Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Hajj Callings

The one and only Makkatul Mukarramah.
















Talbiyah:

Labbaikallahumma labbaik,
Labbaikalaa shareeka laka labbaik,
Innalhamdah wanni'matah
laka walmulk,
laa shareeka lak.


Talbiyah translation:

Here I am, O Allah, here I am,
there is no partner for you, Here I am!
Surely, all praise and blessings
are for you and dominion is Yours.
There is no partner for you.


Ibadah Hajj is the fifth of the five pillars of Islam. It is compulsory for the able ones to perform it once in their lifetime. Such holy rites and rituals are conducted in Zulhijjah, the twelfth month in islamic calendar.

Inshallah, one day I will get my turn to perform Hajj.

Monday, December 25, 2006

What Karen Armstrong manifested about Christianity and Islam


I'd like to share this article as something to ponder about in conjunction with Christmas and the upcoming eidul adha celebration.It is an article from islamonline.com (click here).



“The Muslim prophet born in Bethlehem”- Armstrong
12/23/2006 9:00:00 AM GMT



The relationship between Christianity and Islam has become one of the most important issues of our time. This topic could not be more appropriate as Chrisman Eve draws near, as well as Muslims’ Eid ul Adha festival. It’s important to cite incidents from history where Islam and Christianity lived together with no conflict between both faiths' followers. It’s also important to draw lessons from history of both religions to confront the widespread misconception about Islam and Muslims, portrayed by most media organisations in the West and those profiting from a continuing strife between Christians and Muslims, as enemies of Christians.



“In 632, after five years of fearful warfare, the city of Mecca in the Arabian Hijaz voluntarily opened its gates to the Muslim army. No blood was shed and nobody was forced to convert to Islam,” said a recent article by Karen Armstrong (pic above), who was nun before becoming a prolific writer, television broadcaster and prominent figure on the London media scene, known for her writings aimed at helping Westerners, particularly her own countrymen, develop a better understanding of Islam and its Prophet.

When writers talk about the "clash of civilizations", they focus on “a looming conflict between Christianity and Islam”. When neo-cons in the United States articulate their world view, they identify Islam as their enemy. Why has the relationship between Christianity and Islam become so problematic?

In her article on The Guardian, Armstrong, one of the most provocative, original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world, intended to show “people in the west, who have regarded Islam as the implacable enemy of Christianity ever since the crusades,” that contrary to what’s being said about Muslims nowadays and the active campaign led by hardline politicians and media organisations in the West against Muslims, “for centuries Muslims cherished the figure of Jesus, who is honored in the Qur'an as one of the greatest of the prophets and, in the formative years of Islam, became a constituent part of the emergent Muslim identity.”

“There are important lessons here for both Christians and Muslims - especially, perhaps, at Christmas.

"The Qur'an does not believe that Jesus is divine but it devotes more space to the story of his virginal conception and birth than does the New Testament, presenting it as richly symbolic of the birth of the Spirit in all human beings (Qur'an 19:17-29; 21:91).

Also trying to enlighten people in the West with more understanding of how Qur’an praised Jesus and showed special respect for his figure, Armstrong stated:

“Time and again the Qur'an insists that, like Muhammad himself, Jesus was a perfectly ordinary human being and that the Christians have entirely misunderstood their own scriptures. But it concedes that the most learned and faithful Christians - especially monks and priests - did not believe that Jesus was divine; of all God's worshippers, they were closest to the Muslims (5:85-86).

“Jesus, it was felt, had an affinity with Muhammad, and had predicted his coming (61:6), just as the Hebrew prophets were believed by Christians to have foretold the coming of Christ. The Qur'an... denied that Jesus had been crucified, but saw his ascension into heaven as the triumphant affirmation of his prophethood. In a similar way, Muhammad had once mystically ascended to the Throne of God.

“(Jesus) was a great model for Muslim ascetics, preaching poverty, humility and patience. Sometimes he took sides in a political or theological dispute: aligning himself with those who advocated free will in the debate about predestination; praising Muslims who retired on principle from politics ("Just as kings have left wisdom to you, so you should leave the world to them"); or condemning scholars who prostituted their learning for political advancement ("Do not make your living from the Book of God").”

Stressing that Jesus held a special place within early Islam, Armstrong further stated:

“The Muslim devotion to Jesus is a remarkable example of the way in which one tradition can be enriched by another. It cannot be said that Christians returned the compliment. While the Muslims were amassing their Jesus-traditions, Christian scholars in Europe were denouncing Muhammad as a lecher and charlatan, viciously addicted to violence. But today both Muslims and Christians are guilty of this kind of bigotry and often seem eager to see only the worst in each other.”

“The Muslim devotion to Jesus shows that this was not always the case.”

In her book, Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time, Armstrong attempted to confront the boundless ignorance among non- Muslims about Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as well as Islamophobia that soared noticeably following Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and the smear anti-Muslims campaign that followed the event, negatively affecting lives of many Muslims living in the West.

Armstrong depicted the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as both a mystic touched by God on a mountaintop and a canny political and social reformer who preached loyalty to God rather than tribe; reconciliation rather than retaliation and cared for orphans and the poor; and in many incidents empowered and supported women, which might surprises many in the West who believe that Islam doesn’t pay much attention to the women’s rights.

In her introductory note to her biography, Muhammad, she writes:

"Islam is a universal religion and there is nothing aggressively oriental or anti-Western about it. Indeed, when Muslims first encountered the colonial West during the 18th century, many were impressed by its modern civilization and tried to emulate it."

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Karen Armstrong biography

(click this for source)

Karen Armstrong spent seven years in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus during the 1960s and later wrote a tell-all book, "Through the Narrow Gate" (St. Martin's Press, 1982) that bemoaned the restrictive life. (The frightened nuns did not know the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 had ended for several weeks; they were not allowed to inquire about the outside world.) Armstrong is still hearing about the book: "Catholics in England hate me. They've sent me excrement in the mail." Readers who have followed her lately are learning her more optimistic ideas about what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common with A History of God (Ballantine, 1993), Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths (Knopf, 1996) and The Battle for God (Knopf, 2000) which all focus on what unites the three great monotheist faiths.

Armstrong teaches Christianity at London's Leo Baeck College for the Study of Judaism. It was her first trip to Jerusalem in 1983 that piqued her interest in commonality among faiths. "I got back a sense of what faith is all about." At the time she was an atheist who was "wearied" by religion and "worn out by years of struggle." Born a Roman Catholic in the countryside near Birmingham, England, in 1945, she gave up on religion after her time in the convent. "I was suicidal," she said of life in her late 20s. "I didn't know how to live apart from that regimented way of life."

