Christmas at Causeway Point

What Goes In Need Not Be What Comes Out

It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.

Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

- Jesus, Matthew 15:11, 17-20 (NAS)

Cultural Differences and Toilet Bowls

In the USA, it is a norm for toilet bowls to be covered after use. This is politeness performed with the next user in mind to indicate the bowl is fit for use and in order the next person may not faint at the smell,

In Asia, it is a norm for toilet bowls not to be covered after use. This is performed with the males in mind, so that reckless aiming may not stain the seater for the next user, and in order to reveal the condition before use.

In a place where the two cultures meet, however, different responses take place.

To the Asian, when a toilet bowl is covered, what immediately takes place is a feeling of distaste, and what comes to mind is a likely soiled and dirty toilet bowl hidden behind the cover, possibly containing unflushed waste or jammed-up materials, or spills of blood stains within. What comes next is therefore expectable; a move away to another bowl, or a flushing before lifting the cover, or the time for reality call.

To the American, when a toilet bowl is uncovered, it means a lack of manners, or an act of inconsideration for the next user, or worst, the shock of a seater cover spilled with urine and the content in the bowl unflushed.

Such are the cultural shocks we have to face in a world with cross cultural mix. If you have in mind a plan to live anywhere else other than your hometown, you must therefore be prepared and get accustomed to the new culture before you take the plunge.

Writer or Editor or Both

A writer cannot be an editor at the same time, but at a different time, this is possible.

I am not saying a writer cannot be an editor, or vice versa. The key emphasis here is time, or the proximity of time between the two roles being played. If you are writer for a piece of work, you cannot be an editor for the same piece of work immediately after writing the piece because the same blind spot you as a writer faces during writing will also be unseen and unrecognized by you as the editor.

A writer can edit his own work, but it is best to have someone else does it, especially when there is a constraint of time. If a writer has to be the editor for the same piece of work, then a break or an interval is imperative between the time of completing the writing and the starting of the editing. The writer must, within the interval, free his mind from the pressures, prejudices, and the intensity inherent in a writing environment or during writing, and prepare himself at heart and mind for editing.

One of the best ways of freeing one's mind between the two roles is to go away to a place where nature is visible, where noisy sounds are far away. However, this is not always possible, so an alternative is to get oneself away from the previous piece of work and do something else, preferably less stressful, and then return with a refreshed or renewed mind. Whether you are a writer or an editor, or both, it is always good to have a break between writing and editing.

However, if taking a break is not possible, the best way to perform the two roles consecutively is to write one piece and edit a different piece. Usually, the different piece is written by someone else, and that helps to clear one's mind off from one's own work. There is no conflict in this case between playing the role of a writer and an editor at the same time, since both the pieces are written by different people, and to edit and spot the mistakes in the writings of another is usually relatively easier. However, if this again is not possible, editing a different piece written by oneself is still better than editing one's own piece of work immediately upon completion.

Following the above arguments, a writer can therefore be an editor, and vice versa.

Copywriting

Copywriting is defined in the Wikipedia as “the process of writing the words that promote a person, business, opinion, or idea. It may be used as plain text, as a radio or television advertisement, or in a variety of other media. The main purpose of writing this marketing copy, or promotional text, is to persuade the listener or reader to act — to buy a product or subscribe to a certain viewpoint, for instance. Alternatively, copy might also be intended to dissuade a reader from a particular belief or action.”

“Copywriting can include body copy, slogans, headlines, direct mail pieces, taglines, jingle lyrics, World Wide Web and Internet content, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases, white papers, and other written material incorporated into advertising media. Copywriters can contribute words and ideas to print ads, mail-order catalogs, billboards, commercials, brochures, postcards, online sites, e-mail, letters and other advertising media.”

The art of writing an advertising copy is based on the assumption that words can change the thinking, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior of an audience. If the writings in a copy fail to provoke attention, interest, desire, conviction, and action, it has failed its task and intent.

One of the oldest advertising copywriting formulae is AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. An ad that does not gain the attention of the reader will not to be able to do anything else. Only after catching attention can an ad arouse the interest of the consumer and create the desire for the product, service, or idea presented. Finally, the ad should stimulate some action by the customer, otherwise, it has failed in its purpose.

