I cannot believe this! How can Ionescu escape arrest after being proven guilty of the hit-and-run accident. How can Romania let him go scot-free? Whatsmore, he is still spouting nonsense about the Singapore judicial system! Even the other diplomats felt that he had given them a bad name.
There seemed to be a disagreement between Romania and Singapore as to whether he had diplomatic immunity at the time of the accident last December. Two weeks ago, it was reported that Romanian prosecutors had seized his apartment in Bucharest as a hedge against potential compensation claims if he was convicted. Now it seemed that Romanian Police had informed Interpol that the competence to prosecute him remains with Romania.
I hope that the Romanian Authorities take a fair stand in their criminal investigations.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Proposal to change the weighting of mother tongue languages in PSLE
Ministry of Education is reviewing the proposal to change the weighting of Mother Tongue languages in PSLE. So now, the big question is to cut or not to cut the weighting?
Personally, I feel that the weighting should not be reduced. The existing 25% weighting is not a lot, so it will be even lesser if it is further reduced. There is no incentive for students to put in the efforts to master the mother tongue languages. This should not be the case!
For me, as a Chinese, it is my responsibility to learn Chinese as it is my heritage. It can be of good use in the future when I travel to China to start a business. It is also a bonding language among Chinese.
A good education stress on bilingualism, at least in Asia. So, there is no shortcut to this. The other school of thought is that children will be less stressful and more willing to learn if they are not penalised when they do not do well. But, students are practical - if there is lesser marks, they will put in lesser efforts and focus on those subjects with higher weighting.
In conclusion, I feel that there is no need to cut the weighting of mother tongue languages, causing everyone to be affected by this. One solution is to make the syllabus easier, so that it is not so painful to grasp the languages.
Personally, I feel that the weighting should not be reduced. The existing 25% weighting is not a lot, so it will be even lesser if it is further reduced. There is no incentive for students to put in the efforts to master the mother tongue languages. This should not be the case!
For me, as a Chinese, it is my responsibility to learn Chinese as it is my heritage. It can be of good use in the future when I travel to China to start a business. It is also a bonding language among Chinese.
A good education stress on bilingualism, at least in Asia. So, there is no shortcut to this. The other school of thought is that children will be less stressful and more willing to learn if they are not penalised when they do not do well. But, students are practical - if there is lesser marks, they will put in lesser efforts and focus on those subjects with higher weighting.
In conclusion, I feel that there is no need to cut the weighting of mother tongue languages, causing everyone to be affected by this. One solution is to make the syllabus easier, so that it is not so painful to grasp the languages.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
World Book Day
What is World Book Day actually? Many people did not know about its existence and thus, it is quite an eye-opener. This is a event organised by UNESCO on Apr 23, to promote reading.
I like reading, but I am a lazy reader. So, I hardly read thick books and long novels. Personally, I prefer to read short stories, comics and magazines such as Reader Digest and Discovery Channel for the rich and deep information. Why? I can select the articles I like and do not need to spend a lot of time to read chapter by chapter.
I feel that World Book Day is just a symbolic day. It really does not matter which day it falls on. Reading should be cultivated from young and we should read throughout the year.
Our school is also celebrating World Book Day tomorrow. There are many activities held, such as writing competition, wrap-the-door-with-a-book-cover and costume contests. The highlight is a visit of the National Library Board's mobile library bus. The school encourages us to take part in these contests actively, to spread the love for reading.
In line with this week, Mr Lundberg also used the World Book Day's theme, as the situational writing test topic.
I certainly look forward to tomorrow's activities.
I like reading, but I am a lazy reader. So, I hardly read thick books and long novels. Personally, I prefer to read short stories, comics and magazines such as Reader Digest and Discovery Channel for the rich and deep information. Why? I can select the articles I like and do not need to spend a lot of time to read chapter by chapter.
I feel that World Book Day is just a symbolic day. It really does not matter which day it falls on. Reading should be cultivated from young and we should read throughout the year.
Our school is also celebrating World Book Day tomorrow. There are many activities held, such as writing competition, wrap-the-door-with-a-book-cover and costume contests. The highlight is a visit of the National Library Board's mobile library bus. The school encourages us to take part in these contests actively, to spread the love for reading.
In line with this week, Mr Lundberg also used the World Book Day's theme, as the situational writing test topic.
I certainly look forward to tomorrow's activities.
Monday, April 19, 2010
My thoughts on Week 4 lessons
Last week, Mr Lundberg was on a one week's leave. So, he gave us some assignments to complete. I managed to complete all on time, but some of my classmates were not able to finish all, due to other commitments.
We were supposed to select assignments, according to our learning styles, after which we had to post them in our blogs. I attempted these learning styles: Linguistic, Musical, Naturalist and Intrapersonal. Even though some of them are not my top learning styles, I decided to select them, as I wanted to try something different.
