Great minds...

Great minds discuss ideas;

Average minds discuss events;

Small minds discuss people.


-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Teochew Song ~ 出花园 ～

It is a nice song and a good a documentary of Teochew culture.

This is a very old Teochew custom when a teenages turn fifteen years old, 出花园 ～ (Out of the Garden or stepping out of the garden) is prepared for them.

This video brings back sweet memories. I went through this Teochew customs when I was 15.

As a history graduate, I think it is important for us Teochews to understand our culture. When I view this video, it is very interesting to see how it was done in China as I remembered only the red clog that I had to wear on that day.

If you family still practises Teochew traditional customs, I think your parents or grand parents will do it for you when you turn 15, no matter if you are a boy or girl!

I think all my siblings gone through this when they turn 15. Unfortunately, most of my nephews and nieces do not have such an experience as my mum do not like to force it upon the parents.

That make me think of my grandmum who gave me this fond and sweet memory as she thought it is a must for all her grandchildren.

Grandmum, thanks and you are always in my memory even you live beyond this world since June 2005.

Why many places in 潮州 (Teochew or Chaozhou) like to name after "Han"? 潮州山水喜姓韩

潮州山水喜姓韩 Why many places in 潮州 (Teochew or Chaozhou) like to name after "Han"韩?

Many places in 潮州 (Teochew or Chaozhou)are named after "Han" 韩 and if your are curious to know more about the anecdotes, just view the video on this page. You will understand the reasons behind.

http://www.czbtv.com/czwh/cfcq/t20050203_50858.htm

Teochew songs

Teochew song: Happiness 《欢喜》

If you like to learn some Teochew phrases for congratulating newly wedded couple, this is the song you should not miss.

欢喜: 潮州话 祝贺新郎新娘的话



Teochew song: 红屐桃 Ang Giah To （潮州话童歌谣）Chaozhou Children Song

歌曲：红屐桃 Ang Giah To （潮州话童歌谣）
Chaozhou (Teochew) Children Song inspired by LIM Daikim story.



Teochew song: 无影迹古（潮州话） Bho ia'n Ziah （Teochew children song)
Embedding disabled by request
view it via the url:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uia5qXXL-C4&NR=1

Is there a Digital Age?

I was informed by the Centre for Senior about the workshop and took a morning off to attend the training workshop specially designed for the seniors from various associations and organisations.

If you miss it this morning, here is some information I recalled and you may like to use them for further exploration:


National Library Board's electronic information sources - training for seniors

Is there a Digital Age?


National Library Building, Level 5, Possibility room.

Program of the day:

09.00am Registration

09.15am Opening by Ms Tay Ai Cheng, Senior Director, Public Libraries Singapore

09.30am Services for Seniors by Public Libraries

10.00am Tea break

10.10am Demo on eResources (http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/index.aspx)

10.40am Hands-on for eResources

12.00nn Close

===


I found the Mr Robin Dresel's briefing and hands-on session given at the workshop very useful and informative. It was an update for me on National Library Databases and E-Resources as I have not use them for a while.

(Mr Robin Dresel: Robin_DRESEL@nlb.gov.sg Associate II, Customer Relations Public Libraries Singapore Tel: 6842 8087 )

Most of the eResources are accessible via:

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/

If you do not have sign up for an account, you can browse the first level and see what it available within each category. For example:

Search eResources
-->
Browse eJournals
Search Databases

Browse
By A-Z
By Type
By Subject

If you choose Browse > A-Z > All, you are able to browse all the eResources by tapping on the alphabet, like the one under "H" shown below:

===
By A - Z
All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other Languages

-->

1.
Health and wellness resource center and alternative health module

Provides access to medical reference materials, including nearly 400 health/medical journals, hundreds of pamphlets, over 700 health-related videos from Healthology, Inc., and articles from 2,200 general interest publications in addition to a broad collection of Gale reference titles.

Available at all libraries and from home.


2.
Health reference center

This is a comprehensive encyclopedic database containing thousands of hyperlinked entries organized into four major categories: conditions and diseases, mental health, health and wellness, and body systems.

Available at all libraries and from home.


3.
History database center

Access Facts on File's history databases, Modern World History Online and Ancient and Medieval History Online, from a single search interface. Modern World History Online covers the people, places and events in the broad expanse of world history--from mid 15th century to the present. Ancient History and Culture explores the pre-modern world with in-depth focus on Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Suitable for students aged 12 and above.

Available at all libraries and from home.


