Xlibris Coorporation

My book, Angels That Came was written based on the facts of orang-utans and some pragmatic issues I found about the socio-economy of the welfare State of Sabah. But because I embedded some stories of ingenuine Indian myth and how it applies to my result, I thus predictably put the whole story line into the category of non-fiction. But basically what it tells about, is the story of my life as a researcher and through my eyes of how I see the world of apes and the community I work with. I also integrate some story background about my family, which quite anecdotely tells a context about genetics and how it applies to the result which I am conducing. There were some dedications that I'd like to make but I quite commitedly said it should addressed to my friend Agung, as it narrates a story about provincial economic situation that confronts oil palm, the animal, people and reputation. Which bears into meaning of labeling and image. To read a synopsis of my book, please go to http://www.sheenajames.com

  How I came to publish this book? I saw an advertisement in the internet commercialised by Xlibris Corporation. And I ask myself, would I want to write a book. I already have a draft in hand which I had long before thought that I should be an author. So this gave me the opportunity to establish myself into this career. I asked my mom if she could lend me some money in order to materialise this project which she said yes. And so I was on my path to this enroute vision of myself owning my very personal book. This book enriches the mind in the world of basic mathematics, admaths, physics, chemistry and the mysterious reknown body knowledge of biology and the world of evolution. It is a small book which congregates many daily facets of life and as we know it how do we apply to ourselves as we work ourselves way out within the bonds of animals and it's stake.

  Hopefully, I will write again a book that promotes tourism from my diary and experience as a traveler around the state as a youth. And in addition, a book that simply narrates my findings on the behaviour of orang-utans explicitly told from my observation in the field. That will take another time for some wealthy vantage point of exploration and report.

Sheena James.

Charity

I have always wanted to do an education programme. Which is why I thought that doing a PhD will be good for me to spread awareness as well do a research. I don't know where could I find money for this. That would be a next step to this question. I need the money to buy genetic kits for the purpose of assessing population linkage.

About the topic of charity. I have so far, written to my publisher of giving my profits and as well to give discounts to two main charity works. I am in particular interested in the Orangutan Land Trust and the redape.org. The redape project us under United Nations Environmental Programme. I hope to see the dissemination of my book throughout Africa and Asia if this succeeds.

This is because my book, called Angels That Came will educate students about maths, biology, physics and chemistry all in one written in a comprehensive story of understanding. As well the come about of evolution which I partnered with my Dutch professor who I collaborated with in his project in the university.

I am after all, am asked to update about my book in my very own web-site. But my publisher is yet to give me that link. I am also waiting to accept my full package of sales and marketing strategy to promote my book.

I hope to get a head start once I begin to distribute the press release to book-stores and newspapers. I already have one journalist friend committed of writing an interview story about myself as an author.

By book is now out in the Amazon.com, and bn.com. To read the excerpt of my book, go to Xlibris.com.

Sheena James

I dreamt of Africa: Angels That Came

www.xlibris.com

Angels That Came

I have submitted my manuscript for publishing, a book entitled Angels That Came. It's in the process of review and that will take an amount of time to finish. At the mean time, I hope that my book will be out in May as my mother comes back from Saudi that way we could do a celebration here on it's opening.

Since, the layout of the book doesn't permit more wordings than it should. I insert the full elaboration of my background and summary of the book in this blog.

The Angels That Came was named so because of so many people who were involved in this project. It is with the aim of popularising Science and a dedication to the people who spent most of their lives in conserving nature and its species. Thus it’s a mixture of romance with particular interest on the subject of orangutan where the ecology of the animal is being discussed stipulated with the knowledge of physics. It is with hope that the motive of this book is to promote the concept of evolution and findings on biomass. The book is an incredible mix of Indian mythology and touches a deep aspect of culture life in North Borneo where orangutans are found. Not many people know of its conservation status in this interior part of the world. Therefore, this book also enlightens the reader by telling a bit of history, culture and socio-economic status as pragmatic as possible. The orangutan is recognised as a protected species and is prioritised as an emblem for tourism and nature conservation. Hopefully, this book succeeds in educating society on its existence and act as an introduction to this beautiful world of ape and people co-existing together.

