Monday, February 26, 2007

Cymru Am Byth


A man, a woman, and a small young boy entered the carriage, videlicet they are a family boarding the train at King's Cross Station London. I just comfortably sat down on my seat and I was fashionably early. There were only the family and I on the train and the their seats were just across the aisle to my left. I started to search for my magazine to kill off the time en route to Nottingham when I realised that the man was not going to travel with the woman and the small young boy. Curiosity arose, I looked at the man's face through the corner of my eyes, pretending like I am the statue of liberty sitting down with no particular interest in what was happening around me. The face of the man showed a glimpse of sadness, maybe because he had to stay in London for some work I supposed. Then he came in, with the angelic voice he could made he told his boy to come again next week. He asked whether the boy enjoyed the football match at Upton Park, and he nodded in silence with an air of innocence. The woman just ignored the man. I assumed both of them were divorced and now living separately, taking turns out of each other to show their hopeless love due to their negligence to smell the roses of marriage. Few minutes had passed by and it was about time for the train to rattle its way up north to the midlands. Who loves sayonara? However, everyone at least once in the phase of this life cannot run away from saying goodbye and refrain from the tears if not in the eyes deep in the heart of missing or not seeing someone for a long period of time. However, what was happening was the most cruel moments I could never want to swallow, as the woman deliberately attracting the boy's intention by asking him random questions in order not to let the boy fathom how much does his father love him as he waved endlessly towards the young face that would never at least turned and waved back at him. Oh how the illusion and ignorance of adulthood tainted the innocence, leaving the boy hanging for a split second to witness his father's love.

Maybe I am too observant.
Maybe I am thinking too much by observing every moment, every movement all around me.
Inter alia, perhaps I have to be ignorant?

Yesterday, I made my way towards Caerdydd, Cymru (Cardiff, Wales). Vis-a-vis the previous experience, on the train to Cardiff I observed the example of a joie de vivre. A lovely old couple sat beside me. How the old woman treated her husband, serving him sandwiches and politely conversing with him really flattered the inner of me as I was reading along the lines of my lecture notes on Industrial Economics A. How both of them exchanging ideas and appreciation about the scenery painted on the windows as Central Train made its way across the countryside towards Gloucester.

Maybe their appreciation on memento mori make them to really appreciate each other and the smallest of small things perhaps? How the fact that death is just around the corner makes them to capture every second in carpe diem perhaps?

Life.

Croeso (welcome!) to Caerdyyd, Cymru (Cardiff, Wales). Due to the recent fatal train crash in Cumbria en route to Glasgow which killed an old woman and severely injured 11 people there were intensive maintenance and 'Kilroy wuz ere' work on the signals along the tracks all over Great Britain. I arrived about one and a half hour late and after filling up the complaint form (the passengers are entitled to get the money back if the train arrived late more than an hour) I ran into Millennium Stadium to be part of the blues in the Carling Cup Final 2007.

And 'she' made her own way ;)


[The Kooks - She Makes Her Own Way]

I had nasi lemak at Bali restaurant in the city centre. There were lots of English people started to coming into the restaurant to satisfy their exotic hunger and taste. After explaining what is nasi lemak to the two men beside my table, he asked me whether I am from Malaysia. I said yes. When I was about to leave, the big man who was eating satay and could not resist to tell his friend "this is delicious" asked me did I come all the way from Malaysia to watch Chelsea in the final? Laziness crept in and I just said yes. Out of the blue he told all the Chelsea fans in the restaurtant;

"This chap came from Malaysia to watch Chelsea in the final!!!"

Haha. I was speechless and to share his delight I showed him the spirit of Chelsea as I walked out of the restaurant with exchanged of smiles between us. How great it is to know how the foreign people know the existence of my country and I am proud of the soil.

I boarded Arriva (Welsh train) and made changes in Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa and stranded for an hour at Birmingham New Street. The thought of being the only Malaysian on the trains full of the real 'English' people really made me cold in the feet and at times it made me smile to my own reflection on the window door as I sat down on the floor, listening to various English slang I have not heard of before.

And I smiled, how Chelsea and Arsenal shirts were mixed together throughout the carriages from Cardiff, that couldn't have happened 10 years ago.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll or Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, also spelt Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll and commonly known as Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll, is a village and community on the island of Anglesey in Wales, situated on the Menai Strait next to Menai Bridge and across the strait from Bangor. It is the longest place name in the UK. A translation into English would yield "St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio of the red cave".

The English name for Wales originates from the Germanic word Walha, meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", probably derived from the name Volcae. The term also appears in the "-wall" of Cornwall. The Welsh themselves called themselves Cymry, "compatriots", and named their country Cymru, which is thought to have meant "Land of the Compatriots" in Old Welsh; this has reference to their awareness that they were the original countrymen of Wales, and indeed Britain by virtue of their ancestors the Brythoniaid (Brythons), and also in order to distinguish themselves from the foreign invaders of Britain, the Saeson (English) and the Gaels (Irish). There is also a mediaeval legend found in the Historia Regum Britanniae of Sieffre o Fynwy (Geoffrey of Monmouth) that derives it from the name Camber, son of Brutus and, according to the legend, the eponymous King of Cymru (Cambria in Latin); this however was largely the fruit of Geoffrey's vivid imagination. Cumberland and Cumbria in the north of England derive their names from the same Old Welsh word.


ps: Cymru Am Byth = Wales Forever.
and merci beacoup to Apu, the dearest friend I ever had.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Vive La Différence

You could be at your desk.
On the train.
In the lift.
At the sales.
Gardening.
Queueing.
Showering.
Jogging.
Even counting sheep.
We don't mind how you do your best thinking, as long as you do it.

