Saturday, August 22, 2009 @7:21 PM
Straits Times Reflection
Term 3 Week 8
2E/NA
Home Section page B3
PM's 4 BASIC RULES FOR RELIGIOUS HARMONY
1a) What are the 4 rules for religious harmony?
-The 4 rules include all religious groups to exercise tolerance and restraint, to keep religion seperate from politics, government must remain secular and to maintain the common space that all Singaporeans share.
b) In your opinion, how can we maintain a common space in schools?
-We can sell different food for different religious in school, the office environment should be comfortable for all religious, staff should also get equal treatment even if they belong to different faith from their managers.
2) Do you respect other religions? Why or why not?
-Yes, i do. I think that it is very important that we respect other religious so as to avoid racist and religious riots in Singapore. In Singapore, the government emphasized on racial harmony which our Pledge had written.
What do you think of children who stay away from their parents' funerals because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion?
-I disagree with that as children should see their parents for the last time. After the funerals, they will not be able to see them again. I think they should not go according to their new religion.
@7:06 PM
Straits Times Reflection
Term 3 Week 6
2E/NA
Home Section page 1
Elderly Falling Prey to 'Volunteer' Ruse (trick)
1a) What is the modus operandi (method of operating) of the con artists?
-In order to get into homes of senior citizens, they would use methods like disguising a volunteer from some kind of organisation or a health officer so as to con the elderly.
b) What are the Lion Befrienders planning to do to ensure the old folks do not get conned again?
-The Lion Befrienders would introduce their staffs or volunteers beforehand to the elderly for them to recognise. This action would reduce the chance of elderly being con again by strangers.
2) Do you like doing social work? Why or why not?
-Of course! Helping others would really make me very happy! Especially helping the elderly. They are just so pitiful.
Some of them, they raised their children up no matter how hard life was, in the end, their children dumped them! Since they are elderly, some may not be able to walk properly and this will lead to no one cleaning the houses for them. Soon, the house would be very dirty. In this case, this is when we, the people who like doing social work helped them clean up! You can totally see the difference before cleaning and after cleaning! Apart from that, we can also do some exercising. After cleaning the house for them, the elderly would be so grateful to us and the smile from them is really memorable.
@6:42 PM
Straits Times Reflection
Term 3 Week 5
2E/NA
In Section page 3
A Deadly Business
1a) What are the 2 worrying trends about drug trafficking mentioned in the article?
-The two worrying trends include more and more Singaporeans being arrested for drug trafficking and young teenagers are getting more attracted in drug trafficking.
b) Why are Singaporeans increasingly being used as "drug mules"?
-Due to the known strict rules in Singapore, Singaporeans have lesser chance on being checked. Countries that did not need a visa to travelled to other places include Singapore.
2) What will you do if you find out that one of your friends is selling drugs? How will you react if someone tries to sell you drugs?
-I would definitely confront my friend and tell him all the consequences of selling drugs. I would also advise him to stop what he was doing as it was a very stupid actions. If they are selling drugs so as to follow the trend, i would tell my friend that his future would go up in smoke. All his aspirations would also not possible to be archived. Not only that, my friend would end up in the home for teenagers under 18. Parents would also be deeply disappointed by their child. His parents raised him up and this was what he was going to repay them. If what i have done was not useful, i would direct him to the counselors as they have more experience then me. They can even list out some examples of teenagers who regretted their actions. These may help him to turn into a new leaf. I would say 'no' to them in a tactful way so as not to offend or hurt them in they way of feelings.
@6:28 PM
Straits Times Reflection
Term 3 Week 4
2E/NA
Home Section Page 1
Hawkers fall prey to brazen break-ins.
1a) Why is it easy for burglars to break into stalls at the two markets in the Kallang area?
-The burglars were able to get in easily due to the open ceilings and not having their roller shutters down. Climbing up the pipes and the metal bar would also allow them to get in easily.
b) What is the Geylang East Central Merchants' Association going to do about the break-ins?
-Taking charge of the Aljunied Avenue 2 hawker centre, the Geylang East Central Merchants' Association held a meeting a week after the accident on 8th July. To prevent these accidents to happen again, the NEA and the town councils would soon be in touch with Chairman Tan Seng Peng. Improving the security and chance of modifying the stall layout and design may be look into too. For additional security, stall holders can apply for grilles. Before any installment work is done, stall owner would have to pay a sum of $16 for administrative fee and a reinstatement deposit. They would be also required to make the drawings and measurements of the features.
2. What do you think should be done to tighten the security of the markets? What do you think of the burglars who brazenly break into the stalls?
-I think the security guards have to take precautionary actions against the security of the markets. And to even tighten the security, police have to patrol around the stalls almost everyday to be on look out for any thieves so that those thieves who had the intention of stealing would feel threaten or insecure. I suggest the people to place a camera at some places so that the police could recognise the burglars who break-in stalls. I think the burglars were desperate for money for some reasons so they break into the stalls with the intention of stealing money. But, they did not think about the consequences that may happen to them. They think that this would solve their problems. I think the they should be fined in order to prevent more burglars to break into the stalls. But for those who had been repeating their mistakes despite being punished according to the law, i think they should be jailed for a year or two for them to reflect on their wrong doings.
@4:34 PM
Straits Times Reflection
Term 3 Week 3
2E/NA
In Section Page 8
3 Cheers for the Team
(a) Why is cheerleading an expensive sport?
-Exact measurements of uniforms that the cheerleader wear for competitions are tailor made so as to attract the audience's attention. Uniform gears, which cost around $100 to $400 is like a bomb and another $200 for a performance. A set of uniform cost around $70 to $80. Cheerleaders have to eat vitamins so as to stay healthy and strong. Not only that, their hair products, medical insurance, nutritional supplements and medical, gymnastics classes, shoes, training mats, tights and poms-poms would definitely cost a bomb too. A bottle of vitamins would cost around $50 to $130. Example like hairsprays are such accessories to look nice together with their looks as it is the one of the most important factor for them to cheer for the team. During the practices, the cheerleaders tend to get injured. Medical insurance is highly encourage for them. Pom poms and shoe's hoes has to be imported from either United States or Taiwan. $1000 to $2000 to form up a cheerleader squad would affect the cost rate.
(b) What makes cheerleading such a tough sport?
-To make a perfect performance, cheerleaders have to practice at least two to five times a week, each time for at least four hours. Having so many steps to remember and to learn, they would need at least weeks or months.
What is your opinion of cheerleaders? If given a chance, would you join cheerleading? Why/ why not?
-Before i knew everything about cheerleading, i thought cheerleaders were just an entertainment which was why i did not take any notice of them. But no, i think of them as brave and courageous. They each have their own dreams and they are pursuing it despite of the dangerous flips and stunts. If given a chance, i will not join cheerleading. I have my own dreams to pursue too. I would love it if my life is being scheduled so that they would not be many changes in life!