A personal record: your palm line etc ...

To a librarian, a book is a record of data, information, knowledge or/and wisdom of the author.

Being a librarian for over 20 years and teaching information study and library courses since 1996, I see palm reading (or palmistry) and face reading like I look at a book.

Your palm and your face is a record of your life.

It is for you to create freely and for other to read, interpret and get some understanding of you as a person.

The line on the palm and a face of a person is a record (or a reflection) of one's personality, character, life experience, hidden emotion and health condition etc. As it is a personal record of the person, so it varies from one person to the other.

A record of a person is written by that person. You write it yourself, you are free to create it the way you like.

Throughout one's life, one constantly creating new record and writing new data and information to one's life record book.

I like to read books, and I like to read palms and faces. To me, it is the same in nature. My interest in reading books is being transported laterally to palm and face reading. Nevertheless, the knowledge of palm and face reading and the wisdom of translating your knowledge is something that I always find it hard to master.

Some palmist maybe able to read the record and see the data, others can extract some/selected information. The same palm or face can be read by different people and have different interpretation.

Reading palm line and reading palmistry books help me to gain a lot of insight into how one think and react.

The wisdom of reading and expressing it is a very interesting interactive process.

I enjoy palm and face reading and like to read books on the subject since I started secondary school.

My father, before he passed away, always like to share his knowledge on face reading and palmistry with me. He also brought a lot of books on face reading, palmistry and related subjects and let me read them. Maybe, it is this common interest that made me closer to my father as compare to other siblings.

Both of us like face reading and palmistry so much that we both enrol into a course at NUS Extramural and have a few lessons on face reading and related subjects by a professor.

Now my father had passed away for over 20 years, yet when I read books on this subject, I always recall the fond memory of sharing and exchanging our understanding and knowledge at the dinning room.

If my father is still alive, I think he would appreciate the following youtube videos:

Palmistry & Palm Reading Secrets



Read your palm ! - only 7 minutes lectured by Japanese Ninja



Inside Palm Reading Secrets Revealed



JIM WINTER Teahing Palm reading



The Basics of Palmistry and Astrology

Commencement address to the graduates of Stanford University by Steve Jobs, June 12, 2005.

Steve Jobs delivering his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005. In it he talks about getting fired from Apple in 1985, life & death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA

It is a truely inspirational speech:

He shown everyone that your destiny is in your very own hands!

* Follow your passions -- life is for the living. Real success comes with happiness and love.

* Take the road least traveled, and it may not be the hardest one sometimes -- you may find riches beyond your dreams and at the sametime enrich the lives of others around you and beyond.

* Happiness and fulfilment are abundant to anyone who thinks outside the box. Financial, emothional, spiritual & intellectual riches are yours if you are able to connect the dots. Everything that happens to you -- even the things that look rough at the time -- will serve and enrich you in many ways when you connect the dots of the past.

The fulltext of the speech was published on "Stanford Report, June 14, 2005"

'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs says

The text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html


Here I quote what touches my heart:


** The first story is about connecting the dots.

* The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

* And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.

* I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography.

* If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts.

* Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

* Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.


** My second story is about love and loss.

* I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life.

* ... And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started?

* I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me.

* I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did.

* I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

* I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

* The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

* It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.

* Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.

* I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did.

* You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.

* Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

* If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

* As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.


** My third story is about death.

* When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."

* Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

* Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

* About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer... I didn't even know what a pancreas was.

* My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

* I lived with that diagnosis all day... I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

* This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades.

* Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
- No one wants to die.
- Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there.
- And yet death is the destination we all share.
- No one has ever escaped it.
- And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life.
- It is Life's change agent.
- It clears out the old to make way for the new.
- Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.
- Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

* Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking.

* Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

* They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

* ... The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation ...created by Stewart Brand ... all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

* Stewart and his team ... put out a final issue... On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, ... Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off.

* Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

* Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

On teaching children

Children do not need to be made to learn to be better, told what to do or shown how.

If they are given access to enough of the world, they will see clearly enough what things are truly important to themselves and to others, and they will make for themselves a better path into that world then anyone else could make for them.


-- John Holt (1923 - 1985)

On teachers and delusion

We teachers - perhaps all human beings - are in the grip of an astonishing delusion.

We think that we can take a picture, a structure, a working model of something, constructed in our minds out of long experience and familiarity, and by turning that model into a string of words, transplant it whole into the mind of someone else.

Perhaps once in a thousand times, when the explanation is extraordinary good, and the listener extraordinary experienced and skillful at turning word strings into non-verbal reality, and when the explainer and listener share in common many of the experiences being talked about, the process may work, and some real meaning may be communicated.

