Like Duckling listening to the thunder.

This Chinese aphorism is used to indicate that what is being said is wasted on the young – they are oblivious to the meaning but instead are only aware of the sound. It is usually used in frustration, after the advices, the teachings, the coaching, the counselling or the warnings have been repeatedly given and have been overlooked, discounted, forgotten or ignored.

On the younger children, the interpetation is less harsh, the meanng is more gentle. This aphorism is also used when something more profound is expounded for the younger children and the meaning is missed or not grasped. On such occasions the usage is to indicate the younger children is too young to be able to take in the profundity – just like a duckling on hearing the thunder – it has no fear or anxiety but just lifts its head towards the sky and wonders what the noise is all about. Unaware what thunder can do to others and to itself.

Ever witness a duckling tilting its head skyward when it hears thunder as if trying to fathom where the loud sound is all about and where it comes from?

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Something for Nothing? Free? You must be Joking!

Is there nothing in this world that’s free, nothing at all? People are really skeptical nowadays when they see anything offered or advertised as free. Most are incredulous when they see something is offered for nothing. They suspect a trap and they usually react with total disbelief. They are not to be blamed for having such cynical attitude. For everything that has been labeled today as free has turned out to be a hoax. In nearly all areas in our lives, ‘free’ is deceptively used to capture our attention, and too many had fallen victims to such dubious claims.

But recently I personally had come across a case where everything is just what it says – that’s it is all for free! I am not joking, I wasn’t taken for a ride. I was not cheated of anything, in fact, I came away most happy.

Are you interested? Do you want to know what it is all about? Just write to me through the email and I will let you have the secret. I am not out to sell you something, nor is it my intention to recruit you for some scheme. It is purely to share with you something I myself have found to be beneficial.

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Sudden Change in Personality.

When you are in a foreign land and happen to find yourself getting a good bargain for the things you are buying how do you normally feel? Do you feel exhilarated and just relish your good fortune, or do you feel proud of your  haggling skill?   Or are you just grateful that the strength your country’s currency is strong that it could give you this advantage?

Or do you react like what most people do, they have a sudden change in their personalities! They suddenly turn into small birds and start chirping (cheap, cheap, cheap) away. By so doing they not only lose their chances of getting bargains the next times they come around the same places, they are also making the costs of things to increase for the local residents.

So, please you happy birds, don’t be carried away,  please be watchful where you chirp, lest you cause hardship for others!

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“Soap Opera” … How did it originate?

Back to Tony Wootton and Gwen Zantottera and their book,  ” By Hook and by Crook “. The saying taken for post today is ” Soap Opera” which should be familiar to most, as television stations the world over are spending millions upon millions to outdo each other to gain top spots for their own ’soap operas’.

SOAP OPERA

“This dates back to the nineteen thirties and forties when the idea of having daily series on the radio started in America. Each day the story ended with melodramatic suspense and listeners had to wait until the next day to see the outcome of that particular part of the plot.

In America, radio was sponsored by advertising and it was the soap companies who sponsored these daily serials, which became known as soap operas.”

In the past, the soap operas were serials on radio. Nowadays we have soap operas on the television sets. But the listeners and the tv audiences have not change that much. The addiction is still the same.

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‘Sleep Tight’ … How did it originate?

It has been quite some time that I have taken something from the book “By Hook or by Crook” to pass it along. Today the phrase is “Sleep Tight” and Tony Wootton and Gwen Zonzotterra explain:-

SLEEP  TIGHT

In Elizabethan times, beds were often made of a wooden frame supported on legs and then rope was woven from side to side and from top to bottom of the frame. The rope supported the mattress and bedclothes, but sleeping for a time on this rope made it slack and this was uncomfortable. There was a wooden tool provided to pull the rope taut and this was much more comfortable, in other words it was far better to sleep tight, which is why we now say, ‘Goodnight, sleep tight’.

Hope you enjoy the explanation given. Our ’sleeping tight’ is definitely more comfortable than the ’sleeping tight’  they experienced in the Elizabethan times. If we were to sleep in the same type of beds, it would not be our sleep that will be tight, our bodies would be the parts that will feel the tightness!

Am grateful for the modern beds, aren’t you?

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“Stop Gap” … How did it originate?

