Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Old Days of the Tay Brothers
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Delicateness Of Life
Well, my brother and I are going for an Ethos debate camp in June. This is my second one while it's my brother's first debate camp.
For the exhibition debate, my topic is "Banning physical punishment of children" and my brother is debating on legalizing organ sale. My brother's topic brought me sadness because I remembered how I lost one of my closest cousins to heart failure on February 9, 2007. She was only 21 years and two months. (She was born in December) Although she had been suffering heart failure for three and a half years, she passed away so suddenly that I couldn't believe she was dead.
That Friday night, I was at home cell playing with my friends while the adults had a discussion. My mom then received a call from my maid saying that my cousin had collapsed at home and was being sent to hospital. My parents fetched my brother and me home before rushing to the hospital. I remember that it was already 12 midnight. We went to sleep that night, praying for our cousin. We did not think that it was really serious, although we felt a bit anxious. Trying to be optimistic, I expected her to be discharged the next morning.
The first thing I heard in the morning was the sound of crying. My maid crying. I brushed it off, thinking that my maid must be crying over some family problems, as she always did. A few moments later, she ran into the room and broke the news to me: my cousin had passed on. Immediately, I started sobbing and stumbled to the living room where I found my mother on the phone, tears streaking down her cheeks. It was one of the few times I witnessed my mother cry. (My cousin was very close to my mother.)
I went for the wake, but due to my young age of nine at that time, I was not allowed to go for the cremation. I thank God that my cousin had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was now in heaven with Him. However, the question still rings in my head, "Would she have been saved by an organ transplant?"
This incident also taught me that we must live our life as if Jesus will take us home the next day. The frailty of life is very real. We may get called home tomorrow. My cousin impacted many lives and as a result, she left a lasting legacy. Due to her condition, she knew that she may die the next day, thus she gave her best in everything. She was a straight-A student in NUS and even committed time to serve in her church's Sunday school. Thank God for such a wonderful cousin!
For the exhibition debate, my topic is "Banning physical punishment of children" and my brother is debating on legalizing organ sale. My brother's topic brought me sadness because I remembered how I lost one of my closest cousins to heart failure on February 9, 2007. She was only 21 years and two months. (She was born in December) Although she had been suffering heart failure for three and a half years, she passed away so suddenly that I couldn't believe she was dead.
That Friday night, I was at home cell playing with my friends while the adults had a discussion. My mom then received a call from my maid saying that my cousin had collapsed at home and was being sent to hospital. My parents fetched my brother and me home before rushing to the hospital. I remember that it was already 12 midnight. We went to sleep that night, praying for our cousin. We did not think that it was really serious, although we felt a bit anxious. Trying to be optimistic, I expected her to be discharged the next morning.
The first thing I heard in the morning was the sound of crying. My maid crying. I brushed it off, thinking that my maid must be crying over some family problems, as she always did. A few moments later, she ran into the room and broke the news to me: my cousin had passed on. Immediately, I started sobbing and stumbled to the living room where I found my mother on the phone, tears streaking down her cheeks. It was one of the few times I witnessed my mother cry. (My cousin was very close to my mother.)
I went for the wake, but due to my young age of nine at that time, I was not allowed to go for the cremation. I thank God that my cousin had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was now in heaven with Him. However, the question still rings in my head, "Would she have been saved by an organ transplant?"
This incident also taught me that we must live our life as if Jesus will take us home the next day. The frailty of life is very real. We may get called home tomorrow. My cousin impacted many lives and as a result, she left a lasting legacy. Due to her condition, she knew that she may die the next day, thus she gave her best in everything. She was a straight-A student in NUS and even committed time to serve in her church's Sunday school. Thank God for such a wonderful cousin!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Tay Family
Slacking Around In Melbourne
View From The Grampian Highlands (In Victoria, Australia)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Monster In Me
The bad news: whenever I become extremely angry, I become a sort of monster. A monster who enjoys hurting people, who shows no remorse for his wrongs, who screams like some heavy-metal singer, etc.
The secret side of me that few has seen. A secret side that I try to kill and contain.
Forgiving people is a priority in trying to contain this monster. Although forgiving is hard, it is necessary in not letting the monster out.
Unfortunately, it's becoming harder to contain this monster. Stress, frustration, anger, all contribute to this. Sometimes, certain aspects of this monster's character surface when I become angry.
A lot of people think this a joke. They think that I'm cute when I'm "angry." Actually, I'm not angry at that time. Wait till they see him. Wait till they see what I become when I'm really angry. Wait till they see what he can do.
I am horrified by the damage that this beast has done. I can't believe that it resides in me, a dark side of me.
Warning signs of me becoming very angry: Clenched fists until veins start to show, not talking to anybody, keeping to myself, breathing very loudly, talking like I want to kill someone.
Signs of the monster: smashing stuff, throwing things, screaming really loud, snarling like a beast, talking like I'm screaming heavy metal, etc.
When you see this signs get away from me!!!! Best of all, don't provoke me! In that state, I can do something very drastic. I don't want anyone to get hurt.
The secret side of me that few has seen. A secret side that I try to kill and contain.
