Monday, December 31, 2007

Result of the poll on "love"

Which is a more correct use of the word "love"?

love myself has 2 votes
to love has 6 votes
feel love has 1 vote
fall in love has 1 vote

Total only 10 votes, and not significantly (P=0.079>0.05 by ChiSquared Test) different from the uniform case.
Nevertheless, "to love" has the highest number of votes.

Is it Karma?

I think Karma is real, but how to identify it?

I wasn't happy when I went out two days ago and these things happen:
1) It was raining heavily, so I brought umbrella, which is something I don't like to bring and use.
2) By the time the bus arrive, the rain has stopped, which means I could have ride my bicycle instead as I don't like to take feder bus.
3) For some good reason I guess, the driver is driving in a supper slow manner, while I had a tight schedule.
4) Good to have some stranger approach me with a "Happy New Year," but sorry to the person, I wasn't in good mood and was rushing off.
5) Went to an ATM machine, punched in all the necessary, and only to read on the screen "This machine cannot dispense cash now."

Thus, I forced myself out of the bad mood and the rest of the day was nice :)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Compete vs Complete

Tonight I heard a speech on two perspectives: scarcity and abundance. The formal is like a zero sum game where for one to win someone else must loose because resources are seen as scarce. The latter consider resources as virtually infinite, and complement each other to yield as much as possible from the abundance pool of resources.

This relates to what I just read in the afternoon, in the book "The World Is Flat" describing how the Netscape browser pushed for open standards in the Internet world as a major factor that brought about the current tremendous connectivity through the Internet. In pre-Internet era, network software companies perceive a scarce pool of customers and therefore "disallowed" their customers to use other companies' software to communicate with theirs. With open standards, these companies now seek to complete each others by producing software products that provide services that could be still lacking in others, and because of this, the once perceived to be a scarce pool of customers expanded into an abundance pool.

Smorty is the second hub I just subscribed to that connects advertisers to me so that I get paid to blog1. I think this company has an perspective of abundance from this statement found in its FAQ:
"Smorty does not limit the way in which you get paid for blogging, we only add to it."

Smorty sponsored this post.

----
1 As a side note, I read in some places skeptics accused bloggers' souls were on sale when this idea started. I hope mine isn't :) I don't sell much. I just post my comments, with sponsorship.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Beware of romance

The first definition from a Google search for define:romance is

love affair: a relationship between two lovers

Sound ok to me initially, but what exactly does the word "affair" imply?

These are found from a similar Google search for define:affair:

Definitions of affair on the Web:
matter: a vaguely specified concern; "several matters to attend to"; "it is none of your affair"; "things are going well"
a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
a vaguely specified social event; "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
An affair is a form of nonmonogamy. The term may be used to describe infidelity in marriage. It may be used as a euphemism and in some cases to add glamour to an illicit liaison. Describing a relationship as an 'affair' may be inaccurate or intentionally damaging. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affair

Wow!!! So, beware!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Calling Cards

Is anyone calling the cards? Of course not! Then, is anyone using the card to make phone calls? Once upon a time, phone card refers to physical card bought from phone companies to be used on their public phones. Nowadays, technology has minimized the requirements of such physical gadgets. However, the name remains.

These "cards" can now be conveniently purchased from the Internet. This is one of the largest retailers of phone card and calling cards carrying 459 different phone cards from all major vendors.

It has been quite some time since I once used to made frequent overseas calls using such cards. One troubling thing is the short life span of the many digits PIN. Here you can find cards that have state of the art ANI recognition system that allows PIN-less dialing, especially the rechargeable ones!

Post Sponsored by GetMeCallingCards.com.

It's real!

What is real? What is not real? Recently heard a speech suggesting that our sub-conscious mind cannot differentiate between real and unreal events. However, if an event occurred, then why is it unreal? Even if it is a dream. Instead of unreal, I would say outside the currently quite well scientifically described world. In other word, the religious world called it spiritual. Enjoy this fun commercial, although Karma may not be fun.


