"Oh... you're only a co-pilot"

All my pilot friends surely have been asked this question:
"Are you a pilot?"
And when you answer "yes," they'll ask:
"Are you a captain?"
Then if you say "no, I'm a First Officer," the inevitable reply to that will be...
"oh... you're only a co-pilot."

I was a First Officer (or "FO" for short) for almost 13 years.  I was asked that question a lot.  A lot!
I'm not anymore but it still pisses me off when I hear that conversation.

Why?
Simply because it's not true.
A pilot is a pilot.
A 'co-pilot' may imply that he or she is not a Captain (yet) but it does not imply that he is not a pilot.

The 'co-pilot' has a flying license too.  He or she knows how to pilot a plane.

He's just not ranked a Captain.

Here's from Oxford Dictionary:

Definition of co-pilot in English:

co-pilot

Line breaks: co-pilot

Pronunciation: 

  

NOUN

A second pilot in an aircraft.

In a modern airliner, there are at least 2 pilots.  Normally, the Captain and the FO.

So what's the difference between an FO and a Captain?
Mainly it's all about responsibilities.  The Captain makes all the decisions and has ultimate responsibility.  And the FO helps the Captain make those decisions.

What are the similarities then?
The Captain & FO shares the task.  Sometimes the FO flies.  He is at the controls, makes all the calls to change configuration and steers the plane.  And he is at the controls during the actual takeoff and landing.
Of course, the Captain can always say no or give different directions then what the FO wants.  Modern flying is all about CRM - that's short for Crew Resource Management.
You can read about it here.  This rant is not about CRM!

So why can't an FO become a Captain, right now, right away?
The training that I went through to become a Captain wasn't about flying.  When I was an FO, I already knew how to fly.  That move from the right-hand seat to the left-hand seat may just be about one metre, but the whole world changes.    When I was trained to become a Captain I was trained to change my mindset.
The mindset that in a lot of situations, the decision is mine and only mine. There's nobody to fall back to.
I AM ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE.
If I made a mistake, the consequence can be fatal.
And all that came from experience; experience that I got watching all kinds of Captains and their style of leadership, over the 13 years that I was an FO.

But flying... that I knew how to do already.

And guess what, during an emergency, the Captain is actually trained to hand over controls of the actual flying to the FO.  Yes, during most emergencies, the so called 'co-pilot' is the one at the controls.
What then does the Captain do?
Well... he manages.  He gives out instructions and carries out checklists.  He talks on the radio to ATC and coordinates the actions of crew.  He makes the decisions.
The actual task of flying the plane can be demanding and the pilot doing it runs into the risk of 'task-saturation.'  That is when your so engrossed in a task that you disregard everything else that is happening in front of you.

Don't think it can happen to you?  Try this.

So, the captain, hands over a highly demanding task to the FO.... simply because he already knows how to do it.
The captain can then be the "big picture guy," doing the most important thing - which is making decisions.

And the FO, is the pilot.  Yep.

Don't believe me?

Check out what Oxford Dictionary has to say.

Definition of pilot in English:

pilot

Line breaks: pilot

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌɪlət 

  

/

NOUN

1A person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft:a strike by local airline pilots[AS MODIFIER]: the crash had been due to pilot error

So the next time you ask someone if he or she is a pilot and the answer is "yes," move on.

The FO at the controls for landing

Listen. When I speak you listen.

Finally, something to talk about in 2013!

Haven't watched the full video?  Here it is:



So why the uproar?  Why the big hoohaa?

Isn't it just another idiot strategically placing a limb in an orifice?

Well... no... not really.  It's bigger than that.

It's bigger because....

It just goes to show, that hardcore BN supporters have no idea what they're talking about.
When a younger lady tables a long tirade against her beliefs, she shoots it down with fish.

Huh?  Fish?  You didn't watch the video, didn't you?  I don't blame you.  I found it hard to watch too.

Yeah.  Totally irrelevant.  One brings facts to the debate and the other brings fish.

The pulling of the microphone is typical of when someone has power (or voice in this example), sees that anybody who has a different opinion, can't have hers.

Somewhat like banning and censoring media, don't you think?

And she says "When I speak, you listen!"
Errr..... What about when I speak?

(Cue Alanis Morissette's "Isn't It Ironic")

And then she goes on berating that lady because, she has degree and the other one doesn't.

