Music and lyrics: Part of me

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

You don't have to be a close friend of mine to know my widely publicized love for music. Currently, I have approximately almost 650 songs in my iTunes music library, a significant increase from the slightly-above-100 I had at the start of the year. Having specified what kind of music I listen to in my debut post, I shall now list down three things I look for in a good song.

1.) Lyrics:
The song itself can be catchy but it never gets into my good books (tunes in this case), if it doesn't contain wholesome and appropriate lyrics.

2.) Vocals:
A nice music track definitely has to be complimented with vocals which stand out, or at least touch you in some manner. Unlike several of my peers, I feel music alone doesn't stand well by itself.

3.) Tune:
A good song definitely makes you want to sing along.

I guess the tune and vocals of a song are more or less recognized as important in a world of music. You may be asking however, why I value lyrics so much.



Lyrics are the main part of a song; the body. A song with inspiring and uplifting lyrics is a good encourager when you are feeling down; likewise, lyrics wallowing in self-pity and self-denial have the ability to make you feel depressed and sorrowful. In this time and age, songs revolving impure subjects, such as suicide and sex are rampant. Worst of all, these songs most of the time have big choruses which are able to hook themselves into your mind even after having listened to them only once. Impure thoughts then start to infiltrate your mind, and before you know it, it's part of you. Likewise, if you choose to listen to songs with good lyrics, positivity and optimism become part of you.

It's hard to stick to your own morals and values, when our modern world encompasses a big portion of immorality and negativity which might eventually corrupt our minds. However, I do believe that by choosing songs with the right lyrics, we will be able to preserve our right states of mind and not be overwhelmed with following the world constantly, even when it is headed in the wrong direction.

Images courtesy of:

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Back to Bikes

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

"We spotted a bike shop at simei. So we wil wait for u here! yeh!"

My church friends and I had just eaten lunch after the church service, and were heading back to our homes from the airport when I received the message from my mother. There was a sudden burst of excitement within me. 7 months! I had waited 7 months for this. Without delaying any further, I hastily headed down to the MRT station to take the train to Simei.

My old blue bike was a prized possession of mine. The apple of my eye, it never failed to disappoint when delivering speed and stability at the same time. Unfortunately, an overtly eager me had exerted to much strength on the pedals once, when I was cycling, in a bid to increase my speed, and as a result, unscrewed it from the axis of the pedal itself. As a result, I had not been able to cycle since the December holidays. A long and painful 7 months it was without my bicycle.

The bicycle shop sat humbly at a quiet end of East Mall, out in the open, where human traffic was significantly lower than inside the mall. Not a big shop, I noticed instantly, but that was no problem, for it still housed a sizable range of bicycles to choose from. My eyes instantly set themselves on a rugged looking mountain bike. Rough tire threads, intimidating wheel diameters, complimented with a black coat of paint: something I thought would make a perfect partner to speed. However, through the recommendation of the owner of the shop, we were led to a significantly smaller bicycle, this one blue in colour, but a lighter shade than the one I currently owned. This one possessed a user-friendly gear too. After my father and I had both taken it for a short ride, we fell in love with the way it ran so smoothly and hence paid for it there and then. I was the proud owner of a shiny new blue bicycle.

The next day, I immediately took my new toy for a spin around my estate. As I cycled out of the void deck, there was a rush of adrenaline in me, and I smiled as the wind welcomed me warmly, brushing against my cheeks. I appreciated that the gear system on my new bike allowed me to change the tightness of the gear system, which in turn affected how "light" or "heavy" the pedals were when you were cycling. I hardly enjoy taking the easy way out though, so I decided to put it to 7, the tightest the gear system can get.



Deciding to be ambitious, I cycled up to the flyover connecting Sengkang and Punggol. Don't let the arch shape of this seemingly easy challenge fool you though. The first half of the arch requires a large amount of stamina and leg power (for me at least) to conquer. Sure enough, when I had reached the peak of the arch, my legs were screaming in strain. The view and the breeze though, paid of my efforts. The downward ride was even more delightful, even exhilarating.

I guess the arch represents many things in life. The climb up is always the worst part, but once it's over, everything else brings us joy. So don't ever give up; falling down isn't defeat, not getting up is.

"Life's a climb, but the view's great."
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Fine Dining

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

A humble sized but still refined looking garden separated us and the entrance to the Japanese restaurant. In the middle of it, stood two miniature fountains. Potted plants were lined up against one side of the garden; on the other, a waterfall, with the restaurant's name plated in chrome lying above it, mounted against a wall.

We were celebrating my brother's birthday in advance, and after much contemplation had arrived at this restaurant as our choice destination of the celebration. Excited as always, I took the lead and eagerly strode through the garden. Arriving at the entrance, I anticipated the normal door handles and was about to reach out and push one of the doors open, when the two doors slid open. Instantly, I was welcomed with a blast of cold air. A good first impression, I noted to myself. I looked around the restaurant in interest, as the rest of my family members appeared behind me. Based on the miniature garden, I had not expected the restaurant to be very big, and what I saw reassured my assumptions. A bar-like counter with chairs placed all around it was situated at the right side of the restaurant and on the left, two tables with tatami mats. I had seen this kind of arrangements from television shows promoting Japan, and was delighted at the close resemblance to to them.

