MaximillionPegasus

Obesity Trap: Healthy or Obese?

2010-07-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

Healthy or Obese? Many parents think that they are doing their children good by feeding them excessively and making them “chubby”. Indeed, if we were to look around, there is a high percentage of obese kids in Singapore now. Most parents mistakenly think that their kids need to eat more to be healthy. More is not necessarily good, especially when it includes fast food, deep-fried and convenient food. The report in the Straits Times dated Saturday, 24 July highlighted the situation of “OBESE CITY” in America. It set me thinking about the same situation that will happen in Singapore.

As Singapore progresses and our per-capita income increases, more parents are able to splurge and dote on their children. In my opinion, some children are being overfed. It is a shame when we compare ourselves to the children of third-world countries who eat to live, not live to eat. Just the other day, I was having dinner at McDonalds (Oh I’m guilty of it too) when I witnessed a perfect example. A family of four was sitting next to my table. The two adults and two children ordered 4 upsized meals. It was obviously too much food. When the children could not finish their meals, the parents turned to bribery, cajoling them to eat more to be treated to an Ice-Cream (also oversized) as a reward. Poor kids. I can imagine how stuffed their stomachs were. I feel that some of the parents are definitely overfeeding the kids with too much junk food rich in calories. What’s more, the kids are already on the road to being obese. I do not understand why the parents encourage such dietary habits where it will have adverse effects and consequences down the years.

Another factor that contributes to obesity in Singapore is the sedentary lifestyle. Our public transports are so well-connected that people here do not have to walk long distances, unlike in the olden days. What’s more, many families own personal cars, which is convenient but again, at the expense of health. Children nowadays would rather slouch on their lazy sofas playing electronic gadgets like the Xbox, Wii and PSP instead of going out for exercise. The current situation for the generation is worsened by the bad examples set by some parents. I think that the Health Promotion Board’s constant education on the food pyramid and importance of exercise and healthy living should be taken to a much larger scale. Parents in turn, should play a role model for their children. We should have more food labels with details like calorie counts and the various components even for food stalls, fast food and hawker food.

Finally, I would like to share my personal experiences. Since young, I have been inculcated by my parents about making wise food choices. In fact, my mother would go to the extent of drafting up a food list for the entire week and making sure that we have a balanced diet with all the complete nutrients. I remember when I was in primary school, I was the only one eating wholemeal bread… as opposed to my friends having sandwiches made of white bread. At home, we have exercise machines that I tap on constantly to keep myself healthy and fit. In short, having a fit and healthy body is essential to having an enjoyable life.

All Singaporeans have a part to play to keep fit, healthy and lead balanced and nutritious lives. We do not want to end up in the Obesity Trap, like that witnessed in America.

THFB Semi Finals Poem

2010-07-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I have written another poem and would like to share it as a blog post.

Here's some things about the poem:

As you all know, my friends and I are involved in Service Learning this year. Our project is called Touching Hearts, Forging Bonds and we are teaching P6's Math, Science and English Oral. That's the source of inspiration for this poem.

Last week, I chanced upon the idea of writing a poem for our Semi-Finals competition. The poem would encompass the methodology, service goal etc. of our project, as well as our uniqueness. We have a lot of exceptionality, so that was the most-emphasised one.

Well, almost all poems have a wide use of Poetic Devices. As this poem had to be simple to understand, as well as convey ideas effectively, I did not include any poetic devices apart from Rhyme, which would make my poem more interesting to read.

I hope you enjoy my poem. If you really like my poetry or want to give suggestions, please type in your comments or critism below. Even better. Subscribe to my blog! XD

Here it is!

School work’s hard, PSLE stress tough, feeling stressed lately?
Are you down, out, or just purely out of the blue?
Or has you having no friends made you feel emotional or lonely?
Then Touching Hearts, Forging Bonds is the tuition for you!

An innovative, unique and exhilarating experience awaits
For those who join us on our long tuition journey this year;
Because on our mind-enriching tuition programme we can’t wait
To enlighten those who want to listen and hear.

We pledge to be friendly instead of being like teachers
And we will not scold or lose our patience with you;
For we are just 14, 2 over the crucial PSLE year,
We know what PSLE is like for we have gone through.

Working hard we put your lessons and materials altogether
In the form of a workshop where there is fun and games;
All of us have time for Cultural Sharing and Bonding Time together
And also for goal settings where we set our targets and aims.

The tuition sessions are held in Assyakirin Mosque’s Facilities
Where we have prepared a conducive teaching environment;
The Math, Science and English Oral we teach is beyond boundaries
And our tuition will help you catch up with the other students.

Though we have much to cover in lessons we all guarantee fun
So that you guys will learn and cultivate interest in the topics we teach;
Don’t forget, we’ll accompany you later to play/do whatever you want
And help you getting your desired results within your reach.

We follow the MI in some of our Science and Math teachings
And you may have fun while learning at the same time here;
We train your English oral language skills with Cultural Sharing
Where we learn more about each other’s culture.

The tuition sessions have been a success until this time
And we have seen great improvements in your work;
So keep up the good work! And continue to shine
While we promise to continue in our meticulous efforts.

Max, signing off!

We Slept With Boots On -- Poetry Analysis

2010-05-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the poem, written by Steve Carlsen

They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyes
They washed out the blood, we loaded our ruck’s and then took to the skies
Over the mountains, villages, and valleys we flew
Where we would land we had not a clue
Bullets are flying, the LZ is hot
We’re leaving this bird whether we like it or not
30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit
Get ready to go and make it quick
My heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veins
I run as fast as I can through the lead rain
The noise is tremendous, terror I can’t define
The only reason I survived that day was divine
I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more
You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more
We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks
From house to cave, to car to creek
Dirty and tired and hungry and scared
We slept with our boots on so we were always prepared
Those majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies
The Hindu Kush has changed so many lives
Up the mountains with heavy loads we trod
Who knew hell was so close to God
Beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink
So we drank it like drunkards and tried not to think
Good men and bad men, Mothers lost son’s
Everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns
Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire
I will never forget those who were called higher
They say blood is thicker than water, well lead is thicker than blood
Brothers aren’t born they’re earned. In the poppy fields, the tears, and the mud
And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell
Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Analysis by me :D

This poem is written from the point of view of a soldier who has fought on the frontline in war. This war was the Iraq war, with many dying with each day. This is seen from : “ Hindu Kush” in the poem, which is a present-day mountain range that used to be a frontline for the Iraq war. The poet is deeply against war, as depicted in his tone de-glorifying war. However, he has no choice in what he does, seen from his harsh words “whether we like it or not”. The Poet tries his best to leave out all his personal emotions so we can face the cold, hard facts. He does not really talk about how he feels. The readers see him as a soldier that is not patriotic and keen to fight for his country, but he is involved in much action in the poem. He is an emotionless character, just doing what he is told to do, whether he likes it or not. It has become a daily ritual for him -- fighting in the war and killing people have become morally acceptable to him.

The situation is tense, grim and severe. “LZ is hot” tells us that the situation was very tense as you could die at any moment. LZ refers to landing zone, and the word “hot” tells us there are firing guns. This shows the precarious situation the soldiers were in, as they could die even before they reach the battle site. “Lead Rain” portrays the firing of the enemy as rain, something that is rapid and unavoidable. “Lead” further enhances the grim situation, as it refers to both the bullets fired and poison. The poet stated that many died through enemy fire. After the tense situation at the front of the poem, the poet tries to relax the readers with a change of tone, seen where he talks about the mountains he climbs with loads, and the part he links the war to religion, where he states “Who knew hell was so close to God” . However, this only makes the readers more tense and want to hate war more. “Who knew hell was so close to God” infers that they were in the mountains, up high where God was believed to be, but as they had committed so much killings they were going to end up in hell. The readers will now feel sorry and sympathetic towards those who lost their lives. The speaker sadly recalls all his lost comrades and mourns the loss of their lives. The poem ends on a grim tone, “And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell, Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell”.

The poem is written nicely in an AA rhyme scheme, with the last syllabus of the first line rhyming with the last one of the second. This makes the poem appear to be like a boring and monotonous recount, which is how the soldiers felt back then. The tone used suggests that the soldiers had no choice and had to do as they were told. The poem makes extensive use of sound devices, the sound of firing, gunfire and war. All these terms help us to “hear” what the writer actually experiences in the fight. The speaker remains cold about his opinion to make the readers have pity on the soldiers and realize this is the grim truth about war.

Current Affairs -- Are you Brand Consious?

2010-05-09T02:24:00.001-07:00

An article in the Sunday Times today discussed the big spenders from China and Indonesia and got me thinking. Of course, these spenders are a great boost to the retail and service scene here and they should be welcomed with open hands. But I can’t help but think why these people are so brand conscious. Many of the China tourists flocked here to grab branded goods like Armani, Louis Vuitton, Burberry etc…. Yes, they are rich; they have the spending power but are branded goods better in quality?? Or are they just following the ‘rich’ crowd blindly and need to flaunt their wealth???

I wonder whether wearing a $50 jeans or $300 jeans will make someone a better person? Sophisticated? Yes , but in what sense? To me, being sophisticated means behaving in a refined manner with a wealth of knowledge and intelligence and able to conduct oneself in an appropriate manner when the situation calls for it.

According to the dictionary, a sophisticated person is one whose ideas, tastes, manners etc are altered by education, experience so as to be worldly-wise. It is the opposite meaning of being naive. Ironically, when I think of those rich who are after branded goods to make themselves look sophisticated, I think of them as being naïve. I think of them as not being able to make sound judgements for themselves, for not all branded items would look nice on them.

It is even more naïve when we read about children when spent their parents money endlessly without bating an eyelid. These children do not have the financial means on their own, yet they chase after branded goods like bees to honey. Their parents seemed to encourage such intolerable attitude. So, in my opinion, both the parents and children in their attempt to look sophisticated are obliviously and naïve.

In short, to be sophisticated or worldly wise, we must be able to make sound judgements using our wits and intelligence. A well read person who carries himself well is worth a thousand words. I hope to practice what I preach, I will not be brand conscious. I prefer being judged by my speech, behavior, eloquence, humility rather than my brand of jeans. I wish to be WISE.

Poetry Appreciation

2010-05-09T00:53:00.000-07:00

In this blog post, I will be talking about one of my favourite hobbies, writing and appreciating poetry.

