Life is about travelling along an endless network of roads. Day by day we face junctions and intersections. Some will shorten our travelling time while some might even lead us to places previously unplanned. No matter which road we take, just cruise along with an open heart. Accept what you have and enjoy the scenaries throughout the journey. No two paths are the same therefore cherish each unique moment we have down the road before reaching another turn. Sometimes the road may be winding and treacherous but no effort will be wasted. Some day when we look back, we’ll be proud to know that  each waypath we have crafted with patience, love, tears and laughter makes us better people today.

Anyway, no matter who we are or where we are, it is a good time to take a short pause to reflect upon ourselves in this festive season. Happy Hanukkah, 冬至快乐, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

• True Essence of Love
• 50 Years of Independence
• Enrollment: Freshmen’s & Mine
• 2 Month Old Uncleseng.com Gone!
• CL Nite 2007

I used to listen to the adults saying how life can be so unexpected, fragile, mysterious. The theory is there in mind but nothing comes as impacting as what is happening in front of your very eyes. You can actually see the difference between each individual.

Yes, I do agree that people have different dreams and priorities but somehow every time when I get the news of death and marriage particularly, I can’t help but to ponder upon myself. Who am I? What am I doing here? What am I doing now? What should I do next? Endless questions race through the mind. I know I can’t answer all of them. It is destiny that sets us apart. So instead of wasting time thinking again and again, I’ll surrender myself to fate.

But then, I can’t help keep on thinking again and again… Have I entered a new stage of life? Or am I still stuck at the present stage? Or even worse, I’m moving backwards?

What is the precise word or phrase for “not feeling happy or sad, gets a lil bit worried without a clear reason, amazed by the surrounding changes, stuck between different realms”? Imbalanced maybe?

How many stages of life are there? Mind to shed some light?

Can’t believe this is my first post after my 8 day vacation. Arghh…

• This is How Our Children Learn Mathematics
• My 1st meeting at DoE Johor
• University Intake: Pain or Gain?
• Roads
• Stop Whining! Time for A Reality Check!

Crystals are charming and mysterious in their own ways. This is nothing to do with religion but I believe in the healing properties of crystals, or to be precise the ability to fine tune body energy flow. I have clear quartz and smokey quartz with me. What crystals do you like?

Well, I have tried many ways to capture the mystical feel of them. Which one do you like the most? =)

• Stages of Life
• Sylar & Me
• It All Began with Dombra…
• Chinese Astrology Forecast 2007: Ox
• The "Green" Flashlight

It has been a while since my last update. What can I do? Work comes first. I have tonnes of chemical analysis running from morning till evening, from Mondays to Sundays. After being exposed to poisonous chemicals under a cold and dry environment, I really do get tired easily.

Well, at least right now I have managed to complete almost 90% of all chemical analysis and after the computation of data using Excel and SPSS, the results are pretty impressive and encouraging.  I always thought this will work but the yields I have are far better than what I have expected. Here’s a sneakpeak of how the field looked like for the past 11 weeks. =)

Right now I’m lying on a wooden rocking chair, enjoying my glass of icy cool lemon tea, feeling the afternoon breeze blowing gently around me while listening to a few nice songs. There is nothing better than being at home enjoying the surrouding greenery. One should really stop by occasionally to enjoy and appreciate what is being given to us by Nature.  Don’t you agree? Ahhh, I’ll definitely miss such a wonderful moment 2 weeks later when I’m back to UTM again.

Listening to a few good songs right now… Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy, Shaggy’s Angel and Counting Crow’s Big Yellow Taxi. Don’t know why but I love Big Yellow Taxi and Angel very very much. LOL… Looks like I’m “obsolete” now.

Early tomorrow morning I’ll be boarding a flight to Shanghai. There is nothing better than spending quality time with your love ones. Well, that’s all for the update. Will be back again before Christmas. When I’m back, I’ll share with you all my journey to Shanghai. If I have extra free time then I’ll share with you all a unique experience of mine in conducting bas system survey in Johor Bahru. Expect some hard facts as in why public transport system in Johor Bahru is ineffective and almost a failure. 

Bye and take care!

P.S.: The Gender Analyzer mentioned by Daniel is pretty accurate. LOL… 99% man… Go and try it!

