The Rocking Horse Winner
1.For The Rocking Horse Winner, write a paragraph of
100 words in which you point out who was responsible for Paul's death.
Paul's death is actually his own fault of over doing it with their betting on horses. He rode his horse until he became crazily insane and made him die of an unknown reason. It could be said that it was his mother who contributed to this tragedy because the mother did not pay sufficient attention to Paul and gave him a wrong concept of the meaning "lucky" and "money". It was all because of his mother that made Paul result to gambling as his intention of helping his "unlucky" parents. It would also be said that it was Bassett and Osscar's fault for not putting a stop to paul's gambling habits. In overall, it was small contributions from each person that resulted in Paul's death.
Catherine Lim's Little Ironies
1)For Lottery , do an analysis of 100 words in which you look at Ah Boh's superstitions regarding gambling.
I think Ah Boh's superstitions regarding gambling are way too unrealistic. This is because in normal common sense, nobody can actually win a prize lottery by just begging God to help them. They feel that when they promise God they do good deeds with the money if they win, God would help them win so that they can carry out the things they promised. But in fact, they just told God this so that they strike Four-Digits or Toto. But when they actually win, they would forget their promise to God who "helped" them. And their newly gained money to do more gambling with saying the same old thing to God in hopes to strike Four-Digits or Toto again and again.
Music for Your Pleasure
School e-learning day 3 assignment
The Son is in Secondary School by Affran Sa'at
My badge has a Latin motto
Hope for the future
The future is hope
Or something
At times black crows try to interrupt
When we sing the National Anthem
It is difficult to maintain
The whiteness of my shoes
Especially on Wednesdays
I must admit there is something quite special
About the bare thighs of hardworking scouts
The Malay chauffeurs
Who wait for my schoolmates
Sit on the car park kerb
Telling jokes to one another
Seven to the power of five is unreasonable
On Chinese New Year
Mrs Lee dressed up
In a sarong kebaya
And sang Bengawan Solo
The capital of Singapore is Singapore
My best friend did a heroic thing once
Shaded all A's
For his Chinese Language
Multiple-choice paper
In our annual yearbook
There is a photograph of me
Pushing a wheelchair and smiling
They caught me
At the exact moment
When my eyes were actually closed
I find that the reader is thinking about his/her old school life wrote this poem in a rather passive tone. The is no signs of any happy nor negative feelings in his poem. Well, I cannot say much about the poet's feelings because there is insuficiant information in the poem.
Reading of old school times, makes me quite happy when I think about all the fun we had. But despite all, I stiil feel sad because allowed my years as a primary school student pass by so quickly.
A little poem made by ME:
Sing the patriotic nation song,
Standing under the scorching sun;
As crows flying high above preying on us;
To bring food home for their sons.
We lay on the grassy field,
While hungry ant scurry on to us;
We stand up quickly and fled,
As ants bite into our flesh.
In the canteen filled with vender,
We fight our way through hundreds of fellow hunters;
We shove and pushed eliminating the competitors,
As we go in search of a prey to eat.
All silence in the deadly jail,
Students sit there being prisoners of study;
When the saviour ringing of the final bell,
freed student stamped home to relax and play.
My badge has a Latin motto
Hope for the future
The future is hope
Or something
At times black crows try to interrupt
When we sing the National Anthem
It is difficult to maintain
The whiteness of my shoes
Especially on Wednesdays
I must admit there is something quite special
About the bare thighs of hardworking scouts
The Malay chauffeurs
Who wait for my schoolmates
Sit on the car park kerb
Telling jokes to one another
Seven to the power of five is unreasonable
On Chinese New Year
Mrs Lee dressed up
In a sarong kebaya
And sang Bengawan Solo
The capital of Singapore is Singapore
My best friend did a heroic thing once
Shaded all A's
For his Chinese Language
Multiple-choice paper
In our annual yearbook
There is a photograph of me
Pushing a wheelchair and smiling
They caught me
At the exact moment
When my eyes were actually closed
I find that the reader is thinking about his/her old school life wrote this poem in a rather passive tone. The is no signs of any happy nor negative feelings in his poem. Well, I cannot say much about the poet's feelings because there is insuficiant information in the poem.
Reading of old school times, makes me quite happy when I think about all the fun we had. But despite all, I stiil feel sad because allowed my years as a primary school student pass by so quickly.
A little poem made by ME:
Sing the patriotic nation song,
Standing under the scorching sun;
As crows flying high above preying on us;
To bring food home for their sons.
We lay on the grassy field,
While hungry ant scurry on to us;
We stand up quickly and fled,
As ants bite into our flesh.
In the canteen filled with vender,
We fight our way through hundreds of fellow hunters;
We shove and pushed eliminating the competitors,
As we go in search of a prey to eat.
All silence in the deadly jail,
Students sit there being prisoners of study;
When the saviour ringing of the final bell,
freed student stamped home to relax and play.
School e-learning day 2 assignment
My favourite poet:Willam Shakespear
I choose this particular poet because he is particular more well-known to me than any other poet. As he is one of those well-known and deceased people who are still known widely amongst the people of today. Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.
