AloneinHome.com

Planning Talk by Ms. Alison Brown

alone — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:42:48 PST

Ms. Alison Brown giving her talk. In front of her is Dr. Rustam,
Head of Department for Dept. Urban & Regional Planning

I attended a talk on planning today. The talk was presented by Ms. Alison Brown from Cardiff University. The talk separated into three parts - ‘Planning for London‘, discussion on planning in KL & London, followed by ‘Urban Policies & The Right to The City‘.

An interesting talk. And there are some important points that had been raised through this 2-hours talk.

Planning for London

In this part, Ms. Alison Brown explained the development of London starting from its history, the mayors, as well as the existing and future projects. I feel impressed with the development of Dockland and London Heathrow Terminal 5 where these projects could give a significant impact to their surroundings although facing some critics at their early stages. One more - she mentioned about the use of ’space syntax’ in the pedestrianization in Trafalgar Squares in order to increase pedestrian movements. Something new for me

Discussion: Planning in KL & London

KL & London basically got some similarities in term of planning ideas however there are some key differences especially when dealing with the authority that manages the development of the city. It brought us to planning & politics in Malaysia where in some places - politicians are the one who determine the development, not the planners. The part of National or Local Plan had been followed - in case it’s in conjunction with the political agenda. Well, that’s fact. Some other points quite related to politics such as the Mayor’s position - the one that should be elected by the people, not been chosen by any party.

The Right to The City

This part is quite complicated (for me). Ms. Alison Brown also involved in UNESCO programs and.. about this thing.. maybe I have to read more about this. But it’s interesting where (from my understanding) we humans have to give the right to the city so the city could provide us with a better living environment. So there are some sort of policies and projects to reach the objectives that is for the better urban future. Maybe you have something to say about this, just surf to UN-HABITAT forums and join the forum there.

——————-

Actually I rushed to the talk in order to get the seat but there were a lot more chairs than people until the end of the talk. I realized that attending seminar & talks is a great way to enhance the add-on values in myself so that’s what I wanna implement in myself right now. Well, I was too afraid to say something, asking questions or giving any opinions so I believe attending more seminars & talks will make me used to it and be more brave when discussing or giving my opinions.

Gsoh. It’s long! Btw, there is a talk on Economic Revolution on Dirham & Dinar on this coming Tuesday (10th Nov 2009) but I have final paper on that day. Well, maybe next time.

I’m creating a new hobby for myself - Attending talks & seminars! How is it?

The Surrogates?

alone — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:06:25 PST

Have you ever watch the movie Surrogates?

Yep. The fictional movie set in 2017 where humans stay in home while their surrogates doing all the works out there - no risk of harming or die from accidents or crime.

So what?

..how about making this surrogacy a real thing?

No harm. No crime. No fear. No risk. We could have an ideal world through these surrogates. We can live in home - relax on our stim chairs while the other ‘body’ of us going out there - working, shopping and do all the things that comes inside our minds. Nice!

Agent Greer & Peters in the movie Surrogates

Sincerely I watched Surrogates for 5 times and above (currently). Maybe because of the interesting storyline and maybe because I love the idea of surrogacy in the movie itself. Relax in home while having the life outside. Plus, you got different appearance outside - the better appearance of yours. Young figures occupy the street! Gosh. It’s cool!

The Stim Chair

Well, there’s some sort some of contras.

No ‘real’ connections
Surrogacy might be used for evil purposes.
‘You’ are not you.

Whatever it is, it’s fictional. I just love the ideas. Watch Surrogates if you never watch it. Because the idea is cool! 9/10 for Surrogates!

A Moment of Regret?

alone — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:53:34 PDT

It’s a long time. Yep, a long time.

And I really have to blame myself for this

Is it a moment of regret?

It’s like I left all my blogs dead. And yes, I feel regret for it. I can’t blame the walking time. I can’t blame the pressuring works. The one that I wanna blame right now is ~ myself. I keep procrastinating all the works until the last minute. Blogging? Gosh. A lot of things to write. But I kill the spirit of writing with my damn laziness.

I really hate this. The bad habit in me.

Anyway, instead of being lazy updating the blogs, I still Facebooking as my daily habit. Yup, I’m addicted to FB. Gosh.

There’s lot of things happened lately. OK, I’m listing it.

My dad been admitted into ward. Metro Specialist Centre. “Batu karang”. So painful, he said. Dad, I hope you get well soon.
Got engaged. I feel it’s better than just being friends =)
Had presented the final presentation. Alhamdulillah, not bad at all.

I need to bring myself back on track. Yep, it’s a moment of regret but the thing that doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. The subjects is quite hard and the final exam is around the corner so I have to try my best.

23rd October 2009 is my birthday. Happy Belated Birthday, Alone =)

* I’m trying to update more frequently. I’ll try. InsyaAllah =p

Having Add-on

alone — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:49:33 PDT

*A human trying to fold the huge paper. Nice pic.

