Recruiter Roundtable: Job Resolutions for 2008

A-Reform series--Backward Design

• Forward thinking backward design
  This is the pdf file.
• “BACKWARD DESIGN”
• Backward design link
• Designing a Unit with Backward Design
• What is a good backward design ?
  This is a pdf file.
• Understanding by Design
  Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe
• 28 pages of Backward design on PDF file
  This is a pdf file link
• Chapter 1. What Is Backward Design?
• Backward Design steps [
• Creative thinking [
• Multiple Methods of Assessment [
• Innovative teaching--backward design [
• Principles of Backward Design [
• Backward Design [

A-Reform series--Individual development plan [

• examples of individual lesson plans [
• Six Simple Steps to create outstanding development plans. [
• Catch the Wave: Six Training Trends [
• Teacher I D plan [
  This is a pdf file site.
• Guidelines for Reviewing, Approving, and Endorsing Individual Professional [
• I D plan 5 [
  This is a pdf file site.
• Individual Development Plans - Notes for Guidance and Step-by-Step Guide [: uncle05]
• Teacher Development - PD Planning - Sample Personal Professional Developmen [
• I D Plan 4
  This is a pdf file site.
• I D Plan 3
  This site has doc and pdf files for download.
• Career Action Plan Worksheet
• I D plan 2
  This is a pdf file site.
• Using IDPs to Leverage Strengths
• I D plan 1
• I D Plan
  This is a pdf file site.
• MOE of Ontario, Canada
• Individual Development Plans-- [

A-Reform series--Knowledge Management [[

• K M Forum [
  This is a forum on K M
• K M Theory This is a padf file site.
• KM models etc [multiple artilces on management
• Knowledge Management [
  from wiki
• Knowledge Management: Everyone Benefits by Sharing Information [
• KM Benefits Tree [
• The Benefits of Knowledge Management - Results of... [
• WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KM ? [
• The Knowledge Management Advantage [
• KM Homepage [
  This is a slide site.
• Where did knowledge management come from? [
• Misconceptions and the History of Knowledge Management [
• "History of knowledge management" [

A-Reform series--M Fullen [
[

• Why Is Change So Painful & Freightening? [
• change handout [
• Making Effective Reform: The Papers [
• Effective change... [
  This is a pdf file.
• Leading in a change of culture [
  This is a pdf file.
• Eight Basic Lessons of Change [
• Michael Fullan's Education change [
• The new meaning of educational change.
• Michael Fullan--Probing the Depths of Educational Reform [
• Why teachers must become change agents [This is a pdf file.
• Liverpool change experince [
  This is a pdf file.
• Paradigms shift [
  This is a pdf file
• Systemic Reform: Perspectives on Personalizing Education - September 1994 [uncle05]
  Change Has Changed: Implications for Implementation of Assessments from the Organizational Change Literature
• The Three Stories of Education Reform [
• Michael Fullan Presentation Comments [
• Forum [
  Leading professional learning: think 'system' and not 'individual school' if the goal is to fundamentally change the culture of schools
• School Improvement Network [
• Interview with Michael Fullan: Change agent [
• The latest ideas on school reform by Michael Fullan [
• M Fullen bio [

Classic Literature [

• TWENTY GREAT AMERICAN SHORT STORIES [
  AMERICAN LITERARY CLASSICS A CHAPTER A DAY
• The Complete Works by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) [
  Enjoy Poe's work.
• More E texts on classical literatures [
  Read more and enjoy your life.
• Story and poetry [Welcome to The Literature Network! We offer searchable online literature for the student, educator, or enthusiast. To find the work you're looking for start by looking through the author index. We currently have over 1900 full books and over 3000 short stories and poems by over 250 authors. Our quotations database has over 8500 quotes.
• Classical readers 2 [
  This Web site is dedicated to the short story and to those interested in reading light prose.
• Classical readers World famous classical short story.
• Ariadne [
  This is a piece of work from Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

