In the light of the Murdoch phone scandal...

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

I agree to a certain extent that the news media is to blame for this unhealthy paparazzi (defined as freelance photographers who take candid photos of celebrities for publication) culture, however there are other factors and parties (groups) to take into consideration.

The news media has the right to publish tabloids regarding celebrities and their private lives; it adds some spunk and liveliness to the papers, without which would be dull. The tabloids also provide a source of amusement for its readers, by dragging down haughty celebrities and pompous politicians into the dirt. Witty headlines add a sense of cheekiness and vibrance to the newspaper by announcing snippets of juicy stories and scandals, then reeling in the readers for more. Every journalist, no matter how serious, possesses a sense of admiration for Fleet Street tabloids, and its witty criticisms and mocking of celebrities and royalty, dragging them down and knocking them off their feet once in a while when they get too high and mighty. However, the phone hackings of News Corporation has gone too far in this tabloid business, violating the slender line of ethics in journalism. With the increasing cutthroat competition between tabloids, News Corporation has abandoned all pretenses of civility. It has declared war, and phone hacking is its nuclear arsenal. With all impunity that stemmed from Murdoch's cosy relationship with the British authorities, the News Corporation has hacked again and again, encouraging this paparazzi culture, all the while crossing the line of ethics while its readers and the law look on with indifference. It appears that the News Corporation is the mastermind behind the "extremist" culture of forcibly extracting juicy scandals.

But they are not.

The readers of News Corporation are responsible to a small extent. They were the ones who indirecty caused the hackings to happen; to phrase it another way, the News Corporation orchestrated the hackings in order to feed their appetite. However, this argument that they caused the hackings is unquestionably invalid: The tabloid business operates all over the world just to satisfy these appetites; to blame the readers would be to blame every single tabloid reader around the world, who read the tabloids for the same reason: entertainment. No, the readers are responsible in the sense that they stood by with indifference, while the News Corporation launched its nuclear arsenal. The readers could have criticised and rebuked the News Corporation for these extreme methods, however the disturbing fact is that they allowed their lust for the juicy news to overpower the ethics of journalism, which undoubtedly were struggling to break free of the chains of obsession and addiction (to the tabloids) somewhere in the back of their minds. Only when it was revealed that the hackings happened to a murder victim and the families of dead soldiers did morality boil to the surface in a searing wave, causing them to lose their appetite for the tabloids.

The British authorities and law enforcers have a lot to answer for. Why was Murdoch not apprehended? What is his relationship with the authorities? Why did the law act as a bystander instead of meting out punishment, retribution, and justice as it was meant to do? Laws are meant to place morality and ethics in formal context. What the News Corporation did was undoubtedly beyond the boundaries of ethics in journalism. It is the responsiblity of the law to keep the ravenous tabloids (which would like nothing better to descend upon celebrities and tear them apart) on a leash. Instead the News Corporation ends up being the one holding the leash- leashes, in fact, leashes secured to the necks of politicians, celebrities, and anyone who might speak out against the mighty Murdoch empire. With a tug of the leash, any potential threats to its reign would be silenced. The law was one of those secured to a leash. Degrading. But what makes it even more shocking was that it did so willingly- submitting to the almighty news media instead of bringing it to justice. The crux of the problem lies in corruption. Illicit payments made to corrupt police officers- the very slime of society. Despicable. Operation Elveden currently probes these payments.

To summarise, the responsiblity is borne upon the shoulders of the news media, the readers, and the authorities. However, the media and the authorities bear the bulk of the weight, having to pay for their despicable violation of ethics, corruption, and their treacherous conspiracy. The readers, though carrying a lighter load, face the question of why they remained bystanders.

Justice, Mercy, and Law/Judgement

By the end of the trial scene, do you think true justice and mercy was achieved? Reflect and write on the following questions:

1. Is there true justice? Why?
I believe true justice was not served in the trial. However, I would like to clarify that there is no "true justice", due to the fact that the opinions of many have to be taken into account, as well as religious practices and beliefs, morality and different moral concepts. Therefore, the "justice" we believe in is merely a righteous moral concept reinforced and applied by the law and in the court. In the case of the trial, the matter of justice being served is all a matter of perspective.

From the viewpoint of the self-righteous Christians, justice was meted out along with a healthy dose of mercy- Shylock's sentence was lightened, his life was spared, and he was converted to Christianity (which might have been doing him a favour, from their point of view). This was an obvious show of leniency as Shylock had repeatedly turned down alternate offers and Portia's beseechment to show mercy. The Christians probably believed that Shylock deserved whatever punishment that he got, as his thirst for vengeance was glaringly obvious throughout the trial (the New Testament discourages vengeance), and that the scales of justice were in balance as Shylock's flat refusal to show mercy and insistence on justice (for the sake of his vengeance) eventually backfired on him, courtesy of Portia.

However, to consider the trial from Shylock's perspective would show a drastic and shocking change in one's opinion and stand taken with regards to the whole event as well as the issue of justice. Shylock comes to court seeking the rightful payment of his bond, but instead loses his job, dignity, religion, friends, and wealth. Furthermore, the majority of the court of Christians was already prejudiced against him as a Jew, tipping the scales in their favour. Even the "noble" and self-righteous Duke who is supposed to be impartial is obviously sympathetic towards Antonio, and makes attempts to dissuade Shylock from wreaking vengeance. Besides, it was Portia's intention from the start of the trial to bend the law and manipulate the court (and even Shylock himself) into convicting Shylock, invoking an obscure Venetian law and taking everything away from him, even his life. If I were Shylock (vengeance aside), seeking payment for my bond, but eventually being unfairly convicted and sentenced to a miserable existence following a faith I do not believe in, then I want no part in this "justice".

2. Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?
Again, the issue of mercy is another grey area- a matter of perspective. By converting Shylock to Christian, Antonio could have thought that he was doing him a favour by sparing him from the infernal hell he believed Shylock would go to, converting him to a Christian, which, in his eyes, was the ideal faith to follow. However, to Shylock, Antonio was further exacerbating his situation by ripping away from him the one thing that he loved most, the thing that gave him his identity and made him who he was, despite attacks from people around him- his faith. Mercy is to sympathise with and to show compassion and forbearance towards an offender. Further aggravating the situation by robbing him of his religion- is this mercy? Furthermore, Antonio's motives for converting Shylock remain obscure, thus it is difficult to discern if Antonio is using his opportunity to show mercy as an opportunity to take revenge while Shylock was vulnerable.

Also, we must not turn a blind eye to the ambiguity in line 380, "To quit the fine for one half of his goods". This can mean two things: Antonio is beseeching the court to renounce its claim to half of Shylock's wealth (maybe even the fine), OR that he agrees that the fine should be paid instead of the full penalty (half of Shylock's wealth). Antonio also states that the half of Shylock's wealth that now belongs to Antonio be returned to him and bequeathed "upon his death unto the gentleman that lately stole his daughter". This obviously is a reference to the Lorenzo, whom Shylock probably hates for being a Christian and stealing his daughter. This again can be seen as a double-edged blade of mercy and revenge.

From Shylock's perspective, Antonio is inflaming the situation by increasing Shylock's losses, which greatly outnumber the mercies displayed to him and his punishments lightened. On the other hand, the Christian court may observe much (maybe even too much) mercy being displayed to Shylock: The lightening of the state's claim as a fine, Shylock being able to keep half of his wealth which was originally Antonio's, and even his conversion to Christianity. This one-sided mercy, behind which may crouch the malicious intent and thirst for vengeance against the Jew, may have some direct connection to the plot. This is due to the fact that Shylock is the main antagonist who gets his just desserts, yet mercy is still shown to him by the "righteous" Christians, contributing to a happy ending in which the Christians go home with clear consciences and Shylock with heavier burdens (added by the Christians) weighing him down.

One-sided mercy that may be used to exact revenge instead of showing compassion is not mercy at all, however it depends on the characters' intentions, especially Antonio's, which remain obscure and ambiguous.

3. Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.
The matter of Justice and Law being bent by powerful people crops up every now and then. In the Merchant of Venice, Portia (as a lawyer) manipulates not only the bond and the court, but also the law, to convict Shylock by invoking a deadly Venetian law. Likewise, figures of authority and power such as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, ex-minister and director of the Inter-Monetary Fund, a global financial organization, are able to bend the law to their advantage, in Strauss-Kahn's case, possible dismissal of felony charges may allow him to get away with his vile act of sexual assault. Although people in power and politicians have always been a target of conspiracies and scandals, efforts to tarnish their reputations, obvious cases in which justice is warped by figures of authority to their advantage (such as said case of sexual assault), are evidence of how people in power evade the law- but most of the time, the long arm of the law catches up with them.

Dear Mr Heng...

1. To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention

I agree wholeheartedly with the definition of learning as described by Dictionary.com, as well as the fact that the essence of learning is curiosity, as opposed to memorisation and regurgitation. The purpose of education is to ‘prepare oneself or others intellectually for mature life’, and our talent is being suppressed to meet the demands of the education system. For example, my talent lies in story- writing, which was only touched on for a mere term in Secondary One, with the rest of the year (as well as the next) being dedicated to expository writing. Furthermore, students are pressurized to memorise and regurgitate without comprehension, which obviously defeats the purpose of learning- obtaining knowledge via clarification. The students of today are not taught to ask or wonder, to ponder and search for answers. Their talent is suppressed and their potential rots away. Moral education is TESTED, and moral educations lessons are, as I am sure is the case with many primary schools, replaced with academic subject periods as teachers compromise morality by placing the importance of PSLE before moral education. Education, for education's sake, often falls short of its goals.

2. Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?

Janelle has taken a stern and firm tone with the minister, yet remains polite throughout the letter. I find the tone acceptable, however the aggressive reinforcement of her stand results in the letter sounding mildly challenging and defiant, however she remains polite and is not overly offensive.

3. If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

I feel that Janelle should have stated how Moral Education should be taught, and how the education system might classify and nurture the students' talents and interests accordingly. SHe could also have raised examples of successful or in her opinion, ideal education systems of other first-world countries.

Money in Matrimony

In your opinion, is money important in a relationship? Consider the 'transactional' element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities? Provide examples for your responses.

I feel that money is important in a relationship to a certain extent, however the nature of marriage is true love. There is indeed heavier weightage on financial matters in marriage as shown in The Merchant of Venice, as well as a "transactional" element, shown when Bassanio borrows money from Antonio to court Portia, to cover his expenses to Belmont as well as to impress her into marrying him. Some say that Bassanio married Portia because of her wealth, this is untrue, however, proven in Act 3 Scene 2, where both of them express their mutual "love at first sight". Another example involving money entwined with love in The Merchant Of Venice occurs in Act 2 Scene 3 to 6, where Jessica devises a cunning plot to "make fast the doors and gild myself with some more ducats, and be with you straight", showing how money can buy happiness to a certain extent, however the source of Jessica and her lover's happiness stems from their true love, which is in truth what holds a marriage together. Copious amounts of money are insignificant compared to pure, true love, and will not sustain a marriage for long.

