1. I feel that treatment of women's rights are unfair. The law should enforce equality of everyone, and not sexist views. To disallow women to drive a car is clearly discrimination of women. Although the religeon of Saudi Arabia may forbid women to drive, religeon and law are two separate things. For example, even if a woman lives in Saudi Arabia, it does not mean she practices the domainant religion there, and hence it would be unfair for her to be forbidden the basic right of driving. For all the government knows, her reliigeon may be one that enforces the need for women to drive.
2. I believe that social media has been an advantage to the women in Saudi Arabia. On the internet they are free to express their views harmlessly, and to plan in secret how they intend to make their views known to the government and proper authorities.
3. Religeon and law cannot be mixed, although the domainant religeon may forbid certain actions, not all in the country practice the same religeon, and hence it is not possible for the law to compromise on these minority groups. A good way of handling the rights is for each individual to have his or her religeon written on their identity card, and police can conduct checks if they suspect someone is breaking the religeous law.
Extention activity:
2. Women are just as capable as men. Although men make up the majority of leaders, there are also capable women leaders. For example, Australia's prime minister, Julia Gillard. Also, in the past, the head of the Greek god Apollo was always a prestess. For the protest in Saudi Arabia, the organiser was also a woman, and she managed to garner 600 signatures from Saudi citizens, who are "usually reluctant to publicly attach their names to political actions. However, this time, they were willing to do so, and this shows that they also agree to Ms Shariff's point of view, that women should be given the basic right to drive. Sometimes, women actually are better leaders than men. They can usually think up solutions quickly, and hence problems are solved quickly. However, for diplomatic leaders, I feel that men are more capable. Men understand the problems of each other, and now, as most of the leaders are men, men will make better diplomatic leaders. Men also make better military leaders. For example, Napoleon, who conquered most of Europe, and Ghengis Khan, who conquered the largest empire known to man.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Reflection of research
I feel that Shakespeare's work is great, his plays fully utilize the stage, with no background changes, allowing for quick transition between acts and scenes. His plays also have interesting plots, and portray different aspects of life. He also allows for imagination to do its work, often making the audience suspenseful. He also sometimes include superstition in his plays, such as during the court case, Antonio enters from the right,the side most often associated with good,while Shylock enters from the left, the side most often associated with evil. He is also capable of invoking sympathy for even the most evil of characters, Shylock. After losing his fortune, along with his daughter, he is subjected to racism by Salerio and Soliano,indirectly insulted when Solanio says that "a third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew".
The theatre of the elizabwthan era was also largely different from the current theatre. Today, most plays utilise different background scenes, to be changed with every new scene.In the past, there was only a plain stage for the performers. In the past, people clapped and booed based on whether the play was good or bad. However, today, comments are only exchanged privately, and clapping is expected no matter how good or bad a play is. Also, turnouts at performances are hardly affected by the whether, but during the Elizabethan era, how many people turned out was largely dependent on whether it was rainy or sunny. The theatre has changed largely, and there are virtually no similarities.
Shakespeare's plays can be applied to modern day context. The hatred between individuals, and even races. Between individuals, such as Shylock and Antonio, is often seen in the form of buisness disputes, or small misunderstandings that have not been cleared. Between races, it is still possible to see the hatred, in the form of racist jokes.
The theatre of the elizabwthan era was also largely different from the current theatre. Today, most plays utilise different background scenes, to be changed with every new scene.In the past, there was only a plain stage for the performers. In the past, people clapped and booed based on whether the play was good or bad. However, today, comments are only exchanged privately, and clapping is expected no matter how good or bad a play is. Also, turnouts at performances are hardly affected by the whether, but during the Elizabethan era, how many people turned out was largely dependent on whether it was rainy or sunny. The theatre has changed largely, and there are virtually no similarities.
