Wordless Wednesday: Penang Street Art.

Children's playing basketball.

Brother and sister on a swing.

Boy on a bike.

Ten Things About Me.

Here’s a list of 10 random facts about me. I don’t know if they will be interesting or not. But seriously, I’ve given it a lot of thought and listed things that I know about myself.

• I let things get to me easily. For instance, I get emotional or sensitive easily; and tend to simply get annoyed with others. I feel everything intensely. For no apparent reason at times. And I hate this.


• I love music. I love listening to a song that I like over and over again. I love it when I hear lyrics that totally applies to my current situation. I sometimes feel like the lyrics to the song I’m listening to were written just for me.


• At times, I speak before I think. I act impulsively without rationalizing. I am careless of what comes out of my mouth. I mix bad words with my bad mood. One of the basic cause for my troubles.


• I can waste countless hours organizing things so that it looks like the way I want. I love seeing things the way I want to see them. I find it helpful at times to even organize chores into categories, so that when I do it, it is in order.


• I'd like to believe in Karma.

Source: Google Images

• I don’t shy away when I’m around someone I’m at ease with. I talk way too much. I am an open book, with certain people. People who don’t know me judges I’m quiet. Well, I'm not.


• I am an over-thinker. I get all agitated over nothing. I create problems within my head. I seriously hope I could just stop overthinking things as it only makes things worse than it actually is.


• I have a really bad temper. I have low tolerance for hypocrites and dramas. I tend to react quickly to bullshits. I like to confront problems almost immediately. But, I’ll be back to normal after a couple of minutes.


• I forgive easily. I can’t stay mad for long. I always end up forgiving people, even when they don’t deserve it. But then again, forgiving someone is easy. To trust them again? Heh.


• I have a love-hate relationship with procrastination. Though I am eager to start on something, nothing makes me more productive than the last few minutes. My favorite form of self-damage.

10-Day Blog Challenge.

I have seriously been lacking in blogpost idea. I open the laptop to type a post, pick up the camera to take some photos, and to be honest: I just stop. I need some motivation to blog frequently. As a result, I came up with this 10-day blog challenge. I’m hoping it will help me gain back my momentum in blogging. 

Now I know it’s not as overwhelming as the many 30-day challenge out there, but hey, it’s better than nothing. Right? I stole ideas from other challenges which I saw online to create this one. Feel free to take on the challenge as well! New blog post coming soon, *hint*, it's about me. LOL.

This or That: Cooking vs. Baking.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

There is definitely a thinking underlying the preference for cooking vs. baking. I fall in the baking faction and it goes far beyond my liking towards sweet over savory. The reason is pretty simple: I like following directions.

Perhaps I am a bit of perfectionist, the idea of following directions appeals to me. Though, I think I've had a lot more baked goods turn out to be hit than savory recipes, despite following directions. When it comes to cooking, I have to use my judgement rather than precise recipe.

Source: Google Images

Neither baking nor cooking is similar to each other. Baking requires accuracy and perfection. The whole thing must go according to what has to be done. And I’m at ease with the idea that if something is not coming together - it’s because I went astray from the original recipe.

That being said, I still have to cook! I've produced lots of things that aren't necessarily pretty, but I've never yet cooked anything that couldn't be eaten. But then again, I'm not likely to ever become a professional cook - or baker.

Here's to many more posts on either cooking or baking to come! Till then.

Coffee Mug Cake.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

I’m sure korang pernah dengar of cakes that you can make (or bake!) in a microwave and, I have to admit, the first time I saw a recipe for one I was unconvinced. I mean, how can you make a cake in just minutes? So, I set out to cuba-try-test the theory. And guess what? You CAN make a cake in minutes in the microwave … and they’re YUMMY!

Here.

I made a single serving coffee cake in a mug.

I have been experimenting with different recipes of mug cakes ever since I heard about them about a year ago. And I must say, this mug cake is the perfect treat to help fulfill a coffee cake craving. And part paling best about this dessert is that it’s quick and easy, and you can have it ready in under 5 minutes (approximately!), start to finish.

