Dream Vs Reality

Recently, I came to a funny conclusion about life. (Maybe due to excess boredom, the neurone cells are enjoying thoroughly...XD XD..)

Life is about how far u can make ur dreams come true, and how far u can turn reality into your dreams..

I have a friend, who wants to become a movie director. The Dark Knight is his favourite; I have a friend who is interested in opening a concept cafe, but he is not going to tell me his exact plan; I have a friend who goes for bakery course right after SPM; I have a friend who studies tourism and hospitality; and of course, I have a friend who is working right now, striving hard to provide himself a decent life.

I believe each of us has surely thought before that "what if i could.. ". And, I always have the strong belief that, if one person goes according what his mind figured and what his heart whispered, he will succeed in life, be it a small or a big dream.

And, right now I am having 3 dreams. Just match the number given by the genie in Aladdin. =).Strike a flying-colour result. Get a hopeful offer. Snap a pocketful of money.

Will the magic lamp work this time? We shall see it then...:p

记中学生涯之文学篇

零六·5B

铃声响起。入梦时分。

陌生的际遇，皆是相识的开端。挥之不去的回忆，如丝如缕，像青烟，盘绕，旋状似的，随即，散了。飘落的回忆，零零散散，没有一个是有着完美的胴体。犹如被肢解的灵魂，而没有落脚的归属。然而，清晰的情感，让此回忆拼成了一幅永铭心中的画面，勾勒出内心最深处的思念。

四十多只眼睛，疲累地努力打开快要关上闸门的眼皮，望着在这班上唯一拥有发言权的主体。暗地里，则各自以各种手段、招式，掩饰自己，继续发言。有者聚精会神与周公下棋，有者则翻了个筋斗，与悟空遨游天下去了。双瞳的直望，思绪的斜逝，留下空洞的躯壳，盲目地寻找失去的灵魂。俨如古代君王的主体，看在眼里，痛在心里，似乎明白其权威在这现代民主小社会里，起不了什么显著的作用。摇头直叹的君王，暗自偷笑的文武百官，构成了一幕幕回味无穷的片景。

余音，绕着梁子，见证了无数的青春韵味，在正日当空，散发出年少的气色。无知的大展歌喉，愚昧地展现自我。就好像可嘉的勇气，碰上抱歉的嗓音，幽默地在班级里回荡，许久。烦闷的荒岛中，四海逼近的压力，有了音乐的陪伴，才不至于跳海自尽吧。依然搞笑，依然范特西。习惯性地遭人谩骂，却只当着耳边拂过的风，依旧我行我素。实在让人啼笑皆非。曲调的音符，歌声的韵律，随着时间的流逝，像一泓秋水，流入尘封的美好记忆里头。

每回考试降临，都是风起云涌，云起龙骧的历史片段重演之时。从战国的乱世之争，楚汉双雄的争霸天下，到三国鼎立的时代。局势已定。虽说是三国鼎立，却始终让人觉得宛如秦朝独揽春秋霸业的年代。时光的倒流，终究是错觉的片面说辞，实际上是三国鼎立的幻想占据了各自的脑袋，对秦始王的霸业感到厌倦了。毕竟，在胜者为王，败者为寇的会考里，让较为弱小的诸侯们，甚至是春秋五霸也心服口服。无能为力的诸侯，也唯有从反抗到服从，恭敬地以秦为王。

飘逝的岁月，犹如滚滚长江向东流。一去不返。

独一的五乙，无二的同学，永恒地标示着我门这一班的存在。彼此，共患难，共进退，不再需要推敲词囊中的美丽词藻来堆砌。日久了，人心也见。走过的痕迹，谈笑的风声，一一皆被编入了一本名为记忆的册子里。哪怕多少载的春过夏至，秋散冬降，回忆犹新，教室依旧，同学如故。

红阳冉冉升起，又是另一个明天。记忆各散东西。风，徐徐吹拂，嘴角边，咸甜参半。一个梦的结束，却也是43个梦的开始。这里的一切，皆沉淀成记忆的瓮，盛满了情感的鳞片。

铃声响起。梦醒时分。

一切归零。原点。

这篇是为了纪念曾经一起走过中四、中五的同学。刊登于2008年6月17日，星洲日报副刊《后浪》版。

Rule of 72

Today, I read up some economics, poetry and political science books. After a few paragraphs, I can hardly swallow the contents. Liberal arts subjects are far more tougher than I have ever thought.