I believe that William as a man of such great poetry writing must have be very creative and had a vivid imagination. I believe that he has experienced some special thoughts or moments in his life for him to create these wonderful poetry.
William Skakespear has a very interesting early adulthood as he got married at the age of 18 to a 26 year-old relative. His marriage was to Anne Hathaway who is a relative to William and bore him 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. The twin boy of the younger daughter died in his boyhood.
Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613.[4] His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the sixteenth century. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. In 1623, two of his former theatrical colleagues published the First Folio, a collected edition of his dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's.
William shakespears's poems:
1)Blow, blow, thou winter wind
2)Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
3)Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!
Reference
Reference 2
School e-learning day 1 assignment
A Fairy Song by William Shakespeare
Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
How are the figurative language used in the poem?
Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?
The poet has used the figurative language:
"Anaphora" = was used in the first 4 line was lend more emphasis in the poem.
"hyperbole" = was used in the 6th line to evoke strong feelings or to create a
strong impression of how fast he was moving as well as in the 8th
line express how large the cwslips are.
"personofication"= was used in line 14th, the last one, to make the cowslips
seem more lively.
I like this poem because it is short and yet it is relaxing to read. It's meaning is quite easily understood and it was write by a famous poet-William Shakespear.
Star Wars Clone Wars Episode1
Star Wars has begun here on my blog!!!
Stay tuned to the next episode...
To be contibued....
Stay tuned to the next episode...
To be contibued....
Holiday Assignment.
Blog Prompt No 4.
Which part of Vllage by the Sea do you like the best?
State your reasons.(150-200 words)
I like the ending part of the story the best because it is a happy ending. I find the book to be sad with one misadventure after another. The fairy tale ending brings the story to a happy close.
The story ends with Hari returning home to Thul from Bombay. He was reunited with his sisters and parents. Hari’s father was no longer drinking and his mother was recovering from her illness. The family reunion took place on Diwali. Everybody rejoiced as they celebrated the Festival of Lights together.
The family was reunited on Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which in India is a very auspicious day. Like Mr Panwallah said it is the best day in the whole year. It marks a new beginning for Hari and his family. With Hari’s hard earned money and plans for the future, the family can look forward to a better life and a more secure future.
I personally love to read stories with fairy tale endings because it gives a nice and securing closure to a story where the protagonists encountered all sorts of obstacles.
(183 words)
State your reasons.(150-200 words)
I like the ending part of the story the best because it is a happy ending. I find the book to be sad with one misadventure after another. The fairy tale ending brings the story to a happy close.
The story ends with Hari returning home to Thul from Bombay. He was reunited with his sisters and parents. Hari’s father was no longer drinking and his mother was recovering from her illness. The family reunion took place on Diwali. Everybody rejoiced as they celebrated the Festival of Lights together.
The family was reunited on Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which in India is a very auspicious day. Like Mr Panwallah said it is the best day in the whole year. It marks a new beginning for Hari and his family. With Hari’s hard earned money and plans for the future, the family can look forward to a better life and a more secure future.
I personally love to read stories with fairy tale endings because it gives a nice and securing closure to a story where the protagonists encountered all sorts of obstacles.
(183 words)
Holiday Assignment.
Blog Prompt No 5.
Who is your favourite/least favourite character in Vllage by the Sea?
State your reasons.(150-200 words)
My favourite character in “Village by the Sea” is Mr Panwallah because he is a kind, selfless and generous man who was Hari’s benefactor in Bombay.
He is a watch mender by trade who works in a shop near the restaurant where Hari worked in Bombay. Mr Panwallah befriended the young, lonely and homesick Hari. He gave Hari moral support when he was down and feeling confused.
He also taught Hari the skill of watch mending, one that Hari would use later. Mr Panwallah influenced Hari to think of the future by opening Hari’s encaged mind to the infinite possibilities that he could do with his new skills and money when he is back in Thul. Mr Panwallah cared for Hari as if he was his own son. They enjoyed happy moments together like the time they went to celebrate Coconut Day.
He looked after his welfare and made Hari feel like the child he really was. When Mr Panwallah was sick and did not open his shop, Hari was worried and visited him.
It could be said that Mr Panwallah is the father that Hari never had and Hari was the son Mr Panwallah wished he had.
I wish I had a benefactor like Mr Panwallah.
(207 words)
State your reasons.(150-200 words)
My favourite character in “Village by the Sea” is Mr Panwallah because he is a kind, selfless and generous man who was Hari’s benefactor in Bombay.
He is a watch mender by trade who works in a shop near the restaurant where Hari worked in Bombay. Mr Panwallah befriended the young, lonely and homesick Hari. He gave Hari moral support when he was down and feeling confused.
He also taught Hari the skill of watch mending, one that Hari would use later. Mr Panwallah influenced Hari to think of the future by opening Hari’s encaged mind to the infinite possibilities that he could do with his new skills and money when he is back in Thul. Mr Panwallah cared for Hari as if he was his own son. They enjoyed happy moments together like the time they went to celebrate Coconut Day.
He looked after his welfare and made Hari feel like the child he really was. When Mr Panwallah was sick and did not open his shop, Hari was worried and visited him.
It could be said that Mr Panwallah is the father that Hari never had and Hari was the son Mr Panwallah wished he had.