Shakespeare's plays can be applied to modern day context. The hatred between individuals, and even races. Between individuals, such as Shylock and Antonio, is often seen in the form of buisness disputes, or small misunderstandings that have not been cleared. Between races, it is still possible to see the hatred, in the form of racist jokes.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Book summary and review: The last battle of the Icemark
Summary: The last battle of the Icemark is presumably the last book in the icemark chronicles. Set a few months after the end of the previous novel, the blade of fire, this book is about how Medea teams up with Cronus, Oskan's mysterious grandfather, to invade the icemark, and take over the physical and spiritual relams, and finally to challenge and destroy the goddess. Cronus is the king of the darkness, and sends ice demons to challenge Medea, to test her strength, and her worth to be a citizen of the darkness. Medea joins Cronus with the intention of destroying her hated family, and Cronus allows Medea to remain so that he can have a capable allie to help in his insane ambition. Meanwhile, the crumbling polypontian empire, which broke out in wars after Bellorum's execution, is quickly being conquered by Basilea Erinor, who plans to eventually invade the Icemark. So far, she has been unknowingly been instructed by Cronus, as a means of distraction to lure Queen Thirring and her allies to attack her, while Cronus and Medea invade the Icemark in their absence. Luckily, thee vampire queen comes to the rescue, leading nuisance raids nightly on the icemark's capital, frostmarris, particularly on the cidatel where Cronus and Medea are. However, she cannot defeat them easily, and hence, has to withdraw and regroup. Meanwhile, Cronus cuts off all communication methods with the South, to prevent thirrin from knowing something is amiss. However, werewolves carry messages manually instead, and Oskan, realising what is happening, teleports all back to frostmarris, and finally, fights Medea and Cronus. Armed with knowledge that if he kills Medea, he will die, and hence Cronus will also die, he has to make a choice, and eventually chooses to sacrifice himself. Hence, Medea and Cronus are destroyed, and peace is restored.
Review: The book itself is great, inserting wit and humour at times that they make the most effect. It is definitely a book worth reading, full of suspense, and also occasianal irony and romance.
Review: The book itself is great, inserting wit and humour at times that they make the most effect. It is definitely a book worth reading, full of suspense, and also occasianal irony and romance.
Exhibition review: Genghis Khan
There are several parts to the exhibition; the first part mainly displays Genghis Khan’s background, which includes his family, and tributes to him. The second part talks about his life, and his military expeditions. The third talks about the Mongol economy, and their trade. The forth part talks about
class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mongolian culture, with a showcasing of Mongolian music, clothing, dance, and even a preserved dead body.
Part 1: The picture below shows a tribute to him, which is a huge bronze statue of him, standing outside a courtroom. Other tributes include scripts of history written about his military successes at his command. His family and background are simple. When he was nine, his father was poisoned by an enemy tribe and died, and his given name was Temujin. That same year, he met his first wife, Borte. He never forgot the poisoning incident, and when he was nineteen, his wife was kidnapped by the same tribe, and he attacked the tribe as revenge, wiping the tribe out using fire, and hence he gained his first victory and his reputation grew from defeating one of the strongest tribes, the Merkits. Not long after, his blood brother, Jamuka, split the tribe, and later attacked Temujin. As revenge, Temujin returned for an attack, and Jamuka was left with two archers. The next year, the archers brought Jamuka to Temujin, where they believed that they would be accepted, however, they were executed, and only Jamuka was accepted, however, he refused to be accepted, instead wishing to be granted an execution to avoid further conflicts. Temujin granted this last wish, and hence, with all the obstacles out of the way, Temujin was declared the ruler of Mongolia, and took the name Genghis Khan.
Part 2: His first invasion to increase the power of the Mongols was the invasion of China. His first obstacle, the great wall, had a simple enough solution. Instead of scaling it, they went around it. However, the second obstacle, iron spikes, was not so easily gotten through, and following that, an oncoming army approached. However, as they were mercenaries, they surrendered without a fight, and Genghis Khan continued on towards Beijing, with a population of 30 000, and one of the most sophisticated cities. However, guarding the city was a wall, twelve meters high, 30 kilometres long and 900 guard towers. Genghis Khan then waited, and starved the population, and hence, thousands starved, with the survivors resorting to cannibalism. Soon, the attack commenced, with enemy prisoners being forced to wheel the siege engines to the front for attack. However, the Chinese had flammable bombs, instead of just rocks. The army was defeated, and Genghis Khan ordered total annihilation. Ambassadors later described the place as slippery with human fat, and recorded a mountain of human bones. He later attacked other empires, such as the Xi Xia. However, in 1218, the Sultan of Persia misjudged Genghis Khan, and ordered a Mongol ambassador to he beheaded, and the head sent to Karakorum, where Genghis Khan was. Furious, Genghis Khan sent an army, 200 thousand strong, to invade Persia, and every town that did not submit was burned to the ground. After that, he invaded Europe with a small army, to see how far they could penetrate before being stopped, but the army was never defeated.
