Here's some interesting recollections of what I witnessed in school:
Situation 1: In a tutorial class.
Tutor: So would anybody like to answer Question 1?
Class: *Silence*
Tutor (senses the silence, and picks a name off from the class list): So would X like to come out to present the answer?
X: NO. I don't want to.
Tutor (appalled and shocked, pretended not to have heard him): So would you like to come out to present your answer?
X: No. I only want to sit here and say the answer. I DON'T WANT to come out to present the answer.
Tutor: Okaayyy...
Situation 2: In another tutorial class
Y (finishes writing his answer on the board, and goes back to his seat).
Tutor: Okay, that's a good answer. Would anybody like to present the next question?
Y (hand shoots up again): Can I present the next question?
Tutor: Does anybody object to Y presenting the next question?
Class: *Silence*
Y (walks up to the board again and takes the marker from tutor): I want to present la, 'cos got participation marks mah. *Sniggers loudly to the class*
-------------------------------------------------------
Thought of the day: Are *these* the type of people that we should offer a university education to?
People with attitude problems, who most likely are seriously lacking in the "dynamic oomph" with people when they start on their careers in future?
Or people who make known their hidden agendas?
For the second type of people, we cannot discount the fact that they are actually everywhere. But sometimes it is definitely better to not reveal your hidden agendas to the whole world, for obvious reasons. It doesn't give people a good impression of your personality, nor does it give you what you want (if you tell everybody what you are scheming in your mind), most of the time.
It would be pretty obvious that the above two types of people are actually everywhere. But nobody actually bothers about them. There's no incentive to bother about these type of people. I cannot do anything about them either.
But at the very least, here is a written proof of the existence of these type of people in our world.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Days Of Our Lives...
Ever remember the younger days of our lives, when we were studying in kindergarten or primary school, that our teachers would tell us "colour" is spelt with a "u" and not "color", among many other things.
And the reason was, from our teachers, that Singapore's education system is based on British English, and not American English. So for most words, there's a "u" if it's a "-lor", and there's a "s" in place of a "z" in most spellings.
If you had refused to learn, and spelt "labor", or "color" in your Spelling Test, you would get zero marks for that word. Nada. Zip. End of story. Go back and cry to your mum.
Fast forward to the 21st century, in a "local" university. How many times have you actually seen words that actually spelt with British English? I have seen none of it. Words like "organizations" or "analyze" or "criticize" seems to appear much more than their British-spelling counterparts.
Have the objective of the education system been forgotten? Or is the "local" university actually an independent organisation that is totally unrelated to the Singapore education system? It sure does seem odd, taking that the teaching staff (mostly locals), HAVE gone through the Singaporean education system as well.
What might be the possible reasons for the above?
1.) Laziness. There's no difference with or without the "u". No "u", less one alphabet to remember.
2.) Ditching the British English and adopting American English on their own? I wonder why this wasn't in the news. Seems like a unanimous decision that was made without any proper consultation of the education ministers.
3.) Going in line with some local political responses from the government that seems to be pro-American? I'm don't want to go into politics here, in case the government sees this blog and decides to prosecute me. I'm just saying that there just happens to be a coincidence in this situation. Hmmm...
Everything's changed. Nothing stays the same anymore...
And the reason was, from our teachers, that Singapore's education system is based on British English, and not American English. So for most words, there's a "u" if it's a "-lor", and there's a "s" in place of a "z" in most spellings.
If you had refused to learn, and spelt "labor", or "color" in your Spelling Test, you would get zero marks for that word. Nada. Zip. End of story. Go back and cry to your mum.
Fast forward to the 21st century, in a "local" university. How many times have you actually seen words that actually spelt with British English? I have seen none of it. Words like "organizations" or "analyze" or "criticize" seems to appear much more than their British-spelling counterparts.
Have the objective of the education system been forgotten? Or is the "local" university actually an independent organisation that is totally unrelated to the Singapore education system? It sure does seem odd, taking that the teaching staff (mostly locals), HAVE gone through the Singaporean education system as well.
What might be the possible reasons for the above?
1.) Laziness. There's no difference with or without the "u". No "u", less one alphabet to remember.
2.) Ditching the British English and adopting American English on their own? I wonder why this wasn't in the news. Seems like a unanimous decision that was made without any proper consultation of the education ministers.
