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Thursday, December 31, 2015

蔡志忠



有故事的人_蔡志忠



以【老子說】、【莊子說】翻譯成全球37種文字的蔡志忠,許久未接受媒體專訪
,閉關十年後,他體悟了哪些新震憾?

本集節目看完後,你就可以理解蔡志忠為什麼說出「日後我的成就、留名,物理會高於漫畫­」這席話。

蔡志忠,是一個千萬不能只把他當漫畫家的人物!


Friday, December 18, 2015

徐冰:我對當代藝術的理解




你是否有過如下經歷?購買了一幅名畫卻無從知曉它的價值,站在一件藝術品面前卻不知從­何種角度欣賞它的美。貌似與藝術相距很近,其實相隔甚遠。為何藝術家掃地就是行為藝術­,價值連城,清潔工掃地就不具備藝術價值?究竟是什麼讓藝術如此神秘,在你神往之時又­顯得若即若離?徐冰老師將揭開當代藝術的神秘面紗,帶你一窺究竟,謎底就蘊藏在他的獨­到見解中。(視頻由優米視頻提供)

Source of info:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb1Ytz-pQtc

徐冰:写"天书"的当代艺术家

徐冰:写"天书"的当代艺术家-
澜访谈录 -HD高清-完整版
 

Source of information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYs3O2i19c

"一切有为法,如梦幻泡影,如露亦如电,应作如是观。"这是我看­过当代艺术家作品之后的反应。之后,在与聊天时也得到了印证,他说当代艺术作品如禅语­,只能意会不能言传。初见,是在798尤伦斯当代艺术馆开馆前几天,他的作品《天书》­被艺术馆邀请参加""当代艺术展,我有幸看到了他庞大的《天书》­作品的安装。最推崇的是他的三个作品《天书》、《新英文书法》和《地书》。《天书》是­他的成名大作,全世界有关学术论文就70多篇。"新英文书法"被­有的国家编成教材内容,还在美国被当作营业招牌使用。《地书》是他2007年的新作品­,刚刚在美国展出,据说中国的展出会在2008年5月份。认为好的当代艺术作品应该具­有原创性,并能够体现这个时代的特色。

看过他的作品,了解过他的人,愈发明白他为何能够成为享誉世界的当代艺术家。

Source of information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYs3O2i19c

Thursday, December 10, 2015

《家》传唱十几年 木子:没收半分版权费
                                            黄少伟 2015年12月10日
 - See more at:
 http://www.zaobao.com.sg/culture/entertainment/music/story20151210-558243#sthash.F1i9QiEk.dpuf

他说:“我们当时跟国家艺术理事会签约时,他们跟我们说《家》是对国家的贡献,以后没有任何版权费。我觉得无所谓,新加坡人总是要为国做一点事,我对国家没多少贡献,能够作一首歌挺好的,呵呵。”

此外,他也自爆当年创作《家》的一些趣事,他说听了李迪文的demo后,简直不敢相信那首“柔弱”的歌是国庆日主题曲:“以前的国庆歌曲都是雄赳赳气昂昂的,李迪文给我的《家》却抒情得不得了,我甚至还打电话给歌曲制作人许环良,向他确定。他说国家艺术理事会每年都花不少钱来创作国庆歌曲,但是歌只红一个月,过后就没人唱。他们希望有一首歌能上电台《龙虎榜》,要8月以外也有人传唱。”

果然《家》推出后,成为第一首登上《龙虎榜》榜首的国庆日主题歌。木子笑言:“我是惊讶的,因为国庆日那么庄严肃穆,振奋人心的歌很重要,但没有想到温柔婉约也是一个动人力量,而且可以持续十几年,哈哈……” - See more at: http://www.zaobao.com.sg/culture/entertainment/music/story20151210-558243#sthash.F1i9QiEk.dpuf

Kit Chan 陈洁仪 - 家

NDP 1998 Theme Song: Home Singapore

 


Home
Music and Lyrics: Dick Lee


Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore
Chorus:
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where that river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home
When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore
( Repeat Chorus )
For this is where I know it's home
For this is where I know I'm home


Jia
词:木子
曲:李迪文


每一次我感到彷徨, 不自禁就会回头望
mei yi ci wo gan dao pang huang, bu zi jin jiu hui hui tou wang
我知道心中有个地方, 一定会有一盏灯
wo zhi dao xin zhong you ge di fang, yi ding hui you yi zhan deng
照亮每一颗黑暗的心房, 指引未来方向
zhao liang mei yi ke hei an de xin fang, zhi yin wei lai fang xiang
沿着生命河流向前航, 就能登陆理想
yan zhe sheng ming he liu xiang qian hang, jiu neng deng lu li xiang
Chorus:
我的家, 收藏, 我的欢喜悲伤
wo de jia, shou cang, wo de huan xi bei shang
只要点燃希望, 梦就会自由飞翔
zhi yao dian ran xi wang, meng jiu hui zi you fei xiang
我的家, 给我, 一双坚定翅膀
wo de jia, gei wo, yi shuang jian ding chi bang
我的梦, 不论在何方, 一生的爱唯有家
wo de meng, bu lun zai he fang, yi sheng de ai wei you jia
再也不会感到彷徨, 不会再失意回头望
zai ye bu hui gan dao pang huang, bu hui zai shi yi hui tou wang
我要用心中一点烛光, 燃放千万户辉煌
wo yao yong xin zhong yi dian zhu guang, ran fang qian wan hu hui huang
要让繁华的城市更灿烂, 世界和平共享
yao rang fan hua de cheng shi geng can lan, shi jie he ping gong xiang
全凭生命河流来导航, 一起登陆理想
quan ping sheng ming he liu lai dao hang, yi qi deng lu li xiang
( Repeat Chorus )


Thursday, November 26, 2015

How to Wrap 10 Challenging Shapes!