Some techniques a copywriter can use in writing persuasive ad copies include:

• Cliches or buzzwords, such as, now, new, here, at last, and today.
• Action words, such as, buy, try, ask, get, send, taste, watch, look, come, and many more.
• Emotive or exciting words, using adjectives that enhance facts, such as, splendid, amazing, delightful, beautiful, and wonderful.
• Alliteration or a form of repeating sounds pleasing to the ear, but not overdone, obvious, or irritating, such as, 'Let the train take the strain,' 'Don't be vague, ask for Haig,' and 'Go well, go Shell'.
• Colloquialisms or writing to imitate informal speech, such as, 'Pick 'n Choose', 'Fish 'n Chips', and the use of words, such as, don't, wouldn't, won't, what's, and other abbreviations.
• Punctuations and grammar, such as, 'Save the children. Now.' 'Write his name in gold. Remy Martin.'
• Repetition, such as, the use of same word to open each paragraph, plugging brand or company name throughout the text.
• Intertextuality or the association of a text to other texts or signs, such as the use of the word 'lock' to associate with security, or the use of a statement, term or sign from a movie or other media.
  

When writing a Headline for a print ad, consider the following guidelines:

• Make the headline a major persuasive component of the ad
• Appeal to the reader's self-interest with a basic promise of benefits
• Inject the maximum information without making it cumbersome or wordy
• Limit headlines to about 5 to 8 words
• Include the brand name in the headline
• Entice the reader to read the body copy
• Entice the reader to examine the visual in the ad
• Never change the typeface in a headline
• Never use a headline whose persuasive impact depends on reading the body copy
• Use simple, common, familiar words

When writing the Subhead, consider the following:

• Subhead should reinforce the headline
• Subhead should entice the reader to proceed to the body copy
• Subheads should stimulate a more complete reading of the entire ad
• The longer the body copy, the more appropriate the use of subheads
• Keep the use of subheads to minimum - they can clutter an ad

When writing the Body Copy, consider the following:

• Use present tense whenever possible
• Use singular nouns and verbs
• Use active verbs
• Use familiar words and phrases
• Vary the length of sentences and paragraphs
• Involve the reader
• Provide support for the unbelievable
• Avoid clichés and superlatives
  

Some common mistakes to be avoided in copywriting include:

• Vagueness, resulting from generalization of words or imprecise meanings.
• Wordiness, where economy of words is paramount because a copy has to fit within limited space and time before it bores the audience.
• Triteness or unoriginality, where the use of clichés and worn out superlatives can create a dull and outdated image for a brand or firm.
• Beyond Creativeness, where creativity is taken overboard for the sake of creativity. A copy must remain true to its primary responsibility: communicating the selling message.
  

Writing a good copy requires much more than what is mentioned in this article. It requires research, thinking out of the box, and many other aspects. For more tips on copywriting, check out the many resources available on the web and read the relevant books by professional copywriters.

Intolerable Agitation

I am an attention grabber, not because I am handsome or a hunk, but because I get agitated with inconsiderate people blocking everyone's way in train, bus, shopping mall and on the streets, agitated enough to express it in action of hurried gesture and frustration with ever growing impatience.

I know this is not good for my heart, especially when I have recently been admitted to hospital for irregular heartbeat. Yes, my agitation and impatience have taken their toll on me. With my desire to always be considerate and to put others first before me, I have expected too much of others to do likewise, and in this, I have been constantly disappointed to the point of agitation.

It appears I am one who does not know how to take things easy, and with the high expectation I set for myself, I have been miserably mistaken and over confident to expect the general mankind to recipocrate. All I learn daily is that rather than responding in kind, people take advantage and become even more inconsiderate. To give in to their abuse however is pushing me to the limit, and I am breaking down, not knowing how to enjoy or live my life while I am still here on earth.

Life is full of disappointments, and it is too much to expect much from others. Maybe I should care less and behave like the inconsiderates, but then it is against all I hold fast to and believe in, and I cannot, because not only is it against my principles, but it is just not me.

Teach me, therefore, O Lord, to stay calm in the midst of agitation, not expect too much of others, and to live life peaceably in co-existence with people of different cultures and different behavior.

A Prayer for Calmness

Keep us calm O Lord
And still our hearts to know
Your presence here with us
Now and always wherever we go

Help us be patient Lord
Help us keep our coolHelp us in everything
Remember to honor You

Lead us in all we do
Help us completely put our trust in You
Because You are righteous and faithful
Always abounding in lovingkindness
Unchanging and true
Your word O Lord is truth

Disposable or Undisposable?

We frequently use disposable cup, fork, knife and spoon, but have we ever stop to think whether these items are really disposable?

The term 'disposable' is used on such items because they are intended to be used once and then dumped. Dumping, however, accumulates waste, and waste is undisposable. It requires land, and land is scarce, and dumping increases wasteland, and wasteland is where we hold undisposable refuse.

