Taking up the role as God for ESLings is not easy. But after taking it up, it is not easy to let go. We grow to love what we hate. Most often, it is the fear of the unknown that limits a person's ability and capability. In layman's language, this is called Risk. Well, no pain, no gain. In Critical Thinking, Risk can be viewed in two different ways..
On one hand, the courage of taking up the challenge would mean the attainment of self actualisation in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. On the other hand, if one "screws up," he would be scorned, shunned and alienated by the rest for failing. Most often, it is the fear of being alienated that makes one a better person.
However, these days, humans have evolved into a higher creature. The type that backs down when shown blood a.k.a. Chicken. I fear there won't be a Successor for our Great King CY in the Land of the Robots, for those who were offered a place is just too "chicken" to take it up. BRAVO! to all ESLings who take up the one-year challenge. It is a test to prove your mettle and bronze.
At the moment, God's seat is cold, so to speak. Successors who come expect a walkover in a tournament. Well, that can only happen "when Pirahna spread all over the living room" (Quoting from Pirahna).In other words, this young kid is real naive. Of course, God lay her cards on the table. The various texts, carefully stacked up to the person's nose (at seating level) is a Denouement. The Successor suffered a "heart attack" and died instantaneously. You should have seen the face. If you have read 'Heat and Dust', especially Firdaus Baba Shrine scene you would die salivating for more, wouldn't you? Those who don't take risks would never learn much.. and will continue to be childish. We have all grown mature by reading, didn't we? And best of all, Old man would have instant skin regeneration without needing to use Oil of Ulay after reading the text. And King CY would be doing a close study of the new Kung Fu to share with innocent May Yee.
Analyse the text. The features include:
1. Exaggeration
2. Allusion
3. Paradox
4. Connotation
5. Alliteration
6. Denouement
7. Sense of belonging
8. Humour
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Contradictory Sense of Belonging
Humans are weird most of the time. Many strive to be different in order to stand out. So, they start making claims that they are different from the rest because they have this, while the others do not. In business world, this is called Product Differentiation in order to target the niche market.
Hypocritically speaking, they, at the same time, wish to be the same as the rest. They do not mind carrying the same brand of LV handbag of the same design. So, the LV handbag is a must-have item. It is fine to be carrying the same handbag to the party as both indirectly "belong" to the same elite group. Others suddenly become "et cetera" and blend into the wall as "No Name". Imagine what happens when two persons show up in the same outfit. Both will be outraged to see each other wearing the same outfit. But why? Aren't we comparing two items of the same category?
These claims of "Differentiation" can appear to be explicit and implicit depending on the context. The most dangerous claim one can make is about having a sense of belonging in the context of religion.
So, the question is: Do we want to standout from the rest?" or "Do we need to be the same to belong?" or is there a middle path to the sense of belonging?
Analyse the techniques used:
1. Irony
2. Phetorical questions
3. Foreign language (Latin)
4. Sense of belonging
5. Sense of non-belonging
6. Non compliance
Hypocritically speaking, they, at the same time, wish to be the same as the rest. They do not mind carrying the same brand of LV handbag of the same design. So, the LV handbag is a must-have item. It is fine to be carrying the same handbag to the party as both indirectly "belong" to the same elite group. Others suddenly become "et cetera" and blend into the wall as "No Name". Imagine what happens when two persons show up in the same outfit. Both will be outraged to see each other wearing the same outfit. But why? Aren't we comparing two items of the same category?
These claims of "Differentiation" can appear to be explicit and implicit depending on the context. The most dangerous claim one can make is about having a sense of belonging in the context of religion.
So, the question is: Do we want to standout from the rest?" or "Do we need to be the same to belong?" or is there a middle path to the sense of belonging?
Analyse the techniques used:
1. Irony
2. Phetorical questions
3. Foreign language (Latin)
4. Sense of belonging
5. Sense of non-belonging
6. Non compliance
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Where am I now?
This is where I will be, away from the Land of the Dinosaurs, Land of the Robots...next is The Land of Emancipation.
Analyse the above Visual interpretation to get the answer Level 1 and Level 2.
