The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination by JK Rowling @ Harvard Commencement, 5 June 2008

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At her Harvard University commencement speech, "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling offers some powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems "worth more than any qualification I ever earned."

Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.

 Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew. - J.K Rowling

 We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better. - JK Rowling.

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

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What amazing woman she is; fail and experience poverty and climb back the ladder victory. Salute.

Regards,

Syawal.

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Malaysia Inventor of the day - Bugs Tan

Today my friend, bugs tan interviewed by The Star.

To many close friend and acquittance, know him as "bugs tan" or kid know him as "Uncle Bugs". I wish him very good luck. He mentioned about pokokhydro. Watch out this space. With his expertise, affordable hydrogen generator for Malaysia will be ready soon.

“I invent products based on market demand and “market problems”. “People get frustrated sometimes when they face problems but they forget that these problems are opportunities in themselves,” he says.

@He invent to satisfied market need, therefore - his invention worth a lots of $$$. But private investors in Malaysia not appreciating his valuable technology.

“I did invent a rat catcher once that used glue. With that, I was able to catch a rat as big as a cat. I even got a grant for it. But after a while, I gave up on the idea entirely because I believe we do not have the right to take another life, even that of a rat,” he explains.

“I don’t invent things that will damage people’s lives,” he adds.
 

He a man who is appreciate life. by the way he is a Buddhist. People wish to follow his way of life can go to his blog. And also he keep a blog about creativity and innovation at his personal blog. 

Pokokhydro

This year, he says he will be busy with three main projects. The first one is an invention called Pokok Hidro, a hydrogen generator that can help cars save fuel by up to 20%.
It is different from other similar products in the market in that it “will consistently help your car save the same amount of fuel and it’s very safe”, he says.
With this latest invention, Tan will also do his part for Mother Nature. Every product sold will result in a tree planted in the buyer’s name at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong.

“I’m already in talks with FRIM on this. They like the idea very much,” he says.
The generator will be priced at about RM1,000, which he says is cheap compared with similar products that sell at RM1,800 each.

 Correction: change "Pokok Hidro" to "Pokokhydro".

 Yes, the result for pokokhydro is coming in. It getting better and better from last test.

Regards,

Syawal.

Twitter: @syawal

Credit: The Star Malaysia for picture.

do you know how Homer Simpson's brain work ?!

watch the short video:

when i googled "allah is"

dear friends,

shame on google:

i've no bad intention during publishing, please send a complain to google to take down the inappropriate suggestion.

who is she?

know as peugot 407.

Innovation Day @ FRIM

I attend a Innovation day at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) from my house at Bukit Mahkota. From Google Maps, it shows that it take more than 75 minute to arrive, but as biker; 45 minute flat. I was invited by my fellow friends, Inventor Bugs Tan. He wrote about it at his blog ;)



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Before the event, i visit the bookstore - wow... so much knowledge is store inside it. Thing about forest research, diversity, climate change effect and action toward it. I hope FRIM can publish as creative common material, we can share the knowledge with the world.

The event start with opening from chief director of FRIM emphasize on packaging an innovation and climate change. I can see the whole staff in the auditorium really passion about their work and LOVE the Tree so much. He also mention some of his staff still at COP15 (http://www.facebook.com/cop15, http://en.cop15.dk/ ), participating in one most significant event in human history in order to battle climate change.

FRIM and it related partner showcase some amazing innovation from palm trunk engineered floor to tissue culture clonnning. I wish congratulation to the respected winners. 

My hope is FRIM can be more focus on:
1) fungi research like Paul Stamets , termite guts (bio- enzyme), spiders and all microorganisme living in our forest toward our benefits.

2) black earth
3) tree species with rapid growth accelerator to sequester more CO2  climate change research and how to combat climate change.

Mastering DNA is key for above strategic move.  don't forget to protect your IP worldwide and do valuation.

All the best to FRIM. oh... dont forget to join Friends of FRIM to adopt tree.

20090608 N Star NT Pg16 Get Your Family Tree


Few wish before sign-off:

Do we have hero like Willie Smits for reforestation of Malaysia forest  ? Malaysian need to know their heroes.

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Innovation in a Disruptive Environment by Steve Jurvetson (Dfj.com)

Description Description

Steve Jurvetson, partner at Draper Fisher Jurvetson, offers perspective on the market opportunities in innovation and technology. Topics discussed include the necessity for utter market disruption, interdisciplinary solutions, and advice for those interested in working in the venture capital arena.

via Stanford Enterpreneur Corner's