4.
Humanities full text

The most comprehensive resource available in its field, Humanities Full Text brings you full text plus abstracts and bibliographic indexing of the most noted scholarly sources in the humanities, as well as numerous lesser-known but important specialized magazines. The database indexes, abstracts and delivers the full text of feature articles, interviews, obituaries, bibliographies, original works of fiction, drama, and poetry, book reviews, and reviews of ballets, dance programs, motion pictures, musicals, operas, plays, radio and television programs, and more.

Limited to 4 concurrent accesses only. Available at all libraries and from home.

===


Important points to note:

1. Not all eResources are available from home, you need to take note that only those items marked with a Globe logo is :

Available at All Libraries and from Home


2. If the items are marked with "A" in blue, it is only accessible from National Library Central and all other branches:

Available at All Libraries


3. If the items are marked with "S" in red, it is limited in terms of access, ie.,

Available at Selected Libraries: Access this database at selected library locations

===

I think for those who like to read newspaper, the browsing "By Type" that offers comprehensive listing of newspapers from all over the world is the most attractive section:

===

By Type
eBooks eDatabases eJournals eMagazines eNewspapers

All A-J K-T U-Z Other Languages


1.
Bloomberg professional service

This is a financial information network service that integrates data, news, analytics, multimedia reports, and electronic trading. The service is used by market professionals around the world, and is accessible via onsite Bloomberg terminals.

Available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library only. Bloomberg is a stand alone station at LKCRL.


2.
China infobank

中国资讯行有限公司(China Infobank Limited)是香港一家专门收集、处理及传播中国商业信息的高科技企业，为世界各地各行各业的公司和研究机构提供经济新闻、商业报告、统计数据、科研资料等信息，资讯储存于16 个数据库中，目前拥有三百多万篇商业资料，为现存中文商业数据库之冠。数据库每日更新。 China Infobank comprises 15 databases that provide business information and other news about China. Types of information pertain to industry, economic, legal, health, government, company and biographical data. Contents are mainly in Chinese with some available in English.

Limited to 8 concurrent access only. Available at all libraries. 仅限于八个使用者同时上网。国家图书馆及属下分馆均提供此上网服务。


3.
Factiva.com

Use Factiva's research products to gain single click access to a deep archive of news and business information that provides a historical, global, and local perspective, which can help you uncover essential information on your prospects, partners or customers easily. 道琼斯和路透社共同拥有的商业新闻信息库 Factiva.com 提供世界级的全球新闻和商业信息。其中文内容来源于中国大陆，香港，台湾，马来西亚，新加坡等地的100多种中文报纸杂志以及行业必读公司报告。在功能上，Factiva.com提供了搜索、跟踪、公司快速查询、股市汇市查询、行业查询，并能根据自己的需要跟踪感兴趣的信息来源、公司、行业和新闻主题。

Available at all libraries. With unlimited archive access.


4.
Factiva.com

Use Factiva's research products to gain single click access to a deep archive of news and business information that provides a historical, global, and local perspective, which can help you uncover essential information on your prospects, partners or customers easily. 道琼斯和路透社共同拥有的商业新闻信息库 Factiva.com 提供世界级的全球新闻和商业信息。其中文内容来源于中国大陆，香港，台湾，马来西亚，新加坡等地的100多种中文报纸杂志以及行业必读公司报告。在功能上，Factiva.com提供了搜索、跟踪、公司快速查询、股市汇市查询、行业查询，并能根据自己的需要跟踪感兴趣的信息来源、公司、行业和新闻主题。

Available from home. With 30 days archive access.


5.
ISI emerging markets express

Provides comprehensive company information, news and country indicators from Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America.

Available at all libraries and from home.


6.
Library PressDisplay

Library PressDisplay provides full-colour digital replications of hundreds of newspapers from around the globe. It offers full content and interactive access to newspapers from over 60 countries in over 30 languages.

Available at all libraries and from home.


7.
Newsbank

Full-text content of local and regional newspapers, including the Straits Times and the Business Times. Each newspaper has its own distinctive focus offering a variety of viewpoints on local and world issues. Paid advertisements are excluded.

The Straits Times, Business Times & Sunday Times are available at libraries only. International newspapers are available at libraries and from home.


8.
Nexis

Database provides authoritative news and business information. Publications include: Business monitor news, The Business Times(Singapore) and The Straits Times.

Available at all libraries and from home. The Straits Times and Business Times have 90 days of archive access.