Out of all chosen, I felt that "Musical" is very fun. Why? I had to look through many websites to find a good ambient music that suit the first five chapters of "Village by The Sea". There were not many good websites to choose the music from, and thus after finding the perfect song, I heaved a sigh of relief. I am glad my music background helps to some extent. Now, I understand why my mum constantly nags at me to practise my piano pieces. :)
It was not easy to find concise recipes of chapati and jalebi. Most websites provided too long a recipe. I had to figure out the differences of the different food, based on what I gathered from the recipes.
Overall, I enjoyed the online class assignments as it was refreshing. Instead of sitting in a classroom, we had the opportunity to explore different websites for information. I hope that there will be more online class assignments in the future. Maybe, Mr Lundberg can let us "auto-pilot" more often!
We were supposed to select assignments, according to our learning styles, after which we had to post them in our blogs. I attempted these learning styles: Linguistic, Musical, Naturalist and Intrapersonal. Even though some of them are not my top learning styles, I decided to select them, as I wanted to try something different.
Out of all chosen, I felt that "Musical" is very fun. Why? I had to look through many websites to find a good ambient music that suit the first five chapters of "Village by The Sea". There were not many good websites to choose the music from, and thus after finding the perfect song, I heaved a sigh of relief. I am glad my music background helps to some extent. Now, I understand why my mum constantly nags at me to practise my piano pieces. :)
It was not easy to find concise recipes of chapati and jalebi. Most websites provided too long a recipe. I had to figure out the differences of the different food, based on what I gathered from the recipes.
Overall, I enjoyed the online class assignments as it was refreshing. Instead of sitting in a classroom, we had the opportunity to explore different websites for information. I hope that there will be more online class assignments in the future. Maybe, Mr Lundberg can let us "auto-pilot" more often!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ambient music
This is the link to the ambient music that I selected for the first five chapters of "The Village by The Sea"
http://cantonbecker.com/music/white-noise-sleep-sounds/ambient.html
After going to this link, click on "Girl in the Bubble" at the bottom half page to download the song.
Do you know why I choose this piece of music? The main reason is that the tempo and rhythm of this music suits Lila's feelings at the beginning of the story. She was at her wits end, not knowing how to get out of her family's crisis.
The slow pace is like her thinking process, figuring out what to do next. The music is also very grave, which suits her depressed mood. As the song's title suggests, she is like a girl in a bubble, waiting to burst the bubble to start a new life. The music does not have a solid ending, which leaves many questions without closure, just like her life in the first part of the book.
http://cantonbecker.com/music/white-noise-sleep-sounds/ambient.html
After going to this link, click on "Girl in the Bubble" at the bottom half page to download the song.
Do you know why I choose this piece of music? The main reason is that the tempo and rhythm of this music suits Lila's feelings at the beginning of the story. She was at her wits end, not knowing how to get out of her family's crisis.
The slow pace is like her thinking process, figuring out what to do next. The music is also very grave, which suits her depressed mood. As the song's title suggests, she is like a girl in a bubble, waiting to burst the bubble to start a new life. The music does not have a solid ending, which leaves many questions without closure, just like her life in the first part of the book.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Chapati, roti prata, jalebi and you tiao
Yummy Yummy! Four different food, four different flavors. Two of which are my personal favorites. Perhaps, the other two will make it to my faves too, after I figure out the recipes.
I like Roti Prata very much. Since it is very oily, I try to limit my intake. What are the differences between chapati and roti prata? Chapati is served with meat and vegetables, while Roti Prata can be taken plain, with eggs, onions etc. The latter is even served with ice-cream at some restaurants. Some eat Roti Prata with curry, others take them with some sugar. I think Chapati is more healthy as the amount of oil or ghee is lesser.
Here is a simple recipe to make 8 Chapati :
- 2 cups Wheat Flour, 1 tsp Ghee, 1 tsp Salt, Water to knead dough
The steps are :
1. Mix ghee, salt, wheat flour and adequate amount of water to knead smooth dough.
2. Leave it for an hour.
3. Make equal sized balls, smear them with dry flour and roll them out on a rolling board.
4. Heat a griddle. Put the chapati on it.
5. Moderately roast both the sides of chapati on griddle.
Next to talk about Jalebi and You Tiao. Jalebi is a fried sweet dipped in sugar, while You Tiao is a long deep-fried dough, without any sugar content. The latter is probably more filling.
Here is the recipe for Jalebi, with the ingredients consisting of 2 cups All Purpose Flour, 1-1/2 tbsp Rice flour, 1/4th tsp Baking powder, 2 tbsp Curd, 3 cups Sugar, 2-1/2 cups Water, 1/2 tsp powdered Cardamon, Ghee or Vegetable oil.