Some people marry others for the materialistic purpose of living off their wealth. Such people can be likened to parasites, draining away the money of others without giving anything in return. Marriage is not only a union of financial resources, but a union of hearts and minds. Pooling financial resources help the couple to "buy" a certain amount of happiness as well as support the family and meet their basic needs, however those who live off others for the sole purpose of enjoying an extravagant and luxurious life, taking advantage of this financial union and not appreciating the true love that should be felt and enjoyed when a man and woman meet in matrimony. The opposite is also true: a couple who are financially weak can still enjoy the warmth of each other's company. I feel that the statement regarding an upward trend in these "gold diggers" is untrue, however, as people in modern society tend to aim to strike a balance between the two: they look for a mate whom they understand, appreciate, and admire, but also wish to be secure and comfortable financially so that they can enjoy their marriage more.

Revolution of War

The 100 years war, the battles of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms, the siege of Troy, the conquests of Genghis Khan and the rise of the Mongol Empire- Even in the past, man has relied on war as a solution to his problems, a tool to get what he wishes, be it blazing ambition, raging desires, morality, religion, or the tangled web of power and politics. Even when problems can be solved by negotiations and compromising, Man resolves conflicts with what he sees as the simplest of ways: war. Human greed is insatiable, likewise human opinion, beliefs, and morals are hard to quash. Man has always let his heart rule his mind, labeling massacres and bloodshed with honor and valour, backing them with causes he deems "worthwhile", fueling the furnace of war. Menelaus besieged Troy simply due to desire: he was willing to risk his army for Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships. Genghis Khan the conquerer slaughtered and slaughtered again to expand the vast, ever-growing Mongol Empire to cover most of Eurasia.

However, war is also waged within the animal kingdom: wolf packs tear each other apart upon meeting, Jane Goodall herself documented a war between groups of chimpanzees in 1974. In fact, the essence of war is similar to that of the wild: kill or be killed. Therefore it can be argued that "war" is a manifestation of this animalistic aggression displayed in the wild, the human version of this animal behavior. While animals fight due to territoriality and competition, this behavior, perhaps, manifests itself in Man as warfare, which Man supports with reasons such as desire (not unlike animal survival and competition) as well as beliefs, led by decisive leaders who seek war (e.g. Napoleon and Hitler).

While the nature and the essence of war remains unchanging, its manifestations shift from shape to shape throughout the ages. The first men fought with primitive spears of wood and sharp stone, clubs of stone and wood. Following that, swords and spears were forged with metal, increasing their potential for destruction. Human ingenuity has also spawned various weapons such as the cannon, developed with the discovery of gunpowder, and the chariot, pulled by beasts tamed by man for the sole purpose of war. As the modern age approached, ornate armour of bronze morphed to camouflage uniforms, arrows were replaced by pellets of metal and heat-seeking missiles, steeds and mounts of war were transformed into machines with pelts of titanium and steel. The destructive potential of these weapons constantly increase as mankind adds its emerging technology to boost its capacity for war. The advancement of technology has accelerated the destructiveness of human modern warfare to unacceptable and irrational levels.

Reflection on "The Soldier" by Robert Brooke

1) Annually we need young men in Singapore to do National Service. Why do you think National Service is compulsory in Singapore and why is this important?
Singapore has a small population, and as such, does not have the luxury to make serving in the army a regular job, in which people are paid to defend the nation; even if it was, the army of regualrs would definitely not be sufficient to maintain a strong military defence force. Furthermore, the nation does not have enough financial resources to pay those working soldiers who serve the army as a job.

National service is important as it forges between Singaporeans from all walks of life, and fosters racial harmony between the various ethnic groups, allowing them to find a common identity and purpose in serving their nation. It also develops ruggedness in Singaporean men, pushing them to their physical limits, thus allowing them to achieve physical fitness and be ready to defend their nation if need be, reservist or recruit.

2)In the poem the speaker expresses his love for his country, England. Do you have this same spirit of patriotism towards Singapore? Why? Do you find this same spirit of patriotism in Singapore? Why? Do you consider yourself a patriot to your country?

The speaker evidently views his country as a great mother figure, which provides him with a last gift, an English heaven, and peace even in death. I do feel patriotism towards Singapore (though not to the extent of being a patriot, as I have not shown any actual devotion), being the country in which I grew up and was nurtured, a country which guides me - and possibly other Singaporeans- toward success, allowing us to soar and achieve our dreams. It is both home and a metaphorical "mother". Yes, I do find patriotism in Singapore: the glory of our soldiers in serving their nation, the cheers of the people when they fly the flag, the way their hearts soar as they sing the anthem, and the pride that the elders, veterans, and even MM Lee, show when they share the story. That is evidence of patriotism.

LA home based learning- poem analysis

We Slept With Our Boots On

They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyes
They washed out the blood, we loaded our ruck’s and then took to the skies
Over the mountains, villages, and valleys we flew
Where we would land we had not a clue
Bullets are flying, the LZ is hot
We’re leaving this bird whether we like it or not
30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit
Get ready to go and make it quick
My heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veins
I run as fast as I can through the lead rain
The noise is tremendous, terror I can’t define
The only reason I survived that day was divine
I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more
You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more
We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks
From house to cave, to car to creek
Dirty and tired and hungry and scared
We slept with our boots on so we were always prepared
Those majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies
The Hindu Kush has changed so many lives
Up the mountains with heavy loads we trod
Who knew hell was so close to God
Beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink
So we drank it like drunkards and tried not to think
Good men and bad men, Mothers lost son’s
Everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns
Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire
I will never forget those who were called higher
They say blood is thicker than water, well lead is thicker than blood
Brothers aren’t born they’re earned. In the poppy fields, the tears, and the mud
And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell
Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell


Steve Carlsen


Task 1:
Background information
Steve Carlsen was born and resides in Dowagiac, Michigan. He joined the US Army in October 2000, went through Infantry Basic Training and Airborne School. He was deployed to Kosovo in November 2001 for peacekeeping operations, and following that, to Afghanistan in December 2002 to take part in the war.He was honourably discharged from the army in 2003, and currently attends Southwestern Michigan College, where his professor, Dr. Michael Collins, challenged him to write about his experiences. Therefore, the poem is written from Steve's firsthand experiences, most likely in a negative light.