Ever since I was in Primary 4, I developed a flair and passion for writing. It was after tons and tons of novels I read, plays I watched that completely changed my style of writing. My parents also helped tremendously as they constantly brought me to the library and bookstores. Gradually I not only devoured books like a hungry vampire, I started trying out different writing style. I also developed interest in poetry.

At the tender age of ten, I misinterpreted the true meaning of poetry. I thought that Poems were nothing but short sentences with a repeated rhyme scheme every 2 lines. Through the different stages of my life from then to now, I have changed my perception of poetry. My exposure to language arts over the last 1 – 2 years further enhanced my appreciation and love for poetry.

What then is poetry?

Poetry is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. It is a form of literary art where language is used for its aesthetic, evocative qualities. Some defined poetry as a fundamental creative art using language. In poetry, certain forms and conventions are used to suggest alternative meanings in words, or to evoke emotional or sensual responses. Poetic devices ranging from assonance, alliteration, rhythm, metaphor, similes etc are used to achieve the desired emotions of the poet and often resulted in multiple interpretations by the readers.

Poets are also influenced by their diverse culture, language and particular genres. For example Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen served during the World War 1 and their experience played a vital role in their poetries. They brought out the emotions, anger, frustration, brutality and cruelness of war that no other poets are more suited to write.

So, I feel that poetry is a very beautiful art where one can be liberal to express one’s feelings and emotions through the use of words. I am sure that life experiences also played a very critical role in one’s work. This is apparent when I browsed through poems I wrote when I was in primary school. Those poems have a hint of playfulness and simplicity and are child like. They reflected my environment and experience then.

Poetry writing is a great ‘get away’ for me. Whenever I am stressed, all I need is a pen and paper and unknowingly I will be penning my thoughts in phrases. I hope to continue to explore and appreciate poetry. I hope to combine my love for music with poetry and hopefully, I can come up with some unique poems. I have a compilation of poems that I have written so far, and who knows I may publish a Max’s Poem book in future.

In The News... Review of Chinese Weightage in PSLE

2010-05-08T05:20:00.001-07:00

When our Education Minister Ng Eng Hen announced that his ministry was considering lowering the weighting for the mother tongue language at PSLE, it was met with much debate. It reopened the Pandora’s Box that language issues have come to symbolise in Singapore’s complex, multi lingual society. There are 2 groups of camp, one which opposed and the other strongly in favour.

The ‘opposing camp’ is made up of mainly Chinese community leaders and young bilingual professionals. This group voiced concern that reducing the weighting will cause the already abysmally low standards in the language to decline further. It is also an emotional subject for some who feared the further erosion of Chinese language and culture here. Some supporters of this group included the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Industry and leaders of Chinese clan Associations.

Advocates of a cut in the weighting for Chinese are mainly from English speaking families who are not just ethnic Chinese but also those from mixed race families. They feel that the current system penalizes pupils who excelled in other subjects other than Chinese. This group also complained that they spent an inordinate amount of time on the language.

For practical reasons, bilingualism was introduced in schools so as to better equipped our students in the globalizing world, be in English when dealing the our western counterparts or Chinese as China is touted to be one of the fastest growing trade partners. Multilingualism encourages openness to a new language and provides access to unfamiliar society and its value. It enables us to better appreciate the history and culture behind it. It is common to find many other countries introducing multilingualism. Our bilingual system has survived for many years and it would be appallingly to see all the efforts reduced to waste, if we reached a point where people disregard the importance of Chinese.

In my opinion, I feel that the learning of Chinese plays an important role in shaping our culture and learning about our roots. As the Chinese saying goes, “ying shui si yuan’ , we must always remember the source of our traditions, culture and heritage. My grandparents are from China Swatow and they have inculcated many Chinese values in me. Occasionally, they will introduce Chinese literature and great Chinese poets and their work to me. To me, not only do I gain learning the Chinese culture and values, I also spent fulfilling bonding time with them. I do not profess to be very good in Chinese. Both my parents are English educated and we communicated mainly in English. I also spent immense amount of time in my Chinese Language and although it was really difficult during my PSLE, I persevered. I was elated to get into HCI, a SAP school with strong emphasis in Chinese. Although Chinese is still my weakest subject in school, I never harbor the thought to drop the subject. Infact it is a very beautiful subject and through it I can feel the culture and value, something that I will not be able to appreciate if I had conveniently given up the subject.

Thus I feel that the MOE must find a balance whereby a fair weighting is given to mother tongue and at the same time, do not erode the importance of the lauguage. The Chinese lauguage should and must continue to be relevant in Singapore.

Touching Hearts, Forging Bonds --> :)

2010-05-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Hello blog! Today, I would like to express my learning journey in Service Learning with a project entitled "Touching Hearts, Forging Bonds"

For Project's Day this year, I decided to try for Service Learning with 3 other close friends, Lionell, Kim Yao and Mickey from 2P2. We also roped in volunteers from HCI to help run this project.

Touching Hearts, Forging Bonds is a tuition project aimed at tutoring Primary 5’s and 6’s to help them with their Primary School Leaving Examinations. We are working with the organisation Assyakirin Mosque. In addition to teaching them Math, Science and English Oral, we will also bond and build up their confidence.

Service Learning might seem like an easy thing to do and thus appeals to many project’s day groups. However, this is not the case for us. Let me share my experience.

In Term 1, our project group was formed. We had a timeline and everything was nicely planned and organised, due to the many hours of hardwork and brainstorming. We planned and produced worksheets and lesson materials for the upcoming tuition sessions. Although it was rather tedious as we had to juggle term tests and project work we gave our best efforts. We spent 4-5 hours each week on this project and are optimistic it will work.

We managed to convince the Prelim judges and got ourselves into the Semi-Finals. When we finally started the tuition sessions, we encountered other teething problems.
During our first session with the students, we had originally planned to conduct a bonding session with simple lessons, but only to be told that it was expected of us to give no work that day. The session was supposed to be 4 hours long, but only lasted 1.5 hours on that day. I also had to make an impromptu speech within 10 minutes to the parents of the students. To add to the complications, some students did not take Science for their PSLE. We would thereby have to split them into 2 groups and teach them differently, so our lesson plans that we made had to be changed.

After much efforts and cooperation from the team member and volunteers, we put together a enriching session. We also completed the goal setting worksheet so as to help them set goals and ultimately work towards them. We worked even harder to put together a lesson plan for the second session. Before each session I will have a briefing session with my team members and the volunteers. We want to make each session count and the students will benefit.

Now as I write this blog post may I remind myself that tomorrow is my 3rd session with them. My team members and I have been meeting and working tirelessly for this session. Despite having 4 class tests last week, we mugged through and have everything organised. I feel a sense of fulfilment being able to contribute to society. I know there will be many more hours of hard work but my team and I are ready to take on the challenges.

Poem V1: A Student's Nightmare

2010-03-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hello all, I will be making many blog posts in the form of poems. This particular one was made by me.

A Student's Nightmare

Basically, its a nightmare because the student finds himself unable to cope with his studies in school. All this is imagination, and nothing as cruel as this person's life could happen as reality. I am not leading such a bad life.

To make such things clear, I:

Sleep at (latest) 11.15
Do not have lots of homework
Slack abit for PDC
Am not a mugger
Am not in NPCC
Have music lessons which only last 2 hours on weekends.
Made this up for fun.

Are you ready? Let the poetry begin! I did not really include poetic devices as I was too lazy to do. (Another thing which supports the fact that I do not mug.) I just tried to make the double lines rhyme.

A Student's Nightmare (2010)

The clock strikes "2" ungodly at me
As my study "mugging" lights fail to cease
A 3 centimetre tall homework pile lies undone
I yank out my hair at the situation.

I see the light of the next day at 6AM
And I toil towards my deadly end
Listening to music on my way to school
I boldly brace for the impact; What should I do?

Trapped in this vicious cycle of living my life,
I briefly shut my eyes.
Jumping Headlong into the lessons of the day
I am gradually dying of the craze.

LSS Science! Physics! My Portfolio's corrupt!
Higher Chinese! Teacher says I need to mug!
Maths Statistics! Get all your facts right for the Self Study Test!
Humanities Teacher says we all did bad!

The homework load for each day skyrockets up high
As my class pauses, deep in thought, "ready to die"
Next period, a Literature test that is especially hard
And those who "never-study" will be eliminated from us!

Project's Competition! What a feat! I "tanked" everything!
Speaking of that after school I have a Mentor Meeting!
Then 5 minutes to rush to my Projects Workshop!
And it'll be only at 3.30 where I fall out...

And fall in for my CCA, with so much training
Then after dismissal, the sky turns on me, it starts raining
I run across the "Bridge of Life" , and the bus ** awaits
And on the way home I recall the lessons for the day

But that is not the end of the predicament I'm in
A 2 hour music class from 7.15
I have a brief dinner after that
And a mere 10 minutes to check my trap
( Oh, I quit Facebook like 3 weeks ago. I put it in cos it rhymes.)

After that, the computer is shut, I start on my work
Striving in it, undistracted in effort
Then a brief interlude to check my school message system
And back to the 3rd Instalment of C++ Functions!

All this hard work seems to drive me to craze
My valuable, precious sleep time burning away
Eyelids are half-closed, my brain's hindered
And my head, asleep, falls to the table exhausted.

The next day: I wake up: My normal life resumes
I finish my homework just to see the sky blue.
Thinking: It was a nightmare! Now its all normal!
And I am put into cloud nine, relieved its over.

--End--

Copyright MaxHeng HCI 2010. Any part of this poem reproduced or published anywhere without MY permission will not be tolerated. I will take the matter to court and hire a lawyer. Because I made it and its originally MINE.

Current Affairs: The Jack Neo Saga

2010-03-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

Hello! I am blogging again!

This time I will be blogging on Current Affairs in the newspapers. This particular issue on the Jack Neo saga has been hitting the headlines for the past few days. Let's discuss!

This incident happened in Singapore. Jack Neo, a prominent married film director, fell out with his mistress who is a mere 22-year old girl. The enraged girl then approached the press with the juicy details and at the same time, confronted Jack and his wife.

This girl is just one of the many "Jack Girls". It is rumoured that he has a string of at least 11. Most of them are less than half his age, almost as young as his daughter. Like what they quote in the Chinese papers, he is like an old cow eating young grass.

Eventually, a press conference showing the crying Jack and his wife did not help clear the air. In fact, it did more harm than good as most felt that the conference was orchestrated and Jack did not speak from the bottom of his heart. Finally after almost 5 days of hogging the headlines, he apologised due to intolerable pressure from the media, fans and everybody else.