Most of the time, explaining does not increase understanding, and may evenlessen it.

-- John Holt (1923 - 1985) American Educator

Perception and the minds tricks

Perception and the minds tricks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhqDH2pfg0

A Israeli street games with a sign reading from the other way!

It maybe upside down to the street readers, yet it is the right way from the person's own perspective.

What a brilliant experiment with the sign to me!

Like one of the viewer's comments: "May be all ideas/thoughts are just reactions to someone elses' ideas or thoughts, all actions are just reactions, there is nothing new under the sun unless our brains ... are capable of something better."

A successful day

If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day.

-- Alex Noble

LAS 3M Visit

Today I joined the Programmes and Social Committee, LAS for a tour of the 3M Woodlands and 3M Yishun Facilities.

Date: 9 July 2009 (Thursday)

Time: 12.45 – 6.15pm

The itinerary for the 3M visit:

Meeting point is at Admiralty MRT Station Taxi Stand.

At 1.00 pm, a bus took us to the 3M Woodlands Staff Shop (purchase 3M items at a discount) and later to 3M Yishun facility.

I was impressed by the variety of items 3M produced worldwide. The group is about 33 members and most of us took the opportunity of the visit and bought some 3M products.

Thanks to Mustafa Bin Mahadi, who co-ordinated the tour for LAS and reminded us to bring cash for shopping!

I was one of the four lucky draw winners and brought home a stationary set (3M tape plus dispenser and a set of post it notes.)

By the time we finished the visit and listened to all the 3M stories, it was 6.15pm.

It was a very fruitful day and we wonder why we never thought of visiting 3M all these years.

The visit is highly recommended for LAS members. If you missed this round, look up for the next one.

Notes: Professional Development Scheme (PDS) Points

1. Eligible for PDS Points: This activity attracts 36 points under the Industry Knowledge Development (ID) category.
"Participate in product/services briefing & demonstrations by vendor organized or approved by LAS"
2. Reference: See para 4.6 of the PDS Guide [:http://www.las.org.sg/PDS-Guide-2008-LAS.mht ]

Moody and depressed

Sometime if I feel moody and depressed, I will take a break to relax, walk outside, do something different or meditate.

As things at work could get a little overblown and exaggerated when you concerntrate on it for too long, it maybe better to step back and let them roll away like water rolling off a duck's back.

In between heavy tasks, take a detour to gain a new perspective. You will unlock yourself and not being sucked into an argument or a locked mindset.


Dexterine Ho

Quit doing less-than-excellent work

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today.

As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.


-- Thomas J. Watson (1874-1956), Founder of IBM

Devote Our Life To Great Thoughts

Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget.

We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody.

No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.


-- Andre Maurois (1885-1967)

Be Thankful For Your Troubles

Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late.

Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them.


-- Robert R. Updegraff, Author of "Be Thankful For Your Troubles"

Happiness

Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.

-- Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

LAS ILS sharing session from poly libraries

I learnt a lot from the four poly libraries ILS sharing session today.

The objective of the ILS sharing session is to share and gain a better understanding of the features and functionalities of different library systems used by four poly libraries (i.e., Temasek Poly, Singapore Poly, Ngee Ann Poly and Nanyang Poly).

It is interesting to note the creative way librarians used in solving work problems. Some workarounds approach make "impossible" things possible. Many turn-key/vendor systems are now integrated with other library services and campus systems.

Date: 30 Jun 2009
Time : 2.00pm - 6:00 PM
Venue : Temasek Polytechnic Library

Professional Development Scheme (PDS) Points

1. Eligible for PDS Points: This activity attracts 46 points under the Industry Knowledge Development (ID) category." Participate in library related talks, forums, discussion sessions and business meetings (e.g. AGM, Council & Committee meetings) organized by LAS or other libraries (provided they are open to LAS members or other librarians) “

2. Reference: See para 4.6 of the PDS Guide http://www.las.org.sg/PDS-Guide-2008-LAS.mht

Comfort

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.


-- Neale Donald Walsch

The road to preeminent success

I believe the true road to preeminent success in any line is to make yourself master in that line.

I have no faith in the policy of scattering one's resources, and in my experience I have rarely if ever met a man who achieved preeminence in money making...

certainly never one in manufacturing ...

who was interested in many concerns.


-- Andrew Carnegie

This world were not fashioned by those who were realistic

One of the saddest lines in the world is, 'Oh come now - be realistic.'

