Bill Gates -11 things not learnt in schools‏

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school.

He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your Self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: TV/Gaming is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. If you agree, pass it on. If you don't agree stick your head in the sand and take a deep breath!


If you can read this - Thank a teacher! If you can read this in English thank a soldier!!!
Source: Internet / Picture: University of Minnesota


"Every man's road in life is marked by the graves of his personal likings." Alexander Smith

没有做不到的事, 只有想不到的事

Studies tell us that only 3% of people in the USA set goals, and they are among the wealthiest people in the nation! Worldwide, the percentage is probably lower. Why is this percentage so low? There are several reasons, but the one that concerns the most is the lack of know-how. When we ask people why they don’t set goals they often say, “I don’t know how.”


Here are the setting steps (adapted) to help realise your goals.

Step 1. Dream! Let your imagination run wild while you fill up a blank sheet of paper with everything you want to be, do or have... By dreaming you instill hope for your future, and with hope there’s possibility. Your list should include about what you want to be, do or have.

Step 2. After you complete your list, wait 24 to 48 hours and read each item on your list and answer the question: Why? If you can’t verbalize in one sentence why you want to be, do or have this dream, then it’s not a dream and it won’ become a goal. Cross it off your list.

Step 3: Ask the following five questions of every dream on the dream List you created.

1. Is it really my goal?
2. Is it morally right and fair to everyone concerned?
3. Is it consistent with my other goals?
4. Can I emotionally commit myself to finish this goal?
5. Can I “see” myself reaching this goal? (Visionise)

You must answer “yes” to all five questions for each goal, or cross that goal off your dream list.

Here are some questions to ponder:
- Is it really my goal or is it a goal someone else wants me to pursue?
- Is it the right thing to do?
- Will achieving this goal distract from achieving other goals?
- Are you sure you can make the commitment to pursue this goal and see it through?
- If you can’t “see” yourself reaching this goal, you probably won’t.

Step 4: Ask the following seven questions of every dream that remains on your dream List (or goals list).

Will reaching this goal . . .
1. make me happier?
2. make me healthier?
3. make me more prosperous?
4. win me more friends?
5. give me peace of mind?
6. make me more secure?
7. improve my relationships with others?

If you can’t answer “Yes” to at least one of these questions for each goal, eliminate that goal from your list. Be sure to consider your family when you answer these questions. And do not confuse pleasure with happiness!

Step 5: After asking the questions posted in Step 4 you will have eliminated some of your "goals". Maybe these are not really goals, just thoughts or desires at this point, so you’re better off without them.

Step 6: Separate your remaining list of goals into one of three categories:

1. Short-term (one month or less to achieve this goal)
2. Mid-term (one month to one year to achieve this goal)
3. Long-term (one year or more to achieve this goal).

This step will help you quickly determine whether or not you have a balanced perspective between what needs to be done now, versus your dreams for the future.

Remember:
- Goals must be BIG to make you stretch and grow to your full potential.
- Goals must be long-range to keep you on track.
- Goals must also be small, thus you can work on daily to keep you disciplined.
- Goals must be on going to reduce the possibility of short-range frustrations.
- Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Related to their job, and Time-specific.

Step 7: After specifically identifying your goals, write them down! It is important that you have a written list of your specific goals. Then you will begin to do the daily, weekly action steps that will take you closer to achieving that goal. Be selective. You may not be able to work on all of your goals at one time! Don't over do it. If you only have time to complete one or two goals for the remainder of this year, don’t apologize. Do a little bit more than you think you can, but do not overextend your time to the point that you don’t complete any of your goals. Do not get frustrated by the process! Work the system and it will work for you... Trust the system.

Once you have identified your goals and plotted the activities that you intend to do to fulfill your goals, pat yourself on the back! You have just spent more time planning your future than most of your friends, relatives or associates will ever invest! Good for you.


Adapted from an article by Ziglar
"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." Jackie Joyner-Kersee Multiple Olympic Gold Medal Champion

Choco Pham's First Presentation

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."

Thomas Edison
1847-1931, Inventor and Entrepreneur

The Model Woman

Mrs. Kwa Geok Choo - the woman behind MM Lee

While Mrs Lee Kuan Yew was an intensely private person, much could be gleaned from the snippets of observation made of her by the media, heads of state and other political figures, as well as members of the public and even the remarks that she made to her husband as she accompanied him during his travels and public functions during their 63 years of marriage.

