Got my Onda VX-777!

Haha... the gadget I waited for a week finally arrived. So happy :)

Toki Premium Outlet Store

Yesterday, I went to Toki Premium outlet store in Toki-city, Gifu Prefecture with my room-mate (Kucai). I first thought that it was impossible to make it yesterday since the weather was raining hardly. But, we really made it! Haha! Kucai drove his car along the entire journey which took 2 hours for each single trip. Stopped at Sushiro (an Osakan sushi restaurant) at Tajimi-city (in Gifu Prefecture) on our way back to Nagoya. Happppy! :)

My Sacrifice by Creed : Tribute to Anwar Ibrahim

This is a Malaysian hero, the man who struggles his entire life for the nation. God bless you Anwar!

Ramlang Porigi Dipaksa Saksi

Moved back to my old room...

As what I've been told by Prof. E* yesterday, my group members and I have to clear the room we're now which is owned by Assoc. Prof. I*. Today, Prof E* told me (and others in the room) to move to my older room, which is owned by him. So... since morning, we moved... until around 3PM. I appreciate Shu-san and Pum-san, both who helped me cleaning the (new) room and moving my goods. So tired... I should've finished my Hall measurement if there was no moving today. At 4:30, I watched Shu-san's presentation for his PhD entrance exam, together with E* sensei and Pum-san. Alhamdulillah, I could learn a lot from his presentation (and actively gave my ideas to improve his presentation and experiments). I also told E* sensei that I'll attend the conference in Malaysia next November, and all my ideas to improve my LD (aready made discussion with my junior, Maki-san yesterday) . There's a lot to do with it, but I feel very happy as my involvement with this research would be a very valuable experience for my own life and future industrial breakthrough... Alhamdulillah :)

The room I've to leave... really miss this place...

My new place... syukur dgn setiap kurniaan-Nya.

本当にこれで良いのか、かなり悩んだ！

[I don't know whether this is the best decision I've made... but anyhow, I've chose it to be like this. I'm really sorry...]

From ****d *huh*im* <*huh*im*@m**.com>
To 王**
Cc *huh*imi@nano******.com
Date Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Subject RE: For the IMRC 2008
Mailed-by m**.com

Hide details Aug 22 (1 day ago)

Reply

Dear Prof. Wang,

Thank you for the invitation to be a reviewer for Symposium D.
However, as my field of research is limited to GaN-based material growth on Si-substrates, its characterization and device processing, I am very sorry because I cannot accept your invitation to be a reviewer for the attached papers. The materials used in the attached papers are totally different from my specialization.

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

****d *huh*im* **n **u ***ar
*g*wa Laboratory,
Research Center for Nano-***** and Sy***m,
**go*a ******* of *******,
**go*a ***-****, *i*h*, Japan.
E-mail: *huh*im*@**n.com / *huh*im*@nano******.com
Tel: +81-52-73*-5*** (ext: 5*4*)
Fax: +81-52-73*-5***


From: 王** [mailto:wang**@**d.semi.ac.cn]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 12:36 PM
To: *huh*im*@**n.com
Subject: For the IMRC 2008

Dear *huh*im*,
Thank you for supporting the IMRC-2008 Symposium.
On the behalf of all the organizers, we invite you
to be reviewer of the Symposium D. The papers that
need reviewed are attached in this email.

Once you received this email, whether you want to be
the reviewer or not, would you please reply this email
as soon as possible? If you want to help us to review the papers,
please send the reviewed papers before 5 september 2008.

There are 3 journals for the papers to be published,
Journal of materials research , Science in China E and Journal of Physics: Conference Series.
If you want to help us to review the paper, in your replied email , along with your comments, please attach the journal that the paper can be published.

Thank you very much

Yours Sincerely
IMRC-2008 Symposium

Wishing you a HAPPY life...

Sometimes, we're too focused on our own target a few miles away... that we forgotten somebody right beside us... who's seeking for our love...

Really prayed to God for you to live in happiness, with a loving family and cheerful friends...

Don't know why... this blog is jamming...

Today I found out that the youtube video I shared in this blog using the "Sharing" panel inside youtube, which failed to appear at the time I shared them, just appeared... but with 4 videos appearing continuously in the posts. No... they looked not as I thought it should be... so I deleted them all. Actually, I don't want this blog to be a collection of videos. I have a large collection of videos at youtube... this blog should be a blog, with my own writing. I write to improve my own english writing (most of the time)... not to show my writing to others. This blog itself is only known by me and a only few people... no more than 10 persons. Blogging is a personal thing... the more viewer you got, the harder for you to write about them. I keep thing about myself private most of the time... :)

Grapes-picking in Okazaki

Have to take some time to update this blog. Actually, I'd some nice activities this week. After having tough time last 2 weeks, I went for a grape-picking at Okazaki-city, Aichi (JP). Okazaki is a city within Aichi prefecture, the same prefecture where Nagoya-city and Toyota-city are. It sounds close to Nagoya, but... when going there by car using normal road, it took 3 hours per trip. That means we spent 6 hours being stuck in a car just to pick some grapes to eat. Haha... maybe buying grapes at a supermarket next to my apartment is easier. But hey... we love something challenging, right!? At least I could get some relief from stress I had (mostly from laboratory jobs). Haha... see the pic? Everybody's smiling :)

Ustaz Azhar Idrus - Sesungguhnya Manusia Itu Dlm Kerugian

An Islamic preach from an ustaz from Kuala Terengganu (Malaysia) in my nostalgic Terengganu slang... impressive!

Nuclear First Strike on Iran? Israel's Options, Time is Running Out

Ethanol in Brazil

Documentary on bio-ethanol production in Brazil from sugarcane.

鬼束ちひろ - 流星群

One of my loved Japanese singer with a wonderful voice. This is Onitsuka Chihiro with her Ryuuseigun song, a romantic lyric with a very inspiring melody. You can get a better audio version in my Imeem Best 100 playlist.

Ungu feat. Rossa - Tercipta Untukku (HQ Audio/Video)

Best lagu nih... added to my Imeem Best 100 playlist yesterday, after watching the movie Ayat Ayat Cinta. Enjoy!