LZ: Landing Zone

Hindu Kush: 500-mile long mountain range located in Afghanistan to Pakistan

http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html

Task 2:
The poem is written from a first-person point of view, as opposed to poems in second-person point of view, which often describe the scene in general instead of from the perspective of a single individual. This suggests that the writer has memories and has experienced the war firsthand, which is further confirmed and supported by his background information- his history as a soldier in the war.

The poem is written in past tense, thus implying it is a recollection by the writer, set in Afghanistan, supported by the mention of the Hindu Kush as well as the writer's background information (having fought the war in Afghanistan). The poem narrates the writer's feelings and experiences as he fights battle after battle day after day, revelling in the thrill of the fight but also overshadowed by the fear ("beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink"). The poet does not mention much of the enemy they were fighting on the physical plane, but instead reveals the true enemy to originate from the emotional and psychological aspect of their thoughts. Therefore in this case the theme is Man vs Oneself, where the writer struggles with glorifying the war ("washed in the blood, baptised by fire") and rejecting it out of guilt and fear ("everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns"). "Lead is thicker than blood, brothers aren't born, they're earned"- this shows that the writer's perception of the war has been slightly warped; he glorifies the brotherhood formed with his comrades through battle and bloodshed. The writer makes his stand unclear until the last 11 lines in which he reflects and lastly concludes that war= hell ("Another paratrooper reporting for duty, sir I spent my time in hell").

The poem follows an AA BB rhyming pattern where the last word of the first line rhymes with the last word of the next line. The writer narrates the scene in a oxymoronic and contradictory manner (e.g. "Beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink" and "who knew hell was so close to God"). The writer also manages to bring out the desperation, the rush, and the turmoil of war through the fast pace of the poem in which the writer and his comrades continuously rush from place to place, fighting chaotic battles ("We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks, from house to cave, to house to creek"). Adjectives such as "tremendous" and "dirty, tired, hungry, and scared" are used to describe the battle and its effects and outcomes.

I feel that this poem does manage to bring out the essence of war through the writer's thoughts and experiences. The rhyming pattern gives the poem a slightly "catchy", fast-paced rhythm which aids in the description of war and the battle in general. The writer also manages to bring out his inner turmoil, (thrill vs fear) and finally rejects war in the concluding lines of the poem. Ultimately, the theme is Man vs Oneself.

War- a personal response (descriptive)

The soldier lies amidst the wreckage, his faint heartbeat ebbing away, with his two comrades racing frantically to save his life. Blood flows freely from his battered, worn face, like an old mask that has been worn for far too long. He feels the familiar weight of the ammunition resting upon his chest, and the rifle lying by his side. One comrade is bent down with despair, mourning the soon-to-be loss.

How many more will suffer his fate, never to see the light of day or feel the warmth of his family again, to die on a battlefield of death and despair, when they can pass away peacefully on their deathbed, surrounded by the love of family, surrendering their lives to the so-called noble cause of war? How many more families, Vietnamese or American, who suffer the heart-wrenching pang that comes with the loss of a family member? How many more times must the bloodstained blade of war fall again and again to severe threads of lives, and along with them, love? Compared to the care and warmth of friends and family, war seems puny, insignificant, and immature. Why kill each other when we can live happy lives in harmony? For our own reasons that we deem "right"? Are there truly weapons of mass destruction, or do we seek to seize oil supplies for our own good? Why impose idealogies on others and reinforce them with violence? Are we so immature, so dependent on the opinions of others, that we cannot stand others taking another path, not doing things "our way"? Yet, in spite of all this, war is being fed like a furnace being stoked, and one day, as H.G. Wells once said, if we do not end wars, wars will end us. There is only one fuel, one fuel for the fires of war that ignites the sparks of hate and rage. Us. Our volition. The choice whether to ignite the fires of war or to extinguish them lies within us.

War- A personal response (Narrative)

The world faded in and out of focus. The soldier's consciousness teetered on the edge of the void, yet somehow managed to grip on. His unfocused gaze slid past the wreckage which once was the Viet Kong headquarters building, to the rifle lying on his limp hand, and focused on the pair of bright green eyes, which were filled with such intense emotion that the soldier was momentarily jolted to alertness. He tried to sit up, but a nerve-wracking pain surged through his abdomen, and he gave a hoarse cry of agony. All around him, the ground was littered with bloody corpses, some twisted and some scorched, as though a monstrosity of some kind had passed by and carelessly scattered corpses like ashes over the battlefield. In his half-conscious state, the soldier heard voices, voices that were filled with emotion that threatened to overwhelm him with crushing pressure.

"The explosion... Viet Kong escaped... secret tunnel"

"Splinter...punctured vital organs...not...live"

"Johnson...Johnson..."

The voice called to him, filled with emotion, and it took all his willpower to resist the pull of the void. The voice, the voice of his friend, whom he had fought side by side with, whom he had promised he would live through the war. Then he thought of his family and his children, whom he would never see again. To think he would die on this battlefield of death and despair, instead of on his deathbed, living with his wife and children to a ripe old age. He looked around the battlefield for one last time. How many more were there like him, he thought. How many who would not live to see the light of day or feel the warmth of family? He gazed, once more, into those green eyes, from which tears now freely flowed, and mouthed his friend's name, as his parched throat could not voice a word. Then he drew his thoughts and feelings around him like a shroud, and , with one last smile, with an explosion of emotions, let go of his life.