I wish I had a benefactor like Mr Panwallah.
(207 words)
Holiday Assignment.
Blog Prompt No 1.
Confessions of a junk food lover.(150-200 words)
Crispy crisps, tasty fried keropok, mouth-watering burgers, French fries, chocolates, refreshing sodas…… I just love them. They’re so tasty and delicious. I find it so hard to resist the temptation.
I can eat a big bag of LAYS chips in one go. My favourite is barbeque flavour. I also enjoy devouring keropok, prawn crackers or fish crackers. My favourite crackers are those fried by my mother. They are the tastiest because she fries them in olive oil. I love that Mushroom-Swiss Burger from Burger King and the Double Cheese Burger from Mc Donald. The French fries from Mc Donald are the best especially when eaten hot. When the weather is hot like it is nowadays, it is so refreshing to have a nice cold Sprite.
I know that eating junk food is a bad habit but I can’t help it. It is a good thing that I exercise a lot otherwise I would be very fat. I don’t know how I started to love junk food because my parents are health conscious.
Hopefully in a few years, I will outgrow this bad habit. That would make my parents happy.
(189 words)
Crispy crisps, tasty fried keropok, mouth-watering burgers, French fries, chocolates, refreshing sodas…… I just love them. They’re so tasty and delicious. I find it so hard to resist the temptation.
I can eat a big bag of LAYS chips in one go. My favourite is barbeque flavour. I also enjoy devouring keropok, prawn crackers or fish crackers. My favourite crackers are those fried by my mother. They are the tastiest because she fries them in olive oil. I love that Mushroom-Swiss Burger from Burger King and the Double Cheese Burger from Mc Donald. The French fries from Mc Donald are the best especially when eaten hot. When the weather is hot like it is nowadays, it is so refreshing to have a nice cold Sprite.
I know that eating junk food is a bad habit but I can’t help it. It is a good thing that I exercise a lot otherwise I would be very fat. I don’t know how I started to love junk food because my parents are health conscious.
Hopefully in a few years, I will outgrow this bad habit. That would make my parents happy.
(189 words)
Holiday Assignment.
Blog Prompt No 3.
I’d rather be a city rat than a country rat.Comment.(150-200 words)
I’d rather be a city rat than a country rat.I don’t agree with the above statement. I would rather be a country rat for the following reasons.
I’d rather be a city rat than a country rat.I don’t agree with the above statement. I would rather be a country rat for the following reasons.
Once, I visited my cousins in the city. The place was very crowded and my city cousins lived in damp, cold and cramped lodgings. It was not so great to sleep there. Foods were plentiful but not as fresh as those from the country. We were always on the look-out for those hungry alley cats and humans who tried to kill us. Those adrenaline rushes are bad for one’s health and no wonder I had high blood pressure and palpitations there. The air was so polluted that I found it very hard to breathe. Boy, was I glad to return to the good old country side!!!
The country on the other is nothing like the city. It is so peaceful and there are vast farm land. You don’t have to be always on the lookout for gigantic feet to trample all over you. Food is fresh and tasty. The air is pure and clean. My warm and cosy home is under the root of a big tree where I can live comfortably. Give me the country any time.
(205 words)
Holiday Assignment.
Blog Prompt No 7. Your Blog Prompt:
My first school NCC Camp.(150-200 words)
On the first day we did a 12-km brisk walk and my feet still has blisters that have not fully recovered. I am amazed that I was able to stay awake during the night watch that lasted for 3 hours.
I enjoyed one activity the most. It was known as the “War Games”. We were divided into 2 armies. The objective of the game was to take the opponent’s flag back to our “home ground”. My team lost. What a shame.
The camp was tough but enjoyable and was a good experience for me. It was a test of our endurance. I must say that despite all, the camp was fun and gave me a chance to get to know my seniors better. I had a fruitful experience and felt what it was like to be a soldier in training.
I enjoyed the camp although I did not get promoted. I look forward to the next one.
Last week, I attended my first NCC camp organised by the Sec 4 Seniors. It was held at Hwa Chong High School from the 5th to the 7th June. The attendance was compulsory and a necessity for our promotion to a private.
On the first day we did a 12-km brisk walk and my feet still has blisters that have not fully recovered. I am amazed that I was able to stay awake during the night watch that lasted for 3 hours.
I enjoyed one activity the most. It was known as the “War Games”. We were divided into 2 armies. The objective of the game was to take the opponent’s flag back to our “home ground”. My team lost. What a shame.
The camp was tough but enjoyable and was a good experience for me. It was a test of our endurance. I must say that despite all, the camp was fun and gave me a chance to get to know my seniors better. I had a fruitful experience and felt what it was like to be a soldier in training.
I enjoyed the camp although I did not get promoted. I look forward to the next one.
(199 words)
Success
Today, I read about a group of FEMALE Singaporeans who scaled a victory at the peak of Mount Everest from "The Sunday Times". They now joined the select group who have suceeded in reaching the peak of Mount Everest.
