Happy Ramadhan

Once in a year, comes a calling for us Muslims to further prove our submission to God.

Ramadhan is a month that gives us chances to share the feelings of hardship and plight that have become a daily predicament to our poorer fellows.

The rest, well, you either have known or else find out at the Terawih tazkirah.

Aircraft Engineering #1

Aircraft engineering is not aeronautical engineering.

Though both subjects are in the same spectrum, they can be considered being at the opposite ends of each other.

Aeronautical engineering designs, aircraft engineering fixes. Perhaps that describes these two best.

In Malaysia, it wasn't until quite recently that people started to have interest in aircraft engineering. Surely before, all they knew about planes were pilots and stewardesses.

I guess that's because of the emergence of institutions offering aircraft engineering courses, of course, with wide publicity. UniKL's MIAT, for instance.

One thing apparent that sets a difference in aircraft engineering is qualifications. No degree needed. And no university too. Apprentices are trained in certified engineering schools (as per DCAM 66 Part 147), in order to get the much coveted licences.

Munir no longer MAS' Chairman

Tan Sri Mohamed Munir Abd Majid would not resume post as Malaysia Airlines' Chairman as his term expires end-July.

Many reports have made way into the news stream, but I like this one most.

I first met Tan Sri Munir on early 2008. That day, my school was to be officially adopted under MAS' Pintar program. Idris Jala was MD and perhaps too busy with his various turnaround plans he couldn't make it to the event. But Tan Sri was there, along with (then) Menteri Besar Dato' Idris Jusoh and the celebrated Terengganu-born pilot, Dato' Capt Nawawi Awang.

I was to usher these VIPs, with my headboy on that time during the whole ceremony. I didn't quite remember what happened but I recall standing sweated in a blazer, in a warm tropical day.

But back then, having the chance to treat these VIPs was like heeding a noble call.

I saw Tan Sri Munir again early this year, at Subang Airport Mosque during the Friday prayers.

This time I was not anymore a pupil but instead an apprentice to his company.

As time flies, things change too.

Idris Jala is now Senator, and a Minister in the PM's Dept.

Months after I met him, Idris Jusoh was the main antagonist (or protagonist ?) in the Terengganu Palace 's disputes over his re-appointment as MB past-GE12. Now he is Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)'s Chairman.

Dato' Capt Nawawi is now MASWings' MD.

And Tan Sri Munir now gets less chance to meet the stewardesses.

Another post, zing!

BlackBerry

One of the things in my long volatile wishlist is a phone. Given the market today that is abundant of smartphones, I don't rule out jumping onto the bandwagon.

So there I was, with scarce cash balance trying to find a suitable phone for myself.

iPhone is almost perfect, except the price tag.

Hence I turned to its most expected rival.

BlackBerry seems to appeal better. By that, I mean, lower prices. Still, I have to fork out some hundred ringgits from the bottom of my shallow cashflow. That is if I really wanna go for it.

But I won't.

I don't really need to play games on a phone, I can do that better on computers.

I don't really need to have a large memory, because I'm not a music junkie to store lots of songs. No need for mobile internet, because I hate straining my eyes to view small webpages. Neither am I a social snob who tweets for everything I do.

Nope, no wide screen. That translates to the bulkiness of a phone.

I've come to a realisation. I don't really need smartphones. Not now, at least.

Phone K.I.V.

Bersih

The hottest talk in town is about the Bersih rally now taking place everywhere in Kuala Lumpur.

I'm coincidentally booked for hometown this weekend, but it's just an excuse because I'll still not go to the rally if I'm around.

Luckily, I can follow the show here.

Now let's be honest. I don't quite like the rally, as I don't the government. This is silly.

Why didn't Ambiga hold it in Putrajaya?

Less traffic, wider areas. (Fact is, there's no one in Putrajaya other than govt staffers). Though the drawback is it's less accessible than KL, but hey, Bar Council did have a walk there some time ago, right? And the PM's office, residence, EC's office are there too.

Why does the govt overreact?

Seriously, I fail to believe those reports in Utusan and Bharian. Too much past false abstains me.

Stupid. Gajah and mentimun. The latter always suffers.