Here is a compilation of quotes that gives us more insight into her character:-
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, on how he was a "kept man" during Parliament in 1985:
"Over the years, I've been a kept man. My wife keeps the family."

Mr Lee on her character:
"She's a very caring person, very staid, very caring; she's not frivolous and does not like to socialise, which saves a lot of time".

When asked if she (Mrs Lee) ever had disagreements with Mr Lee in email interviews, she replied:
" Would you believe me if I say we never disagree or quarrel? Fortunately, these are over little matters. Kuan Yew leaves household decisions to me. Family matters have not been a problem."

Then United States President Richard Nixon's compliment to her devotion and loyalty to her husband in 1973:
President Nixon: "Mrs Lee, tell me, is it true that you were No. 1 in the class at Cambridge Law School and your husband was No. 2?
Mrs Lee: "Mr President, do you think he would have married me if that were the case?"

Mrs Lee, on a visit to Kuala Lumpur in 1976:
"I walk two steps behind my husband like a good Asian wife."

Manila Times, observed in 1971 that Mrs Lee was "almost like an invisible entity, unlike other first ladies.

Ms Deborah Barker, daughter of former law minister Eddie Barker on Mrs Lee:
"My father felt that she had very good judgement, and he would go to her for advice on important personal matters".

Wife of former Old Guard minister Jek Yeun Thong:
"To me, Mrs Lee was a humble and courteous person, straightforward with no airs or pretences".

Mrs Elisa Chew, tailor on Mrs Lee:
"She would always greet me when she came into the store, and was even willing to take a photograph with me".

Mr Lee in his memoirs, recounted his wife as the disciplinarian of the house:
"She brought them up well-mannered and self-disciplined".

Mr Chng Jit Koon, 76, former senior minister of state (community development):
"MM Lee is a person who wants everything to be perfect. If there is something not right, he will be angry, especially during his younger days. Of course, those who got scolding would feel very bad, but Mrs Lee would quietly go to the side and tell them, 'Never mind; he is like that' don't take it to heart'."

MM Lee bent over his wife's casket to bid her goodbye. He stretched his hand to touch her, put his fingers to his lips and placed a kiss on her forehead, twice.


"Any marriages would be better if the husband and wife clearly understood that they’re on the same side." Zig Ziglar

Why Successful Women Fail With Men







Source: Diva

Liang Zhi Hu Die

Develop Great Relationships Over A Lifetime

"The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are." Stephen R. Covey

Amused

真爱是不放弃

"因为想到你比我更脆弱，我就要比你更坚强。因为想到你已经受了苦，却因为有了我的扶持而感到安慰，所以我就要好好活着，让你有所依靠。"吴佩琪

Photo: Rosemarie

"Because when I think of you being more fragile than I am, I've to be stronger for you. And when I think of your sufferings, I've the consolation you have felt comforted by enabling care. I cherish my life, so you'll have me to rely on."

When one is pessimistic one tends to view, say or do things in negative ways... if only communications is everything but...

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." Mary Pickford

"Keeping love alive should be like the way you live your life." Vanessa Paradis

"I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn't give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you." Harrison Ford

Thinker; Doer; Teacher

Dr. Goh Keng Swee

"He who has ambition will do his best in order to satisfy himself. He will stick to his work and see that he is the best man that ever has done their work."

"I don't mind a guy making mistakes but I can't stand idiots and when people refuse to learn."

"Because I think my effectiveness depends on whether I can make a contribution in terms of analysing a problem and telling them that these are the priorities or that is the way of doing it, or whatever. If they accept it, and they find me useful, okay, I carry on. If after some time they say, ‘Look, what you are saying is absolute rubbish,’ then you just hang up your gloves and call it a day."

"...the most important thing is, we are able to meet the deadline. Our deadline in the sense that we are able to provide power, adequate power...."

"So long as they felt that you had done your best, they were content even if you failed to help them at times."

His practical sense: Understanding problem meant identifying the specifics of the dynamics generating it.


"To me, spontaneously is a sign of respect. But if people show indiffernece or leave their personal assistants to handle things, then I know they are insincere."

"If you do things out of love, it is a pleasure and not a chore." Mre. Goh-Dr. Phua Swee Liang.

