That's how a local chinese newspaper draw Singapore to report weather forecast. Cool. Really interesting and creative.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Singapore a whale?
That's how a local chinese newspaper draw Singapore to report weather forecast. Cool. Really interesting and creative.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Old Wives' Tales
A trip to the bookshop yesterday.
Got myself a locally written book:
Old Wives' Tales - Nicolette Yeo
Here are some old wives' tales for you to think about.
1. Black cats bring the dead back to life.
This tale transcends all races - Malay, Chinese and Indian.
It says, if a black cat jumps over an open coffin, the corpse will suddenly sit up and return to life. Transformed into a zombie, the 'living' corpse sets out to terrorize the living. It is not known hwy this applies only to black cats; regular non-black cats are not seen in such bad light.
One possibility is when a cat jumps across an open coffin, the action generates static which may actually be strong enough to cause a temporary reflex action in the corpse. But why black cat?
2. If you see a cricket in your house, someone is spying on you
This tale stems from the black magic that is said to be practised by bomohs. A bomoh is a Malay witch doctor whose brand of magic involves the use of everyday creatures, such as the cricket. Before the bomoh performs black magic on a person, he will send a cricket to spy on the person. This common insect becomes the bomoh's eyes and ears, and reports back everything that it sees and hears.
3. If a bird 'poos' on your head, you are very lucky.
Before you recoil in disgust, think for a minute. What are the odds of a bird defecating directly on your head when you are outdoors? The odds are slim, as your head is too small for a bird to aim at accurately. Hence, being the 'one in a million' recipient of a bird's waste makes you an extremely lucky person.
4. Moths carry the spirit of your ancestors.
Moths are believed to carry the spirits of ancestors or the spirit of a friend or family member who has just passed away. Regarded as carriers of the dead, moths are supposedly seen a few days after funerals. They are a conduit for the spirits of the departed to pay a last visit to the place they called home when they were alive. It is for this reason that we are often told not to disturb the moths we see in our homes.
5. Goldfish and Luohan bring good luck.
Goldfish are not only aesthetically pleasing, they are regarded by the Chinese as lucky fish. To the Chinese, it's golden hue represents actual gold, which is symbolic of money.
Recently, luohan fish have become more popular than goldfish. Luohan is a discus fish adorned with various colored patterns on it's body, often in red, black and white. The more intense the colors are on a fish, the more 'lucky' the fish is deemed to be.
People had claimed that they can see numbers on the body of these luohan and they will use these number to go buy lottery ticket.
Hmm... {{speechless}}
6. Dogs and cats can see ghosts
A very popular belief in Southeast Asia is that cats and dogs possess what is known as the 'third eye'. This ability gives them them the power to see ghosts, ghouls and every paranormal nature. The animals are thought to have the gift as soon as they are born.
That's why when dogs bark for no apparent reason in the dead of the night, it means that they have seen an evil spirit and are barking at it.
Cat's glow-in-the-dark eyes give them this spirit-seeing ability too. When a cat is unnerved by a spirit it encounters in the home, it will dart about the house, knocking things down along the way.
On the other hand, the presence of ants in a place signifies that there are no supernatural beings around while their absence means the opposite.
Hmm... now, does that means if there are ants in the house, we shouldn't kill it? Gosh!!! PawPaw will go crazy!!! LOL!!!... Can I deduced that this theory is made up by lazy people who is trying to find an excuse not to clean the house when they see ants?
7. Rub your eyes with dog's saliva and you will see ghosts.
This is believed to be borned from the fertile minds of the old wives. As dogs are thought to have the gift of being able to see spirits and other worldly beings that roam the earth, it is believed that if you rub a little of a dog's saliva on your eyes, you would also acquire its ability to see spirits. But beware that this practice is irreversible!
However, I have heard from elders that for those who has the 3rd eyes, by rubbing the tears of the dog, this 'gift' will disappear.
8. Owls are bad omens
Owls are often depicted as wise and knowledgeable. That's why they say as wise as an owl. But to the Hindus, owl is a portent of evil and ill luck. It is seen as bad omen by virtue of the fact that it is partially blind, a characterisitc that carries a negative connotation. This makes owl undesirable creature to the Hindus.
9. Turtles bring bad luck
To the Hindus, keeping turtles in the house is said to bring bad luck to the people who live there.
However, to the Buddhists, they are regarded as sacred animals and would be treated with respect.
So ... how?
10. If a bird flies into a house, it will bring good luck to the occupants.
Got myself a locally written book:
Old Wives' Tales - Nicolette Yeo
Here are some old wives' tales for you to think about.
1. Black cats bring the dead back to life.
This tale transcends all races - Malay, Chinese and Indian.
It says, if a black cat jumps over an open coffin, the corpse will suddenly sit up and return to life. Transformed into a zombie, the 'living' corpse sets out to terrorize the living. It is not known hwy this applies only to black cats; regular non-black cats are not seen in such bad light.
One possibility is when a cat jumps across an open coffin, the action generates static which may actually be strong enough to cause a temporary reflex action in the corpse. But why black cat?
2. If you see a cricket in your house, someone is spying on you
This tale stems from the black magic that is said to be practised by bomohs. A bomoh is a Malay witch doctor whose brand of magic involves the use of everyday creatures, such as the cricket. Before the bomoh performs black magic on a person, he will send a cricket to spy on the person. This common insect becomes the bomoh's eyes and ears, and reports back everything that it sees and hears.
