Weiqi

Weiqi,also known as go,was a type of game that originated from ancient china. It was said that an Emperor had invented it to strengthen his mind and memory. Hence, this shows that weiqi was good for the brain. In its infancy , go was said to have been used by astrologers to divine the future. later, it became the pastime of gamblers and other idlers .Begining around 2000B.C., go and poetry enjoyed golden age in China , until about 600 A.D. Weiqi is a very fun game for it requires a lot of thinking and forming of tactics.

H1N1

It had been a long time since I had posted on my blog. Sorry for that for I was sick(down with flu). It was h1n1 season and many of my classmates are falling like pathetic soldiers toward h1n1. H1n1 was classified as the common seasonal flu but it is more powerful and hence it was also a pandemic flu. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flu_season for more information. It is stated that seasonal flu was caused because mainly of the subtypes of the virus. Well, i wonders when could technology overtakes virus, for we are the ones chasing after them. Good luck to all!

Shel Silverstein

"For the children, they mark, and the children, they know" Above is a quote from "Where the Sidewalk Ends" I like Shel Silverstein is an all-rounded man, not only a poet but also a singer, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books(no, not Jack of all trades). He have a unique style, for he had never study poetry before, which is laid-back and conversational, occasionally employing profanity and filled with slang.

I feel his poems for firstly, they rhythm. Also, some of his poems are about nature and he gave a good and vivid description of it, such as "peppermint wind", "grass grows soft and white" etc.. Furthermore, he involve his works with children, and his works show that he understand children a lot. Many of his poem include humour, and it is pleasant to read it, while relieving my stress. The most lovable poem by him is entitled "One Inch Tall " (see below). His imagination is pretty wild and creative.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein from http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein/poems/14836

There is a place where the sidewalk ends And before the street begins, And there the grass grows soft and white, And there the sun burns crimson bright, And there the moon-bird rests from his flight To cool in the peppermint wind. Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends. Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch where the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends. Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go, For the children, they mark, and the children, they know The place where the sidewalk ends.

Messy Room by Shel Silverstein from http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein/poems/14818

Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp. His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp. His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater's been thrown on the floor. His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door. His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall. A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall. Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or-- Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!

One Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein from http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein/poems/14832

If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were one inch tall. If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door, And it would take about a month to get down to the store. A bit of fluff would be your bed, You'd swing upon a spider's thread, And wear a thimble on your head If you were one inch tall. You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum. You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb. You'd run from people's feet in fright, To move a pen would take all night, (This poem took fourteen years to write-- 'Cause I'm just one inch tall).

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow-- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand-- How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep--while I weep! O God! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? O God! can I not save One from the pitiless wave? Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream? Metaphor That my days have been a dream-the writer is telling us how her days is similar to a dream Personification The sand creeps-the writer could not hold back or save the sand no matter how hard he tried Yet if hope has flown away-give a vivid description of hope Pitiless waves-describe how the waves crashes onto the beach and brings the sands away Hyperbole Of a surf-tormented shore -the writer wants to emphasize the waves I like this poem because it is describing the natural the natural scenery of the beach in a vivid manner, personifying many elements on the beach, for example, "pitiless waves" ,"the sand creeps". Also every sentence rhythms smoothly adding to its flow of fluency the last sentence also give a dramatic impact on the readers by emphasizing "Oh God". The last sentences also gave a good closure by reminding the readers of the poem's title,a dream within a dream. The poem also tells us that some things cannot be stopped or saved from harm on matter how hard we tries.

I rather be a city rat than a country rat

I would like to start with the advantages of the big city life. Living in such a big city has a lot of advantages. There is a big offer how to spend free time. There are a lot of theatres, concerts and other ways of entertainment. There is always a lot to do and visit! There are a lot of possibilities of shopping. In various shopping centres and galleries you can buy whatever you want. What is more, there are a lot of working places in a city. Many big international companies have their locations in the cities, so it is much easier to find a job in a big city. Moreover, the public transport is developed quite well, so the commuting to work isn't a problem.

soccer

Soccer is a ball game that consists of 22 people chasing after a ball and trying to possess it(literally). Those who had not played soccer before would believed that soccer is a boring game-which is untrue to us. Soccer involves skill, cooperation and coordination that is essential in our real life to. No one can deny it. However, do you know that soccer can be a life-saving skill too? I had read about a hero who saves the victim by kicking a can right into the aggressor, knowing him straight out. What a useful skill is soccer.

Is progress necessary beneficial to for the society?

When i first read this question, i answered, "Of course!" But on the second thought, i was in a dilemma. Why must the progress of the society be necessary beneficial to for the society? Now, as the society, progress at an amazing speed, industrialization becomes more common then ever, spreading to the villages as well. Is industrialization good? While you ponder on that question, let me help you decide. Although industrialization largely increase the jobs available and a boon to the society, it is definitely damaging our home, the Earth. Industrialization had resulted in thousand of acres of land useless, mainly by pollution; the villagers were also forced to adapt the to the modern way of living all of a sudden-which may not be beneficial to them.

