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Politics & government Solar car

[133] Of affirmative action

This week has been a tiring week. Even during weekdays, I found myself during Solar Car business. I am sure this is the start of a busier phase but yet, I am glad. The first stage concerning the solar panels is nearing completion and we are entering the second level.

To mark the start of the second stage, Mirai, Brent, Ivan and I went out of Ann Arbor to eat some seafood. It cost us USD 60 but it was definitely worth.

Also, I have finally seen SpectruM complete design on the computer. The design is complicated but then, I don’t really know how to the read CAD or use it, yet.

In a few hours, I’ll be in Ohio to start on the second stage. This is the first time a Solar Car work has brought me outside of Michigan. Before this, there were a few trips made by the Team members. One was to Canada (“or Canadia” quoting Skip) and the other one was to Detroit for the Auto Show 2003.

Before I depart for Ohio, I want to clarify my stance on affirmative action, particularly concerning Malaysian case.

Basically, I am against affirmative action. Reasons are, number one, it make it unfair for the others. Some (in fact all the AA supporters) argue that AA is a way to correct a wrong. This is a screwed way of seeing it. The way of seeing it is this – it is correcting a wrong with another wrong. The a.a movement is like Hammurabi’s Code of Law that says an eye for an eye. What the code failed to see is that if we took that principle as a way of life, the whole world will go blind.

Secondly, AA movement, at least from my eye is a racist movement. From my observation, most of the AA supporters are the one that were oppressed in the past. So, there will be two groups (maybe three on the people on the fence, lets not count them), the a.a. believer and the opposition. In the end, this will polarize the society. For example, in Ann Arbor, the AA supporters are mainly Blacks. Note that this is exactly the opposite of AA goal.

Thirdly, the notion of feeling guilty. It is true that there are some supporters coming from outside the said ring. For these people, I tend to think of them of still holding to the idea of white man’s burden. For me, I strongly believe the past is the past. We can’t change it until somebody found the secret of traveling backward in time (forget relativity, I am NOT seeing Physics anymore). We can learn from the past but to feel guilty for things that we have already been forgiven is wrong. Life goes on so let us just more on.

Fourth, I can’t think of any.

About the Bumiputra status, it is a little bit difficult to say. Malaysia has gone too far down the affirmative path and in the end, even the Malaysian political parties are divided racially. There are even SRKJ (C), SRKJ (R) and SRK schools. In order to change this, it is going to take some doings. A lot of opposition will arise. Even now, some of the Malaysian Chinese are fighting against the government will to impose “sekolah nasional” or something like that on them.

The Malay of course wants to retain their special rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

After five decades of AA, I could only wonder whether it is worth it to change the policy. It is a dilemma. If we stick to the current policy, the Malaysian society will continually be divided. If we change, there will be another 13th May. Some say to go with the 13th May path all over again. Some rather stay (and these are the conservative).

Which is better? I myself do not know. Do I consider the Malay rights as holy? A part of me say yes, the other half say no.

Yet, suffice to say that I would like to see a day where there will be no Malay, Malaysian Chinese or Malaysia Indian. I want to see only Malaysian. No more, no less.

p/s – The Dutch Eresdivisie has resumed. De Magish van de Meer!!! Go Ajax Go!!!
p/s 2 – I am seeing a lot of grammar mistakes. I am above grammar.
p/s 3 – Just kidding, I’ll do some correction later.
p/s 4 – Console games suck.

Categories
Environment Solar car Sports

[132] Of Ohio trip and solar cell testing

Guess what?
I’m going to Ohio this weekend for solar modules testing at ****** *****’s facilities. I am looking forward for the trip. There are going to be four of us – me, Mirai, Jeremy and Ivan. Anastasia might come too. Basically, we are going to test all the solar modules and make sure that they are working properly.

After more than six months being with the team, I am starting to really enjoy it.

Currently, I am responsible for the solar car solar module, one of the most important aspects of the car. I am glad to say that my knowledge in solar power as increase not merely in theory but also in practical sense.

