You are to read the following case study very carefully before you attempt the questions that follow. Answer each question in continuous prose. Each answer should not exceed 250 words. You have 48 hours to complete this assignment.
You should type out your answers on A4 or Letter sized paper, 1 inch margins all round, 12 point Times New Roman font. You may submit your answers online in the comments column following this post.
You are reminded not to repeat your points in different answers. You are reminded of the need for clear and concise writing.
Scenario
I was shopping for a new rice cooker when a Chinese PRC woman started kicking up a big fuss at the store.
She accused the service staff of being rude to her; some snarky remark was involved, or so it seemed. Ms PRC shouted at the service staff for not answering her question on how good a pot she was interested in was and also pointed out that the side comment that was made about her type was not appropriate.
Ms PRC then started screaming. In addition, she took to banging and kicking the items at the store.
Questions
1. What did Ms PRC do wrong?
2. What should Ms PRC have done?
Reflections
1. If you were Ms PRC, how would you have reacted in this situation so you can extract maximum benefit from the stall?
2. Do you think it is ethical to extract maximum benefit from the stall? Why?
Role Play
1. Imagine you are a shopper in the store who thinks one of the two women is out of line. Write a retort to show how you could take the side one of the women and start hurling insults back at the "bitch".
2. If you are the manager of the store, explain how will you resolve this issue.
Higher Order Thinking Skills
1. In our social context where we are trying to attract foreign talent to contribute to our workforce and population, how do you think you will help these foreign talent integrate themselves into our society?
2. Do you think soft skills, such as child bearing, child rearing, fighting, quarrelling, screaming, shouting, accusing and insistently talking loudly everywhere, should be part of the criteria for admitting foreign talent? How would one test such skills?
Showing posts with label underachievement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label underachievement. Show all posts
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
China Stakes Claim on Santa
Lavender Food Court, SINGAPORE - A China-born Singapore-based foreign talent explains today the genesis of Santa Claus.
According to the Chinese legend, "Sheng Dan Lao Ren", or old man Santa as we know him today, was a homeless old man in China who was so overcome by the cold one winter that every thing on him shrank, except (his) "eggs" (sheng dan).
- Fishy Slippery (Xin Hua) News Agency
According to the Chinese legend, "Sheng Dan Lao Ren", or old man Santa as we know him today, was a homeless old man in China who was so overcome by the cold one winter that every thing on him shrank, except (his) "eggs" (sheng dan).
- Fishy Slippery (Xin Hua) News Agency
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Freaking Frustrated For F***?
I gave Four F grades, actually Five, but then after a thorough review and convincing myself that I have been too demanding in my grading, I reduced it to Four.
I am Freaking Frustrated. Did I teach so badly that my students did not manage to learn anything or have I expected too much from the knuckleheads who slipped past admissions this year?
I have people who make A grades and I also have people who end up with C grades. In fact, like the other two Assignments 2 in my earlier terms, the students are categorized into their respective mastery levels on this assignment and, thus, their likely end of course grades.
I am largely ok with a pigeon holing exercise. It is a course requirement that students have to be graded. But in the past terms I only had to deal with very few D grades; this term, I get a handful of F graders to manage. The bulgeoning C population is common for this assignment. It is a paper where one synthesizes two texts to support one's thesis statement. One either does the synthesis fully and correctly or one underdoes it. If one falls short at the synthesis, then the grades drop to the B range. If one falls short at the summaries (and, inevitably the synthesis thereafter), one drops to the C range. Poor writing will cause futher grade drops. My Fabulous F grades are, in all honesty, harder to get than an A grade. I am that certain, sure, confident and proud to say. I reward effort when writing falls short. But how does one reward a paper that is 25% short of the minimum page length? Or a paper that averages 10 mistakes per 8 line paragraph? Or a student who writes whatever s/he feels like writing, with scant regard for the rubric of the assignment?
I try very hard to reflect if it were my poor teaching that caused such a disaster. Well, it seemed like a disaster to me when I have to award Fs in this manner. Ok, let us assume that I taught badly. Then how do you explain the nearly half of the students who got A and B grades? They were spread across both my sections! And how do I explain the other nearly half of the students who got C grades, those who were already weak to begin with, as evidenced by their Assignment 1 performance? If I had taught badly, then surely the assignment question, having gone through a round of eyeballing by the course coordinator, would have explained clearly the demands of the assignment?
The reading packages and the remedial website resources would have also played their part in helping the lost sheep to find their way home. And what about my open email communication channel where they actually have direct access to me via my home email? My students even have my cell phone number, for f***'s sake!
Another consolation I have is the fact that I have assigned short writing pieces to the students for them to practise writing thesis statements, topic sentences and paragraphs. They were also required to use evidence from their reading articles to support their arguments. The marks the F graders received on those assignments are actually indicative of the students' real writing and reasoning abilities. Those fellows are the ones scoring 3 and 4 out of 10. And to not demoralise too much, I set a minimum score of 3 marks on all these short pieces. Any written sh*t would have gotten 3 marks if it were submitted.
On a related note, the fellows who bombed Assignment 2 are the intended recipients of my earlier email telling them of the importance of reading and coming to class prepared. I shouldn't have to or need to feel sorry for them.
The circumstantial evidence of my not having derelicted my duties is complete. I should feel vindicated. Still, I feel Freaking disappointed. A colleague told me to get rid of that "secondary school teacher" mentality in me. "Why should you care, Eugene?" he would ask. "They are already adults and if they are not bothered to get up to speed with the demands of university, why should you mother them?" Well said.
He is a dear friend of mine and he's been really helpful to me ever since I began teaching at that institution. I should lay down my burden and not labour under these rotten straws that threaten to break my back. I shall only help those who bother.
I shall push on and perhaps give a few F grades at the end of the course to the truly deserving. Perhaps Darwin's theory can take over and straighten out the population some...
Of course, Four rounds of reviews later, there are only two students who received F grades (pending confirmation). I'm almost certain my grade distribution will stand. The rest are upgraded but are given stern warnings to buck up.
I am Freaking Frustrated. Did I teach so badly that my students did not manage to learn anything or have I expected too much from the knuckleheads who slipped past admissions this year?
I have people who make A grades and I also have people who end up with C grades. In fact, like the other two Assignments 2 in my earlier terms, the students are categorized into their respective mastery levels on this assignment and, thus, their likely end of course grades.
I am largely ok with a pigeon holing exercise. It is a course requirement that students have to be graded. But in the past terms I only had to deal with very few D grades; this term, I get a handful of F graders to manage. The bulgeoning C population is common for this assignment. It is a paper where one synthesizes two texts to support one's thesis statement. One either does the synthesis fully and correctly or one underdoes it. If one falls short at the synthesis, then the grades drop to the B range. If one falls short at the summaries (and, inevitably the synthesis thereafter), one drops to the C range. Poor writing will cause futher grade drops. My Fabulous F grades are, in all honesty, harder to get than an A grade. I am that certain, sure, confident and proud to say. I reward effort when writing falls short. But how does one reward a paper that is 25% short of the minimum page length? Or a paper that averages 10 mistakes per 8 line paragraph? Or a student who writes whatever s/he feels like writing, with scant regard for the rubric of the assignment?
I try very hard to reflect if it were my poor teaching that caused such a disaster. Well, it seemed like a disaster to me when I have to award Fs in this manner. Ok, let us assume that I taught badly. Then how do you explain the nearly half of the students who got A and B grades? They were spread across both my sections! And how do I explain the other nearly half of the students who got C grades, those who were already weak to begin with, as evidenced by their Assignment 1 performance? If I had taught badly, then surely the assignment question, having gone through a round of eyeballing by the course coordinator, would have explained clearly the demands of the assignment?
The reading packages and the remedial website resources would have also played their part in helping the lost sheep to find their way home. And what about my open email communication channel where they actually have direct access to me via my home email? My students even have my cell phone number, for f***'s sake!
Another consolation I have is the fact that I have assigned short writing pieces to the students for them to practise writing thesis statements, topic sentences and paragraphs. They were also required to use evidence from their reading articles to support their arguments. The marks the F graders received on those assignments are actually indicative of the students' real writing and reasoning abilities. Those fellows are the ones scoring 3 and 4 out of 10. And to not demoralise too much, I set a minimum score of 3 marks on all these short pieces. Any written sh*t would have gotten 3 marks if it were submitted.
On a related note, the fellows who bombed Assignment 2 are the intended recipients of my earlier email telling them of the importance of reading and coming to class prepared. I shouldn't have to or need to feel sorry for them.
The circumstantial evidence of my not having derelicted my duties is complete. I should feel vindicated. Still, I feel Freaking disappointed. A colleague told me to get rid of that "secondary school teacher" mentality in me. "Why should you care, Eugene?" he would ask. "They are already adults and if they are not bothered to get up to speed with the demands of university, why should you mother them?" Well said.
He is a dear friend of mine and he's been really helpful to me ever since I began teaching at that institution. I should lay down my burden and not labour under these rotten straws that threaten to break my back. I shall only help those who bother.
I shall push on and perhaps give a few F grades at the end of the course to the truly deserving. Perhaps Darwin's theory can take over and straighten out the population some...
