/*The casino being built in Singapore is supposed to be a money-maker and job creator. However, many people have spoken against it. Talk to a parent or adult and get their view on the casino. Listen to the NPR and YouTube offerings and choose one that substantiates your viewpoint and include a quote from it as well. Your blog entry has to be at least 200 words and you must either support the casino or condemn its construction and ultimately the hardships it will cause in Singapore*/
I support the casino being built in Singapore and many people around Singapore share my view. Although many people believe that the casino would fail terribly in its first years due to the current recession, why can't it work the other way around?
People without jobs and who desperately need the money can resort to gambling for money. Hardcore gamblers might start going to the casino once it opens and perhaps start going there regularly. People from all around the world, especially South-East Asia, would come to Singapore just to go to the casino. This also boosts the tourism industry. The casino creates jobs for the people, along with many other jobs in the IR.
All the good things the casino can bring definitely outweighs whatever hardships it may bring in the future.
My mother works as a stock broker. She too, supports the casino being built. The stock market has got very still over the past few days. The recession probably has bottomed out, with the "worst of it" over. This means that the chance to earn has pretty much gone down the drain. In other words, she joked, people might go to the casino during their lunch break to "try their luck" and get back to the office after some time.
Would this happen all around Singapore too? People may be motivated by the recession. The casino may be another, external source of revenue for the working class.
No doubt the casino may bring hardships to Singaporeans, but the good things it can bring to Singapore ultimately outweighs them all.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
William Blake
William Blake was a poet, a painter, and a print maker. The 19th century scholar William Rossetti characterised Blake as a "glorious luminary," and as "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors."I chose William Blake as his poems are enjoyable to read. His poems are very symbolical and are usually religious. He was also thought to be insane by many of his close friends in his later years!
William Blake was a very religious person. His poems have religious themes in them, probably the most obvious one would be "The Lamb" from Blake's "Songs of Innocence"
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!
On the day of his death, he stopped working and decided to draw a portrait of his wife, who had "been an angel to [him]". Having completed this portrait, Blake laid down his tools and began to sing hymns and verses.
It is not difficult to admire his work. For example, many of us have probably heard of "The Tyger" by now.
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
The poem is actually about the tiger. William Blake did not make a spelling mistake, he just wanted to make it sound more...mysterious. This seems to be the opposite of the poem "The Lamb". They are from two different books. "The Lamb" is from the "Songs of Innocence", while "The Tyger" is from the "songs of experience".
Another poem by William Blake I like is "The Land of Dreams"
Awake, awake my little Boy!
Thou wast thy Mother's only joy:
Why dost thou weep in thy gentle sleep?
Awake! thy Father does thee keep.
"O, what land is the Land of Dreams?
What are its mountains, and what are its streams?
O Father, I saw my Mother there,
Among the lillies by waters fair.
Among the lambs clothed in white
She walked with her Thomas in sweet delight.
I wept for joy, like a dove I mourn -
O when shall I return again?
"Dear child, I also by pleasant streams
Have wandered all night in the Land of Dreams;
But though calm and warm the waters wide,
I could not get to the other side.
"Father, O Father, what do we here,
In this land of unbelief and fear?
The Land of Dreams is better far
Above the light of the Morning Star."
And yet another peom by William Blake, "The Clod and the Pebble".
"Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a heaven in hell's despair."
So sung a little Clod of Clay,
Trodden with the cattle's feet,
But a Pebble of the brook
Warbled out these metres meet:
"Love seeketh only Self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another's loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven's despite."
How are these three peoms? "The Tyger", "The Land of Dreams", and "The Clod and the Pebble".
William Blake was a very religious person. His poems have religious themes in them, probably the most obvious one would be "The Lamb" from Blake's "Songs of Innocence"
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!
On the day of his death, he stopped working and decided to draw a portrait of his wife, who had "been an angel to [him]". Having completed this portrait, Blake laid down his tools and began to sing hymns and verses.
It is not difficult to admire his work. For example, many of us have probably heard of "The Tyger" by now.
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
The poem is actually about the tiger. William Blake did not make a spelling mistake, he just wanted to make it sound more...mysterious. This seems to be the opposite of the poem "The Lamb". They are from two different books. "The Lamb" is from the "Songs of Innocence", while "The Tyger" is from the "songs of experience".
