The Matrix Trilogy

When James Cameron, the director of the highest grossing movie of all times directed Avatar, he envisioned it to be the highest grossing film of all times. Why so? Because of the futuristic machines like those below. And indeed it is true; Avatar surpassed Titanic and became, or IS the movie to have sold the most in ticket sales in the whole world.

Well, here’s the thing, those photos, one of them is NOT from avatar, yes, the one below, is not from avatar, it’s from a movie that came out in 1999. Yes, 11 years before the release of Avatar.

Not many people are convinced, but the truth is, it is.

The Matrix was one of the box office hits because of their REAL futuristic effects and imagery, The film depicts a future in which reality as perceived by humans is actually a simulated reality created by sentient machines to pacify and subdue the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Upon learning this, computer programmer "Neo" is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, involving other people who have been freed from the "dream world" and into reality. The film contains many references to the cyberpunk and hacker subcultures; philosophical and religious ideas such as the Advaita's Maya (illusion), Brain in a vat thought experiment; and homages to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Hong Kong action cinema, Spaghetti Westerns, dystopian fiction, and Japanese animation.

This movie is TRULY one that thought out of this world, James Cameron? He just looked at the past to gain insight of the future, no big deal.

Singapore Youth Olympic Games

Singapore has once again broken new grounds, by being the FIRST ever host for the Youth Olympic Games! The Singapore Government has indeed put in a lot of revenue in making sure that every aspect of the Youth Olympic Games is covered and that it will be next to perfect.

And indeed, it has been flawless with minor mistakes every since the starting of the Youth Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony started with dazzling fireworks, and wonderful and outstanding performances.

Although I am after all a Malaysian and come from Kuala Lumpur, I do believe that it is very nice and offers world class performances. I get free viewing of ‘live’ happenings of the Youth Olympics ALL over Singapore!

To give some background information, Singapore made its first formal bid to host a multi-disciplinary sporting event of such a magnitude in its country. Positive factors in its bid included its high connectivity with the world, its youthfulness as an independent country, and its positive reputation for excellence and
multi-racial harmony. The city-state rolled out a high-publicity campaign which included being amongst the first to launch its official website, bid logo and a bid tagline "Blazing the Trail" on 16 October
2007. It also got the local population into support its bid, including an effort by students to collect1 million signatures in support of the games. The logo-making competition for the Games attracted 1,500
participants and the winning design Entitled 'Spirit Of Youth' was unveiled on 10 January 2010.

I hope that in the days to come, I will be further enthralled and ‘WOW’ed by the Youth Olympics. Blazing The Trail really does bring all the sports to one phrase, to set new standards, to break records, to
BLAZE THE TRAIL!!!
I hope to instill the values of the Olympic Games inot me, which are respect, friendship and excellence.

HCISO

My EP3 is the String Orchestra and I am proud to be one. Although my violin skills may not exactly be the best, I can definitely say that I have the passion for HCISO. I started learning the violin when I was 10, I was forced to play, against my will. I really didn't love picking up that piece of wood, making beautiful sound , it just wasn't my thing. I preferred soccer, I despised music. When I came to Singapore, I was annoyed that I had to bring along my violin, another piece of lagguage to the airport.

When I went to CCA orientation, I was intitially interested in joining sports CCA. However, in the end, I got put into the string orchestra --- on the irony. When I arrived, I saw Shawn in my CCA, he was in the "Singapore Youth Festival" team because he was very skillful in the violin, getting a diploma. During my first year, it was rather dull. We had gotten a silver, which was very disappointing. Our conductor was depressed with our results too.

Everything changed when I came to sec 2, we had changed our conductor, he was Mr Trevor Sze who also taught orchestra from Nanyang Girls High and Raffles Institution. He seemed strict at first, always scolding, picking on all the orchestra members, he radically changed the way our orchestra worked. It was like Hitler ruling the concentration camp, always diciplined and strict. However , things started to change.