Fried egg and ham sandwich

You will need 8 slices of white bread, 0.125 kg of cheddar cheese , 0.25 kg of sliced pre-cooked ham, 4 eggs, 0.028kg of butter. Butter both sides of each slice of bread with 2 tablespoons of butter.


Heat the remaining butter in a pan and crack each egg into the pan about 5 cm away from each other after the butter has melted. Season the eggs to your taste with salt and pepper and pan-fry them for 2 to 3 minutes till the yolk is runny and the white is firm. Meanwhile, get down to constructing the sandwich by spreading the melted butter over the bread and dividing the cheese among four slices of bread. Divide the ham into four portions and place them on top of the cheese, followed by the four fried eggs. Place a piece of bread over each of the four "stacks" to complete the sandwich. Pan-fry the sandwiches on both sides until they turn golden-brown. Serves 4 (a sandwich for each person). To be served warm.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/fried-egg-and-ham-sandwich-recipe/index.html

Letter to Survivors

661, Bukit Timah Road ( 269734 )

Hwa Chong Institution

29/3/2011

Dear Ryuzaki,

News of your predicament has travelled swiftly, far, and wide. After reading the news articles, whether online or printed, I felt compelled to write this letter to comfort and encourage you in the light of this recent string of disasters. It is to my understanding that the earthquake and tsunami have had a tremendous impact upon Japan, especially the coastal cities such as Tokyo, Iwaki, and Mito. These natural disasters triggered a series of explosions in the Fukushima reactor, located in the Fukushima province your home was located in. Iam glad that no harm has befallen you and that you have evacuated the area lest you fall prey to the deadly, creeping cloud of radiation.

Based on what I have read from live recounts, once the disaster starts, you feel as though you have lost total control of your life. The grip of terror that encircles you when you feel the ominous rumble of the quake, like an obstreperous child throwing a tantrum, the cloud of uncertainty that hangs about you, the desperate rush for food rations, news, and the assurance that family members are safe and unhurt. These cannot be entirely explained in words. Even the aftershock mimicks a sort of morbid replay of the quake, as though the quake is speaking to you, taunting you about not being in control.

I rejoice in the fact that you live and are unharmed, and urge you to overcome these fears. One thing that sets humans apart from animals is their consciousness: their ability to think and feel and will. Strengthen your resolve and your will; do not let your determination for self-preservation crumble, yet find the compassion and be willing to sacrifice in order to help others.

My hopes go with you.

James

Setting

It began with the wind. The wind from another age that unleashed a fury the likes of which had never been seen before in any other blizzard. The wind ripped apart the sky shook the earth, screaming at the very boundaries of reality. The trees bowed and trembled before its fury, and

the whispering of their leaves quickly turned to shrieks of pain and fear. The wind sang of conquest and death, and pounded the forest with snow and ice.

Then the wolf emerged.

Its long mane of black fur rippled in the wind, and its eyes were the colour of the purest gold, indicating its great age. Its legs were lean and muscular from running, ears pricked, listening intently. It flicked its tail and then spread its jaws, tasting the air. The wind ceased instantly, dying down to a whimper. It blew about in apologetic circles around it, stirring the snow around its feet. The wolf ignored it, and then suddenly its eyes flared. Just the merest suggestion of his quarry's scent drifted onto its tongue, and it drank in the air, trying to detect any other remnants. Then it found the trail, and followed it. Behind it, ravens followed in the hope of having a meal of fresh meat. Then, as it reached the end of the path, it bared its teeth in what was unmistakably a savage grin.

The hunter had found its prey.

Becoming a Singaporean

Note: The following story is completely fiction.

“What are you doing?!” the Japanese soldier demanded. He was a tall, dark, burly man built along the lines of a professional wrestler. The otherwise handsome face was twisted into an ugly snarl of hatred and rage. His breath smelt of alcohol and cigarette smoke. But it was his uniform that distinguished him from any other military man. This was no ordinary soldier of the Japanese Imperial Army; this was one of their military police and secret service, the Kempeitai. “S-sir, I was merely giving that man some bread.” The Japanese leaned in closer, and his foul breath filled the space between us. “That man is an enemy of the Emperor and our army. Surely you would know better than to aid one of our enemies, boy?” I gulped and nodded. “You know what happens to traitors, don’t you?” He sneered. “Y-yes,” I stuttered. Those who committed the slightest offence were subjected to terrible torture or decapitation at the Kempeitai centre. “Now don’t ever let me catch you around here again, or I’ll skin you alive!” I hurriedly picked up my basket and trotted off down the alley.

“Stop!” the Kempeitai suddenly ordered. I froze. “Turn around slowly.” I did as ordered. The soldier frowned. “Are you Chinese, boy?” he growled. I felt as though an ice-cold claw had grasped my heart in an iron grip. “Me, sir?” I squeaked. “I sell and deliver bread. No harm to anybody!” The soldier grunted. “What’s your name?” “I’m, uh, Ali. Yeah, Ali.” “Ali… hmm…” The soldier rolled the name around in his mouth. My heart pounded madly. “I’ve never heard of you. Now get out of here and never let me see you again!” He finally snarled. “Yes, sir.” I picked up the basket and ran out of the alley. The soldier walked off in the opposite direction. I waited around the corner until I was sure he had gone. Then I turned and ran toward the crippled Chinese soldier in tattered clothes whom I had offered bread to. “I’m-…” “Xiaoshu, yes. I know you. Done a few undercover jobs for us, eh?” I offered him a canteen of cool water from the basket, and a loaf of bread. After he finished drinking, he continued, “The location you are seeking is not too far ahead. Just continue going straight, and then take a left turn until you reach a dilapidated old hut set on a hill. From there, turn right until you reach a wire fence, which marks the boundary of the place you seek. Good luck, comrade.” I stood up, and was about to leave, but then I turned, helped the man up, and supported him, limping to a deserted shop house. “Don’t bother about me,” he said urgently. “What is the life of one compared to millions?” “We’re all in this together,” I told him. “Never leave a man behind. The Kempeitai would torture you if they knew what you have done. Besides,” I grinned. “What have we got to lose?”

