Write to live, live to write.
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Sunday, May 31, 2009
D-Day is coming
In approximately 6 days (not counting today), one of the most important days in history - arguably the defining day in the 20th century - is COMING.
Unfortunately I won't be there to witness the historical event.
You HAVE to tell me what the newspapers say.
Did anyone notice yesterday's article on the Queen getting snubbed for the D-Day anniversary celebrations?
~Today in History~
1942: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia.
~Quote of the Day~
Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway.
-John Wayne. Don't tell me you don't know who he is.
In approximately 6 days (not counting today), one of the most important days in history - arguably the defining day in the 20th century - is COMING.
Unfortunately I won't be there to witness the historical event.
You HAVE to tell me what the newspapers say.
Did anyone notice yesterday's article on the Queen getting snubbed for the D-Day anniversary celebrations?
~Today in History~
1942: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia.
~Quote of the Day~
Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway.
-John Wayne. Don't tell me you don't know who he is.
>>Forgotten by02:54
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Collateral Damage
Today the benevolent, kind and generous school issued fifty dollar pledge cards, asking nicely (demanding) that we get fifty dollars by the start of term 3.
Last year it was fiesta, this year it's this sing singapore thing. And then they still have to resort to one dollar tickets for friday fever. Honestly this school should be called the "Come to us if you don't want your money anymore" school.
An amusing picture I thought of (and Le Yan refined, although because this was drawn by me doesn't look very refined) -
Not funny. It isn't easy drawing on the computer.
But anyway, this school is crazy. They want us to pay so much when they already have sufficient funds.
I think that's about all I have to complain today, except that today's fun and enriching program left me with a mild headache that was as mild as the 2004 tsunami. Not too bad really.
By the way, you know the other day we were coming up with stupid similes. Children coming out of school: like the charge of the light brigade, like what would have happened if Guy Fawkes hadn't been caught, like people running away from the twin towers on Sept. 11 2001. Waves on the seashore: like Fat Man crashing on Nagasaki or the two test missiles North Korea fired. A full moon: as round as the circle on Palau's flag. Dark clouds before a thunderstorm: like what happened in Pompeii after Mt. Vesuvius erupted.
That was...kinda random, wasn't it?
~Today in History~
1942: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is assassinated in Prague.
~Quote of the Day~
If the opposition disarms, well and good. If it refuses to disarm, we shall disarm it ourselves.
-Josef Stalin. That's why he's called a dictator.
Today the benevolent, kind and generous school issued fifty dollar pledge cards, asking nicely (demanding) that we get fifty dollars by the start of term 3.
Last year it was fiesta, this year it's this sing singapore thing. And then they still have to resort to one dollar tickets for friday fever. Honestly this school should be called the "Come to us if you don't want your money anymore" school.
An amusing picture I thought of (and Le Yan refined, although because this was drawn by me doesn't look very refined) -
Not funny. It isn't easy drawing on the computer.But anyway, this school is crazy. They want us to pay so much when they already have sufficient funds.
I think that's about all I have to complain today, except that today's fun and enriching program left me with a mild headache that was as mild as the 2004 tsunami. Not too bad really.
By the way, you know the other day we were coming up with stupid similes. Children coming out of school: like the charge of the light brigade, like what would have happened if Guy Fawkes hadn't been caught, like people running away from the twin towers on Sept. 11 2001. Waves on the seashore: like Fat Man crashing on Nagasaki or the two test missiles North Korea fired. A full moon: as round as the circle on Palau's flag. Dark clouds before a thunderstorm: like what happened in Pompeii after Mt. Vesuvius erupted.
That was...kinda random, wasn't it?
~Today in History~
1942: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is assassinated in Prague.
~Quote of the Day~
If the opposition disarms, well and good. If it refuses to disarm, we shall disarm it ourselves.
-Josef Stalin. That's why he's called a dictator.
>>Forgotten by00:31
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Sunday, May 24, 2009
E learning sucks
You're probably wondering why I'm using the computer and not hard at work at school. Frankly, I'd rather be at school than have to deal with all this e-learning.
I'm sitting at home now, logged on to asknlearn, doing geography crosswords. My history is taking 69 minutes before the results can be processed. My Science needs 3300 odd seconds. My Math isn't even working at all and I've already tried for seven times and yet the results still haven't uploaded (To think we're only supposed to have one attempt! I don't even have to read the questions anymore.) I've only finished geog, home ec, art, and uh...that's about it.
Last year I had equally bad luck with e learning, mainly because I was distracted by other things. This year I'm focused and yet I still get these sort of things happening to me. The irony of it all.
