Thinking you know why you behave as you do gives you all sorts of excuses for extraordinary behavior. - Duncan Idaho
It's been quite some time since I've posted; I AM made busy by the insane amount of holiday homework. Today, I've got my new pair of spectacles! Let's get to the main topic of this post.
After getting my pair of spectacles today, I went to ("Gasol")'s place and after a couple of minutes, went down to the usual basketball court that we always go to and started playing our favourite sport. After a few shootout practices and friendly matches, we saw a familiar figure heading towards our way. It's UIG (Un-Invited Guest), a nickame we placed on the usual guy who always seem to appear uninvited whenever we are there playing basketball. Lemme describe him. A rather "big" dude, just a little bit fleshy (I'm being honest here), a basketball team member of his school, rather skilled in the game. Okay, here comes the "bad" part. He's rude, rather vulgar, a sore-loser, doesn't know how to keep his "unhealthy" comments to himself and just says whatever he is thinking at the moment, mean, and ummm... fast-tempered (I'm also being honest)? Let's state this first. I don't really know him that much so I can't promise that whatever I have said about him is correct but that is what I can infer from how he behaves around us. I totally meant no offence, I'm not trying to rant and rave about how "bad" this guy is, but rather just an inference. This is the event that happened today. We were just having some shootout practice (I was resting at the moment), and one of us takes a shot. Very unfortunately the ball rebounded and hit the guy at almost "point-blank range". On the head. From his expression, and actions (and words he spat out after the hit), it definitely hurts. However, a few of us exchanged glances when he wasn't looking. Glances and expressions. A few gave secret grins, a few gave a "YES!" look. Regrettably, I was one of them. Even though we generally still show our concern by asking him about his injury, but in our hearts, we felt that he deserved it. After a couple of minutes, I began to feel sorry for him. Although I still don't really like him but I feel that feeling happy when someone got injured wasn't right at all. I gave myself a little reproach. But... He, still trying to recover from his minor injury, shouted at us.
He: "Who threw the ball!?"
One of us: "I wasn't even at this half of the court!"
He: "Who threw the ball!?"
Me: "I just stood up from the floor, I didn't shoot it."
Another one of us: "I was sitting down."
Another one of us: "I was walking around."
He really sounded furious at that moment, and we were afraid that he would do something to the person who accidentally caused his injury. Although his temper simmered down and finally closed the case, I was wondering whether any of us would reproach ourselves for feeling "joyous" (can't seem to find the right word) over his mishap. Should we? Should we not?
Utakata Hanabi
Sasuke x Sakura
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Resent
When a creature has developed into one thing, he will choose death rather than change into his opposite. - Scytale
I had caught the movie X-Men First Class with a group of my friends a couple of days ago. I have watched the entire X-Men Trilogy, except X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I'm not a really super X-Men fan, but I generally know the storyline. I'm not here to talk about the plot and bore those who have completely no interest or already know the plot themselves, but I will give you the background information. Mutants were appearing on Earth due to atomic radiation, and it created another stage of human evolution. However, those "Normals" think of these Mutants as a threat to all mankind because of each of their special abilities. The "Normals" generally felt the need to annihilate all Mutants, stirring fear and anger to both sides, resulting to a full-scale war between the "Normals" and the Mutants. Of course, the X-Men are a group of Mutants who dedicate themselves to protect humanity, Mutant or not.
You can consider me a fan of Anime, and I've watched similar cases. One fine example would be "Gundam Seed" and 'Gundam Seed Destiny"(the sequel). If you didn't watch it, I suggest you watch it but if you don't want, it's okay. And if you did, you will understand what I mean. Envious of their abilities, thinking that it's not fair, thinking of the other side/"species" as a major threat to their own, resenting the fact that they are superior, and rejecting them from society even though both are humans. If this kind of stuff really happened, how will the world respond? Will it be like X-Men and Gundam Seed, where both sides fight each other till the other is annihilated? Or will the world accept each other, where both sides can co-exist together? We, or the future generations, may have to make this choice.
