iWife was doing laundry by hand. Old iWashing Machine has been spoilt for one month. iHusband told her: \"iMummy, i've used the savings for the School for its project. School need it urgently. So the new iWashing Machine has to wait for another month.\" iWife said: \"Not an issue. I can use my hand to wash. Wait for another month then.\". She continued her washing, filling the pail with water.


\"But your hands are sensitive to detergent, they will crack and itch. You can't do this for too long.\" . iHusband felt pain for her.

\"Don't worry. See what I got. Hand gloves - They will protect my hands and reduce the crack and itch. It's technology : that saves my hands.\"

Yes, define: Technology - Technology is, simply, the application of knowledge to solve problems or invent useful tools. Perhaps the earliest known use of technology in the Stone Age when the first knife was made from a piece of stone. (ref: http://reference.yourdictionary.com/word-definitions/definition-of-technology.html ).

History has it that human knows technology since Stone Age. It is nothing new. It comes a long way from accumulation of knowledge applied to solve problems. There are 'alot' that come before and in iPad that makes iPad looks simple. A tiny screw in the iPad plays its role.

\"May be I will take up a loan. Then we can buy a new iWashing Machine earlier....\", iHusband said.

Silence. There was silence. iWife was sometimes like a Zen Master. Whenever she wanted iHusband to find an answer for himself, there was silence. Just like Steve Jobs, heard he was a Zen Master too. iHusband has read about Steve Jobs' article in 2005, but iHusband has to re-read many times - because iHusband although English-Educated (but) has failed his O-level English. iHusband is slow but iHusband wanted to make sure he understand what Steve Jobs wanted to convey - it is his life story - never to take other's life story too lightly. iHusband read it many many times - because he listened to old times' story of how Confucius learns (http://www.gledu.gov.cn/web/web_programs_dotnet/Info/Info_Show.aspx?Id=16299)

In Ebb and Flow see the life of man seeking meanings in living.
In Ebb against his fortune never see him succumb to temptation of misery
In Flow for his fortune never see him succumb to temptation of greed
A man learns to live in bad and good times, a man not to learn to succumb to misery and greed.
In Ebb and Flow, He who knows living, lives life happily and fully.

iHusband thought about ebb and flow of life.

This has nothing to do with Technology? Think further. School is not about transmitting knowledge and skills, nor about turning a living being as an extension of tools.

Then iHusband felt a surge of energy in his back. He thought he understood... something like that some old-times heroes that he can relate to : \"天地有正气，杂然赋流形 。。。。\" Yes! it's the 正气!. \"Eureka! it's the 岳飞的 正气歌\", iHusband exclaimed loudly. \"Ok, we will not take up a loan. We will earn it by next month.\".

iWife stopped her rinsing. The water overflowed from the pail. iWife slowly explained : \"Far from it, what you feeling is your pettiness, your fear of losing face. it's your ego. Not 正气, you sound more like 小器, 赌气. Listen ... the water flows.. Listen don't talk..\"

\"Read your history, 岳飞所作《满江红》 而 《正气歌》为南宋文天祥所作. 可不 .. 口不择言\"

iWife has no technical knowledge. She didn't access Internet often. She didn't surf net often. She only does more washing than surfing but she got real-life wisdom. She contributes positively to better our family living. There are lots of 'knowledge' staying in Internet.

iHusband was silent.
\"口不择言, 颠倒历史, 颜回为七十二贤之首 如今不受理解 而因吾胡扯而受辱于今, 吾有愧于心，则永心悔.\". The thoughts echoed into iHusband. He felt pain again.

iHusband : \"Bought a refurbished one. iSon said he has an existing earphones. So actually saved about $50... Want to donate half to school to buy spare?\"

iWife : \"Saw the Channel U program - about Dr. Sanduk Ruit and Himalayan Cataract Project. Think he needs fund too. Help him..\" - (http://www.cureblindness.org/help/)

iHusband : \"But the gift in US dollars. US$50 - means we need to come out more than if we buy brand-new iPad from School? - no saving and 'cost' more?\"

There was silence.. this time longer.

