Sad News

On Wednesday, my father called me up to tell me that my grandmother (on my mother side - my mother's mother) has passed away. I knew her simply as Aa Bok and don't even know her real full name.

She was always there for us. When my father was away in UK and we were all alone, she was the only one that came forward to help. I remember the times she put me to sleep, telling me old folk tales and of Kings and princesses. How she told me of my Royal blood. I don't know if she was joking. My mon would sometimes leave me with her when she was busy and I would watch and play around in the small shop that they used to run. I could choose any snack to eat and they would not stop me.

It has been quite sometime since I last saw her. I had always assumed that she would be around and kept putting off seeing her. And now its too late. Now I wish I had seen her before she died or called her more often. Its too late.

Hope she goes to Heaven.

Money From Blogs

Edited 9th Dec. 2006

It all started with my wife. She was pointing out that I spent a lot of time writing my blog or reading other people's blogs. She noted that if I put a fraction of the time/energy utilised + the passion, I would have completed my PhD in no time. She added "its not like you can get any money writing a blog".

It made me wonder, "Can bloggers actually make money from their blogs?"

On doing some research, I found out that there are actually several ways one can make money from their blogs without getting involved in scams.

1. Instead of using e-bay, you can use your blog to advertise the old stuff you are selling.

BTW, I have got some rare old handphones (Philips, Alcatel, Siemens / 3-5 years old with worn out batteries) if you are interested. I got rid of them before leaving Malaysia but I do have some interesting items here.

2. You can also take money from people to advertise their stuff on your blog.

Hey! My friend Hardy wants to rent out his new fully furnished condo in Cyberjaya. Anybody interested can contact me at ahoklah@gmail.com he already has a tenant.

3. Put up Google advertisements and hope that people click on them. Better still - tell all your family members and friends to click the ads regularly. This may violate Google's Program Policies.

You also need to be very popular to be able to earn something. I have been blogging for nearly 3 years now and I haven't even got my first cheque yet.

4. Get a domain name, host your blog there, increase your popularity until it becomes very famous and then sell it off to the highest bidder.

Actually, you need some creativity and of course, some good writing skills. Some controversy doesn’t hurt. But don't overdo it or you might be hauled off under the Internal Security Act (for people in Malaysia).

5. Set up an account with PayPal and ask people to donate to it for some stupid reason like – “Please donate! I need money to do a PhD" and hope that some kind old soul will have pity on you and donate that £9500 annually for a period of 4 years.

I know for a fact that there are a lot of people out there who don't know what to do with their money. I will give them hundreds of reasons.

You can also open up a new bank account and ask charitable people to put money into the account. I also accept cheques, contact me at ahoklah@gmail.com for more details.

NOTE: It would be nice if you can show that the money has been put into good use, like getting a brand new digital camera to take pictures and create awareness about environmental issues.

Can you think of other ways to make money from your blog without getting involved in scams.

p.s. Yeah! I earn some money from my blog but indirectly.

1) Research. Some people who read my posts invited me to join their projects
2) Webdesign. I have received few web designing jobs.
3) Writing. Have received invitations and presently contributing articles.

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Hazy Melacca

Drove down to Melacca last saturday for work. My sis-in-law and husband (Eju and Muz)tagged along as they had planned to spend the weekend there. I was glad they did, as long journeys can get pretty boring when you are driving alone. The visibility was really bad but thank God! there were no horrible pile ups or any accidents. Though I saw one car who had gone into a ditch near the Port Dickson exit.

This was the first time I was driving to Melacca but couldn't see much as I was busy from 2 till 8pm. Just went to Jaya Jusco after work and roamed around a bit. Lot of choice of food and grabbed a light dinner while waiting for brother and sis-in-law who had taken my car. I had a strange feeling sitting all alone and looking at all the people walking by - some smiling, some curious while others gave me just a passing glance. And you wonder what they are thinking of.

Anyway, just found an interesting fact. The Malacca store opened in Oct. 1991 and is the first Jaya JUSCO overseas store to have trees planted under AEON Hometown Forests Program. Nice to see environmental friendly companies.

