And out come all these words
~!@#$%^&*( English Blog.!
About the Author
By
JUSTIN LEE of RI 3G'09.
If you don't like it that's fine, but shooshooaway!
I SOSO LOVE LISTENING TO MUSIC!
Warning: Don't fall asleep reading my blog.
Social Commentary (2) - Should gambling be legalised?
Posted on: Sunday, August 23, 2009
Posted at: 11:30 PM
Gambling. Why should gambling be legalised?
In this case, gambling is defined as a risk that might result in loss of money or failure. I feel that gambling should not be legalised. This is due to several social problems. I will first discuss the benefits gambling brings.
The first benefit you can get from legalising benefit is revenue generation for the government. This revenue generated can be made better use of; it can be used to make roads, for example.
A second benefit is that it brings jobs opportunities to a nation. Many jobs are created if there is a possible gambling industry. This is ultimately one of the deciding reasons why Singapore is creating an IR.
Thirdly of course, it brings about an extra option to the average consumer for entertainment value. The person paying would gamble for the "thrill" of it and people would gamble not only for a pastime but also they are paying for a chance to make quick money.
These benefits are coupled with many social problems or disadvantages though.
The first social problem gambling could bring is addiction. People are easily addicted to gambling and if they lose control over it, it would result in their financial losses causing them and most likely their families to suffer. If they are in debt, people would shun away from them. This would definitely adversely affect their personal, economic and social life.
The second disadvantage gambling could bring has to do with the social problems that appear where gambling is a direct cause. This includes borrowing from loan sharks at crazy interest rates or increased crime (when they have no choice they resort to stealing or kidnapping). A society's social ethics would change as well.
I feel that the social problems gambling brings about are way more serious than the benefits it brings (which refers to revenue generated mostly). This is as there are many counselors and websites pertaining to problem gambling, which means addiction is a very real problem in our society; as well as a high rate of suicide cases due to the social repercussions of gambling. Quoted: "A recent study by The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry has shown that people who are pathological gamblers may be more likely to attempt suicide than individuals who are not gamblers. " (From: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/246105/Can_Gambling_Kill_)I therefore conclude again that gambling should not be legalised.
On Why Stop at Gambling? Let's Legalize Drugs while we're at it. by Justina
Taken from: The Singapore Watch - Examining Singapore from the sidelines
(http://singaporewatch.org/?p=14)
Labels: Assignment, English
ERP assignment!
Posted on: Friday, May 15, 2009
Posted at: 7:40 AM
When I was younger, I detested English lessons as they were the most difficult to get by. My mastery of the English language came quite naturally as I was from a English-speaking family and I naturally learnt my grammar by ear, and my wide range of vocabulary from my dad, whom had a PhD in both Literature and Computer Science.
I always found English lessons insufferable, as to me, English was just common sense; there was nothing the teacher could teach that would interest me. Even after four dreary years, I still found English grammar lessons boring. We were still at the basics; we had not even progressed to slightly more difficult vocabulary.
As such, I frequently misbehaved in English classes. In Primary Four, my English teacher was Mr Parker. I had never respected English teachers and I would fold up the worksheets he gave out into paper airplanes.
Once, I threw the paper airplane across the classroom, and it swerved towards Mr Parker, who was writing something on the whiteboard. "Oh please, no." I thought. My eyes widened in shock as it hit him lightly on the head. The whole class suddenly turned silent.
Mr Parker stood dead still for about three seconds before turning around, looking directly at me. "See me after class," he said. I could not pick out any anger from the tone of his voice though. He then rambled on about adverbs for the rest of the period.
After class, he requested for me to see him. "Pete," he began. "I see you're not very interested in English lessons. Your other teachers don't seem to have any problems with you."
"I'm sorry sir." My voice was so soft he barely heard me.
He kept his gaze fixed on me and continued, "As a punishment for continously misbehaving in my class, I want you to teach your classmates about idioms through a PowerPoint Presentation to be presented next week."
"But- " I began, but he cut me off. "I know you are capable of doing this Pete."
I stared at him. "Ok, go." he said.
As soon as I got home, I started on this little "assignment" given to me as I was excited about the lesson I was appointed to teach. Also, I did not want to disappoint Mr Parker's expectations of me. I researched and got the materials for my lesson ready.