Almost as soon as we had all stepped into the restaurant, a tall and burly man donning a chef's uniform and cap received us with a smile and led us to one of the tables, which we had reserved earlier on. Introducing himself as the manager and head of the restaurant, he quickly moved on to recommending the signature dishes of the restaurant. It took us a while to sort out our dinner menu, but we got it done eventually, and thereafter, went on a "tour" round the restaurant. It turned out that there were more tables and tatami seats, concealed behind three rooms with partitioned doors. In addition, there was another room housing two normal wooden tables along with a sofa and TV set. It was explained to us that those were rooms that had to be booked beforehand, along with a course meal which you decided on personally based on the dishes served at the restaurant. When asked about how many days in advance arrangements had to be made, the chef also told us that one day was enough, but Tuesdays and Fridays were better days to make reservations on, as seafood was flown in from Japan on these two specific days.

A while later, our food arrived. Being avid Japanese food fans, we could tell the difference between the quality of the food served here and those in normal outlets, such as Suki Sushi. Absolutely fantastic. However, this being a place of fine dining, I had to watch how I ate and spoke. I was often told off by my parents for speaking too loudly and handling my utensils wrongly. What followed was a very awkward me, trying to figure out the most refined way to hold my utensils and at the same time, ensuring that I was not consuming my food in a boorish manner, while trying my best to control the volume at which I spoke.

The dinner though, was overall a good experience. I enjoyed every single bit of food which entered my mouth, save a few pickles, and the ambiance and comfort of the restaurant further complimented the fine dining experience. The bill, you may ask? A whopping $293.65, even after a twenty percent discount. My jaw dropped when I realized how much we had spent on one dinner. My parents however, reasoned that a birthday celebration was a once a year affair. What's more, this had been the first time we had gone for fine dining as a family. Hmmm... Thanks Ma and Pa, but I think I'll stick to Suki Sushi.

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Gotta live like we're dying.

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

Have you ever had a dream in which you were dying? I have.

It was most definitely not a pleasant one. Up till now, I have no conscious idea of how my sub-conscious mind had pictured me to be in that state. I have no clue as to why I was going to die, but I do remember of the dream is me lying on a pavement with a wound in my chest, breathing heavily, holding on dearly to whatever was remaining of my life. Thoughts and questions flashed across my mind. Confusion. Despair. I was overwhelmed with sorrow, as the realization of the fact that I would not even be able to whisper a goodbye to my family and friends hit me. Goodbye to growing old enough to drive. Goodbye to venturing out of Asia for a holiday. Goodbye to life. And then it was VOOM(I don't think any form of onomatopoeia describes how it felt as well as this non-existent word does), and I was up and watching bleary-faced me in the mirror brushing my teeth.

Do we actually live like we're dying? That is to mean, if you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy with the way you lived your life? I don't know about anyone out there reading this post, but I definitely wouldn't.

A song by Kris Allen, called Live Like We're Dying, pretty much sums up my thoughts about this matter. Here are the lyrics.

Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough
Till it's to late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would've done

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution,
There'll no one on the line, yeah

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

You never know a good thing till it's gone
You never see a crash till it's head on
Why do we think we're right when we're dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it's gone

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying..

One important thing in living life without regrets, is living in the moment, as the song has expressed through it's lyrics. It's all about now. Not the past, not the future, but the present. We have to go about being sure of our actions, having a clear direction in life, and not just wandering around. Time wasted, will never come back. It's all about living in the present, in the "now" moment. The title of Taylor Swift's upcoming album, "Speak Now", is an apt point of view presented about how we should be living. See the "now" in that phrase? Don't be afraid to be speak out, don't be afraid to be who you are. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Be brave and face life as you would if you only had one more day to live. No room for regrets.

As the famous quote goes: live life, laugh lots, love forever.

Speaking of which, have you told your parents you loved them?

Lyrics courtesy of:
http://www.elyricsworld.com/live_like_we're_dying_lyrics_kris_allen.html
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Term 2 Home Learning: Rainbow Death - Hubert Wilson

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Task 1:

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
 Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
 Expecting others to pay a high price.
 Now thinking twice?
 Toll on the innocent and unborn.
Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
 Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
 All the deceit continues to spread.
 Nefariously America led astray -
 Generations untold WILL pay -
 Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

The main object to draw your attention to in this poem is the "Agent Orange", as mentioned in the last line of the poem. "Agent Orange" is most definitely not what it suggests to be. Rather, it is the code name for a herbicide and defoliant used by the US Army in its herbicidal warfare program. Part of the "Rainbow Herbicides" group of chemicals, it was the most widely used herbicide, and has caused numerous health problems to those who have been used to it. The title of this poem, "Rainbow Death", refers to the deaths caused by the "Rainbow Herbicides".

Here, the writer of this poem, Hubert Wilson, shares about why he wrote the poem:

I am a Vietnam War veteran (as are my four brothers) who served in the USAF Security Service. I, along with a dozen or so intelligence school grads, prepped for about 14 months at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, before anticipating being sent to Vietnam or elsewhere in southeat Asia in 1970. About half ended up in Da Nang (an Agent Orange hotspot) in the 6924th Security Squadron. The rest of us were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska, with the 6984th Security Squadron, and what eventually was a MORE contaminated environment than Da Nang!

My health problems started approximately 15 years ago with unexplained headaches and limb pains. Four years ago my central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches, progressive limb pains, etc. No physician has ever diagnosed the specific illness. NO VA physician has ever rendered ANY medical assistance! My number one educated guess is the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during my year there as an intelligence analyst. Organo-phosphate toxins may not run their toxic course until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure.

Since my brain still functions moderately well (and I have mobility issues), I have turned to writing just like my late Father and the late singer (and writer) Johnny Cash.


