Fresh Canvas

Red Snapper sashimi

2011-10-08T20:46:00.002+08:00

Ingredients
1 yellow onion, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

1 fresh red chile pepper, finely chopped

1 tablespoon grated lime zest

2 limes, juiced

2 skinned red snapper fillets, cut into thin strips

salt to taste

Directions
1.Combine the yellow onion, red onion, ginger, chile pepper, lime zest, and lime juice in a glass or ceramic bowl. Gently stir in the red snapper, and season to taste with salt. Cover and refrigerate until the snapper turns white and opaque, about 15 minutes. Serve cold.

Sony begins making amends for PSN hack

2011-06-06T11:06:00.003+08:00

Excerpt from post on channelnewsasia.com: 04 June 2011 0505 hrs

Sony has begun offering free videogames and virtual goods to members of its PlayStation Network in a bid to make amends for hackers breaking into the online entertainment service.

Sony also offered PSN members a free month of access to its PlayStation Plus subscription service featuring game software, discounts on titles, and exclusive digital content. The apology package also included 100 virtual items from a PlayStation Home shop disabled along with PSN and Qriocity music-streaming service after hackers looted user information from Sony's systems.

Sony on Thursday had restored PSN services everywhere except Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, after being targeted in a massive online attack that prompted the Japanese company to shut down the network to harden defenses.

Sony was attacked in one of the biggest data breaches since the advent of the Internet, in which the user names, passwords, addresses and birth dates of more than 100 million people may have been compromised.

The company later suffered attacks on websites including in Greece, Thailand and Indonesia, and on the Canadian site of mobile phone company Sony Ericsson.

Last week, a group of hackers calling themselves Lulz Security claimed to have compromised more than one million passwords, email addresses and other information from Sony movie site SonyPictures.com.
They published a number of files on the Web containing lists of thousands of stolen email addresses and passwords.

- AFP /ls

Google blog: Ensuring your information is safe online

2011-06-03T08:29:00.005+08:00

6/01/2011 12:42:00 PM

The Internet has been an amazing force for good in the world—opening up communications, boosting economic growth and promoting free expression. But like all technologies, it can also be used for bad things. Today, despite the efforts of Internet companies and the security community, identity theft, fraud and the hijacking of people’s email accounts are common problems online.

Bad actors take advantage of the fact that most people aren’t that tech savvy—hijacking accounts by using malware and phishing scams that trick users into sharing their passwords, or by using passwords obtained by hacking other websites. Most account hijackings are not very targeted; they are designed to steal identities, acquire financial data or send spam. But some attacks are targeted at specific individuals.

Through the strength of our cloud-based security and abuse detection systems*, we recently uncovered a campaign to collect user passwords, likely through phishing. This campaign, which appears to originate from Jinan, China, affected what seem to be the personal Gmail accounts of hundreds of users including, among others, senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists.

The goal of this effort seems to have been to monitor the contents of these users’ emails, with the perpetrators apparently using stolen passwords to change peoples’ forwarding and delegation settings. (Gmail enables you to forward your emails automatically, as well as grant others access to your account.)

Google detected and has disrupted this campaign to take users’ passwords and monitor their emails. We have notified victims and secured their accounts. In addition, we have notified relevant government authorities.

It’s important to stress that our internal systems have not been affected—these account hijackings were not the result of a security problem with Gmail itself. But we believe that being open about these security issues helps users better protect their information online.

Here are some ways to improve your security when using Google products:

Enable 2-step verification. This Gmail feature uses a phone and second password on sign-in, and it protected some accounts from this attack. So check out this video on setting up 2-step verification.

Use a strong password for Google that you do not use on any other site. Here’s a video to help.
Enter your password only into a proper sign-in prompt on a https://www.google.com domain. We will never ask you to email your password or enter it into a form that appears within an email message. Here’s a video with more advice.
Check your Gmail settings for suspicious forwarding addresses (“Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab, Fig. 1) or delegated accounts (“Accounts” tab, Fig. 2).

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Watch for the red warnings about suspicious account activity that may appear on top of your Gmail inbox.
Review the security features offered by the Chrome browser. If you don’t already use Chrome, consider switching your browser to Chrome.
Explore other security recommendations and a video with tips on how to stay safe across the web.

Please spend ten minutes today taking steps to improve your online security so that you can experience all that the Internet offers—while also protecting your data.

*We also relied on user reports and this external report to uncover the campaign described.

Original post by Eric Grosse, Engineering Director, Google Security Team

Sparta and Athens

2011-05-16T09:08:00.000+08:00

In 2003, Ngiam Tong Dow was asked, "What is the kind of Singapore you hope your grandchildren will inherit?" Below is his answer.

"Let's look at Sparta and Athens, two city states in Greek history. Singapore is like Sparta, where the top students are taken away from their parents as children and educated. Cohort by cohort, they each select their own leadership, ultimately electing their own Philosopher King.

When I first read Plato's Republic, I was totally dazzled by the great logic of this organisational model where the best selects the best.

But when I reached the end of the book, it dawned on me that though the starting point was Meritocracy, the end result was dictatorship and elitism.

In the end, that was how Sparta crumbled. Yet, Athens, a city of philosophers known for its different schools of thought, survived.

What does this tell us about out-of-bounds markers? So SM Lee has to think very hard what legacy he wants to leave for Singapore and the type of society he wants to leave behind. Is it to be a Sparta, a well-organised martial society, but in the end, very brittle; or an untidy Athens which survived because of its diversity of thinking?

Personally, I believe that Singaporeans are not so kuai (Hokkien for obedient) as to become a Sparta. This is our saving grace. As a young senior citizen, I very much hope that Singapore will survive for a long time, but as an Athens. It is more interesting and worth living and dying for."

30-second speech by a CEO

2011-05-16T09:02:00.001+08:00

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, Friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.

Thank you
Bryan Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola
James Patterson, "Suzanne's diary for Nicholas"

Levels of e-learning interactivity

2010-07-19T10:48:00.002+08:00

Level I: Passive
The learner acts solely as a receiver of information. The learner is required to read the text on the screen, view graphics, illustrations, charts, and use the navigational buttons to progress forward through the program or move back.

Engagement techniques include:

Multiple choice exercises
Pop-ups
Rollovers
Simple animations
True/false exercises

Level II: Limited Interaction
The learner makes simple responses to instructional cues. The eLearning includes learning activities listed in Level I as well as scenario-based multiple choice and column matching related to the text and graphic presentation.
Engagement techniques include:

Scenario-based multiple choice, drag-and-drop, matching exercises
Application simulations not requiring the learner to enter field data but merely follow a process or procedure
Interactive animations where the learner has the ability to investigate

Level III: Complex Interaction
The learner makes a variety of responses using varied techniques in response to instructional cues. The responses include those listed for a Level II as well as text entry boxes and manipulation of graphic objects to test assessment of the information presented. Engagement techniques include:

Complex application simulations requiring the leaner to enter data into fields
Scenario-based branching logic where the learner experiences jeopardy for incorrect responses and their journey is predicated on their decisions

Level IV: Real-time Interaction
The learner is directly involved in a life-like set of complex cues and responses. This involves engaging the learner in a simulation that mirrors the work situation with stimuli-and-response coordinated to the actual environment. Engagement techniques include:

Real-time learning and assessment
Collaborative environment with other learners and a facilitator or moderator

It is important to remember the level of interactivity is dependent on:

The nature of the content
Technological limitations
Budget limitations
The target audience

Estimating Web Projects

2010-06-26T21:22:00.001+08:00

Determine the specifications

Total number of pages
What kind of navigation bars or menus
More than one page design?
Number of custom graphics needed
Number of graphics provided by the client
How design-intensive a site do they want?
What type of text content, provided in what form?
Interactive forms? How many fields?
Database-driven applications? (Detailed description of all functionality is needed)
Administration areas?
Domain registrations or changes?
Hosting arrangements?
How important is search engine positioning?
Will any client training be necessary?