Sunday, December 23, 2007

What a luxury!

To the poor ones, to have three meals daily is a luxury.

From this perspective, an article title "The luxury of being a [full-time] mother" means that career women are comparative to the poor ones.

Isn't it natural for father to be the sole bread winner of a family. The role of mother is very important but has been devalued in recent decades.

Did all these advancements in developed countries/cities make most woman became "poor" because they are stuck in the middle, between being successful in career (by sacrificing their family), and being able to have the "luxury" to be a mother.

Friday, December 21, 2007

A real advertisement

Online advertisments are getting more real... but slowly.

There are many opportunities to put up online advertisements, but many of them are about what many considered as scams, or of the money making theme. Seldom there are pure advertisments.

This advertisement at emailcashpro is one in a couple of months by someone selling Gucci pouches.

And it is an active blog with (I think) real sales.
Update 20080131: I was wrong. It is not active now.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

One for all and All for One

Is vaccine for you? Actually, most people had it without saying yes, or even ever had had this question in their head. However, in this era, what's the chance that you will be infected if you were not vaccinated? The chance could be very low for certain infections that certain vaccines are designed for. So, should someone then say, "It isn't for me."

Some years back I heard a discussion regarding should individual choice or rights be ignored for the sake of welfare of the population, and make it compulsory for all to be vaccinated?

In 18 Dec 07 TodayOnline's article: a 56 year-old man said: "It's not for me … It's good for single, young men only. Elder and married men like me who have only one partner are more decent and safe." If a person is safe, there isn't any big different to go for the test, other than the extra few dollars to pay. If only "more" decent and safe, i.e. not 100% safe, isn't it good to be tested? And, even if you have only one partner, not questioning faithfulness, but you can't know for sure if your partner is also decent and safe.

Also, another 54 year-old man said: "Testing isn't for me — the more you know, the more problems there will be." This is similar to choosing not to be vaccinated because somebody would rather die if infected. However, this is not about a single person's life, but about avoiding potential epidemic of infectious diseases that can cause much much more lives.

So, one test for the benefits of all, and all live properly for the benefit of One Human Race.

Finally the egg is broken

What a surprise! Didn't expect income from Google Adsense.. even though it is not even a dollar yet. :)

Monday, December 17, 2007

The World is Flat

What a coincidence! I just started reading an E-book "The World is Flat" that talks about globalizations 1.0, 2.0 and now, 3.0. It was talking about how the Internet has virtually allowed anything digitizable to be processed anywhere in the world. I guess natural face to face communication is very much a digitizable event.

Here, I bump into LifeSize. It provides an affordable high definition (HD not only for TV shows) video communications solution that uses advanced technology to deliver a true and natural telepresence experience. LifeSize uses existing broadband connection avoid high cost of special infrastructure setup.

For further featured products such as the LifeSize Room, allow up to six participants to connect in high definition please visit their Video Conference Equipment site.

It says "Do more. Travel less. Be present." I say, "Do more. Travel less for work but more for play. Be present." Reminds me of my dream of living in the wild nature but still able to providing services to anywhere in the world. It is realizing now, with communications already here. Remote power supply is still an issue, but the alternative of self-generating power is feasible for small equipments that require little power such as smart phone and PDA.

Post Sponsored by LifeSize.


Colour face

A face shows expression
Colours enhance expressions
Red for passion
White for peace
Green for environment friendliness
Black isn't a colour
Yet it expresses the strongest
face of all.

1129hr 16th December, CIG 7th year.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

How about coach tickets too?

Between booking through phone and through Internet, I personally prefer Internet. However, it seems that many are unlike me. This Hotel Reservations site provides both. I have yet to have the opportunity to book through it, but am willing to do so if the opportunity arises. I feel that the site has a clean and clear look, simple without many fancy but unnecessary and time and resource taxing features.

