"I prefer to go to Perth in Western Australia because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. That means, the sun rises in Gold Coast, which is in Eastern Australia, and sets in Perth. I love sunsets, so Perth is more suitable for me."
"I think I prefer to go to Perth in Western Australia because the sun rises in the east and Gold Coast is in Eastern Australia. Therefore, Gold Coast would be colder than Perth and I don't like the cold."
"I would not like a strenuous tour package as I suffer from asthma. If the activities are too physical, I may get an attack"... "But I love animals. In fact, I am really looking forward to going to the Perth Zoo, where I can see a spectacular array of Australia's native animals such as koalas, kangaroos and dingoes."
"I don't like to learn how to surf in Gold Coast because I dislike getting wet and I could get sea sick. However, I think I would enjoying a one-day fishing trip in Perth."
Friday, May 02, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Eugenics the Singaporean Way
He won't say sorry
'IT'S NOT MY FAULT'
Man causes crash after slamming brakes to insert CashCard
Woman biker rushed to ICU, suffers memory loss
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
By Chong Shin Yen
29 April 2008
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
And it caused an accident that left a woman seriously injured.
But to Mr Lim Huang Khim, 45, it was the 'natural thing' to do. He does not think he did anything wrong.
This, despite being fined for his inconsiderate driving that caused a motorcyclist to slam into the car behind him - which had braked in time to avoid hitting Mr Lim's car.
This, despite a judge ruling in a civil suit that Mr Lim was 50 per cent liable for the accident.
The motorcyclist, Miss Tiong Zhen Cheng, 33, was flung more than 20m and landed beside Mr Lim's car.
The sales executive was warded in the intensive care unit and spent about a week in hospital. She still suffers pain and some memory loss.
Miss Tiong ended up being sued by the driver of the second car, Mr Lye Chiew Meng, for the damage to his Toyota.
His rear windscreen was shattered and the repair bill came to $7,000.
But her insurance company felt Mr Lim should also be liable and he was named as the third party in the civil suit.
SMILED MANY TIMES IN COURT
Earlier this month, Mr Lim, who works as a driver, insisted he was not to blame and smiled several times as he recounted the accident on the stand.
He was chided by District Judge Lim Wee Meng for his cavalier attitude.
Judge Lim said: 'I don't think it's funny. Someone was seriously injured and I don't think it's funny at all.'
The accident happened around 7.50pm on 29 Nov 2006 on the Central Expressway, just before the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry near the Braddell exit.
Mr Lim was driving a rented silver Mitsubishi car and was travelling on the extreme right lane on his way home with his wife and four children.
When he saw that the gantry was activated, he switched on the car's hazard lights and stopped to slot in his CashCard.
Mr Lye, a finance manager, who was behind him, managed to stop in time. But Miss Tiong's 400cc Honda motorbike crashed into Mr Lye's car.
When cross-examined by Miss Tiong's lawyer, Mr Lim maintained that he was not at fault.
Her lawyer, Mr William Chai, asked: 'A car was damaged, a person was severely and mentally injured, are you saying you are not responsible? Not even 1 per cent?'
Mr Lim replied: 'I'm saying that I'm totally not to be blamed.'
He told the court that he had not inserted his CashCard into the in-vehicle unit (IU) earlier because he did not know that the ERP gantry was activated at that time.
When asked if seeing the activated gantry was a big surprise, Mr Lim said he had seen it from afar and was trying to insert the CashCard in time.
He also told the court that he did not see Miss Tiong's bike behind Mr Lye's car.
He admitted that following the accident, he had purposely left out in his police report the reason for stopping his car as he knew that it was an offence.
Mr Lim, who has been driving for 24 years, was fined $200 by the Traffic Police for inconsiderate driving and given nine demerit points.
But in his affidavit tendered to the court, he said: 'I decided to pay the $200 out of convenience even though I do not believe that I should be responsible for the accident.
'I did not want the trouble to engage a lawyer to contest the claim because this would be time-consuming and the legal fees would definitely exceed $200.'
In contrast, Mr Lye was apologetic about what happened to Miss Tiong. His lawyer, Miss Bonnie Kwok, told the court: 'My client would like to extend his sympathies to Miss Tiong.'
She also said that while Mr Lye could clearly see the traffic conditions in front of him, Miss Tiong could not.
Said Miss Kwok: 'It's not a situation whereby the vehicles were approaching a traffic light junction, so there's no reason for Miss Tiong to anticipate a sudden stopping.
'Mr Lim had created a dangerous situation. I found it rather distasteful that Mr Lim's demeanour in court showed that he couldn't be bothered that Miss Tiong had suffered severe injuries and trauma.'
Before giving his verdict, the judge pointed out that Mr Lim could have gone through the ERP gantry and paid an administrative fee of $10 for not having a CashCard.
LIABLE FOR DAMAGE
He ruled that Mr Lim and Miss Tiong were each 50 per cent liable for the damage caused to Mr Lye's car.
When contacted by The New Paper, Mr Lim insisted that he was not in the wrong.
He said in Mandarin: 'Are you a driver? Have you driven a car before?
'If you have, you should know that it's a driver's natural reaction (when you see an activated gantry).
'You can't say it's right or wrong because there's no right or wrong in such situations. I did switch on the hazard lights to warn the vehicles behind me.'
Mr Lim said that he felt sorry for the injured Miss Tiong, though he did not speak to her in court.
'She might think that I have an ulterior motive if I went up to her and apologised,' he said.
Just two days before the accident involving Miss Tiong, Mr Lim said he was involved in a similar accident along the East Coast Parkway.
Mr Lim told The New Paper that the car in front of his had slowed down suddenly.
'So I also braked and stopped my car to take a closer look at what the driver was up to and to take down his licence plate number,' he said.
'But the car behind me couldn't stop in time and ended up crashing into the rear of my car.'
Mr Lim said the first car then drove off. His car, a Honda Stream, ended up at the workshop for five days.
That was why he was driving a rented car, which did not have a CashCard in the IU.
Mr Lim added: 'If I was driving my car, this wouldn't have happened because I always have the CashCard inside the IU.'
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,163364,00.html?
Emphases mine. I knew Singaporean drivers typically have depressed IQ but to go against Highway Code rules, I think Lim and Tiong ought to have both their licenses revoked. Stopping on the expressway and riding in the extreme right lane... what were they thinking? And why did no one die?
'IT'S NOT MY FAULT'
Man causes crash after slamming brakes to insert CashCard
Woman biker rushed to ICU, suffers memory loss
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
By Chong Shin Yen
29 April 2008
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
And it caused an accident that left a woman seriously injured.
But to Mr Lim Huang Khim, 45, it was the 'natural thing' to do. He does not think he did anything wrong.
This, despite being fined for his inconsiderate driving that caused a motorcyclist to slam into the car behind him - which had braked in time to avoid hitting Mr Lim's car.
This, despite a judge ruling in a civil suit that Mr Lim was 50 per cent liable for the accident.
The motorcyclist, Miss Tiong Zhen Cheng, 33, was flung more than 20m and landed beside Mr Lim's car.
The sales executive was warded in the intensive care unit and spent about a week in hospital. She still suffers pain and some memory loss.
Miss Tiong ended up being sued by the driver of the second car, Mr Lye Chiew Meng, for the damage to his Toyota.
His rear windscreen was shattered and the repair bill came to $7,000.
But her insurance company felt Mr Lim should also be liable and he was named as the third party in the civil suit.
SMILED MANY TIMES IN COURT
Earlier this month, Mr Lim, who works as a driver, insisted he was not to blame and smiled several times as he recounted the accident on the stand.
He was chided by District Judge Lim Wee Meng for his cavalier attitude.
Judge Lim said: 'I don't think it's funny. Someone was seriously injured and I don't think it's funny at all.'
The accident happened around 7.50pm on 29 Nov 2006 on the Central Expressway, just before the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry near the Braddell exit.
Mr Lim was driving a rented silver Mitsubishi car and was travelling on the extreme right lane on his way home with his wife and four children.
When he saw that the gantry was activated, he switched on the car's hazard lights and stopped to slot in his CashCard.
Mr Lye, a finance manager, who was behind him, managed to stop in time. But Miss Tiong's 400cc Honda motorbike crashed into Mr Lye's car.
When cross-examined by Miss Tiong's lawyer, Mr Lim maintained that he was not at fault.
Her lawyer, Mr William Chai, asked: 'A car was damaged, a person was severely and mentally injured, are you saying you are not responsible? Not even 1 per cent?'
Mr Lim replied: 'I'm saying that I'm totally not to be blamed.'
He told the court that he had not inserted his CashCard into the in-vehicle unit (IU) earlier because he did not know that the ERP gantry was activated at that time.
When asked if seeing the activated gantry was a big surprise, Mr Lim said he had seen it from afar and was trying to insert the CashCard in time.
He also told the court that he did not see Miss Tiong's bike behind Mr Lye's car.
He admitted that following the accident, he had purposely left out in his police report the reason for stopping his car as he knew that it was an offence.
Mr Lim, who has been driving for 24 years, was fined $200 by the Traffic Police for inconsiderate driving and given nine demerit points.
But in his affidavit tendered to the court, he said: 'I decided to pay the $200 out of convenience even though I do not believe that I should be responsible for the accident.
'I did not want the trouble to engage a lawyer to contest the claim because this would be time-consuming and the legal fees would definitely exceed $200.'
In contrast, Mr Lye was apologetic about what happened to Miss Tiong. His lawyer, Miss Bonnie Kwok, told the court: 'My client would like to extend his sympathies to Miss Tiong.'
She also said that while Mr Lye could clearly see the traffic conditions in front of him, Miss Tiong could not.
Said Miss Kwok: 'It's not a situation whereby the vehicles were approaching a traffic light junction, so there's no reason for Miss Tiong to anticipate a sudden stopping.
'Mr Lim had created a dangerous situation. I found it rather distasteful that Mr Lim's demeanour in court showed that he couldn't be bothered that Miss Tiong had suffered severe injuries and trauma.'
Before giving his verdict, the judge pointed out that Mr Lim could have gone through the ERP gantry and paid an administrative fee of $10 for not having a CashCard.
LIABLE FOR DAMAGE
He ruled that Mr Lim and Miss Tiong were each 50 per cent liable for the damage caused to Mr Lye's car.
When contacted by The New Paper, Mr Lim insisted that he was not in the wrong.
He said in Mandarin: 'Are you a driver? Have you driven a car before?
'If you have, you should know that it's a driver's natural reaction (when you see an activated gantry).
'You can't say it's right or wrong because there's no right or wrong in such situations. I did switch on the hazard lights to warn the vehicles behind me.'
Mr Lim said that he felt sorry for the injured Miss Tiong, though he did not speak to her in court.
'She might think that I have an ulterior motive if I went up to her and apologised,' he said.
Just two days before the accident involving Miss Tiong, Mr Lim said he was involved in a similar accident along the East Coast Parkway.
Mr Lim told The New Paper that the car in front of his had slowed down suddenly.
'So I also braked and stopped my car to take a closer look at what the driver was up to and to take down his licence plate number,' he said.
'But the car behind me couldn't stop in time and ended up crashing into the rear of my car.'
Mr Lim said the first car then drove off. His car, a Honda Stream, ended up at the workshop for five days.
That was why he was driving a rented car, which did not have a CashCard in the IU.
Mr Lim added: 'If I was driving my car, this wouldn't have happened because I always have the CashCard inside the IU.'
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,163364,00.html?
Emphases mine. I knew Singaporean drivers typically have depressed IQ but to go against Highway Code rules, I think Lim and Tiong ought to have both their licenses revoked. Stopping on the expressway and riding in the extreme right lane... what were they thinking? And why did no one die?
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Did She Jaywalk?
April 27, 2008
Cancer survivor fatally hit by cab; hubby tries to end life
By Aw Cheng Wei
A woman who survived breast cancer was killed in a road accident yesterday morning, and her husband was so distraught he tried to end his life.
For more than 20 minutes, he hit his head against the road and tried to bite off his tongue. He was finally restrained by paramedics.
The tragedy unfolded at about 10.15am.
Madam Chan Yoke Chan, 61, a member of Paddlers In The Pink, a dragon boat team comprising breast cancer survivors, had just finished training at Marina Reservoir in Kallang.
She was crossing Sims Avenue towards Kallang MRT station when she was knocked down by a taxi. She was about 50m from a pedestrian crossing when she was hit.
Eyewitness Sun Ai Cheng, 29, who was waiting for a bus on the opposite side of the road, said in Mandarin: 'I heard a loud bang and when I turned around, the woman was tumbling from the taxi. She was thrown 6 to 7m from the taxi.'
The other members of the dragon boat team were changing in the toilets at Marina Reservoir when the accident happened.
A passer-by recognised Madam Chan's pink shoes and her paddle - trademarks of the team - and informed them about it. They rushed to the scene.
At 11.05am, Madam Chan's husband, Mr Chan Gee Kan, 65, and their 26-year-old daughter arrived. He looked for witnesses to the accident before the reality of his wife's death hit him.
He started banging his head on the road and had to be held back by passers-by, including The Sunday Times team who was there, and family members.
He then tried to bite his own tongue and stab himself with his keys, and asked a police officer to hand him a gun to end his life.
'I have no choice, I want to accompany her. She will be so lonely,' he cried.
Four men had to pull him back and he was later strapped down to a stretcher-wheelchair by paramedics to calm him down.
Paddlers In The Pink members were shocked by the death.
Mrs Angelina Ong, 53, its team manager, said of Madam Chan: 'She was so dear to us, like a family member. She was the most wonderful person you could have as a friend.'
The team would usually have lunch together after their Saturday morning training but Madam Chan had left earlier saying she had to meet her daughter.
The 63-year-old taxi driver was in a state of shock.
He apologised profusely to Madam Chan's husband before the latter's breakdown, and the two men finally shook hands.
Police said the taxi driver has been arrested for causing death by a negligent act.
awcw@sph.com.sg
More reports: A woman who lived her life for others
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access
http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Free/Story/STIStory_231599.html
Once I get a clearer picture, I'll give my two cents' worth.
Cancer survivor fatally hit by cab; hubby tries to end life
By Aw Cheng Wei
A woman who survived breast cancer was killed in a road accident yesterday morning, and her husband was so distraught he tried to end his life.
For more than 20 minutes, he hit his head against the road and tried to bite off his tongue. He was finally restrained by paramedics.
The tragedy unfolded at about 10.15am.
Madam Chan Yoke Chan, 61, a member of Paddlers In The Pink, a dragon boat team comprising breast cancer survivors, had just finished training at Marina Reservoir in Kallang.
She was crossing Sims Avenue towards Kallang MRT station when she was knocked down by a taxi. She was about 50m from a pedestrian crossing when she was hit.
Eyewitness Sun Ai Cheng, 29, who was waiting for a bus on the opposite side of the road, said in Mandarin: 'I heard a loud bang and when I turned around, the woman was tumbling from the taxi. She was thrown 6 to 7m from the taxi.'