Sheena James is a local born of Sigh heritage in the island of Borneo. Her grandmother’s father used to sell tobacco during colonial times and is known by priests as the sigup man or a man who sell cigarettes. In this book you will see, intertwined are some twist of enigmatic portrayal of how the natives live in this part of Malaysian Borneo. Some of them were purposely exaggerated to give it a bit of spice. But far from truth, they encover a little about the racial mix of people living this day as a democratic country. Part of this project was funded by her mother who is working in the Middle East which would not have materialised without her full support. Sheena graduated in Conservation Biology with Second Upper Class and was given a full scholarship by Darwin Initiative to continue a course of molecular ecology in Cardiff, Wales. She graduated Master’s in Science in 2007. She worked with the Habitat for Humanity assisting volunteers from Dubai in 2010. Basically, she spent part of her education career and field work on orang-utans and met many people from all walks of life which she collaborate with. And this book tells that story. She has one sister and one brother and two nephews from each of them whom she loves dearly. Her father is somewhere in Sabah who unfortunately was divorced to her mother. Perhaps there will be blessings in disguise. Her grandmother has 10 children.    

It will take a couple of time, before the book is out. So stay tune on my progresses. I will keep you updated by writing in my blog. At the mean time, here is the preview on its content. The book cover on how it looks like once it's published will be available in the internet soon. 

Hope you'll buy it.. I hope to use the proceeds for an education programme and disseminate the book to a wider audience so that to learn more about Science and Technology. With enough money, I'm able to publish more books and the cycle goes around. 

I dreamt of Africa: Trip to Danum

http://www.searrp.org/research.cfm

http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/species_main/orang_utan/projects/

Think Out of the Box

I haven't been able to publish my book entitled Angels That Came as I wanted. Not that I couldn't because I had plans to turn it into an education programme. It's a good read I should say, mainly fiction and at the same time, turning it into a piece for further examination on Science.

My latest activities are posting some news about the environment in Facebook. That is how I keep myself occupied by acting into volunteerism. I think other people should enact the same way, it gives you recent updates about the world and at the same time you know how the environment works. There are two types of genuine contribution that you could do as an organisation which are social responsibility and environmental responsibility. You contribute as a whole giant superorganism by having your existence matters and to take effect into your surroundings. The environment is a natural commodity and it is expressed in energy. What you do to others could lead to happen to you. Which is why we need to spread such positive impact to the earth. If people are happy, you give good product and service. Which is why I highlight on the important role of social responsibility. It derives from human capital and complacency as well to compel towards change.

I am enduring here as a sitting duck! Which bears any meaning as being to resilient. Lol! Laziness is said to be the devils lair. Think out the box, the world is an expression of intelligence! It's essential that we all learn to analyse, put it simply in order to learn to adapt. But guided with a firm grasp on knowledge and critical thinking.. Hey, you don't wanna be paranoid. Living in a world that doesn't require too much thinking would be completely a bliss. I've explained about the role of a sentient being, what more could I speak of the sentinel. Which comes into my second approach towards the complacency of a sentinel. He looks out with wary eyes, that man who turns out to be the guardian. Enough cliche, I'm coming into what does it take to measure antagonists! It's the same sort of thing that brings you to square one, you approach the intruder. It's like saying you're an initiator and I'm a recipient, but what takes you out of the square is the demand for order. So I request the former. That being said.

Put it simply, in order for humanity to dislodge. You need regulation in society. But what right is that to approach is a good question. We approach with responsibility, moral and ethics. The constitution is damn right a good watch house. It gives any meaning to helping the helpless and avoid criminalisation. The good order we call the law. Within reasonably of a doubt, we come into the question about necessary limiting grounds and withing certain standards of appeal. All comes down to property rights, civil rights constitution and avoiding victimisation. In America, you have something such as the first and second amendments. This is the right for all civilians, and cannot be simply taken for granted as Obama once said. It is not a privilege. I don't know what it means by that, but perhaps it has a higher meaning to what it means by granted a right but not to be taken lightly?

