EOY revision

When i first saw this topic, i wanted to just write the word "mug" and repeat it 200 times to fill the minimum word count. But "mugging" is so ambiguous. In case you don't know yet. "Mugging" is a collective word for just sitting down and working like a zombie. A zombie who still has some brains left.

To begin the revision.
Start with Animal Farm.
Read Animal Farm.
Re-read Animal Farm.
Hopefully read Animal Farm until you get the whole story in your head.

Next.
Read S's notes. All that 10 chapter note thingie which we did but did not hand up.
Make sure you understand what you are reading. To ensure, you can just open up MS Word 2007 and recreate the notes.

Then.
Look through the papers i just printed out.
Do them, don't just stare at them.

Overall, revision is just about (re)working and (re)writing and (re)doing and (re)reading and lastly (re)vising. Oh yeah, don't forget (re)working. I think i just mentioned that. Ah. All that revision is already getting into my head. Though i haven't started.

I guess its time to begin (re)vising. Should i follow what i just wrote ^^ there? Good question. I should start with (re)flecting. You would never want to make the same mistake again.It takes away the chance of making new mistakes. One thing i hate about life.
(re)peating things. Sometimes its absolutely neccessary. But mistakes,I don't think so.

So, yes. I shall NOT follow what i wrote first. Its time to sit and (re)flect. Count the number of (re)s this post has. It (re)peats alot eh. Well, this is the essence of revision. Repeating your mistakes once more so that it will not (re)peat itself when it is not wanted.

Major Blog Assignment

"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's f***ed up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I walk alone
I walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...

Analysis:

The first stanza shows how, at the beginning of the year, i "walk alone". Totally new to this school, i have no choice but to take the paths that i "have ever known" the ones that were familiar. I did not stay in school much, afterall there was not much to do, so i went "home".
... NEXT PARAGRAPH..
I walk down this "empty street", somewhere in Term 2. Yes, i have friends, but i do not have the one thing a student would love to have. No, not girlfriends... ... But results. My dreams of a fantastic single digit MSG (MeanSubjectGrade), has now become just another "Broken Dream". But this is just the beginning. My EP3 (Co-Curricular Actvity) isn't going too well. So, i walk on a whole "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
...NEXT PARAGRAPH...
This Third Stanza is written very short, afterall, it just repeats " i walk alone", to emphasise how lonely i walk. I seem to be suffering alone. Though deep in my heart, my subconscious mind, i know i don't stand alone. The Fourth stanza, repeats i walk alone, but it ends abruptly. Its just like how my EP3 has improved drastically. No more the "noob" jumper who has no technique nor strength.
...NEXT PARAGRAPH...
The Fifth stanza is exactly how i feel during tests. No, i am not nervous. But, i feel alone. With nothing but my "shadow" beside me, i seem to be in a totally different dimension. A universe where i "walk alone". Due to all those horrid results that stand before me, i would naturally be worried. Sometimes, i just hope that the awesome A1 results would just "find me". But until then, "i walk alone".
...NEXT PARAGRAPH...
By the way, if you hear the song, all those Aahs and Aah-ahs don't sound like screaming, so yes. Its just some sort of noise. BUT, in the next stanza. It describes me fine. I "walk down the line" that "divides me somewhere in my mind". Wondering which side to cross over. The super-mugger (mugging in Singapore doesn't mean you rob somebody, but its just that you spend massive amounts of time studying) side, or the slacker side. Both sides don't suit me. So, i just sit on the fence. "Walking alone" on the "border line".
...NEXT PARAGRAPH...
I try to "read between the lines" during tests, but normally, i intepret wrongly. Someimtes, i just sit down and "check my vital signs", seeing if i am "still alive" after i see that massive C5 linger in my mind. But, i "know i am still alive" and i have no choice but to continue "walking alone" without A1s. The rest of the song is just a repetition, which is an emphasis on all i have said in the past 5 Paragraphs. I "walk alone", on the "boulevard of broken dreams". Annihilated probably by the shortage of hardwork? But i don't just eat chips all day in front of my telly. I guess...i would just have to keep trying. Hopefully, after the EOYs(EndOfYear exams), i would no longer walk alone...

Poem Response

How long more do i have to endure this excruciating suffering?
How much further to that elusive end?
How come i just fail to achieve that A1?

Fret not my dear, it will all come.
Its just a matter of time.
A matter of hard work.
A LARGE amount of matter.

No matter how high,
No matter how fast,
No matter how far,
There will be people better than you.

Does this mean you just give up.
NO!
Keep holding on to that silvery strand of spiderweb,
the web of your dreams.
Do not let go!
Keep holding on to that last strand of rope.
If you dare to let go, there will be nothing left to hold.

Whom do you listen to?
You, yourself, or your mother?
Your destiny is yours to control.
Grip it like a tiger's jaws going in for the kill.
Grab your destiny by the neck.
Drag it along with you.
Make it happen.

By, Hum Qing Ze
known by YueJun as "Grassoat"

Porcelain

Smooth as glass,
White as the clouds.
When i first bought it, it came in a box.
The side wrote fragile, and had a little picture on it.
Its empty stomach held a pint of liquid-water or pepsi.
I would put her lips to my mouth.
Caressing her smooth curves.
When she took her bath, i would watch her go in dirty
and come out the clean cup she was.

By,
QZ

Reflections on a week of Home Learning

Overall, i can safely say that it was somewhat fine. The work you gave was not too much, as i could normally finish it in an hour or so. There were many advantages to home learning, for example, there would not be the factor of travelling, as we were working from our homes.

