Hey!I am back for another post.This time I am going to share about my views on lotteries.I seriously condemn them as I think that they are extremely addictive and the root cause of many troubles.Under the disillusion that they could make quick money and become an overnight millionaire,these gamblers indulged in gambling all day long.They are simply overpowered by greed.Many of them could actually lead normal and carefree lives,however they chose to gamble hoping to strike rich with a stroke of luck.However that stroke of luck never seems to appear.Once these gamblers fail to win the first time,they just dismissed it ,saying that they were just unlucky.They then gamble again trying to recope their losses.They would be unknowingly entering this spiral,circle that would trap them forever.As for my parents views,they are drastically different.My mother often said that these gambles would ruin families and drive one to his wit's end.I had to agree with her.once the gambler loses money he would borrow money from loan sharks this is when all the problems arises.Families,careers would all be lost.On the other hand,my father said that,"you never try,you never know"
Yes,I agree that a small gamble on lotteries once a blue moon is acceptable,but over indulging it will prove to be drastic and costly.I feel that newspapers should not publish news of people striking rich from 4-d.This would influenced more people to gamble.Governments should be applauded for creating hotlines to help counsel addictive gambles.However,they should not creat casinos as it would then be very contradicting.Finally,I would like to advise everyone not to gamble, aas you would be paying it with your life.Learn to treasure life.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
My favourite Poet
Hey!I am back for another post.Today I am going to share about my favourite
poet.I need to admit that I don't really read about poems, prefering storybooks
instead.However there is a poet whose peoms are as interesting and meaningful as
a storybook.Not only that, he also composes songs too.He is none other than
EDGAR ALLEN POE.
His background:He was born in Boston, January 19, 1809, and after a tempestuous life of forty
years, he died in the city of Baltimore, October 7, 1849.
His father, the son of a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army, was
educated for the law, but having married the beautiful English actress, Elizabeth
Arnold, he abandoned law, and in company with his wife, led a wandering life on
the stage. The two died within a short time of each other, leaving three children
entirely destitute. Edgar, the second son, a bright, beautiful boy, was adopted
by John Allen, a wealthy citizen of Richmond. Allen, having no children of his
own, became very much attached to Edgar, and used his wealth freely in
educating the boy. At the age of seven he was sent to school at Stoke
Newington, near London, where he remained for six years. During the next three
years he studied under private tutors, at the residence of the Allen's in
Richmond. In 1826 he entered the University of Virginia, where he remained less
than a year.
After a year or two of fruitless life at home, a cadetship was obtained for him
at West Point. He was soon tried by court-martial and expelled from school
because he drank to excess and neglected his studies. Thus ended his school
days.
In 1829 he published "Al Aaraaf, and Minor Poems." "This work," says his
biographer, Mr. Stoddard, "was not a remarkable production for a young
gentleman of twenty." Poe himself was ashamed of the volume.
After his stormy school life, he returned to Richmond, where he was kindly
received by Mr. Allen. Poe's conduct was such that Mr. Allen was obliged to
turn him out of doors, and, dying soon after, he made no mention of Poe in his
will.
Now wholly thrown upon his own resources, he took up literature as a profession,
but in this he failed to gain a living. He enlisted as a private soldier, but was
soon recognized as the West Point cadet and a discharge procured.
In 1833 Poe won two prizes of $100 each for a tale in prose, and for a poem.
John P. Kennedy, one of the committee who made the award, now gave him
means of support, and secured employment for him as editor of the "Southern
Literary Messenger" at Richmond. After a short but successful editorial work on
"The Messenger," his old habits returned, he quarreled with his publishers and
was dismissed. While in Richmond he married his cousin, Virginia Clem, and in
January, 1837, removed to New York. Here he gained a poor support by writing
for periodicals.
His literary work may be summed up as follows: In 1838 appeared a fiction
entitled "The Narrative of Arthur Gorden Pym;" 1839, editor of Burton's
"Gentleman's Magazine," Philadelphia; next, editor of "Graham's Magazine;"
1840, "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque," in two volumes; 1845, "The
Raven," published by the "American Review;" then sub-editor of the "Mirror"
under employment of N. P. Willis and Geo. P. Norris; next associate editor of
the "Broadway Journal."
His wife died in 1848. His poverty was now such that the press made appeals to
the public for his support.
In 1848 he published "Eureka, a Prose Poem."
He went to Richmond in 1849, where he was engaged to a lady of considerable
fortune. In October he started for New York to arrange for the wedding, but
at Baltimore he met some of his former boon companions, and spent the night in
drinking. In the morning he was found in a state of delirium, and died in a few
hours.
