some people have been asking me about the practicum so far, but i haven't found the time to think about it. currently living each day as it goes by - observing my Cooperating Teachers (CTs), co-teaching and trying to get to know the students, by face and name.
i'll write more when i've the time... though things are bound to get worse. already i have to meet up with my NIE folks to prepare our social studies assignment!
anyhow, today was pretty eventful - had the chance to visit the UPRIP - or ulu pandan refuse incineration plant. never got to visit these places while i was a student, so the present generation is quite fortunate. i hope the class(es) learnt something from the trip, not only so that they can do something for their podcast, but to understand how Singapore manages its solid waste given its lack of space.
if any of the young ones are reading this... let me share with you my learning points.
1. the refuse plant quite smelly... (yeah i know the person who brought us on the tour said it wasn't =) and you know, i appreciate the workers for what they do, as these people are exposed to a certain amount of harmful substances throughout their shift...
2. from an economic point of view, i can now understand why the government is keen to privatise gencos (power generation companies) with one of the first plants going to Keppel Corp. the waste management facility is also a money-making facility and rightly so, as it generates power whilst reducing waste.
3. but i am also reminded of the hazardous materials that are left after the incineration process. in the module "global environmental issues"... following the laws of conservation of energy and matter... we aren't actually 'reducing' waste, we are merely converting them to other forms of energy (which is fairly useful) as well as simply rearranging matter. the second point is not so useful - while we reduce the quantity of trash... where has the "matter" gone to?
4. related to point 3... at least our unburnable waste (yeah there's such things... ash is considered left over trash) is sent to pulau semakau to make up the landfill. really hope that 'impermeable membrane' does not fail, or else our seawater-->water supply will be seriously contaminated.
at least we get to build casinos, resorts and golf courses on the reclaimed land! genius ain't it?
having that said... is it good to generate trash? should we generate less trash? i'm doing my part by creating an ecosystem in my home. a humble compost heap... heheh... i'll show the photos when i get my camera. (not for the fainthearted)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The (in)famous Prison/Toilet Break:
Singapore Patriot: Mas Selamat's prison break: Some questions for Home Affairs Minister
Just chanced upon this blog - a fellow ACSian... who has got some questions for the MHA and HAM. Since this issue is the rage at the moment... i thought i add some of my thoughts too. don't want to miss the train and talk about it when he's caught and everybody is going "yesterday's news... like Dave Teo" (huh? who's Dave Teo? - he's the NSF caught with a weapon)
Yep, and since I chanced upon Gerald's blog, i've decided to experiment with the 'backlinks' option too - my apologies, still a newbie blogger.
So, the rage is on and everybody is talking about it - how could 'the most wanted man' - a highly dangerous terrorist escape (or leave... limp out if you'd like) from a high-security detention facility? i find it rather disturbing, given that Mas Selamat Kestari has the knack for being an escape artist.
While i know it is an intrusion of privacy, should not a wanted man be escorted into the toilet, or even into the toilet cubicle? When i was serving National Service, we charged and put an NSman into the SAF detention barracks for defaulting on his IPPT. I distinctly remember having one of my men handcuffed to him until we handed him over to the respective authorities.
This was an NSman who defaulted on his IPPT 3 times... Mas Selamat is a 'wanted man' with intentions of terrorism. *scratch head*
The other point I wonder is - how far could he have got in his first 60 minutes of having escaped? The manhunt began about an hour after he escaped, and depending on which view you subscribe to (ie. isolated incident or insider job), it gives our incumbent either (a) very little time and chance of making it out of the forest (b) the opportunity to have left the country if he had some help and transportation. In fact, The Star newspaper claims that Mas Selamat has left Singapore already. What do you think?
The repercussions are severe if this man has gotten away. Reputation, trust are among some of them, but the security of Singapore and the region is further threatened now that he is at large. I do not agree with the views that this is some 'cover-up' because Mas Selamat died from interrogation. It is certainly not wise to throw a country into panic, activate thousands of people for a search party just for the sake of a cover-up. However, I must say that the cover-up conspiracy theory is enticing and makes for a good Hollywood film, or stuff for our local media to draw on.