Just found this video from youtube and like to share the link:


How to Wrap 10 Challenging Shapes!

Gifts come in so many different shapes. Some shapes are more challenging than others.

Wait till you watch this video, unusual shapes are more fun to wrap than they look!

This video shows how to professionally wrap 10 different shapes!

Enjoy and happy gift wrapping!

1: Triangle
2: Square
3: Pentagon
4: Cylinder
5: Pillow Box
6: Rectangle
7: Pyramid
8: Odd Shapes
9: Sphere
10: Cube

Materials & Tools: Gift Wrap Paper, Scissors, Clear Tape, Double Sided Tape

Music: Breeze by sound rider Visit their website for more music! http://www.pond5.com/artist/soundrider

Eco-Chic Gift Wrapping

Christmas is coming and I think many people are looking for creative gift wrapping idea, and I found one via youtube and like to share the link here:

Eco-Chic Gift Wrapping *Inspired by "Wrapping with Fabric" by Etsuko Yamada*

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_christian_big_history

Backed by stunning illustrations, David Christian narrates a complete history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet, in a riveting 18 minutes. This is "Big History": an enlightening, wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline.


http://www.ted.com/playlists/311/time_warp

Ann Morgan challenged herself to read a book from every country in the world.

Ann Morgan considered herself well read — until she discovered the "massive blindspot" on her bookshelf. Amid a multitude of English and American authors, there were very few books from beyond the English-speaking world. So she set an ambitious goal: to read one book from every country in the world over the course of a year. Now she's urging other Anglophiles to read translated works so that publishers will work harder to bring foreign literary gems back to their shores. Explore interactive maps of her reading journey here: go.ted.com/readtheworld


My year reading a book from every country in the world :

Friday, October 09, 2015

Looking after elderly




Here is a playlist with 5 days' account by Pepins Spot on how he experience in Feb and March 2015:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQX064io8gk&list=PLCIL8UPg8wbFi6qZKccPrB0cRe-ICryZ2




Just hope the concerns on elderly care he shared will create more awareness on the issue.

The viewing rate is low, only 10 to 14 views at the time I share it via this blog.

Creating awareness and understanding the stress of looking after elderly is what I can do via this blog at the moment.


Prepared for change

Life belongs to the living and he who lives must be prepared for change.

---   Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  

=====

To cope with changes, one needs to have vision and courage to take oneself to the next best level.

Otherwise, the way we cope with changes maybe just a patch work done poorly...

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

吕世浩 * 史记

Here is the current series of lectures that I am following:
 
吕世浩 * 史记
 

 
For those who like to select lecture, I would recommend:
 
吕世浩 *
 
1-4 讀歷史有什麼用
 
This is the lecture that I like most, and you may find it interesting to start first.
 
As each of the lecture is about 10 mins only, it is more manageable if you do not have time to view lengthy lecture!
 
I am now listening to 3.4, done with about 20+ of the lecture series.
 
Using the link, the lecture will be auto- play one after the other and it is easy to continue listening!
 
There is no additional reading required as all text are shown on the screen too!
 
Hope you like it and just share it with your friends if you wish!
 
Cheers!
 
 
Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Meeting of minds

Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits.

When minds meet, they don't just exchange facts: they transform them,
reshape them, draw different implications from them, and engage in new
trains of thought.

Conversation doesn't just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards.

---Theodore Zeldin (b. 1933) Historian & Author

=====

I enjoy conversation with like-minded friends.

The exchange of facts, feeling, thought and emotion help our mind to grow/

The mental process engaged in conversation reshapes our perspective and create new understanding or knowledge!

It is a joyful process and I am glad that I have friends who share the same joys in conversation!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Like hourglass...

Think of your life as an hourglass.

You know there are thousands of grains of sand in the top of the hourglass; and they all pass slowly and evenly through the narrow neck in the middle.

Nothing you or I could do would make more than one grain of sand pass through this narrow neck without impairing the hourglass.

You and I and everyone else are like this hourglass...if we do not take [tasks] one at a time and let them pass...slowly and evenly, then we are bound to break our own...structure.”


Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

=====


I like the quote as I am now rushing too many things and do not take tasks one a a time.

Do take tasks one at a time and let them pass...

Do not stress your structure by overloading too many things at one go.

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang 

Friday, June 19, 2015

The company of someone close to you

This period of time, when I need company for lunch and other activities, I am grateful to have someone close to me, a sister, to be around.

I am used to doing things independently, and when I find it hard to do it when I have too much thoughts distracting my concentration lately, I turn to one of my sisters for support, and she is always there for me.

This makes me feel touched and gives me a sense of security and contentment.

Thanks to have her company during this period of time!

I am grateful for her time, her reassuring words of encouragement!

Friday, June 12, 2015

Happiness

Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles but in avoiding them. 

