Ok is one of the most commonly used terms in the world today. Whether it is in emails, text messages, or daily conversations, "ok" is a widely used phrase. It generally means a consent by somebody to do something eg. "Ok, I'll do it". However, when millions of people are spouting this word, how many actually know what it means?
"Ok" is actually not as new as we think. It was likely that it was being used in the 19th century in the United States. There are many different proposed origins of "ok", from the Scottish expression Och Aye, to the French aux Cayes, but it is most likely that "ok" actually stands for "orl korrekt", a deliberate misspelling of "all correct".
The earliest use of "ok" could be as early as 1790, where it was claimed that a court record used the word, "proved a bill of sale from Hugh McGary to Gasper Mansker, for a Negro man, which was O.K." However, the first generally accepted use of the word was in the diary of William Richardson.
Little do most people know what one of the most commonly used slangs in the world mean. I hope that after you found this post interesting, and not just a useless piece of trivia. :D
Thoughts on Hwa Chong on Stomp
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Lately, there has been a post on the popular website Stomp, with a picture of Hwa Chong boys eating ice cream in a bus. The post is entitled "Even students from elite school can't follow no-eating rule on bus". In this blog post, I would like to express my views on this incident.
Firstly, I feel that this post has somewhat stereotyped students from elite schools. In the title, I felt that the author did not have to emphasize that the students were from Hwa Chong. The word "even" also irked me out. Just because we are from Hwa Chong does it mean that all of its students will be perfect? Everyone has their share of imperfections. What makes it so that all elite school students have to be perfect, simply because of their uniform?
However, I felt that the STOMPer was not wrong in posting this issue on STOMP. Eating on buses is against the rules, and I feel that there was nothing wrong in posting this. After all, STOMP was created so that people could give their views on issues like this. Eating on buses is something that Singaporeans should stop, I mean, thousands of Singaporeans ride the bus everyday. Who wants to ride on a bus that's dirty? I feel that posts like this actually can reduce the number of people who commit such acts. No one wants to be publicly humiliated on STOMP. Such posts actually indirectly help society.
In conclusion, I do not feel that the STOMPer was not wrong in posting this. After all, the students did eat on the bus and flouted the rules. However, Singaporeans need to remove the stereotype that all elite school students are well behaved. What makes it so that a student from an "elite" school should act better than a student from a neighborhood school?
Firstly, I feel that this post has somewhat stereotyped students from elite schools. In the title, I felt that the author did not have to emphasize that the students were from Hwa Chong. The word "even" also irked me out. Just because we are from Hwa Chong does it mean that all of its students will be perfect? Everyone has their share of imperfections. What makes it so that all elite school students have to be perfect, simply because of their uniform?
However, I felt that the STOMPer was not wrong in posting this issue on STOMP. Eating on buses is against the rules, and I feel that there was nothing wrong in posting this. After all, STOMP was created so that people could give their views on issues like this. Eating on buses is something that Singaporeans should stop, I mean, thousands of Singaporeans ride the bus everyday. Who wants to ride on a bus that's dirty? I feel that posts like this actually can reduce the number of people who commit such acts. No one wants to be publicly humiliated on STOMP. Such posts actually indirectly help society.
In conclusion, I do not feel that the STOMPer was not wrong in posting this. After all, the students did eat on the bus and flouted the rules. However, Singaporeans need to remove the stereotype that all elite school students are well behaved. What makes it so that a student from an "elite" school should act better than a student from a neighborhood school?
Essay: What aspects of my education will be most useful in my adult life
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Education is an important part of all our lives. From the tender age of 7, we start our long winding road of education. Education lasts for different lengths of time for different people, with some studying till the age of 30. Education affects our lives no matter the age, and it decides our occupation, salary, and even our social lives. Though some may say that education is non beneficial to our adult lives, I feel that many aspects of our education does come in useful in our adulthood.
Firstly, I feel that the most useful aspect is literacy. Without literacy, one cannot survive in the modern world. So many things are printed in black and white. Without basic reading and writing skills, how would one function? Education comes in to provide these skills to the population. Literacy is enormously important to our adult lives. Without understanding contracts, tax payments, letters, where would we be? Would we be like people in the middle ages, without any knowledge of literature?