I came across this knowledge when I study inflation. In fact, it involves many statistical and probability methods to calculate, evaluate and predict the rate of inflation.( OMG...havent reach that far..XD)


Rule of 72: A rule which is used to divide 72 by the percentage of the current inflation, to find out the duration (year) for a material to take to double it's current price.

eg: Percentage of inflation: 10%
If the price of a box of pencils is RM100 at 1990, the time it uses to reach RM200 is :

72/10=7.2 approx. 7 years

Therefore, at 1997, the price for a box of pencils is RM200.

陌生文字

陌生，
无情地徘徊在身旁；
控诉着，
街上的热闹。

寂静的遐想，
竟，
成了，
遥不可及的白日梦。

酣睡中，醒了；
清醒着，醉了。

写着，
一首，
不知所云的
文字排列。

Of Broken Windows and Zero-sum

Lately, I have just read something about law philosophy. And, I came across this concept proposed by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling- "The Broken Windows".

Try to imagine this, there are some broken windows on a dilapidated building. If the windows are not repaired, vandals tend to break more windows. Or, if the building is unoccupied, they may stay inside, and become squatters.

A seemingly small problem, if unresolved, will result in a bigger one.

Zero-Sum
Secondly, I have come across this phrase for many times in commentaries, (but lazy to check it out XD), and when i read something about the competition of globalisation in the 21st century. I found a sarcastically-written story about competition.

Two hunters were chased after by a gigantic bear. Both hunters ran for their lives. At a certain point of time, Hunter A knew that the bear will come after them, as they began to feel tired. He suggested Hunter B that through co-operation, perhaps they have the chance to win the bear.

Hunter B replied, "Why should I run faster than the bear? I just need to run faster than you."

Zero-sum game. A concept which crushes your competitor is the only way to win the game.

Seems cruel huh? Well, if you are observant enough, vivid examples can be taken around you.

不知如何开口的耻辱

身为霹雳子民，第一次感觉到无地自容。就好像原以为那是我们的好朋友，突然神不知鬼不觉下，被捅了一刀，流的血，沾污了彼此的友谊，也将别人的自由赔上了。

我们曾经自豪地说，“民主的里程碑由308开始”，现在，看回头，原来那是民主坟墓的伊始。蓦然回首，竟可悲的嘲笑自己的天真无邪。

那天听了霹雳变天的消息，即和友人谈论此事。谈论之际，“xxx, @$#!"等字眼，竟然成了当时最为贴切的用词。看着霹雳子民个个捶胸顿足的表情，更为愤怒。神圣的一票，在州议员和政党之间的纠葛，竟然显得毫无招架之力。

被誉为现代版的吴三桂，看来，该主角还是蛮享受的。或许比起副议长的身份，她更为欢喜。宁可我负天下人，也决不令天下人负我。作为人民投选出来的代表，竟然做出如此的决定。看来九洞区的选民，看走了眼。

我们后悔了。霹雳子民于万人大集会中，发泄了彼此的不满。可是，在圣旨下，重选无望。一个MB不愿走，一个MB刚上任，造成了一个难堪又尴尬的局面。

在经济风暴的侵袭下，各国都在努力拼经济，以求生存。反观我国，经济状况和学术水平都烂到连阿妈都不认得，却还有闲情搞这些小丑把戏。

哀哉！

心房的书局--一个与写作结缘的故事

那天， 将整本英文版的《最后的演讲》阅毕。突然，很想找回当初为何会投入文学写作领域的感觉。或许是缘分使然，也或许是时机的降临。往电脑文库里寻找一番，终于找回当年第一篇寄至《星洲日报》的稿件。心想，原来，这是我曾经的梦想。

