My Secondary One Story

Year 2009 is coming to a close. It means that my Secondary One life has just ended. There are too many happenings that took place this year. Several changes, several emotions.

Well, as I have said in my first blog post, there are many changes that happen in school - Secondary school. Firstly, the environment. I remember the time in which I first entered the school and was greeted by a whole new environment. The school is bigger, the facilities are better. Things were unfamiliar and I felt not in place. Well, I just have to adapt!!! No new environment is friendly at the beginning right?? Once I have fitted myself in, I started to realize the brotherhood that is in the school. Great friends who would be with you through thick and thin are everywhere, though there would be some arguments sometimes. I am very elated to be able to find friends like them and immerse myself in that brotherhood. And that is what I have learnt in my Secondary School - FRIENDSHIP.

Lessons are harder now and focus more on independent learning. We have to be able to take the initiative in order to learn more and catch up with the teacher. More thinking skills are needed instead of mesmerizing everything. Well, this develops us to have that thirst for knowledge. Say in English, we have to maintain blogs and do several analyses of texts. Also, English has become more complicated with Summaries and Literature. Though they may be quite interesting, they require a huge amount of critical thinking. I have developed an interest of analyzing this year and would hope to improve this skill next year.

This year is also a year of emotions for me. These are caused mainly by tests and competitions.  We all know that tests results may be bad or good and competitions are a win or a lose situation. This year, I have been through ups and downs. I have cried and rejoiced many times. And when you fall, you will have to find a way to stand back up. That made me mentally stronger.

Saying goodbye to my first year in Secondary school is something that I will be quite unwilling to do. This means that I will not be the baby of the school and will have to take more responsibilities. My Secondary One life has been really enriching and interesting. All that would not be possible if not for my teachers and classmates. Thank you for all your help and guidance throughout my Secondary One time. Thank you for making me more matured and have the ability to make the right decisions. And all the best for 2010!

1980s vs 2000s

Well most people would say that there are great differences of the life in Singapore in the 1980s and in the 2000s. I have not expeirenced the differences but have heard of some like how neighbours used to cook an extra portion of food for you and how neighbours left their door open. ( You will certainly not see those now)


Well a simple test on the expectations of parents then and now might show some light. And so I will be sharing what my parents expectations of me and what my expectations of my children are. Firstly, my parents expected me to work hard when I am young and be successful in the coperate world. They want me to be outspoken and not be afraid to share opinions and ask. A good learning attitude and having a high aim is something that they expect from me and is what they think that is essential in learning new things.


My expectations of my children are quite similiar. I want them to be acceptive, have perserverance and be determined when learning things. My children are expected to work hard when they are young so that they are able to take life slowly when they are old. Also, my children must dare to try new things and dare to take risks that will benefit them. Thriftiness must be present and also being humble is important. I hope that my children will have the goal to suceed in everything that he does. Lastly, he or she must have compassion care for the unfortunate.


As you can see, both the generations of parents have similiar goals for their children and this shows that although the generations are different, the goals and expetations of parents for their children are the same and that all parents want their children to be useful adults in the future. So after all, not all things are different in different generations of people.

Book Review 5 - Little Brother

Holidays are here !! And that means homework!! Yes that is what teachers always say and you may get irritated sometimes. But this is not the case for my book review assignment. And so this holiday, I read a book entitled Little Brother, which is a work of Cory Doctorow. Do not be mistaken and think that this book is about some kinship story,or problem with family ties. This is a book about technology and terrorism.Weird title...








Well as said in the previous paragraph, this story which is about technology is quite profound for me as I am not really 'in' to technology and stuff. Ask me about computer systems and codes used in computers, you know the answer that you will get. Anyway, here is what the story is about. It is about a seventeen year old boy Marcus who was known as w1n5t0n (winston) fighting against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It all started with Marcus escaping school with a group of friends to go and play Harajuku Fun Madness, a Japanese game in which you have to solve clues and find things.






