I was an addict

Q1a) What are some of the earliest signs mentioned in the article to indicate that a person is addicted to gaming?

When a person is addicted to games, they would skip meals and lose sleep. He/She also would start to skip school to have time. He/She would introduce his avatar's name and call himself that. Then, he/she would constantly talking about the game and imagined things. In order to buy the games or the consoles for the games, they would save money in order to buy them.

Q1b) State some of the methods listed by the author to overcome the addiction to gaming.

Marrisa Yeo, the author, asked her mother to lock up the computer and prevent her from playing. She tried to avoid computer games and socialise more instead. The topics are not games and are irrelevant to games.

Q2) What are some of your reactions after reading this article? If a close friend of yours confesses to you that he/she is addicted to online games, what would your advice to him/her be?

After reading this article, I realise that I am a bit like a game addict in the past. (except that those symptoms do not happen on me). I used to have this weird thinking: "All work and no play, made Jack a very dull boy." So in order to strike a "balance", I played as long as I worked. There would be such things lke " Five more minutes, mum!" Play become "heavier" than work.
Excuses were often made up so during PSLE, the last day for Science, I played online games for about 4 hours and 2 hours of homework. In the end, the results I believed to be A* become A. I also wore glasses during Secondary 1 due to excessive use of the eyes. I quit online games and that's that.

If my close friend confessed to me that he/she is addicted to online games, I will use myself as a prime example. The school I always wanted to go unfulfilled! I would tell him/her the consequences. Then, lock up the computer. Hide it if you have to and make sure only your mother or father knows where it is. I would also try to help him/her find interests back to study and make sure he/she struggled his/her way up again.

Mum’s catching up with me … on Facebook

Q1) What were the reasons given by Facebook parent, Rashida Husian, when she requests access to the networking sites and also to what her children had put online?

Reason One: She wants to be able to keep in touch of her children and leaves some words of encouragement to them.

Reason Two: She wants to befriend her child's friends.

Q2) Do you think it is a good idea to accept requests by your parents to add them readily to your friends’ list on the Facebook? Why?

I don't think it is a really good idea to accept requests by your parents to add them. Sometimes, to a child, they may feel that their parents do not trust them. They feel uncomfortable when someone is "spying" on them while using facebook or Internet (including me). No matter what, they are still your parents so even they request to add me on facebook, I will not object. I have nothing to hide anyway.

HFMD cases near epidemic level

Q1) How does HFMD spread and what are some of the preventive measures that the childcare centres and kindergartens have taken to ensure that the disease is contain?

Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a disease that mainly affects children 10 years or below. It is travelled through bodily fluids and it can be passed easily when children put toys in their mouths and shared it with another child. Children are required to wash their hands before and after every meal and the Childcare and kindergartens are often needed to have a clean toilet and a good sanitation. Children who are sick or having symptoms of the disease are sent home immediately, to prevent the spreading of these diseases.

Q2) In your opinion, what implications will the childcare centres face if the HFMD issue escalates further?

Childcare centres and kindergartens will have to close down. Not only that, they will be issued a fine, faces charges for not having the kindergarten or childcare centre clean and pay the victims too.

Sorry guys, these lots are not for you

Q1) What were some of the reasons cited in the article why there was a need to have parking lots for women only in these buildings?

This is to let woman feel a bit safer parking nearer to the entrance and to make it less tiring for them when they are in heels.

Q2a)In your opinion, do you think it is necessary to allocate parking lots for women only? Why?

I feel that it is extremely unnecessary to give them "VIP seats". First of all, it is no fair to men. I believe that in Singapore as a place with high security and low crime rates. Women would feel safe with high security and low crime rate. In multi-storey car parks, there are lifts. There is no reason to be less tiring as most of the exit is just few metres away. It is unfair for men as they have not reason to work extra harder in this equality state. Therefore, I do not think it is necessary for parking lots to women.

Q2b)Which group of people do you then feel should be allocated such priority parking? Explain.

I feel that family with children ten and below or elderly above sixty-five should have such priority parking. It would be troublesome to bring children around or elderly around as children have no patience and the elderly had trouble in walking. These seats should be reserved instead for women only.

Help for single mum in downturn

Q1 What project was launched to help single mum?

As single mum is increasing, the project "WeCare for U" was launched. This project helps single mum to help face the current downturn, to find jobs or make use of their skills to help themselves to earn a living.

Q2) Imagine you come across a single mum is unemployed, what are some advices you can give? Who can she turn to?

I will recommend the project "WeCare for U" to her. I can also teach whatever I know to her and maybe she can make use of the skills to make a living. However, I will still want her to go because it is more effective to ask from a trained councellor than a non-trained person.