The most remarkable of his tales are "The Gold Bug," "The Fall of the House of
Usher," "The Murders of the Rue Morgue," "The Purloined Letter," "A Descent
into Maelstrom," and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar." "The Raven" and
"The Bells" alone would make the name of Poe immortal. The teachers of
Baltimore placed a monument over his grave in 1875.
Poe has been severely censured by many writers for his wild and stormy life, but
we notice that Ingram and some other prominent authors claim that he has been
willfully slandered and that many of the charges brought against him are not
true. His ungovernable temper and high spirit led him into disputes with his
friends, hence he was not enabled to hold any one position for a great length of
time. Like Byron and Burns, he had faults in personal life, but his ungovernable
passions are sleeping, while the sad strains of "The Raven," the clear and
harmonious tones of "The Bells," and the powerful images of his fancy live in the
immortal literature of his time.
Some of his interesting peoms:
A Dream Within A Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow!And, in parting from you now,Thus much let me avow--You are not wrong, who deemThat my days have been a dream;Yet if hope has flown awayIn a night, or in a day,In a vision, or in none,Is it therefore the less gone?All that we see or seemIs but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roarOf a surf-tormented shore,And I hold within my handGrains of the golden sand--How few! yet how they creepThrough my fingers to the deep,While I weep--while I weep!O God! can I not graspThem with a tighter clasp?O God! can I not saveOne from the pitiless wave?Is all that we see or seemBut a dream within a dream?
Romance
Romance, who loves to nod and singWith drowsy head and folded wingAmong the green leaves as they shakeFar down within some shadowy lake,To me a painted paroquetHath been—most familiar bird—Taught me my alphabet to say,To lisp my very earliest wordWhile in the wild wood I did lie,A child—with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal condor yearsSo shake the very Heaven on highWith tumult as they thunder by,I have no time for idle caresThrough gazing on the unquiet sky;And when an hour with calmer wingsIts down upon my spirit flings,That little time with lyre and rhymeTo while away—forbidden things—My heart would feel to be a crimeUnless it trembled with the strings.
Song I SAW thee on thy bridal day - When a burning blush came o'er thee, Though happiness around thee lay, The world all love before thee:
And in thine eye a kindling light (Whatever it might be) Was all on Earth my aching sight Of Loveliness could see.
That blush, perhaps, was maiden shame -As such it well may pass -Though its glow hath raised a fiercer flame In the breast of him, alas!
Who saw thee on that bridal day, When that deep blush would come o'er thee, Though happiness around thee lay, The world all love before thee.
poet.I need to admit that I don't really read about poems, prefering storybooks
instead.However there is a poet whose peoms are as interesting and meaningful as
a storybook.Not only that, he also composes songs too.He is none other than
EDGAR ALLEN POE.
His background:He was born in Boston, January 19, 1809, and after a tempestuous life of forty
years, he died in the city of Baltimore, October 7, 1849.
His father, the son of a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army, was
educated for the law, but having married the beautiful English actress, Elizabeth
Arnold, he abandoned law, and in company with his wife, led a wandering life on
the stage. The two died within a short time of each other, leaving three children
entirely destitute. Edgar, the second son, a bright, beautiful boy, was adopted
by John Allen, a wealthy citizen of Richmond. Allen, having no children of his
own, became very much attached to Edgar, and used his wealth freely in
educating the boy. At the age of seven he was sent to school at Stoke
Newington, near London, where he remained for six years. During the next three
years he studied under private tutors, at the residence of the Allen's in
Richmond. In 1826 he entered the University of Virginia, where he remained less
than a year.
After a year or two of fruitless life at home, a cadetship was obtained for him
at West Point. He was soon tried by court-martial and expelled from school
because he drank to excess and neglected his studies. Thus ended his school
days.
In 1829 he published "Al Aaraaf, and Minor Poems." "This work," says his
biographer, Mr. Stoddard, "was not a remarkable production for a young
gentleman of twenty." Poe himself was ashamed of the volume.
After his stormy school life, he returned to Richmond, where he was kindly
received by Mr. Allen. Poe's conduct was such that Mr. Allen was obliged to
turn him out of doors, and, dying soon after, he made no mention of Poe in his
will.
Now wholly thrown upon his own resources, he took up literature as a profession,
but in this he failed to gain a living. He enlisted as a private soldier, but was
soon recognized as the West Point cadet and a discharge procured.
In 1833 Poe won two prizes of $100 each for a tale in prose, and for a poem.
John P. Kennedy, one of the committee who made the award, now gave him
means of support, and secured employment for him as editor of the "Southern
Literary Messenger" at Richmond. After a short but successful editorial work on
"The Messenger," his old habits returned, he quarreled with his publishers and
was dismissed. While in Richmond he married his cousin, Virginia Clem, and in
January, 1837, removed to New York. Here he gained a poor support by writing
for periodicals.
