Chin Blog :-)

Was just updating myface book and saw some of the links I’d put up previously regarding some student successes where I was pesonally involved.  Students were taking part in this year’s Imagine Cup competition as well, and I can see the spark in their eyes.  They learnt and get so much more exposure through the competition than in the classroom.  Awesome.

Here are some links:

http://www.imaginecup.com.sg -> select Mamagia, Emini, Earthings
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_220538.html
http://www.tp.edu.sg/CCD_pressrelease.htm?id=44129&year=2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvON2hPiVT8
http://www-iit.tp.edu.sg/iit_home/iit_showcase/iit_showcases_studentcompetitions/iit_sc07_imaginecup.htm
http://blogs.msdn.com/stanley/archive/2007/09/10/teched-2007-sea-how-to-balance-teaching-academic-concepts-and-using-high-level-net-controls.aspx
http://www.tp.edu.sg/ezines/t’s/Jan_07/cover_story_1

From a section of the book I’m currently reading.  Need to type it out since I need to get it in me and encourage myself.  And since I’m gonna type it out, might as well post it here … :-) 

(Christian content follows)

———————-

"Happiness is … A way of Mind"
excerpt from the book "Happiness is a way of mind, a way of life" by A R Bernard

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellance and if there is any praise — dwell on these things.  Philippians 4:8 Holman CSB

Simply put, happiness is a way of thiking,  So here’s the big question: How will you direct your
thoughts today?  Will you obey the words of Philippians 4:8 by dwelling upon those things that are honorable, true, and worthy of praise?  Or will you allow your thoughts to be hijacked by the negativity that seems to dominate our troubled world?

Are you fearful, angry, bored or worried?  Are you so preoccupied witht the concerns of this day that you fail to thank God for the promise of eternity?  Are you confused, bitter, or pessimistic?  If so, God wants to have a little talk with you.

God intends that you be an ambassador for Him, an enthusiatic, hope-filled Christian.  But God won’t force you to adpot a positive attitude.  It’s up to you to think positively about your blessings and opportunities … or not.  So today and every day hereafter, celebrate this life that God has given you by focusing your thoughts and your energies upon "things that are excellent and worthy of praise."  Today, count your blessings instead of your hardships.  And thank the Giver of all things good for gifts that are simply too numerious to count.

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.  Proverbs 4:23 Holman CSB

Happiness doesn’t depend opon who you are or what you have; it depends upon what you think — Dale Carnegie

Tip:

Happiness is a positive interpretation of the world and its events.  Happiness requires that you train yourself to SEE the GOOD in EVERYTHING, no matter what happens.

——————————-

So here I am, training myself. 

Blessings!

You are the only problem you will ever have
and you are the only solution.

Bob Proctor

Good one!  :-)  For me at least … heh. 

Some snake-y person said my blog is rotting.  Didn’t know there are snakes reading my blog, so … here’s an long overdue update. 

Anyway, before I start, just a clarification.  When the person said that I like to "eat snake" during work (as left on my friendster testimonials), she meant that I logged on to MSN messenger.  Better clarify in case some staff read my blog and start thinking otherwise.

So what to write?????

I guess I have doing so much writing in other forms that I don’t have time to write blogs anymore.  Write emails, write papers, write syllabuses, write synopsis, write LOA approvals, write feedback on term test scripts, write on white boards, write on transparencies, write assignments, write programs, write exam papers, write minutes, write sample reports, write power-points, write … etc.  Goodness. Didn’t think a teaching career takes so much time and energy before I joined.

But anyway its fun, esp interacting with snakes (oops, I meant students), and see sparks in their eyes, or observe a change in attitudes.  Nothing beats that.

OK, that’s all folks — the latest update to my rotting blog.  Till next time … when I have something more substantial to write… 

ps:  guess who is _that_ snake??

Read something encouraging today.  Here it is:

Here’s why your attitude makes such a difference:

(1) Your attitude determines your outcome. Successful people embrace this truth, whether it’s a doctor going into surgery, a pastor preparing a sermon, or a business person launching a new venture. Confidence increases your chance of success every time. When you approach a task, especially one you don’t relish, fix your mind on the facts, not your feelings. That’ll put your attitude on the right track.

(2) Your attitude toward others determines their attitude toward you. Smile at people and they’ll probably smile back. Act hard-nosed and they’re likely to snap at you. If you want to enjoy people as you go through your day, treat them well. This is not rocket science, but it’s easily forgotten - and it’s scriptural!

