Now, please explain to me why anyone would put their kids through this and steal their innocence?
Month: December 2011
Santa is real
I was 9 when I first found out that Santa isn’t real and my parents weren’t the ones who broke the news to me, it was my classmates. I was devastated!
Why am I talking about it after all these years? Well, firstly because Christmas is just around the corner and secondly because I have been noticing that a lot of my students below the ages of 10 do not believe in Santa Claus. Can you believe it? How can someone kill the joy of Christmas for children?
But the funny thing is that Santa is real. Yes he is!
Our parents are the one’s who bring us gifts on Christmas, so they are our very own Santa!
Christmas is about hope, giving, love and sharing and in fact anyone who is kind and giving is a Santa. Santa lives in all of us and he will continue to as long as there is love and people continue to care about each other. This holiday season, donate to a charity of your choice, give to a food drive or go drop off some gifts at an orphanage or a children’s home so that everyone can experience Christmas.
To children all over the world: Give Santa a.k.a your parent a hug because they have worked very very hard for you. Merry Christmas Everyone!
Anne of Green Gables
I am in the land of Anne of Green Gables!
It’s just wonderful! I would love to share the pictures with you all but my laptop does not have a slot for a SDHC card. I will do it soon! Meanwhile if you guys are in the mood for doing some book reviews then head on over to Karen’s blog and stand a chance to win a Kindle Touch. Now that’s a Christmas present I would want!
Happy holidays!
Things that make internet a scary place
I was going to think of an opening paragraph but I couldn’t so here is the list… [No I am not trying to be ‘unintentionally’ funny, I really couldn’t!]
5) Creepy stalkers
If you think creepy stalkers are only the stuff of Hollywood movies, think again. Funnily Hollywood has now romanticized the notion of being a stalker, what with Edward watching Bella as she sleeps? *SHUDDERS*
But I am not talking about Edward nor am I talking about the kind of stalkers who from time to time leak nudies of celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, which by the way we all know you immensely enjoyed! and the multibillion porn industry thanks you for your pervy pursuits!
I am talking about real life murderous stalkers like this guy who killed his EX girlfriend (which she obviously was for a reason, you psycho!) because he couldn’t tolerate her posting pictures of herself with her new boyfriend on Facebook.
Now, I am not saying that social networking sites are bad but keep your personal information to yourself and if your ex shows murderous tendencies then block him/her.
4) Scams
Although, people are aware that internet scams are abound, an alarming number of people still manage to get conned.
I, for one, never believed that anyone could fall for or for that matter even be using the ‘Oh! I sent you a cheque for more than what you asked for, now please transfer the rest through Western Union’ trick until someone tried to do it to me! Even sent me the cheque! If you think something is amiss then run a google search about the scam. Most sites like Craigslist do have a scam warning section.By the way Craigslist,between you and I, you are one of the spammiest websites I have ever seen!
3) Pedophiles
When it comes to creepy and bizzare people, internet has seen more than it’s fair share but what I still fail to comprehend is why would adults want to molest kids. Just talking about it makes me shudder and makes me want to throw up!
While Herbert the Pervert is all funny and fine and dandy, the real life pedophiles are more like this guy.
2) Internet gaming = dying babies?
Whoever would have thought that this was even remotely possible! In 2010, a couple in South Korea neglected their 3 month old daughter while they raised an e-child in a game. And the nominees for the parents of the year award are…
And the number 1 reason that makes internet a scary scary place is…
1) Children having access to the internet
Back in high school, a friend of mine introduced me to a mildly violent internet game (I can’t recall the name) and when you logged on to the site they asked you whether you were 18 years of age or above. The first time I logged in I was terrified (not because of the sh*tty effects but due to the age restriction), I even contemplated asking my mom for permission!
However, that’s not the case these days and parents, if you honestly think your little ones are online just playing Ben 10 games and listening to Polly Pocket then boy are you mistaken!