The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic.

They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride.


-- Richard Nelson Bolles

Adversity is our teacher

Even the most daring and accomplished people have undergone tremendous difficulty.

In fact, the more successful they became, the more they attributed their success to the lessons learned during their most difficult times.

Adversity is our teacher.

When we view adversity as a guide towards greater inner growth, we will then learn to accept the wisdom our soul came into this life to learn.


-- Barbara Rose

See ourselves as others see us

It is good to see ourselves as others see us.

Try as we may, we are never able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.

This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good heart whatever they might have to say.


-- Mahatma Gandhi

See ourselves as others see us

It is good to see ourselves as others see us.

Try as we may, we are never able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.

This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good heart whatever they might have to say.


-- Mahatma Gandhi

Until ...

Until you have learned to be tolerant with those who do not always agree with you;

until you have cultivated the habit of saying some kind word of those whom you do not admire;

until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others,

you will be neither successful nor happy.


-- Napoleon Hill

Appreciating art or reading books.

I like to spend my free time appreciating art or reading books.

Reading a book or a gallery/museum visit allow me a different ways to look at things.

Having the new ideas installed in my mind, it is like having a new software that add new power to my life.

With the new powered wired and embedded, it is easy to make things works in a different way.

I may not be able to find the new application immediately, nevertheless, the possibility of have such an application by itself is something I enjoy having.

When you are inside of the frame

It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside of the frame.


-- Author Unknown

Builds a dream

Everybody builds a dream in their lifetime.

You’re either going to build your dream, or somebody else's.

So build your own!


-- Christopher LaBrec

Criticism

Most of the time we tend to view criticism in negative mode.

Just reflect on your own experience of giving comments to other. Is it not always given with a good intention.

Hence, if criticism come your way, take it as positively. It is a gift that someone give us to make our life better.

Realize that it meant to help, not to hurt, you will see and read criticism from a different light.

If we are able to face the criticism or negative comments like the way we receive presents, we will have a different perspective in reading the message. With good reading, we will be able to accept criticism as advice and internalized it to make us a better person.

If we take criticism negatively, we will reject the message, yet it is like poison in our body and harm us.

If we take things negatively, we will be moody and being moody, it could lead to depression.

If we take criticism possitively, we will be happy to have some improvement to make. Having improved ourselves and realize that we are a better person, we will be happy. If we make our day joyful, we will live our life with gratitudes and not hatre.


Dexterine Ho

Knowledge vs wisdom

To attain knowledge, add things every day.

To attain wisdom, remove things every day.


-- Lao Tzu

Wealth

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free.

If our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.


-- Edmund Burke

Aim

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.


-- Michelangelo Buonarroti (1474-1564)

Happiness is ...

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.


-- Denis Waitley

Living fully

The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next.

The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing.


-- Michael E. Gerber

LAS Tour of Chinese Heritage Centre and Wang Gungwu Library

Today, I join the Programmes and Social Committee, LAS for a tour of the Chinese Heritage Centre and Wang Gungwu Library.

Date: 10 June 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 3:30 pm
Guided tour sponsored by LAS with a group of 40 LAS members

It is the first time LAS Programmes and Social Committee required member to register the tour with membership number. As I have been a life member for over 20 years, it is hard to recall my membership number. With the help of the committee, I refresh my long lost memory and re-registered in my mind that L041 is my Life membership number.

The Chinese Heritage Centre is housed in a four-storey building opposite Yunnan Garden on Nanyang Drive. The Wang Gungwu Library is on the first level of Chinese Heritage Centre.

Notes: LAS Professional Development Scheme (PDS) Points

Eligible for PDS Points: This activity attracts 46 points under the Industry Knowledge Development (ID) category." Study visit to other libraries (local and overseas)"

Reference: See para 4.6 of the PDS Guide [:http://www.las.org.sg/PDS-Guide-2008-LAS.mht ]

Develop a greater vision

People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives.

-- Stedman Graham

Don't hurry, don't worry

Don't hurry, don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers.


-- Walter Hagen

Change

Whether we like it or not, change happens.

It is best to stay as open-minded as possible when facing new policy at your workplace or new changes at home.

Try to embrace it as you are unable to stop it.


Dexterine Ho

Dream

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.

Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

-- Pamela Vaull Starr

Travel light

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.

Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.


-- Glenn Clark

Happy and hopeful outlook

If you keep a happy and hopeful outlook, you will turn an ordinary day or a bad day to a joyful and an enjoyable one.