Not Subang

I was quite sad though not surprised when I read yesterday that the Malaysian Government has rejected AirAsia's proposal to make Subang airport as a low cost airline hub. According to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, it was estimated that it would cost about RM300 mil. to build a new terminal at Subang.

I was wondering why they would need to construct a new terminal when the facilities are already there. Won't it be more costly to construct a totally new one at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)?

Of course, there was stong lobbying against the proposal. A lot of companies had a lot to lose if the proposal was approved - Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd which runs KLIA, the Express Rail Link (ERL)under YTL, Malaysian Airlines (MAS), airport limo operators and of course the Malaysian Govt. Actually in the end it was AirAsia and of course, the common consumers like us against giants. I was hoping against all odds that it would be approved as I have to regularly travel between Alor Star in Kedah and KL.

Now that the government has decided to build the new terminal in KLIA, I was hoping that the government would look into reducing the fares of the Express Rail Link (ERL), which is now RM 35 for the 28 minutes journey. I think a more acceptable rate should be around RM10, after all it is a public service. Also improving the limo services would be highly appreciated. Once we had to wait around 1 hour after arriving from Alor Star, just to get a limo from KLIA to PJ. Till then, I guess I have to continue taking a bus or drive back and fourth between KL and Kedah.

iPod Maybe

Sometime back I had taken part in the Asian Wall Street Journal's survey "AWSJ 200: Asia's Leading Companies" and received an e-mail yesterday informing me about the results.

The top ten multinational companies operating in Asia are:

1. Microsoft Corp. (has been on top for the past 10 years)
2. BMW
3. Hewlett-Packard
4. Nokia Corp.
5. Sony Corp.
6. Toyota Motors Corp.
7. IBM
8. General Electric
9. Intel Corp.
10. Apple Computer

According to the survey, Genting Bhd was ranked No. 1 in Malaysia.
The complete results will come out in the 21st February 2005 issue of The AWSJ.

The interesting thing is that the 1st 100 people in Malaysia to return the questionnaires were entered in a lucky draw. The prize: an Apple iPod. Here's hoping that I get it.

BTW, you may have noticed I have put back the Blogger comments up. I decide to do so after learning that Haloscan does not save older comments. Please use the Blogger facility to leave your valuable comments. I am still leaving the Haloscan comments on as there are some interesting comments there.

Burgled

After just only a few weeks after I wrote this, my wife just called to inform that the house had been broken into last night.

The burglers jumped over the walls, broke open the windows, reached in with a pole or something and got the keys to the house and just got in like that by opening the door.

They took away my father-in-law's iPaq, Apple laptop and some other stuff. All these were in the living room. These people are getting bolder and bolder. My father-in-law had been working till about 2 am in the morning and my wife's grandmother was sleeping downstairs, just net to the living room. I thank God that no one was hurt.

They have already made a police report but I am not sure whether they will be ever caught. I have also noticed that whenever there is a construction going on nearby, incidences of burglaries will rise. Just happens that there is a new construction goign on near my wife's house, 'Wisma Glomac' or something near the Giant shopping centre at kelana Jaya. Is that a coincidence?

Really scary. Hope the police does something.

8 Years Later

Today an important event of global significance (some may disagree) has happened. However, only one Malaysian blogger has blogged about it. Now I am the second.

After several years of negotiations, the Kyoto Protocol finally comes into effect. The name comes from the ancient Japanese city where the negotiations took place in 1997. It is an adjunct to the 1992 UN treaty on climate change. Ratified by 141 nations, it means that 35 industrialised countries are now legally bound to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide emissions (5.2% before 2012 compared with their 1990 levels). However, the refusal of US (the bigest greenhouse gas polluter on this Earth) and Australia to retify the protocol, limits the impact of this treaty. The developing countries also have obligations under the treaty, which means that fast devloping (and polluting) countries like China and India are exempt.


Global warming: greather threat than terrorism "Source: Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org)"

However, this is indeed a great step in the right direction. As pointed out on the Greenpeace site "Kyoto is not enough. But it's a start."