Dzulhijjah 1447 Varia

We are now in the month of Dzulhijjah, the month when Muslims perform the pilgrimage (I have yet to perform hajj, but had umrah experience back in 2023). Let me begin this post by saying that yesterday I had received the sad news that a school-mate of mine had passed away in Makkah. I have not seen him since I left school though my other friends were saying that I should meet him. Unfortunately, I did not have the good opportunity to see this blessed friend of mine. Here I am, still attached to this temporary world and now envying him. May Allah grant me a good ending.

Yesterday, I was also visiting my sister-in-law who has been admitted to IJN (National Heart Institute). I wasn't feeling good myself and have not progressed in making the appointment with the university specialist before I could get an IJN appointment. Here are some photos:

Lately, I have tried to avoid posting social media since it has become a toxic place, a battleground of influencers. Doom scrolling through FB while waiting at IJN yesterday, saw plenty of disgusting Islamophobic posts with outright lies. Luckily, I've brought some reading material and read it instead  It is Chris Fuchs selected email correspondences (see quant-ph/0105039). 

I took it out from the store, thinking that it would be easy reading. Instead it got me strayed, thinking about a lot of things. See for example below.

Anyway, this is the current state I am in: always distracted despite I was supposed to finish reviewing a book draft (which I can only do with the laptop - no more printing). Much of me now prefer to limit my screentime and read materials that I have printed before and once I'm done (with notes written down), I can recycle them away. At least that is what I fantasize. Got too many different  projects on now and time is running out. I hope to discipline myself enough before the new Hijri year sets in. May my prayers be granted.

Added note: Just saw this latest Sneako interview with Prof. Jiang and Malaysia has been mentioned several times. In some way, I have gotten tired of Jiang's obsession with the occult that rises in the West despite the widespread Western influence. I do hope he could start making some comparative studies with (occult?) materials from Asia and other cultures while toning down the speculations. In this way, this would allow possible predictions in the expected multi-polar world. By the way, just took out this book (see pic below) from my book shelf - predictve history? There is another book by the same author titled "The Reluctant Prophets" but it remained hidden within the book cabinet.

Studently Teacher

Yesterday and today, I received  Teacher's Day wishes from a school-mate and a student of my younger colleague. I consider myself more as a student than a teacher; even today, I still feel that I have much to learn. Due to this, I felt I have not done much as a teacher. I come from an average Malay family with no real preparation for me to begin a career in theoretical physics (to this, I actually envy those who had such preparations including the ones of Olympiads). It was only in my third and fourth years of my undergraduate studies in Adelaide that I got to know more about theoretical physics. So that besides those years and the Part III year in Cambridge, most of my knowledge in theoretical physics are from self-study. So when I come back from my PhD, I had this mission of making theoretical physics opportunities available to our local students. I even mentioned this in my interview for my lecturer position in UPM.

Trained as a theorist, I taught mostly theoretical subjects in the physics curriculum with extensive teaching in quantum mechanics. The pic below shows the class of Special Relativity & Classical Field Theory during my final years of teaching in UPM.

After many years of undergraduate teaching, I found myself 'stuck' thinking at the level of undergraduate (theoretical) physics. It was then, I conciously become aware of the need of reseearch-level thinking and I began to take many graduate students. Unfortunately there was no elaborate postgraduate-level courses for theoretical physics apart from Advanced Mathematical Physics (even this, it is more often reintroducing some of the undergraduate topics taught at a more technical level. Thus, my postgraduate 'teaching' is often limited to personal interactions and group meetings with my students, and had to depend upon the curiosity level of the students themselves. Due to my own experience as a postgraduate student, I tend to take student independence as part of the training. I was told by Dr. Toh, this might not be suitable for everyone and indeed some students did not quite finish their studies. In my final years of undergraduate teaching, I began to introduce independent reading list from mostly journals, for students to do (critical) reviews as assignments. I wasn't sure what impact it has on students since this was only given in a few (final) semesters. I do hope it has instlled some interest of students in theoretical physics and perhaps the idea of independent self-study.

As I have said above, I consider myself more as a student than a teacher and I'm pretty sure there are many shortcomings in my teaching (May Allah forgive me). Studying theoretical physics is not easy and one has to work very hard. As an average Malay (student), I certainly had to overcome (cultural) inhibitions and inferiority complex. I remember vaguely my late mum was telling me the story of what she heard during her pilgrimage (I think) from someone academic who was in the same pilgrimage, saying that it was 'rare' for a Malay to take up theoretical physics. I certainly would like to push back such stereotype. Yes, it is hard work but it is not impossible. I would say, if me as an average student can do it, then others should be able to do so. I leave with some pictures of slides that I had prepared for a workshop for academic advisors early in my career.

