Since I'll balik kampung and won't be able to online for a week, I'm going to take this opportunity to wish all friends and bloggers a very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year. Hope this coming Dog Year will bring luck and good fortune to all of us!

I have to confess that I'm a BIG fan of reality shows. But of all the shows, there are only three shows that I loved most: The Amazing Race, The Apprentice and America's Next Top Model (ANTM). Yes, American Idol is not even in my list of favourite reality show.The criteria to be my favourite reality show are pretty simple:
1. good format
2. excellent editing
3. entertaining cast
4. intelligent host
5. lotsa dramas

However, I'm only interested to talk about ANTM because season 4 is on Channel V (Astro channel 72) right now. While you can also find season 3 on 8TV, I'm not going to talk about it because Channel V has shown it MANY times.

Yesterday, it was only the 2nd episode of season 4 (shown every Monday at 8 pm and repeated throughout the week). Last week, Tyra Bank, the gorgeous host and executive producer of ANTM, introduced to us the 14 finalists who came from various backgrounds and dream of becoming the next top model.

Of all of these girls, I have to say that my favourite is Naima, a 20-year-old from Detroit who works as a coffee shop waitress. After watching all the previous seasons, I knew that she has got what it takes and will go very far in this competition (spoiler: she did!). From the 1st and 2nd episodes, you can sense that Tyra and the other flamboyant judges loved her for being edgy and unique.

The best part about episode 2 was when they were experiencing their first photo shoots. Some were good but most of them were just clueless. Also there was this makeover session. One of the girls, Michelle, was shaking like she was being possessed when she had to go through a painful session of bleaching her hair to blond.

No point for me to repeat what happened in the show because you have to watch it yourself or read all the episodes from ANTM website. So far, season 4 is one of the best. Only into the 2nd episode and there are already a lot of drama (black girls = drama) and hilarious scenes. The format is solid and the cast is just beautiful and amazing!

When I read the news about students suing the government over its policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English, I was really excited because there will be a recent court case to be discussed in my educational law class.

At the same time, I felt disgusted because the four students were being manipulated just for the sake of the adults' (the people behind the scene which includes their fathers) political agenda. One of the student is only a Year Four student! For me, the father of this kid has already violated his responsibility as a father and denied his son's rights for better education (I bet many students don't know their rights yet).

I do agree that we must uphold the national language. At the same time we must also emphasize on the importance of English language. In fact, I believe students in kebangsaan schools should study both Science and Mathematics in two languages, Malay and English. However, I know this is not going to happen due to a lot of reasons like higher cost, lack of teachers and time constraint.

Any aspiring business and management book writer here in the blogosphere? If you are able to write in bahasa Malaysia, this is a golden opportunity for you. Read there following to understand how to can start to write for PTS (fyi, PTS is quite a significant publisher in the industry). Also I suggest you to join their workshop (check the info at the bottom of this post) to learn about KJ method, copyright, etc.

PTS Professional Publishing Sdn. Bhd. merancang untuk menerbitkan pelbagai tajuk buku bisnes sepanjang tahun 2006/2007. Jika anda seorang pengarang, pengamal (practioner), konsultant, ahli akademik dan berminat untuk menulis tajuk-tajuk bisnes, sila hubungi kami di alamat di bawah.

PTS Professional sedang mencari individu yang berminat menulis buku mengikut judul sebagaimana di bawah. Jika anda berminat sila hubungi kami di alamat di bawah bagi mendapat maklumat lanjut dan ‘booking’ judul buku yang hendak ditulis dengan segera.

En. Mohd Khairulanuar Manshor
Editor Perolehan
PTS Professional Publishing Sdn. Bhd.
No 3, Jalan Industri Batu Caves 1/6, Taman Perindustrian Batu Caves,
68100 Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel.: 03-6188 0316
Faks: 03-6189 0316
E-mel: anuar@pts.com.my
H/P: 012-2722392

Judul buku cadangan:
Usahawan Baru
1. Cerita-cerita Motivasi Usahawan Wanita
2. 101 Idea Bisnes di rumah
3. Kaya Dengan Pelaburan
4. Zakat Dalam Bisnes
5. Idea-idea Mendapatkan Duit Ketika Belajar

Memulakan Bisnes Sendiri
1. Memulakan Bisnes Restoran
2. Memulakan Bisnea Warung
3. Memulakan Bisnes Katering
4. Memulakan Bisnes Tuisyen
5. Memulakan Bisnes Ternakan Lembu/Kambing
6. Memulakan Bisnes Ayam
7. Memulakan Bisnes Ikan
8. Memulakan Bisnes Kedai Runcit
9. Memulakan Bisnes Kedai Runcit
10. Memulakan Bisnes Kedai Jahit
11. Memulakan Bisnes Perkhidmatan IT/Kafe Internet
12. Memulakan Bisnes Bengkel Motor/Kereta

