Lunar Reunion

"When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree." Vietnamese Quote

陈潇的剩余人生店

She sells her 'life' on the Net By LIEW HANQING
MEET the woman who's selling "the rest of her life"on the Internet. Miss Chen Xiao, a 25-year-old Beijing native, started her unusual online business last month on auction website Taobao.com.

Her online shop is aptly named "Chen Xiao's remaining life shop". (Chen Xiao của cửa hàng còn lại cuộc sống)

Miss Chen wrote in her online mission statement: "People can sell their personal time. Planning my time is your right. Completing your tasks is my mission."

On the site, she sells time slots - ranging from eight-minute to one-day slots - where she offers to perform any service, except "sex, porn, violence and anything illegal".

People who wish to book Miss Chen for an assignment need only to log on to her auction site, send her a description of the intended task and the estimated time the task will take, and,upon her approval, send her payment.

Business has been brisk - in just a month, she has sold more than 80 time slots, and made as much as 2,000 yuan ($436) in a single day. Her auctions have attracted more than 9,000 views each.

In a write-up on her site, Miss Chen explained her rationale for setting up her unusual business: "Life has no meaning... I want to change my lifestyle - so I'll let you plan the rest of my life."

To prove her sincerity, Miss Chen posted her personal information, including her online messenger ID, e-mail address and phone number on the website, along with a recently-taken passport photograph.

The response to her online auctions was almost immediate.

Her first assignment, which came just a few days after her online store was set up, was to "pose triumphantly" for a photograph and post it online.

Then came several other assignments: To photograph a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, to get herself photographed at the entrances of Beijing University and Tsinghua University, and to have a bowl of noodles at a well-known food outlet.

It seems Miss Chen has taken all her assignments seriously, diligently completing each task as instructed.

This shows in the feedback her "clients" have left on her profile on the auction site.

One netizen, who booked Miss Chen for eight minutes, wrote: "An intelligent, beautiful woman, deserving of praise. I hope you find meaning and purpose in life."

Varied & Interesting
Another commented: "Thank you for finishing my assignment. Take care of your health, and I hope you will keep doing this for a long time."

Miss Chen's assignments have been interesting and varied.

She has been tasked with picking up people from various locations, delivering coffee, buying train tickets, delivering meals for beggars and sampling food on behalf of netizens.

Miss Chen told technology website tech163.com that even though she has received some harassing e-mails ever since she set up her website, most of the people who contact her are "friendly and sincere".

Her most lucrative assignment was a 2,000-yuan assignment, where she was asked to collect pictures of smiling people for a charity event.

Some maybe skeptical about the longevity of her business, but she has become a mini-celebrity in cyberspace in just over a month.

In a forum post on a popular Chinese website, one netizen wrote: "As long as it's nothing illegal, this is a really creative form of business.

"She'll get to experience different things, and every day is new and unexpected."

Added another netizen: "Even if this just a gimmick, it's a heartwarming, fun one. She's made cyberspace a little more personal and warm with her small business."

- TNP


"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." Lewis L. Dunnington

Japan learns English from Obama speech textbook

TOKYO - President-elect Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan - as an aid to learning English.

Obama's Speech: 'A More Perfect Union'

An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama" (website), has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.

Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.

"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English, because their contents are good and their words are easy to catch," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.

"Obama's is especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," he said.

Speeches by President George W. Bush and former nominee John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same appeal, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians, Yamamoto said.

"In Japan, we don't have politicians who have such a positive influence. That's why we have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes."

The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries, in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.

The 1,050 yen (S$17) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website.

"Readers have sent in postcards saying that when they heard the speeches, they were so moved and cried even though they don't understand English very well," Yamamoto said.

He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.

Following Obama's inauguration on Tuesday, Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.

By Yoko Kubota (Adapted)


"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." Barack Obama

"We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent." Barack Obama

"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential." Barack Obama

Best ways to make extra money

Question: I'm a college student, and I've been reading your articles online. I receive a weekly allowance from my parents, and with the tough times these days, sometimes it's not enough. And in a few weeks, tuition for the second semester will be due and I wish I could help with that. What can a student like me do? Jong C.

Answer: In the US, it's not unusual for children to earn some extra money. Some young children sell lemonade, while the older ones offer services like babysitting, dog walking, lawn mowing, and newspaper delivery.

Here in the Philippines, most students focus on their studies. However, opportunities also abound for the student to find some extra money, and some college students, have in fact taken advantage of them.

