Work Scheduling Hour Glass

My work frustration. Looking at the Hour Glass (or rather, the never ending circle) as the computer system I'm working on slows to a crawl.

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GIF
Work Scheduling Hour Glass

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Video
Work Scheduling Hour Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Fgas8CrHk



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Tick, Cross, Decision Making & Other Icons

Art ~ Pencil Sketching ~ Albert Einstein ~ by Peter Moeykens

Just for fun, share this with someone who'll probably enjoy this.
So nice to see the drawing unfold from start to finish.

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Art ~ Pencil Sketching ~ Albert Einstein ~ by Peter Moeykens

Einstein drawn with Camera Lucida 8.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDvF-00TAfE

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Pink Elephant in the Room

Have a short break.

Here's a little story of a Pink Elephant in the Room.

We've heard of a White Elephant... so here's a little on the Pink Elephant.

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. Elephant in the Room or Pink Elephant in the Room ~ by Urban Dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=elephant%20in%20the%20room n. A very large issue that everyone is acutely aware of, but nobody wants to talk about.  Perhaps a sore spot, perhaps politically incorrect, or perhaps a political hot potato, it's something that no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole.  Sometimes a 'Pink Elephant in the Room'. The degeneration of parental responsibility in this country is the elephant in the room, but no one in Washington wants to address it. by fizzle April 15, 2004 .

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. Elephant in the Room ~ from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_room "Elephant in the room" or "Elephant in the living room" is an English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going UN-addressed.  The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there have chosen to avoid dealing with the looming big issue. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the first recorded use of the phrase, as a simile, as The New York Times on June 20, 1959:  "Financing schools has become a problem about equal to having an elephant in the living room. It's so big you just can't ignore it." .

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Art ~ Cartoon Horse Drawing

I found this on the internet. It's a lot different from the other Cartoon Drawings on the internet.

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SMRT Map

ASCII ~ Joining Lines

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ASCII ~ Joining Lines:

Alt+179 to 218

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Sample

╔═══════════════════╗
║  Psalm Numbering  ║
╠═════════╦═════════╣
║ Hebrew  ║ Greek   ║
╠═════════╬═════════╣
║ 1-8     ║ 1-8     ║
║ 9-10    ║ 9       ║
║ 11-113  ║ 10-112  ║
║ 114-115 ║ 113     ║
║ 116     ║ 114-115 ║
║ 117-146 ║ 116-145 ║
║ 147     ║ 146-147 ║
║ 148-150 ║ 148-150 ║
╚═════════╩═════════╝

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Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems

I am re-visiting this topic again from a different angle.

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The Short Version

Basically there are 2 numbering systems, 

• Hebrew Numbering System (HNS)

• Greek Numbering System (GNS)

I normally write it as Psalm HNS (Psalm GNS) or Psalm 24 (Psalm 25)

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The Long Version

(continued from the Short Version)

We would think that Hebrew may be more correct than Greek because Hebrew is the Language of the Jews,

but that is not necessarily true because one of the earliest language of the Bible is Aramaic, which is ancestor to both Hebrew & Arabic.

Also, along history, a lot of the Hebrew text were lost.

The GNS was the earliest translation (3rd Century) from all the languages used at that time.

Another reason why the GNS may be more correct is Psalm 9 is one Psalm in GNS, while it is in two psalms in HNS as Psalm 9 & Psalm 10... and Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms#Numbering) explains it as, "The variance between Massorah (HNS) and Septuagint (GNS) texts in this numeration is likely enough due to a gradual neglect of the original poetic form of the Psalms; such neglect was occasioned by liturgical uses and carelessness of copyists. It is admitted by all that Pss. 9 and 10 were originally a single acrostic poem; they have been wrongly separated by Massorah (HNS), rightly united by the Septuagint (GNS) and Vulgate."

The Roman Catholic Church has used the Greek Translation probably due to it being more accurate and has translated it to Latin (Vulgate).

GNS

Officially, the Catholic Church in Rome is using the GNS.

Other places I know using the GNS are UK & Singapore.

HNS

USA (America) is using the HNS and I suspect it is because of the predominantly Protestant influence.

The internet is using the HNS, which explains why it's getting to be popular.