P/S: There is no need for Level 3 interpretation.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Dry Humour: How Shit Happens
Just a continuation from the previous posting...but in the form of dry humour. Enjoy!
How Shit Happens
In the beginning was the Plan. And then came the Assumptions. And the Assumptions were without form. And the Plan was without substance. And darkness was upon the face of the Workers. And the workers spoke among themselves, saying, "This is crock of shit, and it stinks." And the Workers went unto their Supervisors and said, "It is a pail of dung, and we can't live with the smell." And the Supervisors went unto their Managers, saying, "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it." And the Managers went unto their Directors, saying, "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." And the Directors spoke among themselves, saying to one another, "It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong." And the Directors went to the Vice Presidents, saying unto them, "It promotes growth, and it is very powerful.."
And the Vice Presidents went to the President, saying unto him, "This new plan will actively promote the growth and vigor of the company with very powerful effects." And the President looked upon the Plan and saw that it was good. And the Plan became Policy.
And that, my friends, is how shit happens.
(Taken from wwww.Ajokes.com)
How Shit Happens
In the beginning was the Plan. And then came the Assumptions. And the Assumptions were without form. And the Plan was without substance. And darkness was upon the face of the Workers. And the workers spoke among themselves, saying, "This is crock of shit, and it stinks." And the Workers went unto their Supervisors and said, "It is a pail of dung, and we can't live with the smell." And the Supervisors went unto their Managers, saying, "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it." And the Managers went unto their Directors, saying, "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." And the Directors spoke among themselves, saying to one another, "It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong." And the Directors went to the Vice Presidents, saying unto them, "It promotes growth, and it is very powerful.."
And the Vice Presidents went to the President, saying unto him, "This new plan will actively promote the growth and vigor of the company with very powerful effects." And the President looked upon the Plan and saw that it was good. And the Plan became Policy.
And that, my friends, is how shit happens.
(Taken from wwww.Ajokes.com)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
LIE - Lucipher in Earth
What is a lie? A lie is defined as the act of telling/showing something, in the form of verbal,non-verbal or the written form which is often the untruth about something/someone/someplace, which results in two possible outcomes (i.e. positive or negative effects). The intention is always vague, as there is no way to find out if it's for a good cause or a bad cause. However in Critical Thinking, it is extremely UNLIKELY that the intentions are for a good cause because the motive is often to mislead the listener/audience.
Using your critical thinking skills, the following are some questions to consider:
1. Would you consider it a lie when you are instructed to do so through emails?
2. Would you lie of something even when it affects your well-being/health?
3. Why would someone literate choose to be blind?
4. Has education failed to educate or has it failed to provide its basic function?
You can argue the above as:
1. A lie when instructed by emails remains a lie
2. A person should tell lies for something even though it affects the well-being and health.
3. There are reasons for a literate person chooses to be blind.
4. Education has not failed to educate or education has not failed to provide the basic function of education.
However, if you try to contradict the above claims, you will get:
1. A lie when instructed by emails does not remain a lie.
2. A person should not tell lies for something even though it affects the well-being and health of the person.
3. There are no reasons for a literate person to choose to be blind.
4. Education has failed to educate and education has failed to provide the basic function of education.
These are just examples of some irritating facts in the life as a God.
Isn't it ironic that Gods are literate yet choose to be blind?
Only the Gods in the Land of Robots behave in these wonderfully wayward ways...
King save the God.....!!
Using your critical thinking skills, the following are some questions to consider:
1. Would you consider it a lie when you are instructed to do so through emails?
2. Would you lie of something even when it affects your well-being/health?
3. Why would someone literate choose to be blind?
4. Has education failed to educate or has it failed to provide its basic function?
You can argue the above as:
1. A lie when instructed by emails remains a lie
2. A person should tell lies for something even though it affects the well-being and health.
3. There are reasons for a literate person chooses to be blind.
4. Education has not failed to educate or education has not failed to provide the basic function of education.
However, if you try to contradict the above claims, you will get:
1. A lie when instructed by emails does not remain a lie.
2. A person should not tell lies for something even though it affects the well-being and health of the person.
3. There are no reasons for a literate person to choose to be blind.
4. Education has failed to educate and education has failed to provide the basic function of education.
These are just examples of some irritating facts in the life as a God.