I would like to point out that Jack rightfully said it, : " You reap what you sow". Although he may have seemed like the moral educator in many of his films, he did not live up to his expectations. He preaches one thing and means another. To me, this is a real act of hypocrisy and it cannot be tolerated. This is the main reason why this incident became a big issue. Like what are said in the forums, infidelity may be private, but not hyopcrisy.

This incident has affected not only himself, but the people around him, like his wife, children, the girls involved, the entire film company and his endorsements, like the air conditioning one. They took his face off! It will also give us a new perspective of him, and he may not receive the great support he used to get from the public ever again if he does another movie. This is really a lesson for him and everybody else.

We should act responsibly, whether we are famous or not. Don't forget, you reap what you sow.

Task B: The Interview

2010-03-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

I have done the interview with my uncle.

Q: What is Racial Discrimination and Racial Prejudice?

A: Discrimination is something that leads to Prejudice. Racial Discrimination is the act of looking down on people, while Prejudice is a thought that links these “people” to something bad.

Q: What was the condition of Racial Discrimination in the world in the past?

A: Racial Discrimination was rampant in the USA a long time ago. The whole racial status was marked by a set of Jim Crow Laws, which claimed that Coloured people were to be treated as 3/5 of a whole person.

Q: Then what were Jim Crow Laws?

A: They were a set of laws that controlled the social status of people.

Q: Yeah, but why were they called Jim Crow Laws?

A: I think I was told that Jim Crow Laws were named after a song.

Q: In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a coloured man accused of raping a white woman was guilty even though the evidence against him was not sufficient and he was innocent.
Because of Racial Discrimination and Racial Prejudice, how did the coloured people suffer in the real world?

A: I read To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson’s case was similar to that of a real event, the Scottsboro Boys Trial. They were accused of raping 2 women even though they were innocent. They were eventually hanged or jailed until a very old age.

Q: Are there any more notable events that happened?

A: I think another big incident occurred because of Racial Discrimination and Racial Prejudice. It was the Montgomery Bus boycotts. It happened because a coloured woman, Rosa Parks, stood up for her rights when she had to give up her seat to a coloured man. It led to a boycott of the bus company and affected the economy.

Q: Are there still any cases of Racial Prejudice or Racial Discrimination left in this world today?

A: Fortunately, I do not think there is any left.

Max thanks his uncle for his time in the interview!

Task B: A Poem of Trial

2010-03-01T06:52:00.001-08:00

Here is a 500-word long poem. It took 3 hours. Enjoy!
I tried to make every 2 lines rhyme to make a rhyme scheme, so in some places words have to be read in an unusual way to rhyme with the other word.

Trouble brewed at the Trial scene
As tension amounted within
A simple case of racial prejudice
Would take a toll on the discriminated community

People began filing into the room
As the accused prepared to face his doom
It seemed as if all was planned
As to how this case was going to end

The court took position to hear out the case
Judge, Solicitors, Defenders and Accusers all in place
The silence was deafening
As the first began Testifying.

Mr Tate began to recall the set of events that night
About how Bob Ewell ‘s so called plight
Atticus acted smart, listening to the speaker
And asked if they actually cared for her
Tate tried to explain how her injury was real
But the Defendant wanted to make things clear.
Having a life-saving clue in mind made
Atticus smiled and continued to wait.

A new witness walked onto the stand
And took the oath raising his hand.
A background of the family status formed
As the court told him to speak on.
He spoke from his POV what had happened
And blamed the accused with a rude comment
The audience grew more serene and prepared
For Atticus’ verbal counter attack.

The Judge briefly interrupted to deny a request
And the tense climax was back.
There was a barrage of questions towards Ewell
All which were answered without a doubt.
The jury wanted a clear picture of what occurred
But the fact that this portrayal was corrupt had not yet surfaced
The witness when asked to write his name got a fright
And he was proven to be left-handed instead of right

The witness thought that was unrelated
But Atticus turned that into a clue revealed
In the audience, I realised what he tried to state
That the person least likely could have the blame.
With that he retired and sat down in the court
And left on the stand the actual victim with no support
She remained staring at the entire jury with dread
Until a prompt for her side of the story was said.

Bursting into tears as a result of horror
Her fear for Atticus left Judge Taylor shocked
Trying his best to keep order
He comforted the sobbing girl
Who then talked about Tom’s Job earlier
And how the accused took advantage of her
She spoke accusingly like her father
Who had pointed a threatening finger.

Atticus took on a very intelligent approach
To tactfully obtain from Mayella how it occured.
Slowly but steadily starting with irrelevant probes
A picture of the Ewell’s home life was shown.
She nearly said something which would prove “someone” ‘s guilt
But her father’s threatening look made her decided not to
No matter how much effort Atticus would put in
The case would not be easy to win

The atmosphere was looking much worse
After Mr Underwood from the Press spotted us
The trial continued with Tom Robinson’s depiction
Which to the previous speakers, was total contradiction.
Declaring that he had once gotten into a fight
Atticus proved that he had nothing to hide
The true, actual story cast in stone
But racial discrimination took its toll

Then Mr Gilmer asked the questions
And Tom was in quite a situation
Tom courageously spoke the truth about feeling sorry
Yet the jury took it that he was guilty
Atticus with all he had fought for the innocent
And made a deep impression with his conclusion
However it was obvious the cast was a lost one
And Tom faced up to what he had not done.

Task A for LA Elearning

2010-03-01T06:46:00.004-08:00

MI Test:

I have taken the Multiple Intelligence test. I think that through this test, I know the areas that I am strong in and improve on them. I will also look at the areas that I am not doing well in and work towards self improvement. For example, my top areas were Musical, Interpersonal and (amazingly) Spatial/Visual. I will find areas that I can do, like ACE topics that make use of these skills. My weaker areas were the Naturalist thing. Ok, I admit that I am sort of an indoor person and allergic to pet fur. However, I am going to improve on that factor by learning more about my environment and working with it.

Now, see my later (above) post for Task B!

Hello.

2010-03-01T06:46:00.001-08:00

Hello! This blog will become active again and I will post my elearning stuff here. Check back regularly for updates!

Test

2009-11-18T19:18:00.001-08:00

MouseHunt on Facebook

Blog Term 3 Week 10

2009-09-06T02:29:00.000-07:00

Blog Term 3 Week 10
My Primary School Life… Viewed from the perspective of Poems
A good experience of my school life then was writing poetry. I was often in solitude as I did not have any friends then. Boredom struck me and I decided to start writing poetry. Whenever I had experienced unique occasions in my Primary school days, I penned it down in a poem. I was always seen writing them, during recess, silent reading, and even in Chinese class.
Once, my school leaked due to what I thought was Acid Rain. I went on to write a poem about it. What started as a first verse sparked interest in writing poetry in me and I went on to write more. It was very fun and exciting. My sarcastic classmate called the Acid Rain Poem completely meaningless, but my literature teacher seemed to like it.
Another incident I experienced was the “Mugging” incident. I had forgotten about a test the next day. I panicked upon finding about it but it was too late. I ended burning midnight oil and slept for only 2 hours! The test ended up being very easy and I realised that I should not have burned midnight oil for it! Again, I wrote a poem on it. Apart from the poem, I learnt to organise and plan and revise my work consistently.
Me and my friends occasionally did the “homework chain” in which we passed completed homework around and copied each other’s answers! I usually was the source of the chain, giving out answers to lazy people who never bothered to do their homework. Our teacher caught us doing that once during silent reading. Next we got a really bad scolding. That was the only incident I did not write a poem about.

Poem analysis for E-learning 4/9

2009-09-03T21:15:00.001-07:00

1. The poet brings out his frustration and impatience, anger and boredom clearly in the first 3 stanzas through a series of well-selected puns, metaphors and alliteration.
A good example of pun : “ I am sick…” expresses his anger and dismay of teaching the students as he sees that they are no longer interested in the pursuit of knowledge. He could either be literally tired of long years of teaching the students without any improvement on their part, or could be actually having a headache or sickness. Another pun is “I will not!” It seems to tell the readers that the persona has reached his limit and is already very stressed up with the students.
Metaphors are abundant in this poem. “Unruly hounds” refer to the restlessness of the students and the boredom they experienced. The teacher referred them to dogs, who were put on a leash, and trying to free themselves not wanting to learn. “Tugged the leash” tells us that they very much wanted to “escape” from the dull lesson. They have certainly lost all interest to learn.
“Fuel of life”, another metaphor, refers to the efforts the teacher tries to press on with the lesson, though he felt very dull, monotonous and discouraged. He uses every bit of his will to kindle and motivate himself. However, he does not think that he would make a positive difference to the students even if he uses all of his efforts in teaching these students as they are simply uninterested in acquiring knowledge. This metaphor highlights the passiveness felt and brings an interesting texture to the poem.
2. How is the tone of anger expressed in this poem?

The poet expresses his anger through a choice of carefully-selected words and poetic devices. He has composed a very interesting rhyme scheme to spice up the poem. For example, “ My last fuel of life to heap on my soul, … and take the toll” creates interest in the reader.
Symbolisation is also present. The poet stresses that the knowledge” Goes down the same abyss.” I think he means that all that has been painfully taught to them has been wasted, and disappears from their thoughts. It might also mean that the teacher’s efforts are wasted and the students have not gained anything.