His literary work may be summed up as follows: In 1838 appeared a fiction
entitled "The Narrative of Arthur Gorden Pym;" 1839, editor of Burton's
"Gentleman's Magazine," Philadelphia; next, editor of "Graham's Magazine;"
1840, "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque," in two volumes; 1845, "The
Raven," published by the "American Review;" then sub-editor of the "Mirror"
under employment of N. P. Willis and Geo. P. Norris; next associate editor of
the "Broadway Journal."
His wife died in 1848. His poverty was now such that the press made appeals to
the public for his support.
In 1848 he published "Eureka, a Prose Poem."
He went to Richmond in 1849, where he was engaged to a lady of considerable
fortune. In October he started for New York to arrange for the wedding, but
at Baltimore he met some of his former boon companions, and spent the night in
drinking. In the morning he was found in a state of delirium, and died in a few
hours.
The most remarkable of his tales are "The Gold Bug," "The Fall of the House of
Usher," "The Murders of the Rue Morgue," "The Purloined Letter," "A Descent
into Maelstrom," and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar." "The Raven" and
"The Bells" alone would make the name of Poe immortal. The teachers of
Baltimore placed a monument over his grave in 1875.
Poe has been severely censured by many writers for his wild and stormy life, but
we notice that Ingram and some other prominent authors claim that he has been
willfully slandered and that many of the charges brought against him are not
true. His ungovernable temper and high spirit led him into disputes with his
friends, hence he was not enabled to hold any one position for a great length of
time. Like Byron and Burns, he had faults in personal life, but his ungovernable
passions are sleeping, while the sad strains of "The Raven," the clear and
harmonious tones of "The Bells," and the powerful images of his fancy live in the
immortal literature of his time.
Some of his interesting peoms:
A Dream Within A Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow!And, in parting from you now,Thus much let me avow--You are not wrong, who deemThat my days have been a dream;Yet if hope has flown awayIn a night, or in a day,In a vision, or in none,Is it therefore the less gone?All that we see or seemIs but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roarOf a surf-tormented shore,And I hold within my handGrains of the golden sand--How few! yet how they creepThrough my fingers to the deep,While I weep--while I weep!O God! can I not graspThem with a tighter clasp?O God! can I not saveOne from the pitiless wave?Is all that we see or seemBut a dream within a dream?
Romance
Romance, who loves to nod and singWith drowsy head and folded wingAmong the green leaves as they shakeFar down within some shadowy lake,To me a painted paroquetHath been—most familiar bird—Taught me my alphabet to say,To lisp my very earliest wordWhile in the wild wood I did lie,A child—with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal condor yearsSo shake the very Heaven on highWith tumult as they thunder by,I have no time for idle caresThrough gazing on the unquiet sky;And when an hour with calmer wingsIts down upon my spirit flings,That little time with lyre and rhymeTo while away—forbidden things—My heart would feel to be a crimeUnless it trembled with the strings.
Song I SAW thee on thy bridal day - When a burning blush came o'er thee, Though happiness around thee lay, The world all love before thee:
And in thine eye a kindling light (Whatever it might be) Was all on Earth my aching sight Of Loveliness could see.
That blush, perhaps, was maiden shame -As such it well may pass -Though its glow hath raised a fiercer flame In the breast of him, alas!
Who saw thee on that bridal day, When that deep blush would come o'er thee, Though happiness around thee lay, The world all love before thee.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Why I like the peom
The reasons why I like this peom is because it is interesting.The author knows how to make use of figurative language to its fullest extent creatively and intelligently.The entire story revolves around a knight who is determined to save his lady at all cost but in the end he lost the battle and left his horse dead at foot of castle wall.The whole peom has a quick pace and good rythem and I enjoyed reading it.
Figurative Language
The poem I have chosen is Fast rode the knight by Stephen Crane.It is "Fast rode the knight
With spurs, hot and reeking,Ever waving an eager sword,"To save my lady!"Fast rode the knIght,And leaped from saddle to war.Men of steel flickered and gleamedLike riot of silver lights,And the gold of the knight's good bannerStill waved on a castle wall.. . . . .A horse,Blowing, staggering, bloody thing,Forgotten at foot of castle wall.A horseDead at foot of castle wall."
