Friday, February 27, 2009

Wrong Pronunciation... Eastern European Surname


When Kaspersky became more visible and popular to computer users somewhere 2004, I didn't blow the chance to be part of the up-to-date users as well. Thanks to Osama Helweh, my Syrian friend for introducing it to me.

Believe it or not, by the time Kaspersky gained its popularity worldwide, it also became the most mispronounce brand in the world!

I have heard many friends (foreign and locals), pronounced it Kasper+sky, instead of Kasper+skii, perhaps 7 out of 10. Surprisingly some of them defended their pronunciation as the utmost right... Is that weird (since we are not the native speakers of that language)?

Well, to my knowledge, surnames ended with --ski, --sky, can be either Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Finnish or Polish. Eugene Kaspersky, the co-founder of Kaspersky Lab, himself is a Russian. Spelling in Russian - Евгений Касперский. If you learn Russian, you will be able to pronounce it correctly.

Listen to the right Kaspersky pronunciation: LISTEN

Eugene Kaspersky (Евгений Касперский)

There are many popular figures who hold East European surnames such as Monica Lewinsky, Dr Robert Polisky, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and last but not least movie character, Detective David Starsky in Starsky & Hutch.

Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Starsky & Hutch

Thursday, February 19, 2009

An evening visit by Azuan Zakaria


It has been a while since Azuan left Research Centre. Azuan, who is currently attached to Petronas owned company, Petlin, came to Prai for an audit work. He dropped by Kulim to visit us. I noticed a change, he isn't skinny as he used to be. Alhamdulellah, finally he gained some weight. This nice cool guy is going to get married on March 16 with a Terengganu girl.
.Azuan, Shams, Razif and me after dinner at Puteri Hang Li Poh Chinese Muslim restaurant

Sunday, February 15, 2009

He teaches me about permission but...

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One day I received an overseas call. It was from my ex-hostel mate (Friend A). We used to study together when we were in the university. He requested a HP number of an old friend (Friend B) that is still studying here, so I promptly gave. When he requested for another one (Friend C), I said I need to check with that old friend (Friend B). So I sent sms to this old friend (Friend B).

This old friend (Friend B) said he cannot give the number without his friend's (Friend C) permission. I just said alhamdulellah in my heart. I did tell him that I will let Friend A knows about his (Friend B) strict rule, so he (Friend A) can get the number by himself. So I replied to Friend A regarding the strict rule Friend B follows. This thing happened somewhere last year and I don't know whether Friend A managed to get Friend C's number from Friend B.

I was wondering why B made it hard since A, B and C are close friends. If it is about the 'permission' as prescribed in our religion, then B does not practice what he preaches. As far as I am concern, B many times uses pirated software perhaps everyday in his life. And what I learned, it is not permissible to copy software without permission from the original author or the copyright holder (ref: Islam QA). Should not we look at ourselves in a mirror before trying to correct others?

Friday, February 13, 2009

Kenapalah nama Melayu sekarang panjang-panjang

Sudah menjadi trend zaman sekarang ini menamakan anak dengan nama-nama yang panjang, yang selalunya terdiri daripada sama ada dua atau tiga nama gabungan (compound names). Misalannya (contoh-contoh ini hanyalah berdasarkan luahan pemikiran saya sahaja):
[1] Siti Melinda Cempakasari binti Muhammad Kusuma Budi
[2] Muhammad Ashraf Zamani bin Muhammad Fahmi
[3] Habibah Sandra Hanim binti Zaid Hussain Habibi

Berdasarkan pengetahuan saya, menamakan anak dengan nama-nama yang panjang-panjang telah menjadi trend di kalangan masyarakat Melayu moden bermula dari pertengahan tahun 80an hingga kini. Saya percaya di kalangan kawan-kawan rapat dan ahli keluarga kita pasti wujud nama-nama panjang seperti ini. Ramai yang memilih untuk menggunakan nama ala-ala Arab, Iran mahupun Turki. Sedap katanya. Maka ramailah ahli keluarga terutama golongan veteran yang berlawan-lawan untuk menamakan anak-anak dengan nama-nama yang panjang. Lagi panjang, maka lagi hebat dan terohorlah keluarga tersebut, agaknya. Bayi-bayi yang lahir itu tidak salah kerana tugas memberi nama itu adalah tanggungjawab ibubapa. Yang jadi masalah bila suami-isteri tak sepakat dalam memberi nama anak tadi. Mak-ayah pula nak nama ini, mak-pak mertua pula nak nama itu. Nanti siapa yang susah? Bukan 'mereka dan keluarga mereka' itu tapi bayi yang bakal membesar itu. Hmm... entahlah.