In Singapore, you may see a lot of Psalms with the HNS because of the American influence.

This site, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://www.usccb.org/) is an example.

I am trying to be flexible by understanding both numbering systems, but it is not easy.

I am leaning towards the the GNS because I am based in Singapore.

How would you know if it's HNS or GNS?

Not easy. I take my ref from a few sources and compare.

For GNS ~ I use the Official Sunday Missal for Singapore use & an old book of Psalms by Fintan O'Carroll.

For HNS ~ I use http://www.usccb.org/

Ok... that's it from me... my brain can hardly take more anyway.

For more... at these links on my blog are the explanations of why the different numbering systems as and when I research on it again.

Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems

http://enterarena.blogspot.sg/search/label/Psalms%20~%20Different%20Numbering%20Systems

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╔═══════════════════╗

║  Psalm Numbering  ║

╠═════════╦═════════╣

║ Hebrew  ║ Greek   ║

╠═════════╬═════════╣

║ 1-8     ║ 1-8     ║

║ 9-10    ║ 9       ║

║ 11-113  ║ 10-112  ║

║ 114-115 ║ 113     ║

║ 116     ║ 114-115 ║

║ 117-146 ║ 116-145 ║

║ 147     ║ 146-147 ║

║ 148-150 ║ 148-150 ║

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Super Cockroach

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GIF ~ Super Cockroach

from Video below ~ 00:35 to 00:41 ~ Super Cockroach

http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-24-2014/AvFxlw.gif

http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-24-2014/VsNa1w.gif

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Cockroach : Secrets of Cockroaches (Full Documentary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvG69ICnps

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Animal Lover joins PAP

I just love passionate people, and he is one of them. I'm going to watch out for him in the next General Elections 2017. All I know about him is from watching him on ChannelNewsAsia when he is interviewed. He speaks with a lot of conviction and passion about what he believes in. 
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. News Article ~ Animal Lover, joins PAP http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/acres-founder-louis-ng-announces-move-join-pap?singlepage=true . ~ PDF View & Download http://www.todayonline.com/print/861946 ACRES founder Louis Ng announces move to join PAP by JOY FANG - 2014 OCTOBER 21, TODAYonline, Singapore . . SINGAPORE — Mr Louis Ng, 36, best known as the face of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), took the unusual route of announcing yesterday to a few reporters face-to-face and on social networking site Facebook that he has joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). SINGAPORE — Mr Louis Ng, 36, best known as the face of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), took the unusual route of announcing yesterday to a few reporters face-to-face and on social networking site Facebook that he has joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). But as political analysts pointed out, there is nothing common about a leader of a combative NGO — which has often taken on large corporations and government agencies on the issues of animal welfare — joining the ruling party. Mr Ng, who founded ACRES about 13 years ago, said he was approached in May to join the PAP by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, whom he had been helping in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward. He took a month to decide. “A lot of people were speculating ... and I choose to be upfront. I don’t think there is anything for me to hide ... I don’t think I want to start entering politics by hiding certain things,” said Mr Ng, who had been working closely with Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam since 2008, helping residents at the latter’s Meet-the-People Sessions in Chong Pang and serving on the ward’s Community Club Management Committee, among other things. While he acknowledged that some people could see a potential conflict of interest between his commitment as a PAP member and his work at ACRES, he said he did not think it could be an issue, noting that Members of Parliament such as Moulmein-Kallang GRC’s Denise Phua have been passionate advocates for certain causes. He added: “Regardless of which town council ... calls (ACRES), we will still respond ... If (members of opposition parties) want to volunteer at our rescue centre, we’ll be open to it. We’re not going to say no just because I’m with the PAP.” Political analysts whom TODAY spoke to agreed. Singapore Management University’s Associate Professor of law Eugene Tan said: “I don’t see how, just because he is now a card-carrying member, that would make the work that he has come to be known for more muted.” Still, Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Gillian Koh noted that the common practice of NGO activism here has been to stay out of party politics. “NGOs tend to come across as being fiercely independent (and) adversarial in taking on government policies, so we sit up when a civic activist crosses over to the PAP,” she said. Mr Ng said he has no intention of stopping his work at ACRES. Nevertheless, he is training new leaders. “ACRES is always (about) Louis and Louis equals ACRES — any organisation that works that way is doomed to failure,” he said. Dr Koh said that, ultimately, it is for ACRES members to decide whether the organisation and its founder have to part ways. Some members may want to avoid giving the impression that it has been absorbed into the PAP and Mr Ng may want to build up a personal brand that extends beyond animal rights, she noted. On whether he is keen to shake off his “animal activist” label, Mr Ng said it would take time. But he added: “If you know animal welfare, it’s actually never about the animals. It’s about how to engage people and change their mindset.” ACRES’ aggressiveness in championing animal welfare — which came to the fore particularly in its engagement with Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) over dolphins in captivity — had split public opinion. But Mr Ng said he did not see “aggressiveness” as a disadvantage in politics, at a time when people are looking for politicians to speak up for them. Still, he stressed that ACRES has always gone about its work constructively. In the case of RWS, the NGO had been meeting up with the company in closed-door discussions for a number of years. “We are always pro-engagement and, if all else fails, then yes, we’ll have to launch a public campaign,” said Mr Ng. “We don’t criticise RWS with no evidence or no facts ... that’s what I hope to bring into politics also — that there can be arguments, but as long as we remain constructive.” On whether he will be fielded in the next General Election, which is due by January 2017, Mr Ng said time will tell and he hopes to learn the ropes first. Mr Tan Chuan-Jin told TODAY that with Mr Ng having joined the party, whether he will be fielded or not “is a different matter altogether”. The minister added: “We have many members and volunteers who come from different backgrounds, and that diversity is valuable as we see how best to help our community.” The analysts said they would not be surprised if Mr Ng is on the PAP’s slate in the next GE. SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan noted that many people join political parties quietly and choose not to declare it. “(The manner of the announcement) raises the question of whether he’s intending to take on a higher profile within the party,” he said. Veteran journalist P N Balji added: “I think for the next election, (PAP) will try to bring in people who have an affinity with the general public ... The choice of Louis Ng may be a sign of that.” .