I have taught a couple of kids and their normal way of talking goes something like this…
I wish I could say this was the case with just one or two children but sadly it isn’t. Talking like that may still be ok. after all, what do I know I am just an old lady stuck in the body of a 24 year old. However, these kids are a target of all the perverts and pedophiles lurking in the dark and the not so dark corners (twitter) of the internet and though the kids may believe that cursing and swearing makes them all grown up (after all adults do it!) they really are kids!
And believe you me they can go to crazy extents to look cool amongst their peers!
Don’t believe me? Just log on to twitter or tumblr and explore the world of pre teens 🙂
So what’s on your list?
Adopting a ‘James Dean approach’ to life
“I don’t want to be just good, I want to be great” – James Dean
Let me start off by saying, James Dean was HOT! Ok moving on, the question is how far can we get in life if we adopted, what I like to call a James Dean approach towards life. Well you don’t really have to label it a James Dean approach to life, it is just a ‘living your life on your own terms and striving for excellence’ approach to life.
For me it means only applying for jobs that I like, travelling the world, writing and regularly trying to help out those in need. It could mean an entirely different thing to you. Whatever the case I think it is a mighty fine approach towards life. You only get to live once, might as well live happy and satisfied* [I suggest you read the fine print at the bottom of this post now!]
Now that you have read the fine print I know what you are going to say. ‘…but, but, but what if my life doesn’t allow me to live life according to my own terms?’ To which I will say, ‘PLEASE!’ Life isn’t a bed of roses, no one said it would be. Living on your own terms in today’s world means, making the best out of what you have and trying your hardest to get what you want! You may not totally achieve what you set out to get and life does get in the way but trust me you will be much happier knowing that you tried! If your dream is to become a Princess then modify that dream a little and become an actress (a disney princess that is!). No money? No problem! Take an odd job and make enough money and enroll yourself in an acting school, it could just be part time but it is something. No talent? er… then find something better to do with your life or if you are really passionate about it then find a way to make yourself better.
Bottomline is, DO NOT GIVE UP!
*Read the fine print: Live on your own terms as long as it doesn’t harm others in any way and do try to fulfill your responsibilities.
I have added a new book to the list of books that tickle my fancy!
The Versatile Blogger Award
OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! I finally got nominated for The Versatile Blogger award. Ok I know it has not been that long since I started this blog but still!
Thank you BrookeandMcKenzie for nominating me. You guys are awesome! Basically, late last night after yet another round of job applications I was going to go to bed but decided to log on to twitter to check trending topics (Yup! I do that a lot!) and chanced upon one of BrookeAndMcKenzie’s tweets. It read, something along the lines of, see who we nominated for the versatile blogger award and I thought to myself, “When will someone nominate me for that?”.
Now, I love these award posts because I have found great blogs through such posts. Hence, I decided to check up on their list and lo and behold my name was there! I guess this is going to be one of my flashbulb memories! (I sound uber excited because I am!)
The rules for accepting this award are:
1) Thank the blogger who nominated you (Thank you BrookeandMcKenzie!)
2) Nominate and inform 15 fellow bloggers
3) Share 7 random things about yourself
4) Include the Versatile Blogger award picture in your post
It looks like I am already done with 1 and 4 so I will do number 3 now .
7 random things about me
1. I have a thing for even numbers. I don’t know why it is but it just is. Odd numbers make me cringe!
2. I love visiting places with a historical significance. I guess that’s why I chose Cambodia for my graduate trip!
3. I don’t understand why some people treat everything like a popularity contest.
4. My front tooth is chipped and I never got it fixed because I like it like that!
5. I am a sucker for colors but I do not have any artistic tendencies. In fact I can hardly draw, as is obvious from my drawings…[awkward silence] alrighty then moving right along…
6. I am really bad at receiving compliments and I fidget whenever someone compliments me.
7. I own the sword of Gryffindor (Ok not really… but I would like to!)
On to number 2 then…
I don’t really know that many people on here since I am new to this but I am going to try! If not, I will do a The Versatile Blogger Award part 2.
