Week 8 Blog Prompt

Hey guys! Last post for term 3 ACE! Wish me luck!(:

Alright, since the Presidential election is coming, so I guess I shall write about it.

Basically, Mr Nathan will be stepping down as Singapore's sixth president. He is currently 87 years old and he oldest local president to hold this appointment of leadership. Since he is stepping down, therefore one must replace him. As a result, 4 men : Tan Cheng Bock, Tan, Tan Jee Say, Tony Tan and Tan kin lian will competing one another to be elected to be the next president. Well, I will be writing about their key focus and what are my opinions about their perspectives.

Mr Tan Cheng Bock wanted the Office of the elected presidency to be a place to help Singaporeans be united, promote multi-racialism and put Singaporeans as his first priority. The reason why he chose to focus on unifying the people was because he felt that, after the general elections, the people were divided.

Mr Tony Tan said that he could work with the government to improve economic policies. He aims to help strengthen the nation's ability to weather the current financial uncertainties and protect the reserves. He could also champion the Singapore brand and raise its profile abroad, creating more opportunities for Singaporeans and businesses.

Mr Tan Jee Say with a focus on the urgent need to change our economic strategies and policies.

Mr Tan Kin Lian said that he wanted to be the people's voice and basically, he wanted to follow the footsteps of first elected president Mr Ong.

The focus of these four men are meaningful and some of them are not really stating the reason why they want to run for president election. Nominees such as Mr Tony Tan and Mr Tan Cheng Bock stated their stand firmly which sounds convincing. However, I think if they have voiced the measures they are going to take if they elected as a president would sound even more convincing. In my opinion, a president is someone who represent a country. He is like a joint, connecting the people with the government. He should work closely with them and ensure peace, harmony among people and the government.

Week 6 Blog prompt

"The news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. How far do you agree?"

Well, this topic seemed familiar to me so I guess its the common test question. Alright, let's begin.

I agree to a large extent that the news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news.

Firstly, I believe that paparazzi would be mostly talking about celebrities, politicians and anyone who are famous in the world. Celebrities, politicians are people too. They have the rights to have their own privacy, they have the need to spend some time with their family, and thus not everything should be reported by those reporters. It is definitely not fair to these people as they have very limited privacy. Limited privacy would hence means that they have lesser freedom to do whatever things they want to do. I'm not saying that news media cannot take any pictures of them or video them but the news media should do all these things at the right place and the right time. Secretly taking pictures or videoing celebrities, politicians and posting them online or reporting them on tv could pose treats to the celebrities and politicians' lives.

However, I believe that the government is also at fault to a certain extent for this unhealthy paparazzi news. As celebrities, civil servants are also counted as the people of the country, thus the government should protect their rights too. Do they not have the same/equal rights as compared to regular citizens? Thus I believe, the government should take some responsibilities to protect their interests such as coming up with policies.

Blog Prompt Week 5

1) Is there true justice? Why?

There is no true justice. Shylock has been bullied, despised all the Christians including Antonio. Shylock has suffered a lot and in the end he has to lose his dignity, money and his property. I am not trying to say taking Antonio's life is correct but is that really true justice when Portia has caused Shylock lost everything he owns which was as good as taking his life away. Is it fair to Shylock? No, it is so UNFAIR. The Christians might see true justice when Antonio was saved by Portia but the Christians did not even suffered in the first place. They lost nothing but still gained something! Shylock suffered and yet in the end he still had to lose his possessions and dignity. So I FIRMLY BELIEVE that there is NO true justice.

2) Is there true mercy expounded by Portia? Why?

I could not sense any mercy by Portia. Although she gave Shylock 3 opportunities to show mercy to Antonio but however, in the end she still played with words and caused Shylock to not only forfeit the pound of flesh yet at the same time, Shylock had to give up his possessions. She used "mercy" to get revenge on Shylock. If she really expounded true mercy on Shylock, she would not hold grudges against Shylock and let Shylock go without taking his possessions.

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.