With an undergraduate degree in literature from Oxford University, she began teaching 19th and 20th century literature at the University of London and worked on a PhD. Three years later, her dissertation was rejected. Without it, she did not qualify to teach at the university level and took a job as head of the English department at a girls' school in London. Not long afterward, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. "After six years at the school I was asked to leave, but nicely," she said. "My early life is a complete catastrophe. It all worked out for the best."

She left the school in 1982 and began working on television documentaries. The story that took her to Jerusalem set her on a new career path and changed her earlier impressions about God. She went from atheist to "freelance monotheist" but has never returned to the Catholic Church or joined any other.

Since her writing career took off, Armstrong's communion with God occurs in the library, where she spends up to three years researching her books, which are as densely packed with detail as her conversations. "I get my spirituality in study," she said. "The Jews say it happens, sometimes, studying the Torah."

Armstrong says, "It's inevitable that people turn to more than one religious tradition for inspiration," she said. "It's part of globalization." She recently read from the Buddhist canon of teachings for her next book. "Religion is like a raft," she said, explaining the Buddha's view of it. "Once you get across the river, moor the raft and go on. Don't lug it with you if you don't need it anymore." She knows that mode of travel: Leave one raft behind to pick up the next just ahead.

She is the author of numerous books on religious affairs which have been translated into forty languages. She is also the author of three television documentaries and took part in Bill Moyers’s television series Genesis. Since September 11, 2001, she has been a frequent contributor to conferences, panels, newspapers, periodicals, and throughout the media on both sides of the Atlantic on the subject of Islam.

In 2005 she published A Short History of Myth, the first volume in an ambitious project undertaken by Canongate Books to retell the great myths of the world - a project that they estimate will take 30 years to complete.

In 2006 she published The Great Transformation, and is now rewriting her biography of the prophet Mohammed. When asked about this project, during an interview on New York Public Radio in 2006 she said, ' "I have rewritten my biography of the prophet Mohammed, based on the latest research - he was not a warrior, but he found himself, like many of the Axial Age sages, in a violent society and he eventually brought peace to the region by practicing a daring policy of non-violence worthy of Ghandi. He stopped the violence and went into Mecca unarmed and forced the Meccans to negotiate with him accepting terms that his followers thought were disgraceful."

Boxing day: Tsunami second anniversary and James Brown RIP Obituary

It has been two years since the catastrophic tsunami that has affected Aceh (Sumatra, Indonesia), few places in the northwest coast of Malaysia, west coastlines of Thailand, south-western coast part of Myanmar, half of south Sri Lanka, few places in Maldives Island, many parts in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and few beaches in Kenya ,where all lies around the Indian Ocean. Of all the countries mentioned, it was Aceh, Sri Lanka and Thailand that were affected the most by the horrific tragedy.

I was in london when it occurred and was following the news in the newspapers and electronic media avidly. Such devastating disaster had killed hundreds of thousands of people and wiped out many areas, especially in Aceh, Sumatra, which was the hardest hit area.

IN a matter of minutes only, those doomed areas have become massive graveyards. Tropical paradises, sleepy towns, thriving fishery businesses all drifted away. Such scenes could only be described as equivalent to an armageddon. So many things have been destroyed and nothing much could be done.

And during this boxing day, 26 December 2004, Aceh has suddenly become the most famous place in the world. Previously, it was globally known for internal feuds and political problems spurred by the separatists who demanded independence from its motherland, Indonesia. Apparently, Aceh was no stranger from bloodsheds and instability. In fact, it has been under Indonesian Army scrutiny for many years. Then, the disastrous tsunami hit its coast wiping out towns and its dwellers.

As reported by AP:

The 2004 tsunami generated an unprecedented outpouring of generosity, with donor pledges reaching some $13.6 billion, but many of the 2 million made homeless complain they still do not have adequate places to live.
Some survivors say they are stuck with poorly built structures that leak, are termite-infested or located in flood zones. Several aid agencies, meanwhile, have been forced to delay projects or rebuild homes after contractors and suppliers ran off with the funds.


That shows that despite the huge loss, the whole world sympathized with the victims irrespective of their beliefs, creeds, race and backgrounds.

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Another main news today was the death of the legendary Godfather of Soul, RnB, Funk and Disco, James Brown (pic above) at the age of 73 due to pneumonia. His signature song without any doubt is "I got you (I feel good)". It was hugely popular all around the world that it was featured in so many hollywood movies where one of them is an oscar award winner "Good Morning, Vietnam" starring Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker and the late Bruno Kirby (whom people would recognize him as the jolly but hot-tempered friend of Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers. He also passed away earlier this year).

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May the late "soulfunk-sex machine" James Brown and the Tsunami victims rest their souls.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Christmas 2006 crackers

Merry christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.......


50 Christmas crackers as featured in The Sun (click here):


WHAT happened to the hyena who fell into a pot of gravy?
He made a laughing stock of himself.


WHAT goes ha ha ha clonk?
A man laughing his head off

WHY is it so difficult to train dogs to dance?
They have two left feet.

WHAT is the definition of an American Bra?
One yank and it's off


WHAT'S six inches long and two inches wide and drives women wild?
Money.

A MAN goes to the doctor and says: "Doctor, I've got a strawberry stuck up my bum."
And he replied: "It's OK, I'll give you some cream for that."


WHY did the hedgehog cross the road?
To see his flatmate!

WHAT goes up and never comes down?
Your age.


WHAT do you call a woman who has lost 95 per cent of her brain? Divorced.

WHAT do you get when you cross a cat with a lemon?
A sour puss!


WHAT did the one strand of hair say to the other strand of hair when asked if he could borrow his shampoo?
Yes, but only on one conditioner.

WHAT happened to the blonde tap dancer?
She fell in the sink.


WHAT did the Policeman say to the stomach?
You're under a vest.

WHAT do you give a man who has everything?
Antibiotics.


DID you hear about the man who fell into an upholstery machine?
He's fully recovered.

WHAT do you call a man that plays with leaves?
Rustle!

TWO oranges walk into a bar.
One says to other: "You're round."

WHAT do you get when you cross a donkey with an onion?
A piece of ass that brings a tear to your eye!

A MAN goes to see his Doctor and says: "Doctor I have a lettuce stuck in my bottom."

The Doctors takes a look and replies: "That's only the tip of the iceberg."

WHAT do anniversaries and toilets have in common?
Men always miss them


DID you hear of the mathematician who had constipation?
In the end he had to work it out with a pencil.

HOW do hedgehogs make love?
Very carefully.