Mostly because it means you're already like us.
You're not afraid of questioning the norm, or of giving other people your point of view.
The prospect of working on out-there projects for up-three clients doesn't make you quake in your boots.
Like the rest of us, you want to be challenged and pushed right out of your comfort zone.

The end result is that our thoughts change how the world works.

We broaden our minds on a daily basis.
We're pretty certain you're unlikely to find training and development opportunities that stretch you quite like ours will.
You could find yourself using technology in a way it's never been used before.
Or being told on a Friday night that you start a new project in Newcastle on Monday morning.
There's always going to be a lot happening.
And a great deal that makes you think - ACCENTURE

Having participated in the HSBC Business Challenge during my first year in University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in 2006 served as a platform for me to work in the real world of banking and finance. The award of Trustee of the Year 2006 by International Securitisation Report (ISR) received by HSBC's Corporate Trust and Loan Agency (CTLA) business further strengthened its status as the truly local and global solutions to the clients from all over the world. In light of globalisation, the banking and finance industry is developing in a fast-changing environment and HSBC proves its ability to be the leader, driven by its dynamic worldwide workforce . My undergraduate course Industrial Economics with optionals like Financial Management and Management Accounting needs the real enrichment to apply and contribute my knowledge, and HSBC Corporate Banking is the ideal platform. In addition, globalisation brings about the different nationalities all around the world to cooperate, work, and learn from each other to keep on generating the corporate banking industry. The emergence of China and India proved my point to nurture my ability and career skills with other nationalities, and with offices in 76 countries, HSBC is one of the world s largest banking and financial services organisations; this is my golden chance to contribute and be part of the community wherever HSBC do the business. To gain experience during my internship in HSBC will develop myself to be a well rounded student, as David Kappler said experience is the most important quality.

Ian Christison the CIMA president once said, "chartered management accountants are leaders. We demonstrate our leadership in our approach to the profession and in our relationships with major stakeholders, most significantly, employers". Based on his saying, to work in a team group during my academic term will always be like the real test in working in a banking and finance industry. Globalisation brings about the importance of working with different nationalities. My group and I participated in the HSBC Business Challenge 2006 in Malaysia and my responsibility as a leader was to be professional in discussion to accept the views and ideas from the members. I also believe in the fun of the task that we have to accomplish, to work in a prosperous environment. Yes, different people will present different ideas and I believe the consensus shall be achieved based on the relevant and critical elements of all the ideas, and teamwork provides a pool of ideas that is also a reflection of a highly grounded, dynamic, healthy, and successful organisation. In 2006/07, my group and I from Nottingham Business School participate in the Global Management Challenge United Kingdom brought by Hobsons Graduate Employment, and to engage in the real world business proves the importance of a dynamic team working. I believe the different approaches and abilities from different members will bring about the positive outcome in any consensus that we shall make, and the most important aspect is we can contribute and learn from each other.


If people don't get to know each other first, there's a good chance the relationship won't last.

Vive la différence.




Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect which would have been accessible to a wider audience than simply Scottish people. At various times in his career, he wrote in English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.

Burns is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death, he became an important source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among Scots who have relocated to other parts of the world (the Scottish diaspora), his celebration became almost a national charismatic cult during periods of the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.

Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay (New Year), and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today, include "A Red, Red Rose", "A Man's A Man for A' That", "To a Louse" and "To a Mouse".

Burns' Night, effectively a second national day, is celebrated on 25 January with Burns' Suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, Saint Andrew's Day, or the proposed North American celebration Tartan Day. The format of Burn's supper has not changed since Robert's death in 1796. The basic format starts with a general welcome and anouncements followed with the Selkirk Grace. Just post the grace comes the piping and cutting of the Haggis, where Robert's famous ode To a Hagis is read, and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is where the reading called the "immortal memmory" which is an over-view of Robert's life and work is given. Lastly the event will usually conclude with the singing of Auld Lang Syne - wikipedia.org

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne. For auld, &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou'd the gowans fine;

But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld, &c.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld, &c.

And there's a hand, my trusty fere!

And gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,

For auld lang syne. For auld, &c.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Ain't Left Behind

US Media group Viacom (the owner of MTV and Paramount Pictures) is to provide free content to video website Joost (the founder of Skype), just weeks after demanding that YouTube (bought by Google) to remove more that 100,000 copyright video clips. In the music industry, Warner Music is making its way to acquire EMI (and the former is in a prosperous inter-industry relation with MTV) ;p.

I believe there must be some sort of 'under the table' business planning ;p

Daily readings that shape my joie de vivre, the harbinger of corporate and business skills that I need to hone along my career building -

The Independent UK Newspaper

The Economist

Financial Times

Wall Street Journal

Financial Management

Reader's Digest

It is no easy task. But all of us believe if there are commitment and perseverance, it shall develop towards habitual habit.


Tuesday, February 20, 2007

He Smiles

There is an event on Creative Writing/British Media Awareness Training Session tomorrow at Malaysia Hall London, organised by UKEC in cooperation with the Malaysian Students Department UK and Eire. The respective speaker is Mr Wan Ahmad Hulaimi, the former NST correspondent for London and Europe.

