boon's log 3707.01: The Sun rises from the North-West... (according to Program Angkasawan Negara)

Have you guys seen the full-page ad in the papers lately about our Malaysian Astronauts (a.k.a. Angkasawan), under the Program Angakasawan Negara? Well, it's a one full page of explanation on why is this program so important and why we should support it (instead of criticizing it). Well, honestly, from the bottom of my being, I do not see the importance of sending either Dr. Sheikh or Capt. Dr. Faiz into space. Sorry so say, they failed to make a believer out of me - no matter how they put it, I believe we have more important things to do here on my tanahair (homeland in Bahasa Malaysia) than to send someone into space for a holiday. The money spent on training, advertisement, and the actual trip itself can be used for other more tangible causes right here on planet Earth, or Malaysia to be more specific. Based on what I gathered from the web, we are dumping something like RM 95 million into this space program.

Here's an excerpt of the advertisement...

"... It is only by mastering science and technology that we will be able to compete in a high-tech world where all aspects of economic, financial, social and cultural life are intertwined with scientific and technological advancements. By mastering these fields, we can take out destiny into our own hands, and forge for ourselves a nation that is not just progressive, competitive and developed but one that embraces knowledge."

And here's what i managed to scanned.


The Northwest Sun.

If my bearings are correct, the Sun seems to be rising from the North-North-West (click here for Cardinal Directions) - based on how Malaysia is located on the globe. But according to my high school physics teacher, the Sun rises from East and sets in the West...

So, if we are truly "technologically-advanced" enough to send astronauts into space for further science and technology advancement, then I would assume that the image was intentional. If so, then the bright lights in the NNW would have been:

a) a huge explosion somewhere in the northern hemisphere, i.e. meteor-hit or something
b) a freakingly bright star (one that is as bright as the Sun)
c) a high school student made a mistake of mixing the wrong chemicals in a high school lab

or

d) it IS the Sun.

I hope that who ever published this ad actually skipped the buy-off or validation from the Malaysian National Space Agency because this would be pretty embarassing if someone from the agency actually bought-off of the publication of this ad.

Imagine this, our Angkasawan goes into space and argues with other Astronauts (or in this case Cosmonauts) where the Sun rises.

If you "wiki" Angkasawan Program, you will be able to see what is the expectations from our dear Angkasawan. And there, you will be able to find that 2 of the 6 items are

1. Having Roti canai (flat bread) and a glass of Teh Tarik (Pulled-Tea)
2. Play with a gasing (Top) and Batu Seremban (childhood 5-stone game) in space

By the way, in case you are confused by our National Space Agency - the Sun rises from the EAST!

boon out...