On craftsmanship

Since the only test of truth is length of life, and since words survive the chops and changes of time longer than any other substance, therefore they are the truest. Buildings fall; even the earth perishes. What was yesterday a cornfield is to-day a bungalow. But words, if properly used, seem able to live for ever.

Our business is to see what we can do with the English language as it is. How can we combine the old words in new orders so that they survive, so that they create beauty, so that they tell the truth? That is the question. 

And the person who could answer that question would deserve whatever crown of glory the world has to offer. Think what it would mean if you could teach, if you could learn, the art of writing. Why, every book, every newspaper would tell the truth, would create beauty.

- Virginia Woolf

I Vow To Thee My Country

Beautiful rendition of the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country by Beck Goldsmith

I Vow To Thee My Country

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

I heard my country calling, away across the sea,

Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.

Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,

And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.

I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,

I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

Tipping over

I learnt something about a widely used screening method for alcoholism. CAGE comprises four questions, of which two "yes" responses indicate that the possibility of alcoholism should be investigated further. 

The questions are:
1. Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking?
4. Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

CAGE is considered a validated screening technique, with one study determining that CAGE test scores >=2 had a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 76% for the identification of problem drinkers.

Source: Wikipedia

Where does one go to in Singapore for help?
Answer: National Addictions Management Service
http://www.nams.sg/Pages/index.aspx

Simple joys of life

Happiness is having a friend who's a military/political buff giving you his list of must-read books. I've just downloaded 15 or more books into my Kindle, covering DMZ, China, Japan, Vietnam, WWII, Hitler, Israel, Holocaust, US Pacific War and Churchill. Just a pity that some of his recommendations are not available on Kindle yet! I may have to get the hard copies.