Sadly, it is on Tuesday.

Unless the event is nigh to my place, any excuses to miss this are deeply unfathomable. Lest to miss the golden views from the speaker, I shall convey a bird to bring me back a letter of wisdom from what the event may bring.

Kudos to the rest who are going to spend their Tuesday for this.

Upon this posting, shall of us take a few minutes to ponder on something that is a certain in this life, but the enjoyment in life always do the injustice in reminding us about this.

Death.

It is not a moment of sadness, it is the moment for us to remind about it. And certainly, appreciate death.

I witnessed death at a young age when my friend and I promised to each other that I am going to be his best man when he gets married and likewise for my occasion.

Out of the blue, it was like a slap on my face.

Yup, it was painful and the sky fell on me when the incident happened. However, a wise mind will think and reflect on death.

I believe, that knowing your life has an endpoint will help you appreciate every moment your alive.

And, death helps you understand life's precious gifts. Every single of it, even the one we rarely think of. Anything. Anything.

It makes me wiser, I want to grow through life. I do not want to just go through life. Mark this dichotomy.

The world flashed its teeth to me in 2003, four years ago.

LOVE STORY FOR KAKAK
By Nanim (a piece written by my secondary school mate, who is now pursuing her dreams in journalism)

My sister asked me to tell her a love story, any love story for that matter, to give her some ideas on what to write for her assignment.

Love story. Uhh. I shudder to think of the word love.

Lest u think I’m a sceptic, oh I’ve been in relationships before. I have known love and love has known me. However, for some reason, love has eluded me, or rather, I have ran away from love.

You see, I had a very tragic first love. Ah... the mere mention of first love... brings back the memories, doesn’t it?

I was 13 when I met him. We were young, naïve and foolish. He wasn’t the best looking guy in school, nor was he the richest. Well, he was well off, but there were better looking guys compared to him.

His name was Ryan.


You see, I was infatuated with another boy, and Ryan was initially enlisted to help me win the attention of the boy I liked. I would look for him before, in between and after class everyday to know more about my dream guy, his likes and dislikes, what he did in class, little things like that. And Ryan was more than willing to indulge me with the information.

But little did I know, we would start sharing the same interests. He loved grunge – the music was so popular back in the 90s, I thought KL was Seattle – and I was into the genre too. We liked the same movies, the same comics, and we have the same favourite colour and the same favourite number. In fact, we even shared the same birth date, except that we’re 5 months apart.

So anyways, the infatuation didn’t last long, but our friendship did. At 15 years of age, I found out through a friend that he had feelings for me. I guess I could actually saw it coming, but nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised. A best friend who is like-minded in so many ways, that fits you like the missing jigsaw piece you just found under the bed, to become your boyfriend. What more can you ask for?

This story should come with a happy ending. However, I am sad to say that it won’t. We were together for only 2 months, but rest assured, the drama lasted longer than your favourite Philipino soap opera.

I abhorred the sight of him and the mere mention of his name. I wished I never found out that he had another girlfriend. That alone single-handedly shattered my esteem, my self-confidence, my faith in him. U can’t imagine the wounds of adolescence. It hit me rock bottom. He would say sorry, and I would take him back, then he would break his promise, and I would vow to stay away from him, and he would say sorry again, the vicious, incessant cycle exhausted me.

However, as we grew older, we somehow managed to salvage the friendship that we had, thus explaining why I never got rid of him in the first place. We had ups and downs, and he had always hinted that he still loved me, but for the sake of our friendship, I just never entertained it. We fought, like we always did, but we also supported each other, in an eccentric yet special way that only both of us knew. The fights were often ugly and public. The good parts, however, were never known to our peers. They only thought we would fight all the time. They say don’t hate someone too much, or you’ll end up loving them more than you think you would, and I found that to be true in the cruellest way possible.

Without a doubt, he was my first love. And do you understand me when I say that you would automatically assume that your first love is the one that you’ll marry? This is very foolish of me to admit, but I once thought that I would marry him. But things happened the way it did, and he once assured me that, no matter what, even if I’m a mother of six, married to someone else, he would want us to still be friends, so that our children can be friends like us when we were 13. I simply nodded at that time. I never knew how much it would mean to me later.

Today, the day this story is written, is the 13th. It’s our favourite number. He would have turned 22 today, had he survived the car crash. It has been four years since his passing, four years since I received that fateful phone call about his accident. It was never easy for me to recall any of these, I was depressed for quite a while before I could stand on my own feet again and moved on. Time heals pain. Time dulls pain. And time can also make you forget.

I remember the day of his burial. His cousin came to me and whispered, “The cards that you gave him, are still on his study desk. He often had them nearby whenever he studied.”

Another friend, who was close to him, told me something I never expected to hear, “Let it be known, that of all his exes, he loved you the most.”

Time is evil.

Time took him away from me before I could tell him I never meant to hate him for his wrongdoings. Time snatched him away before my children and his children could be friends like how he wanted.

But I have no power to bring him back. It doesn’t matter if my tear ducts are dry from crying, there’s just no rewind button to push on time.

Sometimes I do see him in crowds. That split second at the corner of your eyes, when you’re glancing, that’s where I always see him. And I know, for a thousand years more, he would be in that special place in my heart.


