Proverbs to Ponder: You Cannot Make Bricks Without Straws

Meaning:
      The proverb "you cannot make bricks without straw" means that you need all the materials or ingredients to make something.

Example:
      My dad says that he was being forced to make bricks without straw when his boss gave him the improper plans to make the building.

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Have You Heard Of ... The Dik-Dik?

DIK-DIK

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No Gadget Rule

      "Can I use your phone to play mom?" I whispered secretly, while we were on the car going to our grandma’s place.  Anybody here who loves to use their phone to pass time? Are you even familiar with Facebook, Youtube, Netflix or online games like clash of clans, Candy Crush, Roblox, or even Minecraft? Well, my brother and I love borrowing my mom’s phone and spend time playing games in her phone. However, everything changed when my parents carried out a “No Gadget Rule”.

      It all began when we went to my grandma's house one time, our dad and mom noticed that my brother and I were spending more of our time playing our gadgets than talking to our grandmas. And this incident didn’t go well with them. When we were on our way home, they talked to us about the way gadgets stole our time that was supposed to be spent with our loved ones especially to our grandmas.

      And that’s the big reason why the “No Gadget Rule” was given to us especially when we visit our relatives or we have visitors to entertain.

      Have you heard about the saying that "Time is Precious"? Well that relates with the way how we spent our time with our loved ones like our parents, grandma, grandpa, or anybody that is close to our hearts, because we all won't live forever. Especially with our elders because some of them maybe gone soon. Like my grandpa whom I loved most, I am glad I have spent a lot of time with him more than I have spent time with my gadgets whenever we visited him. I would have lost a lot of precious memories with him if I wrongly chose to consume myself with my gadgets. Gadgets, TV shows will always be there, but our loved ones will not.  Let's not be like a water bear, they exist on our planet but you won't notice nor feel their existence. May we not just exist, instead, may our existence be felt by the people around us. So put your phone down and instead make an effort to create a lot of memories with your loved ones! Let your existence be felt! 

"Like a flower he comes forth and withers 
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain." 
Job 14:2

-by Tim

Idiom of the Day: Fight Like Cat and Dog

Meaning:
      The idiom "Fight like cat and dog" means that two people always fight or argue with each other.

Example:
      Martin and Keith were best friends before, now they fight like cat and dog!

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Reader's Corner: Would I Lack if I Slack?

          Slacking off usually is relaxing to do, but after sometime, your work piles up and you need to do everything by the second! Gordon Korman’s Slacker tells you that there are different slackers everywhere! The story revolves on a kid named Cameron “Cam” Boxer who is a major slacker, and a wide video gamer. His slacking did cause him and the people around him trouble, like almost setting his own house on fire! Cam’s love for slacking off led him to create a fake club called the Positive Action Group, or the P.A.G, sound’s interesting, right? However, with his personality, what would his club have to offer? What will happen to Cam? And will his slacking ways be changed forever?

            Slacker is a book that isn’t a lacker! Slacker is a great book which talks about one of my favorite topics, videogames! The book introduces a boy named Cam, who his classmates call him a “nobody”, then, because of a twist of fate, he became a president of a popular club (by mistake!). I definitely like one of Cam’s best friends, Chuck. Chuck is a friendly and fair guy who loves helping out others. Slacker gives the combination of interesting storytelling and a silly background.

            I would recommend this book to children ages 9 and above, because it might take some-time to finish the whole book but is definitely worth it. The story will help you to realize that even the laziest of all people can do some good. Slacker’s author weaved this book into different aspects and laid down unique personalities for each character. The illustrations, especially the cover of this book will undeniably surprise and entice you. This book is certainly a “smash”! See you later Slackinator!

Proverbs to Ponder: Least said, Soonest Mended

Meaning:
      The proverb "least said, soonest mended" means if you avoid talking about the subject of a quarrel or disagreement, it is much easier to end the quarrel and be friends again.

Example:
      I don't think we should talk about our argument again Tom, least said, soonest mended!

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Have You Heard Of ... Nero?

  EMPEROR NERO

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What is God's Message for you today?

 

Idiom of the Day: Go to Your Head

Meaning:
      The expression "go to your head" means that something affects your head mentally or physically.