One more thing... i don't have a copy of the poster and i don't know if i am looking at the picture wrongly. Does not the clean-shaven version of Mas Selamat appear to be a little chubbier on the cheeks? Of course it could just be an edited picture - the hair and many other features look identical... but i thought he looked fairer (lack of solar exposure because he's in dentention) and chubbier (perhaps a better life than being on the run eh?)
Just chanced upon this blog - a fellow ACSian... who has got some questions for the MHA and HAM. Since this issue is the rage at the moment... i thought i add some of my thoughts too. don't want to miss the train and talk about it when he's caught and everybody is going "yesterday's news... like Dave Teo" (huh? who's Dave Teo? - he's the NSF caught with a weapon)
Yep, and since I chanced upon Gerald's blog, i've decided to experiment with the 'backlinks' option too - my apologies, still a newbie blogger.
So, the rage is on and everybody is talking about it - how could 'the most wanted man' - a highly dangerous terrorist escape (or leave... limp out if you'd like) from a high-security detention facility? i find it rather disturbing, given that Mas Selamat Kestari has the knack for being an escape artist.
While i know it is an intrusion of privacy, should not a wanted man be escorted into the toilet, or even into the toilet cubicle? When i was serving National Service, we charged and put an NSman into the SAF detention barracks for defaulting on his IPPT. I distinctly remember having one of my men handcuffed to him until we handed him over to the respective authorities.
This was an NSman who defaulted on his IPPT 3 times... Mas Selamat is a 'wanted man' with intentions of terrorism. *scratch head*
The other point I wonder is - how far could he have got in his first 60 minutes of having escaped? The manhunt began about an hour after he escaped, and depending on which view you subscribe to (ie. isolated incident or insider job), it gives our incumbent either (a) very little time and chance of making it out of the forest (b) the opportunity to have left the country if he had some help and transportation. In fact, The Star newspaper claims that Mas Selamat has left Singapore already. What do you think?
The repercussions are severe if this man has gotten away. Reputation, trust are among some of them, but the security of Singapore and the region is further threatened now that he is at large. I do not agree with the views that this is some 'cover-up' because Mas Selamat died from interrogation. It is certainly not wise to throw a country into panic, activate thousands of people for a search party just for the sake of a cover-up. However, I must say that the cover-up conspiracy theory is enticing and makes for a good Hollywood film, or stuff for our local media to draw on.
One more thing... i don't have a copy of the poster and i don't know if i am looking at the picture wrongly. Does not the clean-shaven version of Mas Selamat appear to be a little chubbier on the cheeks? Of course it could just be an edited picture - the hair and many other features look identical... but i thought he looked fairer (lack of solar exposure because he's in dentention) and chubbier (perhaps a better life than being on the run eh?)
Monday, February 25, 2008
eventful day
it was a really long and eventful day! started early in the morning as i ploughed to school, only to realise that the CTE experiences a massive jam every morning after 6:30am. the jam wasn't this bad when i was in JC...
school was alright... getting used to a new environment, colleagues, students and most importantly, the school culture. i've got 3 classes to teach: two secondary 3 (geog) and one secondary 2 (english). also got my own work station in the staffroom but had to clear it out because it was a temporary workspace for the other teachers.
at least i have a computer! so that means i do not have to keep lugging my laptop around. probably the reason why the other one crashed after school experience.
getting back on track, i left school at about 11:30pm to book my flat at Boon Keng. found out that the 'best' (and most expensive flat) was taken up by a couple assigned queue number 9. ours was 0066, so we kept our fingers crossed while waiting for our number 2 choice.
still reeling from the excitement of the flat selection... but it's only going to be ready in 2011!!!... so we're effectively homeless come 080808.
another long week ahead! first week of school... in a long long time.
school was alright... getting used to a new environment, colleagues, students and most importantly, the school culture. i've got 3 classes to teach: two secondary 3 (geog) and one secondary 2 (english). also got my own work station in the staffroom but had to clear it out because it was a temporary workspace for the other teachers.
at least i have a computer! so that means i do not have to keep lugging my laptop around. probably the reason why the other one crashed after school experience.
getting back on track, i left school at about 11:30pm to book my flat at Boon Keng. found out that the 'best' (and most expensive flat) was taken up by a couple assigned queue number 9. ours was 0066, so we kept our fingers crossed while waiting for our number 2 choice.