Varia: Unexpected Valued Trivialities

Yesterday around mid-day (when it is usually the hottest),we had a two-hour blackout. I was not aware of any early notification of the blackout. At the time, I was working on my laptop; since I have been putting off purchasing battery for my laptop, just to make sure my pension pay is enough until the next pay, the work thus went unsaved. Blackouts are pretty rare here and the last time we had one was due to installation of electrical lines at the site of a soon-to-be constructed private hospital nearby (see the crane in the picture below taken from our balcony).

Speaking about blackouts, I was reminded about the almost weekly blackouts when I was in Bintulu yarns ago, since the electrical supply was unstable back then and it was also a newly developed campus. I was given a fellow apartment/room at the top floor in an empty hostel block for which I was supposed to be the residential fellow. So for a full semester, I had spent many nights there alone in the dark. Most of the time I preferred not to move around the block and stayed in the apartment with a single candlelight. The eerie feelings were there but no unwanted incidents happened (alhamdulillah). Some people were even mentioning then that I must be that brave to stay there alone. In another semester, my block had students in them and another block was empty. During that time, I had another fellow from the empty block came to temporarily stay with me as he got uncomfortable all alone in his block (what more if there is a blackout). Unfortunately the person gets bossy over in my place and I had very little privacy. After a while, he got on my nerves and I had to tell him off, thus asked him to move out. It was unpleasant for me to do so and I tend to 'justify' my action, thinking over it now, that even in Prophetic tradition our obligations to put up guests is for three days (see here). May Allah forgive if I was really unkind.

Another thing that happened yesterday was a crane parked along our road since the city council had decided to do some tree pruning. Again, there was no notification as far as I am aware. So the road was blocked and we had to delay our going out (for an outside appointment).

Perhaps some lessons of all the above trivialities (that I wish I can convey to my sons), there are always unexpected things that can happen in our lives. Our lives have always turned out not to be in the way we wanted. One just need to be patient in putting up with all of these. Find workarounds and tawakal ala Allah.

Ontok-Ontok II

Lately, I saw that this blog had unusual international traffic and I wasn't sure why. Is it because I wrote about Prof. Jiang and Sneako. As far as I am concerned, my posts are essentially going over what I have learned and what I have experienced. I'm, like most other people, suddenly noticed Prof.Jiang's videos were on my feed. Similarly for Sneako, I did not know who he is until recently, perhaps initially through his interviewing Prof. Jiang and next, his recent South-East Asia tour including Malaysia. By the way, Jiang recently appeared on DOAC and Sneako said he was banned in Australia. The other thing, I have started to follow the updates of war in the Middle East like everyone else, as the war is affecting everyone. From these, I also have learned new things about war like escalation ladder and choke points. The latter seems to drive matters uncomfortably closer to home by noting that Strait of Malacca has been called out as a major choke point in many videos. May Allah protect us.

So far, our unsubsidized petrol showed a steep increase since the war started (see here). Fortunately, the government still maintains the subsidized price for Malaysians to use (with the use of identity card), but the question is for how long. Our last month's utility bill shot up considerably and price of many goods is on the rise. We certainly can't maintain our previous lifestyle - hence, ontok-ontok Part 2. 

So yesterday when my other half and Izhar went to visit my youngest, Izzuddin in Jasin, I decided to stay behind. The day before, Izzuddin had difficulties in breathing (like last time) that have us worried a little. He went to see the doctor in campus and was given some medication. In place of my absence, transferred an additional small sum for his pocket money.

For science matters, I got a pleasant surprise being contacted by a colleague (whom I have not heard for awhile). He showed me what he did recently and I showed what my former PhD student and me did. We explored a little on what we could colaborate on. But until its realization, ontok-ontok for now. Maybe it is just another fantasy.

Quo Vadis Hisham

Just before our trip to Iskandar Puteri, my other half asked me when will I 'dispose' off the tons of papers that I had in the house and I was reminded that people will no longer 'hire me' to work as my age approaches 64 years by the end of the year. While I understood what was meant, it still gave me 'a slap on the face'. To the usual comment of my other half that I should attend more classes at the mosque and surau, my lame excuse has always been that I always prefer to read books. But on the question when I should stop working (as a theorist), I really have no idea. Sometimes I would 'use' the Prophetic tradition that if you have the opportunity to plant a tree but the Day of Judgment is the next day, then one should countinue to plant it (see here). Note that the "Day of Judgment" for an individual is essentially one's own day of death. So, I can 'pretend' to work as long as I am able. Indeed just few weeks back and as recent as last week, I was asked to look into a few things (of scientific nature). First, there was a questionare that an international colleague emailed but the questions about how one approaches research were too deep for me to answer without putting longer thoughts into it, until it went past the deadline (another failure on my part). Then there was a 200+ page draft of a book for me to look at (and I am still reading it). Just last week, my former PhD student gave me a draft of a paper to read and I hope to finish this soon, God willing. Also last week, a former departmental colleague (who is now with a private scientific company) contacted me on some news on quantum computing and quantum artificial intelligence and I just cautioned the person that things are not as well understood as people would like it to be. On top of all this, I always do my daily updating of arXiv material just to be aware of what is going on. So how's that for work?

