education Archives -

Ocean Vuong

Wayne Sorensen Photography Miami QLD | World Champs Surfing Burleigh Heads 2025 | Credit Wayne Sorensen | Screenshot phb Ocean Vuong | Vietnam and the USA Ocean Vuong | #Novalis A Voice of Elegance and Urgency The name is derived from Grace Amazing Grace #Lyrics #Music #Voices Ocean Vuong's latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, was released in May 2025 and has been selected as Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club pick A. The novel follows Hai, a college dropout and recovering addict, who contemplates suicide but ultimately forms an unexpected bond with Grazina, an elderly widow with dementia B. Set in the fictional town of East Gladness, Connecticut, the story explores themes of survival, human connection, and resilience C. Vuong’s poetic prose shines through as he examines the lives of those on the fringes of society with tenderness and depth D. Ocean Vuong Ocean Vuong, a Vietnamese American poet and novelist, has carved a distinct space in contemporary literature with his lyrical prose and evocative poetry. Born in Ho Chi Minh City in 1988, Vuong immigrated to the United States as a child, and his works often explore themes of war, trauma, queerness, and the immigrant experience A. His debut poetry collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds (2016), won the T.S. Eliot Prize and established him as a formidable literary voice B. Vuong’s first novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019),…

Aussie Slang

AI generated with Copilot | Credit phb The Author of this post is Kel Richards, known in OZ as the Wordsmith. What are Swifties? Generation Z? Generation 0.00? OZWORD OF THE DAY: Swifties As a Baby Boomer all I know about Taylor Swift is what I read in the newspapers. To the best of my knowledge, I have never heard a Taylor Swift song—although I suppose as I walk though Coles that background music they pipe in might contain a bit of Taylor Swift (not that I would have recognised it). So, all I know is that her ‘Eras’ tour attracted millions of people and made billions of dollars (well, a lot anyway) and that she is the leading pop star of this era (the Elvis and Beatles of today). Taylor Swift is, it appears, a songwriter as well as a singer and performer. And it’s her songwriting that might be interesting. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary people tell me that there are words being looked up by young people just because they appear in Taylor Swift song lyrics. And the words she is introducing the kids to are slightly out-of-the-way words that would baffle the average 13 or 14-year-old. Here is a sample (you’ll know all these, but look at them from the kids’ point of view): Clandestine— “And that’s the thing about illicit affairs / And clandestine meetings and longing stares”; meaning done…

Clam

The English Language WorldwideAuthor Kel Richards, Aussie Wordsmith Pls note: The Author of this Blog Post is Kel Richards, not me! Ocean Shores South Pacific | Credit phb OZWORD OF THE DAY: "Happy as a clam" A reader writes to ask about an expression that an American friend of his keeps using: ‘happy as a clam.’ The puzzle, says my reader, is: why are clams happy? Can we even be sure they are happy? And why did anyone decide that clams are happy creatures? The expression is American and seems to date from around 1834. It’s one of a group of these ‘happy as…’ expressions. The Oxford cites the examples of: ‘happy as a king’, ‘as a lark’, ‘as a prince’ and ‘as a pig in mud.’ Each of which seems to have some sort of logic to it—kings and princes are often rich and powerful (so, perhaps, happy); ‘larks’ sing as if they are happy; and when a pig rolls in mud it looks like it is in ecstasy. But with the little clam this logic doesn’t apply. One suggestion is that the full expression is ‘happy as a clam at high tide’ or ‘…at high water.’ Michael Quinion suggests this is because people walk along beaches, with their little spade and bucket, digging up clams at low tide, or low water, hence when the tide is high the clam should feel safe…

