Technology

Technology affected the way I learn by making things easier for me. When I was in Secondary one, school would just mean textbooks, papers, power points and teachers just continuing ragging on with their lessons, lessons would be rather boring and I had to use foolscap paper to write out Chinese and English Compositions, and learnt about Mathematics and Science through books, so it was quite inconvenient because some of the information I wanted might not be in the teaching materials, like notes given by the teacher. Technology has been a boon for my learning as using laptops for reaching out for information is simpler with the search engines and we can sometimes learn out of the book topics, if we were interested in it, for example, we might be learning about how animals live in the wild and might be linked to how they adapt to different environments and etc. Social networking applications like “Facebook” and blogs would made it easier for us to communication or to present our work in class, online resources are also easier to understand that hard copies since hard copies might be forgotten to be brought to class and lost. One example of technology being a boon to me is when I had an IH, integrated humanities, assignment and I need to get it done the next day and it was 9o’clock, which was close to my bedtime, so I had to complete the assignment as soon as possible. I was stunned and thus typed everything down and printed it out, since the future school program including the use of the computer, I was able to hand in my work on time and thus it is a boon. Therefore, I feel that technology affected the way I learn by making things easier for me by letting us reach out to online resource, easier way of communicating and learn out of the book topics.

Online learning

This photo has a very deep meaning in it, showing the destruction of war, the only outcome that might be derived from war. This photo depicts the missing lives of people suffering in this war and the destruction of homes, the hardships the soldiers are facing and the pain they had suffered. The mood of this photo would be horrible, if you were to put yourself in one of the soldiers’ shoes, risking their lives and possibly losing it the next moment. Being a soldier, holding a rifle, would mean killing, in other words murdering and the guilt might be with you for the rest of your life. The atmosphere of this photo is very depressed, very sad, because of the effort put in to build a country, all destroyed in the intentions of another country, of selfish people, but it might be inevitable, since humans will always want more than what they have. The destruction caused to the people would do not even receive their three meals and a supply of fresh water. Also the soldiers, being fathers, or future fathers, would have a family to look after and would still need to defend their country, and might lose their lives, leaving their family alone with no breadwinners to provide money for food, creating a depressing atmosphere. The emotions in this picture would be awkward, because seeing upon the destruction done to others without facing these destructions yourself, and making yourself feel like you are useless, unable to help, feeling sad or awkward. All you can see is a piece of perfect destruction, taste of sweat and blood, smell of hardship and pain, touch of love, loyalty of each and every soldier trying to defend their piece of land. The sound of gun shots that might cause lots of fear because one shot would be fatal to anyone here, and might possibly cause us our lives. Trees in the background were also sacrificed, being burnt or without leaves, which mean the ending of war would only be destruction and nothing positive. The product of war is the scene of the picture.

Beverage.

Caffeine have beneficial effects on the body because it gives us energy. I actually drink Nescafe coffee for breakfast mostly during the weekends and the coffee have a very fragrant smell, and taste too, and after drinking coffee, I would have the energy to continue the day. Most of the soda, like "100-Plus" and "Milo" contain caffeine and they taste good, since caffeine adds flavour, and they are energy drinks, which will boost your energy after drinking them and since they contain caffeine, we can say that caffeine gives us energy. Caffeine have been beneficial to me as it created some of my favourite drinks and added some interest in my drinks. Although caffeine is rather addictive, one that knows how to control how much caffeine one drink would be okay. Drinks too contain caffeine and though drinking too much would cause one to fall sick, it would be okay if one drinks moderately. Using caffeine to keep one awake would also be quite effective as caffeine would also prevent sleepiness. Therefore I feel that caffeine have beneficial effects on the body because it gives us energy.

Do we still need heroes?

We still need heroes, not those with supernatural powers, but those who have a potential to help and are willing to help. We need heroes, because it could help solve problems when others need help, heroes can they could prepare for a crisis, or try to solve a crisis and heroes are within everybody, thus we need heroes.

We need heroes as they could help solve problems when others need help. When everyone else does not know what to do, or how they can help, they need someone to guide them, so that they could work together to solve problems. Heroes are like leaders, with "super" abilities. They can guide people to do the right things and also help out themselves. Heroes are also need because of the number of evil "villains", both is needed to create a balance, so that the world would have a villain to stir up trouble and a hero to solve the problem. If everyone was just a normal person, with no villains, no troubles, people would not try to improve since everything seems perfect, and thus in a crisis, people would suffer without a hero. The basic foundations of something, of a town, of a project can be built under the guidance of a leader, but the improvement of it will need a heroic person to create a change. Heroes are needed to solve problems, not by themselves but with unity from the people, and thus, we still need heroes, not ones with super powers and ability, but one with a characteristics of a hero, with courage, strength and determination.

We need heroes as they could prepare for a crisis, or try to solve a crisis. We could be certain that crisis would never be prevented at a 100%, but but preparing for a crisis that would be about to come would also mean preventing a crisis from happening. In the recent Japanese Tsunami and earthquake, Japan experience a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by a devastating blow of a tsunami, a wall, which is suppose to prevent a tsunami wave from hitting the city, was being knocked down and the government was suppose to be the hero in that case, preparing for a tsunami wave before it came, but it was to not avail, but we should not make the decision that the government were not heroes in that case, because they already made an effort to prevent a tsunami wave from hitting the city. The other heroes in this case would be the Red Cross Society and whoever who made at least a donation to Japan, wishing them to have a speedy recovery. An approximate amount of 6,250,000 USD was donated to Japan. The real heroes would also include those who made a trip there to help out and those to did not lose hope in life even after those horrors. Heroes could be found anywhere and you can also be a hero, but that is whether you want to be one or not. Thus, we need heroes as they could prepare for a crisis, or try to solve a crisis, in this case, those who helped, including myself, would be a hero, at even the least honour.