Does this affect my current relationship? Oh yes, it does immensely although the influence has been subdued lately. For all the pain that he put me through during his infamous infidelity (geez, we were only 15 then), I often demand my boyfriend to be what Ryan was not. And that can be straining. I’m in a long-term relationship that sometimes drains me. The line between love and dependency has since blurred. It gets me thinking to remember what Ryan used to say, “as long as it makes you happy.”


The innocence of first love is what I missed most. Nothing else mattered much then. It was stupid, but it was also true.

I’m sorry, dear kakak, my love story isn’t a happy one. I am forced to grow up too fast for falling in love too early when I was 15. I hope you would have better luck in love than me.

The End.


And I told her, do not cry. Achieve what you want to achieve in life. He will be smiling from there.

And I am doing the same.

I will keep on walking alone around the lake, sing the song sang by the swans, look at the trees, breathe the crystal air, and think. The silence breaks once in a while when I step through the bed of falling leaves.

And my tears fall unnoticedly, in harmony with the caress of the wind.






Wikipedia.org :

Pokarekare Ana is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War 1 began in 1914. East Coast Māori song-writer Paraire Tomoana, who polished up the song in 1917 and published the words in 1921, wrote that it emanated from the North of Auckland and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe.


There have been numerous claims and counterclaims regarding authorship over the years. Although the matter has never been definitively settled, guardianship of the words and music are held by the family (descendants) of Paraire Tomoana.
Although the Māori words have virtually remained unaltered over the decades, with only the waters in the first line being localized, there have been many different English translations.


Originally sung in a subtle 3/4 (waltz) time, since World War 2 it has been heard in a more plodding 4/4 time. The song is performed, usually badly in Māori, wherever Kiwis congregate anywhere in the world. It is very popular in New Zealand and is sometimes called the country's unofficial national anthem, although it has been adapted to commercial advertising and by sporting groups.

New Zealand soldiers taught it to Korean children during the 1950-53 war, and it is now much sung in South Korea.
A schoolyard parody, O curry curry arna, I found a squashed banana, is well known to New Zealand school-children, and was being sung in Melbourne playgrounds in the mid-1970s.


The tune of Pokarekare Ana has been borrowed for an Irish wedding song A Mhuire Mháthair sé seo mo ghuí.


Late in 2003 Pokarekare Ana featured on the Pure album released worldwide by the young New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. Pure is the fastest selling debut album ever on the UK classical charts. Internationally known New Zealand opera singers to previously record and perform Pokarekare Ana are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major. Dozens of other artists throughout the world have recorded this song.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Brit Pop Rock

Time out. This lights up my day. This was aired all around the university during the Freshers' Fayre.



And thou shall never give up in anything that thou want to do. Never give up.



xx

Friday, February 16, 2007

An Eagle and A Chicken

Undergraduate Year Two: Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham -

N12205 Introductory Econometrics (Spring) credit 10
Mr TWJ Bailey

N12403 Financial Management (Autumn) credit 10
Dr B Reber

N12406 Quantitative Methods 2A (Autumn) credit 10
Dr RJ Young

LK11FB French (Spring) credit 10

Madame Moya Mason

N1A129 Origins and Development of the UK Economy (Autumn) credit 10
Professor CJ Wrigley

N1B208 International Firms (Spring) credit 10
Mr Vasilis Zervos

N1B405 Management Accounting and Decisions II (Autumn) credit 10
Business School Convenor

N1B307 Financial Reporting (Spring) credit 10

Mr Phil Dearing

N1B442 Economics of Organisation A (Autumn) credit 10
Professor P Swann

N1B443 Economics of Organisation B (Spring) credit 10
Professor P Swann

N1B444 Industrial Economics A: Structure, Conduct and Performance (Spring) credit 10
Dr D Paton

N1B445 Economics of Pricing and Decision Making (Autumn) credit 10
Mr TWJ Bailey


It was a full day of classes from early in the morning till 6pm. I had five paperwork and a language module which requires loads of my own initiatives in self-studying. When I reached my room in St. Peter's Court, I saw the 'online' sign of my sister's MSN Messenger. Seen my family as my source of comfort and the beacon of light in my life, without hesitation I 'nudged' ...



MaD___IzzE says:
eh Ijad Abah ni!

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
ok

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
abah x tidur lagi?

MaD___IzzE says:
belum

MaD___IzzE says:
How's things

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
am just recovering from flu and cold

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
loads of paperwork to do

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
analysis

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
what do u tink abah? im trying to find the unique MNEs impact on a particular region..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
dun want to analyse like automobiles in EU..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
tat's usual

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
want my report to be useful for future reference..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
thinking of analysing the impact of MNEs in a particular industry in eastern europe

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
coz last year's student he did the analysis on oil in kazakshtan

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
he got the credit from the government

MaD___IzzE says:
I'm not sure I can help u. Out of touch- perhaps reading the economic journals would help u ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yeah yeah

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
i came across the article

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
about the oil industry in georgia

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
and azerbaijan

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
i'll try my best

MaD___IzzE says:
Is it part of yr economic syllabus?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yeah

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
international firms module

MaD___IzzE says:
Cant think of any MNEs right now - well apart from the usual industries

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
mm

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
any unique industry?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
that is well discussed now.

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
like uranium and nuclear

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
but that one is confidential

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
thinking of oil and pipelines..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
mm

MaD___IzzE says:
That's quite normal I think - think along these lines ... off shoots of the main O & G industries - like the one we have in Mlaysia/ plastic, resin, the by products

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
mm

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yeah like biotechnology...