Sometimes, it gets confusing, as there are just so many sites open. I remember how my computer hanged when i tried to organise my windows. Not easy mind you. Imagine 8 different sites, all scattered around my screen, each of them with their own tabs. But eventually, i succeeded. It was a fruitful week, as we all had to excercise self-control not to drift off into other sites, a temptation that would always be present whenever it came to using the internet.

Self-discipline is key to completing your home learning work. Since you are at home, you do not ahve any teacher staring at your back or any fear of being scolded for daydreaming. So, that would be the ticket to wandering off. A ticket that you will have to reject. Overall, i feel that home learning was sometimes troublesome, but just as fun.

Lesson 6: Compulsory Blog Entry

Lotteries have been called a tax on the poor. Ultimately at only a dollar or two a ticket, anyone can play the lotteries. However, many people become addicted to buying tickets and they can cause family/maritial problems. Discuss this topic with a parent and get their biew on lotteries and specifically lotteries in Singapore. Include at least one quote from an adult, one quote or reference from either an NPR presesntation or Youtube Video in your discussion.

I have chosen to condemn the lotteries. In lotteries, what are your chances of winning? It is so low, that you might as well not gamble. But the thing is, its in our genetic makeup to take risks. If not, we would still be stuck in that cave somewhere in North America. Humans like to take risks. Especially with gains as high as those in the lotteries in Singapore, people just have to try their luck.

BUT, there is also this part of our brain that controls what we do. People that gamble know that it is bad, but they just say
" Its only $2 a ticket, never mind lar."
They keep forgetting- $2 X 100 would already have amounted to $200. The Singapore Pools ( Gambling Authorities) allow you to place bets of different amounts ranging from $2 to $50. Most of the people place only $2. But they bet at least 4 times a week. So, over the months, years of continous betting. It can amount up to massive amounts of money spent on betting.
The question is, DID YOU WIN ANYTHING? A quote from a lady who has maneged to stop her compulsive gambling habits. When asked "do you have any idea how much you lost in gambling?" Her horrific reply was "i lost $300,00 to gambling". Her entire retirement savings. This is an example how much gambling can take from you, and how little it returns.

IN the world of gambling, the chances of winning is set at a minimum. So, no human, no mortal can actually win many times. If you have won once in your lifetime. You are counted as some what lucky. People get desperate after losing too many times. Which make them resort to desperate means. Consulting the supernatural, superstition, and many other wierd ways to draw in "luck".

WHAT a desperate man can do is beyond comprehension of any psychologist. Its another genetic driving force pre-programmed into our consciousness, activated only when neccessary. Its the manual override button, which would make you do absolutely anything to succeed. They can become extremely superstitious, change their entire lifetyle to draw in luck and so on and so forth.

GAMBLING is very addictive. Once you look at the winnings ( forget winning, its nearly impossible) you feel the want for the money. Every single '0' behind the first-digit is like a magnet drawing you into the abyss of compulsive gambling. Like any strong whirlpool, you will need to fight extremely hard to get out.

CONCLUSION: Gambling is bad, so please. For heaven's sake, for your family's sake, for your spouse's sake. Don't gamble. Like my mother used to say," You don't want to gamble your life away."

Lesson 5: Poetry on Gambling

Tom Beatty in Comparison with The Rocking Horse Winner

It is that life "stacks the cards to catch your weakness". Paul's weakness would be that he keeps hearing from the house that his family needed money. He finds it hard to refrain from gambling as he feels that he needs to prove to his mother that he is lucky. The house doesn't help conquer his weakness by constantly whispering that the family needs money. He believed that when he sat on his rocking horse in his house, his luck would show and he would bet on the right horse. After awhile of constant stress from the house and gambling, he finally gave in to all that stress and fainted, which led to his death.

As for the "gives you 70 years to play", Paul had a fraction of that time. But even with so little time, he manages to get lucky and win. Even his death was, somewhat a lucky event for him. Before the obsession got any worse, he was lucky to have died. If not, once his luck rubbed off, he would keep gambling to try and regain his former lucky glory.

The Green Clothes and Paper

Tips from Dr Soo, and his massive gains. Dry Lips after sharp drops in stock worth. Green Clothes would represent the colour of the American Dollar-money, green-eyed with green and envy.

One-dollar Gambler and Ah Boh from "Lottery"

The "blind man" would refer to Ah Boh himself. Blind to the advice of others. Ah Boh chose to blind himself from the real world and indulge in the world of gambling. The Number 13 is considered unlucky by some, which means that he was supersitious, just like Ah Boh who would go to road accidents to jot down the car number plates. The Zero dollars to bet also relate to Ah Boh in the sense that they were in dire straits and were running out of money.

Lesson 4: Theme: Gambling

Paper.

The title refers to how people tend to put their assets on paper. In this case, which would be the stock certificate- proof that you have bought the stock. You exchange your hard-earned money for this piece of paper, this gamble.


It is a highly risky gamble, people can lose their lives' savings, or they can gain an immense amount of money. That is the gamble. Like ordinary gambling in the casino, instead of chips on the poker table, you have the stock certificate. If you choose the wrong cards, you will lose your chips. When you dare to play the stock market, its like another form of gambling, betting on horses. You bet the share you choose. You watch it rise, you watch it drop, but in the end, can you win?