Only very recently, I came across a site that provides similar online purchase of coach ticket from various companies. This site should consider adding this to its already quite complete set of services including Hotel, flight, cars, vacation rental/package.

Not sure about elsewhere, but here the coach seat facilities are equivalent to that of a flight, above the economical class for sure!

Post Sponsored by

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Trust nature

In the article, "The 80-year-old Pope said the world needed to care for the environment but not to the point where the welfare of animals and plants was given a greater priority than that of mankind."

On one hand, we cannot not care. On the other hand, have we over cared? Or, will we unfairly care?

I see nature as a very fine piece of designed work, and I trust its robustness.

Just as how much is fever a symptom of illness versus that of a curing process?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

My Big Fat Moonie Wedding

Did you arrive here while searching for the above "documentary"? If so, then you must watch this too.

The director is a child of one of those marriages.
The media industry seems to be going from reporting facts to selling whatever can sell.

I watched a few episodes of a documentary about "UFO" that tries to fairly present arguments from both sides, at least I feel so. Thus, I do feel unfulfilled after watching as it always ends without making a stand. This might affect its sales as people from either side will not fully endorse it.

Anyway, a 1L glass containing 500ml of water can be perceived as half full or half empty. Interviewing less than 10 failures out of 2000 over marriages should suggest high success rate. Otherwise, there wouldn't be more of such event, with growing numbers, including many of their children.

Update:
If you didn't come here from Mhax Prosper related post, I recommend you to pay a visit there for further updates.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Giving hope

Wonder when the concept of borrowing and lending started. People have been helping relatives and friends naturally all along. "Help" might be either 100%, i.e. w/o expectation of returning, or 0%, i.e. the concept of lending with expectation of exact returns, or still 0%, although it seems like <0%, i.e. lending with interests.

Nevertheless, I feel that when someone is willing to lend, he is willing to give you your hopes. However, one needs to establish necessary credibility to be given hopes.

Usually, the lenders are clear of their risks and are professionals. Rarely this is the case for consumer borrowers, while businessmen are clear of their profits when borrowing. In this modern age, it is wise to learn more about loans, the different types such as Unsecured Personal Loans, Payday Loans and many others you can find in these links. They also have some general articles.

Post Sponsored by BestLeadingLenders.com.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Be reflective

In our circle of life, there is a sub-circle of influence, and in it a sub-sub-circle of control. In the very center of these circles is each one of us.

Thus, for betterment of life, family, career, management, etc. it is important to be reflective. When we analyze situations, we should look at the center first, i.e. ask what have I done to affect to the situation and how better can I respond.

In the show "Remember the Titans" a football captain was accusing one teammate of his poor attitude of not willing to play for the team. The answer from the teammate, "attitudes reflect the leadership," triggered the captain to reflect and eventually these two become good buddy.

Take ownership means taking ownership, not of the victories, but of the failures and problems and resolve them.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Get ready for exam

Education encompasses knowledge, teaching, learning, remembering, application, etc.

Is something missing?

Oh yes, exams and tests! However, these are not necessary in education although evaluations to feedback errors and weak areas for further strengthening are necessary.

Ironically, exams and tests are the two most talk about than all the other areas.

These two are there to serve the industry. In many industries such as real estates, insurance and finance, for the sake of the general public consumers, there are many qualifying exams to certified agents in these industries to be qualified to provide professional services.

Take for example, dealing with mortgages, there is the Mortgage Test. In this exam-prep.com link, you can find resources to prepare yourself for the test. Resources include CompuCram® Exam Prep Software that guarantee to help you pass your mortgage exams the first time. It contains huge database of exam styled questions by industry experts to train you as much as you choose to.

In my days, sometimes we paired up with classmates to test each other while preparing for tests and exams. With CompuCram® Exam Prep Software, you can do that repeatedly without bothering someone else.

This reminds me of the similar kind of software that my middle school English teacher developed to teach English Grammar. Thinking of it now, it was very amazing as that era was before MS Windows, with many fruits-branded (including Apple of course) computers, while he wrote it on his Sinclair Z80 (if I remember correctly) using the BASIC computer programming language.