Break specifications down into smaller tasks

Receiving and sorting out client's photos
Cropping, sizing, optimizing, and renaming photos
Working with client to figure out how to present photos
Creating thumbnails
Building pages
Receiving client's feedback, correcting and refining gallery page design

Determine the time each task will take
Multiply total time by hourly rate
Add a percentage for contingencies and expenses

"Stand your ground. You may be tempted to shrink the total estimate down, fearing that your potential client will find it too high, but resist that urge. You came up with as accurate an estimate as possible, and it makes no sense to lower it. The client may or may not like your price, but if you offer to do the job for less than what is fair for you, no good can come of it. Stand your ground! You won't get every job, but the ones you do get will go much smoother if your estimate was accurate and fair."

Quality in E-learning

2010-06-22T07:10:00.001+08:00

Science Centric (21 Jun 2010 11:41 GMT) - Since higher education is booming in developing countries, so is e-learning. A new doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows how culture can shape quality in higher education in general and in e-learning in particular…

E-learning Schools of Thought

2010-06-13T16:28:00.002+08:00

The two schools of thought in education can be considered the cognitivists and the behaviourists schools of learning. They take different approaches to best structure material so that it can be learned.

Key milestones include Robert M. Gagne's 1977 Conditions of Learning (Florida State University’s Department of Educational Research) and Benjamin Bloom's 1956 Taxonomy of Education Objectives.

The cognitivists have greater difficulty in demonstrating learning has taken place and therefore considered a softer side of an already soft body of science, education. B.F. Skinner’s theories on behaviour is unique because it can be measured scientifically.

E-learning Instructional Theory

2010-06-13T16:19:00.003+08:00

Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the art or science of teaching. The word is derived from the ancient Greek word 'paidagogos', the slave who took children to and from school. The prefix “paida” refers to children, which is why we distinguish between pedagogy (teaching children) and andragogy (teaching adults). The Latin word for pedagogy, education, is much more widely used, and often the two are used interchangeably.

Pedagogy is also sometimes referred to as the correct use of teaching strategies. For example, Brazilian Paulo Freire, one of the most influential educators of the 20th century, referred to his method of teaching adults as ‘critical pedagogy’.

Pedagogy contains the General and Specific Learning Objectives (incorporating Bloom’s Taxonomy), Lesson Plan and Assessment Strategies.

Bloom's Taxonomy
There are three components in Bloom’s Taxonomy:

affective (emotional - experiencing)
psychomotor (physical - doing)
cognitive (mental - thinking)

There are six levels in the taxonomy, moving through the lowest order processes to the highest:

Level	Description
Knowledge	Exhibit memory of previously-learned materials by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.
Comprehension	Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas
Application	Solve problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way
Analysis	Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalisations
Synthesis	Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions
Evaluation	Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria

Learning Objects
A major area of development in instructional theory is the use of Learning Objects to structure and deliver content. Standards for the development and implementation of Learning Objects include the Department of Defense’s (DoD)Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative with its SCORM standards.

SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. This standard for web-based e-learning defines how the individual instruction elements are combined on a technical level and sets conditions for the software needed for using the content. The standard uses XML and it is based on the results of work done by AICC, IMS, IEEE and Ariadne.

Decision-making or decision making

2010-06-09T21:33:00.002+08:00

As a general rule, if you can't find what you suppose to be a compounded word in a good, recent dictionary, it means those two words should be treated as separate words. If writing the compound as separate words results in an ambiguous reading, however, you must feel free to hyphenate the words. "He was adept at decision making" reads OK to me, but when I use "decision making" as a modifier, I want a hyphen, as in "His decision-making skills could use some improvement".

Capital Community College Foundation's Grammar Logs

How to Insert Flash SWF into Google Sites Page

2010-05-29T20:18:00.004+08:00

From FlashPerfection.com

1. Create a page or edit your page.

2. Click the "HTML" button on the main toolbar.

3. In the Popup dialog, where you want to display the Flash movie, insert HTML codes as:

<embed src="http://sites.google.com/site/aleoflash/mumsday.swf" width="540" height="140" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

Close the embed tag and be sure to change the text "aleoflash" to your own sitename, "mumsday.swf" to your own Flash SWF filename, and the width and height to that of your Flash movie.

Windows Movie Maker Fix

2010-05-28T12:45:00.002+08:00

In XP systems (with IE installed), Windows Movie Maker crashes because the maximum number of video transitions or video effects that Windows Movie Maker can handle is set to 100. This results in a crash in the qedit.dll module of Windows Movie Maker.

Find fix at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969395

How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

2010-05-27T10:18:00.000+08:00

Learn the lifestyle changes that can get rid of your type 2 diabetes.
By Matt McMillen
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Type 2 diabetes can't be cured, but it can be reversed by eating right and exercising regularly. Do what Karen Parrish, 53, did: Take control of your disease rather than letting your disease control you.

Parrish received her diagnosis of type 2 diabetes with little surprise. Both sides of her family have a history of the disease, and she knew the consequences of ignoring it.

Still, Parrish, didn't fully commit to the lifestyle changes necessary to get her diabetes under control.
"Knowing what you have to do is not the problem," says Parrish, an antiques seller in Sharpsville, Pa. "The problem is doing it."

Fear Factor

In early April 2010, Parrish learned that her blood sugar levels were off the charts. The disease had begun to damage her eyes, threatening her with blindness, not to mention the heart problems, kidney failure, stroke, and other serious health concerns that come with diabetes.
"The blood work was so bad it scared me," she says. "Now, I'm trying really hard."
The payoff has been a big one. Significant changes to her diet, trips to the pool, and regular walks have helped put her diabetes in retreat. For people like Parrish with type 2 diabetes - the vast majority of the estimated 23.6 million people with diabetes in the U.S. - there's no better prescription than eating right and exercising.
"If you take obesity out of the picture, your diabetes will improve dramatically," says Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD, the medical director of the Obesity Clinical Program at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

Watch What You Eat

Parrish began her new routine by eliminating many of her favorite foods from her diet: pizza, mashed potatoes, potato chips. "I am really watching what I put it in my mouth," she says. "Before, all I ate were carbs."
Lowering carb intake is crucial, says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic, because too many carbohydrates will cause your blood sugar levels to spike. But dealing with diabetes requires paying attention to your whole diet.
Here are some quick tips from Hamdy and Hatipoglu:

Pass on the peas, corn, carrots, and other starchy vegetables. Focus instead on leafy greens.
Get most of your protein from poultry rather than red meat.
Eat oily fish twice a week - it's full of healthy fat.
Pick breads that have a lot of fiber.
Learn to read nutrition labels.
Make an appointment with a dietitian or nutritionist. They are often covered by insurance.

Eating the right foods is essential, but so is eating the right amount. Hamdy says that people with diabetes who are overweight - and most are - should expect to cut 700 to 1,000 calories from their daily diet. He recommends healthy meal replacements because portion control is built in. "That's a jump-start to weight loss," Hamdy says. "It's very good for beginners."