3. If a bird 'poos' on your head, you are very lucky.
Before you recoil in disgust, think for a minute. What are the odds of a bird defecating directly on your head when you are outdoors? The odds are slim, as your head is too small for a bird to aim at accurately. Hence, being the 'one in a million' recipient of a bird's waste makes you an extremely lucky person.
4. Moths carry the spirit of your ancestors.
Moths are believed to carry the spirits of ancestors or the spirit of a friend or family member who has just passed away. Regarded as carriers of the dead, moths are supposedly seen a few days after funerals. They are a conduit for the spirits of the departed to pay a last visit to the place they called home when they were alive. It is for this reason that we are often told not to disturb the moths we see in our homes.
When my maternal grandma passed years many, many years ago, I was getting ready for my PSLE. Thus, only my parents went back to Malaysia for her funeral. Me and my siblings stayed here and didn't attend the funeral. The night of the funeral, I saw a huge brownish-black moth in my dining room in Singapore. My windows are closed. I didn't think too much about it. The next morning, the moth was gone. However, what I found strange is that I found a piece of small squarish cloth in a corner of my dining room. This piece of cloth is usually wore by mourners to represent a death in the family. Now how did that piece of cloth get there? There shouldn't be any reason why any such kind of material be present in our house.
Things that get me go hmmm...
5. Goldfish and Luohan bring good luck.
Goldfish are not only aesthetically pleasing, they are regarded by the Chinese as lucky fish. To the Chinese, it's golden hue represents actual gold, which is symbolic of money.
Recently, luohan fish have become more popular than goldfish. Luohan is a discus fish adorned with various colored patterns on it's body, often in red, black and white. The more intense the colors are on a fish, the more 'lucky' the fish is deemed to be.
People had claimed that they can see numbers on the body of these luohan and they will use these number to go buy lottery ticket.
Hmm... {{speechless}}
6. Dogs and cats can see ghosts
A very popular belief in Southeast Asia is that cats and dogs possess what is known as the 'third eye'. This ability gives them them the power to see ghosts, ghouls and every paranormal nature. The animals are thought to have the gift as soon as they are born.
That's why when dogs bark for no apparent reason in the dead of the night, it means that they have seen an evil spirit and are barking at it.
Cat's glow-in-the-dark eyes give them this spirit-seeing ability too. When a cat is unnerved by a spirit it encounters in the home, it will dart about the house, knocking things down along the way.
On the other hand, the presence of ants in a place signifies that there are no supernatural beings around while their absence means the opposite.
Hmm... now, does that means if there are ants in the house, we shouldn't kill it? Gosh!!! PawPaw will go crazy!!! LOL!!!... Can I deduced that this theory is made up by lazy people who is trying to find an excuse not to clean the house when they see ants?
7. Rub your eyes with dog's saliva and you will see ghosts.
This is believed to be borned from the fertile minds of the old wives. As dogs are thought to have the gift of being able to see spirits and other worldly beings that roam the earth, it is believed that if you rub a little of a dog's saliva on your eyes, you would also acquire its ability to see spirits. But beware that this practice is irreversible!
However, I have heard from elders that for those who has the 3rd eyes, by rubbing the tears of the dog, this 'gift' will disappear.
8. Owls are bad omens
Owls are often depicted as wise and knowledgeable. That's why they say as wise as an owl. But to the Hindus, owl is a portent of evil and ill luck. It is seen as bad omen by virtue of the fact that it is partially blind, a characterisitc that carries a negative connotation. This makes owl undesirable creature to the Hindus.
9. Turtles bring bad luck
To the Hindus, keeping turtles in the house is said to bring bad luck to the people who live there.
However, to the Buddhists, they are regarded as sacred animals and would be treated with respect.
So ... how?
10. If a bird flies into a house, it will bring good luck to the occupants.
小情歌
He really does has very unique voice. I love unique voice.
苏打绿-小情歌 LYRICS
这是一首简单的小情歌
唱着人们心肠的曲折
我想我很快乐
当有你的温热
脚边的空气转了
这是一首简单的小情歌
唱着我们心头的白鸽
我想我很适合
当一个歌颂者
青春在风中飘着
你知道就算大雨让这座城市颠倒
我会给你怀抱
受不了看见你背影来到
写下我度秒如年难捱的离骚
就算整个世界被寂寞绑票
我也不会奔跑
逃不了最后谁也都苍老
写下我时间和琴声交错的城堡
(最后谁也都苍老)
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Mother's Love Determines How
Got this from a school principal.
A Mother's Love Determines How
A mother's love determines how
We love ourselves and others.
There is no sky we'll ever see
Not lit by that first love.
Stripped of love, the universe
Would drive us mad with pain;
But we are born into a world
That greets our cries with joy.
How much I owe you for the kiss
That told me who I was!
The greatest gift--a love of life--
Lay laughing in your eyes.
Because of you my world still has
The soft grace of your smile;
And every wind of fortune bears
The scent of your caress.
Mothers Rarely Get What They Deserve
Mothers rarely get what they deserve:
On them is dumped the dirt of our dreams.
Their joys must be ours, as they serve
Hard time, which only our love redeems.
Each day your love and faith my days renew;
Rejoice, then, on this day reserved for you.
hmmmm....
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