In Paper, Tay Soon and Yee Lian invested their money on stocks and were lucky enough to enjoy an extremely high increase in their stock worth. However, when the fall came, they lost a lot of money. In the end, they lose so much money that Tay Soon becomes so stressed, he dies. Now, to fulfil his impossible dream house, they buy a paper house to fulfil his aspiration. In paper.


Lottery


Ah Boh's superstitions were just because he was so desperate that he was willing to try out anything, that's why he listened to every method that would "bring him luck". She just needed the money. But she was too lazy to work for the money. Instead, she sincerely believes that gambling is her sole ticket to being rich.


She does not have the gambling habit. It is so serious, that it cannot be classified in the same league as being a mere habit. Its an addiction. It was her heroin. She just wants that elusive feeling of winning the lottery. The prize money can pull a beggar out of poverty. But the thing is, she is even willing to spend her salary on gambling instead of providing for her aged mother.

The Rocking Horse Winner

I believe that it was the entire prospect of gambling that killed Paul. Uncle Oscar, Bassett and even Paul is responsible for Paul's own death. Gambling is very addictive, it can act like a magnet, that will hold you forever. Uncle Oscar and Bassettt should have known much better than to let Paul bet. The two adults should have been more responsible and refrained Paul from gambling instead of encouraging him. Paul himself should have long realised that gambling could lead to an addiction and when your addiction is very strong, you could indirectly hurt a person either physically or emotionally. in this story, Paul paid with his life.

Lesson 3: Analysing and composing a poem

The Son is in Secondary School by Affran Sa'at

My badge has a Latin motto
Hope for the future
The future is hope
Or something

At times black crows try to interrupt
When we sing the National Anthem

It is difficult to maintain
The whiteness of my shoes
Especially on Wednesdays.

I must admit there is something quite special
About the bare thighs of hardworking scouts

The Malay chauffeurs
Who wait for my schoolmates
Sit on the car park kerb
Telling jokes to one another

Seven to the power of five is unreasonable.

On Chinese New Year
Mrs Lee dressed up
In a sarong kebaya
And sang Bengawan Solo

The Capital of Singapore is Singapore.

My best friend did a heroic thing once
Shaded all A's
For his Chinese Language
Multiple-choice paper

In out Annual Yearbook
There is a photograph of me

Pushing a wheelchair and smiling
They caught me
At the exact moment

When my eyes were actually closed.

The poem above has 31 lines, organised into stanzas. Its a free verse, with no rhyme of regular rhythm. There is personification, as the poet describes the crows as interrupting the National Anthem. The author describes his best friend's foolish act as heroic, and tried to get you to see failing his Chinese as a heroic thing. The sarong Kebaya dressed by Mrs Lee on Chinese New Year symbolises Singapore's Racial Harmony. The Malay Chauffeurs symbolise the number of children born with a silver spoon in their mouth, afterall, not everybody has chauffeurs. This poem gives readers a glimpse into the life of a secondary school child. His blunders and the cliques that are present in Secondary School ( Rich kids). Also suggesting that sometimes during at school, you have to get down and dirty. (maybe Physical Education).

MY POEM

The Good Old Days

It was just over a year ago.
When i was still in primary school.
Canteen food tasted like rubber.

It was likea mini-heaven we all lived in.
Free from the horrors of the modern world.
Our ignorance was our shield.

Throngs of students would rush out
Everyday when school ended.
It was a tsunami of bodies,
hot, sticky and restless.

The library was never quiet.
People talking like it was their living room.
It was a warzone.
Every few minutes you would see a pillow fight.
All in the name of fun.

Thus were the good old days.
When i was still in primary school

Lesson 2: Favourite poet

POET: Henry Charles Bukowski (August 16 1920- March 9 1994 )

HENRY Charles Bukowski was a German-American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was heavily influenced by the geography and atmosphere of his home city, Los Angeles. He writes mainly about the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing itself, alcohol, relationships with women, and the drudgery of work. Charles wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories and six novels, having over 60 books in print.

AT 24, Charles' short story "Aftermath of a lengthy rejection slip" was published in Story magazine. Two years later, another of his short stories "20 Tanks from Kesseldown" was published in Portfolio III's broadside collection. His failure to break in the literary world resulted in him quitting writing for almost a decade, a time which he referred to as "ten-year drunk". These years formed the basis of his later autobiographical chronicles.

IN 1955, he was hospitalised for a bleeding ulcer which was nearly fatal. When he left the hospital, he began to write poetry and pick up writing again. To support his writing, he worked a wide variety of jobs. The jobs included being a dishwasher, a gas station attendant, stock boy, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk , parking lot attendant, red cross orderly and elevator operator.

IN 1966, Charles accepted an offer from Black Sparrow Press and quit his post office job to dedicate himself to full-time writing. With growing fame, Charles embarked on a series of one-night stands and love affairs. His most important relationship was with Linda King a poet and sculptress, Liza Williams, a recording executive, and Pamela O' Brien, a red-headed single mother. All these relationships provided material for his stories and poems.

CHARLES was a man who devoted his entire life to writing. Though he might have stopped writing before, he managed to pick it up again, and he never stopped. His works reflected his life, as those were the easiest things a man could write. He was willing to support his writing by doing all sorts of low-paying jobs, giving up whatever hopes of being a millionaire to literature. I believed he enjoyed writing for what is was. He understood writing as not just a mean of communication, but expressing his feelings and ideas.

