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I can’t help but to smile when I woke up this morning. Eh, nope! I dreaded to wake up early today but I can’t help but smiling when I’m driving the familiar road to work. ha,ha. And to make things interesting, I’ve to take 5 minutes to decide what shoes to put on. awwwww. I realize that I need a nice black heels. *smiles*
Dang. Dang. I should have stop spending money like crazy. I just bought another Charles & Keith bag & shoes, all in one month.
I’ll be working for four days during my mid-term holiday break. Talk about being workaholic. 
OK, back to work. Will blog again on what’s happening in KK 
ciao!
Hey all. It’s been a while yeah? I’ve been busy (as usual) and I’ve been pretty pre-occupied with other stuff which means lesser time spending online. *oh thank god I’m not that nerd ha ha ha ha*
It’s been a roller coaster ride this few months. My heart totally settled in KK. I mentioned that in the previous post but I’m not going to elaborate more. Kill me for being secretive. Some things I need to keep it to myself but I’m dying to write it here!! OMG. I can’t. Everyone can read my blog. *sigh*
Supposed to go out for drinks with someone but called it a raincheck due to some circumstances. It’s monday night. blues blues blues. Most of the time, I love mondays! I’m a little hyper on monday. Very productive.
But this week monday, I’m a little flushed. Abdominal pain. Severe emotional fluctuation. You know, grandma is visiting.
Work-wise, I’m totally freaked out. I need to learn/read on project management. Proper project management. I’ve downloaded e-book on handling a project & I’m going to read it tomorrow.
On the other hand, did I mentioned about my few pain-in-the-ass clients? They’re being very nice to me today via tele-conversation. It’s freaking weird. Like an april fool or something. Not 1, not 2. All of them.
I received a call from KL this morning too. A guy from the seminar. He mentioned it first, I have no idea which one is him though. ha,ha. We talked on some businesses. OK, not business. It’s more into human development advancement, particularly me You know what I mean. Just keep fingers cross & transmit positive energy to the universe. amen.
Anyway, I’m going to start planning things out starting tomorrow. I need to employ people. Any environmental science graduates?
Oh shooot. I feel like a workaholic. puki ma ni. I should be blogging about the latest band, happening around KK, or the latest guy I’ve crush on. yikes. Why do i have to write about my work every time?
Oh you got to listen to Rihanna’s latest tune, hatin’ on the club feat The Dream. catchy! I’m kinda addicted to Fall Out Boys’ America’s suiteheart as well as Busta Rhymes’ Show your g-stro. The latter set as my ringtone. ROFL.
Bought a 4-inches Charles & Keith white pump last weekend with a 40% off tag price. woohoo! I’m so going to wear it tomorrow! I want their gladiators tooooooooo. If only that on sale. :s
Ok off to slumber-land!
I’m currently blogging from the new macbook – No, no.. I didn’t buy new macbook, I still love my white macbook but …
belongs to my cousin. She just bought the new macbook to replace her iBook G4 (yep, THAT old). and now I’m all GREEN. *dayumm*
Anyway, some of the new features/ better spec-requirement in addition to the white/and black polycarbonate macbook are:
1. Multitouch trackpad (dayummmmm.. 2-fingers scroll, 4 fingers swipe, OMG I’m going ga-ga over the trackpad). I’m practically wanted to try sticking my tougue to the trackpad to see whether I can run the pointer over, OK too much)
2. Processor and memory ( nothing to boost about this as my macbook comparable to new ones, duh. yes, i upgraded mine)
3. Storage – Optional 250 GB or 320 GB 5400-rpm HD or 128 GB solid-state drive (ok,fine!)
4. Graphics -NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory (OK, comparable to macbook pro, FINE FINE. Better than mine)
5. Wireless -Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification)2; built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module (wtf?)
6. Design:
a) Unidesign enclosure – single piece of Aluminium
b) Thinner, lighter
c) Glass display with LED backlight technology (something to drool over)
7. Design for ENVIRONMENT (DfE) – Read their Environmental Status Report
http://anggun3.wordpress.com from the new macbook. -23 November 2008.
OMFG. I want!
I’ve been pre-occupied with work training for the past few days and i have been slow in updating this blog in daily basis. What really occupied my mind and time for the past 3 days was a seminar I attended in one of the hotel here.
The company decided to send 2 executives from the Audit & Monitoring division and me from the EIA to the training on the use of Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix method for the impact assessment in the planning level particularly in strategic impact assessment (SEA) which was alien to me before. ha.ha.
The seminar can be divided into two: the introduction to SEA and the use of rapid impact assessment matrix in SEA process. SEA is a form of impact assessment which integrates environmental considerations done at a high level of decision-making. On contrary, EIA is a form of impact assessment done at a project level.
In the P-P-M Cycle (Policy-Planning-Management), SEA falls into the Policy –> Planning stage. It do not replace the other assessment done at project level but an added-value to the aforementioned. Influential to the planning & project levels assessment and has potential to address those concerns on environmental-related issues at early stage of decision-making.
Another plus point to the SEA is that it forces through in looking up for the cumulative impact of several projects or policies and forces to look for other alternatives at EARLY stage of planning. Phew.
