Daniel Liew

Sarawak damned with damns

Behold Sarawakians, your lovely State is planning to build more and more dams. Damned! The beautiful name Land of Hornbills may as well be replaced with the name Land of Dams!!

In the name of development, particularly aluminium-smelting industry, the clever State government is considering and planning to build more damns! The more damns they built, more soils will be destroyed, lush green forests which is supposed to be the LUNG for Sarawak will be cut, the natives being driven out from their homeland, and most of all someone’s pocket is getting bigger.

Sarawak to build 12 dams to meet future power needs

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak plans to build 12 hydroelectric dams to meet its future industrialisation needs.

(Source: TheStar)

On another note, the one and only English daily in East Malaysia reported this:

Fighting poverty outside SCORE

MIRI: The state government is to carry out poverty eradication projects outside the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) by way of five agropolitan projects which are to be spread out evenly across the state, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said.

(Source: BorneoPost)

To know what the term agropolitan means, just click here. In lay men’s term, agropolitan project consists of various integrated agricultural and agro-based development projects.

I have plans to return to my State to serve after graduating. It looks like good news to us (civil engineers) as far as development is concern. But the underlying question is, do all these so-called projects for the rakyat really benefit the rakyat or only a certain quarter of high-rank officials? Who knows? In the mean time, let’s just wait and see before jumping into conclusion.

kenapa serius sangat?

People, we’ve just survived Tuesday! I’ve just survived my Tuesday, the entire lab briefing went well. Managed to answer several easy questions. Since I am getting excited about my little achievement, I would like to reply Cibol’s tag. Don’t be so serious lah…. Cheers!

1. Where is your cell phone? A few feet away, that’s why I always miss the call.
2. Your significant other? None at the moment.
3. Your hair? Black, curvy.
4. Your mother? My maternal mother and Mother Mary.
5. Your father? My paternal father and God the Father.
6. Your favorite thing? Narcissism.
7. Your dream last night? A queasy one, dreamt about me teaching in a class.
8 Your favorite drink? White coffee, kopi-O.
9. Your dream/goal? Miracles are for those daring to try.
10. The room you’re in? Bedroom-cum-study room.
11. Your hobby? Changes often but prefers personality test.
12. Your fear? Fear itself.
13. Where do you want to be in 6 year? Kuching, reaching out to young people!
14. What you’re not? Superman, it’s not easy to be me.
15. Muffins? Chocolate or mango flavour.
16. One of your wish list items? A trip to Rome.
17. Where you grew up? Kuching.
18. The last thing you did? Topless, looking at the mirror.
19. What are you wearing? Boxers.
20. Favorite gadget? SE 660i.
21. Your pets? Had two hamsters.
22. Your computer? Dell Inspiron 640m.
23. Your mood? Steady and calm, can be dotty sometimes.
24. Missing someone? Nah…
25. Your car? Perodua Kelisa.
26. Something you’re not wearing? Definitely not bra.
27. Favourite store? Jusco, my kind of store.
28. Like someone? Most people.
29. Your favorite color? Green.
30. When is the last time you laughed? Lunch with my juniors.
31. Last time you cried? Two weeks ago.

It’s time to get someone to join me in this simple game. You see, the last tag I sent was not very well received, perhaps because someone just didn’t like it. Kenapa serius sangat? It’s just a tag.

I hope those whom I picked will join in. I just want to know you more. Yahaha (laughing like Mr. Joker).

Emmelina,
Jeremy,
Dilys,
Alan,
Hotties,
Ashleigh,
Anita &
DiDi

Kenapa serius sangat?

Nuffnang hearts me

Last Wednesday when I was keying in some data I was disturbed by the blinking thingy on my desktop sidebar. “I’ve just got mailed”, I said to myself. Lifting my hands from the keypad, I grabbed the mouse and scrolled to open my mail. The title of the mail read (Nuffnang) Regarding Center ad placement on danielliew.com.

What’s so interesting about this mail that I found it worthwhile to be posted here, you may ask. This is actually the first time I received such email from my advertser. I am not sure if other bloggers also received such notice (have not heard anyone blogged bout this) but I am pretty sure not all bloggers get this type of attention.

Dear Daniel Liew,

Of late you might have noticed that you have gotten fewer ads, and thus less earnings on danielliew.com. While we have tried selling your ad space, advertisers have chosen not to place ads on your blog due to the suboptimal placement of your Center unit, or perhaps due to the clutter that surrounds your ad unit.

Could we trouble you to perhaps correct your blog placement so that it might make it easier for us to sell your ads to our advertisers?

Your leaderboard and skyscraper ad units should be visible when your blog loads; the large rectangle ad unit should be below the first post. All ad units should be visible on the main page. We hope that this will help us sell your ad space more effectively. Thank you.

Woaw!! Sell my ad space to advertisers! That’s felicitous! Yes, I know I am busy these two weeks but this is the opportunity to hit and I can’t just miss it! So, I sent them an email. Of course before sending them an email I placed the ads according to the recommendation given.

Now here is how one should place their ads. In my case I have three slots of ads placed on danielliew.com

Hi Nuffnang,

I received an email from your team regarding the suboptimal placement of my Center ad unit at danielliew.com which according to your email has resulted in less advertisers placing ads to my site.

Taking into the consideration suggested by Nuffnang, I’ve placed the Center unit to a better position. Do review my site again and provide me feedback on the position of the ad. Your feedback is important to drive in more earnings to my site. =)

Regards,
Daniel Liew

I prompted them to take a look at the placement of the ad space, people need approval/affirmation sometime. The email sounded formal and polite which was so inviting that they replied my email in no time. Hint Hint: I’ve learned how to correspond in email effectively these days since my nature of work requires me to send emails very often.

Hi Daniel,

I’ve checked the placements of all your ad units, they are all in desirable locations. Rest assure that your advertisement spaces are now optimized and our advertisers would have no doubts if they are to advertise on your blog.

Cheers,
Robb Chew
Blogger Relations Executive
Nuffnang Sdn Bhd
www.nuffnang.com.my

Optimized is the word! Just a few days ago while I was in Penang, I received a mail that Digi Happy O Meter has chosen to advertise on my site from 10 Aug 2008 to 16 Aug 2008. Wolah! Waiting to make my first cash-out and more pocket money.

I am not sure if the Robb Chew who replied my email is the Robb who blogs at SotongZai. Anyway, many thanks!

PS: Catch me at ReviveMyBlogPost on 1200am, July 24.