A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.


Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) American Methodist Minister
===

As it is, sometimes it is good to go away and do some travelling instead of fighting battles that exhaust your energy!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Wine wrapping using Furoshiki

Furoshiki: Basic knots and wrapping



"Using no plastic bags for shopping has become popular but it is a little troublesome to carry a separate bag for shopping. It is almost impossible if you go shopping straight after work. However, the furoshiki does not take much space in your handbag or coat pocket and you can easily put the equivalent of a shopping bag of groceries into one furoshiki. Its so easy; all you have to do is tie both ends together."

Source of information:

www.hizen-ya.co.uk

Bojagi art: Gift wrapping

Saturday, May 09, 2015

Selling car: my experience in 2015

After driving for almost three decades, I finally decided to sell my car on 23 March 2015.

I had the car hand over to the buyer Hoe Beng Auto Trading on 30 March 2015.

Now I join many Singaporean to be the full-time supporter of public transport system and find life quite easy to move on without a car.

I am glad that the second hand car dealer who bought over my car is listed in CaseTrust, and the experience is a positive one.

In case you like to know, here is the information:

Hoe Beng Auto Trading
TEL: 6745 0138
Person in Charge: Ms Agnes



LIST OF CASETRUST-SVTA ACCREDITED MEMBERS

http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publish/onemotoring/en/autoshop/motoring_directory/List_of_CaseTrust-SVTA_Accredited_Members.html

=====

Here is the overall experience in selling my car:


Happiness is sometime very simple, that is:

You find thing you trust is worth trusting!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Sunday, May 03, 2015

VTEC Seminar: A VIBRANT Library & Information Management Solution: 25 Years and Beyond

On 23rd April, I attended VTEC Seminar: A VIBRANT Library & Information Management Solution: 25 Years and Beyond.

As I had not used V-LIB for library training after I left my full time lecturing post at Temasek Polytechnic in 1998, I found the session an enriching experience for me to gain some updated on VTEC, V-LIB Web and VIBRANT.

It also gave me a chance to catch up with the founder, Mr. Simon Cheng and other staff of VTEC, as well as many counterparts in the library and IT industry. 

The seminar was held at Harvard Suite, Park Mall, #13-03, 9, Penang Road, Singapore 238459.
 
Programme:
 
1:30pm - 2:00pm - Registration 2:00pm - 2:15pm - Moving forward after 25 years, by Simon Cheng 2:15pm - 2:35pm - Presenting the latest V-LIB Web 2:35pm - 2:50pm - What's "LiveFetch"? 2:50pm - 3:05pm - Going mobile with V-App 3:05pm - 3:35pm - Break 3:35pm - 4:05pm - Presentation by 3M Singapore 4:05pm - 4:45pm - Here comes VIBRANT! 4:45pm - 5:00pm - Q & A
I found the slides on the history of VTEC and V-lib unlocked my memory in a very nostalgia way, it brought my memory back to 1996-1998 when I was lecturer at Temasek Polytecnic.
It was at the signing of MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) that I first met Mr Simon Cheng.  As the Department of Information Studies used V-Lib for students to gain hands-on experience on library system, the V-lib system helped a lot in translating library and information theory into real life experience and allowed learners to have the sense of touch and feel.
Ms Jeanne Voo, a staff with VTEC Systems (Asia) Pte Ltd since 1990s, was the MC for this seminar. It is nice to meet her after so many years, and being so friendly, she made me very much at ease as a participants of the seminar who was the only non VTEC V-Lib system user.
The presentation by 3M Singapore, esp the RFID Bookbin was something interest me.
It provided real time check in and it is compatible with many other library system. NTU library is one of the current users:

The other item introduced by 3M™ was the Self Service Book Sanitizer.

It is a good solution for library hygiene and helps to prevent culmination of germs and bacteria in books. With quick sanitization and one touch start button, library patrons can easily sanitize their books themselves, cutting down on the hassle and time of annual book cleaning for libraries:




Following the updates on the latest V-LIB Web, What's "LiveFetch" and Going mobile with V-App, I gain a lot of new insight into the new development of VTEC V-LIB.


"Here comes VIBRANT! " was the last presentation which introduced VIBRANT as the new and upcoming web-based library software developed by VTEC Systems.


The Road Maps of VIBRANT:




With VIBRANT as a new path, the users of VTEC V-LIB have the following options:



At the seminar, it was announced that a 30% discount on VIBRANT will be given if interested party request for a demonstration by 31 July 2015.

I think the librarians who are currently using VTEC V-LIB system will need time to evaluate VIBRANT in the months to come!

For more information, please check with:
VTEC Systems (Asia) Pte Ltd
Tel: (65) 6293 4881
Email (Support): support@vtecsys.com
Address: Blk 4012, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #04-14 TECHplace I, S(569628)


VTEC Systems (Asia) Website: http://www.vtecsys.com/


=====
Notes:

PPTs courtesy of 3M Singapore and VTEC Systems (Asia) Pte Ltd

V-LIB Library Management System Demo Site: http://demo1.vlibonline.com/

=====



This is my re-collection of thought between 23 April to 3 May 2015

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Do thing right takes less time!

It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.

-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) American Poet

Friday, April 10, 2015

Josephine Chia and her book "Frog under a cocont shell"

Josephine Chia is a well known "Singapore" Writer.

