Welcome to our Year of Mind, Body and Spiritual fitness...

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:10:26 +0800

4 February 2012

Dear Readers,

Time flies as fast as it does these days, with us tethered to our mobile social media, there's never a quiet moment to just BE... it's all the more important to create those restful spaces for recharging. It's all about slow food, working smart, massive amounts of daily exercise, healthy food choices, prayerful contemplation and giving thanks for blessings and love.

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Happy New Year of The Dragon!

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:53:01 +0800

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Happy 2012 from the team at iCUBED.us

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:05:36 +0800

1 January 2012

Dear Readers,

Wishing everyone whereever you are, across the world, or in Hong Kong a glorious beginning to the new year, may this year bring continued good fortune, good health and the gentle fulfillment of your every dream in this our journey of life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Always with love,

Margaret Chen and the iCUBED.us Team

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LOST IN TRANSLATION

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:32:37 +0800

August 2011
When we started this site, we were in a different world, one that was perhaps less aware of how endangered our planet is.

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Contemplating during the SUMMER HOLIDAYS ...

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:27:25 +0800

11 June 2011

It's been quite a year here at iCUBED.us ...

We've been taking time to formulate thoughtful youth centered solutions with ways to implement, and, it feels like we're almost there with the mechanisms for integration, and if we've caused you to wait, please forgive us ... we apologize for the time it's taking to revamp our antiquated interface, but it is a broad overhaul, hence.

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MAKING A PLAN ... and getting things done ~ !

admin — Sun, 15 May 2011 22:35:50 +0800

15-16 May 2011

Our most profound thanks go to the Team of interns from the National University of Singapore - HM, JD, WL and ZY - for the outstanding work done to help get us to the next phase of our progress ... Now that plans have been set up, fingers crossed that the implementation will do justice to the wonderful recommendations proposed !

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Sage and Scientist CARL SAGAN -- A Gentle Reminder and Hints about Preserving the Future...

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:38:12 +0800

28 April 2011

A message from 1980, still - and perhaps MORE - relevant today than back then...

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Instead of the usual April Fool's day prank ... how about a story about cake?

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:03:05 +0800

Republished without permission from an unknown author...

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'

Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.

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iCUBED.us news, our Quarterly Editorial Themes, and our bi-monthly newsletters

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:13:03 +0800

26 March 2011

iCUBED.us NEWS ...

This year has to be about DOING THINGS BETTER.

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SPRING around the bend ...

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:30:19 +0800

This year has been anything but calm.

And it's deceptive because every day the birds chirp cheerfully outside the window, and time seems to stand still, and if you tuned out the news, the days pass without incident, almost without mattering if it's Saturday or Tuesday -- just days marking time, passing.

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INTEGRITY - What the world needs Now...

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:51 +0800

Seeing as how iCUBED.us' three "i"s, stands for "INTEGRITY IN INTELLIGENCE", we are pleased to republish this essay ...

INTEGRITY

This only have I found:
God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes. Ecclesiastes 7:29

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A Meaningful Story about Valentine's and Valentine's Day...

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:53:04 +0800

Thanks to Albert for sharing this true story with us...

14 February 2011

by ABIGAIL R. ESMAN

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My days of Living THE GOOD LIFE ...

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:27:11 +0800

8 February 2011

Living the sustainable lifestyle is not difficult when you're in Australia!

Here I am summering in the land down-under.

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iCUBED.us wishes all ... a new year of Happiness-Health-and-Prosperity looking forward to the Year of the Rabbit

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:24:35 +0800

30 January 2011 .and. 3 February, the first day of Rabbit Year 2011

The annual celebration of the Chinese new year is underway with the new Year of the RABBIT heralding a less f e r o c i o u s year, but the Tiger's giving a forceful reminder of all we have yet to do ... leaving in its wake, so much of a previously parched Australia awash in flood waters, violence and unrest starting in Pakistan, flaring in Tunisia, and sparking now in Egypt.

REASONS FOR HOPE

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SECRET REVEALED: FEAR CAN MAKE US MORE ALERT, AWARE, and GRATEFUL

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:57:27 +0800

20 January 2011

Since the new year, I've been literally wandering the streets lost in thought, taking in masses of information from the way the sidewalk feels different through the soles of different pairs of shoes, to the way vehicle exhaust smells more gritty when it comes from a diesel engine, you know, important stuff like this that impresses no one, especially not myself.