100 best-paying jobs in Singapore

1. Specialised surgeon – $30,755
2. Managing director – $24,472
3. General surgeon – $17,872
4. Commodities futures broker – $17,464
5. General manager – $16,667
6. Company director – $15,513
7. Creative director (Advertising) – $13,000
8. Legal service manager – $12,318
9. Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $11,095
10. Operations manager (Finance) – $9,808

11. Legal officer – $9,790

12. Risk management manager – $9,600
13. Research and development manager – $9,385
14. Computer operations and network manager – $9,300
15. Training manager – $9,000
16. Computer and information systems manager – $8,930
17. Ship-master – $8,671
18. Technical manager – $8,595
19. Financial futures dealer and broker – $8,447
20. Personnel / Human resource manager – $8,420

21. Business development manager – $8,290
22. Corporate planning manager – $8,290
23. Fund manager – $8,125
24. Treasury manager – $8,079
25. Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $8,000
26. Marketing manager – $8,000
27. Power generation and distribution engineer – $7,848
28. Engineering manager – $7,819
29. Chemical engineer (Petroleum) – $7,678
30. Manufacturing plant and production manager – $7,645

31. Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) – $7,547
32. Advertising and public relations manager – $7,533
33. Advocate and solicitor – $7,500
34. Operations research analyst – $7,500
35. Business management consultant – $7,437
36. Procurement manager – $7,416
37. Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $7,400
38. Quality assurance manager – $7,263
39. Customer service manager – $7,142
40. Sales manager – $7,100

41. Logistics manager – $7,050
42. Operations manager (Commerce) – $6,862
43. Chemical engineering technician (Petroleum) – $6,696
44. Automation engineer – $6,680
45. Instrumentation engineer – $6,616
46. Book editor – $6,538
47. Surveyor – $6,523
48. Industrial health, safety and environment engineer – $6,503
49. Building architect – $6,500
50. Transport operations manager – $6,400

51. Editor (Newspapers and periodicals) – $6,369
52. Marine superintendent engineer – $6,340
53. Audio and video equipment engineer – $6,307
54. Premises maintenance manager – $6,304
55. Personal banker – $6,250
56. Chemist – $6,241
57. Electrical engineering technician (High voltage) – $6,225
58. Business analyst – $6,205
59. General physician – $6,173
60. Administration manager – $6,150

61. Financial analyst – $6,000
62. Securities dealer and broker – $5,750
63. Shipping manager – $5,721
64. Building and construction project manager – $5,720
65. Property / Estate manager – $5,715
66. Physicist – $5,700
67. Editor (Radio, television and video) – $5,658
68. Information technology security specialist – $5,646
69. Advertising copywriter – $5,600
70. Director (Stage, film, television and radio) – $5,512

71. Automotive engineer – $5,500
72. Naval architect – $5,480
73. Chemical engineering technician (Petrochemicals) – $5,424
74. Chinese physician – $5,316
75. Financial planner – $5,283
76. Aeronautical engineer – $5,242
77. Chemical engineer (General) – $5,187
78. Broadcasting operations technician – $5,178
79. Market research analyst – $5,174
80. Producer / Director of commercials – $5,150


81. Manufacturing engineer – $5,137
82. Systems programmer – $5,111
83. Actuary – $5,100
84. Production engineer – $5,091
85. Sales representative (Technicial) – $5,089
86. Database administrator – $5,080
87. Semi-conductor engineer – $5,035
88. Mechanical engineer – $5,000
89. Ship rigger – $4,933
90. Systems designer and analyst – $4,914

91. Network systems and data communication analyst – $4,894
92. Sales representative (Medical and pharmaceutical products) – $4,857
93. Flight operations officer – $4,801
94. Civil engineer – $4,746
95. Script writer – $4,740
96. Warehousing manager – $4,706
97. Materials engineer – $4,689
98. Electrical engineer – $4,665
99. Credit analyst – $4,631
100. Electronics engineer – $4,615
MOM Release Date: 30 Jun 2008

“Analyzing what you haven't got as well as what you have is a necessary ingredient of a career.” Orison Swett Marden

學習英語

How to Learn English Well?

Please let me begin with "How Not to Learn English Well?", then we may all see more clearly why English has not been learned that well, at least for most of the English language learners.

We all know that English is not Chinese. Do we all know that? I believe we do. So, English cannot, for one thing, be learned in the same way as Chinese has been learned. Secondly, English should not be turned into Chinese, but into English, and English only. Only when we can turn hard English into easy English can we say we have learned English, at least some English. If we can turn English into Chinese, hard or easy, we are only reviewing Chinese.