Akuan Bersumpah Penyiasat Persendirian Razak Baginda

Found an interesting story about Singapore...

Things that some Singaporeans Believe!

Do you know why New Changi Hospital (NCH) changed its name to Changi General Hospital (CGH)?
Because NCH stands for "Never Come Home". That's why business was very bad before it changed its name.

Now CGH stands for "Can Go Home". So business is picking up.

Business in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is still going strong because SGH stands for "Sure Go Home"!

Now National University Hospital (NUH) is also considering a name change. It stands for "No Use Hospital"!

What about Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Not too good a name, no wonder so much problem.
It stands for "Tiam Tiam Si Hospital" and now 'Tan Teo SARs Hospital".

So, be careful of choosing which hospital to go if anyone is unwell.

Reporting from IMRC 2008 Chongqing (China): Day 4

Had breakfast with Sumathi at 8:00. We should had met Liang at her hotel at 9:00 but we seems a little late, so I called her to wait at the exhibition center. Before 10:00 we met at sesion D. We took taxi to Ciqikou Ancient Town... around RMB30 from the exhibition center. Very nice place... maybe they want to keep its image like Kyoto in Japan. But China is far more civilised than any other country in East-Asia, that makes an ancient town in China more valuable for a visit than any other places in East-Asia (in my opinion lah, other people may have different view).

Took countless number of pictures and videos... and bought many souvenirs. But... alas... you know... I'm a 'kedekut' (mean) guy... all those souvenirs are for my family members, and very close friends in Japan. Others... I MUST say NO! I bring just a small amount of money here... and I'm in a very tight budget. I spent too much before coming here... new bags, new digital camera, new suit, new neck-tie, new black shoe, ... but didn't made any new girlfriend. I like to be single... having a girlfrind is tiring... it's like keeping a hamster in your room. If you don't clean it properly, your room will smell weird. A girlfrind is the same i guess... so, to play safe... being alone is a million times better. I love my life. If I had a girlfriend, it must be very hard for me to go out with my other friends, etc... it might be hard to xplain when your girlfriend get jealous, right? To me, to play safe is not "use condom", but "don't do it"!

[Update: I think I might need a girlfriend right beside me right now... my life is too lonely...]

Ohh... back to my story lah... bought a flower vase (extremely beautiful!), some "gantung-gantung" (hanging) thingy for cars, some "gantung-gantung" things to get good luck ("福"), some foods (like biscuits lah... not sure its name)... etc. The vase is very nice. I would recommend you to go to the Ciqikou if you visit Chongqing, it's a MUST!

At 19:00, Sumathi, Gadkari and I went to the muslim restaurant I went with Songying last Sunday. This time, a little wiser. I ordered a mutton hot-plate (also has meat, but Sumathi and Gadkari is Hindu, so they don't eat meat). And I ordered a Dapanji also (dapanji is like a chicked curry... with potatoes, etc inside, just like Indian curry). We got rice and Nan bread also. You know how much is it? ONLY RMB72! And it feeds 3 person, with some foods left on the table! It's damn cheap! Averyone was so excited, because we spent around RMB100 just to get a plate of nasi goreng/ vegetable curry at our hotel. The food we ate at Ciqikou was also at nearly the same price... RMB78... so generally speaking, RMB60-90 could feed around 3 persons at a good restaurants in this city. Quite OK... just like Malaysia. At cheap places, you can even get a meal at around RMB5/person, but I cannot eat pork/meat so the price I paid for what I got is just nice for me... even though I'm a little bit picky when eating. I remember what Gadkari told me a couple nights ago, "Good people should stay at a good place, and eat good foods!" I agree with that... but for me, I'll try to "Take the best at the lowest cost!" That's my "kedekut" policy... everybody knows that already... haha!

Reporting from IMRC 2008 Chongqing (China): Day 3

Listen to presentations at session D since morning. There's a talk at 12:45 about photovoltaics by US Energy ??? Department. After that, met Liang at session D, and met Sophia during evening tea. Sophia told us about where to go for a travel / souvenir bargain... we planned for Chiqikou Ancient Town next morning.

Went to see Liang's poster during her session. She's doing about XRD on GaN stress, bandgap, etc... had a very worthful discussion about method to measuer stress using RSM. It's something I wanted to know since a few month ago... she's working with a guy from Bede XRD maker... so she must have a good knowledge about XRD, must be far better than I am. A simple comment about her... she's just like Murakami-san, my colleague at Egawa Lab a few years ago...

We had dinner in the evening at 19:00. But, I was a little late because I helped Liang with her poster... I sat with researchers/students form Chinese Academy of Science... averybody spoke in Chinese, so I was the most clueless guy in that hall (I think lah...). Seram aku dibuatnyer!

Reporting from IMRC 2008 Chongqing (China): Day 2

Today, I joined the trip organized by Chongqing Science and Technology Co-operation (CSTC). The IMRC meeting itself is organized by CSTC in China, alogether with MRS in the USA. The trip started from Chongqing Exhibition and Convention Center at 13:30, when we're brought to Three Gorges Museum and Chongqing City Planning Museum. Today is my 2nd time at the Three Gorges Museum... already went there last Sunday with Songying. But this time, we make lot of jokes lah... especially among young students at the same age just like me (some are younger).

Today, I met with Sophia. Actually, she is a staff at CSTC... the one who send out the invitation letter for me a few weeks ago. How nice we can get face to face. I'm not sure one thing about Chinese girl... I think they're just too open to foreign guys like me. If they wanna took pictures, they just ask without hesitate. The opposite custome is with Japanese girls... the Japanese're more shy like Malays (in my opinion lah kan). Still wondering... maybe this only applies to Chongqing girls, because... hmmm... cannot explain too much here.