I had caught the movie X-Men First Class with a group of my friends a couple of days ago. I have watched the entire X-Men Trilogy, except X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I'm not a really super X-Men fan, but I generally know the storyline. I'm not here to talk about the plot and bore those who have completely no interest or already know the plot themselves, but I will give you the background information. Mutants were appearing on Earth due to atomic radiation, and it created another stage of human evolution. However, those "Normals" think of these Mutants as a threat to all mankind because of each of their special abilities. The "Normals" generally felt the need to annihilate all Mutants, stirring fear and anger to both sides, resulting to a full-scale war between the "Normals" and the Mutants. Of course, the X-Men are a group of Mutants who dedicate themselves to protect humanity, Mutant or not.
You can consider me a fan of Anime, and I've watched similar cases. One fine example would be "Gundam Seed" and 'Gundam Seed Destiny"(the sequel). If you didn't watch it, I suggest you watch it but if you don't want, it's okay. And if you did, you will understand what I mean. Envious of their abilities, thinking that it's not fair, thinking of the other side/"species" as a major threat to their own, resenting the fact that they are superior, and rejecting them from society even though both are humans. If this kind of stuff really happened, how will the world respond? Will it be like X-Men and Gundam Seed, where both sides fight each other till the other is annihilated? Or will the world accept each other, where both sides can co-exist together? We, or the future generations, may have to make this choice.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Recoil
Good intentions can bring about as much destruction as an evil conqueror. Either way, the result is the same. - Zensunni Lament
Thoughts become weapons. Philosophies are distinct reasons for war. Good intentions are the most destructive arsenal of all. - Cogitor Kwyna
Often we were asked this question: In times of war, which is responsible for the death and destruction? The weapon or the wielder? Most people will give the rather obvious answer. "Of coz' the wielders are responsible." "If there are only weapons, and no people to use them to kill one another, there will not be unnecessary casualties and destruction." "Weapons are created by wielders, too." Most of us will have these thoughts when asked this question. But is it really true? From my personal point of view, I think that it is half-correct. Yes, the people using the weapons should be responsible. However, in modern times, soldiers use guns, missiles, rockets, mines, tanks, fighter planes and stuff. They use machines. Machines that are created to kill. When soldiers take these weapons and go to the battlefield, they become as cold-blooded as the machine. They just press the trigger and let the weapons do the killing. They can't feel much besides the recoil and pain from shots. It's not like the ancient times where wars and battles were fought melee and using swords and spears. The fighting would be up-close. You can hear your enemy scream in pain when you slash or stab him. You can feel the hot blood splashing all around you. You can see your friends and comrades dying first hand with your own eyes. You can understand the horrors of war. So you can't really blame those who wields the weapons. Also, there's another answer to the question. Besides the weapons and the wielders, there's another thing that can be held responsible. It's the "Good Intentions". People pick up arms and fight wars with their "Good Intentions." Like they join the battle so that they could defend their country, their home. Or maybe to uphold justice. It could be because they wanted to defeat the aggressor and stop them from attacking other countries. It could be because they wanted to live. It could be because they desire better living and working conditions. It could be because they wanted their country to regain their lost national pride. Remember World War I and World War II? People who fight for "Good Intentions", fight the hardest. That could result in massive destruction too. And that would be the recoil of the most dangerous weapon of all time.