Of course, Four rounds of reviews later, there are only two students who received F grades (pending confirmation). I'm almost certain my grade distribution will stand. The rest are upgraded but are given stern warnings to buck up.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Compassion of Guanyin's Twin
Two student-related incidents stuck out very clearly in my mind since term started three weeks ago.
The first incident relates to a student who gave me the feeling that he was trying to pull wool over my eyes. The student said he could not locate the lab where he was supposed to meet me for writing conference for Assignment 1. He claimed he asked the guards at School X and they did not know either. So he went home. After that, he wrote me an email to ask to see me on another occasion for his Assignment 1.
It is not that I am unreasonable but I faced many internal hurdles to say yes. First, he had my cell phone number. If he were in school, he could have easily given me a call, when he found out that the guards were none the wiser where the lab is. Second, I did tell the class where the lab is. Third, a student who also could not be sure she could locate the lab arrived two hours earlier than her scheduled timeslot. She just completed her "recce" of the lab, she said. I saw her immediately when she arrived, since I could fit her into my schedule. Fourth, I made his classmate call him. I'm not sure if the classmate made the call, but he certainly sent out a message. Fifth and last, he could have called a friend. At the end of it all, I replied with these reasons and told him that if he has one good and honest reason to explain his absence, I would see him.
I am easy. Even an admission that he wasn't in the university and a simple apology would work for me. What I do not want is to accept his lame excuse that he could not find the place. How can it be that of the nearly 50 students I meet, he was the only one who cannot find the place?
The second incident involved students not reading the assigned articles and coming to class unprepared. Their actions culminated in the love letter two entries down. I went to class the day after the love letter was sent out and immediately realised those whom I knew did not read their articles during earlier classes chose seats at the back of the class and in the middle of each seating row, hoping that their relative inconvenient location could escape my prying eyes.
I surprised both classes by telling them I would not throw them out of class that day, since the email went out to them less than 48 hours in advance and that would not be nice of me. However, I told them firmly that on Tuesday next when we meet, if I catch them unprepared, I will humiliate them in class before I throw them out and mark them absent. They have been warned. I know I am giving tough love; the best medicine for them is the bitterest pill. But am I so glad to be such a monster?
In class, I discussed the abridged Toulmin argumentation method and used the love letter as an example to illustrate the argumentation techniques. I think it left them with a deep enough impression, since I taught them how to write excellent stinkers. After that, I took them on a tour of how to dissect the arguments in an article using the technique. While the class enjoyed themselves for that class, I told them that I no longer care if they are Freshmen; if they can't keep up, tough luck.
All in all, I told them I have the as much compassion as of the twin brother of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). Many of them knew who I was referring to straightaway.
The first incident relates to a student who gave me the feeling that he was trying to pull wool over my eyes. The student said he could not locate the lab where he was supposed to meet me for writing conference for Assignment 1. He claimed he asked the guards at School X and they did not know either. So he went home. After that, he wrote me an email to ask to see me on another occasion for his Assignment 1.
It is not that I am unreasonable but I faced many internal hurdles to say yes. First, he had my cell phone number. If he were in school, he could have easily given me a call, when he found out that the guards were none the wiser where the lab is. Second, I did tell the class where the lab is. Third, a student who also could not be sure she could locate the lab arrived two hours earlier than her scheduled timeslot. She just completed her "recce" of the lab, she said. I saw her immediately when she arrived, since I could fit her into my schedule. Fourth, I made his classmate call him. I'm not sure if the classmate made the call, but he certainly sent out a message. Fifth and last, he could have called a friend. At the end of it all, I replied with these reasons and told him that if he has one good and honest reason to explain his absence, I would see him.
I am easy. Even an admission that he wasn't in the university and a simple apology would work for me. What I do not want is to accept his lame excuse that he could not find the place. How can it be that of the nearly 50 students I meet, he was the only one who cannot find the place?
The second incident involved students not reading the assigned articles and coming to class unprepared. Their actions culminated in the love letter two entries down. I went to class the day after the love letter was sent out and immediately realised those whom I knew did not read their articles during earlier classes chose seats at the back of the class and in the middle of each seating row, hoping that their relative inconvenient location could escape my prying eyes.
I surprised both classes by telling them I would not throw them out of class that day, since the email went out to them less than 48 hours in advance and that would not be nice of me. However, I told them firmly that on Tuesday next when we meet, if I catch them unprepared, I will humiliate them in class before I throw them out and mark them absent. They have been warned. I know I am giving tough love; the best medicine for them is the bitterest pill. But am I so glad to be such a monster?
In class, I discussed the abridged Toulmin argumentation method and used the love letter as an example to illustrate the argumentation techniques. I think it left them with a deep enough impression, since I taught them how to write excellent stinkers. After that, I took them on a tour of how to dissect the arguments in an article using the technique. While the class enjoyed themselves for that class, I told them that I no longer care if they are Freshmen; if they can't keep up, tough luck.
All in all, I told them I have the as much compassion as of the twin brother of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). Many of them knew who I was referring to straightaway.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Exasperation 4
I have had enough! As I can no longer tolerate any more nonsense during my lessons, I sent out the following as a part of a larger email to my groups.
Class Conduct
"COURSE X" requires all students to come in prepared for the lesson. During my rounds in class on Tue 1 Sep as well as during the previous few lessons, I noticed many of you came in to class prepared. At least you have read the articles and tried to come in prepared. Thank you and keep up the good work. However, I also observed that some of you did NOT read before coming to class. You know who you are; you were trying very hard to evade detection (especially when I ask for volunteers for class presentations) and were furiously trying to catch up during the discussions. I am not oblivious to your unbecoming behaviour. There is another telling sign of your unprepared state: Your reading is annotation-free. Surely, there are questions that you might have, clarifications that you might need or notes that you can make to remind you of the idea flow of the passage.
Reading and making sense of the assigned readings is the first and most elementary step in a student's preparations. Coming in prepared is also the minimum respect students show themselves, the minimum basic courtesy they show their friends and the minimum effort students put in to being contributors in the group. Given that you are freshmen, I have already given you a two week grace period for you to get used to university life and get up to speed with the demands of university classes. At this point, you have exhausted all the goodwill that I can possibly offer. I HAVE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE FOR STUDENTS WHO COME TO CLASS UNPREPARED.
From the next lesson onwards, students who have entirely annotation-free article printouts and claim that they have read and understood the assigned article shall immediately take the floor and lead the class in the discussion of the article. At the same time, they must be able to answer all the questions that I have regarding the article. If any student is unprepared or if I deem him/her unprepared, the student will be removed immediately from the lesson and may be considered ABSENT. It is my duty to remind that the university's absenteeism policy will still apply.
We can all be very adult when handling matters related to class conduct; if students cannot behave like adults and be responsible for themselves, I will have no choice but to resort to management methods meant for younger students.
Class Conduct
"COURSE X" requires all students to come in prepared for the lesson. During my rounds in class on Tue 1 Sep as well as during the previous few lessons, I noticed many of you came in to class prepared. At least you have read the articles and tried to come in prepared. Thank you and keep up the good work. However, I also observed that some of you did NOT read before coming to class. You know who you are; you were trying very hard to evade detection (especially when I ask for volunteers for class presentations) and were furiously trying to catch up during the discussions. I am not oblivious to your unbecoming behaviour. There is another telling sign of your unprepared state: Your reading is annotation-free. Surely, there are questions that you might have, clarifications that you might need or notes that you can make to remind you of the idea flow of the passage.
Reading and making sense of the assigned readings is the first and most elementary step in a student's preparations. Coming in prepared is also the minimum respect students show themselves, the minimum basic courtesy they show their friends and the minimum effort students put in to being contributors in the group. Given that you are freshmen, I have already given you a two week grace period for you to get used to university life and get up to speed with the demands of university classes. At this point, you have exhausted all the goodwill that I can possibly offer. I HAVE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE FOR STUDENTS WHO COME TO CLASS UNPREPARED.
From the next lesson onwards, students who have entirely annotation-free article printouts and claim that they have read and understood the assigned article shall immediately take the floor and lead the class in the discussion of the article. At the same time, they must be able to answer all the questions that I have regarding the article. If any student is unprepared or if I deem him/her unprepared, the student will be removed immediately from the lesson and may be considered ABSENT. It is my duty to remind that the university's absenteeism policy will still apply.
We can all be very adult when handling matters related to class conduct; if students cannot behave like adults and be responsible for themselves, I will have no choice but to resort to management methods meant for younger students.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Super Mario Galaxy
The Wii machine met a new friend last weekend. The new friend needs to be inserted into the machine's hole. And after inserting the friend, new pleasure results. In fact, it was so pleasurable that hours are spent trying to top each previosu climax as the positions got progressively more challenging and each round more tedious.
Welcome to my Super Mario Galaxy semi-addiction.
The game started slowly enough. The moves were initially clumsy and the movement slow. But trust me, at the grand old age of... heck, you'll figure out my age anyway. The point is, even if you can teach an old dog new tricks, you can't overcome the fact that aged joints and ancient habits are hard to overcome. I therefore concede: my moves are still clumsy and the movement slow. Trust me, you won't want to read how many times I steered Mario into the black hole. Ok, I didn't steer him into the black holes but the imprecision of my moves inevitably meant Mario became BH fodder one time too many. How many, you ask? Well, try from 15 lives to nothing and then from 10 to nothing and then another 1 more before I cleared some particularly difficult stages.
