Does listening to music affect your work efficiency?

           Macau feature     Spotting someone completely engrossed in their work or studies while they are listening to music is now commonplace. Whether it is in a crowded McDonald’s, a noisy classroom (if the teacher or professor allowed it), at a library, or even a busy workplace, there is always someone who has their earbuds or headphones on, shutting the world’s sounds and its distractions out. There are even playlists available on

July 24, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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Why should you start playing an instrument as a hobby?

      Macau feature       I’m a singer-songwriter, and there is something truly magical about immersing yourself in music. It’s not just about learning a skill; it’s about embracing a whole new world of emotions and self-expression.For me, it all started with the enchanting strums of my first guitar, a gift from my mother when I was just 14. The moment I saw my idol, Taylor Swift, perform on stage, she ignited a fire within me. I yearned to embody her

July 24, 2023 | BY Ginnie Liang

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Spending your summer holiday learning something new

I struggled to get up under Macau’s sweltering summer heat as words of encouragement echoed in the background. I was covered head to toe in sweat, while small cuts and a bruise were beginning to form on my right leg. I had fallen. I had fallen again and I was tired. But none of that mattered because I was determined.When I finally mustered the strength and courage, I got up for one last attempt. “If I get this right, it’ll finally be a good afternoon” I said to myself. “If not, I

July 17, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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Try some arts, books and leisure activities during summer holiday

Once again, summer is upon us. After a long journey studying, this is the time students look forward to in order to unwind and do things they’ve been wanting to do but never had the time to do. However, do you just end up doing the same thing every summer holiday? Waking up late, scrolling away through social media, eating junk food, maybe going out with friends or family for a few hours, staying up late, and then the cycle repeats again. This will go on until the end of August and then your

July 17, 2023 | BY Zairilla Cruz

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Malala – a role model for all ages

You are highly likely to have heard of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani who is an activist for education, especially girls. Yousafzai was already advocating for girl’s education at the age of 11 and at the age of 15 in October 2012 was shot in the head by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP; sometimes called Pakistani Taliban) on her way home from school.Yousafzai’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai is an education activist who inspired his daughter with his work in education. After surviving the

July 10, 2023 | BY Lesley Wells

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To Kill a Mockingbird: a story that is still a must read

“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”– Harper Lee, To Kill a MockingbirdIn 1960, a book titled “To Kill a Mockingbird” by American novelist Harper Lee (1926-2016) was published. The novel has since won the Pulitzer Prize and become a modern classic that, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, has been translated into around 40 languages and so far sold over 40 million copies worldwide. This is for good reason – it

July 10, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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‘Intelligence is learnable’

What does it mean to be intelligent? Cambridge Dictionary defines the word as someone “showing intelligence, or able to learn and understand things easily”, which is similar to other definitions online. I used to think that intelligence was simply inherent, something that someone was born with that gives them an advantage over those who just do not have it. But during Form 3, one person, my maths and history teacher, would change my perception with a piece of advice that I still remember to

July 3, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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The one word that changed my life

 “…and our Most Improved Young Artist award goes to… Lily!” I awkwardly shuffled on stage, face hot as I grasped the paper certificate. Turning the emblazoned side into my stomach, I made sure only the blank beige was visible to the audience. Nine years old and I already knew that “most improved” was a participation trophy. Second place was the first loser, bronze was mediocre, and I was a talentless hack, not even managing that.Mechanically, I walked offstage, too embarrassed

July 3, 2023 | BY Lily Xiao Linzhi

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How can we stop bullying?

Kaley Chan Kei Ian, 17, Form 5        Bullying is the deliberate maltreatment inflicted upon a person or group, with the intention of causing verbal or physical harm. It can take various forms, including force, compulsion, teasing, threats, abuse, dominance and intimidation. Unfortunately, bullying is pervasive globally, and addressing it is imperative.Sometimes, bullying goes unnoticed because we fail to recognise the signs, avoid confrontation, or are not close to the

June 26, 2023 | BY admin

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From awareness to action: Creating a safer and more inclusive community for all

Helen Chon Cheng Man, aged 17, Form 5        In this day and age, there is no denying the fact that the issue of bullying has become increasingly prominent. According to a study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence in 2019, approximately 50 percent of students in Macau reported experiencing bullying at least once in the past year. Additionally, a survey by the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights indicated that 48.9 percent of primary school students and

June 26, 2023 | BY admin

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A father’s important role

The earliest memory I have of being in a cinema was when Spider-Man made his first modern cinematic debut in 2002. I was five and remember sitting in the dark with my dad, unsure of everything that was going on around me as strangers hurriedly looked for their seats. My father had practically raised me on superheroes, and Spider-Man was one of the many I was well-acquainted with.Words couldn’t describe the joy I was experiencing as I anticipated the on-screen appearance of my hero, with my

June 19, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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Do you celebrate Father’s Day?

Yesterday Father’s Day was celebrated in many countries around the world but is not deemed to be as popular as Mother’s Day, why is that? Did you treat your dad on his special day?Father’s Day was founded in the US in 1910, however, it did not become official until 1966,  three years after Mother’s Day, although in many countries it was not celebrated until much later. In the UK it was recognised after World War II. It has, however, been celebrated by various religions under

June 19, 2023 | BY Lesley Wells

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Book review: The Meme Machine

I’m a big fan of memes. And I share more meme-junk on Facebook than my personal life. But this book, The Meme Machine, by British author Susan Blackmore*, doesn’t just talk about these fast-food memes.Let us look at the simple process of how I share these memes: I see some short and punchy memes that make people laugh on social media and can’t help but share them on my own page, and then write a short caption, thinking my friends who see my Facebook feed would think I have a sense of

June 12, 2023 | BY Ginnie Liang

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Would you pay to have an android clone of yourself?

Exploring Ray Bradbury’s Marionettes IncIf you had an opportunity to create a lifelike robotic clone of yourself that would allow you to escape someone or something that makes you unhappy, would you take it?This is an idea that American author and screenwriter Ray Bradbury* incorporated in his 1949 short story, Marionettes Inc., a personal favourite that I highly recommend.The story starts with a conversation between two men of about thirty-five, Braling and Smith, who were walking home after

June 12, 2023 | BY Rui Pastorin

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