Week 6 Blog Prompt:

Read up on the Rupert Murdoch phone scandal. You can find some links (from TIME online) I posted up in Week 6, as well as read up on the Newsweek coverage of the issue. In relation to the news coverage on the scandal, answer the question: "The news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. How far do you agree?"

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I do agree that the news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. This is because it is obvious that the news media would want as much readers as possible to buy and read their news. This is so because they wants to make money and so they have to spice up their news to make more people want to read their news and hence earn more money. As a news company does so, other companies will also follow suit and go to extremes for sensational news and also promote unhealthy paparazzi amongst these news companies.

However, I also feel that it is not only the news media's fault for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. It is also partly the fault of the readers. The news readers make the news companies go to the extremes for sensational news and make them promote unhealthy paparazzi. This is so because people only likes to read news that are being spiced up, interesting, uncommon and all of this demands of the people reading the news cause the news companies to go to extremes for sensational news and promote unhealthy paparazzi. The news companies do this as they want to meet the needs of the news readers. Hence, it is also partly the news readers' fault. If no one likes to read such "spiced" up news, then the news companies will surely not got to extremes for sensational news.

Week 5 Blog Prompt: MOV

By the end of the trial scene, do you think true justice and mercy was achieved? Reflect and write on the following questions.

1. Is there true justice? Why?

I feel that there is true justice. First, we will have to define what is justice. Based from the dictionary, justice is rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason. The trial scene shows us that the law was not changed and the law still applied in the trial scene. The bond was not changed and Shylock had what he wanted. However, there was a twist of words by Portia but still, no law or bond was being changed. Hence, there was true justice being exercised in the trial scene.

2. Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?

There may or may not be true mercy as it depends on how we view it. Antonio wanted to make Shylock into a Christian. Some may say that this is because Antonio wanted to help him or some others would say it is because of the amount of hatred Antonio has to Shylock. If we take it that Antonio sincerely wants to help Shylock, Antonio did that so that Shylock would be prevented from further ridicule by others but if we take it the other way, Antonio wanted to change Shylock's religion as it would be the worst thing to do as it was the last thing Shylock could have thought of, therefore, there are many ways to see to it. Another matter would be that Shylock had to give up his fortunes where half of it goes to Jessica and Lorenzo. I think this is quite merciful though.

3. Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.

I think that this is very true. People in power can manipulate almost anything and so, it would definitely be easy for them to manipulate Justice and Law. In Merchant of Venice, as the Jews were considered low class, many Christians try to persuade Shylock to have mercy but if Shylock was a Christian and Antonio was a Jew, this would not happen but instead, others would encourage Shylock to show no mercy. Hence, this is so unfair.

Week 4 Blog Prompt

What are your views?

I feel that the letter have both appropriate points to agree with and some that I do not agree with. For example, she says that memorizing facts is useless and one must learn to ask questions like "Why?" I agree with the fact that asking questions is important but I also find that memorizing facts is sometimes also needed to learn things. Biology for example needs students to memorize facts first before experiments are being carried out. To be able to learn languages, one must also memorize basic words first. Hence, I disagree with some of her points. She also gave an example of "Why is carbon a non-metal?". She said that she had never been told the answer to this question but I find that this example is not very good. This because the answer is simply that people have already defined what makes an element a metal or a non-metal, hence, carbon must have some properties that make it a metal based on the definition of metals. Overall, I find that this letter has both good points and also some points that I disagree with.

Read the article and give your responses to the following prompts:

1. To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention.
   
   I do not agree fully with the issues the student has raised. I agree with the student that sometimes it is just not right to mark answers wrong just because you express it in your own words. However, I also feel that there is a purpose of having model answers for us. It may be because the model answer is more precise and more detailed than answers that are expressed in our own words although the idea is still the same. I also disagree with the point on stifling students voices just for the sake of pleasing the examiner. Students are not forced to not ask questions.Students can ask questions or give suggestions in school. However, I also have to agree a little with this point as it will not work if the teachers are unhelpful and just reply to you saying "this is the model answer/the system and this is what the school wants so do not ask so many questions."
   

2. Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?
   
   After examining her tone and attitude in this letter, I find that it is not a well-crafted letter and it does not have the appropriate tone. In my view, I find that it is a little hostile and a little tinge of anger in the letter. I also feel that she is kind of like blaming the Minister for the education system. I feel that she should first calm down and then write a letter politely to the Minister asking him why the education system is in this manner and tell him what she does not like about it and seek his explanation on why the education system is in this manner since there is a reason why the education system in Singapore wants us to memorize facts in our studies.
   

