Category: Journal

The Audacity Of The Young One

I have been involved in the development and fine tuning of  Co-Academic activities concept paper for quite some time. I was among the youngest when I started.  The group was quite small back then and it is a fact that I have always been intimidated by my colleagues. Older and more experienced in many ways.

During one of my early meetings I was sitting across the table to a senior teacher. In one of our heated discussion on how we should go about one of the activities. She blurted out “the audacity of the young one” at me. It sounded harsh in the beginning but her face had a smile. For context, I was explaining to my colleagues on why we shouldn’t follow her direction for a competition.

At that time it was shocking. But as time passes by I realise it should have been the opposite, it should have been a proud moment. I have done what many wouldn’t do. To respectfully disagree when the situation demands for it. And I believe that is why there was a smile accompanying the words.

I believe that was why I was included in the discussion, to be candid and to be frank when the ideals seems to be too lofty. To introduce fresh ideas. To simplify and to make it easy for adoption.

My younger colleagues may have heard this story from me before, it is all but a reminder that they too have ideas that may be worth more than mine.

Konvokesyen dan Hujan

31 Oktober 2010 – Sintok, Kedah

11 tahun yang lepas pada hari ini saya di UUM Sintok untuk graduasi sarjana. Graduasi dalam suasana malap, tiada gambar yang di ambil kerana hujan yang pada awalnya rintik-rintik semakin lebat. Hanya bergantung sepenuhnya kepada jurugambar rasmi majlis.

Apa yang lebih di ingati adalah perjalanan pulang. Sejurus tamat konvokesyen sudah ada kawan yang memilih untuk terus pulang. Saya memilih untuk bertolak sedikit lewat. Sudah banyak jalan yang dinaiki air. Menggunakan garmin kami mencari jalan alternatif yang belum dinaiki air untuk ke lebuhraya.

Alhamdulillah kami berjaya mencari jalan yang selamat. Masih saya ingat kerana kami terpaksa melalui kawasan sawah padi untuk memintas kawasan yang tenggelam. Kami berjaya sampai ke lebuhraya utama walaupun menghadapi sedikit kesukaran. Hujan di sepanjang jalan sangat mendebarkan lebih-lebih lagi bila merentasi banjaran Titiwangsa. Alhamdulillah, kami sampai ke rumah dengan selamat walaupun berdebar sepanjang perjalanan.

Keratan akhbar pada keesokan hari menunjukkan bahawa lebuhraya yang kami lalui juga telah ditenggelami air. Sidang konvokesyen kami juga menjadi sidang terakhir. Kerana sidang seterusnya telah ditunda akibat dari banjir.

Basikal : Pengangkutan atau Rekreasi?

Pengalaman saya berbasikal bermula dari kecil. Pastinya waktu kanak-kanak ini yang memungkinkan saya untuk meronda kawasan kampung. Dari rumah petang-petang kami akan berbasikal sampai ke rumah kawan saya… Ada kawan yang duduk di Taman Malinja. Kami berbasikal sampai ke sana. Paling jauh saya berbasikal seorang diri adalah dari Kg Dangar, rumah saya ke rumah nenek di Kg Tg Rendang, Lemal. Sekitar 3 km sahaja jadi tak kena marah. Hihi.. Aktiviti ramai2 jangan tanya.

Bila masuk sekolah menengah basikal bukan lagi semata-mata rekreasi, saya berbasikal dari rumah ke sekolah. Sebelum berpindah hanya kurang lebih 500m dari rumah. Bila berpindah sudah jadi 5km dari rumah. Keadaan yang sama diteruskan sampai universiti, saya tiada motor mahupun kereta yang ada hanyalah basikal.

Dari duduk di desasiswa hingga berpindah di rumah sewa. Sepanjang tempoh pengajian di USM itulah satu-satunya kenderaan saya. Bila ia di curi di kawasan kedai Sungai Dua. Saya tempang. Mujurlah bapa saya memberi wang untuk membeli basikal kedua. Harga basikal Lerun murah sahaja dua tiga ratus dah dapat. Basikal kedua ini masih tersimpan di rumah mak. Berkarat dah. 🙂 Kalau diberi kepada yang suka bergambar sambil mengangkat basikal rasanya mereka tak mampu angkat… Berat oiii… Haha..

