Dylan Thomas: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

The Imitated Specialists

Human brain is complex. Subhanallah. That is why machine will never be able to mirror one's mind; very random at every second. Give one word and you can generate different ideas from that particular given word. Human's minds are unpredictable. That is the beauty of it which never bores me of living.

********

I recalled my meal time with mates. I sat there ordering the same spicy nasi lemak, yet the rice seemed more interesting than the topics discussed around the table. All the topics were centralised mostly from Facebook newsfeed, which I had randomly scrolled down the page in the morning. Everyone tried to be the so-called "specialists", just talking out loud the ideas which had been written from random Facebook newsfeed. Be it an economist, politician, philosopher, religious idol etc. One wants to be everyone. "The specialist", who have read the most (from Facebook) and seemingly had the most practical and reasonable ideas to match into the discussion group favour. 

If you saw the movie "The Imitation Game" where a group of mathematicians tried to decipher messages from a complex German's machine called Enigma, they kept it secret once they managed to decode it, Brits won the war. The unsung heroes were working underground. No one ever knew their works. 

Now back to the table, let say if I was one the Brits and my mates were Germans. The game here is to win the attention of the table. For instance, I have read about the news on Rohingya refugees, I proudly presented on their unique roots and why they were running from their country in the first place. My mates who were Germans would not repeat the same ideas of the topic, of course, in order to win the attention from the others.  They need to change the game in order to win over me. Thus, this requires me to do a lot more of reading outside of the common source. Unique, reliable source. Then, I will win this war. If this is ever a war. Of  attention (me being very little sarcastic).

********

Our country is now lacking of real specialists. Everyone can be in the media. Everyone can propose their ideas without having a solid background of the field. Instead of following the words from real experts, we instead in favours of following the trends. We are at the losing side because we are predictable. Mention MyVi, Rohingya, 1MDB, Tabung Haji, Pacman etc. once you open your mouth, you are predictable. If this is a war, we have lost. Big time.

A situation to ponder: When you have  a  rare skin problem, would you prefer a general practitioner or a skin specialist? 

Mardi Gras

It's been two years since my last post and I'm totally craving to write on my new perspective as I'm standing at a whole new level. 

As an adult. 

It's been quite a while since I finished my degree in the U.K and even just completed my master degree here which I did at Unimas; 7 minutes away from home, twas one of my most enjoyable classroom since, well, very near to home. Yet, new demands  keep coming. On top of the list would be the wedding date, then new house, new homo sapiens and the list continues. I smiled at every single question. Everyone I know have their own personal candidate for me. At one point, I just paused.   

I asked myself if this is the "ideal"sequence of life events being born as a Malaysian guy:

Born-primary school-secondary school-SBP/MRSM/badass secondary school-degree-(wedding)-(kids)-cool fancy car(s)-master degree-(wedding)-(kids) (clever kids)-kick arse house-phd-grandkids-(genius grandkids)-Death

Well, there's nothing wrong with this "ideal" sequence of life events, at all. Who doesn't like all those fancy and famous things to talk about. Nonetheless, people keep pushing and comparing with what they have and what we do not have in life at this point makes me wondering if their current achievements and belongings are their "Mardi Gras", their masks to keep away from all those never ending questions.

Personally, one's life will never be comparable to any others. Keep it cool; things will flow, as they always do.

P/s: How I wish I am back in the U.K

For who

The eyes still not sleepy as my mind is wildly wandering, thinking about something heavy, endless. I'm thinking about job, mid-term examinations, assignments, interview, money, family etc. Then snap, i have that mental image where i arrange all my academic certs in order; UPSR, PMR, SPM, A Level, Bachelor's Degree, Diploma and still collecting. What are these papers for? Just to get some acknowledgement? A better job? For who? I took a long sigh. This poor me keeps checking the calendar to find some free time to escape to the beach, the place i love the most. Nope, no free time until next 2 weeks, if there's no addition to the planner. Being so particular of a person is really tiring. Blame myself for being so particular about stuff, blame the family for having so high of expectations, blame the lecturers for giving too many of assignments, blame the society for putting standards and being judgmental. I always tell a joke to my mates; what if there's no need to find a job and we keep receiving money everyday out of nowhere? I thought i was joking, but it was my mind talking, hoping something like that could happen. Money, that evil thing. 

Then i give myself a phrase to complete. "If i am rich one day, have lots and lots of money, i would like to....". I close my eyes for a while, then the answer comes into my mind. Its not about having a big bungalow, driving a Lotus and partying hard all night. For myself, i just want to fly to Salzburg, my ever favourite place during winter, get on the train and just sit by the window enjoying the white view and dont want to get up like  there's no end to the train rail. A harmonious moment it is, for me.

Words to ponder

"A diamond is a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well" - Anonymous

Learn nothing or everything?

The Science of Learning; my interest has shifted towards how do people learn and it is such a fun field to look into. From what i have read so far on learning sciences, most of the articles have their main focuses on creating such a "perfect" and conducive learning environment by listing out typical and common problems, hence blowing their brains out to think the best solutions to encounter these problems.

But rarely the authors highlighted on the very root of numerous problems within learning environment. I have my special focus on one norm question among learners; "Do we have to learn this?". Collin mentioned in his article that much of what is learned in school is never used because it is often the wrong knowledge for modern world. The keywords here are "modern world" and "wrong knowledge". Lets put aside about crappy education systems, and have our thoughts on the objective of learning. In the past, people learn something because they want to learn it with pure interest and be good at it. Thus learning occurs naturally where learners can accept, understand and transfer the knowledge they are interested in efficiently. Authenticity it is.