Just remember, we have everything we need to make our day a lucky one (or otherwise).

Change the way you look at yourself, change the way you communicate or interact with the world.

Only when you change your inner outlook, you then be able to change the way you look at the outer world. The happiness you experience in the outside world, is sometime a mirror or a reflection of your inner world.

Instead of letting events steer you or other's schedule overtakes yours, take control over how your time is being used. You can do a lot of things that may you happy if you organise and prioritize your time base on your choice and your need to fulful your inner needs.


Dexterine Ho

A peaceful heart

If I have a peaceful heart, it is easy to go with or go against any outside forces are working in my life.

When I feel peaceful, the strengths of tact, grace, and creativity automatically provide me with a perfect opportunity to fix a situation or conflict, or to create something innovative at ease.

When I feel peaceful, I like to trust my sense of style and take a bold new look at things and situations at hand.

When I feel peaceful, I like to just go with the flow and let the feeling overtake me!


Dexterine Ho

Grow

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.


-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

See your goal clearly

Before you begin a thing remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead.

You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.


-- Kathleen Norris (1880-1966)

Our happiness or misery depends on ...

I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.

We carry the seeds with us in our minds wherever we go.


-- Martha Washington

It is hard ...

It is hard to resist the urge to cut corners when we are short of time, nevertheless, I believe that any job worth doing is worth doing well.

Success is achievable if we are willing to put in some extra works.


Dexterine Ho

Something definite to do

Life means to have something definite to do

—a mission to fulfill

—and in the measure in which we avoid setting our life to something, we make it empty.

Human life, by its very nature, has to be dedicated to something.


-- Jose Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955)

Creativity

Sometimes you've got to let everything go

- purge yourself.

If you are unhappy with anything

- whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it.

Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.


-- Tina Turner

Action

You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless.

-- Caroline Myss

Dare to believe

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance.

-- Bruce Barton (1886-1967)

No vs Yes

A 'No' uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.


-- Mahatma Gandhi

Financial Planning

There are plenty of ways to get ahead.

The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: spend less than you earn.

-- Paul Clitheroe

The real winners in life

The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better.

-- Barbara Pletcher

Effective people

Effective people are not problem-minded;they're opportunity-minded.

They feed opportunities and starve problems.


-- Stephen Covey

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good.

Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.

-- James Allen

Endeavors to live the life which he has imagined

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

-- Henry David Thoreau

Your life is the result of ...

Do you realize that your life at this very moment is the result of everything that you have ever thought, done, believed or felt up until now?

You can start right now to consciously and deliberately attract whatever you desire in this lifetime.

-- Jack Canfield

生活智慧王

台湾- 生活智慧王 - 专辑

The Wisdom in Daily Life (TV programme in Chinese)

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/G39YKMJtWD8/

生活智慧王- 快速折衣法

生活小窍门

生活小窍门

http://www.tudou.com/playlist/id/3030072/

Do not fear

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

-- Bertrand Russell

Gratitude

If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.


-- Rabbi Harold Kushner

Do the common things of life in an uncommon way

When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way you will command the attention of the world.

-- George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

Success

Success isn't measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.


-- Mike Ditka

Never judge a book by its cover

Take a few minutes of your time to enjoy it, and hopefully we can all understand from here the true meaning of "Never judge a book by its cover."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY


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¨°º¤ø„¸ GO! Susan !! ¸„ø¤º°¨
¸„ø¤º°¨ From Dexterine!!! ¤ø„¸
¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„¸¨°º¤ Susan Boyle is the best ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

Believe

I was brought up to believe that a person must be rescued when drowning, regardless of religion and nationality.



-- Irena Sendler

To give and to receive

Giving and receiving are opposite sides of the same coin.

Receiving entails trust in our own value and our having respect for the giver.

By receiving we reinforce the giver and are ourselves supported and affirmed by the gift.

In this way we participate in life’s goodness and assist in its flourishing.

There are times in our lives when the only way we can give back is to receive.

-- Sallirae Henderson

Happiness

Happiness is when what you think, what you say and and what you do is in harmony.

-- Mahatma Gandhi

The Buddhist-Hindu Divide in Premodern Southeast Asia

Just attended a lecture on: The Buddhist-Hindu Divide in Premodern Southeast Asia

Speaker: Associate Professor John Miksic, Southeast Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore

Date: Thursday, 23 April 2009

Time: 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm

Venue: Institute of South East Asian Studies, Seminar Room II, 30 Heng Mui Keng Road, Pasir Panjang

You cannot stay on the summit forever

You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. . . .