9.
OnAsia

Consisting of tens of thousands of high-quality copyrighted images created by some of Asia's finest photojournalists and photographers, the OnAsia digital archive features a range of photographic essays, stock photographs and conceptual images that represent a unique visual description of Asia, offering online access to a comprehensive collection of historical, political, social, and cultural images.

Available at all libraries and from home.


10.
ProQuest newspapers complete

Contains six databases - ProQuest Newspapers, ProQuest Newsstand, Wall Street Journal, Canadian Newstand, Canadian Newstand Core and CBCA Current Events where one can search full text articles published in national, regional and international newspapers as well as newswires and magazines.

Available at all libraries and from home.

===

I tried the "Library PressDisplay" and access some full-colour digital replications from other countries as well as Singapore, I can read Asian Wall Street Journal and New Paper online, the only drawback it the downloading time as full text with picture take some time to appear on screen.

If you like the eResources, just remember to register first as a member at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/ and login anytime to learn more on your own.


Dexterine Ho

漫话潮州歌册

漫话潮州歌册

http://www.czbtv.com/czwh/cfcq/t20050318_50857.htm

Library Services: Digital Resources & New Technologies

I just attended one of the Guest Speaker Series organized by NLB:

Date : 25 March 2009 (Wednesday)

Time : 3.00pm - 5.00pm

Venue : Visitor Briefing Room, Level 1, National Library Building


Library Services: Digital Resources & New Technologies

Talk conducted in Mandarin by 2 speakers from National Library of China

Part 1: Application of New Technology in Basic Library Services
by Mr Sun Boyang 孙伯阳, Assistant Director, Stack Management & Reading Services Department

Part 2: Digital Resources Services in National Library of China
by Mr Li Chenguang 李晨光, Librarian, Digital Resources & Services Department

About the speakers:

Sun Boyang is Director of Chinese Books Reading Section, and Assistant Director of Stack Management and Reading Services Department. At the same time, he leads the RFID project in NLC. In his career, he has dealt with reader service, closed stack management, circulating book management, and reading room management. He is experienced in reader service, literature resource management, RFID technology, etc. In 2007, he was appointed a key member of Innovation Talents Plan in NLC.

孙伯阳，馆员，现任中国国家图书馆典藏阅览部主任助理兼中文图书阅览组组长，曾先后从事读者服务、闭架书库管理、图书流通管理和开架阅览室管理工作，并担任国家图书馆RFID项目组组长，完成了国家图书馆RFID系统的实施工作，具有比较丰富的图书馆读者服务、文献资源管理和RFID等图书馆新技术应用的经验。2007年被聘为国家图书馆“创新人才”计划的业务骨干。


Li Chenguang is Librarian at the National Library of China. He is in charge of the digital resource service section in the Digital Resource Department of NLC and has served in positions involving acquisition of Western language periodicals, distribution and management of ISSN, and digital resource services. He is experienced in serial publications management and digital resource services.

李晨光，馆员，现任国家图书馆数字资源部数字资源服务组副组长，曾先后从事西文期刊采访acquisition、ISSN（国际标准刊号）分配与管理、数字资源服务等工作，在连续出版物管理、数字资源服务等方面有比较丰富的经验。

LAS Professional Development Scheme points: 46

(Only applicable to librarians who are participants of the scheme)

Teochew Song ~ 潮州竹板歌 ～ 夸潮汕

Teochew Song~潮州竹板歌～夸潮汕

演唱：王敏

Listing most of the famous products of Chaozhou-Shantou region.

It would be really great if Chinese subtitles were available.

Teochew songs

Here are three Teochew songs with different styles:

Teochew Song: It's Time For Coming Home 这个时节好回家

This a modern song




Teochew Song: The Moon Light Melody 月光歌

This is a nursery rhyme




Teochew Song: The dream of Fairy Xiang's Bridge 梦湘桥

Keep our fickle nature under control

We could have a chance to realize our ambitions at work if we can maintain commitment and determination. Just keep our fickle nature under control and work on something we value and we will harvest what we sow.

If we are inattentive in dealing with financial or day to day issues, such as insurance policies or family budget, it may be costly in the long run.

If there is a problem we think it will arise, try to be open and resolve the problem before it escalates.

Dexterine Ho

Better and worst

When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse.

And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.


-- Malcolm S. Forbes

蔡志忠的六祖論經短片

Dao De Jing 道德经 in English

Information from Youtube:

http://ekbtv.blogspot.com/

1

The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
of all particular things.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

Yet mystery and manifestations
arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.

Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.

2

When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.

Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.

Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.

3

If you overesteem great men,
people become powerless.
If you overvalue possessions,
people begin to steal.

The Master leads
by emptying people's minds
and filling their cores,
by weakening their ambition
and toughening their resolve.
He helps people lose everything
they know, everything they desire,
and creates confusion
in those who think that they know.

Practice not-doing,
and everything will fall into place.

4

The Tao is like a well:
used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void:
filled with infinite possibilities.

It is hidden but always present.
I don't know who gave birth to it.
It is older than God.

5

The Tao doesn't take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she welcomes both saints and sinners.

The Tao is like a bellows:
it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

Hold on to the center.

6

The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.

7

The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.

The Master stays behind;
that is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
that is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
she is perfectly fulfilled.

8

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.

9

Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

10

Can you coax your mind from its wandering
and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become
supple as a newborn child's?
Can you cleanse your inner vision
until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them
without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters
by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from you own mind
and thus understand all things?

Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.

蔡志忠《老子》- 上善若水

Reinventing Libraries

Reinventing Libraries: Sharing by 3 Speakers from the Library Services Network (for Europe)

Part 1 : Partnership as an Aggregator in Reinventing the Libraries
by Heddi Mortesen, Director, Danish Bibliographic Centre

Part 2 : Five Steps to Better Services for Better Libraries
by Dr Jorg Meyer, CEO, ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH Reutlingen

Part 3 : Trends and Development in the Netherlands Library
by Henk Das, CEO, NBD/Biblion

Date : 17 March 2009 (Tuesday)

Time : 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Venue : National Library Building Multi Purpose Room, Basement 1, Central Public Library, National Library Building


It is interesting to hear from Librarians and Library Vendors sharing their experience in running library services or providing library services in three European countries (Danmark, Germany and The Netherlands) with a different scales.

With more and more basic library tasks/functions being run or provided by external commercial bodies, librarians in the library will be the buyer or purchaser of the external services. I think librarians now need a different set of skills as they are not required to do the jobs, but need to know how to assess and evaluate jobs done by commercial bodies or vendors.

The professional librarians who are managing the library now will need more management skills in addition to professional knowledge.

The indepth understanding of basic library operations (Acquisition, Cataloguing, Reference Service and Indexing etc) may not the core of Librarianship. Librarians nowadays do not need to know how to catalogue a book themselves, nevertheless, they need to know how to evaluate the digital catalogue and MARC record created by the vendors.

Would that means that professional librarian will be less in demands?

The positive answer is if you have professional qualification, you need not work in Library, you can work for Library Vendors/Suppliers. I see the trend in Singapore library world as some of the librarians are already moving toward that ends.

So for those who like to catalogue books, for example, you need not be a cataloguer in the library, you can be a cataloguer in a Library supply company!


LAS Professional Development Scheme points: 46

(Only applicable to librarians who are participants of the scheme)

Bilingual Quotation

The following are some quotations I received from friends:

===

通常愿意留下来跟你争吵的人　　　　

才是真正爱你的人

Usually the person who is willing to stay behind and fight with you, is the one that truly love/like you. 　　


===

有时候　不是对方不在乎你　　　　

而是你把对方看得太重

Sometimes, you think that the other party does not seems to care about you,

but it might be you who is overly concern. 　　　　


===

朋友就是把你看透了　

还能喜欢你的人

Friends are people who can see through you, and still be able to like you. 　　　　


===

Believe 中间也藏了一个 lie

In the word “BELIEVE”, it has a hidden “LIE”. 　　　　


===

真正的好朋友　　　　

并不是在一起就有聊不完的话题　　　　

而是在一起　就算不说话　　　　

也不会感到尴尬

True friends are not people whom you get together and have unlimited things to talk about,

but they are people who, when not talking, you won’t feel awkward to be around with.

===

Dream vs awaken

Who looks outside, dreams.

Who looks inside, awakens.


-- Carl Jung

Giver vs Taker

What is the difference between "Givers" and "Takers"?

Everyone of us gives or takes for different reasons. Giving or taking behaviors are characterized by the use of power plays or other controlling behaviors.

There are four basic combinations of "giver" and "taker":

Givers Who Give;

Givers Who Take;

Takers Who Give; and

Takers Who Take.


In the process of giving and taking, there are four types of manipulators:


the "Poor Me";

the "Aloof";

the "interrogator" and

the "Intimidator"


Source of information: Email on courses offered by bodhifellowship.org

Without you...