I started seeing change in the orchestra, positive change, we were beginning to be more varied, we were playing together, as an orchestra. We were playing better!
Just yesterday, in order to prove a part, he vrought the whole orchestra to the concourse, doing an experiment.

Ever since I stepped into this orchestra, I loved the violin. Most importantly,
I love HCISO, I have the passion.

IT Home Learning "Rainbow Death" by Hubert Wilson

Sec 2 Home-learning 2010 Term 2

Task 1: I will be doing my web research and report based on the conflict represented in Hubert Wilson’s Rainbow Death. Below is the poem:

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! Hubert Wilson

Firstly, let’s start off with some background information of Hubert Wilson. He was a Vietnam War veteran (as were his four brothers) who served in the USAF Security Service. He, along with a dozen or so
intelligence school grads, prepped for about 14 months at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, before anticipating to be sent to Vietnam or elsewhere in Southeast Asia in 1970. About half of them ended up
in Da Nang (an Agent Orange hotspot) in the 6924th Security Squadron. The rest of them, along with
Hubert Wilson, were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska, with the 6984th Security Squadron, and what
eventually was a more contaminated environment than Da Nang!

This poem talks about a modern day ingredient of warfare that has caused appalling death and suffering
not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people. “Agent Orange”, which appears to be the code
name for a herbicide and defoliant—contaminated with TCDD (Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin) —used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War. From 1962 to 1971, Agent Orange was by far the most widely used of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" employed in the herbicidal warfare program. Thus, the title of this poem is “Rainbow Death”. During the production of Agent Orange, dioxins were produced as a contaminant, which have caused numerous health problems for the millions of people who have been exposed.

Rainbow Death is a poem that shows the different fatal reasons of war. This is shown as the fact of
death caused by war is reconsidered. The innocent and unborn are shown as the victims as "toll" shows. The second stanza shows that war led America astray and its major causes are illnesses, birth defects and prematurely dead. It shows that the uninformed generations will have to suffer much, especially
orange poison gas in the last line.

Point of View
In this poem, the writer, Hubert Wilson suffered from unexplained headaches and limp pains. Four years ago his central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches,
progressive limb pains. No physician diagnosed the specific illness nor provided medical assistance. The
number one educated guess is the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during his year there as an intelligence analyst. Fortunately, his brain is still functioning well and he turned to writing.

Personal Response
I feel that it is very selfish, in a sense, to cause suffering to the innocent just for one's gain. Furthermore, the Vietnam War was not worth all the casualties and suffering. It was not a war of patriotism, it was more like a clash of ideals, between communism and anything anti-communist. Thus, we can see why Hubert Wilson had written a poem entitled Rainbow Death. This poem, Rainbow Death, may remind us that wars actually are not over when the wars are over.


References
www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html
http://www.poemhunter.com/hubert-wilson/
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow

My Own Opinion on legalization of gambling in Singapore

Singapore has put in much planning, and public debates as to the pros and cons of legalizing gambling and casinos. There were many opponents with regards to possible social ills and stigmas, but overall, these integrated resorts (IR) is considered an important component of the government's long term strategy to increase the tourism and services sector.


Gambling has become very popular in the modern times. In case of legalized gambling government of the country has made gambling legal for the people. The gamblers need to follow many rules and regulations to get involved in the legalized gambling. Through legalized gambling government can earn lots of revenue. Gambling is popular in every age group from college students to people of old age. Gamblers have the feeling that they have the ability to take risk and control their destiny. In my opinion, legalized gambling has many pros and cons to the society.

Let me start with the pros of legalizing gambling. Firstly, gambling is an entertaining process for the gamblers. The people in the society can enjoy gambling more freely when it is legalized. Legalized gambling provides more employment opportunities in the society which can help to reduce the unemployment in the society. The government can earn more revenues from the legalized gambling which can be diverted towards the well being of the society. Legalized gambling open an option of revenue for the family. It can be temporary and long lasting in some cases.