In the evening, I went out with Dr. Gadkari from Mumbai University and Sumathi from Universiti Sains Malaysia. All 3 of us bought a lot of souvenirs for our colleagues back home... maybe I bought the least because I don't want spend much on others... that's my "kedekut" policy. Nahh... normal lah, I'm a student... they're professor and lecturer. Actually, I just came back from dinner with Gadkari at Marriott Cafe downstairs. The cafe is quite good... I was charged RMB107 just for a plate of vegetable curry (with rice) and a cup of tea. Haha... dining outside is better, but most have closed when we came back from shopping. Terpaksa lahhh... (kedekut nyer aku...)

Reporting from IMRC 2008 Chongqing (China): Day 1

We have the opening ceremony of the IMRC in the morning. Chinese Minister of Science and Technology was also there and gave speech on Chinese focus on managing their energy needs. Then, we have talk from Prof. Alan Heager (nobel laurette) who gave talk on his flexible polymer solar cell research. I think, this is the direction we're moving on for the future, since it can be easily produced with roll-printing technology, at an extremely low cost! This would bring Si-based solar cell division in Sharp and Kyocera in Japan to bankrupcy!

I've great interest also on lighting for panel display. I went to E session on flat-panel display during the evening session, and heard talks from researchers at Samsung Electronics, Univ. of Florida, and others.

My poster session started at 17:30 and a researcher from LG Electronics was very interested in InGaN-based LED on Si. Actually, he was from LD group at LG, but they have abandoned the research on LD since Nichia's LD on GaN is becoming too cheap, and he said that they can get a 400 nm InGaN-based LD for Blu-ray just for 3 US dollars per piece! That's pretty cheap! He said that their group is now working on green LED, instead of blue... as the blue emitting devices is controlled by Nichia. Quite a nice information I get from him. My poster have attracted quite a number of people/companies working on III-Vs and compound materials growth and devices. The other one is from Micro Materials, a company from UK who're working on GaAs growth. The other one is a guy from Asylum Research working on Emcore MOCVD instrument. Hmmm.... I'm using instrument from Taiyo Nippon Sanso, though. Others are students from Chinese universities... wanting to know about temperature-dependence PL, HR-XRD, etc. Like to discuss with them better than those guys from companies, because they would share their problems, instead of try commercialize my solutions. Great experiences though...

Before the meeting ends, I went around the poster session and met a colleague from USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia). Haha... finally, I could find somebody to speak in Malay with! Co-incidently, she's also staying at my hotel. So, boleh la ajak jalan2 skali lepas nih... haha!

Reporting from IMRC 2008 Chongqing (China): Day 0

Now settling at JW Marriott Chongqing.

Met with Songying this morning at 9 AM (she come to my hotel), and went to People's Hall & Chongqing Museum (they're nearby). She found me the Muslim restaurant at Zhong Xing Lu (Lu means road in English), at Jiao Chang Kou. The restaurant name is Shin Jiang Tien Shan restaurant. You probably need a Chinese speaking person to understand the menu. There's a mosque just next to the restaurant. The foods're fabulous! But they're hot like crazy! We ordered 4 kinds of foods... but its too much for us to finish them all. We left almost half of them... mottinai!

Went to Chongqing Zoo afterward. Sonyging's cousin and grandfather are living just next to the zoo. She's quite familiar with the zoo, she even went there almost everyweek since her child age. We went to almost every corner of the zoo, and took many pictures too! One of the best attaction of the zoo is PANDA! But, this panda is very dirty... it's not black and white, but black and yellow in color! From that trip I also learned that Panda is a very lazy animal... especially when its get older. The younger one is very active in playing though... and they're cute!

The IMRC (International Material Research Conference) at Chongqing International Exhibition and Convention Center started at 17:00, and I went there by shuttle bus from Marriott prepared by the organizer. I met Dr. Gadkari from from Mumbai University in India, and talk a lot with him. I also met some post-graduate students from Chinese universities who're interested to know about Japan and its universities. The Chinese're shy... just like Japanese... maybe most Asian is like that, so do I. But we managed to know each other very closely... that's so great. When boarding the shuttle bus to return to the hotel, I met with Dr. Ashwaal from US Naval Research Laboratory... he talked a lot about the politics and administration in India and the US. From the language and perspective he had, I knew that he's a very capable person and brilliant. He even was at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology - said to be MIT of India).

Okay, that's all for the moment. I've to prepare for my presentation tomorrow. See ya!

How to install Windows Live Messenger/Mail/etc... when you have problems...

Actually, I have experienced this problem too. Except it was when I was REINSTALLING WLM 8.5

This is what you do:
Go to:
C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data (in XP)
or
C:/ProgramData (in Vista)
and delete following folders: "WindowsLiveInstaller" and "WLInstaller".

Next, go to:
C:/Program Files/Windows Live (for XP and Vista)
and delete the "Installer" folder.

(remember to show hidden files before doing any of this)
Once you do that, you SHOULD be able to install WLM 8.5 with no problems.

Jejak Awang Goneng 1

Very nostalgic indeed...

Got my original invitation letter... Alhamdulillah

Alhamdulillah, semalam pukul 5 petang sampai jugak akhirnya invitation letter yg Paula Mahar dari Materials Research Society pos kat aku minggu lepas. Alhamdulillah... masa tu mmg pikiran dah berkecamuk... tgh tulih e-mail nak antar kat Paula (MRS) ngan Xuan (CSTC)... tp Alhamdulillah, kuasa Allah... tiba-tiba... Ms Watanabe dtg, "Shuhaimi-san, todokimasita (En. Shuhaimi, dah sampai)!". ... "Yatta (Cayalah)!"

Cepat2 lepas tu aku call Ms Hashimoto kat Aichi-Ka-Yuu Travel utk Chinese Visa application. Alhamdulillah, lepas tu gi office derang, apply, and boleh save JPY3,000 sbb takyah buat express application. Buat normal 4-days application jer, JPY8,000 semua skali (F-type visa).