Thoughts become weapons. Philosophies are distinct reasons for war. Good intentions are the most destructive arsenal of all. - Cogitor Kwyna
Often we were asked this question: In times of war, which is responsible for the death and destruction? The weapon or the wielder? Most people will give the rather obvious answer. "Of coz' the wielders are responsible." "If there are only weapons, and no people to use them to kill one another, there will not be unnecessary casualties and destruction." "Weapons are created by wielders, too." Most of us will have these thoughts when asked this question. But is it really true? From my personal point of view, I think that it is half-correct. Yes, the people using the weapons should be responsible. However, in modern times, soldiers use guns, missiles, rockets, mines, tanks, fighter planes and stuff. They use machines. Machines that are created to kill. When soldiers take these weapons and go to the battlefield, they become as cold-blooded as the machine. They just press the trigger and let the weapons do the killing. They can't feel much besides the recoil and pain from shots. It's not like the ancient times where wars and battles were fought melee and using swords and spears. The fighting would be up-close. You can hear your enemy scream in pain when you slash or stab him. You can feel the hot blood splashing all around you. You can see your friends and comrades dying first hand with your own eyes. You can understand the horrors of war. So you can't really blame those who wields the weapons. Also, there's another answer to the question. Besides the weapons and the wielders, there's another thing that can be held responsible. It's the "Good Intentions". People pick up arms and fight wars with their "Good Intentions." Like they join the battle so that they could defend their country, their home. Or maybe to uphold justice. It could be because they wanted to defeat the aggressor and stop them from attacking other countries. It could be because they wanted to live. It could be because they desire better living and working conditions. It could be because they wanted their country to regain their lost national pride. Remember World War I and World War II? People who fight for "Good Intentions", fight the hardest. That could result in massive destruction too. And that would be the recoil of the most dangerous weapon of all time.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Realise
How often it is that the angry man rages denial of what his inner self is telling him. - The Collected Sayings of Muad'dib by the Princess Irulan
Once again, before I begin anything, I shall update you about the certain events of my life these few days. As you should've known from my previous post, I've had my Chinese 'O' Level Examination just a few days ago. Well, I personally think that I did average for Paper 1 (the composition and situational writing) and not bad for Paper 2 (the comprehension). I still have a tinge of regret after the exam, coz' I realised that I made some silly mistakes. That really was careless of me. The extended lessons are still going on till the end of next week, which means that I've work to do. Just yesterday, I've caught "Pirates of The Carribean: On Stranger Tides" with 3 of my friends after school to just chill out a bit and enjoy ourselves (I'm a Pirates fan by the way). This was not bad although it was a little too predictable. I'm not sure whether it's me or are the movies nowadays really so predictable?? I'm not sure myself. Let's get to the main topic.
After reading up a few blogs recently, I realised that generally, bloggers have different styles of blog post. Some post short and sweet posts and let the photographs do the saying. Some will just post about their daily life, keeping it short. Some will write really long essays, mostly expressing their thoughts on something or so. Some will mix all styles together, having a variety. Of course, there are also bloggers that do business. Mine is obviously the long essay type, without any doubt. But I'm sure there are people who prefer short posts with photographs or any other type I've mentioned above than to some lengthy old grandmother story. I'm not asking anyone of you to try to 'like' this kind of blog post, I also have my own preference. But there's a type of blog posts that I don't really like. Some bloggers just rant and rave about someone/something that 'offended' them all the time. I'm pretty sure almost every one of you readers/bloggers have come across a blog whereby the blogger condemns, complains, swears, or write anything negative to a particular person or a group. They might even be one of you here, reading this very post. So long as you don't break the rules and regulations AND the law, you can practically do anything in your blog. But there are cases whereby people make bad comments on people and they get caught and prosecuted in the process, punished for their actions. Like a case where the student gets lectured badly by the teacher and the student goes home, turn on the computer and start to post negative comments on the teacher, swearing, scolding and even threatening. Or a case where cyber-bullying occurs. If you are like the bloggers I've described here, I meant no offence. But please bear in mind, that if you're one of the victims of such acts, I truly agree that you wouldn't feel any better than any of the other victims that had suffered the same treatment. We're all humans, and we all do make mistakes. If they have offended you, please don't do the same, especially in public like the Internet. And if you have done the similar act, it's not too late to realise your mistake.
