Ah. Senior year at ICS is definitely one of the most ‘interesting’ years ever. It is the year filled with tears of joy and sorrow. Of course, for graduating and not being able to study hard again.

While everyone is being sentimental and all that other stuff, I would like to reflect on my personal highlights of the year. I especially remember the senior carnival night, where people were hard working on each of their respective committee. I loved the pokemon game I was playing on my phone. I clearly remember finally reaching the pokemon league, and that is a huge accomplishment. While my friends celebrate the completion of the setting, I was celebrating the more important thing.

Another highlight would be the last day of senior trip. While everyone was crying their eyeballs out and choking everyone’s life out with their hugs, I was having fun reading my beautifully written novella back in my room. I must say, I really agree with the whole RAFT idea that Mr.Allan presented to us. What was it again? Uh. “Read A lot For The… ENDGAME!”

Well, last but not least, I will definitely miss the hard core studying time that I had with all my hard working classmates. I remember we would be studying so hard that sweat and blood would start sweating out of our foreheads. It is only through this intense study that I was able to understand all of the terms used in Wendell Berry’s novella. I have never realised how important it is to study hard until the arrival of the senior year. As I present this last blog, I would like to urge all of you here to buy your own textbook and pencils to study with me in the future.

Thank you ICS. VERY NICE.

Berry’s idea of a home is that of the origin. I believe that both literally and figuratively, home is where we desire to be the most at any given time. It is the place where one can truly relax and shed off the burdens of life. It is the place where one can recharge and face the obstacles in life once again. It is the place where one must have in order to continue living.

To me, the idea of home means where my family is. I am able to talk about anything with my family and replenish my lost energy through their comfort. It doesn’t matter whether or not there is an actual house or not as it is only a structure. A place for home to be displaced.

As I’m about to embark on my journey to the college life, I will have to unfortunately leave the people that I love most for awhile. For some reason, the place called home is always the most comfortable place whether it is sleep or food. The most valuable aspects of a home has to be the safety it provides. Although it is a bit embarrassing, I can’t imagine myself anywhere else but back home after a few years studying outside. The idea of returning home is simply too tempting even as I type this blog on my desk back home. 😛

Technology is the symbol of advancement. This is not an opinion but a declaration. Throughout history, it is only possible for people to advance even further from their current states through the use and invention of technology. However, it seems like many people suggest differently. As Wendell Berry and other prominent authors such as George Orwell, they believe that technology will only doom humanity at the very end. Yet is this really true?

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, technology has become a form of spying technique for the government to control the mass population. The civilians are all terrified from being “vaporized” and yet, they still rely on it for their work and daily activities. Obviously, technology is portrayed as a problem in this dystopia. The author is traumatized by the ever dominant government that is controlling the nation. However, I believe that with proper regulations, technology can be a part of the solution.

Technology has saved countless live since the age of industrialization. This great savior of ours contributed to all the things that we have right now. Critics say that we will eventually lose control of the over-powered robots that we created. Yet, isn’t this applicable to the people in the past? Over a few centuries, humanity has improved exponentially. Back in the stone ages, who would’ve thought of creating electronics or even architectures taller than their own houses? No one. Yet, isn’t it safe to say that we’ve controlled the technologies we invented safely? The only problem that lies with technology is us, the one using them. Technology in itself is not either right or wrong. Looking at the environmental damage that we have spread upon this beautiful Earth, the core reason has to be our own evil nature, greed.

The technology in 1984 definitely serves as a warning to us. The author stresses the importance of the people having control over the technologies instead of being afraid of technological advancement.

War. What a romantic term. Every couple in the world is always wondering when they are able to attend this wonderful ceremony on their honeymoon. Even now, as I type this blog on my way to the “wonderful” and “fun” senior trip, people all around me are screaming about their excitement for war. Wow. Simply amazing. This totally reminds me of what the Jam club played for ICS Got Talent this year: “Isn’t she lovely?”

Oops. Did you think I was talking about the scary and bloody WAR that kills off millions of people each day because of our lack of self control in these advanced weaponry? Of course not. I’m talking about the .. ahem.. What A Romantic, WAR. As I lie down on the couch typing this blog, I can’t help but wonder why I am doing my homework during my free time in senior trip… I MEAN why is war so fantasized by people? It is common knowledge that war is bloody and scary. It is..right?