The other members of the dragon boat team were changing in the toilets at Marina Reservoir when the accident happened.
A passer-by recognised Madam Chan's pink shoes and her paddle - trademarks of the team - and informed them about it. They rushed to the scene.
At 11.05am, Madam Chan's husband, Mr Chan Gee Kan, 65, and their 26-year-old daughter arrived. He looked for witnesses to the accident before the reality of his wife's death hit him.
He started banging his head on the road and had to be held back by passers-by, including The Sunday Times team who was there, and family members.
He then tried to bite his own tongue and stab himself with his keys, and asked a police officer to hand him a gun to end his life.
'I have no choice, I want to accompany her. She will be so lonely,' he cried.
Four men had to pull him back and he was later strapped down to a stretcher-wheelchair by paramedics to calm him down.
Paddlers In The Pink members were shocked by the death.
Mrs Angelina Ong, 53, its team manager, said of Madam Chan: 'She was so dear to us, like a family member. She was the most wonderful person you could have as a friend.'
The team would usually have lunch together after their Saturday morning training but Madam Chan had left earlier saying she had to meet her daughter.
The 63-year-old taxi driver was in a state of shock.
He apologised profusely to Madam Chan's husband before the latter's breakdown, and the two men finally shook hands.
Police said the taxi driver has been arrested for causing death by a negligent act.
awcw@sph.com.sg
More reports: A woman who lived her life for others
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access
http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Free/Story/STIStory_231599.html
Once I get a clearer picture, I'll give my two cents' worth.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Managing Your Time Effectively
To know the value of one year - Ask the student who failed their final.
To know the value of one month - ask the mother of a premature baby.
To know the value of one week - ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
To know the value of one day - ask the wager earner with six children.
To know the value of one hour - ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To know the value of one minute - ask the person who missed the plane.
To know the value of one second - ask the person who survived the accident.
To know the value of one millisecond - ask the Olympic silver medalist.
- Best-selling author and leadership guru John C. Maxwell
To know the value of eleven minutes - ask JI detainee, Mas Selamat Kastari, who escaped from Singapore's Internal Security Department's detention centre through the toilet.
To know the value of twenty minutes - ask MM Lee, who said that it is possible to travel from anywhere in Singapore to one corner.
I think if everyone of us takes a leaf out of Mas' book, we could achieve a lot in our lifetimes. Imagine! 11 minutes to escape and 20 minutes to get from point to point in Singapore.
I must be doing something really wrong - I take public transport to work and arrive in 35 minutes. I drive to work and take 50 minutes. Go figure.
To know the value of one month - ask the mother of a premature baby.
To know the value of one week - ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
To know the value of one day - ask the wager earner with six children.
To know the value of one hour - ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To know the value of one minute - ask the person who missed the plane.
To know the value of one second - ask the person who survived the accident.
To know the value of one millisecond - ask the Olympic silver medalist.
- Best-selling author and leadership guru John C. Maxwell
To know the value of eleven minutes - ask JI detainee, Mas Selamat Kastari, who escaped from Singapore's Internal Security Department's detention centre through the toilet.
To know the value of twenty minutes - ask MM Lee, who said that it is possible to travel from anywhere in Singapore to one corner.
I think if everyone of us takes a leaf out of Mas' book, we could achieve a lot in our lifetimes. Imagine! 11 minutes to escape and 20 minutes to get from point to point in Singapore.
I must be doing something really wrong - I take public transport to work and arrive in 35 minutes. I drive to work and take 50 minutes. Go figure.
The Fruit of the Writer Plant is the Poisoned Pen
(This is written in response to imnaught's entry on "haves and have-nots".)
Interestingly, the concept of haves and have-nots has been proposed by the haves, not the have-nots.
The abundant and the bestowed usually have the prerogative and, sadly too, the presumptuousness to plaster labels on those they deem lesser than them. Who would you call dirty if you are not clean? Who would you call hungry if you are not full? Who would you call stupid if you (thought you) are not smart? Who would you call have-nots if you are not a have?
Stereotyping is another past time of the bullies. Some people think the world of literary authors; they feel these people have highlighted the plight of the downtrodden and oppressed. But what exactly have authors done apart from merely hanging over these people a guillitone-like sign that condemns them to yet a newer, further frontier from humanity's core? Or worse, constantly writing stuff that invoke people to renew their beliefs in the existing stereotypes.
The hypocrisy of the haves is also galling. If the upper-crust was indeed inclusive and these celebrities really believe in their AIDS cause in Africa, then why do they ask for sponsorship money rather than move there and stay with these people? Why slap on a label such as "AIDS orphans" or "Women with AIDS" and cause these people more misery? Why just ask for money, then run back to their resource and energy guzzling mansions in the Western world? Does Africa not have enough land for them to build another sprawling bungalow there? This is food for us to think about.
At this point, I just wanted to put on record what I said last night over dinner - Singapore is perhaps the only country where we get fewer and fewer live fund raising programmes. The main reason for this is perhaps the incongruence between the intent and the manifestation. But I shall not go beyond that, for it'll be flogging a dead horse.
Back to the observation about the sterotyping and labelling by the privileged: while thugs bully with their fists and knifes and guns, writers and authors bully with their pens and ideas. Their pen is mightier than others' swords. Small wonder many of them died of STDs.
Interestingly, the concept of haves and have-nots has been proposed by the haves, not the have-nots.
The abundant and the bestowed usually have the prerogative and, sadly too, the presumptuousness to plaster labels on those they deem lesser than them. Who would you call dirty if you are not clean? Who would you call hungry if you are not full? Who would you call stupid if you (thought you) are not smart? Who would you call have-nots if you are not a have?
Stereotyping is another past time of the bullies. Some people think the world of literary authors; they feel these people have highlighted the plight of the downtrodden and oppressed. But what exactly have authors done apart from merely hanging over these people a guillitone-like sign that condemns them to yet a newer, further frontier from humanity's core? Or worse, constantly writing stuff that invoke people to renew their beliefs in the existing stereotypes.
The hypocrisy of the haves is also galling. If the upper-crust was indeed inclusive and these celebrities really believe in their AIDS cause in Africa, then why do they ask for sponsorship money rather than move there and stay with these people? Why slap on a label such as "AIDS orphans" or "Women with AIDS" and cause these people more misery? Why just ask for money, then run back to their resource and energy guzzling mansions in the Western world? Does Africa not have enough land for them to build another sprawling bungalow there? This is food for us to think about.
At this point, I just wanted to put on record what I said last night over dinner - Singapore is perhaps the only country where we get fewer and fewer live fund raising programmes. The main reason for this is perhaps the incongruence between the intent and the manifestation. But I shall not go beyond that, for it'll be flogging a dead horse.
Back to the observation about the sterotyping and labelling by the privileged: while thugs bully with their fists and knifes and guns, writers and authors bully with their pens and ideas. Their pen is mightier than others' swords. Small wonder many of them died of STDs.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Improvisational Cooking
I have been watching too much AFC. (I am so shy to even tell you what it stands for. But what the heck - Asian Food Channel.) I have been watching the likes of famous chefs such as Jean-Christoph Nouvelli (usually on Saturday/Everyday Cooks), Michael Smith (Chef at Home/Chef at Large), Anna Olsen (Sugar), Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen/The F Word), Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall (River Cottage Series), Jamie Oliver (Jamie's own cooking series), Robert Rainford (License to Grill) etc. I know I would be accused of being silly to put Nigella Dawson here but hey, she whips up a mean supper (the Brits got it all wrong - supper's for late night; it's dinner). So challenge me!
And I must say that these great cooks have one thing in common: they are not sticklers of recipes.
There is no better teacher than experience. Cooking is about getting your hands dirty and finding out in the end if things work out.
If you are where I am at, things like parsnip and lamb and whatever you need in those "atas" (high class) cook books cost an arm and an leg. You are better off not following them than following them because you are going to be a couple of items short of the complete recipe. To acquire that missing item at the atas supermarket, that item's cost will probably be 50% or more of the remaining stuff you need. (I believe they call it the Pareto Principle - and it's for the cost and not for the taste.) People are worried about their food not turning out right. They are worried about not getting the correct flavour. They loathe to make replacements.
But these great chefs on TV keep emphasising one thing - whatever you already have at home can do the job well enough. I think I have benefited from their wisdom. I change my food preparation techniques so that I get my onions out in half the time I used to. I taste my marinades before I dump in the food. I taste my food before I serve. I throw in my seasonings without measurement. I know when a dollop of butter, a dash of olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, a squirt of fish sauce, a touch of pepper, a sprinkling of sugar or a few twists of my miracle salt will do the trick.
And most importantly, you need a group of friends who are most adventurous and supportive of your culinary experiments. They should be people who tell you that there is no failed experiment. Cooked food is good food. And before you know it, you are off to even greater culinary heights.
PS. I am usually floored by simple dishes and small portions. I burnt a pot of quick cooking oats I prepared for two persons' breakfast yesterday. *Blush*
And I must say that these great cooks have one thing in common: they are not sticklers of recipes.
There is no better teacher than experience. Cooking is about getting your hands dirty and finding out in the end if things work out.
If you are where I am at, things like parsnip and lamb and whatever you need in those "atas" (high class) cook books cost an arm and an leg. You are better off not following them than following them because you are going to be a couple of items short of the complete recipe. To acquire that missing item at the atas supermarket, that item's cost will probably be 50% or more of the remaining stuff you need. (I believe they call it the Pareto Principle - and it's for the cost and not for the taste.) People are worried about their food not turning out right. They are worried about not getting the correct flavour. They loathe to make replacements.
But these great chefs on TV keep emphasising one thing - whatever you already have at home can do the job well enough. I think I have benefited from their wisdom. I change my food preparation techniques so that I get my onions out in half the time I used to. I taste my marinades before I dump in the food. I taste my food before I serve. I throw in my seasonings without measurement. I know when a dollop of butter, a dash of olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, a squirt of fish sauce, a touch of pepper, a sprinkling of sugar or a few twists of my miracle salt will do the trick.
And most importantly, you need a group of friends who are most adventurous and supportive of your culinary experiments. They should be people who tell you that there is no failed experiment. Cooked food is good food. And before you know it, you are off to even greater culinary heights.
PS. I am usually floored by simple dishes and small portions. I burnt a pot of quick cooking oats I prepared for two persons' breakfast yesterday. *Blush*
"Leducing" Leftovers
(Ok, lame try at alliteration. Hahaha....)
Leftovers, leftovers, leftovers. What better than to pile everything together and bake bread pudding?
The Recipe
Foreword: This is a very healthy recipe. No oil is added. If you are feeling ascetic, you could even remove an egg or a yolk, reduce the sugar, omit the chocolate medallions, omit the nuts if you are nut-resistant and omit the honey. It is really a free for all recipe.
2 cups of milk (I used low fat, high calcium.)
2 eggs - 2nd egg or 2nd egg yolk optional
3 tablespoons of sugar (instead of 4, and there will be a variation to the typical bread pudding!)
Mix the liquids and the sugar together. Make sure that the sugar dissolves.
8 slices of stale bread
Dunk into milk-egg mixture and let it soak up the mixture.
1 tube of stale coarsely crushed chocolate chip cookies (there - here's the variation. This is where the fats and additional sugar come in!) - optional
1 large handful of raisins (I used organic this time.)
pinch of cinnamon powder
pinch of nutmeg powder - optional
pinch of ginger powder - optional
(or you can replace the 3 spices with a liberal dash of vanilla extract)
Add the other dry ingredients and fold them in. Do not pulverise the wet bread.
Pour one-third baking mixture into baking tin lined with wax paper (I hate washing. That's why the wax paper.)
3 handfuls of dark chocolate medallions - optional
At the top of this layer, add a layer of dark chocolate medallions (about 1.5 handful). Repeat with next one-third of mixture. Top up mixture with the final portion, making sure that all the mixture covers the second layer of medallions. If you are baking this in an oven, feel free to divide up the mixture into as many portions as you want and place in as many layers of chocolate medallions as your arteries could possibly accommodate.
Crushed walnuts - optional
Crushed almonds - optional
Honey - if you want to leave this out, then drizzle 2 tablespoons of soft brown sugar on top of the mixture before baking so that light caramelisation takes place
Scatter freshly crushed walnuts and almonds. Drizzle a liberal amount of honey over the nuts.
Bake at 160 deg C (fan assisted) for 50 minutes - forget about preheating. Turn up to max heat for last 5 minutes.
For those using a bread machine, pack in the baking mixture and add the medallions. You probably can have about 5 layers. Set it down to bake with the bake function. Let the machine do its work.
Now, I need to recipe for a custard sauce to go with this.
It's really an SOS!
Another shot of this wonderful bread pudding that was given away to a dear friend the next morning because, honestly, I am facing a food SOS. There is too much food left and I need to clear out, clear out....
What's that rumble in the background...?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Doing a Quinsy
Well, I screwed up my timing on Monday and had to do a Quinsy. Aiyah, take a cab lah. You never read her blog meh? That woman is damned solid. Whole day got money to take cab, then complain broke. Really quite the can. I wonder how this Justin T is keeping up. He's often broke too, or so I understand from her blog.
Anyway, I am not here to judge. Neither am I here to say anything negative about her. I just wanted to share what happens when I break my vow of ta-xi/ce-libacy and had to rush from Aljunied to SMU on a cab. No, there was no way I could be in time if I took the train and the last thing I wanted was to enter the meeting room hungry and sweaty. Furthermore, I just battled the animals in Sec 1 Normal (Academic) class.
Ok, since I am here, allow me to digress. Today, two kiddies came to ask a teacher to return a handphone. Apparently, student A lent his phone to student B, who promptly used it and got caught. Teacher T then confiscated A's phone when B was using it. A and B came to the staff room and demanded for the phone back. T asked why should the phone be returned, since B had violated the school rules in the first place by using the phone in class when he was not allowed to.
So there was some mini commotion out there and finally, T said, Do you know what it is like to walk into your class? It is like walking into hell. You know, hell? Hell on earth? Your class is like hell on earth. You are the little monsters in hell.... Wah! Shiok! Finally, another teacher now has the gumption to tell it like it is.
Hallelujah! Praises! Amazing Grace. T sees! There is hope. There is a god! I nearly broke into song a la Sister Act in the staff room. Fortunately, I didn't. Still, those very words were holiest prayers for my ears. My soul was immediately uplifted. I was exhilerated. It was like the final stages of some exocism - "In the name of ..., I command you to return to your classroom..."
I'm getting carried away but please allow me just this once to celebrate this miracle. I have always felt I am a bad fit to the school because I am a Buddhist while they are mostly Methodist or Christians. I call a spade a spade and in a manner which will sometimes grate on the other's nerves. I guess they might call me a little "radical". But hey, spare a rod and grow your monsters. I am a monster in class. My class never knows the weather of the day. The kids don't need to. And they shouldn't try. Because I don't know what I will feel the next minute either.