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Recipe ~ Collard Leaves Make Great Wraps

Collard Leaves Make Great Wraps.

Here is a sample recipe by Christine Salus.

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. Recipe ~ Collard Leaves Make Great Wraps Collard Wraps with Pecans and Avocado Recipe ~ by Christine Salus https://www.facebook.com/ChristineSalus/photos/a.263057843820667.60067.260798214046630/341512602641857 http://christinesalus.com/recipes/collard-wraps-with-pecans-and-avocado.html http://christinesalus.com/recipes/uploads/33/files/yummy.jpg I LOVE collard leaves.  They are super nutrient dense and make great wraps.  The possibilities are endless! Ingredients 4 large collard leaves 1 red bell pepper 1 avocado 2-3 ounces alfalfa sprouts ½ lime 1 cup raw pecans 1 tablespoon tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) 1 teaspoon cumin (or ½ teaspoon minced garlic and ½ teaspoon grated ginger) 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil Directions To prepare collard leaves wash leaves, cut off white stem at the bottom that has no leaves and place them in a bath of warm water with juice of half a lemon. Let soak for 10 minutes. Dry the leaves off with paper towels and using a knife thinly slice down the central root (to make it easier to bend the leaves for wrapping). Slice avocado and pepper. In a food processor combine pecans, tamari, cumin (or garlic ginger mix) and olive oil. Pulse until combined and mixture clumps together. Place a collard leaf in front of you and layer nut mix, red pepper slices, avocado slices, a drizzle of lime juice and alfalfa sprouts. Fold over the top and bottom and then wrap up the sides. Slice in half and serve. .

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GIF ~ The Model Turn

I've always been intrigued by this "Turn of Events" or the way the Model Turns on the Catwalk. Remember, it's not only how you look... but how you carry yourself. No point in being pretty if you cannot walk or stand properly. And... even if you don't consider yourself pretty by your own standards... walking and standing properly should count even more important.

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The Eurasian Mix

Names have been changed to protect the identities of persons involved.