Now, let me talk about the cons of legalizing gambling. Legalized gambling will lead the economy towards a down turn. It leads to the decline in the local business as people are more interested in gambling instead of other entertainment activities. The person will get habituated to the gabling and will spend more time and money on gambling instead of other useful and productive activities. Gambling creates tension among the family members as the money that should have been used for family is now diverted towards gambling. Children that belong to family affected by gambling are most badly affected. Children will become lonely and loose all their confidence. Pressure is created on the family which ruined the family life and consequently the family stop taking part in the social gatherings. Gambling increases crime in the society as can go to any extend to fulfill the desire of gambling. The society with more crime will grow at a slow pace. Legalized gambling pushes the gambling at a faster rate as there is no fear of government and they can play more freely.

To conclude, I think that the gambling impulse is one of our greatest strengths. But that impulse comes with a great potential danger. The gambling impulse is like hunger – we need to feel hunger, or we'd starve. But when the hunger impulse gets divorced from the need for food, it's a huge problem.

Casino in Singapore

Singapore's plan to build the country's first casino underscores its strategy to create a new economy amid stiff competition from China and other Southeast Asian countries.

The plan to allow a casino has sparked a controversial public debate, with Singaporeans divided on the issue. Proponents say it will benefit Singapore economically, especially the city-state's tourism sector, while those opposed, including some religious groups, worry about social ills such as problem gambling and bankruptcy.

Some legislators have called for a referendum to allow Singaporeans to decide on the issue, or even a free vote by legislators in parliament, which is dominated by the ruling party.

The government has received 19 proposals from bidders all over the world since inviting companies in December to submit their concept plans to build an integrated resort that could include a casino.

Even though many forms of gambling, such as lotteries, are legalized here, casinos have been banned in the past and the government had strongly opposed in recent years any proposal to allow one here. However, it eventually agreed last year (2004) to consider allowing the setting up of a casino.

Singapore-based economists say the government is likely to go ahead with the plan to allow a casino here because it is anxious to diversify the economy, which has been largely based on high-tech manufacturing and financial services, by promoting new areas of growth or expanding those with more potential for growth such as tourism.

''We will continue to promote in a more focused way certain key and promising sectors of the economy. Tourism is one such sector and the proposed integrated resort including possibly a casino is part of our overall set of initiatives to promote tourism,'' Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told parliament.

But he also added that ''the casino will neither be the panacea to the challenges facing us -- boosting growth, creating jobs or raising revenues.'' While brushing aside calls for a referendum or free vote in parliament, he said the government will make a careful decision after weighing all the pros and cons within the next six weeks.

In recent years China's emergence as an economic powerhouse combined with higher business cost in Singapore has seen a hollowing out of labor-intensive and low-technology industries in Singapore, with many factories relocating to China or other Southeast Asian countries. Singapore has also been facing fierce competition from neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand in trying to maintain its position as a transport hub in the region.

In the past year, talk of remaking the Singapore economy has accelerated with plans to venture into new areas such as promoting the city-state as an educational hub and medical hub, and most recently it has even begun to step into Islamic finance and banking. In many of these areas, it is clashing with neighboring countries that have similar ambitions.

''As other countries begin to catch up, Singapore needs to move ahead constantly to sustain its competitiveness,'' said Mukul Asher, professor at the new Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

''The casino will allow diversification of the economy. Singapore is just trying to have as many pillars for the economy as they can and they see casinos as one of the pillars that will sustain future growth,'' he said.

Chan Kok Peng, chief economist at BNP Paribas Peregrine's Singapore office, said: ''The competition is very intensive, in the past Singapore had benefited from the inefficiencies of other countries in the region but now these countries have run up the efficiency ladder. One of the easiest ways is to move into an area where competition is not so crowded.''