That program was effective. Surely, the CompuCram® Exam Prep Software would be much better!


Post Sponsored by exam-prep.com.


Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Middle management

It is difficult to be in a middle managment position. Yet, virtually nobody is not in this position.

On one hand, you may be trying to "take care" of your subordinates. On the other hand, it usually backfires and all suffers.

Once during my army time, trying to act smart, I told the guys a book-out time based on my own estimation, so that they may get ready in advance. However, only minutes later an instructor gave further tasks for us. Arrrgh..I felt like everyone wanna humtam me.

However, we still should have initiative and anticipate to be better prepared for upcoming events or goals. The important thing is that these should be done centered on the higher goal. Rather than focusing on making my guys "happy" by naively hoping for good news, I should have asked the instructors for further instructions earlier. Probably, we will have the instructions earlier, complete them earlier, and therefore able to book out earlier. Thus, everyone is happy.


Sunday, December 2, 2007

Flying termites!

Eeee TERMITES!!!

My wife once saw them flying out from a wall where they live. It is like horror movie. There seem to have a protruding pattern on the wall where in it is where their nest is. She said sound can be heard from the wall at night.

Don't know where they fled to. No experts were called in, but somehow, the house is still standing, so hopefully they are gone.

Of course, I don't recommend ignoring their existence. With easy search for resources in this Internet era, if you have concern with termites, read a guide to getting rid of termite infestations, at termite control.


Saturday, December 1, 2007

"Booting up"

When a computer is powered on, there are a few very simple tasks to get the fetch-cycle started.

When a baby is born, two simple and important tasks that gets the baby going are cry and suck.

Amazing!


Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Loving thy neighbors

If it were expected that soon a neighbor apartment will suffer from construction defects, such as leakage from pipes, intermittent electricity supply, tiles cracking, walls shaking, etc..

Would caring neighbors assist them by showing them ways to be minimally affected by these defects, and how to live in such conditions?

How about inviting them to our place until another suitable permanent place is found?

Now, if some places on earth are expected to be very badly affected by global warming (or ice-age?? whatever..), shouldn't people move to better locations a wiser option than stubbornly sticking around?

Anyway, does anybody really owns any piece of land?

In the report, UN: Poor Need $86 Billion in Climate Aid,
"Half the cost, $44 billion, would go for "climate-proofing" developing nations' infrastructure while $40 billion would help the poor adapt how the live to cope with climate-related risks, says the panel's report. The other $2 billion would go to strengthening responses to natural disasters."

Humans usually adapt, but not always. The nomads way becomes applicable if a living environment would become too unsuitable for living.


Monday, November 26, 2007

"us" versus "you and me," or may be even "me and you"

Read the following in the article, "Why we all need to commit"

"Academics at Denver University have developed a "theory of commitment" that says, essentially, that the best relationships are those in which two people see themselves as "us" more than as "you and me". They make sacrifices for each other, and give priority to each other's needs."

I doubt they think/feel that they are sacrificing for each other. They are very likely just living the usual life of taking care of one own self, only that now the own self consists of more than one persons because the see a single entity "us." I guess this is what some calls husband and wife unity.


Sunday, November 25, 2007

The "Big" and "Small" me.

Interestingly, I posted about the "big" and "small" me only days before it happens literally.

Now, I have become "bigger."

When one's capability and willingness to expand realm of concern and responsibility, one becomes "bigger." Thus, relatively speaking, resources used on the original me is lesser, or from a third party perspective, the person has "sacrificed" the "small" me [partially] for the "big" me.


Wednesday, November 21, 2007

So special, yet so common.

This moment, a special moment to me.

After ~266 days, "it" has "ripened".

Yet, such is so common since the population on earth is huge, and has a long history.

Nevertheless, every single being in this huge population is special and unique.


Monday, November 19, 2007

Finally, I have a face... in the book.

