Of Mice and Men and Garfield

Have you noticed the increased number cats in your neighborhood? Have you noticed, I hope not, some rats near the garbage dumping area? Well, I have.



Those fellow aunties and uncles feeding the stray cats have to realize that the natural way of the food chain:

CATS eat RATS.

If they keep on feeding the stray cats, they would have lost their skills and desire to catch rats. And the results - increase in number of rats in the neighborhood.

Some cats found in my neigbourhood:
Some times we don't need a pipe piper to solve our problems; some times the solution is much closer than we think - We just need to reflect on our very own action.

What goes round, comes around.

Singapore's transport system at half it's brillance

Looking at the result of increase in transport cost!

Recently the MRT broke down and affected 50 over thousand people. A number of people have been questioning what is the company doing with the increase in fare. Today, I join the queue.

After coming back from work and study, tired; the gloomiest you can get is that half the lights in the bus on the 2nd deck is not working!


I am not an avid view of TV mobile - If they are trying to brighten our lives, TVmobile is definitely not it. Stick to the good old fashion fluorescent lamp.

晒月亮？

I know that the first reaction to this post is that it is a racist post. Let me clarify first. it is not!

First, the setting: I shot this picture on a weekend night, near Jurong East MRT station. There are a number , quite a number of groups of Indian workers gathering, picnicking.




In view of the recent hoo-haa about Indian workers loitering around our neighborhood, what I trying to say is this: accommodation and assimilation.

On the one hand, Singaporean should accommodate the foreign workers - after all, they here to do jobs that Singaporeans don't want to work. On the other hand, foreigners should learn to assimilate into our culture and blend in as much.

Singapore is already such a multi-racial society. I'm not sure about others, but for me, I can't different a mainland Chinese or Indian or a Filipino or Thai, just by look. Okay, maybe accent and language is a give away. But, more obviously is the actions and behaviour.

Our fore fathers are immigrants too, similar to the Europeans who immigrant to the New World looking for a better future. So does everyone else. So ... let's accommodate and assimilate and work together for a better Singapore, and not point finger and one another.

A dose of Japanese food back in Singapore

I must say you can get quite an authentic dose of Japanese food here back in Singapore. This place is Sakuraya at Anchor Point ( opposite Ikea). The manager says the get the imported fish from Japan every Tue and Fri. So you know when to go for the freshest in town! They also revealed that the busiest day is Friday afternoon and evening. Saturday and Sunday are fine.


Here is an interesting dish. Hmm, Sea Urchin. And notice the Tuna- I've selected the part that is between the tuna belly ( the very fatty portion) and the more lean part; the result - the middle portion with a nice gradual gradient of dark red to light red meat; with slight thin layers of white fish fats between each sections. Slurp! Slurp!
This is a typical Katsu ( aka fried pork chop) set meal.

Sushi...

And of course, a Japanese meal should come with a slight dash of sake.
Rec

Unity CCA openhouse - Scouts

I remember last year at this time I wrote about helping in the scout CCA openhouse as well. I wrote

"They are a reminder of my reason in education - and the strength to continue in it."

Today I affirm to that. Here is another quote to keep us going. It is shown in the Scout Introductory Course for Leaders.

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

What a way to start the year?!?!

Come across this at Kino. Such irony! Why Teachers Quit and The Hapless Teachers Handbook together with The Courage to Teach side by side on a shelf ( Courage to Teach ,by the way , is a recommended read in my previous school).


I'm glad that books on teacher's plight are being published. Every now and then, I've heard teachers complaining about this and that...parents, students, school management.... And I can attest to that most of them, if not all, are TRUE.

A few of my NIE schoolmates have quit. . . I've not taught for long, but having tasted teaching in primary (during attachment), secondary (4 yrs)and JC (1yr ), I totally agree that teaching is not an easy job.... wait a minute. I don't thinking teaching is a job, it is a vocation. Wikipedia defines vocation as :

A vocation is an occupation, either professional or voluntary, that is carried out more for its altruistic benefit than for income, which might be regarded as a secondary aspect of the vocation, however beneficial.

So here is a tribute to all teachers!

I have to say though, to be honest, the money does ease the pain. Haa Haa. Looking forward to the pay raise of 4%. Hmm... if I remember my economics correctly, the inflation is more than 4% this time round; meaning, this 4% increment is used to offset the inflation, we don't have any increment in real terms ( maybe a pay reduction) . But then again, it's better than nothing. I would complain much.

And, for those people who says that teaching is an easy, half day job ..... I've a message for you from To Kill a Mockingbird.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it"
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

This message goes to the people 'up there' making decision as well.

Before making any comments (or decision), try stepping into a class and teach, and perform your CCA duties ......You will never know what I mean until you've climb into his skin and walk around in it.

New Post for the Year

I am wondering what shall I post for the New Year. Something of significant, something appropriate the start off the brand new year. So I scanned this picture from a mochi box I got from the trip to Japan.
It is a picture of Meng Zi's mother cutting the yet-to-be-completed cloth from the weaver. Remember this 孟母断机杼 story? This is a classic story to remind us to persevere until the job is completed.

Do you remember another classic 孟母三迁？The story tells us about the importance of education and making good friends ( in general, the effect of good environment ).


This is a entire mochi box without cropping. I'm a amazed that this Chinese classic has spread to Japan.

Also recently, I've completed the 于丹<<论语>>心得. Honestly, I can't remember when was the last time I've finished a chinese book. This lecture is screened every Tuesday evening at U channel. For those who have missed the show. Here is a link to CCTV streaming of the episodes.
http://discovery.cctv.com/program/bjjt/topic/C16975/02/index.shtml
This is a wonderful series. It makes the classic seems so applicable in daily life. A Highly recommended read. Alternatively, watching the series is just as entertaining and informative.