Well. The problem here is that people think war is such a cool event, where people conquer the hill and shout “AYYYYY I WIN THIS BATTLE”, or a soldier riding a horse shouting “YEEHAWWW”. Unfortunately, this is all caused by the beautiful society that we live in where legends and cultures tell us that the greatest honor for a person is to take up a weapon and protect his or her country with pride. This OLD way of thinking is what causes people to have these degenerate illusions about war.

Through simple cause and effect, this type of thinking have the potential to wreck havoc in future societies as people engage in the creation of war. Of course, just how like it is 11:34 PM right now, I am in need of food, but Gunn took it away from me, and Arjav is still annoying me. Someone please save me. SOS. Ah. At least I finished my blog before midnight. 😀

It is common sense that wealth easily corrupts people. Through out the story of The Good Earth, Wang Lung has definitely been corrupted into an “Old Lord”. Sadly, this concept can be seen in reality as people become “mean” after a great fortune. However, this problem can easily be solved through a simple measure: why not make EVERYONE rich?

Yes. You heard me right. Making everyone extremely wealthy would eliminate the problem of people being corrupted. I will not allow any criticism towards this solution simply because there are no other way except my way. 🙂

Now, how would this make the matter any better? Sigh. Let me remind your little brains that IF people are all the same, no one will be “unique”. In the same way, if everyone is filthy rich, no one will be actually rich as people are ALL rich. Using logical reasoning, wouldn’t that mean no one is rich? The definition of rich according to Google is “having a great deal of money or assets”. Through this solution of mine, a great deal of money or assets can not be determined. In turn, no one will be corrupted as the premise of this argument is that people need to be rich FIRST then corrupted.

This leads to the second question that I will answer: are there any circumstances when we could consider buying luxurious and overly excessive things to be wrong?Absolutely not. Continuing from the last case, IF everyone is buying luxurious and overly excessive things, how can one judge another? It is like accusing of another living being breathing oxygen, and tHAat iSS ImMORal. Maybe you are the corrupted one (?).

*However, this is all in the ideal world. In this broken world where capstone exists, my answer to these questions will be 1) wealth easily corrupts and thus we need to be extremely mindful as we live each day and 2) yes, all the time.

Ever since I was a little child, I have always been questioned by these old looking scholars searching for my opinions. As the audiences demand, I shall share my thoughts regarding human rights with everyone here.

What is the source of human rights?

Ah. As a man that respects and honors everyone, I have already memorized EVERY single human rights listed by the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is common sense that the first and most important right must be the right to skip school.

Sadly, it seems like I have been required to share my opinion about another important human right for this blog, and that is the freedom of expression. Yes. It is truly sad that I, a poor fellow, am obligated to express my deepest sorrow for a right that never existed in the first place. Someone please take my place! Oh wait. No one can because free speech does not exist. You never know when the FBI is listening or watching.

*Sniff* Alright. Let us get back on track. The answer to this question is actually extremely simple. Wifi.

I-I M-MEAN survival.

As everyone may have already know, human beings are purely evil from the top to bottom. We are always thinking of ways to take advantage of one another and how we can live a better life using any means. It is not uncommon, thus, for savages to hurt or even murder a fellow human. Thankfully, a fool that lived on Earth years and years ago was enlightened and realized the necessity of human rights.

“As long as I make this “thing” come true, I will be able to protect myself!” is what he/she was thinking while all hell set loose on Earth. Yes. All because he/she neglected the fact that society is always changing ,and human rights are tied closely to the era. WHAT A FOOL!

Wow. I just explained why the world is falling apart currently as well as the source of human rights. Good job me.

To answer this question, we first have to understand what revenge is. According to a trusted source, revenge means to take vengeance. Very descriptive and helpful. OH I know. This is simply a trap set up by the source. The men or wOMEeeeEn (not being racist now) behind the website must want US to figure out what revenge means. Such benevolent human beings! Therefore, I take the liberty of declaring this:

Revenge – returning the kindness one receives.

“An eye for an eye” CAN NEVER be considered an unjust response to evil. It is always THE Justice according to the definition stated above. Let’s take my capstone for example. Recall how Mr.Mike Holden gifted all of us such great blessings (random questions for who-knows-what)? YES! In order to return such kindness, I simply returned all of them blank. I hope you realize the kindness I am giving back. All I did was returning his well thought out questions to him.

“Wow!”

“What a man!”

“What a great student!”

is probably what he was thinking when he received my first capstone proposal. He must have made a mistake giving me a hundred without the one. Hmm.

To further compliment on my definition, Francis Bacon mentions that “REVENGE is a kind of wild jusitce; which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.” Truer words have never been spoken ever. I have absolute no idea what that means. But like the trusted source, Bacon here must want us to find the meaning behind OURSELVES. Judging from what he said, “the man’s nature runs to”, it must mean that Bacon urges the readers to follow our own hearts.