And the attraction of casinos is that unlike factories, which are more vulnerable to restructuring and relocation, casinos tend to be more entrenched investments. ''You don't move a casino from here to China the way you would move your factory,'' Chan said.

Economists say it also would make Singapore a more attractive place for tourists, especially tourists from China, which is now one of the fastest growing sources of tourists for Singapore.

Earlier this year, the government announced an ambitious 10-year plan to boost the city-state's attraction as a tourist destination with the aim of doubling the number of visitors to the country to 17 million by 2015, triple tourism earnings to S$30 billion ($18.5 billion) and create 100,000 jobs.

The number of visitors to Singapore last year jumped 36 percent over the same period in 2003 to hit 8.3 million, marking the first time visitors here topped 8 million and generating S$9.6 billion in tourism earnings.

The casino would also be a boost for related sectors such as retail and hospitality and offers the potential to create more jobs than many of the high-tech manufacturing plants in Singapore.

Some say a casino would also provide a lucrative new source of tax revenue for the government, which ran into budget deficits in three of the last four years, and give it greater leeway to reduce corporate taxes further to maintain economic competitiveness.

Note: Copied from the internet to give an understanding.

Language Arts IT Home Learning

Visual/ Spatial : b) design an obituary for Mrs. Dubose

With Deepest Sympathy

and Heartfelt Condolences

to The Family of the late

Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose

Passed away peacefully on
1962 November 26

In her late years, Mrs Dubose lived
with a Negro girl and was very ill.
She was determined and courageous to
fight against the addiction of morphine.
In the end, she was able to die
morphine free.

From: The Finch and
The Community of Maycomb Country

Language Arts IT Home Learning

Intrapersonal - Write a diary entry for a major character on the novel
Jem's Diary Entry

Today, I will be writing a diary on one of the main characters in "To Kill a Mockingbird" - Jem.

The diary entry will be on Tom Robinson's trial.
Mid-morning, Scout, Dill and I went to the courthouse to witness Tom Robinson's trial. As the court was crowded, we could not find a seat. Fortunately, Reverend Sykes gave us a place in the coloured balcony to witness the court proceedings. From the balcony, we got a good view of the entire court.

Firstly, the witnesses gave their accounts of the incident while Atticus and Mr Gilmer questioned them. The two lawyers than gave their respective speeches. Atticus was very calm as well as confident in his speech to defend Tom Robinson. This was as far as I recollect besides the fact I told Scout to take Dill out of the courtroom. My mind was in a haze as I contemplated the court proceedings. I was devastated, confused beyond measure and hurt by the proceedings in the courtroom.

I was furious over the way Mr Gilmer cross- examined Tom Robinson, as if he was dirt. The fact that Mr Gilmer took every opportunity to trap Tom only further incensed me. I was confused over the reason that this court still took place, with not a shred of evidence that prove Tom Robinson guilty except the accounts of the Ewells, who were commonly known to be untrustworthy, cruel and violent people. Atticus's confidence in delivering his convincing speech made me think that Tom Robinson will be cleared of every charges.

However, when one by one, the jury announced "guilty", my heart sank like a stone to the bottom of the ocean. I could scarcely believe that they can find Tom guilty on such grounds. I felt numb, unaware of what was happening around me. The word "guilty" rang loudly in my mind continuously for a few minutes. The outright discrimination against blacks was so outrageous. The marginalization of blacks from society made me feel disgusted at the current judical system. I suddenly felt a blazing hatred towards the jury, each and every one of them for their unfairness and biasness towards Tom Robinson.

After the case, Atticus came to comfort me. He explained to me what is reality, life for us is never fair and I should get over it quickly. Atticus advised me to fight for the right thing despite the obstacles laid out. After listening to him, I realized how foolish and childish was my youthful ideology that everyone is fair and just. I plan to put aside my naivety and face the real world at last.