Today, I joined FaceBook.
Lets see what will happen next..

I was in Friendster, did virtually nothing, and now no more there.
I roughly recall I was in hi5! for a short while.. or may be not at all.
I am still in Multiply, but only active for about few months.

Oh... my colleague just "briefly" described a few things that can be done in FaceBook.
Hmmm... on one hand, these make FaceBook quite useful, on the other hand, will I get too busy on it that I'll quit shortly?


Saturday, November 17, 2007

Work life balance

What is the similarity between a person having 2 full-time jobs, and a family with both husband and wife working?

Are double-income families in some way sub-ideal families?

A person normally would not want to have 2 full-time jobs. He has got other things in life to attend to.

A family normally would not need double income. They have got other family needs to attend to.

If the society is to be blamed, then it would be a sub-ideal society.

Some may think that the wife is contributing to the society. Good if that's true, and after making sure that the other family needs were attended to. However, how many of the working wives are truly doing more by working then by raising up their next generations?


Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Go Speeding

We know that it is dangerous to speed. In educational materials that tell drivers don’t speed, we don't see a further message that says, if drivers really cannot abstain from speeding, then please wear more protective gears, just in case.

Let suppose someone were to produce a video to curb speeding behaviors.

A catchy title is chosen: “Go Speeding.” 99.9% of the contents are about the potential fatal consequences of speeding such as lost of lives, both one’s own and others’, heart pain of loved ones, permanent injuries, and etc. That is, a very strong and clear message of “don’t speed!”

However, for the sake of some who just couldn’t help but will surely go speeding, the producer also includes “DVD extras” such as how to wear proper and top notch protective gears, do regular checks and maintenance on the vehicle, speed only on familiar roads, and etc.

I doubt any traffic related authority will agree to the inclusion of the above “DVD extras.” It basically tells the audience that you may still go speeding, contradicting the “don’t speed!” message.

I think it is not an issue to most, if not all, that why educational materials for drivers only send the “don’t speed!” message, without, at the same time, also giving advises to some people who just couldn’t help but speed.

Yes, it is also important to know about safety precautions. However, these safety precautions in driving are for normal driving, and should not be used to suggest that speeding is conditionally acceptable. Furthermore, these safety precautions are designed for, and are only quite, but not fully effective to prevent injuries in accidents during normal driving. These are not designed for speeding scenario.

This article is not about traffic safety. This is about a recently DVD entitled "Go Have Sex."

I find it illogical to include the “DVD extras” in the “Go Have Sex” DVD. The “safe sex” message simply contradicts the “no pre-marital sex” message.

Yes, it is also beneficial to know about contraceptive measures. However, these contraceptive measures are for family planning, and should not be used to suggest that pre-marital and extra-marital sex are conditionally acceptable. Furthermore, condoms and the likes are designed for, and are only quite, but not fully effective to prevent pregnancy in normal sexual life, i.e. within marriage. These are not designed for prevention of STDs infections, and pre-marital and extra-marital sexual lifestyles would further reduce their effectiveness.

To all parents and educators, please do not include contradictory contraceptive materials when sending the “no pre-marital sex” message!


Monday, November 12, 2007

Start courtship early

This is an interesting and good idea: start writing love letters to express your love to your spouse to be, before you know who is he/she. I heard this in a talk by the Generations of Virtue Ministry.

Express how you have live each moment of your life maturing and preparing yourself for him/her. E.g. You do not flirt with others. You have always behaved as if your spouse is just next to you. Your plans of how you would take good care of him/her.

How touching it is to read such love letters of your spouse when you get married later.


Sunday, November 4, 2007

小我与大我

不是牺牲小我完成大我,该是把大我视为我,小我就自然地消失了。

There is a Chinese saying, sacrifice the "small" me, for the completion of the "big" me, or sacrifice oneself for the sake of the whole.