I listened to her talks, attended one writing workshop run by her under National Library Singapore Memory Project and follow her for a tour to Potong Pasir organised by NLB three years ago.

For me, the following title is what I like to recommend as she "paints in heartwarming detail, the mother’s journey from the bloom of youth to her affliction with Alzheimer’s disease. "

Frog Under A Coconut Shell
 
 
 

"The title of this non-fiction book is from a Malay idiom, Katak Bawah Tempurong.

The frog who lives under the coconut shell thinks that the coconut shell is its entire world.

It is a reference to the author’s own mother, who although herself uneducated and living a parochial existence in a kampong or Malay village, believed in and struggled for a greater vision - the right to educate her daughter.

The book is a testament to the love and courage of a mother that changed the life of her daughter forever.

The idiom also refers to the author who was like a frog under a coconut shell in the small world of the kampong.

In part, the book is a nostalgic memoir of old Singapore in the 1950s and 60s which will tug at the emotional strings of those who have been out there.

The book also paints in heartwarming detail, the author’s mother’s journey from the bloom of youth to her affliction with Alzheimer’s disease."
ISBN 978 961 4276 84 9 (new edition) 2010

ISBN 981 232 398 8

Published in 2002 by Times Books Intl., Singapore

319 pages



Translation into Bahasa Indonesia
Katak Dalam Tempurung
ISBN 978 602 290 002 3
Published by Serambi Ilmu Semesta. 2014

Source of information:

http://www.josephinechia.com/pages/Frog_Under_A_Coconut_Shell.html

Alzheimer's disease and the brain

Just thought of sharing the followings:
 
Does Alzheimer's disease only affect the left side of the brain?

4. Left brain/right brain 
Use the next to move to previous slides and start reading from Slide one.
* 1-7 are slides on brain basic
* 8-16 are on Alzheimer's disease and the brain
(This set of slides is easy to read and make understanding of Alzheimer and its development easier for layman)

You can get e-newsletter on different Alzheimer's disease sent via email on regular bases.
 
Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Enjoying the in-house "Train ride"

These were photos taken on a Saturday night in Jan 2015:


After the Art and Craft session, the kids were enjoying the ride on the in-house "Train", leading the way is our young JoyJoy and the train master is uncle ThaneThane!


I am "Er Yi Po", the in house Train station Security Officer!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang
posted on April Fool Day!
 

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

浮生一日闲 / A timeless afternoon : a precise moment

浮生一日闲!
=====
A timeless afternoon : a precise moment
=====



回到新加坡河口,感觉似熟习,又有些陌生!

以前鱼尾狮在我的前方 ,现在移到我的身后数十米外。

过去这里是河的尽头,如今却是滨海湾的起点!

多年前一眼望过去,这里是浪花飞千的海墘,是河与海的交汇点!

当下却是风平浪静,坐在堤上,上面是高速公路,下面是可蔽蔭的长廊!也是一道新的景观!

一物有三用!是意外的收获,还是有心思的工程师尽心尽力的创建!

石头做的长堤将海岸线移到遥远的南滨。沦海桑田,从无到有,是许多前人的功劳!

享受当下,也记得这是一种恩典!

=====

Being bare footed once in a while, to relax and recharge!

Taking a afternoon break and have a good look at the "Mouth of Singapore River" on the eve of April fool day!

Photo taken under the High way next to One Fullerton.

Today is 31st March 2015 and many people working in the office are busy closing accounts before the end of Financial Year.

Enjoy the timeless walk along this path! It is a PRECISE moment hard to come by!

=====

难得有这样的一个下午,办好公事!

顺道想喝咖啡,走着、走着,一口一口地喝,放慢脚步,看着旅客,以作客的心情,看自己成长的新加坡河!

难得浮生一日闲,却也得来全不费功夫!

Monday, March 23, 2015

“厚德载物” "德不配位"

“厚德载物”
=====

厚,深厚的意思;

德,按照自然规律去工作、去生活、去做人做事;

载,就是承载;

物,就是福报: 财富、智慧,是福报,是物。

=====

厚德才能承载万物。

厚德才能受、承载福报

=====
 
"德不配位"

=====

桌子能承受20斤重的份量,给它放上50斤的重量,它就变形,崩溃。

所以金钱、权力、名望都是福报,都是压自己的物啊,能承载吗?

靠什么承载,靠符合万物规律的德行。

=====

德不配位,祸必相随

大福报是一种大能量,“厚德载物” 厚德才能受、承载大能量, 承载大福报

大福报是一种大能量,有大德行、大胸襟的人才能承载得了这种大福报!

=====

学习符合万物规律的德行, 按照自然规律去工作、去生活、去做人做事;

学习"厚德", 才能"载物"! 

=====
 
Source of information/reference:

德不配位,祸必相随--陈大惠
http://zdl-555.blog.163.com/blog/static/551801201011282531313/

灵机心路/德不配位,祸必相随/什么在左右着你的前途/评论汇集 
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5f1234f50100vplr.html

Sunday, March 01, 2015

CNY gathering on 28 Feb 2015

This year we met on the 10th day of the Goat year as the earlier date on 7th day of CNY was not a preferred choice.

Wen Wen hosted this round of gathering again for the History classmates. Original date planned for this year's gathering was the auspicious day: the 7th day which was "人日".