Curriculum design

• Comprehensive Curriculum Planning: The Evangelisto Model [
• The Interdisciplinary Curriculum: [
• What is Curriculum? and What are the Types of Curriculum?
  Teachers are powerful people and keepers of the future. Help your students
• Theory and Models [
• Curriulum model
  This is a pdf file site.
• Multiple Intelligences: A Theory for Everyone [
• Chapter 6- Curriculum Theory [
• Curriculum Theories [
• curriculum theory and practice
• Curriculum: What Should Be Learned? [

Grammar [

• English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level [
• Grammar exercise 4
  Good for the teachers of English to copy the ideas.
• HUMOROUS GRAMMAR RULES [
• 11 ESSENTIAL RULES OF GRAMMAR
• English Grammar Help - Rules, Worksheets, Games, Quizzes, Exercises [
  ESL English grammar instruction, help, rules and practice including worksheets, exercises, quizzes, tense usage, grammar guides and charts and lesson plans
• English club [
  Many exercises.
• Grammar Test sites [
  English grammar structures and forms quizzes and tests for beginning, intermediate, upper and advanced level ESL EFL English classes and learners.
• E L Easton Grammar test
  Try it here for the tests.
• Quizzes and grammar [
  Various exercises can be found here.
• Guide to Grammar and Writing [
  Exercises
• English Grammar 3 [
  For references
• Grammar for Intermediate Level English Learners [
  English grammar learning for intermediate level learners includes English grammar explainations for basic grammar such as tenses, preposition use, adjectives and adverbs and more.
• Basic Grammar 2 [
  These basic English lessons provide the most important learning points for beginning level English learners. Use these 25 short lessons to study for tests, review basic English essentials, or check your understanding of the basics.
• Grammar and writing [
  Many tips and exercise.
• Grammar 101 [
  English Grammar 101 is an online instructional series for language arts classes, alternative education settings, home schooling, individual study, and ESL courses. Enter the home users
• More grammar items
  With almost a complete list of grammar.
• Basic Grammar
  You can try the intractive exercises.
• Crosswords fun [
  This site needs a Java programme as it is an intractive site.

I P A

• Listen to the sounds [
  The chart below contains the characters from the phonemic alphabet. Click on a symbol to hear the sound it represents.
• B B C IPA chart with sound [
  This is the site with all the sound and sound with Radio 1, 2, and 3 explaining the sounds.
• IPA [
  The exercises on the following pages are designed to give practice in using the International Phonetic Alphabet, an alphabet designed to be used in the transcription of human speech sounds. To obtain an empty chart for your practice This site has the lsitening and printing site for the symbols.
• The sounds of English and the International Phonetic Alphabet
  Has the mp3 format
• Learning the IPA for English [
• International Phonetic Alphabet for English [
• I PA Association [
  Has many back issues of Journal.
• Reference Guide to Phonetic Symbols and Applied Pronunciation Terminology [
  This guide provides the terminology used for describing the various English phonemes. For an explanation of the terminology used
• Reference Guide to Phonetic Symbols [
  As you probably know, phonetic symbols are a great help when it comes to learning to pronounce English words correctly. Any time you open a dictionary, you can find the correct pronunciation of words you don't know by looking at the phonetic pronunciation that follows the word. Unfortunately, learning the phonetic alphabet is not always the easiest thing to do.
• Phonetic Transcription [
  For students who have mastered the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) phonetic transcriptions can help improve their understanding of the importance of connected speech when speaking English.
• I P A [
  English is a West Germanic language related to Dutch, Frisian and German with a significant amount of vocabulary from French, Latin, Greek and many other languages.

Idiom

• Idioms 3 [
• Idioms 2 [
• English Zone Idioms
• Idioms 1 [
• American English Idioms [

language testing parts [

• T K T [
• A Look at the Progress of English Learner Students [
  The 2002 California English Language Development Test documents the progress of more than 1.3 million English learner students in the state. This reports summarizes student achievement as measured by the test and evaluates the rate at which students' English skills improve. On the whole, student progress is slow, although some groups of students appear to make rapid progress.
• The types of speaking assessment tasks used by Korean [
• English Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools [
  The new Standards of Learning are important because they set reasonable targets and expectations for what teachers need to teach and students need to learn. Clear, concise academic standards will let parents and teachers know what is expected of students, and each student's performance and achievement can be measured against the standards. This requirement provides greater accountability on the part of the public schools and gives the local school boards the autonomy and flexibility they need to offer programs that best meet the educational needs of students.