My least favourite character in VBTS

My least favourite character in VBTS was the watchman. He was the most arrogant man i had ever seen. He had not the slightest respect for the villagers. He had has the common view of the city dwellers on the villagers that they are brainless or rather clueless about the world, for many of them had not been through primary education, or rather, secondary education. However, the fact is that the villagers are more skilled in areas such as life-saving skills like swimming, hunting, farming, etc. As the common saying goes "Everyone has own abilities" , it is the watchmen who, himself, is the devil who dares to look down on the villagers.

The part that i like the most in VBTS

The part that i like the most in VBTS is the moment that Hari's family was reunited. It was the most touching scene. Hari's father had turned over a new leaf, not the excessive drunkard anymore, but a nice, responsible father. Their mother had recovered from a long-term illness and the heavy burden of taking care of the family no longer lies on Hari and Lila. The feeling should be as relieved as escaping from a great white shark. The most important thing is that Hari is matured , with no more childish thoughts and unnessary dilemma. His stay in Bombay with Mr Panwallah and Jagu had let him learnt that most importantly, the poor in the city. He had also learnt how to take care of himself by earning money and having an optimistic view of future, which was filled with opportunities to grab. (A happy ending.)

Hwa Chong annual sports meet

It’s Hwa Chong annual sports’ day today. Students from school NYHG, HCI, and HCIS meet together finally! There were various sports event, such as javelin, shot put, relay etc. It was a joyous time there. The crowd waited with bated breath as the race starts and cheered their hearts out as the competitors crossed the finishing line. There was also a free flow of milo given out and souveniers were sold. Furthermore, the school was dismissed at 10.45!

Starseeker

Star seeker is a great book by Tim Bowler. It is really touching and meaningful. It is about a boy, called Luke, who had a gift of music. However, he had been mixed up in a notorious gang that went about burning down public property and beating up people. But, one day Luke heard a moaning/crying sound obviously from a girl supposedly from Mrs Little's house, a stone's throw away from his and found out that the girl's real identity was a abducted child who stays unknowingly in her house. Follow Luke and see how he rescue the girl back to her parents and kind-heartedly forgive the kidnapper. alternative view

MS-DOS

MS-DOS was one of the earliest operating systems on Earth. It makes use of simple command (and complex attributes) to operate. It is also uncomplicated, with only a few files that adds up to less than 1 mb.(compare it to Vista that wolf down gbs of space!) One thing I loves about dos is its simplicity whick keeps the errors down. There are no Bsod, software compatibility problems etc. Even nowadays, when there are great GUI featured Windows, dos is still needed.

Floppy

Floppy plays a an important part in the invention of computers. Floppy seems to be just an old-fashioned magnetic disk nowadays, but it is the one that gives the computer its memory, its ability to process, its brain. This generates the artificial intelligence(not leaving out the essential softwares and hardwares) . You may ask, "What about harddisk? " Well, the earliest computers ran singlely on floppy when harddisks was not available. Only these enables the advanced of technology of the web and modern computers.

Safety Starts With Me

Mozilla Firefox

I love Mozilla Firefox. It is a friendly, safe browser with useful features. IE is good but it security features are not as powerful as firefox. Once I had installed and used IE and computer was infected with a record breaking 2302 viruses. I just can’t believe it! Finally, I know why. Since the win over Netscape, IE dominates the world. But why develop and inject money into a free browser? Hence, IE is full of security loopholes. But firefox is different. It is the fastest browser now.Mozilla Firefox 3.0 Is the Best Browser for Web — For Now

Copyright by Warners Bros.

I am glad that Warners Bros. had enforced its copyright law by removing videos on road runner etc. Copyright law is tightened as more piracy happens in the world.

Book Review For “Village By the Sea”

This book, written by Anita Desai, means a lot to me. The themes in 'The Village by the Sea' are: • Harsh living conditions in India • Adaptations to changing environments • Poverty, hardships and sadness of rural Indians • Hari as a central character of this and teaches how to fight hardships as there are good times and bad times in a person's life • The builing up of factories in the village Thul and how it has an impact on the villagers I really pity Hari and his family. They lived in poverty and longed to escape the grasp of it but did not succeed for generations. Also, not only that, Hari’s father is a drunkard who had spent every cent on beer and his mother is ill from a mysterious illness and hospital are miles away from their village. However, thanks to the help from Mrs de Sliver, a kind women from Bombay, hari;s mother managed to get through and Hari’s father decided to turn over a new leaf. The story should be read by all.

News Article "Sorry Guys, These Lots are not for you

It had been known for decades that the society is favorable towards man. However, this article highlights the fact that ladies also plays an important part in the society too, with more privilege like reserved parking spots, as in the example in this article. Personally, I felt that the company is being too bias towards women. Ms Daphne Sim gave reason that the women are wearing high heels shoes and it would be easier for them if they are near the entrance, which is really invalid. I feel that more parking lots should have been reserved for the elderly and needy, for they are the one who need it most.

Miss Oh Siew May(comments on Straits Times article)

Miss Oh, who suffered from celebral palsy, was a great woman who scaled MT Kinabalu. I really admired her achievements. From her we could learn many values and habits of mind from her. First she was persistance. Although she met many obstacles and failures, she overcomed them with hardwork and determination. She also believe in herself and persue her dreams. It has also made her numerous friends. Her book, named Scaling Walls, will be lunched on Feb 28, Sat. I wish her book will motivate many others.