Kini setelah bekerja.. Berbasikal hanyalah sekadar rekreasi, kayuhan di waktu petang menemani anak-anak beriadah.

#oldcyclist
#throwback

Faiq's first bike ride
Faiq’s first bike ride

Webinar Producer

Webinar/ Livestream Producer

Dalam waktu pandemic ini demand untuk webinar makin meningkat. Saya berpeluang beberapa kali untuk menjadi producer atau sesetengahnya guna istilah Technical Host.

Software/Webware/Platform

Belajar dari kosong sahaja, saya bermula dengan hanya grab screen dari google meet / ms teams terus ke facebook. Tanpa guna sebarang software khusus.

Kemudian saya explore aplikasi OBS. Memang power aplikasi ni. Kita boleh tambah additional setup yang saya suka. OBS guna istilah sources dari sources tu kita boleh jadikan pelbagai elemen. combine dengan vdo.ninja maka kita dapat satu setup untuk menjalankan webinar/live streaming.

Malangnya laptop saya yang dah berumur tak cukup gagah untuk menggunakan OBS pada kapasiti maksimum. Processor akan ramp up hingga suhu maksima di capai dan terus hang.

Akhirnya atas cadangan senior, alumni saya subscribe kepada streamyard. pada pendapat saya. OBS lebih banyak elemen yang boleh dimanipulasi dan customised. Akan tetapi streamyard merupakan satu platform yang sudah lengkap. Kawalan semuanya hanya pada satu screen sahaja.

Pre-Production

Untuk menjayakan webinar bukan hanya perlu kepada kawalan sewaktu webinar. Tapi banyak juga pre-production yang perlu dilakukan. Biasanya saya buat sendiri dengan bantuan sorang junior yang terer graphic. Order je terus dapat. Mmg power dia ni.

Biasa yang saya prepare sendiri adalah

  1. Overlay
  2. Background
  3. Intro/Outtro

Semua elemen ni streamyard guna istilah brand, dan saya rasa memang tepat. untuk memastikan ada consistency antara webinar kepada webinar yang lain. saya jenis yang suka simplify tapi kadang2 saya ter over do jugak. Saya suka gunakan platform canva untuk buat semua elemen ni.

saya banyak guna video countdown timer utk intro, yang ni mudah jer… boleh dilakukan di canva juga. gabungkan video countdown yang free dalam internet kemudian tambah personalisation.

Untuk bahagian outtro saya gunakan html slideshow yang memaparkan poster program2 semasa sebagai outtro. Html slideshow lebih mudah kerana hanya perlu tukar beberapa baris perkataan sahaja utk tukar kepada poster baharu.

Berkongsi sebagai rujukan saya juga pada waktu lain. Dengan pembukaan sekolah yang makin dekat, makin terasa sukar untuk memperuntukkan waktu untuk kerja2 luar.

#amateurproducer

Better Health

Alhamdulillah, finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. After months of battling with my cough. Managed to narrow it down to my Diabetes medicine. Specifically Metformin.

Culprit!

After talking to pharmacists a month back during my regular visit to the health clinic they confirmed my suspicion that Metformin can cause gastric/acid reflux. They asked me to consult my doctor on stopping or replacing it. That would be a month away. I know I can’t simply stop as it can cause havoc on my glucose levels. A few days later I decided enough was enough. Couldn’t take the on and off coughs anymore. So I stopped cold turkey. Stopped metformin entirely.

After a month, I can say that my health has improved. Still has irritations to my throat from time to time but no longer has chronic coughs. No more sleepless nights due to coughs.

A week back I had my monthly appointment at the health clinic. After telling the doctor everything she agreed with my findings. And supported by the fact that I was able to maintain a healthy Blood Glucose level, she amended my prescriptions. So now I have one less meds to be taken daily.