********Rentetan Kisah Visa************

• Pegi Chinese Consulate Nagoya, diorang bg tau kena apply throughtravel agent yg dilantik, dan dpt list utk agen kat Nagoya.
• Sbb derang nak original invitation letter, aku call Ms Xuan kat Chongqing Science and Technology Commission, China supaya hantar original invitation letter tu kat address aku. Sebelum tu dah dapat yg scanned version Paula Mahar dari MRS hantar through e-mail.
• Xuan hantar kat aku on Friday, 3 hari lepas tu on Isnin, gempa bumi besar berlaku kat Shichuan (dekat jer ngan Chongqing nih)
  
• Seminggu lebih lepas tu, Paula bg tau through e-mail MRS dah terima invitation letter. Aku bg address Egawa Lab utk hantar surat tu.
• Should sampai last Wednesday... tp tunggu2 tak sampai gak.
• Call JTB Sakae Nagoya on Thursday tanya pasal Chinese Visa application, sbb syarikat yg jumpa masa kat Chinese Consulate tu cakap kena buktikan ada JPY500,000 dlm akaun utk apply visa. JTB tak sure, tp die tak buat visa application utk org yg tak beli tiket ngan derang. Tp Ms Yamamoto tu banyak bg tau maklumat tentang visa application. TERUTAMANYA, FOREIGNERS YG BERADA DI JEPUN DENGAN STATUS VISA "COLLEGE STUDENT" (aku lah tu) TAK BOLEH APPLY VISA KE CHINA GUNA TRAVEL VISA (C) STATUS. Dia cakap kalau nak buat travel visa buat dari negara asal, means Malaysia lah.
• Called Chinese Consulate Nagoya tentang status visa yg patut aku apply. Die bg tau, kalau utk international conference, tak boleh buat travel visa, kena buat VISIT VISA (F). Dan original invitation letter issued by Chinese Government kena ada utk diorang issue travel visa. Aku ada yg scanned copy jer, so takleh buat apa2. Nak apply utk visit visa (C) pun takleh. So kenalah tunggu utk original invitation letter tu sampai. Chinese consulate pun bg tau takde syarat utk buktikan miliki JPY500,000 dlm akaun utk buat visa ke China, kalau Hong Kong barulah ada syarat... tp utk Chongqing (tanah besar) takde syarat.
  
• Called Aichi-Ka-Un Travel (Chinese travel company) utk tanya pasal visa application. They're so helpful, dan banyak tolong. Diorang pun ada kaitan rapat dgn Chinese Consulate Nagoya. Diorang bg tau harga JPY8,000 utk normal, JPY11,000 utk express.
• Faxed scanned copy of the invitation letter to Chinese Consulate, and they called me immediately afterward saying OK... but they need original during application. Paling lewat apply boleh on Tuesday necxt week katanya (xpress application)... bergantung kpd agent jugak lah.
• Pagi Jumaat semalam bg tau Ms Watanabe (secretary Research Center for Nano-Device and System, Nagoya Inst of Tech) pasal surat dari MRS that I should receive this week... but she said till today x de surat lg.
• Lepas semayang Jumaat, sambung buat kerja, dah dekat pukul 5 ptg (abis waktu kerja, Watanabe san balik, means no letter will arrive anymore this week), wrote e-mail to Paula and Xuan pasal invitation letter tu. Kalau tak sampai by Monday next week aku nak suruh Xuan (CSTC) fax direct ke Chinese Consulate Nagoya.
• Alhamdulillah, sebelum sempat tekan butang "Send", Watanabe-san dtg bilik aku bg surat tu, bersama dgn borang utk diisi utk claim duit travel dan elaum makan & hotel ke China tu semua.
• Kuwar duit kat ATM, pergi print "zaigaku-syoumeisyo (certificate of existence at school/university)", terus pg Aichi-Ka-Yuu Travel utk apply.

Thanks everybody :) Love Allah :)

Parlimen Malaysia : Isu Ranking Universiti | Adik Najib

Mahathir Makan Hati Hingga Ke Negara Penjajah , Jepun

Wow! It's so high!

This is the first time I book a flight pricing more than JPY100,000. And, it's just to go to a neighbouring country!

A**M*D ******* さま

本日はご依頼ありがとうございます、重慶行きの回答です

6/7　名古屋(14:55)-重慶(20:10)

6/13　重慶(7:30)-名古屋(13:55)

料金は￥81500+tax(約20000円）　です。
5/26にチケッティングです。

上記の便にて手配できますが、予約は入れてみないとOKか
どうかわかりません、お早めにご予約くださいませ。

ありがとうございました。

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　名古屋工業大学生活協同組合　CamPla店
　旅行サービス担当　　**　**　
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　JR券、宿泊、国内・海外航空券等の手配はメールでも承っております
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Got my room reserved... Alhamdulillah...

My reservation for J. W. Marriott at Chongqing (China) for IMRC next month has been confirmed, with special rate offered by MRS. The staff at Chongqing even faxed me the confirmation receipt. Very warm welcome indeed.

The staff also told me that transit between airport and the hotel is around RMB100~150, more than half the limousine rate advertised by Marriott. There'll be daily transit between the hotel and Chongqing International Convention Center during the conference, so I could save some bucks there too. Alhamdulillah...

Date : May 02, 2008
Subject : Reservation Confirmation

Greetings from JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing!

May we take this opportunity to say “Thank you very much” for choosing the JW Marriott hotel Chongqing for your forthcoming visit to Chongqing.We are pleased to confirm the following reservations for you and your company:

Name of Guest : ** ** ** ** **
Arr Date/Flight : 07 Jun 08
Dep Date/Flight : 1* Jun 08
Rooms/Room Type : 1 Deluxe King
Rate Per Room : RMB600.00 including one breakfast per room per night
Confirmation No. : 88*0*0**

If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know.
All of us look forward to welcoming you to the JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing soon.

Yours sincerely from Chongqing!

Reservation Dept.

GUARANTEE & CANCELLATION POLICY
Kindly be advised that your reservation is guaranteed. Any cancellation after Apr 01, 2008 or no show, there will be one night room rate charge.
Reservation Hotline (86 23) 63001700
Reservation Fax No. (86 23) 63815217

Parlimen Malaysia = Tolong Duduk , Tolong Diam

Persidangan parlimen Malaysia yang berlangsung di "Sabah"...