The steps are :
1. Mix the flour, rice flour, baking powder, curd in a bowl.
2. Mix well, add water and whisk until smooth.
3. Set aside for about 2 hours to ferment.
4. Whisk thoroughly before use.
5. Prepare sugar syrup. Add cardamon powder
6. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan or kadhai.
7. Pour the batter in a steady stream into the kadhai to form coils. Make 4-5 at a time.
8. Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown.
9. Remove from the kadhai and drain on kitchen paper and immerse in the sugar syrup.
10. Leave for at least 4-5 minutes so that they soak the syrup and serve hot.
I like Roti Prata very much. Since it is very oily, I try to limit my intake. What are the differences between chapati and roti prata? Chapati is served with meat and vegetables, while Roti Prata can be taken plain, with eggs, onions etc. The latter is even served with ice-cream at some restaurants. Some eat Roti Prata with curry, others take them with some sugar. I think Chapati is more healthy as the amount of oil or ghee is lesser.
Here is a simple recipe to make 8 Chapati :
- 2 cups Wheat Flour, 1 tsp Ghee, 1 tsp Salt, Water to knead dough
The steps are :
1. Mix ghee, salt, wheat flour and adequate amount of water to knead smooth dough.
2. Leave it for an hour.
3. Make equal sized balls, smear them with dry flour and roll them out on a rolling board.
4. Heat a griddle. Put the chapati on it.
5. Moderately roast both the sides of chapati on griddle.
Next to talk about Jalebi and You Tiao. Jalebi is a fried sweet dipped in sugar, while You Tiao is a long deep-fried dough, without any sugar content. The latter is probably more filling.
Here is the recipe for Jalebi, with the ingredients consisting of 2 cups All Purpose Flour, 1-1/2 tbsp Rice flour, 1/4th tsp Baking powder, 2 tbsp Curd, 3 cups Sugar, 2-1/2 cups Water, 1/2 tsp powdered Cardamon, Ghee or Vegetable oil.
The steps are :
1. Mix the flour, rice flour, baking powder, curd in a bowl.
2. Mix well, add water and whisk until smooth.
3. Set aside for about 2 hours to ferment.
4. Whisk thoroughly before use.
5. Prepare sugar syrup. Add cardamon powder
6. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan or kadhai.
7. Pour the batter in a steady stream into the kadhai to form coils. Make 4-5 at a time.
8. Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown.
9. Remove from the kadhai and drain on kitchen paper and immerse in the sugar syrup.
10. Leave for at least 4-5 minutes so that they soak the syrup and serve hot.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Interview with Lila
Hi Lila, I am doing a write-up for my school magazine about a child in a village. Your village head suggested that I talk to you, as you love the village and has stayed for a while. I have some interview questions that I like to get your responses on.
1. Can you tell me more about the village life?
Even though village life is not the perfect living for many people, it has a peaceful pace and it not as stressful as life in the city. I like the sea, the smell of the harvest and the chatter of the fowl. My life is carefree and I only worry about my mum's health and where to get money for the next meal. Other than that, I spend my spare time trying new recipes to make the basic food interesting.
2. Why did you leave school at such a young age?
There are many reasons. Firstly, due to poverty, my parents could not afford to support all of us in school. Next, my mother is very ill and my father is a drunkard who does not bother to find a job. Therefore, I have to take care of the family while my brother fished.
3. Tell me about your relationship with Hari?
I love Hari but we never have a chance to play together often, as we have different responsibilities looking after the family. Hari has indeed grown up and is more mature now. I admire him for his courage in wanting to go to Bombay to work.
4. Have you ever thought of going to Bombay with Hari?
I would really hope to do so, but it is impossible. If Hari and I go to Bombay together, who will look after my sisters and mother? Like what I said, my father is a drunkard and does not care about the plight of the entire family. He even hits my mother when he is drunk. If I leave, who will stop him when he starts hitting my mother?
5. In conclusion, do you like the kind of life you are leading right now?
I like the life now, although I wish for the better. Even though we may be facing a lot of hardship now, I believe that we are able to overcome all the hardship and lead a better life in the future.
Thank you for your time today, Lila! I am happy that you are the character in my story. I will share the article with you when it is published.
1. Can you tell me more about the village life?
Even though village life is not the perfect living for many people, it has a peaceful pace and it not as stressful as life in the city. I like the sea, the smell of the harvest and the chatter of the fowl. My life is carefree and I only worry about my mum's health and where to get money for the next meal. Other than that, I spend my spare time trying new recipes to make the basic food interesting.