Marcus was no ordinary boy as he knew how systems work and how to work them. Smart, fast and wise to the ways of a networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school's intrusive but clumsy suveillance system. He has the gadgets that are able to make himself invisible to the surveillance system. Library books are dangerous to him as they have Radio Frequncy ID tags that allow librarians to check out books by waving them over a reader and lets a library shelf tell you whether books are out of place. It also allows the school to track where someone is. Bad news for someone who wants to escape from school. At the time that that Marcus wanted to escape, his friend who was also escaping had a library book.The clever seventeen years old knew how to solve the problem. And that was to place the book in the microwave oven and let the waves destroy the ID tags. Marcus also had many hacks and illegal softwares that allows him to hide from things that are able to track what you are doing.






And so after escaping from school, Marcus went to meet up with his friends Van, Jolu and Darryl before going to Harajuku Fun Madness. When they were there, they enthusiastically got their clue and started playing. While finding the things, a group of girls, also playing the same game took a picture of Marcus and threatened to send the picture to truant watch unless they his group gave up and let them find the thing they were searching for. Gangsters.

Just then, the ground shook and panic filled the air. Everyone thought that it was an earthquake but earthquakes often started quietly, and this time, there was an incredibly loud bang. It was an explosion. Terrorists had blown up the Bay Bridge. In the midst of escaping, Darryl got slashed and was injured. The four of them got to a street and tried calling an ambulance that would go by every now and then, but to no avail. Getting frustrated, Marcus stood in front of a coming veicle hoping that there will be someone would bring Darryl to the hospital. The people came out, hooded Marcus and his friends. It was the Department of Homeland Security. All of them had been suspected of being involved in the bombing. This is because Marcus had some soft wares as said earlier that are capable of helping him hide from security cameras and others and thus provides evidence against him. The four friends are whisked to a secret prison, where they were mercilessly interrogated for days. The police were still suspicious of Marcus and told him that he was a marked person. When they were out, California had changed into a police state where everyone is treated as a terrorist and everywhere are security cameras. (Darryl was not released for some reasons) And everyone's whereabouts are being tracked by the cards that they were using to pay for things








Marcus thought that this was an infringement of privacy and that why should they have to tell them where they were. However, the public thinks that this was for safety reasons and felt that it was okay. Some groups of people were with Marcus. And so he decides that he should fight the DHS. Marcus burned a software called the Xnet and distributed it to friends and they did the same. The Xnet allowed them to have privacy and no one knows what they are doing on their computer. But soon, the police had checks on who were using Xnet. This leads to Marcus finding an alternative solution. He then organised a meeting in which the people who had Xnet were to create a web of thrust and that was to make sure that no one within them was a spy. At the meeting, Marcus met a girl named Angela and dated her. Also, at the meeting, Jolu, an African American decided to stop helping Marcus in his planning of such 'against the police' activities as whatever punishments that the whites get, he will get double.






And so, Marcus decided to go and tell a reporter what had happened to him when he was in the secret prison. Darryl’s father had also gone to tell his story of how he had spent his life thinking that his son was dead.






Peace was restored when the matter was known and it was taken to court. Marcus was asked to give a speech and that went successfully. Here comes the happy ending. The DHS would hold a closed military tribunal to investigate the possible errors in judgment committed after the bombing of the Bay Bridge. The tribunal would use every tool at its disposal to ensure that criminal acts were properly punished.. In return, control over the DHS operations would have to go throught the State Senate, which would have the power to shut down and inspect or reprioritise all homeland security in the state.


Reflection : From this story, I learned that there are many things that can cause disorder in the country. Firstly, there is terrorism. Terrorists are everywhere. Anyone of us might be one or may be one in the future. They cause great destruction and fear in the people. Extreme thinkings or beliefs are causes for this. Recently, there is a news article on some teenagers wanting to commit suicide because of their extreme beliefs in their religon. Religons are ment to help to shape the well beings of  a person. But anything that comes in extreme, becomes bad. 


Secondly, it is how a particular organisation, in this case the Department of Homeland Security does things. The DHS is doing too much to protect the people. I admit that too much camera suveillence and security checks makes me feel uncomfortable. Wherever you are, someone knows. What ever you are doing, someone also knows. There is no privacy at all. Luckily there is no such organisation yet in Singapore and it is good that terrorism has not entered our home land.