Ingredients:

• Self-rising flour - 3 tbsp
• Condensed milk - 3 tbsp
• Melted butter - 2 tbsp
• Hot water - 4 tbsp
• Instant coffee powder - 2 tsp
• Walnuts/almonds/chocolate chip/etc. - a fistful (optional)

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a coffee mug. Whisk well with a fork until smooth. 
2. Microwave on high for 1 minute. (Time depends on microwave wattage). 
3. Top with Nutella if desired.

Note:

• If you don't happen to have self rising flour, here's an easy way to make a substitute for this coffee mug cake:

• All purpose flour - 3 tbsp
• Baking powder - 1/8tsp
• Baking soda - a pinch

• For extra density, fat and, most importantly, flavor – you may substitute hot water with fresh milk.
• Depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may have to increase cooking time. Mine took exactly a minute on a 900W microwave.

Makes 1 very large serving.

Enjoy!

Comeback Post.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

It has been 1 year, 9 months, and 4 days since I logged into my blog for a revival post. Coming back to blogging after a very long time can really be oh-so-difficult! To be honest, I did not feel like writing this piece. I feel out of groove, out of touch with blogging.

Making a comeback to blogging after a long absence is macam starting a playlist from halfway point, literally. I simply don't really know where it's going to play from and what song. Kick starting my blog that has been sleeping for a length of time left me scratching my head wondering where I should make a start.

I, for a second, thought about leaving my blog behind as I have no idea on what to post about. I need inspirations - an arousal to teruskan blogging. I don't want to quit. I know that something is bound to happen which will make me type away. Till then my hands ache.

Why Interest Rates Are Procyclical.

Question:
Using the supply and demand for bonds framework, show why interest rates are procyclical (rising when the company is expanding and falling during recessions).

Source: Google Images

Dormitories. Yay Or Nay?

Question:
Should first-year students be required to live in the dormitories?

Answer:

Dormitories are living facilities designed to accommodate students during their studying years at their respected school, college or university. However, not all students are keen to stay in the provided housing due to the many rules and regulations that they should abide during their stay there. In my opinion, first-year university students should be required to live in dormitories in order for them to get used to the new environment and to learn to stand on their own feet.

Source: Google Images

Financial Management In Business Perspective.

A prominent feature of large corporations is that the owners (the stakeholders) are usually not directly involved in making business decisions, particularly on a day-to-day basis. Instead, the corporation employs managers to symbolize the owners’ interests and make decisions on their behalf. The financial manager, in a large corporation, must be concerned with the solutions of the three major decisions a firm must make - the investment decision, the financing decision and the working capital management decision.

Source: Google Images

The first decision concerns the firm’s long-term investments. The process of planning and managing the firm’s long-term investments is called capital budgeting. In capital budgeting, the financial manager will try to indentify investment opportunities that are worth more to the firm than their cost to acquire. Loosely speaking, this means that the value of the cash flow generated by an asset should exceed the cost of the asset acquired by the firm.

Islamic Capital Market Graduate Training Scheme (ICMGTS).

Alhamdulillah. Done with BBA. All that's left now is the walk across the big stage in the cap and gown for a scroll. Time flies. 3.5 years? I've made mistakes. But I've learned many good lessons from it. Regrets? I have a few. But I dont wanna dwell on the past as I cant change it. My CGPA? I dont wanna let numbers define me. I can't give a score to the many valuable lessons I've learned, can I? A piece of advice: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go," Dr. Suess. In short, #UIABest.

Takaful vs. Insurance.