Oh kaaay.

"Don't compare Malaysia to other countries!" she says.

Ye la.  How to compare Malaysia to other countries?  We'll never win!

The only thing we're good at is corruption kan?

We're number one!  We're number one! (in corruption lah)

I also noticed that she didn't even let that Peter guy say something because 'everybody is tired'.

Newsflash: they're tired of your rambling lah.  Let others talk too!

All I can say is, Kak Sharifah Listen, that video went viral because you proved how tired people are of your kind.

The kind who acts 'holier than thou' but don't know jack s***.

The kind who speaks condescendingly to the younger generation.

The kind who doesn't know how to respect people.

The kind who argue but have no substance.

And that's not a one person problem.


"And if you don't like it, why don't you leave?" she asks.

Yep.  Done that.  Along with a few million other Malaysians who could contribute to the country (if you just let them).

End of the world post

Well... okay... the world didn't end like the Mayans predicted.

For a moment I thought it actually did.  I thought I the world ended and I wound up in Hell.  Which is no surprise really.  Then I realised it was 90s weekend on the radio and they were playing New Kids On The Block.  I thought God was punishing me!  Phew!

So... I'm afraid, life goes on.

Which is interesting as the New Year is coming up!
And since I have a coach, he got me going with another "Plan For The Best Year Ever".

Now this isn't just another New Year's Resolution thing.  I suppose it has the same inclination...

...but blown up by about 100 times.

Here' my coach talking about it on BFM - The Business Radio Station

The first part is about 'GRATITUDE'.  And this is the one I like best.
And in particular, the 10 greatest happenings of the year.
Here's mine (in no particular order):

1. Flying myself to the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix and then flying Niko Hulkenberg, Paul Di Resta (Force India drivers), Vitaly Petrov (Caterham), Ross Brawn & Kimi Raikkonen to KL right after.  Met them, talked to them and shook their hands.  Cool. 
2. Flew myself to the Singapore F1 GP and by accident, watched The Pretenders concert before the race!
3. Spent 24 hours in Melbourne with the family on a work trip.  Probably the single best family time we had in the whole year.
4. Got interviewed on BFM - twice! 
5. Got my health back.  I started 2012 with a growth in my lungs measuring 4cm by 4cm.  I end 2012 with an all-clear!
6. Got on the podium in the 1st round of the Dubai Kartdrome 24-hour Endurance Challenge.  Always nice to be on the podium.
7. Concept 10 10 took part in the Women In Leadership Forum.  The best thing about it - meeting so many inspirational women!
8. Got re-elected into MY-UAE Exco and subsequently resigned after a sensational blow up against a power crazy leader.  And why is this a 'great happening of the year'?  I stood up to him and gave him a huge piece of my mind.  That's why.
9. The most memorable birthday.  I've had many, but this has to be one of the most memorable.  The family was in KL for the school holidays, so I did a KL flight.  Spent time with the family.  Had a great coaching session at Gardens.  And then on the flight back, the sweet Purser led the crew in singing the Happy Birthday song and gave me a present and a cake. I have to fly on my birthday again!
10. Winning the Eversendai Cup.  The inaugural Malaysian 5-a-side tournament in Dubai was a great success and I captained the side to the trophy.  Got my picture into Khaleej Times too!

There you go.  All I need to say is Alhamdulillah!  Thank you God!

Internet Blackout Day

So what was that whole Internet Blackout Day all about?

Basically, there's a new law in Malaysia - it says that you could be liable of something that is posted on your Facebook wall or blog by somebody else.  Because it's your wall or blog it's your responsibility!

Malaysiakini has a good write-up here.

Centre For Independent Journalism heads the campaign against Section 114A to the Evidence Act 1950.
Follow it on Facebook to see what will happen next.

The good news is the PM has tweeted that he has "asked cabinet to discuss Section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. Whatever we do we must put people first."

So let's see what happens!

They're not all smart!

I was reading on Facebook just now and came across a post where the 'Mat Salleh's' opinion seem to matter more than a regular joe Malaysian (I suppose a regular 'Mat' would be more appropriate, but never mind).

I work with Mat (& Minah) Sallehs all the time.  Let me tell you, there are some pretty dim ones out there.  The color of their skin does not make any difference in their intelligence.  I have to admit, the may appear to be so, but that's where the difference lies.  