MaD___IzzE says:
Any speficific location?

MaD___IzzE says:
I mean specific

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
i'll seach that

MaD___IzzE says:
How about steel indiutries? Big investment n a long recovery period but used to be mayor player

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
mm sounds good..

MaD___IzzE says:
Shipping insutries?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yup..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
will consider that..

MaD___IzzE says:
Tahniah on yr good results ...

MaD___IzzE says:
Keepit up ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
thanks..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yeah nak naikkan my first class this semester..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
quite hard but will work hard

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
with 5 report to do

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
and 1 language module..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
abah and mak are my inspirations

MaD___IzzE says:
U can do it - if u have the time try to read the story of Roger Bannister - it could prove inspirational to u ... I wouldnt elaborate further hilang suspense but read it ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
roger bannister?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
i just search on the net

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
roger bannister?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
or any particular web?

MaD___IzzE says:
Dr. Roger Bannister - I may forget the full name but I'm pretty sure the Bannister

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
ok..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
is he an english

MaD___IzzE says:
Yup!

MaD___IzzE says:
Still alive and chairing something that wd be a big event in England

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
hmm

MaD___IzzE says:
Get one of the books about him ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
any particular book?

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
English neurologist who was the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes.

MaD___IzzE says:
The best place to start wd be the internet - at least there wd a synopsis abt him ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ban0pro-1

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
what do u think of tis?

MaD___IzzE says:
abt what? Everbody was saying the human body cannot withstand the pressure even the medical profession but he proved them wrong. But the thing to remember here is how he psyche himself to do the impossible ...

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yup..

MaD___IzzE says:
He has the belief he can do it ... try to emulate that belief - not only getting s 1st class but in every \thing we do

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
he managed to do it..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
yup..

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
what is the incoming event that he will organised?

MaD___IzzE says:
Olympic Games in UK

Sharazad ﺕﻈ ﺍﺮﺸ says:
k..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup inspired..

MaD___IzzE says:
Instill that belief within u n the sky is d limit ... if u can fly like an eagle why be a chicken eh?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup..

MaD___IzzE says:
So if I say u can do it, U CAN DO IT - coz I belief in u as long u get perspective right - like RB - a medical student yet find time to run and excels in it ...

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup...

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
interesting

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
when did u first time read about him?

MaD___IzzE says:
I think Readers Digest - back in late 1960's. That was a book abt him at our house in Kajang (grand dad's time)

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
mmm

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
where's d book now?

MaD___IzzE says:
But now once the 4 min barrier has been broken, a lot of them managed ti run below 4 min - he's an inspiration in his quite and unassuming way. U shd be like that - be an inspiration to others

MaD___IzzE says:
The book's gone

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
ok..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
but

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
how could he do it..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
a mile under 4 minutes..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
that tells nothing is impossible

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
if we work hard..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
and focus on our objectives

MaD___IzzE says:
Practice, pratice and practice propels by the belief he has in himself....
Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
mm

MaD___IzzE says:
That belief is important - invisible but a portent forve to have inside u.

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
his book "Four Minute Mile"

MaD___IzzE says:
That belief would differentiate the normal Thomasses and the genius Einsteins

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
why?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
the normal Thomasses and the genius Einsteins?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
what do u mean?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
mm..

MaD___IzzE says:
Yup an expression - Thomas is quite a common name in English that wd describe an average person, contented with what he has. Compared to those budding Einsteins - ambitious, far sighted ready to change the world

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
with imagination..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
he once said imagination encircles the world with knowledge

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
imagination=belief

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
rite?

MaD___IzzE says:
Yeah that's sums up abt the whole thing eh?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
mmm..

MaD___IzzE says:
Yeah u need a lot of imagination like Issac Newton. Sitting under an apple tree and he came up with the Theory of Gravity. A normalpwerson wd see an apple drops but not he - he has the imagination to transcend what is apparent.

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
in silence..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
sometimes when ur alone

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
when im alone

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
which i prefer to be in here

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i tend to think and appreciate the little of things

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i dun really mix with my fellow friends..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
do the usual stuff like talking in a group..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
at times i do..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
at times i prefer my own time..

MaD___IzzE says:
You cannot be alone - God is with us n that's the greatest inspiration of all. I do find solace in solitude - asking lots of question, to ponder, finding answers to those quaetons n I try to find the time to smell the roses

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
yup..

MaD___IzzE says:
I suppose that wd suffice for now - klau x hilang modal uth chat lain. Take care n have u seen the doctor?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
hehe

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i made the appointment

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
but it's on monday

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i just go ahead to see him

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i recovered already

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
took panadol and neurofen

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
but just see him on monday and get the prescriptions from him

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
in case in the future the flu hits me back..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
which it will..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
since i was small..

MaD___IzzE says:
Yeah I remember that well but some things I don't want to remember that well ... so eat well, sleep well and study well - not neccessarily in that order. God Bless You and wishing u well in yr stidies

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
thanks dad..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
ur going to sleep?

MaD___IzzE says:
How many wells I got there eh?

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
hehe

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
i don't know how to answer it

MaD___IzzE says:
It's 3.30 am here - just prove my point. Everybody's asleep and its quiet in the neighbourhood - in solitude you tend to think faster and to write a lot. So g'nite and missing u ...

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
alrite..