In the morning my dad had to take a blood test, so we went to Thompson Plaza for breakfast and I brought my laptop along. Needless to say precious little was accomplished there.
(And now my PE will take 4000 seconds to load. I'm really enjoying myself here.)
(By the way, happy b'day LT. You share the same b'day with Ian McKellen (Magneto in the X-Men films).)
And thus I have been reduced to watching youtube videos instead of doing anything else.
I think I'll go and try math again now. Eighth time lucky?
~Today in History~
1940: Battle of Dunkirk begins.
~Quote of the Day~
We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuation.
-Winston Churchill talking about "The miracle of Dunkirk".
You're probably wondering why I'm using the computer and not hard at work at school. Frankly, I'd rather be at school than have to deal with all this e-learning.
I'm sitting at home now, logged on to asknlearn, doing geography crosswords. My history is taking 69 minutes before the results can be processed. My Science needs 3300 odd seconds. My Math isn't even working at all and I've already tried for seven times and yet the results still haven't uploaded (To think we're only supposed to have one attempt! I don't even have to read the questions anymore.) I've only finished geog, home ec, art, and uh...that's about it.
Last year I had equally bad luck with e learning, mainly because I was distracted by other things. This year I'm focused and yet I still get these sort of things happening to me. The irony of it all.
In the morning my dad had to take a blood test, so we went to Thompson Plaza for breakfast and I brought my laptop along. Needless to say precious little was accomplished there.
(And now my PE will take 4000 seconds to load. I'm really enjoying myself here.)
(By the way, happy b'day LT. You share the same b'day with Ian McKellen (Magneto in the X-Men films).)
And thus I have been reduced to watching youtube videos instead of doing anything else.
I think I'll go and try math again now. Eighth time lucky?
~Today in History~
1940: Battle of Dunkirk begins.
~Quote of the Day~
We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuation.
-Winston Churchill talking about "The miracle of Dunkirk".
>>Forgotten by21:37
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Monday, May 18, 2009
The foot trap cat trapped foot
Yesterday night, my watch of four years broke. Not a good sign you would think.
And last night we had air con. So? So when I was closing the door, I stepped on the cat trap. (The cat trap is this spiky thing that keeps the cats out 'cause when they step on them they yowl and don't dare to come back. Hopefully.) And there was this raw skin patch and I had to have two plasters on it so that it wouldn't hurt during today's 2.4 km run.
Yes, I know, of all days to step on the cat trap this had to be it. But guess what? I managed to run 16.08 minutes for napfa 2.4 which is pretty much my best timing ever. And that means that I have a gold for napfa.
Other good news? I passed my high explosives despite the failure in the first common test. If the weighting is equal, that is. If not I'm done for.
However Geog was kind of a letdown. 73.8% which is an A2 which means mom won't be happy and neither will dad for that matter. But never mind.
I have a clinometer to construct and I still haven't done it. But it's not due tomorrow...right?
~Today in History~
1944: Battle of Monte Cassino – Conclusion after seven days of the fourth battle as German paratroopers ("Fallschirmjäger") evacuate Monte Cassino.
~Quote of the Day~
In the absence of orders, go find something and kill it.
-Erwin Rommel. And if that something just so happens to be your boss...
Yesterday night, my watch of four years broke. Not a good sign you would think.
And last night we had air con. So? So when I was closing the door, I stepped on the cat trap. (The cat trap is this spiky thing that keeps the cats out 'cause when they step on them they yowl and don't dare to come back. Hopefully.) And there was this raw skin patch and I had to have two plasters on it so that it wouldn't hurt during today's 2.4 km run.
Yes, I know, of all days to step on the cat trap this had to be it. But guess what? I managed to run 16.08 minutes for napfa 2.4 which is pretty much my best timing ever. And that means that I have a gold for napfa.
Other good news? I passed my high explosives despite the failure in the first common test. If the weighting is equal, that is. If not I'm done for.
However Geog was kind of a letdown. 73.8% which is an A2 which means mom won't be happy and neither will dad for that matter. But never mind.
I have a clinometer to construct and I still haven't done it. But it's not due tomorrow...right?
~Today in History~
1944: Battle of Monte Cassino – Conclusion after seven days of the fourth battle as German paratroopers ("Fallschirmjäger") evacuate Monte Cassino.
~Quote of the Day~
In the absence of orders, go find something and kill it.
-Erwin Rommel. And if that something just so happens to be your boss...