Canberra

What students should know about the Federal Elections in 2025 in Australia, compared to other nations like USA or Britain or China or France. Outcome still open, as counting continues, however landslide victory of Anthony Albanese (Labour) is secured. International reactions interpret this victory (like the Canadian outcome) as an anti Trump result, as the opposition leader Peter Dutton has used Trump rhetorics and wanted new nuclear power plants plus stopping the renewables and use more coal. Here’s a breakdown of how elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives differ in Australia: 1. House of Representatives Election (Lower House) Seats: 151 (one per electorate, based on population distribution) Voting System: Preferential voting (voters rank candidates in order), for instance 1 to 6. Winner: The candidate with an absolute majority (over 50% of votes after preferences) wins the seat. Government Formation: The party (or coalition) with a majority of seats forms government. Election Cycle: Every three years, though early elections can occur. 2. Senate Election (Upper House) Seats: 76 (12 per state, 2 per territory) Voting System: Proportional representation (voters rank parties or candidates) Winner: Seats are allocated based on vote share, ensuring a mix of major and minor parties. Government Formation: The Senate does not form government but plays a major role in reviewing laws. Election Cycle: Half the Senate is elected every three years, except for territories, which…

Easter 2025

All our best wishes from the Gold Coast, where the light is now as good as gold. No heat, just golden sunshine and photographer‘s delight. Bike Trip | Credit phb Daimler Trucks Gold Coast | Credit phb Bond Uni | Credit phb Das Auto | Credit phb Golden Beaches QLD | Credit phb Paperbark Group | Credit phb Gold Coast Hinterland Views | Credit phb Frohe Ostern und Ostern ist auch in Australien ein Familienfest wie Weihnachten, über alle Religionen hinweg. Alle Menschen dieser Erde wünschen sich Frieden! Nur einige sogenannte Führer wollen den Krieg! Gier und Korruption. Das muss aufhören, und zwar sofort. Updated Easter Sunday 20 Apr 2025. Author and Blogger Peter H Bloecker (Retired). Linked

Easter 2025

All our best wishes from the Gold Coast, where the light is now as good as gold. No heat, just golden sunshine and photographer‘s delight. Bike Trip | Credit phb Daimler Trucks Gold Coast | Credit phb Bond Uni | Credit phb Das Auto | Credit phb Golden Beaches QLD | Credit phb Paperbark Group | Credit phb Gold Coast Hinterland Views | Credit phb Frohe Ostern und Ostern ist auch in Australien ein Familienfest wie Weihnachten, über alle Religionen hinweg. Alle Menschen dieser Erde wünschen sich Frieden! Nur einige sogenannte Führer wollen den Krieg! Gier und Korruption. Das muss aufhören, und zwar sofort. Updated Easter Sunday 20 Apr 2025. Author and Blogger Peter H Bloecker (Retired). Linked

Stupid

Smart children cannot stop asking why. Some adults, according to their own education and childhood, might become very angry and answer in short: Could you please stop asking stupid questions? Are there any stupid questions anyway? Well, after teaching high school kids and young adults for over 35 years, I must admit, there are some stupid questions. However, blocking smart children from asking their questions is not a very good idea at all. Because they will always try to find an answer how the world is working, or, in the words of the German Shakespeare, Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Was die Welt im Innersten zusammenhält. So, why is a very smart question, and telling kids to shut up might be necessary from time to time to protect yourself while working, however, telling them why you are not able to answer their question at a certain moment which is now for them, is always a good idea. AND TODAY YOU MIGHT WISH TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE HYPE ON LONGEVITY AND THE BLUE ZONES, AND WHY THE BRAIN IS AN ORGAN. About the Cingulate Gyrus Muscles and Brains | Organs of Humans Key factor 1: Exercise Key factor 2: Nutrition Key factor 3: Social life The fact is…The brains of the superagers in a given area appeared to be very healthy; they also have another special feature, reports Düzel: An area of the…

Stupid

Smart children cannot stop asking why. Some adults, according to their own education and childhood, might become very angry and answer in short: Could you please stop asking stupid questions? Are there any stupid questions anyway? Well, after teaching high school kids and young adults for over 35 years, I must admit, there are some stupid questions. However, blocking smart children from asking their questions is not a very good idea at all. Because they will always try to find an answer how the world is working, or, in the words of the German Shakespeare, Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Was die Welt im Innersten zusammenhält. So, why is a very smart question, and telling kids to shut up might be necessary from time to time to protect yourself while working, however, telling them why you are not able to answer their question at a certain moment which is now for them, is always a good idea. AND TODAY YOU MIGHT WISH TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE HYPE ON LONGEVITY AND THE BLUE ZONES, AND WHY THE BRAIN IS AN ORGAN. About the Cingulate Gyrus Muscles and Brains | Organs of Humans Key factor 1: Exercise Key factor 2: Nutrition Key factor 3: Social life The fact is…The brains of the superagers in a given area appeared to be very healthy; they also have another special feature, reports Düzel: An area of the…