Love yourself

— accept yourself
— forgive yourself
— and be good to yourself,

because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.


-- Dr. Leonardo Buscaglia (1924-1998)

Being engaged in the moment

People who are “being” are fully present.

They are totally engaged in the moment.

This engagement includes an easy appreciation and sense of connection with whomever or whatever they are relating to at the time.

These people are aware of a job well done or a difficulty surmounted and will respect and often acknowledge the person who has accomplished it.

Being” is a state of heart and mind that is receptive and able to listen carefully.


-- Sallirae Henderson

What constitutes true happiness.

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.

It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.


-- Helen Keller (1880-1968)

What is good and lasting

Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters.

This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.


-- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832)

Ultimate measure of a man

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,

but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.


-- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Love, forgive, faith and hope

To love means loving the unlovable.

To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable.

Faith means believing the unbelievable.

Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.


-- G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Optical Illusions

Try running a search on Google Image at

http://images.google.com.sg/

type "Optical Illusions" in the search box. (Please include the quotation marks " ", as you will limit the search to a phrase and it will return with more accurate hits that match that phrase and not free text searching.

The results is over 281,000 photos related to the phrase, you will be able to pick and choose from the pictures and learn how images turn itself into optical illustions in different way.

I like to look at those images that change my thinking!

If you are a visual person, you will find it fun to look at some pictures in different way!

Enjoy your exploration!


Dexterine Ho

New way to cook eggs

Try running a search on Google Image at

http://images.google.com.sg/

type "New way to cook eggs" in the search box. (Do not include the quotation marks " ", as you will limit the search to a phrase.

The results is over hundreds thousand photos related to these words in different combinations, you will be able to pick and choose from the pictures and learn how to cook eggs in many different way.

I do not like to eat eggs and just find it fun to know how to turn eggs in different form.

Enjoy your exploration!


Dexterine Ho

聖嚴法師108自在語 (97-108) 幸福人間

97、 若希望人際關係相處得好，就要把心量放大，多接納人，多包容人。

98、 只要自己的心態改變，環境也會跟著改變，世界上沒有絕對的好與壞。

99、 人與人之間的相處之道，需要溝通，溝通不成則妥協，妥協不成時，你就原諒和容忍他吧。

100、 大的要包容小的，小的要諒解大的。

101、 以全心全力關懷家庭，用關懷生命投入事業。

102、 戒貪最好的方法，就是多佈施、多奉獻；多與人分享。

103、 包容別人時，雙方的問題就解決了。

104、 學佛的人，有兩大任務：莊嚴國土，成熟眾生。

105、 要做無底的垃圾桶，要學無塵的反射鏡。

106、 煩惱消歸自心就有智慧，利益分享他人便是慈悲。

107、 用慚愧心看自己，用感恩心看世界。

108、 淨化人心，少欲知足，淨化社會，關懷他人。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (85-96) 幸福人間

85、 现在所得的，是过去所造的，未来所得的，是现在所做的。

86、 大家說好話，大家做好事，每人每天多說一句好語，多做一件好事，所有小小的好，就會成為一個大大的好。

88、 急需要做，正要人做的事，我來吧！

89、 我和人和，心和口和，歡歡喜喜有幸福。

90、 內和外和，因和緣和，平平安安真自在。

91、 自求心安就有平安，關懷他人就有幸福。

92、 人品等於財富，奉獻等於積蓄。

93、 奉獻即是修行，安心即是成就。

94、 擁有的多，不一定讓人滿足；擁有的少，不一定讓人貧乏。

95、 現在所得的，是過去所造的，未來所得的，是現在所做的。

96、 好人不寂寞，善人最快樂，時時處處助人助己，時時處處你最幸福。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (75-84) 平安人生

75、 愛你的孩子，與其擔心，不如祝福吧！

76、 夫妻是倫理的關係，不是「論理」的關係。

77、 能不亂丟垃圾，隨時清撿垃圾，都是做的功德。

78、 眼光，是你的智慧；喜愛的就想佔有，討厭的就會排斥，患得患失，煩惱就來了。

80、 經常少欲知足的人，才是無虞匱乏的富人。

81、 心不平安是真正的苦，身體的病痛不一定是苦。

82、 明知心不平安是苦事，就趕快以持念「南無觀世音菩薩」來安心吧！

83、 現在擁有的，就是最好的。擁有再多也無法滿足，就等於是窮人。

84、 超越生老病苦三原则 : 活得快乐、病得健康、老得有希望。