P.P.S.: My Chinese friend Joni has finally reached UTM safe and sound. Will bring her around when I’m back! =)

• Save Johor Bahru! Save Innocent Lives!
• Data, Sample and Population…
• 曹格 - My Way
• It All Began with Dombra…
• Sorry, Blame It On Me

This video may be obsolete but fur trade and other sorts of animal violence still exist before our very eyes. If you still care for the poor animals, please spread the news. Stop buying and the killing will stop eventually. Stop animal cruelty! You have the power to do it!

For more information, please visit Swiss Animal Protection SAP website.

• Malaysia Wildlife Conservation Awareness Campaign
• Who Causes Global Warming (Part 1)?
• WALL·E
• CERN and Large Hadron Collider
• Let’s Fight Cancer Together!

Now you can also be a psychiatrist, by generating your own fictitious diseases and disorders and scare others to death. These diseases certainly sound 100% real and professional. Don’t believe it? Check out the Disease Mongering Machine. I have randomly generated 20 one-of-a-kind diseases. Maybe you are infected by one of them? LOL.

1. Pathological Developmental Attention Syndrome With Itching (PDASWI)

PDASWI primarily involves obsessive and harmful thoughts and behaviors in combination with a childhood trauma impacting adult behavior in situations requiring mental focus, interrupted by severe tingling sensations on specific skin regions.

2. Reactive Psychotic Nervous Dysfunction With Incontinence (RPNDWI)

RPNDWI is defined as explosive, emotional behavior and responses in combination with a clinically significant deviation from social norms when using the brain, combined with an inability to control one’s own bladder.

3. Pathological Premature Motivation Dysfunction With Itching (PPMDWI)

PPMDWI is found in people with obsessive and harmful thoughts and behaviors surrounding an unplanned, temporally-distorted physiological response while losing the will to do anything meaningful, interrupted by severe tingling sensations on specific skin regions.

4. Obsessive Retarded Animal Disorder With Flatulence (ORADWF)

ORADWF primarily involves relentless, repetitive thoughts and ambitions whose main phenomenological feature is a clinically significant mental aptitude impairment when near animals or beasts, interrupted by intermittent explosions of methane gas from the anus.

5. Medication-Induced Premature Anxiety Disorder (MPAD)

MPAD is defined as drug-induced toxic side effects impacting physiology and neurology surrounding an unplanned, temporally-distorted physiological response that occurs during episodes of extreme mental or emotional stress.

6. Persistant Defiant Phobia Syndrome (PDPS)

PDPS is characterized by unstoppable, involuntary emotions and behaviors combined with the presence of extreme anger towards authority figures during fearful episodes.

7. Reactive Depressive Hyperactivity Dysfunction With Disturbance (RDHDWD)

RDHDWD is usually associated with explosive, emotional behavior and responses whose main phenomenological feature is a pessimistic mood and emotional outlook exaggerated by erratic, highly energetic speech or behavior, exacerbated by aberrant behavior that may be harmful to self or others.

8. Compulsive Retarded Motivation Dysfunction With Constipation (CRMDWC)

CRMDWC primarily involves involuntary behavioral urges characterized by a clinically significant mental aptitude impairment while losing the will to do anything meaningful, exacerbated by an uncomfortable and unnatural inability to defecate.

9. Transient Manic Behavior Disorder (TMBD)

TMBD is defined as intermittent, rapidly-changing episodes correlating with a clinically significant extreme in mood expression when engaged in real-world activities.

10. Pervasive Premature Personality Disorder With Smelly Feet (PPPDWSF)

PPPDWSF primarily involves deeply-rooted, ever-present thoughts and behavior whose main phenomenological feature is an unplanned, temporally-distorted physiological response when pondering a perception of self, worsened by offensive odors from the toes, ankles and feet.

11. Intermittent Developmental Sleepwalking Syndrome (IDSS)

IDSS is usually associated with unpredictable episodes or experiences whose main phenomenological feature is a childhood trauma impacting adult behavior while sleepwalking.

12. Repetitive Amnestic Mental Syndrome (RAMS)

RAMS is characterized by frequently repeated thoughts and behavior in combination with an aberrant inability to remember significant events or facts when engaging in strenuous cognitive activity.

13. Chronic Premature Aversion Dysfunction (CPAD)

CPAD is found in people with ongoing, systemic and unstoppable compromised by an unplanned, temporally-distorted physiological response in the rejection of others.