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HAPPY 2011! Be Bold, Be Confident, Be Resolute.

admin — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:05:34 +0800

31 December 2010 to 1 January 2011

Counting the minutes till the official start of 2011, this will be an entry short on words, but long on sentiments...

As I have the brilliant idea to celebrate this momentous occasion with a conscious, ceremonial washing away of any unnecessary baggage we might be carrying with us--a respectful putting away of limiting thoughts and mindsets so that we might face the new year ready to engage fully with life and all the blessings in our path.

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WINTER SOLSTICE: one moment, many interpretations...

admin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:32:29 +0800

23 December 2010

Wheel of Samsara - symbolizing the cycles of life and rebirth

Did you know that last night, it was Winter Solstice?
...and, it happened also to be a Full Moon, and a Lunar Eclipse--first in around 600 years, all in one night!

In retrospect, it might explain the restlessness in the air all day yesterday.

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Making a LIST ... naughty or nice?

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:12:53 +0800

15 December 2010

Do YOU make LISTS?
Are they helpful for you, and how do they help or impede your progress?

When I'm calm, I have a good habit of making a TO DO List to guide my day.

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T'is the Season...

admin — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 10:37:28 +0800

5 December 2010

What's Christmas all about anyway?

For me this year, it's about having time to refresh the spirit--spend time with family, friends and all the important people that have made our journey so far, so memorable and inspiring--and, it's about preparing to move with certainty and bold steps into the new year--the new decade ahead.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010 ~ !

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:10:59 +0800

19 November 2010

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS TO ROUND OUT THE FIRST DECADE OF THE 21st CENTURY ...

I'd like to start this year's Thanksgiving blog today with some words about the importance of giving thanks, important because it means that we don't take things for granted especially when things go well.

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Studies reveal... SLEEP MORE, EAT LESS, WORKING TO SCHEDULE IS BETTER

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:42:48 +0800

1 November 2010

It's just around exams and revisions time for students around the world, it's mid-term.

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BE STILL AND KNOW...

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:56:45 +0800

I'm learning that to over-do, is as bad, if not worse than ... to do nothing.

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ANTICIPATION 10.10.10 - Is it possible that all this activity is getting 'us' no where?

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:08:39 +0800

9 October 2010

Tomorrow there'll be a huge amount of activity in a new citizen-led 'green' movement called 10-10 (to be observed every year on 10th October, beginning this year - 2010) which is 'about' setting a target to reduce emissions by 10 percent every year, so we can reach a ZERO-EMISSIONS goal in ten year's time.

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GRATITUDE! Once and Again.

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:28:39 +0800

5 October 2010

This has been an incredible five weeks of activity since returning from the Garden City of Asia at end-of-August!

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DO THE RIGHT THING and "IT GETS BETTER"

admin — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:27:11 +0800

2 October 2010

Last Friday iCUBED.us published a "controversial" news topic about Dan Savage's IT GETS BETTER project that seeks to give hope to gay youth who face ridicule and harassment often on a daily basis. It's clear to me that gay rights are so controversial precisely because it is cloaked in innuendo and taboo - and, like any issue that requires a hush-hush approach, the downside is that the issues get clouded with so much NOISE (as in "signal-to-noise") that it'll take time and a definite process to dig out. By shining a light on the issue as IT GETS BETTER has, there is hope that we "adults" can come to grips with what this whole "battle" is about. In the two weeks since the IT GETS BETTER project was launched, hundreds of gay people have added their voices to the channel, and so too has the media taken a longer and more thorough look at this divisive issue.

It's really too easy to blame the wrong culprit, which is the sort of WRONG, that compounds itself because it means never getting to root out the deeper issue and address it in a mature and rational way.