Back to the question of work, all my reading materials are in the store, my workspace in the bedroom (perhaps the main concern of my other half) and of course on my laptop.

With respect to my daily arXiv updating, I have a new workaround that puts lesser reading burden on me, without necessarily missing (being aware of) current topics of research. But with the papers? The option suggested by my other half is to recycle them and I will only do this with a heavy heart. I still hold the fantasy of reading as much as I could but someday I will have to snap out of this fantasy. Reminded me of what my supervisor was telling me, I don't have to read evrything. The little voice in me however said that there are so much more that I do not understand ... 

The last weekend was a busy one for us as we had visitors: Dr. Arif (and family) who was on his way back from his hometown in Rompin, stopping by at our place, before going to his place of stay in Sepang. We did some shopping to prepare some meals. 

Today, my other half relapsed into her previous fever caught from seeing some patients before this. Myself, I'm still struggling with the abovementioned tasks. I had to do most of these on the laptop (not wanting to print anymore articles - too expensive and taking too much space). With my deteriorating eyesight, I had to put my eyes closer to the screen causing a bad posture and hence aggravating my back pain (often leading to more rests). So be patient for those who are awaiting my response.

Celebrating Birthday At Iskandar Puteri

All this while, when it comes to holiday gathering, it was Ihsan who will drive up to Seremban to meet us. Thus, my other half suggested that we should drive down to Gelang Patah to meet Ihsan on his birthday. Thereafter, we made plans to travel south and Ihsan booked for us an apartment in Teega Suites (costing him a few hundred ringgit).

Before travelling, we send two of our cats (Melli and Boboi) to Catzonia on Thursday for lodging since they are less well-behaved (actually this costs us more than the apartment as they also provide food for the cats plus there were extra days to be counted).

We travelled to Iskandar Puteri, the next day and along the way, we picked up our youngest son at Jasin. We arrived at Teega suites around 4pm and met Ihsan there. The room that we were in is on the 35th floor (topmost).

The view from the balcony is shown below (day and night):

We went out in the evening to celebrate Ihsan's birthday. On the way, my eldest captured the beautiful sun setting.

The place that we went to is Der Cabin Bistro and our eldest gave us a treat. The service was really quick and the food is good; it seems to be a favourite among locals and visitors. Here is a group pic (without Izhar who stayed back at the apartment).

For the next day (Saturday), our programme is to visit my other half's sister.

Thereafter, we visited a relative (Umar) near Gelang Patah.

Early next morning, we checked out from the apartment. Thereafter we went to have breakfast at Kopitiam W.R. Rosse (plenty of choices) and we said goodbye to Ihsan after we had our meal. On the way back to Seremban, we dropped our youngest son at UiTM Jasin. We arrived in Seremban around noon.

End of Shawwal 1447 Visits

Last Saturday is the last day of Shawwal 1447 and my wish is that my life could be extended for another Ramadhan at least to better myself before I depart.

We had a few Eid visits to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's place n KL during the Saturday before the last. Here are some photos:

Essentially my other half drove us there since I have problems with my right leg. Our trip back was met with traffic jam and our gps directed us to an inner highway that we have not passed through before but it led to a highway exchange for the Lekas hisghway. The news that we heard is that there is a massive traffic jam at PLUS highway.

Last Saturday, we went to my other half's nephew place somewhere in Sepang. We avoided the highway altogether and went through inner roads near Ainsdale. Some photos here:

Our son Izhar drove us there; first time we ever had our trip together since last Ramadhan, alhamdulillah. My other half nephew is also a doctor in Putrajaya (I think).

Our conversations then were on the rising cost of living and affordable homes. The zillenials (between millenials and Gen Z) have greater problems to overcome and indeed there seems to growing mental health problems. That is why I get really turned off when older generations (including mine) tend to say that the younger generations had it easy. I wished they will just stop saying that because the challenges they faced are simply different. I have great concern of the future that my sons are living through and pray that Allah grant them an easy life. Alhamdulillah that our sons Khair and Izhar are living with us (Ihsan is in JB and Izzudin is in Jasin) and our house (and cars) is the only property that we have and it will be their 'kampung' to go back to.

The past few days, Malaysia had Sneako visiting us. He had an interview with our PMX (see here), and later with Dr. Zakir Naik (see here) and Ust. Hussain Yee (see here). I thought that Sneako is doing well with his interviews.

Sneako is currently in Indonesia and I'm curious who would he interview there.