Keep on Moving

"The best prescription is exercise," Hatipoglu says. "That is the No. 1 thing you can do."

Aside from helping you lose weight and build muscle, exercise stimulates insulin sensitivity, enabling the body to better manage its blood sugar.

Hatipoglu recognizes that many, if not most, of her patients have never exercised. She tells them to start slowly.
"The goal is 150 minutes of exercise per week, but that is a big mountain to climb at first," she says. "Start with five minutes a day, and work slowly up from there. ... You don't have to run a marathon."
The key is to keep your routine simple and varied, says Hamdy. He recommends:

10 minutes of stretching and aerobics (climbing the stairs at home, for example) in the morning
10 minutes of walking at lunchtime
10 minutes with resistance bands or dumbbells in the evening

Whatever you decide to do, know your limits.
If you are quite overweight, you might find cardio exercises too difficult. In that case, start with strength training, advises Hamdy. Better still, start with a visit to your doctor and talk to her about what you can and can't do.

More Motivation, Less Medication

"Remission," says Hamdy, "can be prolonged by maintaining a good diet and regular exercise."
People with type 2 diabetes who eat right and keep fit can often hold the disease at bay without the aid of medication or insulin. But having a plan and sticking with it are two different things.
Tracking her progress motivates Parrish.
"I write down every single calorie and carb gram and add them up at the end of the day," she says. "It was when I stopped doing that that I began to gain weight."
Motivation is a key to long-term success, and the best way to maintain motivation, says Hamdy, is to set achievable goals.
"Patients are motivated when they see the effects immediately," he says. "And when they see improvement, they become even more motivated."
That's been Parrish's experience. So far, she has shed 10 pounds through diet and exercise. And she says she is just getting started.
"I feel like I'm getting in control now," she says. "I have a tendency to let things get so bad that it scares me, but once I get jolted, I have the willpower to change."

Year of Breaking -- Benny Ho

2010-03-24T22:45:00.000+08:00

2010 Prophecy based on Micah 2:12-13

Alignment
Growth
New Breakthrough
Kingdom Advancement

4 things to do:

Break out of soulishness (The Spirit should be in control, not what we want, what we feel and what we think)
Break into the Spirit
Break through every barrier
Break forth to bless

Brokenness

2010-03-15T21:59:00.004+08:00

This article was passed on from a reader titled "Brokenness". Its author is unknown.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:17 NASB).

When to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not understand and I remember that "neither did His brethren believe in Him" (John 7:5) and I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding — this is brokenness.

When I am misrepresented or deliberately misinterpreted, and I remember that Jesus was falsely accused, but He "held His peace" (Matthew 26:63); and I bow my head to accept the accusation without trying to justify myself — this is brokenness.

When another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, and I remember that those around Jesus cried, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas" (Luke 23:18) and I bow my head to accept the rejection — this is brokenness.

When my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruins by the ambitions of others, and I remember that Jesus allowed others to lead "Him away to crucify Him" (Matthew 27:31) and He accepted that place of failure, and I bow my head and accept the injustice without bitterness — this is brokenness.

When in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling path of confession and restitution, and I remember that Jesus "made Himself of no reputation" and "he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross" (Philippians 2:7, 8) and I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame of exposure — this is brokenness.

When one acts towards me in an unforgivable way, and I remember that when He was crucified, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34) and I bow my head and accept any behaviour toward me as permitted by my loving Father — this is brokenness.

When people expect the impossible of me and more than time or human strength can give, and I remember that Jesus said, "This is My body which is given for you" (Luke 22:19) and I bow my head and repent of my self-indulgence and lack of self-giving for others — this is brokenness.

—Kevin A. Miller is editor of the Church Leaders newsletter.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If any one of you lacks wisdom (the ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting/ choosing God's priorities), he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:2-7)

Nothing is Too Difficult for the Lord

2010-02-26T09:20:00.006+08:00

Jeremiah 32:27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Our Lord God thou has made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstrecthed arm. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for You.

Jeremiah 32:37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
"This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.

God is compassionate and forgiving. He will never stop doing good for me as one of His people.

1Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called me to his eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, will Himself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast.

After He disciplines me, He will restore for me:

a heart close to Abba Father (home is where the heart is)
a life safe with Abba Father
a prosperity promised by Abba Father

O Father in heaven, bless me with singleness of heart and action so that I will always fear you. Inspire me by the Holy Spirit to fear You, so that I will never turn away from You. Gather me close to you, keep me safe and supply all my needs according to your riches in Christ Jesus. I rejoice in Your Holy Name. Amen.

FaithintheWorkplace.com: Circumstances

2010-02-24T17:41:00.000+08:00

You and I probably won't face prison or paralysis. But we will face financial setbacks. We'll have to deal with personal conflicts in our homes and jobs. We'll come up against injustice and unfairness. We'll struggle with aging bodies and failing memories. Like it or not, in the crucible of everyday life, those circumstances are beyond our control.

But how we respond — that's in our hands. The Apostle Paul recommended to the Philippians: "Have this attitude in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus," and proceeded to lay out Jesus' reactions to unspeakable difficulties and horrors … followed by his final reward and exaltation. That's the attitude to emulate: confident that while we're not in control, Someone is — a sovereign God who loves us and longs for fellowship with us.

FaithintheWorkplace.com: Dreams

2010-02-03T10:56:00.008+08:00

Are you struggling to achieve your dreams at work or find a vision that inspires you there? In the book of Joel, God calls the people to repent. He says, "Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." (Joel 2:12). When we return to God with all of our heart, then we will dream—and our dreams will be in line with his purpose.

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams (1Samuel 15:22). The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Proverbs 51:17).

God is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish (Joel 2:13). You must reject what you've done as the evil rebellion against God that it is, make appropriate restitution, and commit to a new and holy way of living. Instead of just being sorry that you were caught, invite God to clean you up from the inside out.

Then God makes a promise. When the people repent, God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." (2:28).

The Best of Rumpole by John Mortimer

2010-01-30T13:41:00.007+08:00

My father also had Rumpole's habit of quoting poetry at very inapposite [out of place; inappropriate] moments.
He is very unlike me, being a far more stoic [enduring pain and hardship without showing one’s feelings or complaining] and single-minded [concentrating purposefully on one particular thing] person than I am.
Throughout these stories I have been anxious to make it clear that judges and lawyers are not all wise, infallible and trustworthy but as vain, insecure, sometimes as prejudiced and often as foolish as the rest of us.
Although the Rumpoles sometimes feel thay can't stand living together they couldn't, I'm sure, contemplate [1 look at thoughtfully. 2 think about. 3 think profoundly and at length. 4 have as a probable intention] living apart.
He is a superb actor of endless invention and instinctive taste.
Although I can imagine an author tiring of Holmes's dry and ascetic [strictly self-disciplined and avoiding any sensory pleasures or luxuries] character, Rumpole stories have the great advantage, for me, of moving with the times.
On the whole, lawyers are as unpopular as income tax collectors and traffic wardens.
It is designed to show Rumpole's dislike of such places and his contempt for nouvelle cuisine [a modern style of cookery that emphasizes fresh, wholesome ingredients and the presentation of the dishes].
As he was not fitted by character or training for any other profession, however, he had to soldier on in his living in Croydon and by a good deal of scraping and saving he was able to send me as a boarder to a minor public school on the Norfolk coast.
There is no point in writing your memoirs unless you are prepared to be completely candid, and I must confess that, in the course of a long life, I have been in love on several occasions.
In that silence the matter was concluded.
Who am I, after all, but the ageing juvenile?
Albert made use of the probing understatement.
Were there some nights when he wasn't the worse for drink? Did he ever celebrate with an evening of sobriety?
All the same I was trying what the director Derwent had admired as the devastating pause.

