Class of 2009

A special portraiture dedicated to 'Class of 2009'-Bunch of fine men and women. They are graduating soon. I wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Be good out there guys!

More photos can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanzler/sets/72157614262909769/

To the late Noorazrim Ismail, May Allah Bless Your Soul.

Noorazrim Ismail, my friend, my student has passed away late afternoon on February 10th, 2009. Didn't believe the news at first until i saw his 'jenazah' at the HKL Forensic Department. Suddenly it was all so real. The news shocked everybody who knew him.

On tuesday February 11th 'the jenazah' of Azrim was laid to rest at Klang Gate Muslim cemetry. The turn out shown how deeply his lost has affected every living soul in QS and KAED community. Noorazrim had a family to feed yet he still regarded himself as a person who was always seeking knowledge from Allah the Almighty. He has spent his remaining years as a student. You have graduated my friend! May Allah Bless Your Soul. So long brother, you have gone before me. It has been an honour to know and to be a lecturer to such a dedicated human being just like you. Graduation of 2009 is specially for you!

Kesan Kegawatan Ekonomi Pertama Yang Ku Alami!

Keadaan yang tidak menentu sekarang ini seperti yang dipaparkan di dada akhbar dan tv sedikit sebanyak memberi kesan kepada kehidupan manusia. Kes tutup kedai sana sini, pengangguran semakin meningkat, harga barang tidak menentu, keyakinan terhadap pasaran menurun dan sebagainya. Liverpool pun kalah lagi. (Aik takda kena mengena). Tapi tak apa. Dengan berita berita seperti ini setidak-tidaknya mempengaruhi manusia alam sejagat yang ingin meneruskan kehidupan. Masyarakat akar umbi yang bergantung kepada mata pencarian menerusi pekerjaan-pekerjaaan yang mana terlibat dengan pasaran dunia akan mengalami kesan kegawatan ini secara langsung. Kilang tutup maa!! Adus kasihan juga bunyinya. Tapi apakan daya. Kita hanya mampu melihat dan mendengar sahaja.

Namun dengan tidak semena-mena aku telah sipi-sipi terkesan dengan kegawatan yang menimpa ini. Adakah aku dibuang kerja? Oh tidak. Ya Allah jangan lah jadi begitu ya. Adakah aku tak cukup makan? Oh aku hari-hari aku ditimpa kekenyangan yang melampau. Adakah anak bini kelaparan. Oh sekali-sekali tidak. Hanya isteri ku tercinta yang tak mahu makan. Diet agaknya. So apakah sebenarnya yang gawat buat diri ku?.

Takda pun. Sikit-sikit terkesan dengan harga minyak je. Yang lain alhamdulillah setakat ini.

Cuma yang aku ingin kasi tahu dekat sini ialah aku telah hampir-hampir berjumpa dengan orang yang telah dilanda kegawatan dan aku nyaris memukulnya dengan kayu golf ku. Agak agaknya dia mengalami masalah kewangan dan sumber pencarian telah tiada lagi. Mungkin dia seorang yang terdesak ketika itu. Mungkin dia seorang businessman yang telah pun bankrap. Mungkin juga bos dia tidak membayar gajinya. Apa pun andaianku, sesungguhnya dia lah manusia yang bergelar pencuri. Dia cuba masuk kerumah ku dua malam lepas melalui atap rumah kira-kira pada pukul 4.30 pagi ketika aku dan ahli keluarga ku sedang tidur nyenyak.

Suasana menjadi kompius apabila jiran sebelah ku menelifon handphone isteri ku di pagi buta. Jiran tu pompuan. Seorang amoi tinggal dengan akaknya yang juga amoi. Kakaknya tiada dirumah kerana outstation agaknya. Kami dikejutkan dengan deringan handphone dan car alarm berbunyi dengan kuatnya. Aku meluru ke pintu hadapan. Jiran ku sudah kat luar memegang torchlight sambil panik dia berkata-kata "Aiyyaa.. you tatak denga ka itu olang ada atas bumbung! Ada penculi oo!. Aku bergegas mencari apa yang patut, kayu golf ku menjadi mangsa. Iron 9!! Kebetulan semua tidur di tingkat bawah jadi agak sedikit gelap ditingkat satu. Wadus sungguh menggigil badan ku menolak pintu bilik di atas. Dengan berbekalkan doa dan kayu golf 'Iron 9' aku memberanikan diri menerjah pintu bilik air master bedroom ala-ala "american gangsters" heronya russell crowe. Namun apa yang ku jumpa hanyalah bayang-bayang orang memegang kayu golf seperti ala-ala macam aku. Oh rupa-rupanya aku nampak diri ku sendiri dalam cermin bilik air. Terdetik dalam hatiku, macho juga mamat ni.