MaD___IzzE says:
Bye and asslamulaikum

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
haaa nasi lemak and teh tarik await u on saturday morning

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
or at least roti telur

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
take good care of urself dad

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
God will always bless u..

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
bye and waalaikumussalam

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
can't wait to go back on summer

MaD___IzzE says:
looking forward to see u but don't fret. You be back in no time. Bye

Sharazad www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com says:
bye dad.



(Source: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ban0bio-1)

Roger Bannister was born in Harrow, Middlesex, England. He began school in a suburb of London, where he early showed a talent for running. University education had been beyond the reach of Bannnister's working class parents, and he resolved at a young age to win a place in one of England's elite universities and study medicine. At the outbreak of World War II, the family moved to historic Bath, England, where Roger Bannister had daily opportunities to practice his running on the way to and from school. At first, his studiousness made him unpopular with his less motivated classmates, but his exceptional speed on the running track soon won him the acceptance he sought, and his scholastic efforts paid off with a scholarship to Oxford University.

At Oxford, Bannister's speed in the mile and 1500 meter events drew the attention of the British sports press. To the consternation of many British track enthusiasts, the young miler declined to compete in the 1948 Olympics in London, preferring to concentrate on his training and his medical studies.
By 1951 Bannister had captured the British title in the mile and felt ready for Olympic competition. Unfortunately, last minute change in the schedule of the events at the 1952 games in Helsinki forced Bannister to compete without resting between events as he was accustomed to. He finished fourth in the 1500 meter run and endured the scorn of the British sports media, who blamed Bannister's rejection of conventional coaching and training methods.


Bannister resolved to redeem himself by breaking the world's record for the mile, the seemingly insurmountable four-minute barrier. By this time he was undertaking full-time medical studies at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, and setting aside only 45 minutes a day for training. But he had seen his time in the mile improve year after year, and was convinced that slow and steady training would enable him to break the record.

Bannister's opportunity came on May 6, 1954, in a meet at Oxford, with Bannister competing for the British Amateur Athletic Association. He had arranged for his friends Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher to set the pace for the first laps so he completed the first three quarter-mile laps in under three minutes. Finishing the last lap in less than a minute, Bannister broke the tape and collapsed as the announcer delivered his time to the cheering crowd: 3:59.4. The unbreakable record had been broken. At age 25, Roger Bannister had made history.

Within a month, the Australian runner John Landy had broken Bannister's record, but Bannister had the satisfaction of besting Landy at that summer's British Empire Games in Vancouver. In a race billed as "The Mile of the Century," both runners beat the four minute time, but Bannister came in first at 3:58.8 to landy's 3:59.6. Later that year, Roger Bannister was awarded the Silver Pears Trophy, bestowed annually for the outstanding British achievement in any field. He also secured the European title in the 1500 meter before retiring from competition. His autobiography, First Four Minutes, was published in 1955. It has since been reprinted as Four Minute Mile.

He completed his medical studies and for the next two decades combined a career in research with clinical practice as a neurologist. After recovering from a serious car accident he withdrew from private practice to devote himself to research. He maintained an interest in athletics, serving as Chairman of the Sports Council of Great Britain from 1971 to 1974, and as President of the International Council for Sport and Physical Recreation from 1976 to 1983. Dr. Bannister was knighted in 1975.


Today, Sir Roger Bannister is Director of the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London and a trustee-delegate of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in Paddington. Since 1990 he has also been Chairman of the Editorial Board of the journal Clinical Autonomic Research and is the editor of Autonomic Failure, a textbook on clinical disorders of the autonomic nervous system.



Saturday, February 10, 2007

Chelsea, Chelsea





































I was a small, full of curiosity young boy when my father first took me to the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur every week to watch Selangor played in the premier league games. Back then, the historic stadium was the home ground for the Red Giants of Malaysia. When the Saturday sun disappeared, I was so eager in looking forward to go to the stadium. My father never failed to disappoint me. I held my father's hand tight, as we walked in tandem of waves among the sea of people, the spirit was undescribable as parents held their children, notorious youths chanted the slogan of the team and we even sang the theme of Selangor towards the entrance. I could also remember how energetic my father was, and there was an incident one night when my father accidentally stepped into the drain and luckily he just suffered minor injuries. Even though I could see the blood running down on my father's ankle, his thrumpet of football never fade away. Deep in my heart, I always felt so passionate as the sea of people wore the same colours red and yellow, somehow I could sense that football unites the people, no matter whether we are young or old, malays, chinese, or indians.
"Merah kuning lambang kebanggaan, Selangor melangkah ke kejayaan"; these lines echoing in my mind whenever I watch football.

Today, I made my journey towards Stamford Bridge. This time, I was alone. Without the hands of my father. However, I imagined his wisdom eyes and voice shadowing me along the way. Today I took the Fulham route to support my childhood team Chelsea playing against Middlesborough. Like a sudden one clap, I vividly remembered those times when I watched football with my father. I took a black cab as I wanted to catch the blues' atmosphere half an hour before the kick off. There was a short silence in the cab but I had expected the driver's random asking as I told him my destination; "Stamford Bridge". The silence was broken when he opened his mouth and these question was directed to me with a smile; "Are you going to watch the football mate?". I nodded and yes was my answer without hesitation. I heated up the conversation as the journey continued and he told me he supports Crystal Palace, the derby team of Chelsea. I told him that my parents are very worried about me watching football in England as during their time in the late 70's and early 80's hooligans and fightings could not be separated from English football. He turned back looking at me with a baby-smile, assuring me that there are no hooligans anymore. He told me during those times the hooligans would always planned a fight during football match and Chelsea's hooligans were called 'The Headhunters'. However, he explained to me like a father teaching his child a moral lesson that it was during those times only and I should not be afraid of their presence anymore. I told him that it costs me around 45 pounds for this ticket and he said it was not a surprise to him as most of Chelsea supporters are the posh people. That explained why the Chelsea fans nowadays are 'well-behaved' compared to others like Man United or Liverpool. He even told me his season tickets only costs him around 300 pounds.