Menyusahkan

Saya tidak menentang mereka yang suka memberi nama-nama yang panjang ini kerana itu hak masing-masing tapi yang pasti saya sangat TIDAK menyukai nama-nama panjang seperti ini. Mana tidaknya dalam kebanyakkan hal ia memang menyusahkan. Nak isi borang susah. Nak panggil nama susah. Nak tulis ringkasan nama pada artikel ilmiah pun susah. Setakat ini tidak pernahpun mereka yang memberi nama panjang itu memanggil anak dengan nama penuh sebagaimana yang diberikan, malah disingkat-singkatkan lagi sehingga hilang maknanya. Misalannya Siti Melinda Cempakasari, sudah tentu ada yang panggil Siti, ada yang memanggil Melinda atau Linda, ada juga yang memanggil Cempaka atau Sari. Yang mana satu ni? Malah ada juga yang meringkaskan lagi menjadi Ti. Manakala Muhammad Ashraf Zamani pula dipanggil Ashraf atau Zamani atau Zam, sesetengah pula meringkaskan lagi menjadi Ash atau Mat Ash. Tidak kurang yang ibubapa yang memberi jolokan manja kepada anak mereka seperti Ucuk, 'Aad, Cha, Liz dan sebagainya. Adoi, gawat sungguh!

Panggillah dengan nama penuh

Kepada ibubapa, sepatutnya nama yang elok dari segi maknanya, panggillah dengan nama yang penuh. Apa salahnya, kalau tidak jangan bagi nama panjang-panjang. Ramai yang memilih untuk menamakan anak berserta nama Muhammad (محمد) bagi mendapat barakah penggunaan nama nabi kita. Baguslah kerana niat yang baik itu tapi perlu diingat cucu-cucu nabi sendiri, iaitu Hasan (حسن)dan Hussain (حسين) tidak dinamakan 'Muhammad Hasan' atau 'Muhammad Hussain'. Kenapa ya?

Lagipun berapa ramai ibubapa yang memanggil anak dengan nama penuh 'Muhammad Si Polan'? Jadi fikir-fikirkanlah.

Yang paling penting kita kena jaga akhlak kita. Apa guna mempunyai nama yang panjang berjela yang baik maknanya tetapi berakhlak buruk.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Celcom data rate performance: My experience

.I started using Celcom Wireless Broadband since 28 October 2008. Being at home in Taiping only in the weekend, Saturday-Sunday, having a non-mobile internet service such as TMNet Streamyx is definitely a waste. Therefore switching from TMNet Streamyx to Celcom Wireless Broadband could probably a good decision I have made. Many friends ask me on the Celcom Wireless performance, whether it is worth it to buy. Well, this is my experience:

At my locality in Taiping, the transfer rate for my internet access is under UMTS mode, and when connected, the transfer rate goes to HSDPA mode. At Kulim Hi-Tech, the wireless internet access speed is similar, i.e. UMTS-HSDPA. I found the transfer rate of my Celcom Wireless Broadband@384 Kbs is comparable to my previous streamyx@512 Kbs. The top uploading and downloading rate can reach up to 128 and 384 Kbs respectively. I can play youtube videos and download those huge files, within the standard of 3G signal. Sadly at my rental house area in Taman Mutiara, Karangan, the transfer rate for my internet access goes down to GPRS mode (2G). Celcom should consider upgrading its transmitting signal here since Taman Mutiara is just 8 km away from Kulim Hi-Tech. Furthermore, many dwellers are working in Kulim Hi-Tech. At my village in Kampung Dong, Pahang, the signal is transmitted under EDGE mode. Although 2G but it is still faster than GPRS. Let me summarize my findings:

And last but not least, selection of modem is an important factor for getting a good quality transmission, I use Vodafone USB Modem Model E220.

