Leo's very first birthday

Grandpa's potbless lunch gathering with ACS schoolmate & friends

Grandpa Grnd

my first grandson with my surname

This month is oth my son's birthday as well as his son's (meaning my grandson's) birthday. A very very big problem - they are boyh not here with me, so what to do?? Not too much of a problem if you know abit of magic to do some "magic tick

Chinese names - a funny atory?

Most Chinese names have 3 characters - surname, generation name followed by our personal name , my surname is c..., my generation is fun, my personal name is woo so my name should "c... fun woo" but those relatively uneducated police who were responsible for registering births in the early days of Malaya add an extra "g" so my generation name thus my name in "c... fung woo" but all my sisters' names were c... fun "this" and fun "that" my birth certificate brcame c... fung woo, while my other identification documents was c.. fung woo @ c... fun woo. I chose to use my other name c... fung woo in my communications to differentiate from my sisters Don't know if you find this story funny - whatever i will title this post "Chjinese names - a funny story. I wanted to add real gfunny but let us not overexaggerate

Grandma home in China

广东省，惠州市惠阳区，秋长镇，铁门扇村。 Pinyin equivalent. Guang dong sheng, Hui zhou shi, Hui Yang qu, qiu Chang zhen, tie men Shan cun. Guangdong Province, Huiyang District, Huizhou City, Qiuchang Town, Tiemenfan Village.

Longevity Celebration and Congratulations by the Descendants

Longevity celebration refers to important birthdays of old people. Common people began to celebrate this at the nominal age of 60 or 61. Birthday congratulation ceremonies for the Hakka elders in Longgang are arranged by their descendants. The hall is decorated with red-candled lanterns and streamers. A red silk sheet with a Chinese character of "Shou" (longevity) embroidered at the center is hung at the middle of the hall. The birthday gifts sent by relatives and friends are displayed. Upon ceremony starting, "Shou Xing" (the older person whose birthday is being celebrated) sits at the center of the hall, accepting congratulations of their descendants, relatives and friends. A banquet will be held after the ceremony. Having noodles is a must.

Ancient Chinese birthday celebrations

Highly fortified Hakka Dwellings

"All clansmen living together" is an important residing tradition of Hakka people. On the basis of absorbing the advantages of Hakka and Cantonese residence, Hakka residence in Shenzhen is of large scale, strong fortification and cosy environment. The front side of the fortified residences is built with gate tower, Daozuo (the south hall facing north), as well as the front and back courtyards. Main part of the construction include halls, transverse rooms, defending towers on the four corners, and back with belvedere. The whole construction is like a strongly-fortified castle. A Surrounded residence is a mini society of a clan, a "History Book of Ramming". There are over 100 large and medium scale castle-like surrounded Hakka residences survived in Longgang District.

Hakka Folk Culture

Hakka immigration has begun since the late Song Dynasty, from the mountainous regions such as Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, while large scale migration happened only after the abolition of the Edit of the Coastal Evacuation in the early Qing Dynasty. Because of the greograpic proximity to their original place, immigration scale and time etc., Hakka people in Shenzhen still keep many traditions of the original dwelling regions of Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi especially those of Meizhou region in eastern Guangdong.

Preface : Shenzhen culture and history

In order to adapt to the environment, a set of conventional behaviour and cultural phenomena is formed in human beings' long process evolution, which is called folk culture. Folk culture is inclusive of tangible and intangible heritage. It is a mirror of history and social life. Deeply rooted in the grass roots, folk culture is handed down from generation to generation, but also changing and developing with the pulse of time. Traditional folk culture in Shenzhen, including Cantonese branch and Hakka branch is of remote source and great diversity. Besides, Shenzhen lies right at the Pearl River's influx into the sea, old-timers' subsistence of this area largely relies on the sea. Rich marine culture is thus formed during the long process of maritime activities.

A nation would fail to explore the future, if due attention hasn't paid to its history' and culture heritage. "It is fundamental to the inheritance and development of human civilization to respect, protect traditional folk culture and absorb nutrients from it. Presented here. Shenzhen Folk Culture Exhibition is composed of four parts, namely, Regional, Cantonese, Hakka and a Maritime Folk Culture, in which an all-round display of Shenzhen's local feature and tradition is unveiled. It is our sincere hope to get your interest and attention.

Birthday present - keychain with a story booklet

Got a thoughtful birthday present - a key ring with a little booklet and a story - "The world according to PETER":



The personality behind the name Peter
Published by History and Heraldry Ltd.
Rotherham S66 8HR U.K.

PETER meaning Rock/Stone

The biblica name Peter was formed from two Greek words. Petra meaning rock and Petros meaning stone.

Linked to the name PETER

Huw: ews
Frangrance: Amber
Plant: Juniper
Flower: Tulip
Tree: Oak
Animal: Ram
Metal: Lead
Gemstone: Garnet
Day of the month: 5
Number: 28

The mind of PETER

To others, he appear self-confident and assured, using his sense of humour and charm to cover any insecurities he may have.

The emotions of PETER

He make friends easily and are very generous and charming to be around.
It is important that he lave a sense of balance between time spent with loved ones and time spent on his own.

The social PETER

When he is on top form, bhe is the life and soul of the party and endear himself to others.
He has a tendency to be impulsive and is generally lucky which can be a winning combination.