So, back to the doing the Quinsy. I hailed a cab at the bus stop outside the Aljunied MRT station and said I wanted to go SMU. And the driver went, which part of SMU? I was amazed this question propped out. The entire SMU is just a lump in the heart of the city. Only the Admin block is far away. The rest are more or less concentrated around a quadrangle. So I said, opposite Chijmes. He said Victoria Street. I said, yes. Well, I know not my street names but I know how to get there. This is a driver's curse.
And so he drove there and got both of us onto Victoria Street. Then I asked if he could turn into Stamford Road, where I needed to get to. He said no. I was a little perturbed - since you know that there is no right turn, then who not take South Bridge Road so that we can get there? No point pushing this.
So I asked if I could alight by the roadside. He said no, he can't stop because of the new ruling banning taxis from stopping at non-designated areas within the business district. So he said, he'll turn into Chijmes. That's great, I said. I could cross the road. Not much of a walk, anyway, I added.
I wanted to assure him that I wouldn't go and complain against him for such a little thing. After all, if the passenger cannot be clear where he intends to go, then the taxi driver is not to be blamed for not being able to get him there.
So he turned into Chijmes at the first opening. I hardly finished my sentence that he had entered via a one-way exit, he said, never mind. Just stop ahead. He stopped in a lot near a valet parking service and he realised that his actions were observed by a guard. Sheepish about it, he asked me to wait while he reversed the taxi to make a direction change.
He shifted into reverse and backed the taxi out as though there was no tomorrow. The next thing, his rear bumper whacked into the front bumper of a Honda Jazz. It was so fast I could hardly tell him to stop. Then I said, you hit a car. He then said, oh, I hit a car?
He quickly shifted to drive gear and moved off. I paid him the cash and he rummaged through his pouch to get me my change. Before he managed, the guard walked up to him and said, "You hit a car you know?"
I got off the cab by then, took my changed and walked out of the compound. There was no use lingering there. With or without me in the car, such reckless reversing of any car would result in grief.
What I cannot understand is this: With the phenomenal increase in taxi prices, where is there no corresponding increase in the service standards?
Anyway, I am not here to judge. Neither am I here to say anything negative about her. I just wanted to share what happens when I break my vow of ta-xi/ce-libacy and had to rush from Aljunied to SMU on a cab. No, there was no way I could be in time if I took the train and the last thing I wanted was to enter the meeting room hungry and sweaty. Furthermore, I just battled the animals in Sec 1 Normal (Academic) class.
Ok, since I am here, allow me to digress. Today, two kiddies came to ask a teacher to return a handphone. Apparently, student A lent his phone to student B, who promptly used it and got caught. Teacher T then confiscated A's phone when B was using it. A and B came to the staff room and demanded for the phone back. T asked why should the phone be returned, since B had violated the school rules in the first place by using the phone in class when he was not allowed to.
So there was some mini commotion out there and finally, T said, Do you know what it is like to walk into your class? It is like walking into hell. You know, hell? Hell on earth? Your class is like hell on earth. You are the little monsters in hell.... Wah! Shiok! Finally, another teacher now has the gumption to tell it like it is.
Hallelujah! Praises! Amazing Grace. T sees! There is hope. There is a god! I nearly broke into song a la Sister Act in the staff room. Fortunately, I didn't. Still, those very words were holiest prayers for my ears. My soul was immediately uplifted. I was exhilerated. It was like the final stages of some exocism - "In the name of ..., I command you to return to your classroom..."
I'm getting carried away but please allow me just this once to celebrate this miracle. I have always felt I am a bad fit to the school because I am a Buddhist while they are mostly Methodist or Christians. I call a spade a spade and in a manner which will sometimes grate on the other's nerves. I guess they might call me a little "radical". But hey, spare a rod and grow your monsters. I am a monster in class. My class never knows the weather of the day. The kids don't need to. And they shouldn't try. Because I don't know what I will feel the next minute either.
So, back to the doing the Quinsy. I hailed a cab at the bus stop outside the Aljunied MRT station and said I wanted to go SMU. And the driver went, which part of SMU? I was amazed this question propped out. The entire SMU is just a lump in the heart of the city. Only the Admin block is far away. The rest are more or less concentrated around a quadrangle. So I said, opposite Chijmes. He said Victoria Street. I said, yes. Well, I know not my street names but I know how to get there. This is a driver's curse.
And so he drove there and got both of us onto Victoria Street. Then I asked if he could turn into Stamford Road, where I needed to get to. He said no. I was a little perturbed - since you know that there is no right turn, then who not take South Bridge Road so that we can get there? No point pushing this.
So I asked if I could alight by the roadside. He said no, he can't stop because of the new ruling banning taxis from stopping at non-designated areas within the business district. So he said, he'll turn into Chijmes. That's great, I said. I could cross the road. Not much of a walk, anyway, I added.
I wanted to assure him that I wouldn't go and complain against him for such a little thing. After all, if the passenger cannot be clear where he intends to go, then the taxi driver is not to be blamed for not being able to get him there.
So he turned into Chijmes at the first opening. I hardly finished my sentence that he had entered via a one-way exit, he said, never mind. Just stop ahead. He stopped in a lot near a valet parking service and he realised that his actions were observed by a guard. Sheepish about it, he asked me to wait while he reversed the taxi to make a direction change.
He shifted into reverse and backed the taxi out as though there was no tomorrow. The next thing, his rear bumper whacked into the front bumper of a Honda Jazz. It was so fast I could hardly tell him to stop. Then I said, you hit a car. He then said, oh, I hit a car?
He quickly shifted to drive gear and moved off. I paid him the cash and he rummaged through his pouch to get me my change. Before he managed, the guard walked up to him and said, "You hit a car you know?"
I got off the cab by then, took my changed and walked out of the compound. There was no use lingering there. With or without me in the car, such reckless reversing of any car would result in grief.
What I cannot understand is this: With the phenomenal increase in taxi prices, where is there no corresponding increase in the service standards?
How is life now?
Very simple question. Very complex answer.
Two possible versions. I'll give the short one.
LIFE IS GOOD! In fact, as good as it gets.
Busy but fulfilling. Work is piling up and in shambles - just like everything else now - but there is a clear direction where things are heading. And best of all, I can turn down work that I don't want to do without fear of any repurcussions. This is important for me.
I so ain't going to be held hostage by months of bonuses now. I get paid a fair value for what I do. Or if the value is not what I ask for, I can decide if I still want to do it. Or I may do something for much less, if I like it or I feel for it or I want to do it. There is nothing more powerful than having a say in the work you do. Having the passion makes a big difference in your work. Mediocrity results otherwise.
The power to choose now resides with me. I choose joy, passion, happiness and love. The joy of living, the passion in doing what you love, the happiness that comes from the fruits of your labour and loving whatever that comes your way.
Life. You only live once. Decide wisely.
Two possible versions. I'll give the short one.
LIFE IS GOOD! In fact, as good as it gets.
Busy but fulfilling. Work is piling up and in shambles - just like everything else now - but there is a clear direction where things are heading. And best of all, I can turn down work that I don't want to do without fear of any repurcussions. This is important for me.
I so ain't going to be held hostage by months of bonuses now. I get paid a fair value for what I do. Or if the value is not what I ask for, I can decide if I still want to do it. Or I may do something for much less, if I like it or I feel for it or I want to do it. There is nothing more powerful than having a say in the work you do. Having the passion makes a big difference in your work. Mediocrity results otherwise.
The power to choose now resides with me. I choose joy, passion, happiness and love. The joy of living, the passion in doing what you love, the happiness that comes from the fruits of your labour and loving whatever that comes your way.
Life. You only live once. Decide wisely.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Un-squirrelling myself
Just deleted about 400 emails.
It was tough because I have emotional attachment with many of them, ok, some of them. Deleting them was like wiping out a portion of my past. But I needed to do that. A good reason is because of my desire not to hoard or become overly emotional to things. Letting go is terribly difficult. It is. I know.
But I've got to start somewhere.
A little amount of affluence is a curse. The existence of that additional disposable income entices people to buy things. And then because I am no Brangelina or TomKat or Madonna Riche or well, you get the drift, it is tough to pry me from my belongings or vice versa. I become senselessly attached to my things because they cost money to buy and I don't think I am in a position to simply throw the thing away and buy a new one. So I keep whatever I buy.
One exception is food. But even then, food poses its unique problems. We tend to have a visual appetite that is astronomically larger than our actual appetite. I had been guilty of storing food (because I just had to have it in my larder) until they expire. This is so unforgivable. I'd caused riots in Africa if I had sent those cans and tins there before they expired, but I didn't. Because I didn't know they had expired until they were long past expiry.
See, one accompanying trait of squirrels like me is the dog-gone memory. I won't even know I have what I have, until I come back with another bag of the same stuff. Only when I am unpacking and storing the spoils of my supermarket sweep in my larder do I realise that I still have 5 kilogrammes of pasta not yet opened, 12 kilos of bread flour not yet opened, 3 kg of cooking oil, 7 cans of pasta sauce... And then I regret and kick myself for overbuying and overstocking. (Then for overeating.)
The remorse lasts for a few days until I next land up in Carrefour or Cold Storage or Giant Hypermarket where I repeat the same process. I think human beings are inherently mentally wired to spend money. There must be some default setting in my mind that makes us empty out our wallets. Just see a man in a casino.
So, back to my larder bursting at the seams. Space is a perennial limitation. But the stock at the supermarket doesn't seem to abate. Each time I visit, I see new products, new packing of old products, new label design of old products, new variations of old products, new.... Well, I am human after all. I am always enticed by something new. So I end up with new stock for my larder. I digressed a lot again.
So, the point is this - I believe that pruning is sometimes healthy and necessary. It provides room for new things to grow. And it encourages me to give up things that are no longer of that much value. When I have consciously thinned out my emails, it does not mean I have thinned out my feelings or emotions. But I have also come to the realisation that I am only willing to carry so much baggage along. Any extra and the additional burden would outstrip the beauty brought about by reminiscing the past. Any less, well, new ones can perhaps come along and fill the gap. We all have different loads that we ought to and want to carry.
This is also a difficult lesson for squirrels to learn. I know, for I am also still learning.
It was tough because I have emotional attachment with many of them, ok, some of them. Deleting them was like wiping out a portion of my past. But I needed to do that. A good reason is because of my desire not to hoard or become overly emotional to things. Letting go is terribly difficult. It is. I know.
But I've got to start somewhere.
A little amount of affluence is a curse. The existence of that additional disposable income entices people to buy things. And then because I am no Brangelina or TomKat or Madonna Riche or well, you get the drift, it is tough to pry me from my belongings or vice versa. I become senselessly attached to my things because they cost money to buy and I don't think I am in a position to simply throw the thing away and buy a new one. So I keep whatever I buy.
One exception is food. But even then, food poses its unique problems. We tend to have a visual appetite that is astronomically larger than our actual appetite. I had been guilty of storing food (because I just had to have it in my larder) until they expire. This is so unforgivable. I'd caused riots in Africa if I had sent those cans and tins there before they expired, but I didn't. Because I didn't know they had expired until they were long past expiry.
See, one accompanying trait of squirrels like me is the dog-gone memory. I won't even know I have what I have, until I come back with another bag of the same stuff. Only when I am unpacking and storing the spoils of my supermarket sweep in my larder do I realise that I still have 5 kilogrammes of pasta not yet opened, 12 kilos of bread flour not yet opened, 3 kg of cooking oil, 7 cans of pasta sauce... And then I regret and kick myself for overbuying and overstocking. (Then for overeating.)
The remorse lasts for a few days until I next land up in Carrefour or Cold Storage or Giant Hypermarket where I repeat the same process. I think human beings are inherently mentally wired to spend money. There must be some default setting in my mind that makes us empty out our wallets. Just see a man in a casino.
So, back to my larder bursting at the seams. Space is a perennial limitation. But the stock at the supermarket doesn't seem to abate. Each time I visit, I see new products, new packing of old products, new label design of old products, new variations of old products, new.... Well, I am human after all. I am always enticed by something new. So I end up with new stock for my larder. I digressed a lot again.
So, the point is this - I believe that pruning is sometimes healthy and necessary. It provides room for new things to grow. And it encourages me to give up things that are no longer of that much value. When I have consciously thinned out my emails, it does not mean I have thinned out my feelings or emotions. But I have also come to the realisation that I am only willing to carry so much baggage along. Any extra and the additional burden would outstrip the beauty brought about by reminiscing the past. Any less, well, new ones can perhaps come along and fill the gap. We all have different loads that we ought to and want to carry.
This is also a difficult lesson for squirrels to learn. I know, for I am also still learning.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
历史故事：周处除三害
【明慧学校】“周处除三害”是中国历史上一个很有名的故事。周处是晋代义举阳羡（今江苏宜兴）人，少年时就失去父教。周处不拘小节，性情凶悍粗鲁，恣意妄为，简直成了乡中一害，乡亲们都十分怕他，总是躲得远远的，不愿和他交往。
久而久之，周处也知道自己为乡亲们所憎恶，便有了悔改之意。他见乡亲们大多愁眉不展，闷闷不乐，心里觉得奇怪，便问道：“如今天下太平，风调雨顺，五谷丰登，事事都如人意，为甚么还郁郁不乐呢？”父老们答道：“现今地方上有三害未除，哪里能快乐得起来呢？”周处问道：“是哪三害？”父老答道：“南山上的白额猛虎随意伤人，为一害；长桥下的河中蛟龙常伤人畜，又是一害；至于第三害……”说到此处，父老们有些犹豫，但还是说了出来：“恐怕要算是你了。”
周处听罢此言，沉默良久，最后他决然说道：“这三害我都能除去！”
周处身带利器，孤身进山搜寻白额猛虎，与猛虎一番拼搏，终于杀死了这只伤人性命的猛兽。接著他又奋身投入河中，去搏杀那只蛟龙。蛟龙在水中或沉或浮，一连三日三夜，毫不知倦。而周处比蛟龙更勇猛，他与蛟龙恶战三日三夜，终于将蛟龙斩杀。
周处三日不归，乡亲们以为他已经死了。想到地方上一下子三害俱去，从此可以太平无事，乡亲们都高兴的互相庆贺，欢喜雀跃。这时候，周处正好归来，眼见乡亲们的高兴情景，才明白自己被大家痛恨到了何等地步，顿时大受刺激，这也更加坚定了他改过自新、从新做人的决心。
周处决心已定，立即付诸行动。他了解到吴中大将陆逊的孙子陆机、陆云很有才学，便专程前去拜访，想拜他们为师。周处只见到了陆云，将自己的情况如实相告，问陆云：“我很想改过自新，但是年纪已经大了，不知是否来得及？”陆云鼓励周处道：“古人贵朝闻夕改，君前途尚可。且患志之不立，何忧名之不彰！”
陆云的一番话极大的教育、鼓励了周处，他从中领悟了有志者事竟成的深刻道理。从此，周处刻苦读书，好学上进。他勤学而有文思，又十分注重自身修养，养成了良好的品德。仅一年，他的名声就大大的不同以往，以至于州、府的官员都举荐他出来做官。
此后，周处为官三十余年。在任时，他克尽职守，很有政绩，如在新平任太守时，与少数民族关系相处得很好；当广汉太守时，为官清廉，处理了不少数十年留存下来的积案；当御史中丞后，他秉公执法，不阿附权贵，他的刚正不阿，自然是难以见容于恶势力。
后来，少数民族首领齐万年造反，朝中想加害于周处的权贵故意推荐他去征讨。有人知道那些朝臣们的险恶用心，规劝周处推辞掉这个差使，周处坚决说道：“忠孝岂能两全，既然辞别亲人，服务于朝廷，父母亲哪里还能把儿子仅仅当作自己的私有之物呢？今天是我献身的时候了！”最后周处由于恶人的陷害，战死疆场，以身殉国。
周处勇于改过，忠于国事，由一个地方恶少转变为忠臣良将，给后人以很大的启发。他的故事说明，一个人做错了事，但只要立志改过，从善如流，是有光明前途的，有志者事竟成，只要下定决心，踏踏实实的去做。
Historical story: Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Menaces
"Zhou Chu eliminates the three menaces" is a famous story in Chinese history. Zhou Chu is a youth who lost his father, and thus was rather ill-bred. Zhou Chu is brash, fierce and willful; he was simply a menace to his township. His fellow villagers all feared him, always hid from him and were unwilling to associate with him.