Listening [

• Randall's Cyber Listening Cafe Range from easy to Difficult and with exercise it. 4 star, strongly recommended.
• Animal Muddle [
  Listen to this poem about mixed-up animals.
• A B C radio [
• CNN video
  short video clips
• WDNG, USA [
• WAPI, USA

From the yahoogroup , to share with you.

 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THOSE OVER FORTY or FIFTY YEARS OLD

> 1. Focus on enjoying people, not on indulging in or accumulating material things.

> 2. Plan to spend whatever you have saved. You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about . By leaving anything, you may even cause more trouble when you are gone.

> 3. Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is only today that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.

> 4. Enjoy your grandchildren ( if you are blessed with any ) but don't be their full time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them! Don't have any guilt about refusing to baby sit anyone's kids, including your own grand kids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of child-rearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own off-springs.

> 5. Accept physical weakness, sickness and other physical pains. It is a part of the aging process. Enjoy whatever your health can allow.

> 6. Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late.

> 7. Just enjoy your life with your spouse, children, grandchildren and friends! People, who truly love you, love you for yourself, not for what you have. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery.

> 8. Forgive and accept forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others. Enjoy peace of mind and peace of soul.

> 9. Befriend death. It's a natural part of the life cycle. Don't be afraid of it. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourself not for death but for a new life with the Almighty.

> 10. Be at peace with your Creator. For... He is all you have after you leave this life.

The Star Online > Lifefocus

Saturday February 24, 2007

Spotty celebrities & me

Ever wanted to know what the moles on your face mean? Who knows, they might even bring you luck.  By DAPHNE LING 

Moles have long been recognised as a beauty mark. Many people generally do not care about their moles (or the lack thereof), but it can be quite interesting to delve into the study of moles and what they mean. 

A Chinese belief says that moles on the back signify trouble, while moles on the front are good luck. 

During one visit to Aquaria KLCC, I got my caricature done by an art student. He was concentrating on the task at hand, his eyebrows all furrowed, when suddenly, he looked up and asked: ?I>Nak saya masukkan semua tahi lalat ke? Sebab tahi lalat you memang banyak!?(Do you want me to include all your moles? Because you seriously have a lot!) 

I was dumbstruck, but later agreed to only include the more prominent ones. 

He was right though. I think I have about 10 moles on my face alone, some very tiny, but I lose count. 

Moles are also known as Melanocytic naevus, or nevi for short. They can be present at birth, or develop later in life. They however tend to disappear with age. According to some sources, moles have an average lifespan of 50 years! 

Moles are also more prevalent in fair-skinned people, and exposure to sunlight can make moles appear. 

They are not dangerous by nature, unless they begin to change in shape, size, colour, hurt or have a discharge. (See a doctor for any change in a mole.)  

Moles on the face are sometimes considered a beauty mark, especially near the eyes or lips. Famous people with moles include Cindy Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Goldie Hawn, and yes, Madonna. 

People who study moles (Molesophy) insist that the location, shape, size and colour indicate your character, and ultimately, your future.  

Moles on the ear, along with light-coloured moles, are considered lucky. According to my moles, I will lead a prosperous life, am well-settled, sensible, resilient, spirited, talented, honest, reliable, forthright, adventurous, love to travel (Yes, I do!), polite, and diligent. 

However, the mole on my heel indicates that I make a lot of enemies and am prone to losing friends.  

It is also said that people with moles on their cheeks are very serious. And seeing as I have four on my right cheek, that says something! 

I have yet to find out what the moles along my shoulder bone refer to. Any takers? 

What moles mean

Arms 

Moles on arms indicate that the person is polite, diligent and will lead a happy married life.  