“Go and return the kindness with all your heart!” is what he is saying. Yes. Of course. One can’t suppress the heart to give back kindness! Let us all take revenge! Why don’t we start by leaving our tests blank?

 

To be completely honest, I had absolutely no idea when I first opened this short story. “Huh?” was the only thing that I could think of as I read the first chapter. Another confession that I have to make is that I actually stopped reading after the first few pages. Why? Because I honestly don’t understand ANYTHING the author is trying to make. I just can’t. (I did go back and read. Don’t worry Mr.Mark)

Overall, I think this book is completely random. Firstly, how in the world did the little prince survive in the desert. Secondly, if the little prince is indeed from another planet, how does the pilot understand, if any, what the prince is saying? From a logical point of view, the narrator must be delusional or something or he is simply just Albert Einstein 2.0. I do not know. However, I do believe that if you are logical when trying to analyze the setting, you have already lost. This book is meant to confuse the readers. The whole point of this story is to try to mess up our brains, yet I must say that the idea is pretty interesting. Who wouldn’t want to see a sunset 100 times a day?

One thing about the book that I really like is the fact that the drawings look amazing. I wish I could draw like that. The first picture in particular really captures my heart: A snake that has just eaten an elephant. This snake is honestly impressive. No known species can swallow an elephant whole yet this snake did it. Wow. Simply amazing. Life enlightening. I’m sure this snake will bring about new understandings in the field of biology.

Overall, this book is amazing in its own ways. Although I barely understood anything in the book, the drawings in the chapters definitely picked it back up. Thank you to the illustrator. You did good. *Thumbs up

First off, I have to apologize for the fact that I may have displeased you, dear Sir, just by typing this blog at exactly 8:15 PM. I genuinely apologize for distressing you, but I hope this blog annoys you more. Your welcome.

Isn’t culture such a pain. What exactly is culture? Why do we even need culture? Is it really necessary? Can’t we all just be ourselves and not follow our culture trends? This is truly one of the world’s greatest mystery.

Personally, I think the question regarding the dangers and effects of cultural theft and discrimination is most relevant. In this corrupt society, it is almost impossible to NOT offend others culturally. Heck, saying hi to person A might offend person B. This is the true nature of the world. I believe that the dangers are way too big, and I wouldn’t have enough time to explain everything. I shall leave the explanations to my peers. :^)

Through our study of literature in this quarter, I think the culture&religion question definitely was explored in the greatest depth. From Life of Pi to “Yellow Man”, religion just seems to be one with culture. Wow. Just like our world today. If you insult a religion, you are already insulting a culture. Don’t we just love offending others?

Lastly, wrestling with these questions definitely has affected my own identity and perspective on the world. Like I mentioned, I was tremendously enlightened through these questions. Culture is a pain, just like writing a title to this blog. Indeed, because of the vast difference in cultural values, I could offend anyone just by choosing a title. Huh. I may have upset another “civilized” human just by not putting a normal title. I apologize once again.

 

• Like the most…..

Adah most definitely must be my favorite character in The Poisonwood Bible. To me, her narrations simply display her wisdom and how open-minded she truly is. In addition, the sarcastic tones from her is simply amazing. It is really entertaining seeing her criticize EVERYTHING around her. I truly wish to be just like her, commenting on others with absolutely zero hold-backs.

• Sympathize the most…..

Orleanna has to be the one character that I sympathize more since she becomes ruthless at the end of the story. Although I still do not truly understand the heart of a parent, it is most definitely hell that she experienced when the tragedy happened. Furthermore, her painful past with Nathan is simply too overwhelming to anyone. I can’t help but sympathize and pity her.

• Most closely identify with…..

In my opinion, I think I can identify with Rachel the most. If it was me in the Congo, I would have tried to get out of there the SECOND I step my foot into this foreign land. Like Rachel, I definitely prefer to live in the modern civilization more than ancient caves. I can totally see myself negotiating with anyone to get out of Congo.

• Barbara Kingsolver identifies with…..

I think Kingsolver identifies herself with RuthMay the most. Although the author clearly did not decide to stay within the soils of Congo forever, the age setting of RuthMay is about the same as Kingsolver when she went to Africa in the past. In addition, RuthMay carries the message of the book. I would think that because Kingsolver identifies so much with RuthMay, that ultimately the author decides to convey her intentions for the book through RuthMay.