These are models of Mongol instruments, and soldiers.
The third part showcases the economy of the Mongols, with its capital at Karakorum. There, the Mongols developed a writing system, and Genghis Khan set up trading posts, forty kilometres apart, for messengers pass. Genghis Khan began the Mongol legal system.
The forth part tells about the Mongol culture.
The pictures are of an actual preserved body, and a traditional Mongol yurt, or tent. There is also a performance, which includes music, dance, and rituals, which require masks to be worn. The instruments the Mongols use are roughly the same as the ones used by the Chinese.
There are several parts to the exhibition; the first part mainly displays Genghis Khan’s background, which includes his family, and tributes to him. The second part talks about his life, and his military expeditions. The third talks about the Mongol economy, and their trade. The forth part talks about
class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mongolian culture, with a showcasing of Mongolian music, clothing, dance, and even a preserved dead body.
Part 1: The picture below shows a tribute to him, which is a huge bronze statue of him, standing outside a courtroom. Other tributes include scripts of history written about his military successes at his command. His family and background are simple. When he was nine, his father was poisoned by an enemy tribe and died, and his given name was Temujin. That same year, he met his first wife, Borte. He never forgot the poisoning incident, and when he was nineteen, his wife was kidnapped by the same tribe, and he attacked the tribe as revenge, wiping the tribe out using fire, and hence he gained his first victory and his reputation grew from defeating one of the strongest tribes, the Merkits. Not long after, his blood brother, Jamuka, split the tribe, and later attacked Temujin. As revenge, Temujin returned for an attack, and Jamuka was left with two archers. The next year, the archers brought Jamuka to Temujin, where they believed that they would be accepted, however, they were executed, and only Jamuka was accepted, however, he refused to be accepted, instead wishing to be granted an execution to avoid further conflicts. Temujin granted this last wish, and hence, with all the obstacles out of the way, Temujin was declared the ruler of Mongolia, and took the name Genghis Khan.
Part 2: His first invasion to increase the power of the Mongols was the invasion of China. His first obstacle, the great wall, had a simple enough solution. Instead of scaling it, they went around it. However, the second obstacle, iron spikes, was not so easily gotten through, and following that, an oncoming army approached. However, as they were mercenaries, they surrendered without a fight, and Genghis Khan continued on towards Beijing, with a population of 30 000, and one of the most sophisticated cities. However, guarding the city was a wall, twelve meters high, 30 kilometres long and 900 guard towers. Genghis Khan then waited, and starved the population, and hence, thousands starved, with the survivors resorting to cannibalism. Soon, the attack commenced, with enemy prisoners being forced to wheel the siege engines to the front for attack. However, the Chinese had flammable bombs, instead of just rocks. The army was defeated, and Genghis Khan ordered total annihilation. Ambassadors later described the place as slippery with human fat, and recorded a mountain of human bones. He later attacked other empires, such as the Xi Xia. However, in 1218, the Sultan of Persia misjudged Genghis Khan, and ordered a Mongol ambassador to he beheaded, and the head sent to Karakorum, where Genghis Khan was. Furious, Genghis Khan sent an army, 200 thousand strong, to invade Persia, and every town that did not submit was burned to the ground. After that, he invaded Europe with a small army, to see how far they could penetrate before being stopped, but the army was never defeated.
These are models of Mongol instruments, and soldiers.