this is the artistic/artist's impression of the place - looks pretty impressive eh?
and this is the layout of the place. we are going to be at the blue corner.
still reeling from the excitement of the flat selection... but it's only going to be ready in 2011!!!... so we're effectively homeless come 080808.
another long week ahead! first week of school... in a long long time.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
practicum!
time in nie sure does fly. tomorrow i begin a 10-week journey in a school which will determine whether i pass or fail the pgde course.
after having received some reminders and advice about the thrills and spills of blogging, i have been duly informed of the need to "maintain the good standing of the teaching profession", so to be on the safe side, i better not reveal too much 'confidential' information.
so if you... the nice and kind reader feels that the blog is touching on sensitive issues or treading on thin ice, feel free to drop me an email! i will remove or amend the post mucho pronto.
having messaged a couple of my geography classmates and future colleagues, it appears i'm not the only one who is having the pre-practicum jitters. i guess it'll last all the way through the 10-weeks. in the meantime, i have to reset my bio-clock... waking up at 6 plus again is really not in my system.
the only time i had to wake up at such unearthly hours?... hmm. army. bleh.
so... who's out there reading?
after having received some reminders and advice about the thrills and spills of blogging, i have been duly informed of the need to "maintain the good standing of the teaching profession", so to be on the safe side, i better not reveal too much 'confidential' information.
so if you... the nice and kind reader feels that the blog is touching on sensitive issues or treading on thin ice, feel free to drop me an email! i will remove or amend the post mucho pronto.
having messaged a couple of my geography classmates and future colleagues, it appears i'm not the only one who is having the pre-practicum jitters. i guess it'll last all the way through the 10-weeks. in the meantime, i have to reset my bio-clock... waking up at 6 plus again is really not in my system.
the only time i had to wake up at such unearthly hours?... hmm. army. bleh.
so... who's out there reading?
Friday, February 15, 2008
winning the HDB lottery
woohoo!
okay, first things first. i don't know what font size or type this post is going to be... it is afterall my second post. this time it is from home, the previous one was from the library, so i think the font will keep shifting.
(i generally like to keep things standardized)
i spent some time trying to edit the blog, adding links, a newsreel and other stuff. but my reverend fun newsfeed/rss doesn't seem to be working. i want an updated picture, not updated texts
anyway, returning to the title of this post. thank God! i struck the HDB lottery! to the uninitiated it is basically getting a queue position where you have the chance to actually apply for the flat. my condolences to those who have been applying but keep getting rejected. keep trying... that's all i can say.
so now it is about choosing how high, how big and most importantly... how much.
in the mean time, the donation booth has opened. =)
okay, first things first. i don't know what font size or type this post is going to be... it is afterall my second post. this time it is from home, the previous one was from the library, so i think the font will keep shifting.
(i generally like to keep things standardized)
i spent some time trying to edit the blog, adding links, a newsreel and other stuff. but my reverend fun newsfeed/rss doesn't seem to be working. i want an updated picture, not updated texts
anyway, returning to the title of this post. thank God! i struck the HDB lottery! to the uninitiated it is basically getting a queue position where you have the chance to actually apply for the flat. my condolences to those who have been applying but keep getting rejected. keep trying... that's all i can say.
so now it is about choosing how high, how big and most importantly... how much.
in the mean time, the donation booth has opened. =)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Genesis
Hello!
okay dear reader... this is the maiden entry for James' blog! yeah yeah... i have succumbed to the pressure, or simply the need to have a space or a place to call my own.
still trying to get used to all this. stay tuned for more!
a quick introduction about myself - at this point in time, I am a student-teacher (aka rookie/trainee/newbie) at NIE (aka national institute of education) where i am preparing to become a teacher. just a few more months and i'll be done - hopefully.
this blog commemorates a new year and a new chapter for me!
okay dear reader... this is the maiden entry for James' blog! yeah yeah... i have succumbed to the pressure, or simply the need to have a space or a place to call my own.
still trying to get used to all this. stay tuned for more!
a quick introduction about myself - at this point in time, I am a student-teacher (aka rookie/trainee/newbie) at NIE (aka national institute of education) where i am preparing to become a teacher. just a few more months and i'll be done - hopefully.
this blog commemorates a new year and a new chapter for me!
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