Task 2:

1.) Point of view

The poem is written in the point of view of an officer who had fought in the US-Vietnam war under the USAF(United States Air Force) section. He was exposed to the deadly herbicide, Agent Orange, and that has affected his central nervous system. We can sense his anger and discontentment with the US Authorities for using the herbicide in the war, especially because it has affected his central nervous system and hence his mobility. His voice in the poem is dramatised, causing the whole poem to sound like a single harsh criticism of USA's strategies used in war. He also does not speak up for himself, but for the whole community of people who were affected by the herbicide warfare program.

2.) Situation & Setting

Although the poem is a modern piece of literature, focusing on the ongoing problems caused by the herbicide warfare program, it also directs partly to the future implications of it, evident from how the writer states that Americans "will mourn" and future generations "WILL pay" as a consequence of the decision made by the authorities to use the herbicide warfare program. The significance in the poem is how it warns readers about the imminent after-effects of using the "Rainbow Herbicides" and causing the exposure to not only the Vietnamese, but also the Americans. There is no climax or variation of development in the poem, but a consistent strong and critical tone. Through the way it has been written, it is very clear that this is an anti-war poem.

3.) Language/Diction

The title itself is an oxymoron, because rainbows signify the end of a storm and the emergence of the Sun. In this case however, it is linked with death, a stark contrast with what it has been stereotyped as. The poem starts out already criticizing America's efforts in herbicide warfare. A question is then posed, "Now thinking twice?", sounding like an angry, but at the same time, sad sneer. The poem starts to list out the consequences in the second stanza, "illness, birth defects and prematurely dead", "America led astray", "Generations untold WILL pay", before ending and mentioning the cause of all this for the first and last time: "Execrable effects of agent orange spray!"

4.) Personal Response

Although I have never experienced war, nor heard of the "Rainbow Herbicides" before, the poet has succeeded in making me feel angry at the authorities for engaging in herbicide warfare. While doing research on this poem, I cam across pictures of people handicapped or disfigured as a result of exposure to "Agent Orange" . I was, and still am disgusted at how the Americans used herbicides to weaken their enemy, but not actually consider, or perhaps, overlook the consequences of doing so.



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Term 2 Home Learning : Children in the darkness - Henry M Bechtold

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Task 1:

Children in the Darkness

There are children in the darkness
Who have not seen the light
There are children in the darkness
Who someone will teach to fight

Chalk and blackboards will not be
 To this door there is no key
 From this life they can not flee
 And these children are not free
Could we simply light a candle
 Could we give them half a chance
 Could we teach them how to read
 Could we teach them how to dance
Or will a war consume them
 Their body and their soul
 Will their life and blood be poured
 Down some endless thirsty hole
Back into the darkness
 From which there is no flight
 Back into the darkness
 Into which there shines no light

Basic information:

The writer of this poem, Henry M Bechtold, is a modern poet who has a great affection for Vietnam. His affection for Vietnam was developed on his visit there from 1967-1968. Since then, he has returned to Vietnam and still frequents her nowadays. On his website, he says that Vietnam fills him with "exquisite joy" at times, but also "breaks my(his) heart", showing the deep emotional connection he and Vietnam share.

Here, the writer shares how he gained inspiration for writing this poem:

"I was sitting in my hotel room in Saigon just before Christmas 2009 and I was trying to write a poem about the girls who work in the park and how badly men treat them. I was angry but unable to write anything that did not sound trite or weak. I looked at the TV and the news was on. I did not know what the news reader was saying but in the background was a photo of a small boy with a helmet and an automatic rifle. This poem flowed out. The words just came to me and I typed as fast as I could to get it all down."


Task 2:

1.) Point Of View

This poem is written from the point of view of bystander, someone who has seen children being equipped for war and is against the idea of doing so. Being someone who feels for Vietnam, the poet is critical of the authorities for training children to go to war. He is upset that the children are forced to take the path that has been set for them, evident from "life they cannot flee" and "are not free", questions the reader, "Could we..." before stating the consequences "Or will a war consume them...", to evoke deep thought about this matter and possibly take action, revealing his functions for this poem. The writing style of the poet is very dramatised, highlighting obviously to readers that his stand is to not allow children to be trained at a young age to go to war.

2.) Situation and setting

The poem is set in a modern context, addressing the prevalent concerns in our society today. Conflict is evident: whether or not children should be trained at a young age to go to war. The conflict can be classified as social conflict. The poet feels that children of a young age should not be trained to go to war, but does not say anything against the idea of war concerning adults. The conflict is not resolved though, leaving readers with questions and thoughts of the problem mentioned.

The poem starts out informing readers about the main concern in the poem, "There are children... There are children...", and goes on to express sympathy for children who do not have a chance to enjoy childhood the normal way in the second stanza: "Chalk and blackboards will not be... And these children will not be free." Questions start to appear in the third stanza, "Could we...", in some way asking for something to be done about this problem. Following that, consequences and implications of not addressing the problem are listed down, "Or will... Down some endless thirsty hole." Wrapping up the whole poem is a solemn and sad statement. "Back into the darkness... shines no light" links back to the first stanza, showing that no progress has been made from the start and that the conflict has not been resolved.

3.) Language & Diction

Different types of figurative language are used to express the situation that the poet wants his readers to see. "Darkness" is used to symbolise unawareness. In "children in the darkness", the writer is trying to tell his readers that the children do not know of the fact that they are being trained to go to war and most probably eventually die. Imagery is also used to describe the fate of the children being trained to go to war. Their "life and blood" are described as a liquid, most probably water, which will be "poured Down some endless and thirsty hole". This can be interpreted as the children never being able to escape death because of what they have been made to go through.