Unfortunately, it was a working day and too many classmates were not able to take time off. Since it was not possible to have a week day get together,  it was then switch to the nearest Saturday.

Wen Wen managed to have 5 classmates confirmed their visit instead of only 2 to 3 on the earlier date.

She took the opportunity to invite her ex colleague, Mr Lim Phing Seng, so our group photo look more impressive than last year!

from left to right :
Soo Miang, Peck Gan, Phing Seng, Kheng Kwang, Geok Kee, Wen Wen and Sin Week

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Thanks 新瑋 for forwarding the photo!

也谢谢庆光: 转述的货币战争内容,让人不读原著也可以有所得!

Thanks to 温文for the delicious and special CNY 大上海饭店点心!

第一次吃到有棗子的年糕!有枸箕子的果冻和美味的罗蔔糕等等!

聚会的点点滴滴,我简而化之。

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Anything to add to the blog, just let me know!

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Teochew 8 tones

In Mandarin, we are used to pronounce Chinese words in only 4 tones. We are taught that way since early childhood days and having that reinforced in primary and secondary school education.

Hence, before I attended the course on "Teochew Dialect: the intermediate course" in 2008, I was not able to pronounce and distinguish the 8 tones in Teochew dialect accurately even though I am a Teochew by birth and speak Teochew at home most of the time during my childhood and adolescence years.

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Most of my classmates were like me.  We are so used to the 4 tones intonation in our daily practice in Mandarin. We had never imaged that Chinese words can be pronounced in any other ways except the 4 tones!

Anything challenging the 4 tones, was just not acceptable ...

The four tones rhythm or rhyming method in Mandarin is very much like a "printed" mode set in our mind since our childhood days. It is like a fixed framework preset in our brain and it is our way of "reasoning" or interpretation in anything related to pronunciation within the Chinese Characters world.

It is rather hard to unlearn something so rooted in our brain and a habit we cultivated since early age.

If I have to keep the 4 tones learning in Mandarin which is a necessity, I cannot unlearn it. It is nothing wrong in using 4 tones intonation in our pronunciation in Mandarin.  I just have to convince myself that what I know is not the only way of pronunciation words in Chinese.

I just have to learn the 8 tones in Teochew pronunciation parallel to it...

It is very much like accepting a neighbour sharing a common wall with you, after you are used to the ideas of stayed in a bungalow and own the four walls over decades.

How shocking would that be, if you suddenly discovered that your are actually living in a  semi-detached house, or a unit in a row of terrace housing estate, with neighbour(s) so close to you and may hear their TV programmes or conversation occasionally!

Since I cannot unlearn the 4 tones in Mandarin, I have to be able to push that aside when I need to add new ways of pronouncing words in 8 tones if I want to refine or perfect my Teochew learning.

I am so called  "100% pure Teochew", the way our parents told us.

Both my Dad and Mum were from two of the "Eight district in Teo Chew" (ie., 潮州八邑 Chao Zhou Ba Yi ), which make me take for granted that nothing in Teochew could be an alien task for me!)

Even though I am a second generation Singapore born Teochew, with both parents and grandmum at home speaking dialect all the time, I find myself an average or poor learner in class.

After attending and completed the course at  Chao Zhou Ba Yi Hui Guan (潮州八邑会馆) , I managed to distinguish the 8 tones with some struggle and many hours of hard works.

Well, if you read on and see the details of the 8 tones pronunciation, you may understand what I mean.

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Here is some examples of Teochew 8 tones:


潮州话声调 Teochew 8 tones

低抵帝滴 di1 di2 di3 dih4
池弟地碟 di5 di6 di7 dih8

分粉奋忽 hung1 hung2 hung3 hug4
云混份佛 hung5 hung6 hung7 hug8

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If you like to learn how to pronounce Teochew accurately, you may look it up using:

潮州话字典 Teochew dictionary
http://www.mogher.com/

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If you like to understand more about Teochew language & culture, explore the following links:

Gaginang

潮语演习网
潮州茶话
Chaoshan Dialect Classification
Teochew Dialect
潮州广播电视台
潮州文化网

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For Teochew local websites, visit:

潮州旅游之窗论坛
潮州超级民声社区
潮州人
潮州CC网
网海潮音网络电台
小桥流水
潮州吧
潮州资讯网
彩塘论坛
潮汕风情网
潮州便民网
潮州分类信息网

潮州话的电视台 Teochew Language TV
http://www.czbtv.com/

国际在线-华语广播-潮州话
http://gb.cri.cn/chinese_ra...

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Sources of information:

http://www.youtube.com/user/chapsroc

http://www.mogher.com/

=====

This article was originally published on 22 March 2009. 2nd revision is on 15 Feb 2015.

=====

Hope you find my "struggle" in my learning journey interesting!

Keep learning, and your journey may have a different story, more interest, more inspiring and more rewarding!

Cheers!

=====

Written and re-compiled by

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang
8.35 pm, 15 Feb 2015, Singapore

Saturday, February 14, 2015

When you set your aim too high ...

You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder.

When you set your aim too high and don't fulfill it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness.

Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it.

That's the only way to get to the top.

-- Emil Zatopek (1922- 2000) Czech Middle Distance Runner

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

潮州粿桃

好友琬珍今天亲手做了很多粿桃送到家里l
但我却有事外出,回到家已过了七点半!肚子虽饿,却不舍得吃!
先拍个照畄念 :

看! 小熊猫也流口水!