Let us look at how our English has been learned since 1949, or perhaps, since 1900.

1. Grammar: When we talk about English grammar, we use Chinese, do we? A good example is the article in English grammar. Do we have any articles in Chinese? Yes, but not in Chinese grammar. Why do we use a Chinese word for the article in talking about English grammar? Isn't that a waste of time and a waste of English? I think so. If we want to learn English grammar, we need to use English words to learn English grammar, to talk about English grammar, so that at the same time, we are able to learn, at least, some English.

2. Vocabulary: How have we been learning English words? We turn all of them into Chinese, right? Is that called learning English? I don't think so. That is called "reviewing Chinese". We are using English to review our Chinese, in fact. When we learn an English word, we should be able to remember that English word, should be able to translated English into English, not Chinese, not even remember its Chinese equivalent. You know why? Translation is very difficult and can wait until we have learned English so well that we are able to think, speak, write, hear, read, and dream English like a native English speaker. Here is my question for all of you to ponder. All of you can translate any English you have learned so far into Chinese. Can you also translate all the Chinese you are able to use into English? The answer is, you cannot, and I cannot, either. Then, my conclusion is, we are not learning English, but reviewing Chinese by turning anything English into Chinese. When we speak English, we are not speaking English but "speaking Chinese with English words and some grammatical English sentences". And a grammatical English sentence does not mean it is really English. Am I not right?

3. Practice: We need to learn and use English. We all know that. But, how do we use English? If we think in Chinese and speak English, can we speak good English? I think not. English people think in English all the time and sometimes, also, make mistakes. If we think in Chinese, we even make mistakes in Chinese. How can we not make mistakes in English? If we want to use English, we have to think in English. That means when we read English, we do not translate into Chinese any more, but we remember the English, and translate English into simpler English we already know. That means when we hear English, we never turn it into Chinese in our Chinese brains, but remember the English, and only turn it into the little English we know. When we speak and write English, we, first of all, think in English, and think in English whatsoever we want to say or write about. That is what I call practice.

If we think in English, we will speak and write English. If we think in correct English, we will speak and write correct English. If we think in Chinese, we will speak and write Chinese, only after we have learned how to write Chinese characters. Can you all see what I am driving at? If we want to learn English well, English should come from mind to mouth, from man to manuscript.

We all learned something about physics and biology. We all know that thinking takes time. Can any of you think twice as fast as a native English speaker so that when he or she speaks English to you, you can translate into Chinese to understand, then think in Chinese what you want to say, then translate Chinese into English, and then say it? Do you think your listener has the time to wait for you?

In a nutshell, if we all want to learn English well, we have to use English, instead of Chinese, to learn English well, and never turn English into anything else that is not English. That is the only way to learn English well in a place where Chinese is the dominant language.

by Sinosophy (Adapted)


新加坡3类院校入学申请条件：
1.政府大学：高考分数1本录取分数线以上（如：清华，北大，复旦类大学录取分数线左右），雅思6分以上。
2.政府理工学院：高考500分左右，雅思5.5
3.私立学院：至少完成初中学业（如果非高中毕业学生则需读预科），雅思6分（如果没有雅思6分或不到6分，则需先读学校英文课程）
到新加坡怎么读O LEVEL
新加坡日常生活中的常用英文 Every Day English

"A man has no future if he does not read books, nor does a nation." Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao

KEYS FOR LIVING

1. The best way to get even is to forget...

2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death...

3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...

4. Some folks wear their halos much too tightly...

5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be
maintained on earth...


6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God isn't such a good idea!

7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up...

8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.

9. Words are windows to the heart.

10. A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.

11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill just add a little dirt.

12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person-it's being the right person.

13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.

14. Too many people offer God prayers, with claw marks all over them.

15. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.

17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive!

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck...

20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.

And last but not least -- God gave the angels Wings, and He gave humans CHOCOLATE.

"You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven."

Author Unknown

The Nature of Luv

“Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.”

“When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you... When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you... When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you... Now that I love you, I'm afraid to lose you.”

China's Ivy League Universities

University: China's top varsity and its first national university. Established in 1898, it is noted for producing luminaries such as the writer Lu Xun. It was also at the forefront of student movements, such as the May Fourth Movement and the 1989 Tiananmen protests.