Each time we draw away a 'disposable' item, we need therefore to think carefully whether we are contributing to the death of the earth and its environment where we live in. We need to ask ourselves whether we are playing a part in saving Gaia, or killing it daily?

The disposal of waste has long been an issue of the entire globe, but few actually see or know where our garbage goes to after we 'dispose' of it. We must therefore conscientiously make effort to learn more about what is at stake, and to take measures to slow down the death of mother earth through recycling.

For a more comprehensive study on this subject, please read 'Waste Disposal.'

Hard Times

Many things happen in our lives and many more will continue to happen. Sometimes it can be difficult going through hard times, and sometimes we may not understand why, but one thing is sure, all things work together for good, according to God's purpose in our lives (Romans 8:28).

If you ask God to answer a need, you can be sure He will answer your prayer, but sometimes the answer can be immediate, sometimes longer, or sometimes you may have to go through it. All prayers are answered, whether now or later, yes or no. All you need to do is trust Him and give your heart to Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Lay your worries and troubles at His feet and worry no more, for God is with you, He will help you and take care of you (Isaiah 41:10).

Therefore ...
'Do not fear, for I (God) am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:10 NAS)

Remember what Jesus says ...
... ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9 NAS)

Sometimes ...
You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, (James 4:2b-3a NAS)

Therefore ...
... seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NAS)

Do not worry then, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear for clothing?' ... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:31-32 NAS)

So ...
... do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NAS)

A Day of Celebration

After twenty years of on and off attending classes, writing assignments, and sitting for tests, I am finally attending the last class for a certificate course in religious studies this evening.

The course which is conducted at a Bible College for the School of Theology consists of sixteen units, broken down into the following subjects:

• Old Testament (4 units)
• New Testament (4 units)
• Doctrine (2 units)
• Missions (2 units)
• Christian Education (2 units)
• Electives (2 units)

At this end of the course, students will obtain the Certificate in Christian Studies.

Some people has asked me why I have taken up this course, since it does not add up to provide any transferable credits for a degree or higher course in any theological seminary, nor am I planning to become a lay leader, pastoral or full-time church staff. After all, it does not provide credits to greater spirituality or entry to heaven.

Well, don't ask me why. I take it because as a young Christian years back, that was my interest, and I don't like to do things half way or leave it uncompleted. It's a promise I want to keep with God, after completing my academic studies.

Just last year, after six years of anxiety, stuggle and many sleepless nights, I have finally completed my degree in media studies. Now is the time to 'pay back' what I have started to do a long time ago, and although there have been much inconveniences weekly in getting to the classes, it is all well worth it. My academic study is not wasted too, as it helped me hone my skills in preparing for the assignments in this course, and to obtain better grades.

This is a day for celebration!

Nodding and Shaking Heads

Have you ever been puzzled by the answers people give by nodding and shaking of heads?

This seems to be a common practice in this country where I live, especially at crowded eating places. What I am talking here is the answers I get from people when I ask the following questions:

Is this seat taken?
May I sit here?

The strange thing about nodding and shaking heads to answer questions while people are in their midst of eating is that the answers are often inaccurate and frequently the opposite of what they intended the answers to be.

When I ask, "Is this seat taken?", I often get a response by people shaking their heads, which to me means 'no, the seat is not taken,' but they mean to say 'yes' the seat has been taken.

When I ask, "May I sit here?", I get a response by people nodding their heads, which to me means 'yes, you can sit here,' but they mean to say 'no, the seat is taken.'

When I ask, "Is this seat taken?" and they nod their heads, I sometimes have to ask again to make sure the seat is taken because often they mean the opposite, as in "Sure, go ahead and sit".

When I ask, "May I sit here?" and they shake their heads, I often have to ask again, because they may mean, "No, nobody is sitting here".

With these kinds of responses frequently taking place, I am often led and misled in getting a seat, and walking around to find a seat to sit down and eat is no easy task, especially when you are eating alone.

The puzzling and confusing gestures people make in answering questions are often unreliable, and if I am asked the same questions and I do not wish to open my mouth to answer, I choose to do none of the abovementioned gesture, but simply use my hands to motion a welcome to tell the asking party, "You're welcome to sit here."

For a study on this subject, please read article, Nodding Or Shaking Your Head May Influence Your Thoughts, by Ohio State University (OSU) Research News.

Translations

I can now better understand why books with different translations appear at time to vary in content or context.