Summary from NHK The Professionals

Got many good points from a programme called The Professionals aired on NHK just now. These're the tips from Mogi Kenichiro (Ph. D), to get our brain fully activated. Mogi Kenichiro is a researcher at Sony Computer System Laboratory (also teching at Tokyo Institute of Technology, and others).

How to memorize easily:
-Don't just read silently. SAY it with your mouth, and WRITE it. You can memorize easier when your body parts work for it. As what shown in the programme, both left and right brains get blood when a person memorize a word by READING, SAYING and WRITING. When he memorize by just reading the word, only A (very very) FEW PART of his right brain filled with blood. (Brain cells will get more blood when thinking / working for something).

How to get shuchuryoku at work:
-Use each short time / minute you have wisely. For example, check/correct your journal while walking / waiting for elevator, write journal while in taxi / wait. Make sure you do it in a manner that any part of your body could MOVE. The most difficult level (don't do it this way lah) is by doing it with your mind alone, such as thinking about your schedule while walking / printing. Simply spoken, let your body DO / WORK for something all the time. The more you body works, more neurons will get activated, which could finally give you more shuuchu-ryoku.

What a good instructor do?
- Homeru koto. homeru koto ni yotte, gakusei ni yaru ki wo dasu. Something (I forgot the name) will be released in the brain which give your student / partner "minat" when you "homeru" him / her. The best thing is "puji" him / her right just after he/ she did it. As an instructor, find the chance to "puji" your student!

What a good leader do when he was appointed a new uncertain project:
- Never show / tell your "buka" what you actually feel (risky / uncertain / yuragiru kimochi).

Mode-swithing. How to switch from working mode to family mode when returning home from work:
- Get relaxed, or do something than can give you relaxation, eg. get into bath-tub, change your clothes, go for a walk or play with your dog, etc.

In long-term relationship, how to avoid from getting bored with your partner:
- It's natural for a human to find / experience new thing in our life. That what makes us different than other creatures, so that human develops from time to time. We're looking / finding / researching new thing that we don't know / understand. When we get used to it, we'll change / develop so that a new thing will be built / created. However, in relationship, it's hard to change somebody or get him / her changed. Therefore, the best thing to do is by changing / developing ourself. By doing this, we'll find something that we've never found before in our partner, that finally could prevent us from getting bored with him / her. What a good answer!

Maybe I should search for his books on Amazon.jp... really interesting!

The good days are becoming better!

Alhamdulillah, banyak perkara menarik yg berlaku bebrapa hari nih. Dua hari lepas dpt mail dari Tsuchiya-san die akan bagi 30 ketul heat-sink yg aku mintak dlm mail sebelum tuh. Alhamdulillah... dapat jugak akhirnya. Walaupun cuma 30 bijik, tapi sebenarnya mahal tuh... setiap satu bersalut emas. Maybe Egawa sensei call die mintak heat-sink tu rasanya sbb hari sebelum tu Egawa ada tanya ttg heat-sink tu. Thanks Tsuchiya, thanks Egawa... love Allah!

Tapi dapat heat-sink tu pun, still kena beli jugak heat-sink lain. Sbb 30 bijik tu sikit sgt jer. Just cukup utk 1 kali process utk 1 jenis sample saja tu. Aku rasa kena design lain, n kena tempah lain dari Ozawa Science or syarikat kat Hamamatsu yg aku suka tu... hehe... rahsia.

Mlm tadi (semalam waktu US) dah dapat dah mail dari Paula Mahar dari MRS hantar aku nyer surat jemputan dari kerajaan China utk visa application utk IMRC (International Material Research Conference) kat Chongqing next June. Alhamdulillah... boleh proceed ngan visa application lepas nih.

Semua xperiment utk IMRC tu pun dah siap semalam... XRD dan PL... penatnyer buat 2 mende nih. Lepas nih nak analysis data, maybe makan masa 1 minggu jugak (Insya'Allah harap boleh siap during weekend nih). Drpd data yg beratus2 tu (may even break 1000 datas), buat AFM utk sample yg perlu saja. So, boleh jimatkan masa sket.

Okaylah tu saja dulu. Nak kuwarkan sample semalam dari mini-cryostat masa PL measurement semalam. Okay, bye. Insya'Allah... kejayaan untuk semua umat Islam!

Finally we GOT it! ... after so much sacrifices ...

	Tracking number 865280571362 Signed for by .ABU BAKAR Ship date Apr 12, 2008 Delivery date Apr 19, 2008 10:00 AM		Reference 26859 Destination TERENGGANU MY Delivered to Receptionist/Front Desk Service type Priority Box Weight 7.9 lbs.
	Status Delivered
	Signature image available No

Date/Time

Activity

Location

Details

Apr 19, 2008

10:00 AM

Delivered

TERENGGANU MY

10:00 AM

Delivery exception

SEPANG MY

Incorrect address

7:59 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

SEPANG MY

Apr 18, 2008

2:14 PM

At local FedEx facility

SEPANG MY

2:13 PM

Delivery exception

SEPANG MY

Holiday - Business closed

10:00 AM

Delivery exception

SEPANG MY

Incorrect address

8:31 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

SEPANG MY

Apr 17, 2008

6:19 PM

At local FedEx facility

SEPANG MY

3:00 PM

Delivery exception

SEPANG MY

Incorrect address

2:57 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

SEPANG MY

2:56 AM

At local FedEx facility

SEPANG MY

Apr 16, 2008

1:58 PM

Int'l shipment release

SEPANG MY

8:31 AM

In transit

SEPANG MY

Package available for clearance

2:52 AM

Departed FedEx location

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT PH

1:18 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT PH

Apr 15, 2008

8:50 PM

In transit

SEPANG MY

Paperwork available

Apr 14, 2008

10:35 AM

Departed FedEx location

ANCHORAGE, AK

6:07 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

ANCHORAGE, AK

Apr 13, 2008

6:15 PM

Departed FedEx location

MEMPHIS, TN

1:29 PM

Departed FedEx location

MEMPHIS, TN

1:01 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

MEMPHIS, TN

Apr 12, 2008

11:16 PM

At local FedEx facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA

10:25 PM

At local FedEx facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA

5:02 PM

Picked up

PHILADELPHIA, PA

No education system can exceed the quality of its teachers

"The only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction."