His Theme: relationships with women, his own personal experiences
Some of his works:
Poems
ANOTHER BED
from :Love is a Mad Dog from Hell

Another bed
Another women

More curtains
Anotherbathroom
Anotherkitchen

Other eyes
Other hair
Other feet and toes

Everybodys looking.
The eternal serach.

You stay in bed
She gets dressed for work
And you wonder what happened
to the last one
and the one after that...
It's all so comfortable-
this love making
this sleeping together
the gentle kindness...

AFter she leaves you get up and use her
bathroom,

It's all so intimate and strange.
You go back to bed and
sleep another hour.

When you leave its with sadness
but you'll see her again
whether it works or not
you drive down to the shore and sit
in your car. It's almost noon.

-another bed, other ears, other earrings,
other mouths, other slippers, other dresses.

Colors, doors, phone numbers.

You were once strong enough to live alone.
For a man nearing sixty you should be more sensible.
You start the car and shift,
thinking, i'll phone Jeanie when i get in,
I haven't seen her since Friday.

NIGHT SCHOOL
from: Dangling In the Tournefortia

In the drunk driver's class
Assigned there by division 63
We are given tiny yellow pencils
to take the test
to see if we have been listening
to the instructor.
Questions like: the minimum sentence for a
2nd drunk driving conviction is:
A)48 days
B) 6 months
C) 90 days
There are 9 other questions.
After the instructor leaves the room
the students begin asking the questions:
"Hey, how about question 5? That's a tough one!"
"Did he talk about that?"
"I think its 48 days."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but that's what i'm putting down."
One woman circles all 3 answers on all questions
even though we've been told to select only one

On our break i go down and
drink a can of beer
outside a liquor store.
I watch a black hooker
on her evening stroll.
A car pulls up.
She walks over and they talk.
The door opens.
She gets in and they drive off.

Back in class
the students have gotten to know each other.
They are a not-very-intersting
bunch of drunks.
I visualise them sitting in a bar.
And i remember why i started drinking alont.

The class begins again.
It is discovered that i am
the only one to have gotten
100 percent on the test.

I slouch my back in my chair
with my dark shades on.
I am the class
intellectual.

THE ALIENS
from: The Last Night Of the Earth Poems

You may not believe it
But tehre are people
who go through life with very little
friction of distress.
They dress well, sleep well.
They are contented with
their family
life.
They are undisturbed
and often feel
very good.
And when they die
it is an easy death, usually in their sleep.

You may not believe
it
but such people do exist.

But i am not one of them.
Oh no, i am not one of them,
I am not even near to being one of them.
But they are there
and i am here.

Lesson 1: Figurative Language

Where the sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white.
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight,
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow.
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Hyperbole: all these words exaggerate how dark it is.
Metaphor: to emphasise on the cooling effect of the wind.

Why i like the poem:
It begins highly descriptively, describing the street where the sidewalk ends. Her description of the sidewalk is as if its decayed, diseased. With flowers the colour of asphalt in pits, and black smoke. She is showing how she feels about living on the sidewalk, and how she would prefer to progress to the street. Even though the street is unknown and perhaps full of danger, its better than to life on the sidewalk. This poem encourages people to step out into the street, and not hide in darkness.

The Scales of Justice

Accused.

Guilty.

Charged first degree murder.

All forensic evidence against him.

He stands no hope against the tendrils of fate.

Punishment- death by lethal injection.

Day before trial.

Accused asked for an audience.

Agreed.

A private chat between judge and accused.

Very pleased.

Result: Accused not guilty.

My pockets, filled with money.

The fallen

At the park bench.

Eyeing my prey.

Today was a fine day.

Nice weather.

Rich people were out to play.

Each had their valuables.

I wanted them all.

Knife in hand.

Stalking.

Giving in to the desire.

We are the fallen,

men who have lost their leash on their inner monsters.

THE MERCURIAL TOM

Waiting.

By the Tomb.

Shovel in hand

Funeral.

Touring the cemetery.

On top of the world

Making many rounds

Thus is my fate.

Ogres live better lives

Money is my only friend

"Hey, a fresh one!"

Removing slab.

Digging...

Digging...

We can make a profit of this one.

We, the Tomb robbers.

Book Review: Prelude to Foundation

To all fans of Asimov. This is another great book. Simply said, it has such an epic plot that it JUST has to be good. How can you resist the bait of a plot involving a simple mathematician with a theory to predict the future. The possibilities are endless. The people that crave his knowledge are innumerable. 

When you look at the book. It looks just like the others. But the content in it is very different. When you first read the book. You can already feel Asimov's world enshrouding you. Like a cloud of wonder, it grasps you. Even though you can always just blow the cloud away (by putting down the book and stop reading), you won't want to. It is just so captivating that you can't stop reading. This book, has single-handedly rekindled my love for literature, dormant under the winter of a "MASSIVE"workload.  Now, i swore to return to the library to borrow the rest of the series. 

**SPOILER**

Hari Seldon, a not-so-famous mathematician who shows up in a decennial convention on the capital of the Galactic Empire, Trantor to present his theory on psychohistory( a mathematical way to predict the future). After his theory is made famous, so is he. The Empire wants his predictive powers, Hummin a reporter and the Mayor of Wye, a rival of the emperor. These cause a chain of events so abstract and interesting that you just have to read on.

**SPOILER OVER**

This book is fantastic. Even though it isn't really the newest book in the market, it still upholds Asimov's reputation as being one of the most impressive writers of the 21st century. I just love it. I know, this review seems very one-sided  and in praise of the story. But don't worry, i have not been bribed by Asimov. IT IS JUST THAT GOOD. 