And you know what's even better about SMG? The programming folks allow you to return to the game from the last point you left off instead of requiring you to begin from scratch. So you get new frustrations when the positions and techniques don't work and new highs when they do. The mind keeps telling itself that it can top the stage and one reaches for the start button after each game over. The ass is rooted to the seat and the mind loses all track of time. (Maybe, Wii and a slower version of SMG can be introduced to old folks' home to keep the residents engaged. Maybe not; they might fight over who's turn it is.)
Yet, the amazing graphics aside, the trick is to know... the tricks. The programmers are not very smart. I've got them figured out mostly. In certain worlds or galaxies, I pick up so many lives that I was incredibly elated. At the same time, I knew the extras would never be enough; how does one pick up extra lives quickly enough a whole game when one needs 26 of them to clear some particularly tricky stage? I don't know how I managed to clear some of those inhuman stages, but I did.
One can usually progress after mentally working through the algorithm required to clear that stage; keeping Mario alive long enough to clear the stage is the larger problem for me. Unfortunately, though, mental dexterity did not make up for the lack of finesse in the finer movements. The fingers were not stiff - digital (pun intended) gravity works differently, I'd say. Of course there are many excuses. This is where I spend all my time moaning about my exciting life, regardless how exciting it really is. Did you expect otherwise?
For all the fun and pleasure it brings, SMG is a silent time killer. I take anywhere between 45 minutes and 3 hours to clear a stage and I've sat in front of the Wii for almost 6 hours yesterday. That is bad. Extremely bad, if you ask me. And at 1.30 am this morning, when I tried to sleep after my shower, all I saw when I shut my eyes were the stars and the coins I was supposed to pick up in the games. My mind was all hyperactive; I can't get to sleep. The brain was devising ways to pick up stars and coins in the various configuration set by and for itself.
At that moment, I think I'm getting out of control. I need to do something quick. I got out of bed, removed the Super Mario Galaxy CD, returned it into its cover and asked for it to be returned. I can't be addicted to it. I can play other things like Wii Sports. That's fine, because there is a limiting factor called physical exhaustion. Wii Sports require you to mimick the actual sports action and with such physical activity, you get worn out and at the opportune moment, you'll decide you've got enough of a workout, turn off the Wii and resume life. SMG does not wear you out. It makes you addicted. And I worry about addiction.
So, there'll be come cold turkey today. And I'll be back to Wii Sporting.
Oh, did I tell you I chose Princess Peach as my avatar? I wanted to choose Queen Bitch if it (Note at edit: Oh man, that's a Freudian slip!) existed. But then what would I do with Q**nsy? Sigh. So, Princess Peach... that's right. Sounds like Princess Bitch anyway.
This semi-addiction seems worse than I imagine...
Welcome to my Super Mario Galaxy semi-addiction.
The game started slowly enough. The moves were initially clumsy and the movement slow. But trust me, at the grand old age of... heck, you'll figure out my age anyway. The point is, even if you can teach an old dog new tricks, you can't overcome the fact that aged joints and ancient habits are hard to overcome. I therefore concede: my moves are still clumsy and the movement slow. Trust me, you won't want to read how many times I steered Mario into the black hole. Ok, I didn't steer him into the black holes but the imprecision of my moves inevitably meant Mario became BH fodder one time too many. How many, you ask? Well, try from 15 lives to nothing and then from 10 to nothing and then another 1 more before I cleared some particularly difficult stages.
And you know what's even better about SMG? The programming folks allow you to return to the game from the last point you left off instead of requiring you to begin from scratch. So you get new frustrations when the positions and techniques don't work and new highs when they do. The mind keeps telling itself that it can top the stage and one reaches for the start button after each game over. The ass is rooted to the seat and the mind loses all track of time. (Maybe, Wii and a slower version of SMG can be introduced to old folks' home to keep the residents engaged. Maybe not; they might fight over who's turn it is.)
Yet, the amazing graphics aside, the trick is to know... the tricks. The programmers are not very smart. I've got them figured out mostly. In certain worlds or galaxies, I pick up so many lives that I was incredibly elated. At the same time, I knew the extras would never be enough; how does one pick up extra lives quickly enough a whole game when one needs 26 of them to clear some particularly tricky stage? I don't know how I managed to clear some of those inhuman stages, but I did.
One can usually progress after mentally working through the algorithm required to clear that stage; keeping Mario alive long enough to clear the stage is the larger problem for me. Unfortunately, though, mental dexterity did not make up for the lack of finesse in the finer movements. The fingers were not stiff - digital (pun intended) gravity works differently, I'd say. Of course there are many excuses. This is where I spend all my time moaning about my exciting life, regardless how exciting it really is. Did you expect otherwise?
For all the fun and pleasure it brings, SMG is a silent time killer. I take anywhere between 45 minutes and 3 hours to clear a stage and I've sat in front of the Wii for almost 6 hours yesterday. That is bad. Extremely bad, if you ask me. And at 1.30 am this morning, when I tried to sleep after my shower, all I saw when I shut my eyes were the stars and the coins I was supposed to pick up in the games. My mind was all hyperactive; I can't get to sleep. The brain was devising ways to pick up stars and coins in the various configuration set by and for itself.
At that moment, I think I'm getting out of control. I need to do something quick. I got out of bed, removed the Super Mario Galaxy CD, returned it into its cover and asked for it to be returned. I can't be addicted to it. I can play other things like Wii Sports. That's fine, because there is a limiting factor called physical exhaustion. Wii Sports require you to mimick the actual sports action and with such physical activity, you get worn out and at the opportune moment, you'll decide you've got enough of a workout, turn off the Wii and resume life. SMG does not wear you out. It makes you addicted. And I worry about addiction.
So, there'll be come cold turkey today. And I'll be back to Wii Sporting.
Oh, did I tell you I chose Princess Peach as my avatar? I wanted to choose Queen Bitch if it (Note at edit: Oh man, that's a Freudian slip!) existed. But then what would I do with Q**nsy? Sigh. So, Princess Peach... that's right. Sounds like Princess Bitch anyway.
This semi-addiction seems worse than I imagine...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Rubbish Rushes in to Fill a Vacuum
Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed
I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it .
Read the message, then read it again in reverse.
Which generation do you belong in?
---@---@---
Guess what? As I arrived at work, I saw the lost generation. The latecomers, the stragglers, the lost souls, the headless ghosts, the useless bums, the lazy bones... And there were all made to stand outside the office while the rest went through the passage.
Me? I am part of a lost generation. I will tell you that money will make me happy. More money will make me more happy. Ok, bad English. Still, you get the point.
Happiness comes from within. It can't come from anywhere else. I don't laugh or gloat at others' misery. But having money can make me happy.
I am part of a lost generation. Despite me telling my employers that they are not the most important things in my life, I can't stop working. Because I need money. Remember, money will make me happy.
My family is more important than my work. But they will have to take a back seat. Don't forget, money will make me happy. And money makes them happy too.
I don't believe in spending money to be divorced in 30 years. I can't afford that. So I won't marry and won't have children. This way, my money is all for I, me and myself. And money will make me happy.
Environmental destruction is part of nature. Global warming has to do with the less than perfectly circular orbit of the earth. The hell I care about spending any of my hard earned money on environmentally friendly nonsense. Why should I pay others money and make them happy? I should amass my wealth. After all, money will make me happy. Perhaps I should want to be buried in a dollar bill mache coffin. To be buried in money will make me happy.
I am not apathetic and lethargic; watch my energy levels as I throw myself at money. I already know there is no hope (for the hopeless others). Might as well now work towards getting them to bequeath me their money...
All together now: Money will make me happy.
I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it .
Read the message, then read it again in reverse.
Which generation do you belong in?
---@---@---
Guess what? As I arrived at work, I saw the lost generation. The latecomers, the stragglers, the lost souls, the headless ghosts, the useless bums, the lazy bones... And there were all made to stand outside the office while the rest went through the passage.
Me? I am part of a lost generation. I will tell you that money will make me happy. More money will make me more happy. Ok, bad English. Still, you get the point.
Happiness comes from within. It can't come from anywhere else. I don't laugh or gloat at others' misery. But having money can make me happy.
I am part of a lost generation. Despite me telling my employers that they are not the most important things in my life, I can't stop working. Because I need money. Remember, money will make me happy.
My family is more important than my work. But they will have to take a back seat. Don't forget, money will make me happy. And money makes them happy too.
I don't believe in spending money to be divorced in 30 years. I can't afford that. So I won't marry and won't have children. This way, my money is all for I, me and myself. And money will make me happy.
Environmental destruction is part of nature. Global warming has to do with the less than perfectly circular orbit of the earth. The hell I care about spending any of my hard earned money on environmentally friendly nonsense. Why should I pay others money and make them happy? I should amass my wealth. After all, money will make me happy. Perhaps I should want to be buried in a dollar bill mache coffin. To be buried in money will make me happy.