Using it to describe what some great people have done is fine. However, when we ourselves try to do it, the word "sacrifice" has a deterrence factor. Rather, if we were to expand our "self" to embrace more entities, thus becoming the "big" me or even the whole, then our natural instinct of survivor will be to live for the sake of the whole.

Insights from reading the book "A Bald Head and A Strawberry."


Saturday, November 3, 2007

I've the power

I just reserved and abandoned a PayPerPost opportunity.

It feels good to be able to choose not to earn by choosing not to take up an opportunity to promote things that are not aligned with my views.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Generations of Virtue

It is nice to know that there are people proactively tackle the undesirable influence from the society and media, such as the Generations of Virtue. I have mentioned the similar in this post. Avoiding is not the way, and it can't work in this information era. Thus, it is important to prepared ourselves and the young ones in dealing with many potential undesirable influence.


Tuesday, October 30, 2007

This blog's Google Pagerank is 2


According to my payperpost records, this blog has achieved a ranking of 2 at Google Pagerank. I'm not sure what exactly that means, but surely it is an improvement from zero! :)

Monday, October 29, 2007

A quote to ponder upon

This is a nice quote a friend put on her MSN:


Wonder did she copyright it..

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Living w/o debts

In the current economy, must envy those who are living w/o debts. These are the ones who can plan to do up their renovation, or car purchase with 100% cash up front. They avoided interests. Even better, they still have funds for investments and/or businesses.

For most other people, I guess, that's a luxury. Some may have no better choices but to live with interests, while some who could do similar, but choose to have cash on hand to invest or run businesses for higher ROI. Then, how to maintain low interests is very important.

Especially, it is very seldom anybody is able and willing to pay full cash for property. The Money Magic site offers much information about mortgage, such as definitions of terms, rationale of plans and they offer service to source for the deal that is right for you and your circumstances.

Post Sponsored by Mortgage Broker.

Don't waste

This is interesting: A brief with the phrase: "I'm Saving It" (see here)
Yeah, don't waste!

Not only that, but also our precious time, emotional assets, invaluable purity.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Insurance as a kind of charity

I was roughly told about the beginning of insurance by an insurance agent. It was about risks in the transportation of cargo. Some how, a group of people pull together a combined fund to compensate the unlucky ones who lost their cargo due to unforeseen mishaps. Thus, it provides a kind of assurance to businessmen if and when these tragic situation arise. Subsequently, the concept and mechanism of insurance started to apply to more things and events, such as home insurance and car insurance, and even life insurance.

So, I consider insurance as a kind of charity that helps those, including possibly ourselves, who might become unfortunate in the future by many people each putting a small amount into a fund. Quite similar to charity, where many people each contributing some amount for a particular group of already unfortunate ones, usually they will not be one of them.

Post Sponsored by NationsFinance, an independent financial comparison site. Find out more on cheap car insurance from them.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Is your family fashionable?

I think family values has nothing to do with being old-fashioned, which was how PM Lee described it, "old-fashioned family values," as reported in Today when responding to 377A issues.

Being old-fashioned sound bad, but it doesn't really mean bad.

Being out-of-fashioned might sound and mean "bad".

However, we look at the suitability of family values, not whether they are new or old. Family values are values that promote, encourage and support healthy, happy and good families to be built and sustained. Indeed, the society changes, so do the ways one practises family values. However, the family values do not change because the practises change. The family values might change for the better, because in so doing it provides better and stronger promotion/encouragement/support for healthy, happy and good families.

Clearly, any form of increase acceptance of homosexual lifestyles is against the family, and family values shall not be changed for it.


Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Getting un-lost

Yesterday my brother casually shared with me a teaching in buddhism: (roughly) Since even [buddhism] laws [that helps one to get enlightened] can be forgo, isn't it more forgoable for secular things which are non-laws. An analogy is in order to get from the current shore to the opposite enlightened shore, the teachings/laws that we follow/practice towards enlightenment are like the boat that bring us across to the enlightened shore. When we reach there, we will forgo the boat since we don't need it.