Qinghua University: Alma mater of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-President Xi Jinping. The Beijing-based school is known for its business and engineering studies.

Fudan University: Widely viewed as China's top southern university, the Shanghai-based institution is highly regarded for physical sciences, social sciences and medicine.

Zhejiang University: Seen by Chinese students as the country's No. 4 university, after Beijing, Qinghua and Fudan. The Hangzhou-based college is rated highly in natural sciences and engineering.

Nanjing University: Established in AD258 under the Kingdom of Wu, it is one of the oldest universities in China. It is regarded as a pioneer in many fields, including literature, philosophy and history.

Shanghai Jiaotong University: Known for its engineering strength, the university counts former Chinese president Jiang Zemin and computer giant Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi among its alumni.

Harbin Institute of Technology: Famous for its military and space-related research. A key player in China's Shenzhou space project.

Xi'an Jiaotong University: The top university in China's western region. It is well regarded for its science and medicine programmes.

University of Science and Technology of China: The college in northern Anhui province is renowned for its science research. It is well-known, too, for its vice-president, physicist Fang Lizhi, whose liberal ideas inspired pro-democracy student protests in 1986 and 1989.
Source: TST
"疏食飲水，曲肱而枕，樂在其中矣。不義而富貴，于我如浮雲。" - Confucian



"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." George Washington Carver

Aim higher; Reach further

"Our work is the presentation of our capabilities." Edward Gibbon

"Languages make possible both the living of a common history, and also the telling of it." Nicholas Ostler
"There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no insurmountable barrier except our own inherent weakness of purpose." Elbert Hubbard 1856-1915, Writer and Publisher

"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." Pearl S. Buck





"When you develop your ability to balance your emotions, unexpected problems won't knock you off balance as easily, and you'll return more quickly to a positive outlook." Peggy McColl

Photos by: Jason Yeo ST

"The leading edge in evidence presentation is in science; the leading edge in beauty is in high art." Edward Tufte

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." Jim Rohn 1930-2009, Author and Speaker

Oral Skills

The oral exam is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge, your presentation/speaking skills, as well as your ability to communicate... Answers are often less exact (right/wrong), and value is added for problem solving analysis and method, as well as interpersonal communication and presentation.

Preparation
- Ask your teacher or lecturer what will be on the exam.
- Prepare . If you do not study, you will not do well.
- Write out questions you expect to be asked, then...
- Discuss answering techniques with people in the field or who have had the test.
- Practice answering with classmates.
- Practice in a similar setting, in front of a mirror, to evaluate your "manner".

The Exam
- Look and act professional! Create a good impression. Dress well and appropriately, turn off mobile phones and pagers
- Arrive at the location early to collect yourself and check out the situation
The exam begins the minute you walk in:
- Introduce yourself immediately; Give the instructor all of your attention; look interested and smile!
- Keep good posture and eye contact; If there are distractions (noise outside, etc,) you may mention your distraction and/or nervousness.
- Stay focused through the interview. Be an intelligent listener as well as talker.
- Do not ramble if you do not know an answer. Do not keep silence or stare blankly.
State directly that you do not know the answer but ask if you could outline how you would find the answer, solve the problem, or the method you would employ.
- Maintain your self-confidence and composure if you feel the interview is not going well. The interviewer may be testing you.
- Answer questions with more than "yes" or "no". Stress the positive and not the negative. Use two or three key points or examples to demonstrate your knowledge.
- Watch for signs that the test is over. (i.e., the interviewer looks at the clock, moves the chair back, or completes a set of questions)
- Ask if there is anything you could answer that would add to your evaluation.
- Thank the instructor.

Follow-up
- Summarise your performance; where you did well or poorly. Keep a written record.
- Note how you could do better for the next time. Note if there was a significant "event" during the interview.
- Do not hesitate to question or comment on either the material or your performance, however, do not challenge the teacher, but seek to understand your performance.
- If you have concerns about an inappropriate evaluation after raising concerns with your teacher, discuss them with that department's, or your school's, academic counseling center or a higher authority.

Adapted fm Source

Student with a Cause

He came, he engaged, he went forth... by having

over 1,000 musicians' copyrights protected.


Musician Pho Duc Phuong, Director of the Centre for Music Copyright Protection of Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge. With the three newly signed contracts on November 22, the Centre for Music Copyright Protection of Vietnam now has over 1,000 musician members.

