a bit here and there

The long medical leave will be ended soon. So much to tell yet so little time to write.

Story 1

Jimi’s dad was diagnosed with damaged kidney last 2 weeks. Due to that he has to be on permanent dialysis for the rest of his life. I am a huge fan of statistic, data & fact, and pardon me when I say I am skeptical when it comes to alternative medication to cure the damaged kidney especially when someone told me that it can be cured by simply transferring the ‘disease’ to any other living creature i.e. a goat. Isn't that goat a living creature that we are summon not to abuse by God?

If we are talking about something that even medical personnel couldn’t explain, I seriously believe that we have to seek for alternative, but this…hmmmm I think I rest my case pending the other party proves me otherwise.

Story 2

I went to Plaza Low Yat to pick up my faulty SD card. It was left there since the last 2 weeks because of somebody in that shop told me it could only be repaired by one of the shops upstairs which had been closed by the time we reached there.

I didn’t come 3 days after as promised; instead I gave them some time and came only last Friday. Two sales boys tried to explain on why it was not ready - it was returned back, had to send it back to HQ bla bla and bla.

For me, the explanation couldn’t be accepted since I had given them ample time to get it done. They sit on it doing nothing and that made me upset. I fought for my right demanding for a new SD card as replacement without realizing that their manager was silently listened to every single word I said. The sales boy kept on forcing me to wait for it to be repaired until the conversation was cut off by the manager saying that I was right.

There my new SD card for replacement but I had forgotten to ask for the same brand, only realized it later and wanted to turn back but was stopped by Jimi.

His choice of words - “Don’t be greedy, you’ve got what you came for. This worth RM138 and you couldn’t ask for more! It’s probably more expensive than the earlier card.”

Me, wanted to say “that’s my right” kept my mouth shut and followed him to the car…

Story 3

Some people are being so childish. I didn’t say that I am all good when it comes to work. But in managing project, there always some fighting going on to get things right, some dissatisfaction on the decision made, some query to be explained, some info to be clarified, all in the name of work and professionalism, and most of us never take it personally.

But some people take it very hard, taking ‘question asked’ as ‘condemning their decision’, taking ‘info to be clarified’ as ‘back stabbing’ and so forth.

We are not young anymore to be like kids, if I was wrong I would apologise, but refuse to if otherwise…

Story 4

My online shopping obsession continues, now it’s for tudung. I bought two online and another one is thru Ida Se. Can’t wait to try it on as it’s going to be a new image of me wearing the so-called famous Ariani style.

Headband oh headband

Lately, I have this new obsession. The fact that I cannot be anywhere else for these few weeks has somehow increased my eagerness to do something different from things I used to do…I am crazy about buying things online…I have bought this for a start...

...and this cute Adeena is wearing it...

Where to buy? Check it here. I saw Sarah (of Milin's) wearing it so I couldn't help myself to get it for Adeena and Zaheen.

All the time in the world

At this age of 30s, seeing other friends with their kids, facing series of nights with no good sleeps but later enjoy witnessing the kids growing up, and so much worth to see so many cute things happen in their daily life, no word to describe how I feel about not having the opportunity to experience it myself. The excitement to see their first step, their first word and so many first thing in life, I guess the luck is not at my side…yet.

Not satisfied with the treatment given by An-Nur, I had shopping around for one gynecologist that can advise me on any fertility treatment needed to help me conceive. Idase’s suggestion to see this specialist, Dr. Marshita ended my assumption on what actually the root cause of my problem…I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis.

What is endometriosis? You can check it online but basically in my own layman’s terms, because of my uterus position which actually a bit lower that must be pushed a bit up to make sure that the monthly menstrual blood is flown out normally. Due to that, egg would stick to remaining blood and indirectly reduces any chance for pregnancy.

Dr. Marshita and her doa each time she does something really impress me, alhamdulillah all smooth for me. Laporotomy two weeks after that and a long medical leave for the next 6 weeks and I have a long ‘TO DO LIST’.

I’ll share more stories since I have all the time in the world…soon…

MY ‘HELLO STEVIE’...Dec 2009

i luv this moment

after the concert

It was few months before, when Fatin just came back from Germany…the idea to gather alumni for the Year-End Concert. Back then, it was so exciting knowing that all of us gonna make a comeback after about close to 10 years!

But as the time drew closer, the excitement faded away as I knew nothing, I’d totally forgotten how to read my score, the fingering and everything! I even had no flute…I was panic…

Adding up to the fear, Laili who reach the alma mater much earlier called and became the bearer of the news that Jeep was really demanding as always but was not quite like Jeep that we used to know. Things seem to be toppling down on me!