All i can say now is, grab it from the library. Read it over a day or two, and start borrowing the rest of the series. BUT!!! Leave at least one book for me.

Micro-fiction/Flash fiction

The Tuner

 

I caressed her body, feeling her perfect curves.

She was flawless.

Perfectly bronzed skin, smooth to my touch.

I opened her up, and gazed at her perfect ivory nails.

Touched her 88 times, she made many beautiful sounds.

Perfection.

Except for that C, which is so hard to tune.

 

Captivity

It stared at me.

Those tiny eyes.

Unforgettable.

Its eyes begged me to spare its life.

Sadly, that wasn't part of my job description.

I took out my gun, and loaded it.

Bang!

I put it in my truck.

It wrote "To the Singapore Zoo"

A Conversation

 "How was your life?"

"Fine, but very boring."

 "I lived on the edge."

"Lucky you."

"Don't worry, we will get another chance."

"Met Peter yet, he said that i am going to heaven."

"Nah, i don't dare. i sinned too much."

The mortician made him point his middle finger.

Laughter filled the mort.

Parent's Response to e-Bookshelf

My mother has absolutely no idea as to why we need an e-bookshelf. She says that if we don't utilise it, there is no point in having one. There is no point in creating something that we don't use, or even bother to use. Sometimes, it is true, that i totally and utterly forget that i have an e-bookshelf. But when i finally come around and take a look at it. I get reminded that i have not read many books in the past month. 

She isn't impressed with my book count. There is barely enough to fill the page. But, she knows. If i am willing to keep up this bookshelf, only then, will it be succesful.

Dad's memorable read

Being the more scientific type, he reads all sorts os science fiction books. But, nothing beats the facts. His most memorable read was a book by the famed Richard Feynman - Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman. It was fantastic, and eye-opener. It brought my dad to the wonders of being Richard Feynman, the genius in his head was so captivating that once he picked up the book, he just couldn't put it down. 

Richard Feynman's brilliance let him be selected to work on the Manhattan project was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. He was also known as a prankster, juggler, and an amateur painter and bongo player. Richard Feynman was regarded as an eccentric and a free spirit. He liked to pursue multiple, seemingly unrelated, paths, such as biology, art , percussion, Mayan Hieroglyphs, and lock picking. Especially about lock picking. It was one of the few things that immediately comes to mind when he told me about this book.

But its not just his achievements and abilities that make this book such an interesting one. The element of love is also unmistakable. The story of him and his wife, Arline is such a touching love story. Sadly, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and died in 1945.  

So, he was married a second time in June 1952, to Mary Louise Bell of Neodesha, Kansas; this marriage was brief and unsuccessful. He later married Gweneth Howarth from Ripponden, Yorkshire, who shared his enthusiasm for life and spirited adventure. Besides their home in Altadena, CAlifornia, they had a beach house in Baj California, the latter of which was purchased with the prize money from Feynman's Nobel Prize, at that time $55,000 (of which Feynman was entitled to a third). They remained married until Feynman's death. They had a son,Carl, in 1962, and adopted a daughter, Michelle, in 1968.

His theories of physics were phenomenal and groundbreaking. One that my father remembers well was his theory on percieving atoms as strings. It is still too difficult for me to comprehend but my father seems to understand it and appreciate it.

This is his message for all, this is one good book, and it is worth reading.

Confessions of a Star Wars groupie

Looking through my collection of action figures was such an honour. You could see from the Battle of Naboo all the way to my massive Executor super-star destroyer. Practically every bit of the Star Wars universe was inside these glass cases that became the walls of my house. Nearly every CD in my collection had the two words "Star Wars" on them. 

I was a Star Wars groupie.

 I was such a great fan that others would call me mad. I have spent enough money to buy a new car on purely just Star Wars items. I could recite to you the entire story. I have read enough Star Wars novels to create a library. I was a maniac. It might seem to you that i am just absolutely and totally addicted to Star Wars, but i have a reason. This massive franchise brought on by George Lucas ( may he never give up on Star Wars) has some sort of deep connection with me. 

Ever since i was a boy, all those years ago i wanted a more interesting world. A world with space travel, lighsabers, X-wings, TIE fighters, wookies, ewoks, gungans, jar jar binks, Darth Vader, Palpatine,tatooine raiders, fambas, genosians, jabba the hutt, all sorts of interesting larger-than-life characters and things. This world was just too boring. I needed a greater existence. So, when 1977 came along. So did Star  Wars. At first, i thought it was just another sci-fi movie. I was absolutely wrong. It brought me into the universe that i had been dreaming of for god knows how long. I was finally complete. The missing piece of my life had finally been put into place. At that moment, i knew that i would that Star Wars would forever be a part of me.

From then on, i bought every action figure, every video disk , car sticker and whatever other merchandise. My parents thought i had finally lost my marbles, but it was just that i found a peice of me, nothing else. The empty hole in my mind has been fulfilled the are void of wonders had become overflowing with Star Wars merchandise and accesories. I am a bit materialistic, judging by how i hoard my Star Wars merchandise, but whenever i walk past my glass cabinets with Luke Skywalker inside, i feel a sense of fulfilment.

Thus, i will always love, and never be bored of such a great story. ALL HAIL STAR WARS

Yours truly,

Star Wars groupie 

Earth Hour

What will you be doing on this monumental hour. Turning off your lights to show your support on "Going green"? Or will you still be using your electronic devices, not giving the smallest of a damn for this event. If you want to give your full support for this event against the abuse of the Earth. I suggest you turn off ALL electronic devices to plunge the world into darkness once more.

