My Teachers' Day

That was the day in the whole year when teachers were being 'remembered' for their hard work. I received lots of sms wishing me Happy Teachers' Day, and I felt that it was just like Christmas!

Anyway, regarding the $250m that the gahmen going to pump into the service, it sounded so good in the papers. Many people (note: non-teachers) were very envious, but frankly speaking, most of us were disappointed. Many people asked me why it seemed so attractive yet I wasn't too excited, the answer is simple.. It doesnt' affect me at all!

I'm not among those who are going to draw a higher starting pay, simply because I'm already in service. In fact, I was employed in first quarter of 2004, right after the SARs period. That was the only year in many years of history of civil service when people had to get their starting pay lowered. And dammit, of all times, I went into education that particular year. =.=

I'm just over one year into teaching, still a beginning teacher. So CONNECT is really too far for me to get excited about, and I don't think there's any leave granted for me to further my studies in the nearer years to come.

Sigh.. why not a pay raise across the board??? Nevertheless, I'm still a happy teacher, I hope.

Look at all this presents I've gotten this year. =）



These are some gifts that are more 'extraordinary'..

My P1 Japanese-Chinese boy proudly came up to me with a tub of homemade potato salad. He claimed that he helped his mummy to make this, and the black sauce on top was actually Japanese sauce. It tasted quite good actually...





This is a set of matching lipstick and nail polish from Loreal, branded yah? Hmm, this was the most 'grown up' gift I had ever received, more surprised as it was given by a P1 girl.






A set of name labels printed for yours truly, very practical.. =)

Blog Freedom

For a long while back, I've chilled off blogging. Sometimes, I'm really not sure whether I can talk about work on my blog. Blogging is an avenue to vent my frustrations, yet I don't want to get into trouble from lamenting in my blog. I'm wary of privacy issues. I'll freak out if my students chance upon my blog and everything about my life will be exposed.

However, day in and day out, its a cycle of sleep, work, eat.. if I don't blog about my work, I lack inspirations, seriously.

It's no secret that blogs are no longer safe places where people can write anything they want. We are all responsible for what we put online for people to read and comment, therefore I'm sure the Big Brothers will come up with a set of Blogging Laws and Bloggers' Act.

Recently, there's a few blogs written by fellow teachers to complain about the local educational system, some are anoymously written and some are not. Frankly speaking, most of their views are quite valid and I'm glad that there are voices out there. Its quite negatively slanted but it got me all excited, very interesting readings!

Extracted these blog links from tomorrow.sg., written during the Teachers' Day period:

Damned it if you teach, damned it if you don't
Dark Sides of a School
Why I hate Teaching

Updated: Coincidentally or uncoincidentally, the first blog link was removed and deleted shortly I posted. Hmm..

Pluto no more?

Was reading 'my paper' on the streets today, and came across a interesting yet shocking news: The International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of its official status as a planet.

My first reaction was 'huh???' ...Its rather shocking because I didn't know planets are like humans, can be promoted and demoted and stripped of its rank. Its also shocking because for the past 25 years of my life, there had always been 9 planets and now we have to get used to the fact that there's only 8.

Really, what will happen to 'My Very Efficient Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas', no more pizzas??

Being quite curious, I did a bit of research and here are some facts(no kidding):
1. Pluto was discovered in 1930.
2. It is smaller than any of the other 'official' planets.
3. Unlike other planets, it had been not visited by any spacecraft.
4. It is now classified as a dwarf planet instead of a planet due to new definations set by the IAU.

Oh yah, one last bit, this voting out of Pluto took place on 24th Aug 2006.. which was only 2 days ago. So if you read my blog, you're not outdated. =)

Podcast: Mr Brown Show!!

I'm quite outdated. Podcast is the 'in' thing among bloggers now, but I just heard my very first podcast today at Mr Brown Show. I downloaded it in school in the midst of my markings as I was really bored. Danping had always been a fan of Brown's podcasts, but I didn't bother to download any as I thought it will take up too much time. Easier to just surf and browse through the blogs.

Oh my.. I really almost rolled on the floor laughing when I heard the PM's rally: 'mee siam mai hum'. Go check it out, man! Hilarious, it really made my day..

I'm subscribing to the podcasts now, it's easier than I thought since I'm using iTunes for my iPod Nano, just a click away actually.

Train Man 电车男

Bought this book a week ago as I needed some readings to kill time, was quite horrified when I opened the book and the whole novel was all cut and pasted from posts of a forum. Upon reading on, it became quite interesting.. allegedly a true story of a geek who gain advice from the messengers of a chat board to date his dream girl out.

Anyway, I came across this website from one of the threads in the book. And surprisingly, the link worked! It's quite hilarious.


Finally, somebody in a chicken costume who will do whatever you want. Check it out: http://www.subservientchicken.com

New Balance Real Run 2006

Just went for the New Balance Real Run this morning, it was quite a gruelling 10km for me as I did very few training jogs before this. But I managed to finish it, nevertheless... =P

Next week, its the Sheares Bridge Run & AHM, and another 10km for me. I sort of got addicted to joining all these runs to force myself out of my bed and exercise more.. which I rarely got the chance to after I started working proper.

Ahh.. its season of the fireworks again

As part of our National Day celebration, there's a series of fireworks being put (up/off) at Marina Bay area starting from tonight. Having nothing to do this weekend, I went to view the fireworks with my friends.

As I approached the area, I realised that LOTS!! of other Singaporeans had no entertainment for the weekend as well, and the whole esplanade area was really crowded. As my friend said, "half of Singapore was there". Therefore, if you'd missed it, you probably belonged to the other half.

Tonight's theme was "Italy", we had a good pool of Singaporean audience who provided 'wows' and 'ahhs' at the correct timing. There was applause when the display started and ended. And did this just make us more patriotic? I guess not. Its just a FOC and everyone's-going-so-you-better-join-in that kind of event.

As you could see from the snapshot, the whole display of fireworks were nicely framed by two coconut trees from my view. There were people in front, behind, left and right of me so there was no way I could get away from those trees. =.=

Nevertheless, the Singaporean in me decided to be back again on Tues to catch the Singapore-themed fireworks. Hopefully, no trees in front of me then. No inconsiderate people holding up their camera phones right in front of my face. Hopefully.