Meanwhile, in our very own "modern world", we have our learning goals set up wrongly. I still remember when i was 7 years old, we were asked to fill a blue form of personal details where it had ambition section with 3 columns. Realistically, 3 columns are meant for 3 different ambitions. So i wrote doctor, prime minister and architect and these careers had my best interest at that very moment. We submitted the blue form and never heard about it until then. My point here is no correlation between what learners want to learn and specific goals that was set up in the very beginning of education. I could have chose one career when i was 7 years old, for example my best interest is medical profession. My learning areas should then cover those appropriate and crucial knowledge for medical profession. This is where the term "wrong knowledge" comes into play. Student nowadays are forced by education system to learn everything to anything that so-called "eligible" policy makers think it is important. Define important.

A few parties might point out that the costs of learning only those fields that are related to the profession we have our best interest in will outweigh the benefits in terms of basic knowledge like reading, measuring etc, kill that. I would say that basic knowledge learning is one whole different story. If we would to compromise basic knowledge learning and the field we have our interests in, this would lead to generalisation of learning objective. If that is the case, what is schools and formal education system for they ask?

....updating......

Hola! :) Its been a year this blog has not been up-to-date. The last time i posted on here was before my final exams. Now, i finished my study in the United Kingdom, gained a degree in Genetics, and also a Diploma of Education last July. Currently im pursuing Master of Learning Science in one of the local universities (this is a secret from my future employer), just to kill time while waiting to be posted into schools. Oh yes, i am an educator-to-be baby!

When people around me asking what i am up to at the moment, their faces like ..."whattt??" (only the expressions, lol) when i told them i am continuing my study. And it always follow with a statement "thats your one and only job, studying.. (or in Malay, tu je lah kerja kau, belajar je memanjang)". I answered them with a smile, that should be more than enough of an answer.

With Allah's willing, and with good health and longevity, my aim is to gain a Ph.D and then i'll be satisfied. I really love studying. Some people said studying is just an escape route of penniless life. Wrong! I have seen individuals with no degree or even school certs living a comfortable life. There are so many escape routes from difficulties, yet our eyes and minds only see a few.

I starved myself from writing my minds out, and now i realized i do need some "writherapy". For time being, thats it from me. 

Salaam Jumaat :) 

;)

Sorry for no more updates :( Prefer real expressions with hot topics to talk about, rather than expressionless entries with fancy emoticons :P Have a good day! Thanks for dropping by!

Pedestrious tour

Image: Richard Harrison, Claycroft, Uni. of Warwick

I wished to acquire the simplicity, native feelings, and virtues of savage life; to divest myself of the factitious habits, prejudices, and imperfections of civilizations. And to find, amidst the solitude and grandeur of the western wilds, more correct views of human nature and of the true interests of man. The season of snows was preferred, that i might experience the pleasure of suffering, and the novelty of danger.

J. London

Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any darkness; a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life.

Magnificent -6'C

Observer

Believe me, i can read other's thoughts. No, not that i have a third-eye or something, but i learn to observe. Although it seems like everyone going against you, actually they are having a very similar objective in their mind, to win the game and make it to the Hall of Fame. So, hold tight soldier, keep smiling and fight! Be not anybody's enemy, but everyone's friend. Read: The most powerful nation on Earth, actually is Imagi-nation.

Society

I once reached that sweetness in my heart where i cannot stop smiling, for no reason and the excitement and joyfulness flew inside me infinitely. It felt like an ultimate freedom. Free from materialistic world, fake, lies and excess demands. It felt like you can just walk around without thinking about the judgements from the others and you are free to do anything, like, anything. It felt like i can be there in the middle of the crowd without worrying about my status, money, knowledge, job, origin, religion, race, skills, height, weight etc. But only once. That very moment is what i hold onto to keep me going through that cracks of society. Narrow and hard for me to breathe another second with all the emotions, gestures, the way they look at me; expressionless freaks me the most as i dont know what they are thinking.

Even harder when i have to be part of it. I have to judge everyday, every figures that come across in front me or in my mind. It feels like i have no other genuine, less cruel choices but to play along with the game. When i am at the bottom, it feels like i am the boy in the corner of the room while at the top, seems like im leaving someone in corner. So that leaves me in the middle where judgemental figures dont want to be, all are pursuing the top and left those in need with their struggles. Its either you rich, or be poor. Its either you healthy, or be sick. Its either you smart, or be dumb. Its either you outstanding, or keep shut. Where are all equalities crap i hear, see, watch gone? Where's all the non-judgemental figures hiding? Why do i need to compete for fancy cars, loads of money in bank account, has a good body-shape, has a wide knowledge of things i dont even like? Why should i act to be hardworking as them, to be as smart as them, as rich as them in order to get accepted in the particular group? That problem may arise from me as i think too much rather than doing it, but it feels like im restraining myself into a specific society and what i want, really want is again that ultimate freedom. I read somewhere how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong.

Yeah!

Let go and just do it! :)

Passion

Am i over-passionate when doing something i like? Feel like betrayed when you're the only one who is working hard for it and others step aside and watch, with various excuses. I really need a break. Really.

For all children around the world, we devote our times :)

:)

http://www.justgiving.com/26to91

LoL

Voila!

Q:Why am I different from others?

A: ....Why do you have to be like others? :)

Great minds do think alike, sometimes. But most of the times, they think differently. Focus on the own strength, there lies happiness for you. Only you :)

Warwick Uni Autumn

:))

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