Straits Time Reflection 4

Q1a:
What is the modus operandi (method of operating) of the con artists?
Q1b:
What are the Lion Befrienders planning to do to ensure the old folks do not get conned again?

A1a:
Their modus operandi is posing as a volunteer from welfare organisation on a project to spruce up the homes of these senior citizen .Doing this will lets the unsuspecting victim let them into their house.When they didn't pay attention to them they will steal their cash.

A1b:
They will sends volunteers out to lonely senior citizens, has also alerted those under its charge about these scamsters. They even said that its full-time staff or its experienced volunteers will introduce new volunteers to the senior citizens, to ensure that the old folk recognise the people who will visit them subsequently.

Q2:
Do you like social work ?Why or Why not?

A2:
Yes, because we are part of a community and should help one another becuase I felt a sense of happiness in me when I am able to help those needy people. These needy people needs us to help them because the don't have friends who are able to support them. I seriously cannot bare to see the elderly falling prey to 'volunteer' ruse, i felt bad when i did not help them. We should teach them how to recognise which is the real volunteers and also, teach them how to deal it when it comes to that situation. When next time they get into this situation, they will slowly begins to know how to deal it with themselves. Sometimes I find it hard to be a volunteer because it not just about kind hearted but include patient and understanding and of course need to bear with their temper and must not think they are smelly or something like that at all.

Straits Time Reflection 2

Q1a:
Why is it easy for burglers to break into stalls at the two markets in the Kallang area?
Q1b:
What is the Geylang East Central Merchants' Association going to do about the break-ins?

A1a:
The two market at the Kallang areas was an easy target for burglers to break into because the units are open at the top ,leaving it exposed to the thief. Another problem is that the stall holders like to put their money in their stall thinking that it will be safe to put there and also the thief is smart in their stealing. When a stall holder, Mdm Chen , had install a metal bar connecting over the front but the burglers still managed to steal her money tying a raffia string to a basket and lowering it into the stall.they use a broom to sweep the coins scattered on the floor which the then hoist.

A1b:
They held a meeting about this problem.They also in torch with the relevant authorities , such as the NEA and the Town councils to look into improving security possibly by modifying stall layout and design.NEA responded that those stallholder who want to equip their stalls with additional security feature like grilles could apply to do so. Hawkers are also advised not to leave valuables in their stalls and to buy insurance to guard against theft

Q2:
What do you think should be done to tighten the security of the markets? What do you think of the burglars who brazenly break into the stalls?

A2:
I think they should cover the 'holes' of the food centre and make something that can prevent the thief from climbing up the metal poles and pipes like building a height of the metal poles higher or building another wall long enough to prevent them from climbing over. stall holder also must do their job by keeping the money and valuable with them every time the leave the stall even if it was in a peak hour.they should also buy insurance to guard their stalls from being 'infested' with thieft. the two market stall holder should work together and try to catch the thieves. Another thing about the thieft is that they are foolish enough to steal oney or ransacked the stalls since there is nothing valuable there.

Straits Times Reflection 3

Q1a:
What are the 2 worrying trends about drug trafficking mentioned in the article?
Q1b:
Why are Singaporeans increasingly being used as "drug mules"?

A1a:
2 worrying trends about drug trafficing mentioned in the article is that one of them is that not just men any more, instead teenagers and women are caught up in this dangerous and illegal trade. In the article it tells about a sec 4 teenage boy who pleaded guilty of selling a packet of the party drug ketamine at Northpoint shopping centre. This situation was revealed when the boy sell the packet of ketamine to a woman who turned to be an undercover police officer.
A1b:
The reason is because Singapore do not need a visa for many places and they also less likely to be checked as Singapore got a reputation of being tough on drugs. Thus, this makes any Singaporeans being increasingly being used as "drug mules".

Q2: What will you do if you find out that one of your friends is selling drugs? How will you react if someone tries to sell you drugs?

A2:
I will immediately tell him or her not to do that as it is bad for her health. Also, it will damaged their usual or natural look if they were to continue taking drugs. If possible, I will try to tell my friend that there is no use in taking drugs instead it gives them the negative consequences like being addictive and that it is harmful to the body as will make it weaker. By taking drugs, they are actually wasting a lot of money for a "small thing". Instead, I will encourage them by telling them to keep their money in the bank to help the for the school fees or when they graduating to the university. If they refuse to listen what I say, theonly way to settle this problem is to call their parents and to inform the teachers for help. If they wanted me to take drugs, I will ive excuses like "I need to meet my parents" or "I need to go for tuition".

Semester 2 Straits Time Reflection 1

Q1:

a) Why is cheerleading an expensive sport?
b) What makes cheerleading such a tough sport?

A1:

a) Cheerleading is an expensive sport as the equipments are costs more and some are imported from other countries. Just a pair of pom-poms costs around $50-$70 and are imported from Taiwan. The tailored costumes costs around $100-$400 each and evry competition season, they will change to a new one. That will be way expensive. The price depends on the materials and the amount of embroidery. Different materials have different price. Some teams hire tailors from Thailand. The hair products costs about $50 for a team per competition. That doesn't included hair accessories yet. Besides these, the price for gymnastics classes and workshops costs $50 per session, usually weekly for an hour-and-a-half. Sometimes coaches make it compulsory for the whole squad to attend. Apart from the costumes, the tights costs only $2-$25. These are bought from fashion outlets like This Fashion or even imported from Thailand. The training mats costs $50 a pice. 144 are used for competitions. Apart from the cotumes and accessories, medical in surance costs $30-$100 per person. Nutritional supplements and vitamins costs $50-$130 per person.

b) Cheerleading requires a lot of training. They need to cheer, dance, do gymnastics and stunts. They need to train at least twice to five times a week, for at least four hour a day. Concussions, sprained ankles, strained muscles and torn hamstrings are among the injuries the cheerleaders risks. For young men wrists sprains from lifting the woman are common. Cheerleading is challenging and requires resilience, perseverance and passion.