That's the key takeaway from a big McKinsey study (PDF file) on global education policy. Regardless of country, teacher quality has more impact on student performance than any other factor, including class size and per capita spending.

That's not exactly news. The interesting part of the study is its examination of best practices for improving instruction, both by recruiting better teachers in the first place and by developing the skills of teachers once they've been hired.

XRD Sample Characterization

Dah 2 hari straight dah mesin XRD (X-ray diffraction) kat bawah tu ONnnnn jer memanjang. Sekeping sample amik masa 12 jam utk omega & omega/2theta scan. Satu hari boleh characterize 2 keping sample jer, n of course 24 hours non-stop per day. Dah penat dah berkelah kat dlm bangunan nih.

Jap tadi ingat nak pegi tido kat tingkat 4, cek XRD kat tingkat 1... rupa-rupanya X-ray generator nyer power putus lagi!!! Haiyyyaaa... problem maa. Rugi masa 6 jam, tetiba kena abort kat tengah2! Astaghfirullahalazim. Kena restart balik mesin, dan restart measurement dari awal... uwaaa, sedihnyer! Sepatutnya measuremnt nih siap tepat jam 9 pagi esok. Tp, nampaknya kol 4 petang esok baru boleh siap.

Ya Allah... harap2 measurement yg re-do nih x-ray power tak terputus lagi. Banyak abis masa. Ngantuk nih... tgh heat-up balik x-ray generator tu, kol 4 pagi nnt baru boleh start balik measurement. Sedey. Dugaan sungguh kali nih. Tp Alhamdulillah, stakat separuh result yg keluar tadi, mmg quantum well nyer fringe-peaks mmg lawa sangat2, even on Si substrate, even on SLS (strained-super-lattice)!

PayPal Refund... YAY!

Alhamdulillah, ari nih dah dapat refund US350 yg bayar utk IBM laptop 26 March ari tu. Dapat gak duit tu last skali... apo da PayPal. Nyusah kan idup org Melayu dan Omputeh saja la. Esok aku gi post office bayar kat Mr Jason laptop tu pakai wire transfer saja. Kalau minggu lepas bayar cara nih, sure laptop tu dah sampai Malaysia dah skarang nih. Hmm... nasib... nak wat camner.

Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (Ten Years Before Independence)

The most inspiring documentary on Malaysian politics before Malaysian independence.
Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka

Krisis Perlantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu - Detik Bersejarah dalam Politik Malaysia

Lebih 10,000 rakyat menyambut kepulangan DYMM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Sultan Mahmud (Kuala Terengganu) sempena menyokong tindakan baginda untuk melantik Datuk Ahmad Said, walaupun menerima desakan hebat dari Perdana Menteri Abdullah Badawi supaya menyambung khidmat bekas menteri besar Idris Jusoh untuk penggal kedua. Salah-guna kuasa oleh Idris Jusoh melibatkan perbelanjaan Wang Ehsan dalam projek yang tidak memberi faedah kepada rakyat Terengganu dikatakan sebagai punca Tuanku menolak perlantikan Idris Jusoh.


Update 13 April 2008: This video shows scenes around the airport officially released by UKOM Terengganu. Many Datuks are also there... but I'm not sure who they are. The part when Tuanku Mizan "melambai-lambai" to the Rakyats really touches me.


Krisis perlantikan menteri besar Terengganu boleh dilihat dalan video ini.


(My personal comments: These are qualities of UMNO leaders in Terengganu (and Malaysia)... shame on you!)

A short stop-over in Hong Hong

I'm unable to write long this time. These are just my personal notes for my future travel to Hong Kong City.

How to go to Hong Kong city from Chek Lap Kok Airport:
1. After exiting arrival hall, head for "Airbus" (with bus logo) sign-board. You can ask tourist information desk after exiting custom check. There're lots of guides and maps there, just take anything you want. I was a little confused when followed the bus sign as there's also "Hotel shuttle bus" heading to "Terminal 2", but don't go for that if you want a cheaper method going to the city.
2. At the airport exit (if you follow the "Airbus" sign), you can see many double-decker bus in-front of you, and there's ticket/information counter on your left.
3. I booked a hostel at Mirador Mansion which is located at Tsim Sha Shui, so buy a ticket route A21 at CitiFlyer counter (left counter). Wait for the bus at A21 waiting area. You can check the location at the information board in front of the bus station. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BUY RETURN JOURNEY TICKET INSTEAD OF SINGLE JOURNEY TICKET as you'll get discount for the second journey. Single journey ticket would cost HKD35, while return journey ticket would cost HKD55.
4. CityFlyer airport buses are red and yellow colored, just for a note. Make sure to be in front at the queue as you can get better seat in the bus. I would prefer front seat of the second floor of the double-decker bus. When entering the bus, show ticket to the bus driver and put it into the coin box. You can pay directly pay at the box if you don't have ticket (However, I'm not sure how you can get return journey if you do this way). Put your luggage at the luggage area (CCTV monitored), and go get a good seat.
5. Enjoy your journey, as it may take around 40-50 minutes to Hong Kong city (Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Shui area). Tsim Sha Shui is at the 13th stop (number and location name is shown in Cantonese and English at the LED panel inside the bus for each stop). Better get ready to get-off the bus before the bus actually stop at your desired location. I saw a girl shouting "Wai, wait, hold on!!!" to the driver in my journey.
6. Stay cool when your get out of the bus. There'll be so many pedestrians around you. Some girls (may I say "makcik") will come to you and offer body massage, face massage, foot massage, etc... some Indians/ Pakistani will come to you and give your their restaurants pamphlets, etc. At Tshim Sha Shui (Nathan Street), you'll see many European, Indian/Pakistani, Philippine, Indonesia/Malaysia, Japanese and Korean faces around you, not only Chinese. Walk through the Nathan Street following the bus direction. You'll find Maridor Mansion at the 58th. If you go straight to the front, you'll find Holiday Inn (one block further), then the Chung-King Mansion. Head into Maridor Mansion entrance, lift is to your right after passing 3-4 shops at the entrance. For my hostel, I've to go to the 13th floor where the hostel counter is (just in-front of the lift). The "nyonya" there is quite "baik la jugak", explaining me simple things not only about my room, but also about the building itself (the lift you used to enter the building just now is unusable from 8PM to 6AM, you've to use another lift at the back which is equipped with CCTV camera for security).
7. Be happy with your room, as that's the cheapest you can get at the BEST located area in Hong Kong!!! Instead keeping yourself in the room, go outside and watch & feel Hong Kong city. Go walking along Nathan Street for cheap bargains, or Kings Street for good meals!
8. I took subway from Tsim Sha Shui station (subway entrance is joust around the Mirador Mansion) to Mong Kok. At first, I'm not sure which exit should I go for, but after strolling around, I think exit heading to Girls Street (not sure/remember the name in English though) is the best one. I' not sure whether they really sell girls for pleasure, but you'll see stalls selling everything (from HK t-shirts to lingerie) just along the street! I bought Hong Kong 100% cotton t-shirt for my friend in Japan and for myself just for HKD25 dollar each here. They'll put HKD35-40 per piece, but its your time to bargain. Normally, you can get nearly half the advertised price. There're also many shops selling home electronics, computers, and cellphones around.
9. To go back to the airport, take A21 CitiFlyer airport bus at the bus stop just at the opposite side of the Mirador Mansion. The bus would take 40-50 minutes to the airport, so plan your time properly. For my case, I take bus at Mirador Mansion at 1PM for my flight at 4:30PM, and the timing is just nice. I waited for nearly 40 minutes for Cathay Pacific flight check-in at counter C (economy class ticket). Immigration clearance didn't take long time though.