3. If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.
   
   I will raise issues like how we can apply things we learn through the education system in our life ahead.
   

You may view the letter here:
http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/12/an-open-letter-to-the-education-minister-from-a-secondary-4-student/

Week 3 Blog Prompt

In your opinion, is money important in relationships?

In my opinion, I feel that money is not necessarily important in relationships. To me, money in life is definitely not everything. There much more things in this Earth that are worth even more than just money. For example, there are many things that cannot be compared with money like friendship, love and trust ect. We cannot use money to buy friendship, neither can we use money to buy love or trust. Hence, money is definitely not everything. Hence after saying all these, money is clearly not significant in relationships. This is because one must look more in to the actual relationship and into the characters of each other. Values are also a very important thing one must see in your spouse. Hence, there are much more than money in a relationship.

Consider the "transactional" element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities?

It is not that obvious now as people get more advanced and more educated, money in marriages and relationships are not that important. However, there are also still some marriages where a dowry is demanded although not as common nowadays.
Overall, I feel that in Singapore, I do not really see the "transactional" element in the relationships between the couples nowadays. I think this might be because of the change in mindset of people nowadays as they are not so money concern as Singapore is a developed country now. However, still, there are some people who are just greedy and wants to marry a rich person for his or her wealth but there are not so many rich people so the number of couples that value money more may not be that much.

Week 2 Blog Prompt

In your opinion, how has war evolved from the past to present? Please use examples to justify your opinions.

In my opinion, war indeed has evolved from the past to present. War has evolved in many ways. For example, weaponry have become more advanced (eg. guns,amour) and also nuclear and chemical warfare have also been introduced. Many weaponry vehicles and aircraft have become more advanced and able to have more functions (eg. better control,unable to be detected, faster speed) and this make them even better and more dangerous than before than before. This will result in war in the present becoming more serious than before as technology becomes more advanced. Hence, war should be prevented as it will be a bigger problem than before.

Week 1 Blog Prompt

Reflections on NS after reading 'the soldier'
I feel that National Service is compulsory in Singapore because it helps Singapore to solve its problem of lack of proper defense and also help to ease racial and religious tensions as all males in Singapore will be together during National Service.

It is also important as it gives young men a sense of belonging while they serve their country. After all, Singapore is their home and all the more they should protect it.

I also feel the same spirit of patriotism as 'the soldier' although not to that much extent but I may feel a greater sense and spirit of patriotism for Singapore in the future. I do have the patriotic spirit for Singapore because it is my home and has helped me to be what I am now. It is safe, and very well-to-do as compared to other countries where there are many incidents of violence, riots and strikes. Many other countries around the world are also not as good as us in terms of living like in those third world countries. People there do not even know when or what their next meal will be while here we are in Singapore choosing what our next meal will be like. This make us very fortunate so we should not grumble about National Service or complain about it.

Nowadays, I find that there is not much patriotism in young men here in Singapore. I think that this is likely due to the fact that they are to pampered and do not like the discipline life in National service. Some others also feel that they are wasting their time. In fact, they might instead become tougher and more mature and even gain something out of National Service. They should be optimistic and think of it as giving back to Singapore after all Singapore had done for them. This is quite saddening and I hope that they will be enlightened and not complain about it.

Holiday Assignment (2 books)

Book 1
The Ghost Brigades
by John Scalzi

Introduction

The Ghost Brigades is the second book by John Scalzi set in the Old Man's War universe.

Summary

Jared Dirac is the main character in this book. He is instilled with the consciousness of a traitor, Charles Boutin, and has to deal with memories of a life he hasn't lived, while at the same time trying to find out who he really is himself. This was because he was a modified body. Jared is a member of the Special Forces, also known as The Ghost Brigades. Jane Sagan and Harry Wilson are the only primary characters returning from Old Man's War which is the first book.

All of the colonial defense forces are given genetically altered bodies with all sorts of upgrades, but it is the special forces that really get the most out of them. These soldiers are born into these bodies, and only through their BrainPal do they know what to do. This universe is a hostile place and these upgrades are the bare minimum the CDF can give them just to hold their own. Travel in the universe is done by skip drive, an instantaneous means of transportation.

I find that this book is a very interesting science fiction book that is very captivating and it might come to pass in the future.

Note: Please click on the links to understand more. Thank You.

Source: wikipedia

Book 2

Camouflage

by Joe Haldeman

Introduction

This is the only book.

Summary

This book is about two aliens have wandered Earth for centuries. The Changeling has survived by adapting the forms of many different organisms. The Chameleon destroys anything or anyone that threatens it.