The Solar Car Team means a lot to me and becoming more personal. Instead of just a project to win the ACS and WSC, I am constantly making new friends outside of my division. There are lots of friends over there that I do feel comfortable chatting with. (Of course, this does not include Mirai calling me in the middle of the night asking me to come to the work session. On that, I could only thank God for not having a hand phone. If I had a mobile phone, I will find myself doing Solar Car 24/7.) I do believe however the interest in Solar Car is making it difficult to me to run a student life. It seems that I am a real engineer instead of just a student.

Besides that, being in the Solar Car reaffirms my belief in green power. Knowing how a vehicle can run almost forever just with the power of the Sun is electrifying. Plus, without harmful emission.

Nevertheless, the thing that I appreciate most by being with the Team is the fact that I’m actually doing something for the Green movement instead of just talking.

Wait, the best thing is still the fact that I am going to Ohio for free.

Woohoo! I am going to Ohio this weekend. Go Solar Team!

p/s – By the way, the field hockey team is going to Michigan State in Lansing for a game against the Spartan. Boy, if only I had regularly attended the practice, I might had been included in the team. The last I played hockey with them was before the snow falls, some time in November. It was fun and trust me, although only the girls play this game, they are tough. I even had to struggle to keep possession of the ball when I played with them. To strengthen my point, there was even this Australian guy who had to sweat his heart out just to get pass through the girls.

Categories
Politics & government

[131] Of 2003 State of the Union

I watched Bush’s State of the Union speech over the net last night and I must say, Bush is a really good orator.

During the speech, he spoke about reducing the tax, a typical Republican decision since they always think that the American is on the left side of the Laffer Curve. I don’t have too much knowledge in economics but throughout history, there is no prove that the Laffer Curve exists although the idea seems acceptable. Reagan tried it but nothing happened. Bush is trying it and I with skepticism say the government revenue will not go up. Yet, tax cut is good. We all love tax cut huh?

What made me lift my eyebrow was Bush push for hydrogen-powered vehicle. He reason was this push will help the United States to be less dependent on the foreign oil-producing nations. For the first time, I think Bush is doing the right thing.

Another environmental related issue was Bush drive to cut power plants emission up to 75%. Now, this is a little bit manipulative. 75% is a huge number and no doubt, it is good. However, 75% cut on power plants is different from trying to cut even 10% of the polluting industries emission.

All in all, these steps are not enough. The push for hydrogen-powered vehicle is a noble effort but the technology won’t reach the public in mass number within a few short years. It would be well beyond 2010 before this hybrid technology is widely used. Furthermore, with Bush on the top, it is doubtful he will not bend to the oil companies demands (e.g. S.U.V. stuffs).

In the speech, he also touched about Medicare. He wants the rising medical cost to be cut down by releasing the doctors from liability. In other words, he tries to prevent the doctors from being sued unfairly. Another good thing but the Democrats don’t like it (I think).

On international affair, he mentioned about the Palestine struggled and he said he is on the PLO side. Israel is going to love that.

He also touched a few other things but he tarried on Iraq. One think is clear though, it is war for oil. Bush himself said he will not let an aggressive enemy occupy a strategic and rich region to threaten the United States. No more speculation. It is official that it is war for oil.

Well, it’s a pity but we will see another oil-rich territory fall into the hand of the oil megalomaniacs. After that, Bush has won the war. Sigh…

Wait a minute, isn’t State of the Union is supposed to be about state of the Union instead of promises?

Categories
Politics & government

[130] Of Pulau Batu Puteh

A long time ago, well, maybe not so long ago but it was long enough, they were two brothers. They helped each other out and compromised on almost everything. They minded their own business but never reluctant to help each other out in times of desperation. There was even time when a bully came up at them and they stood together against the bully. Yes, that was a long time ago. One could only assume they would be good brothers for all eternity.

