~ World's Greatest Magician ~

Each day passes like a blur,

What are we really looking for ?

We strive towards something,

Telling ourselves that we have to strive,

Strive for the sake of that something,

It's something that keeps us motivated,

Keeps us going,

Keeps us alive,

Finally we're capable of getting that something,

But alas,

That something is already gone,

Nowhere to be found,

Have you heard about the story of The World's Greatest Magician ?

Life is just cruel that way.

Can you hear me ?

Are you still with me ?

Or have you disappeared without me noticing ?

~ Caladium, Violet & Rosemary ~

Just another ring update.

~ Caladium ~

~ Violet ~

~ Rosemary ~

~ D.U.M.B ~

I am not the smartest person alive. I admit that. As a matter of fact, I'm very, Very, VERY far from being the smartest person alive. Yet, I find this really, really stupid. You contradict your own words, and that show nothing but your stupidity.

Case 1:
To improve the grades of the students in the English exam, the management has decided to come out with scopes for the students. And mind you, the scopes are very precise. This is a 'genius' move. I mean, come on. I don't believe any of us had much scopes in exam. And although not all of us did extremely well, nonetheless, we passed the exams. Alright, so moving on. Scopes given and students being students, memorized the whole essay and wrote exactly the same thing in the exam. And the management decided to ask us:

"Why do all the students have the same essay?"

Duh, it's cos you gave the same scope to everybody? Ok, never mind that. Then the management decided to deduct 10 out of 30 marks from the students' essay. Another 'genius' move. You gave the scope and you deduct the marks. How smart is that? So my students were unhappy and thus went to the Head of Academic Department. And this was roughly the conversation that took place:

Student: Why are our marks deducted?
Head: Because you memorize the essay. Memorizing is the same as cheating.
Student: In that case, what about History? If memorizing = cheating, then should we hand in blank answer sheets? (the Head teaches History)
Head: (speechless) This has nothing to do with me. Go complain to the Academic Department.
Student: But you're the Head of Academic Department. Why should we talk to the small fry when they'll refer back to you? We might as well come straight to you.
Head: (speechless) This is you teacher's fault. Go and ask your teacher to apologize to you.
Student: Our teacher is just a teacher. She is merely carrying out orders which the management gave. Why should she apologize when she did nothing wrong?

The Head then got really pissed and asked my students to get out of the office without the problem being solved.


Case 2:
Teachers were asked to set up an interactive page on a certain website. Now let me be honest. The website is expensive, having to pay several Ks a year to maintain it. It's not practical. It crashes when 20 people sign in together at once. How dumb is that? Not to mention, it takes a very long time to upload a very small file. And in the midst of uploading, the thing would crash or hang or lag and everything is gone. I have to re-do everything from scratch. So not only it is expensive and time consuming, it is also not practical. So I resorted to using Facebook instead. I uploaded everything that I need up there into a group, and my students download the files if they need them. It's fast, and its FREE. And the best of all, convenient, since we can comment straight away below the post (instead of having to log in into the forum just to leave 1 pathetic comment). Now, a few days ago, we were suppose to present the page/website. Naturally, I have nothing to present but my projects in Facebook. The Head was not satisfied and would not allow me to present what I've done. This is her argument:

1. Facebook is for Communication, not Education.
2. Facebook has no counter (to see how many people actually viewed the page).
3. How do you know if the student did the exercise? What if they did what you wanted but never left a comment?

And these are my answers. Of course, as usual, no one wants to listen to it. Or even gave me a chance to explain myself.

1. Facebook is for communication, yes. I agree to that. But communication and education are linked together. HOW do you educate if you do not communicate? Can anyone tell me that?
2. Why is the counter important? This is not some contest to see how many people log in and out from the page! If numbers are that important, then ok, I'll just ask my students to log in and then log out again from the website, EVERYDAY. That should give you a number that you'll be satisfied with at the end of the month. Pfft.
3. Lastly, the same thing goes for the website. What if the student saw the post but never bothered to log in the forum to leave a comment. And even if they do log in, like what I said earlier. They might login but don't do anything, and log out again.

I don't mind if you disagree with my way of doing things. But at least give me some solid reasons for not doing it. But if you're only giving me some half-witted comments. Then I'm sorry. I CANNOT and would not respect what you said. You will only make me look down on you even more. There is 1 quote that is very true:

Respect is earned, NOT GIVEN.

Some people look fine when they keep their mouth shut,

But when they open their mouth,

Every inch of their good image is shattered.

~ Ring Upgrade ~

Getting couple points has been made a lot easier recently, thanks to the garden. Almost no one is tagging anymore. Since the couple points hit the quotas so easily, everybody has been upgrading their rings like nobody's business. Including me XD

~ Aster ~

~ Freesia ~

And the most recent one:
~ Asphodelus ~

I like the next ring alot. Caladium ~ It's purple XD

~ Cinnamon Akasaka ~

Veen with Floral Design

Tengii with Mixture of Peacock Feather Look-alike Design

Me with slightly gothic design.



Thanks to our Lobhie for the great handiwork.

*** Ended up not playing Monopoly at all =( ***

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Last of all, I have no one else or place to say this to. So I'm going to say it here:

<3 Cinnamon Akasaka

And no, Cinnamon Akasaka is not some kind of food or candy =_=

Some things can't be expressed with words,

That's why human beings have other senses,

Because some things are just not meant to be said.

Tatoo This =_=

I don't like to scold my students if possible.

It's tiring.

It makes my throat sore.

And nobody listens.

Plus, I think they're old enough to think for themselves.

I also would not like my car to be scratched.

Or tyres to be punctured, thank you very much.

It's kind of pointless, so I gave up scolding.

Except in certain cases where I absolutely can't stand it anymore.

I also realized a long time ago that I have another weakness.

Soft - hearted.

Allow me to demonstrate.

Scenario 1

Me: Where is your book ?
Student: Sorry lahhh teacherrrrrrrrrr ~~~ (puppy dog eyes)
Me: =_= (walks off)

Scenario 2
Me: Where is your homework ?
Student: Forgot to bring.
Me: Ok, deduct marks.
Student: Don't like that lahhhh teacherrrrrrrrrr ~~~ (puppy dog eyes)
Me: =_= (walks off)

Scenario 3

Me: Ok, continue your chatter. No movie today.
Students 1: Don't lahhhh teacherrrrrrr ~~~~ (puppy dog eyes)
Student 2: We're very tired ~~~~~ (puppy dog eyes)
All: Ya loh teacher. On lahhhhh ~~~~ (puppy dog eyes)
Me: =_= (ons movie)

Can you see the pattern ?

And yes.

The students come with those dragging voices too.

Meleret - leret voices.

I feel this expression is really suitable for me nowadays.

=_=

I should consider it getting tatooed on me =_=

~ Lunch + Boredom ~

~ Spaghetti with Chicken Sausages, Ham & Black Olives ~

~ Lunch: Spaghetti and Egg Salad ~
I know they don't exactly go along.
But heck, I was craving for egg salad =)

Skittles
Why are there more Reds ?
Because I <3 Reds and always save them for later.
And yes, I was bored out of my wits when I did this =_=