Repetition is used to strike readers time and again with questions to ponder about: "Could we". "Darkness is mentioned twice at the start and twice at the end. The tone of the poem is solemn consistently, except for the 3rd stanza which questions readers.

4.) Personal response

As a reader, I would say that Hechbold's poem has not succeeded in speaking to me the way it was made to. I am able to sympathize for the children, but no to the extent that I would do something about it. Having never experienced war before, it is impossible for me to understand or picture the horror it brings about. Most children, like me, in Singapore have had a comforable or at least satisfying childhood. Hence, we are unable to put ourselves in the position of those who are forced to go to war.

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Interview

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Me: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions prejudice and discrimination?

Mother: It is something that is negative and one-sided. And generally intolerable and void of respect for the human race.

Me: Void of respect for the human race.. Can you explain more on that?

Mother: Everyone is entitled to their own rights and opinion, and once should not demand or deny another of the right to think otherwise.

Me: How does that link to void of respect for the human race?

Mother: For example, women in general are as capable as men. But if the organisation just employs males and deny the women of the opportunity to serve in society. We should not doubt the capabilites of women.

Me: So you are basically talking about the void of respect of women?

Mother: Not only women, but what I'm highlighting is equal rights. Everyone to me, is important.

Me: I see..

*sister returns home*

Me: Oh hi jie. What's your take on prejudice and discrimination?

Sister: Hmm. I feel that those who say that they are not prejudiced against someone or don't discriminate people, are hypocrites.

Me: Wow. Strong take on the matter.

Sister: Everyone is unique, so we are definitely have some people who dislike or prefer compared to others. It's scientifically proven that our heart is more to the left. That shows that we are not always centralised in our thoughts. I always use that to counter people who accuse me of being biased.

Mother: How do you feel when you are being denied entry to a certain club or activity, due to some prejudices, for this case, against women?

Sister: So be it. I mean, like everywhere there'll be rules, so you have to abide to what they say. Because there definitely has to be a reason why they implement these rules. Maybe this area is very prone to robbery, so they feel it's not suitable, as most ladies would not be able to defend themselves.

Mother: I beg to differ. We must have a fighting spirit to uphold the principled stand that "I am important enough to be heard and treated with dignity."

Sister: By saying that, you are pushing for equal rights. But some rights don't have to be equal.

Mother: Yes they do. Do you like it if a waiter treats you with a bad attitude because you are not wearing your best clothes, while she treats another person better because her dress is very expensive?

Sister: I think dressing is very important.

Mother: That's not the point. My point is, the core value of a person is not based on his appearance. Everyone has to be recognized and affirmed. We will be amazed at how positively people will react if we treat them with fairness and dignity.

Sister: There's nothing about fairness and dignity in this world. You have to work for it, work your way out of it.

Me: ???

Mother: By sheer determination we can prove and champion for equal rights and recognition. So that the Earth will be a better place to live in.

Sister: But sheer determination..

Me: I think that wraps up the interview. Life is unfair, but GOD IS GOOD! (:
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Intrapersonal: a)

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

If I had a chance to be friends with one of the people in the novel, I would choose to be friends with Arthur Radley(also known as Boo Radley).

Though constantly being perceived to be a bad person by the residents of Maycomb County. However, as the story progresses, the children slowly get in touch with his character and form another type of image in their minds, one of a kind-hearted and caring person, contrary to the image of him painted by the residents. They finally encounter him, when they are attacked by Bob Ewell and he comes to their rescue, and he proves to be the amiable person that they thought he was, especially to Scout, after she was able to have a little conversation with him and was finally able to stand in his shoes.

The reason why I would choose to be friends with Arthur Radley is because he is able to understand the situation of the society and is not afraid to make decisions in spite of knowing that he would be misunderstood and criticized by people around him for that. In the book, he chose not expose himself to the society, due to the fact that he wasn't able to stand the injustice and discrimination that was rampant all around him. He was brave in the sense, that he would rather lead a completely fulfilling and morally upright life without having to experience or witness any biasedness, instead of being able to get out of his house, and leading a more exciting and vibrant life, but at the same time, have to tolerate and live with evils of the world. To be able to make such a major decision and have to pay such an excruciating price, shows how matured and wise a person he is.

He may seem like an anti-social person who is withdrawn from society to someone who doesn't know him well. When you look past that external shell, and into his heart though, you'll find an angel within, glorious and mighty. I would be his friend definitely not because of his charisma or likability, but because he can exercise maturity and deep thought in his actions and decisions. Such people are hard to find, and hence, I would seize the opportunity to be his friend.
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Personality Test

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Here is the link and the code for the viewing of my personality results -
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/results/results.cfm
Code: hkm2jpn883382b

My two highest scoring areas are Intrapersonal and Interpersonal. I feel that the test scores are quite accurate in pointing out my two areas of strength. I can say that my Intrapersonal level is high as I know myself well. I know what I want, don't want, what I like, dislike and will usually take action according to how I feel. I am also a very interpersonal person, enjoying the company of friends. I work better in groups, and I also feel more comfortable doing so because I feel good knowing that I am sharing my answers or ideas with other people. Very seldom do you see me choosing to stay at home if I have the time to go out and there is an outing or gathering on on that day.
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Running for your lives: Part 2

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Remember me sharing with you about our weekly runs? Well, we just had our cross-country run on Wednesday.