Mungkin dia sudah lari. Beberapa minit kemudian, polis datang dengan 4 buah kereta peronda! Waja 1.6 enjin campro baru. Siap pumpgun bagai. Mereka memeriksa seluruh rumah aku dan jiran aku tadi. Gagal. Dia sudah menghilangkan diri agaknya. Terdapat kesan-kesan retakan pada siling bumbung. Ada juga retakan yang polis sendiri buat hasil jolokan-jolokan pumpgun pada siling rumah jiranku.
Begitulah kesudahannya. Pencurinya tak juga ditemui.!

Conclusion nye, memang real kesan ekonomi terhadap kehidupan kita. Kita mungkin tidak mengenali sipencuri itu, namun aku yakin dia seorang manusia biasa yang terdesak sehingga sanggup masuk ikut atap pulak tu. Manusia akan melakukan apa sahaja ketika terdesak. Tinggi risiko yang dihadapinya. Berkemungkinan dia menemui labah-labah, lipan, cicak dan sebagainya atau jatuh tergolek dlm longkang belakang rumah ku. Namun itulah kehidupan. Aku tidak ingin menilai perbuatannya. Allah saja yang tahu! Barangkali kesempitan hidup memaksa dia berbuat begitu. Ini adalah salah satu kesan apabila sifat dunia hari ini yang semakin menekan melahirkan satu keadaan dimana kebatilan mengatasi segalanya. Kepada sang pencuri aku berharap agar kamu mengetahui apa yang kamu lakukan. Adililah diri kamu.!! Tapi kalau lah engkau datang lagi, nescaya dengan beg-beg golf akan ku baling nanti! Wallahualam.

Torres is Back, Keane is leaving!!

Torres is back yeah!

Jimmy Rice 02 February 2009
Source : http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163108090202-1618.htm

The Reds completed a double over Chelsea on Sunday for the first time in almost 20 years. With Manchester United dispatched at Anfield earlier in the season, and credible draws gained at Villa Park and the Emirates, Benitez has yet to taste defeat by a title rival this term. The Spaniard said: "We knew this was a game we had to win. With Manchester United beating Everton on Saturday the gap was five points and we just had to take three points. "Now every single game is important, but especially against teams who are close to us at the top of the table. "It gives us more confidence. It was also important to end the run of draws we have had. If you are talking about winning the title, every single point is important and drawing games always costs you two points. "Now we are happy, the confidence is high and we must keep winning. But even though we have beaten Chelsea, we must win the next one as well, and keep going from there. "What is important though is that we have not lost this season to any of the teams who are at the top with us. That is very important. "That is the key point If you want to be contenders and want to be closer to the title." (Benitez)

Meanwhile .....

Paul Rogers 02 February 2009
Source : http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163110090202-1800.htm

Having not been involved in Sunday's dramatic victory over Chelsea at Anfield, Keane travelled down to London on Monday morning after the Reds granted him permission to speak to Spurs officials. Once a fee was agreed between the two clubs ahead of the 5pm closure of the transfer window, it was then up to the player himself to pass a medical and agree personal terms with Spurs before the deal could be officially completed. Confirmation of this came just after 5.30pm when Tottenham Hotspur announced the transfer was a done deal. Speaking to the official Tottenham Hotspur website, Keane said: "It was a difficult decision to make to leave Tottenham in the summer. It proved not to be the right move for me. I know some Spurs fans will feel I let them down by leaving but I can assure them I shall be giving my all for this Club. This Club has terrific fans and I want to repay them for all their support. We've got to get on and fight our way up that league table."

So long keano !

A Song For Gaza by Michael Heart

WE WILL NOT GO DOWN (Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)
Copyright 2009

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who’s wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Lecturers All Stars vs The Rest of the World

Pada satu hari Ahad yang panas terik, satu pasukan bola futsal bergelar "Lecturers All Stars" turun padang menyertai pertandingan Futsal Remaja Kebangsaan Quest 2009. Lecturers All Stars dibintangi oleh beberapa pemain berbisa Hanzler, Jessie, Khulio, Ajey, Shakey, McDee (bukan nama-nama sebenar) and one import Irish counterpart Ayah SiHakim telah berhempas pulas perut, peha dan sebagainya mengejutkan pihak lawan dengan aksi-aksi yg menarik memukau penonton seramai 13 juta orang. Dengan berbekalkan pengalaman yang ada team the Stars memang sukar ditandingi dari segi gaya dan gebang mereka. Namun apakan daya team all stars berjaya mengekalkan rekod tanpa menang sepanjang permainan. Walaupun team allstars merasakan mereka disabotaj dari segi masa perlawanan dan juga sogokan meehun berminyak bertujuan melemahkan kuasa fizikal yg sepatutnya mantap tetap merasakan pengalaman ini sungguh berbaloi. Dengan berakhirnya perlawanan Team AllStars berasa bangga yang amat kerana dapat meletakkan tahap kecerdasan mereka sama taraf dengan tahap kecerdasan remaja kebangsaan Quest terutamanya apabila dalam game 2nd last team allstars seri 1-1 dengan alumni quest yang dibintangi oleh pemain kononnya berbisa seperti Amirulbalingkedah. Kesudahan perlawanan team allstars kalah 4 kali dan seri 1 kali. Rekod ini sememangnya membanggakan.