Sales
1. Rahsia Menjadi Salesman Hebat
2. Teknik Berunding
3. Rahsia Sales di eBay
4. Menjual Produk Kurang 5 Minit
5. Cara Menjual Pada Syarikat Besar
6. Strategi dan Taktik Harga (Pricing)
7. Sales Menggunakan Emotional Intelligence
8. Membaca Minda Pembeli
9. Cara Meyakinkan Salesman
10. Sales Menggunakan Telefon, Emel, Faks, Surat dan Voice Mail

Kewangan Peribadi
1. Perancangan Kewangan Pelajar
2. Perancangan Kewangan Keluarga
3. Hidup Aman Tanpa Hutang
4. Cara Pinjaman Untuk Bisnes
5.Perancangan Kewangan Selepas Pencen
6.Pelaburan Yang Menguntungkan
7.Cara Terbaik Wanita Menggunakan Wang
8. Cara Pengurusan Kewangan di Zaman Umayyah, Abbasiyyah dan Uthmaniyyah
9. 1001 Ayat Financial Yang Perlu Diketahui

Pemasaran
1. Rahsia Menjual Lebih Banyak Produk
2. Pemasaran Secara Gerila
3. Seni Menentukan Harga
4. Brand Yang Menarik
5. Cara Menghadapi Pasaran Yang Kompleks
6. Strategi Marketing
7. Marketing Pada Sesiapa
8. Cara Marketing Pelbagai Bangsa

Perkhidmatan Pelanggan
1. Jenis-jenis Pelanggan dan Cara Mengatasinya
2. 101 Cara Hebat Melayan Pelanggan
3. Cara Customer Services Syarikat-syarikat Berjaya

Skil Eksekutif
1. Perbincangan Efektif
2. Pengurusan Projek
3. Soalan Lazim Ketika Temuduga
4. Pekerja Cemerlang
5. Bos Cemerlang
6. Masalah Pekerja dan Cara Mengatasinya
7. Tranformasi Tempat Pekerja
8. Motivasi Pekerja
9. Skil Presentation Untuk Eksekutif
10. Eksekutif 6 Sigma

Motivasi Eksekutif
1. Rahsia Kejayaan CEO
2. Pengurus Hebat
3. Kepimpinan Futuristik
4. Rahsia Cepat Naik Pangkat
5. Menjadi Bos Hebat
6. Tip-tip Untuk Eksekutif Muda
7. Eksekutif Berkarisma
8. Tip-tip Berbaik Dengan Pekerja
9. Bina Diri Sebagai Businessman
10. Bisnes Selepas Pencen

Target pembeli/pembaca:
1.Usahawan baru
2.Eksekutif dan Profesional
2.Pelajar lepasan SPM atau ijazah
3.Umum

Serahan manuskrip:
1.Tarikh akhir serah manuskrip ialah 3 bulan dari tarikh persetujuan
2.Manuskrip yang siap hendaklah diserahkan dalam bentuk hard copy dan soft copy

Hak cipta manuskrip & royalti:
1.Hak cipta atas manuskrip adalah milik penulis. PTS Professional hanya memegang hak eksklusif menerbit sahaja.
2.Penulis akan dibayar royalti berdasarkan jualan buku setiap tahun.
3.Kadar royalti adalah sebagaimana berikut:
7% daripada harga runcit buku (1 – 5,000 naskhah yang terjual)
10% daripada harga runcit buku (5,001 – 10,000 naskhah yang terjual)
11% daripada harga runcit buku (10,000 naskhah ke atas yang terjual)

Panduan untuk Penulis:
1.Manuskrip hendaklah ditaip dalam format berikut:
A4
1 ½ spacing
Times New Roman
Saiz 12
2.Jumlah muka surat manuskrip: (bergantung pada judul buku)
3.Gaya penulisan:
Berbentuk 'How to book' (panduan praktikal)
Berbentuk tip-tip pendek/petua/strategi (satu tip 1-3 muka surat)
Berdasarkan fakta
Memperbanyakkan contoh
Ayat yang pendek & mudah difahami
Sertakan kata-kata hikmat pendek (letak dalam kotak)
Perenggan pendek

Bengkel Penulisan Buku-buku Bisnes dan Pengurusan
Tempat: Taman Permata, Hulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh: 21.01.2006 to 21.01.2006
Masa: Time : 10:00 Pagi to 5:00 Petang

PTS Professional Publishing Sdn. Bhd. akan mengadakan bengkel penulisan bagi buku-buku siri bisnes dan pengurusan. Mereka mensasarkan lebih 50 buah buku siri ini diterbitkan pada tahun 2006. Justeru, kami amat mengalu-alukan mereka yang berminat untuk menyertai bengkel ini.