So why bother in the first place?

Just this: what is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.

One climbs, one sees.

One descends, one sees no longer but one has seen.

There is an art to conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.

When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.

-- Rene Daumal

The time to relax

The time to relax is when you don’t have the time for it.

-- Sydney J. Harris

If you live forever

Work as though you would live forever,

and live as though you would die today.

-- Og Mandino

Do something different once in a while

If you feel that you need a challenge, all it takes is a slight change to your regular routine.

With that little change, your day looks will look exciting again!

When you are excited, your enthusiasm will motivate you for the rest of the day.

That is why I like to do something different once in a while!


Dexterine Ho

Encouragement

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.

Criticize me, and I may not like you.

Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.

Encourage me, and I may not forget you.

-- William Arthur

We are a creature of habit

You and I are all creatures of habit.

Some time, we may think our day is ruined if our routine is altered even slightly, but the opposite is true.

If we keep an open mind and try something news, we may experience a day with novelty and new joys.

Success

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.

-- Jim Rohn

Know how to listen and you will profit even from those who talk badly.

-- Plutarch (46 - 120) Greek Essayist

Forgiveness set ourself free

Lack of forgiveness causes almost all of our self-sabotaging behavior.



-- Mark Victor Hansen





Forgive other is not just to give others a chance to feel good about themselves, but also to set ourself free!


Dexterine Ho

About soul

"The soul, being eternal, after death is like a caged bird that has been released.

If it has been a long time in the body, and has become tame by many affairs and long habit, the soul will immediately take another body and once again become involved in the troubles of the world.

The worst thing about old age is that the soul's memory of the other world grows dim, while at the same time its attachment to things of this world becomes so strong that the soul tends to retain the form that it had in the body.

But that soul which remains only a short time within a body, until liberated by the higher powers, quickly recovers its fire and goes on to higher things."

-- Plutarch (The Consolation, Moralia)

Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus (AD 46 – 120) commonly known in English as Plutarch — was a Roman historian (of Greek ethnicity), biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist.

Source of information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch

Gazing at each other

Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The first of April is the day ...

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.

-- Mark Twain

The Insiders Guide to Getting Published in Research Journals - Workshop

Attending a workshop on April fool day?

Yes!

Here is the details:

The Insiders Guide to Getting Published in Research Journals - Workshop

Speaker: Mr Adam Sutcliffe, Senior Business Manager - SE Asia, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Target Audience:

The workshop is aimed at anyone seeking a better understanding of the publishing process, and ways to increase their chances of acceptance.

Coverage:

The session contains insider's information on:

- How to get published in the right journal

- How to target your work more effectively

- What editors and reviewers actually look for

- The key questions that make or break a paper

- How to peer review your own work

- The secrets of revision


Date : 1 April 2009 (Wednesday)

Time : 9.30am - 12.00noon

Venue : Possibility Room, Level 5, National Library Building


It is very academic and those who are at the workshop are not fooling around!

Ms Ngian Lek Choh shared her view and personal experience on getting published in research journals and the plan NLB has in place to facilitate NLB staff on publishing. She mentioned that NLB maybe able to help LAS members in the same way by Sept/Oct 2009. So there are more to look up in the months to come!

The joy of attending this workshop is of two folds:

* Enriching and reinforcing professional knowledge: Mr Adam Sutcliffe from Emerald Group gave detail insider information on how Emerald as a publisher helps authtors on getting published in research journals.

* Fulfilling and delighted to have a small re-union with my ex-TP (Temasek Polytechnic) stduents. I was so happy to learn that one of them is a now Ph. D students, the other two are doing their M Sc.

As what I have told my students years ago, I may not be able to gain the title of "Dr", but I am sure my students can make it!

It is joyful for me to see one of my TP students now awaiting the award of Ph. D and be address as "Dr".

I am sure I will meet more students and address them as "Dr" in the future, the NIE groups I taught in 2001 had completed their first degree course or masters course by now. Very soon, I will be able see more Ph. D when I meet them in Yun Nan campus!


