Life can begin at 60, it is all in your hands!
Archive for February, 2011
Can You Read This
eonvrye that can raed this rsaie your hnad.
To my ‘selected’ strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with ‘yes’ in the subject line.
Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!
Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
If you can raed this forwrad it
FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT
”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’
A Short Neurological Test
1. Find the C below.. Please do not use any cursor help. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
2. If you already found the C, now find the 6 below.
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
69999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
3. Now find the N below. It’s a little more difficult.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests,
This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests,
you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist.
Your brain is great and you’re far from having a close relationship with Alzheimer.
Congratulations!
ALZHEIMERS’ EYE TEST
ALZHEIMERS’ EYE TEST
(i love this part.. its absolutely amazing!)
Count every “ F ” in the following text:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS…
(SEE BELOW)
HOW MANY ?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 — no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F’s before you scroll down.
The reasoning behind is further down.
The brain cannot process “OF”.
Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!
Anyone who counts all 6 “F’s” on the first go is a genius.
Three is normal, four is quite rare
Three is normal, four is quite rare
How to write a closing notice
How to Writing an Argumentative or Persuasive Essay
Chapter 5
A brief summary on how to write an
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay
Format
Introduction: Definition of topic or issue
Present view/take a stand
Body:
Paragraph 1: first argument to support view
Paragraph 2: second reason to support view
Paragraph 3: third reason to support vie
Conclusion: Restating of view/stand
Details
- Most important reason
- Second, third reasons
- Examples, situations
- Facts, figures
Transitional words (used to link points and add similar, additional and contrasting points)
Similar/additional points
– Moreover
– Besides
– In addition
– Similarly
– Likewise
– For example
Contrasting points
– However
– Firstly
– Secondly
– Finally
– On the other hand
– Although
Expressions to use
- It is undeniable
- Without doubt
- I am of the view
- I fully support
- I agree
- I cannot argue with
- I am inclined to think
- I am convinced
- In conclusion
1.Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.
The various programmes for turtle conservation should be carried on. Do you agree or disagree?
ANSWER
Suggested Structure:
Introduction
Explain the logistics of a turtle conservation programme
i.e. what is being done. State your stand for or against such a programme.
Body
Agree –
A unique species of animals –
give facts as example;
part of the ecosystem,
so cannot do without it;
plays an important role in nature –
controls jellyfish population.
Stop practices of eating and selling parts of turtle and its eggs;
Preserve the species for future generations.
Revenue as a source of income for the nation
Four species of sea turtles in the world can be found nesting on Malaysian:
the olive-ridley turtle,
the hawksbill turtle,
the green turtle and
the leatherback turtle.
Disagree –
A lot of money spent.
A lot of manpower needed.
Waste of time and effort –
could be spent on helping poor people.
A matter of survival of the fittest –
if cannot survive, make way for stronger species.
Conclusion –
End your composition by reaffirming your stand.
A reply from the Dalai Lama
A question that was posed to the Dalai Lama:
“What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”
His answered:
“Man”
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money
Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health
And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present,
And as a result he doesn’t live in the present or the future
And he lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money
And as a result he doesn’t live in the present or the future
How to RETIRE to a ripe old age and be HAPPY
How to RETIRE –
Better Read and Start Planning NOW
4 Pre-Conditions for Retirement
I retired in year 2000 at age 52. I am now 61, thus I can claim that
I got more experience at retirement than most! I thought I should
share my experience with mariners because I have seen too many friends
and neighbours who became so bored that they have become a nuisance to
their spouse and children and to others!
A few of them have solved the problem by going back to work. They
were able to do so because they have a skill/expertise that is still
in demand. The rest (and many are my neighbours) live aimlessly or are
waiting to die – a very sad situation, indeed..
You can retire only when you fulfill these 4 pre-conditions:
1) Your children are financially independent (e.g. they got jobs),
2) You have zero liability (all your borrowings are paid up),
3) You have enough savings to support your lifestyle for the rest of
your life,
AND most importantly,
4) You know what you would be doing during your retirement.
DO NOT retire till you meet ALL 4 Pre-Conditions. And of course you
should not retire if you enjoy working and are getting paid for it!
The problem cases I know of are those who failed to meet
Pre-Condition
#4.
When asked, “What would you be doing during your retirement?”
some replied, “I will travel/cruise and see the World”. They did
that, some for 3 months and then ran out of ideas. The golfers
replied, “I can golf every day.” Most could not because they are
no longer fit to play well enough to enjoy the game. Those who could,
need to overcome another hurdle – they need to the find the
“kakis” to play with them.
It’s the same with mahjong, bridge, badminton, trekking and karaoke
– you need “kakis”! Most could not find others who share their
favourite game and playing/singing alone is no fun. AND when they do
find them, a few of them found that they are NOT welcomed like my
obnoxious neighbour whom everyone avoids.