Investigators probe deadly China mine blast

This story is classified under the event story because the mine, in Gujiao of Shanxi province exploded and many miners at work were injured and even killed. The company and government were trying to solve the issues of unsafe mines. I really pity the miners for they knew that there are perils when mining, but for the sake of their families, they had to take such a dangerous job to earn a living. Their families would surely be affected and saddened by this incident. I suggest that the government could first close down the unsafe mines and open only after newer inventions come out that could boost the safety of miners. They could also send officers for periodic checks of mines. The company and government should take full responsibility for this incident. They should have conducted checks and notify the miners of the unsafe areas. They ought to compensate to the families that are affected. In conclusion the company and government of China should have taken more measures in mining, China’s deadliest industry which killed more than 3200 miners.

Digimon

Digimon was my favorite childhood series(although I am still a child now.) I followed every series and never missed out any one of it. Filled with important value like friendship and bravery, it tells us about the journey of eight children trying to save the Digimon world and find their way home.

Which language is the easiest to learn?

Wondering which language is the best to learn? Is it English, Chinese, or Malay? I feel that all language has the same difficulty. However your frequently of contact with the loanguage makes a lot of difference. For example, you are a Chinese and wanted to learn Japanese. If you are staying in Japan or had a group of Japanese friends, you tends to become more familier with the native’s culture and it would assist you a lot in learning this language. Also you can come into frequent contact with this language. Furthermore, you are fored to learn it for this is the only way to communicate with your friends. In conclusion the easiest way to learn a language is to live with a native.

Life in Hwachong

s interesting and special. There are many different places to explore, from secret doors to “deserted” house. Hwachong had provided me with tons of expensive and useful facilities like gyms and books. Built by Tan Kah Kee, the historical clock toer has the most significant effect on me. Only the-elite-of-the-elite students can go there. That is my aim. I am sure that I will learn a lot in Hwachong.

Should MOE abolish exams for P1?

I would like to address the topic “Should MOE abolish exams for P1?” I feel that it’s not recommended. In adulterhood or teenager, Singapreans felt great stress that is hard to cope with. The light examinations originally for P1 is a great preperation for the oncoming stess. People argued that abolishing exams can reduce stress but this is only a short term solution. Exam is the only and most effective way to measure one’s knowledge. Furthermore more difficulties will be faced when pupils graduate to P2. Hence, I disagree with the abolishing of exams for P1.

Can a Leopard Change Its Spots?

I would like to addressed the topic “Can a leopard change its spots?” It may be true in some cases whereas it may be not depending on one’s ability and determination. With strong determination, one can change its habit. Of cause, we need to overcome barriers and difficulties. It also depends on surrounding factors. Let’s say one had came out of jail. He now face an undeciding future. Do he want to turn over a new leaf? His former friends may persuade him to go back to his crimes but those who cared for him may motivate him to have a brighter future. “When there’s a will, there’s a way”, it takes one’s resilience to succeed. Hence a leopard can change its spots.

Should We Divulge Our Secrets?

Secrets are important to one who possess it. Should we divulge our secrets? I feel that there are pros and cons for each individual. Some are more distressed after sharing their secrets while some are otherwise. personally, I feel that it can be relaxing to pour out our inner thoughts but according to the "Mind Your Body" of "The Straits Times section, sharing of some secrets is recommended but excessive sharing of secrets may lead to more stress. Also,we should always share secrets to those we trust, for he/she may betray you and spread those secrets around.

Revisit To my Former Primary School

I went to my former school before Chinese New Year. The visit was refreshing. It sent memories back to me like tidal waves. I suddenly thought back of my primary school years. It was left with a mixed of joy, sorrow and regrets. Looking back, I wondered what makes that six years of time so short. It had been an easy journey, overcoming basic obstacles. I wonder what my life ahead would be.

Chinese New Year

Chinese new year has just ended. Wonder how you guys celebrate the Chinese New Year? I did the usual but fun stuff: going to my friends' house, playing computer games... But the best part is recieving red packets! It's worth quite a fortune! I ate to my heart's content at the reunion dinner. The table was lined with a wide array of fabulous delicacies, from steamed fishes to rice cakes. It was a great new year!

bus vs. car theory

On the bus, my friend told me a funny but logical theory. It goes like this: In Singapore, bus gets better treatment than cars. (e.g. There is a special lane for buses but not for cars. ) As the advantage of travelling by bus than by car increase, and the advantage of driving a car decreases(e.g. price hike, increase in tax), more people will switch to buses. However, as more people take buses, the road will be crammed with buses, not cars. Then, people will switch back to car again. It's a cycle, isn't it?

why i named my blog hyper-pen

There 's a proverb that goes "The pen is mightier than the sword" hence I created this blog with the URL of http://hyper-pen.blogspot.com/. But, nowdays with the advanced technology, online posting is supposedly the mightiest. Just a few years ago the access to world wide web is made possible, but now it was the most effective ways to spread informations.(Not newspaper anymore!)