Once again, before I begin anything, I shall update you about the certain events of my life these few days. As you should've known from my previous post, I've had my Chinese 'O' Level Examination just a few days ago. Well, I personally think that I did average for Paper 1 (the composition and situational writing) and not bad for Paper 2 (the comprehension). I still have a tinge of regret after the exam, coz' I realised that I made some silly mistakes. That really was careless of me. The extended lessons are still going on till the end of next week, which means that I've work to do. Just yesterday, I've caught "Pirates of The Carribean: On Stranger Tides" with 3 of my friends after school to just chill out a bit and enjoy ourselves (I'm a Pirates fan by the way). This was not bad although it was a little too predictable. I'm not sure whether it's me or are the movies nowadays really so predictable?? I'm not sure myself. Let's get to the main topic.
After reading up a few blogs recently, I realised that generally, bloggers have different styles of blog post. Some post short and sweet posts and let the photographs do the saying. Some will just post about their daily life, keeping it short. Some will write really long essays, mostly expressing their thoughts on something or so. Some will mix all styles together, having a variety. Of course, there are also bloggers that do business. Mine is obviously the long essay type, without any doubt. But I'm sure there are people who prefer short posts with photographs or any other type I've mentioned above than to some lengthy old grandmother story. I'm not asking anyone of you to try to 'like' this kind of blog post, I also have my own preference. But there's a type of blog posts that I don't really like. Some bloggers just rant and rave about someone/something that 'offended' them all the time. I'm pretty sure almost every one of you readers/bloggers have come across a blog whereby the blogger condemns, complains, swears, or write anything negative to a particular person or a group. They might even be one of you here, reading this very post. So long as you don't break the rules and regulations AND the law, you can practically do anything in your blog. But there are cases whereby people make bad comments on people and they get caught and prosecuted in the process, punished for their actions. Like a case where the student gets lectured badly by the teacher and the student goes home, turn on the computer and start to post negative comments on the teacher, swearing, scolding and even threatening. Or a case where cyber-bullying occurs. If you are like the bloggers I've described here, I meant no offence. But please bear in mind, that if you're one of the victims of such acts, I truly agree that you wouldn't feel any better than any of the other victims that had suffered the same treatment. We're all humans, and we all do make mistakes. If they have offended you, please don't do the same, especially in public like the Internet. And if you have done the similar act, it's not too late to realise your mistake.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Starting Line
Today is the day before my Chinese 'O' Level Examinations. I have had minor anxiety attacks these few days, even nightmares of chinese vocabulary. To put it simply, I'm worried. Worried that the paper will make things difficult for me to achieve my A1 grade. Worried that many others like me will score as high or even higher than me (I was top in Chinese in my school, it's just pressure from mostly myself to do better than most if not all of my classmates.). Worried that I might screw up the paper, missing my A1 target and having the re-take the exam during the November period. Before every 'important' exam, I would feel this way. Nervous, worried, scared, imagining the worst, and so on. I'm pretty sure every one else feels almost the same. I've been through the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), and that feeling I had back then still can't be compared to this. I am trying to relax myself and keep my cool. But I'm not sure whether I can keep myself cool and able to think properly during the exam itself that will happen in about ten and a half hours. I can already see myself dressed in the usual school uniform, wearing my school shoes and taking in a deep breath before I step out of the house early tomorrow. I always do that during examinations. This is it. All the hard work, the homework torture, the teacher's care and support and the education we received these four years will be put to the test soon. This is what we have gone through it all for. And this will be the first in the many others to come. I must not fail (not literally 'fail' an exam, but 'fail' to achieve my target). Wish me luck.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Resist
Tis one thing be tempted, another thing to fall - William Shakespeare
It's been rather long since I've posted. Well, more than a week seems long enough. Before I start on anything, I shall inform you guys about some of the stuff that happened during these days which I didn't have the time to post. I've got back my results, and true enough, I have scored what I've expected. There wasn't really anything unexpected if you don't count the fact that I failed Social Studies by 2 points. Damn it. Also, there had been some minor disputes within the "Brotherhood" (my friendly yet a little foolish 'clique'), that caused it to be disbanded and 'banded' again. Get the idea? We actually made the changes using the method of 'popular votes' and we would vote for our choice. That was purely for fun, though. Also, my Mother Tongue 'O' Level Exam is just 5 days away. I am anxious and obviously afraid that I might screw it up and not achieve my intended A1. It's getting more stressful as each hour pass by. I really hope that I will not screw up and can get my desired A1. If that happens, I will not have to re-take the exam and can relieve the burden of the Mother Tongue subject on my shoulders, having the extra time to focus on other subjects which desperately needed revision and practice. Well, let's get back to the main topic.