BGFL Multiple Intelligence Test

For some reasons, I could not post my results of my Multiple Intelligence Test (MIT) up here.
After having the MIT, I realize that I have five categories of highest marks and they are Kinaesthetic (Body Smart) , Visual (Picture Smart), Logical (Number Smart) , Interpersonal (People Smart) and Intrapersonal (Myself Smart). All 17 marks.

Personally, I think that this MIT is a good test as it focuses on multiple intelligence. It is good to not just focus on IQ. One's IQ may not be very high but one can still excel if he has various abilities that can be obtained from multiple intelligence.

From this test, we can know our strength and also our weaknesses. With these, we can have our personal learning method that can maximize our knowledge learned in a short time. I believe that everyone has different learning method and the learning method imposed on different student will be different to achieve the best result.

Although the MIT can bring to us many benefits, we must not be solely focused on merely one area of intelligence and forget about the others as they might also prove to be more useful in some areas of work.

I think that teachers must impose different teaching methods on different students as every student has their strength and weakness. Teacher cannot teach using only one sort of intelligence and neglect the others, as this might affect the learning of students who are specifically weak in that area. Instead, I feel that the MIT should only be used by students to have a brief idea on what type of intelligence they possess and try to maximize its usefulness.

Recently, there is a dispute between the Muslims and the Chirstians because the Christians used the name 'Allah' as their God.

However, the Muslims did not allow that and it caused some vandalism and burn of church.

Three despatch riders, including two brothers, claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to setting fire to the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati early this month.

They are siblings Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim, 24, and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, 22, and their 23-year-old friend Azuwan Shah Ahmad.

They are charged with committing mischief with fire at the church in Desa Melawati, Wangsa Maju with the intention to destroy it at 11.50pm on Jan 7.

The trio were said to have committed the offence with several others who are still at large.

If convicted, they could be jailed up to 20 years and fined under Section 436 of the Penal Code.

Raja Muhammad Faizal had burn marks on his hands, body and face and a urine bag hung on his right side.

His younger brother, clad in a brown striped T-shirt and dark shorts, also had burns on his hand.

Media photographers and cameramen however were not able to get any pictures of them as they were brought in and out of court through a tunnel.

DPP Anselm Charles Fernandis asked the court to set bail at RM20,000 in one surety in view of the gravity of the offence and because it is of public interest.

He added that there were direct and circumstantial evidence against the trio.

All three pleaded for lower bail, saying they were from poor families and were first offenders.

Sessions Court judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah set bail at RM20,000 in one surety for each accused.

She, however, said she would allow each of them to post RM10,000 as security for their release pending disposal of the case.

In expressing their intention to engage a lawyer, the trio asked for more time to handle legal matters.

Raja Muhammad Idzham asked for two months to appoint a lawyer, adding that they had also not met their family members for some time.

Komathy set March 12 for mention of the case.

The trio failed to post bail.

Earlier media reports stated that the police had arrested eight men involved in the arson attack on the church to assist in investigations.

Najib: Vital to mutually respect the religious beliefs of one another

I came across this news about religious belief and I would like to share with you about this

Respecting each other’s religion must be a key virtue to be vigorously defended, said the Prime Minister.

Malaysia being a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, requires its citizens to mutually respect the religious beliefs of one another.

“I want to stress here that respecting each other’s religion is not only a key virtue that we must defend, it is also one of the principles in Islam,” said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Islam in its true form, did not look down on other religions. It also disallowed Muslims from desecrating the places of worship of non-Muslims.

Najib added that in a multi-racial society, there could not be just one point of view all the time.

“It is also crucial for us to strive for a common goal in wanting to bring the country forward,” he said in his address to tens of thousands who flocked here on the eve of Thaipusam yesterday.

Those present included his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Najib pointed out that both his late father Tun Abdul Razak and former prime minister Tun Hussein Onn had also visited Batu Caves during Thaipusam when they held office.

Meanwhile, Najib on his blog yesterday, wished the Indian community a very happy Thaipusam.

