Y.O!

a blog by the librarians & volunteers from the Young People’s Services (Public Library)

Archive for the 'library gossip' Category

iBlog2.0 contest - Part 4

(Continued from iBlog2.0 contest - Part 3)
iBlog2.0 National Interschool Chinese Weblog Competition, organised by Innova Junior College, co-hosted by Public Library Services, NLB.
海星中学 Maris Stella High School
小聊韩寒
June 5th, 2008
张文聪
不知道新加坡人对韩寒这个名字是否有过耳闻,我想应该是没有太多人知道的。
首先,在新加坡这个多种族,多文化的地域里,一个崛起的华文写作新星并不会引起多大骚动。其次,韩寒在中国的出名不光是因为他的作品受到年轻人的追捧,也是因为他对中国应试教育弊端所抱有的不满,因而在有着不同教育体制的新加坡,韩寒的名字没有那么响亮。即使现在的他是流行歌手,是赛车手,但名气也没有足够大传到新加坡。
对于一个新加坡人不怎样了解的作家,发表些评论着实有些困难。无论怎么样,先见他一面吧。
->  http://iblog2.new-media-arts.com/teams/the_first_sight/?p=35
看了他的照片,别以为他只是个帅气的赛车手。也许你看着这张照片怎么也不会想到他竟然会是一位作家,一位极有才华的作家。可是他却没有上过大学,只可谓是自学成才。
说起来,韩寒是个非常矛盾的结合体,他带有年轻一代的朝气,同时又具有上一代的成熟。因此他的文章读起来大气中带有一点幼稚青涩,但这丝毫不会成为他的劣势,相反,这种矛盾的结合满足了不同年龄阶段人的需求,调侃中带有真知,嬉闹中掩藏道理。年轻人读起来仿佛变成熟了,成年人读起来仿佛重回花季雨季。
最近我再一次重读了他自己最满意的小说《一座城池》,下面便是我的读书心得。
早在前年,我便阅读完了这本书,但由于是草草而过,记忆已经模糊了。如今再捧起这本书时,我惊奇的发现自己竟然对里面的好些情节有些记忆。即使是这样,我还是会在同样的地方被同样的黑色幽默激起笑声。笑声过后,仔细想来,倒有种想哭的冲动,不得不佩服韩寒文字带动情绪的能力。
仔细看来,每一个黑色幽默的背后都有一个现实的问题存在着,人性中丑陋,中国现实社会中不均衡,一些年轻人的盲目,一些官员的腐败,一些社会的病态,用两个逃犯和一个大学生的经历一点一点地串了起来。韩寒的《一座城池》就如同一个巨大的垃圾桶,这里面装着各色各样的垃圾,灰色的生活,灰色的人生。没有希望的,却又让人常常想入非非的世界。只不过作者用夸张的手法将这个问题放大化,以至形成了戏剧效果。比如说群人争抢看化工厂爆炸这一段,(链接阅读http://www.yuedu.org/thread-63110-1-1.html)便真切形象的表现出中国人爱争抢看热闹这一陋习。
就语言来说,很简洁,大多时候让我感觉到是在看剧本。处处有感悟,不能不说很有思想。讽刺的幽默感很强,有时候让我感觉非常有力度。通篇读完,不仅是一笑而过那么简单,更多的是对社会现实的反思。
有人说他的《一座城池》缺少营养,语言苍白,词汇贫乏,我承认。《一座城池》的确在词藻方面没什么吸引力。但对于学生而言,韩寒早已成为一个生动的品牌,不苟同于权威、率性、独立、求真这些可以与广大学生引起共鸣的特点让它的书有了广阔的市场。
一千个人眼中有一千个不同的韩寒,究竟你的韩寒是什么样子的,让我们一起在歌声中迈入他心中的那一座城池。
To summarise, this blogpost is talking about a person named Han Han. He is not only a car racer and singer in China, but also […]

Monday, June 30th, 2008

iBlog2.0 contest - Part 3

(Continued from iBlog2.0 contest - Part 2)
iBlog2.0 National Interschool Chinese Weblog Competition, organised by Innova Junior College, co-hosted by Public Library Services, NLB.
This entry is by contestants from Crescent Girls’ School. Check out their blog at 旋舞 蜕变 (xuan wu tui bian).
有一种幸福叫做知足
June 1st, 2008
有一种幸福叫做知足 — 闻四川地震有感
有人说,人不应知足,不知足才能达到更高的山顶。
有人说,人不应知足,一旦知足生活就不再有动力和希望。
可是我们不应一味的不满足,当我们忘记衡量自己的生活,只想着更高一层时,生活就不会再前进。
刚刚看过有关四川地震的报道。有一篇写着,由于不能移开倒塌的楼房,救灾人员只能将一具女孩的尸体吊出废墟,当她出现在人们眼前是,手里依然紧紧握着一只圆珠笔;还有一则报道写着,地震发生后一个小男孩被埋在了废墟底下,他非常害怕。为了缓解紧张的心情,他在废墟下仍然坚持看书。当他被救出来的时候,一手拿着手电筒,一手拿着书本。
生活中到底还有多少像他们一样可怜的小孩子?
当他们仰望天空时,想到的只是要到天的另一头看一眼;当他们在漆黑的夜里,借着蜡烛的微光坚持读书时,期望的只是一定要走到大山的外面,看一看书中写的五彩缤纷的世界。生命,没能给他们太多的选择。他们只能与羊群为伴,与黑夜同眠。但他们却给了自己对于生命最崇高的希望与渴望。他们,是最后的自然守护者,也是最后的天空的眺望者。
生活在大都市的我们,看到天空是又想到了什么呢?
当我们在抱怨上学要背着电脑太重时,有些孩子还在危房里借着蜡烛学着残缺课本上的字;当我们在反感课外活动占用了我们的业余时间时,有些孩子却在拼命地干完农活,挤出时间来学习;当我们在课本上乱写乱画时,有些孩子却在细心呵护着破旧的课本,盼望着能有一本崭新的书。
我们已经渐渐忘记了要衡量自己的生活,面对不断更新的社会,越来越多的人早已想不起要时不时抬头看一下天,看看天空的另一头那一双双稚嫩的双眸。不是没有幸福,只是因为幸福溢满了我们的杯,我们载不下了。
我们有机会选择优越,就请不要再忘记依然有无数的人没有机会却还在一直自己创造机会改变命运。
我们的路还长,一直走会累,累了就歇一歇,停下来看看自己走过的路,我们拥有的其实是一片长满鲜花的田野。请别再想着去摘更多的花,留下一些给别人吧,给那些只拥有小草的人。
祝福你们,那些一直在眺望天空的孩子。
The title of this blogpost is “a kind of happiness known as satisfaction”. […]