But one day, the mother of these two brothers bought them a cake. They enjoyed the cake together, having a chat with a few laugh just like they had as always. Then, it was time for the last piece. The smaller brother reached for it and thought the other wouldn’t mind. How wrong the little one could be. The older brother had wanted it too. The brothers started to argue. Harsh words were exchanged and they hurt each other pride.

In the end, both of the brothers refused to compromise until the cake went bad.

Yet, the cake was so small and uninteresting.

I mean, c’mon, they are arguing about water and the ownership of a freaking lighthouse on a bunch of rock in the middle of the sea!

That is stupid. Malaysia should just sell the water at the agreed price and wait until the water agreements end if it doesn’t want to sell the water anymore. The amount of money generated this water arrangement is nothing compared to Malaysia’s total GDP. Malaysia may operate at a loss but if Singapore is booming, Johor will also enjoy the ripe. In the end, both will prosper. I say just sell the water at 6 cent per gallon and move on. I am sure Malaysia and Singapore have other more important stuff to do.

Concerning the tiny piece of rock, heck, it’s merely a few kilometers from the Malaysian shore while the rock is more than fifty kilometers off Singapore. Where is the common sense? Just give it to Malaysia.

Moving on the subject, the current action by the Singaporean navy is somewhat questionable. Everybody realizes that Singapore is trying to practice the “effective occupation”, the principle that won Malaysia the Sipadan – Ligitan case recently. Nevertheless, the Singaporean Navy has only recently aggressively patrol Pulau Batu Puteh. From my opinion, that is not effective occupation. Looking back at Sipadan and Ligitan, Malaysia has enforced its law and patrol the sea around Sipadan and Ligitan for decades. Singapore on the other hand has only started to patrol the tiny rock for the pass what, months? Weeks?

In addition, Singapore increased patrol had even caused a laugh in Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore so jealously guarded Pulau Batu Puteh that while looking for “trespassing” Malaysian vessels, it failed to see a huge tanker immediately in front of them. I know its bad for me to say that but hey, sometimes the truth hurts.

By the way, effective occupation worked for Malaysia because Indonesia failed to counter Malaysia activities due to the turmoil in Indonesian domestic affair. Indonesia was still licking it wound caused by East Timor and the riot in Sulawesi. At same time, Acheh was waiting for an opportunity of a lifetime. By comparison, Malaysia is far from losing Kelantan (I know, I know, it’s a bad joke) and like it or not, Malaysia currently is doing economically better than Singapore. Plus, the lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh was not built by Singapore. It was built by the British with the consent of the Sultan of Johor.

Thus, effective occupation won’t work for Singapore.

Also, Singapore is arguing that the Malaysian Royal Navy frequently intrudes Pulau Batu Puteh. Well, I think intruding Pulau Batu Puteh is like saying the Malaysian Army is intruding Kuala Lumpur. By the way, the ICJ hasn’t even decided on the case yet. Might I add, if the Malaysian Royal Navy ever crosses Singapore precious border, how about Singapore Royal Air Force intrusion of Johor air space?

Give me a break.

Damn, look at how entry digressed.

Damn, I forgot, I’m a Green. I’m pro-peace (I’ve just found out that the term pro-peace looks better than anti-war – something that I learned from The Daily. That is the first time I learned something from The Daily. Wait, maybe the second time. Who cares?)

Categories
Humor Photography Solar car This blog

[129] Of The __earthinc V1.3

…wats with all this fuss about aina ni?? haha finally u all know aina’s a hoe… i truly believe she IS a hoe… a HOEribbly smart girl, a HOEribbly good listener to her girlfriends’ countless neverending problems, a HOEribbly fun eatin partner…..even santa claus loves her…..HOE HOE HOE…. tsk tsk…. oh god help me sometimes i thinkk i am soo funny… anyways iv been bedridden for a whole week…

The result of random surfing…
Anyway, The __earthinc Version 1.3 is now here. The Links and Gallery are also updated but the pictures might be taken off due to space constraint. As much as I want to compress it and let it stay on the net, my time is way to precious too be spent on compressing the pictures one by one using Photoshop.

Well, bye, I have tons of homework and Solar Car things.