LAS Professional Development Scheme points: 46

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

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。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (65-74) 平安人生

65、 擔心，是多餘的折磨；用心，是安全的動力。

66、 財富如流水，佈施如挖井。井愈深，水愈多；佈施的愈多，財富則愈大。

67、 面對生活，要有「最好的準備，最壞的打算」。

68、 只要還有一口呼吸在，就有無限的希望，就是最大的財富。

69、 救苦救難的是菩薩，受苦受難的是大菩薩。

70、 超越生老病苦三原則 : 活得快樂、病得健康、老得有希望。

71、 超越死亡三原則 : 不要尋死、不要怕死、不要等死。

72、 死亡不是喜事，也不是喪事，而是一件莊嚴的佛事。

73、 每一個小孩，都是幫助父母成長的小菩薩。

74、 對青少年，要關心不要擔心，要誘導不要控制，用商量不用權威。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (55-64) 平安人生

55、 生命的意義是為了服務，生活的價值是為了奉獻。

56、 人生的目標，是來受報、還願、發願的。

57、 人的價值，不在壽命的長短，而在貢獻的大小。

58、 過去已成虛幻，未來尚是夢想，把握現在最重要。

59、 不用牽掛過去，不必擔心未來，踏實於現在，就與過去和未來同在。

60、 智慧，不是知識、不是經驗、不是思辯，而是超越自我中心的態度。

61、 積極人生，謙虛滿分；自我愈大，不安愈多。

62、 上等人安心於道，中等人安心於事，下等人安心於名利物欲。

63、 你是有那些身分的人，就應該做那些身分的事。

64、 在安定和諧中、把握精采的今天，走出新鮮的明天。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (43-54) 享受工作

43、 慈悲心愈重，智慧愈高，煩惱也就愈少。

44、 面對許多的情況，只管用智慧處理事，以慈悲對待人，而不擔心自己的利害得失，就不會有麻煩了。

45、 心隨境轉是凡夫，境隨心轉是聖賢。

46、 大鴨游出大路，小鴨游出小路，不游就沒有路。

47、 山不轉路轉，路不轉人轉，人不轉心轉。

48、 「精進」不等於拼命，而是努力不懈。

49、 船過水無痕，鳥飛不留影，成敗得失都不會引起心情的波動，那就是自在解脫的大智慧。

50、 給人方便等於給自己方便。

51、 甘願吃明虧，是仁者；受辱吃暗虧，是愚蠢。

52、 壓力通常來自對身外事務過於在意，同時也過於在意他人的評斷。

53、 用感恩的心、用報恩的心，來做服務的工作，便不會感到倦怠與疲累。

54、 隨時隨地心存感激，以財力、體力、智慧、心力、來做一切的奉獻。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (30-42) 享受工作

30、 忙而不亂，累而不疲。

31、 忙得快樂，累得歡喜。

32、 「忙」沒關係，不「煩」就好。

33、 工作要趕不要急，身心要鬆不要緊。

34、 應該忙中有序的趕工作，不要緊張兮兮的搶時間。

35、 不要以富貴貧賤論成敗得失，只要能盡心盡力來自利利人。

36、 任勞者必堪任怨，任事者必遭批評。怨言之下有慈忍，批評之中藏金玉。

37、 隨遇而安，隨緣奉獻。

38、 成功的三部曲是 : 隨順因緣、把握因緣、創造因緣。

39、 見有機緣宜把握，沒有機緣要營造，機緣未熟不強求。

40、 人生的起起落落，都是成長的經驗。

41、 用智慧處理事，以慈悲關懷人。

42、 以智慧時時修正偏差，以慈悲處處給人方便。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (21-29) 提昇人品

21、 感謝給我們機會的人，順境、逆境，皆是恩人。

22、 遇到好事，要隨喜、讚嘆、鼓勵，並且虛心學習。

23、 少批評、多讚美，是避免造口業的好方法。

24、 平常心就是最自在、最愉快的心。

25、 踏實地走一歩路，勝過說一百句空洞的漂亮語。

26、 知道自己的缺點愈多，成長的速度越快，對自己的信心也就愈堅定。

27、 多聽多看少說話，快手快腳慢用錢。

28、 唯有體驗了艱苦的境遇，才會有精進奮發的心。

29、 踏踏實實做人，心胸要廣大；穩穩當當做事，著眼宜深遠。

Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge

As a life member of LAS (Library Association of Singapore), I received the invitation from NLB and registered for the following talk:

"Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge"

Speaker: Ms Ellen Remona Tise,
President-Elect of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) & Senior Director, Library and Information Services at University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Date : 23 February 2009 (Monday)
Time : 3.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Venue : Visitor Briefing Room, Level 1, National Library Building


It is always good to hear other's view about library world and library trends. Here are some points I like:

Dictionary definition: access means availability or support.

Access to libraries = mean that “ the library is available, with some limitations, to anyone who wants to use it”.