Gradually, Zhou Chu knew of his fellow villagers’ detest for him and had intentions to repent. He saw his fellow villagers mostly looking worried and depressed. He felt sorry for them and he asked: "There is peace throughout the country, good weather, bumper harvests. Everyone has his heart’s desires. But why are they so depressed?"
The village elders reply: "The people of this town face the three menaces. How can we enjoy what we have?"
Zhou Chu asks: "What are the three menaces?" The elder replies: "On Nanshan, a fierce tiger eats people at will; that is the first menace. In the Long Bridge River, a serpent often attacks livestock; that is the second menace. As for the third menace,... ... " The elders somewhat hesitates, but still said: "Perhaps that had to be you."
Zhou Chu listened to the elders and was silent for a long time. Finally he made up his mind, "The three menaces, I can overcome them!"
The next week, Zhou Chu took his weapons and entered Nanshan alone. He searched for the tiger and finally killed this first menace. He then went over to the river to slay the serpent. The serpent was able to sinks in the water or floats. Zhou Chu had to fight continually for three days and nights. But Zhou Chu is fiercer than the serpent and he finally cuts the serpent, killing it.
When Zhou Chu failed to return on the third night, the fellow villagers thought he already died. They thought that the three menaces were all gone at the same time. Peace would reign from this time on. The fellow villagers were all happy. Mutually congratulations and delighted cries for joy were in the air. At this moment, Zhou Chu returned and saw with his own eyes how the fellow villagers rejoiced. Only then did he understand how hated he was by everybody. It saddened him greatly but a steely resolve grew in him and strengthened his determination to turn over a new leaf.
Zhou Chu's determination to reform himself and change his ways paid off. As one who was loyal to the country and was an official. He was killed by rebels when he was sent to quell them by other court officials who wanted to get rid of him. However, his ability to give up his evil was and become virtuous remained inspirational. His story explained that even after a person has made a mistake but as long as he resolved to reform, accepted good advice readily, he will have the ability to turn over a new leaf.
久而久之，周处也知道自己为乡亲们所憎恶，便有了悔改之意。他见乡亲们大多愁眉不展，闷闷不乐，心里觉得奇怪，便问道：“如今天下太平，风调雨顺，五谷丰登，事事都如人意，为甚么还郁郁不乐呢？”父老们答道：“现今地方上有三害未除，哪里能快乐得起来呢？”周处问道：“是哪三害？”父老答道：“南山上的白额猛虎随意伤人，为一害；长桥下的河中蛟龙常伤人畜，又是一害；至于第三害……”说到此处，父老们有些犹豫，但还是说了出来：“恐怕要算是你了。”
周处听罢此言，沉默良久，最后他决然说道：“这三害我都能除去！”
周处身带利器，孤身进山搜寻白额猛虎，与猛虎一番拼搏，终于杀死了这只伤人性命的猛兽。接著他又奋身投入河中，去搏杀那只蛟龙。蛟龙在水中或沉或浮，一连三日三夜，毫不知倦。而周处比蛟龙更勇猛，他与蛟龙恶战三日三夜，终于将蛟龙斩杀。
周处三日不归，乡亲们以为他已经死了。想到地方上一下子三害俱去，从此可以太平无事，乡亲们都高兴的互相庆贺，欢喜雀跃。这时候，周处正好归来，眼见乡亲们的高兴情景，才明白自己被大家痛恨到了何等地步，顿时大受刺激，这也更加坚定了他改过自新、从新做人的决心。
周处决心已定，立即付诸行动。他了解到吴中大将陆逊的孙子陆机、陆云很有才学，便专程前去拜访，想拜他们为师。周处只见到了陆云，将自己的情况如实相告，问陆云：“我很想改过自新，但是年纪已经大了，不知是否来得及？”陆云鼓励周处道：“古人贵朝闻夕改，君前途尚可。且患志之不立，何忧名之不彰！”
陆云的一番话极大的教育、鼓励了周处，他从中领悟了有志者事竟成的深刻道理。从此，周处刻苦读书，好学上进。他勤学而有文思，又十分注重自身修养，养成了良好的品德。仅一年，他的名声就大大的不同以往，以至于州、府的官员都举荐他出来做官。
此后，周处为官三十余年。在任时，他克尽职守，很有政绩，如在新平任太守时，与少数民族关系相处得很好；当广汉太守时，为官清廉，处理了不少数十年留存下来的积案；当御史中丞后，他秉公执法，不阿附权贵，他的刚正不阿，自然是难以见容于恶势力。
后来，少数民族首领齐万年造反，朝中想加害于周处的权贵故意推荐他去征讨。有人知道那些朝臣们的险恶用心，规劝周处推辞掉这个差使，周处坚决说道：“忠孝岂能两全，既然辞别亲人，服务于朝廷，父母亲哪里还能把儿子仅仅当作自己的私有之物呢？今天是我献身的时候了！”最后周处由于恶人的陷害，战死疆场，以身殉国。
周处勇于改过，忠于国事，由一个地方恶少转变为忠臣良将，给后人以很大的启发。他的故事说明，一个人做错了事，但只要立志改过，从善如流，是有光明前途的，有志者事竟成，只要下定决心，踏踏实实的去做。
Historical story: Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Menaces
"Zhou Chu eliminates the three menaces" is a famous story in Chinese history. Zhou Chu is a youth who lost his father, and thus was rather ill-bred. Zhou Chu is brash, fierce and willful; he was simply a menace to his township. His fellow villagers all feared him, always hid from him and were unwilling to associate with him.
Gradually, Zhou Chu knew of his fellow villagers’ detest for him and had intentions to repent. He saw his fellow villagers mostly looking worried and depressed. He felt sorry for them and he asked: "There is peace throughout the country, good weather, bumper harvests. Everyone has his heart’s desires. But why are they so depressed?"
The village elders reply: "The people of this town face the three menaces. How can we enjoy what we have?"
Zhou Chu asks: "What are the three menaces?" The elder replies: "On Nanshan, a fierce tiger eats people at will; that is the first menace. In the Long Bridge River, a serpent often attacks livestock; that is the second menace. As for the third menace,... ... " The elders somewhat hesitates, but still said: "Perhaps that had to be you."
Zhou Chu listened to the elders and was silent for a long time. Finally he made up his mind, "The three menaces, I can overcome them!"
The next week, Zhou Chu took his weapons and entered Nanshan alone. He searched for the tiger and finally killed this first menace. He then went over to the river to slay the serpent. The serpent was able to sinks in the water or floats. Zhou Chu had to fight continually for three days and nights. But Zhou Chu is fiercer than the serpent and he finally cuts the serpent, killing it.
When Zhou Chu failed to return on the third night, the fellow villagers thought he already died. They thought that the three menaces were all gone at the same time. Peace would reign from this time on. The fellow villagers were all happy. Mutually congratulations and delighted cries for joy were in the air. At this moment, Zhou Chu returned and saw with his own eyes how the fellow villagers rejoiced. Only then did he understand how hated he was by everybody. It saddened him greatly but a steely resolve grew in him and strengthened his determination to turn over a new leaf.
Zhou Chu's determination to reform himself and change his ways paid off. As one who was loyal to the country and was an official. He was killed by rebels when he was sent to quell them by other court officials who wanted to get rid of him. However, his ability to give up his evil was and become virtuous remained inspirational. His story explained that even after a person has made a mistake but as long as he resolved to reform, accepted good advice readily, he will have the ability to turn over a new leaf.
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!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Oolong Tea
Just made a large pot, I really mean pot - soup pot, of tea because I don't have a teapot. Don't laugh. I really don't have a teapot.
I love the tea I made for two reasons. First, a close friend gave it to me at a barbecue some time back. It is a treasured gift. Second, the tea tastes wonderful. Smells heavenly. And it cleanses the palate very well.
Then when the tea was steeping in the pot, I checked my email and the following email came in. A little on the emotional side but it does have its value. Indeed, it is in heat that you know the true strength of character. I'll share it nonetheless. Oolong tea - an obvious Chinese slant to it - mainly because the Chinese are one of the few races who delight in the bitter tastes of various tea because at the end of it, a faint sweetness lingers on the tongue. There is a Chinese saying for that: Sweetest comes after the most intense trials. Here's the story:
OOLONG TEA
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea. You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water , they had changed the water color and taste.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Share this message to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
I love the tea I made for two reasons. First, a close friend gave it to me at a barbecue some time back. It is a treasured gift. Second, the tea tastes wonderful. Smells heavenly. And it cleanses the palate very well.
Then when the tea was steeping in the pot, I checked my email and the following email came in. A little on the emotional side but it does have its value. Indeed, it is in heat that you know the true strength of character. I'll share it nonetheless. Oolong tea - an obvious Chinese slant to it - mainly because the Chinese are one of the few races who delight in the bitter tastes of various tea because at the end of it, a faint sweetness lingers on the tongue. There is a Chinese saying for that: Sweetest comes after the most intense trials. Here's the story:
OOLONG TEA
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea. You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water , they had changed the water color and taste.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Share this message to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
The Many Manifestations of Moron Man
In the Sunday papers, Neil Humphrey wrote about a Moron Man who feeds the monkeys, or rather lets his daughter feed the monkeys despite being told not to do so, and when the daughter screams about his simian relative touching her hand when taking the potato chip she offered, he got into a stand off with the monkey, whacking it with a tree branch.
I assure you, my intelligent readers, that there are many disguises that the Uniquely Singapore Moron Man can take on.
For instance, Moron Man (Seatbelt Mode) does not wear nor insist his passengers wear seatbelts when he drives, so that when he gets into a crash, he will kill them and him.
Moron Man (Tailgate Mode) tailgates. And he is never alone. So when there is a rear end bumping, a whole convoy of vehicles are involved.
Moron Man (Defensive Mode) insists that everything that had gone wrong is the result of the incumbent government, including the recent economic boom.
Moron Man (Ostrich Mode) has the special ability to hide himself in the face of imminent work, then wonder why when it comes to performance bonuses, he gets very little.
Moron Man (Complain Mode) has bad things to say about everyone and everything. Even if things are going well.
Moron Man (Snail Mode) has a twin (Big Ass Mode) and they will morph into the same person. Invariably, Moron Man (SBA Mode) will walk in the middle of a road preventing people who he is holding up from over taking him with his big ass.
Moron Man (Deaf Mode) has his handphone and iPod turned on so loud, as if these were the new public entertainment systems.
Moron Man (Greedy Mode) queues up for freebies and when his turn comes, asks for more than his share, citing that he is also queueing for his mother, his father, his wife, his sister, his brother, his son, his daughter, his father's mother's son, his mother's father's son...
Moron Man (Abusive Mode) tries to use violence or semi-violence to solve all problems, especially with his children.
If Mattel were to launch Moron Man as a series of action figures, I'm sure Mattel would replicate the success of its Barbie range a million times over. This is especially so when Moron Man is real.
I'm sure if this went on, any collector after having bought all the accessories for Moron Man, we will see the Ultimate Moron Man.
I believe some of them already exist and are called Moron **men.
I assure you, my intelligent readers, that there are many disguises that the Uniquely Singapore Moron Man can take on.
For instance, Moron Man (Seatbelt Mode) does not wear nor insist his passengers wear seatbelts when he drives, so that when he gets into a crash, he will kill them and him.
Moron Man (Tailgate Mode) tailgates. And he is never alone. So when there is a rear end bumping, a whole convoy of vehicles are involved.
Moron Man (Defensive Mode) insists that everything that had gone wrong is the result of the incumbent government, including the recent economic boom.
Moron Man (Ostrich Mode) has the special ability to hide himself in the face of imminent work, then wonder why when it comes to performance bonuses, he gets very little.
Moron Man (Complain Mode) has bad things to say about everyone and everything. Even if things are going well.
Moron Man (Snail Mode) has a twin (Big Ass Mode) and they will morph into the same person. Invariably, Moron Man (SBA Mode) will walk in the middle of a road preventing people who he is holding up from over taking him with his big ass.
Moron Man (Deaf Mode) has his handphone and iPod turned on so loud, as if these were the new public entertainment systems.
Moron Man (Greedy Mode) queues up for freebies and when his turn comes, asks for more than his share, citing that he is also queueing for his mother, his father, his wife, his sister, his brother, his son, his daughter, his father's mother's son, his mother's father's son...
Moron Man (Abusive Mode) tries to use violence or semi-violence to solve all problems, especially with his children.
If Mattel were to launch Moron Man as a series of action figures, I'm sure Mattel would replicate the success of its Barbie range a million times over. This is especially so when Moron Man is real.
I'm sure if this went on, any collector after having bought all the accessories for Moron Man, we will see the Ultimate Moron Man.
I believe some of them already exist and are called Moron **men.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
My choice is sleep
For the past few days, I was faced with the choice of what time I wanted to report for work.
The main reason for the reluctance to start work early is that the pay is mere pittance. Had it been more substantial, I might decide that getting to work early is more worthwhile than snatching another hour of sleep. But not with that pathetic pay.
So, even if I decide to go in a little later, I don't feel any pinch.
Today, I was hesitating between going in to mark some scripts or not going in. In the end, I decided not to go in. First, Tuesday is my off day and I had never gone in. I want to keep that tradition. Second, the kids do not deserve me slaving away to mark their pathetic work. Third, I decided more sleep was in order.
I am probably servicing a 33 year sleep debt and that might take another 33 years to repay. Honestly, the worst loanshark is sleep.
The main reason for the reluctance to start work early is that the pay is mere pittance. Had it been more substantial, I might decide that getting to work early is more worthwhile than snatching another hour of sleep. But not with that pathetic pay.