>>Forgotten by03:13
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Friday, May 15, 2009
It's OVER
Finally! The hellish week of week 8 is over. Bye bye to most of the tests (except 2.4, ting xie and all that on week 9). My napfa improved by leaps and bounds! 2As, 2Bs, 1C. Although I usually get A for inclined pull ups, my first three were not counted and I exhausted quite a bit of strength on those. Now my arm muscles are aching.
My history, though, was a failure. For the comparison question instead of writing source B and C I put source A and B. So I got terribly lousy marks. Sucks doesn't it.
I think I'm addicted. On Friday I was bored so I went to youtube, then I found X-Men Evolution and I've been watching it ever since. Up to episode 10 now. Kinda weird if you ask me.
And I hate home econs, I think I am going to fail. Incidentally, Home Econ's initials are H.E. which also stands for High Explosives. I think I'd prefer High Explosives to Home Econs any time.
D-Day is coming. Just 21 more days to the 65th anniversary of the greatest day in the entire history of WWII. I'll be in Perth by then, so before I go I shall commemorate it as best as I can. But D-Day's coming! I can't wait for it to come.
I realise I have nothing good to say anymore these days.
~Today in History~
1943: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends.
~Quote of the Day~
No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it.
-Winston Churchill.
Finally! The hellish week of week 8 is over. Bye bye to most of the tests (except 2.4, ting xie and all that on week 9). My napfa improved by leaps and bounds! 2As, 2Bs, 1C. Although I usually get A for inclined pull ups, my first three were not counted and I exhausted quite a bit of strength on those. Now my arm muscles are aching.
My history, though, was a failure. For the comparison question instead of writing source B and C I put source A and B. So I got terribly lousy marks. Sucks doesn't it.
I think I'm addicted. On Friday I was bored so I went to youtube, then I found X-Men Evolution and I've been watching it ever since. Up to episode 10 now. Kinda weird if you ask me.
And I hate home econs, I think I am going to fail. Incidentally, Home Econ's initials are H.E. which also stands for High Explosives. I think I'd prefer High Explosives to Home Econs any time.
D-Day is coming. Just 21 more days to the 65th anniversary of the greatest day in the entire history of WWII. I'll be in Perth by then, so before I go I shall commemorate it as best as I can. But D-Day's coming! I can't wait for it to come.
I realise I have nothing good to say anymore these days.
~Today in History~
1943: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends.
~Quote of the Day~
No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it.
-Winston Churchill.
>>Forgotten by21:37
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Monday, May 11, 2009
>Insert Title Here<
Last night we finally got to watch X-Men 3. Jason didn't want to watch at first but then he was the most absorbed during the last part.
Today we went to the doctor. The doctor said that I had a blocked nose, conjunctivitis (both eyes), a cough (lots of phlegm), and I was wheezing everywhere. She also said something about bronchitis, and that if this didn't stop I'd get tuberculosis, and something about pneumonia was mentioned too.
WHOA. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia (they rhyme! The first two and the last two) are all fancy words for diseases that you've probably never caught in your lifetime. I don't know about you but I think it's cool.
Tomorrow I won't be jogging. I might not be coming to school (got an M.C. just in case, might as well use it).
~Today in History~
1944:The Allies start a major offensive against the Axis Powers on the Gustav Line.
~Quote of the Day~
An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of bullshit.
-George Patton. You tell 'em, George.
Last night we finally got to watch X-Men 3. Jason didn't want to watch at first but then he was the most absorbed during the last part.
Today we went to the doctor. The doctor said that I had a blocked nose, conjunctivitis (both eyes), a cough (lots of phlegm), and I was wheezing everywhere. She also said something about bronchitis, and that if this didn't stop I'd get tuberculosis, and something about pneumonia was mentioned too.
WHOA. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia (they rhyme! The first two and the last two) are all fancy words for diseases that you've probably never caught in your lifetime. I don't know about you but I think it's cool.
Tomorrow I won't be jogging. I might not be coming to school (got an M.C. just in case, might as well use it).
~Today in History~
1944:The Allies start a major offensive against the Axis Powers on the Gustav Line.
~Quote of the Day~
An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of bullshit.
-George Patton. You tell 'em, George.
>>Forgotten by02:40
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Sunday, May 10, 2009
We are here purely out of necessity, not because we want to
You know that house practice thing? Because it was compulsory to go for two events I went for javelin and shot put.
And you know they didn't even take down my bloody name for javelin? So I think I've been cheated.
Anyway when Ros and I went down I kept muttering to myself that 'we are here purely out of necessity, not because we want to'. Which I think is quite an accurate statement if I do say so myself.
You know what day it is today?
It's WINSTON-CHURCHILL-ELECTED-AS-PRIME-MINISTER day!
