Medical Breakthrough or.....

I read with great interest this article regarding the "brain". Seems to me,a group of scientist has been able to cultivate a "brain" that is intelligent enough to fly a simlated state-of-the-art jet fighter. Until today,I have always been impressed by the imagination of science-fiction authors such as Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert and Kevin Anderson who wrote the successful Dune series.They have been able to imagine a world ruled by artificial intelligence when a computer that is affordable and compact enough to fit in any household seems like an improbablity during their time.Who knows with this breakthrough, the terms I came across in reading science fictions such as "bio-circuity","neuro-circuitry" and etc. might become a reality?Artificial intelligence will really become artificial intelligence,able to "think" intelligently,not just based on the "if input= A,output =B" basis. A whole new world of possiblities will be opened up. Despite the research on the neurons usage in circuitry still in its infancy stage,a very paranoid side of me has brought me to the possiblity of the situation that can only be imagined by the authors of sci-fi such as Dunes,The Terminator,Matrix where mankind are displaced by thinking machines. With the ability to think and act like man, coupled with the ambition and greed that make a man so notorious for, the world that they imagined is imaginable if not foreseenable. Maybe I am too paranoid here with the Finals coming.Well, it is just a simple research full of potential and difficulties for the patients with neurologic diseases. "The end is spelt when men created machines in likeness of them." This keep ringing in my mind now.Just have to put this down. Now to start the journey to the Finals

Reliving Childhood

How much have changed since I was born.?It seems to be uncountable.I have witnessed many births and deaths.The birth of our Malaysia-made Proton,I was there to witness it.I wonder how many still remember the days when our roads were filled with cars of Mazda,Daihatsu,Honda and etc.I wonder whether the kids nowadays knew that our first national car is Proton Saga,not Iswara,Wira and so on.Much later,then came the Perodua line of national cars. Back in my childhood,we don't have Playstation or Xbox to play with.We had Transformers,Lego and Hot Wheels for the boys and Barbies and "masak-masak" for the girls.There are games that are played by the boys and girls sometimes to pass time such as "Congkak","Batu Seremban","Ceper"(the bottlecaps),"Sepak Yan","Meriam Buluh" and so on.Everything was played with the limbs and some thoughts.All require no battery to play.Just a place and the simple equipment and we will have fun for hours. While I was in primary school,we had no Gameboy Advance or PDA phone.The games I remembered playing used erasers,ice-cream sticks,a pair of running legs and so on.The classic "Police catch thief" I wonder whether it is still being played in the school compound. It is a game of what we normally term catching. Another game that was famous in my school is what we called "Pepsi Cola 1,2,3."I don't know which genius came up with this interesting idea to dirty our white shoes.This game,I couldn't remember how to start it.Anyway the basic of the game is to put your foot (read:White shoes) on top of the foot(read: previously white shoe) of other people.The guys who got his shoes stepped on is considered "killed" and is out of the game.This game is turn-based.Everyone will have his turn.In his turn,he can choose to move one step or kill.When one is being targeted for a kill,he can evade moving only a step but he cannot move before the "killer" or the guy who is having his turn, moves.Thus this is a game that train our eye-leg coordination and leg reflex.Comes in very handy when applied in evading a tackle in football.Of course,while in primary school,everyone was almost of same height and legs of similiar reach making this game that relies heavily on balance and reflex. As we progressed through primary school,we were exposed to newer games,especially the "Sepak Yan" or "Capteh" as we used to call it.This game requires certain investment,thus it is considered one of the more advanced games.It is basically a badminton played with feet.The shuttlecock is replaced by a bunch of (chicken) feathers tied together sitting on top of a heavy circular base usually made by pieces of rubber from the old tyres.I sucks at this game though as my legs aren't as agile as I would like them to.A minority,like me,learned to play chess then.Being the kids we were,I don't remember finishing a game before we ran out of patience and ended the game prematurely.We just couldn't sit down there and think.We would rather sweat it out. Years back then,the Mooncake Festival and Chinese New Year will always have a special place in my memory.During Mooncake Festival,my two brothers and I managed to coax our parents to buy a lots of lantern.Our house compound would be filled with so many lanterns that will put a starry night to shame.My estimate at the peak of our lantern counts,we had around 50 plus lanterns.Hmm....let's not go into the details how I persuade my parents.As most of the lantern we bought were of the paper and candle type,they could be consumed by the very thing to define them-the source of light.Thus,every year during mooncake festivals,there would be a few death of lanterns being burned to ashes,some newly borned or purchased lanterns.We only bought THREE electronic lanterns,one each for my brothers and I but we realised they weren't as fun as the real lantern.I prefered to feel the heat the candle emit,the randomly flickering light provided by the flame ,the risk of burning the lantern while carrying it and running around, and the sadness and pity of witnessing your own lantern's death.Unknowingly this has taught me the cycle of life,there will be deaths and there will be births. Even the lanterns that were hung around the house "died",blown to the ground by the wind and caught fire.Sometimes,whether we intend it or not,deaths happen anyhow.At the last count,I figured we still have around 10 to 20 lanterns left.It had been a while since we replenish our pools of lantern. Chinese New Year is almost as unforgettable.We would have a lot of firecrackers of different sizes and powers.Although firecrackers are illegal now,we still put our customary red firecrackers during Chinese New Year whenever we can get hold of one.Ahh...one of the advantage of living deep inside an estate.Under the watchful eyes of our parents,nothing had gone wrong then.Sometimes,my Dad even joined ,more like, helped me to light the fuse with the glowing incense held by my shivering hand.Together then we would ran away from the firecracker trying to find shelter from the sound that came with it.Ahh.......those days..... Living in an estate also means that I have a few close encounter with the wild animals.There was a few times,these "neighbours" of mine entered my house without knocking.There was a few times Mr. Snake came to my house to "rest." If possible,we would want to part peacefully.However,being not conversant in the language my Granma and my Dad spoke,Mr Snake and his friends had never left my house alive so far.The worst that had happened so far was when I woke up grodgily,to the shoutings of my Granma. What happened was there was a Mr. snake under my bed.My Granma?She was not shouting to warn me,she was scolding me for being so ignorant of the snake's presence.Mr Snake?He came in moving horizontally and went out unmoving vertically.Considering the fact that I have rode my bicycle over a python once and a monitor lizard once unknowingly,these things were quite normal I think.What a childhood......I can be so blur at times. Then, computer came along in my late primary years and things slowly evolve since then.What used to be a pasttime became a past in time.Things have been changing since then.I picked up badminton,swimming,reading and basketball along the way.This is just a glimpse into what a memorable childhood I had......