Access to information is a more complex concept.
As the term is used in our profession, we usually mean making information available.

The concept of freedom of access to information is perhaps most clearly outlined in Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to this, all human beings have the fundamental right to have access to all expressions of knowledge, creativity and intellectual activity, and to express their thoughts in public.

Access to knowledge is critical for the development and growth of society.

Implicit role in theme is that of social inclusion and librarians becoming active change agents in society.

Libraries: gateways to knowledge.

Access alone: not enough.
Extending our services, methods, practices

Some Barriers to Access to Knowledge
*Lack of significant usage access
*Non availability of content
*Costs
*Copyright legislation
*Librarians

How can libraries drive access to knowledge?
*Libraries fundamental role to play in building knowledge societies
*Librarians expertise to transform ‘digital divide into digital opportunities’
*Librarians value in researching, assessing, organising, describing, managing information
*Remain at forefront, library buildings and services to be redesigned to reach the user
*Innovative approaches to quarantee free and universal access to relevant knowledge

Summary
*Ensure that the world’s citizenry have access to the world’s knowledge
*Dismantle barriers to access
*Urgency for libraries to drive access to knowledge
*Active librarianship to support development
*Ensure that libraries stay on the agenda
*Libraries continue to travel beyond borders

Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge
Encompasses IFLA’s three major advocacy themes:
*Freedom: Freedom of access to information and freedom of expression
*Equity:Fair and sustainable legal and economic relationships between the creators, intermediaries and users of information
*Inclusion: the role of the library in the Information Society and the role of the library as an agency of social inclusion


Source of information:

PPT from the talk and PPT from
http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:QyHfDZ1a1aAJ:www.liasa.org.za/conferences/conference2008/presentations/conference2008_session_17_Tise.pps+Libraries+Driving+Access+to+Knowledge&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=sg

Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge: a discussion paper
IFLA Journal, Vol. 34, No. 4, 341-346 (2008)
http://ifl.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/4/341


Professional Development Scheme (PDS) Points

LAS Professional Development Scheme points: 46

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


Notes: Eligible for PDS Points

Each of these activities attract 46 points under the Industry Knowledge Development (ID) category."Participate in library related talks, forums, discussion sessions and business meetings (e.g. AGM, Council & Committee meetings) organized by LAS or other libraries (provided they are open to LAS members or other librarians)"

聖嚴法師108自在語 (11-20) 提昇人品

11、 身心常放鬆，逢人面微笑；放鬆能使我們身心健康，帶笑容易增進彼此友誼。

12、 話到口邊想一想，講話之前慢半拍。不是不說，而是要惜言慎語。

13、 在生活中，不妨養成：『能有，很好；沒有，也沒關係』的想法，便能轉苦為樂，便會比較自在了。

14、 四安 : 安心、安身、安家、安業。

15、 四要 : 需要、想要、能要、該要。

16、 四感 : 感恩、感謝、感化、感動。

17、 四它 : 面對它、接受它、處理它、放下它。

18、 四福 ; 知福、惜福、培福、種福。

19、 能要、該要的才要；不能要、不該要的絕對不要。

20、 感恩能使我們成長，報恩能助我們成就。

聖嚴法師108自在語 (1-10) 提昇人品

1、 需要的不多，想要的太多。

2、 知恩報恩為先，利人便是利己。

3、 盡心盡力第一，不爭你我多少。

4、 慈悲沒有敵人，智慧不起煩惱。

5、 忙人時間最多，勤勞健康最好。

6、 布施的人有福，行善的人快樂。

7、 心量要大，自我要小。

8、 要能放下，才能提起。提放自如，是自在人。

9、 識人識己識進退，時時身心平安；知福惜福多陪福，處處廣結善緣。

10、 提得起放得下，年年吉祥如意；用智慧種福田，日日都是好日。

中华舒氏网论坛

今天我看舒氏的网站, 我心里很兴奋!

作为舒氏一员, 其实我早就想找找舒氏的历史文献!

Maybe, it is time to let those who addressed me as Dexterine Ho Soo Miang know that my father's original surname is Soo, or 舒, he adopted "Ho" as his surname during World War II. In his and our NRIC, our Surname is Ho, yet, in our heart, we identify 舒 as our surname!

As my father cannot changed his surname back to 舒, (the story is rather long and I will share it later) to make us remember our original surname, all his six children were given 舒 as the middle name.

舒 is Soo in Teo Chew and Shu in Hanyu Pinyi.