So, even if I decide to go in a little later, I don't feel any pinch.
Today, I was hesitating between going in to mark some scripts or not going in. In the end, I decided not to go in. First, Tuesday is my off day and I had never gone in. I want to keep that tradition. Second, the kids do not deserve me slaving away to mark their pathetic work. Third, I decided more sleep was in order.
I am probably servicing a 33 year sleep debt and that might take another 33 years to repay. Honestly, the worst loanshark is sleep.
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.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Don't Forget to Smell the Flowers!
Amazing what it means to become ordinary again.
This idea of becoming ordinary can be explored a little more in another entry but it is about having the life back in my life.
Purpose. Value. Honesty.
These are hallmark of the work I do these days. And despite doing three jobs to replace one, I have found time to smell the flowers.
The busy-ness is a fruitful one and it comes with happiness. And I now know why I am rushing and if I should be. One thing that I have been most relentless in doing is to gulp in breaths of air and marvel at the abundance of freedom, joy and lightness of being now that my loads are removed.
Indeed,
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Mohandas Gandhi
This idea of becoming ordinary can be explored a little more in another entry but it is about having the life back in my life.
Purpose. Value. Honesty.
These are hallmark of the work I do these days. And despite doing three jobs to replace one, I have found time to smell the flowers.
The busy-ness is a fruitful one and it comes with happiness. And I now know why I am rushing and if I should be. One thing that I have been most relentless in doing is to gulp in breaths of air and marvel at the abundance of freedom, joy and lightness of being now that my loads are removed.
Indeed,
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Mohandas Gandhi
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Irony
Read something recently.
In the announcement, it was noted that in a workplace survey, the organisation scored low in the aspect of "work-life harmony". The organisation scored possibly significantly below the expected performance average but did marginally better than the national average.
Thus, in response to this, the bigwig of the organisation expressed that there may be a need to conduct workshops or seminars to address this anomaly.
How do having workshops and seminars - which really take the employee away from his/her family and rest time - address the issue at hand?
In the announcement, it was noted that in a workplace survey, the organisation scored low in the aspect of "work-life harmony". The organisation scored possibly significantly below the expected performance average but did marginally better than the national average.
Thus, in response to this, the bigwig of the organisation expressed that there may be a need to conduct workshops or seminars to address this anomaly.
How do having workshops and seminars - which really take the employee away from his/her family and rest time - address the issue at hand?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
'Are you a simpleton?' Quiz
1. Is hate the absence of love?
2. Is love the absence of hate?
3. Is open the opposite of closed?
4. Is closed the opposite of open?
5. Is calm the lack of turmoil?
6. Is turmoil the lack of peace?
7. Is venting the lack of satisfaction?
8. Is satisfaction the absence of venting?
Is any of your answer 'yes'? If so, please click here.
What do you mean nothing happened?
2. Is love the absence of hate?
3. Is open the opposite of closed?
4. Is closed the opposite of open?
5. Is calm the lack of turmoil?
6. Is turmoil the lack of peace?
7. Is venting the lack of satisfaction?
8. Is satisfaction the absence of venting?
Is any of your answer 'yes'? If so, please click here.
What do you mean nothing happened?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Disabusing Journal Writing
The journal has been used as a universa panacea for almost every thing in education. From counselling to English language to whatever you can think of.
But what good is a journal if it is merely a piece of work to be counted in the teacher's and the student's list of work to be done for the year?
A journal is a misnomer for any document where free prose is used as a form of giving feedback, confessions, teacher-student communication and what not.
It could be unguided. In this regard, what point is there to force the student to write a journal for me when there is supposed to be free play and for the life of me, they simply have either nothing or no interest to write?
It could be guided. Then it becomes a piece of assignment. A piece of ass-say in the disguise. Then isn't it plain disgusting that we now have another piece of heartfelt sharing that is neither heartfelt nor sharing?
I used to use "journals" - for the want of a better phrase - during my math lessons to check progress. On hindsight, it could be a renamed a progress checklist or progress journal. My students tell me what their problems are and what I have done well when I teach the topic. They tell me what else they want me to do to help them. It is a piece of non-threatening communication. A kind of 360 degree feedback, if you wish.
Still, I think we have flown off the handles for journals. We are overdoing it.
Someone should come out and start correcting the belief that journals can solve all problems. If anything, the first is to solve the problem of the need to mark journals. What a f**king joke!
But what good is a journal if it is merely a piece of work to be counted in the teacher's and the student's list of work to be done for the year?
A journal is a misnomer for any document where free prose is used as a form of giving feedback, confessions, teacher-student communication and what not.
It could be unguided. In this regard, what point is there to force the student to write a journal for me when there is supposed to be free play and for the life of me, they simply have either nothing or no interest to write?
It could be guided. Then it becomes a piece of assignment. A piece of ass-say in the disguise. Then isn't it plain disgusting that we now have another piece of heartfelt sharing that is neither heartfelt nor sharing?
I used to use "journals" - for the want of a better phrase - during my math lessons to check progress. On hindsight, it could be a renamed a progress checklist or progress journal. My students tell me what their problems are and what I have done well when I teach the topic. They tell me what else they want me to do to help them. It is a piece of non-threatening communication. A kind of 360 degree feedback, if you wish.
Still, I think we have flown off the handles for journals. We are overdoing it.
Someone should come out and start correcting the belief that journals can solve all problems. If anything, the first is to solve the problem of the need to mark journals. What a f**king joke!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sue off the radar
The resident band at the Piano Bar at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront came on at about 8 pm last evening, after I had finished dinner at the adjoining Cafe Brios.
And the female lead was crooning "Sue Off The Radar". It was hilarious.
Here is the official version of "Sue Off The Radar".
And the female lead was crooning "Sue Off The Radar". It was hilarious.
Here is the official version of "Sue Off The Radar".
Monday, March 10, 2008
Thank you Malaysia
I heaved a huge sigh when I saw the newspapers announcing the Malaysia 2008 election results.
Deep inside me, my admiration of MM Lee Kwan Yew went a few notches higher. Even though as a Singaporean, I may not always agree with him, I do hold his opinion and views in high regard. Even if I do not like the man, I do not see any value in denying the worth of what he has done for us or the advice he has for us. This being said, I do like MM Lee.
Singapore and Malaysia were once one.
On 16 September 1963, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were formally merged and Malaysia was formed. For Singapore, the merger was thought to benefit the economy by creating a common free market, eliminating trade tariffs, and solving unemployment woes. The British government approved the merger, convinced that Singapore's security would be safeguarded within the much larger Malaysia.
The union was rocky from the start. During the 1963 Singapore state elections, a local branch of UMNO took part in the election despite an earlier UMNO's agreement with the PAP not to participate in the state's politics during Malaysia's formative years. Although UMNO lost all its bids, relations between PAP and UMNO worsened as the PAP, in a tit-for-tat, challenged UMNO candidates in the 1964 federal election as part of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention, winning one seat in Malaysian Parliament.
This union between the two countries as not a happy one. Malaysia was predominantly Malay whereas Singapore was predominantly Chinese. Lee Kuan Yew then had wanted equality for all races and build a Malaysian Malaysia. However, the UMNO leadership had wanted it to be a Malay Malaysia.
Racial tensions increased dramatically within a year and were fueled by Barisan Sosialis's tactics of stirring up communal sentiment to discredit the government of Singapore and the federal government of Malaysia.[citation needed] In particular, the Chinese in Singapore disdained being discriminated against by the federal policies of affirmative action, which granted special privileges to the Malays guaranteed under Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia. There were also other financial and economic benefits that were preferentially given to Malays. Lee Kuan Yew and other political leaders began advocating for the fair and equal treatment of all races in Malaysia, with a rallying cry of "Malaysian Malaysia!".
The start of the racial riot on Muhammad's birthday, that would later injure hundreds and killed 23 people. Meanwhile, the Malays in Singapore were being increasingly incited by the federal government's accusations that the PAP was mistreating the Malays. The external political situation was also tense when Indonesian President Sukarno declared a state of Konfrontasi (Confrontation) against Malaysia and initiated military and other actions against the new nation, including the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in March 1965 by Indonesian commandos, killing three people. Indonesia also conducted sedition activities to provoke the Malays against the Chinese. Numerous racial riots resulted and curfews were frequently imposed to restore order. The most notorious riots were the 1964 Race Riots that first took place on Prophet Muhammad's birthday on 21 July with twenty three people killed and hundreds injured. During the unrest, the price of food skyrocketed when transport system was disrupted, causing further hardship for the people.
The state and federal governments also had conflicts on the economic front. UMNO leaders feared that the economic dominance of Singapore would inevitably shift political power away from Kuala Lumpur. Despite earlier agreement to establish a common market, Singapore continued to face restrictions when trading with the rest of Malaysia. In retaliation, Singapore refused to provide Sabah and Sarawak the full extent of the loans previously agreed to for the economic development of the two eastern states. The situation escalated to such intensity that talks soon broke down and abusive speeches and writings became rife on both sides. UMNO extremists called for the arrest of Lee Kuan Yew.
The divisive ideology was breaking up the union. The end of the merger was imminent.
Seeing no other alternative to avoid further bloodshed, the Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to expel Singapore from the federation. The Parliament of Malaysia voted 126-0 in favour of the expulsion on 9 August 1965. On that day, a tearful Lee Kuan Yew announced on a televised press conference that Singapore was a sovereign, independent nation. In a widely remembered quote, he uttered that: "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories." The new state became the Republic of Singapore and Yusof bin Ishak was appointed the first President.
The merger then was discussed on win-win terms. Singapore got to enhance its economic and people's ties with Malaysia while Malaysia could get the support of the predominantly Chinese population as well as the non-Communist PAP to stave off Communist threats. It was after the 12 years of the Malayan Emergency (against Communism) and what happened after that would make or break both countries.
With hindsight, it was easy to ridicule the marriage of convenience and condemn it to fail. However, who in the right mind would not have approached the marriage with the positive hope that it could just work out? Again, while it is easy now to say how the differences would have doomed the merger from the start, it might not be easy to reconcile the willingness then to make the differences work.
Still, when Singapore was unceremoniously kicked out, then-PM Lee was choked with emotions. I've seen the video footage. This was a man with a dream. The dream would have led to a major overhaul of both Singapore and Malaysia and jointly, these two countries might have produced an economic miracle much earlier. But the dream was not brought to bear.
Singapore became independent and moved in the direction of a Singaporean Singapore. Our pledge said it all:
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.
- S Rajaratnam in 1966
(For the uninitiated, the late Mr Rajaratnam is a Singaporean of Sri Lankan descent. His pledge said it all - Singapore was to be a meritocracy.)
Malaysia also went on its way to create its identity. Critically, Tunku Abdul Rahman implemented the bumiputra policy. Among other things, aspects of the bumiputra policy are means of affirmative action for the Malays. Such policies include quotas for the following: admission to government educational institutions, qualification for public scholarships, positions in government and ownership in business. Most of them were established in the Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP). Many of them focus on establishing a Bumiputra share of corporate equity comprising at least 30% of the total.
Consequentially, as a result of these policies, many Bumiputera millionaires were born at the stroke of a pen due to their connections.
In addition to the above economic advantages, Bumiputras previously received other privileges in public tertiary education, such as ethnic quotas. In 2004, Dr. Shafie Salleh, the newly appointed Higher Education Minister, stated that he "will ensure the quota of Malay students' entry into universities is always higher". This was demonstrated in 2004 when Non-Bumiputra students who scored 5As in the STPM (the highest possible grade) were denied admission to their first choice of study in public universities while Bumiputra students with lesser grades were nonetheless admitted.
Since 2000, the Government has discussed phasing out certain discriminatory practises, and reinstating "meritocracy". The eventual result was the system of "Malaysian model meritocracy" begun in 2003. In the implementation, admission to public universities was not based upon a common examination like the SAT or A-Levels but rather upon two parallel systems of a one-year matriculation course and a two-year STPM (literally translated as "Malaysian Higher School Certificate") programme. Bumiputras compose an overwhelming majority of entrants to the matriculation programme, leading to some complaints from the public, as the public university entry requirements are suggested to be easier for matriculation students.
For a long time, Malaysia has been ruled by the Barisan Nasional coalition of UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and other smaller parties. It may be an open secret who are the abangs (elder brothers) and who are the adiks (younger brothers) when you see how the gravy train tracks run. For a long time, the coalition thought that the masses' needs are well-taken care of and addressed. But has it really been the case?
Political awakening
Given the recent spate of events, it was without a doubt that the minority Chinese and Indians in Malaysia are seething with anger after suffering so much injustice for so many years. Singapore, especially, has been a happy recipient country of many talented Malaysian Chinese and Indians who come here for studies and then settle down and contribute to our growth. But those who were not able to leave suffered in silence.
Until recently, the deafening silence became too loud to bear. The recent election results suggest that the ruling coalition and the masses probably have different hearing ranges. The government still heard nothing while the masses already have their ear drums blown out by the screams of anger and misery.
Political awakening has arrived.
This election outcome was not unexpected. It was a matter of time - albeit almost 50 years too late - that it arrived. Political systems, like many systems, have the ability to correct themselves and restore balance. The current system is skewed system and the election hopefully would restore it from its tipping point.
It is easy to blame PM Abdullah. It is also easy to credit Anwar or the other opposition leaders for making inroads. But the seeds of decay were planted much earlier. It is merely harvest time during Abdullah's watch.
BN may or may not know what to do next. But certainly, Malaysia needs to start healing itself and addressing the grievances, perceived or real. Malaysia knows it. Given this political pit-stop, Malaysia will invariably need to slow itself down and re-examine its options. It might set the overall development landscape back by a decade or so but I believe that Malaysia boleh.
While Singapore gleefully could stand beside a self-pronounced abang brought to its knees, Singapore knows that to do so is also to its detriment. Apart or as one, Singapore and Malaysia are more inter-twined that anyone could imagine. As a Singaporean, however, I cannot help but feel so very thankful to Malaysia and Tunku Abdul Rahman for kicking us out.
Deep inside me, my admiration of MM Lee Kwan Yew went a few notches higher. Even though as a Singaporean, I may not always agree with him, I do hold his opinion and views in high regard. Even if I do not like the man, I do not see any value in denying the worth of what he has done for us or the advice he has for us. This being said, I do like MM Lee.
Singapore and Malaysia were once one.
On 16 September 1963, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were formally merged and Malaysia was formed. For Singapore, the merger was thought to benefit the economy by creating a common free market, eliminating trade tariffs, and solving unemployment woes. The British government approved the merger, convinced that Singapore's security would be safeguarded within the much larger Malaysia.
The union was rocky from the start. During the 1963 Singapore state elections, a local branch of UMNO took part in the election despite an earlier UMNO's agreement with the PAP not to participate in the state's politics during Malaysia's formative years. Although UMNO lost all its bids, relations between PAP and UMNO worsened as the PAP, in a tit-for-tat, challenged UMNO candidates in the 1964 federal election as part of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention, winning one seat in Malaysian Parliament.