As the cab made its way through the faceless crowd in Oxford Street, I asked him what does he think about London. He answered me personally, and honestly he said that in London money is everything. If you do not have money, you are nobody in the streets of London. I listened with a deep interest like Dr. Watson listening to the narrative of case by Sherlock Holmes. He has one boy and a daughter and he really wants his children to be brought up in Spain, he wants his children to speak bilingual language, he wants his children to have the non-British upbringing, and he always dream of a home situated in the countryside surrounded by the green scenic and above are the flying birds, where they can play on the grass breathing fresh air, compared to the fast-paced, hectic Londonophobia. I told him I am from Malaysia and asked whether he has been to Southeast Asia and he said no. However, he always dream to go to the Southeast Asia countries and explore the exotic environment, and he believes one day he will make it as his wife's brother now is living in Thailand. As we passed by Harrods, I asked him since he was small and now, what are the differences between London in the 70's and to the present time. He answered,

"London is much more safer now mate".

However, he dislikes the current Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and he said the mayor is mad, he was expressing it by showing a mad man sign of a spinning head. I laughed upon his expression. He told me,

"There are more rules and lots more to be implemented here, as if the mayor is trying to convince us his obsession towards crime. The fin' is those rules only aim to curb petty crimes, not serious crimes. Nuffin'!".

I agreed with him as I told him the recent news about the plan to install CCTV in every traffic light around London, further justifying his point that the mayor is obsessed towards crimes. As the cab strolled along Fulham Road, he drove the cab to a halt. There was a sea of people walking up ahead the road. He told me he could not drive me any further. Before I handed him the money, he asked me,

"Do you know Sex Pistol?"

"Yes, I do. Is it similar to The Ramones?"

"Yeah yeah mate. When I was young, I used to be a punk rock youth. Me and my mates used to sleep along this road, and yes, during those times it was not safe".

He grinned with a cunning smile faded by his old age. "Now, it is safe mate. You just walk along these people and Stamford Bridge is on your right side".

I got off from the cab, we bid farewell with an ironic element of introduction;

"I am Harry, nice to meet you".

"I am Sharazad, nice to meet you too".

"Shhhaa.... what?".

"Shaaa raaa zaad".

"Sharazad!".

"Yes Harry, till we meet again, maybe somewhere along the streets in London." ;)

I stepped into the Chelsea ground. All of a sudden, I felt like I have been lifted to the cloud of nine, as the blues' passion of Jimmy Greaves, Ron 'Chopper' Harris, Peter Osgood, and Gianfranco Zola blew into my heartbeat.


Dear Fellow Chelsea Fan,

You may be aware of a campaign that is underway to get the Shed back to its heady singing days. The aim is to get noise from at least both ends of the ground and improve the atmosphere all around. Hopefully, today will see the campaign taking effect. Please get behind the team in any way you can.

To mark this effort, we would also like to bring back an old song that was sung in the Shed in the 60s. The song is "Strolling". It epitomises Chelsea; "Cool, Traditional, very London and Carefree". It's particularly suitable nowadays as we have to put up with all this tripe about being soulless and having no history.

In the old Shed days it was sung with your arms out stretched above your head. The CHELSEA chant at the end is the same as "10 men went to mow".

So here it is. Sing it with all you might, wherever you are in the ground, and let's roar the boys onto victory. Do it well and it can become our new (old) anthem!

"Strolling, just strolling
In the cool of the evening air
I don't envy the rich, in their automobiles,
For a motor car is phoney,
I'd rather have shank's pony!
Every night I go out strolling
And I know my luck is rolling
When I'm strolling with the one I love"

CHELSEA, clap clap clap, CHELSEA, clap clap clap
(Keep the CHELSEA chant going as long as you want)


And we won 3-0. Jose Mourinhoooooo, Jose Mourinhoooooooo.

It was the Chelsea day and I took the bus at Harrow Road towards Knightsbridge. Before I paid a visit to a friend of mine in Knightsbridge, I bought a dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts at Harrods. The cashier was totally friendly, and we made a short acknowledgement; he is from Colombia and I told him I am from Malaysia. I asked:

"Bogota?"

"No, quite far away from Bogota".

It is true what the recent survey revealed in The Independent newspaper, London now is the most cosmopolitan city in Europe. Middle Easterners and Eastern Europeans are increasingly making the bulk of the proportion in the labour force. When you are on the red double-decker, it is like an informal multi-language class in the heart of London. Name it; Greek, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and even the languages of the eastern Europeans.

I arrived at Nottingham around quarter to ten at night, and I shook hand with a man whom I helped to find his seat on the train before I got off from the train. A simple greeting "You're alright mate?" with a courtesy of smile to a stranger, never fail to tie a bond of friendship albeit I will never meet the stranger again.