Finally the day of my presentation came. I explained to my classmates that idioms were phrases with special figurative meaning and I gave commonly used examples, such as "A penny for your thoughts" and "Just around the corner".
The lesson I had put up had really gotten my classmates hyped up. I authoritatively cleared my throat and waited for the class to quieten when it was getting to rowdy. However, I noticed that throughout my presentation Mr Parker had been disinterested and had been looking at his cell phone.
He knew how much effort I had put in. He didn't care.
After the lesson was over, I approached him for his opinion on my teaching. "It was okay," He said before beginning to pack up his things. "I worked really hard," I said after a long pause.
"Maybe you should put yourself in someone else's shoes," A hint of smile crossed his face.
Suddenly it struck me. I was excited about the lesson I had to teach and I wanted everyone to pay attention to me just like he was. I immediately apologised for my insolence. He just smiled. "I did learn how to make my lessons more interesting from you."
Since then, my attitude towards Mr Parker has changed. I paid attention to every class he taught and realised there were still things I could learn from him, just like he could from me. Mr Parker would be rated the best teacher I have ever had.
Labels: English, ERP
Are Singaporeans oblivious to the world around them?
Posted on: Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Posted at: 7:14 PM
I feel that Singaporean teens should not keep their attention glued onto their handphones or music players, especially when walking.
Like the article states, if they are always engrossed with their devices, they face a greater risk of accidents when crossing the road. This is because they are too absorbed into what they are doing and are totally oblivious to the world around them. Studies find that distractions from such devices are the major causes of accidents around the world.
Also, text-messaging or listening to music can be at any other time other than when moving around. For example it would be perfectly safe to listen to music while on a bus, but on the other hand if music is blasted while walking you may be in the way of someone in a wheelchair or an incoming bicycle coming from behind you.
In a 'how alert are you?' test conducted by a Sunday Times team on 60 people either text-messaging or listening to music, reporters either delibrately 'walked into' the pedestrians or rang a bicycle bell behind them to see if they moved away. Out of those listening to music, 40% failed to hear the bell and did not get out of the way while out of those text-messaging, 17% bumped into the reporters while 20% dodged them at the last minute. This is quite appalling as this proves most of them were fully engrossed with what they were doing.
However, even with all those statistics, it is not completely a bad thing teens are engrossed with music. Music inspires creativity and as many interviewed teens say, it relieves boredom. However, they have to be careful enough to notice people or cars going their way while walking.
All in all, I think that youngsters should keep alert about the world around them than forever be glued to their handphones.
On Deaf to the world by Shuli Sudderuddin, Huang Huifen, Kimberly Lim and Teo Wan GekTaken from: The Sunday Times, Singapore - March 29, 2009Labels: English
Should streaking be allowed?
Posted on: Thursday, April 2, 2009
Posted at: 7:59 PM
Streaking should be allowed, depending on when or where, and depending on its intention.
Streaking does not affect anybody unless this nudity is presented in a sexually threatening way. Usually, this is not, as streaking is usually due to the result of a dare, while some take it to be an expression of personal liberation. Others may streak for their own recreation. In fact, some even consider it as an rarely seen art form.
It is a form of youthful daring and exuberance. Streaking is usually done because of the result of a dare and it is usually performed in two types of places, somewhere very public (like a major sporting event) or somewhere people most probably will not notice (like at campus at wee hours in the morning). The ones who streak in a public place would willingly be arrested while the latter might only be doing it for fun and may hide if discovered.
Though streaking may be considered a fun thing for many people, there are negatives about it. Many people have been caught by police for streaking and there are even many injuries brought about by people fleeing from police. It is also not a very glorious thing to be put on your record.
On Just a naked blunder by Stephanie Yap
Taken from: The Straits Times, March 19, 2009.
Labels: English
What is an exposition?
Posted on: Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Posted at: 5:12 PM
An exposition is a literary technique, used to argue, inform, explain, describe, or narrate ideas and themes to be told that needs to be conveyed to the reader.The purpose of exposition is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. It is mainly used to convey ideas and/or information which is hard for the reader to understand.Examples of expositions are like, recipes, wills, scientific reports, news stories and personal letters. Expository Writing can also be classified as Sequence writing, descriptive essays, classification, comparision and cause-and-effect. Labels: English