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. The Eurasian Mix I just wanted to share my own experience to add to the recent news about Joseph Schooling being "foreign talent" and the Eurasians. Just yesterday, I was at the hospital for my normal appointment for a CT-Scan. I obviously don't fit this nurse's perception of what a Eurasian would look like. Since my info card says Eurasian with my surname Rodriquez, she looked at every person in the room, looking for one that would fit. When she looked at me, I smiled... but she turned away. After looking at everyone and giving up... she announced my name. I think she was looking for the 'Ang Mo' (Caucasian or European) looking type because there were already... Chinese, Malays and Indians in the room. It's a game for her. She does it with all the names. Trying to match the face to the name. But it gets tricky when a Eurasian is thrown in. The Eurasian is like a Joker in a card game where anything goes. All Eurasians know that we won't always look like our parents. I remember my Chinese choir master. In front of the whole choir (of about a 100 people) he told my daughter that his daughter's name is Alice. There were 2 Alice-s in the choir and he ask the 2 Alice-s to stand. One was Indian and the other was Chinese. He asked my daughter to guess, which is his daughter? When my daughter just smiled without answering, he turned to me. I told him that, in our family, she knows that it is possible that we don't have to look like our parents... and she's probably smiling... because she thinks the Indian girl could be his daughter.  I'll have to teach my daughter that it is not necessarily true for the "Other Races" (hmm... first time I'm using the term 'Other Races' in a different way... now the tables are turned). .

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. News Article http://www.straitstimes.com/news/sport/more-sport-stories/story/my-boy-joseph-true-son-singapore-says-colin-schooling-20140929 My boy Joseph is a true son of Singapore, says Colin Schooling PUBLISHED ON SEP 29, 2014, at 9:42 AM Incheon - Talk of Joseph Schooling being a "foreign talent" still baffles the swimmer and his parents Colin and May. Tell that to Colin and he will quickly rebut in Malay: "Nama saya Colin Schooling. Anak berna Singapura." ("My name is Colin Schooling, true son of Singapore.") The 66-year-old businessman was born in Singapore and is fluent in English, Malay and Hokkien. May, 59, a Chinese who hails from Ipoh in Malaysia, is a Singapore permanent resident and has lived here for over 30 years. Said Colin: "My grandfather was an officer in the British army. He came from England and married a local Portuguese-Eurasian. "But I was born here, so was my father. I see these comments many times on Internet forums. They say Joseph's father is an ang moh. "I say, don't forget Eurasians are part of the Singapore population. "The most important thing is we know who we are and what we are." Joseph - his only child - was also born in Singapore. The former Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student left for the United States five years ago at 14 to pursue his dream of winning a medal at the 2016 Olympics. Said Joseph: "It used to bother me. I see it sometimes on Facebook. I used to get p****d but now I ignore them. "They are just keyboard warriors so I just tune it out. "I'm just glad to get the opportunity to do my country proud," added the swimmer who bagged one gold, one silver and one bronze in the Incheon Asiad. Indeed, other than speaking with an American accent, an inevitable by-product of spending five years in the States, there is little to suggest that Joseph is not Singaporean. And after hanging out with his team-mates for a few days in Incheon, bits of Singlish crept into his conversations. "Hurry up, lah," he told Teo Zhen Ren, who had asked Joseph to take a picture of him in the Munhak Park Tae Hwan Aquatics Centre last Friday after the swimming meet ended. As for the Schooling name, Colin said it originated from the Mecklenburg region in Germany and was originally spelt Schilling. He had traced his lineage back to 1172 and said: "My great-great-grandparents were artisans to the British royal family. "And after the First World War, due to the anti-German sentiment in England, they changed it to Schooling, the same way Battenberg became Mountbatten." As for pronunciation, most people say "Schooling" as you would describe someone who is attending school, although some do call them "Shoo-ling". Said Colin: "It's up to the person who addresses us but we're not too bothered." Just do not call them ang moh. Chua Siang Yee .

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Photo Captions:

Joseph Schooling with his parents Colin and May after he won Singapore's first gold medal in the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 Men's 100m butterfly event.

Joseph Schooling with his parents, Mary and Colin, in 2012.

Joseph Schooling (centre) with his parents during a victory ceremony at the 26th South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Palembang, Indonesia, in November 2011.

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Cat Picture Collection

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Retirement News

In the news, today and yesterday... on the Elderly. 
Good to know... and plan... the earlier... the better.