3.) Going in line with some local political responses from the government that seems to be pro-American? I'm don't want to go into politics here, in case the government sees this blog and decides to prosecute me. I'm just saying that there just happens to be a coincidence in this situation. Hmmm...
Everything's changed. Nothing stays the same anymore...
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #7
Growth Rate of Productivity = 1/3(Effort) + Strategy
Some of you might find this familiar; it's similar to the Growth Accounting Formula if you have studied economics. I realised that this formula actually relates very well to the real world and our lives.
First off, "productivity" refers to the progress of your work. The growth rate of productivity simply means the rate with which you are progressing.
"Effort" here, just means the hard work that you put in into the job. It's given a one-third coefficient because for every 100% of effort you put in, only 33% will actually materialise in the form of progress, whether you are working on a project, an assignment, or just studying or doing revisions.
"Strategy" here, refers to the approach that you take towards getting the job done. 100% of it, the full effect, will be felt on the final rate of progress that you make.
Feel free to adopt any of the previous rules that I have mentioned to make up the "Strategy" portion in getting the job done. Or, if you have any better ideas that I have left out (or haven't included), just let me know by dropping a comment. :)
Some of you might find this familiar; it's similar to the Growth Accounting Formula if you have studied economics. I realised that this formula actually relates very well to the real world and our lives.
First off, "productivity" refers to the progress of your work. The growth rate of productivity simply means the rate with which you are progressing.
"Effort" here, just means the hard work that you put in into the job. It's given a one-third coefficient because for every 100% of effort you put in, only 33% will actually materialise in the form of progress, whether you are working on a project, an assignment, or just studying or doing revisions.
"Strategy" here, refers to the approach that you take towards getting the job done. 100% of it, the full effect, will be felt on the final rate of progress that you make.
Feel free to adopt any of the previous rules that I have mentioned to make up the "Strategy" portion in getting the job done. Or, if you have any better ideas that I have left out (or haven't included), just let me know by dropping a comment. :)
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
What A Shame...
As the Chinese saying goes, "Good deeds are not made known (to people), but evil deeds can spread for a thousand miles (easily)."
What is the point in doing so many good deeds, when you'll still be the same as before, in terms of reputation, name, "face", and fame?
I'm not advocating that we should all run onto the streets, looting, murdering, and becoming arsonists. What I mean is that if the good deed offers no immediate benefits, just ditch it. If a good deed and an evil deed lead to the same path in life, don't take the good path. Chances are, you won't get anything out of treading the good path, and most likely, nobody will blame you if you do not take the good path, because that is exactly what everybody else has done in some point of their lives, by not always taking the good path.
Wha...what's that you're saying? Good deeds give you a sense of achievement? That's pure bullc**p. That doesn't happen in the real world now. Do a good deed, and karma will reward you, is that what you're trying to say?
Let me ask you this question: 1.) Good people being rewarded. 2.) Evil people having the last laugh. Which one (1 or 2) do you see more in real life?
Think about it.
What is the point in doing so many good deeds, when you'll still be the same as before, in terms of reputation, name, "face", and fame?
I'm not advocating that we should all run onto the streets, looting, murdering, and becoming arsonists. What I mean is that if the good deed offers no immediate benefits, just ditch it. If a good deed and an evil deed lead to the same path in life, don't take the good path. Chances are, you won't get anything out of treading the good path, and most likely, nobody will blame you if you do not take the good path, because that is exactly what everybody else has done in some point of their lives, by not always taking the good path.
Wha...what's that you're saying? Good deeds give you a sense of achievement? That's pure bullc**p. That doesn't happen in the real world now. Do a good deed, and karma will reward you, is that what you're trying to say?
Let me ask you this question: 1.) Good people being rewarded. 2.) Evil people having the last laugh. Which one (1 or 2) do you see more in real life?
Think about it.
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #6
Backstab.
Sabotage, espionage, disruptions, prevention. Do whatever it takes. A successful backstab can lead to a domino effect, which leaves your opponent on the ground, while you'd be on your way off sprinting to the finish line.
Slow and steady wins the race? Think again. That only happens in the ideal world.
In the real world, it only takes a backstabbing tortoise to win the hare.
More on this later...