14. Intermittent Dysmorphic Phobia Dysfunction With Behavioral Disturbance (IDPDWBD)

IDPDWBD is usually associated with unpredictable episodes or experiences characterized by extreme unhappiness during fearful episodes, combined with erratic, unpredictable behavioral irregularities.

15. Pervasive Catatonic Nervous Dysfunction (PCND)

PCND is primarily characterized by deeply-rooted, ever-present thoughts and behavior compromised by an extreme inability to stay awake when using the brain.

16. Pervasive Nervous Identity Syndrome (PNIS)

PNIS appears as deeply-rooted, ever-present thoughts and behavior compromised by a physiological disturbance creating symptoms of shaking, ticking and sweating surrounding the perception of self.

17. Oppositional Catatonic Attention Dysfunction (OCAD)

OCAD primarily involves stubborn resistance to conform to social norms exacerbated by an extreme inability to stay awake in situations requiring mental focus.

18. Repetitive Nervous Motivation Disorder With Indigestion (RNMDWI)

RNMDWI is defined as involving frequently repeated thoughts and behavior compromised by a physiological disturbance creating symptoms of shaking, ticking and sweating while losing the will to do anything meaningful, complicated by uncomfortable gurgling of weak stomach acid.

19. Medication-Induced Visual Movement Disorder (MVMD)

MVMD is primarily characterized by drug-induced toxic side effects impacting physiology and neurology characterized by the imagined perception of lights, patterns or objects in the visual cortex when engaged in physical movement.

20. Persistant Bipolar Stress Dysfunction With Flashbacks (PBSDWF)

PBSDWF primarily involves unstoppable, involuntary emotions and behaviors exacerbated by unpredictably extreme mood responses in stressful situations, complicated by sudden intrusions of traumatic memories.

I really can’t believe doctors can  / will come up with the above crap…

Previously my mum was diagnosed to suffer from bradycardia due to degenerative heart muscles. The doctor terrorized my mum, saying that if she didn’t schedule for an operation to install a pacemaker, she could just simply pass out and never wake up again in less than a few months bla bla bla all sorts of crap.

When my mum told me about this news. The first thing I tell her to do is to undergo chinese medicinal therapy, consume balance diet, then asked my dad to bring mum to learn Tai Chi. So did the doctor’s curse come true? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! 2 years almost passed and other than the low pulse rate, my mum is still healthy as always. When the doctor knew about this, he simply mumbled and keep on telling my mum this was sheer luck. He never gave up the idea of pacemaker installation but thanks to chinese medicine, balanced diet and Tai Chi, I still have my mum around!

Moral of the story: never ever trust your doctor / pharmacist / drugs dealer 100%. They are just human and they are just targetting your wallet like everybody else. I have experienced it myself therefore I could tell you that doctors are not always correct.

• MedSI Unveiled
• Wedding
• Untitled…
• Roads
• KFC VS McD: The Survey Content

It’s really hard to imagine this cute, shiny and agile technology masterpeice is merely 130cm and 54kg. I like the ASIMO tag from Honda:

“He walks. He runs. And perhaps most importantly he inspires us all to dream.”

Now that real time movement has reached perfection, it’s time to proceeed with ASIMO’s other AI system. It’s so so cool. ASIMO road tours will cover 3 locations in Malaysia:

1. 14 - 16 Nov 2008 @ New Wing, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Selangor. (expired)
2. 20 - 23 Nov 2008 @ City Square Shopping Centre, Johor Bahru. (coming soon)
3. 27 - 30 Nov 2007 @ Queensbay Mall, Penang. (coming soon)

ASIMO’s visit to UTM is to show recognition to UTM’s robotics development and contribution in Malaysia. If you happen to miss out the life action, I have photos and videos for you! =)

UTM Humanoid Robot (a little bit funny at the end… LOL)

ASIMO Grand Appearance

ASIMO Fetching and Serving Drinks

ASIMO Dancing

ASIMO with UTM Vice Chancellor

Honda ASIMO iWalk Technology on Beyond Tomorrow

• Perodua Viva: 1st Service
• WiMax In Malaysia
• Save Johor Bahru! Save Innocent Lives!
• WALL·E
• Chinese Astrology Forecast 2007: Dog

AMBIENCE

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

CLEANLINESS

CONVENIENCE

CSR

CREW FRIENDLINESS

FOOD QUALITY

FOOD VARIETY

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

INTERIOR / EXTERIOR DESIGN

MARKETING OUTREACH

PRODUCT PRICING

That’s all I have. If you are new to this topic. Please refer to the following posts so that you could understand what the entire project is all about:

• Page 1: KFC VS McD: The Survey Content
• Page 2: KFC VS McD: What do the people say?
• Page 3: KFC VS McD: Are You One of Them?
• Page 4: KFC VS McD: The Truth is Out There
• Page 5: KFC VS McD: Boys & Girls

• KFC VS McD: The Survey Content
• KFC VS McD: The Truth is Out There
• KFC VS McD: What do the people say?
• McD VS KFC
• KFC VS McD: Are You One of Them?