Monday, January 26, 2015

We are teaching but are they learning?

If you are doing training or teaching in Library and Information studies, do register for the following seminar:

29 January 2015, 2:00-5:30pm, Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore Management University
Theme: We are teaching but are they learning?

This Information Literacy Seminar will be facilitated and moderated by Judith Peacock, Learning and Study Support (LSS) Coordinator at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Library, Brisbane, Australia.

Come join us to learn, share and discuss about the effectiveness and impact of information literacy, instructional and learning programmes. Are we making a difference on our learners?

How do we know this?

Agenda:

2:00 pm
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Gulcin Cribb (Singapore Management University)
2:15 pm
PechaKucha & IL Stories, Part I
·         Embedded librarianship using blog
Joan Wee (Nanyang Technological University)
·         “There is a will, there is a way!” Sunway College Library & Learning Commons’ story
Ho Wee Fong (Sunway College, Malaysia)
·         The art of thinking - In the brave new world of information literacy
Foo Soo Chin (School of the Arts)
·         Changing a culture: Academic honesty (acknowledging sources) in a 3-18 international school
Jacqui Makselon, Suzanne Parfitt, Celeste Fisher, and Benjamin Farr (Tanglin Trust School)
3:00 pm
Tea Break & Poster Viewing
·         Information literacy for new students in University of Indonesia
Arif Rohman Khakim (University of Indonesia, Indonesia)
·         Value collaboration! Feedback from faculty
Mei Tan and Rajendra Munoo (Singapore Management University)
·         In Action! A photographic exhibition of people and spaces
Redzuan Abdullah and Rajendra Munoo (Singapore Management University)
3:30 pm
PechaKucha & IL Stories, Part II
·         Information literacy experience: Perspectives from Singapore Polytechnic’s Library and School of Business
Lim Xiu Ru and Mila Lim (Singapore Polytechnic)
·         What I learnt from architectural students
Winnifred Wong (National University of Singapore)
·         Co-training as Pro Training: Learn as you teach
Low Jiaxin (Singapore Management University)
·         Introducing NTU Libraries’ outcomes-based learning approach at the Art, Design & Media Library: A case study of implementation
Melissa Man (Yale-NUS College) and V Somasundram (Nanyang Technological University)
·         Information Literacy @ TP: An historical tale
Debby Wegener (Temasek Polytechnic)
4:45 pm
Panel Discussion
5:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Judith Peacock (Queensland University of Technology)
5:15 pm
Tour of Renovated SMU Library (Optional)










SMU Libraries
Email: library@smu.edu.sg
Tel: 6828 0355  

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Life is not a game of Solitaire... it’s dependent upon those who stand beside you

Life is not a game of Solitaire; people depend on one another. 

When one does well, others are lifted. 

When one stumbles, others also are impacted. There are no one-man teams—

either by definition or natural law. 

Success is a cooperative effort; 

it’s dependent upon those who stand beside you.

 ---  Jon M. Huntsman Sr.

Bibliographic Utilities - Trove

Here is the contribution from another course participant, Prabhu Singam:

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National library of Australia catalogue is one of the most useful free bibliographic utilities with more than 400 million books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives records that can be of prodigious help to catalogers.

A simple title search for a resource would illicit an array of results broken down neatly according to the material type.

Comprehensive information about resources including summaries of books can be obtained from the records at trove.

The ubiquitous availability of music scores bibliographic information with the Dewey decimal classification number makes trove one of my personal favorite tool for cataloging as the resources I catalog usually involves a legion of music scores.

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Thanks to Prabhu for his insightful sharing on Bibliographic Utilities - Trove

21 - 22 Jan are assessment days for this module "Support Bibliographic Control", I hereby wishing Prabhu and all the candidates all the best for the coming assessment!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Unrealistic timelines

There are no unrealistic dreams, just unrealistic timelines.

--- Nido Qubein, president of High Point University

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So, do a big task, with a baby step, one at a time!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Monday, January 12, 2015

“ 新华黍离之伤文学 ” 座谈会

世华文学研创会、书写文学协会联办
“新华黍离之伤文学”座谈会
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日期:2015年1月3日(星期六)

时间:下午2时至5时

地点:新加坡国家图书馆大厦五楼

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世华文学研创会、书写文学协会于1月3日(星期六)联办 “ 新华黍离之伤文学 ” 座谈会

主讲人 : 欧清池博士、伍木及何逸敏

欧清池博士(世华文学研创会秘书、新跃大学中文系讲师)
讲题: 新马黍离之伤文学作品对比研究


何逸敏(世华文学研创会理事、南京大学中文系博士研究生)
讲题: 南大生诗歌中的南大情意结和文化思考


伍木(新加坡亚洲研究学会理事、南洋理工大学中文系博士研究生)
讲题: 牌坊筑我心,众志成明炬——读十四首咏叹南大牌坊的诗词


座谈会主持人 : 杜文贤 (卡夫)



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201513座谈会,欧清池博士先从一个宏观的角度,做一个总论,向大家介绍何谓“黍离之伤”和他的理论基础,接着由何逸敏承接,以一个具有南大生的非南大生的诗歌加以详说,最后伍木则进一步从南大牌坊的诗词深入剖析“黍离之伤”作品的内涵。