Firstly,the phrase "And leaped from saddle to war" is a hyperbole as it is exaggerated and used by the author to bring about an element of excitement.As for simile,the author uses the phrase "Like riot of silver lights" to represent the men of steel flickering and gleamering.The phrase "Blowing, staggering, bloody thing" is used for personification as it adds human traits to the poem to describe the horse making it more realistic as the phrase are usually used to describe humans. "Ever waving an eager sword" is a metaphor as waving a sword and preparing for battle should bring fear and dread not eagerness. "Forgotten at foot of castle wall" is a symbolism representing a lost battle.The author used figurative language as he wanted to compare the scenarios in the peom with things to make it more creative and realistic.
With spurs, hot and reeking,Ever waving an eager sword,"To save my lady!"Fast rode the knIght,And leaped from saddle to war.Men of steel flickered and gleamedLike riot of silver lights,And the gold of the knight's good bannerStill waved on a castle wall.. . . . .A horse,Blowing, staggering, bloody thing,Forgotten at foot of castle wall.A horseDead at foot of castle wall."
Firstly,the phrase "And leaped from saddle to war" is a hyperbole as it is exaggerated and used by the author to bring about an element of excitement.As for simile,the author uses the phrase "Like riot of silver lights" to represent the men of steel flickering and gleamering.The phrase "Blowing, staggering, bloody thing" is used for personification as it adds human traits to the poem to describe the horse making it more realistic as the phrase are usually used to describe humans. "Ever waving an eager sword" is a metaphor as waving a sword and preparing for battle should bring fear and dread not eagerness. "Forgotten at foot of castle wall" is a symbolism representing a lost battle.The author used figurative language as he wanted to compare the scenarios in the peom with things to make it more creative and realistic.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
First semester being a secondary one student
I enjoyed the school life here in hwa chong.Although I had to cope with my homework,to complete them on time and the tests that never seemed to end, I still managed to find joy by making new friends. I loved playing soccer with them every recess.About my msg,4.33,I feel that I had to put in extra effort to improve and had to buckle up to make the cut.I sensed a serious need to pull up my socks,if not I might be "relegated"out of the top three percent of the nation.One main reason I did not get a good grade for LA,C6,is because I did not understand the literature part that well,"PEE"structure and stuff like that.On how to improve my grades,I planned to do more practices and pay closer attention in class.I would also have the habit of reading 30 minutes of storybook everyday to increase my vocabulary word bank.An ideal msg for term three would be from 2.5 to 3.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Famous speeches(Q9 Animal Farm)
Martin Luther King,Jr had famously gave a public speech which is known to many as " I have a dream". He spoke of his desire for a future where black and white, among others, would coexist harmoniously as equals. King's delivery of the speech on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement,in relation to human rights issues. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters, the speech is often considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in history and was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.After listening to his speech, I thought that what he said was indeed very true and meaningful and I feel that something should be done to ensure that both the blacks and the whites should be treated the same,equally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLvSnr6s50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLvSnr6s50
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Martin Luther King,Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today. King is recognized as a Saint in many Christian Churches.A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president.King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective.King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.
I admire him for his courage and charisma.He has the courage the speak out his thoughts about the mistreatment of the black community at that time.It was him who freed the blacks from the yoke of segregation, whites may owe him the greatest debt, for liberating them from the burden of America's centuries-old hypocrisy about race.He also possesses the charisma and the ability to give rousing speeches that drive millions of people to come forward and follow his footsteps to fight against racism.
However, one of his minus points was his inability to control the rash actions of his supporters as shown on the "Bloody Sunday" , March 7 1965. It was a major turning point in the effort to gain public support for the Civil Rights Movement, the clearest demonstration up to that time of the dramatic potential of King's nonviolence strategy. King, however, was not present. After meeting with President Lyndon B.Johnsen, he decided not to endorse the march, but it was carried out against his wishes and without his presence by local civil rights leaders. Footage of police brutality against the protesters was broadcast extensively and aroused national public outrage.
I admire him for his courage and charisma.He has the courage the speak out his thoughts about the mistreatment of the black community at that time.It was him who freed the blacks from the yoke of segregation, whites may owe him the greatest debt, for liberating them from the burden of America's centuries-old hypocrisy about race.He also possesses the charisma and the ability to give rousing speeches that drive millions of people to come forward and follow his footsteps to fight against racism.