If the mole is near the elbow, the man will need to struggle in life, and might also become a young widower.  

For a woman, her problems relate to her occupation. 

Armpits 

A mole under the left arm indicates a great struggle early in life, which is well rewarded. Wealth makes later years pleasurable. A mole under the right arm shows that you need to be alert and cautious in matters of security. 

Back 

People with moles on their back are unreliable. With them, you must ensure that all facts are available before you enter any business negotiation.  

Breast 

A mole on the right breast indicates laziness, which may affect family life. You need to be assertive about your needs to enjoy the love and comfort of children.  

A mole on the left breast belongs to active and energetic people, who generally get what they want in life. 

Buttocks 

People who have a mole on their buttocks are unambitious and will be reconciled to any mode of living. 

Cheek 

A mole on the cheek (either cheek) indicates a serious and studious person who has no interest in material pleasures. 

Chin 

A mole on either side of the chin indicates affectionate and caring people. These people adapt easily to any situation. They love travelling and respect the law of the land.  

They are also dedicated and conscientious workers and willingly accept responsibilities.  

Ear 

People who are born with a mole on the ear are generally considered lucky.  

Elbow  

People who have moles on their elbow love to travel. They are adventurous and spirited.  

Eye 

If the mole is located on the outer corner of the eye, this indicates that the person is honest, reliable and forthright.  

Eyebrow 

If a mole is located on the right eyebrow, it signifies that these people will have a highly active life and will be successful in all ventures.  

Finger 

People who have a mole on their finger are dishonest and tend to grossly exaggerate.  

Foot 

People with a mole on their foot are easy going and laid-back. They need to exercise to stay healthy. 

Forehead 

People who have a mole on their forehead will be prosperous and well settled in life  

Genitals 

Mole on genitals lead to sexual addiction  

Hand 

People who have a mole on the hand are talented and make a success of their lives. 

Heel 

People who possess a mole on their heel make enemies easily and are prone to losing friends. 

Hip 

A mole on any part of the hip except the buttocks signifies that these people are contented, resilient and spirited.  

Knee 

A mole on the right knee implies that you are a friendly person. A mole on the left knee signifies that you lead an extravagant lifestyle. 

Lips 

People with a mole on their lips always aspire to get ahead in life.  

Navel 

A man who has a mole on his navel will be lucky in life. A woman, who has the same, desires children. 

Neck 

If the mole is on the front of the neck, it signifies unexpected good fortune. If it is on either side of the neck, it indicates an unreasonable temperament. A mole on the back of the neck indicates a person抯 desire to lead a simple life. 

Nipple 

If a man has a mole on the nipple, it indicates a fickle nature. For a woman, it indicates that she is striving for social status. 

Nose 

A mole on the nose belongs to a person who will be a sincere friend and a hard-working individual.  

Shoulder 

A mole on the right shoulder indicates a sensible, industrious individual. 

Wrist 

A mole on the wrist indicates that the person is frugal, ingenious and dependable. ? www.sheetudeep.com/moles.html

 A good teacher is a class act

January 26 2003    

My first teaching round almost killed me. Or should I say, almost killed her, and imprisoned me. "Don't step on their toes, be as helpful as possible, and be organised, diligent and respectful. Remember it's their class, not yours." I run my university lecturer's helpful hints through my mind as I assume the teaching table at the front of my very first class. Nerves are high, preparation high, confidence low. I glance at my supervising teacher hoping for an expression of assurance and belief, receive nothing, and so begin.

 "Good morning, class. Today we will be investigating the method of including quotations in an analytical essay. Your studies of Montana 1948 should provide you with adequate familiarity of the novel to arrange a series of quotations based on these three areas: relationships, themes and issues.