Sabotage, espionage, disruptions, prevention. Do whatever it takes. A successful backstab can lead to a domino effect, which leaves your opponent on the ground, while you'd be on your way off sprinting to the finish line.
Slow and steady wins the race? Think again. That only happens in the ideal world.
In the real world, it only takes a backstabbing tortoise to win the hare.
More on this later...
Sunday, April 24, 2005
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #5
Act blur when the situation calls for it.
Sun Tzu's Art of War says, "Know thy enemy, and know thyself. In a hundred battles you will never be in peril." In most cases, we are unable to know our enemies thoroughly. Afterall, an enemy is an enemy, not a friend. Most of us just do not have any espionage capabilities or surveillence equipment at our disposal.
So, look at it from the other side of the coin: If you cannot "know thy enemy", don't let them know anything about you. Act blur. Always. All the time. Everytime.
This rule, when used in conjunction with Rule #4 (I don't know), gives the maximum optimal results.
Sun Tzu's Art of War says, "Know thy enemy, and know thyself. In a hundred battles you will never be in peril." In most cases, we are unable to know our enemies thoroughly. Afterall, an enemy is an enemy, not a friend. Most of us just do not have any espionage capabilities or surveillence equipment at our disposal.
So, look at it from the other side of the coin: If you cannot "know thy enemy", don't let them know anything about you. Act blur. Always. All the time. Everytime.
This rule, when used in conjunction with Rule #4 (I don't know), gives the maximum optimal results.
The Metal Detector Test
If the packet of chicken rice I had today for lunch were made to go through one of those metal detector tests, it would've failed the test. A nut (thankfully, no bolt) measuring 1cm in diameter was hiding among the rice, pretending to be a piece of chicken.
Luckily, I spotted it before shoving it away in my mouth. Anybody out there would probably have had the experience of mistakenly crunch any kind of metal with their teeth sometime in the younger days of their life. It is a no-good feeling. :)
That said, nothing was done thereafter. Not that I can't be bothered, but analysing the situation logically, the optimal solution is just to forget it. I could've:
1.) Brought it back to the stall, and demanded a new packet. And take another risk with the probability of finding the missing bolt somewhere...
2.) Brought it back to the stall, and demanded a refund. But the rice only costs $2.50, and I'd most probably be viewed as a trouble-maker if I made a scene at the stall asking for $2.50 back.
By not doing 1.) & 2.), I have saved myself a possible 30-mins trip (travelling down + a probable argument), with the embarrasment of kicking up a ruckus there or being blamed in return for placing the nut there in the rice.
3.) Complained to the what's-the-name government department about the unhygienic conditions of the chicken rice stall. They probably would take the details down, and not bother with it anymore, since my case would probably be the only isolated incident (unless the person who finds the missing bolt reports it too).
4.) Complained as mentioned above, and they would take action, by suspending the license of the stall for 1? 3? 6? months. And when everything's cleared up, the chicken rice stall would be back to it's usual way of operations. Hmm... doesn't seem to help it, does it?
By not doing 3.) & 4.), I have saved myself future call-ups by the what's-the-name government department, lest they require my assistance in their future investigations. And I would've prevented myself from being branded as exhibiting the worst type of Singaporean attitude: The Comprain King/Queen.
"Not happy? Comprain to your NPP (Neighbourhood Police Post) la~!"
"Everyday only know how to comprain comprain comprain..."
"Why? You think I scared you comprain issit??!!"
Luckily, I spotted it before shoving it away in my mouth. Anybody out there would probably have had the experience of mistakenly crunch any kind of metal with their teeth sometime in the younger days of their life. It is a no-good feeling. :)
That said, nothing was done thereafter. Not that I can't be bothered, but analysing the situation logically, the optimal solution is just to forget it. I could've:
1.) Brought it back to the stall, and demanded a new packet. And take another risk with the probability of finding the missing bolt somewhere...
2.) Brought it back to the stall, and demanded a refund. But the rice only costs $2.50, and I'd most probably be viewed as a trouble-maker if I made a scene at the stall asking for $2.50 back.
By not doing 1.) & 2.), I have saved myself a possible 30-mins trip (travelling down + a probable argument), with the embarrasment of kicking up a ruckus there or being blamed in return for placing the nut there in the rice.