Sometimes I feel that I keep postponing this and that. And that’s really really bad. I guess I could done a lot of things including making a post everyday. Logically possible but my bad habit is really irritating.

Back to the topic - Having Add-on.

I met my meet-once-every-year uncle during last Raya holiday and he seemed excited to share what he knows with me. So I’d lend my ears.

He’s currently working in private sector (GLC I guess) but the most important point that he really emphasized is having add-on. Maybe some of you asking what is means. Having add-on is like you have something special from the others and distinctive. But it academically means you have to go out of the box. For example, I’m currently studying Urban & Regional Planning but to have some add-on, I must have knowledge or certificate or whatever from other field such as computer programming, family law and whatsoever.

In daily life, add-on is like additional skills such as sewing, cooking, painting skills and so on.

In the other word, you have something special rather than being a typical person. In this matter, soft skills is one of the essential elements that we must have.

My uncle said that this is really important nowadays because the employer nowadays prefer the person with additional skills or knowledge. Why? Because person with additional skills is the person who always want to know more, to add more, to explore more and to do more things. That’s the things that could give benefit to the company.

So HOW to have these add-on?

Joining seminars and talks especially that one not from your field
Making friends with people from different fields and thoughts
Never hesitate to learn additional skills

I guess I have to start now. Now or never.

To my bad habit, I hate you.

Time Heals, Time Kills

alone — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:32:13 PDT

Gosh. This is not the first time I realized that I left my blog(s) outdated.

Yeah. I’m talking about time.

Time?

We’re currently doing proposal for the study area (Banting town centre) and as to complete the day, there are some assignments which I have to spend (supposedly) one day or above for each of them. Plus, economics midterm is just tomorrow! omg. I feel like in heaven! (lie statement)

The most shitty powerful enemy that I have to face is procrastination. I repeat, procrastination! I feel hard to do things faster and finish it on time although I (already) know I could make it. Ouch. It’s a self-destructive disaster. It’s painful. And it’s killing me.

So what? The only solution is to fight and fight.

This weekend we’re having a trip to Georgetown and I really hope to turn myself in. Enough time for gambling and relying on luck.

Please.

Time is precious.

Time heals. And time also kills.

Aidilfitri: The Day of Bless & Glory

alone — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:31:21 PDT

In the pic above (from left): Husz, Afif, Hanif, Syahir, Muhammad, Raiyan, Utu & Hafizi at my home.

It’s Aidilfitri. The day of bless & glory.

I guess the things above is enough to be posted but I feel like I’m gonna add something more.

Bless & Glory

Glory is glory. Bless is bless. But sometimes glory not mean it is a bless. Aidilfitri is a glorious day. The day where the glory is been blessed. Glory from the war upon nafs (desire) - eating, drinking and other things that are motivated us to improve our manner and become a better person.

We have to feel grateful that we can celebrate Aidilfitri in a peace and harmonious condition. We can celebrate with our family & friends happily during Aidilfitri. Two questions here - first, while celebrating Aidilfitri, how much we concern about them who still in poor and hunger all over the world? and second, do we really won in the ‘real’ war?

Something to think about.

This Aidilfitri somewhat different for me. This is the first time I be the Imam and Khatib for Aidilfitri prayer. I’m quite nervous but as it is the rare chance that I got in my life, I took it seriously and Alhamdulillah managed to handled it properly. A brother there said that “we younger generation should start transferring what older generation hold today to us“. Yes, I agree with him. And we should glad to see there are more masjid and suraus give chance to the teen and younger generation to learn and manage various activities such as prayers, tazkirahs and usrahs.

Aidilfitri. It’s a day of bless & glory.

Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Walillahilhamd.

For all Muslim readers, Happy Aidilfitri!

Back in Bless

Jiaogulan: The Immortality Herb

alone — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:14:34 PDT

Have you heard about Jiaogulan?

Never know about this?

Now I’m gonna tell you about it.

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a herbal plant indigenous from southern Korea, southern China and Japan. It is best known as a herbal medicine and has antioxidant and adaptogenic effects that can increase longevity.

Scientific research studies in China have shown that Jiaogulan improves fat metabolism, reduces fat blood levels and depressed lipid peroxides and fat sediment in the blood vessels. In addition, a study at Guiyang Medical College China has shown that this herbal plant recipe can increase strength and endurance in the body.

Wow. This is really an amazing plant.

There is also a health product named Jule Of The Orient that combines Jiaogulan with 21 other supernutrients, creating a superb healthy product that helps to boost the immune system, deal with stress and make you feel younger. Interesting, right?

Some people don’t believe with the effect of health products. Yes, it’s true that some of health products are not so effective but in fact many people all around the world had been cured from various diseases and became better by using health products.

The choice is yours.

Change! Now or Never

alone — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:54:03 PDT

Change!

That’s what I’m thinking right now.

What change?

Well. Time changes people and in fact we see people changing everyday in our life.