" Yep, good stuff, Steve - clear, articulate and to the point. A wave of confidence consumes me and I dare my second glance at the supervisor, this time with a wry smile. I am, however, met with a completely different expression. The wave crashes down and my supervisor drowns me with an interruption, "I'm sorry Mr Fairbairn, but you are not meant to be teaching this material." Gulp. "I instructed you to teach the method of planning an analytical essay." Her beady eyes stare at me with accusation and challenge. Twenty-seven students join her scrutiny. Some look stunned, some even concerned, but most seem to be enjoying my new state of panic. I check the clock and realise that it's a double period and I have 118 minutes remaining. I take my third glance at the supervisor and swear that there's a smile lurking within her cold expression.

I'm now gainfully employed, having completed my first year of teaching, and am relishing six weeks ahead of paid summer holidays. Like most others I was of the opinion that teachers got it easy. Even through the trials and tribulations of my teaching rounds I was still firm in this belief. How wrong I was. Teaching is not what you'd expect. The commitment is beyond belief and beyond comprehension. And the respect for what we do, and for what is required of us to do it well, is lacking. It's a tough job and those who are really good at it are, to put it simply, amazing people.

The Star Online > Lifefocus

Saturday February 24, 2007

A tale of beads

More than mere costume jewellery, beads hold social, economic and cultural meaning for Sarawak's indigenous folk. 

Jenette

AS a little girl growing up in Bario, Sarawak抯 Kelabit highlands, Datin Seri Garnette Jala Ridu would watch her mother string beads.  

For the Kelabits, one of the smallest indigenous groups in Sarawak, beads were a big part of their lives. Garnette would count every single bead and knew by heart where her mother would place them. Her mother would regale her with the story of the beads.  

96-year-old Dayang Aran wearing a pata.

揂ll the beads I inherited from my mother are a link to my family and my grandparents whom I抳e never seen. The beads come with so much history.?  

Kelabit beads 

Like Garnette, most Kelabits today still treasure their bead tradition. The women don their prettiest bead necklaces, tie bead belts around their waists and sport pata (bead caps) for weddings, celebrations and other special occasions. The men will proudly wear their kabo (seed bead bobble) necklaces with their best suits or batik shirts.  

But not any bead will do. The most valued beads are the ba抩 rawir (drinking straw bead used in the pata), alai maun (yellow peanut bead), let bayung (blue barrel bead), ba抩 burur (red carnelian spindle) and peppercorn beads that make up belts. Family heirlooms beads are priceless!  

Origins of the beads  

With the exception of beads made from bones, teeth and pebbles found in archaeological sites, most Borneo beads ?whether Kelabit, Kayan, Kenyah or Bidayuh ?are imports, as Heidi Munan, Sarawak Museum抯 curator of beads pointed out in her Beads of Borneo book.  

Heidi

揂n ancient Kelabit headhunting song says that strangers came to buy pork and sell beads,?says Heidi, who has been studying Sarawak抯 material culture for more than 30 years now.  

揟he oldest ba抩 rawir were found in an Early Metal Age site in Sabah.拻  

Beads as a status symbol 

In the olden days, the Kelabit were stratified; they had their aristocrats, the middle class and lower class (or slaves). Certain beads were considered status symbols.  

揑f your family owned the let bayung and alai maun, you were definitely an aristocrat,?says Dayang Aran, 96, of Bario.  

Fondly known as Tepu?Apung, she easily lists the names of all the different beads woven into a pata. 

揥hen I was young, there were only six families from several longhouses who owned the pata,?recalls Tepu?  

Mariam. ?RAPAEE KAWI, APOI NGIMAT, ABDUL RAHMAN SENIN & LEONG SIOK HUI/The Star and JENETTE ULUN

I抦 going to sing a ballad of ba抩 let kirat, and I抦 going to sing a ballad of ba抩 let bayung valued by the wealthy . . . Garnette softly sings an old ballad in the Kelabit language. She started wearing pata to school when she was 13.  

揑 knew it was valuable and that it was a status symbol, I suppose that was why my mother wanted me to wear it,?says the mother of three sons, who now lives in Kuching.  

揑 was conscious of that fact because not many people had a pata.?  

After she grew up, Garnette left Bario and ventured out to see the world.  