3.) Complained to the what's-the-name government department about the unhygienic conditions of the chicken rice stall. They probably would take the details down, and not bother with it anymore, since my case would probably be the only isolated incident (unless the person who finds the missing bolt reports it too).
4.) Complained as mentioned above, and they would take action, by suspending the license of the stall for 1? 3? 6? months. And when everything's cleared up, the chicken rice stall would be back to it's usual way of operations. Hmm... doesn't seem to help it, does it?
By not doing 3.) & 4.), I have saved myself future call-ups by the what's-the-name government department, lest they require my assistance in their future investigations. And I would've prevented myself from being branded as exhibiting the worst type of Singaporean attitude: The Comprain King/Queen.
"Not happy? Comprain to your NPP (Neighbourhood Police Post) la~!"
"Everyday only know how to comprain comprain comprain..."
"Why? You think I scared you comprain issit??!!"
Saturday, April 23, 2005
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #4
The three words, "I DON'T KNOW" is a very powerful sentence. Just these three words alone possess the ability to piss somebody off big time, to turn somebody off (from ever wanting to speak to you ever again), or just to push all the blame to somebody else (anybody else BUT you):
When somebody approaches you for help:
Friend: "Hey could you help me out..."
You: "I don't know how."
Friend: "Do you know how to get this..."
You: "I don't know."
Your friend, by now (if he/she is still a friend), would probably be darned pissed, and will not ever consider talking to you ever again.
When being accused of something:
X: "HEY!! Why did you..."
You: "I don't know!"
X: "How did things turn out like this???!!!"
You: "I don't know!"
Effectively, you're pushing the blame that is ON you, cleanly AWAY from yourself. The gamble here is that you would be taking a chance with the consequences of shedding all responsibility. But this is rarely something that is life-threatening or just anything that would result in capital punishment, so most of the time, you *can* get away with using the three words, "I-DON'T-KNOW".
When somebody approaches you for help:
Friend: "Hey could you help me out..."
You: "I don't know how."
Friend: "Do you know how to get this..."
You: "I don't know."
Your friend, by now (if he/she is still a friend), would probably be darned pissed, and will not ever consider talking to you ever again.
When being accused of something:
X: "HEY!! Why did you..."
You: "I don't know!"
X: "How did things turn out like this???!!!"
You: "I don't know!"
Effectively, you're pushing the blame that is ON you, cleanly AWAY from yourself. The gamble here is that you would be taking a chance with the consequences of shedding all responsibility. But this is rarely something that is life-threatening or just anything that would result in capital punishment, so most of the time, you *can* get away with using the three words, "I-DON'T-KNOW".
Friday, April 22, 2005
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #3
Effort doesn't pay. Actually, it seldom pays.
Ever had the experience where you slog your ass off, day and night, night and day on a project/work/assignment? When you submit it to your superiors when the deadline arrives, your work never seems to receive better opinions than the one from your counterparts, who only rushed out the work haphazardly in the last 3 days?
Maybe we shouldn't be too superficial about what others think, and should be satisfied with our own effort, telling our conscience that we have already done our best, and that there is nothing more to be done.
Then again, sometimes it really stinks when you've put in more effort than your peers, but you are graded equally (or lower) than your peers.
The morale of the story? If you can't beat them, join them. Go on, relax all you can until the last few days before your deadline. Then look for "alternative" methods to get your job done, by hook or by crook.
You'd be amazed at the results.
Ever had the experience where you slog your ass off, day and night, night and day on a project/work/assignment? When you submit it to your superiors when the deadline arrives, your work never seems to receive better opinions than the one from your counterparts, who only rushed out the work haphazardly in the last 3 days?
Maybe we shouldn't be too superficial about what others think, and should be satisfied with our own effort, telling our conscience that we have already done our best, and that there is nothing more to be done.
Then again, sometimes it really stinks when you've put in more effort than your peers, but you are graded equally (or lower) than your peers.
The morale of the story? If you can't beat them, join them. Go on, relax all you can until the last few days before your deadline. Then look for "alternative" methods to get your job done, by hook or by crook.
You'd be amazed at the results.
Modern Youths Of The 21st Century
A couple of years ago, I was at this bookstore browsing through some magazines. There was this person who was in the cashier's queue, purchasing a small bottle of candy. When he left the cashier's to join his friends waiting outside the bookstore, he opened up his candy.