The soldier’s directions proved to be accurate. I walked straight, and then reached a junction where I took the left turn I was told to. Every time a saw the Kempeitai I crouched and hoped with all my might that they didn’t find me. The path slowly faded to the more ruralised country areas where shrubbery and trees grew untamed. Somewhere on the way, I suddenly realized that I was trekking uphill. The hut that the soldier had described appeared as a tiny brown dot on the horizon. When I reached the top, I groaned and flopped to the ground, gasping. Then a loud creak made me spring to attention. Then I realized with horror what I was really looking at.

The inside of the hut was splattered with blood and bits of flesh and what looked like brains. The dwelling was invaded with the putrid smell of decomposition, and on the floor lay a British soldier, his face still locked in a death scream, intestines spilling out onto the floor beside him. His eyes were open, glazed with fear, and a neat hole in his chest and the bloodstains on his mouth and chest were evidence enough that his lungs had been punctured and he had gagged on his own blood. With a trembling hand, I closed both his eyes. Now, he looked almost asleep… except for the entrails spilling out of his torso. A sense of fury overcame me, and I rode that wave of hatred and righteous anger until it threatened to burn out my heart. This Japanese scourge must be wiped from our lands at once! Too many have died at their hands and more soon will! I brushed my hands on my trousers and walked on.

At last I reached my destination. I poked my eye through one of the holes in the fence, and saw a huge, sprawling military compound. A grin broke across my face. This was the secret military base we were looking for! The radio transmitter used by the Japanese to intercept Allied messages was located in there. To seize control of the base meant to seize control of their access to Allied communications. We could use the transmitter to call for help! It was the key to our freedom. I removed a small two-way radio from my pocket and pressed a button. At first it there was a long burst of static, then I cleared my throat and spoke. “Force 136, do you read me? This is operative codename Little Mouse. Our target has been confirmed.” There was silence on the other end. Then… “Mouse, we read you loud and clear. This is agent Lim Bo Seng. We will deploy military units to that specific area immediately. Roger out.”

As I put down the two-way radio, I felt a sense of honour and loyalty for what I had done for my country. I was proud to be a Singaporean.

Importance of setting in a story

1. The real Durwan was set in Calcutta, India . The Adventure of the Speckled Band was set in Baker Street, London . Pride and Prejudice was set in an unknown town in England.



2. The real Durwan was set after the partition. The Adventure of the Speckled Band was set in 1883, and Pride and Prejudice was set in the 19th century.



3. The setting of The Real Durwan, along with how they introduce Boori Ma, her present poverty, and her tragic past, gives us subtle hints about how the story turns out to have a sad ending.

In the setting of the Adventure of the Speckled Band it is mentioned that Watson and Holmes investigate unusual and unnatural mysteries, which leads us to believe that the twisting plot is interlaced with mysteries and deception. Pride and Prejudice is obviously a story of romance and marriage.

Historical Background

Slavery
African slavery in the United States began in 1619, when two English pirate ships, the White Lion and the Treasurer, traded their captured Angolan slaves for food and services. The slaves were won in a battle with a Portugese ship bound for Mexico, and were part of the African slave trade done by most Portugese and European traders, who purchased them for cheap labour. These slaves were forced to abide by various unfair rules: they were forbidden to gather in groups of more than four, could not own weapons, and were not allowed to leave their master's house without a pass. Slaves freed after 1712 could not own a house or pass belongings on to children. The notions of slavery are similar to the racism and prejudice subtly displayed in the novel; negroes were nicknamed "niggers", an offensive and racist term, were treated unfairly in the society, (Tom Robinson's unfair trial) and were denied certain rights.

The Civil War
The southern states were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Abraham Lincoln had campaigned against he expansion of slavery within America, and thus when he was elected president, the eleven southern states, which strongly objected against Lincoln's campaign, secessed from the United States, forming the Confederate States and waging the American Civil War against the Union, the remaining 20 free states and 5 slave states, where slavery was abolished and allowed respectively. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865, until the Confederate resistance crumpled and they surrendered to the Union.

Jim Crow's Laws
Jim Crow is the subject of a song performed by a white man, Thomas Dartmouth Rice, in blackface, offensively stereotyping blacks. The Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws in the US enacted between 1876 and 1965, mandating racial segregation in all public facilities with "separated but equal" status for African Americans. After World War II, the African Americans challenged the segregation of their race as they felt that after all their services and sacrifices they had made for their country, they deserved the full and equal status of an American citizen. In the novel, a black man was charged with the rape of a white woman with the presumption of guilt, unlike the usual presumption of innocence which was a legal right obviously denied to African Americans.

Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a series of nonviolent movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination of African Americans and granting all Americans full and equal rights.

A few examples: Brown v. Board of Education case, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Desegregating Little Rock. The Brown v. Board of Education was a court case regarding the segregation of black and white children into different schools, which ended in the Negro children being allowed to share the same education facilities as white children. The Montgomery Bus Boycott started when a black woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, resulting in her being arrested and tried, and a majority of African Americans boycotting the Montgomery Bus services and demanding a more humane transport system. As a result, the court ordered Montgomery buses to be desegregated, thus ending the boycott. The Desegregation of Little Rock happened when nine African American students entered the integrated Little Rock Central High School, and were harassed by the other white students as a result of the racial tension and supposed white supreriority. The incident ultimately ended with the whole education system of Little Rock being desegregated.