Our dreams are what we make of it. Serving all constitutions, society has the right to shape iteself. And it progress into the bottoms up approach channeled by the top down approach, which is the law. How do we strike balance? I am very interested into the notion of sustainability, that thing which can support us. If we could find means for economic resolution and the intermedience of culture, we would know the final repertoire. The world is created in so much diversity, that it requires deep respect for preservation. There are so many things to choose from. But the attire that needs establishment, is strict discipline because it bears any meaning to preservation. What is that, we are trying to preserve? Is it individuality, racial contest, certain elites? Or mainly resources. That's a big bonus! I think modesty and honesty signalling will always champion the role. Because we become flexible. There is no moderate signs to inflation or disregularity. Think of a good book, what will incite your interest foremost? I think something appealing such as humankind and to go forward.

The economic model as planned by our ministry is one good example. It gives us security and it navigates us for an access to Science and Technoloy. The readiness to an institution and community fascilitation. This is what we need at the moment.

From the author,
Sheena James

What it takes to grow up

To date, I have attended officially, 3 times reunion. Once at Hildy's place, then at our old hangouts at Dragon coffee shop in Donggongon and a third, at Shangri La's hotel to round up Michaelians from the Science and Arts stream.
I am still in very close contact with friends I befriended since high school. One is already a teacher at Kinarut, Papar and the other is an environmental engineer working in a Danish company for water and environment.
I was first interested in Science when I was 15 years old. I figured if it wasn’t because of cikgu Sybil I wouldn’t have gotten where I am now. There was a Science Camp which she gotten me to get involved. I was surprised considering that I got a C for that subject, but I didn’t want to skip that chance of going to Ranau and have the honour to represent my school. So I made a promise to myself that I shouldn’t let my friends and teacher down. So I studied hard and made sure also that I really understood and was interested as well. Bit of the chapter that got me psyche was especially the astronomy part, I found out what a cool guy must Isaac Newton have been. Anyways at the end, I couldn’t get to go to Ranau as how much hoped for. They found a replacement for me because instead I had to attend to a Science competition between Papar and Penampang, and I got a trophy for that one since I got all answers correct except for one question. And thus, St. Michael became a home-coming champion. The next year, because Maths and Science are perquisite to get accepted into the Science stream, I get to learn new things in detail i.e. Chemistry, Physics and Biology as well as Ad-maths. These subjects will become important as you enter university regardless of what class you took during high school. The reason is because these will be the knowledge you’ll see around you i.e. back labels of shampoo, as well to understand prescribed medicines, and getting acquainted to the world around you. Another year of Science took us to Kudat to experience the sun eclipse. It was beautiful! I brought my brother along and it was a trip that was arranged by us all. One of my class-mate took with him a binocular and he was smart enough to have figured the use of it instead of looking only at birds. By holding a piece of white paper underneath the eye piece of the bino with the condenser adjusted facing the sun, the image of the sun eclipse gets superimpose to the white paper. With this method, we’d able to watch the sun slowly shadowed by the moon. Soon after everywhere around us turns darker, birds began to chirp and some flew across the sky as if heading home. They were certainly noisy, looking confused about what time it was that moment. I was active also in sports but that was only at the end of my high school days. I played hockey for my school and district although there wasn’t much of a competition that time, also basketball for my school which I was really interested and good at and still now am. I tried doing walkathon and was selected to represent my school first and then to district level. We had to train everyday in Penampang stadium then the competition at Likas. I was very scared there were many people; I was disappointed in the end because that didn’t give me a good placing. Apart from that, I also got my trainings in Red Cross: doing volunteer works, stand-bys for sport days, active in marching competitions, as well trained as a march commandant.
After finishing form 5 which was in 1996, I was admitted for pre-university at AUSMAT (Australian Matriculation) in Pusat Persediaan ITM Shah Alam, taking Bioscience as my major in 1997. I received monetary support for my education from Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA). So subjects accounted for in this course were Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer C++, and English writing, reading as well as listening skills. It was interesting getting to study in the Peninsular although just for one year. I get to scout around malls nearby as well as in K.L. Visited a friend who is doing her matriculation at Kelana Jaya and I still remember how long we stayed up late at Sunway Pyramid trying out a popular video arcade there during the weekend. Movie-watching was very much the activity I had, as well as shopping for house