Blog Special My views on Maid Abuse

2009-08-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

There are two sides to a coin. We have heard terrifying stories about how Singaporean employers tortured their maids, as well as kind hearted employers who have treated their domestic helpers as one of their family members. Potential employers go through classes on how to treat their maids so that everybody has a win-win situation.
But personally, being the gracious society that we are in, there is still room for improvement in the treatment of maids. I have personally witnessed many ugly scenes of employers overworking their maids, talking to them in a degrading manner, and depriving them of food.
One example is my neighbour who lives across the street from my house in a newly-renovated terraced house. Every morning, the maid would be the first to wake up in the neighbourhood and she toiled till late at night. She would start washing the car early in the morning. I wonder why they need their car to be washed every morning and so early. Worst of all, she is constantly being reprimanded by the various members of the family in a loud and harsh manner. This really reflects badly on us Singaporeans.
On the flipside, there are many kind employers in Singapore. These employers should be praised. I hope more Singaporeans will learn from them.
It is common to have a domestic helper at home in Singapore as most parents work. My family is no different. We have a maid who has been working with us for about 8 years. She came from a small island in the Philippines. She has been my family’s great help and we reciprocate by sharing whatever we have with her and make sure that she is well taken care of. She has an off-day every week to socialise and relax and rewind. We celebrate festive occasions like her birthday and Chinese New Year. Whenever we go out for dinner at restaurants, we will bring her along. We wanted her to share the joy with us. I feel that she is well taken care of and her needs are met. She is happy with my family. J

19.8.09 Blog Post 2: My favourite food

2009-08-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

My favourite food

Food is what fuels our lives. Everybody eats food everyday. When you ask around in Singapore, most people would name favourite food like Chicken rice, Char Kuay Tiao and Laksa. Although I like all of the above, my ultimate favourite is Brie Cheese. No wonder! My parents always tease me that I am born in the year of the rat. The association between the rat and cheese goes back a long time ago. There are stories aplenty of how rats go for cheese. Similarly, each time I travel overseas, the first thing I check out is the types of cheese in those countries.
Brie is soft cow cheese that originated in 1980 in France.
It is pale white in colour and as it ages further, it turns yellowish. Just the thought of it paints a contented picture of clouds floating in my mind. I can never get enough of it! Whenever I am stressed, the thought of a wheel of white Brie floating almost eradicates my stress.
The first bite is familiarity. It soon leads to more bites in the soft and savoury slice. Each subsequent bite makes an oh-so heavenly taste that melts in my mouth just the way I want it. It gets softer and more savoury and you are in cloud 9. The taste just keeps soaking in. No other cheese will provide me with such a sensation. No wonder it is termed : “Queen of cheeses”
I enjoy my Brie after dinner almost every day. It is the best dessert and it soothes my frazzled nerves. It is something I look forward to everyday and as I sink my teeth into it, I am energised. Life is just so pleasant. Try it today! You won’t regret it!

(Disclaimer: It is bitter)

19.8.09 Blog Post 1: News Article REview

2009-08-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

Ma under fire but will not resign: Typhoon Morakot + My opinions
With reference to the Straits Times 19 August 2009

Bowing deeply in a symbolic apology to victims of the typhoon, Taiwan President, Ma Ying-jeou ruled out stepping down to take responsibility for the high death toll. He insisted that he will not step down as he had exercised strong leadership in the disaster rescue operation.
Typhoon Morakot slammed Taiwan on Aug 8 and to date at least 127 people were confirmed dead and many others missing. The death toll could rise to 500. The President and his government have been blamed for the high death toll and massive destruction. They have been criticised for their tardy reaction to the aftermath of the typhoon as well as the initial rejection of foreign aids. The Foreign Ministry had initially rejected foreign offers of aid but reversed the decision five days after the storm hit. The Vice-Foreign Minister resigned to take responsibility but criticism is still mounting. Friends and those normally pro-Ma have taken a different stance and are showing disapproval of the government handling of the disaster.
Ma was described as distant, arrogant and indecisiveness in the face of the disaster. Foreign aids from 60 countries including the US and Singapore has donated cash, relief supplies and is assisting in the post relief efforts. They are now focusing on rebuilding, relocation and resettlement of the survivors.
Typhoon Morakot has not only been a disaster for the people of Taiwan but also President Ma Ying-jeou KMT government. Mr Ma’s popularity has slumped in the worst-hit area of southern Taiwan and had eroded his hard-won successes. This will definitely hurt KMT chances in the year-end local elections. Typhoon Morakot has benefited the opposition DPP candidates. It is a setback to President Ma’s popularity and the KMT approval rating.
I feel that President Ma displayed inexperienced in the face of adversity. Although I think this is the very first time a disaster of such scale has struck in his first years of presidency, he did not display the strong leadership expected of him. He should have put this as prime priority when it happens and monitor the situation closely. For example, he should not have left the decision whether to reject the foreign aid to his vice-foreign minister. He should have gathered all the rescue teams and army much earlier so as to help with the rescue work and avoid the high death toll.

I feel that the disaster made it easier for the opposition party and foes of the KMT to spark anti-KMT feelings and find fault. His handling of the disaster only added oil to the fire, which was the chance that the opposition had been waiting for. Now, in addition to rebuilding the physical damage to the community caused by the typhoon, Mr Ma has to think of new strategies to regain people’s trust and increase the popularity of the KMT. It is an uphill task, but I feel that with Ma’s astuteness and intelligence, he will be able to do it.

Blog Term 3 Week 7

2009-08-16T06:05:00.001-07:00

Swishing and splashing against the formidable tides, I awoke from the ocean. After struggling free from the thick, viscous layer of crude oil that lined my surface, I was able to breathe again. I now faced a full force of the Ultraviolet rays from the sun, unblocked by the weak, thin ozone layer. I moved towards the islands nearby to seek shelter. In the vast boundaries of my homeland in the Arctic Ocean, I am surrounded by the seals, penguins and dolphins. They are equally frustrated as me as the weather gets warmer and they have to spend long hours hunting for food, which seems so scarce now. Although I, the Arctic Ocean is home to them where I should provide shelter, there is nothing I can do.
The irresponsible actions of the humans are out of my control. Many geologists, scientists and meteorologists have visited me in their bid for preservation of my homeland, but little has been done. In fact, I have gotten worse with each tide. Piles of rubbish, mainly Styrofoam and plastic lined the filthy shores of my surroundings. There was a tickling sensation as the factories dumped acidic toxic waste into me. It was horrible!
There was a roar of thunder. I thought that it was a storm and the temperature would cool down. I was wrong! It was a mega-hurricane made of acid rain clouds and uprooted entire forests, ripped off buildings and factories. It began raining corrosive acid! Yuck!
Rubbish from the beach and land were hurled into me as the storm subsided. The sun was back, and its rays shone once again. The nearby ice caps began melting and I watched in horror as the glacier slid downwards towards the houses and weather station.
The Earth was an inferno of catastrophes! How I wished that the humans had taken care of the Earth.

Blog Term 3 Week 6

2009-08-01T02:58:00.000-07:00

In order to arouse and sustain interests, subjects in the school curriculum must be made relevant. Discuss.
Education is about nurturing each and every child and it means developing one morally, intellectually, physically, socially and aesthetically. Schools as well as the home environment help shape a person’s outlook, interpersonal relationships, goals and values in life. The school curriculum also develops each child’s unique talents and abilities to the fullest, keep fit and healthy and to appreciate the finer things in life. Thus is order to arouse and sustain interest, subjects in the school curriculum must be made relevant.
In different stage of the school education system, students are exposed to various curriculums that will help them grow and nurture into an educated and responsible citizen. To remain relevant, one must be able to face the challenges that await them as future leaders. Qualities include being enterprising, innovative, having a global outlook, confidence, courage, compassion, leadership, tenacity etc. Our curriculum cover areas from non academic, knowledge skills to core subjects discipline which are all relevant and set our student poise for the future,
It is difficult to arouse and sustain the interest of a class of students as no two students are alike. Furthermore, students advance in their learning journeys at different paces. Therefore it is imperative that our curriculum in school must not only be interesting and encouraging but also relevant. School should cater to different strengths and weaknesses of each student so that they can perform at the optimal level. The curriculum should have different options from which students can choose as no one set of curriculum can fit all students. Students should have the autonomy to decide, basis their interest and strength, to select what is of relevance to them. This can be seen in the set up of the Sports School and the School of the Arts.

Our curriculum must constantly adapt itself to offer greater flexibility in its teaching and learning. It must be an enjoyable experience and encourages our students at every level of their learning journey. Students must enjoy learning and continue to use the knowledge after leaving school in their pursuit of personal development and what they learn must be of relevance.

All students deserve an enriching education to stay relevant.

Blog Prompt: News article on a freak accident

2009-07-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

Man, aged 30, dies in freak accident

Vincent Tan was on his usual afternoon stroll at the Bukit Batok Nature Reserve yesterday. Nobody would believe that that would be his last walk. The afternoon was unusually hot, with temperatures soaring up to 32 degrees Celsius. Bush fires sprang up all over the island. According to eye-witnesses, the bush fire at Point B of Bukit Batok Reserve had started with a smouldering cigarette being thrown into the patch of dry grass. It happened all of a sudden and spread in a flash.

The people present were all able to walk briskly and out of the reserve. Mr Tan CK, a retiree in his 60s and also a neighbour of Vincent, noticed Vincent Tan trudging wearily and nudged him to quicken his steps but to no avail. Vincent who is overweight, could not keep up. That was the last time anyone saw him.

Two fire engines arrived and tried to put out the bush fire. Due to the unusually hot weather, it took 20 whole minutes to put it out. Another eye witness, Mrs Chin, was all hysterical as she tried to recount the series of events. “I kept telling the firemen that someone was still inside the reserve. I was so worried! I kept praying that nothing would happen to him.”

Finally, the firemen managed to get into the reserve but it was too late. They retrieved a charred body with shrivelled bones and a skull. “I almost fainted. It was very scary!” continued Mrs Chin. The body has been sent to the forensic laboratory for investigations.

Speaking to expert Mr John Whisley of the NUH, such freak accidents rarely occur. “It is hard to believe that a bush fire could lead to spontaneous human combustion. Usually, people escape safely or with minor injuries. It is likely that Vincent Tan died because he was not physically fit enough to get out of the situation.”

The National Park Board is conducting their own enquiries to avoid future mishap. They are also increasing their patrol on parks to ensure that all bush fires are kept at bay. This is certainly a very sad freak accident.

E-Learning- A Poet

2009-06-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Poet: John Keats
John Keats was apprenticed to be an apothecary-surgeon, but never practiced his profession. Why? He dedicated his life to poetry, and chose it over studying medicine. Keats is a name that is a must figure in any list of the greatest English poets.
Keats lost both his parents at a young age. He struggled against the obstacles of his lower-middle class social standing, limited education, early association with the "Cockney School" of poetry, and poor health, as he sought to develop his skills as a poet and advance his poetical theories. Keats also experienced many other setbacks in the early days. Initially his writing and poetry received many bad reviews and his works were frowned upon. However, he persevered and didn’t give up.
Writing some of his finest poetry between 1818 and 1819, Keats mainly worked on "Hyperion," a Miltonic blank-verse epic of the Greek creation myth, and later renaming it to “ The Fall of Hyperion” Unfortunately, he was struck by tuberculosis that same autumn. Under his doctor's orders to seek a warm climate for the winter, Keats went to Rome with his friend, the painter Joseph Severn. Unfortunately, he died at the age of twenty-five..
Keats poems and quotes provide food for the souls of the hopeless romantics everywhere. Though he only lived 25 years, the works he left behind provided him with somewhat of an immortality. Just imagine the wealth of literature that he might have created had he lived longer. Criticized in life, revered in death -- Keats was a true poet. Even his tombstone, with the words "Here lies one whose name was writ in water" is poetic genius.