三人在国家图书馆,由世华文学研创会、书写文学协会联办的“新华黍离之伤文学”座谈会上与百来位出席者,分享了这些年来研究的心得,让我们仿佛回到历史现场,感受着那早已忘却的沉痛与哀伤。

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欧清池讲题 : “ 新马‘黍离之伤’文学作品对比研究"

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何谓黍离之悲( shǔ lí zhī bēi)

意思指对国家残破,今不如昔的哀叹。也指国破家亡之痛。

《黍离》全文
彼黍离离,彼稷之苗。行迈靡靡,中心摇摇。知我者谓我心忧,不知我者,谓我何求。悠悠苍天,此何人哉。(一章)
彼黍离离,彼稷之穗。行迈靡靡,中心如醉。知我者谓我心忧,不知我者,谓我何求。悠悠苍天,此何人哉。(二章)
彼黍离离,彼稷之实。行迈靡靡,中心如噎。知我者谓我心忧,不知我者,谓我何求。悠悠苍天,此何人哉。(三章)

出处《诗经》“王风”,历来被视为是悲悼故国的代表作,说的是两千多年前的一个夏天,周大夫行役路过镐京,看到埋没在荒草中的旧时宗庙遗址,有感于周室的被颠覆,悲伤而作【黍离】。描述了当一个人看到心中的理想大厦坍塌埋没于苗草中时的难受心情,这首诗两千年来不断被传唱着。以至于人们把发自心底的、失落的悲哀称作‘黍离之悲’。

南宋词人姜夔的《扬州慢•淮左名都》见《白石道人歌曲》。其词序云:“淳熙丙申至日,予过维扬。夜雪初霁,荠麦弥望。入其城则四顾萧条,寒水自碧。暮色渐起,戍角悲吟。予怀怆然,感慨今昔,因自度此曲。千岩老人以为有《黍离》之悲也。”


新华文学“黍离之伤”首先是由欧清池博士提出,后来伍木在此基础上延续成“伤痕文学”论点。接着一批研究新加坡华族文化,华文教育的研究者接连发表论文,围绕这一特殊语境中的文学作品,所谓文学作品中表达了“黍离之伤”的情感,悲切地关注方块字的命运为主要内容的“黍离之伤”之说逐渐成熟成一种学术流派。
(引自何逸敏《时代的黍离之伤——论新加坡诗人卡夫29岁前的诗歌》见《野姜花诗集季刊第九期,台湾爱华出版社,2014年6月,页194》
http://www.writingsingapore.com/?uid-169-action-viewspace-itemid-17252

欧清池博士的重点是梳理黍篱之伤的理论,出现的时代背景,和南洋大学的关闭、语言政策改变的关系。

他在演讲中比较新加坡当代文学作品与马国华文文学在内容特点、精神面貌和表现手法的迥异,并认为“新华当代文坛涌现了充满黍离之伤情思,是新加坡华人对本族文化逐渐消失的哀叹,而马国当代文坛出现错综复杂五味杂陈的情思的作品,却是抵抗马来精英政经文教霸权的愤怒叫喊的表征”。

欧博士说,马来西亚华人犹如是浸在冷水里的青蛙,只要一被加温,就会奋起力争。

新加坡华人则犹如是泡在温水里的青蛙,给了我们无限的想象空间。


如果不是欧清池博士独具慧眼,辛苦钻研,我们也许就不会发现原来建国后,新华文化人在面对文化与语言日渐没落时的哀伤。因为无法力挽狂澜,无能为力,甚至无处安身,最后他们唯有让长期被压抑的苦闷,寄情于文字书写,最终形成了一种“黍离之伤”的文学思潮。

http://www.writingsingapore.com/?uid-169-action-viewspace-itemid-17252

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何逸敏讲题 : “ 南大生诗歌中的南大情意结和文化思考"

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逸敏试图从南大生文学作品诗歌中对南大的情意结的表现,及其对中华文化意涵的思考这两个角度,来剖析南大生对南洋大学的难以割舍的、独特的情意结,从文学与文学文本论出发,演绎南大生诗歌中的内蕴本质与其创作的心理过程。 

何逸敏的评论,《带着时代烙印的诗歌–南大生和“非南大生卡夫的诗歌作品》,重点是评论大时代下一个富有南大生情怀“非南大生"卡夫的诗歌作品,语言政策的改变究竟是如何影响了他的诗歌创作。


如果不是何逸敏努力的书写,引领我们从南大生的诗歌中发现他们的创作不只是一种情绪的宣泄,更是一种对自我身份的肯定。也许我们就无法认识到这些诗歌作品中的深刻内蕴本质与创作的心理过程。
   
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伍木讲题 : “ 牌坊筑我心,众志成明炬"--- 读十四首咏叹南大牌坊的诗词

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他在演讲中以:

陈剑的《哀牌坊----惊闻传言有人蓄意要拆除南大牌坊》(1985年)、

成君的《楼牌?心台》(1985年)、

原甸的《哀牌坊》(1987年)、

杜红的《无名牌坊》(1987年)、

田思《牌坊》(1987年)、

潘正镭的《牌楼》(1987年)、

谷衣的《牌坊》(1996年)、

云惟利的组诗《南园风物》之一《牌坊》(1996年)、

秦林的《牌坊》(2001年)、甘文放的《一座牌坊》(2001年)、

万山的《野露湿牌楼》(2003年)、

长谣的《致无名牌坊》(2005年)、

寒川的《牌坊独语》(2012年)