This union between the two countries as not a happy one. Malaysia was predominantly Malay whereas Singapore was predominantly Chinese. Lee Kuan Yew then had wanted equality for all races and build a Malaysian Malaysia. However, the UMNO leadership had wanted it to be a Malay Malaysia.
Racial tensions increased dramatically within a year and were fueled by Barisan Sosialis's tactics of stirring up communal sentiment to discredit the government of Singapore and the federal government of Malaysia.[citation needed] In particular, the Chinese in Singapore disdained being discriminated against by the federal policies of affirmative action, which granted special privileges to the Malays guaranteed under Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia. There were also other financial and economic benefits that were preferentially given to Malays. Lee Kuan Yew and other political leaders began advocating for the fair and equal treatment of all races in Malaysia, with a rallying cry of "Malaysian Malaysia!".
The start of the racial riot on Muhammad's birthday, that would later injure hundreds and killed 23 people. Meanwhile, the Malays in Singapore were being increasingly incited by the federal government's accusations that the PAP was mistreating the Malays. The external political situation was also tense when Indonesian President Sukarno declared a state of Konfrontasi (Confrontation) against Malaysia and initiated military and other actions against the new nation, including the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in March 1965 by Indonesian commandos, killing three people. Indonesia also conducted sedition activities to provoke the Malays against the Chinese. Numerous racial riots resulted and curfews were frequently imposed to restore order. The most notorious riots were the 1964 Race Riots that first took place on Prophet Muhammad's birthday on 21 July with twenty three people killed and hundreds injured. During the unrest, the price of food skyrocketed when transport system was disrupted, causing further hardship for the people.
The state and federal governments also had conflicts on the economic front. UMNO leaders feared that the economic dominance of Singapore would inevitably shift political power away from Kuala Lumpur. Despite earlier agreement to establish a common market, Singapore continued to face restrictions when trading with the rest of Malaysia. In retaliation, Singapore refused to provide Sabah and Sarawak the full extent of the loans previously agreed to for the economic development of the two eastern states. The situation escalated to such intensity that talks soon broke down and abusive speeches and writings became rife on both sides. UMNO extremists called for the arrest of Lee Kuan Yew.
The divisive ideology was breaking up the union. The end of the merger was imminent.
Seeing no other alternative to avoid further bloodshed, the Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to expel Singapore from the federation. The Parliament of Malaysia voted 126-0 in favour of the expulsion on 9 August 1965. On that day, a tearful Lee Kuan Yew announced on a televised press conference that Singapore was a sovereign, independent nation. In a widely remembered quote, he uttered that: "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories." The new state became the Republic of Singapore and Yusof bin Ishak was appointed the first President.
The merger then was discussed on win-win terms. Singapore got to enhance its economic and people's ties with Malaysia while Malaysia could get the support of the predominantly Chinese population as well as the non-Communist PAP to stave off Communist threats. It was after the 12 years of the Malayan Emergency (against Communism) and what happened after that would make or break both countries.
With hindsight, it was easy to ridicule the marriage of convenience and condemn it to fail. However, who in the right mind would not have approached the marriage with the positive hope that it could just work out? Again, while it is easy now to say how the differences would have doomed the merger from the start, it might not be easy to reconcile the willingness then to make the differences work.
Still, when Singapore was unceremoniously kicked out, then-PM Lee was choked with emotions. I've seen the video footage. This was a man with a dream. The dream would have led to a major overhaul of both Singapore and Malaysia and jointly, these two countries might have produced an economic miracle much earlier. But the dream was not brought to bear.
Singapore became independent and moved in the direction of a Singaporean Singapore. Our pledge said it all:
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.
- S Rajaratnam in 1966
(For the uninitiated, the late Mr Rajaratnam is a Singaporean of Sri Lankan descent. His pledge said it all - Singapore was to be a meritocracy.)
Malaysia also went on its way to create its identity. Critically, Tunku Abdul Rahman implemented the bumiputra policy. Among other things, aspects of the bumiputra policy are means of affirmative action for the Malays. Such policies include quotas for the following: admission to government educational institutions, qualification for public scholarships, positions in government and ownership in business. Most of them were established in the Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP). Many of them focus on establishing a Bumiputra share of corporate equity comprising at least 30% of the total.
Consequentially, as a result of these policies, many Bumiputera millionaires were born at the stroke of a pen due to their connections.
In addition to the above economic advantages, Bumiputras previously received other privileges in public tertiary education, such as ethnic quotas. In 2004, Dr. Shafie Salleh, the newly appointed Higher Education Minister, stated that he "will ensure the quota of Malay students' entry into universities is always higher". This was demonstrated in 2004 when Non-Bumiputra students who scored 5As in the STPM (the highest possible grade) were denied admission to their first choice of study in public universities while Bumiputra students with lesser grades were nonetheless admitted.
Since 2000, the Government has discussed phasing out certain discriminatory practises, and reinstating "meritocracy". The eventual result was the system of "Malaysian model meritocracy" begun in 2003. In the implementation, admission to public universities was not based upon a common examination like the SAT or A-Levels but rather upon two parallel systems of a one-year matriculation course and a two-year STPM (literally translated as "Malaysian Higher School Certificate") programme. Bumiputras compose an overwhelming majority of entrants to the matriculation programme, leading to some complaints from the public, as the public university entry requirements are suggested to be easier for matriculation students.
For a long time, Malaysia has been ruled by the Barisan Nasional coalition of UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and other smaller parties. It may be an open secret who are the abangs (elder brothers) and who are the adiks (younger brothers) when you see how the gravy train tracks run. For a long time, the coalition thought that the masses' needs are well-taken care of and addressed. But has it really been the case?
Political awakening
Given the recent spate of events, it was without a doubt that the minority Chinese and Indians in Malaysia are seething with anger after suffering so much injustice for so many years. Singapore, especially, has been a happy recipient country of many talented Malaysian Chinese and Indians who come here for studies and then settle down and contribute to our growth. But those who were not able to leave suffered in silence.
Until recently, the deafening silence became too loud to bear. The recent election results suggest that the ruling coalition and the masses probably have different hearing ranges. The government still heard nothing while the masses already have their ear drums blown out by the screams of anger and misery.
Political awakening has arrived.
This election outcome was not unexpected. It was a matter of time - albeit almost 50 years too late - that it arrived. Political systems, like many systems, have the ability to correct themselves and restore balance. The current system is skewed system and the election hopefully would restore it from its tipping point.
It is easy to blame PM Abdullah. It is also easy to credit Anwar or the other opposition leaders for making inroads. But the seeds of decay were planted much earlier. It is merely harvest time during Abdullah's watch.
BN may or may not know what to do next. But certainly, Malaysia needs to start healing itself and addressing the grievances, perceived or real. Malaysia knows it. Given this political pit-stop, Malaysia will invariably need to slow itself down and re-examine its options. It might set the overall development landscape back by a decade or so but I believe that Malaysia boleh.
While Singapore gleefully could stand beside a self-pronounced abang brought to its knees, Singapore knows that to do so is also to its detriment. Apart or as one, Singapore and Malaysia are more inter-twined that anyone could imagine. As a Singaporean, however, I cannot help but feel so very thankful to Malaysia and Tunku Abdul Rahman for kicking us out.
What a difference a day makes
Yeah. A huge difference.
24 little hours
It all adds up whether you are pursuing your love for 24 hours a day or trying to meet ridiculous deadlines or stay under the radar for the same duration. One energises you and the other enervates you. Just so amazing how interest is so important.
I love my job. This is how that Dr Suess poem began.
The Lost Dr. Seuss Book: I Love My Job
I love my job, I love the pay.
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss; he/she is the best.
I love his boss and all the rest.
I love my office and its location.
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And the paper that piles up every day.
I love my chair in my padded cell.
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers and jeers and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it don't care.
I love each program and every file,
I try to understand once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am;
I'm the happiest slave of my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job - I'll say it again.
I even love these friendly men,
These men who've come to visit today
In lovely white coats to take me away.
Hilarious, when I first read it. But looking back, the irony of it all.
I used to think I have understood the parable of the boiling frog. Perhaps I didn't really. Or I tried to think I did. Or... Or the fact that getting what some others perceive to be a disgusting amount of money from the company each month was a huge deterrent to even daring to let the thought of jumping out of the boiling water germinate in my mind. (To set the record straight, my pay is not a lot. Things have to be taken in proportion. I am just a humble civil servant, a serf, a being of lowly existence.)
So looking back, I had tolerated the heat well. Of course, I had bitched about it. In an earlier blog "Weapons of Math Destruction", I had talked about the malpractices of some people and was ordered to remove my blog. That's why Teflonman came about. A man who lets praise and insults slide off like water off a duck's back, even during high heat situations. This is akin to how teflon coating in pans keep food from sticking to the sides and bottoms during cooking.
Then recently, I realised that the Teflon tag was sort of negative in nature. Coincidentally, it was applied to Ronald Reagan first in 1983. Reagan is one of the US presidents I liked. In any case, the coinage is a recent one for him despite the fact that teflon was first invented in 1938. Still, I claim independence of thought, because I was entirely unaware of this usage until recently. I didn't do my literature review, of course. But it isn't an academic thesis that I am writing.
I digress.
Being my own boss in charge of my own destiny, I appreciate how little it takes to keep a person alive. Ok, to be fair, trained teachers are hard to starve. Opportunities are also available in the school system here to allow the lay folks to come in once a while for relief duties (such as keeping discipline in a class) when the incumbent is away for valid reasons. These pay rather well, if you live a life of an ordinary man and not a king.
But honestly, one can never make enough money. And, perhaps it is really age catching up with me, money cannot buy happiness. Worse, suffering misery does not definitely get you money either. It helps when the money you make helps to alleviate the misery you are feeling. Or, should it be: it helps when the misery you suffer helps to get you the money you desire? I honestly don't know. Different people view money differently. Just like I view food.
I love my money. I love money. Unfortunately, money does not really love me. My money always makes me tempted to spend it. It must be a love-hate relationship. So, I often empty out my wallet. Fortunately, for me, I do try and get the money back by working really hard.
Why this post? Simply because Fraser (I have still yet to figure out what T. in T. F. stands for. Maybe Terrible? Tyrannical? Timothy? Nah, he doesn't look like a Timothy to me. Thomas? Terry?) asked what (happiness) drugs I am taking and if I had bought it from the streets or some peddler.
Honestly, you are your own and your best medicine. Being true to yourself will eventually lead you to the path of happiness. It is an irony but for me, giving up my living got me back my life in return.
24 little hours. Thankfully, I get to spend them in a gladful fashion now.
24 little hours
It all adds up whether you are pursuing your love for 24 hours a day or trying to meet ridiculous deadlines or stay under the radar for the same duration. One energises you and the other enervates you. Just so amazing how interest is so important.
I love my job. This is how that Dr Suess poem began.
The Lost Dr. Seuss Book: I Love My Job
I love my job, I love the pay.
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss; he/she is the best.
I love his boss and all the rest.
I love my office and its location.
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And the paper that piles up every day.
I love my chair in my padded cell.
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers and jeers and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it don't care.
I love each program and every file,
I try to understand once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am;
I'm the happiest slave of my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job - I'll say it again.
I even love these friendly men,
These men who've come to visit today
In lovely white coats to take me away.
Hilarious, when I first read it. But looking back, the irony of it all.
I used to think I have understood the parable of the boiling frog. Perhaps I didn't really. Or I tried to think I did. Or... Or the fact that getting what some others perceive to be a disgusting amount of money from the company each month was a huge deterrent to even daring to let the thought of jumping out of the boiling water germinate in my mind. (To set the record straight, my pay is not a lot. Things have to be taken in proportion. I am just a humble civil servant, a serf, a being of lowly existence.)
So looking back, I had tolerated the heat well. Of course, I had bitched about it. In an earlier blog "Weapons of Math Destruction", I had talked about the malpractices of some people and was ordered to remove my blog. That's why Teflonman came about. A man who lets praise and insults slide off like water off a duck's back, even during high heat situations. This is akin to how teflon coating in pans keep food from sticking to the sides and bottoms during cooking.
Then recently, I realised that the Teflon tag was sort of negative in nature. Coincidentally, it was applied to Ronald Reagan first in 1983. Reagan is one of the US presidents I liked. In any case, the coinage is a recent one for him despite the fact that teflon was first invented in 1938. Still, I claim independence of thought, because I was entirely unaware of this usage until recently. I didn't do my literature review, of course. But it isn't an academic thesis that I am writing.
I digress.
Being my own boss in charge of my own destiny, I appreciate how little it takes to keep a person alive. Ok, to be fair, trained teachers are hard to starve. Opportunities are also available in the school system here to allow the lay folks to come in once a while for relief duties (such as keeping discipline in a class) when the incumbent is away for valid reasons. These pay rather well, if you live a life of an ordinary man and not a king.
But honestly, one can never make enough money. And, perhaps it is really age catching up with me, money cannot buy happiness. Worse, suffering misery does not definitely get you money either. It helps when the money you make helps to alleviate the misery you are feeling. Or, should it be: it helps when the misery you suffer helps to get you the money you desire? I honestly don't know. Different people view money differently. Just like I view food.
I love my money. I love money. Unfortunately, money does not really love me. My money always makes me tempted to spend it. It must be a love-hate relationship. So, I often empty out my wallet. Fortunately, for me, I do try and get the money back by working really hard.
Why this post? Simply because Fraser (I have still yet to figure out what T. in T. F. stands for. Maybe Terrible? Tyrannical? Timothy? Nah, he doesn't look like a Timothy to me. Thomas? Terry?) asked what (happiness) drugs I am taking and if I had bought it from the streets or some peddler.
Honestly, you are your own and your best medicine. Being true to yourself will eventually lead you to the path of happiness. It is an irony but for me, giving up my living got me back my life in return.
24 little hours. Thankfully, I get to spend them in a gladful fashion now.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Space, Toes and Russian
Interesting examples during the Grammar workshop on Articles.
Space
The effects of no article, indefinite article and definite article.
Example 1
Guy (to Girl): Dear, I need space.
Girl: Ok, how much time do you need?
Example 2
Guy: Dear, I need a space.
Girl (moves to the side of the bed): Here's some space.
Example 3
Guy: Dear, I need the space.
Girl (vacates the place she is occupying): Nah, here's your space.
Toes
Example 1
Guy (to Girl): You have nice toes.
Girl: Why, thank you!
Example 2
Guy: You have some nice toes.
Girl (kicks Guy off the bed): You better tell me whick toes are not nice or I'll shove my foot in your mouth.
Russian
Example 1
Russian is hard to master.
Example 2
The Russian is hard to master.
(Marker's comment: Inappropriate to discuss in an academic essay.)
It was fun.
Space
The effects of no article, indefinite article and definite article.
Example 1
Guy (to Girl): Dear, I need space.