The article, Conceptual and Operational Differences between General Takaful and Conventional Insurance by Mher Mushtaq Hussain and Ahmad Tisman Pasha, argues that there is a need to ensure the differences between the insurance business under the Islamic system and conventional system. The issues in the article, in my opinion, are structured in a comprehensible and effective manner. It first presents the idea of the need for insurance by describing risk, explaining the fundamental concept of an insurance agreement, and how engaging in an insurance contract results in minimizing the risk involved. Subsequently, the author gives a rather deep facts on Islamic insurance (Takaful) by defining and listing out its various models. The article is then followed by the many differences in the conceptual and operation framework between Takaful and conventional insurance mainly due to elements found in insurance contracts which are prohibited in Islamic transactions, such as uncertainty (gharar), interest (riba), and gambling (maysir).

Source: Google Images

Technology Deteriorates Society Basic Skills.

It is undeniable that the technology has made our life so much easier nowadays as the usage of it is widespread and growing rapidly from time to time. Laptops, smartphones, IPod's, and others has become an essential gadget for daily lives of every human being. Youths today spend too much time on these gadgets, surfing the Internet and text messaging for hours. In my opinion, technology is actually deteriorating the society basic skills as people tend to isolate others around them and real life interaction slowly fades away.

The day that Albert Einstein feared may have finally arrived.
Source: Google Images

Islamic Microfinance.

The article titled “Islamic Microfinance: An Ethical Alternative to Poverty Alleviation”, written by Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, sets out to show the potential of Islamic financing schemes for micro-financing purposes. According to the author, Islamic finance plays an important role in contributing for furthering socioeconomic development of the poor and small (micro) entrepreneurs without charging interest (riba’). The various ethical schemes and instruments that can be adapted for the purpose of microfinance which is offered by the Islamic finance are intensely conversed in this article. The author argues that the main objectives of microfinance schemes to alleviate poverty and to enable the poor to empower themselves are inline with the four Islamic ethical principles and the economic principles of justice.

Source: Google Images

Humanitarian.

What is humanitarian? Humanitarian is, on the whole, an act connected with or seeking to promote human welfare. Basically, an individual who is devoted to the promotion of human wellbeing and the advancement of social improvements is deemed as humanitarian. There are a lot of other terms used as an alternative for humanitarian such as caring, kind, gentle, compassionate, civilized and charitable. Fundamentally, humanitarian is connected with the practice of saving lives, lessening suffering, and sustaining human dignity.

Source: Google Images

My Love From The Star.

I must admit that I have an obsession for series (serial, program, show, drama). Perhaps obsession isn't the right word. But, I watch anything and everything. Whether it's The Master's Sun, The Greatest Love, Running Man (Korean); Bloody Monday, Hana Kimi, Liar Game (Japanese); Down With Love, Hanazakari No Kimitachi E, Meteor Garden (Taiwanese); Once Upon A Time, Extreme Couponing, CSI (English). Just to name a few.

Running Man Episode 185
Source: Google Images

A Thousand Over Days.

The total number of days between Monday, May 22nd, 2011 and Tuesday, February 18th 2014 is 1,003 days. This is equal to exactly 2 years, 8 months, and 27 days. It has been an incredibly long time since my last post on SakiraLicious. Tsk.

Date calculator: http://www.convertunits.com/dates/

Time flies. Kan?
Source: Google Images

I've Lost My Touch.

What I wanted to do was to get that sense of being in touch with this lost world while holding onto what draws readers and audiences there in the first place.

Stephen Greenblatt

Obama Bin Laden. Haha!

Everyone was talking about the Royal Wedding, but hold your horses! Suddenly all eyes are on Obama bin Laden. Whoopsie. Osama, gomen.

New Blogger In Town.

That's what I feel like right now. A new blogger in blogosphere. Bapak lama aku tak post entry dowh! And since it's been a damn long while, aku dah tak tau macam mana nak post entry dah! Pfft.

But, cluelessness shouldn't be an excuse. Kan? I mean, afterall, the time when I started blogging - I was no pro. No sir! Bila tengok balik my older posts, whoaaa, what a joke! Heh ;)

I Want To Melt Away Stress. Can I?

Exam is drawing nearer. Have I started studying? Nope.