Category: Development EN

Did you know that there is a library in Portugal where bats are used to protect the books? Bats eat insects that might damage old books. At the heart of the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe, is the Joanina Library, a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and baroque architecture. This unique library is not only an impressive place with its sumptuous...

You are what you constantly feed your mind with. Just as your body absorbs what you eat, your mind absorbs what you feed it. The ideas and thoughts you allow to enter your mind create your belief and experiences; they make you the person you are. Since what you feed your mind becomes your reality, it’s important to feed your mind with good stuff. “Nurture your mind with positive thoughts:...

Japan’s rich cultural heritage is home to many life philosophies that foster balance, well-being, and mindfulness. These time-tested concepts have influenced people worldwide, helping them live with purpose and intention. In an article in Medium (10 September 2024), Daniel CF Ng wrote about 6 transformative Japanese concepts that can guide anyone toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life....

Albert Einstein, the most well-known scientist of the 20th century, once said, “The more I read, the more I realise how little I know.” Reading books is important. Books hold power. A good book – whether it’s fiction or biography – offers ideas, mindsets, experiences, and advice that you can refer to anytime, says Dr Nikita Singh in “Books Are Our Superpower” in an article in...

Words can take on a whole new different meaning in today’s tech world. Cookies are not something you that you eat, they are a packet of data sent back and forth between a server and a browser. Bit is not the act of biting, it’s short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data within a computer. Check out more tech jargons that used to mean something else before computers came along. (Image...

After welcoming 2025, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) anticipates a challenging year ahead. Inflation, food shortages, and geopolitical uncertainties may dominate the coming months due to climate change. However, there are positive developments, such as the much-awaited passing of the Lemon Law in Parliament and the transition to adopt cleaner renewable energy sources. Climate...

(A wisdom story) Today in one of our classes I introduced the children to 2 apples (the children didn't know this, but before the class I had repeatedly dropped one of the apples on the floor; you couldn't tell, both apples looked perfect). We talked about the apples and the children described how both apples looked the same; both were red, were of similar size and looked juicy enough to eat. I...

(Image via Old Photo Archive)  

(A wisdom story) Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course. Each of us has such a bank, its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every...