Girl: Ok, how much time do you need?
Example 2
Guy: Dear, I need a space.
Girl (moves to the side of the bed): Here's some space.
Example 3
Guy: Dear, I need the space.
Girl (vacates the place she is occupying): Nah, here's your space.
Toes
Example 1
Guy (to Girl): You have nice toes.
Girl: Why, thank you!
Example 2
Guy: You have some nice toes.
Girl (kicks Guy off the bed): You better tell me whick toes are not nice or I'll shove my foot in your mouth.
Russian
Example 1
Russian is hard to master.
Example 2
The Russian is hard to master.
(Marker's comment: Inappropriate to discuss in an academic essay.)
It was fun.
"Prof"?
Taught two grammar workshops at the Management University today.
The students attending the course were taking them to meet their language requirements set by the university for graduation. This is a result of them having failed the various EL proficiency tests.
And it was very interesting that despite me telling them to refer to me as "Eugene" during the lessons, they preferred to call me "Prof".
Hm... Sounds very good.
It's a sign. I should work for my PhD soon, so I can live up to that moniker. :)
The students attending the course were taking them to meet their language requirements set by the university for graduation. This is a result of them having failed the various EL proficiency tests.
And it was very interesting that despite me telling them to refer to me as "Eugene" during the lessons, they preferred to call me "Prof".
Hm... Sounds very good.
It's a sign. I should work for my PhD soon, so I can live up to that moniker. :)
Rate her IQ
Gave a test during the middle of the week.
My usual practice is for the class to clear their desks of all unnecessary books and stuff before I begin any class. So, during a test where the answers were to be written on the test paper, students were asked to put away everything except writing materials.
The test was a breeze for those who studied and a nightmare for those who didn't. It was a vocabulary test and all the kids had to do was to complete the spellings or match the words to their synonyms.
In fact, to help them with the test, a practice paper which largely mimicked this actual paper was given to the students at the start of the week. I immediately graded the papers (at the expense of the other work I had to do) and returned the scripts to them so that they could prepare for the test.
I digress. As the test progressed, I told the class that people who had completed the paper could rest by placing their heads on the table. So as more and more heads met the table tops, I asked if the class finished the paper. I got a chorus of yeses. Then I asked if I could collect the paper. I got no response.
So I asked if anyone needed the remaining time to check their answers. One girl - the same girl whom I caught during the middle of the test reading a Chinese newspaper and I warned her against such acts - put up her hands.
I was cursing inside me and so I granted everyone the last 5 minutes. The next thing, I saw her rummaging under her desk. I sneaked up and caught her handling the practice quiz paper. She was holding the paper in her hands and I caught her red-handed.
Of course she denied that she was copying. And of course, I insisted that she copied since the paper was in her hands.
Sweet victory. She taped the Claymore to herself and then passed me the detonator on a gold platter adorned with glittering diamonds. HOW COULD I RESIST?
This girl is also the one who disturbs the class with the voice of a thunder goddess but when you ask her to read a passage aloud, she'll read with her mosquito voice.
Having caught her was probably the highlight of the week!
I leave my smart readers to decide what her IQ really is.
My usual practice is for the class to clear their desks of all unnecessary books and stuff before I begin any class. So, during a test where the answers were to be written on the test paper, students were asked to put away everything except writing materials.
The test was a breeze for those who studied and a nightmare for those who didn't. It was a vocabulary test and all the kids had to do was to complete the spellings or match the words to their synonyms.
In fact, to help them with the test, a practice paper which largely mimicked this actual paper was given to the students at the start of the week. I immediately graded the papers (at the expense of the other work I had to do) and returned the scripts to them so that they could prepare for the test.
I digress. As the test progressed, I told the class that people who had completed the paper could rest by placing their heads on the table. So as more and more heads met the table tops, I asked if the class finished the paper. I got a chorus of yeses. Then I asked if I could collect the paper. I got no response.
So I asked if anyone needed the remaining time to check their answers. One girl - the same girl whom I caught during the middle of the test reading a Chinese newspaper and I warned her against such acts - put up her hands.
I was cursing inside me and so I granted everyone the last 5 minutes. The next thing, I saw her rummaging under her desk. I sneaked up and caught her handling the practice quiz paper. She was holding the paper in her hands and I caught her red-handed.
Of course she denied that she was copying. And of course, I insisted that she copied since the paper was in her hands.
Sweet victory. She taped the Claymore to herself and then passed me the detonator on a gold platter adorned with glittering diamonds. HOW COULD I RESIST?
This girl is also the one who disturbs the class with the voice of a thunder goddess but when you ask her to read a passage aloud, she'll read with her mosquito voice.
Having caught her was probably the highlight of the week!
I leave my smart readers to decide what her IQ really is.
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.
Vengeful kid
A pupil in my English Language class wrote in his journal that his parents had high expectations for him but his sole aim in life at this stage is to shatter their dreams to smithereens.
He said they had wanted him to study hard and get promoted to the 4-year Express Stream rather than to stay on in the 5-year Normal (Academic) Stream. But he would like to fail every subject and get himself demoted to the 5-year Normal (Technical) Stream where it would be impossible to further one's studies after the 4th year in the stream.
This boy has an abusive father and is often walloped by senior.
I loved his idea. I absolutely loved it! What melodrama unfolding right in front of your very eyes - the oppressive father and the vengeful, calculating, spiteful son whose sole existence is retaliation and revenge. Or rather, mutual destruction. I love it, I tell you. How many 13-year-old kids can elucidate plans of such viciousness in such detail so succinctly? My summary in the front failed to do his journal entry any justice. However, professional etiquette prevents me from reproducing the journal entry at all.
Still, I was expected to comment. I had written that "I loved your idea". Then I realised I might get into trouble with the school authorities. So I taped out "I loved", writing the following in essence.
Your idea... the only flaw is that you will not live with your parents forever. Your parents would also not be with you forever. You will either leave them or they will leave you behind eventually. Shortchanging yourself in education now will simply hinder you from having a good future for yourself. The most effective revenge is to do so well that you are able to stand on your own two feet, walk away and lead a better life than your parents.
I can't remember what else I had written, but I hope I could make headway bit by bit to turn this boy around. While I might not be able to lead him to salvation, perhaps I could at least lead him away from self-destruction.
Am I getting soft?
He said they had wanted him to study hard and get promoted to the 4-year Express Stream rather than to stay on in the 5-year Normal (Academic) Stream. But he would like to fail every subject and get himself demoted to the 5-year Normal (Technical) Stream where it would be impossible to further one's studies after the 4th year in the stream.
This boy has an abusive father and is often walloped by senior.
I loved his idea. I absolutely loved it! What melodrama unfolding right in front of your very eyes - the oppressive father and the vengeful, calculating, spiteful son whose sole existence is retaliation and revenge. Or rather, mutual destruction. I love it, I tell you. How many 13-year-old kids can elucidate plans of such viciousness in such detail so succinctly? My summary in the front failed to do his journal entry any justice. However, professional etiquette prevents me from reproducing the journal entry at all.
Still, I was expected to comment. I had written that "I loved your idea". Then I realised I might get into trouble with the school authorities. So I taped out "I loved", writing the following in essence.
Your idea... the only flaw is that you will not live with your parents forever. Your parents would also not be with you forever. You will either leave them or they will leave you behind eventually. Shortchanging yourself in education now will simply hinder you from having a good future for yourself. The most effective revenge is to do so well that you are able to stand on your own two feet, walk away and lead a better life than your parents.
I can't remember what else I had written, but I hope I could make headway bit by bit to turn this boy around. While I might not be able to lead him to salvation, perhaps I could at least lead him away from self-destruction.
Am I getting soft?
He did it
My A level tuition kid got a C for his H2 Mathematics. I think this is a success of sorts - but mainly that regardless of how the exam syllabus is tweaked, exam-oriented tutors like me are able to get our charges to work around it.
Honestly, for him to get C was a huge success for him. He was a consistent F-er, having not done Additional Mathematics at the O levels (often deemed a pre-requisite for H2 Math).
While he worked hard, I worked smart. Together, we make a great team!
I now wish him the best of luck in his university applications.
Honestly, for him to get C was a huge success for him. He was a consistent F-er, having not done Additional Mathematics at the O levels (often deemed a pre-requisite for H2 Math).
While he worked hard, I worked smart. Together, we make a great team!
I now wish him the best of luck in his university applications.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine
For Old Whig. I'm sorry. I wish I could find a better recording but hey, this is during your era.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
My Terms
I just told a head of department that I will not be teaching his subject once my contract ends. It simply takes too much time preparing for the lessons and marking the assignments of that subject.
There are simply too many books to teach from and too much of the lessons require extensive planning and preparations. And the monkeys - those damned monkeys - need such close supervision! One can go through the assignment to be done and once they start doing it for submission, they give you crap. As a result, I spend all my time grading crap.
Part of the problem comes from the fact that the work assigned could be too tough for the kids but who am I to say so since the head and the school do not want to come to terms with the kids' true abilities?
With the assignments so tough and the tests so easy, the kids are confused as to what standards they ought to meet to do well for the subject. As their teacher, I am confused too. So, I guess it's best to say goodbye to the subject.
After all, as an adjunct, if I do not dictate my terms for my employment, then I should simply stay employed full-time and tolerate all the shit flung in my face.
There are simply too many books to teach from and too much of the lessons require extensive planning and preparations. And the monkeys - those damned monkeys - need such close supervision! One can go through the assignment to be done and once they start doing it for submission, they give you crap. As a result, I spend all my time grading crap.
Part of the problem comes from the fact that the work assigned could be too tough for the kids but who am I to say so since the head and the school do not want to come to terms with the kids' true abilities?
With the assignments so tough and the tests so easy, the kids are confused as to what standards they ought to meet to do well for the subject. As their teacher, I am confused too. So, I guess it's best to say goodbye to the subject.
After all, as an adjunct, if I do not dictate my terms for my employment, then I should simply stay employed full-time and tolerate all the shit flung in my face.
Deja Vu
I'm backing teaching at a secondary school.
Unlike teaching in a government school, I am teaching in a mission school (government-aided) this time.
There are some differences in the way the school is run. While the government school lacked certain autonomy in school related matters, the aided school lacked funds (as it depended mostly on the voluntary donations and through fund raising). But one thing remained constant - the learning attitudes of students.
The school isn't a top school - top school have kids with different learning attitudes: extremely motivated or entirely indifferent - and expectedly, most of them lacked motivation.
Discipline is quite an issue at the school. Most of the better classes are rather well behaved but it just takes the few rotten apples to spoil the whole crate. One thing that I am still persplexed about - why do teachers not desist firmly when they spot indiscipline? To me, teachers need to be united against these trouble makers and make life unbearable for them.
However, I don't see that happening. Disciplining, if it takes place, are solitary efforts and it is entirely enervating for me. Why am I fighting a solitary battle against a bunch of monkeys and the other teachers doing the same when we should simply join forces and make the monkey's life sheer purgatory?
One other thing that amuses me - most teachers speak to the class through a portable mic. This is so weird. And in class, they fight noise with noise. Then they told me that I am lucky to have an inbuilt loud speaker in me. I don't have a loud speaker in me. I could be loud but I prefer to desist differently. I use silence and a handsign (meaning stop in hand traffic signals) to get the class to quieten down and give me their attention. Some monkeys, being monkeys, cannot keep still but I do get some semblence of reasonable silence where I can get my lessons going. By and large, a number of girls are well-behaved.
My secondary 4 and secondary 5 classes are extremely nice and well-behaved. Apart from a few fellows with poor learning attitudes - and they are entirely indifferent about it - most are motivated to learn. And the same old trick - I don't understand - has reared its ugly head again. As usual, I corner the child into saying from where the doubts begin. This way, I am able to zero in to the problem. They have also realised that saying "I don't understand everything" cuts no ice with me.
Still, I am enjoying my stint in the school.
Unlike teaching in a government school, I am teaching in a mission school (government-aided) this time.
There are some differences in the way the school is run. While the government school lacked certain autonomy in school related matters, the aided school lacked funds (as it depended mostly on the voluntary donations and through fund raising). But one thing remained constant - the learning attitudes of students.
The school isn't a top school - top school have kids with different learning attitudes: extremely motivated or entirely indifferent - and expectedly, most of them lacked motivation.
Discipline is quite an issue at the school. Most of the better classes are rather well behaved but it just takes the few rotten apples to spoil the whole crate. One thing that I am still persplexed about - why do teachers not desist firmly when they spot indiscipline? To me, teachers need to be united against these trouble makers and make life unbearable for them.
However, I don't see that happening. Disciplining, if it takes place, are solitary efforts and it is entirely enervating for me. Why am I fighting a solitary battle against a bunch of monkeys and the other teachers doing the same when we should simply join forces and make the monkey's life sheer purgatory?
One other thing that amuses me - most teachers speak to the class through a portable mic. This is so weird. And in class, they fight noise with noise. Then they told me that I am lucky to have an inbuilt loud speaker in me. I don't have a loud speaker in me. I could be loud but I prefer to desist differently. I use silence and a handsign (meaning stop in hand traffic signals) to get the class to quieten down and give me their attention. Some monkeys, being monkeys, cannot keep still but I do get some semblence of reasonable silence where I can get my lessons going. By and large, a number of girls are well-behaved.
My secondary 4 and secondary 5 classes are extremely nice and well-behaved. Apart from a few fellows with poor learning attitudes - and they are entirely indifferent about it - most are motivated to learn. And the same old trick - I don't understand - has reared its ugly head again. As usual, I corner the child into saying from where the doubts begin. This way, I am able to zero in to the problem. They have also realised that saying "I don't understand everything" cuts no ice with me.
Still, I am enjoying my stint in the school.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Children's Wisdom
A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!
1. Don't change horses until they stop running.
2. Strike while the bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but How?
6. Don't bite the hand that looks dirty.
7. No news is impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new Math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.
13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's pollution.
15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is not much.
17. Two's company, three's the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, you have to blow your
cry and nose.
20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box
24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you.
And the WINNER is...
26. Better late than Pregnant
1. Don't change horses until they stop running.
2. Strike while the bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but How?
6. Don't bite the hand that looks dirty.
7. No news is impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new Math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.
13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's pollution.
15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is not much.
17. Two's company, three's the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, you have to blow your
cry and nose.
20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box
24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you.
And the WINNER is...
26. Better late than Pregnant
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Man of semi-leisure
That's my new profession.
And I'm loving it.
I'm no longer chasing after rainbows or thirsting for power.
Instead, I guard my free time with my life and resist doing anything not worth doing.
I am still gainfully employed, albeit I dictate my terms of employment. I still get a decent amount of bread and butter. But I am no longer interested in cheap picnic ham in disgusting quantities. I prefer high class applewood smoked leg of ham.
In short, quality - and not quantity - has become the pursuit du jour.
I have time to do what I like to do and I have time to rest. To take a walk down a path and smell the flowers along the way.