P/S：趁着这悠闲的假期，决定放上来与诸位朋友分享分享。

心房的书局
吾有一友，曾告诉我，我阅读多年，接触过的书不胜枚举，当中有不乏令我爱不释手的，但曾走进过无数的书局中，竞没有一个让我觉得满意。当时，本人阅历尚浅，还未能够亲临其境，不知他是否要求太高呢，还是果真像他所说的一样？今天，我终于明白了。

一个理想的书局，其实都不需要太多的粉饰，而只求一个能让心灵得到慰藉的环境。环顾四周，呈现于眼前的，不乏都是一些拥有华丽的布置，唯独少了那一股书香气息。还有，人来人往的书局，又怎么能让人像《大学》中所提及的“定而后能静，静而后能安”？

而我理想的书局呢，必须拥有一个复古和现代混合体的环境，给人一种穿梭在时间的交错处的感觉，犹如流连在时空中，而忘了时间的流动。墙面则悬挂着毕卡索，梵谷，达文西等名画家的杰作，不需太多，一两幅就足够了。在读者感到疲惫时，能够仰望着一些令人赏心悦目的画作。至于现代感嘛，就是在书局的一角设置一间面积适中的咖啡厅，有着黑褐色的地板，使人有种脚踏实地般的感觉。其目的就是让读者们有个能够交换彼此心得的空间。

此书局也少不了舒适的沙发，好让爱书一族拥有一个良好的环境，埋头于书海之中。最好阳光也能洒在地板上，然后周围摆上一盆盆小花朵，给人一种美丽的错觉，不知身处书局或是花园。还有还有，当人家在阅读时，间断地播放一些柔和的爵士乐曲，让人在尽情地遨游书海之余，也能细细欣赏着喜爱的曲子。

当然，在我理想中的书局里，一定少不了笑容可掬的服务员，以便在书局里的人感受到那份亲切感，不至于在找不到书籍时，而难于启齿。在这样的书局里，想必能让读者感到安心，只因，倘若在浩瀚的书海中迷失了，都会有人给予指引。

然而，理想归理想，能否实现还是个未知数呢！不过，身为一个读书人，只希望当人人在用脑、用眼看书的当儿，也要学会用心去看书。因为，只有用心去看书，才会设立一间有人情味的书局。只因一个书局的好与不好，不是看它有多华丽，或售卖多少本畅销书，而是看它能否为读者提供一个用心读书的空间，不是吗？


刊登于2006年6月29日星洲日报《悦读》副刊版。获得RM50大众书局书卷。

2009- A new year for a piece of old memory

Well, 2009 has stepped in and 2008 waved a warm good-bye. (I know it's pretty late for writing a new year post. XD)
New year opened her veil, bringing in new hopes and dreams, at the same time, marking the end of my 18-months life in UCSI. It has been a tough and uncertain decision when I first went into UCSI, but now it's no more than a unique experience which would certainly be one of the most memorable milestones in my life.
The new acquaintances, the new activities, and the new hopes which weaved the lovely memories, had given me a golden opportunity to expose myself to something I have never met before and to grow individually.
The hope to further my studies abroad has once shattered into pieces. But, after 1.5 years, finally, time healed the wounds. I gathered the sadness and disappoinment, wiped off the tears-stained face, and rose up to look everything in life from a positive perspective.
I would like to share the personal encounters which had touched my souls and minds during these 18 months.

1. MSLS(Malaysian Student Leaders Summit) 2008. A spectacular event which totally opened my eyes and gave me an initial shock. This is a platform for all overseas and local Malaysian students to gather and discuss the most crucial and critical topics, like 'glass-wall apartheid', Corruption, Education and Judiciary Crisis and etc. This platform actually attracted graduates from top-notch universities like those which are well-known across the globe, Harvard, Princeton, Cambridge, Imperial and the list goes on.
Moral of the story: "The altitude in life is not just as high as the sky in Malaysia."