Thesis : Critics on John Keats work
After his premature death, and well into the nineteenth century, Keats's poetry continued to be disparaged as overly sensitive, sensuous, and simplistic. By the twentieth century, however, his position within the romantic movement have been revalued by critics. Keats continues to draw scholarly, critical, and popular attention. Issues examined by modern critics include Keats's political leanings; his theories regarding poetic imagination and "negative capability"; the rapid development of his poetry and his treatment of women in his poetry.
One issue modern critics have studied is the discrepancy between the initial, often negative, reception of Keats and his poetry and the stellar literary reputation Keats enjoys today. Modern critics focuses their studies on the barrier posed by Keats's social standing, pointing out ways in which his lower-middle-class status affected his work and influenced the negative reviews offered by his former critics. They also maintained that Keats's potential political subversiveness was the reason his poetry was deprecated by contemporary critics and that Keats makes his revulsion for the politics of the day and his desire for social and political progress explicit themes in both his poetry and his letters.
To gain insight into his poetical theories, critics examines Keats's letters to his family and friends and discusses what the letters reveal about Keats's theories of "negative capability," the truth of Imagination, and "soul-making. They reveal his belief that human suffering is a necessary experience in the processes of personality development and soulmaking, and that what the imagination apprehends as beauty must be truth. Crtics noted that Keats poem reflected his imagination and beauty as an aesthetic ideal and beauty remained the focus of the ideal. His mixed emotions about his love life, Fanny Brawne was also portrayed, suggesting a difficult relationship where the male is seen as most vulnerable.
Most modern students and scholars appear to be interested in Keats as an individual and as a poet, noting that to fully appreciate the poetry, one must fully appreciate the man. As one critic argued, Keats must be approached historically, rather than in the strictest literary sense, if analysis of his poetry "is to achieve either precision or comprehensiveness."
Despite the various criticism and views regarding Keats work, his is one of my favourite poets. Keats is such an accomplished and flamboyant poet and a true romantic. I enjoyed reading his poem, written with much creativity and style. His thought-provoking poems gave me much depth and set me thinking line after line. His use of hyperboles and metaphors made his poem come into life. I seem to be transported into his world of poems, and could visualise the beauty of his works.

Poem 1: Addressed To Haydon

High-mindedness, a jealousy for good,
A loving-kindness for the great man's fame,
Dwells here and there with people of no name,
In noisome alley, and in pathless wood:
And where we think the truth least understood,
Oft may be found a "singleness of aim,"
That ought to frighten into hooded shame
A money-mongering, pitiable brood.
How glorious this affection for the cause
Of steadfast genius, toiling gallantly!
What when a stout unbending champion awes
Envy and malice to their native sty?
Unnumbered souls breathe out a still applause,
Proud to behold him in his country's eye.

Poem 2: Hyperion

(An extract as the poem is very long….)
DEEP in the shady sadness of a vale
Far sunken from the healthy breath of morn,
Far from the fiery noon, and eve's one star,
Sat gray-hair'd Saturn, quiet as a stone,
Still as the silence round about his lair;
Forest on forest hung above his head
Like cloud on cloud. No stir of air was there,
Not so much life as on a summer's day
Robs not one light seed from the feather'd grass,
But where the dead leaf fell, there did it rest.
A stream went voiceless by, still deadened more
By reason of his fallen divinity
Spreading a shade: the Naiad 'mid her reeds
Press'd her cold finger closer to her lips.

Poem 3: Lines

UNFELT unheard, unseen,I've left my little queen,
Her languid arms in silver slumber lying
:Ah! through their nestling touch,
Who---who could tell how much
There is for madness---cruel, or complying?
Those faery lids how sleek!Those lips how moist!---they speak,
In ripest quiet, shadows of sweet sounds:
Into my fancy's ear
Melting a burden dear,
How "Love doth know no fulness, nor no bounds."True!---tender monitors!

http://www.enotes.com/nineteenth-century-criticism/keats-john
www.poemhunter.com

E-Learning: Poem Analysing

2009-06-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hyperbole [exaggeration] , personification [taking in a human action] , metaphor [create an image in the mind] , similie [using words, like or as or than relating one thing to another] and symbolism [using a representing figure to carry additional meaning]

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Where the sidewalk ends by Shel Silverstein

-ANALYSIS-

Hyperbole:

"sun burns crimson bright" - This emphasises that the sun was hot and bright.

Metaphor:

"Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends."

The poet was painting a sad, gloomy street.

Symbolism

"cool in the peppermint wind"

Peppermint is cooling; the poet is describing the cool, refreshing breeze.

"moon-bird rests from his flight"

The term, moon-bird refers to a night bird resting near the calm sidewalk.

Personification

"walk with a walk that is measured and slow"

It means a person taking his time to walk and reflect/enjoy.

Similie

none. :(

English Blog: Term 2 Week 10: Energy efficient light bulbs

2009-05-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

A very good morning to all of you. Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to attend my talk today. On behalf of the Ministry of Environment, I would like to talk about energy efficient lighting, and hopefully convince you to switch to a more environmentally-friendly type of lighting.

What is energy efficiency? It means to use less energy to provide the same level of energy service. An example would be insulating a house with less heating and cooling energy to achieve the same temperature. Another example would be installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights to attain the same level of illumination. Efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or process rather than by changes in individual behaviour.

You may think, : “Energy efficient lights are expensive and doesn’t glow brighter.” Although energy efficient lights cost more than the standard lights, it will save you money in the long run! For example, for every Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs for short) you use, it can save you over $US30 in electricity costs over the light’s period of use. It is true that CFLs don’t glow brighter, but it will save you electricity! Compared to the common incandescent lights, which are neither energy efficient nor environmentally friendly, it is a total contrast. Imagine what you could do with the money you have saved! You will be totally amazed at what energy efficient lights can do!

You can also save the environment by changing to the more environmentally-friendly choice. If the demand for energy services remains constant, improving energy efficiency will reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. This will save our environment and Earth in the long run.

The government will give out tax rebates on Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs and other energy efficient light bulbs. So what are you waiting for? Switch to Energy Efficient Lighting now!
Thank you for your kind attention.

English Blog Term 2 Week 9

2009-05-23T23:37:00.000-07:00

Blog Term 2 Week 9
Do you support stem cell research? Explain your view.

Stem cells are cells found in most, if not all, multi-cellular organisms. They are able to renew themselves through mitotic cell differentiating into a diverse range of specialized cell types. Stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture. Highly plastic adult stem cells come from a variety of sources, including Umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood and bone marrow are routinely used in medical therapies.
Stem cell research is used for investigation of basic cells which develop organisms. The cells are grown in laboratories. The tests are carried out to investigate fundamental properties of the cells. There are pros and cons to carrying out stem cell research. Although it is a tremendous breakthrough in medical science and is something that we should cheer, there are some concerns.
There are many advantages of stem cell research. The most obvious being able to treat a host of medical problems such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Heart Diseases, Stroke and Diabetes, Birth Defects, Spinal Cord Injuries or even replace or repair damaged organs and the list goes on. This will revolutionise the world of medical treatments. It will ease the pain and suffering of the sick and injured. This research would give great insights about basics of the body.
However Stem Cell Research raises some issues, mostly ethical ones. For example, people are worried about how the knowledge will be used and we should not mess with human life. Stem cell research may lead to human cloning in the future. As with experience in other research which lead to adverse consequences, like the nuclear research, we have to be extra cautious.
Many critics are also concerned with the ethical issues relating to stem cell research. We should develop more ethical methods to extract the stem cell and also to research in a more ethical way. A life is a life and should not be compromised. A fertilized egg is a life even though it is only a few weeks old.
The benefits of stem cell research has such a great outcome that in my opinion it outweighs the ethical concerns. Strict guidelines should be in place to ensure that the research do not cross the tolerance range relating to ethical issues.
Thus for all obvious medical benefits and to lessen patient’s pain and improve the quality of people’s life, I totally support stem cell research. In fact, I aspire to be one of those researchers and to contribute positively to the research and medical arena.

Term 2 Blog Week 8: Social Network Bad Experience

2009-05-16T23:35:00.000-07:00

Write a short story about a teenager who goes missing shortly after joining a social network site.

Opening his email, John found an email reading," Are you a fan of anime? Join this social network!” Not knowing that the email was spam, he clicked on the link below. He was led to their network on Ning. He joined and started looking around the site.

John found several members of the social network with the same interest. His addiction in the social network increased and he would go online for at least 2 hours a day to chat with the various people. Funnily enough, he did not realise that it was always the same four or five boys that he chatted to. He made many friends online, and even gave out personal information such as his real name and address and that his father was a professor in a university. John did not realise the consequences of doing this just then. Little did he foresee the unexpected.

The “good friends” persuaded John to officially join their exclusive club for die-hard anime fans. It would also enable him to meet friends of the same interest and widen his circle of friends . They sounded convincing enough. John, thinking that this club would benefit him, agreed to meet up with two of the committee members from the club. The meeting place was none other than McDonalds along Bukit Timah Road, which was a stone’s throw away from his house. The two boys looked decent and unbelievably friendly. John was sold! He readily agreed when they asked for a $200 membership fee to the club. John dug out every last dollar from his wallet, which was his allowance for that month.

Feeling glad that he had finally joined a club where he can belong to, John smiled as he walked home. He received an email, asking him to meet those “friends” the next week and was elated. A nasty surprise awaited him. This time, they requested to meet at a quite, dilapidated house near Holland Village. At first, John was puzzled. But soon, in his eagerness to meet his “friends”, he ditched all his sensibility. Upon arrival at the deserted place, his “friends” immediately got to their act and asked John for more money, a whopping $10000.

“Ten thousand dollars?” exclaimed a surprised John. The looks of malice and wickedness in his friends, which he had never noticed before, soon sank in. He could feel the blood drain off his limbs and tension amounting within. He felt his knees go wobbly and adrenaline rush through his veins.