Here Tony and Gwen, tell us how this phrase came about. For those new to my blog, Tony Wootton and Gwen Zanzottera are the authors of the book, “By Hook or by Crook” from which this and many of the phrases that I’ve posted were taken.

STOP GAP

“The opening on a bread oven was known as the ‘gap’ and the separate door – which was only used while the bread was cooking – was known as a ’stop’ or ’stop-gap’.

From this, a stop gap has come to mean anything which is a temporary closure, or a temporary measure.”

How sad  stop gap doesn’t mean stopping the ‘yak, yak, yak”. Maybe we can introduce the new usage. If we use it often enough we might succeed.

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“Spooning” … How did it originate?

Here we see Tony Wootton and Gwen Zanzottera give their take on the phrase – “Spooning”. You can get explanations for many more of the English sayings in their book, “By Hook or by Crook”. I got the book when I visited Stratford-upon-Avon last August.

SPOONING

“In Elizabethan times, when a young man went to ‘court’ a girl, he would have to sit with her in the family home, usually under the watchful eyes of her father. The young man would be given a piece of wood which he would have to carve into a spoon, with intricate and romantic patterns on.

This was a love spoon, which he would present to his bride on their wedding day, and so the process of courtship was known as spooning.“

Would you fancy your carving skill tested by your father-in-law? Am glad I don’t have to go through the process. But on second thought, it might be good, for then,  I would be forced to pick up a new skill. You won’t know when it may prove to be handy. But I would first make sure that the piece of wood is not too long or big. I wouldn’t want it to be turn into a weapon by the wife.

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“Teetotal” … how did it originate?

From their book -”By Hook Or By Crook”- Tony Wootton and Gwen Zanzottera bring us the origin of “Teetotal”. From it you can see even a stutter can contribute something of universal usage.

“Teetotal”

“This is a word which describes someone who does not drink, in the other words who practices total abstinence from alcohol.

In the mid nineteenth century, Richard Turner of Preston was a great believer in total abstinence and a member of the Temperance Society. However, he had a bad stutter and when asked what he advocated, he said t-t-total abstinence and as people made fun of him, the word teetotal evolved.”

Some phrases have very odd origins, hope you enjoy reading about them. For the next week or so, I have scheduled some more phrase from the same source for your reading pleasure.

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Allowing Embarassment to turn into Anger

In our daily lives, there are countless occasions when we let embarrassment turns into anger. In more instances than we care to admit, we intentionally allow it to become so.

True to our human nature, we do not like to lose face, we are prone to do anything to save face in embarrassing and unpleasant situations, so we let embarrassment turn into anger to save ourselves from such awkward situations. By so doing we may think we have found a way out but in reality we have not achieved our misguided motive. We thought we had altered the situations to save ourselves embarrassment but,  in actual fact, nothing had changed. Others could see through it all. It may have achieved the reverse, now others may have more contempt for us or, at least,  have less respect for us.

On deeper contemplation, it clearly shows this may not be a good move. When anger is released someone else is going to get hurt, when hurt is the consequence, then the move cannot be considered a wise move.  It is also not a wise move as we are trying to avoid the truth, we are glossing over the matters at hand to avoid embarrassment. And we may also be causing unhappiness, emotional distress; creating animosity and sowing discord.

Hope I have learn enough to cope with embarrassing and awkward situations and to bear the embarrassment myself. This will be good for me for I would have learn personal responsibility.

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Malacca in Full Splendor.

During the Chinese New Year period, Historic Malacca was all decked out in its best for all – the locals and the visitors.

Skillful craftsmen from China were invited here to construct this beautiful and huge dragon for display and to bring the real feel of the Chinese Festival to the City. It certainly achieved  the objective admirably.

The whole City were lighted up – not only on the roads, but also along a large part of the Malacca River. If you really wish to enjoy the beauty of it all, it would be advisable to take a tour at night. The temperature is nice and cool as the Northerly Wind cools the place down.

Enjoy a slow stroll around the City or take a boat cruise up and down the river. There are plenty of  things for you to photograph and admire.If you fancy different varieties of food, this is also the place to satisfy your taste buds.

Welcome to Historic Malacca!