The Civil Rights Movement was supported by President John F. Kennedy. The ultimate outcome was racial discrimination being banned and African Americans being granted franchise. The novel was written at about the same period when the Movement was taking place, and reflects the social injustice found in the southern states, and allows readers to sympathise with the unfairly treated African Americans.

Montgomery Bus boycott and Scottsboro trials
Montgomery Bus boycott- On 1 December 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, and was arrested, tried, and convicted. In response, African American leaders organised the Montgomery Bus boycott, and appoint Martin Luther King as President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organisation directing the boycott. A majority of African Americans joined the boycott, with both the MIA and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People demanding for the full desegregation of all public buses. The boycott lasted more than a year, enough to cause bus revenue to drop drastically, resulting in economic distress. The court gave in and ordered the Montgomery buses desegregated, and the boycott finally ended.

Scottsboro trials- On March 25, 1931, nine African American youths board a freight train with several white males and two white women, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. A fight began between the two black and white groups, and the white males were kicked off the train. The black boys were arrested for assault by a posse that had orders to "capture every negro on the train". The African American youths were imprisoned in Scottsboro, Alabama, and thus were nicknamed the Scottsboro Boys. The two alleged victims of rape accused the black youths of raping them at knifepoint, along with the possession of a gun. A doctor examined Price and Bates, and reported that they showed no sign of having been raped. Samuel Leibowitz was called in as defence attorney for the youths, and worked on the case without charging them fees. In the first trial most of the youths were found guilty and sentenced to death, but an appeal provided them with a second chance. In the second trial, Bates confesed that she and Price had made up the whole story of rape, but Price maintained her original testimony. However, two of the boys, Patterson and Norris were given a guilty verdict and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court found the trials unjust and demanded a retrial. The judge halted Patterson's retrial and went on with the trials of the other boys. After a series of trials, most of the Scotssboro boys were sent to prison.

The trials have much in common with the trial of Tom Robinson in the novel. Both trials were in the 1930s and took place in Alabama. Both have a protagonist who goes against public sentiments while fighting against racial discrimination and defend African Americans, who were unjustly accused of raping white women. The all-white juries also ignored evidence, such as Tom Robinson's useless left arm and that the women suffered no injuries.

Trials of a true Southern Belle and Southern Gentleman

Southern Belles were young women of America's southern states' upper class. They wore dresses, smocks, and makeup and carried parasols outdoors, spoke politely with proper grammar and no swear words, and never raised their voices. Lastly, they also knew how to entertain and cook for visitors. In conclusion, the Southern Belles behaved in a girlish, ladylike way and always dressed and spoke appropriately. Their counterparts, the Southern Gentlemen, also had good manners and were well groomed, spoke politely and did not cuss. They also open doors for their lady, tip their hats to ladies, and offer assistance to those in need.

Southern Belles generally did not do anything at all except entertain guests and attempt to appeal to the Southern Gentlemen. They sat under magnolia trees with their parasols fanning themselves often, hoping that people would take notice of their "belle-ness". When asked to do work, they would fan themselves and claim to have the "vapours".

Miss Maudie Atkinson and Alexandra Hancock are Southern Belles, while Scout is not, as she is more of a tomboy and likes playing with her brother Jem and male friend Dill. Atticus Finch fits the role of a Southern Gentleman perfectly as he is always polite, even in court. Bob Ewell, however is not a Southern Gentleman. He is, in fact, a drunkard who lives at the dump, poaches game to feed his family, and spends the money he gains to buy more drinks.

Harper Lee

Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, youngest of the four children of Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee, with her mother's name being Finch and her father a lawyer. As a child, she was a tomboy and a reader who was shown to be prematurely advanced and developed for her age. As an author, she has also written To Kill a Mockingbird, Love—In Other Words,Christmas to Me,When Children Discover America, Romance and High Adventure. She was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George Bush at the White House
in 2007, and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961.

Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird was received with ambivalence by African American readers, but had a profound impact on white readers, giving them insights into sexism and racism in the southern states such as Alabama which the author was born in, and based her book on her childhood life there. However, it has also raised many criticisms and suffered ridicule, being called"a child's book", "a sugar-coated myth of Alabamian history", "Atticus Finch is a repository of cracker-barrel epigrams (a quirk, quip)", etc.

Telephone Conversation

Q1 This poem is full of colours not just that of skin, what do you think these colours signify?
In this poem, the black skin of the African tenant signifies the lower class position he and his race occupy in society, looked down upon and despised by white folk. The landlady of the place he planned to rent evidently places great emphasis upon skin colour, as she seems slightly shocked and angry when the tenant reveals he is African, and proceeds to probe about his skin tone in a blunt, brusque manner. When faced with this question, the tenant becomes uncomforably aware of his surroundings, the red telephone booth, pillar-box, and bus. Nothing around him seems to possess the same colour as his skin. She specifically requests for what shade of brown the tenant is, to which he replies, "West African sepia". This has a great impact upon the landlady, who seems ready to hang up and reject the tenant. However, the tenant pleads with her by describing the lighter colours of his palms and soles. This shows the role skin colour and skin tone play in society and in making an impression. The dark colours mentioned in the poem not only apply to African skin, but also to the darkness in the hearts of people that have led them to discriminate others by race and skin colour.

Q2 What does the dialogue in this poem reveal about these two characters?
The dialogue reveals the tenant's shame at being African, as he is prejudiced and discriminated by others. It is revealed in the second paragraph, when he is questioned about his skin tone, that he is afraid and ashamed of admitting in public, on the phone, his darker skin tone. ( "Stench of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak ... Considerate she was, varying the emphasis..." )

The dialogue also reveals the landlady's prejudice against Africans and their skin colour. She was very specific when inquiring about the tenant's skin colour, and when she realised that her fears of an extremely dark-skinned tenant might be confirmed, she quickly adopted a tone and manner which she would use to speak to one of his kind, blunt and curt. ( "WHAT'S THAT?" ... " DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.")