NYT orbituary article on John Mortimer (21 April 1923 - 16 January 2009) By Helen Verongos
To read Rumpole, or to watch the episodes of the popular television series “Rumpole of the Bailey,” is to enter not only Rumpole’s stuffy flat or crowded legal chambers but also to feel the itch of his yellowing court wig and the flapping of his disheveled, cigar-ash-dusted courtroom gown.

Rumpole spends his days quoting Keats and his nights quaffing claret at Pommeroy’s wine bar, putting off the time that he must return to his wife, Hilda, more commonly known as She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Using his wit and low-comedy distractions, Rumpole sees that justice is done, more often than not by outsmarting the “old sweethearts” and “old darlings” of the bench and revealing the inner good — or at least the integrity and inconsistency — of the accused, including clans like the Timsons, whose crimes have kept generations of police officers busy.

Regina Brett's 45 Life Lessons and 5 to Grow On

2010-01-28T17:37:00.008+08:00

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Overprepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
Always choose life.
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
If you don't ask, you don't get.
Yield.
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Another Lesson
Cultivate, strengthen and cherish your soul now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
When the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

Joseph Prince Ministries: Be Christ-Conscious

2010-01-19T16:46:00.001+08:00

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Have you ever woken up in the morning and said, “Today, I will not sin.” And as you leave your house, you say, “I must be careful not to fall into sin today. I don’t want to sin. I will not sin!” My friend, when you do this, you are no longer Christ-conscious but sin-conscious, even though you have not sinned yet.

Men, have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t want to look at any woman in case I lust”? You are being sin-conscious when you think like that. And sooner or later, you will lust in your heart. You may not sin outwardly, but you will sin inwardly.

Have you also tried confessing every sin? I have! As a teenager, when a bad thought came, I would quickly say, “I’m sorry, Lord. Forgive me for this thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, another thought would come and I would quickly say, “Forgive me, Lord, for that thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, if I happen to doubt His forgiveness, I would confess my unbelief and ask for forgiveness: “Forgive me, Lord, for doubting You.” Before I knew it, I was oppressed in my mind and so sin-conscious instead of Christ-conscious!

My friend, when you fall into sin, God wants you to be Christ-conscious. This means that when you have missed it, God wants you to be conscious that in Christ, you have forgiveness of sins through His blood. God wants you to be conscious that Christ was wounded and bruised for your sins, and that the chastisement for your peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:5)

When you are Christ-conscious, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) You will know that you are the righteousness of God in Christ because He who knew no sin was made sin for you. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He took your sin and now you have His righteousness.

So when you fall, don’t be conscious of your failure and feel bad or condemned. Instead, be conscious of who you are in Christ, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue your walk with God!

Thought of The Day
When you fall, be conscious of who you are in Christ, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue your walk with God!

Standing on the Promises

2010-01-17T19:04:00.001+08:00

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

2010-01-17T11:09:00.003+08:00

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Reach Out to Jesus

2010-01-17T10:44:00.008+08:00

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?
Does the road you travel, harbor dangers yet unknown?
Are you growin' weary in the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you when on His name you call

He is always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true
Walking by our side, in his love we hide all the day through
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do
Reach out to Jesus, he's reaching out to you

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?
Does the future press you with its weight and its care?
Are you tired and famished, have you almost lost your way?
Jesus will help you, just call to him today

He is always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true
Walking by our side, in his love we hide all the day through
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do
Reach out to Jesus, he's reaching out to you

From Nanz Chong's Message

2010-01-15T10:40:00.003+08:00

Three lessons learned:

Outsource
It takes time to become what you want to be
Cash is king

1. I may not understand God’s hands but I trust His heart.

Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

2. Take responsibility (It’s the highest form of maturity)

Don’t be a porcupine.
I am accountable to myself and others.
Whether I win or lose, I am playing on.

3. Walk with Godly people. Submit to spiritual leadership.
We are products of positive and negative relationships. The outcomes of our lives are completely dependent on the types of relationships we pursue … Dr Robb Thompson

4. Keep on sowing.

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The best way to get out of financial problems is through giving. Giving strengthens our faith. Give your time and life. Sow time into others’ lives.
When you help others to break through, your own breakthroughs will knock on the door.
Keep on keeping on.
Don’t stay the same (Spoke at schools and stat boards, participated in campaigns … with no pay).

5. Our attitude is everything.
Be thankful; it’s a decision, not a feeling. In everything, give thanks.

1Thes 5:18 … give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

(Landed a training job for a company … $30K for four weeks.)
Apart from Him, we can do nothing. He is our wishlist amidst the crisis.
If something takes you away from church, it is a curse.

6. Hold on to the promises that God has spoken.

Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isa 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Gen 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God always gives fresh starts, new things to do.
Roads opened in my wilderness … (talk show).
Rivers in the desert … (wrote a book).
Rich life, kingdom lifestyle, going from glory to glory.

Reminders for Stock Investing

2010-01-15T09:48:00.003+08:00

1. Do not queue to buy and not monitor. Better to buy in real-time.
2. What goes up will come down. Be patient. Do not buy on published good news after run-up in price.
3. In worst-case scenarios, it's better to make lower profits and miss out on higher profits than to suffer any loss.
4. Have the courage to cut losses so as to free up capital for better stocks.
5. Do not act on ignorance and doubt. Do research, check charts and garner information from forums.

Investing in Better Research

2009-11-29T20:05:00.002+08:00

Millionaire author-investor Robert Kiyosaki shares personal tips on when is the right time to invest.

Since the real estate market took a downturn, there were more people renting rather than buying, which is great for my apartment business. I also informed him that I'm raising rents since demand for affordable apartments is so high. When someone moves out, I increase the rent and new tenants line up, which means my cash flow is increasing.

I've been investing heavily in the stock market since August 2007. I've moved several million dollars into the market.

Ignorance Isn't Bliss

As Warren Buffett has said, it's important for society to have accurate and informed sources of information. While I agree, I sometimes wonder about the intelligence of many financial journalists, both in print and the electronic media.

For example, now isn't the time to be investing in gold or gold stocks -- that time was 10 years ago, when gold was below $300 an ounce. Investors should've taken substantial positions when gold was cheap. For reporters to be talking about gold today is no different than them reporting on the hot real estate market in 2005, just before the top blew off.

A friend of a friend was telling me about the Rothschild formula for investing: This involves not participating in the first 20 percent or the last 20 percent of an investment run-up. Instead, it's investing in the middle 60 percent, when risks are low and the direction of the price is determined. As the asset value approaches what appears to be the last 20 percent, you sell and move on to another asset class.

As we all know, most amateurs (and, possibly, many reporters) only participate in the last 20 percent.

Take Notes

There are two things professionals invest for: 1) Capital gains, and 2) Cash flow.

"The amateurs who come in at the top 20 percent of a market are generally investing only for capital gains. In the last real estate boom, the 'flippers' who got no-document, zero-down loans paid very high prices, and hoped for a greater fool than them to take the property off their hands.