Article: “NTU Death Fall” – ‘HOME’ Section (Pg B6)

Article: “NTU Death Fall” – ‘HOME’ Section (Pg B6)

Question 1:
What were some indications which showed that the victim was facing problems before he committed the rash act?

The victim, Mr Widjaja, played computer games for hours, was seldom seen outside of his hostel room and stopped replying MSN messages given by his friends. His friends gave him concern but he would only reply 'okay ,okay'. He usually stopped playing when preparing for exams or when projects were due, and he had a looming deadline of March 10 to submit the draft for his Final-Year Project yet, he was still playing. These were the indications which showed that the victim was facing problems before he committed the rash act.

Question 2:
(a) Is it very stressful being a student in Singapore? Explain.

It is quite stressful. As a singapore student, we had to work hard to fight in this competitive country to attain a good job. Due to economic crisis, many are jobless. In order to even get a good job, one must work extra hard which is quite stressful. There is also CCA. To excel in CCA by obtaining EAGLES award, one must have good leadership. As a leader, it is quite hard as he/she sometimes is suppose to plan programme for his/her juniors. My cousin in Dunman High also has to write tediously, long essays (about a thousand words). It can really cause stress whoever started learning it.

(b) What are some problems you face as a student which adds to your stress level?

I face some problems such as a huge amount of homework to be done within one day and stays late in school so that I have lesser time for work and entertainment. However, these rarely happens.

Tuition Crazy

Question 1:

State any two reasons mentioned by students why extra tuition was necessary.

Reason 1: Students nowadays find it hard to cope with their subjects. Students have CCA and teachers sometimes leave before their CCA ends. Sometimes teachers also do not have the time to book an appointment with them. So they felt that tuition is the only way that can manage their school work.

Reason 2: Students want to maintain a high grade or pull up their weaker subjects' marks.

Do you think it is necessary for you to have tuition? Why?

I think I NEED to have tuition. Unfortunately for me, if I happen to still have a "weekend mood", hardly I will concentrate. Since I cannot concentrate, it would be best for me to have tuition to digest what my teacher says. Some might wonder "Why not just self-study?" However, it is quite difficult as computers are quite tempting. By having tuition, I can digest what my teachers taught me and allow me to understand more. Perhaps it is a matter of self-discipline.

Sharp Rise in girls under 16 having sex

9/2/2009
State any two reasons mentioned in the article which contributes to the sharp rise in girls under 16 having sex.

Firstly, a girl might want to have casual sex because most of her friends had sex with their boyfriends. This might induce peer pressure and thus casual sex. Secondly, having sex is a desire for a closer connection with their boyfriends and being pressured by their boyfriends into giving themselves. That was why girls had casual sex.

What are some consequences which a girl might face for engaging in casual sex?

Firstly, a girl might have unwanted babies and naturally abortion. After she had an abortion, she would most probably not have another baby. After abortion, it might cause infections. Secondly, a girl might have STDs( Sexually Transmitted Disease). If either a male or female has STDs, and had sex, they might affect the other party. The babies born might also have the disease.

What are some reactions after you read this article?

I am not shocked or surprised. It is common and youths these days think casual sex is cool. Youths today thrive on popular culture and fashion fads, and if something looks cool and gets attention, they will do it.

If one day, a close friend of yours confess to you that he/she has been engaging in sex, what would your advice to him/her be?

Use a calm tone to tell him/her the consequences of engaging sex. This will at least stop him/her from continuing having sex. If he sex with a girl and had a baby, I would tell him to bear the responsibilities. If she sex with a boy and becomes pregnant, I would let her know the dangers of abortion and she would decide to keep or not to keep.

Article: “Ink Corporated” – ‘IN’ Section (Pg 8-9)

16/2/2009

Question 1:

What are some reasons stated in the article why some people choose to have body art like tattoos or piercing done on parts of their body.

According to the report, some people like to have tattoos or piercing. People interviewed have their reasons to do that. A miss, 19, wanted to be different than others so she tried scarification which not many people have done it. Some people were bold enough to try them as well. Psychologists inferred that by doing body art, some people want to be accepted into the groups and express themselves.

Question 2:

(a) What are some impressions you would form of a person whose body is covered with tattoo?

I would think the person doing tattoos are daring people. They want to try new things, experience new stuffs. However, for some people, it also means they would sacrifice their body to be accepted into groups. It can also mean loyalty, in a way to the group.

(b) Would you consider getting a tattoo in future? Why?

I would not try to get a tattoo. Tattoo does not only hurt but it is also quite expensive. It might range from $70 ~ $1000 depending on what kind of tattoos one wants. It also affects my future job if I have a tattoo for myself so I would not consider having one.