In recent months, I have the opportunity to translate and edit several articles of different languages into English with the help of online translators. Some of the languages for translation include French, Italian, Hungarian, and Japanese.

One of the greatest difficulties I faced in translating the languages is the many varied meanings of a word. Take French for example. The word 'apres' or 'a pres' is translated by the different online translators as 'after' or 'near'. A sentence such as the following:

Après ses casinos, le groupe Louvre Hôtels souhaitait également offrir aux clients de son hôtelier un accès Wi-Fi gratuit

therefore, can be translated as:

After its casinos, the group Louvre Hôtels also wished to offer to the customers of its hotel free Wi-Fi access

or

Near its casinos, the group Louvre Hôtels also wished to offer to the customers of its hotel free Wi-Fi access

This sentence which is at the start of a new paragraph however appears incorrectly translated, based on the structure and preceding paragraphs which made no mention of what is before, hence, 'after' cannot be used. The word 'near' seems logical, but in understanding the context, does not seem to fit the starting point of a new paragraph, so a French to English dicitionary was consulted.

Apart from the meanings 'after' and 'near', the dictionary also defines 'apres' as 'in front of', which put the whole context of the sentence in different light. The plausible meaning of the abovestated sentence therefore can be translated as:

In front of the casinos, the group Louvre Hôtels also wished to offer to the customers of its hotel free Wi-Fi access

Having determined 'in front of' to be the 'correct' translation, most of us will automatically assume the same word 'apres' used at the beginning of the next paragraph means the same thing, but this is far from the truth and presumptious, as in the case of the article I was editing. Reading through the context of the new paragraph:

Après un état des lieux et une série de tests en réel, c’est la gamme sans fil AirPremier qui a été retenu pour répondre totalement aux contraintes techniques Wi-Fi des hôtels

the correct translation will appear to mean 'after' rather than 'in front of', as in the case of:

After an inventory of fixtures and a series of testing in 'live' environment, it is the wireless AirPremier which was retained to answer completely the technical constraints Wi-Fi of the hotels

Following this thread of discussion, it is clear that translations and interpretations can differ in context. This is probably why different translations and versions of the Holy Bible can sometime appear to be different in interpretation of certain passages and verses in specific context. When read as a whole, however, the focus of the Bible is essentially the same, and it is our attitudes as the reader in understanding the truth within that is important.

Online Translation Tools:
www.google.com/translate_t
www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html
www.freetranslation.com/
www.translation-guide.com/free_online_translators.php?

Difference between Bosses and Subordinates

Ever wonder why you work so hard and still get nowhere?

You may be more skillful or knowledgeable than your supervisor or your boss, but you are the one doing all the work while he or she is the one who needs only to do the talking to get things done. It is, of course, possible that your supervisor knows better than you, and his or her time may be more precious than yours, but at the end of the road, it is usually (or always) you who sees things through.

Here lies the difference. People believes bosses use brains, subordinates use brawn, skills, or qualities most deem not worth much. In reality, all these are plain abuse, the conditioning of a capitalist's wayward mentality, shaped by governance and society. The philosophy underlining this belief is:

"Being able is good, but being able to make use of able people is better" - me.

If you, like me, are facing the same nonsense as an employee, then you must learn to do things differently. You'll need to do whatever you can to show your visibility, to obtain the recognition you deserve, to show the work you've done, or lose your credibility and be misplaced or replaced eventually!

Slowing Down

Living life in the fast lane is never easy.

I've been rushing all my life. I rush to catch buses and trains, I speed walk to reach places, I hasten my pace of working to meet deadlines. I am always conscious of lost time and every minute counts in my life. I am breathless most of my time, and my heartbeat is faster than usual.

I am now learning to slow down. I miss the bus and train if I have to, I walk slowly and careful, I work the best I can do, but I won't rush to finish my work even if there is a deadline. I am learning to be less conscious of the limited time I have, and I am catching my breath, slowing my hearbeat to normal pace.

Why? Because when I rush up the stairs to catch the train or run after a bus, I heat up and I can't relax, my blood shoot up. I don't walk speedily as before, because on many occasions I have fallen and injure myself especially on wet floor. Just recently, I rushed and I rushed to meet the deadlines my supervisors gave me, but the materials I need never come on time, and at last minute I will always have to stay staggering number of hours overtime. When I miss the deadline, of which is no fault of mine, my supervisors, the project managers themselves, did not bother because the deadlines they set are for driving people, by which they themseleves fail to meet, nor see the urgency, so why should I bother?