Yes, I know it's also mother's day, but today in 1940 he was elected prime minister! Celebration! It was also somewhere around today that he made that "Blood, sweat, tears and toil" speech. If you're interested go look it up. Churchill Speeches always rock.
Speaking of history quite a few things happened today.
# 1940 – The first German bombs of the war fall on England at Chilham and Petham, in Kent.
# 1940 – Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
# 1940 – Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
# 1940 – Invasion of Iceland by the United Kingdom.
# 1941 – The House of Commons in London is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid.
# 1941 – Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland in order to try and negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Germany.
# 1942 – The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign.
Interesting, isn't it? And today just happened to be mother's day.
I am going to the doctor tomorrow because I have a fever, a cough and a runny nose. And before you all go screaming "SWINE FLU! GET AWAY FROM ME!" I can assure you that my temperature is a mere 37.7C and it is not about to go any higher.
Right. I'll have to be off now. I've got stuff to do. After all, I'm doing this purely out of necessity, not because I want to.
(It is bloody difficult to find Winston Churchill with his bowler hat, cigar and v for victory sign all together. If he's not missing one thing, it's the other.)
~Today in History~
1940: Winston Churchill becomes PRIME MINISTER.
~Quote of the Day~
I don't know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace is an interlude during war.
-Georges Clemenceau. I know the answer! It's both.
You know that house practice thing? Because it was compulsory to go for two events I went for javelin and shot put.
And you know they didn't even take down my bloody name for javelin? So I think I've been cheated.
Anyway when Ros and I went down I kept muttering to myself that 'we are here purely out of necessity, not because we want to'. Which I think is quite an accurate statement if I do say so myself.
You know what day it is today?
It's WINSTON-CHURCHILL-ELECTED-AS-PRIME-MINISTER day!
Yes, I know it's also mother's day, but today in 1940 he was elected prime minister! Celebration! It was also somewhere around today that he made that "Blood, sweat, tears and toil" speech. If you're interested go look it up. Churchill Speeches always rock.
Speaking of history quite a few things happened today.
# 1940 – The first German bombs of the war fall on England at Chilham and Petham, in Kent.
# 1940 – Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
# 1940 – Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
# 1940 – Invasion of Iceland by the United Kingdom.
# 1941 – The House of Commons in London is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid.
# 1941 – Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland in order to try and negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Germany.
# 1942 – The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign.
Interesting, isn't it? And today just happened to be mother's day.
I am going to the doctor tomorrow because I have a fever, a cough and a runny nose. And before you all go screaming "SWINE FLU! GET AWAY FROM ME!" I can assure you that my temperature is a mere 37.7C and it is not about to go any higher.
Right. I'll have to be off now. I've got stuff to do. After all, I'm doing this purely out of necessity, not because I want to.
(It is bloody difficult to find Winston Churchill with his bowler hat, cigar and v for victory sign all together. If he's not missing one thing, it's the other.)
~Today in History~
1940: Winston Churchill becomes PRIME MINISTER.
~Quote of the Day~
I don't know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace is an interlude during war.
-Georges Clemenceau. I know the answer! It's both.
>>Forgotten by01:01
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Friday, May 8, 2009
CELEBRATION
You know what day it is today?
That's right!
It's VE DAY!!!
Victory In Europe, for those who are clueless. On the 7th-8th May 1945 the surrender documents were signed and Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Forces and thus ended the war in Europe. (Sadly the war in Asia was still going on. The good news is that it ended (officially) on the 2nd of September 1945, so it isn't too great a difference.)
Coincidentally it was also the day for our History test on none other than (guess what?) World War Two.
Unfortunately they didn't say anything about the war in Europe and they tested the map that I only studied last minute. And my English has let me down.
The first question was a map work one. They showed a picture of the Johor Straits and put, "The ________________ separates the island of Singapore from Malaysia".
At first I put Johor Straits. Which is correct. Then I don't know why but I saw separates and thought that "wait a minute, Johor Straits is plural!" and canceled the 's'. So now I've lost one mark just because of that. Which sucks.
And I realise that my blog could be used for history lessons, because every single post is peppered with bits and pieces of useless historical information.
For example: the skipper of the Repulse which sunk on the 10th of December 1941 was only saved because his officers pushed him off the bridge.
~Today in History~
1945: VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY! War ends in Europe ONCE AND FOR ALL.
~Quote of the Day~
This is your victory!
-Winston Churchill to the cheering crowd. To which they replied, "No, it's yours!" Which is kinda strange when you think about how they kicked Churchill out of parliament two months later.