WHAT do you call a girl with eggs and bacon in her hair?
Cathy.

HOW do you keep your husband from reading your emails?
Rename the folder 'Instruction Manuals'.


WHAT do you get when you put a fish and an elephant together?
Swimming trunks.

WHAT are three words you never want to hear while making love?
Honey, I'm home!

WHY did the jazz musician like the wooden board?
Because it had a nice groove in it!

"Waiter! This coffee tastes like mud."
"Yes sir, it's fresh ground."

WHAT'S brown, steams and comes out of Cowes?
The Isle of Wight ferry.

WHO'S the coolest person at a hospital?
The Ultra Sound Guy!

HOW do you know you're living in a redneck town?
You get married for the third time and have the same in-laws

I had a crash with an ice-cream van last night. I wasn’t hurt, just had a bit of Mr Whippy lash.

WHAT'S orange and fizzy and comes down the chimney at Christmas?
Fanta Claus!

WHAT do you call a nun that sleepwalks?
A roaming Catholic.

WHAT do you call cheese that doesn’t belong to you?
Nacho Cheese

WHAT do you do if your toe falls off?
Call a TOW truck for help!


WHICH island has the highest death rate?
Corpsica!

AN invisible man marries an invisible woman.
The kids were nothing to look at either.


WHAT wobbles and flies?
A Jelly-copter.

WHAT is the difference between a smart blonde and a UFO?
There have been sightings of UFOs.

WHAT is the difference between a woman and a magnet?
Magnets have a positive side!

HOW did the beaver get online?
He logged on!


HOW do you get a fat person in bed?
A piece of cake.

WHAT'S the similarity between PlayStations and boobs?
Both are made for children, but used by adults.


What do you call a basement full of blondes?
A whine cellar.

WHAT'S got two grey legs and two browns legs?
An elephant with diarrhoea.

HEAR about the man that collected five thousand door knockers?
He won a nobel prize.

WHAT'S brown and sits on a wall?
Humpty dump.

WHAT has four legs but can't walk?
A table!
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Click this to see babies singing you merry xmas.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

HRH Prince William on his Sandhurst graduation day

Prince William has been commissioned as the a british army officer and will become a 2nd lieutenant.

He obtained his first degree, with a second class upper from the University of St.Andrew last year, and most recently he has just finished his military training course at the elite Sandhurst College, Surrey, England. Photos from the graduation below:



Hold it to yourself, dear Prince William, careful.....

Ur mama, the late Princess Diana be proud. She must be smiling at you from heaven. Congratulation on your commissioning day.

This was taken during Prince Harry's graduation ceremony last April, 2006.

Doesn't he look handsome or what in that uniform? I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join one graduation ceremony of my family friend's son at that elite college last year's August. I dont know why but a lot of men looked rather dishy in a complete uniform be it as an army, navy, police, and so on....I'm thinking of getting my future husband to wear one on a special private occassion together....grrr....

Thursday, December 14, 2006

doodle and scribble


What is doodling? According to Answer.com, doodling is a mindless sketch, an aimless drawing, while a person's attention is otherwise occupied.


Anna Koren examined on the habit of doodling and scribbling and made some interpretations based on the doodling style. Here are some of the excerpts of what she thinks of doodling:

There are an abundance of different types of Doodles, ranging from retracing letters in a written or printed text to complex and three-dimensional drawings, via a variety of idle scribbling.

The process of doodling appears to only be a partially conscious one. Not once does it appear that the pen takes on a life of its own, and the "artist" himself is surprised by the results.

One generally indulges in doodling while one's mind is on something else, rather than on the actual matter of doodling. People doodle in various situations - for instance, in the course of telephone conversations, lectures, while compiling lists and making notes.

Doodles are assessed in much the same way as specimens of handwriting: by examining the same indicators such as the layout on the page, the structure of the stroke, movement, angles, roundness, and speed. However, the doodle cannot be gauged by quite the same codes as those applying to handwriting analysis, and the closest common component between the doodle and the person's handwriting is the signature.

In a certain sense, the interpretation of doodles can be compared to the interpretation of dreams in the course of psychological treatment. Deciphering a doodle is not a simple task. However, it could serve the graphologist with an important clue as to the direction of the analysis and its depth in the same way as the dream serves a similar purpose to the psychologist.

Doodles carry a vast array of symbols, some clear and uncontestable, others obscure and concealed. Tracing hearts often represents a romantic period; pistols and arms could indicate overt of repressed aggression; boats and cars point to a nomadic urge, the desire to travel and the need to go on holiday. It is only people who are musically oriented who would trace musical notes and keys, and people on a diet would often be inspired by food-related subjects in their doodles. Drawing bars often points to a feeling of suffocation.

Significance of the position of the doodle on the page:

-CENTER - Extroversion, a need for attention, sensitivity to privacy, and the need for space.

-LEFT - Held by the past, drawn to the past, apprehensiveness, sensitivity, fear of being exposed.

-TOP - Enthusiasm, spirituality, and an unpractical approach.

-BOTTOM - A critical and practical approach, at times depression.

Shading-in of letters
At times, this is merely an expression of boredom, with no significance. At other times, it can indicate anxiety, lack of self-confidence, tension, and at times, a compulsive behavior and/or lack of faith in oneself.



Pressure

- HEAVY - could express energy, activity, at times aggression.

- MEDIUM - points to a well-balanced personality.

- LIGHT - could be evidence of sensitivity.

- IRREGULAR - might indicatethat the person's inner energy is not altogether regulated. A lack of stability and frequent changes in moods, restlessness, and impatience.


Doodles can assist the Graphologist and serve as a clue regarding a person's personality, or reveal a process being experienced by the "doodler"; but, as mentioned above, it is not possible to perform a character analysis on the basis of a doodle alone. It is strongly recommended to refer to the specimen of the handwriting and look for pointers supporting manifestations revealed in the doodles.

See the actual scribbling/doodling images by clicking on Anna Koren's name above.

I doodle when I speak on the phone or while i was thinking of something while studying an article from a journal. Interestingly, there are quite a few people I know who does the same thing. One of them is my former PhD supervisor. Not only that, he also plays with his hair if he is not scribbling while he is on the line. I do the same thing too....Apart from that, playing and twisting my hair is also my main habit and I do that while I'm talking on the phone, while watching tv at home (and sometimes still practise such habit while in the cinema), when taking a break from reading, before sleeping, while talking to my mum, when trying to pacify anxiety, that sort of habitual actions...It's like some toddlers and thumbsucking, playing with my hair is something that relaxes me sort of.