The Blogger Inside Me

You Are a Snarky Blogger!

You've got a razor sharp wit that bloggers are secretly scared of. And that's why they read your posts as often as they can!

What kind of blogger are you?

Suits me I guess, wait..that's not a compliment for me,isn't it?Got the link from YP

On Debating...

I better blog about this before I forget and go back to my books with anatomy,physiology,pharmacology,microbiology,orgy and etc. I always have a high respect for good speakers who can command the attention of the crowd for hours with no yawning in sight.I have even higher respect for people who can speak publicly,voicing out his/her opinion clearly,responding to questions or rebuttals effectively and sarcastically polite,exuding a confidence that signifies his/her stand on the topic,keeping his/her composure even when all seemed to fall around him/her.Who am I talking about?No one in particular but debaters.They are just human like you and me who read this blog. I for one,can't speak in public,literally meaning I lack the confidence needed to speak in public.To be able to speak in public is the prerequisite to becoming a debater.Thus,I have failed at the first hurdle.However,it doesn't stop me from being amazed by the flair and sarcasm of some debaters,if not all,whom I have watched. Secondly,I don't have a strong stand on most topics.Fluid will be the definition of my stand on a certain topic.Well,I guess I might just mouthed it out accidentally when it is my turn to speak to my debate teamate (if any)"You know what,mate?What they say is really true, you know?I don't think our opinions and points are valid."Hm.....I guessed I have helped the judges to decide the winner of the debate already. Moving on,as one of my friends had related to me the other day,needless to say,I was very impressed with some of the sarcasms and knowledge as well as flair displayed by the debaters in a recent debate.They debated on a topic that's almost alien to them.Read : Turkey.Hahahaha.However,they managed to show and portray a good grasp of the motion,as my friend was saying.Well,don't they make my day?Had a real good laugh at some of the things that happen then.Really can't imagine the look on their face when the motion was announced then. Back to books.........GANBATTE!!!!!

Pondering.....

