Reblogged from Better Writing in Business:

As punctuation devices go, commas are often the most useful. They separate the structural elements of a sentence into more manageable segments of information, preventing confusion. The rules surrounding comma use, however, can be vague and flexible. Unlike semicolons, for example, there are few hard-and-fast rules. Most writers, including business writers, don’t use commas enough to make their writing easier to understand. Here are a few strategies to help make your writing perfectly clear: Use a comma to: …

A step closer to less confusion with the comma.

Reblogged from Remember Singapore:

How many of you have spent hours of your childhood playing in these sand-based playgrounds with local-styled designs? Many of them, built in the late seventies, are the works of Khor Ean Ghee (born 1935), the former in-house designer of the Housing and Development Board (HDB). The memories of these playgrounds are precious to a whole generation of Singaporeans born between the seventies and eighties. Today, most of them were demolished, with only a few of them forgotten in the corners of the old estates. …

This is so very nostalgic. Wonderful walk down memory lane of what playgrounds used to be like in my days.

But Faith told me to believe.

So, I got 5R2 to do their sharing “World Cafe” style – one person remains to present the group’s material and the rest of the members of the “home” group rove from one group to another – kind of like visiting booths.

There was quiet delight watching how it unfolded. Notwithstanding the initial slight confusion, I saw a certain earnestness in the presenters to do a credible job.  There was a sense of ownership to make sure that the participants understood their presentations.  I saw attentiveness in the participants and perhaps, the realisation of having learnt something new from their friends.  The finishing was an interesting lively debate in a certain group who challenged the presenter on the validity of the ideas shared.

You know, this is close to the dream lessons I want in my classes.  Today, I come one step closer to believing that it is possible.

Every little bit makes a difference.

To get next week’s discussion going, please go to the following links to post your comments:

4K1

4K3

Everyone should make the effort to contribute so that we could have a rich discussion.  Thanks very much.

Supplementary Exercise:

Watch the following video.  What do you notice about the student leaders featured here.  Please post your thoughts in the comments section on this entry.

A peaceful morning.  No phone calls.  No meetings.  No decisions to make.  The aroma of coffee in a quiet cafe.

Pure bliss.

I prefer to keep it low at Christmas and do something for someone who really needs it.  Years back, someone introduced the idea of giving up a gift for someone out there who really needs it.  World Vision’s “Unwrap the true spirit of Christmas” always comes to mind.  It is simple and meaningful.

The Christmas wish list is simple:

1. Child Education Fund – $10

2. Seeds for one family – $17

3. Bed nets for a family – $18

4. Clean water fund – $25

Well, the list goes on and you could just buy the gift online. You get the idea now? I’ve particularly enjoyed the videos that made me think about how I can actually do something simple for people who really need it.  You  would never think that chickens can make a difference to someone’s life right?

Catch the rest of the episodes here.   I hope you would consider taking the road less travelled and do something different this Christmas