It seems like McD is gaining the upper hand for most of the parameters discussed previously. So how will KFC and McD fare in the last 4 parameters?  We’ll know shortly…

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

The purpose of seperating environmental responsiblity from CSR is to focus on environmental issues alone rather than to judge the performance collectively. We all know that various companies come up with their own unique gree policy. Some of the topics covered are energy savings, sustainable development, carbon footprint reduction as well as waste recycling and recovery. Some of the plans are ambitious but are the consumers aware of these policies?

What does this chart tell us? McD slightly outperforms KFC? I was surprised when I first get this chart because most people thinks that fast food companies are doing their part to keep the environment up and running (KFC: 41%+2%; McD: 38%+10%). I’m not sure how these people get this idea but the truth is we really don’t know what these companies have done to reduce their environmental impact. In fact, fast food industries especially those making cheeseburgers are one of the major players contributing to the environmental pollution, particularly green house gas emission. My dear readers, kindly read the article of “The Cheeseburger Footprint” to get a grip of how much we as consumers are generating more and more green house gases. In short, the more processes a type of food undergoes, the more green house gases it produces. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the “Energy Use in the Food Sector” report by the Stockholm University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

INTERIOR / EXTERIOR DESIGN

A popular place to eat must first has good food, good basic facilities and also good surrounding. Nobody will ever want to visit a place which looks awful from afar. Don’t you agree?

The result speaks the truth. McD outlets attract more people than KFC outlets. Now this I’m not surprised for new McD outlets in Malaysia have become the “in” thing as supper and “yamcha” destinations. The surrounding scores highly as McD offers less food variety compared to those “Mamak Stalls / Restaurants”. Another thing is that McD utilizes a series of cozy colour tones ranging from yellow to dark brown. Coupled with the soft yellowish lights, it makes you feel like you are at your home. There are many more what McD outlets have accompalished but you can’t see all these at KFC outlets. Too bad…

MARKETING OUTREACH

Most of us know about the 4Ps in marketing: Product, Pricing, Promotion and Placement. However, irrelevant marketing strategies at the wrong time could spell disaster. This parameter doesn’t look at the marketing itself, but to evaluate the long lasting effects of marketing towards the general consumers. For example, is the promotional slogan used catchy? Does doorstep food delivery increase the chances of repeatitive spending? Is it important to emphasize on food factor (we have all the nice and tasty food here) or people factor (we are all sincere, warm and friendly)? There are many more to be considered but to plan is one thing, to execute is another thing, and what the public get and perceive is yet another different thing. So it’s risky to get somthing out of expectation if the organasations do not understand consumers properly.

KFC associates family happiness and brand loyalty with its food package, McD on the other hand associates individuality and customization with its food package and environment. What can I say? McD’s catchy tune / tag “I’m lovin’ it” wins the heart of the consumers. Those who doesn’t agree with me please attempt to deny my statement. LOL…

PRODUCT PRICING

Expensive? Cheap? This is a question of relativity transcending the boundaries of time. In the end it is about Price VS Value…

Haha, everyone is complaining that McD overcharges. KFC holds the best Price / Value ratio. So next time if you are going to eat habis-habisan, do not go to McD. Go to KFC instead… Wait, if KFC offers the best value, how come more and more people choose to go to McD regularly even though things are expensive?  The truth is, price is no longer the single most important factor in deciding what to eat. Looks like all of us have more to spend nowadays. =)

HURRAY! Finally I’ve released all the results. Finally I can have some good rest and continue focusing on my REAL research. I really hope my readers could benefit, or at least be entertained by my work. Now I’m waiting for your feedback. PLEASE tell me what do you think about the findings OK? I need improvements as well as encouragements from you guys! Thanks ya. =)

• KFC VS McD: What do the people say?
• KFC VS McD: Are You One of Them?
• KFC VS McD: Boys & Girls
• KFC VS McD: The Survey Content
• Slimming Belt from OSIM? OTO? OGAWA? TAKASIMA?