Soon, the “friends” turned aggressive and menacing. They admitted that they are thugs out to cheat innocent, rich and lonely schoolboys like John. They were big bullies pounding on him! With evil looks, they demanded that he call his parents for money. Unfortunately, his parents were not contactable as they were in a rural part of China. John pleaded with them and tears streamed down. They showed him no mercy and locked him in one of the dirty, smelly rooms before leaving. They warned him that unless they get their money, he would be left there to starve and meet his death.

John prayed fervently that help would arrive soon. But how? His parents are overseas. John looked out of the tiny window and wished to breathe the fresh air. He wanted very much some water and food. How he wished that he had not been so gullible. His parents had warned him many times and he always turned a deaf ear. If only he had heeded their advice, he would not be in this predicament. “If only I could get out as soon as possible,” John prayed, “I will always be obedient to my parents and think before I leap.”

English Blog: Term 2 Week 6: Women Deserve Equal Standing and opportunities in workforce

2009-05-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Women deserve equal standing and opportunities in the workforce. Write and exposition of about 400 words of this title.

Women of today take on a wide array of roles in society ranging from being a wife, mother and a corporate high flier. More women gets higher education and that translate to more women entering the workforce and holding higher positions in the corporate ladder.

With globalisation and Singapore being more urbanised and industrialised, the need for intelligent ambitious and talented personnel, whether male or female is apparent. Every organisation should promote their personnel based on meritocracy and as long as a woman has the right qualifications, ability, aptitude and capability, she should have an equal chance of being promoted.

The modern Singapore women are well educated, well read and well travelled. These diversities in background and knowledge set them poise to demand equal or better opportunities in the workforce.
In the 21st century, brains count a lot more than brawn. Women’s achievements have a significant role in the workforce. They deserve equal standing and recognition so that they can realise their fullest potential and contribute to the prosperity and progress of our nation. Women should be given equal opportunities to nurture their unique capabilities and leadership strengths.

Singapore is a society which holds dear the ideal of meritocracy. In education and the workforce, equal opportunities exist for the best candidates, regardless of gender and race. In school, boys and girls are given equal opportunities to excel in sports, aesthetics, community and intellectual pursuits. Similarly, in the workforce, women should get equal access to all opportunities. Many women have gain credible positions in the workforce all thanks to the recognition by the government that men and women have equal rights in the work place. The Fair Employment Practices ensure that employers do not discriminate and they recruit, select and reward their employees based on merits.

All women deserve equal opportunities as men and enjoy a full range of human rights. There are many high flying women holding key positions in the political, public and arena. Members of parliament include Ms Grace Foo, Ms Lim Hwee Hua and private Madam Halimah Yacob, to name a few. The group CEO of the largest listed company in Singapore is Ms Chua Sock Koong while Dr Wong Ting Hway was the first Singaporean to work full-time with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

We must empower and enrich the lives of women who are assets and rich resources to our country. We must leverage Singapore women so that they could achieve success in the national and global arenas. Thus I conclude that women deserve equal standing and opportunities in the workforce.

Term 2 Blog Week 7: Addiction to gaming

2009-05-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

I have heard stories about my classmates getting addicted to computer and console games. Never did I think I would become addicted too.

"Hey! You should really download and play WT! It's so cool!" came my friend's voice over the phone. He went on elaborating about the game details, rattling on like a machine gun about how "cool" it was. "No thanks", I replied. My parents had warned me about the dangers about game addiction and to stay away from it. "Oh come on! What can a little bit of playing do?” came my friend again. I weighed the pros and cons. Yes, he was right? What could a little bit of playing do? I succumbed to my temptation and started to play the game. I neither expected nor foreseen the unexpected.

What started of as half an hour a day soon turned into pure addiction. It just seemed so engrossing and interesting, and drew my interest. I kept thinking about it in my mind. It became a daily affair for me and I played up to 6-8 hours every day, without taking eye breaks. They turned red and swollen. My eyesight turned poor. I neglected my homework, studies and most importantly, my family. I placed gaming as priority, above everything else. Still I did not realise that I had become addicted. That was just the tip of the iceberg. I also got hooked on to similar role-playing-games like HCE. The thoughts of the games were in my mind all the time, round the clock. I could not concentrate in school. My grades deteriorated like a roller coaster, plunging down the rails.

One day it began to dawn on me. I saw my mother shaking her head, totally disappointedly at my report card. The appalling, atrocious, ghastly, devastating MSG of 8.9 stared coldly at her.

From then on, I worked hard to pull up my grades and made time to spend with my family. Luckily, my addiction only lasted for 3 months and I have steered clear from it. I am addiction-free now. I only play for leisure and the most is 2 hours a week. J

English Blog: Term 2 Week 4

2009-05-08T21:28:00.001-07:00

Why are GM or genetically modified foods such a controversy in the world today? Are they truly dangerous or are people being overly cautious? Discuss.
GM or genetically modified foods is controversial for many reasons and I feel that it is because they are truly dangerous. Better be cautious than sorry. In this world and age, with the advancements in research and technology, nothing is impossible to create. GM is gaining a lot of attention.GM are made from organisms that have been given specific traits through genetic engineering. A quick visit to the supermarket and you will discover many GM food products ranging from soybean, corn, potato to animal products like a breed of pig that are better able to absorb plant phoshorus so that the phosphorus content of their manure is reduced by 60%.
While GM may seem a convenience way of producing many products to serve the growing world population, there have been many objections due to safety issues, ecological concerns , economic concerns and ethical concerns.
GM is inherently unpredictable and dangerous for humans, animals, the environment, and for the future of sustainable and organic agriculture. It has resulted in the unexpected production of toxic substances in genetically engineered bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals with many problems still remaining undetected. It has the potential to be toxic and a threat to human health. For example, a type of GM potatoes are found to damage vital organs and immune systems of lab rats. New toxins are being produced as manipulations of genes get more complex.
Another GE recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) -- injected into dairy cows could pose serious hazards for human breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Fatal allergies were found in a Brazil nut gene spliced into soybeans where mild unpleasantness to sudden death could occur. Studies have also shown that GM food will likely result in foods lower in quality and nutrition.
The negativity associated with GM are endless…... People who ate GE food may increasingly become antibiotic resistance. There is increased pesticide residues in the soil and on crops. Wind, rain, birds, bees, and insect pollinators have begun carrying genetically-altered pollens and polluting the DNA of crops of organic and non-GM farmers. GM crops are adversely affecting the beneficial insects and soil mirco-organisms. GM crops that are herbicide-resistant are in turn creating superpests and superweeds. GE soil bacteria to resist viruses can cause the viruses to mutate into new, more virulent forms. The invasions of superior GM plants into the environment are creating ego imbalance. With GM foods and widespread biotech food production, farming and agricultural jobs are being eliminated and many will lose their livelihoods. Finally, we faced the Ethical issue with the cruelty inherent in experimentation associated with testing on live animals. Animals genetically engineered for use in laboratories, such as the infamous "Harvard mouse" which contains a human cancer-causing gene that will be passed down to all succeeding generations, were created to suffer.
Thus GM foods are really dangerous and more awareness and studies need to be given. So go with the proposition. GM Food can be hazardous and a threat to our entire Earth.

Blog Prompt : A book my mother shared with me

2009-04-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

My mother shared with me this book : The 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey. She first read the book many years ago when she was just starting out as an Accountant. It took her an entire week to finish the book, after which she constantly referred to and studied the various codes. It was a groundbreaker for her as she saw both her professional as well as personal situations brought to new height. It was a book she referred to and read and re-read all these years as she saw herself evolved from being a professional to a mother.

The author put forth a framework that articulated the 7 habits, which are common knowledge to all but not necessarily practiced. By working hard to internalised the 7 habits, my mother developed a proactive attitude to setting goals, taking charge, leading and exerting influence , and at the same time ensuring win-win situations.

I recalled that my mother introduced the book to me last year. Her very first advice: have a paradigm shift, to think out of the box, to change your perception and interpretation of how things work as suggested by the author. At first it seemed like commonsense but to be effective requires constant awareness and efforts. Right now, I am still utilising the 7 habits to improve and develop myself as an all rounded student, a responsible and caring son and brother. It is one book I will keep with me for a long time, like my mother.

Blog Prompt: Aftermath of a Natural Disaster

2009-04-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

I was awoken by the violent tremors that shook through my room. My bedside lamp flickered and was dead the next minute and while I groped about in total darkness, things – books, files, picture frames started falling off my shelves and were strewn everywhere. Something must have gone terribly wrong.

I ran out of my house in a flash just in time to see a blast of great cloud of fiery hot debris erupted into the air. Oh no, the century year old dormant volcanic mountain, Mt. Fujiyoshi which is ACTIVE! A fountain of fiery lava spurts to a height of several hundred feet or more.

Lava flows swiftly out of the stratovolcano’s side vents and joined the sharp, spiny surface of the ʻaʻā flow from the main caldra. It set fire and burries everything in its path, ranging from houses and trees to roads and cars. A shiver chilled my sipne.

There was total chaos as everybody made a beeline away from the mountain, as far and fast as our legs could carry. The ash-laden gas explodes one after another and steaming ash forms a whitish cloud at the upper cone of the mountain. We were racing against the thick lava clots that were streaming down the slopes in fiery rivulets, leaving behind it a trail of debris and destruction. There were volcanic ashes, mudflows, landslides, rock fragments, animals, people and their belongings all mixed up and rushing downhill at breakneck speed.

There was a cacophony of piercing screams and shrieks. Panic, frantic and helpless were painted in all our ashen face. Although it was mid morning, the whole place was pitch dark because of the volcanic ash had formed a thick blanket blocking out the sun’s ray. Fortunately for some of us, we were able to move to safer grounds. There was an acidic and sulphide odour in the air. Then it started raining ash. Many lives were lost and dead bodies coated with hardened lava were beyond recognition.

For those who survived, it will take a long recovery in the cramped hospital which has never handled such a catastrophe before. Most of them were burnt by the lava flow, bubbling at over 300 degrees Celsius. Homes were lost and families separated. Property was destroyed and transportation came to a standstill. It was a devastating scene with a sombre atmosphere.

Although the local government and the rest of the world acted fast, the progress was slow. Relief started pouring in but because of the inaccessibility and the poor visibility of the place, transportation of medication and food was slow. I craved for drinking water and simple rations everyday, something I had always taken for granted. However, these meagre rations grew less and less with each day.

All the survivors rallied among us, encouraging and spurring each other on. Our spirits were high and there was enormous teamwork. Finally, when the rescue arrived, we were taken to a make shift shelter to recuperate from the physical and emotional scar. We were well taken care of while the rescue team worked round the clock to restore our village.

