Changeling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvHquOz-lDU&feature=fvsr

Was looking for articles on abducted children when I chanced upon this. Apparently, when the role was offered to Angelina Jolie, she was hesistant to take up this role, as the thought of losing her children was much to bear.

This is the true account of the story from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MafmhzJ8kEs

Below is a newspaper article that I came across recently. The Mum was almost conned into giving a ransom in exchanged for her abducted daughter. Just so happens that the daughter stayed back beyond the stated time and did not inform her mother. It could have been worse, her mum could have been hurt in the process of sending the ransom.

Very important for parents to know their kids' whereabouts and for kids to inform parents on where they are going, who they are going with (contacts etc), time that they are coming back etc.

I almost fell prey to a scam

Source:
The Sunday Times
Author:
Lorna Tan
28/6/2009
Like everyone else, I was relieved when the news broke last month that terror suspect Mas Selamat Kastari had been captured. Inevitably, the news brought back memories of how the nation had reeled in shock at the manner of his escape.

For me, it has a different significance. I can still remember exactly what I was doing on the day he escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

You see, on Feb 27 last year, my own world turned topsy-turvy, but it had nothing to do with Mas Selamat. At about 4.15pm, I received a call from my panic-stricken mother who told me that my daughter, who was then 15, had been kidnapped and that the kidnapper had threatened to kill her unless he received $50,000. My heart sank and I asked for details.

My parents had received a call from a man who claimed that he had my daughter. To 'prove' his claim, he got my daughter to speak to my mum. The girl who came on the phone was crying out for help in Mandarin. Incidentally, that is the language that my mum and daughter use to communicate daily. The girl said she had been abducted after school.

The man then took over the phone and demanded $50,000. My mum said she didn't have the money and pleaded with him not to hurt her grandchild. He dropped the ransom to $30,000, and then to $20,000.

My mum gave him my contact number. She tried calling my daughter but her mobile phone had been switched off. My daughter had said she would be home just after 4pm that day so the timing was uncanny. Both my parents were absolutely certain it was my daughter who had spoken to them on the phone.

After my mum called me, I received a call, presumably from the kidnapper, but he did not speak. Instead I could hear a girl screaming for help in Mandarin. I spoke to her in English and asked if she was hurt but she just kept on crying out.

I rushed to my parents' flat and called my cousin, who is a police inspector, for help. My husband was in Hong Kong for work and I figured it was no use worrying him at that point.

My cousin turned up at the same time that I reached the flat. I wasn't entirely convinced that the girl on the phone was my daughter. But I couldn't be certain that it wasn't her either. My instinct was that if it were my daughter, she would have spoken to me in English. But what if she had been warned by the kidnapper to speak only in Mandarin?

My cousin and I decided to call the police and her school. I checked through my mobile for the contact numbers of her friends to find out when they had last seen her.

Finally, I managed to reach one of her classmates who said that my daughter was still in school. She had stayed back later than usual as she was putting the final touches to her school project. I immediately asked to speak to her and she told me she was all right. And that was when we realised we had nearly fallen prey to a scam.

Looking back, my parents and I could have noticed clues that pointed to a scam. For example, the scammers initially identified my parents as my daughter's parents rather than grandparents. They could also have asked the 'abducted' girl for my contact number.

There have been many newspaper reports of scams here. Victims have reportedly lost thousands of dollars. Scammers typically prey on two emotions: greed or, in my case, fear.

In recent years, these conmen have become more creative. Most of the scams are financial in nature and fall under the category of Ponzi schemes which are usually well-organised. These are get-rich- quick investment schemes that lure customers by offering high returns. The returns, however, are paid out of funds from new investors entering the scheme.

An example of a scam that may prey on fear is phishing, where cybercriminals attempt to get you to send money or provide confidential account information. They do this via fraudulent e-mail which often have links to a website that looks like it belongs to a legitimate entity, but doesn't.

Here are two ways that phishing can be conducted:

· Beware of e-mail messages that urge you to act quickly, or your bank account may be suspended or closed. These e-mail messages often don't address you by name, but use a more generic title like 'Dear valued customer'. They also ask for account numbers, passwords or other personal information.

· Fraudsters can also e-mail all your friends and pretend to be you. One common trick is to send them an e-mail that would typically read: 'Help! Mugged and hospitalised in (name of African country here) while on vacation. No money. In real trouble. Can't pay my bills, being threatened with arrest. Scared! Send cash by Western Union!'

Some recipients might respond because the e-mail came from a friend's account.

To protect yourself, always exercise some scepticism when you receive such e-mail. Take your time to call the financial institution or your friend to check things out.

As for me, I'm glad my daughter was okay and that I didn't fall prey to the scam.

lorna@sph.com.sg

STOP!