Did PETER know?

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater is a children's rhyme.
Peter is the name of a cat who lived at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
The Pink Panther actor Peter Sellers was actually born Richard Henry Sellefs!
Peter Rabbit is one of Beatrix Potter's famous characters.
Peter Parker is also known as Spider Man.

The Intelligence of PETER

His intellect and imagination mean that he is extremely creative in many aspects of his life.
He like to talk through problems with others and trust his instincts when searching for solutions to problems

Famous people named PETER

Peter the Great b. 1672 ruled Russia.

Peter Andre b. 1973 English born, Australian raised single songwriter
Peter Jackson b. 1961 new Zealand film director and producer. Best known for his 'Lord of the Rings' film trilogy.
Peter Cushing b. 1913 English actor best known for his appearance in Hammer Horror films.

Kindred spirits

Others with similar traits:
Cal
Derry
Fred
Freddy
Kirby
Pierce
Ralph
Ramsey
Travis
Windsor

The booklet opened to reveal 2 pages

MIT Scratch robotic language: Getting Started

Scratch Getting Started v 14

MIT Scratch robotic language: Getting Started

LEGO WeDo Hungry Alligator Challenge:

Source: Learn Quebec: Hungry Alligator Challenge

Lewis Chew demonstrating LEGO WeDo robotic software

Lewis Chew modified the LEGO Education WeDo "Dancing Birds" model to "Ninjago Lasersaber swordfight" by replacing the dancing birds with Ninjago characters together with laser sounds:

Lewis built first Lego Education WeDo model - Alligator

Lewis has successfully constructed all by himself without help from parents nor grandpa, his very first WeDo model, the Hungry Alligator:

And here is another photo of the Hungry Alligator connected to a laptop computer loaded with the WeDo software:

Types of gears

Spur gear
Crown gear
Worm gear
Rack and pinion
Raxk and pinion animation

Spur gear

Crown gear

Worm gear

Rack and pinion

Rack and pinion animation

Song in memory of my father

Papa - by Paul Anka

Everyday my papa would work
To try to make ends meet
To see that we would eat
Keep those shoes upon my feet

Every night my papa would take me
Tuck me in my bed
Kiss me on my head
After all my prayers were said

There were years
Of sadness and of tears
Through it all
Together we were strong, we were strong

The times were rough
But Papa, he was tough
And mama she stood
beside him all along

Growing up with them was easy
Time just flew on by
The years began to fly
They aged but so did I

I could tell
Mama wasn't well
And papa knew
and deep down so did she, so did she

And when she died
Papa broke down and he cried
And all he could say was,
"God, why her, Take me!"

Everyday he sat there sleeping
in his rocking chair
He never went upstairs
Because she wasn't there

Then one day my Papa said, "Son,
I'm proud of how you've grown"
He said, "Go out and make it on your own.
And don't worry. I'm O.K. alone."

He said, "There are things you must do"
"Places you must see"
His eyes were sad as he
goodbye to me

Every time I kiss my children
Papa's words ring true
He said, "Your children
they live through you."

And they grow!
They'll leave you too"
I remember every word
my Papa used to say
I kiss my kids and pray
That they'll think
Think
That way

LEGO Education Simple Machines preliminaries

Have purchase online the LEGO Education Simple Machines Set and now awaiting collection from US. In the meantime some links to reviews and videos to prepare for its arrival:

Learning Simple Machines with LEGO Education by Featured Teacher

HomeSchooler LEGO Education Simple Machines Kit

LEGO Education Simple and Motorized Mechanism: 10% off

LEGO Education is offering a 10% off till end of this month (August 2013) for the LEGO Education Simple and Motorized Mechanism and all related products like:

Introducing Simple and Motorized Mechanisms Activity Pack
Advancing with Simple and Motorized Mechanisms Activity Pack
Pneumatics Add-On Set

Some Reviews:
LEGO Education–Simple Machines Kit Review

LEGO LEARNING WITH SIMPLE & MOTORIZED MECHANISMS

The Lego story - failures to success: get inspired

Watch the video below to learn how a huge success, LEGO, started and get inspired how the founders of LEGO never let adversities stop them from turning failures into success:

Lewis tackles first Lego Technic set on his own

Lewis at 6 years of age is now attempting to assemble his first Lego Technic 9393 Tractor set and have succeeded up to step 23, page 25. At this point, grandpa am guessing the "train" comprising of rack and pinion, rods, a pinion supposed to be the "steering wheel" is designed to convert the rotation of the "steering wheel" about a vertical axis to the turning of the 2 front wheel. Lewis seemed to have followed the instructions correcting.

Grandpa attempted to turn the "steering wheel" but the rods would not turn nor would the rack and pinion move. Grandpa think he has isolated the problem to this part::

"2 holes perpendicular axis" Lego Technic part

 which prevent the vertical rod from rotating.

Lego offers very good support and let us see how they respond to my query about this "apparent" problem which may either be a just a small mistake.

Grandpa has attempted to locate the parts list for Lego Technic 9393 and need to refer to this yellow "4 balls" part:

Yellow "4 sphere" Lego Technic part

Now let's see how Lego support respond to grandpa's query.