“I hope that all witnessing this spectacular event will enjoy its colours and sounds in a grand demonstration of harmony and unity,” he said.

He added that the occasion was another chance to exhibit appreciation for the cultural wealth Malaysia had long enjoyed as a nation, in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

Reflection on Martin Luther King's speech

Please watch this video on Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream".

This speech was made by Martin Luther King in 1963 to free the Negro slaves in America, to end the segregation between the Blacks and the Whites in America. As everyone knows, the Whites in America in the 1800s and the 1900s treated the Negro badly and the Blacks were not respected in the American society. Segregation and chain of discrimination were rife. In this speech, Martin Luther King mentioned about the promise of a great American to free the Negro, the current situation of the Negro, how the Blacks were treated by the Whites in America and the demand for the Blacks to be included and not disrespected in the America society.

Personally, I think that this speech made by Martin Luther King is an excellent speech. There are a number of "allusion" used in his speech which was important as it gained support from the audience, he also used allusion to emphasize on certain points that he wanted to make.
For example, " But a hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact...
One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly...
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island...
One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners... ".

Furthermore, the phrase "I have a dream" is used eight times to stress on what he hope after there is no segregation.
"I have a dream that one day this nation...
I have a dream that one day on red hills of Georgia...
I have a dream that one day even the states of Mississippi...
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation...
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama...
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley...

The phrase "Let freedom ring" was also used nine times.
These use of allusion made his speech very interesting as it makes the tone of his speech very strict.

Moreover, there are also some use of repetition in his speech.
For example, the word mississippi is mentioned four times in his speech.

The part that I enjoyed the most is the part where metaphor is used.
He said" Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds". But we refuse to believe to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vault of opportunity of this nation. So we have to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of the justice."

He portrayed a check as a request to free the Negro but the Whites did not accept their request and this is a great metaphor used.

Posted by,
Kong Jayson
2A3 (12).

Favourite Poets

Poets by E.E.Cumming

Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Buffalo Bill's

Buffalo Bill's
defunct
who used to
ride a watersmooth-silver
stallion
and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat
Jesus

he was a handsome man
and what i want to know is
how do you like your blueeyed boy
Mister Death

_____________________________________________________________________________________

i sing of Olaf glad and big

i sing of Olaf glad and big
whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

his wellbelovéd colonel(trig
westpointer most succinctly bred)
took erring Olaf soon in hand;
but--though an host of overjoyed
noncoms(first knocking on the head
him)do through icy waters roll
that helplessness which others stroke
with brushes recently employed
anent this muddy toiletbowl,
while kindred intellects evoke
allegiance per blunt instruments--
Olaf(being to all intents
a corpse and wanting any rag
upon what God unto him gave)
responds,without getting annoyed
"I will not kiss your fucking flag"

straightway the silver bird looked grave
(departing hurriedly to shave)

but--though all kinds of officers
(a yearning nation's blueeyed pride)
their passive prey did kick and curse
until for wear their clarion
voices and boots were much the worse,
and egged the firstclassprivates on
his rectum wickedly to tease
by means of skilfully applied
bayonets roasted hot with heat--
Olaf(upon what were once knees)
does almost ceaselessly repeat
"there is some shit I will not eat"

our president,being of which
assertions duly notified
threw the yellowsonofabitch
into a dungeon,where he died

Christ(of His mercy infinite)
i pray to see;and Olaf,too

preponderatingly because
unless statistics lie he was
more brave than me:more blond than you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Cummings was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to liberal, indulgent parents who from early on encouraged him to develop his creative gifts. While at Harvard, where his father had taught before becoming a Unitarian minister, he delivered a daring commencement address on modernist artistic innovations, thus announcing the direction his own work would take. In 1917, after working briefly for a mail-order publishing company, the only regular employment in his career, Cummings volunteered to serve in the Norton-Harjes Ambulance group in France. Here he and a friend were imprisoned (on false grounds) for three months in a French detention camp. The Enormous Room (1922), his witty and absorbing account of the experience, was also the first of his literary attacks on authoritarianism. Eimi (1933), a later travel journal, focused with much less successful results on the collectivized Soviet Union.