Refering to Anna Koren's website, my doodles would normally looks like those or closely described by those of the number 1, 5, 11, 12 and 13. On many ocassions, number 1 and 11 are my typical doodles. Number 12 is quite frequent as well. Sometimes, when I'm in a certain kind of mood, I could be doing number 13, 15 or a more proper sketches like the sketch at the bottom of the website.

Last raya, I met a fellow blogger, Pak Adib for the first time at his place in Taman Maluri and he showed me one of his moleskins. It contained many of his thoughts represented in a form of doodling besides some short written notes. He was also kind enough to present me with a mini blank moleskin as a raya token for me.

So I guess this doodling habit, the art of menconteng if I had to describe it in plain malay isnt such a weird thing after all. However, it could be indicating the dark side of us if our scribbles look like some very strange, possibly gory images....

Of Smiths, Jolie and Pitt

It is not that they are my favourite of all the actors and actresses....

HOWEVER, there is a special something about love is in the air could easily be seen through these two people namely Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Honestly, I have never seen Jolie projecting such a natural chemistry towards any man but Pitt. I could be wrong but i can actually see some on-screen sparks between her and pitt. She was always known to be some sort of a femme fatale or someone adventurous enuf (could be described as one brazen hussy with demented mind, misunderstood, incorrigibly eccentric, untamed heart and all that shit). Hell, all i know is that, I seldom capture this kind of natural love act depicted in hollywood movies.....normally it is either faking it or lust-oriented. It could also lead to short flings or platonic friendship or even ultimately, marriage like quite a number of them, hollywood and around the world actors and actresses. Unless one of them admitted to be gay or sexually confused, or becoming religious, or switching faith, etc.

photo source: yahoo! movie

photo source: E! online

The recent news reported in E! Online (click here) could either salvage or detriment Jolie's image who has already been thought of as a homewrecker when she could be true to her feelings. Just a few days ago I saw their movie together, which at one time have sparked endless rumours regarding their courtship and Brad Pitt-Jennifer Aniston marital status: Mr. and Mrs.Smith. That was my first time I watched it from the start till the end. There were quite a few moments that really caught my eyes on how Jolie displayed her soft spot for Pitt. Some of the significant ones (in my opinion) were when she giggled when Pitt was doing/saying something silly, the way she said when he asked her what she thought of him the first time she saw him, and when she turned her back to get a glimpse at Pitt at the moment she reached to the other building having escaped her office block by rope sliding.

Pitt mustve been harbouring some feelings toward her too albeit when he was a married man and the other half of Aniston. He was also known to go serious with some of his fellow actresses off the screen. Those memorable affairs with Juliet Lewis and Gwyneth Parltrow were once a hollywood item during the 90s. Then there was Jen who became his first wife. They quickly became Hollywood's golden couple. The only time they shared moments on the screen was in an episode of Friends, one of the most popular american sitcoms. Unfortunately, they are no longer together. Their much talked about fairy tale romance and relationship ended with a divorce a year ago. A four year marriage that was. And Jolie was accused to be one of the culprits that brought them down.

Besides TomKat, Pitt-Jolie baby was another long-awaited news of this year. The birth of a baby girl in Namibia last May had further cemented their love and commitment for each other. It's too early to presume whether they would tie a knot or not. But with the joint surnames for their own baby as well as the other two adopted children, time will tell how far would this beautiful lovebirds last. And it seemed that children are the key which binds them together.

On a personal note, I had dreamt about Brad Pitt three times during his affair with Parltrow. I was not smitten by him. NOPE. In all of my dreams with him, we were good friends, and at one time, Pitt made a confession to me that he was having problems with Gwen. Amazingly, that took place before Pitt and Parltrow even admitted that they were going through a hard time. Talking about small wonders, eh....

Saturday, December 09, 2006

one week without broadband connection...sigh

It's been a week since i lost my jaring connection due to network card and broadband modem faulties....this was the 3rd time such thing has ever happened...and CERTAINLY NOT because of jaring service. It was DUE TO this heavy rain/monsoon season with all that heavy downpours, thunderstorms, lightning strikes and so on that had interfered with the broadband system.

As this is the 3rd time i changed the modem, FOR free from jaring and this is also the 3rd time i had to replace with a new network card 10/100Mbps, and the fact that all my pc cables, printer and network adaptor are connected to a power surge cable extension, the LAST resort would be to disconnect the phone line from the modem when the pc is not in use. Such is the crucial step to avoid another visit to the Jaring Internet Outlet as well as our nearby pc hardware shop repeating the same thing: return old faulty modem and replacing it with a new one (it is for free as it is inclusive of the monthly bill) and getting a new network card (just a small surcharge for the 3rd one courtesy of G & B pc hardware, Jalan Reko, Kajang, but twice for free). ON top of that, disconnecting the phone line (DSL) from the modem would protect the broadband splitter from malfunctioning.

What to do....I have been using my 1st network card for like 4 years without any problems in the UK and the 1st 6 months of my broadband connection here in Malaysia until this torrential rainy season hits the country. Penat memang penat...seriously getting tired of such hassle. A month before that, my youngest sister did something that led to pc system crash and i had to ask my adek ipar's genius computer maintainer to come over my place to fix my pc.

Good thing i can still get connected to the internet via my office pc. But our faculty LAN connection is only up to 10MBps whereas my home connection goes up to 100MBps. You dont need to be a rocket scientist to figure out which one is better and faster.

And just 2 days ago, we have upgraded our electrical Amp consumption, from 43 to 60Amp by replacing the old fuse box with a new one, and fixed a new fuse system at the electric meter box. This electrical power overload could also be one of the notorious reasons that has affected my broadband modem.

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Eh, how come Asia Game 2006 in Doha is not that happening? is it because our malaysian contingent are not doing that well, except a few like the bowling team? Not much of coverage being reported in the newspaper? that bad, huh....they got almost nothing to say hence the modest number of report.

Friday, December 01, 2006

One fine day in Chelsea



Dear you,


More than 2 years ago, summer 2004, you asked me out and we spent like 2 days in a row around leicester square and covent garden (supposedly one of your favourite spots). I still remember the day you bought me this DVD Hum Tum from HMV leics sq. I remember at one time i thought of ditching you at HMV and quickly finding my way home. But, and i just dont know why, I could not make it....There's like something that pulling me back to u. And I was amazed by my reactions. It was as if fate has been written, stories have been made that i decided that i should just go ahead with it. Nonetheless, i took my own precautions too, just in case. You remained ever so gentleman despite my sometimes cold and hostile manners. I was simply protecting myself. And I was testing u too, how long can u put up with me. Every time u sent me home, u wud plant gentle kisses on my cheeks. A few days after that, I went to Bradford for a little sibling gathering with my 2nd bro and my 3rd sis at her place. The next day, the three of us joined this international bradford university students trip to Lake District. While we were enjoying those breathtaking views from the bus, I received a voice mail from you. Right after that, i felt those warm, fuzzy feelings...it just happened and it took me by surprise indeed. What has he done to me???? Was i actually beginning to feel for him? Those feelings i got after that voice mail was an automatic response, simply magic.