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. This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com TITLE:  Most elderly Singaporeans have  ‘positive outlook’ on ageing By Imelda Saad, POSTED: 15 Oct 2014, 14:00 hrs URL:  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/most-elderly-singaporeans/1415888.html http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/1407042/1412905123000/large16x9/768/432/elderly-couple.jpg A report by the Institute of Policy Studies found that 80 per cent of respondents said they felt confident their needs will be taken care of as they grow older. SINGAPORE: Most elderly Singaporeans have a positive outlook about the prospect of growing old in Singapore, according to a report released on Wednesday (Oct 15) by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). The majority of respondents – about 80 per cent – said they felt confident their needs will be taken care of as they age. About 70 per cent said they look forward to each new day and feel there is meaning in their life, while 60 per cent said they look back on their lives with a sense of happiness. Still, there are concerns. Only 37 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement that "in general, most elderly Singaporeans have little to worry about", and 46 per cent rated their financial adequacy as average or poor. According to the report, quality of life starts dropping from the age of 65 – far earlier than a study done in the United Kingdom, where quality of life starts declining from the age of 75. Researchers said that could be because in Singapore, life often revolves around work. Retirement could thus lead to a sense of loss, and this could be an issue as the population ages and shrinks, and the elderly can no longer rely on the extended family for support. This is were community connections come in, said IPS Senior Research Fellow Mathew Mathews. "The aspirations of the elderly include being socially connected. They realise it would give them some kind of meaning. But of course, if we think about the current social connectedness, a lot of it revolves around the family. There is considerably less social connectedness with the community, and I think that is a very important aspect of people being able to age well, age in place and their ability to feel there is a community around them, not just the family," he said.  For the elderly who do not have children, "that will also impinge on their level of family connectedness", he pointed out. "Having people build strong connections with their community, with friends would be important, and those kinds of meaningful connections can't wait until retirement. It will have to start earlier.  "People have to take to the idea of having some kind of work-life balance, because if all their life revolves around work and the rest of the little time that they have is back with family, there is little time to cultivate leisure or learning or some kind of involvement in the community. When that happens in the later years, it will be very difficult for them to restart and build that kind of connection." The majority of respondents said their social networks and activities revolved around family, with nearly 90 per cent saying they have get-togethers with their family at least once a month. Less than 10 per cent engaged in social activities through attending a course, participating in grassroots or community activities or using a senior activity centre, within a month. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS The report’s researchers said that with changing demographics, the elderly of the future will be better educated and financially more prepared for retirement. The challenge is to actively engage older Singaporeans in the community, they said, recommending that there be more options for the elderly to volunteer their time and expertise as well as more community-based activities. With the growing number of singles and childless couples, the researchers also said the traditional expectation that the needs of the elderly can be taken care of by their families has to be debunked. Instead, there needs to be sufficient infrastructure for ageing in place and community social support for those who grow old in the absence of extended family support. The study, commissioned by the Council for Third Age, which promotes active ageing here, covered more than 2,000 people between the ages of 50 and 74 years. The report is jointly authored by IPS Senior Research Fellow Mathew Mathews and NUS sociology professor Paulin Tay Straughan. Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, Council for Third Age CEO Soh Swee Ping said creating an age-friendly environment and society for seniors takes more than the right infrastructure. "Many parties need to play their part, from Government agencies, social organisations, grassroots, community and commercial organisations. Not forgetting the individual's effort as well, all these need to work in tandem for our society to become a place for successful ageing." She added: "We are glad that most seniors viewed ageing positively, and felt confident that their needs would be taken care of as they age, though they still have apprehension concerning the general seniors' population. In the past, ageing has always been addressed in a negative light, and inadvertently instills fear and the feeling of being a burden. However, the conversation on ageing has begun moving towards a more positive one, associating it with opportunities and societal contribution. We can expect that the new cohort of seniors will embrace ageing quite differently. They will be more knowledgeable on how to equip themselves to age successfully."  - CNA/cy/xy .