(3) Your attitude gives you the winning edge. When world heavyweight champion Joe Louis got knocked down by Tony "Two Ton" Galento in Yankee Stadium, he immediately jumped back to his feet and went after his opponent. When his trainer protested saying, "Why didn’t you stay down for nine?" Louis said, "What! And give him a chance to rest?" Louis went out in the fourth round and won the fight. Possessing a great attitude always gives you the winning edge.

(4) Your attitude, not your achievements, brings happiness. Samuel Johnson, the 18th century poet, stated, "He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove." Think about it!

Great day!

Some good quotes I got in the mail today.

Cheers!

Liane Cordes
Continuous effort - not strength or
intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.

Phillips
Brooks
Do not pray for tasks equal to your
powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall
be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.

Zig Ziglar

It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you use
that makes a difference.

Greg
Hickman
Reach up as far as you can and God will
help you reach the rest of the way.

Jack Schwartz

We are hoarding potentials so great that
they are just about unimaginable.

Finally got a new gig, out of necessity than from exhaustive search.  :-)  Didn’t get a Taylor or a Martin.  Didn’t have the cash.  Got something decent and sounds pretty good for its price.  Solid cedar top, bright sound, low buzz at high strumming, acceptable action, good projection… which are all the things I needed.  :-)  Didn’t come with pre-amp, but can always fix one later on.  Let’s see if it lasts.  I have a feeling it will. 

My first poly vacation.  But it seems more hectic than term time to me… *pant* …  Busy learning how to teach.  1000 word assignment.  Research, SDL, PBL.  Quite interesting. 

Teaching is fun.  But hair is getting long from lack of care … :-)  *ngak ngak*

Returned my 2 month old acoustic back to the shop on Sunday.  Even though it is good for its price (solid wood top, pearl insets, bright clear sound and built-in stereo pickup), the plastic string divider at the neck literally "divided" after a few intense plays, and caused my strings to break as well.  The store didn’t have replacement parts util 2 months later, and attempts to replace the plastic with bone didn’t quite succeed.  So sad.  Even though I liked the guitar, it just didn’t feel right for me.  Man, it’s like buying a new car and having to send it to the workshop 50% of the time, so I returned it for a refund.  Will not buy from that store again, even though I bought my first classical from them 18 years ago… (lesson on customer service here for entrepreneurs to be)

So now I’m back looking for a reliable acoustic again.  Am thinking of investing a little more and upping the range.  My dream is a Taylor but it’s in the thousands and I can’t afford it.  Playing a Taylor at my skill level also does injustice to it so maybe a few years later la.  Maybe I should try a Martin or maybe an Ovation or maybe a Takamine or maybe some korean makes or maybe even a Yamaha …  Let’s see how… Maybe …. Aiya, so many maybes …. maybe I should just look for someone to sow a guitar into and solve all the problem… heheh 

It’s quite fun actually to go around looking (for me and my friends that is)… just hope audrina will not be bored  :-PP

Forgot to post this.  From a while ago … anyway … here it is.

A great many people do not budget their money.  An even greater many people do not budget their time.  I’m learning too…

Balance
your time budget by your value judgments. More than one man has made a
million dollars by working sixteen hours a day seven days a week for
many years only to lose his wife and watch his children grow up and
leave before he realized what was happening. Don’t make the mistake of
spending so much time pursuing your ambition that you join the ranks of
those who are rich, but lonely; wealthy, but dead. The health of the
body, mind, soul, and family requires that time be balanced wisely.

Remember that God created the human being with specific instructions to
spend one day in seven for the rest and re-creation of the soul and the
body. Re-creation of the body comes through re-creation of the spirit.
It is no coincidence that a vast number of the truly successful people
in our world are also leaders in their churches or synagogues.

An anonymous Irishman wrote:

Take time for work, it is the price of success.

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to play, it is the secret of youth.

Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.

Take time to dream, it’s hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to love, it is the highest joy of life.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

My iTunes is playing a song, and I remember one of my heros.  :-) 

First heard his song years ago — "I pledge my head to heaven", man, who would write a song like that! — and immediately, I wanted to find out more about him.  What I found awed me.

>>> Keith Green  –  mp3

I am inspired by his no-false-pretense, bold, passionate way of living.  He is man of conviction who is not afraid to live his life according to those convictions.  He is always hungry for more of his God, and is quick to action when convicted.  He yields his life and talents to the One he loves.  And that comes through clearly in his songs and voice.  I only wish I can sing with as much conviction as he did.

7 years was all he had.  And he made such an impact that millions today are still remembering him and his songs, including me.

*sniff*