2. Global Peace Festival 2008. A 3-days event which comprised the assembly of international students, voluntary service and concert performance. This is the first time I have seen a man who not only embraces his life with great ambitions, but as well put it into action. Dr Hyun, a Korean guy who wants to build a dream based upon the slogan, "One family under God".
Moral of the story: "Life is not just about results. But is achieving and contributing back to the socitey."

3. Red-tape on management of a single issue across departments. This is one personal experience which I black-listed UCSI as "a university par Malaysian government". I registered late for my A-levels July intake due to some reasons. So, the person in charge told me to appeal for the scholarships which was given out based on my SPM results. I followed the procedure. No news since then. I was quite frustrated and kept on following up the results of my appeal through the finance department for about 6 months. (Do they really have so much appeal cases to be handled?) And, so I got the same answer everytime I went there. "The board has to discuss your case. You will hear from us again." When it was about February 08, my father suggested me to write one short notice that said "if no news heard within a week or two, I would like to meet up with your finance director to know what's the reason which take the board to discuss for such a long period of time". And, guess what, I heard from them the NEXT DAY. "Congratulations Mr. Phang. Your appeal for the UCSI scholarships is successful."
Moral of the story: You got to heat their butts up to get them done with their jobs.

Stay tuned for more great stories to be shared...=)

R.AGE March Forward Aftermath

23^rd of November. It’s an ordinary Sunday, but at the same time, unlike the others.

I have taken part in a workshop organized by the R.AGE The Star, entitled ‘The March Forward’. At first, what goes in my mind was, ‘hmm, will this workshop be some boring, long-winded lectures? No..It’s Sunday..this is the only day which I can sleep without listening to the stupid alarm clock!”. However, with the continuous encouragement and persuasion from my parents, finally I decided to give it a chance, by sacrificing my lovely Sunday.

You know, sometimes life just gives you a twist, and a surprise will just leaps out right from the corner. For instance, this workshop is the most vivid example I could possibly give. I went there with an exhausting body, as I had to take a taxi from Cheras, all the way to Menara Star. As my trial exam is approaching soon, I actually didn’t have enough of sleep when I had to wake up as early as 7am. Nevertheless, I would say that this is one of the best workshops I have ever attended.

The workshop kicked off with the very first session, “Leadership is YOU”, conducted by an awesome and eloquent speaker, Mr. Roshan. There was something special which I would like to note down. Usually, discussion about leadership-building will begin with the jaw-dropping achievements of the speaker; whilst for this, Mr. Roshan started with his failures. Yes, you got it right. FAILURES. He said something significant about failures, “Why do we fall? So that we could pick ourselves up. Only through failures, we will be able to learn the lessons and morals, and grow up by knowing what are the mistakes which we have made, and avoiding them in the future”.

Then, he continued with the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which is a characteristics-testing module. He explained that we as human will make preferences in our attitudes and thinking. He gave us a simple test, by asking us to write our names with the hand we are most comfortable in. After that, write with the other hand (If you started with your right hand, then now use left hand, and vice-versa). Then he asked, “Could you read both handwritings?” “Yes, sure” answered us in unanimous. “If you guys start to practice with your most uncomfortable hand, in 5 or 10 years time, can you write as good as your comfortable hand? Yes, you can. Same goes with characters. You might prefer to be an introvert, but when there is time requires you to speak up, you have to be bold and confident enough. This is an extrovert characteristic. There is no right and wrong here. But, you got to learn to balance to be successful in life as both characteristics have the positive sides.”

First session was so encouraging and exciting. My heart began to feel happy as the willingness to come began to triumph over the laziness of waking up in a Sunday morning.

Second session was conducted by a humourous image consultant, Ms. Wendy Lee. She began by calling up some of the participants to the small stage and asked us to give them the role they could play based on their outer appearances. Surprisingly, we actually judged a person within seconds and co-related a person’s outer image with his/her profession, or even characteristics. She shared about tips and tricks on grooming ourselves well when we are about to attempt for job opportunities. She even told us, “When you don’t pay attention on your image, no matter how good you are, the employer-to-be will eventually leave a bad first impression and sub-consciously find faults on you”.