You know what day it is today?
That's right!
It's VE DAY!!!
Victory In Europe, for those who are clueless. On the 7th-8th May 1945 the surrender documents were signed and Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Forces and thus ended the war in Europe. (Sadly the war in Asia was still going on. The good news is that it ended (officially) on the 2nd of September 1945, so it isn't too great a difference.)
Coincidentally it was also the day for our History test on none other than (guess what?) World War Two.
Unfortunately they didn't say anything about the war in Europe and they tested the map that I only studied last minute. And my English has let me down.
The first question was a map work one. They showed a picture of the Johor Straits and put, "The ________________ separates the island of Singapore from Malaysia".
At first I put Johor Straits. Which is correct. Then I don't know why but I saw separates and thought that "wait a minute, Johor Straits is plural!" and canceled the 's'. So now I've lost one mark just because of that. Which sucks.
And I realise that my blog could be used for history lessons, because every single post is peppered with bits and pieces of useless historical information.
For example: the skipper of the Repulse which sunk on the 10th of December 1941 was only saved because his officers pushed him off the bridge.
~Today in History~
1945: VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY! War ends in Europe ONCE AND FOR ALL.
~Quote of the Day~
This is your victory!
-Winston Churchill to the cheering crowd. To which they replied, "No, it's yours!" Which is kinda strange when you think about how they kicked Churchill out of parliament two months later.
>>Forgotten by00:03
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A letter
The following letter will probably be insulting to a good many people. However I did not and do not intend to insult anyone of these people - it's just a complaint letter. I'll try not to mention ANY names. I find that there are quite a few things wrong with this school and it's time to say something about it. So once again, if anyone finds this letter offensive, I offer my sincerest apologies and will take this down immediately.
***
To whomever this may concern,
I am writing this because I am concerned about a few things going on in our school.
Firstly, regarding the Morning Jog, I would like to point out something. During this H1N1 Virus pandemic, you are right to say that we should avoid crowds. Now, a morning jog is also known as a mass jog, correct? What does the term 'mass jog' mean? Many, many people. At least 300 people, if not more. And what is another word for 'many, many people'? A crowd. Didn't I just hear someone telling us to avoid crowds during this pandemic? Wait a minute...aren't they the same people who tell us to go down for assembly and morning jog?
ANother thing - the Student Forums that you have are quite frankly an absolute, utter and complete waste of time. During the first student forum in Term 1, you got us to talk about school uniforms and that sort of thing, adding that we would not be scolded for our suggestions. Fine. But I'd rather get scolded and get the question answered than let you evade it like you did. Every suggestion made and you would come up with some stupid reason that is, I might add, poppycock. When we pressed on for a proper answer you evaded it completely and changed the subject. And those that were 'sensible' enough to not get an evasion from you got a "we'll look into it" which in your language translates into "We'll take your suggestion, shelve it and not look at it until ten years later, thanks". And not only that. If the student council had no idea what to say they would look at a certain teacher sitting besides them who would nod or shake her head. This is a student's forum, if I recall correctly. It's power to the STUDENTS; the teachers shouldn't even be in there in the first place. And when one of the netballers asked a question the netball teacher blew his top. I thought someone said something about "not getting scolded"? Or is that just my hearing?
The second student forum held you chose to do something much safer - school spirit. No more pesky, annoying questions. Smart. But it was totally and utterly useless as well.
The next topic is a sore spot for many secondary school students. Every Monday morning we have to stand in the field while the cute, dainty, innocent little primary school girls saunter down to their seats, carrying their funny little books. And whenever we do the family dance (Which is actually an unnecessary thing. It does increase bonding, but we're bonding against the school. And it's stereotypical too. Not all girls can/like to dance, you know.) the primary girls sit there and stare at us blankly or bury their adorable little noses in the books.
One: Why is it the Primary School Girls get to sit down? Every day we are the ones that stand. There is barely any day when we sit down. And if you give us that stupid "Oh, we have to take care of our mei mei men" excuse, PLEASE. You're insulting us. We're older and that's why we have to sit down, because we got arthritis and rheumatism. In any case, it's unfair. (And don't give me that "life is unfair" thing either. Some parts of life are unfair, but this one doesn't have to be.)
Two: Why is it the Primary School Girls get to stay in lass every day except for Monday? You know how we long to just stay in class. We have more tests than the Primary school girls could ever dream of, we need the time to study. Last minute mugging is very effective. If you argue that there's not enough space, think again. Ever heard of this huge place called the "Hall"?