In the beginning, when humans did not stalk the Earth foraging for resources to fuel their industries, the Earth was moulding, shaping itself. The only source of light it had was the Sun, no electronic lamps or torchlights to give it light. But, it was still full of life and much more "greener" than today. Now, after our arrival, we have used up Mother Earth's resources, taking them for granted. We believe that we are the superior species, which indeed we are. But, as Ben in Spiderman said "With great power, comes great responsibility". We, the greatest creation of god, should take up arms, not to fight each other, like we have been doing for the past 2000 years, but to promote awareness about the harm we have brought upon this planet. Subconsciously, we have ravaged the Earth of its resources, hunted down some of its unique animals to feed our gluttony and released to much toxic substance into the ecosystem. Now, it is the time to try and reverse the process, even though some people deem it irreversible.

When there is a will, there is a way. One wise man said these words, and i hope that it would fuel us for our "Green Crusade". Even though the damage done is great and shocking, we can still change it. As long as we keep trying, we, the humans, will one day fix this mess we created. Though during the early stages of development, ignorance drove man to mine for coal indiscriminately. When the scientists warned us of the thining of the ozone layer, many great men went on many campaigns to promote awareness on the causes of such devastation to out environment. People listened, they changed. The stopped using Chloroflorocarbons (CFCs) and the damage was minimised. I am sure this can happen again.

Though many would argue that our dependency on oil would make it a near impossible to change, they didn't say that it is impossible, and as long as there is a chance, no matter how slim, we MUST try it. In order to save Gaia, the provider of our resources and giver of life, we must try every possible way to save it. No matter how crazy the idea might seem, it might actually work. So, anyway, when it is finally EARTH HOUR, i hope EVERY reader would turn off all electronic equipment, or as many as possible and cast he or she's vote. The vote to save the Earth.

Philip’s final blog! Philip writes his final entry before leaving for his new school, Washington Academy. What makes this interesting are the response

My last entry.

This isn't going easy for me.

I am now in Washington Academy, a school so lame that it does not have a track team. The only thing that i bother to fight for.

What have i done wrong?

What did i do to deserve this?

Why is my life now a nightmare?

This is so unfair. It all started with Narwin. But all the blame will now end up on me.

All i wanted was to teach her a lesson! She caused me to get such phenomenally horrendous results for my Literature, costing me my chance at track.  Good thing i have given  her a taste of her own medicine. She finally had to resign after my patriotism rocked the country and finally made her realise she was wrong.

But, now, i am in a state just as sorry as hers. Being in a school without track is like being in a pond without water. There is practically no point in going to a school that i dislike and have no love or purpose to be in. I might as well stay at home and enjoy the comfort and warmth it gives. Somebody, please, find me and excuse to get expelled from this school!

Anyway,  readers, don't you think that i am just fighting for my right to sing the national anthem? i might not know the words, but i have my heart singing it, and that is more than enough. Sometimes, it is not the words, but it is the thought that counts. I tried to hum the "Star -spangled banner" out of the love of my country. I just couldn't control my over-patriotic mouth to stop humming the anthem. 

Then, Ms Narwin, the unpatriotic one, just had to come and stop me. Haha. I guess she really asked for it. No thanks from Dr Joseph Palleni. He sided her. The WRONG side. He even wanted me to apologise! He must have been joking i would never submit to Ms Narwin. The devil in human skin. May her life continue to worsen and deteriorate. Until she realises what she has done, i hope she would NEVER get a job.

In reference to Coach Jamison, the man whose iron will would not falter, the man who just had to STICK WITH THE RULES. He is indirectly responsible for the plight that Ms Narwin is in. If he could just have been more flexible, not the blockhead he was. Then perhaps, all of this commotion could have been averted. Margaret Narwin would have her job, while i would have my track team. BUT, life isn't so easy. I guess god likes to play with his people. Twisting their lives around his fingers, and only the most righteous one will survive. I believe that guy is me. I made Ms Narwin lose her job, with only a sacrifice. To be stuck at Washington Academy. Which, i hope with all my heart that i would be able to transfer out of as soon as god permits.

Oh well, i guess that is it for today. I have to go pack my bag for tomorrow. I will be going Washington Academy tomorrow for my  first day there . I guess, life just isn't fair.

RESPONSES:

Ms Narwin: 

Philip! How could you say such things about me! I only wanted to help, to help children learn the marvels of literature. All i wanted was for you to be less like a class clown, and get down and work! But now, my dreams, aspirations and my life as a teacher has been ruined. Thanks to your selfishness. Sure Philip, i might have gave you bad results. But you asked for it. I am seriously regretting it now. I should have given you a "U" grade. That stands for ungraded. In case you haven't been brushing up your vocabulary, that just means that your work was so bad, that there is no way i can grade it.

Most people by now, would have realised that they were in the wrong and would go on their knees and repent. I guess you are really unique. So unique and so righteous that you have become a symbol of lies. You, the prince of lies,master of deception, can even lie to yourself. How impressive. I am sure the guys at Washington Academy would never find out the truth. Or will they. In this world, GOD IS FAIR. There is such thing as retribution. All of this will one day backfire, and hit you square in the head. Knocking you down from whatever good positions you are in. Mark my words Philip you will one day fully understand the word "karma".