The moment I reach Dewan Budaya, the feeling however changed. I wanted to be on stage and was far stronger than ever. The fear was nowhere clinging on me as I was willing to do everything, just to be on stage, visualizing the moment of the biggest applause, the sound of fan screaming ‘ENCORE’ wanting more…the proud feeling of a performer and the sense of satisfaction, it’s ecstasy.

This was my place, this where I learned the bonding & friendship all the way thru. Some kind of feeling I never had experienced in my entire life. The sense of belonging…I got it all.

We used to say this and very popular among us; “Jeep treated us like Jazz Band was our major, our major came minor and minor indirectly pushed to be the co-curriculum.” We laughed all the time about it and the commitment put on, I’d reckon was far more that the effort we had for our major.

Indeed, I knew, Jeep had 1001 reasons by the fact that we had a reputation to build, to position us to be the best, to be recognized, to be far better than a group of students who had chosen Jazz Band as their co-curriculum just to fulfill the requirement to get hold of THAT certificate.

I forced Jimi to accompany me, wanting him to know things I felt very proud of doing it and the moment we arrived, we walked straight to the hall…
The atmosphere was the same as I could remember, some were on stage busy with the props etc, some just outside to master the ‘spaghetti’, some were chit chatting, some were laughing out loud of something.

The cozy dim light had no influence for me spotting the familiar silhouette of Laili and Emma, both with their instruments, busy practicing. Zira, at first not wanting to perform, was too busy observing the other two. Envy with them for having an extra of 2 days with the score, I quickly made my way to ‘study’. It was Hello Stevie, specially arranged medley by Jeep, which consists of My Lovely Girl, Isn’t She Lovely, Superstitious and to my surprise, Sir Duke-the-killing-song. We were never good at it, never in our lifetime as a Jazzarian…

It was butterflies again, in my stomach, and Jeep’s appearance in the big hall that night suddenly made it worst. Worrying didn’t bring me that far, with the same brilliant idea used long time ago, we forced Fatin to help us and extra help came where Woi Leng was destined to help us. A team of six; Akeem the doll on trumpet, Emma on saxophone, Laili on trombone and me, together with Zira that had finally given her accord to be among us on trumpet and the last to arrive Elly on euphonium.

With the two-day of intensive sessions, kudos to the two so-called trainers, some convincing sound according to the tempo was produced. Not perfectly but quite there, the ‘spaghetti’ portion was marked to be silently blown; we were ready to HELLO STEVIE!!!

Looking at the amazing audience with Azlan, Azleen and Faridah’s presence, the 2009 Year-End Concert was even more spectacular than ever. All the ‘blood’ and ‘sweat’ were seemed to be paying off!

How long your name is...

Do you know that your name length can create lots of problem in any financial institution?

Here’s one example:

MUHAMMAD NURUL AZAMMI BIN MUHAMMAD NUDRI

For the above example, the length is 40 bytes. It means, field to keep this record must be 40 or more. Let say the core banking system used to open up deposit accounts keeps name length up to 40 bytes. For another system, let say Credit Card system for Credit Card creation is capable to keep customer name up to 30 bytes of length, which means, that system is only capable of keeping the following record:

MUHAMMAD NURUL AZAMMI BIN MUHA

Do you notice that the name is truncated? And there’s possibility of different person sharing the same name.

How does the system differentiate whether the Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri is not the same person as Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nordin?

Here’s the important of IC or other identification.

The first 30 bytes of name out of 40 can only provide 80% of accuracy. The name and IC must be the exact match to identify that the Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri really is Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri and gives the 100% of accuracy that eliminates possibility of tagging CIS to a wrong person.

How do you feel so far? Confused? Can read more? Is this too informative?

What if, prior to opening his first Savings account with the bank, Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri does not input his name as per IC, instead, he provides, Muhammad Nurul Azammi b Muhammad Nudri?

And what if, prior to applying Credit Card, since the length for him to input his name is 30 bytes, he provides his name as Mohd Nurul Azammi Mohd Nudri?

The system is programmed to find the exact match which means for Muhammad Nurul Azammi’s next visit to branch to apply for Credit Card or any other product; he will definitely be given a new set of CIS record.

So what’s the implication?

The implication is a nightmare to the bank. Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri calls Call Centre and complaints that he’s not able to see his Credit Card info at Internet Banking.

Why?

Because for Muhammad Nurul Azammi, there’s two CIS exist in the bank. Two CIS records denote 2 different persons for the system. The system is restricted to allow another customer to view another customer’s record to be in compliance with the Central Bank.

So moral of this long story:

There’s a reason why all application forms have asked you to input your name according to your IC number.

It must also be a good reason for the bank to inquire both your old and new IC number as well as other identifications.

Last but not least, keep your kids’ name short, simple and easy to spell. Teller at branch is indeed has the tendency to make mistake while typing info in the system that has indirectly resulted in the duplicate creation and data quality issue.

Those already with long names and unique spelling, be extra careful in filling up your forms…