True, I was exhausted and tired out by the run. But that’s not the main point of my blog post. True, we are going to be getting LEAP points from the run. But again, I’m not going to revolve my blog post around my excitement about how the run is going to help in building my portfolio for JC. Instead I’m going to talk about how the run applies to us in our lives.

Let’s split the run up into three stages: the start, the journey and the end. I’ll use a year of schooling as an example, but I believe this can still be applied no matter what you use.

The start, is the part which everyone, or rather, most people would have enjoyed. Everyone was bursting with energy and zest. It wasn’t surprising to see many people person sprinting forward with strength and energy that did not seem to falter. Let’s link this to the start of a schooling year. We are usually excited to be back at school and back with our friends. There isn’t any homework yet so we are all quite relaxed. Apart from getting up early, the days past by effortlessly.

The journey, is the part where things started getting a bit tougher. It seemed like a “sooner or later you get tired” situation, where many people stopped running and started walking. Sounds like us? Definitely. This is the part where the homework, tests and stress start to hit. “Life’s tough” or “I hate school” are common phrases used. The run doesn’t seem that fun now. We just want to give up and take the easy way out. Suddenly, life isn’t fun anymore. In fact, the days pass by so slowly it hurts.

The end, is the part, which I felt was the most difficult part of the run. My energy had been drained off almost completely. Almost everyone was walking. There was a strong temptation to stop running and just walk to the finish line. The end actually very much represents our end of year exams. This computer game is suddenly so attractive and addictive. That book suddenly engages us so much we can't put it down. Are we disciplined enough to do our work, or do we give into temptations which only provide temporary satisfaction and joy. Despite the temptations, I persevered and made it to the finish line, full of fatigue, but proud of my efforts.

Do we take on life with this attitude? Do we persevere on when we are facing problems, or do we decide on taking the easy way out and giving up? Everyone faces temptations. Everyone will feel tired after being exposed to some form of continuous activity which in this case, can be either running or studying. But it’s how you tackle these problems, that is the significant and important part. The choice is ours to make. What do you choose? I choose to press on. I choose to persevere. I choose not to give in to temptation when it strikes me. I choose to be victorious.
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Post-CNY-blues or post holiday blues?

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
I returned to school, stomach still churning away at the heaps of goodies consumed just a day or two before, tired and bleary eyed, but resigned. What I had been looking forward to for an antagonising one month(or two), had ended abruptly in five days.

Yes, you got that right. I am talking about the Chinese New Year break. Though I must admit that I enjoyed this year's celebrations, I felt that five days just wasn't enough, taking visitations and homework into consideration. Why?

Day 1(Friday): - Morning was whiled away in school for new year celebrations, no work done.
Day 2(Reunion Dinner): - Occupied with entertaining guests(which I enjoyed), one piece of work done.
Day 3(Visiting of relatives, Reunion Dinner): - Out the whole day, no work done.
Day 4(Karaoke at night with mum's family): - Out only in night, second piece of work done.
Day 5(NIL): - Out only in night for dinner, last piece of work done.

Looking at my timetable for a second time, I realise that I am actually quite privileged to have had such a relaxing Chinese New Year. And it's wrong to say the Chinese New Year break was too short. I think without "Chinese New Year", the sentence would still make sense. This being taken into consideration, I realised we as humans, are never satisfied.

Before the end-of-year examinations, everything seems so interesting. You're constantly tempted, for example, wanting to read a storybook instead of revising, or playing a computer game and trying to ascend to the next level. When the end-of-year examinations are over, the book which had seemed so irresistible initially is reduced to dust in less than a week; the computer game suddenly becomes boring and is unable to engage you like it did before. Soon, we are complaining that the holidays are too boring, and are dying to return to school. The first week of school starts well, but when the homework starts to flood in, we start complaining once again, that life is tough and cherish every single holiday we have. Then the end-of-year exams arrive, and the whole cycle starts again.

It's wrong to say that I've gotten the post-chinese-new-year blues. If you would rather, I think "post holiday blues" is a more suitable term. Let's pray I will be satisfied.
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Running for your lives

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:

Run! For your lives! Yes I mean it literally.

We have been having weekly runs, which started last week. When I was young, I did not like(wait, "hated" seems more appropriate)running long distances. Why not?

1.) I feel that it drains my stamina level.
2.) I will feel very warm and sweaty after the run for the whole day.
3.) I will have leg cramps for the next couple of days.

I am sure that many people out there still share my sentiments.
"Running long distances is torture."
"It KILLS me."
"I hate it!"

My perspectives have changed over the year. In fact, running plays a role in keeping your body fit and healthy, and can reduce chances of death through bad health! Listed below are but a few reasons:

1.) Muscle and bone loss: Running actually helps prevent muscle and bone loss in your body
2.) Preventing Diabetes: Running helps to maintain a balance of carbohydrates and sugar in your blood, and hence, helps to diabetes.
3.) Strengthened immune system: Running aids in strengthening one's immune system, making you less prone to falling ill or contracting diseases.

And of course the list goes on. Of course, the basic reasons include weight loss and stamina building. It was really naive of me to think in the way I did when I was young. But who can blame a child who had little or knowledge just a few years ago?

The benefits of running to our bodies and health are numerous. We not only look good, but also feel good. Hence, the statement "Running for your lives" is without a doubt applicable to our daily lives.

