H1N1 Vs Bible

A thought came to my mind today after seeing so many sick people around me. So I thought I would pour it out and see what you guys think?

Bible, in the book of Hebrews says

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

H1N1 says

If you're sick and come close in contact with one another, you are risking their health.

As we all know Governments around the world are asking employers to be kind enough to let their sick employees to take sick leaves, some even asked for unrecorded sick leaves to prevent the virus from spreading to other employees. Schools are closed down to prevent further outbreak, some major events are cancelled, etc.

But what about the church? Should we ask our members to rest at home and avoid church gatherings? Or should we say, we shouldn't stop gathering as that's what it was told in the book of Hebrews.

Is this a trial or temptation? Should I or shouldn't I? <-- materials from a couple of weeks ago. :P

If you go, you risk spreading the disease to others, which is often noted as selfish and inconsiderate.

If you don't go, are you contradicting the Word of God and use your own principle as a ruler? In those days, people risked their head to go to meet each other. Today, it's just a flu and we are finding excuses to skip meeting one another?

If you are saying on either way, where do you find the authority to decide or discern which is the right thing to do? Are we assuming so and so because "we think, I think, etc"?

Let's hear it from you...

Good Read For Int. Students In Aust

Source: The Age

Miki Perkins

June 27, 2009

WHEN international student Danny Ong returned home to Singapore he was stunned into silence during a job interview when asked to outline his experiences in Australia.

"I realised I didn't know anything. I was so fixated with getting good marks that I had learned nothing about Australia or Australian culture."

It spurred him to write a new guide for international students that exposes the pitfalls in activities such as house-hunting and catching public transport, but also offers insight into institutions such as the justice system and the concept of human rights.

While students often feel under enormous pressure to perform academically, the guide encourages them to get involved in life in Australia, from finding a job to doing volunteer work.

"Often I ask what do they know about Australian culture? They say they know about AFL rules or barbies, but that doesn't really count," Mr Ong said. "How do Australians conduct business? How do they interact with each other?"

The 29-year-old was well prepared for the challenge of writing the guide: during his undergraduate studies he did his honours thesis on the experiences of international students and was also the president of Monash University's overseas students' society.

In the wake of a spate of fierce attacks on international students, he said newcomers should be alerted to the potential dangers of late-night work and travel, but that most crimes were opportunistic rather than racially motivated.

Mr Ong, who now works as a researcher at Monash University, said an African student told him he had been wrongly accused of shoplifting but admitted to the crime because he thought he would get beaten up by the police.

"He didn't know about evidence, or the rule of law. And how do you explain voting rights and human rights to someone living in China?" he said.

Vibhav Roy came to Monash University from India to study commerce and knew people who were so daunted by the transition that they returned home.

The biggest challenge for most Indian students was adjusting to life away from family and overcoming loneliness, he said.

He said the guide would be invaluable to students trying to negotiate housing, financial and cultural issues.

The International Student Handbook: Living and Studying in Australia will be published in August.

MTM All The Way?

Just as we thought everything's going to be fine and good, suddenly a shocking news hit us! The new Chief Executive of MTM, is actually a not-so-good leader!!

THE chief executive of Melbourne's new train operator also headed a British rail company that went into administration at a huge cost to taxpayers.

Andrew Lezala, whose Metro Trains Melbourne will soon operate the city's trains, was chief executive of the British rail maintenance company Metronet from May 2005 until it went into administration in July 2007.

It collapsed with £1.7 billion ($A3.5 billion) in debt, forcing the British Government to bail it out.

A damning report on Metronet's failure, released just three weeks ago by Britain's National Audit Office, found the company's management had wasted millions of pounds of public money.

"The main cause of Metronet's failure was its poor corporate governance and leadership," the report said. "We estimate that the overall direct loss to the taxpayer arising from Metronet's administration is between £170 million and £410 million, in 2007 prices."

The report was highly critical of the "inefficient" spending practices of the company.

Sounds very unpromising to start for MTM. However, an explanation was given as below:

However, Metro Trains Melbourne spokeswoman Leah Hayward later issued a statement saying that Mr Lezala had been the third chief executive at Metronet in two years and had worked hard to restore the business.

"Within two months … Andrew uncovered structural and internal business issues," Ms Hayward said.

She said Metronet had "been placed into voluntary administration, instigated by Andrew as it was in the best interests of the business and the people".

Now, whom do you trust? Some people would say leave it to the professionals or "the consultants" we normally called it. Guess what?

Victorian taxpayers paid $25 million to consultants to assess the tenders of the five companies that bid to run Melbourne's trains and trams.

$25million and all we got is a CE with a lousy background? You can pay me $2500 and I'll choose MTR and a better director any day!!

I smell something fishy going on here. Corruptions? Favoritism? Why can't a Hongkie run MTM?

The Government needs to be more accountable to the people! It's our tax money you're spending there, chap!

No More Connex In Melbourne

Melbourne commuters will be able to enjoy new trains and trams provider in December 2009. Connex & Yarra Trams have lost their bids in order to win another tender to run Melbourne's public transport.

The new train provider will be HongKong based company named Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), which is actually Mass Transit Railway (MTR). Their track record is unbelievingly good at 99% reliability!

We don't have to worry about late trains or cancellations anymore?!

Not quite so! The state Government needs to put more fundings into the infranstructure of the rails in order for the operators to do their bid!

However, looking forward to see improvements on customer service, commuters friendly service and easiness to travel in the transport networks.

Road Block

What could have been a beautiful finish on the road to redemption was wrecked in a major road block. My aim was to get two runner up positions for both Mixed and Mens events but I fall one position short!

After knewing my team mates for the Mens event, honestly, I knew I couldn't stand a chance getting champion or runners up. However, we couldn't even get 3rd position so we had to settle for the last position! All teams are much stronger than us in both tactically and skills wise. Nonetheless, I still wanted to challenge them!

We only managed to win a game from the 3 series that we played. Shame on us~! We nearly won a series when my teammates were leading 26-22 in the decider but they lost 30-27 in the end. Too bad!!

Team events really talks about team efforts and not individual performance. So naturally, I couldn't carry the team like how Jordan carried the Bulls, Kobe carried the Lakers, etc. Skills wise, I'm still way below par!

My aim now would be to improve more and hopefully reach A grade within 1-2 years?!! HAHAHHA!!

I know I'm dreaming but it's all good~! I started playing and training around 2006, managed to reach D grade finals...OK lah...not too bad!! If only I didn't stop between 2007-2008, I might have been a B grader by now....oh well!!

Also, maybe it's time to look for more consistent partners for competitions....hmm...!