揂s our world opens up, what was once a symbol of wealth in the traditional society is no longer relevant,?says Garnette. 揙nce you抳e travelled, you realise where the beads have come from and what they are made of.  

Objects of beauty 

With her tattooed eyebrows, dangling earrings and bead necklace, Tepu?strikes one as someone who takes care of her appearance.  

揥hen I was young, we used to wear the pata and necklace when we travelled to different villages or for special celebrations,?recalls Tepu? who now lives alone in a house built by her late husband.  

She used to have elongated earlobes, the typical fashion of Kelabit women in the past, but she cut them off when she was in her 30s due to pressure from a relative.  

揥e were supposed to look modern,挃 she says with a sigh.  

Another avid bead enthusiast and collector, Datin Seri Mariam Balan Seling of Bario recalls her yonger days in the highlands.  

揥hen there was a party in a different village, we would get excited and dress up with beads and the pata,?says Mariam, who now lives in Kuching. 

Let Bayong (blue barrel beads) with a Kabo (red sead bead bobble) at the end.

During courtship, lovers would exchange bead necklaces to 搕ell the world?they belong to each other.  

Traditional customs 

In the past, aristocrats would buy or exchange slaves with different families and use beads as a form of payment, Heidi adds.  

揑f you抳e been captured in a tribal war, your family will have to use beads as ransom payment. Kelabits also used beads for agricultural rites to bless the planting, harvesting etc.? 

Alai Maun (yellow peanut beads).

Jenette Ulun of Bario remembers her father travelling to Lawas in the 1970s to buy beads with buffaloes and money. Today, anyone with money can own the pricey, antique beads if they can find them.  

揃ut there are only a specific number of antique beads circulating in the market or owned by collectors today,?says Jenette, a handicraft retailer in Bario who is also known for her exquisite beadwork. Many beads were sold, traded or lost in longhouse fires.  

揌owever, most old beads will stay in the family as heirlooms. Few people will think of selling them unless they face financial difficulties,?says Mariam, a homemaker. 

揑 would be wary of strangers who claim to have old beads for sale. Some people dig up graves and steal the beads buried with the dead (an old tradition).?nbsp;

Today, few Kelabits like Jenette can weave a pata skillfully. She sells 搉ew?bead caps produced by bead makers in Kalimantan. A new cap costs between RM800 and RM1,000, while an antique one is valued at about RM30,000.  

Tourists often buy the pata as souvenirs or Kelabit parents will buy them for use in cultural performances, Jenette says. 

Lukut (rosette beads).

Will the next Kelabit generation carry on the bead tradition?  

揥hen my eldest son got married, I gave a (bead) belt to my daughter-in-law. I also wrote a short story about where the beads came from,?says Garnette.  

揌opefully, this handwritten note will tell her what the beads are to us ?a link to my grandmother.? 

揂nd what makes the beads Kelabit? The way we value them, wear them and hand them down to our children,?sums up Garnette, who collects beads from all over the world. 

揑 will pass down the beads to my grandchildren one day and tell them stories of the beads. The beads will be their link to me and the Kelabits in Borneo.?  

Source: Munan, Heidi Beads of Borneo; Editions Diedier Millet; 2005 

Real or fake?

Miri-based antique dealer Agnes Ngu has been trading Borneo beads for 25 years. 

揑t抯 really hard to find these old beads now because many foreigners are taking them home,?says Ngu, 50, who sources beads from locals or Indonesians from Kalimantan.  

Some of the antique and rare lukut (rosette beads) can fetch up to RM1,000 each while the more common ones go for RM200-RM350 each. 

Tradition or not, the bead business is indeed lucrative, and with the proliferation of replicas and new beads in the market, it is difficult to ascertain the authenticity of an antique bead. 

Bead enthusiasts and collectors, Datin Seri Mariam Balan Seling and Datin Seri Garnette Jala Ridu, have come up with an initiative to 揷ertify?antique beads for the Kelabit community. 

揥e want to document these authentic beads and present a 慶ertificate of authentication?to the owners,?says Garnette, who plans to launch their project sometime this year. 

