Weekend in Bath = Sightseeing + shopping + fireworks + raining

Joining a scientific society

I just want to share some informations here. As a scientist, it is important for us to join in a scientific society which is related to our field of studies. Basically, we can meet other scientist or present our research to others. It is a stage where networks can be made and communication can be developed especially to a young scientist like me.

That’s general information for joining a society though. Now, what I want to share here are about other benefits of joining a scientific society which maybe not everyone acknowledges of these elements. Perhaps, it may not be for every scientific society nevertheless you can check about it. Some of the elements are travel and conference funds. Yes!, some scientific society provides fund for their members. For examples, the society will provide financial assistance to members wishing to attend the society's conference inside or outside the country or make short studies abroad. Furthermore, they will also support you financially if you want to attend related conferences, meetings or workshop. Interesting isn’t it!? So better check if your society have these advantages..

Ex-GratiaSS

Couple of days ago, Minister Nazri Aziz said that the Government paid Ex-Gratia RM 5 million to the ex-judges which so called humiliated (sacked!) by the previous government. I am so flabbergasted to know that they have been given such amount! I mean what is the justification or any rationalization to give that money away just like that. Silly, that compensation was not coming with an apology from the government. Once again I am trying to understand the purpose of their intention. The government answered my question by telling this is for the sake of juridical reformation. By giving this ex-gratia, people will have more confidence to the juridical system. I said a’haaaa!? What is the relationship between those apple and pineapple? It may sound practically almost the same but it’s totally a different fruit. Talk to the hand!

Berita Sawit

http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Saturday/BeritaSawit/20081101092232/Article/index_html

MPOB sedia RM10 juta biasiswa pelajar
Oleh Suraya Harunsuraya@mpob.gov.my

BANGI: Sejumlah RM10 juta diperuntukkan bagi skim Biasiswa Yayasan Pendidikan MPOB (YPM) sebagai usaha MPOB melahirkan penyelidik pelapis yang berkepakaran dalam bidang sains dan teknologi untuk memenuhi keperluan industri sawit yang semakin berkembang. MPOB memerlukan penyelidik berkepakaran tinggi bagi melaksanakan penyelidikan dan kajian bagi tujuan meningkatkan lagi penemuan teknologi dan kegunaan baru minyak sawit selaras dengan permintaan pasaran global.

Ketua Pengarah MPOB, Dato' Dr Mohd Basri Wahid berkata demikian pada majlis penyampaian tiket penerbangan kepada Mohd Hefni Rusli pelajar tajaan biasiswa YPM yang melanjutkan pengajian Ijazah Doktor Falsafah (PhD) di University of Bath, United Kingdom selama tiga tahun mulai September lalu. "MPOB pada setiap tahun akan menawarkan biasiswa YPM kepada pelajar yang layak melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang berkaitan penyelidikan dan pembangunan yang berasaskan minyak sawit. "Mereka ini, selepas tamat pengajian akan pulang dan berkhidmat dengan MPOB di dalam bidang kepakaran yang diperoleh.

"Kita berharap dengan cara ini MPOB berupaya meningkatkan kepakaran dan melahirkan wargakerja bertaraf dunia bagi menjalankan penyelidikan dan berjaya mencapai taraf Nobel Laureate pada masa akan datang," katanya. Beliau menasihati pelajar supaya fokus kepada pengajian dan tidak mensia-siakan peluang yang diberikan oleh MPOB itu. Seorang lagi pelajar yang ditawarkan biasiswa sama untuk melanjutkan pengajian Ijazah Doktor Falsafah (PhD) ialah Cik Nazrinahamin Ahmad Nazir yang memulakan pengajian di dalam bidang Polimer di University of Akron, Ohio, Amerika Syarikat mulai Ogos lalu. Dato' Dr Mohd Basri juga menjelaskan dua pelajar PhD bagi sesi tahun terdahulu kini menjalani latihan praktikal. Pelajar itu, Kho Lip Khoon, di University of Oxford, London dan Fu Ju Yen di University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Beliau berkata, sepanjang skim biasiswa ini dimulakan pada 2003, dua pelajar berjaya menamatkan pengajian PhD pada 2007 dan mereka ditawarkan jawatan Pegawai Penyelidik MPOB di dalam bidang masing-masing. Skim ini terbuka kepada pelajar lepasan Ijazah Sarjana Muda IPTA/IPTS yang cemerlang di dalam bidang dikenalpasti untuk melanjutkan pengajian lepasan ijazah di universiti berprestij di UK dan Amerika Syarikat.

Mr. Obama

He says change can happen!

For me, I do hope Barack Obama has the capabilities to start a change. I believe he is more clever than Mr. Bush. This has been proven by him along the most costly and the most historical of US presidential election. He wants American to believe in him and as a result American people has given him the mandate to be the first African American President.

Mr. Obama needs to understand his role as a President of United States. He needs broader approaches and spectrum and wisely handling the problem caused by Mr. Bush. The first thing is to accommodate US through the economic turbulence which has taken its toll through out the whole world.

Then, he need to settle his policy and change the situation in the war zone of Iraq and Afghanistan and long term politic instability in Israel and Palestine. Furthermore, it is interesting also to see his foreign policy as he is considerably a newcomer in this arena. What about his action against terrorism ?!

We'll see....

Proud to be Malaysian

Just a bit..

Aku dilahirkan untuk berbakti pada negaraku. Keringatku yang membasahi bumi hanyalah untuk Malaysia yang tercinta. Warisan yang diperjuang oleh perwira kemerdekaan dahulu akan aku perjuangkan dan agungkan. Aku akan terus berusaha untuk tanah airku dan semoga Malaysia akan terus maju.

House hunting

Its started when we received the accommodation bill and I and my wife just can't believed it that the total payment almost GBP 3000 per term! What the hell man..I went thru it again and obviously the figure was still the same..We're stunted at a moment and immediately we opened up the college guidelines and found out that our accommodation would be charged GBP 80+ per week but there was a statement that for couple's accommodation would be a little bit expensive compared to others. Basically, we dont mind if like 100 pounds a week as we still have our budget around that amount. Nevertheless, it's ridiculous for them to charge GBP 170 per week and it was confirmed when we went to the accommodation office the next morning.

So, we have decided to move to a new place which is more cheap and worth it. Luckily, last weekend, we have found our new nest which will cost around GBP 1k (more expensive!)..No no..we have thought that I will only be around during the weekend so my wife has asked her friend to move in together and share the rental. The place is so lovely (picture not available yet) and it is a cozy place to stay (totally worth it). So, we are planning to move in the middle of November and hope everything will be okay.