Main topic: Temptation. There's Chapel service at school today (for every Wednesday), and the Reverend preached on "How to defeat Temptation". Sounds cool? He used four 'R's to teach us on the solution to Temptation. True enough, Temptations are everywhere. If you didn't realise it, now you do. Food, Rest, Glory, Fame, Possession, Money etc. Just take some time to look around. You will find temptations. The computer you are staring at right now is already one. You just turn left, you will find another one or two or even much more. Turn right, you'll find another. I mean it when I said 'everywhere'. The Reverend told us the four 'R's as: Re-focus, Reveal, Realise, Resist. I can't really remember which comes first; Reveal or Realise, but they should either take the second or third place. Re-focus generally mean to "zoom out" of your sight or just let the particular temptation out of your sight by just walking away from it and focus on other important things. Reveal meant telling someone about your weakness to a particular temptation and try to get help. Friends and family will offer help to you. Realise meant to discover and be aware for your vulnerability to temptations and use measures to counter them. Resist simply meant what it meant in the dictionary. Be unyielding to temptation, and it will leave you. I find this very useful and certainly hope that you will find solutions to resist the temptations of your life.
It's been rather long since I've posted. Well, more than a week seems long enough. Before I start on anything, I shall inform you guys about some of the stuff that happened during these days which I didn't have the time to post. I've got back my results, and true enough, I have scored what I've expected. There wasn't really anything unexpected if you don't count the fact that I failed Social Studies by 2 points. Damn it. Also, there had been some minor disputes within the "Brotherhood" (my friendly yet a little foolish 'clique'), that caused it to be disbanded and 'banded' again. Get the idea? We actually made the changes using the method of 'popular votes' and we would vote for our choice. That was purely for fun, though. Also, my Mother Tongue 'O' Level Exam is just 5 days away. I am anxious and obviously afraid that I might screw it up and not achieve my intended A1. It's getting more stressful as each hour pass by. I really hope that I will not screw up and can get my desired A1. If that happens, I will not have to re-take the exam and can relieve the burden of the Mother Tongue subject on my shoulders, having the extra time to focus on other subjects which desperately needed revision and practice. Well, let's get back to the main topic.