Relating to another question from a cousin that why some Christians say they cannot enter temples, while some like one of our aunt could? This idea comes to me:

Generally speaking, religions [not in their institutionalised manner] seek to help people who are lost in the secular/temporal world to become less lost or more un-lost. However, it seems to me that many, while becoming un-lost in the secular world, are getting lost in some particular religion institution that they are in. These are what many called the religious people.

I don't consider Jesus and Buddha as religious people. That's why they were unwelcome and kicked out by the religion institutions of their times.


Friday, October 19, 2007

Keep 377A

Read the news yet? Usually only people, typically the minority, who are concern about their wellbeing do such things to make themselves heard. This is unusual! The media is so powerful that "the silent majority" can become the minority.

I encourage you to visit here and give them your support.

http://keep377a.com/

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Where should newborn sleep?

I thought everything should be natural, but there are so many issues to decide. One of them is: where should newborn sleep?
For nursing purpose, baby should sleep very near to mother, but there are risk for the small body sleeping next to adults on the same bed. Looking through the products on sale using babycenter coupons and babyage coupons, there seems to have some alternatives: Arm's Reach co-sleeper, a close and secure sleeper or may be a NightForm Infant Positioning Bed might also do.
By the way, I noticed that the price (excluding shipping) for the secure sleeper is much more expensive than what I saw 2 days ago.

There are also a whole range of products on discount using online coupons.


Easy = Difficult

Recently weeks there are discussions on a difficult mathematics examination paper in this year PSLE.
It seems that some questions in it were difficult.

To me, there is not much different if an easy or a difficult question is set. If it is easy, then most will probably score. If it is difficult, then most will probably not score. Overall, it doesn't really affect my score/grade. Rather, I dislike easy question because I must make the efforts to do and get it right, whereas for a difficult question, I may choose to skip it but my score for it may be the same with many who spent time doing it yet didn't get it right.

Furthermore, I am one of those [selfish ones] who when spotted a faulty question will keep quiet and move on, since eventually the teachers have to void that question. I hate it when at later times, especially near to the end of the given time, someone raise the issue and the teacher announce an correction to the question. I think that is being unfair by making correction half way through an examination.

What matters is when a question is easy or difficult only to you or a small group of students. Otherwise, no problem.

Thinking further, I suspect it was the nice but unrealistic pictures that parents/teachers have given to students that causes some of them to be annoyed by not being able to score 100% due to some out of scope difficult question. I think this is an issue that should be addressed. The over ideal system in school is harmful in terms of getting students ready for the world. People who grew up in system-less environment probably have much higher ability to adapt and excel in the real world.


Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Is it our fault?

Not all thinks global warming is due to human. Furthermore, is global warming a disaster to be or can be avoided? Or is it just natural changes? Have there been people who try to stop the temperature from rising during summer and vice-versa during winter?

Quoting from an article:

----------
But Dr Gray, whose annual forecasts of the number of tropical storms and hurricanes are widely publicised, said a natural cycle of ocean water temperatures - related to the amount of salt in ocean water - was responsible for the global warming that he acknowledges has taken place.

However, he said, that same cycle meant a period of cooling would begin soon and last for several years.

...

"The human impact on the atmosphere is simply too small to have a major effect on global temperatures," Dr Gray said.

He said his beliefs had made him an outsider in popular science.

"It bothers me that my fellow scientists are not speaking out against something they know is wrong," he said. "But they also know that they'd never get any grants if they spoke out. I don't care about grants."
----------

On matters about science, who would you listen more to, a scientist, or a politician's movie?


Cheap info

Want to get information about cheap stuffs? Errr... I mean low cost stuffs :)

This is one of them, EDEALfinder.
You can find many deals such as discount coupons or online discount codes that are on offer from various stores. I like the word and the store Overstock. The name seems to suggest that there are high supply, and therefore prices are driven low. On top of that, with their Overstock coupons, you'll get further savings.

Post Sponsored by EDEALfinder.


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