Dalam 5 perlawanan sengit Lecturers AllStars bertembung dengan pasukan pasukan yang mantap dari seluruh pelusuk dunia. Namun tentangan sengit tetap diberikan walaupun bergelar pasukan 'underdog'. Pasukan musuh kadang-kadang terpaku dengan aksi hebat pemain allstars.

Penyerang allstars Jessie berjaya memikat hati penonton dengan aksi kungfu kick angin yg sememangnya berniat untuk merembat bola dengan deras tetapi malangnya tidak kena pula. Jessie terpusing kepeningan bingung dengan apa yang terjadi.

Gaya si Shakey apa kurangnya apabila beliau menunjukkan skill skill yg bermutu tinggi 'out of this world' dengan menyepak atau tersepak kaki kaki penyerang musuh. Nasib baik beliau tidak memakai senjata rahsia beliau iaitu boot askar yang dipakainya tahun lalu.

Hanzler seorang lagi penyerang berbisa all stars memaparkan larian larian yang dalam hati beliau terasa laju sungguh namun jika diperhatikan diluar gelanggang seperti kura kura berlari dengan slow motionnya. Rembatan beliau yang kencang ternyata tidak dapat diselamatkan oleh keeper keeper pihak musuh oleh kerana kelajuan rembatannya yang amat dashat sekali tetapi apakan daya, selalunya tersasar dari target.

Khulio, pula menggunakan kuasa aura jeritan ala remaja wanita mengelirukan pihak musuh yg sememangnya keliru. Aksi climax khulio ternyata berkesan apabila beliau menggunakan kuasa terbang tergolek bak gajah jatuh terguling dan tidak bangun bangun lagi.

Ajey the old timer ternyata sukar ditandingi. Aksi gaya 'fast feet' beliau memukau musuh dan agak mengelirukan. Kaki beliau bergerak pantas bak pantasnya kilat tapi bola tak juga bergerak kerana sepakan beliau jarang mengena sebenarnya. Namun kehadiran beliau sebagai 'old timer' dlm skuad 5 bintang ini memberi makna yang cukup besar dan memotivasikan pemain-pemain allstars yang lain.

Ayah sihakim 'The Irish Guy' dengan status import paling murah dibeli oleh kelab ini berjaya menunjukkan prestasi cemerlang dengan beraksi dlm pelbagai position. Ternyata cubaan beliau sebagai goalie tidaklah menjadi seperti yang diharapkan. Byk butir gol juga terlepas begitu sahaja. Apabila di temuramah oleh pihak media alasan yang diberikan ialah beliau tidak dapat menyesuaikan diri dgn cuaca malaysia yang agak panas berbanding dengan Irish weather yg sememangnya nyaman dan sejuk.

McDee, kali ini pula agak mengecewakan kerana beliau sedang bergelut dengan masalah disiplin. McDee tiba lewat ke tempat perlawanan. Khabarnya beliau tertinggal flight dari London dan terpaksa berkejar ke tempat kejadian dengan menaiki submarine. McDee menyerlah dalam perlawanan pertama beliau dengan beberapa 'save' yang mengancam serta terbangan terbangan yang tak sepatutnya dilakukan kerana bola sudah out pun sebenarnya. Mungkin kerana dia pentingkan kualiti gaya dari segalanya.

Setelah berakhirnya 5 perlawanan Team Allstars terpaksa akur. Mereka gagal ke peringkat seterusnya. Walaubagaimana pun team ini akan muncul lagi diperlawanan peringkat antarabangsa. Menurut sumber-sumber yang boleh dipercayai. Lecturers All Stars akan mengorak langkah membeli jersi baru sebagai persiapan menghadapi perlawanan diperingkat Asia nanti. Kepulangan team Lecturers All Stars amatlah dinantikan oleh peminat-peminat sukan bola sepak tanahair. Tunggu sahaja perkembangan terbaru mereka.