Today we’ll be discussing another 5 parameters. Anything you wish to add regarding the previous post? If there is, kindly write it down and share with me. WIthout further ado, let’s proceed to the 4th parameter in the list.

CONVENIENCE

According to the Amerian Heritage Dictionary, convenience is defined as “the quality of being suitable to one’s comfort, purposes, or needs” and “something that increases comfort or saves work”.  Anyway, for these two fast food chains, the most important factor contributing to the convenience rating is the availability of the outlets spreading across the globe. There are several more factors but we’ll see how consumers think about their popular choices.

As you can see, McD clearly outperforms KFC in this parameter. What are the differences? First of all, we can easily find McD outlets at strategic high traffic and high exposure areas such as corner lots, shopping complexes and the latest trend which is individual lots but we can’t find that much KFC outlets. Secondly almost all McD outlets in Malaysia operates 24/7, KFC picked up that strategy quite late and didn’t implement it at full scale, for the meal (chicken sets) served are considered heavy and not suitable to be consumed during midnight (especially for those body toning group) compared to McD meals (fries, burgers, pies, sundaes etc.) which are light. Actually I have another factor in mind but I’m not sure if that contributes. Have you all notice that most McD outlets have built in playgrounds while KFC outlets don’t? Can someone else go ask some kids about this?

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

It’s quite hard to explain CSR in simple terms. Here is the quote from Wikipedia:

“…Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business and corporate social opportunity) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large…” 

Needless to say, McD scores for this parameter. If you check online you will agree with me also. You can see nothing about CSR on KFC Malaysia website but you have every details about McD Malaysia on its website. To keep it short and simple, McD has the Ronald McDonalds House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia which deals with many non-profit activities such as the Give of Smile Campaign for children with cleft lip and palate, the Ronald McDonald Sensory Room for children with learning difficulties, the Ronald McDonald House for accomodation of families from outside Kuala Lumpur whose children are seeking medical treatment at the Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM),and the Tunas Wawasan for the assistance of students with academic potential from low income families.

So what is KFC doing for the society? Can somebody shed some light on me?

Anyway, there is a site offering some good reading material regarding CSR. Go give it a try.

CREW FRIENDLINESS

All of us like smily faces, and we like to be served and greeted sincerely. So how do the two companies fare in this parameter?

Apparently this is an even match for KFC and McD if you look at the chart. So don’t worry for being poorly treated next time when you go to any of the mentioned fast food outlets. If something wrong really happen, just file a complaint. =p

FOOD QUALITY

Basically fast foods are considered as junk food for they don’t provide much nutritional values for us but living in a concrete jungle constantly racing against time. It’s important to pick up a place where you can just get and extra cockroach, flies, lizards something in your food.

McD wins probably by publishing nutrition leaflets which are freely available at the racks of the outlet you are in. Apparently more and more people are being brainwashed that they are actually taking nutritional diets while the fact is that most of the food are high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre and vitamins. KFC food is not doing that good either but the above graph simply tells us that McD is far more successful than KFC in “educating” the consumers to buy its “healthy” food. Well, here are some simple references of the quantity of “nutrients” consumed when you pay a visit to KFC or McD. 

FOOD VARIETY

Humans are easily bored by monotonous, routine and limited selection of everything. Yes, everything. Therefore fast food outlets selling virtually non-nutritious food need to think of something good to ensure consumers will frequent their outlets regularly, if possible for every single meal. Scary isn’t it? Well, there you are, the food variety factor is one of the most important ticket to secure a victory.

It doesn’t take anyone more than 1 minute to decide the winner. What does KFC have? Chicken, chicken and still chickens, and with some localisation, KFC is also having salad, rice and burgers as well but McD on the other hand has chicken, beef and fish. McD also sells you Apple / Banana Pie, Sundae / Sundae Cone, Congee bla bla bla… LOL, more variety of “junk food”…

Well, that’s all for this post. We’ll proceed with the remaining 4 parameters on the post. Stay tuned and thank you for your patience! =)

• KFC VS McD: What do the people say?
• KFC VS McD: The Truth is Out There
• KFC VS McD: The Survey Content
• KFC VS McD: Boys & Girls
• Untitled…