School has given iHusband a project budget. iHusband thought he could save by sourcing himself. Little did he know that he could stretch the budget to achieve two tasks - iPad and the donation, Is this innovation? creativity? Not empty talk about great innovation and creativity. Just small thoughts about others. There are many Parents out there who are silently doing this. iHusband knew he was not alone.

When in Stat Board, iHusband only cared about Productivity, but now in SME, he needs to care about Productivity and Profitability. iHusband has become more real-life, more aware and more nimble with money. But still, he was puzzled by iWife's attitude.

\"节俭是美德
助人要舍得\"

There is alot about the wisdom in it. It is by acting on it that one realises the greatness in the words. iHusband still fumbling.

iHusband is grateful to School. It is because of the iPad project from the School which provides the motivation for him to achieve new heights and awareness in living as a human being. And seeing and hearing things too, the butterfly effect...

To iHusband, his contribution in the iStage for this project has completed.

sidenote:

if value system and culture currently at its ebb, and dangerously low, then there is trouble : http://hi.baidu.com/yoso_chen/blog/item/f80af50c356e70f6aa64573d.html



佛即是心，
因为诸行无常， 所以一切得失苦乐境界,都觉得非常活变。
可以隨著各人行为， 把他加減乘除去來。


Welcome iPad 3. Save the Day.

WeiHan:

Facebook is going IPO soon and Mark Zuckerberg will then become one of the richest men on earth with 28 billions net worth.


There is this thing about entrepreneurer and innovative spirit. Is the spirit to try new things. Out of 10 things that one tried, maybe 7 end in failure, 2 moderately successful and one with great success.

If Mark were to be in Singapore, his Singaporean parents will most likely opposed his decision to quit Harvard university and focus on a strange business that allows people to link up in the internet.

You all see the point? RV is trying some new stuffs (ipad, but it really isn't too new) and some parents are opposing fiercely. I see this as rather anti-innovative, anti-entrepreneurer spirit. With this kind of attitude, you are mostly likely only going to be mediocre. Drawing a stable salary your entire life, even if you think is still easy, isn't so much of a achievement. In fact, it is quite pathetic. In this age, a spirit of entrepreneuership and innovativeness and condor in taking some risk is essential to be successful. A degree, amaster degree, a Ph.D degree don't brings you anywhere. I see many Ph.Ds drawing a few K salary and isn't quite happy with their work.

Mark Zuckerberg dropped out from Harvard because FB has become too big and he wanted to bring it to the next level of growth. He has Steve Jobs counted as his mentor and friend.

He did not drop out of Harvard to start FB.

Mark Zuckerberg was 19 when he dropped out of Harvard. Not at age 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13 - the secondary school age. Any one, not only Singapore parent, would have known that for any idea you can think of, there will be an infinite numbers of similar ideas can be found in Internet. Try the Google you will know what this means.

Ask the Angel's Gate, would the Angels invest in you if you are just trying your luck to quick richness? Or ask own relatives to chip in their retirement fund for you to test-run your idea? Based on the calculation of maybe 7 end in failure, 2 moderately successful and one with great success : 70% failure rate. So how would those failed 'entrepreneurer and innovative spirit' live to face the relatives that they have burnt out their funds? Who would look after them ? The 1% with great success?
The road plan of the future seemed narrow and grim if only 1% are great success and 99% are failures.

There are responsibilities and right values behind any venture that children has to be aware to undertake. Behind the dark silhouette of innovative, entrepreneurer, wise, bold, brave and talented spirit are naiveness, reckless, wildness, self-indulgent, irresponsibility, stupidity, greed.


Life is a continuum, it is not an end game. Apple Inc has its ebb and flow. Steve Jobs too has his ebb and flow in his life. Read about 2005 Stanford Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs.

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

FB would also have to face its ebb and flow. The IPO is just a beginning. There is nothing to be envy about.

Microsoft and AOL tried to recruit Mark Zuckerberg but he chose to continue school and enrolled at Harvard. Did his parent oppose him from taking up the offer? Or he decided himself that the offer was afterall not as attractive ? This we have no clue. But he chose his path to continue schooling at that age before 19.