"These are some of the people being faced with foreclosures today. They're the investors who make the news -- not the investors who are making money."

"I want both capital gains and cash flow. I was investing millions in stocks that were paying a high dividend -- cash flow -- and also had their prices battered down by the market crash, a loss of capital gains."

I'm not just a real estate investor -- I'm someone who invests for capital gains at a great price, or cash flow at a great price, regardless of the asset class. If the deal is right, it doesn't matter if it's in real estate, commodities, a business, or paper assets.

Back in the 1990s, every time I had some extra cash I would buy some gold or silver. Although I didn't receive any cash flow from gold or silver, I knew I was purchasing the metals at a great price, and that someday those prices would rise again.

An example of buying for cash flow at a great price is when I buy a stock that pays a dividend. I wait until the stock market dips and then buy, which is what I'm currently doing. Every time the market drops, I buy more of this stock at a great price, because I love the cash flow from dividends.

Finally, when I find an apartment building at a bargain, and then increase the rents. By doing so, I increase the cash flow and the property value, which translates into capital gains.

Leave It to the Pros

The subprime mess, the slowdown in the economy, and the volatile stock market has little impact on professional investors, who follow market trends and are familiar with the underlying fundamentals of the assets they investing in.

So the next time you hear a reporter ask, "Is this the time to be getting into stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, silver, or oil?" remember that it's probably the time to be looking elsewhere. And keep in mind the Rothschild formula of investing. You never want to be too early -- and you also never want to be too late.

Be Thou My Vision

2009-11-03T09:05:00.001+08:00

1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, after victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

The Story Behind It Is Well with My Soul

2009-11-02T09:09:00.001+08:00

God Will Make a Way by Don Moen

2009-11-01T19:00:00.002+08:00

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by The Blue Ridge Quartet

2009-11-01T18:45:00.001+08:00

Yes I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
And I don't borrow from its sunshine
For the skies may turn to gray
I don't worry over the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today He walks beside me
For He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

I'd Rather Have Jesus by Jim Reeves

2009-11-01T18:37:00.001+08:00

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be his than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
Yes I'd rather be led by his nail pierced hands
Than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sins dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I'd rather be faithful to his dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than world wide fame
I'd rather be true to his holy name
Than to be the king...

It's No Secret What God Can Do by Jim Reeves

2009-11-01T18:31:00.001+08:00

The chimes of time ring out the news, another day is through.
Someone slipped and fell, was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength your courage to renew.
Do not be disheartened, I have news for you.
It is no secret what God can do, what he's done for others he'll do for you.
With arms wide open, he'll pardon you, it is no secret what God can do.

There is no night for in his light you'll never walk alone.
Always feel at home, wherever you may roam.
There is no power can conquer you while God is on your side.
Just take him at his promise, don't run away and hide.
It is no secret what God can do, what he's done for others he'll do for you.
With arms wide open he'll pardon you, it is no secret what God can do.

An Evening Prayer by Jim Reeves

2009-11-01T18:20:00.001+08:00

If I have wounded some poor soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive.

If I have uttered idle words in vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I offend some other through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive.

Forgive these sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
Guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, forgive...

Overcoming Faith by Ps Kong Hee

2009-09-06T11:48:00.001+08:00

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 1 John 5:4
Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. We overcome the world by our faith in Jesus. Typically, whenever we go through trials, difficulties, troubles or pressure, it is easy for us to be worried, sad and discouraged. But pressure and problems are really a part of our lives. So instead of being a victim of circumstances, let us be overcomers! We overcome by changing the way we look at our problems. The mindset of an overcomer is this: I am not a victim; I am going to benefit from this trial! In 1 Peter 4:14, “blessed” means fortunate, well-off, supremely blessed! In the great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:10-12 to count it a blessing when we are tried for our faith in God. “Be exceedingly glad” means to rejoice greatly; to jump for joy! It is to behave as if the best thing in the world just happened to you!
What tries us? Very often, the trial begins with a promise—a promise from God! Psalm 105:19 says, “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.” Joseph was given a dream of greatness but he did not immediately receive the promise. He suffered greatly and had to spend time in a dungeon while waiting for its fulfi llment. How should our attitude be when we go through trials?
(1) We should rejoice when we go through trials. Count it all joy and praise God. Don’t sin against God with your mouth. Don’t complain or murmur. Look at Job’s testimony when the worst calamity came upon him. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 1:22; 2:10).
(2) We need to have endurance when we go through trials. Don’t cast away your confidence, which is your faith, because there will be a great reward (Heb. 10:32-38)! There may come a time when you think you cannot take it anymore. You are about to give up! You want to call it quits! No! You must hang in there; you can develop endurance and perseverance when you look to the reward. God has a reward waiting for those who overcome!
(3) We know that our character is developed when we go through trials. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered (5:8-9). Likewise, we mature in our character through trials (James 1:2-4). We tend to question God when we go through trials because we cannot see the end purpose while we are in it. But the fact is God is maturing us.
Remember what the apostle Paul said in Romans 5:3-4, “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” God is more interested in developing our character than our comfort. It is through tribulation that our character is proven.

The Presence Of God by Ps. Kong Hee

2009-09-06T11:46:00.000+08:00

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

Psalm 51 is a psalm of David written when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. It is a record of the tear-stained testimony of his brokenness before God. His repentance did not stem from the fear of punishment or concern of future success. He repented for having violated God Himself—His Person and His nature. He was deeply concerned about the presence of God in his life. David understood that sin can grieve the Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30-31), and when that happens, the tangible manifested presence of God can be lifted from his life.

Samson was the strongest man in the Bible. With his bare hands, he tore a lion apart. He carried the doors of the gate of the city on his shoulders up a hill and single-handedly defeated the armies of the Philistines. He was a man full of the power and the presence of God. However, Samson was complacent in his walk with God and gave himself over to the lust of his flesh. Samson indulged so much in sin that he took the presence of God for granted. As a result, the LORD departed from him and he didn’t even know it (Judg. 16:20).

David, on the other hand, treasured his relationship with God with his whole heart. What can we learn from David about keeping the presence of God in our lives everyday?

(1) Develop a strong and intense desire for God. David was a man with a strong thirst for God. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:1-2). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Hunger and thirst are strong desires. God is not going to show up if you are not desperate enough to meet Him.

(2) You’ve got to be dissatisfied in your spirit. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). To be “poor in spirit” means you are dissatisfied in the spirit. You do not have enough of God. You empty your pride and self-importance in exchange for all of Him. Make a decision today that you will never take God’s presence for granted. Pray to God once again to renew your love for Him. If you have lost your passion for His presence because of your busyness, you can refocus your affection on Him again. Ask God to come into your life and fill you with His presence once again.

Benny Ho's Strategy for Living Part 1b

2009-05-31T10:02:00.000+08:00

A six-step process to derive a sense of purpose and mission.