The flight journey from Hong Kong to Nagoya was very nice. I got a cute Japanese girl travelling alone from Australia just next to my seat. We just chat along the journey until the plane landed in Nagoya Centrair International Airport. How come the stewardess misunderstood us as couple along the journey... hmmm, I won't elaborate on that though... <^-^>

Good news from the opposite side of the globe...

Actually, I'm now at my hometown in Kuala Terengganu for a short break. I'm not really happy to take a break at this challenging moment in my research, but this is the only moment that I would be able to "take a Kit-Kat" (reads: take a break). And, it's extremely short... just 5 days to go and return to a place a quarter distance of the globe! I'm quite used to this kind of life, maybe.

Semalam, bila berjaya akses ke wireless internet kat rumah nih (Ust_Kor_Hotspotz), ada berita gumbira...

Alhamdulillah, the abstract I submitted last January for MRS International Materials Research Conference in Chongqing, China has been ACCEPTED! Alhamdulillah, syukur ke hadrat Ilahi. This would be a great start for my international debut <^-^>


Abstract Status
DocumentID/ControlID: (ControlID was removed from public eyes for security reason)
Title: Growth of InGaN-based Laser Diode Structure on Silicon (111) Substrate.
Paper Number: D3.33;
Presentation Date: June 09, 2008
Presentation Time: 05:30 PM to 08:00 PM
Presentation Type: Poster
Room: Exhibit Hall
Status: Accepted

The paper has already been confirmed.
Presenting: True
Confirmation Date: March 20, 2008 at 03:42
Confirmed By: (Name was removed for security reason)

And, the journey goes on...

Tsunami Perubahan Politik di Malaysia: Tahniah Semua Rakyat Malaysia

Alhamdulillah, Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 Malaysia berjalan dengan baik pada keseluruhannya pada 8 Mac 2008 semalam. Selain insiden di Rusila (Marang, Terengganu), rakyat Malaysia keluar mengundi dengan aman, dan berdasarkan analisis, "Pengundi yang keluar mengundi seperti sudah yakin dengan calon pilihan mereka".

Walaupun berada jauh di perantauan, Alhamdulillah, akses ke media utama seperti Utusan, TV3 dan TV1, dan media alternatif seperti MalaysiaKini, Malaysia-Today selain halaman berita parti politik seperti HarakahDaily dan DAP memberikan peluang kpd saya utk sama-sama mengikuti perkembangan di Malaysia.

Sebelum pilihanraya, walaupun media utama menyifatkan bahawa BN mampu menang mudah 2/3 majoriti parlimen dan memegang semua Kelantan, namun media alternatif rata-rata yakin bahawa perkara sebaliknya akan berlaku. Rakan-rakan rakyat Malaysia di Jepun yang terdiri drpd kalangan pelajar dan pekerja juga banyak meramalkan perkara yang sama dan menganggap pilihanraya kali ini adalah sesuatu yang perlu diberi perhatian. Saya dan beberapa sahabat lain mengikuti pengumuman keputusan pilihanraya di TV3 dan MalaysiaKini sepanjang malam semalam sehingga ke Subuh pagi tadi.

Alhamdulillah, seperti yang diramalkan semua, Barisan Rakyat/ Alternatif berjaya mengaut kemenangan yang sangat besar, menjadikan Barisan Nasional kalah besar, dengan keputusan paling buruk sejak kemerdekaan 50 tahun lalu. BN bukan sahaja gagal mendapat 2/3 parlimen, malah gagal mendapat majoriti di Kelantan, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Selangor dan Perak. Walaubagaimanapun, BN berjaya mengekalkan penguasaannya die Terengganu. Johor yang merupakan kubu kuat BN juga sudah berjaya dipecahkan oleh pembangkang yang berjaya menawan 6 kerusi (negeri dan parlimen). Setakat blog ini ditulis, PAS mengekalkan kerajaannya di Kelantan, DAP dan PKR bersetuju untuk menubuhkan kerajaan di Pulau Pinang, PKR dan PAS bersetuju di Kedah, dan campuran ketiga-tiga parti PKR, DAP dan PAS di Selangor dan Perak. (*Maklumat ini mungkin berubah selepas ini bergantung kpd pakatan dan usaha-sama setiap parti yang menang).

