Animal Shelter in Brunei

An animated cartoon, showing a dog catcher catching some kid's pet dog. Then the parents brought the kid to an animal shelter to 'rescue' the dog from the evil dog catcher. That was my first knowledge of an animal shelter.

According to wikipedia, an animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. The animal is kept at the shelter until it is either reclaimed by an owner, adopted by a new owner, or placed with another organization.

In Brunei, we have seen lots of road kills ranging from small frogs to dogs and monitor lizards. There are lots of stray dogs in commercial areas. Some dogs are aggressive, while others are shy and scared of us. Most of them are mal nutrition. The stray dogs are mostly the results of the abandon of irresponsible owners.

We have read conflicting views on the issue on stray dogs. The good thing that came out of it is the setting up of an animal shelter by volunteers. It is sad to read some of the blogs on the fortune of those unfortunate animals.

There might not be a RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), but at least it is a start and make people in Brunei to be aware of this problem.

For a start, click on Animal Shelter

The New Virus E1X1 aka Exam Fever

Exam fever is everywhere at the moment: students sitting for June A and AS papers.

Sometimes I am so happy that I dont have to go through it again. However, this year is my first trial on the GO and FR exams so I have to do the revision as hard as my students.

Just a few thoughts about exam revision period:

- I feel extra-ordinarily tired and sleepy

- there is always so much to study

- there is always a tomorrow to do the revision

- there are a lot of nice TV programmes especially during the revision period

- making post-exam plans and only too lazy to follow the plan after the exam

Anyway, just wanna wish whoever sitting for the exams now

ALL THE VERY BEST!

The Winning Song sung twice

No Boundaries

(co-written by Kara DioGuardi on American Idol Season 8)

Seconds, hours, so many days

You know what you want but how long can you wait

Every moment last forever if you feel you’ve lost your way

What if your chances are already gone

Started believing that I could be wrong

But you give me one good reason

to fight and never walk away
Coz here I am — still holding on!

Every step you climb another mountain

Every breathe its harder to believe
You’ll make it through the pain

Weather the hurricane

To get to that one thing

When you think the road is going nowhere

Just when you’ve almost gave up on your dreams

Then take it by the hand and show you that you can

You can go higher

You can go deeper

There are no boundaries

Above and beneath you

B-reak every rule coz there’s nothing

between you and your dreams

Every step you climb another mountain

Every breathe its harder to believe

From: http://showstalker.net/2009/05/no-boundaries-lyrics-kara-dioguardi-american-idol/

No Boundaries

By now, we have known that the American Idol 2009 (Season 8) is Kris Allen from Arkansas.

Most people were expecting Adam Lambert as Adam's performances were mind-blowing every week . So why the winner is Kris and not Adam?

A lot of theories are circulating in the internet.

Firstly, we need to see whom Danny Gokey's fans would vote? After Danny was eliminated, the fans were going to vote for someone. And in many ways Kris is more similar to Danny.

Is American Idol more of a popularity contest rather than a talent show? Kris captured more fan base while Adam captured slightly more adult fans.

Can America accept Adam's outrageous styles and makeup? Adam only answered "I know who I am" when asked about his sexuality, after his pictures of kissing another man was circulating in the internet. So maybe America didnt like his lack of truthfulness.

During the economic downturn, America is not ready for Adam's style but prefer a more soothing Kris's the boy next door image.

Kris's version of "No Boundaries" sounded more of the 'traditional' American winning song, as commented by the judges.

Again, all these are opiniated theories and some are plain weird excuses...However, the only fact is that Kris Allen is the new American Idol...