Look within yourself and ask the question: "What do I want or what is the purpose of my life?" Great visions begin as an inside job. We need to take time and discover what are the desires that God has placed within our hearts, even as we delight in Him. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Look behind you and ask: "What has taken place in your life and what have I done so far?" What are the experiences that God has allowed me to go through? What are my past training? Nothing is ever wasted. These could point you to your destiny calling. What are my strengths and weaknesses? If God has called you, He will also enable you with the right skills. We take the past, bring it into the present, then project into the future. 1Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup (present), you proclaim the Lord's death (past) until he comes (future). The whole His-Story is about the enthroning of Jesus Christ.
Look around you and ask: "What is my current situation and what am I ready to commit to?" A good idea becomes a really great one if the timing is right. Analyse carefully and discover what God is revealing to you at this point in your life.
Look beside you and ask: "What resources have God put into your hands and what support do you have to achieve your vision?"
Look above you and ask: "What has God given to you?" Write down what God has deposited in you as talents and gifts. Am I better with people, systems or things? It's a miserable state to do something you are not gifted to do.
Look ahead and ask: "What's likely to happen?" Put on the eyes of faith and look into the future trends over the next three years in your personal life, your industry, your company/ clients, the economy, etc. From here, you set faith goals and targets.

Take time off and work through these six steps to derive your mission and vision. Whatever comes to your mind, do it prayerfully before the Lord. Ask the Lord for guidance.

Write everything down as in brainstorming. As you write all these 'raw materials' down prayerfully, a picture of your mission or a sense of where God is taking you will emerge. Describe in writing this picture. Craft them into memorable statements. Rewrite, rephrase and refine them until you get them right.

Benny Ho's compass: I am committed one day at a time

to be a lover of God by keeping constant communion with God, and continual conversations with the saints, past and present.
to be a developer of persons, helping people reach their fullest potential, starting with the inner circle of my family, my mentorees and my friends.
to be a communicator of truth, declaring His Scriptures with my words, proving His Word through my deeds, demonstrating His Power through signs and wonders.

If your statements are well written, you will see four characteristics:

It should be inspiring to you. You should feel excited about it. Write in vivid language. Make it active, upbeat, positive, compelling. Make it challenging, empowering, forcing the best out of me.
It should be concise, short, succinct, to the point, memorable,easily understood, focused, direct. one paragraph is better than 10 pages. Keep it short, sharp and yet futuristic.
It should be futuristic. It must define the future for me. It should provide direction and change-orientated. It does not just describe what you are doing now. It describes what you are becoming or likely to be doing at least three years down the road.
It should be detailed and specific enough and not too generic so that I can tell the direction and required actions. don't just write a slogan. Example of generic statement: "Know Christ and make him known". It must define your uniqueness and what God has made you to be. That takes time to plunge the depth of your heart and pull that out.

The last thing you want to do after this is to file your statement away, out of sight and out of mind. Here are three things you want to do with your vision:

You see it (principle of visualisation). Picture yourself in that vision. That takes faith, imagination. Print out your statements and frame them up. Hang one in your house and one in your workplace. What you keep looking at, you become.
You speak it (principle of verbalisation). What you see creates an inner desire. What you speak leads to outward action. Matthew 12:34b For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Keep verbalising positively about your dreams. Articulate your dreams to people you can trust so that it becomes clearer. If you talk faith, you'll walk in faith. Speak negatively and you'll act negatively. You cannot be motivated by the opposite of an idea.
You seize it (principle of actualization). You measure twice, you cut once (Planning is important). When you act, remember it is a process and it takes time. Be willing to pay the price to fulfil the vision. Success is the ability to forgo what you want now to get what you want eventually. t7 355

Goals, Decisions, Preparation

2009-05-25T07:16:00.000+08:00

Fulfilling the Father's purpose despite negative news

Matthew 4:12-17 [After the temptation in the desert] When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah ... From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 14:3-14 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife ... The king ... had John beheaded in the prison ... When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Making decisions

Luke 6:12-15 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Exposure and forgiveness

Hebrews 4:12-16 For the word of God is living and active ... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 8:12-13 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Psalms 30:1-6 I will exalt you, O LORD,for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."

Foods that don't cause gas

2009-05-15T07:04:00.000+08:00

Foods that don't cause gas:
Fruit! Thank goodness for smoothies
Rice
Potatoes
Breads
Deli meats, though stay away from overly spicy ones like salami
Leafy greens, like lettuce, spinach

Foods that traditionally cause gas:
Broccoli/Cauliflower
Beans - baked, tinned, green beans
Milk products
Overly greasy foods, like pretty much anything you'd get at a McDonald's
Carbonated beverages

Gas is caused by food that is harder to digest than other foods, which is why foods high in fiber cause the most gas. Stick to foods that are easy to digest such as bananas, rice, toast, yogurt and applesauce.

Some helpful suggestions

Take some careful observation to notice what foods cause increased gas. Keep a food diary and note excess passage of gas.
Swallow less air - don't suck on hard candy or chew gum, and steer clear of carbonated beverages. Don't drink through a straw because this causes you to swallow more air.
Drink more water.
Reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol.
Limit high-fat foods. Fat slows digestion, giving food more time to ferment.
Add some herbs to your food such as ginger, thyme, cinnamon, black peppers and mint.
Have a warm herbal tea after your meals. (Chamomile, ginger, or peppermint tea)
Get moving. It may help to take a short walk after eating.
In general, avoid overeating because this contributes to flatulence.

Stone Age remedy for diabetes

2009-05-15T06:37:00.000+08:00

Foods of the kind that were consumed during human evolution may be the best choice to control diabetes type 2. A study from Lund University, Sweden, found markedly improved capacity to handle carbohydrate after eating such foods for three months.

During 2.5 million years of human evolution, before the advent of agriculture, our ancestors were consuming fruit, vegetables, nuts, lean meat and fish.

In contrast, cereals, dairy products, refined fat and sugar, which now provide most of the calories for modern humans, have been staple foods for a relatively short time.

In a clinical study in Sweden, the research group compared 14 patients who were advised to consume an ‘ancient’ diet for three months with 15 patients who were recommended to follow a Mediterranean-like prudent diet with whole-grain cereals, low-fat dairy products, fruit, vegetables and refined fats generally considered healthy. Most of them had overt diabetes type 2.

Patients in the Paleolithic group were recommended to eat lean meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, root vegetables and nuts, and to avoid grains, dairy foods and salt.

The main result was that the blood sugar rise in response to carbohydrate intake was markedly lower after 12 weeks in the Paleolithic group (–26%), while it barely changed in the Mediterranean group (–7%). At the end of the study, all patients in the Paleolithic group had normal blood glucose.

The main difference between the groups was a much lower intake of grains and dairy products and a higher fruit intake in the Paleolithic group.

"If you want to prevent or treat diabetes type 2, it may be more efficient to avoid some of our modern foods than to count calories or carbohydrate," says Staffan Lindeberg at the Department of Medicine, Lund University.

Foods that may cause gas

2009-05-15T06:29:00.000+08:00

The Mayo Clinic has listed foods that sometimes are the culprit:

Dairy products: The sugar lactose in dairy foods is a common cause of gas. Nonprescription products such as Lactaid or Dairy Ease may help. Many who are bothered by dairy products may still be able to eat yogurt or aged cheeses.

Some vegetables:
Some carbohydrates found in vegetables such as onions, radishes, cabbage, celery, carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and legumes (including dried peas and beans) can produce gas. Beano, or other products that contain simethicone (Phazyme, Gas-X, others), may be helpful.

Too much fruit sugar: Prunes, raisins, bananas, apples and apricots as well as juices made from prunes, grapes and apples can cause gas.

Too much fiber: Cutting back on high-fiber foods, and then gradually increasing them, can help identify the amount that can be tolerated.