Interesting Article No. 1

I saw the article in malay version by Zaini Hassan (Utusan Malaysia, Wednesday, 14th January 2009). I decided to keep this piece of brilliant writing forever as reminder. With that I managed to track the original source from www.masada2000.org/Powerful-Jews.html written by Dr. Farrukh Saleem an Islamabad-based freelance columnist. Interesting and therefore I quote :

WHY ARE JEWS SO POWERFUL?
There are only 14 million Jews in the world; seven million in the Americas , five million in Asia, two million in Europe and 100,000 in Africa . For every single Jew in the world there are 100 Muslims. Yet, Jews are more than a hundred times more powerful than all the Muslims put together. Ever wondered why?
Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish. Albert Einstein, the most influential scientist of all time and TIME magazine's 'Person of the Century', was a Jew. Sigmund Freud -- id, ego, superego -- the father of psychoanalysis was a Jew. So were Paul Samuelson and Milton Friedman.
Here are a few other Jews whose intellectual output has enriched the whole humanity: Benjamin Rubin gave humanity the vaccinating needle. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine. Alert Sabin developed the improved live polio vaccine. Gertrude Elion gave us a leukaemia fighting drug. Baruch Blumberg developed the vaccination for Hepatitis B. Paul Ehrlich discovered a treatment for syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease). Elie Metchnikoff won a Nobel Prize in infectious diseases.
Bernard Katz won a Nobel Prize in neuromuscular transmission. Andrew Schally won a Nobel in endocrinology (disorders of the endocrine system; diabetes, hyperthyroidism). Aaron Beck founded Cognitive Therapy (psychotherapy to treat mental disorders, depression and phobias). Gregory Pincus developed the first oral contraceptive pill. George Wald won a Nobel for furthering our understanding of the human eye. Stanley Cohen won a Nobel in embryology (study of embryos and their development). Willem Kolff came up with the kidney dialysis machine.
Over the past 105 years, 14 million Jews have won 15-dozen Nobel Prizes while only three Nobel Prizes have been won by 1.4 billion Muslims (other than Peace Prizes).
Why are Jews so powerful? Stanley Mezor invented the first micro-processing chip. Leo Szilard developed the first nuclear chain reactor. Peter Schultz, optical fibre cable; Charles Adler, traffic lights; Benno Strauss, Stainless steel; Isador Kisee, sound movies; Emile Berliner, telephone microphone and Charles Ginsburg, videotape recorder.
Famous financiers in the business world who belong to Jewish faith include Ralph Lauren (Polo), Levis Strauss (Levi's Jeans), Howard Schultz (Starbuck's), Sergey Brin (Google), Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Larry Ellison (Oracle), Donna Karan (DKNY), Irv Robbins (Baskins & Robbins) and Bill Rosenberg (Dunkin Donuts).
Richard Levin, President of Yale University, is a Jew. So are Henry Kissinger (American secretary of state), Alan Greenspan (fed chairman under Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush), Joseph Lieberman, Maxim Litvinov (USSR foreign Minister), David Marshal (Singapore's first chief minister), Issac Isaacs (governor-general of Australia), Benjamin Disraeli (British statesman and author), Yevgeny Primakov (Russian PM), Barry Gold water, Jorge Sampaio (president of Portugal), John Deutsch (CIA director), Herb Gray (Canadian deputy PM), Pierre Mendes (French PM), Michael Howard (British home secretary) and Robert Rubin (American secretary of treasury).
In the media, famous Jews include Wolf Blitzer ( CNN ), Barbara Walters (ABC News), Eugene Meyer ( Washington Post ), Henry Grunwald (editor-in-chief Time), Katherine Graham (publisher of The Washington Post ), Joseph Lelyyeld (Executive editor, The New York Times), and Max Frankel (New York Times).
At the Olympics, Mark Spitz set a record of sorts by wining seven gold medals. Lenny Krayzelburg is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Spitz, Krayzelburg and Boris Becker are all Jewish.
Did you know that Harrison Ford, George Burns, Tony Curtis, Charles Bronson, Sandra Bullock, Billy Crystal, Paul Newman, Peter Sellers, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Douglas, Ben Kingsley, Kirk Douglas, Cary Grant, William Shatner, Jerry Lewis and Peter Falk are all Jewish? As a matter of fact, Hollywood itself was founded by a Jew. Among directors and producers, Steven Spielberg, Mel Brooks, Oliver Stone, Aaron Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210), Neil Simon (The Odd Couple), Andrew Vaina (Rambo 1/2/3), Michael Man (Starsky and Hutch), Milos Forman (One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest), Douglas Fairbanks (The thief of Baghdad) and Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) are all Jewish.
To be certain, Washington is the capital that matters and in Washington the lobby that matters is The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. Washington knows that if PM Ehud Olmert were to discover that the earth is flat, AIPAC will make the 109th Congress pass a resolution congratulating Olmert on his discovery.
William James Sidis, with an IQ of 250-300, is the brightest human who ever existed. Guess what faith did he belong to?
So, why are Jews so powerful? Answer: Education.

For the malay version by Zaini Hassan, here is the link http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0114&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_06.htm