I am not apathetic and lethargic; watch my energy levels as I throw myself at money. I already know there is no hope (for the hopeless others). Might as well now work towards getting them to bequeath me their money...
All together now: Money will make me happy.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Hitting Out at the Bus Company
I am a regular commuter on City Hopper 579, one of your supposedly premium services, which you charge an arm and a leg for. I often take the bus often in the afternoons on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. As a premium service, SBS Transit has been able to provide commuters with fixed arrival timings when the bus arrives at specified bus stops. Therefore, despite the much higher charges, I prefer taking 579 from town to Simei MRT, on which I am guaranteed minimal waiting time, convenience and comfort. Having a guaranteed seat on 579 surely beats having to stand all the way from City Hall to Simei on the MRT train.
However, there is nothing premium about this service. One of the biggest drawback of taking 579 is the lack of punctuality in the arrival times (compared to other premium buses like 502, 518, and 578, which also call at the same bus stop). The deviation from the published timing is getting so out of hand that I am compelled to write this feedback.
The deterioration of the punctuality of the service has been gradual but visible. About half a year ago, service 579 often called at the bus stop within 5 minutes of the scheduled arrival times, in the recent two months, the erratic arrival times have been so bad that I now question myself if it is at all sensible to pay $3.10 to take this trip.
Today, for instance, the 1611 h bus arrived at 1630 h. Even though your website suggested that to passengers to "be at the bus stop 5 minutes earlier," past experience of seeing service 579 arrive up to as many as 10 minutes before the scheduled time has taught me a lesson to make my way to the bus stop earlier- I missed that bus because it came way too early. Since then, I made it a point to wait at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Still, there are buses which arrive 7 minutes or so early.
Think about it: If I arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled bus arrival time and I have to wait 20 minutes for the bus because it was late, what SENSE does it make for the commuter who has to wait 30 minutes - despite a clearly stated arrival time for the service - for a 30 minute bus ride from Bras Basah to Simei? A comparable MRT trip would have taken less than the time of either the waiting or the bus trip!
You may also wish to note that only the service levels of bus 579 is way below those of your other premium services such as 518, 578 and 502, and most of your regular services. I know this, because I have been frustrated enough to monitor their arrival times against your prescribed timing for the past months to build my case for my feedback. I am very interested to know why this is, and why SBS transit has allowed it, to be so.
Please do not give me stock replies about road and traffic conditions. Except for extenuating circumstances, such conditions do not vary excessively day to day. Furthermore, the bus spends a good amount of its journey on the expressways, which are almost never congested at the afternoon portions of the day. What I see is simply poor management and oversight by your supervisory staff. Ask your staff why other services can be prompt but 579 can't be.
Do not tell me to use IRIS. The hallmark of a world class bus service is its punctuality. Why do I have to pay money to find out if your buses are going to underperform YET AGAIN? If SBS Transit is able to deliver the goods, people would not even need to rely on IRIS. Many countries I visit do not even have IRIS: What they have a cheap bus services with high frequencies.
Perhaps one incentive for your treasured customers like myself and one way of keeping your company in our good books is to give free rides to passengers if the scheduled premium bus service is more than 5 minutes late. After all, premium services command a price because of their high service levels and should the service fall short, suitable compensation should be made. I certainly don't pay Singapore Airline fares to be treated like a budget airline customer. If you aspire to be a world class transport company, then take a leaf out of SIA's books. If SIA, our truly world class air transport company, were late, they would have served sandwiches and drinks and their front line staff would have been profuse with apologies.
The last thing I need is wait 30 minutes for a bus with already such a low operating frequency and yet cannot keep to its announced arrival time, be faced with a tailgating bus driver who could not see the passenger trying to flag down the bus at the bus stop until it is nearly too late and drive badly, braking too hard because he was tailgating (yet again). Does SBS Transit not assign your better drivers to drive premium services?
Or am I mistaken about 579 being a premium service at all?
However, there is nothing premium about this service. One of the biggest drawback of taking 579 is the lack of punctuality in the arrival times (compared to other premium buses like 502, 518, and 578, which also call at the same bus stop). The deviation from the published timing is getting so out of hand that I am compelled to write this feedback.
The deterioration of the punctuality of the service has been gradual but visible. About half a year ago, service 579 often called at the bus stop within 5 minutes of the scheduled arrival times, in the recent two months, the erratic arrival times have been so bad that I now question myself if it is at all sensible to pay $3.10 to take this trip.
Today, for instance, the 1611 h bus arrived at 1630 h. Even though your website suggested that to passengers to "be at the bus stop 5 minutes earlier," past experience of seeing service 579 arrive up to as many as 10 minutes before the scheduled time has taught me a lesson to make my way to the bus stop earlier- I missed that bus because it came way too early. Since then, I made it a point to wait at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Still, there are buses which arrive 7 minutes or so early.
Think about it: If I arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled bus arrival time and I have to wait 20 minutes for the bus because it was late, what SENSE does it make for the commuter who has to wait 30 minutes - despite a clearly stated arrival time for the service - for a 30 minute bus ride from Bras Basah to Simei? A comparable MRT trip would have taken less than the time of either the waiting or the bus trip!
You may also wish to note that only the service levels of bus 579 is way below those of your other premium services such as 518, 578 and 502, and most of your regular services. I know this, because I have been frustrated enough to monitor their arrival times against your prescribed timing for the past months to build my case for my feedback. I am very interested to know why this is, and why SBS transit has allowed it, to be so.
Please do not give me stock replies about road and traffic conditions. Except for extenuating circumstances, such conditions do not vary excessively day to day. Furthermore, the bus spends a good amount of its journey on the expressways, which are almost never congested at the afternoon portions of the day. What I see is simply poor management and oversight by your supervisory staff. Ask your staff why other services can be prompt but 579 can't be.
Do not tell me to use IRIS. The hallmark of a world class bus service is its punctuality. Why do I have to pay money to find out if your buses are going to underperform YET AGAIN? If SBS Transit is able to deliver the goods, people would not even need to rely on IRIS. Many countries I visit do not even have IRIS: What they have a cheap bus services with high frequencies.
Perhaps one incentive for your treasured customers like myself and one way of keeping your company in our good books is to give free rides to passengers if the scheduled premium bus service is more than 5 minutes late. After all, premium services command a price because of their high service levels and should the service fall short, suitable compensation should be made. I certainly don't pay Singapore Airline fares to be treated like a budget airline customer. If you aspire to be a world class transport company, then take a leaf out of SIA's books. If SIA, our truly world class air transport company, were late, they would have served sandwiches and drinks and their front line staff would have been profuse with apologies.
The last thing I need is wait 30 minutes for a bus with already such a low operating frequency and yet cannot keep to its announced arrival time, be faced with a tailgating bus driver who could not see the passenger trying to flag down the bus at the bus stop until it is nearly too late and drive badly, braking too hard because he was tailgating (yet again). Does SBS Transit not assign your better drivers to drive premium services?
Or am I mistaken about 579 being a premium service at all?
Monday, May 11, 2009
On Female Equality and a Response to The Probligo
I have this thought: If there weren't that many free women (probably from not having to work because their husbands bring home the bread, bacon and cheese!) around, there wouldn't be a feminist movement. With most things in the world, it is the mind of an idle person who can think of all the nonsense. Of course, I am most likely wrong and I shouldn't have digressed but I am glad I did.
If I ask around today, I might be able to get a good number of people to agree that feminism is now becoming a dirty word. I have no doubts that the feminist movement started out with a noble aim - fighting for equality for women - but one suspects the feminist cause to be perverted by radical women pushing for hardcore femini-jihadism these days. I don't think such firebrand feminists have many supporters or sympathisers - this could explain why Dr Thio Su Mien did not get the support she had expected from the women despite playing the gender card. Thus, such extremists probably exist and operate covertly.
Equality for women should be the expected default position in any society. In a meritocractic society especially, an woman and a man with equal qualities should be viewed, appraised and rewarded equally. Unfortunately, equality is an ideal and with all ideals, they are elusive and largely unachievable.
I am not arguing that we should let the imbalance or inequality continue but unless something can be done about the innate qualities of the two sexes, there is little to argue here. For one, men can't bear children. Trust me, if men could, many of them probably wouldn't want wives.
Where I come from, the laws are vehemently anti-men. Get a divorce under the Women's Charter and see what happens to the man. The Women's Charter might as well be called the anti-Men Charter. If women and men are indeed placed on equal footing, then why is it that women (notice I do not call them the fairer sex) are still hiding behind the charter? Our female population is better educated than the male population!
Our laws are highly punitive of men who beat their wives. The irony is, the number of women involved in spousal battery and abuse is now catching up. So, why haven't the laws changed? We still can't hang female murderers, kidnappers and drug smugglers. Why the special treatment? Are women less vicious when they kill?
Pregnancy-based discrimination could be rife in the past but to try to engage in that now could bring about dire consequences for the company. No doubt, credit goes to the feminist movement. Equal credit should go to the company who is able to tolerate such nonsense. What happens when the pregnant woman go on maternity leave? Who takes over the work and gets it done? Either the men or other women. So why shouldn't the men or other non-childbearing women be paid more? If that is the case, then where is the equality? Men also want to have their own babies and go on 6 months' worth of maternity leave! At least I know I would want to. But can I?