Isn't it ironic that Gods are literate yet choose to be blind?
Only the Gods in the Land of Robots behave in these wonderfully wayward ways...
King save the God.....!!
Enough is enough
Ever wondered how exams really affect your life and leave a deep impression on at least forty peope? Let's analyse the imagery of this short excerpt, which was the first of its kind to have happened in the Land of Robots.
As I stepped into the classroom, I could smell the freshness of the morning air trapped from yesterday's lecture. I was made to share the same air with the forty over students the day before and still sharing it with forty others today in the same cold room. What exactly does it smell like, I wonder? A mixture of sweat, May Yee's sweet and floral fresh perfume, fishy smell of Pirahna, the old man's cologne, the King's freshly ironed coat and of course, the stink bomb which was released somewhere in the air...A concoction of smell to your tantalise your senses.
However, for every second after fifteen minutes, disruptive smells kept creeping out from nowhere, causing me to perform operation "oxygen cut-off" every now and then. It was an ordeal for both "the smeller" and "the releaser". However, the pressure was more on the "releaser" so as not to over-release "unidentified deposits besides unidentified gas" in the classroom.
"Who is "G%&#& releaser?" I shouted in my mind. "If you have the guts, deposit it in front of my eyes!" My prayers were instantly answered. Almost instantly, a strange hissing and growling sound from the front seat caught my attention. He was breathing from between his teeth (instead of his nose)foreshadowing an impending disaster. I wondered why he was responding in such a peculiar way in the ESL exam.
That was then when he decided "enough is enough" and raised his hands for permission and walked awkwardly out of the room, without even having to fill in a form ...
*Note:
The bowel movement syndrome attacks the following people:
a) Those who missed performing a process in the morning; or
b) Those who are too excited when reading the exam questions; or
c) Those who panicked after reading the exam questions; or
d) Those who are too relaxed after finding that exam questions are too easy
You may experience more than one of the above conditions.
Read between the lines for the following:
1. Imagery
2. Metaphor
3. Dialogue
4. Descriptive language
5. Humour (haha!)
As I stepped into the classroom, I could smell the freshness of the morning air trapped from yesterday's lecture. I was made to share the same air with the forty over students the day before and still sharing it with forty others today in the same cold room. What exactly does it smell like, I wonder? A mixture of sweat, May Yee's sweet and floral fresh perfume, fishy smell of Pirahna, the old man's cologne, the King's freshly ironed coat and of course, the stink bomb which was released somewhere in the air...A concoction of smell to your tantalise your senses.
However, for every second after fifteen minutes, disruptive smells kept creeping out from nowhere, causing me to perform operation "oxygen cut-off" every now and then. It was an ordeal for both "the smeller" and "the releaser". However, the pressure was more on the "releaser" so as not to over-release "unidentified deposits besides unidentified gas" in the classroom.
"Who is "G%&#& releaser?" I shouted in my mind. "If you have the guts, deposit it in front of my eyes!" My prayers were instantly answered. Almost instantly, a strange hissing and growling sound from the front seat caught my attention. He was breathing from between his teeth (instead of his nose)foreshadowing an impending disaster. I wondered why he was responding in such a peculiar way in the ESL exam.
That was then when he decided "enough is enough" and raised his hands for permission and walked awkwardly out of the room, without even having to fill in a form ...
*Note:
The bowel movement syndrome attacks the following people:
a) Those who missed performing a process in the morning; or
b) Those who are too excited when reading the exam questions; or
c) Those who panicked after reading the exam questions; or
d) Those who are too relaxed after finding that exam questions are too easy
You may experience more than one of the above conditions.
Read between the lines for the following:
1. Imagery
2. Metaphor
3. Dialogue
4. Descriptive language
5. Humour (haha!)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Life beyond God: The Mightier Power
Is there a being above all Earthlings? Yes, there is God. But is there a Mightier Power above God? Yes, there is. It is called the God Almighty, for one reason...