Some sweeteners: Sweeteners used in sugar-free chocolates and candies can cause diarrhea in some people. These sweeteners include sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.

Fatty food: Fried food, fatty meat and some sauces can cause gas.

Carbonated and sparkling drinks: Avoiding these may reduce gas, too.

Gas woes

2009-05-14T10:08:00.000+08:00

The food we choose to eat can influence the amount of gas passed rectally. Although most of our food intake is absorbed in the small intestine, some foods, such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, baked beans, and bran are incompletely digested.

They are then broken down by bacteria in the large intestine, causing the formation of gas.

A high roughage diet is important to promote bowel regularity, but excessive roughage or fiber may lead to bloating and increased flatulence. When increasing the amount of fiber in your diet, do so gradually, allowing your intestinal tract time to adjust.

Therefore, the amount of flatus (gas) represents a combination of swallowed air and poorly absorbed carbohydrates.

Individuals with irritable bowel problems (crampy pain and/or bowel irregularity) are often sensitive to excess intestinal gas.

A common symptom is generalized abdominal cramping, sometimes relieved by passing flatus.
If the gas accumulates in the right upper abdomen, the pain may radiate up into the right lower chest and could be confused with gallbladder disease.

If the gas accumulates in the left upper abdomen, the pain may radiate into the left side of the chest and could mimic heart disease. If gas accumulates in the stomach, the upper abdominal pressure pain could radiate up to the lower chest and raise concern about a heart disorder.

Individuals with a long history of occasional gaseousness and abdominal discomfort need not seek medical attention.

Reasons to see the doctor:

A change in the location of abdominal pain
Significant increase in the frequency or severity of symptoms
Onset of new symptoms in individuals over the age of 40

Despite the many commercials and advertiseme medications which reduce gas pains and bloating, very few have any proven scientific value.

10 Steps to Decrease Symptoms of Intestinal Gas:

1. Develop a regular routine of diet, exercise, and rest.
2. Correct bad habits:

Chew food thoroughly
Eat slowly and leisurely in a quiet atmosphere
Avoid washing solids down with a beverage
Avoid gulping and sipping liquids
Avoid drinking out of small mouthed bottles or straws
Avoid drinking from water fountains
Avoid carbonated beverages—sodas and beer
Eliminate pipe, cigar, and cigarette smoking
Avoid gum chewing and sucking hard candy
Check dentures for proper fit
Attempt to be aware of and avoid deep sighing

3. Do not attempt to induce belching.
4. Do not overload the stomach at any one meal.
5. Avoid gaseous vegetables: navy beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, cucumbers, radishes, onions, melons, and excess raw fruit and vegetables.
6. Avoid foods with air whipped into them: souffles, sponge cake, milk shakes.
7. Avoid long-term or frequent intermittent use of medications intended for relief of cold symptoms, cough, nasal congestion, post nasal discharge.
8. Avoid tight fitting garments, girdles, and belts.
9. Do not lie down or sit in a slumped position immediately after eating.
10. Take a leisurely stroll after meals.

Fighting sedentariness

2009-05-14T06:24:00.000+08:00

Experts recommend that adults do moderate activity for at least 2½ hours or 150 minutes a week (30 minutes a day 5 days a week). Or they can do vigorous activity for at least 1¼ hours or 75 minutes a week (15 minutes a day). People can choose to do one or both types of activity. And it's fine to be active in spurts of 10 minutes or more throughout the day and week (WebMD).

Someone who sits at a computer eight hours a day can really suffer negative effects from having continually engaged pectorals. "Think about dropping your shoulders down and pulling your shoulder blades back and together; visualize holding a pencil between the blades while keeping your abdominals engaged to support the back," says Lisa Cooper, fitness director of Little Rock Athletic Club in Arkansas (WebMD).

Moderate activities include:

Walk briskly.
Cycle briskly (10 to 12 miles per hour).
Badminton/tennis/bowling
Swim leisurely.

Home options:
Regular or wall push-ups
Dumb bell exercises
Exercise band stretching
Sweep floors, vacuum or mop

Standard programme:

10-15 minutes calisthenics early morning
10-15 minutes walk after breakfast
10-15 minutes walk after lunch
10-15 minutes walk after dinner
(+ Option: 10 minutes jogging. Start with a short warm up period to help prepare your muscles, heart and lungs. Gentle stretches for five to 20 minutes help reduce injury.)

While working programme:
Walk around or light activity after

editing every 5 slides or
after writing 2 paragraphs or
after every 20 minutes (whichever is earlier)

Sickness and health

2009-05-12T23:18:00.000+08:00

Psalm 38:2-4
For your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down upon me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.

Psalm 38:6-8
I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.

Proverbs 3:7-9
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Exodus 23:24-26 Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices.

You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Proverbs 18:14
A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Matthew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

John 11:3-5 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Sober judgment

2009-05-10T11:10:00.000+08:00

Titus 2

1. ... be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;

[Romans 12:3 ... Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.]

2. ... be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; to love your spouse and children, and be discreet, chaste and homemakers so that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

3. ... be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine, showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

4. ... be obedient to [bosses and authority], to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

For the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ... zealous for good works.

Sober [soh-ber] marked by seriousness, gravity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor, speech, etc.; subdued in tone, not showy; free from excess, extravagance, or exaggeration; showing self-control; sane or rational.

Benny Ho's Strategy for Living Part 1a

2009-04-10T08:34:00.000+08:00

The Clock and the Compass

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law (NIV). Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (KJV).

Three life skills:
1. See the vision -- to have a sense of direction in life. What do you exist for? I must be able to articulate what my life is for?
2. Chart the course.
3. Live with priorities.

We live life with a clock but not a compass. But we should live life with the compass and the clock aligned.

The clock represents commitments, appointments, activities and schedules. How we manage what we do and when we do it.

Compass speaks of our purpose, vision, values, mission and direction. What we are to do and where we channel our energies.

We must seek the Lord and discover our prophetic destiny, reorientate our compass so that the compass and the clock can come together.

We derive our sense of life mission and vision from our own values. This sense of mission and vision then gives meaning and significance in our lives.

Articulate your mission and vision with conviction and confidence as Paul did in Acts 26:19 saying to King Agrippa, "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." You will be anchored in principles and values that you hold dear.

A strong sense of purpose will help you to overcome all obstacles and problems. We do not just fear dying but we fear dying without having lived. Positive living may not mean having a life with purpose. Not having a passion for anything is frightening.

Many of us have the means to live but no meaning to live for -- Viktor Frankl

Your mission statement gives you a reason to get up every morning and feeling excited. You wake up with a sense of destiny and a purpose for being.

Beyond that, a sense of mission and vision will give you momentum. Focus produces velocity. You know what you have to do and why you have to do it.

This purpose cannot be divorced from our union with Christ. John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

So, apart from Christ, we cannot derive this sense of purpose and mission. This sense of purpose and mission must come from the Lord.

Obstacles

2009-03-28T18:37:00.000+08:00

PROBLEM: It is competitive environment today, more so in today's economic climate. Clients are more demanding.

At the same time, the lack of a proper framework to scope e-learning projects (including definition of deliverables, best practices in customer relationship management) and policies and procedures to implement this framework can be risky.

Compounding the problem, the acute lack of resources results in managers being overwhelmed by day-to-day pressures instead of managing or leading.

DO: Nonetheless, until a framework is in place, current projects still have to go on and the e-learning objectives and expectations of the customers have to be met.