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

iBlog2.0 contest - Part 2

(Continued from iBlog2.0 contest - Part 1) 
iBlog2.0 National Interschool Chinese Weblog Competition, organised by Innova Junior College, co-hosted by Public Library Services, NLB.
A blog entry entitled “What do you start to miss home?” by contestants from Zhonghua Secondary School.
博客名:八度空间
你什么时候最想家?
June 1st, 2008
你什么时候想家?今天看书,看到张小娴的一篇散文,让我羞红了脸。先问问你的心吧,你什么时候想家?
文章开篇便问,你什么时候最想回家探望父母?我停下了手边的一切事情,认认真真地思考了这个问题,恩,确如文中所说,遇到挫折的时候,我最想家。在这个陌生的国度徘徊辗转了半年了,也还是有过一些一帆风顺的日子,在这段时间中,无需担心学习,没有大新闻,没有要忙的比赛、作业whatever something else need to do,一个人就静静地专心享用这时间,窝在床上,上网翻翻新闻,看看电影,听听音乐,没有记挂着家里。
然而,这次年中考试才刚落幕,我就像现在四川灾区彻夜救人的解放军们一样,像打了一场艰难持久的战,身累,心累。得到成绩,只想快快回到宿舍,寻一个无人的地方,给家里挂个电话,听一听妈妈的声音,把所有的委屈,不甘,自责,忏悔全部倾给她,不怕憋在心里的不快终有一天会溢满出来,爸爸已经说到烂的道理在此刻听起来,却又像是醍醐灌顶,使我似有所悟。通过一根细长的电话线,给自己加足油,充满电,然后再继续努力,挺直腰杆地走在家人期盼支持的目光里。
这仿佛已经形成自然了,有需要,寻求安慰,得找疗伤圣地,要给自己的心放个假,就会回从来都不需要想起,从来也不会忘记的家。对不起,我们总是带着一颗挫败的心回家。
饺子
English Summary :
When do you start to miss home?
In […]

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

iBlog2.0 contest - Part 1

What is “Rhythm of Life”? Well, it could mean different things to different people such as:
~ a typical day at school;
~ a snapshot of a family outing; and
~ watching a sitcom with your loved ones
I wonder how teenagers define “Rhythm of Life” - the theme for this year iBlog2.0 National Interschool Chinese Weblog Competition, organised by Innova […]

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Mother’s Day @ SKCL

Mother’s Day was celebrated on 11 May in Singapore this year. Many messages were posted at Sengkang Community Library’s ‘Labour of Love’ tree.
 
Initially, the contest should only have one winner, but there were so many entries that were so close, that we decided to give out two extra prizes.
Why did we pick these teens’ messages? Because their […]

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Coming Right at Ya… Teen Holiday Program!

We are having a Teen Holiday Program! Woohoo!
For an exciting, exhilarating and invogorating (you name it!) session of games, fun, activities and stories,
come join the teen holiday program, for teens by teens!
When, you ask?
30 May 2008 (Friday) & 13 June 2008 (Friday)
4 pm - 5 pm
Bishan Community Library, Program Zone
Jurong Regional Library, VAT
6 June 2008 (Friday) & […]

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Live Earth @ VAT

LIVE Earth Live at the library!
Saturday, 26 April 2008, 2.00-5.00pm
VAT, Level 4, Jurong Regional Library
 
 
We had our very own LIVE earth concert last Saturday! 2 local bands; Sunset Boulevard and J.DA (or better known as Danielle on screen) rocked VAT at JRL!! The concert started with Sunset Boulevard wowing us twice with their vocals and […]

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Definitely NOT a Plastic Bag…

No, I’m not a Plastic Bag (Design Workshop for youths)
Saturday 19 April 2008, 4.30pm-7pm
Multipurpose Room, Central Lending Library
 
 
Remember the hype of ‘I’m not a Plastic Bag!’? Well, we had the chance to be part of it. And if you think it’s just a hype and nothing else, read on.
It all started with a screening of […]

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Nice new NLB Reminder Service!

(Ed.’s note: I was checking the emails in the ShowTeens mailbox , I found Hui Yie’s article on ”Nice new NLB Reminder Service!”, dated 3rd April 2008.
“Bingo! that’s exactly what I need!”
Well, I was tasked to post NLB SMS and Email Reminder Service on Y.O! blog and was just wondering what to say to you when I spotted the write-up by Hui Yie, our Y.O! […]

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

Let us celebrate Singapore’s victory!

Right after the results of the bid to host the Youth Olympic Games were announced on 21 Feb at 7pm, my colleague, Grace, sent out a book display poster to all the librarians and branch liaison officers.
The next morning, we set up book displays on Youth Olympics 2010, to celebrate and support Singapore’s victory.
Some of the titles on displays are:
A fledgling […]

Monday, February 25th, 2008