Another poem by William Blake I like is "The Land of Dreams"
Awake, awake my little Boy!
Thou wast thy Mother's only joy:
Why dost thou weep in thy gentle sleep?
Awake! thy Father does thee keep.
"O, what land is the Land of Dreams?
What are its mountains, and what are its streams?
O Father, I saw my Mother there,
Among the lillies by waters fair.
Among the lambs clothed in white
She walked with her Thomas in sweet delight.
I wept for joy, like a dove I mourn -
O when shall I return again?
"Dear child, I also by pleasant streams
Have wandered all night in the Land of Dreams;
But though calm and warm the waters wide,
I could not get to the other side.
"Father, O Father, what do we here,
In this land of unbelief and fear?
The Land of Dreams is better far
Above the light of the Morning Star."
And yet another peom by William Blake, "The Clod and the Pebble".
"Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a heaven in hell's despair."
So sung a little Clod of Clay,
Trodden with the cattle's feet,
But a Pebble of the brook
Warbled out these metres meet:
"Love seeketh only Self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another's loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven's despite."
How are these three peoms? "The Tyger", "The Land of Dreams", and "The Clod and the Pebble".
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The School Boy
The School Boy by William Blake
I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the sky-lark sings with me.
O! what sweet company.
But to go to school in a summer morn,
O! it drives all joy away;
Under a cruel eye outworn.
The little ones spend the day,
In sighing and dismay.
Ah! then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour,
Nor in my book can I take delight,
Nor sit in learnings bower,
Worn thro' with the dreary shower.
How can the bird that is born for joy,
Sit in a cage and sing.
How can a child when fears annoy.
But droop his tender wing.
And forget his youthful spring.
O! father & mother if buds are nip'd,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay.
How shall the summer arise in joy.
Or the summer fruits appear.
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy
Or bless the mellowing year.
When the blasts of winter appear.
This poem seems to use lots of hyperbole, to emphasise on the point that preceeds it. For example, "But to go to school in a summer morn,/O! it drives all joy away". Here, William Blake is exaggerating on the school boy's reluctance to go to school on a lovely "summer morn". Other examples of hyperbole are:
"When the birds sing on every tree;"
"The little ones spend the day,/In sighing and dismay."
Now to move on to metaphors
"How can the bird that is born for joy,/Sit in a cage and sing."
I'm pretty sure this is a metaphor. It relates the child to a bird, and school to a cage. The school boy does not want to go willingly into a cage, to learn to "sing" when he was "born for joy".
"Ah! then at times I drooping sit,"
This relates the school boy to a wilting plant. The bored boy sits, slouching on his table, is compared to a weak plant that desperately needs nourishment.
"O! father & mother if buds are nip'd,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay.
How shall the summer arise in joy.
Or the summer fruits appear.
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy
Or bless the mellowing year.
When the blasts of winter appear. "
This whole stanza should be a metaphor.
Here, school is the wind, blowing away the blossoms and nipping at the bud, instead of letting them drop naturally. How can the "Summer fruits" appear this way?
I like this peom because I can relate to it, being a student. It explains every student's hatred of school and gives them a good reason not to. Jokes aside, This poem is also beautiful as it uses many examples of nature, especially the bird, as it relates best to a child and freedom. This poem is written by one of my favourite poets, William Blake, and I enjoy reading his other poems as well. This is one of his "innocence" poems and the school boy reflects that innocence well.
I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the sky-lark sings with me.
O! what sweet company.
But to go to school in a summer morn,
O! it drives all joy away;
Under a cruel eye outworn.
The little ones spend the day,
In sighing and dismay.
Ah! then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour,
Nor in my book can I take delight,
Nor sit in learnings bower,
Worn thro' with the dreary shower.
How can the bird that is born for joy,
Sit in a cage and sing.
How can a child when fears annoy.
But droop his tender wing.
And forget his youthful spring.
O! father & mother if buds are nip'd,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay.
How shall the summer arise in joy.
Or the summer fruits appear.
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy
Or bless the mellowing year.
When the blasts of winter appear.