Thus if you are into group sports or games, you must form your groups
BEFORE you retire. You need to identify your “kakis”, play with
them and discover whether they “click” with you.
The less sporty “can read all the books bought over the years”. I
know of one guy who fell asleep after a few pages and ended up napping
most of the time! He discovered that he did not like to read after
all. We do change and we may not enjoy the hobbies we had..
I got more experience at retirement than most! I thought I should
share my experience with mariners because I have seen too many friends
and neighbours who became so bored that they have become a nuisance to
their spouse and children and to others!
were able to do so because they have a skill/expertise that is still
in demand. The rest (and many are my neighbours) live aimlessly or are
waiting to die – a very sad situation, indeed..
should not retire if you enjoy working and are getting paid for it!
Pre-Condition
some replied, “I will travel/cruise and see the World”. They did
that, some for 3 months and then ran out of ideas. The golfers
replied, “I can golf every day.” Most could not because they are
no longer fit to play well enough to enjoy the game. Those who could,
need to overcome another hurdle – they need to the find the
“kakis” to play with them.
– you need “kakis”! Most could not find others who share their
favourite game and playing/singing alone is no fun. AND when they do
find them, a few of them found that they are NOT welcomed like my
obnoxious neighbour whom everyone avoids.
BEFORE you retire. You need to identify your “kakis”, play with
them and discover whether they “click” with you.
know of one guy who fell asleep after a few pages and ended up napping
most of the time! He discovered that he did not like to read after
all. We do change and we may not enjoy the hobbies we had..
Routine Activities to Fill Your Week
For most people, your routine work activities are planned for you or
dictated by others and circumstances. When you retire, you wake up to a new routine – one that you yourself have to establish as nobody else would do it for you!
The routine to establish should keep your body, mind and spirit
“sharpened”. A good routine would comprise:
a) One weekly physical sport
– you need to keep fit to enjoy your
retirement. If you are the non-sporty type, you should fire your maid
and clean your home without mechanical aids. Dancing and baby sitting
are good alternatives.
b) One weekly mind stimulating activity
– e.g. writing, studying
for a degree, acquiring a new skill, solving problems or puzzles,
learn or teach something. You need to stimulate your mind to stay
alive because the day you stop using your brain is the day you start
to die.
c) One weekly social activity
– choose one involving lots of
friends/neighbours. Get yourself accepted as a member to at least 3
interests groups. Unless you prefer to be alone, you do need friends
more than ever as you get older and less fit to pursue your sport.
d) One weekly
community service activity – you need to give to
appreciate what you have taken in this life. It’s good to leave some
kind of legacy.
With 4 weekly activities, you got 4 days out of 7 covered. The remaining 3 days should be devoted to family related activities. In
this way, you maintain a balance between amusing yourself and your family members. Any spare time should remain “spare” so that you can capitalise on opportunities that come your way like responding to an unexpected request to do a job or to take advantage of cheap fares to see places or to visit an exhibition.
Mind stimulating activities
Most judges live to a ripe old age. They use their brains a lot to decide on cases. I am sure MM Lee’s brain works overtime. He’s 80+ and still going strong. In “Today” you would have read of 2 inspiring oldies. One is a granny who learned to play the guitar at age 60 to entertain his grandchildren. She’s 70+ today and those grandchildren have grown to play with her. Another is an Indian radiologist who on retirement, qualified as an acupuncturist. He’s age 77 and still offers his services (by appointment only) including free ones to those who have no income.
I guarantee you that they are happy people who discovered a “2nd wind” to take them to the sunset with a smile on their faces.
Mind stimulating activities are hard to identify. They require your
will to do something useful with the rest of your life, a mindset
change and the discipline to carry it through.
Your Bucket List
Despite your busy routine, you will at times be bored. Then it’s time to turn to your Bucket List.
Your bucket list contains a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. They are not routine and are usually one off activities. You need them to have something to look forward to. These include anniversaries, trips (and pilgrimages), visits to friends and relations abroad, re-doing your home, attending conferences (related to your hobbies), acquiring a new set of expertise. 4 such activities that are spaced our quarterly would be ideal.
Retirement Is a Serious Business
if you can afford to retire and want to, do prepare to live to your fullest. You need to be fit to enjoy it – therefore get into shape now.
You do not want to get up on a Monday and wonder what to do each week, therefore identify your set of weekly routine activities now and try them out to confirm that they are the activities that you will be looking forward to doing each week, week after week.
You bucket list of “rewards” or “projects” or “challenges” is needed to help you break away from the routine thereby make live worth living.
Start listing what you fancy and refine it as you chug along in your retirement. You will have so much fun; you would wish you were retired since your turned 21 !
Uncle Teng