At the end of the First World War Cummings went to Paris to study art. On his return to New York in 1924 he found himself a celebrity, both for The Enormous Room and for Tulips and Chimneys (1923), his first collection of poetry (for which his old classmate John Dos Passos had finally found a publisher). Clearly influenced by Gertrude Stein's syntactical and Amy Lowell's imagistic experiments, Cummings's early poems had nevertheless discovered an original way of describing the chaotic immediacy of sensuous experience. The games they play with language (adverbs functioning as nouns, for instance) and lyric form combine with their deliberately simplistic view of the world (the individual and spontaneity versus collectivism and rational thought) to give them the gleeful and precocious tone which became, a hallmark of his work. Love poems, satirical squibs, and descriptive nature poems would always be his favoured forms.

A roving assignment from Vanity Fair in 1926 allowed Cummings to travel again and to establish his lifelong routine: painting in the afternoons and writing at night. In 1931 he published a collection of drawings and paintings, CIOPW (its title an acronym for the materials used: charcoal, ink, oil, pencil, watercolour), and over the next three decades had many individual shows in New York. He enjoyed a long and happy third marriage to the photographer Marion Morehouse, with whom he collaborated on Adventures in Value (1962), and in later life divided his time between their apartment in New York and his family's farm in New Hampshire. His many later books of poetry, from VV (1931) and No Thanks (1935) to Xaipe (1950) and 95 Poems (1958), took his formal experiments and his war on the scientific attitude to new extremes, but showed little substantial development.

Cumming's father's death had made a profound difference in his life, which led him into an artistic life. His poem are famous and I love them.

Cited from:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/anyone-lived-in-a-pretty-how-town-2/

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/buffalo-bill-s/

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-sing-of-olaf-glad-and-big/

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/cummings/cummings_life.htm

IT Home Learning. Lesson 1: Figurative Language

Father's Day

I sat in a cafè
On Father's Day.
I wept for my heart
I wished it wouldn't start
The worst day of the year
For me, a day to fear.
The day of the father -
The one who couldn't bother
The one who died
And lied
Just before his soul
Vanished up his hole.
And lied and lied
Until his brain was fried
And he lied his way to a coffin
A painful grin
Smeared upon his face
In his own disgrace
I wished it were so -
His grave to mow
But I wept in the cafè`
On Fathers Day
For not once, did he have a
Children's Day .

• How are the figurative language used in the poem?
• Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?

Hyperbole is not used in this poem as there isn't a word or phrase that exagerrate the emotion of the poem.

Personification, Simile and Metaphor are also not used in this poem as they are no analogy in this poem.

Symbolism is used in this poem as this poem is directed by many kinds of representative of emotion, emotions make this poem interesting.

I like this poem although it is a sad poem. I like this because it really shows the writer's wish and his feelings. on Father's Day, the writer's father passed away, just because of this sad matter, he wrote a poem to comemorate his father. He waited for his father's arrival at a cafe but he did not turned up. He described his sadness and his father's condition very well and I was touched by the writer's feelings.

Ten years later of "Village by the sea"

Ten years later...

The village is no longer a village. The village has been developed into a congested city area. The wooden houses are not seen anymore, but replaced by rows and rows of new concrete buildings. Muddy roads have also turned into straight and broad roads. Cars is seen all over the area. Although sport cars are still not common, but it can be seen driven by some rich guys in Thul. This place is changed into a place for goods transporting to factories and others places. As the number of the factories are in an increasing trend, the clean air and the crystal clear sea water is completely polluted. Currently, a construction of an airport is ongoing and when the government suggested this idea a year ago, none of the villagers disagreed. Unfortunately, the villagers no longer loved the dirty area so they decided to move to some other villages in India, but this time, far far away from Thul.