Pengisian bengkel:
1.Teknik menulis menggunakan 'KJ Method'
2.Teknik adaptasi buku bisnes dan pengurusan sedia ada di pasaran
3.Hak Cipta untuk penulis
4.Pembentangan judul buku yang akan diterbitkan 2006

Penyertaan percuma. Makan minum tidak disediakan.Tempat adalah terhad. Hanya peserta yang mendaftar sahaja layak menyertainya.Untuk maklumat lanjut, hubungi Mohd Khairulanuar Manshor, 012-2722392 atau emel anuar@pts.com.my.

... reason being Rafael Nadal is not playing! Andre Agassi and Marat Safin are not playing as well. I'm not a fan of Nalbandian, Roddick or Hewitt. So my bet is on Federer. He is a classy player and he's such a great talent. But he is also the most boring player to watch. He wins too easily and of course he's expressionless!

Hopefully Nadal will get back in form and see him play again. According to his doctor, Nadal will need another three or four weeks to adapt to his new insoles and his new shoes (which are being redone by Nike).

So in the meantime, I'll catch up with the Women's Singles. Martina Hingis is back and I will not be surprised if she ends up in the semifinal or even final. But my bet is either on Kim Clijsters or Lindsay Davenport because the No.1 ranking is at stake. Hope others like Sharapova and Mauresmo will give them a good challenge. As for Serena William, I don't understand what she's lack of. Hope she will buck up in the next round.

I've been joining the drop-in meditation class in PJ since late last year but not always consistent.

This year, starting from Jan 9, I've never missed a single class. I intend to be disciplined simply because the topics are very interesting.

Although I'm not new to the teaching, I think it is a very fresh approach because classes are conducted in English and easy to understand (for beginners as well as those with some knowledge and experience of Buddhism and its practices). This general programme is conducted by the principal teacher, Venerable Kelsang Pagpa, a Buddhist monk from England.

For your information, below is the schedule for Jan-Feb 2006:

How to Lead a Spiritual Life

09 Jan How to Relax?
16 Jan How to Meditate?
23 Jan How to Concentrate?
30 Jan No Class (Chinese New Year break)
06 Feb How to Accept Ourselves?
13 Feb How to Accept Others?
20 Feb How to Smile?
27 Feb How to Enjoy?

To get more information about other programmes you can check out the MKMS website.

Recently I chatted with a classmate who is working at the Curriculum Development Centre. She was disappointed with most teachers who seldom apply what they have learned in workshops in their classroom teaching.

A couple of months back, I came to know from another classmate of mine who is a teacher saying that they were taught how to construct crossword puzzles in one workshop. However, the method is too time consuming and complicated. Because it was a group work at the workshop, she did not know exactly what to do and leave it to one particular group member to complete the task.

As my educational crossword book series will be out in the market soon (in the printing process, finally!), I was thinking of sharing my method with teachers (or tutors, educators, parents etc) on how to construct good quality crosswords within minutes. I've been planning this idea for a week now and finally came up with something. I'm going to run this workshop in February at the Faculty of Education, University of Malaya and will be charging a very low fee (to cover training materials, rental and software installer).

My crosswords are not the typical puzzles you normally see in newspapers or educational magazines. Mine are more specific and encourage students to pick up important terms that cover all topics that they are going to learn that year. I've been using crosswords in teaching Bahasa Melayu and believe me the result is amazing. I was thinking, instead of keeping the method to myself, why not share with teachers. I believe teachers will apply what they have learned if the method is user-friendly.

As a postgraduate student, there are are many times when I failed to get enough resources to do my assignment particularly things that are related to Malaysian education. Perhaps it is because there are not enough transparency in our education system. Hence, most of the resources are either outdated or incomplete.

Not long ago I got hold of the complete Malaysia's educational plan. It is called Pembangunan Pendidikan 2001-2010. It covers the government plans for primary, secondary and tertiary levels. To download the content page of the educational plan in 10 years, kindly click here: Pembangunan Pendidikan 2001-2010

The text is in Bahasa Malaysia and in pdf format.

For more information or if you are interested to have the complete file, kindly send me an email.

In today's The Star newspaper, the ministry of education again stressed that they will stick to their decision to lift the ban of handphones in schools.