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The Entertainment Jetty

Eyes-On-Malaysia

Menara Taming Sari

The Malacca River by night

The Dragon

The Dragon Head

The Full Dragon

The Night Scene – Malacca River

The Clock Tower and Surrounding

The Water Wheel

The Jonker Walk

The Riverside Road All Lighted Up

“Swinging The Lead” …. how did it originate?

We turn to Tony Wootton and Gwen Zanzottera again to help out. In their book -’By Hook Or By Crook’ – they tell us how this English phrase came into being.

“Swinging The Lead”

In the early days of navigation, it was essential to find the depth of the water, particularly nearer the land. The way to do this was to drop a rope over the side of the ship. The rope was knotted at fathom intervals and there was a lead weight at the bottom pf the rope to ensure that it went to the bottom, and didn’t just go with the current of the water.

A lazy sailor wouldn’t just throw the rope over the side, but would waste time by swinging the lead backwards and forwards several times.”

This phrase is not of common usage nowadays, but may be used more in the navigation circle,  but no harm adding this to our reservoir of knowledge.

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What is most feared is coming true in the US.

Following Obama’s election as president there was a pervasive feeling of euphoria in the US. But behind this feeling is the people’s hope of better things to come.  They were celebrating the chance for change. They were sick of being despised as a nation around the world and they want to regain their past glory. The gloom of the advancing economic crisis were hanging over their heads and they felt Obama is the one who can best deliver this change.

These are reasonable expectations but what may not be reasonable may be the expectation that the change be delivered in the time-frame they have expected. The extent of the economic ills facing the US were and still are beyond anyone’s grasp.

Secondly, the solutions that Obama may offer need to be passed by the both Houses of Congress. This is a major obstacle/hindrance to what Obama may want to do. Most, if not all, the congressmen and senators may have their nation’s interests at heart but they are also political animals. As such, their actions and their votes may obstruct good legislation and the will of Obama to bring the changes he thinks are right for the nation.

Thirdly, each voter has his own agenda and interests. Many a time, these are not based on sound baisis and expectations. Though Obama won with a large majority, there were many Americans who did not vote for him. Within this group, there are many who are waiting to see him fail. Many in this group have the means to make Obama look bad. They are in positions of power and influence, many of them hold influential positions in the media industry and thus are able to trumpet his failings and magnify his mistakes.

Fourthly, the news media is a ‘good-weather’ friend, -  fairness, reasonableness, impartiality, objectivity and candor are not its strong points. It eagerly waits for bad news so that that they can be magnified and sensationalised. What it cares more is to gain top spot. More often than not, they sacrifce good judgment for being the ‘first’.

With all these factors working within the scenario, what is feared for here seems to be coming true . You just have to watch the news coming out of the US to see that this is so. The high expectations, the different basis in which these expectations are based, coupled witht the conficting motives of Obama’s oppponents are creating frustration in passage of the necessary legislations.

I am not an American so what I am saying I say it for the good of the US, not for Obama.

Hope there are more reasonable Americans than those who are impatient and unreasonable. ‘Rome was not built in a day” – nor would the ills be solved so soon. It may need more than a year or two. Patience and the will to be reasonable is called for.

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Tens of Thousands are losing their Jobs Daily.

It is sad to see things are getting worse and worse by the days instead of better. This depressing scenario is being played out in every country around the globe. Today, even President Obama admits that the problems facing the United States are worse and more complicated than he himself had anticipated.

Organisations in the developed and developing countries around the world are enforcing pay cuts on thousands of their employees. Large organisations in the industrialized nations have laid-off or are considering huge scale lay-offs of tens of thousands of employees.

For families facing pay-cuts, this means they have to face greatly shrunken paychecks.  Smaller paychecks can only mean reduced spending capabilities. For the many families which have lost their jobs, they not only have to face no more paychecks, they now have to dip into their savings to meet their basic daily needs. The lifestyle and spending habits of these families would be altered beyond recognition.

When money is scarce and the future looks bleak, widespread miseries, pain, distress, anguish, anxieties would fall upon the affected  these families.  Their countless dreams and hopes would be shattered, so would their plans be aborted. This harsh and uninvited circumstance brings on emotional turbulence of monumental proportion only those facing the grim situation can truly appreciate.

Even in such unsettling time, there are those who are fortunate enough to still  have jobs to go back to,  there are also those who still have businesses to run.  There are also many who still have  spare cash to tie them over this dire period. People in these three groups are the fortunate ones. Good fortune has to be shared, and it is more imperative it be so in such turbulent time.