The new area is not as congested as Thul. It was a quiet and peaceful area near a forest. The villagers there now take up hunting as their main jobs, not fishing anymore.

Hari continued with his poultry farm and also the watch mending job. Hari had became the biggest manufacturer of chicken eggs in Bombay, and also some other further places. Some chicken sellers from far away in India doesn't mind taking the trouble to come to his poultry farm to purchase some chicken eggs and also meat as the eggs and meat sold by Hari has the best quality in India. Although he is busy with his poultry farm, he determined to continue running the first business of his father, which is watch mending. He had forgiven his father for all his mistake he made as he was willing to turn over a new leaf and bear the responsibility of earning money for the family. Unfortunately, his passed away a year ago at the age of 60 because of kidney problem. Although Hari was willing to pay whatever amount of money to heal him, but he still passed away. Just if he did not drank so much toddy when he was young, he would pass on so early. Besides that, Hari had also found a nice wife and got married at the age of 32 as his business is stablelize. Although he has to pay for Kamal and Bela to go to university, he never felt that it is a burden to him as he is rich enough.

Lila remained without a job and does household chores together with her mother everyday. They clean up their new big house together, wash clothes together, and does many other household chores together. She did not get married as she just wished to live a relax lifetime with her family members, being a normal woman is just enough for her.

Eventhough their family were rich, they did not live lifes like millionares, simply spending money. They are still more used to their olden life by doing things by their own.

Prevention & Treatment to H1N1 Flu

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.


• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.


• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.


• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.


• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Other important actions that you can take are:

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.


• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

Exposures Not Thought to Spread New H1N1 Flu

Can I get infected with this new H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork?
No. H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get this new HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Is there a risk from drinking water?
Tap water that has been treated by conventional disinfection processes does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. Current drinking water treatment regulations provide a high degree of protection from viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the novel H1N1 flu virus to conventional drinking water treatment processes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels typically used in drinking water treatment are adequate to inactivate highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 would also be similarly inactivated by chlorination. To date, there have been no documented human cases of influenza caused by exposure to influenza-contaminated drinking water.

Can the new H1N1 flu virus be spread through water in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational water venues?
Influenza viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract. There has never been a documented case of influenza virus infection associated with water exposure. Recreational water that has been treated at CDC recommended disinfectant levels does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the H1N1 influenza virus to chlorine and other disinfectants used in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational venues. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels recommended by CDC (1–3 parts per million [ppm or mg/L] for pools and 2–5 ppm for spas) are adequate to disinfect avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 virus would also be similarly disinfected by chlorine.

Can H1N1 influenza virus be spread at recreational water venues outside of the water?
Yes, recreational water venues are no different than any other group setting. The spread of this novel H1N1 flu is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

The severeness of swine flu

How severe is illness associated with this new H1N1 virus?
It’s not known at this time how severe this virus will be in the general population. CDC is studying the medical histories of people who have been infected with this virus to determine whether some people may be at greater risk from infection, serious illness or hospitalization from the virus. In seasonal flu, there are certain people that are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions. It’s unknown at this time whether certain groups of people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications from infection with this new virus. CDC also is conducting laboratory studies to see if certain people might have natural immunity to this virus, depending on their age.

How does this new H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of this H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
At the current time, CDC believes that this virus has the same properties in terms of spread as seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. CDC is studying the virus and its capabilities to try to learn more and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Introduction to swine flu

What is H1N1 (swine flu)?

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Why is this new H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

Are there human infections with this H1N1 virus in the U.S.?

Yes. Cases of human infection with this H1N1 influenza virus were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus. An updated case count of confirmed novel H1N1 flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/investigation.htm.

Is this new H1N1 virus contagious?

CDC has determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?

The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.