SEA can be used for legislation matter especially in formulating international treaties and green& white papers as well as economic policy in term of budget, privitisation, subsidies, taxation, integrated plan, national/regional/local development plans as well as plans for conservation areas.
Other sector includes policy/strategy/programme on agriculture, transport, energy, coastal management a well as international aid. Bear in mind that it can be done ONLY in policy, strategy and programme level.
The process is pretty much like an EIA except for additional crucial step that is absent in EIA process. Usually the steps start with defining the boundaries, screening, scoping, external factors considerations, analysis and last, documentation and reporting.
The second part of the training, the most anticipated introduction to rapid impact assessment matrix or in short, RIAM. It is a tool that improve or enhance the organization of an impact assessment study.
The good thing about this, is that the matrix has been developed into software that provide real-time recording and rapid judgement made. So you can just key in your range value (RV) derived from the environmental score (ES) that falls within the respective description of range band.
There is a simple formulae where you can get the ES based on the RIAM criteria (Group A and Group B). It is not as complicated as it sound now but I’m too lazy to elaborate more. For further information on this tool, you can check out the official website at www (dot) pastakia (dot) com (slash) riam
The good thing about the training was, the initiator himself giving out the introductory course to us. He gave the step-by-step explaination of the tool in a very systematic & informative way with heaps of case studies abroad, regionally and even local example in Sabah and Miri. So yeah, bravo Mr Pastakia.
I have downloaded the software in *.xls form as I can’t use the *.exe as I’m using Mac. So, I’d settle for the excel matrix. I have yet to test the software but i will definitely try it out soon. Or perhaps, I can use it as a trial for my new Project?
I just came back from work trip to KL yesterday night. I was in KL for four days. Fly off on wednesday noon with the boss & the engineer & checked in to the nearest hotel in Putrajaya.
At first, I was kinda nervous presenting our proposal to the committee members. It was my FIRST presentation since I started working & it was presented to the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment instead of our local Environmental Protection Department.
But after a few rehearsal in front of the team (the boss, the engineer & the assoc. prof from UMS), I feel comfortable presenting the proposal.
To make the long story short, I presented the proposal well (meaning: not nervous, boring etc).
It’s up to the committee member to love or hate our proposal.
Half of the committee member are a representative from various governmental agencies in Sabah.
The rep from EPD was actually one of the panel during my job interview. After the presentation, when we were shaking hands with everyone; he said ‘Buli tahan juga kau ah’. I was LOL.
I have to settle the boss & Ir flight as they missed the 2.15 pm flight. Then I’m off to KL!
Well, I met the great one & as usual, I was catching up with the Indian glorious food all over Klang Valley. Ah.
I have cleared my system too. I am contented. and able to move on now.
Thank you to the mighty for giving me the opportunity to meet the butterfly.
If god permit, airplanes will take me back again.
you say the word you know i will find you
or if you need some time i don’t mind
i don’t hold on to the tail of your kite
i’m not like the girls that you’ve known
but i believe i’m worth coming home to
kiss away night
this girl only sleeps with butterflies
Yep, I am excited and yet, terrified. I will be flying off to Putrajaya next week (excited) with my boss (terrified) for a presentation (terrified, pee in the pants) of my recent assignment. I have told the boss that I am going to extend my stay (excited) for another round of shopping (VERY excited).
Ah. I hate mixed-feelings at one time. Because by then, you will equally balance it out so in the end, I am neither excited nor terrified of it.
So yeah. I am *giggling* and grinning by just thinking what I am going to do in KL but at the same time, I am worried, on to present my proposal to the panel of people.
Awww. Help me. I finished drawing up the outline of the presentation but I have yet to prepare my speech text. Ah. Need to be technical. T.E.C.H.N.I.C.A.L.
On the other note,
I am quite ecstatic over my recent purchase of the dSLR. I am STILL trying to figure out how to balance out the shutter speed, aperture, ISO thingy etc in the creative mode function.
It is useless to buy SLR if you are just using the automatic mode. Hell, better to buy power-shot or any other point-&-shoot camera. it is just a waste to buy a SLR for an automatic mode.
mwhahahaha. I am going bonkers.
ah I’m relieved! I just came back from a meeting with one of the key people in term of environmental management in Sabah (and perhaps Asia Pacific too). Nothing much discussed though, it is just that they explained the current situation of Sabah in terms of fishes, business development, investors that willing to invest while maintaining it’s green-practice as some EU laws and regulation on international biological organism trade is getting stringent.
And they asked me, whether I am interested in the field. I said, yes. I am up to the challenge & i am willing to learn from the scratch on everything from A to Z. I love field trips too, & I am willing to do those dirty work at site, bathymetric assessment, water sampling, taxonomic identification on fishes and etc.
ah. I am just relieved. and hoping for the best. in the mean time, the weekend is mine! No more over-time, no more rush proposal, no more late-nite in the office until wee in the morning.
But, I got geological report to read this weekend though.
wargh. I need LIFE.