It's all in their communication skills. They communicate well!


They say what they think and they will tell you their opinions, whether you like it or not.


Regardless if they're right or wrong.

Most times they will tell you what they think.  Sometimes they even think out loud.  Still, it doesn't mean they're intelligent!

Just because they communicate well, does not mean they are intelligent.  Just because they're intelligent, doesn't mean they communicate well! (Watch 'Big Bang Theory' on TV and you'll get the idea)

So the trick is, to be intelligent and know how to communicate exactly how you would like others to understand you.
If nobody understands you, then how will you ever bring your intelligent idea out?



Disclaimer:
I do not think Mat Sallehs are all dim
I do not think all Mat Sallehs have high communication skills

So is it Halal or not?

The information highway is going at full speed!  There's many things to like about it, like the free access of information but then there's one thing I don't like-the spread of vicious unconfirmed rumors.  What am I going on about? 


Well... lately it's been the red-dot and the gelatin issue.


To put it simply, the email and FB post circulating is saying that it's ALL haram!


C'mon lah.... 


If you want to spread some sort of email or advice why don't you look it up first?  If you haven't heard, there's this thing called Google.  
Oxford dictionary added 'google' in 2006.  You know how I know that?  I googled it.


Now this halal food thing has been long running issue for me.
I left Malaysia to live overseas when I was 17 when I went to Australia.  At 19, I went to live in Singapore.  I had to go to the supermarket and buy halal food when it was all mixed with things I'm not supposed to consume.  Guess what I did.  I read the labels.  Was it hard?  Heck yeah!  But I had to do it.  And what about those codes then?  Specifically those E codes.  Well, I looked around for the definitions.  I remember one the first reliable E code definitions I got from the net was from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).  
I didn't know so I educated myself.  If you look hard enough you'll find it.


Don't know what that red dot is?
Check this out:

Statement on “red dot” label on Mars chocolate products in Egypt
Mars products always comply to the legal and cultural norms of all the markets it does business in. Mars products, including Snickers, Bounty and Mars bars do not contain pork nor pork derivatives. Mars products are exported to a number of markets, of which India is one; the red dot that may appear on some of our packaging is a legal requirement for the Indian Market. It indicates that the product may contain egg, which is not suitable for some vegetarians in India. Still, to further clarify the matter, we are currently completing the process of separating the packaging for the two markets which will minimize future misunderstanding. 


Source: http://www.mars.com/global/press-center/media-library-search.aspx?SiteId=148&Id=3258

What about gelatin then?  


Ever heard of halal gelatin?  No?  Then google it.


But here's the short story:
Gelatine is derived from animals.  Those animals can be pigs, cows and even fish.  So if a cow is slaughtered properly is it halal?  Yes?  So if the gelatin is derived from a halal-slaughtered cow it will be halal?  Yes?


So if the label says it's halal but the ingredients say it contains gelatin it is possible that it actually is halal?  Yes?
Good.
Now you understand.  If you don't understand, then google it first.  You're already using a computer with an internet connection.


Before you spread whatever it is, it deserves it's due diligence.  If not, you may just be spreading lies.

Those who don't share my opinion are all idiots

A student at a university in Malaysia brought down a picture of the Prime Minister.
A fat dude and his friends gets angry.
"Ptui! Ptui!" he said.


He, and a few other people who shared his opinion said that students should just study.  "You don't have enough brains so stay away form politics and read your books!"


Wait....


So.... a student is not entitled to an opinion?  


Hmmmm.....


Or is it because he doesn't have a degree, he is not entitled to an opinion?


If it's the second one then I really should stop writing.  (Because my only paper qualification is my SPM! That's equivalent to 'O' levels for those non-Malaysian educated)


Or maybe young people shouldn't have opinions.  Only when they have 'eaten enough salt' can they have enough intelligence to have an opinion.  (That's a Malay proverb, by the way).
Which means anyone older than you, by default, is smarter than you.  Because, somehow for Malays, salt makes you smart.  (Which may explain why Malays have a high incidence of hypertension)


Or maybe..... those who don't share my opinion are all idiots.  "Either you are with us or you are all idiots" or something like that, a US President once said.