Although mine is a poor and remote village, the rest of the countrymen helped in one way or another. They were generous, compassionate and big-hearted. It was a warm and heart-wrenching moment for all of us in the village. Everybody pitched in to help and we were assured that in 6 months time, our village will be given a new face with new amenities and structures.

My experience of temporary blindness

2009-04-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Oh no! Why is everything pitch dark? Why is this happening to me? I started bawling and screaming my lungs out hysterically. Frantically, I faced up to reality. I have lost my vision, something which I had taken for granted. Groping my way to the toilet, which used to be a 10 seconds journey, took me forever. It was tedious, knocking over my chair, some books, an alarm clock and bumping my head against the toilet door. I almost died trying to find my way around, feeling very frustrated and impatient. Everything was far from routine although I once joked that I knew my room so well I could go blindfold without any problems. Now it seems like a maze to me, I do not know what lies ahead. I was filled apprehension, uncertainties and self pity.

Fortunately, my ever loving family members encouraged and supported me. They became my ‘eyes’. Not once did they complain when I needed help in the middle of the night or when I became fiery-tempered. They were always patient and understanding, sometimes too much for me to bear that I wept in silence at my handicap. But I had to be strong. I really hated the complete reliance on my family members. I felt like a burden although nobody ever complained. In fact they pampered and indulged in me. My first independent help came in the form of a walking stick which had a little bell. After much training I was able to move around with much ease and I was proud with that little achievement.

Since one of my vital senses has failed me, I had to rely completely on my sense of hearing, touch, smell, taste and my sixth to guide me along. I am amazed how quickly these other senses kicked in and worked collectively to help me through this very difficult period of adjustment. I could smell the food, the exhaust emitted from the vehicles and the fresh air in the park. I love the sounds of birds chirping, cricket piercing and all the other cacophony of voices everywhere. Even the croaking of frog seems like music to my ears. I became more aware of the shapes and sizes of things which I paid little attention to previously. Do you know that durians, though thorny, can be therapeutic to the touch? One of my achievements was to rely solely on my sense of hearing to play one of my favourite pieces on the piano.

I missed seeing the beauty of everything: the sky, clouds, roses etc. Once we were in Swenson’s and my sweet sister painstakingly described the sundae we ordered in great details like lime green mint ice cream topped with crimson cherry, rhombus shaped nuts and snowy fresh cream. It made my mouth water even before tasting it.

Thankfully, the doctors were able to isolate the virus which caused my temporary blindness and after a course of antibiotics, I was back to my ususal wide eye self after being blind for almost half a year. How glad was I to have my gift of sight back. Now, I am more appreciative of everything I have and I really admire those who are visually impaired. I realized how much I had taken everything for granted and now my life has taken on a new meaning. I resolve to volunteer more of my time at the Centre for the Visually Impaired.

The 1st ever vaccine for SARS! :)

2009-03-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

You’ll never believe what happened! It’s Amazing! Astounding! Unbelievable! Implausible! We, the Hong Kong SARS Research Team, had succeeded in our quest to find the world’s first Vaccine ever for SARS! I am ecstatically exhilarated! The joy that I felt could never be expressed! I would like to share with you the story of how my team and I succeeded in the discovery this never before vaccine which is going to save many lives.

It all started in 2003, where there was an outbreak of SARS in Asia, which got out of control. Nobody knew what form the virus was and the mutation level and countries that were affected were in super high alert. Schools, social gatherings and travels had to be disrupted to contain the spread of the virus. Cases of SARS outbreak were also reported in Canada, Europe and USA.

When the SARS outbreak first happened, I thought that it was just another contagious disease which could be easily controlled. How very wrong! At that time, I was working on another contagious disease, the Tuberculosis, a deadly disease that attacks the lungs and other systems in our body.

As the SARS saga uncovered, it proved to be deadly, with fatalities all over Asia. The virus was a new strain, which meant that it has never before been studied or researched on. There was an urgent need to form a research team to study SARS. I took up the challenge of researching on an entirely new virus, left the Tuberculosis team and joined the SARS Research Team.

Initially, my family was concerned about the change since there was so much negative publicity about the SARS virus. Doctors and medical teams who treated patients fell ill themselves and succumbed to the disease. However, I assured them that I’ll take precautions and even if I were to die, I would die a happy man knowing that someday, my contributions would save lives. My research team and I worked round the clock effortlessly, sometimes not sleeping for days in a stretch. The Research lab became my second home and I worked with my blood, toil and sweat, hoping to find a cure within the shortest time frame. We met with many rejections and obstacles but we remained resilient. We brainstormed constantly and it was really an uphill task for us. There was no reference or other research team that we could share notes with. We were entirely on our own.

Finally, at 2 am one fine morning while working tirelessly, I managed to decode the genetic sequence of the SARS corona virus. This amazing discovery opened many avenues of research to help develop diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines. We develop a vaccine based on the gene for the SARS spike protein. The vaccine performed very well in mice, reducing the levels of virus in the lungs of infected mice by more than a million-fold. Clinical trials proved successful. In addition to our 110% commitment, we owe the speed of this research to modern molecular genetics. The technology enables us rapidly to translate scientific discoveries into clinical interventions and improves our ability to battle these ever-evolving, highly lethal microbes.

Our team was in cloud nine. Our perseverance, patience, determination and sheer hard work paid off.
All of us are going home early for the first time to catch up on our long lost sleep.

Shop Till You Drop: NTUC Fairprice's Annual Online Shopping Competition

2009-03-18T03:45:00.001-07:00

Shop Till You Drop: An online shopping competition for you!!!

Hey! All of you online shopping-addicts out there! Are you ready for some fun? Wait no more as NTUC Fairprice’s annual shopping competition is here! “Shop Till You Drop” is a competition for our online shoppers and all you participants stand a chance to win attractive prices! The first is a sleek and stylish iPhone! So, what are you all waiting for? Log onto our online shopping portal: http://www.fairprice.com.sg/onlineshopping and order/place items into your “shopping cart”. Then, on the 25th of June 2009, buy all the items in your cart. After you make your payment, you will be redirected to a page asking for your contact information. Fill in your particulars and click on the submit button. The one who has spent the most will walk away with the iPhone! How cool is that?

Some of you might be used to going to our stores and hand picking the items yourself. Our online shopping site provides FREE delivery and even lets you check the expiry date, availability and similar products. Be the first to book it from our site when it is out of stock. How convenient is that? You will be impressed by our services! Log onto http://www.fairprice.com.sg/ today for terms and conditions and as well to participate now!

HEALTH- What is Health?

2009-03-07T02:48:00.000-08:00

What is health? It is something that all of us take for granted. Health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Physical health refers to good body health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery. Physical health is anything that has to do with our bodies as a physical entity. Physical health of a person indicates his/her height and weight, the nutrition intake and the general well being .

Mental health refers to an individual's emotional and psychological well-being. It is where an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.Feeling capable and competent, being able to handle stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and lead an independent life, and being able to recover from difficult situations or traumas, are all signs of mental health.

Social well being is a state of affairs where the basic needs of a person are met. Ideally, it is where a person’s basic wants are met and that he has the financial means to sustain a reasonable lifestyle. This can be done either through income received from employment, investments or other means. An ideal situation is where there is no poverty and where unemployment is insignificant.

Good health is critical to well being. Without good health, people are less able to enjoy their lives to the fullest extent, their options are limited and their general levels of contentment and happiness are likely to be reduced.
Good health has two core dimensions: how long people live and the quality of their lives. The desired outcomes is that not only do people want to enjoy long lives, but also want to be free from the pain, suffering and incapacity that result from injury or illness.

Unfortunately, not everybody can live a fully independent life. For some people, illness or disability means they need support from families, government agencies or other networks to overcome barriers to their participation in society. Getting this support is an important part of social well being.

A range of factors affects health outcomes, including genetic predisposition, behaviour, the physical and social environment and the availability of health services. We should try to identify these factors and work towards our advantage so that we can maintain a good combination of physical, emotional, social and mental well-being. This is vital to achieve overall good health.

Nothing but the truth- My happy ending

2009-02-26T06:13:00.001-08:00

Friday, April 6

Miss Narwin, after immense consideration, decided to take up the offer of a very good friend, teaching Literature…

Monday, April 9

Philip was warmly welcomed by George Brookover, principal of Washington Academy. They were elated to have Philip as he had created a sensation in the country. Philip walked with a spring in his step, overjoyed to start on the right foot. He whistled as he sashayed to his class.

The national anthem roared over the P.A. system and the students had a choice of whether to sing along or not. Philip hummed loudly and was so contagious that all the students followed suit, looking patriotic.

First lesson was Mathematics and it was enjoyable. Philip was thinking about how the literature lesson next would be interesting as he held on to the book: “Nothing But The Truth”. His new found friends gathered around him, adding on to the cacophony of noises that blasted in the classroom. Then came the click-clocking of stilettos as it crescendo to a sudden halt. The unmistakable footsteps! Philip thought to himself.

He almost fainted as he came face to face with the person he least wanted to meet. Oh my gosh! He muttered under his breath as Mr Brookover introduced Miss Narwin as the best Literature teacher with 21 years of teaching experience to the class. Philip’s knees went weak and before he could find some excuses to get out, Miss Narwin was right in front of him, giving him an unusually saccharine smile. To his utmost surprise she extended her hand and offered truce. After being through so much conflicts, pressure and stress, it was the opportune moment to establish a good relationship.

After Miss Narwin’s class, which was really interestingly refreshing to him, Philip offered to buy her a cup of coffee. Miss Narwin readily accepted and in was the best one to one conversation they ever had. They grew to understand and find many positive strengths about each other. And of course, Philip asked her for the extra work he promised.

15 August

Philip talent and giftedness in soccer was recognised and he was made the captain. He led the school team to their victory at the district level. Miss Narwin’s experience in teaching and her dedication won the hearts of many students. She received the most votes for Teacher of the Year Award. These two, who at one point faced a very bleak future, have turned around and become successful in their own field. The end!