There are many ways you can do to make some extra money. The best thing to do is to start first by assessing your talents and gifts. What are you good at? Below are some ideas:

1. Emceeing: If you have the gift of gab, you may emcee at events (even wedding programs) for a fee.
2. Singing/Dancing: If you sing/dance well, you can gather a group of friends and sing/dance at parties, again for a fee.
3. Cooking: Are you good in cooking? Then whip up some food specialty, package it well, and sell it as a gift item...
4. Trading: Buy stuff you like from wholesale suppliers (examples: clothes, accessories, etc.) and sell these in bazaars or even through websites. Many enterprising students do business online through sites like Multiply, and they do well.
5. Coaching: If you excel in one sport, you might be interested in coaching sports teams for grade school kids. Sports programs that need coaches include soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
6. Writing: Think you have a knack for words? Consider contributing to the youth section of your favorite newspaper, where you will get paid for every article that gets published.
7. Scrapbooking: Some people want to have scrapbooks but do not have time to make them. Network with scrapbooking clubs as they offer this service to interested people.
8. Editing: Edit other students' papers for a fee, but don't make the mistake of doing the writing for them.
9. Dog breeding: If you like pets, consider breeding dogs with the help of your family.
10. Modeling. People with the look, flair and style can earn much by modeling for print and TV ads. Check out legitimate modeling agencies for more info.

These are just some of the things a college student may do. The possibilities are endless; just look at what you have. It's important to bank on your talents and gifts so working will not be a chore. It will instead be something you enjoy and look forward to doing outside class hours. But be sure your work will not affect your studies.

So you're earning; now what?
Let's say you have zeroed in on a way to earn more income. There are some things you should keep in mind if you want your earnings to be maximized.

1. Save. Because times are hard, and because you want to be financially secure someday, make it a habit to save at least 10 percent of your extra income. If you can commit to save more, so much the better. Deposit this in a savings account under your name, and don't touch it as much as possible.

2. Invest. Savings accounts give only a small amount of interest as compared to other forms of investment. When you have enough in your savings account to make the minimum investment required, move some of your money to a time deposit which will give you a higher rate of interest in return for you keeping your money in the bank for an agreed term (30 days, 90 days, 1 year, 5 years - it's up to you).

There's also another way to let this money earn more: by investing in pooled funds like a mutual fund or a unit investment trust fund. There's some risk involved as market values of investments go down, but with it comes the possibility of earning more. Study this option and talk to a bank officer, financial adviser, and your parents about it.

3. Limit your spending. It's nice to spend what one has earned, but if you spend for unnecessary stuff, you may end up with hardly nothing at all. Use your money wisely by prioritizing your needs. Steer clear of buying branded goods and expensive gadgets. If you can live with simpler stuff, do so. Your friends love you for who you are, not for what you own.

INQUIRER.net and Citibank invite readers to ask questions regarding financial matters. Send your questions to personal_finance@inquirer.net or comment through our personal finance blog called MoneySmarts: The Value of $8.00)

*Disclaimer: Readers are solely responsible for their own investment decisions and should thus conduct their own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice. INQUIRER.net will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained from our web site. INQUIRER.net receives no compensation of any kind from companies or industries or funds that are mentioned here.

(This is part of Take Charge of Your Money, a partnership between INQUIRER.net and Citibank to help readers handle their personal finances well.)

"Nothing endures but personal qualities." Walt Whitman

Climbing the world's biggest trees

Science writer Richard Preston talks about some of the most enormous living beings on the planet, the giant trees of the US Pacific Northwest. Growing from a tiny seed, they support vast ecosystems -- and are still, largely, a mystery.

"One hesitates because he feels inferior, another is busy making mistakes and becoming superior."

"Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf." Native American

"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite." Bertrand Russell

"We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Henry David Thoreau

Measures

MEASURES keys to success in place-based learning by James Lewicki (Adapted)

Measurable lifelong-learning skills are embedded in an academic core. These include the skills to:

- follow an interest with a passion
- be able to precisely observe, record, and analyze data
- be a tenacious learner
- demonstrate effective collaborative skills
- recognize and utilize dynamic systems
- develop an intellectual balance of skepticism and openness
- use the power of intuition along with the discipline of deduction
- be able to cooperate through a shared dilemma
- draw conclusions independent of authority
- tolerate ambiguity
- select problem-solving strategies appropriate to a complex task

Effort is obvious and public.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." Mark Twain

Aligned with clear academic standards.
Open inquiry is active learning, and clear academic standards can keep a student focused.

Student opportunity for initiative, simply put, is endless.
"Practice precedes the possibility of observation and formulation; the results of practice must accumulate before mind has anything to observe." John Dewey

Understood by parents and the community.
Constantly bridging the gaps between school, home, and community is an active ingredient of a worthy place-based project. Parents, besides wanting to know what is learned, will often contribute to the learning itself.