For me, this session had given me a great impact and somehow cleared up my doubts and ignorance in image-building. I was shocked when I heard that our first impression could actually be a determining factor in job interviews, promotion, and even salary increments.

Thirdly, it was a session about acing an interview and polishing up resume-writing skill. I had been wondering for a long time on the recipes to write an eye-catching resume and the dos and don’ts during an interview. Therefore, I anticipated this session when I came to the workshop. There was a mock interview between Hui Ming, an ex-employee of General Electric’s and a participant. After the brief interview, she told us what we should avoid when we are in the process, such as raising the issue of salary during an interview and nervous whenever a question is asked. Talking about resume, there are no rigid rules which we should really abide by. We ought to put up our strengths before our weaknesses, so that we could leave a good impression.

Last but not least, we did have a game. We were divided into six groups, each with 9 people. I was elected to become the group leader and led them to play the game. We were instructed to build a strong and tall building. However, at the middle of the game, some additional tasks were given. Although in the end our structure collapsed, we actually learnt a lot from this game itself. For instance, the ‘additional tasks’, as explained by the game coordinator, Hui Ming, were some attractions appeared in the middle of your efforts towards realizing your main goals. Many fresh graduates had actually sidelined their main goals due to those ‘extra tasks’ and eventually couldn’t meet the employer’s expectation.

In conclusion, this Sunday would not be meaningful had I not come to this workshop. For me, it was pretty worthwhile to sacrifice a Sunday, but be better-prepared for tomorrow.

专才与30%的感想

专才与30%的感想
阅读了明意的《30%的迷思》，和鹏程的《以诚意留住专才》，心中突感纳闷。其实，不用明说，大家也心知肚明，若要留住专才，那所需的诚意，首先就是摒弃30%的迷思。
文中提到，前首相敦马哈迪所发表的“有脑、无脑论”，笔者这里发表下个人之浅见。前阵子读到了快乐星期天的专题-“回流”，看到杨丕亮医生在爱尔兰闯出了一番事业，并且还获得激光名医的赏识。可是，当他回国后，却遭受到不怎么令人满意和愉快的制度与工作环境。专才遭到国内种种的限制，又怎能把责任统统推给肯回国服务的人才？
此外，明意也提到，许多的外国公司，也因为我国存在着某些“特殊国情根基”，而必须保护某方的利益，而宁愿到领国去。在全球化的冲击下，每个国家皆注重外资的注入，并且致力引进外国专才，以带动国内各领域的发展。令人啼笑皆非的的是，我国竟为了保护国人，而坚持不引进外国专家来大马，反之，则引进熟练与半熟练的外劳。犹记得《家好月圆》里，荷妈说过，“棒下出孝子”。这句话，若放在仍然摆脱不了“拐杖文化”的国度里，依然管用。
上一回，笔者还在网上，（boston.com）里阅读了篇关于美国顶级大学如，哈佛、耶鲁、和史丹福皆为了竞相获得优秀学生，派代表到中国大陆，举办数学和物理、生物、化学等比赛。哈佛入学遴选官员，威廉还说，“这是让我们的学生知道，现在的教育，是要和全世界的学生竞争”。所以，当我们还在质疑英国泰晤士的世界大学排名时，我们还需要想，为何我国专才会宁愿出国发展吗？
当我们看见玛拉工艺大学连10%的学额都不要开放给非土著，我们还奢望我国的教育水平可以到达什么程度？
当我们看见一个个专才离开大马，到国外发展，我们可曾想过，是他们不爱国，自私自利，抑或是国家先是抛弃了他们，而伤心离别？
当我们看见邻国在进步，外资不断涌入，我们又有想过，为什么我们拥有那么多天然资源，那么多土地，为何依然落人后？
当我们正懊恼如何提升国内金融体系，为什么没想过我们曾拱手让出了许多精英给外国？
但愿，在最近UPSR高中状元的学弟、妹们，不会是将来在报章上控诉公共服务局的优秀生。

刊登于2008年11月20日星洲日报《言论》版