Did u remember on the eid fitri 2004 , the 1st time i met your family? I came with my ex-officemate, Abi, all the way to east london. Such was one of the places that I have been avoiding unless if i have no choice. Wait, not just me but like 3/4 of the londoners. Too much immigrants like asian (your species), west indian blacks and so on....bit dodgy except if u go around Canary Wharf area as it has been revamped into a mini Manhattan. But I managed to drag my feet and went against the odds. I was just a bit posh like that.

Or should i say, the rest is history? Since then, we've gone through ups and downs...most of the down parts were caused by you. You and your weird behaviour. You did not manage to meet my mum when she came to visit me in december 2004. You spoilt things up. But still we seemed to manage to go through it. I still remember the day when u came to see me looking all worn out and sad. We sat next to each other and u told me that u felt like wanting to die by volunteering yourself as a british soldier for the peace core. Then you cried on my shoulder. That was the second time you wept. I just hugged you and let u lose yourself until you compose yourself again.

This is a special song dedicated to you. I know it is one of your favourite evergreen songs: Suspicious minds by Elvis Presley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiNoqi_XpNY



One year ago, you bought me a bouquet of flowers while we strolled down Fulham Road in Chelsea. You accompanied me to Chelsea and Westminster hospital because I had a kidney test appointment there.

It was a lovely autumn-winter morning. It was the last day I saw you. It was the last day we were together. And I will cherish all those moments together. Not long after that, I came back to my homeland, Malaysia.

We are definitely not a typical couple. I love my space. And you like your own corner too. I dont see why we should restrict our moves and our circle of friends. I am of course more social than you. You are more of an introvert and I am more of an extrovert. Despite the unconventional stuff, there are just a lot of things that made me drawn to u. Baby, if Allah permits, and with all the constant prayers and commitment we have for each other, we will be together. There have been so many magical moments, peculiar ones, those that only God knows why....You know I love you. And even though you were like Cary Grant in Charade, and you can be very ,very, very annoying at times, you accepted me just the way I am. We were so natural when we have each other. No inhibitions.

I leave it to God, tawakkal to him for He knows more and He has better plans. Nevertheless, I wanna thank you for all those loving companionship and memories. We are each other's Yin and Yang.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

That snake is real

Third day of Shawal 1427H, 26th Sept 2006, Thursday marked the very first time I ever had a physical encounter with a python.....

This is me and no, I am not doing a parody of Britney Spears MTV performance.

One of those snakes that had her ;-D

I never knew a snake , especially that of a python species can be that heavy until I had that creepy crawly beast over my shoulders. Damn it was one heavy reptilian I tell you. It didnt take that long to slowly find its ways between my legs and body and I DONT mean it in a dirty way. It DID curl and that was my face looking rather stupefied yet thrilled at the same time to feel a snake on my body for the first time in my life.

Dont just take my word, how about I dare you to experience it yourself at Langkawi Snake Sanctuary. It is opposite Tok Senik Resort.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Tom-Kat got hitched

Image source: BBC

Their affair is certainly one of those most popular and probably one of the most joked about love stories across the media all over the world. Yet love defies everything for them and they have proven their utmost commitment by exchanging vows and becoming formally lawful wedded husband and wife. They are of course none other than one of the most prominent actors in Hollywood, Tom Cruise and his newlywedded missus, a former teen drama queen of Dawson Creek fame, Katie Holmes.

What Bennifer (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) has failed, TomKat (the nickname supossedly jocular made for Tom and Katie) has proven otherwise. Despite all the constant mockings and widely exposed stories , gossips more likely, have been made up (or true ones but bearing explicitly cynical remarks whenever possible), they managed to stay together. Not to mention that famous stunts in Oprah Winfrey talk show made by Tom Cruise himself that gained millions of attentions across YouTube. You just type his name and that videoclips hit the top list.

Not just that, Scientologist Tom Cruise has also proven to the world that he is indeed not THAT sterile after all. What with his obsessions and love-craze with Katie Holmes that they actually were bestowed with a "home-grown" baby girl name Suri. In Malaysia, suri, a sanskrit-origin word, is commonly used to define The Lady in House, as in suri rumah tangga, while permaisuri loosely interpreted as the Queen of the house.

May I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Cruise on their lavish wedding day (last weekend) in a 15th century old castle with a lake view backdrop in Bracciano , 40km north-west of Roma, Italy.

Tom, you certainly DO love that woman. Hopefully this third wedding will be more successful in your quest for another Mission: Impossible III.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

My Way: Frank Sinatra

The first quarter of 2004 was one of the hardest experience in my life ever. It was then that I cried and cried until I felt like collapsing. My knees were all wobbly and my body shook like it never had with too much sorrow and pain. It was when I had this major dispute with my old supervisor. I could say that I was in a real deepshit of my life so to speak. I am not one who easily breaks down and cry, but when it really hurt me inside, cut me deep inside my heart, i just could not get a grip of myself anymore but to just shed those tears almost endlessly. I even cried in the bus on my way home from my college. I cried while carrying out my experimental works. I was at one of my lowest points of my life. It was indeed a matter of life and death to me somehow. I cried over the phone with my mum, my lecturer colleagues in malaysia and most of all, I cried in front of my college mates. They were like my rock there. Without them, i felt like going insane honest to God. It was rather embarrassing but hey, it's either cry or die.

Then, that was also the time when i got hooked up with Frank Sinatra's song: My Way. Its lyrics and melody literally speaks to my soul and has touched my innermost feelings.


A videoclip showing Ol' blue eyes performing one of his signature songs, a truly evergreen song: My Way


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlp6LgJ-u0



Alhamdulillah, with a lot of prayers from my family and friends, such overwhelming episode ended with a triumph and "monumental" relief. And a year ago, I attained my PhD.


Now, it is still one of my classic numbers. Last year, i found out that he also shares his likeness towards this particular song. Anita Sarawak loves it. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad loves it. I reckon those who've had their shares of highs and lows in their lives would definitely resonate well with this song. And especially the way Frank Sinatra sang it that makes it rather soothing and captivating. A motivating song that alleviate fears and anxieties, which leads to the rising of one's own dignity, confidence, determination and self-esteem.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

news round-up 1

It has been a while since I sent some newsbits on my blog.