I feel very happy and proud that more females have succeeded in climbing Mount Everest. These ladies even put their own careers aside and trained six days a week for five years. They did not give in to the hard task at hand but continued to strive to the very end. Some even had difficulties getting sponsors for the expedition resulting in the trip being delayed. I really admire their determination to climb the world's tallest mountain.
I believe that it is very important for people to face their problems head-on and never give up. These brave ladies set a good example for that. I hope that we can learn from their spirit and succeed in scaling our own peaks and goals like these courageous ladies.
I feel very happy and proud that more females have succeeded in climbing Mount Everest. These ladies even put their own careers aside and trained six days a week for five years. They did not give in to the hard task at hand but continued to strive to the very end. Some even had difficulties getting sponsors for the expedition resulting in the trip being delayed. I really admire their determination to climb the world's tallest mountain.
I believe that it is very important for people to face their problems head-on and never give up. These brave ladies set a good example for that. I hope that we can learn from their spirit and succeed in scaling our own peaks and goals like these courageous ladies.
H1N1 Outbreak
The H1N1 outbreak has just hit Malaysia yesterday (The Strait Times, 16/05/09). The victim was identified as a 21-year old male student who had just returned from the US on Wednesday and developed a fever, sore throat and body aches the next day. This is indeed a very bad piece of news to me. I worry for my relatives staying in my home country, Malaysia, as the H1N1 is a very contageous virus and can infect human beings easily. I am also scared that it may reach Singapore as Malaysia is just accross the causeway and there are many Malaysians visiting Singapore daily be it for work or for holiday.
According to the news report, the number of H1N1 infected people has taken a large scale jump from about 1000 people to 7500 people estimated. A lot of countries have been invaded by the invincible and not so deadly "H1N1 ARMY". Surprisingly there is only 65 deaths so far since the virus first appeared in Mexico last month. Therefore it is believed that the H1N1 virus is not as dangerous as most people had feared. What do you think ?.
I believe that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to avoid going out to heavily crowded places. It is everyones responsibility to put a stop to the spread of the "H1N1 virus". I also believe that prevention is better than cure. Our school, Hwa Chong Institution is doing the right thing, making us monitor our daily temperature and getting us to be responsible for our health (SMB, 15/5/09, message from Sung Kah Kee).
According to the news report, the number of H1N1 infected people has taken a large scale jump from about 1000 people to 7500 people estimated. A lot of countries have been invaded by the invincible and not so deadly "H1N1 ARMY". Surprisingly there is only 65 deaths so far since the virus first appeared in Mexico last month. Therefore it is believed that the H1N1 virus is not as dangerous as most people had feared. What do you think ?.
I believe that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to avoid going out to heavily crowded places. It is everyones responsibility to put a stop to the spread of the "H1N1 virus". I also believe that prevention is better than cure. Our school, Hwa Chong Institution is doing the right thing, making us monitor our daily temperature and getting us to be responsible for our health (SMB, 15/5/09, message from Sung Kah Kee).
Capture of the Year
It came as a very pleasant surprise for many Singaporeans as they awoke this glorious morning with the news that the country’s most wanted fugitive, Mas Selamat Kasteri has finally placed behind bars. (Today newspaper afternoon edition) For those of you who did not know. Mat Selamat is a terrorist, he once plotted to hijacked a plane and crash it into Changi Airport. He was arrested but escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 2008. More than a year later he is now behind bars again.
I have always wondered when he would be caught. I have seen his picture splashed on the board at the Singapore immigration at Tuas when each time I go back home to Malaysia. To me he looked not quite the villian he is made out to be. I guess that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
How did he escape from the tight security at the Whitley Road Detention Centre also baffles me. How did he end up in Malaysia? Did he have insider collaboration? I read the story about his escape in the same paper. It sure looks to me that this has been a well planned escape and he could not have done it alone. Maybe someone will make a movie.
I like detective stories and this Mas Selamat saga has got to me. I will definitely be checking the newspaper more frequently for any updates. And anybody with more juicy news about this infamous jailbird please write to me.
Hi Guys!!!
It has been a while since I last wrote in my blog. Like many of my classmates, I have been quite busy lately.
There was quite a lot of events at school that took up some of my time. The rest of the time was spent doing projects and studying for the term 2 exams.
I went for a NCC camp which was held on the 20-21st April. There was also a SMOPS competition held here in Hwa Chong and I had the pleasure of helping out at the event. Now that most of the exams are over I can take a breather from my studies and catch up with my blogging.
Mother’s Memorable Read
My mother, an avid reader since her childhood days, most memorable read is the book of the title “ 19 is too young to die.”
The book is the story of a young Japanese girl with leukemia. As a child growing up during the wars she was exposed to radiation during the bombing of Hiroshima. When she found out she had cancer, she decided that she will not waste one day of her remaining life. She started to live her life one day at a time and do good everyday although she was in pain.
As a teenager, my mother was going through a difficult period. After reading the book, she realised that life was very precious and that she had only one chance to be young and that she must live her life meaningfully. She started to see her parents and siblings differently and learned to appreciate them. She was then determined to study hard to attain good grades in her O’levels exams so that she can further her studies. When she was studying in England and later in Singapore, she always missed her family in Seychelles. She then remembers the Japanese girl’s determination and that kept her going. These days she still appreciates what life has to offer and attributed her outlook on life to this book.