The beads will be certified by the village chief and the head of the Kelabit Settlement, called the Pemanca. 

But Heidi Munan, the curator of beads for Sarawak Museum, cautions it is not easy to tell the difference between old and new beads.  

揑n theory, you can analyse the glass but that would mean smashing up the beads ?no-one wants to do that, or you can run the beads through an Xray,拻 says Heidi. 

揈xperts can also look at the bead colours and tell how old they are. For instance, really bright red beads have only been possible since the introduction of Selanium oxide in the 1900s. So, muted-coloured beads would be produced before that time.  

But even muted tones could still be faked.拻揑n the end,?admits Garnette, 搃t抯 going to be a question of honour and integrity.  

Even with certification, there抯 no guarantee people will not insert new beads.?nbsp;

揃ut while the old people are still alive, they are the ones who know the bead history. We could at least preserve that before it抯 too late.?nbsp;

Related Stories:
Beads are cool!
 

The Star Online > Lifefocus

Saturday February 24, 2007

Beads are cool!

If you think wearing traditional beads is old-fashioned, meet David Lian Labang (pic) ?the epitome of cool with his funky bead ornaments on.  

David, 29, has been wearing bead necklaces since he was old enough to understand that the beads identify him as a Kelabit boy. Born in Kuching, David grew up in a household that placed importance on traditions and customs. 

When he was nine, he picked up cultural dancing. By 13, he was performing at state and national events.  

揂s a key performer for the Orang Ulu dance, I had to wear beads with my traditional gear,?recalls David, now based in Bario and running the Labang Longhouse Homestay.  

揑 used to hang out with my late grandma and watched her thread bead necklaces.? 

When he turned 14, David抯 grandmother gave him a necklace of antique beads that has been in the family for generations.  

揑 knew it was old and important to my grandma, so I took good care of it and kept it close to me,?says David, who also picked up beadwork skills from his grandmother.  

揑n the 80s, it wasn抰 common for people to wear bead necklaces since they were not 憁odern?  

揘ot many people know much about the Kelabit culture. My beads are an important fashion statement that pique curiosity. And it attracts the girls,?grins David. 

He used to sport a red and black kabo (seed bead bobble) necklace every day.  

揚eople would say, 慖t抯 nice and unique. Who made it for you???recalls David.  

揑 would then explain that this is what Kelabit men used to wear in the old days and tell them about Kelabit beads or culture.? 

When David抯 family moved to New Zealand for a few years in the 90s, he found his beads were in vogue.  

揂t that time, only surfers would wear beads, which was considered really cool,?says David, who lived in New Zealand for nine years before moving back to Sarawak.  

揚eople would ask, are you a surfer?  

揥hen I give my beads to, say, my girlfriend, it gives her a 憇ense of belonging? She抣l have a better understanding of me and my culture,?says David, who is completing his degree programme in aviation management. ?nbsp;

揑f more of us (the younger generation) wear these beads, it抎 be like setting the trend. Perhaps that is one way of keeping our tradition alive.?nbsp;

Related Stories:
A tale of beads
 

 

 

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?1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Well, if you know this lady, you would know who her husband is. Now here are some gossips about them

http://www.tianya.cn/publicforum/Content/funinfo/1/97229.shtml

『娱乐八卦』 [灰常点评]杨澜和吴征 脸皮比城墙拐弯还厚的一对虾米(转载)

By Carmine Gallo
BusinessWeek Online

We're at the peak of graduation season. I've already been to two and there's one more on the way. Although I'm thrilled for my family members who passed these milestones, I cringe during the two-hour-plus ceremonies whenever I see another long list of speakers, because I know one of them will violate the cardinal rule of any presentation -- keep it brief!

According to a recent Associated Press survey, Americans are running out of patience. We can't stand to wait more than five minutes on the phone, and we start fuming in long grocery lines. Acknowledge this reality in your talks, e-mails, phone calls, presentations, meetings, and any other type of professional communications by getting to the point. Fast.