Q3 The poet dramatises a battle, who wins finally and why?
The landlady is on the verge of rejecting the tenant and putting him out of his misery, when the tenant pleads that she would rather see for herself rather than judge him upon descriptions in a telephone conversation. I would presume that the tenant wins, as the landlady is given the benefit of the doubt. Her curiosity aroused, she may decide to give the tenant a chance and realise, to her relief, that the tenant may not have been as bad as she imagined.

Web-based home learning 24th January

www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=2725572
Why did you choose the different pictures/ background(s)?
I chose the different backgrounds corresponding to the narrative text displayed at the corner of the boxes so as to emphasise contrast between two scenes and also amplify the reader's understanding of the storyline.

How do they contribute to the elements (plot, setting, characterization) of your narrative?
The first scene is regarding negative impacts humans have on the environment: pollution, deforestation, etc. For that I chose a background of a road with different vehicles travelling on it: cars, buses, so as to show the pollution caused by the exhaust, resulting in greenhouse gases that trap heat, thus leading to global warming. For the second slide, about how the animals and habitats of today may become extinct, I used a landscape of ice and snow to represent the North Pole and how fast it is melting todaydue to global warming. Lastly, I used the background of a desert wasteland to show how the earth might become in the future. The scenes are arranged in chronological order: present, present, future.

How did you make use of different elements to contribute to the theme you have chosen?
For the first scene, I chose not to have a narrator, instead placing the narrative text in the top corner of the box. For the second scene, which explains how animals and habitats are going to become extinct, I chose a polar bear as the narrator, on a landscape of snow and ice, so as to raise an example of animal extinction. For the third scene, I chose a vulture to be the narrator, on a background of a desert wasteland, to show the drastic developments the earth may undergo in the future. This also show great contrast between it and the previous scene, the North pole, which may help readers understand what negative changes may happen to the earth if actions are not taken.

Discrimination

1) Race- Negroes in America were discriminated and denied certain rights
2) Ancestry- Some people tend to judge others by ancestry, and if one is descended from a notorious character, others might think of him as disgraceful.
3)Nationality- The Russians and Americans cultivated an intense hate toward each other during the Cold War
4) Religion- Hitler discriminated the Jews and massacred them.
5)Gender- Males were once admired as the higher order of society
6)Disability- They are neglected by society
7)Sexual Orientation- Homosexuals are ostracized by society
8)Physical appearance- Those with deformities, are ugly, or are fat, are shunned by society
9)Employment- Those with lower-class jobs such as cleaners or trash collectors are stereotyped as rough, smelly, and unhygienic people.
10) Political Affiliation- Some supporters of political parties are discriminated, scorned, and have taken violent action against them.
11)Education- The uneducated are looked down on in society. Elitist schools may think neighbourhood schools are inferior
12)Intelligence- People despise, scorn and ignore those of inferior intellect, especially those with psychological disorder.

Cloony the clown- thoughts

I think that the poem of Cloony the clown is a perfect example of what happens in school nowadays. When a student is called up to present or say something in front of an audience and make a mistake, the audience responds by unceremoniously jeering at the presenter and making comments in order to ridicule and embarass him/her. The presenter receives a blow to his/her morale. Thus, he/she will learn from past experiences and avoid participating in activities like this. I think that we should not make it hard for the presenters who already find it hard enough to pluck up their courage to speak up in fornt of an audience. Before you jeer at the person, try putting yourself in his/ her shoes. How would you feel?

Cloony the Clown

1. Explain the irony in this poem.
When Cloony tries his best to amuse the audience, the audience get bored and depressed. Therefore, Cloony is unable to earn money simply because he fails at his job. Cloony himself begins to feel down and depressed, and he tries to tell the audience about his woes and troubles. However, upon finishing his tale, the audience breaks out in hysterical laughter. Cloony, feeling even worse, walks away and cries.

2. Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Yes. Nowadays, when people try to tell others about their own troubles, they rarely receive sympathy or pity and instead, are ridiculed by the other party. Even when they make mistakes, they are jeered at by others. In conclusion, a majority of people in society are sadistic and delight in the misfortune of others.

3. Which poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
The poet uses a rhyming pattern throughout the poem to convey intense emotions such as sadness and amusement. This leaves a deeper impression in the readers' minds and also amplifies the emotions described and felt in the poem. He also uses irony to add some dark humour into the poem.

Messy Room

1. Can you say that the poem is humorous? If so how?
Yes, the poem is humorous. The writer depicts and criticises a scene of a terribly messy and disorganised room. He continues to describe how the owner seems to have carelessly thrown articles of clothing all around the room and clumsily attempted to organise the items. Only at the end of his long rant does the writer realise that it is his own room he has been criticising.

2. What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
The writer has highlighted the quickness with which people find fault with others but turn a blind eye when it comes to spotting their own mistakes.

The Little Boy and the Old Man

1. What is the underlying message that is being conveyed in this poem?
The author is trying to convey the sad truth that adults and those in their prime of life overlook those of extreme ages; the young and old, who are weaker than them and require care and attention, are left to care for themselves.

2. Has Shel Silverstein used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Shel Silverstein writes the poem in a unique way: the whole poem is actually a dialogue between two characters: a little boy and an old man, representing those of the extreme ages. Furthermore, in order to emphasise the obvious and tragic similarities between the young and old, the writer also uses repetition, as shown by the old man's repeated responses "I do that too ...", "so do I...", etc.