘What I said just now are the possibilities of what can happened if we don’t remove the cyst. And after I scanned your mother’s uterus a while ago, I can say that so far, there’s no sign of cancer on your mother’s uterus...’

I just said my syukur to Allah on the news when the good doctor, once again continued,

‘Although... I still have to warn you that everything will be confirmed; only after I removed the cyst and take it to lab for some tests...’

Exhaled deeply, I nodded once again and said,

‘That’s good enough doctor. That’s good enough...’

And after a while,

‘So, when can you do the operation, doctor?’ I asked.

The doctor smiled before she replied,

‘Actually... it’s up to you and to your mother. I can only suggest you do it as soon as possible.’

Nodding slightly, I turned to my mom,

‘Mak, doktor tanya, bila mak nak buat operation ni? Macam mana kalau selasa depan? Boleh ke mak?’

Looking at me, my mom nodded slowly. Okay.

‘How about this Tuesday, doctor? Are you free that day? I asked.

‘Tuesday’s okay,’ said the doctor. ‘I have no operation on Tuesday, and I can perform the surgery on your mother in the morning.’

And just as I thought, everything’s settled, and I can bring my mom home, my hope vanished just like that.

As I found out after that, the difficulties are just about to start...