Former GE Chief Executive Jack Welch demanded concision and simplicity from his managers. Welch would ask his managers to prepare one-page answers to strategic questions. I've seen longer memos between individuals planning lunch. Business was simple, Welch would advise. No need to make it complicated.

Great leaders keep their conversations no longer than they need be and expect the same from others. Sybase CEO John Chen once told me the mark of a leader is the ability to articulate a message that's passionate, clear, and concise.

One famous entrepreneur recommended that if my clients were long-winded I should simply tell them, "Nobody is as interested in you as you think they are!" I've never used that piece of advice, because I want to keep my clients, but it makes the point. I'll reiterate: keep your communications short.

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In my career as a communications coach, I've interviewed many venture capitalists who see dozens of presentations every week. If an entrepreneur doesn't get to the point in the first 15 minutes, they're shown the door.

Look, I don't know who's responsible for our declining attention span. Whether it's MTV or video games, that's a question for a sociologist to answer. My goal as a communications coach is simply to make you the most engaging speaker at your company or in your industry. With that in mind, here are some tips:

If you only had 30 seconds to grab someone's attention, what would you say? This is known as an elevator pitch. Think of it as a commercial -- for your product, company, service, or yourself! It forces you to key in on the most important elements of your message. Here's a hint to help you get started -- listeners want to know three things -- what you do, how you're different, and why they should care.

Nobody can tell you what the ideal length of an e-mail should be. But like all great speakers, make sure you edit for brevity. I saw the edits JFK made on his inaugural speech before the final draft -- he crossed out a ton of lines to make the speech shorter. Here's a simple gut check: If you have to scroll down to a second page of e-mail text, it had better be an appropriate length for the conversation. Nobody wants to waste their time with ramblings.

If you think you might reach someone's message machine, prepare a 30-second script. Again, no hard and fast rules, but if you leave a message that's longer than 30 seconds, most busy professionals will either be annoyed or delete the message before the end. I have said this before, but if you're pitching a new prospect, give them your phone number twice -- once at the beginning and once at the end of the message.

Again, most people have an attention span that falls off dramatically after 15 to 20 minutes. We're just wired that way. Go figure. With that in mind, keep your presentations and talks to that timeframe unless, of course, your presentation requires more time, such as a half-day course on a particular subject. But when that's the case, keep the 20-minute rule in mind and break the presentation into 20-minute blocks with different topics, exercises, demonstrations, or even breaks.

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with one of the premier venture capitalists in the country, Tim Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. His firm was behind such companies as Hotmail, Baidu, and Skype (acquired by eBay). In an initial presentation he says he only wants to see three slides, with no more than three lines of text on each. Three slides!

I can't tell you how many sales pitches I've watched that contain seven times that number. Please don't tell me your material is simply too complicated. I once worked with a CEO whose company was about to go public. His initial presentation lasted more than an hour and contained over 70 slides.

After some editing, we brought it down to 20 minutes and 10 slides. This CEO went on to have a successful initial public offering during a time when few companies were being funded, let alone going public.

One of the most inspiring leaders of the 20th century was Franklin D. Roosevelt. In his new book on FDR, “The Defining Moment,” Jonathan Alter makes some observations about just how much Roosevelt edited his speeches, especially his "fireside chats" on the radio. I was struck by how Roosevelt understood the importance of clarity and brevity.

According to Alter, "FDR knew the actor's trick of always leaving the audience wanting more. 'The public psychology and, for that matter, individual psychology, cannot, because of human weakness, be attuned for long periods of time to a constant repetition of the highest notes in the scale,' he [FDR] wrote to an old friend in 1935."

In fact, not only did most of the chats last under 30 minutes, Roosevelt gave very few of them. Roosevelt knew instinctively that less is more, especially when it comes to the art of human communication. So don't take my word for it, take the cue from some of the world's greatest leaders -- keep it short!

Gallo is a Pleasanton (Calif.)-based corporate presentation coach and former Emmy-award winning TV journalist. He's the author of the new book, “10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators.”

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