Three: Why don't the primary school girls have to do the family dance? Surely they have learnt it. The Primary Twos have been in this school longer than the Sec 1s have, and yet it is the Secondary One girls who have to dance. And maybe the P1s and P2s are too young, fine. How about the upper Primary? Can't they dance? They've been watching the Secondary Section dance for three years at the very least. They know how to do it. Why can't the secondary section sit down one day while the Primary school girls dance and see how nice it is to be forced to do something against your will while being stared at by other people?
And now I shall move on to another subject. Our principal talks far too long at assembly, when she does. She has never talked for less than two minutes and her personal best is twenty one minutes and forty two seconds, which is roughly equivalent of Barack Obama's inauguration speech. Our principal may be the principal of this school, but she is not the president of the United States. She does not have to talk that long, in any case. If you cut out all the repetitions and unnecessary comments, her 21 minute speech would be less than ten minutes.
Now there is something else I would like to say. House Practice. You might say some are longing for Sports Day. But there are others who can't wait till it's over. Me, for instance. I don't see the point in making it compulsory for someone to sign up for two events. Not everyone is born an athlete. Some just can't run or jump or throw, and some just hate it. You can't force people to do something they don't want to do. And there's no point in saying that "If we don't then no one will join" because no one really joined. Everyone went for the 100m dash, and not a lot went for the high jumps. So basically all that this compulsory thing is doing is making a long queue and a headache for the teachers in charge of the 100m.
The last thing I shall talk about is something that would probably get me sued. Freedom of speech. You don’t know what freedom is until you lose it. I've never known freedom. Singapore may not have a reputation for having no freedom of speech, but it doesn't. Fine, it's not like in Thailand where one bad word about the King and you get jailed. But in Singapore isn't it turning towards that? The ruling party has been the PAP for a very, very long time. The other parties, the opposition never get to say anything and when they make the news, they do it because they're going to get sued for 'defaming' someone high up in the PAP (like I promised, I won't mention names). Don't know about you, but it doesn't sound like a lot of freedom to me.
Take America. Mr. Barack Obama called Mrs. Sarah Palin something along the lines of a pig with lipstick. There was a bit of an uproar but did Palin sue Obama? No.
Take England. A person - I forget his name - called Mr. Gordon Brown a "one eyed Scottish idiot". He was forced to apologise, but did Brown sue the chap? No.
You see how we lack freedom of speech? Our student forum is a very good example.
I suppose the moment you read this sarcastic and controversial letter you will a)"look into it" (i.e. shelve it), b) tear it up and throw it into the shredder before anyone can see it, c) sit and stare at it in shock and the sheer audacity of it all, d) Find the person who wrote this. But that will just prove what I've been trying to say - that you have no idea what freedom of speech means.
Yours sincerely
A friend
(or 2)
(or 3)
(or many more)
(a crowd?)
~Today in History~
1945: Axis Sally delivers her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops.
~Quote of the Day~
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
-George Orwell
The following letter will probably be insulting to a good many people. However I did not and do not intend to insult anyone of these people - it's just a complaint letter. I'll try not to mention ANY names. I find that there are quite a few things wrong with this school and it's time to say something about it. So once again, if anyone finds this letter offensive, I offer my sincerest apologies and will take this down immediately.
***
To whomever this may concern,
I am writing this because I am concerned about a few things going on in our school.
Firstly, regarding the Morning Jog, I would like to point out something. During this H1N1 Virus pandemic, you are right to say that we should avoid crowds. Now, a morning jog is also known as a mass jog, correct? What does the term 'mass jog' mean? Many, many people. At least 300 people, if not more. And what is another word for 'many, many people'? A crowd. Didn't I just hear someone telling us to avoid crowds during this pandemic? Wait a minute...aren't they the same people who tell us to go down for assembly and morning jog?
ANother thing - the Student Forums that you have are quite frankly an absolute, utter and complete waste of time. During the first student forum in Term 1, you got us to talk about school uniforms and that sort of thing, adding that we would not be scolded for our suggestions. Fine. But I'd rather get scolded and get the question answered than let you evade it like you did. Every suggestion made and you would come up with some stupid reason that is, I might add, poppycock. When we pressed on for a proper answer you evaded it completely and changed the subject. And those that were 'sensible' enough to not get an evasion from you got a "we'll look into it" which in your language translates into "We'll take your suggestion, shelve it and not look at it until ten years later, thanks". And not only that. If the student council had no idea what to say they would look at a certain teacher sitting besides them who would nod or shake her head. This is a student's forum, if I recall correctly. It's power to the STUDENTS; the teachers shouldn't even be in there in the first place. And when one of the netballers asked a question the netball teacher blew his top. I thought someone said something about "not getting scolded"? Or is that just my hearing?