For crying out loud, I can't even adopt a child because I am a man. And what makes the law think that "mothering" instincts come (more) naturally to women? Some women I know of shouldn't even have uteruses, much less kids!
I believe Singapore women have shown great restraint and maturity in not falling for the feminist mentor's rubbish. I believe Singapore workers - men and women - know the limitations of each sex and have found some form of tolerable balance so that both sexes can coexist without much trouble.
I should think that for many people, gone are the days of the bra-burning feminists, just like the Communists (in Singapore). I am all for supporting female equality but if any woman tries to play the feminist card and gets whiplashed because of her radical ideas, then I have no sympathy for her.
For a start, if we were to review most of the existing systems to give women an equal footing, there is no guarantee that the women are not going to lose more than they gain. A smart feminist would therefore be well-served to count her spoils and blessings instead undermining the efforts of the earlier "suffragettes" (Dictionary.com tsk-tsked me and said I should use "suffragist" as the term suffragette is often considered demeaning) and "equalists" through crowing and scratching senselessly.
If I ask around today, I might be able to get a good number of people to agree that feminism is now becoming a dirty word. I have no doubts that the feminist movement started out with a noble aim - fighting for equality for women - but one suspects the feminist cause to be perverted by radical women pushing for hardcore femini-jihadism these days. I don't think such firebrand feminists have many supporters or sympathisers - this could explain why Dr Thio Su Mien did not get the support she had expected from the women despite playing the gender card. Thus, such extremists probably exist and operate covertly.
Equality for women should be the expected default position in any society. In a meritocractic society especially, an woman and a man with equal qualities should be viewed, appraised and rewarded equally. Unfortunately, equality is an ideal and with all ideals, they are elusive and largely unachievable.
I am not arguing that we should let the imbalance or inequality continue but unless something can be done about the innate qualities of the two sexes, there is little to argue here. For one, men can't bear children. Trust me, if men could, many of them probably wouldn't want wives.
Where I come from, the laws are vehemently anti-men. Get a divorce under the Women's Charter and see what happens to the man. The Women's Charter might as well be called the anti-Men Charter. If women and men are indeed placed on equal footing, then why is it that women (notice I do not call them the fairer sex) are still hiding behind the charter? Our female population is better educated than the male population!
Our laws are highly punitive of men who beat their wives. The irony is, the number of women involved in spousal battery and abuse is now catching up. So, why haven't the laws changed? We still can't hang female murderers, kidnappers and drug smugglers. Why the special treatment? Are women less vicious when they kill?
Pregnancy-based discrimination could be rife in the past but to try to engage in that now could bring about dire consequences for the company. No doubt, credit goes to the feminist movement. Equal credit should go to the company who is able to tolerate such nonsense. What happens when the pregnant woman go on maternity leave? Who takes over the work and gets it done? Either the men or other women. So why shouldn't the men or other non-childbearing women be paid more? If that is the case, then where is the equality? Men also want to have their own babies and go on 6 months' worth of maternity leave! At least I know I would want to. But can I?
For crying out loud, I can't even adopt a child because I am a man. And what makes the law think that "mothering" instincts come (more) naturally to women? Some women I know of shouldn't even have uteruses, much less kids!
I believe Singapore women have shown great restraint and maturity in not falling for the feminist mentor's rubbish. I believe Singapore workers - men and women - know the limitations of each sex and have found some form of tolerable balance so that both sexes can coexist without much trouble.
I should think that for many people, gone are the days of the bra-burning feminists, just like the Communists (in Singapore). I am all for supporting female equality but if any woman tries to play the feminist card and gets whiplashed because of her radical ideas, then I have no sympathy for her.
For a start, if we were to review most of the existing systems to give women an equal footing, there is no guarantee that the women are not going to lose more than they gain. A smart feminist would therefore be well-served to count her spoils and blessings instead undermining the efforts of the earlier "suffragettes" (Dictionary.com tsk-tsked me and said I should use "suffragist" as the term suffragette is often considered demeaning) and "equalists" through crowing and scratching senselessly.
Monday, January 12, 2009
By who's standards?
The GCE O Level results are released today and the candidates that I presented for the math papers returned to collect the fruits of their labour.
The results were not astounding - of the 5 distinction (A2) grades garnered by the entire cohort of 60, my group of 23 picked up one. The rest went to the top class. While my group scored well for percentage passes, the students did not measure up in terms of percentage distinctions, not at least when compared against the national average. But the students were nonetheless elated with their results.
I should say I was rather disappointed when the students were so happy with their results. There was a kind of sadness in my happiness. I'm happy for them because when I had them, they were consistently failing all their tests and exams. I'm sad because I wonder how I will ever come to terms with their "satisfaction" criteria.
I guess this is a continuing journey of reviewing the standards that I used to know. These students, who had been consistently failing, had received reasonably respectable passing grades. On fact, a number of them have had good passing grades. These grades, to them, are like nectar to a parched man. They represented the sweet taste of victory.
To me, however, these were at best mediocre grades. But who am I to say so when even the principal congratulated the group for their "better than national average" showing.
It did not take me long to realise the irony of celebrating small victories. These are the roots of mediocrity. To partake in these celebrations is to magnify the trivial achievements and make them seem monumental. If mankind thrived this way, we would never be able to send anyone to the moon. Our neighbours up north would never be inspired to send a spaceship to the sun. Never mind it'll be too hot because they will fire off in the night.
Even as I remind myself, "Even the dull, they have their story," I cannot help but wonder if we are giving the dull a voice but never teaching them to grow any smarter. So, if not to make the dull sharper, what is the point of listening?
I am not for using my standards to measure my students' achivements. But if we were to benchmark the school's results according to national averages, then isn't it more sensible to remind the school and the students that there is no big deal being around or slightly better than the national average? To be truly good, one has to transcend this mindset and surpass national standards significantly.
But who is willing to put in the hard work? Who is willing to accept another's standards? Who are we bluffing when we shortchange the people to whom we are going to entrust ourselves in our silver years? I guess we reap what we sow. But I am not willing to accept this - in my books, they had failed to meet the standards which define excellence even if they had outdone themselves.
The results were not astounding - of the 5 distinction (A2) grades garnered by the entire cohort of 60, my group of 23 picked up one. The rest went to the top class. While my group scored well for percentage passes, the students did not measure up in terms of percentage distinctions, not at least when compared against the national average. But the students were nonetheless elated with their results.
I should say I was rather disappointed when the students were so happy with their results. There was a kind of sadness in my happiness. I'm happy for them because when I had them, they were consistently failing all their tests and exams. I'm sad because I wonder how I will ever come to terms with their "satisfaction" criteria.
I guess this is a continuing journey of reviewing the standards that I used to know. These students, who had been consistently failing, had received reasonably respectable passing grades. On fact, a number of them have had good passing grades. These grades, to them, are like nectar to a parched man. They represented the sweet taste of victory.
To me, however, these were at best mediocre grades. But who am I to say so when even the principal congratulated the group for their "better than national average" showing.
It did not take me long to realise the irony of celebrating small victories. These are the roots of mediocrity. To partake in these celebrations is to magnify the trivial achievements and make them seem monumental. If mankind thrived this way, we would never be able to send anyone to the moon. Our neighbours up north would never be inspired to send a spaceship to the sun. Never mind it'll be too hot because they will fire off in the night.
Even as I remind myself, "Even the dull, they have their story," I cannot help but wonder if we are giving the dull a voice but never teaching them to grow any smarter. So, if not to make the dull sharper, what is the point of listening?
I am not for using my standards to measure my students' achivements. But if we were to benchmark the school's results according to national averages, then isn't it more sensible to remind the school and the students that there is no big deal being around or slightly better than the national average? To be truly good, one has to transcend this mindset and surpass national standards significantly.
But who is willing to put in the hard work? Who is willing to accept another's standards? Who are we bluffing when we shortchange the people to whom we are going to entrust ourselves in our silver years? I guess we reap what we sow. But I am not willing to accept this - in my books, they had failed to meet the standards which define excellence even if they had outdone themselves.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
You Spin Me Round
Ferris wheel size queens of the world should take note - when the Singapore Flyer stopped spinning, everything else started spinning.
People trapped in the world's largest flyer (on borrowed time) started feeling so hungry they had to eat a lot of pizzas "roped" in by the staff, some had to pee in plastic bags shielded by their family (funny, the capsules are all glass), one's head spun so bad and another puked and both landed in the hospital.
And a Russian tourist, the poor man, missed his flight home to spend a cold and dreary Christmas at home. Instead, he got to spend it on the sunny, balmy shores of Singapore. I wonder who's paying for it.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force had to be roped in to supplement efforts of the designated recovery firm. Hey, that makes me go right round round round because taxpayers money like mine are used to save people have a spin on the wheel when I have not even stepped foot in it!
And Singapore once again gained international infamy when newspapers from Australia to UK to Canada to China to Malaysia (hey, that is AROUND the world, if your geography sucks) reported the unfortunate event.