Main topic: Temptation. There's Chapel service at school today (for every Wednesday), and the Reverend preached on "How to defeat Temptation". Sounds cool? He used four 'R's to teach us on the solution to Temptation. True enough, Temptations are everywhere. If you didn't realise it, now you do. Food, Rest, Glory, Fame, Possession, Money etc. Just take some time to look around. You will find temptations. The computer you are staring at right now is already one. You just turn left, you will find another one or two or even much more. Turn right, you'll find another. I mean it when I said 'everywhere'. The Reverend told us the four 'R's as: Re-focus, Reveal, Realise, Resist. I can't really remember which comes first; Reveal or Realise, but they should either take the second or third place. Re-focus generally mean to "zoom out" of your sight or just let the particular temptation out of your sight by just walking away from it and focus on other important things. Reveal meant telling someone about your weakness to a particular temptation and try to get help. Friends and family will offer help to you. Realise meant to discover and be aware for your vulnerability to temptations and use measures to counter them. Resist simply meant what it meant in the dictionary. Be unyielding to temptation, and it will leave you. I find this very useful and certainly hope that you will find solutions to resist the temptations of your life.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Reset
Intelligence takes chance with limited data in an arena where mistakes are not only possible but also necessary. - Darwi Odrade
My exams are officially over. My troubles, stress, pressure are gone. Really? Nope. I'm still feeling them after approximately 6 hours and 13 minutes removed from the examinations schedule. Why? It is supposed to be the time when you finally let everything out and just 'de-stress'. It's time for some R&R(Rest & Relax/Recover). We, the examination candidates, have been thrown questions by questions throughout the past 2/3 weeks. I'd gladly say that we've done our best and it's time to finally get some rest. But I'm still under the stress. It's because I know that it's not over. Well, in a few days time, we would be taking our results back. That's the deciding moment. All the effort we have or have not put in lies in the results. I understand the fact that I've screwed up a few of my papers. But that alone does not seem to be a reason enough to make me still under the exam stress. Yes, I also know that we're soon approaching the final lap of our secondary school journey. On 30th May, which is just a little more than 2 weeks, we will have a Mother Tongue O-level paper. It's gonna be a serious battle. Then after that, the O-level Oral Exam will soon come. Then the Prelimary Examinations we will have in our school. And finally, we will find ourselves staring down on the exam papers we've been working so hard for in order to score high in those papers so that we can get into schools/courses of our choice. Time will fly. Before we know it, we will be revising like everyday, preparing for our objective after these 4 years of secondary school life. That's more than reason enough for me to not fully rest and relax. Soon, I'll continue the weekly study schedule, then the revision will get more and more intense. After pacing for so long, we are all gearing up for the final sprint to the finishing line. After this Mid-Year Examinations, the scoreboard has been reset, and the final quarter will soon start (If you watch NBA, you'll know what I mean). On my birthday and my jie's birthday, I finally saw her online. After a nostalgic and familiar friendly conversation, she told me to study hard and get into a Junior College. Without saying out loud, I promised her. Although I may not get into a JC, but I intend to keep my promise to study hard and get good results. Wish me luck, my friends.
My exams are officially over. My troubles, stress, pressure are gone. Really? Nope. I'm still feeling them after approximately 6 hours and 13 minutes removed from the examinations schedule. Why? It is supposed to be the time when you finally let everything out and just 'de-stress'. It's time for some R&R(Rest & Relax/Recover). We, the examination candidates, have been thrown questions by questions throughout the past 2/3 weeks. I'd gladly say that we've done our best and it's time to finally get some rest. But I'm still under the stress. It's because I know that it's not over. Well, in a few days time, we would be taking our results back. That's the deciding moment. All the effort we have or have not put in lies in the results. I understand the fact that I've screwed up a few of my papers. But that alone does not seem to be a reason enough to make me still under the exam stress. Yes, I also know that we're soon approaching the final lap of our secondary school journey. On 30th May, which is just a little more than 2 weeks, we will have a Mother Tongue O-level paper. It's gonna be a serious battle. Then after that, the O-level Oral Exam will soon come. Then the Prelimary Examinations we will have in our school. And finally, we will find ourselves staring down on the exam papers we've been working so hard for in order to score high in those papers so that we can get into schools/courses of our choice. Time will fly. Before we know it, we will be revising like everyday, preparing for our objective after these 4 years of secondary school life. That's more than reason enough for me to not fully rest and relax. Soon, I'll continue the weekly study schedule, then the revision will get more and more intense. After pacing for so long, we are all gearing up for the final sprint to the finishing line. After this Mid-Year Examinations, the scoreboard has been reset, and the final quarter will soon start (If you watch NBA, you'll know what I mean). On my birthday and my jie's birthday, I finally saw her online. After a nostalgic and familiar friendly conversation, she told me to study hard and get into a Junior College. Without saying out loud, I promised her. Although I may not get into a JC, but I intend to keep my promise to study hard and get good results. Wish me luck, my friends.
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