Well, for the story of my father's original surname, I will share it later. Now just let me guide you to learn more about 舒 as a surname via:

中华舒氏网论坛
http://www.chinashu.org

中华舒氏博客

http://www.chinashu.org/blog/index.html

Warren Buffett's MBA talk at the University of Florida

A talk given by Warren Buffett at the University of Florida, School of Business, October 15, 1998.

Watch the free video at

http://www.intelligentinvestorclub.com/seminars/warren-buffett-mba-talk-at-university-of-florida-video

For those who like to watch the video and read the transcript at the same time, you can download the transcripts from:

Warren Buffett MBA Talk at University of Florida (Transcripts) at
http://www.intelligentinvestorclub.com/downloads/Warren-Buffett-Florida-Speech.pdf

For those who like to access the video via Youtube, just start with part one here and click your way till you reach part 10.

巴菲特（Warren E. Buffett）名言语录

巴菲特（Warren E. Buffett）名言语录


我之所以成为世界首富是因为我花得少.

吸引我从事工作的原因之一是，它可以让你过你自己想过的生活。你没有必要为成功而打扮。

要赢得好的声誉需要20年，而要毁掉它，5分钟就够。如果明白了这一点，你做起事来就会不同了。

如果你能从根本上把问题所在弄清楚并思考它，你永远也不会把事情搞得一团遭!

在生活中，我不是最受欢迎的，但也不是最令人讨厌的人。我哪一种人都不属于。

任何一位，卷入复杂工作的人都需要同事。

如果你是池塘里的一只鸭子，由于暴雨的缘故水面上升，你开始在水的世界之中上浮。但此时你却以为上浮的是你自己，而不是池塘。

哲学家们告诉我们，做我们所喜欢的，然后成功就会随之而来。

每天早上去办公室，我感觉我正要去教堂，去画壁画！

正直，勤奋，活力。而且，如果他们不拥有第一品质，其余两个将毁灭你。对此你要深思，这一点千真万确。

生活的关键是，要弄清谁为谁工作。

哈佛的一些大学生问我，我该去为谁工作？我回答，去为哪个你最仰慕的人工作。两周后，我接到一个来自该校教务长的电话。他说，你对孩子们说了些什么？他们都成了自我雇佣者。

头脑中的东西在未整理分类之前全叫“垃圾”！

要学会以40分钱买1元的东西。

人性中总是有喜欢把简单的事情复杂化的不良成分。

风险来自你不知道自己正做些什么？

只有在退潮的时候，你才知道谁在裸泳！

你不得不自己动脑。我总是吃惊于那么多高智商的人也会没有头脑的模仿。在别人的交谈中，没有得到任何好的想法。

任何不能永远前进的事物都将停滞。

我喜欢简单的东西。

别人赞成也罢，反对也罢，都不应该成为你做对事或做错事的理由。

我们不因大人物，或大多数人的赞同而心安理得，也不因他们的反对而担心。

当我发现自己处在一个洞穴之中时，最重要的事情就是停止挖掘。

有两种信息：你可以知道的信息和重要的信息。而你可以知道且又重要的信息在整个已知的信息中只占极小的百分比！

如果你在错误的路上，奔跑也没有用。

我们也会有恐惧和贪婪，只不过在别人贪婪的时候我们恐惧，在别人恐惧的时候我们贪婪。

价格是你所付出去的，价值是你所得到的，评估一家企业的价值部分是艺术部分是科学。
　　
抛开其他因素，如果你单纯缘于高兴而做一项工作，那么这就是你应该做的工作，你会学到很多东西。

如果你想知道我为什么能超过比尔·盖茨，我可以告诉你，是因为我花得少，这是对我节俭的一种奖赏。



巴菲特（Warren E. Buffett）名言语录

Extracted from:

沃伦·巴菲特 百度百科

http://baike.baidu.com/view/442342.htm

Warren Buffett: some of his quotations

A public opinion poll is no substitute for thought.

If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.

Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.

I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars: I look around for 1-foot bars that I can step over.

If a business does well, the stock eventually follows.

In the business world, the rear-view mirror is always clearer than the windshield.

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.

It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.

It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.

Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars.

Warren Buffet's advice for 2009

Warren Buffet's advice for 2009

We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism.

Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations.

Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health.

They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future.

This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older.

This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

* Hard work: All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

* Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

* Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income. [At least make your Investments get you second earning]

* Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

* Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.

* Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

* Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

* Auditing: Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

* Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. [Have an alternate plan ready]

* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy.

I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.

Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.

Against all odds

When you get in a tight place and everything goes against you,

till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer,

never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.


-- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)