Reflection time for establishment of meaning is built-in; preparatory project understanding is critical. Hands-on learning is only as powerful as the meaningfulness derived from all that activity. To be able to step back and ask, "What worked?" and "What didn't work?" can make all the difference.

Evidence is clear, credible, and compelling, leading to future endeavors. How can you prove to me that you know something? Show me, demonstrate, explain so that I can learn, and -- above all -- convince me that what you accomplished with that place-based project moved you forward in your understanding of the world. Finally, a completed project, in the end, will bring up more questions than it answers.

Sustainable learning beyond the expectations of adults, for learning's sake itself.
Sandi's poem ->
Have You Ever . . . ?
Have you ever stopped to look
to see what you could see?
Have you ever really wondered,
what maybe could be?
Have you ever sneaked a glance,
at wild birds in the sky?
Have you ever seen a stand of oaks
and stopped to wonder why?
Have you ever seen a river,
a-winding off afar?
Have you ever walked upon a ridge,
and wondered where you are?
Have you ever counted colors,
as you strolled along the way?
Have you ever witnessed fall,
and its colorful array?
Have you ever stopped to look,
to see what you could see?
Have you ever really wondered,
how it changes you and me?

"Desire is creation, is the magical element in that process. If there were an instrument by which to measure desire, one could foretell achievement." Willa Cather

Naughtiness at school; failure in life

They are likelier to end up with dud jobs and poor health. - AFP

PARIS - CHILDREN who badly misbehave in school are likelier to end up with a dud job, poor mental health, teen pregnancy or divorce, according to a British study published on Friday.

The paper, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), provides statistical backing for teachers who sound warnings about anti-social behaviour, its authors say.

It draws on an exceptionally long-term investigation, launched among 3,652 Britons who were born in 1946. With their consent, these volunteers have been monitored at occasional intervals since their birth, filling in questionnaires about their health, family and professional life.

At the ages of 13 and 15, this group was assessed by their teachers, who were asked to grade their behaviour as having severe, mild or no conduct problems.

A total of 9.5 per cent of the teenagers were identified as having severe problems; 28.8 per cent had mild problems; and 61.7 per cent no problems.

Forty years later, the follow up inquiry found a clear link between misbehaviour at school and difficulties in adult life.

"Adolescent misconduct might adversely affect developing social behaviours and result in pervasive social and mental health difficulties throughout adult life." the paper suggests.

"青年期不端行将会有威力不利地影响在成人生活中弥漫的社会行为和精神健康困难结果。"

"Thanh niên vi sai trái có thể ảnh hưởng bất lợi đến phát triển xã hội và hành vi kết quả pervasive trong xã hội và sức khỏe tâm thần dành cho người lớn những khó khăn trong suốt cuộc đời."

Compared with those with no conduct problems at school, those who severely misbehaved were twice as likely to become a parent before the age of 20; likelier to get divorced or have relationship problems with spouses, children or friends; four times likelier to leave school with no qualifications, and twice as likely to be in a manual job or unemployed.

Problems in life also extended, but to a lesser degree, to those with milder forms of misbehaviour.

Males accounted for 62.6 per cent of those with severe behavioural problems at school and 54.8 per cent of those with mild problems. If the father had a manual job, this too was a major factor among teenagers in these categories.

The study is led by Ian Colman, an assistant professor of public health at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Prof Colman says the study provides a useful guide for focusing resources to help teenagers whose behaviour could prove costly both to themselves in adulthood, and to society.

He admits that the study has some limitations - there are no data to explain why children misbehaved, for instance.

On the other hand, the teachers' assessment was a good indicator of a child's risk of delinquency, and a better guide than the parents' own assessment, he argues.


FIVE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Dolores Mirabella (Adapted)
1. Communication:
a) Read and listen actively to learn and communicate.
b) Speak and write effectively for personal, academic and workplace purposes.
2) Human Relations:
a) Use social interactive skills to work in groups effectively.
3) Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving:
a) Think critically in evaluating information, solving problems, and making decisions.
4) Technology:
a) Select the appropriate use of technological tools for personal, academic, and career tasks.
5) Personal Responsibility:
a) Be motivated and able to continue learning and adapt to change.
b) Value one's own skills, abilities, ideas, and art.
c) Take pride in one's work.
d) Manage personal health and safety.


"I tend to be attracted to characters who are up against a wall with very few alternatives. And the film then becomes an examination of how they cope with very few options. And that's, I guess, what interests me in terms of human behavior." William Friedkin

Young & Jobless

College Relationship

"Every year, a diverse mix of students from all over the world make their way to Singapore. Singapore offers world-class education, which is industry-relevant and prepares students for an international career. With more than 7,000 multinational corporations (MNCs) alongside 100,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) having set up their base in Singapore, students can look forward to excellent professional networking as well as job opportunities in one of the best business environments in Asia. Today, there are over 86,000 international students from 120 nationalities studying in Singapore... " Ms. Rebecca Lim, Area Director, West India, Singapore Tourism Board.