hold products and for more food and, maybe a little bit of tit-bits for the family at home in Sabah. A favourite spot was at Carrefour, a French invested market. Students go to St. Francis Xavier to pray and Subang Parade to watch a movie by commuter. But we didn’t go out much often as we also need to save money to sustain us until the end of the month. Facilities at I.T.M. were fully equipped and we spent our lab times over here as well for literature work. I was amazed by the university computer system as our matric card provided us a registered number that allows us to chat with other students. I did two assignments as an introductory course to research. One is about the Kadazan funeral rites which requires me to do interviews back at Sabah and visit the Archive. The other was about the adverse effects of pollution. It was here that I had access to all the books I’d like to read especially on the environment. I played a little bit of basketball with newly acquainted friends but later gave up when I sprained my ankle. During the times of the depreciation ringgit in 1998, there was a call from the government to educate students supposed to go abroad within the country itself. However I never forgotten the skills I acquired from this institute as it had introduced me to research more of an integrative kind. Later as I was still interested in Bioscience, I applied for a place at the University Malaysia Sabah with the aim of taking Conservation Biology as my Degree. I was still supported by JPA but my scholarship was converted to loan upon my choice of subject. However the money spent on my education at AUSMAT was considered as an award. In order to find a placement in the University Malaysia Sabah, I had to undergo still a pre-university course assigned by the same institute. Because I had already spent a year in the Peninsular, there would be no use to spend another year. So a bit of exploration and a sense of adventure allowed me to survive in this perceived secluded environment. The school was literally surrounded by oil palms and the air had a particular smell. This was my first time staying in a boarding school and we had to still wear school uniforms as we did back in high school which was rather a bit embarrassing for some of us. On Thursday, we had to wear something in purple and we had prep class which means revising after the actual morning lessons. We spent the evening either cleaning this or that or doing recreation. I remembered how I used to jog every evening either that or play basketball by myself at the basketball court next to the dining hall. For those who had money, they can either spend money on buying kueh usually complemented with makcik’s special sambal which she had once forbidden me to sneak away although just a few for some unknown reasons or ice-cream at night before bed. We always have milo or donuts before bed, anyways for those that do not. Cross country event gave us the opportunity to rendezvous with the surrounding locale. We get to see small houses and even get acquainted with lembus as people were watching us pass by. The little drizzle made the event more memorable. What was difficult having to live in the hostel was the water problem. We had to each carry a bucket full of water from the wash room to our very own dormitory else, other people would steal it. We had to do this every evening. Washing would require us to queue up and take turns. Even the name of our school was spelt wrong, waiting near the school’s window as we had our first sight of the vehicle to transport this precious water resource, written on the blue truck as what we could make of it was something that spelled magrikurasi. The first semester of the same year we had our exams at UMS campus Tuaran, and we were lucky to have this opportunity as this quarter is no longer valid for use. This was also the same time when I dislocated my finger again when playing basketball but I came out lucky as I happened to turn out the best in my class. Looking at the record score of results, I was known among secondary students as kakak yang berbadan sasa as they remembered me as someone who used to jog circling the school compound everyday. The second semester also of the same year, I did not get through as ok as I expected. But the average for both semesters combined paved me a way to the real university. I manage to get by after just one year as required by JPA in order to oblige to full scholarship for 3 years of study. Next thing I knew I was already in Labuan for orientation week. Justifiable by my results I was suggested to take Information Technology not exactly as what I imagined. It was a beautiful place, right at the end of the island and secluded from noise of the city. Ideal for total concentration. The university for business and mass media, was fully equipped with facilities for higher learning including a room for music, and a cinematic auditorium for projections. Computers were complemented with microphones for communications through the web. For recreational purpose, there is also a big lawn to play games. The university was also located beside a beach. It was said that the building was meant for economic trade in Labuan but corporates probably thought that a university would bring more benefits or even profitable. As soon as my orientation ended, I decided to return to Sabah and re-apply for Conservation Biology, which was what I wanted and what I wanted to be. After writing letters and meeting both deans of the School for Science and Technology, and School for Information Technology I was finally accepted to undertake this course. There were not many universities offering this