To share meaningfully the good fortune, a change in our individual attitude is needed. This attitude has not been our normal way of behavior, so if we wish to make sharing the good fortune our responsibility, then we would have to mindfully cultivate it.

In such bruising environment, feelings have been hurt, spirits have  weakened and emotions have been dulled, many people have become dispirited.  So even if the intention is noble, the implementation should be done cautiously and with careful consideration. Feelings of the affected parties should not be injured further, even if it is done unintentionally.

Those who wish to share need to keep their eyes and ears opened especially in public places so as to be alert enough to spot opportunities and openings that will allow them to render help.

The world, especially the children, now can do with some comfort, happiness and joy. Let us do what we can  to spread these uplifting  qualities.

Be on a look out for people who may be in need of a helping hand. Use your better judgment to ferret out the type of assistance required but remember to tread with caution, do render the help with lots of forethought and finesse.

Generally, be more generous with our smiles and our ‘hellos’, let the warm and the friendliness radiate more freely.

Come visit again. Thank you.

Paying Homage and being Thankful.

Today every Hokkien (those originating from Fujian province in China) household around the world will be busy making preparations to pray to the Jade Emperor God. Tonight they will pray to the god, paying homage to him, thanking him for saving the Hokkien race from annihilation and for the good things they have enjoyed over the past year. Legend has it that to escape being wiped out by a persecuting general the Hokkien ancestors went into the sugar-cane plantation to hide. The day they emerged from hiding fell on the Jade Emperor God’s birthday, each year after that all Hokkien mark the day with prayers and paying homage to the Emperor God.

So we can take this day as the Thanksgiving Day of the all Hokkiens.

The present generation of the Hokkiens would do well to treat this day as a day of Thanksgiving not only to the Emperor Jade God but to all  who have benefited them, one way or another, in their lives.

Thanks are due to :-

- The Jade Emperor God,

- the farmers who planted the sugarcane,

- the elders who had the presence of mind to lead the Hokkien ancestors to seek refuge in the sugarcane plantation,

- the generations of ancestors who perpetuated the lineage,

- the ancestors who have the courage and foresight to venture overseas to seek a better lives for the present descendants,

The present Hokkiens have the following to be thankful :-

- their parents who have worked hard to provide them the security and the education,

- the countries which have given their ancestors and the subsequent generations a better livelihood,

- the companies that have provided jobs to countless Hokkiens throughout the years,

- the teachers that have nurtured all the Hokkiens throughout the centuries,

Good fortunes, good life, good families, good children, and all things good should be appreciated. Mindfulness to remain grateful should be cultivated.

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Wherever you may wander…

Many young people of college age are now departing their hometowns and leaving their parents to complete their studies.  For many, this will be the first time they will be staying on their own, away from total parental supervision. They will having their first taste of freedom. Now they can do what they want, be with who they wish, free to choose when to study and when not to study. They can now choose to sleep to their hearts content, and are free to strew their clothes all over the room. There will not be anyone around to check on how late they stay out, or what time they go to bed.  They are their own masters now, no one at all to pester them to study. And free from any requests to help around or to run errands for dads and moms.

It is a brand new world for them – no more nagging, no more watchful eyes on every movement, and no more restrictions of one kind or another.

With words unspoken, the parents’ hopes are pinned on them .  They secretly harbor the hope of that their sons or daughters  concentrate on their studies and do well. In their hearts they pray their off-springs behave and stay out of trouble, that they don’t mix with the wrong company and that they somehow know how to take care of themselves. Most of all, each parent fervently prays that the freedom will not be abused and that the youths will learn restraint and be mindful of their responsibilities.

But in truth, it is not only their hopes that go with the children. Actually a great part of them goes with the children  – no matter where the youths may wander, the minds and the hearts of the parents go with the young people though physically they may remain at home.

Hope this little message will stay with the young people – hope they learn to adjust and don’t s stray too far and remember the love that is in their parents’ hearts will forever remain the same. It is also hope they don’t neglect to call back once in a while to cheer, comfort and relieve their parents of anxieties.

Understand your parents sacrifice something they want for themselves to give you this education, please make good use of the opportunities.

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