The book is the story of a young Japanese girl with leukemia. As a child growing up during the wars she was exposed to radiation during the bombing of Hiroshima. When she found out she had cancer, she decided that she will not waste one day of her remaining life. She started to live her life one day at a time and do good everyday although she was in pain.
As a teenager, my mother was going through a difficult period. After reading the book, she realised that life was very precious and that she had only one chance to be young and that she must live her life meaningfully. She started to see her parents and siblings differently and learned to appreciate them. She was then determined to study hard to attain good grades in her O’levels exams so that she can further her studies. When she was studying in England and later in Singapore, she always missed her family in Seychelles. She then remembers the Japanese girl’s determination and that kept her going. These days she still appreciates what life has to offer and attributed her outlook on life to this book.
News of The Week
There was a recent article that discussed child abuse by maids.
The so called victims were forced to steal money from their parents to give to the maid, they have come home from school on time even if the parents allowed them to come late and they have to help with the housework. If they do not do any of the above they will get scolded by the maid.
It is a rather strange thing that readers of The Straits Times actually side with the maid and blame the parents for allowing these things to happen. I, too believe that it is not only the maid's fault but the entire family.
This is because if the parents were at home more often or the children were more brave to tell their parents none of this would have ever happened. Well, I, for one believe that prevention of child abuse is everyone's responsibility.
The so called victims were forced to steal money from their parents to give to the maid, they have come home from school on time even if the parents allowed them to come late and they have to help with the housework. If they do not do any of the above they will get scolded by the maid.
It is a rather strange thing that readers of The Straits Times actually side with the maid and blame the parents for allowing these things to happen. I, too believe that it is not only the maid's fault but the entire family.
This is because if the parents were at home more often or the children were more brave to tell their parents none of this would have ever happened. Well, I, for one believe that prevention of child abuse is everyone's responsibility.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act.
[Barbara Hall, A Summons to New Orleans, 2000]
The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
[Ben Stein]
Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
[Brendan Gill]
Life is a foreign language; all men mispronounce it.
[Christopher Morley (1890 - 1957)]
The purpose of life is to fight maturity.
[Dick Werthimer]
Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Romania.
[Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967)]
[Barbara Hall, A Summons to New Orleans, 2000]
The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
[Ben Stein]
Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
[Brendan Gill]
Life is a foreign language; all men mispronounce it.
[Christopher Morley (1890 - 1957)]
The purpose of life is to fight maturity.
[Dick Werthimer]
Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Romania.
[Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967)]
News Today
S'pore gets more spam
MORE unwanted mail makes it to Singapore than the global average.
About 85 out of every 100 e-mail messages sent to companies and individuals here were spam mails - the kind that advertise copies of watches, fake drugs or implements that can enhance various body parts.
I believe that Singapore maybe a very advanced country but some of its people take advantage of this to promote unauthorised things through the viberite internet.
I have a very strong feeling that this arose due to the company the sender has and his moral value. If he had the right friends and environment, he would not have done such a thing. If he had moral values, he would have not made friends with ill mannered people.
So let's act from and don't mix with the wrong company.
As they say: "You can make a difference".
MORE unwanted mail makes it to Singapore than the global average.
About 85 out of every 100 e-mail messages sent to companies and individuals here were spam mails - the kind that advertise copies of watches, fake drugs or implements that can enhance various body parts.
I believe that Singapore maybe a very advanced country but some of its people take advantage of this to promote unauthorised things through the viberite internet.
I have a very strong feeling that this arose due to the company the sender has and his moral value. If he had the right friends and environment, he would not have done such a thing. If he had moral values, he would have not made friends with ill mannered people.
So let's act from and don't mix with the wrong company.
As they say: "You can make a difference".
Riddle to pounder
1.Most people thought Goliath was too big to fight.
What did David think???
2.I have no voice and yet I speak to you, I tell of all things in the world that people do. I have leaves, but I am not a tree, I have pages, but I am not a bride or royalty. I have a spine and hinges, but I am not a man or a door, I have told you all, I cannot tell you more. What am I?
3.Take off my skin - I won't cry, but you will! What am I?
4.This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it! In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out! Try to do so without any coaching!
5.What can fill a room but takes up no space?
6.A man has a goat, a wolf, and a head of cabbage. He comes to a river that has no bridge, but a small boat to cross the river. The boat can hold only one of the three things he has. If he takes over the wolf first, the goat will eat the cabbage. If he take over the cabbage first, the wolf will eat the goat. How does he solve the problem?
Quotes of The Week
1.No person was ever honored for what he received.
Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
7.God's gifts put man's best gifts to shame.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning-
8.Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart, not in the mind.
-Lionel Hampton-
Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
-Calvin Coolidge-
2.Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people.
- Tobias S. Gibson-
3."Courage is what happened when the New York
firefighters and policemen ran into the burning World Trade Center;
cowardice is what set it aflame."
-Gregg Easterbrook-
4.It's a good thing to have the props pulled out from under us occasionally.
2.Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people.
- Tobias S. Gibson-
3."Courage is what happened when the New York
firefighters and policemen ran into the burning World Trade Center;
cowardice is what set it aflame."