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* H O M E * mb

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:34:34 +0800

29 September 2010

******

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Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:30:23 +0800

From all of us here at iCUBED.us, we present you with a humorous take on the mooncake... tuck in to this article from our friends at theAsiaMag.com, aptly titled The Case Against the Mooncake by Clarissa Tan, with apologies to those who like these delectable, figure-busting sweets...
click on button to read the article

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WHAT'S THE POINT? On Instilling OLYMPIC VALUES in YOUTH

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:16:39 +0800

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“CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND GROW”

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:10:17 +0800

6 March 2009 (republished on 9 August 2010)

older version : http://www.icubed.us/node/1707

iCUBED.us is “I” to the power of three, our motto is “integrity-in-intelligence”

We believe, the English language opens the doors to the world.

iCUBED.us celebrated our third anniversary in December 2008, and we have had a few proud moments, such as recognition from UNESCO, Hong Kong University’s prestigious School of Media and Journalism and recognition from “Education USA”.

iCUBED.us is a webzine for youth aged 13-to-21 that offers youth age-relevant experiences designed to help YOU not only better understand yourself, but also the issues that are important to your stage in life. The website has an overarching mission to bring the world to young people, encouraging you to be the best you can be, and to fulfill your innate potential… We are all about challenging youth to DISCOVER YOURSELVES, who you are, how you compare to others individually, and in the group.

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Q&A about iCUBED.us future ...

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:59:04 +0800

30 July 2010

Margaret Chen – Founder/Editor in Chief, www.iCUBED.us
BA, Child Development Psychology and International Relations/Political Science
MA, Anthropology

- Why did you launch iCUBED.us? Was there a purpose?
iCUBED.us (global webzine for thinking teens) was envisioned as a way to ‘shape the future’ by bringing youth aged up to 25 in touch with each other and with news and information with a positive message, teaching them that one is never too old or young to make a difference.

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Ponder on this... What if we had some of God's powers?

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:06:14 +0800

What is morality and is it important for us to abide by a moral code?

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Wishing everyone a happy Easter holiday!

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:21:29 +0800

April Fool's Day 2010

It's a long weekend here in Hong Kong and many days of rest and relaxation for our diligent workforce renowned around the world for our famous workaholic ways.

And for those who do not celebrate Easter, we wish you all the best!

From the team at iCUBED.us

Tweet

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BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:16:06 +0800

4 December 2009

iCUBED.us is so WORD-centric, so when our friend SandraY sent this to me, I HAD to put it up... it's at least a nod in the direction of math, sums and accounts

Thanks as always to Sandra...

THE BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE

Our Birth is our Opening Balance!
Our Death is our Closing Balance!
Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities
Our Creative Ideas are our Assets
Heart is our Current Asset
Soul is our Fixed Asset
Brain is our Fixed Deposit

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Happy Thanksgiving 2009 from all of us at iCUBED.us

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:15:39 +0800

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With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to prepare our Christmas Gift Lists...

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:22 +0800

23 November 2009

... especially this year, as the news arrived yesterday from the general direction of the North Pole, that 200 reindeer drowned when their herd of 3,000 ended up in the freezing water when they were marching across a frozen lake, which turned out to be NOT frozen enough, instead cracking beneath the weight of the reindeer herd.

PROOF once again of Global Warming & Climate Change...

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Scary Halloween Countdown

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:46:26 +0800

29/30 October 2009

This will be the first time my ghoulish self shall be spending my Halloween night shivering and shaking in BEIJING, the scary hairy capital of Mainland China... but alas there's nothing to do but BE BRAVE!

and so wishing YOU'all hOWL the night away,

and, PARTaye until the first light of day

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HAPPY DIWALI - The Festival of Light

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:09:30 +0800

19 October 2009

Living in Asia has become a much more multicultural experience for many, myself included.
I say this because in recent years I get many reminders from friends and even the media, when major festivals such as RAMADAN, the Muslim month of fasting (for similar purposes as Catholics observe Lent), or in today's case, the Hindu festival of lights - DIWALI FESTIVAL rolls around.

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Did you know? Today - OCTOBER 16th - is "BOSS DAY"

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:02:28 +0800

16 October 2009

TO ALL THE BOSSES OUT THERE, HAPPY BOSS DAY!

"National Boss Day is Oct. 16, 2009

When is it? National Boss Day is always Oct. 16. In 2009, National Boss Day falls on a Friday.

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"FEVERISH IN HONG KONG"

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:43:49 +0800

12 October 2009

"Yup little fella, I know just how you feel!"

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Pope, Polanski and Probability

Margaret - Mags — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:34:45 +0800

8 October 2009

I've been thinking about the Pope these days, and about the Catholic church, perhaps brought on by the recent arrest of Roman Polanski.