Even more interesting - the wheel is powered by 6 "rotary" units and can turn as long as 3 are working. This is what Singapore Flyer describes a 100% redundancy. Technical guys love such nonsense speak. But an electrical fire wiped out power to all 6 units. Is the fire at a 100% redundancy too?
Like many things in life, I wish 100% redundancy is so easy to achieve. Like when I lose a kilo of weight, the 100% redundancy rule wipes out 2 kilo when I stand on the weighing machine. When I gain a kilo, it shows up 500g of increase (100% redundancy, in case I really didn't gain a kilo.) Maybe Bernard Madoff also reported a 100% redundancy. He really lost USD 100 billion.
But I digress. As usual. If there is a disaster to be mocked, I must mock it with 100% redundancy. Nothing less. So, I wonder why our commandos were not called in. With their 'elicopters and rappelling skills, they should be able to save the trapped folks. Oh, they are the 100% redundancy that cannot be activated until people start dying in the capsule, I guess.
Of course, the greatest mockery of it all - the SCDF's ladders from their fire engines could reach up to capsules of only a certain height. And for good redundancy. The capsules were EMPTY! And the next capsule up (apparently, the third one up) cannot be reached.
With all these redundancy speak, it's no surprise that my head is spinning round round like a record baby right round round round....
People trapped in the world's largest flyer (on borrowed time) started feeling so hungry they had to eat a lot of pizzas "roped" in by the staff, some had to pee in plastic bags shielded by their family (funny, the capsules are all glass), one's head spun so bad and another puked and both landed in the hospital.
And a Russian tourist, the poor man, missed his flight home to spend a cold and dreary Christmas at home. Instead, he got to spend it on the sunny, balmy shores of Singapore. I wonder who's paying for it.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force had to be roped in to supplement efforts of the designated recovery firm. Hey, that makes me go right round round round because taxpayers money like mine are used to save people have a spin on the wheel when I have not even stepped foot in it!
And Singapore once again gained international infamy when newspapers from Australia to UK to Canada to China to Malaysia (hey, that is AROUND the world, if your geography sucks) reported the unfortunate event.
Even more interesting - the wheel is powered by 6 "rotary" units and can turn as long as 3 are working. This is what Singapore Flyer describes a 100% redundancy. Technical guys love such nonsense speak. But an electrical fire wiped out power to all 6 units. Is the fire at a 100% redundancy too?
Like many things in life, I wish 100% redundancy is so easy to achieve. Like when I lose a kilo of weight, the 100% redundancy rule wipes out 2 kilo when I stand on the weighing machine. When I gain a kilo, it shows up 500g of increase (100% redundancy, in case I really didn't gain a kilo.) Maybe Bernard Madoff also reported a 100% redundancy. He really lost USD 100 billion.
But I digress. As usual. If there is a disaster to be mocked, I must mock it with 100% redundancy. Nothing less. So, I wonder why our commandos were not called in. With their 'elicopters and rappelling skills, they should be able to save the trapped folks. Oh, they are the 100% redundancy that cannot be activated until people start dying in the capsule, I guess.
Of course, the greatest mockery of it all - the SCDF's ladders from their fire engines could reach up to capsules of only a certain height. And for good redundancy. The capsules were EMPTY! And the next capsule up (apparently, the third one up) cannot be reached.
With all these redundancy speak, it's no surprise that my head is spinning round round like a record baby right round round round....
Sunday, September 28, 2008
"I'm here so that, hopefully, I can have a good tea"
A friend was "invited" to attend a timeshare presentation. He was enticed with lots of gifts, such as free hotel stay, online vouchers, and cruises, for attending the session. I tagged along because I really want to update myself on the cupidicious behaviour of these marketeers, or if you would indulge me, profiteering chalatans.
(Another reason was the fact that I needed to vent after having marked Assignment One and knowing that Assignment Two was coming in on Monday. But this was not the main reason.)
At the door, my friend was asked to register and I had to be registered as well. I pulled my friend aside and told him to report his salary as half of what he was receiving now. I had asked him to go for the lowest option but he thought it was not realistic.
For me, I wrote "unemployed" for my occupation and was dressed for my role. He then submitted the form.
Then I told my friend that I had prepared my speech in case the con asked me what I was there for.
"You see, I'm unemployed. Since my friend was invited here for a presentation at this time, I hope that if I'm here, hopefully, I can have a good tea."
My friend, of course, nearly flipped when he heard this. Then he asked me to go easy and not say anything if we were invited to the presentation.
In less than 3 minutes after the form was submitted, the receptionist called him and handed him the vouchers for the gifts, with the message that we did not have to sit through the presentation as the con-sultant was very busy.
See? We portray ourselves as paupers and we got off with the gifts without any time wasted. They must be kicking themselves for not doing their market survey properly.
Me? Have you heard the maniacal laughter of a genius in the lift down from the penthouse of the Rolex Building to the ground floor? Priceless!
(Another reason was the fact that I needed to vent after having marked Assignment One and knowing that Assignment Two was coming in on Monday. But this was not the main reason.)
At the door, my friend was asked to register and I had to be registered as well. I pulled my friend aside and told him to report his salary as half of what he was receiving now. I had asked him to go for the lowest option but he thought it was not realistic.
For me, I wrote "unemployed" for my occupation and was dressed for my role. He then submitted the form.
Then I told my friend that I had prepared my speech in case the con asked me what I was there for.
"You see, I'm unemployed. Since my friend was invited here for a presentation at this time, I hope that if I'm here, hopefully, I can have a good tea."
My friend, of course, nearly flipped when he heard this. Then he asked me to go easy and not say anything if we were invited to the presentation.
In less than 3 minutes after the form was submitted, the receptionist called him and handed him the vouchers for the gifts, with the message that we did not have to sit through the presentation as the con-sultant was very busy.
See? We portray ourselves as paupers and we got off with the gifts without any time wasted. They must be kicking themselves for not doing their market survey properly.
Me? Have you heard the maniacal laughter of a genius in the lift down from the penthouse of the Rolex Building to the ground floor? Priceless!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Living Rich
Incredible, it must be, to be really rich.
Someone I know of bought a camera for $2 700+ in May and then resold it for $1 700 today. Without batting an eyelid.
How filthy rich is that?
Someone I know of bought a camera for $2 700+ in May and then resold it for $1 700 today. Without batting an eyelid.
How filthy rich is that?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Taking ownership
I "lost" my temper at a bunch of students today. They were part of a history making class where everyone failed math.
I was not so much perturbed by their failure but by their poor attitude, irresponsibility and denial.
Made them write a reflection today. Most were self-critical and honest about what went wrong. A few finally came to terms with what and who they really are. I have no idea how long this sense of urgency would last.
There were still some who chose to hide behind the fact that they had failed math ever since Secondary 1 and they were not confident of the subject. Yet, they failed to come to terms with their difficulties and get their hands dirty when I asked them to try.
Ostriches. That's what they are. Unless they are willing to enter the trenches and get low down and dirty, learning will never take place.
One can't mine a diamond without getting into a hell hole and getting dirty. I wonder when they will understand this simple theory.
I was not so much perturbed by their failure but by their poor attitude, irresponsibility and denial.
Made them write a reflection today. Most were self-critical and honest about what went wrong. A few finally came to terms with what and who they really are. I have no idea how long this sense of urgency would last.
There were still some who chose to hide behind the fact that they had failed math ever since Secondary 1 and they were not confident of the subject. Yet, they failed to come to terms with their difficulties and get their hands dirty when I asked them to try.
Ostriches. That's what they are. Unless they are willing to enter the trenches and get low down and dirty, learning will never take place.
One can't mine a diamond without getting into a hell hole and getting dirty. I wonder when they will understand this simple theory.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Did We Get It Wrong?
She had to pass her N level examinations before she could be promoted to Secondary 5 to complete her O level examinations. Or, with the N level passes, she could have gone over to the Institute of Technical Education, where she could get some form of "tertiary" education. In any case, she had completed her 10 years of mandatory education, stipluated by Singapore law.
Yet, since she had decided to attend Secondary 5, an almost inordinately tough additional year to obtain her O level certificate. One of the reasons for the difficulty is in the difference between the syllabi to be tested at the two years. Another reason, which might or might not be true, is that while the O level certificate has international recognition, the N level certificate has none.
What's my point?
I was invigilating a paper where this student placed her head on her table and dozed off less than 30 minutes into a 75 minutes Physics paper. She was not alone sleeping in the middle of the paper.
Being a responsible invigilator, I went round waking people up. There was no way the 75 minute paper is going to be completed in 30 minutes. I couldn't even do it myself. And when I tried waking this thing up, she lost her temper and threw a tantrum.
I begin to wonder if we have gotten it wrong. If so, what went wrong? And finally, what are we going to do about it?
Yet, since she had decided to attend Secondary 5, an almost inordinately tough additional year to obtain her O level certificate. One of the reasons for the difficulty is in the difference between the syllabi to be tested at the two years. Another reason, which might or might not be true, is that while the O level certificate has international recognition, the N level certificate has none.
What's my point?
I was invigilating a paper where this student placed her head on her table and dozed off less than 30 minutes into a 75 minutes Physics paper. She was not alone sleeping in the middle of the paper.