"ATTiTUdE: BELiEVE it, you will sEE it."

"You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going."

10, 000 hours

There are several myths about success:

1. Hard working entrepreneur pulls himself up by his bootstraps, works hard at an original idea for a few years, and becomes a hugely successful businessman. But there are many hard working entrepreneurs who never make it.

2. Born into the right family with the right connections and a fancy college education, an heir or heiress parlays their grandfather’s business into a huge multi-billion dollar company. But there are many people born into money that lose or squander it all.

3. Lucky all her life, she got all the right breaks, and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. But not everyone is lucky 100 percent of the time.

"To truly master any skill, he suggests, leaning on various pieces of research, requires about 10,000 concentrated hours. If you can get those hours in early, and be in a position to exploit them, then you are an outlier." Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, has a new book coming out called Outliers: The Story of Success.

"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut." Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that 'achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.'" Helen Hayes (1900 - 1993)

"People can be divided into two classes: those who go ahead and do something, and those who sit still and inquire, 'Why wasn't it done the other way?'" Oliver Wendell Holmes

Why I dropped out of school

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Thirteen-year-old Michael Losion works as a greasing-boy for a contractor. The mild-mannered Kadazandusun packs a solid handshake and was proud of the job he got a month ago.

"I help to grease the 'Case' and 'Hitachi'. I hope to become a driver," said Michael, pointing to the bulldozer and excavator that he helps to service as an apprentice to his uncle, the mechanic.

He doesn't want to talk about school. After finishing Year Six at SK Rompon in Tambunan, Michael left school.

"I don't know," when pressed on why he quit, but he pledges to ensure his four younger siblings continue schooling.

Pinda Dula, the village chief of Saliku Sumatalun, a remote Murut village in Pensiangan that takes two days to reach by road, river and footpath from here, offers a reason why rural children in Sabah quit school.

"They tell me they cannot catch up with the other children and feel sidelined."

Majunjum Ambiloh of Lumpagas, also in Pensiangan, said most villages did not have schools.

"We have to leave our children in makeshift hostels looked after by teachers, friends or relatives. Some can go through it but others might not.

"I had to stay with my child for over a month when she started school.

"The school is four hours by boat from our home," he said.

Living in hostels far from home also makes these rural children easy prey for bullies.

Anthony Simon, 19, recalls being bullied when he was at the SM Datuk Peter Mojuntin hostel in Penampang. After Form One, he decided to quit.

"I was beaten up for no reason, mocked by others and did terribly in my studies. I did not have anyone to turn to," he said.

Social worker Henry Kassim, a Murut from Saliku Sumatalun, said he was fortunate to have been "rescued" by a teacher at SM Nabawan, Penampang.

"Bullies forced me to flee the school but a teacher caught me as I was escaping from the hostel and took me to his home.

"Things could have been different if the teacher did not take me in."

New Straits Times

"Respect yourself, respect your time, your resources, your knowledge and your company."

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement." Anatole France

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." Anne Frank

"Your ability to learn faster than your competition is your only sustainable competitive advantage." "快速学习能力会是你竞争所能承受的优势。" "Khả năng của bạn để tìm hiểu nhanh hơn của bạn cạnh tranh của bạn là chỉ có lợi thế cạnh tranh bền vững." Arie de Gues

No Pain, No Gain

Ever wonder why you aren't getting anywhere? Then, have your attitude redefined playfully... by JK.

1) Work Smart 爭氣 Làm việc khó khăn
Hard on the effort NOT on yourself

2) Just Do It 索性 chỉ Làm
Wanna do, Stoppa doubt

3) Go for the Kill 一乘势意 Về cho giết
Focus, focus, focus.

4) Up Your Stake 桩注 trên của bạn stake
Seize the moment; grab the break

5) Never Say Die 天無絕人之路 Không bao giờ nói chết
Your thoughts; your destiny

6) Go Deep 深入 Về sâu
A 100ft tree’s not shy.

7) Fear and Pride 恐惧与傲慢 Sợ hãi và Pride
Lose them.

8) Avoid Mental Games 避玩手腕 Tránh tâm thần trò chơi
You won’t have time, anyway.

"You can't 'try' to do things. You simply 'must' do things."

The Practice of Leadership 成功人士的秘密 US $ 1 triệu jackpot

"You cannot escape the results of your thoughts. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration." James Allen

"If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought for yourself, I have indeed added to your stature." Elbert Hubbard

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

Your Worth in $