hacking away

I’ve got the numbers, and I’ve engaged in battle, but I don’t seem to be making any progress

Statistics tell me that the dice will eventually roll my way, but until then, I need to persevere.

-

Random flashback:

Perajurit Tanah Air

Inilah barisan kita,

Yang ikhlas berjuang.

Siap sedia berkorban,

Untuk ibu pertiwi!

Sebelum kita berjaya,

Jangan harap kami pulang!

Inilah sumpah pendekar kita,

Menuju medan bakti!

Andai kata kami gugur semua,

Taburlah bunga di atas pusara.

Kami mohon doa,

Malaysia berjaya!

Semboyan telah berbunyi,

Menuju medan bakti!

What am I fighting for?

ideas for the future

random thoughts that tease the mind in between the pages of the limits to growth. thought i’d jot this down before losing it

1. starting a database of NGOs and other social/community service initiatives as well as a list of their needs. This will help companies to exercise their corporate social responsibility, as now they will be better able to align their interests with related stakeholders. It can work both ways as well, with a listing of companies and their CSR policies. This will help grassroots initiatives tremendously in targetting fundraising initiatives. One thing I learnt from trying to get funds for the OA conference was the dearth and lack of coordination of information on both sides.
2. starting a comprehensive guide to touring malaysia. haven’t done research on this, but i imagine the information collated by tourism ministry is still poorly accessible, unless you visit their offices physically, and even then, there are so many local delights which are off the “radar” and which i am sure guidebooks like loenly planet will miss. This can spin off many other things like producing a database of potential growth areas – like we know which towns have a lack of good budget accomodation/local tours/transport arrangements – which would help entrepreneurs kick start ventures with the help of like the ministry for entrepreneurship
3. doing research into prioritising needs. I wonder how does MoF produce the annual budget? Is there a comprehensive, consistent methodology for measuring the costs and benefits of needs and solutions across all industries and ministries? this is much trickier than it sounds. most of the time the costs may be easy to calculate, but assigning economic benefit to many initiatives is tricky – for example, assigning an economic value to preventing soil erosion or the preservation of an orang asli language and being able to compare this side by side with the beneifts of a second bridge to penang . Also, most of the time, while the cost of a particular solution is calculated, its efficacy is not. Me thinks it woudl be revolutionary if you could compute and process all this data and produce a framework for prioritising national needs and interests this would save so much wastages as you will get so much more for every ringgit spent. This is actually being carried out right now on a global scale with the Copenhagen Consensus.

sigh

sometimes i feel like a worm

Gotta keep moving forward

One of my favourite scenes from one of my favourite movies.

“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place… and I don´t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently, if you let it. You, me or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life.

But it ain’t about how hard you’re hit… It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward… how much you can take, and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa

Stupid fire alarms

In case you’re wondering what’s keeping me up at this hour..

It’s the stupid fire alarms.

Living on the 13th floor doesn’t help. By the time you walk down and up again (only two lifts and close to 200 residents), you’re fresh awake.

Felipe and I capturing what we hope to be the last time we get to do this – pls no more fire alarms! Exams are around the corner and sleep is so so precious.