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The Autumn Tides are upon us once again!

Margaret - Mags — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:28:49 +0800

30 September 2009

There's been so many 'natural disasters' these days it takes such a toil on our sense of compassion, there's so much need out there, and this barrage of destruction makes us all the more grateful for the peace that remains in the world, but also it must make us wonder how we might make a difference to lessen the suffering in the world by our own acts and actions.

Is it enough, for example, to donate to relief?
Is it helpful for us to learn more about root causes of these calamities?
Is there a way to reverse things like 'climate change'?

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Hong Kong Journalists and Foreign Correspondents to unite in Protest for Beating of Journalists

Margaret - Mags — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:31:04 +0800

12 September 2009, Saturday

This town's abuzz, there's talk about tomorrow's march in protest for the beating of Hong Kong journalists covering the reports of syringe attacks in Urumuqi, Xinjiang last week. A loud voiced elderly man was seen chanting slogans in Cantonese today as he walked down a main street in Central District. "We must protest the beating of our journalists! JOIN THE MARCH!" he said.

And so it remains to be seen how this act of civic responsibility will play out tomorrow, and whether there will be remedial actions to better the situation.

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WHY RESIST? ... When is resistence truly futile?

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:21:33 +0800

18 August 2009

Margaret Chen
editor in chief
iCUBED.us

Here in Hong Kong we are moving towards a higher regard for the HUMANITIES in our education system, why is this increased respect for HUMANITIES important?

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WORDS - & a story - TO LIVE BY ... from one feisty Grand Dame

Margaret - Mags — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:58:35 +0800

By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

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Gratitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy...

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:19:18 +0800

2 June 2009

We've been unusually quiet these days, and with the successful launch of our Anthology this past weekend, we have real cause to CELEBRATE! and, certainly no celebration is complete without a period of rest, and also, of reassessment. So that is just what we are doing... in our unique way... and by giving thanks.
[Check out our photos-essay of the Anthology launch - http://www.icubed.us/node/1817 ]

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EXERCISING TO BEAT STRESS ...

admin — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:16:29 +0800

26 May 2009

Margaret Chen
Editor in Chief
iCUBED.us

I'll bet many of our readers know what stress is, especially this time of year!

EXAMS are coming up for many of you... and you'll be under house arrest, locked up with stacks of revision books, cut off from the outside world.

So how do you handle stress?

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On Being Valedictorian, and On "Being the Best" ...

admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:32:24 +0800

7 May 2009

Margaret Chen
Editor in Chief
iCUBED.us

A LIGHT BULB MOMENT and A PERFECT BREAKFAST

It's already May, and it's exam time again in many parts of the world...
I'd like to start off by saying, GOOD LUCK to all and may you do as well as you deserve to do
(~ is that a fair and good blessing?)

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Anti-tobacco campaigner - Dr. Judith Mackay is getting her third major accolade this year!

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:08:19 +0800

3 May 2009

Margaret Chen
Editor in Chief
iCUBED.us

Dr. Judith Mackay has had a good year. She started this year by having the letters behind her name 'upgraded' from OBE to MBE.

Tomorrow, Dr. Mackay will be giving a speech at the Hong Kong University, about her award from the British Medical Journal, for Lifetime Achievement for her 20-over years of campaigning against tobacco and smoking! Now, finally many more people are being motivated to stop the madness that is cigarette smoking addiction... and not a moment too soon!

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Happy Buddha's Birthday...

admin — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:23:07 +0800

2 May 2009 - Saturday...

Margaret Chen
Editor in Chief
iCUBED.us

Today in Hong Kong, it was a gorgeous sunny day, one befitting the celebration of Buddha's birthday. And though I was a totally focused force-of-nature, and got a ton of work done, I still got to do the things that rejuvenate my spirit and give meaning to life... spending time with friends, partaking of sumptuous food, even taking in WAY TOO MUCH SUN-burn ~ouch!~ seems to have helped me to overcome a pretty severe case of mental freeze.

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e-WISDOM : "I wish you enough"

Margaret - Mags — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:55:44 +0800

27 April 2009, posted by Margaret Chen, Editor in Chief

a bit corny, but...

A much belated Happy Easter to our dear readers. (I've been a shut-in for the past two months, a veritable slug ... but Spring is here and it's time to shake off the Winter-blues).

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