The Middlest Sister (Her blog has to be seen to be believed!)
I know that some of you already have the award but what can I do? I like reading your blogs! 😉
Also, I know that the list doesn’t contain 15 bloggers but the ones I want to nominate already have it. Hmmm… Can I nominate BrookeandMcKenzie again? 😉
Butterscotch & chocolate chip biscuits made easy
One of the greatest joys of winter, for me, is to be able to sit down with my favorite book in hand and a warm cup of coffee with some biscuits.
Here is a simple recipe for biscuits that I tried at home and that turned out surprisingly well. I am not really a ‘kitchen person’ so I usually refrain from venturing into complex cooking or baking endeavours but this is simple enough for even people like me!
Ingredients
All purpose flour – 1 cup
Cocoa powder – 2 tbsp
Salt – 1/4 tsp (I omitted this ingredient)
Baking soda – 1/2 tsp (not baking powder!)
Caster sugar – 1/2 cup
Brown sugar – 1/2 cup
Butter – 1/4 cup
Egg – 1
Butterscotch chips – 2 tbsp (I used Hershey, you could use any brand that you like)
Semi sweet chocolate chips – 1 tbsp
Note: If you are using self raising flour you don’t have to use baking soda and salt.
Baking Process
1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2) Mix all the dry ingredients together (salt, flour, baking soda, cocoa powder).
3) In a bowl put butter and sugar and whisk them using an electric mixer or a manual egg beater until a creamy texture is obtained. Put the egg into this mixture and mix again.
4) Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the bowl with the butter, sugar and egg and mix (Don’t add at once or it will create a thick mush).
5) Once the mixture is ready (it will be like soft dough), put the butterscotch and semi sweet chocolate chips (mix lightly).
6) Place a sheet of butter paper on a baking tray and use a small sized ice cream scooper to scoop the mixture and place it on the baking tray. Flatten out the biscuit dough using the back of a spoon or a glass.
[I used a medium sized baking tray and put 12 scoops each time]
7) Place the baking tray in the pre heated oven for about 10-12 minutes and viola! your cookies are ready!
Place the biscuits on a cooling rack until they cool down and serve them with milk, coffee or tea.
Cost of Ingredients
$3
Quantity
20-25
Happy holidays!
Technolo-geez!
Konichiwa!
Cyber M-O-N-D-A-Y! what did you get?
I didn’t get much except a very very awesome deal from tofugu to learn Japanese. It’s called textfugu and if you want to learn Japanese I suggest that you should check it out. Of course I am using some other sources to learn Japanese too and if you need help just let me know!
Tofugu offers some free lessons as well. Over the next few weeks I will do some reviews to help others. However, I think it’s going to be positive and no Tofugu isn’t paying me to do this.
There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to buy but I didn’t need it and hence I decided against it. One of my goals for this month and next year is to do my bit to reduce the crazy consumerism. While modern life has provided us with a lot of comforts (God bless the people who came up with the dishwasher and the laundry machine!) we need to minimize if not curb unnecessary consumerism.
Also, I got a call regarding a job interview today and yes I was delighted but before calling me the HR manager dropped me an email so that I could get in touch with her. However, when I tried to call her, the call kept getting transferred to the voicemail. The HR manager had explicitly stated in her email that if I don’t call her by today, then they won’t reschedule the interview (it was a telephonic interview). Since, I was unable to get through to her I dropped her an email asking her about what I should do in such a situation. She replied immediately and wrote a 2 page long email regarding the importance of leaving voice messages (which for the record i did). Hmmm did she really think that I didn’t know how to leave a message?
Not only that, she called me after an hour or so and lectured me on the importance of voice mail. GOD! I knew better than to argue but it was annoying!
Has this ever happened to you?
And if you are learning Japanese do get in touch with me, I am currently trying to find people I can learn with. Moreover, would you like me to start another sub section to help people learn Japanese? Let me know!
Oh and here is a list of things that put the geez in technology!
Ria In The City 