Teppan rice and toriyaki was my late dinner at Skinny Sumo Restaurant. I sat beside the glass wall which I could see the people walking arms to arms, battling the cold weather to satisfy the tempation to have fun and go out drinking on Saturday night. Out of the blue, there was a bunch of men dressed-up like pirates knocked on the glass wall and trying their Rum Rum skills to scare me. I was smiling like mad and not to miss this unexpected pirates of the caribbeans wannabes, I hold up my forefinger asking them to wait as I took a photo of them. They were so happily lost in happiness, and they entered the restaurant making the other guests surprised as they told me,

"You're awesome mate!!!".

I just laughed at them. Shaking hands ended the night.

A simple lesson that I learned in this English land, greetings and manners.

Whenever my feet step into the foreign land,

I smile, and speak the language of its people - Sharazad

ps: I saw this banner "Cyprus Blues FC" in the stadium. Hmm... kala kala. Efharisto (Good good. Thank you in Greek). Courtesy of an informal teaching by my university mate, Nayia Nicolaou ;)

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Juggling Corporatism

Another interesting movie that I watched today at Broadway Nottingham.

It was advisable for the Year 3 students to watch this movie which relates to their module "Business Ethics", but it rang my bell of attention to willingly spend my Wednesday evening and have a go at the movie; after a cup of caramelatte, accompanied by the article "India cannot run as fast as China without further reform" [The Economist].

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the main theme of the movie, and it is one of the important functions in an organisational structure to ensure the competitiveness and to survive in the fast-changing world of globalisation.

At the end of the movie, this message was planted in every student's mind as all of us are the potential workforce in the corporate world: juggle your career and the commitments to your loved ones, in the most delicate manner, and professionally.

A season of films about social and ethical issues in business, programmed in conjunction with the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR) at Nottingham University Business School. There will be an introduction before each screening and a discussion afterwards.

Wed 7 - Work Hard, Play Hard. Violence Des Echanges En Milieu Tempere (with English subtitles)

Synopsis: Philippe is a young business graduate who starts work at a management consultancy firm. Assigned to audit a company on the verge of a takeover, his task is to survey the staff and decide on imminent redundancies. Initially he is reluctant to get involved, but eventually begins to realise that the hard-headed approach of his supervisor and mentor is the best way to achieve results, and adopts the mantra of the company 'work hard, play hard'.

And I had constructive arguments and exchanged of ideas with Rohan on our way back to Victoria Center.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

5-minute rest to the planet

We live and die on this planet but most of us fail to perceive it as our dearest friend, a friend who gives us eternal air to breathe and the exotic floras and faunas that inspired painters worldwide like Van Gogh and Picasso.
People express the appreciations through the colours of paintings, but why do we still blindly taint it?
This planet, it is one of God's creations.
In a way, it is a living thing.
Pollution taints our planet, the sun shines abnormally, the snowflakes rarely flirt anymore like the past winter times, the ice on the north pole melts, the migration of birds and other sea animals is unpredictable, and all these arrived to one conclusion = the stupidity of human beings.

We just see the planet from inside of it, but we failed to imagine the beauty of the planet from the moon, we failed to appreciate the blue of the vast ocean and the green of the lands even though there was a footprint on the moon.

Blame ourselves.

But, it is never too late.

" MEDIA COVERAGE - RADIO 5 LIVE (UK NATIONAL RADIO STATION) Thanks to those of you who listened to me on the radio - hope it came across well!

If you missed it and would like to hear it then go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivel
ive/
and click on 'listen again'. scroll down to find the 'up all night' program on Wed 31st Jan.. then i come on about 15mins into the program!

Lights out everyone 1st of feb On the 1st February, 2007 throughout the world:

CORRECT START TIMES - there has been a lot of confusion but to save the difficulties of timezones then please read the following..

ENGLAND AND THE UK - We have the opportunity to join in with France since we are close. So the French start time is 7.55pm - that is 6.55pm (GMT) here in the UK. So let's join in with them to make the effect greater! I know there are some going for 7.55pm.. so if you're confused.. why not do both!?

USA AND CANADA - It's pointless you guys joining in with Europe cos it would be the middle of the day over there. So to save confusion about timezones just switch off your lights 7.55pm YOUR OWN LOCAL TIME.

Hope that makes things a little clearer.

WEBSITE - For great daily tips on how to conserve energy please visit www.coolmove.org - thanks!

The "Alliance pour la Planète" (a national grouping of environmentalassociations) appeals to all citizens to give the planet 5 minutesrespite :

Everybody to extinguish all their lights and illuminations and turnoff equipment on stand-by on the 1st February 2007 from 18h55 until 19h00. (GMT)

The purpose is not just to save electricity for 5 minutes that day, but todraw the attention of citizens, the media and the authorities to the wasteof energy and the need to initiate action! 5 minutes respite for the planet:that's not long, it costs nothing and will show our politicians that climatechange is something which should figure prominently in political debates.

Why the 1st February? Because that is the day on which the latestreport of the United Nations Panel of Experts is to be released in Paris.

Although this event is scheduled to take place in France, we should not missthis opportunity of drawing attention to the global climatic situation.

If we all participate our actions will have great public and politicalresonance, at an important moment in our political life.! "

Sometimes, good things can happen when the lights are off - New York City Blackout, 14 August 2003 ;)