The third part showcases the economy of the Mongols, with its capital at Karakorum. There, the Mongols developed a writing system, and Genghis Khan set up trading posts, forty kilometres apart, for messengers pass. Genghis Khan began the Mongol legal system.
The forth part tells about the Mongol culture.
The pictures are of an actual preserved body, and a traditional Mongol yurt, or tent. There is also a performance, which includes music, dance, and rituals, which require masks to be worn. The instruments the Mongols use are roughly the same as the ones used by the Chinese.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Book review: The blade of fire
Summary:
This book is the second of the Icemark Chronicles by Stuart Hill. In this book, the same characters are used, with some developments from the previous book. Set 20 years after the first novel, Oskan and Thirrin are now husband and wife, and they have five children, the eldest, Cressida, a pair of twins, Cedric and Eodred, also known as Cedrie and Eddie, their withdrawn and mysterious daughter who has inherited Oskan’s psychic powers, and Charlemagne, who is crippled, known as Sharley. The story revolves about Sharley’s quest of fulfillment, to overcome his disability, and to save his country and family before the dreaded armies of the Polypontian Empire return and exact revenge. In the first novel, the head general, Scorpio Bellorum had his right arm cut off, and his armies destroyed by the timely help of vampires from the land of the ghosts, the tree folk and the great risk taken by Oskan by burning himself using lightning and redirecting it towards the opponents. Now, having recovered, Scorpio is out for revenge, with new weapons, which he calls the sky navy, consisting of hot air balloons with flaps that can be opened to drop bombs. However, before they can attack, Sharley is sent away to the southern continent, where he persuades the doge to rebel, and goes to Arifica to gather other allies, while his family remains in Frostmarris to gather other allies. The vampires are reluctant to help, but eventually, agree after Oskan threatens them with arson and banishing them to hell. Hence, they arrive, and are tasked with protecting the skies, with their armies of snowy owl and vampire. However, in a battle with Scorpio himself, the vampire king is killed, and, stricken with grief, the vampires become more vicious, destroying hundreds of war balloons before retreating to the north. While this goes on, Sharley is almost murdered by his sister, Medea, by a severe storm, and according to Captain Sidgurdson, the commander, it was the fiercest storms ever. Sharley escapes alive, and goes in search of the Sultan of the desert kingdom. However, as a way of making the trip easier, he looks for the prince, Mekhmet, instead. However, on the way to the city, Maggie, falls ill, and has to rest in their guide’s house. Soon after, the armies of the Polypontian Empire began to invade the southern riding, and Scorpio Bellorum let a column of refugees escape, as an ambush. Although Thirrin and the allies see through it, Thirrin still insists on rescuing them. Hence, she leaves Cressida in charge, and brings soldiers in to battle. However, she almost loses the battle, sandwiched between Scorpio, Sulla and Octavius Bellorum. However, Cressida had secretly led a backup force, and destroyed Sulla’s regiment, thus paving a way out for the soldiers and refugees. In return, she is rewarded with her own regiment and insignia, which is a striking eagle. However, it is also a time of grieving, as Cedric has died in the battle of a gut wound, shot from below by an officer he had defeated. While this is happening, Sharley has made friends with Prince Mekhmet, and also the desert kingdoms’ neighbor, the lusu people, and is on a voyage back to the Icemark. Meanwhile, Oskan becomes aware that a weather witch is up to her tricks. She has caused an early thaw to allow the empire’s forces to enter the kingdom. By now, everyone has to be evacuated underground because the empire has bombed the city, and have free control over the skies due to the vampire’s retreat. As soon as Sharley steps on shore, Medea senses his presence, and is livid with rage, and plots to destroy him. Soon, reinforcements of zombies, rock trolls, ghosts, and tree folk join him, but Sharley is too late, the attack has begun. Oskan, sensing that to defend would be hopeless, decides to draw lightning down. However, Medea realizes what is happening, and steals the lightning, also increasing its power several times, before blasting it at Sharley, who has just come out of the forest and given the order to charge. Oskan understands at once, and redirects the lightning back at Medea. Unable to retaliate, Medea is struck, and grievously wounded. Oskan takes this opportunity to bore into her mind and speak to her, but seeing that she is unremorseful, he banishes her to the spirit world, hoping to kill her. Soon, Sharley enters battle, and meets Octavius, who stabs Mekhmet, but is beheaded by Sharley. Cressida leads a secret force, and kills Sulla, and eventually, the retreating empire soldiers are rounded up, and Bellorum is beheaded, and his body torn apart by the vampire queen, who had arrived at the last minute.