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. This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com TITLE:  Majority of elderly Singaporeans hope to  continue working after retirement: IPS report By Imelda Saad, POSTED: 15 Oct 2014 14:00 hrs URL: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/majority-of-elderly/1415998.html http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/635074/1410245288000/large16x9/768/432/stock-elderly-03.jpg About 90 per cent of respondents to a survey said working after retirement is a good way to stay financially independent, stay connected with society and offers the elderly a sense of self-worth. SINGAPORE: Most elderly people in Singapore are keen to continue working after retirement, according to an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) report on a survey commissioned by the Council for Third Age. It covered more than 2,000 people between the ages of 50 and 74. The survey, released on Wednesday (Oct 15), found that 90 per cent of respondents felt that working after retirement is a good way to stay financially independent, stay connected with society and offers the elderly a sense of self-worth. But while the outlook on working after retirement was positive, it was a different story when it came to actually being in a job. Only 53 per cent of respondents said there were sufficient job opportunities for seniors in the current job market. Nearly half (48 per cent) said there were no suitable jobs that could match their qualifications and experience. The survey noted an overwhelming perception - more than 60 per cent of respondents - that potential employers prefer to hire younger workers. About a third also said they felt their lack of job hunting skills was a barrier to continued employment.  'COMPLEX' ISSUE OF EMPLOYABILITY  The issue of employability is a complex one for seniors, the report’s researchers said. “Increasing optimism for employability has to involve both greater buy-in from employers and also more realistic expectations by seniors about work and the need for retraining,” the report said. “Redesigning work to make it more manageable and flexible is a step in the right direction since it allows seniors to participate in the workforce, though hopefully at a pace they are comfortable with." IPS' senior research fellow, Dr Mathew Mathews, elaborated: "It is kind of complicated. On the one hand, it is about new ways of doing work, redesigning work, such that you are able to not demand the same kind of hours and allow a certain amount of flexibility. Because we do recognise that people at the older stage may not want to work the same kind of level, they want to pursue other activities as well. So some redesign of work would be very crucial." Employers must also be able to see that older workers can make valuable contributions, noted Dr Mathews. "There is always that perception that jobs which are meant for seniors are fairly menial - these are not the kind of jobs which can tap on to the pre-existing skills that seniors have. Seniors have a lot of experience and jobs need to take that into consideration." Deputy CEO of the Employment & Employability Institute (e2i) Ms Ang Li May said that when the institute works with employers, it tells them to look at mature workers as people with years of experience who can contribute to the organisation.   She added: "Internally, we also work with training providers to design programmes to guide HR and line managers on how to recruit based on competencies. So from that aspect, when employers are aware of how they can recruit based on competencies and when we refer people who are competent to the employers, hopefully there will be a job match." LIFELONG LEARNING The study found that most of the seniors in Singapore have a positive attitude towards lifelong learning. Nearly 90 per cent said it helps them to stay relevant, while more than 60 per cent said it can help them improve their skills to get ahead in their careers. However, only 58 per cent of respondents had knowledge of Continuing Education and Training courses offered in places accessible to them, and just 17 per cent had enquired about a course that could help them stay employed. Respondents also said they preferred a less formal classroom setting for learning. With the seniors’ different learning needs and varied preferences for learning, the report’s researchers recommended options such as informal classrooms and courses guided by seniors. Dr Mathews said: "The issue is if I go for lifelong learning and it does not translate to a job, then what is the point? But if people can begin to see that lifelong learning is valuable in itself, you grow as a person, there is information and skills you develop. "That itself is very meaningful, the social connections you can make in that process. If more are able to see that, then the interest in being part of lifelong learning will increase." TEACHING SENIORS Training providers said teaching seniors is a totally different ball game. Their needs are different from younger learners. Some require basic coaching in the area of resume writing and interviewing skills. Courses also need to be re-designed to include less formal classroom settings, and more hands-on learning, or even seniors teaching other seniors. "Mature workers with deep passion and convictions gravitate to what they feel deeply about, associate with peers they can identify with and feel validated and affirmed when they are part of the teaching as much as being a learner themselves," said Mr David Kwee, CEO of Training Vision Institute, which conducts courses for adult learners.  He added: "Setting up a structure, a process, a set of activities to enable them to learn, to share and to co-create value through learning for living - this makes them and the world they live in a richer, better and more meaningful place." - CNA/cy/xy .

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