Being a responsible invigilator, I went round waking people up. There was no way the 75 minute paper is going to be completed in 30 minutes. I couldn't even do it myself. And when I tried waking this thing up, she lost her temper and threw a tantrum.
I begin to wonder if we have gotten it wrong. If so, what went wrong? And finally, what are we going to do about it?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Delaying the inevitable
I may be jumping the gun here but I think the woman is really trying to delay the inevitable.
She's already so far behind and she's already lent her campaign US$6 million!
But perhaps that's small money.
I hear Billy gives talks at USD 250k per pop. And given his prowess and the practice that he had with and on his intern, he could probably take on a sideline.
What made me amused was the fact that he did not ask her to back down. Or did her. Because the numbers are hard to deny and overcome. The opponent had a significantly strong hand.
Party members would also realise that even if she wins, her winning margin would make her target for opposition gunfire because of her highly fractious campaign. If people really wanted her, she wouldn't have had to settle for such a nomination on such pathetic numbers.
In fact, both her and her opponent are either so damned good that the party is having a hard time to decide or are so damned that the party is having a hard time to decide. Finally, the whole people will have a hard time trying to decide as well.
If she threw in the towel now and graciously backed him, she could probably claim credit as a "king-maker".
But only time will tell if this post has jumped the gun.
She's already so far behind and she's already lent her campaign US$6 million!
But perhaps that's small money.
I hear Billy gives talks at USD 250k per pop. And given his prowess and the practice that he had with and on his intern, he could probably take on a sideline.
What made me amused was the fact that he did not ask her to back down. Or did her. Because the numbers are hard to deny and overcome. The opponent had a significantly strong hand.
Party members would also realise that even if she wins, her winning margin would make her target for opposition gunfire because of her highly fractious campaign. If people really wanted her, she wouldn't have had to settle for such a nomination on such pathetic numbers.
In fact, both her and her opponent are either so damned good that the party is having a hard time to decide or are so damned that the party is having a hard time to decide. Finally, the whole people will have a hard time trying to decide as well.
If she threw in the towel now and graciously backed him, she could probably claim credit as a "king-maker".
But only time will tell if this post has jumped the gun.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Sublime Parenting Skills
Lest you be deemed a lousy or hopeless parent, here is an arsenal of skills that you should master before meeting your child's teachers in the event of a complaint.
1. Make an appointment and then turn up late.
When you are cornered for missing the appointment, insist that you have informed your child to inform the teacher of your latecoming, if the teacher manages to track the child down and ask (that is).
2. Insist that your child was all right the years before.
Claim that the child only turned bad when s/he came to this school or entered this grade. Before that, the child was doing well. (Be prepared for the teacher's retort on your claim: how would your child who is doing well land in academically inferior streams designed by the educational system to help slower children catch up.)
3. Blame the school.
Allege that the school has poor discipline and that you noticed that the child's behaviour got from bad to worse after s/he came here. Insinuate that you would like to transfer the child to another school. (Be ready to recant, if you are in fact invited to get your child out from the school. To do so, you can go to the next point immediately.)
4. Remember to blame the classmates.
Rehearse the line "even if my child is naughty, s/he won't dare to do such a thing. She must be accosted by his/her classmates, who wanted to get him/her into more trouble." Reiterate this claim often, even when you are told that your child is one of the worst behaved in class - eating during lessons, distracting the class, copying work, defiant, rebellious - and that no one could have led her any more to the dark side. Also blame the other classmates for having other friends who might further corrupt your child. (Be careful not to use the same threat of transferring your child out, lest you are given a school transfer form on the spot for your signature.)
5. Don't forget the hormones.
Remind the teacher that children this age tend to get into a lot of trouble with the school and cite more examples from your sisters and brothers, whose poor upbringing of their children also saw their kids get into trouble in school, to back up your case. If this fails, try number 6 immediately.
6. Question the teacher's parenting credentials.
Ask if the teacher had children and say that the teacher wouldn't understand parenting problems when s/he said no. Repeat the homones and family argument (see point 5 above.) If you are snubbed a second time, go to 7.
7. Claim that the child is unable to accept being ticked off by someone else.
Tell the teacher to directly tell you whatever problem s/he faces with your child to you. Even if
a. you are separated with your husband/wife
b. the child does not live you
c. you hardly see the child for more than an hour a day, if at all
d. you are merely a shield your child uses when s/he gets into trouble,
insist that the teacher not take disciplinary action but inform you instead. If the teacher shows up your incompetence by reiterating points 7b, 7c, and 7d, insist that you are doing what is best for your child. Remember to villify your spouse by saying that your spouse is not interested about the child at all and hope to gain some sympathy from the teacher.
8. Ignore what you do not want to hear.
When you are told the truth about your child, look blankly at the teacher. This is especially critical when the teacher asks you if you realise your child is exactly like you in behaviour and mannerisms. Also apply this when the teacher tells you in your face that your child is one of the worst-behaved in class and is unlikely to be led any more astray by any one else.
9. Practice darting your eyes around, never looking at the teacher in the eye.
This is a way to show your disinterest in the whole situation and at the same time disrupt the teacher's tirade. (Your child would also have learnt this skill from you since this would also get him/her out of trouble into more trouble.)
Once you have mastered the above skills, you have become a sublime parent. You turn directly from the solid state to the gaseous state - at least mentally - when heat is applied. You are never there, yet always there.
Good luck!
1. Make an appointment and then turn up late.
When you are cornered for missing the appointment, insist that you have informed your child to inform the teacher of your latecoming, if the teacher manages to track the child down and ask (that is).
2. Insist that your child was all right the years before.
Claim that the child only turned bad when s/he came to this school or entered this grade. Before that, the child was doing well. (Be prepared for the teacher's retort on your claim: how would your child who is doing well land in academically inferior streams designed by the educational system to help slower children catch up.)
3. Blame the school.
Allege that the school has poor discipline and that you noticed that the child's behaviour got from bad to worse after s/he came here. Insinuate that you would like to transfer the child to another school. (Be ready to recant, if you are in fact invited to get your child out from the school. To do so, you can go to the next point immediately.)
4. Remember to blame the classmates.
Rehearse the line "even if my child is naughty, s/he won't dare to do such a thing. She must be accosted by his/her classmates, who wanted to get him/her into more trouble." Reiterate this claim often, even when you are told that your child is one of the worst behaved in class - eating during lessons, distracting the class, copying work, defiant, rebellious - and that no one could have led her any more to the dark side. Also blame the other classmates for having other friends who might further corrupt your child. (Be careful not to use the same threat of transferring your child out, lest you are given a school transfer form on the spot for your signature.)
5. Don't forget the hormones.
Remind the teacher that children this age tend to get into a lot of trouble with the school and cite more examples from your sisters and brothers, whose poor upbringing of their children also saw their kids get into trouble in school, to back up your case. If this fails, try number 6 immediately.
6. Question the teacher's parenting credentials.
Ask if the teacher had children and say that the teacher wouldn't understand parenting problems when s/he said no. Repeat the homones and family argument (see point 5 above.) If you are snubbed a second time, go to 7.
7. Claim that the child is unable to accept being ticked off by someone else.
Tell the teacher to directly tell you whatever problem s/he faces with your child to you. Even if
a. you are separated with your husband/wife
b. the child does not live you
c. you hardly see the child for more than an hour a day, if at all
d. you are merely a shield your child uses when s/he gets into trouble,
insist that the teacher not take disciplinary action but inform you instead. If the teacher shows up your incompetence by reiterating points 7b, 7c, and 7d, insist that you are doing what is best for your child. Remember to villify your spouse by saying that your spouse is not interested about the child at all and hope to gain some sympathy from the teacher.
8. Ignore what you do not want to hear.
When you are told the truth about your child, look blankly at the teacher. This is especially critical when the teacher asks you if you realise your child is exactly like you in behaviour and mannerisms. Also apply this when the teacher tells you in your face that your child is one of the worst-behaved in class and is unlikely to be led any more astray by any one else.
9. Practice darting your eyes around, never looking at the teacher in the eye.
This is a way to show your disinterest in the whole situation and at the same time disrupt the teacher's tirade. (Your child would also have learnt this skill from you since this would also get him/her out of trouble into more trouble.)
Once you have mastered the above skills, you have become a sublime parent. You turn directly from the solid state to the gaseous state - at least mentally - when heat is applied. You are never there, yet always there.
Good luck!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Is Compulsory Education the Way to Go?
I am still a believer in education.
But I do not believe in shoving education down the throats of those who do not wish to have it.
Ignorance is a disease. And yet its youthful sufferers wear their symptoms and illness with pride and pomp. Each is so worried that his or her ignorance is overshadowed by another's! The older sufferers begin to find ways to heal themselves. The chronic sufferers are mostly in jail, dead or healed.
The path to healing is inevitably education. Sadly, the path called education is filled with treacherous pitfalls for some while it is wide and welcoming for the others. It is boring and loathesome for some but yet intriguing and challenging for the others.
Even the most hardened ignoramuses would not be able to deny the goals of education. What they have not come to terms with is the fact that getting an education is non-negotiable if they want out of the rut.