Hate running? Think again.
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Debut Post

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:



Before my debut post, I shall just introduce myself a bit. Here are 10 random facts about me.

1.) I am a Christian.
2.) I love listening to music, particularly pop, country and R&B songs.
3.) My favourite singers are Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.
4.) I love to cycle.
5.) I hate horror movies and ghost stories.
6.) My best friend(s) are my parents. They know all my secrets.
7.) I am crazy about cars and handphones.
8.) Other than Chinese and English, I am learning German and Malay.
9.) My parents do not drive and hence, I feel that being able to own a car is a privilege.
10.) I love blogging. :D

Ok, so that's it about me. These are not really the most important parts of me but just the few that are at the top of my head right now. Like I said, random.:D

Let's talk about 2010 for my debut post. I can safely say that 2010 has been pretty smooth for me so far. That's probably because nothing much around me has changed, so there is no need for adjustment, unlike last year when the stress hit me really hard. I enjoy going to school. And I am happy with my life. However, the introduction of the Future School Programme has made things slightly more difficult for me. Why is that so?

1.) First and foremost, the learning pace has increased. Significantly.
2.) Lots of research and pre-class preparation has to be done. Especially for Maths and History.
3.) The number of temptations around me have increased. Namely, the game Mousehunt.

My resolutions?

1.) Always ask when in doubt.
2.) Don't find time to slack.
3.) To quit Mousehunt. (It's gonna be difficult but I'll try.)

Wish me all the best! All the best to everyone else too! Let's strive together for good results :D


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Learning Style for 3 Written Language Art Exams

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Paper 1 – Writing 1h 45 mins

There are two components in this examination paper: narrative writing and situational writing. Let me start with how I feel we can prepare for narrative writing. We have been taught and guided to write tightly and choose important and vital words to enhance our narrative piece instead of spending time elaborating on insignificant and irrelevant subjects. Hence, I feel that perhaps spending some time to write a few pieces of micro-fiction would probably be helpful. Another important thing to take note is time management. I personally feel that this is very important in producing a good and complete narrative piece as there have been times when I spent to much time on the introduction, resulting in a good start and a very abrupt and slipshod ending. Perhaps one way to improve on this is to practice narrative writing at home and timing myself to stay within the time given. An alternative is to map out a detailed timeframe to alert me when I should be moving on to the next part of the story. The last thing to be taken into account is the ability to concoct an engaging story idea within a very short period of time, say, five minutes. This will not only be able to capture the marker's/reader's attention but give me adequate time to pen down the whole story. A good way to prepare for this is actually by reading more model compositions or even novels and discovering their strength in managing to hold the reader's attention.

Now, on to situational writing. Although the idea for the letter has already been provided, reasoning and tone are very vital. Hence, the ability to write well in these two aspects would prove beneficial in the examination. Solution: reading up. All the notes to producing a convincing and powerful letter have already been provided. We have to familiarize ourselves with all these points in ensuring a well written letter. A key note to remember though, during the exam, is not to dwell too long on the situational writing.

Paper 2 – Comprehension 1h 45 mins

Comprehension is based solely on understanding the passage and the questions posed. I don't think there is much we can do to prepare for comprehension. Perhaps just noting a few salient points: answering in the correct tenses, interpreting the question correctly and not lifting from the passage but using our own words to explain. The summary is very much like writing micro-fiction: writing tight. Although a summary is supposed to be written in our own words, we have been encouraged by the school English department to lift from the passage. Basically, we have to be precise so that the gist of the passage remains.

Paper 3 – Literature Strand 1 1h 45 mins

Unseen prose/poetry analysis is also based on being able to understand what the passage or poem is trying to put across. For unseen prose, we are supposed to take note of the characterization of the character in the story, the diction used by the author, sentence structure, treatment of subject and figurative language. As for the poetry analysis, the main thing we are supposed to keep in mind is more or less the figure of speech used in the poem.

With regards to the Animal Farm test, I feel that familiarising myself with the storyline and the different types of characters and who they represent in the Russian Revolution would be enough for the preparation of the test.
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Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
The song that I chose which very much represents myself is "A Place In This World" by Taylor Swift. Since it's been written in the point of view of a girl, do note that any mention of "girl" should be changed to "boy" (: Although it may sound weird with the word replaced, at least it truly represents me.

I advise you listen to the whole song before reading my analysis. Lyrics are in blue below for you to follow the song better (:



Song Title: A Place In This World by Taylor Swift

Verse 1:
I don't know what I want
So don't ask me 'cause I'm still trying to figure it out
Don't know what's down this road
I'm just walking, trying to see through the rain coming down

Even though I'm not the only one who feels the way I do

Chorus:
I'm alone, on my own and I'm starting off
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh, but life goes on
Oh, I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world

Verse 2:
Got the radio on, my old blue jeans
And I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve
Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine
Can you tell me what more do I need

And tomorrow's just a mystery, oh, yeah, but that's okay

Chorus:
I'm alone, on my own and I'm starting off
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh, but life goes on
Oh, I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world

Bridge:
Maybe I'm just a girl on a mission but I'm ready to fly

Chorus:
I'm alone, on my own and I'm starting off
Oh, I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh, but life goes on

Oh, I'm alone, on my own and I'm starting off
Oh, I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world

Ending:
Oh, I'm just a girl
Oh, I'm just a girl
Oh, I'm just a girl


Analysis:

In the first verse, "don't know what I want", "still trying to figure it out" and "don't know what's down this road" all relate to struggling with decisions and being unsure of one's self. This happens a lot to me because I do have my daily problems and these may lead me to the state I have just mentioned. "I'm just walking trying to see through the rain coming down", shows one trying hard to see what might just hit him next. The word "rain" here is used as a metaphor, to describe the problems and setbacks that might just be arriving. This can once again relate closely to me, because once I am unsure of what to do next, all I can do is brace myself and try to predict what will hit me next.