The family of late musician Nguyen Van Khanh, musicians Nguyen Vinh Tien and Hong Kien are the latest people to entrust the centre to protect the copyrights of musical works.

Established four years ago, the centre has sold musical works to businesses in Vietnam and paid fees to musicians.

“Between 2002 and July 2006, the centre collected over VND5 billion ($312,500) from selling music copyrights and this sum of money has been paid to musicians,” revealed Pho Duc Phuong, the centre’s director.

However, this sum of money is still modest since copyright infringement is still popular in Vietnam.

The centre has very patiently discussed copyright fees with some restaurants, hotels and clubs in Hanoi like Blue Wave, Aladin, Seventeen, and New Century, to get their commitments to pay copyright fees. However, from the ‘agreement’ to pay to “payment’ is a great gap that requires great efforts.

The centre has signed bilateral contracts on music copyright protection with 16 countries and territories. Accordingly, firms that use foreign music works will also have to pay copyright fees.

The centre plans to collect music copyright fees from cafes, departments of transportation, supermarkets and restaurants in the near future.

(Source: VNE)


"Originality is undetected plagiarism." W. R. Inge

The tongue has the power of life and death

"People have inherent value and are to be honored no matter who they are."

Have you ever thought about the way you use your mouth and the results that you see from it? How the words you use affect both you and the others around you, which in turn produces results in your life, either positive or negative.

Here are 7 ways people sabotage themselves with their mouths and some ways to reverse that trend and create success for yourself.

Every time you open your mouth, is it the right thing to do?

With that said, here are the major problems people have with their mouths:

1. Gossip
This may be one of the most ubiquitous problems there is. People telling other people another person’s business. And it usually isn’t very good. Very rarely does anyone pass along “good gossip.”

The Result: Have you ever found out that someone passed along information about you? How did you feel? Exactly my point. Did you want to do business with them? Did you want to help them? Again, exactly my point. Stay away from the harmful effects of gossip, first for the other person’s sake, but ultimately for yours.

The Antidote: Never pass along gossip. If that person wants others to know, they will tell them. If you start a sentence with, “Did you hear about…” Chances are that you are walking on the edge. Watch your mouth!

2. Rumors
Rumors are even worse (if it can be so) than gossip because the person doesn’t even know if the information is true. Rumors are entirely reckless and do no good.

The Result: If you think people will dislike you, and stand in the way of your success, because of gossip, imagine how they will feel when they find out you were passing along untrue information about them! You will lose your friends pretty quickly.

The Antidote: If you choose to never gossip then you will never pass along rumors either, which is good! Make it your policy to only speak good of others, especially when speaking to others about people. The old saying is true: If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all! In other words - Watch your mouth!

3. Lying
It is strange to me how parents teach their children to always tell the truth but many of them have for themselves a skewed understanding of what it means to tell the truth. The average person feels it is okay to sometimes lie. The only problem with this is that lying, for whatever reason, can only do one thing: Break trust.

The Result: People will not trust you. They will wonder if you are telling the truth. They will stay away from you when they know they need to count on someone.

But even worse in my mind is that you will not be able to trust yourself. When we lie we teach ourselves that we are not trustworthy. The other person may never know, but we will. And ultimately that hurts us and stands in the way of our success.

The Antidote: Always tell the truth. But what if someone doesn’t like what I have to say? I didn’t say you have to be a jerk, but being an adult means developing relationships wherein you can tell the truth to someone, in a respectful way, and still have a relationship.

So yes, commit to speaking the truth to people at all times. If it is a tough situation, then do it with even more respect. Or, an alternative is to simply say, “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this.” In all things - Watch your mouth!

4. Put downs
Most normal people aren’t too bad at blatant put downs. Where I see more of a problem is the back-handed compliment. Or the behind-the-back put down. But still there are people who have no problem speaking in tones and words that put down others and degrade them, for whatever reason.

The Result: When you are a person who regularly puts down others, people will have the same reaction: The will run, not walk, from you. People simply do not want to be around others who speak this way.

And they will not only not help you along, they will, out of their hurt, actively oppose your advancement. So if you want to cut your success short, speak ill of others.

The Antidote: Only speak good of others. If they have a negative point, focus instead on the good points. Talk about their strengths, not their weaknesses. Tell them what is good about them, not what is bad about them. Watch your mouth!