I was just wondering whether those politicians go online to surf and read news,gossips or even blogs!!!Actually,I was just wondering how efficient our Ministry of Health can be if they keep themselves updated through www.medicine.com.my on current affairs of our public health and the medical personnels' grouses here in Malaysia.Maybe I shouldn't accuse them for not reading.If they do read it,why isn't there any fast action being taken to address the problems highlighted?If they did,again,there is A LOT of rooms for improvement. I was just wondering whether those businessmen go online to surf,read and update themselves.Actually I was just wondering how much their business can flourish if they keep in mind all the customers' grouses that are being voiced out in our ever-growing Internet community.I wondered whether I should be grateful for there are people like Jeff Ooi at www.jeffooi.com who tried to educate the typical Malaysians like me on consumerism.With him around,those businessmen who are monopolising are going to have a hard time coercing the ignorants. I am just wondering whether the many people behind their blogs are really the same person as they sound to be in the blog. On a totally unrelated thought,I wonder why there are so many people going to the media to ask for donation mostly for operations done at private hospitals.It is a known fact that there is a cheaper alternative available at public hospital.It is also a known fact that the waiting time in public hospital is legendarily long.So far,I haven't seen one appealing for money to do an operation at a public hospital though.This is despite the fact that some people just like us,whose blood is as red,can't even afford the RM 1 for the government clinic visits. At first,I thought my family is not that well to do compared to others.This thought occurs to me as my family decided not too long ago that the private specialist fee for my Granma's diabetic illness is too heavy to bear that we have to resort to the treatment and followup at a government hospital.The checkups done at the private specialist have totaled to a few thousands dollar if I am not mistaken.Maybe I am not doing any justice to the government health service by using the phrase "resort to."Anyway,here I want to say kudos and thank you to the medical personnels there for they have taken care of my Granma as well as they could given the much-publicised circumstances.It just took a bit longer and a little more trouble but my Granma was given the attention due her.To those who are appealing for donation through the media,I have nothing against them but I just want to remind you: For each appeal for donation to have an urgent surgery done at the private hospital,there are hundreds more other patients at the government hospital that need more attention than you think they warrant.Come to think of it,how many surgeries at a public hospital can you sponsor with the donation you collected for the treatment at a private hospital?Imagine the number of lives that can be saved?Live within your means,people.Yeah,but if you put me in their shoes,I might be singing the same tune as them.Hypocritical me.... I still remember one of the patient that I came across in the hospital I was attached to, who couldn't even afford the RM 38 for her ward stay.38 bucks.....That's less than what I spent every time I went Midvalley.I was thinking of paying for her but in the end I didn't.Sometimes,I thought to myself,am I lacking the humanity that I hope to see in others?Mirror can only tell me as much as my face,but not my heart.

Insomnia #296

Well.5 a.m. and still not sleeping.Anyway just want to post something I came across while surfing.Interesting find...... 1. Guys don't actually look after good-looking girls.They prefer neat and presentable girls. 2. Guys hate flirts. 3. A guy can like you for a minute, and then forget you afterwards. 4. When a guy says he doesn'tunderstand you, it simply means you're not thinking the way he is. 5. "Are you doing something?" or "Have you eaten already?" are the first usual questions a guy asks on the phone just to get out from stammering. 6. Guys may be flirting around all day but before they go to sleep, they always think about the girl they truly care about. 7. When a guy really likes you, he'll disregard all your bad characteristics. 8. Guys go crazy over a girl's smile. 9. Guys will do anything just to get the girl's attention. 10. Guys HATE IT when you talk about your ex's. 11. When guys want to meet your parents. Let them. 12. Guys want to tell you many things but they can't. And they sure have one habit to gain courage and spirit to tell you many things and it is drinking! 13. Guys cry!!! 14. Don't provoke the guy to heat up. Believe me. He will. 15. Guys can never dream and hope too much. 16. Guys usually try hard to get the girl who has dumped them, and this makes it harder for them to accept their defeat. 17. When you touch a guy's heart, there's no turning back. 18. Giving a guy a hanging message like "You know what?!..uh...never mind!" would make him jump to a conclusion that is far from what you are thinking. 19. Guys go crazy when girls touch their hands. 20. Guys are good flatterers when courting but they usually stammer when they talk to a girl they really like. 21. When a guy makes a prolonged "umm" or makes any excuses when you're asking him to do you a favor, he's actually saying that he doesn't like you and he can't lay down the card for you. 22. When a girl says "no", a guy hears it as "try again tomorrow." 23. You have to tell a guy what you really want before he gets the message clearly. 24. Guys hate gays! 25. Guys love their moms. 26. A guy would sacrifice his money for lunch just to get you a couple of roses. 27. A guy often thinks about the girl who likes him. But this doesn't mean that the guy likes her. 28 You can never understand him unless you listen to him. 29. If a guy tells you he loves you once in a lifetime. He does. 30. Beware. Guys can make gossips scatter through half of the face of the earth faster than girls can. 31. Like Eve, girls are guys' weaknesses. 32. Guys are very open about themselves. 33. It's good to test a guy first before you believe him. But DON'T let him wait that long. 34. No guy is bad when he is courting 35. Guys hate it when their clothes get dirty. Even a small dot. 36. Guys REALLY admire girls that they like even if they're not that much pretty. 37. Your best friend, whom your boyfriend seeks help from about his problems with you may end up being admired by your boyfriend. 38. If a guy tells you about his problems, he just needs someone to listen to him. You don't need to give advice. 39. A usual act that proves that the guy likes you is when he teases you. 40. A guy finds ways to keep you off from linking with someone else. 41. Guys LOVE girls WITH BRAINS more than girls in miniskirts. 42. Guys try to find the stuffed toy a girl wants but would unluckily get the wrong one. 43. Guys virtually brag about anything. 44. Guys cannot keep secrets that girls tell them. 45. Guys think too much. 46. Guys' fantasies are unlimited. 47. Girls' height doesn't really matter to a guy. 48. Guys tend to get serious with their relationship and become too possessive. So watch out girls!! 49. When a girl makes the boy suffer during courtship, it would be hard for him to let go of that girl. 50. GET TO THE POINT, don't beat around the bush... Better get some winks before class start at 8.30 a.m.Cheers:)