Secondly, I think that the second most useful aspect of education is bilingualism. With the world constantly changing, and China on the rise, I feel that bilingualism is an extremely important tool. English alone cannot possibly sustain us, and many of us may well go overseas to work or study. If we cannot communicate, how would we function? I feel that the third language program in Singapore is a good platform for students to expand their horizons and familiarise themselves with a foreign language.
Thirdly, another useful aspect is communication skills. Nowadays, many jobs come with an interview which plays a large role in deciding if you get the position or not. Education helps us learn to communicate better. In Singapore, students are encouraged to make constructive comments in lessons and presentation skills are honed from an early age. Our adult life constantly requires us to communicate with colleagues or customers, and in our social lives as well.
In conclusion, education plays an extremely important part in our lives, even in adulthood. Many skills we use in school can be utilised at work as well. Education plays as large a role in adulthood as it does in our youth. As Aristotle once said, "Education is the best provision for old age".
Firstly, I feel that the most useful aspect is literacy. Without literacy, one cannot survive in the modern world. So many things are printed in black and white. Without basic reading and writing skills, how would one function? Education comes in to provide these skills to the population. Literacy is enormously important to our adult lives. Without understanding contracts, tax payments, letters, where would we be? Would we be like people in the middle ages, without any knowledge of literature?
Secondly, I think that the second most useful aspect of education is bilingualism. With the world constantly changing, and China on the rise, I feel that bilingualism is an extremely important tool. English alone cannot possibly sustain us, and many of us may well go overseas to work or study. If we cannot communicate, how would we function? I feel that the third language program in Singapore is a good platform for students to expand their horizons and familiarise themselves with a foreign language.
Thirdly, another useful aspect is communication skills. Nowadays, many jobs come with an interview which plays a large role in deciding if you get the position or not. Education helps us learn to communicate better. In Singapore, students are encouraged to make constructive comments in lessons and presentation skills are honed from an early age. Our adult life constantly requires us to communicate with colleagues or customers, and in our social lives as well.
In conclusion, education plays an extremely important part in our lives, even in adulthood. Many skills we use in school can be utilised at work as well. Education plays as large a role in adulthood as it does in our youth. As Aristotle once said, "Education is the best provision for old age".
Diary Entry: The Pianist
Monday, April 18, 2011
Dear Diary,
Today was another day of terror. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore, given what I've seen. But somehow, a spark of hope remains. Everyday I pray that the German's will see the inhumanity they have caused, and everyday God ignores me. I am constantly running from place to place, trying to evade the Germans. Yesterday I was forced to flee, after a neighbor realised who I was. How long can this game of cat and mouse last? How long can I remain free? I do not know. And I don't ever wish to find out.
The Germans manage to become ever more inhumane against Jews. Just a few days ago, I saw German soldiers make captured Jews lie facedown in a row, then shot them all through the head. Who would make a fellow human go through that? I narrowly escaped the Germans by pretending to be dead. My heart was beating so fast I thought the Germans would hear it. One cannot describe that kind of terror.
Still this war goes on. And still Jews are being killed. I must maintain hope, and maybe one day God will hear my prayers.
Regards,
Wladyslaw
Today was another day of terror. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore, given what I've seen. But somehow, a spark of hope remains. Everyday I pray that the German's will see the inhumanity they have caused, and everyday God ignores me. I am constantly running from place to place, trying to evade the Germans. Yesterday I was forced to flee, after a neighbor realised who I was. How long can this game of cat and mouse last? How long can I remain free? I do not know. And I don't ever wish to find out.
The Germans manage to become ever more inhumane against Jews. Just a few days ago, I saw German soldiers make captured Jews lie facedown in a row, then shot them all through the head. Who would make a fellow human go through that? I narrowly escaped the Germans by pretending to be dead. My heart was beating so fast I thought the Germans would hear it. One cannot describe that kind of terror.
Still this war goes on. And still Jews are being killed. I must maintain hope, and maybe one day God will hear my prayers.
Regards,
Wladyslaw
Descriptive Paragraph
Sunday, April 17, 2011
"Ryan! Ryan, wake up!" I shook him desperately, but to no avail. I put my head to his chest, listening to a rapidly failing hearbeat. A few minutes ago, a bomb had exploded just a few feet away, filling the air with dust and shrapnel. Jake and I had been spared, but Ryan had been hit. I closed my eyes to the chaos around me, tears freely flowing down my face. The buildings around me were reduced to nothing more than dust, and the area stank of blood and sewage.
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