Sebagai seorang yang berpandangan independent, saya melihat punca kekalahan BN adalah seperti berikut:
1. Pembatalan dakwat kekal pada jari/kuku pada hari yang sangat dekat dengan pilihanraya menyebabkan rakyat hilang keyakinan kepada kerajaan yang sepatutnya menjaga hak rakyat dan proses demokrasi negara.
2. Sikap angkuh dan dolak-dalih pengarah SPR pada semua sidang media beliau menyebabkan rakyat muak dengan kepimpinan negara.
3. Kewujudan budak hingusan Khairy Jamaludin (KJ) dalam politik Malaysia yang naik dengan tiket Abdullah Badawi, yang banyak mencampuri urusan pentadbiran kerajaan.
4. Kepimpinan yang SANGAT LEMAH dari Abdullah Badawi sendiri menyebabkan rakyat bukan sahaja hilang keyakinan kepada kerajaan, malah risau dengan hala-tuju dan masa depan negara Malaysia.
5. Teguran dari mantan perdana menteri Tun Mahathir sendiri terhadap pentadbiran Abdullah membuktikan kelemahan kerajaan beliau, dan merupakan faktor penting perubahan pemikiran rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya.
6. Dasar kerajaan Abdullah yang bukan sahaja tidak konsisten, malah dilihat sebagai membahayakan masa depan Malaysia sendiri. Pembatalan "jambatan-bengkok" di Selat Tebrau ketika dalam pembinaan, dan pewujudan WPI di Selatan Johor yang memberikan banyak faedah kepada Singapura disamping menidakkan hak Malaysia. Rakyat Malaysia juga dilihat seperti deperbodohkan dalam semua pengumuman kerajaan berhubung "jambatan-bengkok" di Selat Tebrau.
7. Kegagalan Abdullah Badawi mengawal harga petrol dengan bijak, sehingga menyebabkan kenaikan harga barang keperluan lain.
8. Kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah Badawi cuba menipu rakyat Malaysia bahawa ekonomi Malaysia berada pada keadaan yang baik dengan menjadikan Indeks Komposit BSKL, kekuatan Ringgit, dan KDNK/GDP sebagai pengukur. Walhal, hampir semua rakyat Malaysia yang bertarung dalam dunia perniagaan sedar bahawa ekonomi Malaysia bukanlah pada tahap yang baik. Kadar inflasi Malaysia tidak pernah dijadikan berita di mana-mana media utama tempatan. Rakyat Malaysia yang tahu membaca dan sedar, faham bahawa kekuatan Ringgit dan kenaikan BSKL adalah disebabkan kemasukan dana pelaburan asing ke pasaran Malaysia akibat jangkaan kemerosotan ekonomi Amerika Syarikat (USA) yg menyebabkan syarikat pelaburan dan fund di seluruh dunia beralih ke Asia, bukanlah dijana daripada dalam negara. Media tempatan tidak pernah membuat perbandingan akonomi Malaysia dengan negara jirannya seperti Singapura dan Thailand, yang mempunyai pertumbuhan yang lebih baik hasil kemasukan dana asing ke Asia.
9. Perpindahan banyak syarikat multi-nasional dari Malaysia ke China membuktikan Abdullah gagal menjadikan Malaysia sebagai pasaran yang dinamik jika dilihat secara global.
10. Skandal membabitkan Koh Tsu Koon dan Motorola membuktikan kerajaan Barisan Nasional cuba menipu dan memperbodohkan rakyat Malaysia. DAP yang memainkan isu ini menyebabkan banyak undi di Pulau Pinang memihak kepada mereka.
11. Tahap keselamatan di bandar besar seluruh negara yang semakin buruk dan kegagalan kerajaan menagani perkara ini. Banyak kes bunuh dan rogol gagal deselesaikan PDRM. Kes di kalangan kanak-kanak menjadikan rakyat Malaysia risau dengan masa depan anak mereka.
12. Gejala sosial yang semakin buruk di kalangan remaja Malaysia, yang gagal ditangani BN. Pemuda BN sendiri dicop sebagai mat rempit (mungkin KJ adalah ketuanya) oleh pembangkang. Ini menyebabkan pengundi 'lari' drpd BN.
13. Kewujudan media alternatif yang banyak seperti MalaysiaKini dan Malaysia-Today, disamping blog-blog seperti JeffOoi yang banyak mendedahkan kelemahan kerajaan.
14. Media utama yang dikuasai BN gagal memberikan penjelasan mayakinkan berhubung banyak isu yang diutarakan pembangkang dan media alternatif.
15. Kebanjiran begitu banyak golongan pengundi muda yang celik IT, yang sebenarnya lebih bijak kerana golongan ini akan membandingkan laporan berita media utama tempatan dengan laporan di internet, selain media antarabangsa.
16. Sikap kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah Badawi yang tidak menunjukkan perubahan, walaupun banyak diasak oleh pembangkang dan rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya.
17. Kronisme semakin berleluasa. Lebih buruk lagi, politik kekeluargaan di bawah pimpinan Abdullah mengecewakan rakyat.
18. Kerajaan Abdullah gagal mendengar luahan bangsa India melalui HINDRAF. Sebaliknya, HINDRAF dianggap sebagai gerakan teroris. Keadaan ini menghampakan kaum India, dan digunakan sepenuhnya oleh pembangkang menyebabkan pengundi India dan Cina lari kepada pembangkang.
19. MCA, MIC dan Gerakan yang merupakan parti komponen BN gagal menyuarakan suara bangsa Cina dan India di parlimen. Ini menyebabkan mereka beralih kepada DAP dan PKR yang dilihat lebih meyakinkan dan berkaliber.
.... dan seterusnya.

Tahniah Barisan Rakyat/ Alternatif. BN perlu berubah untuk memenangi kembali hati rakyat terutamanya golongan muda yang bakal memimpin Malaysia. Sekian.