-Gregg Easterbrook-
4.It's a good thing to have the props pulled out from under us occasionally.
It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet and what is sand.
5.We know the truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart.
-Blaise Pascal-
-Madeleine L'Engle-
-Blaise Pascal-
6.Man must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind him to the fact that each moment of his life is a miracle and a mystery.
- H. G. Wells-7.God's gifts put man's best gifts to shame.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning-
8.Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart, not in the mind.
-Lionel Hampton-
Answers To Riddles Posted
1. A coffin
2. A cold
3. A sun-burned penguin
4. A stamp
5. Fire
6. Silence/A secret
7. A shadow
8. A tree
2. A cold
3. A sun-burned penguin
4. A stamp
5. Fire
6. Silence/A secret
7. A shadow
8. A tree
Quotes of the week
1.A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
-Francis Bacon-
2.All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.
-Henry David Thoreau-
3.Common sense is an uncommon degree. It is what the world calls wisdom.
-Samuel Taylor Coleridge-
4.Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
-John Dewey-
5.He dares to be a fool and that is the first step in the direction of wisdom.
-James Huneker-
2.All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.
3.Common sense is an uncommon degree. It is what the world calls wisdom.
4.Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
5.He dares to be a fool and that is the first step in the direction of wisdom.
Riddles to ponder about
1. The man who invented it does not want it!
The man who bought it does not want it!
The man who needs it does not know it!
What is it???
2. What can catch but cannot throw???
3. What is black, white and red all over???
4. What goes around the world but stays in a corner???
5. Give me food and I will live; Give me water and I will die.
What am I???
6. No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?
7. I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky.
I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry.
What am I?
8. I am mother and father, but never birth or nurse.
I'm rarely still, but I never wander.
What am I?
The man who bought it does not want it!
The man who needs it does not know it!
What is it???
2. What can catch but cannot throw???
3. What is black, white and red all over???
4. What goes around the world but stays in a corner???
5. Give me food and I will live; Give me water and I will die.
What am I???
6. No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?
7. I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky.
I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry.
What am I?
8. I am mother and father, but never birth or nurse.
I'm rarely still, but I never wander.
What am I?
Quotes of The Week
1)Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.
2)Praise youth and it will prosper.
3)I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
4)...happiness gives us the energy which is the basis of health.
2)Praise youth and it will prosper.
3)I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
4)...happiness gives us the energy which is the basis of health.
Life is not easy
In the world today, a lot of people are doing things for their own benefit and do not work together as a team. We are living as if we are living worlds apart from each other. Most people do not get along well with each other. This is usually because of their individual differences. But look at the ants, they work together as a colony and it is their individual differences that make them strong. Look at ourselves, are we doing anything better than what the ants are doing. If the ants can do it why can't we the intelligent people do it???
So start making friends with other people because every step count.
"YOU CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE"
So start making friends with other people because every step count.
"YOU CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE"
What an outstanding person 1
Today as I was having class our teacher shared with us about a wonderful person who is a disabled woman who managed to climb Mount Kinabalu. She is Miss Oh Siew May, age 38. She walks in an awkward gait and speaks with great difficulty because she was born with a defective condition of her brain cells which control her muscular coordination. This sickness is known as "cerebral palsy". This disability has caused her to become a source of taunts, cruel jokes and discrimination from unkind and inconsiderate people. As if things were not bad enough, she experienced much challenges as well as a number of unfortunate events happening while she was young. For example, a high fever rendered0 one of her siblings mentally sick. Furthermore, the much-feared disease, "cancer", stole the lives of both her father and her best childhood friend.
Despite all these setbacks, she did not give in to self pity but instead continued to chase her dreams. She worked hard and in the year 2005. She managed to succeed in climbing Mount Kinabalu in East Malaysia, which stands at 4095m above sea level and it is the tallest mountain in South-East Asia. Last December, she managed to scale another peak when she published a book about her life story with the help of some of her friends.
One may say that climbing a mountain or publishing a book is very common nowadays. But ask oneself, have you even done that in your entire life? And even if you do, "WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A DISABLED PERSON HERE AND NOT ABOUT A NORMAL PERSON". Now if someone who is disabled can publish a book or even climb Mount Kinabalu, why can't we the healthy people of the world do something greater? So I hope that all of us will embrace this success story and be motivated to acheive even greater goals in life, especially those which make the world a better place.
She says that "If you tell yourself you are useless, then you are useless!"
She is so understanding with a broad thinking. She has made a very correct statement which can be applied to almost everyone on earth. Aronud 75% of the human population or more has the thinking concept that they are "stupid',"dumb" , etc, etc.....
Now, Miss Oh stated that the very first step to acheive our goals is to have the correct mind-set in order to be successful.
So, what excuses do we have not to succeed???
If she who is so disabled and yet she can acheive her goals,
why can't we do like-wise or even better???
Despite all these setbacks, she did not give in to self pity but instead continued to chase her dreams. She worked hard and in the year 2005. She managed to succeed in climbing Mount Kinabalu in East Malaysia, which stands at 4095m above sea level and it is the tallest mountain in South-East Asia. Last December, she managed to scale another peak when she published a book about her life story with the help of some of her friends.