Where customers demand more complexity, we should be creative enough to offer more manageable but equally effective alternatives. This facilitates customer retention and creates goodwill for a long-term relationship (It is prudent to document and quantify the goodwill).

Meanwhile, any scoping or process issues should be escalated to management as part of the framework planning and implementation.

DON'T: Do not confuse the lack of a framework with what has to be done on a daily basis. Do not insist on changing procedures and processes mid-project based on each individual's self-defined 'best practices'.

That is not only highly unproductive but also risks destroying inter-departmental teamwork and the company's reputation. The latter is related to existing commitments and value proposition to the customers.

Our internal problems should not affect the customer. We can spend more time complaining, rejecting or disrupting, or we can be the solution and find a creative alternative.

The More We Seek ...

2008-07-20T16:40:00.001+08:00

A quote from the Economist.com article "Great minds think (too much) alike".

(http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?source=hptextfeature&story_id=11745514).

"Electronic searching means that no relevant paper is likely to go unread, but narrowing the definition of “relevance” risks reducing the cross-fertilisation of ideas that sometimes leads to big, unexpected advances.

As a wag once put it, an expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until, eventually, he knows everything about nothing. It would be ironic if that is the sort of expertise that the world wide web is creating."

E-Learning Myths … Part 4

2008-07-11T11:34:00.000+08:00

Myth 4: E-learning is more form than substance.

Reality:

The same elements of failure in classroom-based training course materials apply in e-learning. In other words, it is a case of “garbage in, garbage out”.

The requirements in e-learning for intuitive interfaces, inquiry-based involvement activities, information design and effective writing skills are so stringent that any training content developer should adopt them, regardless of delivery platform.

Today, all teaching materials are virtually crafted on the computer using word processing, presentation, spreadsheet and other applications. So, it is easy to develop basic textual and static image content and repurpose them for multiple platforms.

E-learning complements traditional classroom delivery. Blended learning, not pure-play e-learning, is the most popular training delivery method today.

Application: E-learning not only instructs students but also inspires seekers.

Align content with instructional and performance objectives.
Follow the rules of effective writing – be clear, concise, correct, complete, concrete, cohesive and coherent.
Provide clear instructions and intuitive navigation.
Chunk content meaningfully to develop cohesion and cohesiveness.
Do not just show and tell but also guide and challenge.
Create and use practice activities that transform learning to on-the-job behavior.
Allow learners to reflect, revisit, reform and even rebut what have been taught.

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

2008-07-09T23:52:00.001+08:00

One of the best singers of all time -- Judith Durham -- singing a timeless piece.

The lyrics are below ... with an additional verse.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

E-Learning Myths ... Part 3

2008-07-08T21:52:00.000+08:00

Myth 3: E-learning requires complex IT skills.

Reality: It is possible to keep it simple and yet effective if lack of technical know-how and budget constraints are an issue. Begin with the instructional objectives and content. The contribution of the subject matter expert is crucial.

Next, keeping in mind the budget, target audience, pedagogical approach and learning objectives, develop the storyboard or the e-learning blueprint.

Application: E-learning is more about pedagogy and less about technology. You can tap on the numerous ready-to-use, hassle-free solutions available such as:

Affordable or free applications (i.e. Hot Potato, Quandary)

Hosted services (i.e. Siteground.com with Moodle learning management system installed)

The ubiquitious Microsoft Office can also be used to create simple but effective e-learning courses with a little creativity and resourceful instructional design.

E-Learning Myths … Part 2

2008-07-03T09:27:00.000+08:00

Myth 2: E-learning is costly.

Reality: As with all things enabled by technology, the more complex they are, the more costly they will be.

However, high cost and complexity – i.e. unnecessary 3D animation – could have as much impact as insufficient investment and over-simplicity – i.e. online Powerpoint presentations – in sabotaging e-learning efforts.

The key factor is employing sound instructional design so that you do not spend more than is necessary to ensure learning happens. Different levels of effective e-learning can be developed matching a wide budget range.

Application: E-learning is founded on what makes sense.

Design the course around clear learning and performance objectives.
Tailor the level of interactivity and system complexity based on your budget via instructional design.
Develop once, reuse and repurpose many times to reduce cost and simplify development.
Leverage on existing organizational resources and infrastructure, and if feasible, open source or hosted solutions.

Reduce redundant bells and whistles that may not contribute to learning such as over-elaborate animation and complex multimedia.

Adopt a phased approach to e-learning implementation, focusing on areas of priority first.

E-Learning Myths … Part 1

2008-07-03T07:54:00.001+08:00

Myth 1: Face-to-face is better.

Reality: E-learning is not intended to compete with face-to-face (F2F) delivery but to complement it. With proper instructional design, e-learning can motivate learners by:

Allowing learners to learn at their own pace, anytime and anywhere
Enabling learners to reflect on and apply what has been taught

Application: E-learning empowers trainers, not replace them.

Trainers obtain useful feedback to address students’ needs via online pre-course materials and assignments or assessments.
Trainers replace repetitive, one-way lectures and briefings with e-learning, freeing up more time to engage, tutor and inspire learners, via online or F2F sessions.

When I'm Sixty-Four … Part 2

2008-07-01T18:20:00.000+08:00

Do we speak of lives in terms of steps, cycles or spirals? Spirals would suggest development and return, as Mary Catherine Bateson wrote.

In the same light, learners should be given the opportunity to reflect and revisit. In reflecting, we digest what we have learned in pursuit of new knowledge and insights.

When we revisit, we see past experiences through new eyes and become wiser. Naturally, the benefits are particularly profound for the elders.

We revisit mistakes and failures of our past and appreciate them as learning experiences. We revisit books we have read and gain new perspectives. We remember how we survived trials and tribulations when there seemed to be no way out, and are filled with hope.

Seasoned travelers are convinced life’s realities cannot be brought into the classroom, as surely as experience in the trenches cannot be reproduced within the comforts of an ivory tower or on the assurances of an academic qualification.

Nonetheless, advances in virtual simulation and interactive multimedia continue to bridge the gap between those who have “been there, done that” and those who have not.

Meanwhile, let us listen and add to our learning, and be discerning in getting guidance. And for those who have the faith and the courage, regardless of age, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge leading us to pursue wisdom and discipline.

When I'm Sixty-Four … Part 1

2008-07-01T16:12:00.000+08:00

Life is a journey in which we make decisions to change what is not working and adapt by struggling to either transform our self or change the situation. Along these transitions, we compose our life, combining the familiar and the new.

Education has commonly been represented visually by an ascending series of steps. Each step is seen as an achievement providing access to the next, a foundation for subsequent progress. In contrast, continuing progress in adult life is uncertain and foundations seem infirm.

More people today have to find meaning in lives that do not follow a single clear plan. We face interruptions, downsizing and layoffs, returns to school for retraining, time off for childbearing … often, we interpret the unexpected as a sign of failure but we no longer expect each new generation to be an overlapping repetition of the previous one.

So, in learning, stories of daunting success and impressive achievements seem less relevant than stories of composing and improvisation. Adaptation is more central than dazzling accomplishment. In a fast-paced world of accelerating change, the authority of elders or baby boomers is dependent on their willingness to continue to learn – Mary Catherine Bateson

For many baby-boomers, aging has been accompanied by the loss of flexibility, playfulness and child-like curiosity. That kind of intelligence, according to Ms Bateson, includes self-criticism and the habit of reflecting on experience.