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