Like many other policies, I believe MOE will change their mind one day. Wait till we see headlines on major newspapers, perhaps something like misusing mms clips to humiliate/againts teachers or other students (reminds me of squatgate), parents complaining about mobile phone and service providers coming in and out the schools (like workbook sellers), statistic of missing handphones in schools in Malaysia per year.

It is definitely not a wise move by the MOE. They are indirectly creating more problems to teachers. Now teachers have to ensure students' phone etiquette, theft or missing handphones, etc. Even students are prone to greater peer pressure now.

Good for researchers though. Now they have good research problems for their theses writing or research projects.

Personally, I against the idea of allowing students to bring mobile phones to schools. I believe schools have enough public phones and in case of emergency, the school management or teachers will be able to contact parents immediately or vice versa.

I certainly hope that there will be no misuse of mobile phone by students to go againts their teachers and other students. Imagine secretly capturing photos or videos while their friends are being punished or teachers punishing or scolding their students, then put them up on their blogs or distributing them through mms.

School management must be very strict on this matter and not to allow students hiding behind their desks sms-ing while the teacher is teaching in front of the class. Also never allow them to disrupt the class(es) or any part of the school with those irritating ringing tones.

Starting in February the new home for the film screenings (used to take place in AEI, University of Malaya) will be the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) which is located next to Zoo Negara in Ampang.

The film screenings will take the same format as before. International films will be shown every Wednesday evening at 8.30 pm, while the last Saturday of each month will be used to showcase the best of Malaysian filmmakers.

As usual, they will be providing a short introductory talk, programme notes and refreshments (hurray!). Admission to all films is FREE.

The programme for February will be as follows:



Thursday 2 February at 8.30 pm
THE SEA INSIDE
Spain 2004, 125 mins, Dir. Alejandro Amenabar
Winner of Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 2005

Wednesday 15 February at 8.30 pm
THE PIANIST
France/Germany 2002, 150 mins, Dir. Roman Polanski
Winner of Best Director and Best Actor, Academy Awards 2002

While having our brunch yesterday at Ah Lok Cafe, my good ol' friend, Cindy told me she went through some old photos the other day and had a big laugh about it.

She scanned and forwarded one photo to me. My reaction was OMIGOD! That's the only word to describe it.The photo is sooo 90s. How time flies. The way we dressed, our hairstyles and not to mention our innocent faces. It was 1997 and together with Wai Loo, we were at Shu Fen's house to celebrate Chinese New Year.

When I was a student, I always heard of the word 'utopia'. The word fascinates me and I wonder if it's achievable. After all, 'utopia' means 'ideally perfect place'.

Lately, I've been thinking about 'utopian schools' and how we can have it to apply to Asian educational environment. Hardly anyone talks about educational utopias anymore. Instead we all seem to be too caught up with exam results, school violence, teachers burnout and so-called excellence.

I've read an article saying that the early 1970s gave rise to exciting books like George Leonard's Education and Ecstasy and John Mann's Learning to Be, which painted fantasy pictures of futuristic schools that educated the total spectrum of human capability.

In Leonard's book, children used computer-assisted technology to interact with humanity's rich collection of symbol systems. Mann's book described a utopian school where children attended "empathy classes" and simulated trips to Mars. Just 30 years later, some of these fantasies seem laughably outdated, whereas others are just now being realized. In their time, however, these books revealed a freshness of vision and an unabashed impulse to explore the heights of possibility in education. We just don't seem to do much exploring in this hardheaded era.

I've checked the UM Main Library and it seems that both books are printed in the 1960s and 1970s. I'm going to get hold of those books later.

In 1983, we saw the development of the remarkable theory of multiple intelligences (MI) by Dr Howard Gardner which sets a new paradigm for educational utopia. Most of us know what multiple intelligences are. In Malaysia, we have kindergartens and even publishers who tried to market their products and services by exploiting Gardner's model without fully understand its structure.

I love the idea of educational utopia. I wish that someday our ministry of education will be interested as well.

Uni has just reopened for second semester. This is my second year here in UM doing my postgraduate degree.

I've registered for the two final papers. One of them is leadership which I'll be taking together with a new batch of postgraduate students (other coursemates who are in the same batch with me already taken this paper during the first year).

I attended the first lecture last Saturday. To my surprise, 25% of the students in the seminar room are "international students" and they are all from differents parts of China. I thought they must be muslims and from Xian or Xinjiang but I was wrong. Some are from the northern part of China, others from Shenzen and Guangdong.

Perhaps this is a good sign. I believe UM is trying its best to improve the "International Student Score" in 2006.