In the text, Law and Justice is manipulated by Portia. She uphold justice when she saves Antonio's life. She prosecuted the law using her status when she was dealing with Shylock and Shylock was punished. This shows that Law and Justice can be manipulated by people in power.

Back to reality, there are many examples that prove that Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. One example would be OJ Simpson - Everyone knew this guy would be on the list. OJ Simpson was the running back for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers who was the first person to run for 2000 yards in a single season. On June 12, 1994, Simpson’s wife, Nicole, and her friend Ron Goldman were found murdered on his property. Simpson ran from the police in his famous Ford Bronco but was eventually caught and brought to trial. The trial featured some of the most predominant defense and prosecuting attorneys of the 1990s including: Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey, Marcia Clark, and Christopher Darden. The criminal trial found Simpson not guilty, but he was later found responsible for murder in the civil court hearing. In 2007, Simpson was responsible for breaking and entering a Las Vegas hotel room and robbing the occupants of what he claimed were his things. He is currently serving a prison term.

Source: http://myfivebest.com/my-best-5-people-who-got-away-with-murder/

Week 4 Blog prompt

Q1) To what extent do you agree with the issues the student has raised here? Point out possible agreements and contention.

Well, this sec 4 students had done an amazing job. In her essay, I can tell she has been very observant about Singapore's education system. I agree with all her point of view with the issues she had raised. It is indeed VERY TRUE that many students memorize notes just for the sake of exams. Learning would then be a duty, burden and boring rather it should be something joyful and fun. Students normally study the topics that are tested and not study those extra relevant knowledge as that would be "wasting time". Thus, this shows that Singapore's education system becomes very stiff, not flexible at all. Students would then be often blinded and question themselves about the true reason for studying? There was even once, when my maths teacher questioned, : " why is there a need to study this topic". And one student answered, : " because it is tested in our exams" So does that mean that if its not tested in the exams, there is no need to learn this topic? It is true that exams are equally important but yet at the same time, students should enjoy learning. Learning is a process whereby it takes a whole lifetime. No one can ever acquire all the knowledge in the world.

In today's world, academic grades are not everything. External knowledge, characters play a big role too! Character is something that is taught since young, not by lessons. For example, we are taught in textbooks that we should give up seats to elderly and those in need. Thus in reality, when that really happen, there is a mindset in students that we have to give up seats to them, it is "compulsory". Thus, students are not doing compassionately but more of must.

Q2)Examine her tone and attitude in the letter. Do you think its a well-crafted letter with a appropriate tone?

I find the author's tone in the latter is absolutely appropriate. In her letter, her tone and attitude is more of a request and providing much examples for the minister to review our Singapore's education system. She did not emphasized that the minister has to read this letter and she addresses the minister with respect and there is nowhere in the letter I can find something inappropriate. In her letter, she kept questioning the education system which seems fair because she provided much evidence and examples. In the letter, she allowed the readers to feel that the matter is serious and something/someone has to do something about it. Her tone was not too polite, not too serious but just nice for readers feel comfortable reading it. She sound rather disappointed and unhappy with the Singapore's education system and thus voicing out her opinion. She even stated the amount of time she spent in doing this letter which shows that she saw the value of writing this letter to the minster.

Q3) If you should write a letter to the Minister of Education, what are some of the issues you would raise?

Firstly, I would like the minister to come out with new ways of teaching and also a examination's format. This is because the education system now is indeed guiding the students to a wrong track. Students should learn for the enjoyment and not for the sake of learning. Students should also be taught the way to ask and seek by themselves. Teachers will be at the side giving guiding questions. Students should also learn how to question their own questions/answers. In this way, they are able to think and process a matter in rather fair manner. Examinations should be given in a way that allows students to give answers that has the same meaning of something but phase it differently.

Secondly, I believe that civil and moral education should be changed to lessons that promotes teaching. These lessons should be something like AAT taught in Hwa Chong. I find this course very important and necessary for all students in Singapore because it promotes thinking and also questioning. Students are accessed by the way the question and approach a certain topic and thus i find that it is indeed necessary. Things that are taught in this lesson can be used in our daily lives. It will also promotes students' creativity and enhances students' thinking.