Was doing some shopping at two BODY SHOPS outlets recently. Both asked whether I want a carrier or if it was ok to use my sling bag that I was carrying instead. Definitely a thumbs up for them . It beats having to stop the sales people from getting a carrier. Good for retarded people with slow reaction like me.

Mid year resolutions

I will make time for those around me.

I will be more organised and independent.

I will not expect people to do what I want, neither will I keep their faults.

Building something out of things that fall apart

Random pics from my mobile phone: Its nice chilling out at the chinese garden.

Nice view from the toilet




Anyway , back to today's topic.



Sent my printer to the servicing centre. Just 3 months after the one year warranty has ended.




Sent my DVD recorder(still under warranty) to the servicing centre.






Was downloading various software to rid my laptop(possibly still under warranty) of errors last night.




Would probably have to do something about my new camera SD card (does it come with a warranty?)too. I can't load the pictures into my labtop.I can only take pictures with my mobile phone camera now.



Even my bathing sponge(with no warranty) needs changing.

Had an accident at the swimming pool which resulted in an injured left hip(ok I'm not sure about the technical term) and a right knee oozing with blood. Was supposed to be body surfing on the water, more like body surfing the pool floor. Anyway, I went on to slide down the gigantic water slide so my injuries couldn't be that bad.

----------------------------------------------------

Things (even human beings),whether anot they come with a warranty are simply not built to last. We are slowly but surely dying /falling apart ,year by year, month by month, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second and yes moment to moment. Build something that last out of it while we still can. What are you going to build in your life?

Of East and West

One of my colleagues intended to join me for the course in Taiwan but shortly after ,the taiwan course was being cancelled.


More time devoted to other activities then!






Took them with my new camera. My old camera is still sadly missing.


Intended to visit the Da Vinci exhibition alone when a friend smsed me about the Kanxi exhibition. In the end, we went to the Da Vinci exhibition in the morning, caught the Van Gogh at the Omni Theatre at 1p.m, continued with the Da Vinci exhibition after lunch and only left the science centre at about 4p.m where we proceed with the exhibition of The Kanxi Emperor .Yes, the Da Vinci Exhibition is that comprehensive!


Alot of hard work definitely went in to create the visually stunning, interactive , mind enriching and comprehensive exhibition. It took 10 years to create!




After the exhibition, I cannot help but marvel at the pure genius and dedication of Da Vinci. Definitely looked at his pieces with new eyes , understanding and appreciation.



Before that, I simply could not comprehend about the big hoo ha around the famous painting Mona Lisa.



It must be noted that many of his work remained hidden for quite some time after his death. He was an artist, scientist, inventor, sculptor, musician, mathematician, engineer and architect , amongst so many other things.

The exhibition is definitely highly recommended. Don't worry about it being too arty farty, even a bimbo like me enjoyed myself throughly.

Blast to the past

Before we travel back, something that our graduating brownies gave us before they step down.

I'm not really sure what they mean by saying choc and me are like mothers to them..hmm...

But most of them were already responsible girls when they came in. Even the one who seemed kind of sluggish were able to rise to the occassion. Perhaps kids like being given responsibility and the fact that they are doing it as a group probably enhance their experience.

What we asked them to do were to design activities for the younger brownies. I will simply act as an observer and give them feedback at the end of the session. I must praise their effort both in designing the activities as well as the effort in improving based on the feedback given.

They play a big part in motivating me to take on a cca which requires a lot of hard work and planning from the teachers.

Ok back to the topic.

Another of my student from last year used a hand made wrapping paper to wrap a present for me. She is going back to India. I'm quite surprised , considering that I'm not teaching her this year. However, considering the wonderful parents that she have, I should not be surprised. See http://cottontailpuff.blogspot.com/2008/12/misconceptions-about-teaching.html

The student was already a wonderful child to begin with, yet the parents were gracious and humble to thank me for teaching their child.

Some time back last year, I mentioned that a student gave me a card saying that her mother is pleased with her change in behaviour.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC_JhKglPOvb0bI8Q529Mfp-34IIB3o6RH0lU-e0rk1Wq4Oc8SQ7dDRjZclex29W3GoWLbidQkljLKeFfpaXe3oN4_TE462NfsuvfbjNOaS6ZsiQrLGRpWcOiVv0Sl0znNYccQ-yxVKo/s1600-h/CIMG1114.JPG

I haven't seen her for quite some time, after teaching her last year. Recently, she joined the Brownies. What a change I see in her, and not a good one as that. I discussed it with another colleague. Well....I supposed sometimes when change occur, it can be hard to maintain in children especially when there are many external influences bombarding them. In order for change to last, support from those in close proximity with the child, i.e. the parents. must come in .