Mythbusters™: Don’t Try This at Home!

Have you ever wondered if any of the myths or rumours you have heard is true? MythBusters can help you to complete this challenging task to separate the truth from the myths and legends told by people. MythBusters is actually a book developed from the popular MythBusters show in Discovery Channel.

In this book, there are actually 15 myths awaiting us to study, experiment and to prove it as a fact or nonsense. The experiments and activities in the books are divided into 2 regions, which can be done at home. Each section has very detailed descriptions about how the activities are being carried out. There are also procedures and materials that are listed for us to try some simple, interesting experiments at home.

Personally, I feel that this book is fun, interesting and at the same time, educational. This is because in every of the busting myths mission, there is some history about the myths and how the professionals go about in examining the validity of the legends. Photos are included for easier reference and the phrasing of words in the book makes learning easy, humorous and interesting. The best part that I like about this book is that there are the “try this at home” sections. I feel that by making use of some science concept behind the activities, we can also conduct simple experiments to have some self-experiences on the science theories and concepts.

Another good point of the book is that there are true/ false quizzes to check your understanding of the concepts at the end of every experiment. Reading this book can broaden our general knowledge, common sense and also equip ourselves with scientific knowledge so that we would not easily fooled by people.

My favourite activity is actually “Making Quicksand” in the “try this at home” section. I think that it has a very attractive title and content which will make both adults and kids wonder how we can actually create a quicksand and get the sensation at home by just using materials that are in our everyday life.

Join me in the series of mythbusting activities, gaining knowledge and having fun at the same time!!

 

Where to find it?

Location: Central
Call Number: 507.8

 

Written by Lee Cheng Shu

Movie Review: The Notebook

The movie stars with a scene where a guy named “Duke” is telling a story to an old lady who’s staying in a hospital. It’s about a “boy and girl” story, Noah and Allie. They met each other back in 1940 in a carnival where Noah tried to get to know Allie.

Allie refused to befriend him in the beginning, but somehow they knew each other more and in the end they become a couple. Situation was difficult, of course, for Noah Calhoun who was just an ordinary middle-class guy, because wealthy Allie’s parents objected them and tried to separate them. One night, her parents became infuriated when they found out that Allie didn’t come home even though it was already late. They broke up after that.

Allie was brought to New York and Noah, who wrote Allie a letter each day, was enlisted to fight in a World War II. Allie then met a guy named Lon Hammond Jr. They got together and decided to marry in the near future, when Allie suddenly saw Noah’s picture on the newspaper and decided to visit him. Things got more complicated after that because now Allie wasn’t so sure whether to stay with Lon or with Noah.

Movie Review: Aristocrats

‘Aristocrats’, another BBC television drama, tells a true story of the five bewitching Lennox sisters—Caroline, Emily, Louisa, Sarah and Cecilia.

Caroline, Emily, Louisa and Sarah had different relationships but not all of them end up in happy marriages. Although the story took place in England during the 19^th century, it depicts the meaning of true love and showed how women fought for their happiness.

First of all, the eldest sister Caroline fell in love with a much older man Henry Fox. Although Fox was not as handsome as Caroline’s other suitors, she was attracted by his wits, intelligence and sincerity. To some extent, I find myself like Caroline. I believe that a man’s beauty can catch my eyes while a man’s brightness can catch my heart. I never dream of marrying a handsome man, as they may be ignorant or arrogant. I hope I can marry a man who can be my soul mate.   

Now, moving back to the story, Caroline got married to Fox despite her father’s strong objection. As a result, Caroline was forced to leave the family.

A few years later, Emily got married. Unlike Caroline, her marriage was approved by everyone. Her extremely rich and handsome husband was the kind of young men that every girl ever wanted to marry. It seemed that Emily should live happily ever after. However, life was unlike what happened in fairytales. Emily’s seemingly happy marriage was destroyed when she had an affair with her children’s tutor ten years later.

Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness

Before you watch this movie, ask yourself two questions:

1)       Do you think you’re happy with your life now?
2)       How do you define happiness? 

I don’t think there will be many people who can give you an answer to the above questions within a few seconds as this is a matter of attitude, an attitude towards life.

“The Pursuit of Happiness” is a true story about struggle, life, and love. I have never imagined a life that Chris Gardener (starred by Will Smith) lived – no money, no house, no food, nothing that a normal person would have. It wouldn’t be an easy life. I couldn’t help sobbing when Chris wept in a public toilet with his son because they had nowhere to stay

Life was not kind towards them, yet Chris had a glimmer of hope – his son. His son was his most valuable and only hope. Even though this hope seemed so tiny and fragile, Chris had to struggle and fight for his son.

The final scene left me with a warm sense of love. The love that gives you the strength to face anything and can even make you cry. The love that is warm and deep in heart.

 

This is the pursuit of happiness.

 

Where to find the DVD?
Call Number: DVD PN 1997 PUR
Location: South

Written by Wu Ping Han

10 Promises To My Dog

“Please enjoy your life with me.”

“Take care of me when I get old.”

“When I’m passing away, please be with me. And, remember that I love you.”

Are these the promises between a couple? Or the promises between a just-married husband and wife?

Yes, it seems, but….

“Talk to me a lot. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand you.”

“Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of you but that I choose not to bite you.”

Should you get confused now? It couldn’t be promises between couples, between father and son, or neither between mother and daughter.

Would you be surprised to know that these are the promises between Akira – a 12 years old girl, and her dog – Sock?

They are the few promises I still can remember from the movie “10 promises to my dog” – a movie that all sensitive souls will love, and one that would touch even the hardest person.