I believe the way forward now, given our limited resources, is to extend free medical benefits to the citizens while making users pay for education. We should not and do not aim to turn away the masses. We just want to make it legitimate for those who are NOT in want of an education to opt out by using financial difficulties as a reason.
Think of all the benefits that come immediately. We can reduce the class sizes, our National Institute of Education would not be hard-pressed to churn out teachers a la production line, our teachers may finally get to offer courses and students bid to get into those classes. Teachers, in the long run, get paid a salary commensurate with their actual performance in class (students vote with their legs!) instead of being subjects of subjective appraisals.
As time passes, give medical subsidies in proportion to the education level attained by the patient. This way, we can prevent ignorance from multiplying.
Looks like compulsory education, like communism, is a good idea but badly executed.
But I do not believe in shoving education down the throats of those who do not wish to have it.
Ignorance is a disease. And yet its youthful sufferers wear their symptoms and illness with pride and pomp. Each is so worried that his or her ignorance is overshadowed by another's! The older sufferers begin to find ways to heal themselves. The chronic sufferers are mostly in jail, dead or healed.
The path to healing is inevitably education. Sadly, the path called education is filled with treacherous pitfalls for some while it is wide and welcoming for the others. It is boring and loathesome for some but yet intriguing and challenging for the others.
Even the most hardened ignoramuses would not be able to deny the goals of education. What they have not come to terms with is the fact that getting an education is non-negotiable if they want out of the rut.
I believe the way forward now, given our limited resources, is to extend free medical benefits to the citizens while making users pay for education. We should not and do not aim to turn away the masses. We just want to make it legitimate for those who are NOT in want of an education to opt out by using financial difficulties as a reason.
Think of all the benefits that come immediately. We can reduce the class sizes, our National Institute of Education would not be hard-pressed to churn out teachers a la production line, our teachers may finally get to offer courses and students bid to get into those classes. Teachers, in the long run, get paid a salary commensurate with their actual performance in class (students vote with their legs!) instead of being subjects of subjective appraisals.
As time passes, give medical subsidies in proportion to the education level attained by the patient. This way, we can prevent ignorance from multiplying.
Looks like compulsory education, like communism, is a good idea but badly executed.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Blody sluts
Was telling Marlz during our MSN chat that I see shadows of my students past in my students now.
Oh well. But there are some students now that are best devoid of predecessors and successors!
The second last express class I am taking has a group of self-possessed, self-important, short-sighted and f***ing ugly (I should just use fugly) sluts. They probably had tutors who were teaching ahead (only dumb tutors do that - why snatch and do what teachers are paid to do? Perhaps these tutors find that their fees are too easy to earn?) and they would be folding things like paper waste trays or passing notes or eating in class. There is absolutely no regard to what is really happening in class.
For the record, these dumb sluts are not smart. They think they are. Now, the problem comes - they are not pretty enough to win Miss Universe (what do the bengs call those faces? Is it langgar lorry - crashed into by a lorry?) and they are not enough to be the school nerd.
Yet when you tell them to pay attention in class, they have the cheek to complain that whatever is written on the board are not reproduced for them as handouts.
I wonder what their hands are used for? Mast**b*ting? Oh, sorry. Folding origami. I hope they all fail and repeat the next year. And for good measure, I am their math teacher. Wow! I'd have a field day.
Oh well. But there are some students now that are best devoid of predecessors and successors!
The second last express class I am taking has a group of self-possessed, self-important, short-sighted and f***ing ugly (I should just use fugly) sluts. They probably had tutors who were teaching ahead (only dumb tutors do that - why snatch and do what teachers are paid to do? Perhaps these tutors find that their fees are too easy to earn?) and they would be folding things like paper waste trays or passing notes or eating in class. There is absolutely no regard to what is really happening in class.
For the record, these dumb sluts are not smart. They think they are. Now, the problem comes - they are not pretty enough to win Miss Universe (what do the bengs call those faces? Is it langgar lorry - crashed into by a lorry?) and they are not enough to be the school nerd.
Yet when you tell them to pay attention in class, they have the cheek to complain that whatever is written on the board are not reproduced for them as handouts.
I wonder what their hands are used for? Mast**b*ting? Oh, sorry. Folding origami. I hope they all fail and repeat the next year. And for good measure, I am their math teacher. Wow! I'd have a field day.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A Pregnancy Bonus?
I was just thinking random thoughts when I happened to revisit T. F.'s rant about taxes as well as the ludicrous request by the Louisiana Senator asking Congress for USD250 billion to rebuild New Orleans. Among other things, he claimed that using simple division, "if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012."
I love this idea of raining cash. I would transplant myself to New Orleans if this amount of money is going to drop on me. I would even vote a Dem.... Oh wait. You never trust a Democrat.
Then I thought about how the Singapore government is throwing money at its people to get married, have kids and look after their old. Ok, at least there is clearly a Baby Bonus, where parents of second, third and fourth (and maybe subsequent) newborns are given awards of money and in kind.
Yet, while we see some improvements in our birth rates, more needed to be done. This is especially so when the father now calls upon his generation to work as long as they can before they can go and kick the bucket. So the son's idea of having more kids is becoming less and less attractive, since knowing very well that these very kids you are going to bring to suffer the injustices of the world are now going to be saddled with an additional problem - a aged populace of working folks who simply won't shut up, get out and go away for good.
If people don't retire, we have corporations and organisations that are bloated at the top end of the age scale. If we go by seniority, these elderly workers may occupy the middle parts of the spectrum. Just like obesity, it's the middle layers that do you in. So, is that really sound? Perhaps there are jobs just to take care of such things.
But truly, death is an inevitable outcome of living. (I can't believe I had written something that corny but I did.) So we should let nature take its course and not play god. Not all of us are going to live on and on because we are not genetically predisposed to. Just yesterday, I found out from Wikipedia that kangaroos live four to six years in general and a female kangaroo is in a perpetual state of pregnancy. The only day she is not pregnant is when she gives birth. (I know - Wiki had that and I went D - U - H as well.)
Despite their short livespan, there are about 50 million of them in Australia but since hunters were allowed to kill these marsupials for food and hide (and roo meat is really nice!), the numbers are more controlled now. Still, they could easily become a pest if they are not culled on a regular basis. (Animal conservationists are going to take issue with this. Hey guys, I eat dog meat too!)
So, at this point, I can't believe I have digressed so much that I actually forgot that I was writing about the pregnancy bonus!
Let me get back on track.
Societal conditions have made it rather unpalatable for couples to have kids again. Perhaps we can resort of using yet another carrot to entice them to make babies. To this end, we can offer the Pregnancy Bonus.
I really believe this will come sooner or later. When it becomes bad enough, trust me - natural births might be offered free in government hospitals (just like budget air tickets). Parents are just liable for the relevant service charges and taxes.
For me, I await the day when men are given an "emission bonus" for bringing about pregnancies.
I love this idea of raining cash. I would transplant myself to New Orleans if this amount of money is going to drop on me. I would even vote a Dem.... Oh wait. You never trust a Democrat.
Then I thought about how the Singapore government is throwing money at its people to get married, have kids and look after their old. Ok, at least there is clearly a Baby Bonus, where parents of second, third and fourth (and maybe subsequent) newborns are given awards of money and in kind.
Yet, while we see some improvements in our birth rates, more needed to be done. This is especially so when the father now calls upon his generation to work as long as they can before they can go and kick the bucket. So the son's idea of having more kids is becoming less and less attractive, since knowing very well that these very kids you are going to bring to suffer the injustices of the world are now going to be saddled with an additional problem - a aged populace of working folks who simply won't shut up, get out and go away for good.
If people don't retire, we have corporations and organisations that are bloated at the top end of the age scale. If we go by seniority, these elderly workers may occupy the middle parts of the spectrum. Just like obesity, it's the middle layers that do you in. So, is that really sound? Perhaps there are jobs just to take care of such things.
But truly, death is an inevitable outcome of living. (I can't believe I had written something that corny but I did.) So we should let nature take its course and not play god. Not all of us are going to live on and on because we are not genetically predisposed to. Just yesterday, I found out from Wikipedia that kangaroos live four to six years in general and a female kangaroo is in a perpetual state of pregnancy. The only day she is not pregnant is when she gives birth. (I know - Wiki had that and I went D - U - H as well.)
Despite their short livespan, there are about 50 million of them in Australia but since hunters were allowed to kill these marsupials for food and hide (and roo meat is really nice!), the numbers are more controlled now. Still, they could easily become a pest if they are not culled on a regular basis. (Animal conservationists are going to take issue with this. Hey guys, I eat dog meat too!)
So, at this point, I can't believe I have digressed so much that I actually forgot that I was writing about the pregnancy bonus!
Let me get back on track.
Societal conditions have made it rather unpalatable for couples to have kids again. Perhaps we can resort of using yet another carrot to entice them to make babies. To this end, we can offer the Pregnancy Bonus.
I really believe this will come sooner or later. When it becomes bad enough, trust me - natural births might be offered free in government hospitals (just like budget air tickets). Parents are just liable for the relevant service charges and taxes.
For me, I await the day when men are given an "emission bonus" for bringing about pregnancies.
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