Illegal Organ Trade In India

2009-02-24T01:57:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to attend my talk today. I would like to raise awareness of the illegal organ trading, and at the same time, appeal to the government to step up measures and I hope that a legislature will be set up so that the traders will be apprehended. For years, India has been known as a "warehouse for kidneys" or a "great organ bazaar" and has become one of the several countries that operate kidney transplants. It has attractive low costs and almost immediate availability. In a country where poverty is widespread, a huge transplant industry arose after drugs were developed in the 1970's to control the body's rejection of foreign objects. Renal transplants became common in India about thirteen years ago when the anti-rejection drug cyclosporine became available locally. The use of powerful drugs and new surgical techniques has indirectly boosted the kidney transplant activities. The dramatic success rates of operations, India's lack of medical regulations and an atmosphere of "loose medical ethics" have also stimulated the kidney transplant growth.

The pace of demand for kidneys hasn't kept up with the demand. Consequently, it is only a matter of time before the poor and destitute, victims of poverty
, have all sold their kidneys to make quick and fast buck. Some have even been duped or conned into giving up their kidneys unknowingly or for very little sums of money. One man claimed that he went for a checkup and was anesthetically doused. He woke up with a stitch on his stomach, which the doctor claimed to have helped to remove a stone. To his horror, a few days later, he realized that his kidney had been stolen and the doctor had fled.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? Ironically, advance medical technology meant to save human lives had been abused to such lengths that it had resulted in the death of so many innocent individuals. I am very appalled at these unscrupulous traders who are out to make dirty money. Are they able to sleep peacefully at night in their luxurious mansion?

I believe that the government has a vital and critical role to play to ensure that such criminals are severely punished to serve as deterrence. A legislature, comprising key government and health personnel, should be put in place to mete out their rightful punishments. The legislature should spell out clearly the rules and regulations of organ transplants and that under what circumstances would organ-trading be allowed. It is imperative that we send out the right message to these “criminals”. Thank you.

Pro Ed Song (right click then save target as)

2009-02-15T04:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.hci.sg/proed/pictures/ProEdSong.gif

http://www.hci.sg/proed/multimedia/music/ProEdSong.wma

Animal Prevention- Act Now!

2009-02-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

Hello, I am a student activist for animal preservation. I am honoured to be working on the important issue of animal conservation and to spread and support the mission to save endangered species worldwide, especially those of animal trading for medicinal properties.

There are many unscrupulous traders out there trying to make quick bucks by hunting animal body parts which they claimed to have superb medicinal properties. Claims included cures ranging from sexually transmitted disease to back ache. Do you think this is ridiculous? With our scientific and state of the art technology in medicine, some still believe in the old primitive cure from animal parts.

This is a serious situation and immediate actions are needed. The trading of these animal parts is not only a very cruel act as some animals are subject to torture before their parts are removed, it is also putting the conversation of animal species in danger.

Wild animals valued in medicines are becoming increasingly scarce. The African rock python, African wild ass, pangolin, green turtle, rhinoceros, spotted leopard, Sumatran tiger, bear, elephant, pangolin are amongst the most endangered by the medicinal trade.

Immediate actions are needed. Let’s all say NO to the consumption of any of these animal parts. Any delay or failure to stabilize the population of these animals would negatively affect animal’s already endangered status, which will indirectly affect the whole eco system. Let’s all join in the efforts to campaign against the trading of animal parts.

I hope all of you will support this very special and important project and do our part in helping to save some of the world’s most threatened animals. Thank you.

Activist's Club- Join now!

2009-02-07T22:22:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone, I am the president of the Activists’ Club in Singapore and I am glad to share with you my thoughts today.

Think GREEN, that is our environment. We take our environment for granted! The state of Singapore’s environment is something we are all proud or : air quality is good, tap water is safe to drink , our waste is collected daily and disposed of properly and we enjoy a high standard of public health. But wait…..we need to seriously plan and act to conserve and protect our environment.

Although we have a Green Plan to protect habitats such as Pulau Hantu, Chek Jawa, Sungei Wetland etc. we need to do more to conserve whatever small area of natural land we have. Our waste is removed so efficiently that each person throws out 1.3kg of waste daily and our beach and mangroves are filled with litters. Sounds scary?

It is time to bailout both the people and the planet. Environmental stress has increased the risk of conflicts over resources and food and this demands our great attention. Issues such as global warming, melting of ice caps, flooding, carbon emissions are happening and we all can take actions against it. From replacing regular light bulbs with energy-efficient ones to reducing personal carbon emissions , we all can make a difference.

The conservation and improvement of our environment is a responsibility of ours. Everybody has a part to play, we must give the natural world a stronger voice. Everybody must make changes to protect the natural resources and ecosystems.

Young people like you, get out of your comfort zone, join our club. There are many ways you could contribute and get involved through activism and volunteering. It is a very fulfilling and enriching experience. So, make a difference today, invigorate our society with your zest and involvements. You will be amazed!

Blog Prompt : Processed Foods

2009-01-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

What Exactly Is Processed Food? If any food that is boxed, bagged, canned or jarred and has a list of ingredients on the label, it's processed. They are derived from methods such as canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration, and aseptic processing. These processed foods are overloaded with hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats. They are lacking in necessary nutrition and loaded with empty sugar, water, fat, flour, starch, artificial colorings and flavors. A stroll down the grocery store's aisles can be a tempting experience with rows and rows of delicious food all wrapped up in colorful packages, beckoning you to give it a try . I have to admit, I am no exception. Good , delicious food that’s appealing and convenient is highly tempting. In Singapore, known for being a food paradise, you can never escape from the wide array of food in every nook and corner.For example, in a single day, my contact with food are found in my house, petrol kiosk, hawker center and night market stalls. How can I resist? It’s a miracle that my Body Mass Index (BMI for short) is within the acceptable range.
Thankfully my parents are health conscious and whenever we have meals at home, they are the healthy diets which includes lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and steamed/baked fish or meat. But once I am out, my diet is out of balance. It is laden with processed food which unfortunately, included curry puffs, burgers,fried food, fries, Slurpees and etc. To top it all up, I usually have a packet of my favourite potato chips or Cheezels. I know that they are all bad for my body system, but I cant help it. For example, the blue colouring in Slurpee stays in my tongue for hours after that. Imagine if my intestines were painted blue! This is evidence of artificial colouring. The yellow colouring in chips and Cheezels turned my fingers and lips a golden yellow. Though processed foods are yummy, they are neither good nor healthy. Sometimes, I feel bloated and sleepy, all thanks to them. I have a new year resolution; that is to cut down on all these processed food. It’s challenging but I’m trying very hard!

Blog Prompt #3 China's Three Gorges Dam

2009-01-26T22:39:00.000-08:00

Blog Prompt
Q: Discuss the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam

Chinese officials acknowledged that the massive hydroelectric Three Gorge Dam, sandwiched between breathtaking cliffs on the Yangtze River in Central China, may be triggering landslides, altering ecosystems and causing serious environmental problems. The dam on an area heavily populated, home to threatened animals and plant species crossed by geologic fault lines is a recipe for disaster. Millions of people were forced to re locate to make room for the dam. For remaining residents, they were faced with landslides, waterborne diseases and a decline in biodiversity. Water collected in a lake longer than lake Superior and caused flooding, resulting in devastating results, including death. Loose soil around the cliffs caused constant landslides. Residents had to constantly relocate to higher or safer grounds whenever the water level of the reservoir changes, impacting their social lives tremendously. One of the greatest fears is that the dam may trigger severe earthquakes as the reservoir sits on two major faults. The people are constantly living in fear. On the other hand, at the mouth of Yangtze residents of Shanghai are experiencing water shortages and drought. The decrease in freshwater flow results in more seawater seeping upstream, bringing along with it jellyfish and other diseases. In addition to massive fishspecies, it will also affect endangered species, including theYangtze dolphin, the Chinese Sturgeon, the Chinese Tiger, theChinese Alligator, the Siberian Crane, and the Giant Panda.

The biodiversity is badly affected. Animals and plants are disappearing and facing extinction. The effects of the dam’s disturbance of whole ecosystems could reverberate for decades. `

Despite the Three Gorges Dam’s growing list of problems, hydropower remains an integral component of China’s energy mix. It aims to increase it’s electricity from renewal sources. The dam is to reduce emissions of sulfur
dioxide and carbon dioxide; generating electricity equal to about
40 million tons of coal.

News Clip #3 : Silver Workforce

2009-01-17T02:12:00.000-08:00

Blog Prompt
Q:Imagine you are one of these older workers. You have been invited by the Manpower Ministry to give a short speech to a group of local businesses to a group of local businesses to encourage older workers. Write the speech that you will deliver.

Hello everybody. Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to attend my talk today.
I am Peter Tan and I am in my sixties. I have been able to find employment after my retirement all thanks to the Re-Employ Senior Worker Scheme organised by the Manpower Minstry.
It is a programme where rebates are given to companies which re-employ retired workers. Thus I have been able to start working again, and able to support my family of 5 and see my 3 children through tertiary education.In this difficult time as we are facing economical crisis, my job is a godsend. Due to my many years of experience in the production line, I have been able to contribute positively to my company. I am also put in charge of training the younger generations. It is a win-win situation. The company gains and so do I, financially. If not for the rehiring programme, I would not be able to stand here and share with you the success of the programme.I am very thankful. I urge all companies to re-employ older retired workers, thus providing them with job opportunities. The companies are also contributing to the workers well-being and keeping their minds active. In this difficult time, the rebates from the Manpower Minstry will be an added advantage if companies re-employ their retired workers. The companies are keeping up with their social responsibility by supporting this scheme. All re-employed workers are very thankful that they are still useful and can contribute to Singapore's economy.
The Manpower Ministry is also encouraging companies to make their jobs more age-friendly by offering a host of benefits .In this instance, company which modify their facilities or job scope to cater to older workers will get several rebates. All these are music to silver workers like me as I would want to work for as long as I could. Please give your full support to these programmes. Many older workers like me are thankful that we are mentally active and have a job.
Thank you .

Effects of Global Warming

2009-01-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody! Do you know the effects of global warming? Do you feel that Singapore is getting hotter? Do you read about news about chaotic weather like natural catastrophies, flooding, typhoons etc...

We have none other to blame than global warming. This is caused by both natural and unnatural activities. For example, the ozone layer is a layer surrounding the earth that protects us from the rays of the sun. However, this layer has been depleting for the past decades and will continue in the years to come.

The rising amount of greenhouse gases is forming a blanket around the earth. It traps the sun's rays and increases the temperature. This will eventually cause the polar ice caps to melt and the sea level will increase. Low lying areas will be affected.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. It's bad,isn't it? How can we stop it? What can we do? Everybody has a part to play. It's never too young to start. Start small by carrying out the three R's -Reduce, reuse and recycle.