Come on lah!   (ooops.  The Malaysian in me slipped!)
Why you so like daaaat???  (another ooops.  This time the Singaporean in me slipped!)


So you think if someone disagrees with you he must be wrong, huh?  Has to be right!  If not why would you believe in one thing and another person believes in the opposite?  


"How can he be so stupid that he cannot see what I see?"


"He must be so blind that he can't even see what I see!"


Hmmmm......


Ever thought that the guy who disagrees with you can say the exact same thing about you?


Hmmmm......






And just for your entertainment:

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan Yang ke-54

Selamat Hari Merdeka to all Malaysians!

Now that we've marked over 50 years of independence and freedom, we should ask ourselves what it actually means.  We should also ask ourselves how we can be 'merdeka' from our own chains.  Chains that are holding us back to be a good citizen of this world and servant of Allah.

Malaysia has developed, so we should too.

Let's free our minds from the old ways.

Let's move on from seeing others differently from ourselves.  Just accept that every single person born in this world is different.  Every single person is an individual.

Let's move on from judging people because they are different.

We are not better because we are different.

We are not better because of our skin colour.

We don't belong here more because more of our ancestors are born here.  Where and when we were born was not even a choice that we made.  So why make it an issue?

Racism is never the answer.

So let's celebrate our freedom and independence by freeing ourselves from a mindset that is old and outdated.  The world will leave you behind if you don't.

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan Yang ke-54!

Why I still won't vote for you

Here's a list of why I still won't vote for you in the next election:

• You treat us like idiots.
• You tell us all these lies that you expect us to believe.  Have you ever heard of the internet?  YouTube?  FaceBook?  Anyone?
• You make all these stupid decisions and tell us that it's for our own good.
• When you don't have anymore good arguments for your case you tell us that "we know more than you do.  So shut up and just take it."
• You use all our resources for your own good i.e. the police, the judiciary, the Election Commission, the Constitution etc.
• You are elitist S.O.Bs.  Anyone not in your elite clan are scum.  You treat us like scum and you let us know we are scum.
• You don't get your priorities right.  Instead of using the taxpayers money to pay the police officers, teachers and government servants better salary, you fund stupid projects that have not been fully thought out.
• You hand-pick a few people to become filthy rich and then show everyone else that the "dream" can be achieved.  But you failed to mention that in order to get to that dream we have to line your pockets first.  And those who are not picked continue to stroll along without even a minimum wage against an ever increasing cost of living.
• Projects and tenders cost double because somebody needs a 'commission'.
• Once in a while, you build a shiny new __________ (insert appropriate building or structure eg. mosque, bridge, road) and tell them you did it all for us.  The 'setinggan' behind that __________ (insert the same building or structure eg. mosque, bridge, road) is conveniently covered up when the PM (Prime Minister or Pak Menteri) comes for the inauguration.  2 years later the  __________ (insert the same building or structure eg. mosque, bridge, road) breaks down and nobody can use it.
• You tell Malaysians whose parents and ancestors were born in the country that they don't have full rights to your country. But you still want their vote.
• You say you defend the religion but in your actions you show no fear of God.
• If your gangsta son assaults someone the cops won't even bother to investigate and will even come out to say "believe me, there's nothing to it."
• I struggle with my business because I can't get a loan from a local bank but you give the cows money to buy a few condos.
• You keep telling us to be thankful to you for providing us with a safe country but I have to lug around my laptop every time I park my car.  If I don't, someone will smash the windows of my car to nick it!
• You tell us to be grateful because you've done so much for us when even a monkey could do a better job than you ever will.
• You're effing corrupt!
• Corruption has become so ingrained in our culture that nobody bats an eyelid when it is mentioned.  Of course, it's not usually called that way lah...  we can always call it 'entertainment' at that Karaoke place and get the GRO to 'keep you company.'
• You give ICs (MyKad) to illegal immigrants and get them to 'angkat sumpah' that they will vote for the dacing. 
• You brainwash all those innocent civil servants and tell them those 'dirty little secrets' so that they feel privileged and indebted to you.  And when these government servants tell us how they know all this so-called secrets (when they are actually lies, propaganda or whatever you want to call it) they say "cannot, it's a secret.  But if you know what I know you won't vote for that opposition guy!"
• Oh... you keep forgetting that you are actually civil servants... you serve us!

p.s. There's still more so I will add to the list when the time comes.
p.p.s Edited 11 Apr 2012
p.p.p.s Edited 16 Apr 2013

Don't you get it yet?