They wanted to read on my literature review. Oh, did I tell ya’ll that I wrote something different for my final paper as compared to typical topic like global warming, sustainable development and etc?
I did on xeriscape. A very creative way to conserve water for your landscape. Xeriscape derived from xeros & scape. At the early stage of writing, I kind of diverted to landscape designing & it is not entirely related to my degree programme. I got all my information from people that did their master degree in landscape archtecture, so what do ya expect? anyway. Will send my literature review to him & my laboratory report on some ecophysiology of marine organism that I did during my final semester.
I just love the laboratory report. It did give me headache & stress but that is one of my report that I can be proud of.
I am uberly exhausted from workload. Do you know that I have been working since 8 am/16 June until almost 8 am/17 June? That’s fcuking 24 hours!
and non-stop y’know! Me with my 3-inches heels running around the office, back & forth from my room to the boss office for the long-never-ending discussion & endless amendment of methodology/scope of work of the proposal.
I am emotionally-drained & physically weak. My mind unable to cope the long hours of doing the proposal but I can not just stop mid-way. I got to finish up before her 9.30 am flight to KL.
Well this is a proposal that we need to submit to Putrajaya as we are one of the consultant that have been invited to propose a study on one area (Huge ones, particularly covers 23% of the total area in Sabah). I have been given less than a week to come up with a method & ways to achieve the objectives of the study & only yesterday, 7 pm, we managed to form a whole-expert study team & then only start finalizing the proposal.
I feel that my knowledge have been squeezed out of my brain to realize the proposal submission. I was the geologist, hydrogeologist, GIS specialist, engineer, landscape architect, ecologist, and even a toxicologist. I have to think like them in order to write down their role in the team as some of them doesn’t really give me a proper scope of work.
wagh. I need a break. I need RETAIL THERAPY. PRONTO! to get me back to my usual-self.
It sucks that I can’t get tickets for the free screening of The 11th Hour in KLPac last month. I supposed to be in KL during the screening of the documentary. dang! Anyway, I just bought the DVD from Amazon.com mwhahaha so nothing can stop me now!
DO check out their website at 11thhouraction.com
(warning: This post may have a sarcastic remark from a tree-hugger. No offence everyone!)
People are more aware of the surrounding, the ‘environment’ would be a correct term. I just hate to use environment in my sentence as people always using it loosely without in-depth meaning of it (sarcasm #1).
Few years ago when I asked people, ‘Hey, have you watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ yet? Their answer would be, “An Inconvenient whaat?” I would said, ‘alaaa, the one Gore talking about his life/politic life and carbon-earth temperature relationship by using Keynote slide presentation. Yerrrr, the one with nice graphic & all; super-long graph & cool NASA satellite images of earth yada yada.’ and I was given the ‘blank’ expression. Suddenly, out of no where, I read HEAPS of the review of the so-called movie from people’s blog (in Malaysia particularly). (Sarcasm #2).
Fine, that’s the power of media. It can educate people, expose people on the critical issue that normally being discuss only in the New Scientists bi-weekly magazine. I think its good for everyone to get this kind of exposure (especially when HBO Southeast Asia decided to make a premiere slot for the aforementioned so-called movie in conjunction with the so-called Earth Day). (Sarcasm #3)
I do have an online friend that I met once seeking my advice on how to reduce the consumption of natural resources in the workplace & a DVD of the An Inconvenient Truth. There are people that aware of the surrounding issues & try to educate others on that. GOOD move sir!
I read environmental science & management in the varsity & I am exposed to these kind of information to get in-depth understanding of the topic & to score in the final exams (sarcasm #4). I feel it is my obligation to spread what I have learned & understand during the course of 3-years reading about the environment.
So my point here is, media is a very EFFICIENT tools to spread information on everything especially critical issues like climate crisis so that people aware & start acting. I am not going to preach on saving the environment, go recycle, say no to incinerator & all that shit here, but there is one thing that I would like my reader to understand:
Excerpt from my 1st job interview essay writing (Not in an exact sentence but the meaning is there, LOL):
“Environment. We live in one, we die in one. No matter how much resources we put, we can’t escape from the waste we created; nor that we can throw it away to the space. We’re living in an island, like a microcosm where input & output should and always be in equilibrium.
In order to live harmonically with the surrounding, we should manage it wisely. It is not a duty of environmentalist. It is a duty of everyone living & breathing in this world. It is our choice to make the world a better place to live in & everyone is responsible taking care of the environment.”
Bull shit. (sarcasm #5). Count how many word ‘environment’ in the excerpt. LOL.
For more cool-fact regarding the environment where you can use it in an ‘interesting’ conversation with your colleague/friends, do read Collapse by Jared Diamond, Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, The UNEP Year book 2008 by UNEP, The Omnivore Dilemma by Micheal Pollan, Gaia by James Lovelook and etc. (sarcasm #6)
I know, I know, I am being sarcastic. I can’t help it. I am quite skeptical when people talking about the ‘environment’. There must be something behind it. I don’t believe in altruist. Everyone has a little, tiny bit of egoist (Though the ethical egoist argument can not be proved, hence a useless ethical claim).
Oh, well. I’m off to bed.
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