To end it off, here is a link that you can watch to know the story visually. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAT4Nm9gZjE&feature=PlayList&p=F30EE9004FBEB048&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

Globalisation = Us learning more

Well the reason why we Singaporeans are more sensitive when it comes to appreciating our culture is because of our exposure to the various races and religions. Do you think so??

It is a yes for me as we Singaporeans do travel quite often. Students participate in exchange programs and adults go for business trips. We go to other countries to for educational purposes and work. And we may be busy. But we must also stop for a while to realise and admire the interesting culture that is present in that country. It is through these special moments that you get to enjoy the beauty of human beings - the purity and innocence.

In our busy Singaporean life: homework, deadlines, heavy workloads, projects.... Shouldn't we take some time to realise the other side of life? It is also through these time of exposures that we are able to reflect and get to know ourselves better. At the same time, we may also learn to empathise with others, show sympathy (the very pure ways that a human should react or maybe we are created this way. I believe) When encountering different races, we are introduced to their culture and the different practices.

In Singapore, we have the many races that live here. There are also several types of immigrants. Unfortunately, not all Singaporeans are able to get along with each other, especially with the immigrants. We often get into quarrels with them due to the differences in culture or actions. Some also cannot accept the skin colour or their language. Some Singaporeans also feel that it is not something to be happy about when our athletes (from other countries) represent Singapore and win. They feel that the foreign talents are snatching the opportunities of the locals. As stated above, shouldn't we learn to get along?

The Poem Against the Teachers

Here is the poem against teachers. Some may agree but some may not. Enjoy !!!!

The Mascree

I walked into a room
That was filled with gloom
All eyes were on me
And they trembled in fear

The marking of work stopped
And the printing of notes halt
The room was quiet
As their doom was here

Some tried to run
Others tried to hide
But the door wasn't near
And there was nowhere to go.

I started to laugh
As revenge was finally here
Without wasting time,
I fired my gun.

It cleared those that
gave most homework
and the ones that
gave most punishments

Watching them struggle to live
Many others grieve
Panic filled the air
But I just didn't care

I threw a grenade
To create more tension
It caused a huge explosion ,
And the mood was good.

By now almost everyone was gone
The longed revenge was soon over
I took out a sword and
Finished them all

Looking at the carnage
I started to smile
All bloody and red
I took a bow

Now let that be the end
Of the Teacher's Rule
And replace it with the
Student's Rule

In which there will be
No homework
No projects
No deadlines and punishments

And there will be
Laughter
Joy
And Fun



By Li Wen

Gambling and casino - parent's views

There are many forms of gambling in Singapore and the more common ones include Toto, 4D horse racing and others. All these types of gambling are legal in Singapore and are cheap. This allows almost everyone to take part. Well I am sure that we students are thought in school that gambling is bad and we should not get involve in it. If you ask a student their views on gambling, they will most probably give the same answer that it is bad.

So ask someone who is older and that is what I have done - interview my parents on this topic. Well my parents feel that Toto, 4D and betting on horse racing are set up to provide the citizens more choice of leisure. It is meant to add some colours to the lives of stressful Singaporeans. They find that it is perfectly normal for Singaporeans to try their luck on lotteries and try to win some prizes.

Yes, it is normal to try your luck on lotteries but if you do it very frequently, that might be a problem. Some people will go to particular shops to buy lotteries because the winners always buy theirs from there and hope that their luck will be as good. Some people will go to temples or other places to ask for numbers. Well my parents think that this should not be the case as a temple is where you pay respects to your gods. Some people will buy many lottery tickets to increase the chances of winning. But my parents say that if you are lucky, one is enough. Here is a quote from YouTube: " My luck is changing, I can win it all back" Never think this way as it will only harm you.

If lotteries get in the way of family relationships, then it is bad. Why will it affect their family bonds ? This is because these people are addicted to it. Remember that lottery is here to add colours to your life not to be treated as something to spend all your money on, or think that you will be the next to strike it big. Here is a quote from my parents " It is not about the gambling, it is about how you gamble" Yes there is nothing wrong with lotteries it is how you buy them that makes a difference.