course that time. So far as I know, only UKM and probably University Putra had something similar. Sabah would also be a great place to start since we have the resource here. In fulfilment for a degree in Conservation Biology I had to take other courses as well including economics, foreign language (provided that SPM result for English is a distinction, you may also take Spanish, French, and Japanese for 2 years of study) and other electives i.e. political science, creative thinking, history and reformation in Malaysia and Sabah Dance (or in malay I think better described, Tarian Sabah). This assignment was pretty much meaningful to me as not only was I able to meet the Lundayeh for the very first time in my life, but also I was able to record music so ancient and also very rare played by one man who is a teacher as well which requires skills that only him possess (really, I’m not kidding!). As so told, this music was revived again when an old man fortunate that he is still living today was able to make the Sakapi, a wooden musical instrument played by the Lundayeh now at the Sabah’s Cultural Festival. You might be amazed also by what this village is named perhaps because of such rarity; as such kampong baru jumpa.
At the end of the day, I was grateful I took all of these subjects because I realised that I had turned out to be a thinking person rather than spoon fed. Everything made sense now and I could construct my own opinions as well in literacy. I enjoyed Mandarin because my teacher was dedicated and he really tried making us really interested. We get to go to a party at Rasa Ria at the same time graded for our contribution to the success of that party. It was grand and there were performances made, at the same time very important guests were present. At the end of my education, I think that I did pretty ok, I got second class upper and I had to experience myself the turmoil of everyday life i.e. finding out the next day that there had been a recent re-scheduling for SPSS and therefore had to repeat the same course the next semester, the unnecessary regulations of having to meet every one lecturer personally, of having to overcome fears of presenting to hundreds of students and also at the same time get them to participate as well to agree with your strong convicted opinion, lack of sleep (of course this is usually quite related to being last minute revisions), once jump from a bus when I overslept the second time (at least the first, I ended up in Telipok the second was a jump, I literally landed on both my knees and hands!) etc. There had been several field trips which I enjoyed very much to Kota Belud, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, and Beaufort. Having acquainted some friends had also given me the opportunity to visit their home towns in Sandakan, Labuan and Kota Marudu.
Because I had done a one month volunteer work in the Kinabatangan for the Kinabatangan Orang-utan Conservation Project (KOCP), I decided that I liked the place and had a go with research on orang-utans. I was exploring on several aspects to affect orang-utan sociality, and at the same time get introduced to primatology that wasn’t included in my major. As usual I had to make several trips from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu, and attend some work-shops for comprehension on the subject as well of the economy of the area.
Because of the subject’s relevance I was able to pursue to my Masters and because there was a fund made available by the Darwin Initiatives from the U.K. This fund is especially for the survivorship of the species as orang-utans are rare and they attract tourists for money as well as investors. I started my research in November 2002 soonest after graduating. It has been the 3rd year now since I haven’t finished quite yet. This course requires me to conduct field-work, lab works, literature work, field trips, training, publications and team work. My research gives particular interest as it combines molecular work as well as inference from behavioural observations. In the end I hope to do some publications made compulsory by the university and I’m expecting to discuss on the sociality of the orang-utans which is again interesting because orang-utans are naturally solitary and resemble close to humans in some ways. Did you know that orang-utans share 96.4% of its genes with humans? The rest is what makes an orang-utan an orang-utan a separate unique entity. Apart from that I propose also that orang-utans could perhaps act as indicators to habitat quality. Thus I need to know what actually really defines habitat quality. I get to drive boats, get to know the community better and how they are able to help build themselves, recognise individual orang-utans and catalogue what they eat, learn more about genetic as well computer applications. I especially like trekking in the forest especially when it rains although maybe a little bit. You can hear the storm coming when you hear something that sounds like a train from far then reaches your way in a sudden rush. The area records one of the most birds found in the State, 10 species of primates, and the longest river in Sabah just second after sg. Rajang. Standing below a large bridge in Bukit Garam, I just couldn’t believe that this is the same bridge I once cross 4 years ago when travelling by coach to Lahad Datu which once also became a routine in 1998/1999 when I was doing my pre-university. For my MSc. I had to cross a suspension bridge exactly at the occurrence of a big flood in order to get myself back to Kinabatangan for field-work!

Authored by Ms. Sheena James
December 2005/Christmas and New Year Season