This poem seems to use lots of hyperbole, to emphasise on the point that preceeds it. For example, "But to go to school in a summer morn,/O! it drives all joy away". Here, William Blake is exaggerating on the school boy's reluctance to go to school on a lovely "summer morn". Other examples of hyperbole are:
"When the birds sing on every tree;"
"The little ones spend the day,/In sighing and dismay."
Now to move on to metaphors
"How can the bird that is born for joy,/Sit in a cage and sing."
I'm pretty sure this is a metaphor. It relates the child to a bird, and school to a cage. The school boy does not want to go willingly into a cage, to learn to "sing" when he was "born for joy".
"Ah! then at times I drooping sit,"
This relates the school boy to a wilting plant. The bored boy sits, slouching on his table, is compared to a weak plant that desperately needs nourishment.
"O! father & mother if buds are nip'd,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay.
How shall the summer arise in joy.
Or the summer fruits appear.
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy
Or bless the mellowing year.
When the blasts of winter appear. "
This whole stanza should be a metaphor.
Here, school is the wind, blowing away the blossoms and nipping at the bud, instead of letting them drop naturally. How can the "Summer fruits" appear this way?
I like this peom because I can relate to it, being a student. It explains every student's hatred of school and gives them a good reason not to. Jokes aside, This poem is also beautiful as it uses many examples of nature, especially the bird, as it relates best to a child and freedom. This poem is written by one of my favourite poets, William Blake, and I enjoy reading his other poems as well. This is one of his "innocence" poems and the school boy reflects that innocence well.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
What is happiness?
Happiness is a state where you do not have to worry about anything at all. For example, a Primary 6 student after completing his PSLE should be happy. He knows that he has done his best and need not worry about his results what's more, he can enjoy the rest of the school term and the long holiday ahead without worrying about the next year. Besides, he should enjoy the rest of his Primary school life.
Some people say rich people are never happy, whereas poor people always are. I, for one, don't think so. Rich people need not worry about the next day, for their food, water and other necessities. Poor people, however, need to constantly worry throughout their entire life. They might lack the proper necessities like clean water and food, the worse-off ones might even have to worry for their life!
Happiness an only be temporary. Like other emotions, it is not permanant. This is probably why so many religions preach about heaven, where you would get eternal "happpiness"... if you behaved yourself. This means that many people would believe it as they want to look forward to something after their death, something which most people are afraid of.
Some people say rich people are never happy, whereas poor people always are. I, for one, don't think so. Rich people need not worry about the next day, for their food, water and other necessities. Poor people, however, need to constantly worry throughout their entire life. They might lack the proper necessities like clean water and food, the worse-off ones might even have to worry for their life!
Happiness an only be temporary. Like other emotions, it is not permanant. This is probably why so many religions preach about heaven, where you would get eternal "happpiness"... if you behaved yourself. This means that many people would believe it as they want to look forward to something after their death, something which most people are afraid of.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Should you criticise people or the opinions they have?
We should criticise people or the opinions they may have. This is so that they can learn from their mistakes which were pointed out and ssignificantly improve their opinion or themselves as a whole.Criticising proud people and their opinions can make them humble, causing the work they do to be of better quality. Criticising people who are in the wrong or have evil thoughts can make them think twice about doing something illegal.
Of course, criticising people can be harmful too.
Criticising people who are stressed out can make them break-apart. This is one of the main reasons that some people do not criticise people often. This, however, leads people to have a wrong impression about you, that you are weak and are easily overpowered. They would then take advantage of you. This is another reason why you should criticise others.
In working life, not criticising people can lead to your boss or superior thinking that you are either not interested in your job or that you have no opinion about the matter, both which would give him a bad impression about you.
Therefore, we should strive to criticise people whenever possible, as there would be good results in the long run.
Of course, criticising people can be harmful too.
Criticising people who are stressed out can make them break-apart. This is one of the main reasons that some people do not criticise people often. This, however, leads people to have a wrong impression about you, that you are weak and are easily overpowered. They would then take advantage of you. This is another reason why you should criticise others.
In working life, not criticising people can lead to your boss or superior thinking that you are either not interested in your job or that you have no opinion about the matter, both which would give him a bad impression about you.
Therefore, we should strive to criticise people whenever possible, as there would be good results in the long run.
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