Some people changed by what had happened in their life. Some people have to change themselves in order to change their life. Yep. I’m the person on the second sentence.

Sometimes I feel my life goes upside down. It’s like there’s nothing interesting to explore anymore. Yes, I know I’m wrong but the awesome spirit (as if I could see it) is dying and dying.

A lot of terrible things happened lately and it’s painful to list all of them. Btw, maybe listing them generally could make me relieved. Check it out.

- lot of sleeping in class
- skipping classes
- unsatisfying assignments
- no enthusiasm for projects
- the laziness keep stronger
- procrastination for blogging/tasks
- blur.. sometimes
- plus, my paypal account had been limited. damn. I have to send them my documents after this.

They’re not events actually but some negative things inside me. Something wrong. Yeah, something wrong.

That’s why I have to keep this keyword in mind - CHANGE!

I have to change my attitude. I have to change my lifestyle. I have to change my way of managing time. I have to change my habit. I have to change my way of thinking.. gosh. (just realized that I have to write down a list for these)

There’s a long way to go and I have to start planning my own life. Some of my buddies had gone into another level of life. I mean, getting married (some of them already have child. congrats).

“Just marry la, Nas”
“Not now. I’m not going to providing only rice for my family”

What now? I have to take this opportunity to embrace myself and plan myself to a be a better one. It’s no matter whether I’m success or fail but the thing is I keep trying my best. (This statement sounds inspiring. Wow)

Change! - Now or never.

Credits to SecondPicture.com for the original image of the cartoon.

The Pulsing Days

alone — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:12:57 PDT

Well, we’re now more than half of Ramadhan and let’s think backward- what’d we done?

Seems I missed a lot of time for blogging. Dush3x.

Maybe it’s because of the pulsing days.

The pulsing days? Oh my.

Pulsing~ WTH is that?

Actually the word came into my mind from Anas’s idea for our town centre proposal - a pulsatic downtown. Note: Pulsatic = Pulsing + Energetic. Personally, I love this concept but if the other members decide to work on 1Banting concept, it’s OK for me =)

..so why I’m talking about this pulsing?

From my understanding, pulsing is like something that give energy and impact to the surrounding - like our pulsing hearts that move our body circulation. (make me remembered of the Biology days. ouch)

Jumble of projects and assignments forcing me to work everyday. Yeah, because even a simple assignment will affect your mark in IIUM. In other word, just do what you need to do. And that’s the thing that keep forcing me to work. Oh yeah! (T_T)

- Town Centre Proposal
- Urban Design Report
- Infrastructure Report
- Quran, Sunnah & Built Environment Presentation & Review
- Leadership Essay & Final Project

Seems simple but a lot of critical thinking and analysis to be made. Well tasks and assignments, you’d made my pulsing days!

p.s: Some people might keep mumbling about the assignments, but I really believe that there’s a strong reason why lecturers give us assignments. So do love the lecturers =p

p.s: We understand that ‘Pulsatic’ term is not in the dictionary, but we feel excited to hear that our lecturer could mention the word! Yosh!

Ramadhan Kareem to all Muslim readers!

Back in Bless

alone — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:48:46 PDT

Ramadhan comes again. And I could feel that I’m entering a new ‘phase’.

And plus, we’re just completed the technical report.

So what?

To be sincere, I feel so so so regret with what I’m done during previous years’ Ramadhan. I mean what I didn’t do - Tarawih, Tadarus, etc. and that’s mean I missed a lot of great chances during this blessing month.

Thanks God, I’m still alive.

And I’m gonna grab the chance.

I think it’s no need for detailing but one thing that we need to concern is Ramadhan is not about fasting. Everybody’s talking about Ramadhan and saying adressed the “fasting month” but do we understand the real meaning of interpretation itself?

I’m not going to say - “Yes, I understand well.” But I understand Ramadhan is not just about fasting. Ramadhan is like a madrasah (school) or a filter for us. That’s mean this is the time to realize and improve ourselves in this temporary life.

I guess I’m having a nice starting.. and I have to maintain it (as far as I could).

Talking about study, I and my studiomates had completed the technical report for Banting town centre. And we had been rearranged into new groupds with smaller number of members. Now 5 groups with 7 members for each group.

Goodbye Fulcrum & Ekistics. And say Hello for Neon Consultant!

Akem (my new boss)
Zett (assistant)
Anas
Anis
Nelza
Miroh
..and me

New month, new phase, new group, new mates.. I feel so relieved!

p.s: Hope the new mood helps me a lot. Amin.

AloneinHome.com

Planning Talk by Ms. Alison Brown

Related Posts

The Surrogates?

Related Posts

A Moment of Regret?

Related Posts

Having Add-on

Related Posts

Time Heals, Time Kills

Related Posts

Aidilfitri: The Day of Bless & Glory

Bless & Glory

Related Posts

Jiaogulan: The Immortality Herb

Related Posts

Change! Now or Never

Related Posts

The Pulsing Days

Related Posts

Back in Bless

Related Posts