... and you are one of them!
Favourite song 1 - Do Re Mi
The Sound of Music (TSOM) is one of those classic (musical) movies that most people would still enjoy even after repeat viewings. What with the catchy tunes, impressive sceneries (the movie was shot in Salzburg, Austria - read about my brief journey to the magnificent place here) and interesting storyline (there is a trailer remix made by a fan here - though pretty nicely done, you might be put off thinking that it's a war movie, especially if you have no idea what the movie is about).
One of the things that I really enjoy about the movie, as I already listed earlier, is the songs, and from what I understand, to this day, some of the songs are being taught at some schools overseas.
If that is so, then how come they are not considered as nursery rhymes? I mean, I've been collecting English and Malay nursery rhymes for my son (and for other future children of course) - from buying CD's and books to outsourcing from the internet. However, for some reason, the songs from TSOM were never listed as one of those English nursery rhymes. I mean, why not, considering that songs like Do Re Mi, My Favourite Things, Edelweiss and So Long, Farewell are very suitable for children, with rhythmic melodies and easy-to-remember lyrics.
I've been singing these songs to Ikhwan, especially when he's in such a jolly mood or when I try to cheer him up. It seems that he's very much enjoying himself, laughing and trying to communicate with me everytime I sing to him Do Re Mi and Edelweiss (I just hope he didn't actually try to say 'there's some pitchy problems laa, papa' - hahaha).
If you would like to listen to the song, here's the clip taken from the movie, while the lyrics goes like this:
Doe, a deer, a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden sun. Me, a name I call myself. Far, a long, long way to run. Sew, a needle pulling thread. La, a note to follow sew. Tea, a drink with jam and bread! That will bring us back to do oh-oh-oh!..... AND if you would like to hire me to entertain your children with lively and entertaining songs/performances, I'm also open for bookings. Reasonable charges apply... Hahahahaha...
P/S: Somebody commented that the deer in the above drawing doesn't look like a deer. Oh deer... :-)Labels: Cartoons, My Children, Songs and Nursery Rhymes
Multi-tasking
A local radion station called Fly FM, is encouraging its listeners (especially drivers) to keep multi-tasking OFF the road, and by that, they mean talking on the phone while driving, whether with hands-free kit or not. This is because, during phone conversation, our concentration won't be 100% on the road and chances are, we are more concerned with what to say (or hear). The station does acknowledge however, the need for us to multi-task in our daily activities, but to do the same while driving is a complete NO-NO.
Now here's what I think with regard to multi-tasking. In my opinion, it's almost incomprehensible to perform one task and one task only, without doing other 'task(s)' at the same time. Like for examples, a lady may be enjoying her cup of coffee in the park while reading her newly-purchased novel or a man puffing some smoke while 'sitting down' in the loo (or should I say, he is inhaling extra toxics into the lungs, hehe...).
Those other tasks usually involve some physical activities, like a mother who is singing nursery rhymes while changing her baby's diaper. However, sometimes it may not be too obvious that someone is 'multi-tasking', like surely you must have experienced how your minds (suddenly) just wanders off instead of paying attention to the teacher in class, or your book is there on the table, waiting to be read and yet, you are reminiscing your good times with your loved one.
Multi-task may seem like doing tasks which are of different nature from the main task. For example, eating some curry puffs (it satisfies our hunger), while writing to a client (it fulfills our responsibility as an employee), or reading a newspaper (it keeps us informed of what's going on), while watching television (it keeps us entertained).
Other tasks may also serve the same purpose as the main one. One good example is when Muslims recite Arabic verses in their prayers, instead of just blindly saying them, we are to understand the meanings behind the verses, so that we can stay khusyu' and tawadu' and humble before Him. Understanding the meanings of those verses in our minds and hearts, especially if our mother tongue is not Arabic is a form of multi-tasking too.
So, we can say that it is in human nature to multi-task. Therefore, if someone were to say that they are always 100% focused in whatever they do, I guess we can call them a bluff. If multi-tasking doesn't (greatly) affect our performance, or cause any unwanted complications as a result, then I think it should be fine. In fact, to some extent, it can actually improve our concentration and keep us motivated in completing the main task. After all, we are not robots or machines, are we?
Anyway, on the radio station's effort to remind listeners about the danger of talking on the phone while driving - I'm all out agreeing with them. However, if you feel like you need some company to keep you awake while on the road, then switch on that car stereo and start listening to Al Qur'an recitals, or motivational tapes, or your favourite songs, whichever suits your liking! Now that kind of multi-tasking is allowed... :-) But don't be undecisive though - keep changing the stations or your CD's would somehow distract you and would pose as much threat to your life and others as talking on the phone while driving.
Labels: Cartoons, Life
Life's (Little) Pleasures - One man's meat is another man's poison...
One may interpret the proverb "One man's meat is another man's poison" literally and by that, it may mean that one person may find some foods as scrumptous, while another may find them disgusting or even dangerous to health (like in the case of allergies).
But if we look at the proverb non-literally, we can deduce that NO two people in this world are alike, not even identical twins. But somehow, we tend to forget that, and expect others to like or value (or vice versa) the same things that we do ourselves. Simply put, Oxford Dictionary defines it as "things liked or enjoyed by one person may be distasteful to another."
Here are some situations where the above applies:
Those who sweat it out after walking under the hot sun would long to be in an air-conditioned room or to have a shower, but for those who live in countries with constant winter season, having the chance to lie down (almost) stark naked under the sun is heaven for them.
Someone may enjoy spraying on a brand new perfume, but for a pregnant woman who is in the first trimester, the perfume may be too nauseating and vomit-provoking for her.
To most of us, we see cockroaches as something digusting and should be squashed to death, but there are those who 'treat' cockroaches as their delicacy.
Some would look forward for public holidays to catch up spending time with their families or cleaning up the house but for others, such holidays would give them nothing much to do.
Some may consider blasting off their hi-fi set as a way to release their tension, but such high-volume is considered a nuisance to their neighbours.
There are students who can adapt well in whatever environments they are in and consider the stress of studying in boarding schools as something that can propel them to succes, but there are also those who prefer their own times and styles, like studying in the comfort of their own houses and rooms and with soothing music to inspire them.
For someone who really needs to release gas out of them, may find comfort once they do so, but for others who are in the same room, they would need to bear the 'bad smell' effect.
Some would choose violence and oppression in order to fulfill their agenda but to the majority of us, we would definitely choose peace and win-win discussions.
So, have you been in situations where your views are totally different or on the contrary to those around you? Do you stand firm on your beliefs, or you manage to influence others to share your stand, or you are easily swayed by what others think?
Meantime, here's a quotation by Jane Austen who said, “One half the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.”
Labels: Cartoons, Life
Penguin Rush