2. Why did you leave school at such a young age?
There are many reasons. Firstly, due to poverty, my parents could not afford to support all of us in school. Next, my mother is very ill and my father is a drunkard who does not bother to find a job. Therefore, I have to take care of the family while my brother fished.
3. Tell me about your relationship with Hari?
I love Hari but we never have a chance to play together often, as we have different responsibilities looking after the family. Hari has indeed grown up and is more mature now. I admire him for his courage in wanting to go to Bombay to work.
4. Have you ever thought of going to Bombay with Hari?
I would really hope to do so, but it is impossible. If Hari and I go to Bombay together, who will look after my sisters and mother? Like what I said, my father is a drunkard and does not care about the plight of the entire family. He even hits my mother when he is drunk. If I leave, who will stop him when he starts hitting my mother?
5. In conclusion, do you like the kind of life you are leading right now?
I like the life now, although I wish for the better. Even though we may be facing a lot of hardship now, I believe that we are able to overcome all the hardship and lead a better life in the future.
Thank you for your time today, Lila! I am happy that you are the character in my story. I will share the article with you when it is published.
Hari's Journal
Lila just told me that father was drinking again and he did not even bother to find a job to support the family. When he was drunk, he started shouting and hitting mum. Mum's health worsened by the days. Our family was struggling very hard to live on. It seemed like, as the only son of the family, I would have to find a job.
Ramu just updated me that a factory was being built and starting up. All of us should have no problem getting jobs there to support our families. Wondered if this was true? Else, I have to travel to Bombay to look for a high-salary job, enough to cope with all the family expenses.
If I go to Bombay, Lila would be left to fend for herself and take care of the family. But ... if I stay on in the village, we would continue to struggle and there might not be food on the table soon. God - please tell me what should I do? Please show me the right path. It is tough to make a perfect decision at this point of time.
What matters now is to earn enough money for the entire family and keep the family intact! I will fly to Bombay tomorrow. It should be a fresh start for everyone and I will return with my head high...
Ramu just updated me that a factory was being built and starting up. All of us should have no problem getting jobs there to support our families. Wondered if this was true? Else, I have to travel to Bombay to look for a high-salary job, enough to cope with all the family expenses.
If I go to Bombay, Lila would be left to fend for herself and take care of the family. But ... if I stay on in the village, we would continue to struggle and there might not be food on the table soon. God - please tell me what should I do? Please show me the right path. It is tough to make a perfect decision at this point of time.
What matters now is to earn enough money for the entire family and keep the family intact! I will fly to Bombay tomorrow. It should be a fresh start for everyone and I will return with my head high...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Euthanasia
I just finished reading two chapters on Euthanasia in "The Straits Times Page2Primer". This book published all the interesting Straits Times' commentaries and news analyses.
In both chapters, the writers were either partially supportive or against Euthanasia as it is not something to rush into. Instead, it should be discussed fully and thought through carefully. Euthanasia, which is also known as "mercy killing" or "physician-assisted suicide", means that a terminally ill person may request and be given a lethal injection or take a deadly drug, to die.
This is practised in the Netherlands and the US state of Oregon and Washington.In Singapore, debate around this topic often centred around controlling medical costs and not wanting to be a burden to others.
Personally, I am against Euthanasia and hope that it will not be carried out in Singapore in the future. Everybody has the right to live on, even when they are in critical condition. Only if they are really suffering and they are very conscious and alert when they make the decision, they should be given the choice to end their lives. The Advance Medical Directives is good as it allows one to decide on extraordinary life-sustaining treatment.
In both chapters, the writers were either partially supportive or against Euthanasia as it is not something to rush into. Instead, it should be discussed fully and thought through carefully. Euthanasia, which is also known as "mercy killing" or "physician-assisted suicide", means that a terminally ill person may request and be given a lethal injection or take a deadly drug, to die.
This is practised in the Netherlands and the US state of Oregon and Washington.In Singapore, debate around this topic often centred around controlling medical costs and not wanting to be a burden to others.
Personally, I am against Euthanasia and hope that it will not be carried out in Singapore in the future. Everybody has the right to live on, even when they are in critical condition. Only if they are really suffering and they are very conscious and alert when they make the decision, they should be given the choice to end their lives. The Advance Medical Directives is good as it allows one to decide on extraordinary life-sustaining treatment.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Literature Test
Recently, we sat for our literature test, many of us find it the literature test hard, as the time given to complete the test was not enough. Personally, I feel that learning literature is important. We take stories of characters and apply it to everyday life. In the test, we were forced to think about what is going through each character's mind and his/her possible feelings at that point of time. We also get to learn how to cite evidence to support our deduction. This skill ties back to the 5Ws and 1H taught in our primary schools. I look forward to more literature lessons and hope to be able to catch up with the flow of the stories and grasp the story line with less effort.
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