Overall. my parents are in favour of lotteries.

The next topic is on the casino coming up soon. Well the reason why casinos are built here is because we want to improve our standards in tourism and earn more for the country. The casino also increases the number of jobs that can be found and thus reducing the problem of unemployment. For me I think that there is nothing wrong with a casino in Singapore but my parents have different views.

My parents however support the quote "Candidates' Gambling Habits Reflect Personalities" from the NPR website. As a casino is a place where people come and gamble with a high amount of money, when they lose this sum of money, they maybe agitated and this might cause problems to the public. My parents are afraid that this might happen as nobody knows what they will do next.

Casinos are places where some tricks can be carried out. For example some people know how take a peak at the first card on of the deck without people realising. Somepeople also have some devices, like one my parents saw on the television that people hold them in their palms. Then they press this device on a card and the device will show them what card it is. This gives a huge disadvantage to those who do not know all these tricks. As gambling may result in losing more money than buying lottries, the problem of gambling getting in the way of family relationship may be more seroius. Addiction to gambling in casinos will be more serious as there are chances of making it big.

As the problems are much more severe, my parents condemn the buiding of a casino here in Singapore.

Lesson 2 : My favourite poet - truly an inspiration

On this Earth, there are many things for us to love and like. Well if you ask me which poet is my favourite, I will have to tell you that he is Langston Hughes. Here is a quote from him : "I swear to the Lord,I still can't see,Why Democracy means,Everybody but me." Langston Hughes just could not understand why he preferred to have a government by the people. A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. I think fairness is the word for this. He values fairness. Being an African American, there must have been ups and downs in his life. Facing the whites or the way he and his black brothers are treated by the whites might bring back some sad memories.

With all the sadness and unfair treatment in him, he lets it all out in his poetry works. And that is why I love his poems. Most of his works have a trace of feelings of the life of an African American. His works are often thought provoking and has a hidden message within. It is interesting to uncover the mystery.Here is a thesis for him : Langston Hughes - a true leader for the African Americans and will always be.

Hughes once said "We younger Negro artists now intend to express our individual dark- skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they aren't, it doesn't matter.We build our temples for tomorrow, as strong as we know how and we stand on the top of the mountain, free within ourselves." This shows the pride that he has for his race and that he is not afraid of how people look at him and his race.

Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was a small child, and his father moved to Mexico. He was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen, when he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband, before the family eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in Lincoln, Illinois, that Hughes began writing poetry. Hughes was also the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston (brother of John Mercer Langston, the first Black American to be elected to public office). So maybe this was where Hughes was introduced to the coldness between the two groups.

One of Hughes' work includes an essay tittled "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain". It spoke of Black writers and poets, "who would surrender racial pride in the name of a false integration," where a talented Black writer would prefer to be considered a poet, not a Black poet, which to Hughes meant he subconsciously wanted to write like a white poet. Hughes argued, "no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself." Other works include :

Life Is Fine

I went down to the river,

I set down on the bank.

I tried to think but couldn't,

So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!

I came up twice and cried!

If that water hadn't a-been so cold

I might've sunk and died.

But it was Cold in that water!

It was cold!

I took the elevator

Sixteen floors above the ground.

I thought about my baby

And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!

Istood there and I cried!

If it hadn't a-been so highI might've jumped and died.

But it was High up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',

I guess I will live on

.I could've died for love--

But for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler

,And you may see me cry--

I'll be dogged, sweet baby,

If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Here is another poem by Langston Hugheshttp://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/langston_hughes/poems/16944

Well all good things must come to an end and Langston Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967. His residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York has been given landmark status by the New York City Preservation Commission. His block of East 127th Street was renamed "Langston Hughes Place".

From him, I have learnt that one should take pride in himself. Be confident that you can do it. One should also not be too particular on what people think of you. As long as you know that you are doing the right thing, it is fine. Some other people's thoughts might just deter you from acheiving the desired results of your actions. Most importantly, just be yourself!!

Here are my references : poets.org

famouspoetsandpoems.com

google.com

yahoo.com