Example:
      The thought of being the great-grandson of a rich billionaire went straight into Mike's head.

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Reader's Corner: When Reality Goes Virtual

    Videogames are a really fun way to past the time! I play videogames, kids play videogames, and even parents play videogames too! But here’s one question I bet you would have a hard time answering, what will happen if you are sucked inside a videogame? Trapped in a Videogame is a story written by Dustin Brady and was illustrated by his brother Jesse Brady. The book is about Jesse Rigsby, a serious and an average looking boy who despises playing videogames. He and his best friend Eric have been sucked into a videogame, and now something is trying to kill them! How will they survive? And why is Jesse sucked in a videogame, if he hated them?

         I’m an avid fan of videogames but I have never seen somebody being sucked inside one! Sure, there are virtual reality games that bring you the eyes of a character in a game, but being inside one is a new level! This book contains things all gamers like me would want to hear and it will surely turn any person who has distaste on books to a book worm! Obviously, my favorite character in the story was Eric, Jesse’s best friend.  Eric, just like me have the same mindset when it comes to playing videogames. He also has an optimistic and hilarious character makes him a great friend and an awesome adventurist.

           I recommend this book to children ages  9 and above. It would also work for those who love videogames because of its sensational illustrations and comedy-action plot which would tickle the bones of the ones that would read this! Game on!

Home Is Cool Essay Project: Viewpoint On COVID19

      With the recent turn of events surrounding the COVID19 virus, part of my Social Studies projects for my portfolio was to come up with an essay which would describe my viewpoint/experience as a home-schooled kid who is in a country where there are confirmed cases of COVID19.

       I would like to share to you this essay which I just presented last week as part of my portfolio review. Lastly, let me leave you this Bible verse from the Book of Deuteronomy, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

A Kid's Viewpoint on COVID 19

By Timothy D. Cuzon

            “WHO says world in uncharted territory as US COVID-19 toll rises...” was the main headline today at Channel News Asia while I was writing this essay. As the COVID19 starts to spread not only in China but also in other parts of the world, you might be wondering, what life would be like if you were in a country where there are a lot of cases of COVID19 infections? Is the situation like the one in the movie “Contagion” where people are panicking and a great chaos can be seen in everywhere? Or rather would it be the end of it all for you and your family?

          I am writing this essay with a goal in my mind to share how life is in a place where there are COVID19 cases. With the hope, that by sharing my experience here in Singapore it would give others the real picture of the situation. It was around second week of January when the COVID19 news broke out. By that time, news is that there is a virus similar to SARS that has been infecting hundreds of people in Wuhan, China. As the days passes by, deaths are also being reported. The virus spreads quickly as it reaches country after country. By 23^rd of January, Singapore registered their first case of COVID19 infection. Case after case has been reported each day. Slowly, it started to trigger a change in the situation here in Singapore.

          By the 2^nd week of February, Singapore government has raised it disaster alert to it second highest level. Upon announcement, some people started to panic. A lot of people went to markets to stock up on supplies like noodles, toilet papers, canned goods, anything that they can buy at the market. Most of the groceries were ransacked over night!  Masks, sanitizers, thermometers and disinfectant were also very difficult to find. It would either be out of stock or the price is unreasonable.

          I used to remember before the COVID 19 outbreak, my brother, mother, and I usually would go to the market twice a week, however, when the outbreak happened, we became a little bit more cautious and had to go to the market once a week instead. And in between the market days we would also go to the library. But as the alert was upgraded, temperature screening has been enforced in places like malls, library, community centers, schools, offices and many other places. Like in our library, previously, we can freely enter in the library, currently; there would be a man that would check our temperature and a woman who would login our details in their system. The purpose of getting our details is for easy contact tracing in any case that would encounter a person that would later become positive with COVID19. I do remember, as it was my first time I’ve gone through that, I had an embarrassing moment. After having my temperature checked, I walked straight pass to the hall of the library, but I noticed that my mom and brother didn’t come along with me; it seemed that they were calling me, so I went back. When I got there, I found out that I didn’t get my card check! And my mom was about to send out my brother to bring me back at the counter! Lesson learned, after temperature checking, I need to give my ID for them to get my details.