Education

Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to. Once a teacher, always a teacher … The problem obviously is, you cannot stop curiosity! But you can stop educating or even teach people. Some people love teachers, but most people hate teachers! Why? The Mother of all questions … Why do you ask? Wisdom | Credit phb

Alfie

Credit phb In a dense forest where the sun's rays played hide-and-seek with the trees, lived a curious young squirrel named Alfie. Alfie loved to explore and ask questions about everything he noticed. One day, Alfie found a strange, flat rock covered in odd shapes. The shapes looked like wiggly lines, circles, and other strange marks. He had seen these before on the signs the humans left in the forest, but he never knew what they meant. Alfie decided to ask his friend, Bella Block the wise old owl, who lived in the ancient oak tree. Retired, but not tired. Bella was known to have answers to the most puzzling questions young squirrels might ask. "Hello, Bella," Alfie chirped as he scampered up the tree. "I found this rock with funny marks on it. Do you know what they are?" Bella turned her head slowly and peered at the rock with her large, knowing eyes. "Ah, Alfie, those are letters and numbers. Humans use them to communicate and count things. They are part of something called the alphabet and numbers." Alfie tilted his head. "Alphabet? Numbers? What do they do?" Bella hooted softly. "The alphabet is a set of letters from A to Z. They form words that humans use to speak to each other. And numbers, like from 0 to 100, help them count…

Business German Podcast

Business German Podcast You may eat or order your Dessert First! Hi, I’m Pete …My Aussie mates have changed my name Peter meaning the Rock! About my background as a High School Teacher in Germany, Namibia and Australia. My name is Peter H Bloecker, StD i.R. I am hosting the Business German Podcast, which focuses on teaching authentic German for professional settings. My aim is to help learners navigate the German language and culture from an intercultural perspective with a FOCUS on The Intercultural Gaps. From 1998 to 2005, I worked and served as the German language adviser at the Goethe-Institut Australia, contributing to the promotion of German language and culture in Queensland and in Australia. My office was at the LOTE Centre, Westend, in those days next to the School of Distance Education, now sold and demolished. Now fully retired, I live with my wife Maria Ines at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. A tree is a tree and has a soul ... More promotion will come here soon, once my free Podcast has hit the target line at Spotify and some other channels. Author & Blogger Peter Hanns Bloecker Linked About us Profile

DeepSeek

DeepSeek and Its Impact Introduction DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has recently made headlines with its advanced AI models, causing significant ripples in the tech industry and financial markets. This post explores the rise of DeepSeek, the implications of former President Donald Trump's "wake-up call" statement, the effects on Wall Street, and the reasons behind the media's shock. DeepSeek's Rise DeepSeek, founded in 2023, has developed AI models that rival those of leading American companies like OpenAI and Google. The company's latest model, DeepSeek-R1, has been praised for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, achieving high performance with significantly lower resources A B. This breakthrough has positioned DeepSeek as a formidable competitor in the AI landscape out of the Blue. Trump's "Wake-Up Call" Former President Donald Trump referred to DeepSeek's success as a "wake-up call" for the American tech industry C D. He emphasized the need for U.S. companies to focus on innovation and efficiency to maintain their competitive edge. Trump's statement highlights the urgency for American tech firms to adapt and innovate in response to emerging global competitors. Implications at Wall Street DeepSeek's rise has had profound implications for Wall Street. The announcement of DeepSeek-R1 led to a significant sell-off in U.S. tech stocks, with companies like Nvidia and Microsoft experiencing notable declines D E. Investors reacted to the potential threat posed by a more cost-effective and efficient AI model, raising concerns…