Note:
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service (2G)
EDGE - Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (2.75G)
UMTS - Universal Media Transmitting Signal (3G)
HSDPA - High Speed Downlink Packet Access (3G)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Protest against Israel and US in Kuala Lumpur

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Protest against Israel and Israeli great protector USA has been a worldwide protest. Apart from the Middle East, the rally against Israel also mounted in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and other Asia-Pacific countries. This was what happened near US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.


Protest in front of the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur
(as reported by OneTV Indonesia)


(as reported by The Star Malaysia)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Muzik 60-an kutip dana Palestin... Tolong jangan mengarut !

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Malam Amal Irama Muzik 60-an kutip dana Palestin
(The 60's Music Charity
Night for Palestine)

KUALA LUMPUR 3 Feb. - Konsert 'Malam Amal Irama Muzik 60-an... Untukmu Gaza' yang akan diadakan pada 6 Februari ini dijangka dapat mengumpulkan sejumlah besar dana bagi mengisi tabung rakyat Palestin.

Rektor Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara), Datuk Omar Awang berkata, konsert itu dianjurkan dengan kerjasama Radio Klasik Nasional dan Majlis Muzik Malaysia (MMM) buat julung kalinya.

"Konsert itu akan dibahagikan kepada tiga segmen di mana segmen pertama adalah persembahan gerak tari, bacaan puisi dan pantomin memaparkan kesengsaraan penduduk Palestin, segmen kedua adalah persembahan lagu-lagu 60-an oleh pelajar Aswara.

"Kemuncak segmen adalah persembahan artis-artis zaman 60-an yang akan menyampaikan lagu-lagu popular mereka.


Apa ini semua? Secara peribadi saya membantah keras penganjuran konsert seperti ini. Tolonglah, banyak lagi cara lain yang halal yang boleh disumbangkan kepada penduduk Palestin. Kenapa perlu mencampur-aduk benda yang haram? Mana mungkin dana seperti ini digunakan untuk membina masjid, rumah-rumah ataupun membeli ubat-ubatan untuk dimakan oleh saudara-saudara seislam kita di Palestin. Kepada saudara seagamaku di Palestin, maafkan kami disebabkan kejahilan segelintir saudara kami di sini.

What is this? Personally I condemn and protest against this charity concert. There are many ways to contribute to Palestine as permitted by our religion. Why need to mix the halal (permitted) and the haram (prohibited)? How could the fund from the concert be used for building mosques, houses or purchasing medicines for our brothers and sisters in Palestine? I am very sure they don't need this kind of 'help'. To my brothers and sisters in Palestine, forgive us for the stupidity of some of my people.

Arrived late to work today

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I left my rental house at around 7.47 am and thought of arriving before 8 am. I get caught in a bumper to bumper traffic after exiting Taman Mutiara for about 1 km. I have a gut feeling there could probably a major accident ahead, in which I was right. Khairuldin, my housemate was about 10 cars behind me. The accident involved a trailer and a van. From what I saw, it's so fatal and I strongly believe somebody could have died. Na'uzubillah..

Deform at the front side of the trailer

View from my car: I can see heavy damage on the van

What I learned today, we must always be cautious on the road. Careful, don't be selfish and think about others too. For Muslims, make doa, inshaAllah khair. I finally arrived at around 9 am.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Singapore proud of cooperation with Israel

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Singapore and Israel have benefited each other through their very close bilateral relations. In 1965, after its separation from Malaysia, Singapore looked to Israel for some lessons in survival. As part of the long-term strategy for international recognition and reputation, Israel extended aid to newly-independent Singapore by sending a mission to help build Singapore's economic and defense policy. Israel's representation in Singapore was first formalized in 1968. Now Singapore is Israeli third most important strategic partner in defense development. Therefore it is far from surprising when Singapore is coined as "The Israel of the East" by the Muslim community of South East Asian nations particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and South Thailand.

Considering the devastating crimes committed by Israel in Palestine, such strategic partnership with Israel from neighbouring country like Singapore is totally NOT acceptable. I was very upset with the establishment of Singapore-Israel Industrial Research Development Foundation (SIIRD). I didn't realize it has been in operation since 1997, don't you?