Forgiving people is a priority in trying to contain this monster. Although forgiving is hard, it is necessary in not letting the monster out.
Unfortunately, it's becoming harder to contain this monster. Stress, frustration, anger, all contribute to this. Sometimes, certain aspects of this monster's character surface when I become angry.
A lot of people think this a joke. They think that I'm cute when I'm "angry." Actually, I'm not angry at that time. Wait till they see him. Wait till they see what I become when I'm really angry. Wait till they see what he can do.
I am horrified by the damage that this beast has done. I can't believe that it resides in me, a dark side of me.
Warning signs of me becoming very angry: Clenched fists until veins start to show, not talking to anybody, keeping to myself, breathing very loudly, talking like I want to kill someone.
Signs of the monster: smashing stuff, throwing things, screaming really loud, snarling like a beast, talking like I'm screaming heavy metal, etc.
When you see this signs get away from me!!!! Best of all, don't provoke me! In that state, I can do something very drastic. I don't want anyone to get hurt.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Melbourne Movie Trailer
Elliott's Birthday
Friday, May 11, 2012
Ice-Cream At the Little Ice Cream Kafe
Having ice-cream last month when celebrating my grandma's baptism, my aunt's birthday, my completing of my Grade 9, etc. We had lunch at Aston's before that. Those are my cousins, Shannon and Marcus. My brother is the dude with the orange shirt sitting at the extreme left.
Family is very important!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Historical Sources and Accounts
Historians study historical sources. (Evidently) Historical sources are separated into two different categories: primary sources and secondary sources.
Primary sources are sources produced during the time period being studied, and they are often produced by the people involved in the events being studied.
Secondary sources are records that explain or interpret primary sources.
There are three kinds of primary sources: artifacts, tradition, and written records.
Artifacts are objects made by man. Historians study artifacts to learn about the background and culture of a people. Artifacts may be small relics, massive monuments, or priceless works of art. Most artifacts are unsophisticated, everyday items. E.g. pottery, tools, weapons, furniture, cutlery, clothes, etc.
Tradition was the earliest method of transmitting historical data. It simply involves the handing down of information by word of mouth from generation to generation. The downsides of tradition is that it is subject to embellishing of many, can be forgotten, can be changed, can be exaggerated, etc.
Written records are the most important to a historian as they give clearer testimonies than artifacts and are more accurate and reliable than traditions. They are prolific and vary from one to another. They include letters, journals, diaries, inscriptions, inventory lists, etc.
In order to produce a historical account from primary and secondary sources, a historian must utilize three steps.
1) Evaluation of historical sources. A historian must examine a specific record of its reliability and believability. Then he compares it to other sources like it, analyzing their points of agreement and disagreement.
2) Historical synthesis. A historian collects the useful information he has found in his inspections and constructs an account of the past.
3) Historical interpretation. A historian needs to interpret the events he records by integrating into that account what he believes is the meaning and importance of those events. He must state what happened, why it happened, and how it relates to us today.
Primary sources are sources produced during the time period being studied, and they are often produced by the people involved in the events being studied.
Secondary sources are records that explain or interpret primary sources.
There are three kinds of primary sources: artifacts, tradition, and written records.
Artifacts are objects made by man. Historians study artifacts to learn about the background and culture of a people. Artifacts may be small relics, massive monuments, or priceless works of art. Most artifacts are unsophisticated, everyday items. E.g. pottery, tools, weapons, furniture, cutlery, clothes, etc.
Tradition was the earliest method of transmitting historical data. It simply involves the handing down of information by word of mouth from generation to generation. The downsides of tradition is that it is subject to embellishing of many, can be forgotten, can be changed, can be exaggerated, etc.
Written records are the most important to a historian as they give clearer testimonies than artifacts and are more accurate and reliable than traditions. They are prolific and vary from one to another. They include letters, journals, diaries, inscriptions, inventory lists, etc.
In order to produce a historical account from primary and secondary sources, a historian must utilize three steps.
1) Evaluation of historical sources. A historian must examine a specific record of its reliability and believability. Then he compares it to other sources like it, analyzing their points of agreement and disagreement.
2) Historical synthesis. A historian collects the useful information he has found in his inspections and constructs an account of the past.
3) Historical interpretation. A historian needs to interpret the events he records by integrating into that account what he believes is the meaning and importance of those events. He must state what happened, why it happened, and how it relates to us today.
Debating
Debating is an art. It requires the ability to think on your feet, good speaking skills, the ability to get your point across, rebutting prowess, among many others.
I love debating because I love debating. (Very profound, eh?) Yes. Debating has the thrill and excitement that everyday life cannot give. Debating helps you develop certain skills, like how to do your research properly in order to assemble a water-tight case. Debate helps you to argue better with people and win the argument. (Something I like to do.) Debate also trains your wit, helping you answer or rebut questions/statements with humor. (Another thing I like to do.)
Debate also helps you in your studies. Researching on certain information for the debate motion may provide you with certain details which may be beneficial to your education. Imagine being able to stump people with knowledge beyond theirs! What a sweet thing!
So take up debate today!
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