Coach Jamison:

Before i begin, i would like to say that you have true talent in running, but with such an attitude, you will never be a sports star. I repeat. YOU WILL NEVER BE A SPORTS STAR. TO be a star, you must have the attitude of a sports star. Though i have never, and will never, be one, i have seen many. I have groomed many, and that means, i know exactly what it takes to be a sports star. Sorry to be crushing your dream, but with such a selfish attitude, you can kiss sports stardom goodbye.

With the way you are always accusing others, you will never improve. Yes, i agree with you. You have talent. BUT, talent has to be cultivated, nurtured. Not left to rot in such a self-centered body. Such talent is wasted. I pray, every night, that such talent would somehow be transplanted into a boy with a much better attitude. At least he will know what to do with such talent, not let it rot and turn to dust as time goes by. 

Philip. You dare say that your heart is singing it? You have no heart. In its place, there is only a mirror. A mirror that is the reincarnation of narcissism. LOOKING AT YOURSELF!

Allison Doresett

Wow. I am amazed. Seriously, i have never seen anyone who is so able and gullible. I cannot believe that you actually managed to lie to yourself. Where is your conscience? What has happened to that nice funny soul of yours. Gone. Eaten up by your self-centeredness. I have never met a such a con-artist in my whole life before. "Malloy Magic"? ?  I am so sorry. The only magical thing is that such a  liar like you is actually human. Maybe you should just have been born a boulder

Sigh. You make me so disappointed.

All your actions just reflect on who you are, and this blog post casts it in concrete. A broken man, a man who lives on lies, a person with no life a man without a soul. I truly hope that one day, hopefully a divine hand will reach down and change you. To make you a better man.

Mr. Malloy

Son, i cannot believe it. The information you gave me was inssuficient for me to make the right decisions. I truly thought that you were correct. Thus, i wanted you to stand up for your rights. But, sadly, you lied. Even to your own father. I never knew deception at such a level. Patriotism? No such thing. You only wanted to get Ms Narwin into trouble to fulfil your own selfish revenge. I am thoroughly disappointed to have a son like you. 

Yes, i may have been selfish to make you fulfil my dream of becoming a sports star, but i never wanted you to become a selfish, egotistic and self-centered sports star. Philip, open your eyes to the world around you. There is much more than just you. Around you, the environment, the people, each and everything has feelings. If you truly believe that you are the only living thing on planet Earth that everything else has to obey and revolve around you, go live on the Moon. This is a global world now Philip, if  you want to be loved and command a certain amount of respect, you would have to be more social. Don't be the hermit that lives in the Himalayas, be the caring, social and loved man of the 20th century.

I hope, that you will one day understand my words, and emerge from the cocoon of selfishness and become a social butterfly.

Mrs. Malloy

Philip, all we wanted was for you to not feel wronged. I guess, it was us that were wronged. Philip, have you ever heard of "There are two sides to a coin"? In every story, the two parties involved will have their own stories to tell. If both are matching, with only minute details changed, then we can know the truth. But, if it was an unfair case, only one side of the case would be heard. That means that the public only knows your story. Good job manipulating the media, you managed to get a whole tsunami of complains against Ms Narwin before she could even tell her story. Doesn't it hurt your conscience?

Reflections on a term of blogging

In my primary school, i my teacher gave me blogging as homework, so this is actually just a continuation of my past blog. But, at least the blog prompts given by the teacher have more things to write about, compared to " Interesting animals" and "Newspaper report". I feel that this has been a great leap forward, introducing more new and creative ways to write awesome blog entries. For example, the electronic bookshelf was an fantastic idea, kick starting my very dormant reading habit giving me the motivation to read books again.


Well, i personally enjoy blogging alot. Being an "IT" sort of person, it lets me enjoy myself while giving a great boost to learning how to write good essays and blogs. There are very few thing that hold you back when writing a blog on the Internet, except the usual problems of sidetracking to playing computer games, it is more or less flawless. The only problem, which doesn't really pose much of one in my opinion, is that i would have to watch what i am writing. No mentioning my my school of personal information is actually quite fine with me, as i actually like remaining anonymous, giving my readers something to wonder about as they read my blog.

But, maintaining a blog is a big problem for me. I have very little time to write or even maintain a blog. Going for CCAs 3 times a week takes up alot of slots in my timetable, giving me tremendously tiny amounts of time to maintain my blog. That explains the shortage of posts in this blog. Anyway, it is also very difficult to think of something to write, giving that my schedule is so repetetive, going over again and again, with not much new in my life. I hope that perhaps, there could be more blog prompts about the different aspects of life that i have failed to notice, giving me more things to write about.


All in all i think that blogging is a good way to improve your writing skills, as my teacher says "There is no such thing as good writing, just re-writing". So, i wholeheartedly support blogging.

The connections between a Graphic novel and a narrative novel

Well, isn't it obvious? The graphic one has pictures, while the narrative is filled with words. But, the differences don't just end there. For a start, graphic novels are more suited for people who are more"visual", who learn using pictorial depictions of things instead of boring old words. Being a "visual" person, it makes reading so much more enjoyable and interesting, as it caters to my favourite learning style, giving it a large boosts in reaching the "i like this book" part of my subconscious mind.

As for the narrative novel, it caters more to the people who's favourite learning style is "linguistic". They tend to enjoy reading wordy books as it caters to their learning style. over the years, the line between, "visual", "linguistic" and all the other types of learning styles have been blurred, making me something like a jack of all trades, but in this case, all learning styles. To me, there are few connections between both types of story presentation. They are just stories.