The second student forum held you chose to do something much safer - school spirit. No more pesky, annoying questions. Smart. But it was totally and utterly useless as well.
The next topic is a sore spot for many secondary school students. Every Monday morning we have to stand in the field while the cute, dainty, innocent little primary school girls saunter down to their seats, carrying their funny little books. And whenever we do the family dance (Which is actually an unnecessary thing. It does increase bonding, but we're bonding against the school. And it's stereotypical too. Not all girls can/like to dance, you know.) the primary girls sit there and stare at us blankly or bury their adorable little noses in the books.
One: Why is it the Primary School Girls get to sit down? Every day we are the ones that stand. There is barely any day when we sit down. And if you give us that stupid "Oh, we have to take care of our mei mei men" excuse, PLEASE. You're insulting us. We're older and that's why we have to sit down, because we got arthritis and rheumatism. In any case, it's unfair. (And don't give me that "life is unfair" thing either. Some parts of life are unfair, but this one doesn't have to be.)
Two: Why is it the Primary School Girls get to stay in lass every day except for Monday? You know how we long to just stay in class. We have more tests than the Primary school girls could ever dream of, we need the time to study. Last minute mugging is very effective. If you argue that there's not enough space, think again. Ever heard of this huge place called the "Hall"?
Three: Why don't the primary school girls have to do the family dance? Surely they have learnt it. The Primary Twos have been in this school longer than the Sec 1s have, and yet it is the Secondary One girls who have to dance. And maybe the P1s and P2s are too young, fine. How about the upper Primary? Can't they dance? They've been watching the Secondary Section dance for three years at the very least. They know how to do it. Why can't the secondary section sit down one day while the Primary school girls dance and see how nice it is to be forced to do something against your will while being stared at by other people?
And now I shall move on to another subject. Our principal talks far too long at assembly, when she does. She has never talked for less than two minutes and her personal best is twenty one minutes and forty two seconds, which is roughly equivalent of Barack Obama's inauguration speech. Our principal may be the principal of this school, but she is not the president of the United States. She does not have to talk that long, in any case. If you cut out all the repetitions and unnecessary comments, her 21 minute speech would be less than ten minutes.
Now there is something else I would like to say. House Practice. You might say some are longing for Sports Day. But there are others who can't wait till it's over. Me, for instance. I don't see the point in making it compulsory for someone to sign up for two events. Not everyone is born an athlete. Some just can't run or jump or throw, and some just hate it. You can't force people to do something they don't want to do. And there's no point in saying that "If we don't then no one will join" because no one really joined. Everyone went for the 100m dash, and not a lot went for the high jumps. So basically all that this compulsory thing is doing is making a long queue and a headache for the teachers in charge of the 100m.
The last thing I shall talk about is something that would probably get me sued. Freedom of speech. You don’t know what freedom is until you lose it. I've never known freedom. Singapore may not have a reputation for having no freedom of speech, but it doesn't. Fine, it's not like in Thailand where one bad word about the King and you get jailed. But in Singapore isn't it turning towards that? The ruling party has been the PAP for a very, very long time. The other parties, the opposition never get to say anything and when they make the news, they do it because they're going to get sued for 'defaming' someone high up in the PAP (like I promised, I won't mention names). Don't know about you, but it doesn't sound like a lot of freedom to me.
Take America. Mr. Barack Obama called Mrs. Sarah Palin something along the lines of a pig with lipstick. There was a bit of an uproar but did Palin sue Obama? No.
Take England. A person - I forget his name - called Mr. Gordon Brown a "one eyed Scottish idiot". He was forced to apologise, but did Brown sue the chap? No.
You see how we lack freedom of speech? Our student forum is a very good example.
I suppose the moment you read this sarcastic and controversial letter you will a)"look into it" (i.e. shelve it), b) tear it up and throw it into the shredder before anyone can see it, c) sit and stare at it in shock and the sheer audacity of it all, d) Find the person who wrote this. But that will just prove what I've been trying to say - that you have no idea what freedom of speech means.
Yours sincerely
A friend
(or 2)
(or 3)
(or many more)
(a crowd?)
~Today in History~
1945: Axis Sally delivers her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops.
~Quote of the Day~
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
-George Orwell
>>Forgotten by04:44
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY Sunday, May 3, 2009
Three more weeks
Lately I've realised that my titles seem to be getting more and more boring. Or perhaps that's just because nowadays there's nothing to talk about.