翁弦尉的《幸福之门》(2012年)为例,

梳理以南大毕业生为主的在不同时期书写和咏叹南大牌坊的诗词的内涵。

如果不是伍木从时间的废墟中废寝忘食地挖掘,重组书写南大牌坊的诗词,弥补了这一段历史的空白,它们也许就会随着坍塌的大厦,永远埋没在云南园的荒草中。


伍木的重点是论析和南大精神标志-南大牌坊有关的南大生的诗歌,以此反映出南大生在南大关闭后内心的真正感受。

=====
Notes:
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欧清池,风沙雁 , 又署瑶岗,祖籍福建龙溪,生于新加坡。南洋大学文学荣誉学士、日本上智大学比较文化硕士、新加坡国立大学文学硕士和哲学博士。

历任新加坡移民厅助理厅长,新加坡驻日本大使馆参赞,《南洋商报》资料室主任,《联合早报》社会委员、执行级编辑。


现任新跃大学中文系兼任讲师。1990年获美国运通卡新闻奖。

1960年代末开始创作文艺,《新加坡共和国华文文学选集》编委之一,世界华文文学研究创作学会创会人之一兼任秘书,《新世纪学刊》和《新世纪文艺》创刊人之一兼任主编,《新华文学大系》联合总编辑。


著有诗与散文合集《砂砾集》;杂文集《矛盾集》和《文艺絮语集》;散文集《樱花飘落时节》、《哀思集》和《风沙雁文集》;诗集《风沙雁短诗选》;长篇小说《追逐阳光的人》、《遥远的期待》和《梦幻岛纪事》;学术论著《方修及其作品研究》和《新华当代文学史论稿》;政论集《新加坡人眼中的亚洲》。


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何逸敏,新加坡公民,中国北京师范大学文学士和语言文学硕士(获杰出论文奖),中国南京大学博士研究生,主要研究新马华文文学。

曾留学美国哥伦比亚大学教师研究生学院。考获专业师资文凭并任该学院刊物总编辑,兼任美国华硕教育集团中文学校副校长

曾任报社杂志记者、国际学校中文与绘画教师,《新加坡文艺》和《新世纪文艺》杂志的文字与美术编辑,畅销书《企业家》丛书副主编。世界华文文学研究创作学会、新加坡作家协会、新加坡文艺协会和南洋学会会员,并参与世界华文文学研究创作学会主导的《新华文学大系》丛书《诗歌集》和《散文集》的编委工作。 

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伍木 ,原名张森林,祖籍福建泉州晋江。 1961年生于新加坡。

1979年南洋初级学院毕业,2007年北京师范大学文学学士(新加坡班金牌奖)2011年新加坡国立大学文学硕士,现为南洋理工大学中文系博士研究生。

曾获金狮奖散文组优胜奖、金狮奖诗歌组佳作奖、新加坡全国宗乡奖散文组优胜奖、亚细安扶轮青年文学奖(微型小说)佳作奖、亚细安青年微型小说奖创作大赛优胜奖、国际华文散文创作比赛优胜奖、“畅游神州”旅游征文大赛一等奖。

著有散文集《无弦月》,诗集《十灭》、《等待西安》和《伍木短诗选》,诗与微型小说合集《登泰山赋》,文学评论集《火浴的族类》等。主编《新华文学大系•短篇小说集》(2013年)和《新华文学大系•诗歌集》(2014年)。

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杜文贤 (卡夫) 

http://www.writingsingapore.com/?uid-169-action-viewpro-showpro-1  

  • E-mail: toh_mun_yeen@moe.edu.sg
  • 出生年: 1960
  • 职业: 教育/培训
  • 教育水平: 本科/学士
  • 毕业学校: 新加坡国立大学
  • 单位地址: 教育部
  • 职业头衔: 专家教授/老师 

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出席者中有不少年轻学者和诗人:
陈志锐是其中一位,
诗人周德成是另外一位,草根书室老板之一林韦地医生也在。
新加坡文艺协会会长成君和陈剑, 甘文放老先生, 南子老师也出现在会场。

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Q&A:

丁云问所谓伤痕文学,究竟是“伤”在哪里?这是一个引人深思的问题。

张挥在发言时,提出一个新看法,应该先是伤痕文学的书写,后来才逐渐演变成黍离之伤文学。


一位在当年因为没有出路,而留学外国,攻读图书馆学的南大生现身说法,南大生需要自力更生,自强不息,方不会被人瞧不起! 舒敏




Original sources of info : 

* 书写文学 shared 辛羽's post  
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=773867616029666&id=430048410411590

* 黄涓/文, 联合早报 (2014/12/30) 副刊, page 9
http://news.chilin.hk/sg/index.php?date=20141230&job=body&path=L25ld3MvZnVrYW4vc3RvcnkyMDE0MTIzMC00Mjk1MzE%3D&page=9 

卡夫 温水中的青蛙
-  新华黍离之伤文学座谈会速写
http://www.writingsingapore.com/?uid-169-action-viewspace-itemid-17252

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何舒敏 整理
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2015.1.12