The result of all this is a regular reading of 150/90 blood pressure for the past six months, and I've been advised to start taking anti high blood pressure medication to bring it down. I am constantly faced with dizziness to which even Stemitil has now lost its effect on me and I am breathless easily.

There is no point in rushing to meet the targets set by men, for their expectations have no end. If our health is at risks because of them, life is not worth living the way it is. Enjoy life while you can, find rest and relaxation, laughter and joy, for by God we have been created, and for His purpose we have been made. Take time and do the things we have always wanted to do, but don't get to find time to do. Live life abundantly (John 10:9-10).

News and Media Archives

News agencies often use archived pictures and video clips for re-publishing in general news articles. This method of placing back-dated clips or pictures however can mislead audience to perceive the visuals as occurring only recently.

Just yesterday, a friend of mine was perturbed when she saw her picture appear in an article of a local newspaper which was taken by the press two years ago for an event. Although the picture from the archive is appropriate for the theme of the article in illustrating the dependency of good teacher-pupil relationship in providing effective teaching, it is seemingly 'incorrect' to portray it as part of a recent news relating to a subject discussed in Parliament concerning a new method of assessing teachers under the Enhanced Performance Measurement System, especially when it is published without prior permission from the person in the picture. This, however, is how it is with news reporting. Where a piece of news has been accepted for publishing by the press, all its content essentially becomes the property of the news agency, in which the agency reserve all rights to do anything they want with it, including the pictures. Such content once published is deemed to be for the 'public' eye, hence, can no longer be considered private, which would require the agency to request permission before re-publishing. However, if the picture is being misused to convey something not relating to the original intent, the matter can then be brought up for scrutiny.

Take the example of the news station that presented an archived video clip of the celebration by Iraqis after the September 11, 2001 event where the twin World Trade Center towers were destroyed in New York. This piece of news was telecast throughout the world and created much hatred, resulting in Gulf War II. The video clip in question, however, is not shown 'live' from Iraq, but from an archive in the library. In reality, nothing of that celebration took place, yet by telecasting the clip immediately after showing the video of what happened to the World Trade Center, audience's perception was misplaced, resulting in hate.

The issue being discussed here is not to determine the extent in which the journalism code must be adhered or about what is and what is not ethical. It is about how audience must perceive news that is found in the newspapers and TV news. To this end, my wish is for all of us as readers of news, to learn to see beyond what is written in the text, so as to decipher for ourselves what is true and untrue, what is real and unreal, and what is right or wrong.

Photos of Adelaide

A Visit to Kranji Countryside

A walk through to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, into the world of nature, has been something I've longed to do since several years back, while I was still doing my research on environmental ecology as part of my Environmental Sociology studies.

The visit today has been fruitful and I chanced upon a komodo dragon crawling on my path. A spider in its full webbings busy at work is also a fascinating sight, and creatures of the 'lizard' family, such as chameleons and the likes also crossed my path. The sound of nature and birds chirpping refreshes my spirit.

Here is a preview of what I've seen, but beyond that, there are much more.

If you'll like to know about this place, visit the website: http://www.kranjicountryside.com/.

Hard Times

Many things happen in our lives and many more will continue to happen. Sometimes it can be difficult going through hard times, and sometimes we may not understand why. One thing however is certain: all things work together for good, according to God's purpose in our lives (Romans 8:28).

If you ask God to answer a need, you can be assured He will answer your prayer. Sometimes it may be immediate, sometimes longer, or sometimes you may have to go through it. All prayers will be answered, whether now or later, yes or no. All you'll need to do is trust Him and give your heart to Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Lay your worries and troubles at His feet and worry no more, for God is with you; He will help you and take care of you.

Isaiah 41:10 (NAS)
'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

John 16:33 (NAS)
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me (Jesus) you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Planning and Building Alliances

Are you making plans without God in mind, or relying too much on alliances with others for success?

Making plans and working with others are good, but without God in mind, the results can be fruitless. The following verses tell you the consequence of not following 'In God We Trust'.

Isaiah 30:1 (NAS)
"Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;

Isaiah 30:9 (NAS)
For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD;

Isaiah 30:12-13 (NAS)
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,

Isaiah 30:15-16 (NAS)
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses, "Therefore you shall flee! "And we will ride on swift horses," Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

Isaiah 31:1-2 (NAS)
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers And against the help of the workers of iniquity.

Isaiah 31:4 (NAS)
For thus says the LORD to me, "As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the LORD of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill."

Isaiah 31:6 (NAS)
Return to Him from whom you have deeply defected, O sons of Israel.