The story tells us the life of both the Changeling and the Chameleon and it ends when both meet. I find that this book is also interesting as although it is not so action packed, it tells us in details what the Changeling and the Chameleon do and how they escape being noticed by humans. This book keeps the reader in suspense and I find this is what makes this book so special.

source: www.books.google.com

LA Online 24&25 May

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

by Hubert Wilson


Task 1

Background/Conflict

Although this poem is based on a war that happened in the past, "Rainbow Death" still talks about a modern day ingredient of warfare, Agent Orange. Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. This is an indication that Hubert was writing on the Vietnamese war. This poem may remind us that wars aren't over when the wars are over.

Sources:

Wikipedia

http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html

Task 2

Template

1. Point of view:

This is a first-person account by Hubert Wilson. He was a Vietnam War Veteran who has served in the USAF Security Service previously. His thoughts and disapproval of how America handled the war in Vietnam caused him to write this poem to express himself. The war also affected him as he was involved in the war. He is a respectable person as he is able to stand up on his own and give his opinions and what he is unsatisfied about. This can be seen in this poem.

2. Situation and setting:

The poem is talking about the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971 and the situation is bad and sad in this poem. With the use of Agent Orange in the war, many people who were innocent were killed. This can be seen from " During the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed 20,000,000 US gallons of chemical herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam, eastern Laos and parts of Cambodia, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. The program's goal was to defoliate forested and rural land, depriving guerrillas of cover; another goal was to induce forced draft urbanization, destroying the ability of peasants to support themselves in the countryside, and forcing them to flee to the U.S. dominated cities, thus depriving the guerrillas of their rural support base and food supply." These poem also shows the suffering of innocent people in Vietnam and how the Americans regretted their actions during the war.

3. Language:

This poem follows a

a-a-b-b-c-c rhyming pattern.

There is also a sense of sarcasm in this poem.

4. Personal Response:

After reading this poem, I can feel the anguish and sadness in Hubert as he experienced and went through the war seeing innocent people suffering. I can also sense the anger in him towards the Americans. A war is definitely devastating and also cruel and also very unfair for innocent people. If a war can be prevented, it should be prevented or it should not even happen.

War - A personal Response

Now, I am going to discuss on this picture. This picture was taken by the world's most acclaimed photographers to mark his 75th year, Imperial War Museum North in Greater Manchester. This picture shows a scene during the war and it appears in black and white. It is probably taken quite some time back. It is clearly evident in that there are many remains of the destruction the war have left behind. There are also soldiers helping an injured soldier who may have gotten injured during the violent process of the war. Many had died during the process of the war too. With debris everywhere and the country in ruins it is really a great problem to the country.

The soldiers here are clearly trying their best to help one another in these times of war and it is inevitable that soldiers get injured. The injured soldier in the picture is in great agony and pain probably because he had gotten injured during the war. His fellow soldiers are helping to keep his situation under control. This scene is clearly devastating. As this is only one of the scenes, there are surely many more others who are injured after the war. It is sad to see that such a war had brought upon so much pain agony and literal destruction to a country like this. This war has changed the country itself and also the people and the only hope now is for the war to cease and start to rebuild the nation.

Letter writing(Japan Earthquake Victim)

7 Canberra Ave
S(627893)
Dear Ms. Sandra,
I am indeed sorry and sympathetic about the disaster that happened in Japan. I am writing this letter to you to encourage you to have the will to live through the disaster.
I have read your post on the opinion pages on the New York Times website. I am glad that your boyfriend is alright and you are safe too. It is really an unexpected event that has occurred to Japan. I sympathize with you on your plight. I am sure that Japan as a powerful country will soon recover from this incident and in the meantime, people like us around the world will surely give their full support to Japan in terms of funds and also moral support. In this case I really hope that you will not give up in hopes of the recovery of the Japanese earthquake.
I know that times like these may be hard to go through and saying it now like this to you may be easy but I do know that it is easier said than done. This is why you have to persevere and have hope. Japan has once also experienced an earthquake and recovered after it to be better and stronger and Japan could do it then, so can it now. So one must not give up hopes, you can try to help the surrounding people around you like neighbors if you are lonely, help them and you will surely feel better. Get to know them and pass through this difficult time with them.
I know that you can surely be strong and persevere through difficult times like these. I really feel sympathetic for Japan that such a disaster has happened and rest assured people here and elsewhere will definitely show their upmost support in the recovery of Japan.
Finally, I am very happy and glad to write to you and it also gives me pleasure to help and encourage you. Times like these are surely not the end of the world so have hope. All the best in your future and may you persevere on.

Yours Sincerely,
John