I consider myself retired at this moment and what I am doing is really post-retirement stuff. Of course, I do not rule out beginning a second career, something on a higher plateau of human existence.
Power is addictive. But clinging on to power is like clutching at moonbeams. You cannot but be dictated to if you want to stay on your high perch.
Freedom and life, however, are very different but yet equally powerful things. Once you get them, you would never want to cede them. And they are yours to keep because you know how you can work things around to keep them.
And I'm loving it.
I'm no longer chasing after rainbows or thirsting for power.
Instead, I guard my free time with my life and resist doing anything not worth doing.
I am still gainfully employed, albeit I dictate my terms of employment. I still get a decent amount of bread and butter. But I am no longer interested in cheap picnic ham in disgusting quantities. I prefer high class applewood smoked leg of ham.
In short, quality - and not quantity - has become the pursuit du jour.
I have time to do what I like to do and I have time to rest. To take a walk down a path and smell the flowers along the way.
I consider myself retired at this moment and what I am doing is really post-retirement stuff. Of course, I do not rule out beginning a second career, something on a higher plateau of human existence.
Power is addictive. But clinging on to power is like clutching at moonbeams. You cannot but be dictated to if you want to stay on your high perch.
Freedom and life, however, are very different but yet equally powerful things. Once you get them, you would never want to cede them. And they are yours to keep because you know how you can work things around to keep them.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Experience is a dirty word
Experience can be a dirty word. In my case, it is a dirty word.
Because of my experience, I resist practices which have no value.
I refuse work which have no purpose.
I despise people who have no principles.
I abhor being mentioned in the same breath as other lower life forms.
I avoid losing my self in the race to the top.
And most of all, I pity those who allow themselves to be lackeys of the screwed up system.
Because of my experience, I resist practices which have no value.
I refuse work which have no purpose.
I despise people who have no principles.
I abhor being mentioned in the same breath as other lower life forms.
I avoid losing my self in the race to the top.
And most of all, I pity those who allow themselves to be lackeys of the screwed up system.
You are busy?
I don't buy that excuse anymore.
You may be busy but you can't be busier than I am. So stop your excuses and give me the 3 minutes I need to get your work done.
I am not one of your problems; I am one of your solutions. If you are going to find excuses so that your problems cannot be solved through me, I am not to blame.
You have not seen what it means to be busy - at least not in your little hole. I've seen more in my short stint that you in your entire life.
Believe you me that if we are to trade experiences, I could be delivering a lecture on human existence while you would probably be still trying to figure out the basic definitions.
You may be busy but you can't be busier than I am. So stop your excuses and give me the 3 minutes I need to get your work done.
I am not one of your problems; I am one of your solutions. If you are going to find excuses so that your problems cannot be solved through me, I am not to blame.
You have not seen what it means to be busy - at least not in your little hole. I've seen more in my short stint that you in your entire life.
Believe you me that if we are to trade experiences, I could be delivering a lecture on human existence while you would probably be still trying to figure out the basic definitions.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
And then it clicked...
There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.
- Tennessee Williams
I was writing my farewell message to my colleagues before the end of my last day of work and I wanted to end it with a quotable quote which aptly captured the essence of my decision without divulging too much.
There is some uncertainty now, although being employed in a new job is certain. I am sure I will excel at this stage of life, becoming a freelancer and my own boss finally.
I have never set out to being my own boss. I lack the discipline. I have no interest to make more money than I can spend or live with guilt because some of the earnings might be through some less than above-board dealings. (I see not giving my best during tuition lessons as one such example.)
And then, I chanced upon what Tennessee Williams wrote about having to go, despite not knowing the next destination.
While I had told people that I'll be off to studies - eventually I will - I am still pretty much in a floater mood. Not that I want to. I need to.
I need to re-absorb life. I need to be re-energised, re-charged, renewed (you can say recycled too, I am ambivalent about namecalling), reinvented, rejuvenated, reinvigorated, re... Some re's are redundant but you get the drift.
So, where am I off to next?
Another suitcase another door?
Don't ask anymore.
- Evita
- Tennessee Williams
I was writing my farewell message to my colleagues before the end of my last day of work and I wanted to end it with a quotable quote which aptly captured the essence of my decision without divulging too much.
There is some uncertainty now, although being employed in a new job is certain. I am sure I will excel at this stage of life, becoming a freelancer and my own boss finally.
I have never set out to being my own boss. I lack the discipline. I have no interest to make more money than I can spend or live with guilt because some of the earnings might be through some less than above-board dealings. (I see not giving my best during tuition lessons as one such example.)
And then, I chanced upon what Tennessee Williams wrote about having to go, despite not knowing the next destination.
While I had told people that I'll be off to studies - eventually I will - I am still pretty much in a floater mood. Not that I want to. I need to.
I need to re-absorb life. I need to be re-energised, re-charged, renewed (you can say recycled too, I am ambivalent about namecalling), reinvented, rejuvenated, reinvigorated, re... Some re's are redundant but you get the drift.
So, where am I off to next?
Another suitcase another door?
Don't ask anymore.
- Evita
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Do I look like I am flying?
Returned to the office today after a break in Perth. All around, things look good.
17 Feb is going to be my last day at work. I start at my new job on 18 Feb.
While I was not at all exhilarated since I had to go back to work and worse, I just had a blood test, someone told me I look so happy, like I was flying.
I know happiness can be infectious but certainly, I am given more credit than I really deserve. I didn't think I was flying. I was back at work as usual.
Really looking forward to some normality returning to my life nonetheless. I think I have earned my right to demand that.
17 Feb is going to be my last day at work. I start at my new job on 18 Feb.
While I was not at all exhilarated since I had to go back to work and worse, I just had a blood test, someone told me I look so happy, like I was flying.
I know happiness can be infectious but certainly, I am given more credit than I really deserve. I didn't think I was flying. I was back at work as usual.
Really looking forward to some normality returning to my life nonetheless. I think I have earned my right to demand that.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The rest
6 Feb - Fremantle and then Burswood for the Reunion Dinner
7 Feb - Bunbury. Rained at 4.10 am and a total of 42 mm of rain was recorded. Usual average precipitation for the entire month of Feb for Perth is 12 mm. Many major accidents. So exciting. Cool and lovely. The plants came alive.
8 Feb - The Fishy Affair - the Australian Bush Platter of roo, croc, emu, camel and barramundi. Harbourtown shopping. Bought 3 pairs of bermudas from Nike. Nothing else.
9 Feb - Margaret River, then Busselton. Mad hours behind the wheel. Stupid plants started flowering. But hey, they won't have enough rain to make fruits. So that is a waste of stored food.
10 Feb - Fremantle and Sobiaco
11 Feb - Home sweet home
7 Feb - Bunbury. Rained at 4.10 am and a total of 42 mm of rain was recorded. Usual average precipitation for the entire month of Feb for Perth is 12 mm. Many major accidents. So exciting. Cool and lovely. The plants came alive.
8 Feb - The Fishy Affair - the Australian Bush Platter of roo, croc, emu, camel and barramundi. Harbourtown shopping. Bought 3 pairs of bermudas from Nike. Nothing else.
9 Feb - Margaret River, then Busselton. Mad hours behind the wheel. Stupid plants started flowering. But hey, they won't have enough rain to make fruits. So that is a waste of stored food.
10 Feb - Fremantle and Sobiaco
11 Feb - Home sweet home
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Swan Valley
5 Feb
Swan Valley wine tasting self-drive.
Craziness. 32 km stretch of vineyards and wineries, melon and grape sellers, and shops peddling weird ware ranging from wine bottle stopper-dispensers, ceramic plates and cups, fine dining ware and what have you.
As usual, 3 hours ain't getting us to as many vineyards as we wished and as I am the "skipper" aka the driver plus I am not an alcohol drinker, I am not at all disappointed.
The drinker on the trip was also already quite worn out after tasting the umpteenth chenin blanc, the umpteenth verdehol, the umpteenth merlot, the umpteeth rose, the umpteenth shiraz (so crude, the shirazs!).
So we drove back and the navigator was understandably irritated by having to navigate with both alcohol in the veins and a street directory on her lap. Anyway, to cut the long story short, I drove back almost blind. And I made it. So, there goes.
It's scorching hot here and there is nothing more comfortable than standing under a jet of cool water in the shower. Go figure.
Swan Valley wine tasting self-drive.
Craziness. 32 km stretch of vineyards and wineries, melon and grape sellers, and shops peddling weird ware ranging from wine bottle stopper-dispensers, ceramic plates and cups, fine dining ware and what have you.
As usual, 3 hours ain't getting us to as many vineyards as we wished and as I am the "skipper" aka the driver plus I am not an alcohol drinker, I am not at all disappointed.
The drinker on the trip was also already quite worn out after tasting the umpteenth chenin blanc, the umpteenth verdehol, the umpteenth merlot, the umpteeth rose, the umpteenth shiraz (so crude, the shirazs!).
So we drove back and the navigator was understandably irritated by having to navigate with both alcohol in the veins and a street directory on her lap. Anyway, to cut the long story short, I drove back almost blind. And I made it. So, there goes.
It's scorching hot here and there is nothing more comfortable than standing under a jet of cool water in the shower. Go figure.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Is it my fault?
I cannot imagine that the d*ck head of a cab driver was so rude during my ride from home to the airport.
I got on the cab after loading up my own bags in the boot. By right, he should at least customarily step out of the car and ask if I needed help - yes, such pretense would mean good service. I wouldn't need help, of course, since my bags weighed but 16.1 kg and 3.9 kg - this one is empty really, and I would have been able to handle them myself.
My principles are simple - if the bags are too heavy for you to handle, then don't expect the cab driver to handle them for you. If your bags are not too heavy for you to handle, then handle them yourselves. Leave the cabbie to do his job, which is to drive you from point to point safely.
Sure, this morning's traffic a b*tch. Hey, it's 7 am in the morning and all the office workers needed to drive their cars to work. How else can they justify spending so much money on the cars if they are not going to take them out and contribute to the traffic gridlocks and congestions.
Ok, I got on the cab and I greeted him good morning. He did not even reply. Oh, my god. This is going to be one ride.
Along the way, I decided that I needed to teach him a lesson. It's peak hour, I'm going on a trip that I am *so* looking forward to, and I get such sucky treatment from you. So, I took out my dollar coins.
The final bill came to $11.90. Not a princely sum but I live but 4 km to the airport. So I unloaded 10 dollar-coins and a two dollar note on him.
I wouldn't have given him even that 10-cent tip but I don't see it as a tip. I see it as a means of relieving me of a $1 coin which I otherwise have to lug to Perth and back.
He was such a mannerless id-10-T that he did not even say thank you when he got the money. He quickly checked if I would have passed Indon lookalike coins (a tenth of the value) in the car.
What a sh*t head and what a *great* way to begin an otherwise *dour* morning.
I am *so* looking forward to this trip...
I got on the cab after loading up my own bags in the boot. By right, he should at least customarily step out of the car and ask if I needed help - yes, such pretense would mean good service. I wouldn't need help, of course, since my bags weighed but 16.1 kg and 3.9 kg - this one is empty really, and I would have been able to handle them myself.
My principles are simple - if the bags are too heavy for you to handle, then don't expect the cab driver to handle them for you. If your bags are not too heavy for you to handle, then handle them yourselves. Leave the cabbie to do his job, which is to drive you from point to point safely.
Sure, this morning's traffic a b*tch. Hey, it's 7 am in the morning and all the office workers needed to drive their cars to work. How else can they justify spending so much money on the cars if they are not going to take them out and contribute to the traffic gridlocks and congestions.
Ok, I got on the cab and I greeted him good morning. He did not even reply. Oh, my god. This is going to be one ride.
Along the way, I decided that I needed to teach him a lesson. It's peak hour, I'm going on a trip that I am *so* looking forward to, and I get such sucky treatment from you. So, I took out my dollar coins.
The final bill came to $11.90. Not a princely sum but I live but 4 km to the airport. So I unloaded 10 dollar-coins and a two dollar note on him.
I wouldn't have given him even that 10-cent tip but I don't see it as a tip. I see it as a means of relieving me of a $1 coin which I otherwise have to lug to Perth and back.
He was such a mannerless id-10-T that he did not even say thank you when he got the money. He quickly checked if I would have passed Indon lookalike coins (a tenth of the value) in the car.
What a sh*t head and what a *great* way to begin an otherwise *dour* morning.
I am *so* looking forward to this trip...
Oh man, you call that...
COFFEE?
This is... unacceptable. Well, the flat white had a little overzealous head - when it is supposed not to have much - and it sticks together quite well... like a mousse.
The coffee smells great but tastes far from great.
I need my harsh fix!
This is... unacceptable. Well, the flat white had a little overzealous head - when it is supposed not to have much - and it sticks together quite well... like a mousse.
The coffee smells great but tastes far from great.
I need my harsh fix!
Can we help but stereotype?
As I type this in the Gelare ice cream bar - it's 8.12 am and I am really there to have my morning fix - my attention is diverted to a South Asian couple with a baby asking for the high heavens.
I suppose he wanted the takeaway coffee in a mug and he also wanted small size for everything. Man, takeaway coffee in a porcelain mug? Since when? Even Starbucks - aka Sucks - don't give you their mugs for free though they do throw in a shot of coffee if you buy a mug from then. And since when are there small size of anything since there is only one price indicated on the menu boards? Sigh.
Ostensibly, and understandably, the cashier at the outlet was a little perturbed.
Two stereotypes here - South Asia Couple and Poor Service Guaranteed from Lowly Paid, Possibly Lowly Educated Service Persons.
We need to improve on our service. We can't change the SAC but we certainly can still serve with a smile. It is hard but that would go a long long way, if Singapore ever aspires for something big, such as the Youth Olympics.
I suppose he wanted the takeaway coffee in a mug and he also wanted small size for everything. Man, takeaway coffee in a porcelain mug? Since when? Even Starbucks - aka Sucks - don't give you their mugs for free though they do throw in a shot of coffee if you buy a mug from then. And since when are there small size of anything since there is only one price indicated on the menu boards? Sigh.
Ostensibly, and understandably, the cashier at the outlet was a little perturbed.
Two stereotypes here - South Asia Couple and Poor Service Guaranteed from Lowly Paid, Possibly Lowly Educated Service Persons.
We need to improve on our service. We can't change the SAC but we certainly can still serve with a smile. It is hard but that would go a long long way, if Singapore ever aspires for something big, such as the Youth Olympics.
Leave of Absence
In Perth, Australia, from 4 to 11 Feb.
Will check in whenever I can.
Just to make it clear here before I go: If something were to happen to the flight - say it has to turn back because of some technical glitch, I am calling it. I'll not take the next flight out. Suddenly, even taking a holiday seems such a chore. Sigh.
Will check in whenever I can.
Just to make it clear here before I go: If something were to happen to the flight - say it has to turn back because of some technical glitch, I am calling it. I'll not take the next flight out. Suddenly, even taking a holiday seems such a chore. Sigh.
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