Although The Mightier Power is higher than God, there is one, The Creator of the Universe that controls the Earth.
So, how many Earthlings are there? Plenty, like you and me. How many Gods are there? Depends..If you are a child, you have two gods. If you are studying, you have a few Gods to pray for (depending on subjects). If you are working, you also have a few Gods too (to report to) and one God Almighty (the boss). But bear in mind that those Gods and Gods Almighty are also Earthlings, just like you and me.
So, who controls the all those beings? That is THE CREATOR of the universe. The Creator who befalls rain, tsunami, earthquake, typhoon and lightning or even plagues.
So, how should we treat Gods? With respect, for we know that the Gods always gives us good advices, so as not to harm us. But at work, some God Almight(ies) are Luciphers in disguise under the name of being good Christians. They torture Earthlings all in the name of money.
This God is happy to meet fellow ESLlings but at the same time, meeting ESLlings means shorter lifespan for this God, as the Luciphers always puts The Writer's foot, one on a separate boat, and in the end, The Writer gets her body split in half. A cruel way to torture someone to death.
There is a way to stop the body split: To take up one foot off the boat Or to take up both foot off the boat Or to jump ship. The Writer hopes that by jumping ship, Lucipher can stand up bravely as a man to say what Jack Dawson had said in the movie Titanic, "You jump, I jump" to The Writer. Because that is the only way to kill Lucipher.
**Many are jumping ship in 2010. Remember the project 2010? The end is coming near with the end of Year 2009.
If The Creator does not punish God Almight(ies), many Gods will die and fellow ESLings would suffer year 2010 and beyond. What God Almighty does not understand is, by killing the Gods, he is driving fellow ESLings elsewhere, which could put himself in jeopardy, which in the end he himself has to jump ship. Ironic isn't it? God Almighties are just too stupid to realise that he is part of the cycle in The Creator's Universe.
You need to Read between the lines to understand the story.
1. Metaphor
2. Allusion
3. Context of The Writer
4. Antagonist character
5. Protagonist character
Although The Mightier Power is higher than God, there is one, The Creator of the Universe that controls the Earth.
So, how many Earthlings are there? Plenty, like you and me. How many Gods are there? Depends..If you are a child, you have two gods. If you are studying, you have a few Gods to pray for (depending on subjects). If you are working, you also have a few Gods too (to report to) and one God Almighty (the boss). But bear in mind that those Gods and Gods Almighty are also Earthlings, just like you and me.
So, who controls the all those beings? That is THE CREATOR of the universe. The Creator who befalls rain, tsunami, earthquake, typhoon and lightning or even plagues.
So, how should we treat Gods? With respect, for we know that the Gods always gives us good advices, so as not to harm us. But at work, some God Almight(ies) are Luciphers in disguise under the name of being good Christians. They torture Earthlings all in the name of money.
This God is happy to meet fellow ESLlings but at the same time, meeting ESLlings means shorter lifespan for this God, as the Luciphers always puts The Writer's foot, one on a separate boat, and in the end, The Writer gets her body split in half. A cruel way to torture someone to death.
There is a way to stop the body split: To take up one foot off the boat Or to take up both foot off the boat Or to jump ship. The Writer hopes that by jumping ship, Lucipher can stand up bravely as a man to say what Jack Dawson had said in the movie Titanic, "You jump, I jump" to The Writer. Because that is the only way to kill Lucipher.
**Many are jumping ship in 2010. Remember the project 2010? The end is coming near with the end of Year 2009.
If The Creator does not punish God Almight(ies), many Gods will die and fellow ESLings would suffer year 2010 and beyond. What God Almighty does not understand is, by killing the Gods, he is driving fellow ESLings elsewhere, which could put himself in jeopardy, which in the end he himself has to jump ship. Ironic isn't it? God Almighties are just too stupid to realise that he is part of the cycle in The Creator's Universe.
You need to Read between the lines to understand the story.
1. Metaphor
2. Allusion
3. Context of The Writer
4. Antagonist character
5. Protagonist character
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