However, one of his minus points was his inability to control the rash actions of his supporters as shown on the "Bloody Sunday" , March 7 1965. It was a major turning point in the effort to gain public support for the Civil Rights Movement, the clearest demonstration up to that time of the dramatic potential of King's nonviolence strategy. King, however, was not present. After meeting with President Lyndon B.Johnsen, he decided not to endorse the march, but it was carried out against his wishes and without his presence by local civil rights leaders. Footage of police brutality against the protesters was broadcast extensively and aroused national public outrage.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Lottery
We learnt about the ugly nature of men in the story"The Lottery".The two undesirable characteristics displayed in the story were the selfishness ,ruthlessnessand supertition in men.In the story,the lottery is performed to pick out a "winner" to be stoned be stoned at in the belief of a better harvest.I think that picking out someone to be stoned at for a better harvest is indeed very selfish and cruel, furthermore,the belief is based on the supertition of men ,which may not be true.It is very relevant to our society as the supertition of men could be reflected in the society.One example is,people praying to all sorts of god for 4D numbers on the belief that god would without a doubt answer their prayers and turn them into overnight millionaires.Another example,is a popular Chinese supertition, that is staying on the 4th storey would bring bad luck as the number 4 in Cantonese is "sei" which sounds like the word "death".Some people also do not like the number 13 as they think that it brings bad luck.As for selfishness,it could be easily be seen in the MRT.Once an elderly enters the MRT train,very few people if not none,would give up the seat to them.This is the selfishness of man.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Taximan's story
Q1.The irony in the story is about the taximan commenting about the young people today.He says that they do not want to study,but run away, and go to nightclubs and take drugs and make love.He felt that they are just troubles to their parents.
Q2The theme raised is about young girls going to school in the morning in their school uniforms but after that they tell their mother they got school meeting,sports and games,but they really come out and play a fool.
Q3.This story is very realistic in Singapore, where young schoolgirls loiter around after school,spending money,smoking,wearing latest fashion.
Q4.The taximan know a lot about the young people nowadays,their habits.I sympathizes with him for having a daughter who mixes around with Europeans, playing a fool and performing monkey tricks.
Q5.I agree with his lamenting about young people nowadays,he drive taxi all day just to save moneyfor her University and there she was making herself so cheap.
Q6.I do not sympathizes with Lay Choo and the young school girls in the story as I feel that they are letting down their parents who work so hard just for them to have a proper education.
Q2The theme raised is about young girls going to school in the morning in their school uniforms but after that they tell their mother they got school meeting,sports and games,but they really come out and play a fool.
Q3.This story is very realistic in Singapore, where young schoolgirls loiter around after school,spending money,smoking,wearing latest fashion.
Q4.The taximan know a lot about the young people nowadays,their habits.I sympathizes with him for having a daughter who mixes around with Europeans, playing a fool and performing monkey tricks.
Q5.I agree with his lamenting about young people nowadays,he drive taxi all day just to save moneyfor her University and there she was making herself so cheap.
Q6.I do not sympathizes with Lay Choo and the young school girls in the story as I feel that they are letting down their parents who work so hard just for them to have a proper education.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
should science be used to artificially improve someone's intelligence?
Q5.Science should indeed be used to artificially improve someone's intelligence .However the person must be of a low intelligence,if not it is an abuse of science.By artificially improving people of low intelligence,we are helping them to be smarter ,to blend in with the society.If not they will be isolated or neglected by the rest of the society.With higher intelligence , they will also be able to find a better job to survive.Since it is a benefit of science, I feel that science should be used to artificially improve someone's intelligence.
Science should not be used artificially to improve someone's external appearance as our body is from god , we should treasure it.Besides it is against the law of nature to artificially improve our appearance.It is an abuse of science if we artificially improve our external appearance.However, if someone is disfigured in a fire for an example,it is approprate for them undergo operation to artificially improve their external appearrance.
Science should not be used artificially to improve someone's external appearance as our body is from god , we should treasure it.Besides it is against the law of nature to artificially improve our appearance.It is an abuse of science if we artificially improve our external appearance.However, if someone is disfigured in a fire for an example,it is approprate for them undergo operation to artificially improve their external appearrance.
Friday, January 9, 2009
An accident
On Thursday,8 January2009,at around 2pm I was taking the bus number 67 back home when I saw a Toyota Corolla that crashed into Chiharu Japanese Restaurant,situated along Bukit Timah Road,near Sixth Avenue.I also saw two police men at the scene questioning a man,whom I believe is the owner of the car.I personally feels that the driver should be more careful when he is driving lest someone got hurt in the accident.He should also ''open his eyes wider'' in the future when he is driving.The next day,I pass by the restaurant only to find out that the restaurant has used a huge white board to replace the shattered glass.Business is also as usual in the restaurant.
About me
HI! I am Koh zhan rong.This is the first time I will be writing my very own blog.I am excited at the prospect of being able to write and share my comments on incidents with everyone.I am 13 this year and I am currently studying in secondary 1.My hobbies are playing soccer and chinese chess.My favourite soccer team is Barcalona!That's all about me,I hope you will read my blog frequently.
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