In the loudest voice that he could summon, he exclaimed to his friends in a mixture of local dialect and english (Singlish), "KNN CCB, this one kenna people koop before one!" Basically he was trying to express his anger at buying a bottle of candy that had been pilfered before, with only half of the candy remaining. The abbreviations were just some of the crudest profanities anybody could ever utter.
The voice was loud enough to make everybody turn their heads, including me. I looked towards the direction of the shouting, and saw the person. A lady beside me shook her head in dismay, disappointed at the skillful display of an acerbic tongue.
The person, was just a little boy of not more than 10 years of age. He was just only a little taller than the cashier's counter.
In the loudest voice that he could summon, he exclaimed to his friends in a mixture of local dialect and english (Singlish), "KNN CCB, this one kenna people koop before one!" Basically he was trying to express his anger at buying a bottle of candy that had been pilfered before, with only half of the candy remaining. The abbreviations were just some of the crudest profanities anybody could ever utter.
The voice was loud enough to make everybody turn their heads, including me. I looked towards the direction of the shouting, and saw the person. A lady beside me shook her head in dismay, disappointed at the skillful display of an acerbic tongue.
The person, was just a little boy of not more than 10 years of age. He was just only a little taller than the cashier's counter.
Reminder...
I must remind myself not to rant to any of my friends anymore; it is very detrimental to them, and it doesn't help myself either...
Thursday, April 21, 2005
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #2
If you can't beat them, eliminate them.
The adjective "best" is only used in terms of a reference from something, to something else. It doesn't necessarily mean that when somebody is called the "best", they hold the ultimate power. It is only in comparison to YOU.
Eliminate the "best", and you will rise up to become the best.
As for what I mean by eliminating... I'll leave it to you to decipher. :)
The adjective "best" is only used in terms of a reference from something, to something else. It doesn't necessarily mean that when somebody is called the "best", they hold the ultimate power. It is only in comparison to YOU.
Eliminate the "best", and you will rise up to become the best.
As for what I mean by eliminating... I'll leave it to you to decipher. :)
Reminiscing...
A couple of weeks ago, I was on bus service 95 to school. Now anybody who's been on this bus before, know very well that a trip can jolly well take 25~30 mins, including waiting time. It just so happened that the bus I was on, only took 15 mins. It was the morning peak hour.
The bus driver, after pulling out from the bus-stop at JTC, didn't take the rightmost lane like all other bus drivers did. Instead, the driver took the 2nd rightmost lane. Now the traffic tailback that morning was all the way up to the JTC factory.
Seemingly nonchalent, the bus driver drove on in that lane, all the way right up to the NUH junction. Upon reaching the junction, the bus driver stopped the bus just a few cars' length before the lights, and managed to do a perfect squeeze into the right-most lane for a right-turn, just before the next car in line drove up.
The driver was an "auntie" in her 40s, I estimated. Talk about "auntie power". Great Singapore Sale, anyone?
The bus driver, after pulling out from the bus-stop at JTC, didn't take the rightmost lane like all other bus drivers did. Instead, the driver took the 2nd rightmost lane. Now the traffic tailback that morning was all the way up to the JTC factory.
Seemingly nonchalent, the bus driver drove on in that lane, all the way right up to the NUH junction. Upon reaching the junction, the bus driver stopped the bus just a few cars' length before the lights, and managed to do a perfect squeeze into the right-most lane for a right-turn, just before the next car in line drove up.
The driver was an "auntie" in her 40s, I estimated. Talk about "auntie power". Great Singapore Sale, anyone?
How To Survive In The Real World, Rule #1
Play dead. If you can't win them, play dead. Yeah sure, go on, play dead. Nobody can touch you once you play possum.
A Great Conspiracy...
The whole world functions as a great conspiracy. Somewhere, somehow, sometime, we all have our own agenda to fulfil. Personal reasons fuel this agenda most of the time. Some may have the chance to form alliances with others, holding a common agenda as the conspiring factor against others. Others, are just individuals with tricks up their sleeves, conspiring wih themselves to obtain what they want from others...
It's such a shame that the world has to turn out this way...
It's such a shame that the world has to turn out this way...
New to all of this...
Well hello to whoever is reading this right now. I probably don't really know what to say here, but hopefully that will change as the weeks pass by... :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)