Lastly, the syllabus we are taught should be changed. Students should learn according to what the world is going towards. We have to keep up with the modern world today not the world keep up with us. We should learn things that can be applied in our future careers and not waste time learning something which will we hardly apply or sometimes not applying at all! Maybe the ministry can come out with a system whereby students are able to choose the type of studies they are keen and interested in. This system will enhances efficiency and quality. Students will not need to waste time having lessons they dislike.

Week 3 Blog prompt

Is MONEY IMPORTANT in a RELATIONSHIP??

Money is somehow is important in a relationship. Yes, I do strongly agree that LOVE is all it matters when it comes to relationship. However, in another perspective, relationship is also providing security to our soul mate, providing her a safe, comfortable environment and also financial stability. Without money, how do you provide a safe environment for her? Without money, how are you going to give her happiness? Without money, how are you going to provide a sense of security to her. Thus, money plays quite a certain role when it comes to building and maintaining a relationship. However, I am NOT saying that money is the CRITERIA when it comes to relationship. L.O.V.E is definitely the CRITERIA when it comes to relationships. Love is priceless!(: In relationships, love is always felt and found. Money is just "on the surface". Money does not make one's heart satisfied or warmth, but LOVE can touch and move one's heart. Thus in relationships, LOVE satisfy couples emotionally, but money satisfy couples physically.

Do you think that there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities?

Well, although there are relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities, but however, it does not mean that there is an upward trend. I personally STRONGLY BELIEVE that there is NO UPWARD TREND! In this world today, you can see many couples posting messages of how much they love one another and willing to spent their lives together for the rest of their lives. They hardly ever talked about money. There will definitely be people considering about money before marrying, but however, love matters more. What is money when you are going to spent the rest of your lives with your soul mate? In my opinion, couples who tie the knot when they only value money, I feel that they had just wasted their entire lifetime! WHAT A WASTE! When you marry your soul mate, you marry her/his flaws as well! Because they are going to depend on one another for their rest of their lives! In conclusion, I believe that there will not be an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money more than valuing other qualities although there are still some examples in this world.

Week 2 blog promt

Today's topic is : how has war evolved from the past to present?

Alright, basically I believe that war has evolved a lot from the past to the present today. Well, world war 1 and 2, Vietnam wars, Korea wars were fought due to the political indifference among different governments. They fought for Land, they fought for Power and most importantly, they fought because they disagree with one another's point of view. And these wars are mostly initiated by those high-ranking officials. They also fought for resources and these wars resulted in much fatality and casualties. However, today's wars are so much DIFFERENT as compared to the past. Today's wars are fought for freedom, fought within countries and mostly are initiated by normal citizens in the youth. They fought against their own government They fought not because for land, not for their own selfish interest, but for their country's future. Today's war are different because these wars are fought for freedom! Today, in this world, we would hear news about the wars currently going on in Middle east and you mostly hear or see the word freedom. Wars has evolved greatly from the past to the present. From personal gain or political indifference to freedom and against corrupted government.

Book review 2: The day my butt went pysho

This book is also written by Griffiths.

Summary:

Zack Freeman's bum is constantly detaching itself from his body and running off. One night, when he follows his bum, he learns that there is a plot by bums to take over the world. Specifically, the bums plan to create a huge, worldwide fart by building up a massive quantity of methane gas in the "Bumcano". When the Bumcano blows, all humans will be rendered unconscious. While they are unconscious, the bums will seize their chance and switch places with their heads.

Fortunately, Zack meets the "Bum-hunter" Silas Sterne and his daughter, Eleanor, and is introduced to the realities of life in a world where bums are constantly a threat. To prevent the Bumcano eruption, the friends enlist the help of the Kisser, the Kicker, the Smacker and Ned Smelly. The characters encounter a variety of bum-related places and things, including the "Great Windy Desert", "flying bum squadrons", Stenchgantor The Great Unwiped Bum and the Great White Bum.