Review: Extremely interesting, always keeps the reader on the edge to see what happens next, and at the same time describing each scene with pristine clarity. Definitely a book worth reading.
This book is the second of the Icemark Chronicles by Stuart Hill. In this book, the same characters are used, with some developments from the previous book. Set 20 years after the first novel, Oskan and Thirrin are now husband and wife, and they have five children, the eldest, Cressida, a pair of twins, Cedric and Eodred, also known as Cedrie and Eddie, their withdrawn and mysterious daughter who has inherited Oskan’s psychic powers, and Charlemagne, who is crippled, known as Sharley. The story revolves about Sharley’s quest of fulfillment, to overcome his disability, and to save his country and family before the dreaded armies of the Polypontian Empire return and exact revenge. In the first novel, the head general, Scorpio Bellorum had his right arm cut off, and his armies destroyed by the timely help of vampires from the land of the ghosts, the tree folk and the great risk taken by Oskan by burning himself using lightning and redirecting it towards the opponents. Now, having recovered, Scorpio is out for revenge, with new weapons, which he calls the sky navy, consisting of hot air balloons with flaps that can be opened to drop bombs. However, before they can attack, Sharley is sent away to the southern continent, where he persuades the doge to rebel, and goes to Arifica to gather other allies, while his family remains in Frostmarris to gather other allies. The vampires are reluctant to help, but eventually, agree after Oskan threatens them with arson and banishing them to hell. Hence, they arrive, and are tasked with protecting the skies, with their armies of snowy owl and vampire. However, in a battle with Scorpio himself, the vampire king is killed, and, stricken with grief, the vampires become more vicious, destroying hundreds of war balloons before retreating to the north. While this goes on, Sharley is almost murdered by his sister, Medea, by a severe storm, and according to Captain Sidgurdson, the commander, it was the fiercest storms ever. Sharley escapes alive, and goes in search of the Sultan of the desert kingdom. However, as a way of making the trip easier, he looks for the prince, Mekhmet, instead. However, on the way to the city, Maggie, falls ill, and has to rest in their guide’s house. Soon after, the armies of the Polypontian Empire began to invade the southern riding, and Scorpio Bellorum let a column of refugees escape, as an ambush. Although Thirrin and the allies see through it, Thirrin still insists on rescuing them. Hence, she leaves Cressida in charge, and brings soldiers in to battle. However, she almost loses the battle, sandwiched between Scorpio, Sulla and Octavius Bellorum. However, Cressida had secretly led a backup force, and destroyed Sulla’s regiment, thus paving a way out for the soldiers and refugees. In return, she is rewarded with her own regiment and insignia, which is a striking eagle. However, it is also a time of grieving, as Cedric has died in the battle of a gut wound, shot from below by an officer he had defeated. While this is happening, Sharley has made friends with Prince Mekhmet, and also the desert kingdoms’ neighbor, the lusu people, and is on a voyage back to the Icemark. Meanwhile, Oskan becomes aware that a weather witch is up to her tricks. She has caused an early thaw to allow the empire’s forces to enter the kingdom. By now, everyone has to be evacuated underground because the empire has bombed the city, and have free control over the skies due to the vampire’s retreat. As soon as Sharley steps on shore, Medea senses his presence, and is livid with rage, and plots to destroy him. Soon, reinforcements of zombies, rock trolls, ghosts, and tree folk join him, but Sharley is too late, the attack has begun. Oskan, sensing that to defend would be hopeless, decides to draw lightning down. However, Medea realizes what is happening, and steals the lightning, also increasing its power several times, before blasting it at Sharley, who has just come out of the forest and given the order to charge. Oskan understands at once, and redirects the lightning back at Medea. Unable to retaliate, Medea is struck, and grievously wounded. Oskan takes this opportunity to bore into her mind and speak to her, but seeing that she is unremorseful, he banishes her to the spirit world, hoping to kill her. Soon, Sharley enters battle, and meets Octavius, who stabs Mekhmet, but is beheaded by Sharley. Cressida leads a secret force, and kills Sulla, and eventually, the retreating empire soldiers are rounded up, and Bellorum is beheaded, and his body torn apart by the vampire queen, who had arrived at the last minute.