          As negative as it may sound, COVID19 situation has its positive side too! One of which is we get to spend a lot more time with my father. Part of upgrade of alert level was instructing the companies to allow employees to work from home. It is a blessing indeed. My father usually goes to work early, and would return home around 7pm at night which only gives us some time to spend time with him. When the COVID 19 virus started spreading, he was allowed to work from home, and now, we can spend much more time with him. He would also be able to enjoy the comfort of his home while working. It also limits his exposure to a lot of people when he is travelling.

          Another positive thing that COVID19 has brought me was strengthened my faith in God. There are times I don’t trust God too much; sometimes I get scared of what will happen to me. But during these challenging times of COVID 19 outbreak, I learned to trust God more that He is in control of everything. It has also taught me to look at things positively. Being positive will help me and others in hard times, and when you’re positive, you will spread your positivity to others as well. Lastly, COVID19 situation may seem to be a big problem for the whole world to handle but with constant prayer this too shall be over because as huge as the problem is, GOD is far more powerful and humongous than this COVID19 is!

Proverbs to Ponder: Hunger is the Best Sauce

Meaning:
      The proverb "hunger is the best sauce" means that all food tastes good to someone who is very hungry.

Example:
      Wow! Kevin has just devoured the whole turkey without lifting a finger! Hunger is the best sauce!

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Have You Heard Of ... The Highland Cattle?

HIGHLAND CATTLE

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World War C.O.V.I.D.

    

           "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

            Have you ever watched a horror movie that frightened you very much? A few months ago, we watched this movie called “World War Z”. The movie is talks about a family who was trying to escape and survive a rare disease that created chaos to several parts of the world. The rare disease “Solanum”, which later became a pandemic, made people turn into tattered and horrifying zombies. Gerry Lane, the main character is in search of an answer to fight off the disease that is endangering not only his loved ones but the whole of humanity. All throughout the movie, you will witness the panic, fear, confusion and uncertainty thriving mostly on every person. It was totally a chaotic world, giving you the feeling of an apocalypse in the making!

           Relating it to our current situation, our world is being mangled by a “Solanum”- like disease which is bringing the same effect to most of us.  COVID-19 may not be turning infected people to zombies but it is inciting devastating effects on people’s lives. Growing degrees of anxiety, doubts, terror and hopelessness are crippling many of us.  But just like in the movie, there’s a shield that we can depend to protect us. There are physical shields we can use like mask, face shields, sanitizers and distancing rules that we can follow. But more than that, we do have a spiritual shield that we can rely on amid this COVID-19 pandemic. And that is Jesus Christ!

         Jesus is our best weapon at this moment where there are many uncertain things happening around us. He can calm our fears. He is a shoulder we can lean on when we are getting tired of the reality, we are in. Jesus is our hope in our hopeless situation!

Prayer

Lord

      Help me Lord face my own fears. There are times, I forget that you were always watching over me and you were always protecting me from anything that will put me in danger. In this time of pandemic, bring us hope that all these things happening around us will soon come to an end. Forgive me and remind me to rely in You always. Thank you for always listening to me, in Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

Even though I walk

 through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Idiom of the Day: A Bitter Pill (to Swallow)

Meaning:
     The expression "a bitter pill or a bitter pill to swallow" it means something or someone has something that is very hard to accept for them.


Example:
     It was a bitter pill to swallow to Harold when he was beaten in basketball by the most smallest kid in his class.

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Proverbs to Ponder: Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Do Today

Meaning:

      The proverb "never put off till tomorrow what you can do today" means to do things now so instead of putting them off for later.

Example: 

      Jonathan, you have to start cleaning your room immediately! Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

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Have You Heard Of ... The Horned Lizard?

HORNED LIZARD

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Idiom of the Day: Jump Down Someone's Throat

Meaning:
      If you "jump down someone's throat" you reply to them very abruptly and critically.


Example:
      Why did you jump down his throat Ben? He doesn't deserved to be answered like that.

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Proverbs to Ponder: Silence Means Consent

Meaning:
     The proverb "silence means consent" means that other people can approve of something when someone who objects it can't his/her feeling of it.


Example: 
      Since Robert won't speak about the job, then I will take it, since silence means consent.

  

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