5. Poor-mouthing
I am always amazed at what I call “Poor-mouthing.” Rich people do it. Poor people do it. This is when you talk about how poor you are and why you can’t afford anything. The actuality that I have found is that those who poor mouth CAN afford what they are talking about, they just don’t want to.

The Result: When people poor-mouth, a few things happen. First, you confirm your poverty mentality. This hurts you. Second, people begin to be disgusted by you, especially if they know how much you make and they think you should be able to afford it. They will begin to roll their eyes at you and disrespect you.

If we really can’t afford something, just don’t mention anything at all. The last thing is for someone to start playing the violins for our sob story.

The Antidote: Don’t talk about how you can’t afford something. What would you be trying to accomplish anyway? If you can’t afford something, keep quiet.

Now you may ask what to do if you are invited to something and you can’t afford it. Respectfully decline. You don’t owe anyone an excuse. Just apologize and say that you will be unable to attend but that you hope to do something with them in the near future. Keep positive and watch your mouth!

6. Bragging
You know the type. Every sentence begins with “I….” The guy whose middle name is “Let me tell you a story about myself.” The woman who has to top every story of yours. After a while all you hear is “Blah, blah, blah.” Bragging is usually based in insecurity and most people don’t even know they are doing it. That is unfortunate.

The Result: Braggers usually have a few different results. One, people try to cut them down to size. Two, they avoid them. Three, they may sit there looking attentive but are inside of their minds making plans for the weekend. It is all they can do to keep their eyes from rolling back in their head.

The Antidote: Humility. Start as few sentences as possible with “I.” Let somebody else’s story be the best one. Ask questions about other people for a change. If they try to turn the conversation onto you, turn it back on to them! Don’t brag - watch your mouth!

7. Cussing
Not much needs to be said here. We all know what this is. I am still surprised by how many people cuss and even in a business situation. In my mind, it simply is intolerable. I don’t know why someone would cuss anymore than tell an off-color joke, but they do.

The Result: People cringe. More than that, cussing makes people question your judgment. A boss will wonder whether or not you are going to offend someone when he sends you on a sales call. Or a business associate may be reticent to make an introduction to someone else for you. Cussing isn’t good. It makes you come off as crass and low class.

The Antidote: Keep your language clean. Squeaky clean. Keep all bad language out. The big question is: What will it hurt to keep it clean? But it can hurt to say something you may regret later. No one will complain because you can't talk well, but they may complain about your cussing. To put it another way - watch your mouth!


Checklist
Have you ever done a “watch your mouth” checklist and then worked on your weaknesses? If not, here is one for you:

Do you gossip?
Do you pass along or start rumors?
Do you lie?
Are you given to put-downs?
Do you poor-mouth?
Are you a braggart?
Do you cuss?
Do you bad signs?

Take some time to think about these things. If you can keep your mouth in good shape and not only avoid the bad ways of speaking but master the good ways of speaking, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful person!

Hey you - watch your mouth!

Because if you do, you will achieve your dreams!

This article is by Chris Widener

China; 60 Years On.

Pic: Todayonline

Good Goverance: The institution not the personality.

Famous advice on Ethics

"We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practise, and another which we practise but seldom preach." Bertrand Russell 1872-1970, British philosopher and mathematician

"To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage." Confucius 551BC - 479BC, Chinese philosopher, The Analects, Book II, Chapter XXIV

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business." Henry Ford 1863 – 1947, American industrialist

"If ethics are poor at the top, that behavior is copied down through the organization." Robert Noyce, inventor of the silicon chip

"I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession a duty." John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 1839-1937, American entrepreneur

"There is no such thing as business ethics. There is only one kind - you have to adhere to the highest standards." Marvin Bower, former managing partner of McKinsey & Company

"Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right." Isaac Asimow 1920 - 1992, Russian writer and scientist

"Corporation, n., An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility." Ambrose Bierce 1842-1914, American columnist, The Devils Dictionary 1906

"The higher the buildings, the lower the morals." Noel Coward 1899-1973, English actor, dramatist, & songwriter

"Relativity applies to physics, not ethics." Albert Einstein 1879-1955; German-born American theoretical physicist

"We may pretend that we are basically moral people who make mistakes, but the whole of history proves otherwise." Terry Hands 1941-, British theatre and opera director

"You can get everything money will buy without a lick of character, but you can't get any of the things money won't buy-happiness, joy, peace of mind, winning relationships, etc. -- without character." Zig Ziglar