One may say that climbing a mountain or publishing a book is very common nowadays. But ask oneself, have you even done that in your entire life? And even if you do, "WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A DISABLED PERSON HERE AND NOT ABOUT A NORMAL PERSON". Now if someone who is disabled can publish a book or even climb Mount Kinabalu, why can't we the healthy people of the world do something greater? So I hope that all of us will embrace this success story and be motivated to acheive even greater goals in life, especially those which make the world a better place.
She says that "If you tell yourself you are useless, then you are useless!"
She is so understanding with a broad thinking. She has made a very correct statement which can be applied to almost everyone on earth. Aronud 75% of the human population or more has the thinking concept that they are "stupid',"dumb" , etc, etc.....
Now, Miss Oh stated that the very first step to acheive our goals is to have the correct mind-set in order to be successful.
So, what excuses do we have not to succeed???
If she who is so disabled and yet she can acheive her goals,
why can't we do like-wise or even better???
Youths bring cheer to elderly
I was reading the newspaper today when I came across an article about "Youths bring cheer to elderly". I felt quite happy that there are people who still care for old people who have no family to support them or are forgotten by their family. It brings joy and happiness to the old people at the old folks' home because they feel that they are not alone in this cruel world and that there is still some people who care about them.
I hope I will see more of such article in the newspaper in the future. I will also make an effort to go to the old folks' home and spend time with the residents.
"Kiasu" is it good or bad
What is "kiasu"? I first learned the word "kiasu" when I came to Singapore 2 months ago. It is a popular Hokkien word which means that people are afraid of losing to others.
Now, "kiasu" has its good points and bad points. I believe that being "kiasu" is bad in excessive amount for anyone. For example, if a parent is overly "kiasu", the parent will tend to exert pressure on the child to work extremely hard and set high expectations. So the poor child will be under tremendous stress. If the child if unable to meet the expectations of his or her parents, he or she will become very depressed and, in extreme cases, may even commit suicide as he or she may think that it is the only way to get out of her misery, as is the case in the story of "Adeline Ng Ai Choo".
On the other hand, a heathy dose of "kiasu-ism" does have its own merits. Imagine a student who is "kiasu", he or she will strive to acheive his or her goals and study very hard. one may ask? What if everyone is "kiasu", won't everybody be striving to become better and there will be no lazy people in the country? Hence, the whole nation will become more competetive as a whole. May be that is why Singapore developed at such an incredible speed that She will soon surpass almost every country in the entire world.
So, if I were to decide whether "kiasu" is good or bad, I would say that it is neutral and it depends on the dosage and application.
What do you think? If you have an opinion on this subject, please share with us.
For the time being, interestingly I am learning more new Singaporean "kia"-phrases like : "kiasi"(afraid to die, afraid to make mistake; cowardice), "kiam-siap"(stingy) and "kiabo"(afraid of wife)
Now, "kiasu" has its good points and bad points. I believe that being "kiasu" is bad in excessive amount for anyone. For example, if a parent is overly "kiasu", the parent will tend to exert pressure on the child to work extremely hard and set high expectations. So the poor child will be under tremendous stress. If the child if unable to meet the expectations of his or her parents, he or she will become very depressed and, in extreme cases, may even commit suicide as he or she may think that it is the only way to get out of her misery, as is the case in the story of "Adeline Ng Ai Choo".
On the other hand, a heathy dose of "kiasu-ism" does have its own merits. Imagine a student who is "kiasu", he or she will strive to acheive his or her goals and study very hard. one may ask? What if everyone is "kiasu", won't everybody be striving to become better and there will be no lazy people in the country? Hence, the whole nation will become more competetive as a whole. May be that is why Singapore developed at such an incredible speed that She will soon surpass almost every country in the entire world.
So, if I were to decide whether "kiasu" is good or bad, I would say that it is neutral and it depends on the dosage and application.
What do you think? If you have an opinion on this subject, please share with us.
For the time being, interestingly I am learning more new Singaporean "kia"-phrases like : "kiasi"(afraid to die, afraid to make mistake; cowardice), "kiam-siap"(stingy) and "kiabo"(afraid of wife)
Review of Aristotle's quote:What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do
I agree with Aristotle's view that"What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do." in reference to the story of "Adeline Ng Ai Choo" in the book entitled "Little Ironies ~Stories of Singapore" by Catherine Lim.
I will be using two elements of Paul's wheel of reasoning in this discussion to support the quotation.These two elements are evidence/data and implications/consequences.
To begin, I am using evidence to support Aristotle’s view that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do."Evidence such as the note by Adeline to her parents and her diary stated that her parents had expectations which were too high for her standard. Therefore she received tremendous stress which she was unable to manage.
Secondly,the class teacher noticed Adeline's sudden change and tried to helpbutdid not take additional precautions to prevent the tragic incidence.
To continue,in addition to the use of evidence, I would agree that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do." by using the consequences from Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning.
Firstly,her parents had the power to give her less stress by recognizing her limits and set their expectations accordingly but they didn't.thereby, resulting in the lost of their daughter.