The connection would depend on the creativity of the writer. Whether he can make the book exist in the twilight zone between these two forms of presentation. Maybe once in a while, a graphical presentation could pop up, showing maybe a crucial conversation between the main characters. This would help the reader understand, and be able to build a picture in his head and visualise what is taking place. Though some might prefer just reading a plain old storybook, but this IS the future. Everything would have to multi-task. Even simple things like hand phones, who ere originally a form of communication, being forced to do all sorts of other things to go with the flow. Well, perhaps, a new era has may be born. The era of graphically narrative novels.

These are my top 3 learning preferences:

1. Visual

2. Naturalistic

3. Interpersonal

REFLECTIONS ON: Zoom

What is zoom, i hear you readers say. Well, it is a graphic novel containing no speech bubbles, so you cannot say that it is just a comic. this interesting and marvelously creative book shows you the TRUE meaning of perspective.

As the name, Zoom, suggests, the novel allows you to "zoom" into a totally different dimension, in the same world, but just viewed in  a different perspective. In the beginning, it begins with a page with a red mountain-like anomaly in the middle. What it is goes on to the next page. So, it shows you that it is actually the red crest of a fowl. How surprising! Even i , who has had enough pleasant, and sometims unpleasant sureprises fow two lifetimes was totally amazed! As the graphic novel goes on, it "zooms" out from the fowl to two children, next a house, then a girl's play table, with the house as a toy, then... ...

After a while, the book ends, and on the last page, is the picture of a tiny Earth. This micro to macro way of showing different perspectives is an extremely amusing, and creative way to present it. It keeps the reader trying to guess what he was looking at truly was. Then, on the next page, he finds out that it is actually nothing like he imagined. This phenomenal method of presentation is actually a work of genius. This could actually start a new trend! The next Picasso!

But, this story, seems to have no apparent storyline. So, i believe it should be called art instead. i am sure all of you out there know that art does not have to always be paintings, designs or music. This could be " book art" a new era in the art world. Who knows, there might be a craze over such books overnight, thanks to the internet. Lookout all you other authors, because this is going to be the next Harry Potter!

Philip Malloy's diary entry "Why did i do it?"

 This is my diary entry on why i lied about the " Narwin Affair". Well, there are a few reasons. One of them is that Ms Narwin single-handedly caused me to be unable to join the track team. Also, she always seemed to dislike me, taking my kind-hearted jokes to lighten the mood of the class so seriously, almost like i was insulting her.

So, in order to get my revenge, i just had to lash it out on her. Well, i am sure all of you know how much being in the track team means to me, and she ruined my chances of it. i was rejected even without showing my talent to the coach! How humiliating! After all these years of seemingly endless training, all for one moment. RUINED by Ms Narwin. Now, do you understand how angry i am? This is the worst thing, EVER to have happened in my life. Training for a non-existent track try-out.

But now, i am left with nothing. I cannot possibly imagine the punishments that will be meted out to me for my foolishness. It seemed so worth it. Now, my world is crumbling around me. God, if you are listening to my pleas for help, PLEASE SAVE ME!

My Reading Habits

My reading habits. Well. None. i haven't read a book for nearly half a year. But i have finally been exposed to the joys of reading again. At last.

The first book i ever read. I cannot remember even a fraction of it. But, the first novel i read was "Lords and Ladies" by Terry Pratchet. There is only one word to describe such awesomeness embodied in such a book. Fantastic. When i read it for the first time, i couldn't stop. It was the first time i had ever slept later than 2am reading a book. My mother called me crazy. I agree, crazy over literature. That one book started a trend in the cells of my brain, giving me a lust for more awesome books.

The search brought me to my father's bookshelf in his study room. In this maze of books, i found my next candidate for awesomeness 'A hat full of sky" another book by Terry Pratchet. That other book was another work of literature art. This book managed to let me delve deeper in to the world of " Discworld" a creation by, you guessed it, Terry Pratchett.

Well, nowadays, i only read if i have to. mainly books for schoolwork, or if i am travelling to another country for a vacation. But writing this blog bring back so many good memories. I am abolutely sure i am going to the library this weekend to get another work of awesomeness. I hope all you readers out there in search of awesomenes go to the nearest library and grab a book. Be it Bukit Merah Library or the National Library building. You will find a book that will kickstart your journey to reading good books.

My First Week As a Secondary One Pupil

During my first week in Secondary School, i was flabbergasted. My school was the leviathan of schools. It was so big, that i nearly got lost in it!


My form teacher spoke mostly Mandarin, so i was very disoriented as i did not understand everything he said. But after a few days of being disoriented , i started to get used to it. Meeting all my teachers was a fun experience. During the introduction phase, i learnt that my English teacher loved golf and i also knew a bit more about my new classmates.

After the first few days, i was just beginning to adjust to the new life as a secondary school student in Singapore. We had to elect a class committee! Most of the candidates just wanted to run for chairman, while the other ones went for the more attractive jobs like being the Treasurer.

The trials for my CCAs( Co-Curricular Activities) were very intensive and took a few days. But after that we managed, for at least most of us, to get into the CCA of our choice. I just realised recently that i was selected to enter the track and field team.

What are the more popular CCAs, i hear you say. Well, if you are in my school, it would be track and field. The school has 'pumped' alot of money into its development, and i am proud to be one of its beneficiaries.

Life has finally smoothened out for me. Hows yours?