It is just a way of sharing some of the news of the world which I found rather interesting, mind-stimulating, or simply something I read and found it interesting enough to be shared with others.

I should make a proper indexing to this subject title, so it will remain part of the active archive list of postings.

So here it goes:

- Islamic-finance grows in the USA (click source)

- Nobel peace prize winner 2006: Mr. Muhammad Yunus, an economy professor of Chittagong university turned Grameen Bank Founder became this year's Nobel Laureate for inventing microcredit schemes to help the poors in Bangladesh. More news at:

  • An impetus to battle poverty: Reuters
  • Bangladesh celebrates first Nobel Prize: AFP
  • Nobel for anti-poverty pioneers: BBC-1
  • World banker to the poorer: BBC-2
  • Banker wins Nobel Peace Prize: Guardian
  • Champion of the poor: The Times

- Another Nobel Prize winner, Orhan Parmuk from Turkey who was tried last year over charges of insulting turkish national identity (click source2)

- Headscarf is compulsory for non-muslim students at a new Islamic school in Leicester, UK (click source 3 , source4)

- To the moon and Beck: Surprise, surprise, but after a dismal performance having lost to Croatia 2-0 on a Euro2008 qualifying match, the resigned captain and ousted England player, David Beckham's service is once again in need. Not long ago, he was completely thrown out of Steve McLaren team (possible clash of opinions apart from Beck's sissy , overblown metrosexual image). Now, many English are inquiring for him to be recruited back to his old team, which is now captained by John Terry, a Chelsea club captain. Yet, some people did lick their own filthy spits so to speak, boohoo shame on them! But on second thought, english football fans can be a bunch of psycho lot. They worship those who scored the winning goal but if that footballer slacken a bit (or they say that chap has lost his marbles) or the whole team kept losing, they definitely will find something/someone to be blamed for. And man, they can be very harsh on putting down someone's spirit or shaming him in public. OK, it's not just the english football fans, it's whatever sport with huge-followers and from whichever countries around the world, like baseball and american football for the americans, football for italians, english, brazilian for eg, and so on. Further reading at:

Fart machine and air pollution.

A recent report in BBC has put a blame on cows for emitting hazardous amount of methane (CH4) gas to the atmosphere (click news source) from their nether region. It was found out that one cow produces approximately 400 litres of methane due to farting.

Methane, a greenhouse gas, also known as the primary component of natural gas source (read more at wikipedia) is one of the prime reasons for ozone layers depletion and global warming. Nevertheless, methane is also the prime source for the biomass renewable energy as one of the cheaper and renewable alternative to fossil fuel. Extensive research have also been carried out using methane potential in fuel cell applications as means to produce hydrogen through catalytic steam-methane reforming process. Compressed methane is also used as a clean fuel alternative in many vehicles nowadays and is known as NGV (natural gas vehicle).

Now, why must they blame cows for becoming one farting machine when we have never heard of a farmer who died because of that? It has to be as the result of some sort of a chemical fertilizers in the grass meadows where they let the poor cows chomping throughout the day among other things. Other possibilities could be through feeding the cows with beans and a lot of other grain/seed produce apart from letting them grazing leaves, which of course is their staple food.

Not only do the cows fart methane, they also burp methane. This actually affect the growth rate of a cow. BUT somehow, this seemed to be the worry of those farmers in the UK. What about other places around the world where they have huge cow farms like New Zealand, Switzerland and India?

Speaking of cow fart, i had a worse but funny incident with horses farting. That was like a year ago during my istanbul tour. I was with my turkish friend, fatma the day we went to an island nearby istanbul called Princes Island, or locally known as Buyuk Ada (translated as "big island"). No fuel-based vehicle is allowed there to retain and preserve its natural ecology. Therefore, only horse and donkey carts and carriages, as well as bicycles are the only means of wheel-vehicled transportations. That applies to tourists as well if they wish to tour around that island.

Fatma recommended that we should get on the horse carriage ride as it is a must there. So off we went to a vacant carriage at a special station meant for tourists. At first we both sat in the carriage while the driver sat alone manouvering two healthy horses named Phyllis for the mare and Morad for the male one. After a while, i got excited on the thought of doing a "cowgirl" stunt and asked if i could sit next to the driver while we were on the course. Without further ado, he stopped the carriage to let me climb onto the seat and off i went riding directly facing two horses' behinds.


Yeeee...haaawww...!!!!!! Posted by Picasa


It was all fun watching the beautiful sceneries on the ride until one of the horses started to break out one long, powerful wind followed by dumping some craps on a special crap sheet hanging underneath them. Unbelievable! How rude was that! Not long after that, the second horse did the same thing. Boy, i wish you could watch how they lift their long, bushy tails up and let out those awful gas. That time i began to imagine if those people in hollywood have had such experience like me while filming on a horse carriage...or even worse, Queen of England and the whole royal family lot during their royal excursion in the public and so on....

Nonetheless, i was just laughing all the way seeing how capable those horses, one by one emitting that pungent-smell fart, but nobody was harmed (as in fainted to say the least) during the journey. Not even the horse driver who has been doing this job for ages.

Ironically, farmers normally have longer life than those city-dwellers. And some people have the cheeks to blame those herbivorous animals (cows, horses, sheeps, etc) to be one of the causes of air pollution? In spite of that, some people still do research on this cow flatulence or belching effect to the environment. Go read it at:

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Belasungkawa

We Malaysian may have not yet fully recovered on the bereavement for dear Hani Mohsin Hanafi, actor and Roda Impian game show host, who passed away just over 2 months ago, and now, we had had to mourn for another dearly beloved singer-turned entertainment show host, Seha, yesterday (wednesday, 11/10/06). I was 9 years old when she and her duet partner, Shuib belted that evergreen song, Mulanya Di sini (lyrics below, source: Imnogman).
Mulanya Di Sini

( P: )
Tibanya di sini
Bagai terulang lagi
Kisah yang indah
Di antara kita berdua

( L: )
Sehingga di sini
Tiada berpaling lagi
Kita berteman
Seiring jalan dan sehaluan

( L: & P: )
( korus )
Sama sama menjejak mimpi
Sama sama mencari dan menanti
Segalanya direstui cinta sejati
Sama sama gunung didaki
Sama sama turun ke lembah sepi
Suka duka bersama dirasai