"Even though I'm not the only one who feels the way I do" makes no sense if read alone, but if you link it to the chorus, it does sound logical. "Even though I'm not the only one who feels the way I do", "I'm alone on my own", expresses that even though I'm not the only one having this kind of problems, at the end of the day, I still have to face it alone. "I'm starting off" refers to having a fresh start, be it at a new school or learning a new skill, this statement applies not only to myself, but everyone. "I'll be strong, I'll be wrong" is a paradoxical statement as it means that toughening yourself will still lead to losing out at times. "Oh I'm just a girl(boy) trying to find a place in this world", denotes that I find it hard at times to fit in, and just move as the world does.

In the second verse, the general mood makes a big change. "Got the radio on, my old blue jeans" gives some hint of happiness, and later on is backed up by "Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine" and this is very much my personality: happy-go-lucky. Another metaphor is used here. "sunshine", is used to represent a happy mood or feeling. "And I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve", expresses that I'm letting everyone feel my mood and get influenced; at the same time, my "heart" is vulnerable to being snatched by someone else, in other words, my mood can change in the snap of a finger.

"And tomorrow's just a mystery, oh yeah, but that's ok" gives a new perspective to the future: though I don't know what is coming next, I'm going to face it.

"Maybe I'm just a girl(boy) on a mission but I'm ready to fly", still depicts someone who is unsure of himself, but is ready to face a mission and unleash his highest potential.

There is some situational irony in this song. Though the first verse portrays someone who is unsure of himself, the song develops and the person changes into someone full of confidence and self-esteem. Instead of lamenting over life, he does his best to accept it and live each day to its fullest. The reason why I chose this song is because I do have both my good and bad days, happy and sad temperaments, but in the end, life still goes on and I have to make an effort to live it to its fullest.

Top 5 Best Learning Styles:
Appreciation Musical
Linguistic Sensitivity Linguistic
Managing Feelings Intrapersonal
Reading Linguistic
Getting Along With Others Interpersonal

Response:

Verse 3
Meet with failure again
It's not something I would love to have happened to me
But everyone has to experience pain
Only then can we really succeed

Oh life is just what you make it, so don't ever give in

Mother's Response:
Well I am not surprised to know that he has chosen this song. He has been frustrated and experienced much struggles with school challenges eversince he joined Hwa Chong. The wonderful fact to note is that he will brace through all the storms and live each day to the fullest. I hope the next time Mattheus gets to choose a song it will be an inspiring one that he has sailed through the setbacks and soared high because he "has found his place" and "is ready to fly!" As what we parents have championed him daily "enjoy the journey" and marks do not define him but character does!
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Metaphor Poem

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
My friend
He lies against the wall
And every now and then
He'll call
He has hands
Which always keep still
But when I look again
They've already moved
He is weird
And he is strange
But most importantly I'm hardly late.
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Differences Between "will" and "would".

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
Would and will both have many meanings. Would can be used for making a formal request. For example, 'Would you be able to help me?' Will can also be used in requests, just that it is normally used in annoyance. "Will you please listen to what I'm saying!"

Would can also be used to offer something formally. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" It is also used to talk about the results of an unlikely situation, "What would you do if you could live on the moon?", and for asking or giving opinions; "You wouldn't recognize our school now if u saw it." Lastly, it can be used for saying what somebody wants. "I think David would prefer to be alone."

Will can be used to give orders and set rules. "You will not attend the party." It can also be used for talking about future events or actions. "They will win the match tomorrow."
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Reflections on E-Learning

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
i) Overall did you put in more hours per day with E-Learning or a regular school day with homework?

I should think that the workload was increased with E-learning as compared with regular school day homework. We are required to do some research on our own, watch videos, view comments, etc before doing the work, unlike school days, where we go through homework in class in a detailed manner before setting about to do them.

ii.)Were you able to complete the Language Arts assignments in about an hour each or did they take longer?

Most of the time the lessons took longer than an hour as I went through resources and instructions more than once to get a better idea on how to complete them. This would of greater help when blogging as I do not need to refer and read through the resources once again before I type the answers out.

iii.)Which assignment(s) did you like the best and which one(s) did you like the least? Explain why.

I liked assignments 3 and 4 the most as for assignment 3, we could create our own poems on school life and view our friends' ones and compare how life was like for us in primary school. As for assignment 4, I enjoyed reading through the materials provided.

I liked assignment 2 the least as I do not have a favourite poet, and had to spend quite some time choosing a poet and going through his life and background of writing poems. It was quite a tiresome process, I must say.

iv)My suggestions to make E-Learning better are...

Perhaps the assignments could be assigned to a specific date so I have a better picture on how fast one assignment is needed to be completed. I don't really have an idea on where I'm headed to if they are merely numbered.

v) A general reflection on how you feel the week went. Please share your honest opinion as ALL feedback is critical at this time.