We need heroes as heroes are within everybody. Imagine everyone, being a hero, trying to perfect everything they could, the world would be perfect, perfect without a flaw. But that would be too huge of a hope to make. But I remember myself being a hero once, in primary school, I was a hero because of what I contributed to my class. Being a class prefect, helping students was inevitable but having an opportunity would mean to cherish it. I brought convenience to my class by guiding them, through studies and through leadership qualities, making me a "hero". It is not just the government being heroes, though they contribute a lot to the society, to the country, but also those who did a part to help build the country. A quote I found in an article, "What a country is without its people." This quote is found from a reporter, who talks about Egypt "separated into two". The source is found here: "http://souaiaia.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-country-without-its-people.html" I feel that heroes are within everybody as long as everyone tries to be one, by helping out, by contributing or just by being part of a country. We need everybody as heroes as without heroes, life would not be what it is now. Being a broken or "evil" hero, would also cause troubles thus we still need heroes as heroes are within everyone who tries to be one.

In conclusion, we still need heroes, I still need heroes and the world needs heroes as they can help solve problems, be it major, minor problems, be it an effort or determination to solve it, they are still heroes. Heroes are needed at they they could prepare for a crisis, or try to solve a crisis, and we need heroes as heroes as within everyone, within you and me.

Recent comic book I read.

"Gone case" by Dave Chua and Koh Hong Teng.

I enjoyed the book because of it's Singapore experiences a 12 year old boy might have faced and we were once 12 and was 12 not long ago. I feel that the story is mostly encountered only in Singapore. I enjoyed, actually, both the art and writing because the art will attracted my attention, make the book more interesting and the writing contains Singapore elements and that is why I enjoy both art and writing. I would recommend this book to secondary school students, upper primary students.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9966914-gone-case

Recent book I read.

Well, I enjoyed this book because it is simple, the moral of the story has been brought out clearly and the language used was not too tough, so it does not waste time describing things too clearly. The book actually challenged me to think, whether having something unique, or having something special, would mean to share it with people around, just to be friends what them? Friends might just be with whoever if they feel that they can communicate well, or understand each other well, and not to share special things with everyone, just to be friends with them, and that is what I feel. I would recommend this book to my sister, as it is for people, or children in primary/elementary school.


http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/766020.The_Rainbow_Fish

Prejudice, leading to war

Prejudice can lead to war when both parties cannot come into an agreement. In 1861, there was the American Civil War in which the Northern state wanted the Southern state to disown their slaves since they thought that they should be of a country and not own slaves, while the South felt that they have the right to own their slaves. This incidence later led to war when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The reason for the war was because the Southern state was to keep their slaves while the Northern state do not allow that. Prejudice is involved because the Southern state thought that since they were of a higher authority than the slaves, they could use them for their industry. Therefore, prejudice could led to a start of war because of disagreement of one or both parties.

Project's day experience.

On the day of project's day, I felt nervous before we presented because it was our second time presenting for preliminary for project's day. The first one was fine since we heard that the teacher would be a bit lenient for our projects and thus, I was quite sure that we will pass. But since this year is Secondary 2, our standards must be higher and thus presentation will contribute to our success. When we presented, I could hear myself speak and did stammer a bit since I was not very prepared for this (no script/no rehearsal) and thus, feel that there would be mistakes in my speech. But I successfully finished saying my part without much problems. Some learning points are for the presenter to speak louder, or more clearly on stage because if they're too soft or if their speech is not clear, the audience might not understand what they are trying to convey. Sometimes, tone must be added in to express the current feeling of the presenter and the overall feeling of the speech. For example, if one's trying to convey a message about global warning, one needs to speak it in an very serious tone, a depressed tone, or furious tone. For gaming, one need to speak in a cheerful tone, excited tone, ext. I feel that I have done to point on clear and loud speech, but not the one on tone and I still have to work on it.

Racial Slurs

"Racial slurs should be illegal".

Intro: I oppose the statement that racial slurs should be illegal. It should be not illegal because it does not cause physical harm to the victim, but it does cause mental harm and harm to the victim’s dignity. That could be easily countered with a high moral of the victim, and the ability to “close one eye” or let it off. The culprit would then feel like he was doing something useless or acting stupid and would then stop. Another reason why it should not be illegal is because racial slur is merely a nickname which is used for races using the characteristics between the nickname and the people associated in it. Some racial slurs might also be made when a race does something significant, for examples, “Jap” is a racial slur for Japanese, who were part of WW2. It might not feel like a racial slur because saying “Jap” might not be an insult to the Japanese. Racial slurs should also not be illegal because it might only be said privately, and it is used for all races. For example, two people of the same race, might address another person of another race using a racial slur privately, will that mean that one of the person might report to the police, saying that his/her friend addressed another person of another race using racial slur and what punishment should be issued? Jailing, fine or canning. All of those punishments might a bit too unreasonable for just a verbal speech, which might be said accidentally or purposely.

Reflections:

I do not have any personal experiences of being a slurer, the sluree, or a bystander who heard the slur after I found out that addressing a person black or white is not a racial slur. But I did watch movies including racial slurs and conflict between the blacks and whites in, “Mississippi Burning”. Since I do not have any personal experiences, I would put myself into the slurer, the sluree, and bystander’s view. If I was the slurer, I would feel ashamed of myself and human beings for separating life just by skin colours. I would also stop using racial slurs and discourage the use of it. If I was the sluree, I would just ignore the slurer and regard him as nothing. I would also try to avoid seeing or meeting the slurer again. If I was the bystander, I would create “scenarios” to attract attention so that the slurer would stop insulting the sluree.