Three more weeks to the END OF SCHOOL. It's impossible to wait for it. And you know that VE (Victory in Europe, for all those people I have not been in contact with before, because if you've talked to me you should know what VE means) Day is on Friday, don't you? Anyway, Friday is Common Test Day and you know what test we have?
HISTORY!
More specifically, the entire chapter on World War Two.
Now, I'd like to clarify something. I know a lot of people are going to expect me to get really high marks for this and top the class, but I can assure you that that isn't going to happen. For one, I specialise in the ETO, not the PTO. I do SHAEF, not CinCPac. Number two: I don't know ANYTHING about Singapore history, so it can be assumed that I don't know anything about Singapore's involvement in World War Two either. Sure, I know all that about Percival and Yamashita and Fort Canning and the Ford Motor Factory, but I don't know the events that led up to it. Who cares about battles at Ipoh and Johor when you can have things like Cherbourg and Arnhem?
So, basically, I'm going to die for history just like I will die for Wen Shi (which is tomorrow and I don't even know what we're supposed to learn).
On a happier note, I went on a shopping spree today. Harris was having a clearance sale and we bought $221 worth of books. Now you know where all that money I save goes to. I got roughly seven or eight new WWII books, plus one on Land Warfare and one on Sea Warfare (though those are more for my brother). I wanted to get one on Vietnam (Yes, branching out at last) but that one cost $40.
But maybe I've been rambling for too long. I did want to say something about AC Milan, though. Jason got this AC Milan thing stuck on a piece of cardboard, and I asked what it was. He said he didn't know. "That's AC Milan, isn't it?" I asked. He said (very surely) that it was. I pointed out that he didn't know a moment ago. He said, "Oh, a friend of mine told me."
By the way, I've got a new haircut. The hairdresser unfortunately cut it too short so now I look like a boy. So no laughing tomorrow.
~Today in History~
1942: Japanese naval troops invade Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands during the first part of Operation Mo that results in the Battle of the Coral Sea between Japanese forces and forces from the United States and Australia.
~Quote of the Day~
Go forward until the last round is fired and the last drop of gas is expended...then go forward on foot!
-George Patton. Sort of like a suicide march, then. Pity the soldiers in the Third Army. And wait...what happens after your feet are gone?
Lately I've realised that my titles seem to be getting more and more boring. Or perhaps that's just because nowadays there's nothing to talk about.
Three more weeks to the END OF SCHOOL. It's impossible to wait for it. And you know that VE (Victory in Europe, for all those people I have not been in contact with before, because if you've talked to me you should know what VE means) Day is on Friday, don't you? Anyway, Friday is Common Test Day and you know what test we have?
HISTORY!
More specifically, the entire chapter on World War Two.
Now, I'd like to clarify something. I know a lot of people are going to expect me to get really high marks for this and top the class, but I can assure you that that isn't going to happen. For one, I specialise in the ETO, not the PTO. I do SHAEF, not CinCPac. Number two: I don't know ANYTHING about Singapore history, so it can be assumed that I don't know anything about Singapore's involvement in World War Two either. Sure, I know all that about Percival and Yamashita and Fort Canning and the Ford Motor Factory, but I don't know the events that led up to it. Who cares about battles at Ipoh and Johor when you can have things like Cherbourg and Arnhem?
So, basically, I'm going to die for history just like I will die for Wen Shi (which is tomorrow and I don't even know what we're supposed to learn).
On a happier note, I went on a shopping spree today. Harris was having a clearance sale and we bought $221 worth of books. Now you know where all that money I save goes to. I got roughly seven or eight new WWII books, plus one on Land Warfare and one on Sea Warfare (though those are more for my brother). I wanted to get one on Vietnam (Yes, branching out at last) but that one cost $40.
But maybe I've been rambling for too long. I did want to say something about AC Milan, though. Jason got this AC Milan thing stuck on a piece of cardboard, and I asked what it was. He said he didn't know. "That's AC Milan, isn't it?" I asked. He said (very surely) that it was. I pointed out that he didn't know a moment ago. He said, "Oh, a friend of mine told me."
By the way, I've got a new haircut. The hairdresser unfortunately cut it too short so now I look like a boy. So no laughing tomorrow.
~Today in History~
1942: Japanese naval troops invade Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands during the first part of Operation Mo that results in the Battle of the Coral Sea between Japanese forces and forces from the United States and Australia.
~Quote of the Day~
Go forward until the last round is fired and the last drop of gas is expended...then go forward on foot!
-George Patton. Sort of like a suicide march, then. Pity the soldiers in the Third Army. And wait...what happens after your feet are gone?
>>Forgotten by00:54