Wow! Expected the pace of learning to be a lot slower but everything just fits in place nicely like any other school day and there's hardly time for relaxation like I thought. Week passed very fast I must say. Overall English was an enjoyable IT Home Learning experience for me.
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Lesson 6: Compulsory Blog Entry

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
2.The casino being built in Singapore is supposed to be a money-maker and job creator. However, many people have spoken against it. Talk to a parent or adult and get their view on the casino. Listen to the NPR and YouTube offerings and choose one that substantiates your viewpoint and include a quote from it as well. Your blog entry has to be at least 200 words and you must either support the casino or condemn its construction and ultimately the hardships it will cause in Singapore.

From the day the plans to start a casino were announced, to this very moment the way I see the casino in Singapore is casiNO. Why? Let me explain. First of all, the building of the casino in Singapore makes gambling very accessible. By constructing a casino in Singapore, the government is actually encouraging gambling. If you actually take a closer look, there isn't much of a difference between illegal horse betting and slot machines in casinos. Only one is approved by the government; the other isn't. You cannot bet on horses illegally, but you are allowed to squander your money away in the slot machines in our very own casino. That's the message conveyed to our citizens out there. So gamblers turn from horse betting to the casino. Do they earn money? No. They continue to lose. And lose. And then perhaps they win something. And there's the rush of euphoria. They want to gamble more, win more. But, they continue to lose. The obsession never stops. It's a "one last time" last time kind of thing, but one last time never is the last. There's always another last time. It's something called obsession.

Secondly, this casino is supposedly a money maker and job creator. But let's stop and think. Money maker? The only people who make money are the government. Gamblers patronising the casino are bound to lose their money in the process of gambling. "I've lost three hundred thousand dollars. It was all of my retirement money," said an ex-compulsive gambler who has recovered. I believe that this isn't the highest amount lost, and if something is not done to discourage gambling, it could go higher. It may also be a job creator for those working at the casino, but again consider, how many more jobs are lost when creating let's say, a few hundred jobs?

Thirdly, what kind of generation is going to rise from the existence of the casino? There is an age limit, but everyone is bound to cross it one day. Everyone is going to have that chance to step into the casino and try the games in there. With the casino built, many who were initially too young, will grow old enough one day, and may get lured to it sooner or later. Curiosity, influence, peer pressure are just a few out of the many ways which may push youngsters like us to try our hand at earning big bucks at the casino. We are not encouraging good values as a country with this action taken. The casino may also cause citizens to not want to work, all in the hope of striking it rich at the casino and relaxing in the future. And when they earn something, they gamble again in hope of earning more money. Hence, the government should encourage us to be successful in a right and proper way.

"One bet. That's all it takes and I could instantly be back at that place I was before." Gambling is a bad habit, and like all other bad habits, it's easy to take up but difficult to kick.

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aQgpcxVtu0
Interview with mother.
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IT Lesson 5: Poetry on Gambling

Author: Mattheus,MrCarLover1A133 // Category:
1.Show how the poem Tom Beatty could be compared to The Rocking Horse Winner. In studying the poem, note that the opera house is really life and when He makes the rules it’s either the Lord or perhaps the devil. Beatty suggests that everyone has about 70 years, but Paul in The Rocking Horse Winner had much less time. Explain what Paul’s weakness was, how the cards were stacked against him and do you think Paul was lucky not to live to be an old man fumbling the cards, leaden-eyed and whining about his losses?

In both cases, the protagonists are hooked onto winning, which is actually what all gamblers are hooked onto. However, Tom Beatty never does win and ends up regretting spending all that time, effort and money in vain. Paul pushes himself too much, and ends up killing himself.

Paul relied fully on the horse to win the races. He never did think of it himself, and when he tried to, he would lose the betting for that particular race. Moreover, when he asked his mother whether she was contented with her birthday present of a thousand pounds, she replied in a cold, hard, absent voice, making him all the more want to win more races. His obssesion with both impressing his mother and winning the betting sessions caused him to over-exert his body, to the extent that he could not control himself. Gambling just took over his life, even in times when he was sick, all he was intent on was to see if his bet on the winning horse had won. I also think that Paul was lucky enough that he died early. He was bound to lose sooner or later. There is no such thing as a continuous winning streak in the world. Continuing gambling could continue to take its toll on his health and cause him to lose all his profits. In just a few weeks, gambling had already made a monster out of him, who knows what would have become of him if he had continued his gambling till he turned old?

2. In The Green Clothes, green is the color of envy, greed and money! This poem is thematically similar to Paper. Even though the poem takes place at a roulette wheel the gamblers from the short story and the poem have similar experiences. Explain how tips, dry lips, and all that was spent in vain could apply to the short story Paper.

In Paper, tips refers to the money the couple had earned in the stock market. It was a moment of joy and happiness, but led to more them seeing more "green". Their savings, though doubled initially in the stock market, fell below what they used to be worth during the downward slide. Still seeing "green" and not being contented with what they had, they foolishly held onto their stocks and followed a person's advice blindly. Thereafter, the whole company they had invested in crashed and they lost all their savings. That was when their lips turned dry, and they felt like everything they had spent on the stock market was in vain.

3. Ah Boh in Lottery has about one dollar, there’s a “blind man,” the number 13 and ultimately zero dollars to bet. These last examples are taken from One-Dollar Gambler. Show how they also relate to Ah Boh.

In One Dollar Gambler, the author like Ah Boh, has her own salary. She can choose to spend it on daily necessities, or gamble it away. Like a fool, she decides to use it for betting, and at the end of the day she learns that she has earned nothing, and has no more to spend. So she goes home with an empty stomach, thirsting for water, and no paper and ink to write a letter home. She has learnt a lesson, but the next day guess what? She bets again. She reaps nothing. She bets again. And again. And again.
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