Secondly,the subject teacher is also responsible because she had the power to give her a passing grade but she didn't. Even the class teacher is involved because the class teacher could have found out what was worrying Adeline but the class teacher didn't do it.Thereby, resulting in the lost of their student and it is very sad thing to loss a student due to an academic cause.
In conclusion, by using evidence and consequences for the above examples, I agree with Aristoltle that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do".
Thank you for your reading.Have a pleasant day.
I will be using two elements of Paul's wheel of reasoning in this discussion to support the quotation.These two elements are evidence/data and implications/consequences.
To begin, I am using evidence to support Aristotle’s view that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do."Evidence such as the note by Adeline to her parents and her diary stated that her parents had expectations which were too high for her standard. Therefore she received tremendous stress which she was unable to manage.
Secondly,the class teacher noticed Adeline's sudden change and tried to helpbutdid not take additional precautions to prevent the tragic incidence.
To continue,in addition to the use of evidence, I would agree that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do." by using the consequences from Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning.
Firstly,her parents had the power to give her less stress by recognizing her limits and set their expectations accordingly but they didn't.thereby, resulting in the lost of their daughter.
Secondly,the subject teacher is also responsible because she had the power to give her a passing grade but she didn't. Even the class teacher is involved because the class teacher could have found out what was worrying Adeline but the class teacher didn't do it.Thereby, resulting in the lost of their student and it is very sad thing to loss a student due to an academic cause.
In conclusion, by using evidence and consequences for the above examples, I agree with Aristoltle that "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do".
Thank you for your reading.Have a pleasant day.
Quote of The Week
- If men would consider not so much wherein they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling.
- Self discipline is that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
- What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.
- The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.
- Sweet are the slumbers of the virtuous man.
- The friendships of the world are oft confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasures
- He who would pass his declining years with honor and comfort, should, when young, consider that he may one day become old, and remember when he is old, that he has once been young
-Joseph Addison -
Quotes of the week
1.“I am easily satisfied with the very best.”
2.“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
3.“We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out”
4.“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
5.“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”
6.“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
7.“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential”
-Winston Churchill-
2.“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
3.“We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out”
4.“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
5.“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”
6.“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
7.“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential”
-Winston Churchill-
Book Review by Matthew Law
"The Village by the Sea" written by Anita Desai
The story "The Village by the Sea" is about a boy called Hari and his three sisters, Lila, Kamal and Bela. Their father was a drunk and jobless. They were as poor as a church mouse, yet he drank toddy everyday. The children were left to fend for themselves and looked after their sick mother. Their village livelihood of fishing and farming were in danger due to the impending construction of a fertiliser factory.
Hari, the second eldest in the family, was upset with his family predicament so he ran off to Bombay. He worked in a restaurant as well as an apprentice in a watch repair shop. He was very homesick but he worked hard and saved all his hard earned money for the future of his family. Meanwhile, the girls were fortunate to also find work. The kind employer of the girls was able to help their mother get the medical help she needed. While their mother was in hospital, their father came to his senses and turned over a new leaf. He stopped drinking and even looked after the mother.
The story has a happy ending. Hari came home and went to the hospital to fetch his parents. They returned home happily with the mother, healthy and their father sober. The whole family rejoiced as they celebrated the festival of light.
The story is well written. The expression as well as the content are excellent. The author described the rural village live in India vividly. The language is simple and yet very creative. But I failed to understand how the alcoholic father managed to stop drinking overnight.
My favourite character in the story is Hari. Despite his young age, he was matured enough to think of the future of his family. He took chances and sacrificed a lot for the well being of the family. He worked hard, saved his money and also learned new skills. He was able "to make lemonade out of lemon" and he had a plan to improve the financial situation of his family. Hari, with his savings intended to set up a chicken farm on his family land. The whole family will work together to sell eggs laid by the chicken to the factory workers. He will also open a watch repair shop using his newly acquired skills to repair the watches of the factory workers.
Hari, the second eldest in the family, was upset with his family predicament so he ran off to Bombay. He worked in a restaurant as well as an apprentice in a watch repair shop. He was very homesick but he worked hard and saved all his hard earned money for the future of his family. Meanwhile, the girls were fortunate to also find work. The kind employer of the girls was able to help their mother get the medical help she needed. While their mother was in hospital, their father came to his senses and turned over a new leaf. He stopped drinking and even looked after the mother.
The story has a happy ending. Hari came home and went to the hospital to fetch his parents. They returned home happily with the mother, healthy and their father sober. The whole family rejoiced as they celebrated the festival of light.
The story is well written. The expression as well as the content are excellent. The author described the rural village live in India vividly. The language is simple and yet very creative. But I failed to understand how the alcoholic father managed to stop drinking overnight.
My favourite character in the story is Hari. Despite his young age, he was matured enough to think of the future of his family. He took chances and sacrificed a lot for the well being of the family. He worked hard, saved his money and also learned new skills. He was able "to make lemonade out of lemon" and he had a plan to improve the financial situation of his family. Hari, with his savings intended to set up a chicken farm on his family land. The whole family will work together to sell eggs laid by the chicken to the factory workers. He will also open a watch repair shop using his newly acquired skills to repair the watches of the factory workers.
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