Alhamdullillah, so far so good. Hopefully I can get off more meds after this.

The Traveller

I am a traveller on a journey,
A journey of knowledge,
On a path to fill this thirst.

O lonely rocks,
Do you not wish to traverse the world?
Enjoying sights unknown.

Join me!
Let’s walk together on this journey,
A journey full of wonders.

Voyage of enlightenment,
A never ending quest,
A purpose to fill.

The Cough Story

My Cough Meds

A few week back… Was among the worst week in my life. Scrambling to get a rein on my health. Day after day my health was deteriorating.

I developed a cough back in early January. Initially I thought it was just due to my sore throat. Went to the doctor and got some antibiotics and sore throat lozenges. But it lingered.

Day after day it was worsening. Tried another clinic, another doctor… Getting a second opinion. When I told everything that I knew about my symptoms he concluded I had asthma. Shoot. My childhood illness has apparently come back?

Was prescribed another batch of medicines. But instead of improving, it only worsened for me. Coughing was still there.

Went to government clinic. The doctor concurred that it may be asthma, and added a few more meds.

Then, I lost my voice, the cough was so bad it only stopped if I vomited. The frequent vomiting affected my voice. My voice was ermm undescribable.

All this while I was in communication with my sister. We talked about other possible causes of my cough. We talked about acid reflux. Went ahead and got myself over the counter medicines for acid reflux.

Still not much improvement.

Then I went yet to another doctor trying to get some more asthma medication. He suggested changing it a little bit. Dropping theophylline and instead getting clenbuterol.

Days went by and my condition improved.

So here I am still unhealthy but in better shape. Voice is still hoarse. But can carry far longer conversation. Though I still get winded if too long.

Sugar High Pressure High

Starting my high blood sugar/pressure journey. Have been delaying the pills for quite some time.

The doctor told me it can’t be avoided anymore.

Eat twice daily!

Aidilfitri 1441h

Visuals are always intertwined with festivals. Be it the Petronas adverts that we eagerly await for every year, our need to decorate our houses or a simple poster wishing Happy Holidays.

This year I took up the task of creating a Hari Raya Poster for my alumni. Not an easy task to begin with, but I my tried my best. So I looked for inspirations and managed to edit a poster I found on the internet into this.

1st attempt

But of course the first attempt would always garner a lot of comments, with one striking comment requesting a jawi or arabic version of the poster. Easier said than done, but hey I’m a guy who like to tinker. So I made two more version of the said poster.

Obviously it wouldn’t satisfy everyone but comments were heavily leaning on the jawi version of it. So I found a nicer jawi writing for Salam Aidilfitri and it lead to another version of it.

This gained more comments, and there were critics who requested more changes. But after 24 hours of editing and moving things around I didn’t really want to change anything anymore. So finally, we came to this version which was used by my alumni.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 1441h

You probably thought all of that took seconds to finish but in reality, it took more than a day to realize. Reminder, am not a professional graphic designer so please be kind with your comments :p

Till next time, my adventure continues…

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri everyone…

The End Is Nigh?

A lot of people have intuited that in the future we will be forced to live indoors, it spawned generations of preppers.

The reason for it have all seemed to be along the lines of war, man made catastrophes. Some have pitched biological warfares. Now it seems the reason would be a pandemic. Not so exciting as a zombie apocalypse, but it certainly is dangerous enough to force us into our homes.

My out take from all of this hits closer to home, I am an educator and I have always believed that we should prepare our kids for the future. When all of this occurred, we could immediately see how people with (medical) skills are in high demand. Through the ages it has always been so. But more so now that its is people who can make things, who can create, defend, heal… These are the people that matters. So what should we do?

Skills, that is what we should do. Focus on creating a generation with hands on skills. Through our TVET programmes. We have to realise that knowing how to sing won’t get food on the table. We can’t all offer conveyancing services, but those who can build those buildings, who can automate said buildings, these are the people that will always be in demand.

Let us not say anymore that TVET is a last choice. It should be our first choice in creating a future ready generation.