This shows he values learning. He understands that he is still young and school can provide him with opportunity to learn more, play more. There is a higher value than money that he sought. At this juncture, we would not know how future will shape for him. If he meets a grand-master graded mentor and listen, then he may propel himself for great humanity forward. Much like Steve Jobs in his later years.

There is nothing innovative per se in large-scale adoption of iPads in school. Technically, it is IT consumerism happenings in school and BYOD happenings in school - coming too soon and too fast.

Happiness is a different story. A rich man is rich, but he may not be happy. A poor man is poor, but he can be happy.

Look at Apple Inc, the company now has more cash than it needs. Its CEO now has to decide what to do with the pile of cash. Is he happy? Maybe. Is he worry? Most Likely. Is he happy and worry? Unless there is a higher value than money that he sought.

This is what Confucius has said about his one disciple who is poor but has great virtuous.

One basket of food, one gourd of water, in a sparse alley.
Hardship others cannot bear. Yet it does not change Hui's
happiness.

(《雍也》 颜回)
一箪食，一瓢饮，在陋巷，人不堪其忧，回也不改其乐

For over 75 years school children all around the world learnt that solar system has 9 planets. But now by a new astronomical definition, Pluto was dropped out as a planet. Did Pluto feel angry that it loses out? Did the celestial body became malicious and swang into rage and upset all other celestial bodies by flying out of its orbit? Imagineably how disastrous it will be if some out-of-sync celestial body then hits Earth. Not being aware or care about his status as being a drop-out, Pluto continues with its self-disciplinary role, not govern by external measures, stay within its planetary orbit, not upsetting any bodies. There is some intrinsic values that it uphold that Science most probably have not found out. We have much to learn from Pluto's gracious behaviour. （自律，行律, 非他律，行他律）


In 21st century, Technology is the future.
or for some higher values than Technology is the future?

For 5000 yrs, which technology has lived its name insurmountable and tested by ebb and flow of history?

传统文化 - it has been broken for 100 yrs and let's give back our children their entitlement of the right technology of life.

This is the grandmaster graded - innovative technology that humanity has ever created.

古之学者为己
今之学者为人

回归传统文化
不怕迷路，
只怕回不了路。

i am not against IPAD being selected as an enabling tool or enhancer for education.


Like most parents, what I am not comfortable with is the pressure
of the deadline of submission to purchase the tool, with the imminent launch of IPAD3 - rumoured to be on 24 Feb (Steve Job’s Birthday). Somehow, I just hope that what we are purchasing is not a "stock-clearing of obsolete products" process and which I strongly think is not in this case.


Basically, I would like to seek clarification from the RV contracting vendor aboutthe concern of the lowering ofthe price of IPAD2 when IPAD3 is launched.

To allay the fear, the vendor could give price assurance - should the price of IPAD2 is lowered due to IPAD3, then a money-back refund of the price difference be given back to the purchaser who has bought the IPAD2 in the early or this round of purchasing process.


i am not sure who is the appropriate authority to address regarding this issue and help the parents/students -

to the Principal, parent-student group or MOE?

any one can advise ?

or

anyone can help to inform the school of this concern and assurance urgently as the deadling is closing ?

I am sure this is the concern for most parents affected by the IPAD2 vs IPAD3 issue.

If the vendor can give the price assurance of money-back refund, I am sure RV will have the blessings from most parents of the success of IPAD as the enabling tool.

Assuming IPAD 3 is releasing in early Feb, then price of IPAD 2 will drop in coming month.


Current IPAD2 price (16GB Wifi entry version) = $668
Est. Price drop by $100 = $568

iPad - AppleCare Protection Plan 2yr plan = $118
(Free shipping)

Original Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic = $48
(Free shipping)

Ultra Slim Unibody Design PU Leather Smart Cover Hard Back Case for Apple iPad 2 P2-SH-X
*** Free Screen Protector *
Package included:
1 x Leather Case
1 x Free Retractable Stylus
1 x Free Screen Protector
(Free shipping)
( can google for this item) = est US$18 abt S$24

total : $758

NCS offers : $786

We can donate $10 to RV to contribute to buy for spare set and
still save $18.

Is NCS offerring fair and reasonable?
Would NCS offer refund in case of price drop due to Apple dropping
price of IPAD 2?