( P: )
Mulanya di sini
Ku kenali dirimu
Sehingga kini
Sehingga ke akhir waktu

( L: )
Akhirnya di sini
Ku kenali hatimu
Sehingga kini
Kita akan terus berlalu

( L: & P: )
( korus )
Sama sama menjejak mimpi
Sama sama mencari dan menanti
Segalanya direstui cinta sejati
Sama sama gunung didaki
Sama sama turun ke lembah sepi
Suka duka bersama dirasai

( L: )
Di hadapan kita ada jalan
Menuju di kejauhan ada sinar menanti
Di penghujung perjalanan ini

( P: )
Oh... sambil bernyanyi
Mendendang senandung yang syahdu
Riangnya hati dan indah duniaku

( L: & P: )
( korus )
Sama sama menjejak mimpi
Sama sama mencari dan menanti
Segalanya direstui cinta sejati
Sama sama gunung didaki
Sama sama turun ke lembah sepi
Suka duka bersama dirasai


Seha's life has shortlived due to chronic lung cancer which was diagnosed a few months ago. She has two daughters from her first marriage and is survived by her second husband of three years marriage. I have always seen her rather bubbly and smily face on the telly. Somehow i wasn't aware of her divorce with her former husband as she seemed to shun her life away from the limelight. Or probably i missed reading it somewhere on the news. Semoga dicucuri rahmat ke atas roh al-marhumah seha dan almarhum hani mohsin.

Monday, October 09, 2006

human circle of life: from birth to death

Last night, i received a text message telling me that we have just lost one prominent faculty member, Prof. Madya Dr. Zainol Abidin Abdul Rashid. He died due to brain hemorrhage as a result of him slipping down from his own home water tank. He intended to do the DIY on the water tank himself but at the detriment of his own life. I was really, really saddened by the loss. Even though I have not known him for a long time, it was enough for us to share some good laughs together.

He was responsible for the creation of Muslims in Space, a tool to assist in determining the prayers time as well as the qiblah (kaabah orientation) while in outer space. Such was a brilliant discovery in time with the first malaysian space voyage program where Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was selected among thousands of malaysian applicants to join the russian astronaut team to be trained as the first malaysian astronaut.

Dr.Zainol has left such an important legacy which in turn would be an inspiration for muslims worldwide for further aerospace explorations without neglecting the islamic practice.

Below is his last email to all of us engineering faculty members:

TiungSAT-1 tidak berkubur, now is orbiting to death (possibly reentry and burst sometimes in the near future), battery has malfunction.

We have gain a lot of knowledge and experiences through TiungSAT-1.Not only the team has benefitted from the program, many universities and school has incorporated and activitely involved in space activities, the Malaysian public are now aware of the space program. The TiungSAT-1 programme has enable Malaysian to embark with confident into the challenging space technologies and business.

There are a lot of publications in local and international conferences and journals by Malaysian on the space technology.

Innosat is the programme that bridge the industry (ATSB) and universities into long-term programme for educating, training, critical mass development, and knowledge development in space programe.


***********************************************

About 30mins after that heartfelt text message, i received another one and this time bearing a good news from my friend, Azizah, who has just given birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing 3.0kg at Hospital Serdang. She was already at 5.0cm dilation when she got admitted to the hospital, a week earlier to her predicted due. The second baby delivery experience for her was much more easier than her first born.

***********************************************

One man gone, another man is born. Still, Dr.Zainol will be terribly missed. May he rest in peace with a lot of blessings during this holy month of Ramadhan.

This morning, we received another news that AlMarhum Dr.Zainol's head of department, Professor Azah has just lost her mother. Two losses in that Electrical, Electronic and System Engineering department in less than two days.

Additional info: For those in Malaysia who are available on the 27 Oct, 3 Nov and 24 Nov, you can watch a program entitled "Ilmuan Islam" on TV3 that will feature Dr.Zainol.

*******************************************************************

Monday also the day we lost one of the brilliant british snooker players, Paul Hunter, who died of some sort of a rare stomach cancer called neuro endocrine. Known for his sleek and flamboyant appearance and sporting shoulder length blonde lock, the Yorkshire man (he was from Leeds) has left a hole in the professional snooker arena. He was given a year out to undergo the cancer treatment last July but unfortunately, he did not survive that long. Hunter leaves a wife and a daughter, who was born nearly 9 months after he was diagnosed with the disease in March 2005.

This is really devastating, especially as most of the snooker players are down right fuddy duddy fellas, with only few exceptions: the late Paul Hunter himself and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Not only that, both these two fellas are also very cheeky and creative on the snooker table with their spontaneous ability to perform some "daredevil stunts" with their cue sticks.

As shocking as it is, he will always be remembered as one of the great snooker legends for many more years to come.

World University Ranking 2006

It has been the talk of the academicians of higher institutions in Malaysia of how Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has toppled Universiti Malaya to become the Malaysian premier university based on the report of the world university rankings by Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

To me, it's also personal as my alma mater reached the 9th while the university i am attached with leaped from the 289th position to 185th. A remarkable achievement, i have to say. It is by far a great feelings for me to have the opportunity to be part of the best in malaysia and among the ten world best. Obviously such an achievement is the result of a mutual cooperation and commitment from all the staff both in the academic and non-academic lines.

Table below shows the result of the 2006 world university rankings:


2006
RANK

2005
RANK

NAME

COUNTRY

1

1

Harvard University

United States

2

3

University of Cambridge

United Kingdom

3

4

University of Oxford

United Kingdom

4=

2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States

4=

7

Yale University

United States

6

5

Stanford University

United States

7

8

California Institute of Technology

United States

8

6

University of California, Berkeley

United States

9

13

Imperial College London

United Kingdom

10

9

Princeton University

United States

11

17

University of Chicago

United States

12

20

Columbia University

United States

13

11

Duke University

United States

14

15

Beijing University

China

15

14

Cornell University

United States

16

23

Australian National University

Australia

17

11

London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom

18

24

Ecole Normale Supérieure

France

19=

22

National University of Singapore

Singapore

19=

16

University of Tokyo

Japan

21

24

McGill University

Canada

22

19

University of Melbourne

Australia

23

27

Johns Hopkins University

United States

24

21

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Switzerland

25

28

University College London

United Kingdom

26

32

University of Pennsylvania

United States

27

29

University of Toronto

Canada

28

62

Tsing Hua University

China

29=

31

Kyoto University

Japan

29=

36

University of Michigan

United States

31

37

University of California, Los Angeles

United States

32

26

University of Texas at Austin

United States

33=

30

University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom

33=

41

University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

35=

44

Carnegie Mellon University

United States

35=

38

University of Sydney

Australia

37

10

École Polytechnique

France

38

33

Monash University

Australia

39

88

University of Geneva

Switzerland

40

35

University of Manchester

United Kingdom

41

40

University of New South Wales

Australia

42

46

Northwestern University

United States

43

56

New York University

United States

44

42

University of California, San Diego

United States

45

47

University of Queensland

Australia

46=

52

University of Auckland

New Zealand

46=

73

King's College London

United Kingdom

48=

73

University of Rochester

United States

48=

58

Washington University in St. Louis

United States

50=

38

University of British Colombia

Canada

50=

51

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

52

69

Sciences Po Paris

France

53

114

Vanderbilt University

United States

54=

71

Brown University

United States

54=

66

University of Copenhagen

Denmark

56

141

Emory University

United States

57

50

Indian Institute of Technology

India

58=

45

Universität Heidelberg

Germany

58=

43

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Hong Kong

60

109

Case Western Reserve University

United States

61=

117

Dartmouth College

United States

61=

48

Nanyang Technological University

Singapore

63

93

Seoul National University

South Korea

64=

49

Bristol University

United Kingdom

64=

34

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Switzerland

66

54

Boston University

United States

67

70

Eindhoven University of Technology

Netherlands

68

84

Indian Institute of Management

India

69

58

University of Amsterdam

Netherlands

70=

103

School of Oriental and African Studies

United Kingdom

70=

105

Osaka University

Japan

72

92

Ecole Normale Supérieure Lyon

France

73

77

University of Warwick

United Kingdom

74

95

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Mexico

75

127

University of Basel

Switzerland

76

88

Catholic University of Louvain

Belgium

77

58

University of Illinois

United States

78

111

Trinity College Dublin

Ireland

79=

186

University of Otago

New Zealand

79=

73

University of Wisconsin

United States

81

101

University of Glasgow

United Kingdom

82=

67

Macquarie University

Australia

82=

105

Technische Universität München

Germany

84

88

University of Washington

United States

85

97

University of Nottingham

United Kingdom

86

53

Delft University of Technology

Netherlands

87

65

University of Vienna

Austria

88

193

University of Pittsburgh

United States

89

133

University of Lausanne

Switzerland

90=

143

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom

90=

138

Leiden University

Netherlands

92

57

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands

93=

79

Moscow State University

Russia

93=

88

Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie

France

95

120

Utrecht University

Netherlands

96

95

Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium

97

108

Wageningen University

Netherlands

98

55

Universität München

Germany

99=

112

Queen Mary and Westfield College

United Kingdom

99=

64

Pennsylvania State University

United States

101

124

University of Southern California

United States

102=

159

Georgetown University

United States

102=

150

Rice University

United States

102=

143

University of Sheffield

United Kingdom

105=

80

University of Adelaide

Australia

105=

112

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Germany

105=

100

University of Sussex

United Kingdom

108

114

National Taiwan University

Taiwan

109=

136

University of St Andrews

United Kingdom

109=

85

University of Zurich

Switzerland

111=

133

University of Maryland

United States

111=

180

Uppsala University

Sweden

111=

199

Wake Forest University

United States

111=

80

University of Western Australia

Australia

115

217

University of Twente

Netherlands

116=

72

Fudan University

China

116=

62

University of Helsinki

Finland

118

99

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Japan

119

77

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel

120

215

Keio University

Japan

121

103

University of Leeds

United Kingdom

122

180

Lund University

Sweden

123

143

University of North Carolina

United States

124=

68

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

United States

124=

109

University of York

United Kingdom

126

138

University of Aarhus

Denmark

127

61

Purdue University

United States

128=

222

Kyushu University

Japan

128=

129

Nagoya University

Japan

130=

164

Tufts University

United States

130=

105

University of Virginia

United States

132

83

University of Durham

United Kingdom

133=

149

University of Alberta

Canada

133=

259

Vrije University Brussels

Belgium

133=

157

Hokkaido University

Japan

133=

168

University of Newcastle upon Tyne

United Kingdom

137

177

Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

Netherlands

138

86

Vienna University of Technology

Austria

139

119

University of Liverpool

United Kingdom

140

234

Cranfield University

United Kingdom

141=

159

University of California, Santa Barbara

United States

141=

228

Cardiff University

United Kingdom

141=

219

University of Ghent

Belgium

141=

206

University of Southampton

United Kingdom

145

147

Georgia Institute of Technology

United States

146

82

RMIT University

Australia

147=

166

Chalmers University of Technology

Sweden

147=

188

Tel Aviv University

Israel

149

172

Freie Universität Berlin

Germany

150=

184

Korea University

South Korea

150=

125

Texas A&M University

United States

152

179

University of Notre Dame

United States

153

130

University of Bath

United Kingdom

154

178

City University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

155

184

McMaster University

Canada

156=

101

Curtin University of Technology

Australia

156=

114

Universität Göttingen

Germany

158=

194

Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Israel

158=

240

Universität Ulm

Germany

158=

202

Waseda University

Japan

161=

121

Chulalongkorn University

Thailand

161=

131

Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I

France

163

121

Michigan State University

United States

164

219

Saint-Petersburg State University

Russia

165=

76

Université libre de Bruxelles

Belgium

165=

93

University of Science and Technology of China

China

165=

175

State University of New York at Stony Brook

United States

168=

199

George Washington University

United States

168=

136

Tohoku University

Japan

170=

206

University of California, Davis

United States

170=

260

Universität Tübingen

Germany

172=

172

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Germany

172=

157

University of Maastricht

Netherlands

172=

196

Royal Institute of Technology

Sweden

172=

254

Yeshiva University

United States

176

261

Queen's University

Canada

177

138

University of Oslo

Norway

178

228

University of Bern

Switzerland

179

169

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China

180

150

nanjing University

China

181=

172

Kobe University

Japan

181=

132

University of Montreal

Canada

183=

192

Jawaharlal Nehru University

India

183=

186

Free University of Amsterdam

Netherlands

185

289

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Malaysia

186

165

University of Innsbruck

Austria

187=

213

Brandeis University

United States

187=

142

Universität Frankfurt am Main

Germany

187=

150

University of Minnesota

United States

190=

240

University of Barcelona

Spain

190=

248

University of Reading

United Kingdom

192=

169

University of Malaya

Malaysia

192=

118

Queensland University of Technology

Australia

194

154

Technical University of Denmark

Denmark

195

267

University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom

196

308

University of Wollongong

Australia

197

125

Università degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza

Italy

198=

254

University of California, Irvine

United States

198=

143

Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology

South Korea

200

305

Universite Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)

France