Before I start ranting, I want to make it clear that there will be no links to videos or articles as I think you should be able to do that on your own.  There are literally thousands of those links so go ahead, knock yourself out.


There will be 'evidence' both to confirm or counter my viewpoints here but this is my blog.  And I can say whatever I want.


So what is it all about then?
Thousands of people (the IGP says 6,000, the alternative and international media says 60,000) descending on downtown KL, walking their way almost randomly and finally finding a group big enough to call themselves a rally.  
So what is it all about?  Seriously.  You must keep asking yourself that.  If you don't know what it is all about, you don't know nuts!  This principal should apply in ALL aspects of your life.  Really.


So what are the 8 demands?

1. Clean the electoral role
2. Reform postal ballot
3. Use of indelible ink
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
5. Free and fair access to media
6. Stop corruption
7. Stop dirty politics

So tell me.  Which one don't you like then?  Which of the 8 don't you like?  If you can tell me a good reason why you don't like a single one of these demands, you must tell me.  Then I can tell the world.

Moving on.  I hear some of you say that a rally is really not the way to do this.  We already have elections for every Malaysian over 21 years of age to tell the government what we like.
Errr.... isnt that the whole point?  We're saying that the electoral system itself is flawed lah!  Don't you get it?


And then when we finally got to see the King he said, "go do it in the stadium lah.  Najib also said so."  So we asked for the permit.  Guess what?  The police don't want to give one.  Uh oh.  So now the rally is illegal.  So whoever comes down, knowing full well that there is no permit, shall be gassed.
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!  Hang on a minute!  What about the constitution?  What about article 10 in OUR constitution that guarantees all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.
Hmmm....


I just saw a YouTube video of this dude (he was wearing a kopiah, quite possibly he may be an ustaz!) saying that the likelihood of the rally becoming violent is 99.9%.  Guess what?  He was right. Although he failed to predict that the violence was by the police.  


Gassed!  


Screamed at like a little child!  


Whacked at by a baton!  


Sprayed by water cannons!


The people didn't even fight back!  They just ran!  Some sat defiantly but got kicked by some Beckham wannabe.


Now I'm reading stories of people queuing to buy water at 7-Eleven and McDonalds.  There has been no police reports of looting, public property damage or cars being torched.  And of course there's the video of another dude picking up trash after it was all over.




And then there's the personal attacks against Ambiga.
First of all, that's DATUK Ambiga to you.  She was the president of the bar council.  Not quite a small fry.  
"A non-muslim woman as our leader?  No way!  We can't follow a non-muslim down this road!  She's going to take all of our bumiputra rights away!" I hear some Malays say.
First of all, don't be racist.  And don't be a bigot.
Secondly, if the cause is righteous, there really is no problem in following an "infidel bitch" (not my words, really!).  Go ask an ulama'.
Thirdly, IFC.  Remember that?  All those demands? "Ooooooh.  I gotcha now!" I hear you say.  So let me ask you this question... Do you see those demands in the list of eight?  You don't?  I wonder why?  Well, I'll tell you why.  It's because this is a totally different issue LAH!  And! And!  I can't find any of the demands of Datuk Ambiga within IFC!  Please, if you have any, let me know! But don't point me to any of these pro-UMNO blogs as your sources, ok?


Next, the personal attacks against Anwar Ibrahim.  (by the way, that's DATUK SERI Anwar Ibrahim to you, ok?).
What can I say.  He has this persona... you either like him or loathe him.  I like him.  He's looking less likely to be the next Prime Minister but hey, who in Pakatan can really be a PM?


And of course, BERSIH is much bigger than these two people.  It's about every single person who came down to KL that day, gassed or not.


BERSIH is not about any political party or a single person.


BERSIH is about a level playing field.  If Malaysians can truly voice out what we want from whom without being locked up, then we would certainly become a better country.
That's is what the Malaysian government is afraid of.  If it's a level playing field, they'll be voted out.  We have shown it in five states in the last election.  Our voice was so loud that they couldn't drown it.


BERSIH is about all the people who are sick with all the lies.




So what do we do now?


Keep wearing yellow.  It's still not against the law.