Review: Extremely interesting, always keeps the reader on the edge to see what happens next, and at the same time describing each scene with pristine clarity. Definitely a book worth reading.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Feature article: corrected
Gamaholics
Gamaholics are defined as gamers who are addicted to online gaming, such as dota, blackshot, sudden attack, and so on.
Gaming has both advantages and disadvantages. However, the general idea of the public is that online gaming is bad. Online gaming is usually more addictive than normal gaming, and increasingly, more players are relying on internet cafes to provide them with private gaming, away from the close surveillance of their parents.
However, gaming has its advantages as well. For games that require thinking such as military strategy, it trains the players thinking skill, and also the players hand-eye coordination. Some games also link players together, and thus, they can have new friends, and some games also have educational values. There is also emotional fun in playing. Educational games such as graph mole educate students on the cartesian plane and coordinate geometry. The game also trains hand eye coordination by training the reading speed and recognising the correct option.
On the other hand, online gaming also has its disadvantages. Players may get addicted, and some games actually require purchasing. Also, as the players get more and more addicted, they may begin to ignore other things such as family and friends, and also homework. This antisocial behavior and irresponsible acts can actually cause the destruction of the gamers' lives, and sometimes, in extreme cases, the lives of others if the gamers go out of control for money and commit crimes for the money. However, these gamers only realise their folly way too late, and they feel remorseful and miserable, as do their families.
There are solutions available for gamers, such as counselling, instilling a curfuw, limiting computer time, or installing spyware on a computer to know when the gamer is playing.There have also been organisations formed to help with gaming addiction. Counselling will help by allowing the gamers to reflect and ask themselves whether what they are doing is beneficial to their future or whether it will harm them, and instilling a curfuw will deter the gamers from staying out late lest they receive punishment when they return home. Limiting computer time and installing spyware will have the same effects.
Gamaholics are defined as gamers who are addicted to online gaming, such as dota, blackshot, sudden attack, and so on.
Gaming has both advantages and disadvantages. However, the general idea of the public is that online gaming is bad. Online gaming is usually more addictive than normal gaming, and increasingly, more players are relying on internet cafes to provide them with private gaming, away from the close surveillance of their parents.
However, gaming has its advantages as well. For games that require thinking such as military strategy, it trains the players thinking skill, and also the players hand-eye coordination. Some games also link players together, and thus, they can have new friends, and some games also have educational values. There is also emotional fun in playing. Educational games such as graph mole educate students on the cartesian plane and coordinate geometry. The game also trains hand eye coordination by training the reading speed and recognising the correct option.
On the other hand, online gaming also has its disadvantages. Players may get addicted, and some games actually require purchasing. Also, as the players get more and more addicted, they may begin to ignore other things such as family and friends, and also homework. This antisocial behavior and irresponsible acts can actually cause the destruction of the gamers' lives, and sometimes, in extreme cases, the lives of others if the gamers go out of control for money and commit crimes for the money. However, these gamers only realise their folly way too late, and they feel remorseful and miserable, as do their families.
There are solutions available for gamers, such as counselling, instilling a curfuw, limiting computer time, or installing spyware on a computer to know when the gamer is playing.There have also been organisations formed to help with gaming addiction. Counselling will help by allowing the gamers to reflect and ask themselves whether what they are doing is beneficial to their future or whether it will harm them, and instilling a curfuw will deter the gamers from staying out late lest they receive punishment when they return home. Limiting computer time and installing spyware will have the same effects.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)