Q2:
What is your opinion of cheerleaders? If given a chance, would you join cheerleading? Why/why not?

A2:
Cheerleading is a sport which really need 100% focus and attention. It is also a full commitment sport. Cheerleading requires stamina and strength to carryout training or so on. Even though it makes cheerleaders sweat a lot, it shows that the cheerleaders has given their full commitment towards the activity. Besides these, it also needed teamwork to be able to perform well. If I were given a choice, I would not want to join cheerleading as I don't think I am suitable for the sport. You also need to be a fear-free whenever a male cheerleader throws you up in mid-air while doing some tricks. I don't think I am a fear-free person as I'm scarede of injured myself and heights.

Straits Time Reflection 10

Q1:
What are some of the problems involved in seperating a conjoined twin?

A1:
The problems the surgeons had to face when seperating a conjoined twin is that they may have to make one of the twins die so as the other twin will safely be seperated. This however would cause a person's life. The surgeons could seperate the conjoined twins with both of them still alive but this would have risks just like adult Siamese twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani, 29, from Iran who went to surgery in Singapore in 2003. Both of them died on the operating table from excessive blood loss. If surgeons would like to take the risks and wanting to seperate any conjoined twins, they would need lots and lots of blood in order to have both of the twins safely seperated but they may fail when operating.

Q2:
If you were a part of a conjoined twin, would you rather stay together with your twin for the rest of your life or would you risk both your lives to go for an operation? Why?

A2:
It all depends on the situation. If i were to continue to stay with my twin together for the rest of my life, it would be difficult for us to have a normal life just like other human beings. If my twins have a very bad attitude, I may intend to risk both of our lives for an operation. These may make me feel uncomfortable, helpless, sad and even envious of the other human being having such a good normal life. If possible i would like to have me and my other twins seperated as I don't want us both to have difficulties like wearing our clothes, going to school, sitting down, eating and even sleeping. In the newspaper, for example, the surgeons says that the operation is very serious and risky. The operation will eventually cause one of the twins or both of them to die and this is a sad thing. Even if one of them were to survive, the other will have serious brain damage. If we were the parents of the twins, we may be having a difficult decision to make. This decision may tell us whether the twins died unfortunately, one of them would survive or both would survive.

Straits Time Reflection 9

Q1:
What are big companies doing in order to be more socially responsible?

A1:
They are not cutting down on their Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) programmes. In fact, some companies have even stepped up their efforts which is according to CSR Asia, a Hong Kong-based firm which aims to promote good corporate citizenship in this region. Besides this, communication's group Sing Tel's CSR programme has divided into four quadrants which it includes the Community in which supports initiatives focusing on youth and education. Environment, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and cut down on paper usage. Market-place which involves corporate governance and workplace, which provides learning and development opportunities and quality work-life balance for its staff.

Q2:
How important it is to be socially responsible? And do you think it is still possible to make a social impact during the recession?

A2:
My answer would be yes because if everyone in this Earth, not just the companies do their job like cutting down on the usage of paper, replant the trees that we had destroyed, donate money to the poor and the needy, taking part in the Earth Day which helps to reduce the amount of electricity used, then I think that this would make a lot of difference to this world. Others may think this is.......useless but they don't know that by doing this we could actually heal this world that is in crisis like global warming. While the number of retrenchment is increasing, we must all do our job and help to solve this problem. Besides this, there many more crisis that we should solve like economy crisis and financial crisis.If we do this everyday, i'm sure that bit by bit we are able to solve every problems and heal the Earth.

Straits Time Reflection 8

Q1:
what are some of the things that schools in Singapore are doing in order to take care of the environment?

A1:
Some things that schools in Singapore are doing in order to preserve the environment, for example is to educate their pupils to reduce, reuse and recycle used materials like glass, paper and plastics. Besides this, some students from Elias primary bring their own fruits from home as part of a healthy eating exercise and then get to throw fruit waste into the worm compost bins, which convert food waste into fertilisers. Other than these, schools are including environmental educations during their lessons such as geography, science and social studies.

Q2:
Do you think one person's effort in reducing, reusing and recycling will make a difference in saving the environment? What steps have you taken in the effort to save the earth?

A2:
Yes it will because if a person help in reducing, reusing and recycling, it will certainly make a difference in saving the environment. Before I knew about the 3Rs, I happened to litter but when i learnt about the 3Rs I tried not to litter as this could destroy the natural habitat mother nature have given to us and also it could destroy the Earth's beauty and maybe these could be a part of a global warming. If we humans are still stubborn and to continue with their habit of littering, we could actually attract pests which caries dieseases that could harm our lives. If we want to save our Earth from becoming 'extinct', we should all do our part by not littering our Earth and instead use the 3Rs- Reuse, Reduce and Reycle.