Dear readers,
I commented on Joel's blog post. http://jneater.blogspot.com/2010/08/swiss-vandal.html?showComment=1282225195911_AIe9_BFjcLqzEMZsr2j_du9fWTDj72kiJpn1zzulYWSG6LXUKqhCpePmOEi2ShCzfTrCGF4WlWU9Q0edCv8rLr67ElV1xxIM01aVI17Rp9N3QkJrqVzOrqb2COPzr7FWq2moJZxnjd4NX12M03lLHRn9UqtvCRnEgvOZFJ1eLhxdVEui6O1GFT8C6YDSPe_jcLqy6oyfJlBQXvZ_ze9exTrFyaFB-HkYRMiCcH-EIbpVeWGJgd1QiyTmLbWd-P2QoUn4b2RzM6Xv6jFag0DJPoKfDkkGs7gG-ZHAdxWk61vmLnRJCpUT7pOyvLCKxtnVlZd4LUzF6TfZLYGAUx-phbJlXU83bYsQPh9Zy6Ri696QJOb_OoWo_jGkLQirZUkRZ0sBQmlC9CtdVEZBXouu7pnSK3TYs-_D5YLIPXENEu6h68IJNOBf38FF3Bsxhlz8Bt6-TNjy6qdNeZtrw4-RaoZP_yS3vA4v1vZsGId8CtFceeOVzaZqKOcieQMaSHXFNzvmEUjAgz8GTq0BVfibFvJsZsPfUIYCPDIOEkNUuViEeFtWxhiiaiBI3JKsJgBmGpm5o2uJF4IvHxxMzoBbtgyzarB9jZ_a_6fk0ClLNDqoBoard7hnZzOc7WzKZyp_twwG7ZqWebJ6vV3AXKb-zPbNxFS-L-6gugAZeGGTzCIoR-wzvRdksA3SD4IimwO7XVNx7aINupVrj6vkF8r76-PZHwJP7FldpsAJZVqgi8Y3M4AbNnxOAMiS3QnKLdeJe-QmSqRNCpSvIEaf4mKtzKamQUTvqKoBgkRaBRl07oQEb_hOhhqBFyNrJ7DdIgceiFsLM65k_Tg6dCYBDrWuakgvV9g5NaVwAMmtINaEnpaaxUg30qwqSZE#c369253073244824267

Here is what I commented:
Even though oliver's punishment does make people think twice before they vandalise, I do not feel that they should have used such a heavy punishment on Oliver as some people in singapore feel that his vandalism looks more like art than intentional vandalism. Anything to say?

Dear readers,
I commented on Qing Zhou's blog. http://ep9cfail-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-cant-people-just-show-some-support.html?showComment=1282223354044_AIe9_BHpY-9vSCYhFnD61-JcZl2dPtkZJ24gHryU9okPRD3983BVj0gR75I6F6SGqk2KRJ4AsmXxHkpzZAEzuSAnN7rrCyXtJSlTxts1nE6jL5QRvpCGmRy2wIK373PpLmrMlC91mU-bJqMQtSFccbFQ3H5gdTAGvY3kJKnSAkMPToqYh1jlvCNyGM6F99BdYaMbY1C1QyzIJuKlHu0vxEFTbqsDreLqpnagbF3rX2JYVO2F3xDSULrXfFSn9bMS0apboUIKi85EIfwpkVIUrEjP8ut10zp4bElMyFbECg7xgewYCx-X-XDZQB2clz7PZjG_Mb3EGvPQlKXFM1_TzxVu-vnuR6esLqsnuC7w5kwECX6Ps2McSkGxVx3yKbjkfzOpJNInc6QLF3WCchSupXUY_mlojRrazC1zyvXM7Qu58qysG6IJ96mWUIBKz-BtBsEIJ5EcFk9oCMqE2gRqWjENh9Ep7mLKfJLLfBZPe_651KRYXPsf7ElaawPqrRWAtx2Z13FbTN9HsAzfy8BmFMfC8Mo6a8L9uOJieP9EIN5DmZpZ4nNyWoF9fISu1F0YdUm9uG1MRQ-H-0_--XIC77bkafDwLuRBPUEKcoa7jQTmbWWN_WC7vyKD4efwsfCIevjXC8h7rjTbB8YCTldsX8Cr-z63Zq_2iTkZWFcw3khp_1YdSkuQKcww8XC1640oHpdGYBoNCDf4fkwuHjPC3alHa-sXHOfaWDd5BnhUJBz4LqMZag1XwTtss8wVjh2YfyosSp4LtalnzoPEMafbPcHv8y92fp_BXkoFUbytATiWT4wcGVctV5NAWAEfwf5ak462WRH_PEpIGUmBteWjmWrWBQahQhAox5Po_j1CqIWRMBYLROjk3kc4qf-HaP-pXsKlMM8aky6e0VBd82kJy5hb6yIlyo9vEC3oU42S7Wir0KE0CRYTlfXS92LCSTb9GWJHN_JOHLXZ1CW4rAT-2UNMRxgbJ9Ttmg#c3637468914670035738

Here is what I wrote:
I feel that people do not support YOG because they do not get to watch the games in person. Students such as us have to attend school and thus do not have the luxury of watching the games. I also feel that Singapore did not publicise the games well enough. The only form of publicity I have seen on tv that I have seen is the song "Everyone". Thus I feel Singapore has not done enough . Anything to say?

Dear readers.
I commented on Marcus Lau's blog post. http://blanketboymarcus.blogspot.com/2010/08/being-parent-in-reference-to-emily-of.html?showComment=1282222603801_AIe9_BHyof4CoYySZ-xToDNKj8-dn930j_s52q9mBHr_x71Z6-KQfauJKhXrrBISsOeuW9_PX1tddVPuPUKL3odAOYYWMC_yTaWbelAw5unPvZdBG9xqQ6Bdr8N677mdTzdIHTdYbjDNcVmAfgZtNR8G9ZPcNebIgXdkqcozMZgUb6cOgywnPghWmcxGjBr2daA6DGaoCM1JCPvWiH9EOBFFSfyrCY_Q8KrBr9RsFn8dIKaBIMn8inOqVFGgWDr3SgOC77Mxg2PmBfOx4t52C5spM207OC7uIE8ljx37_auRc1-duDIrLH7IBASkQZWhYCWlMUmNm6pGF4mKz2F78r7NVdEfQuAfny4s-1W9n0se-TvAuUuiksFWy78Zw-Xm7OyZx_AysxoosDk9KPrPLsCgfo5JQqDxJgt3xiiEQXHIjX5Q1DldDDWsSdhqmOHICYjP0eH_FSQ77zayIbzEv3r02jPYr5mDwB8iVcAssJL-Aa2BtusCmU_KuMRJrISPcDIn7HbU1tRBb22ATM54Jttc0u7euG5C_bb9u_njaftVqz2O9wYXKRtTdjF6v13lqItBt0nGUb5YuMGBC3RvBuEWji1kx4yaj5sWl74-ja5j5BmaBSMQ9gXFHIiiFG7-sWrhYK_6pzwp_o7jCOeQhmFMLu0p0lhTRCLtVBsy-5D0afdKCy9uAgs5mi4yT0Gj9TDdclZJ1znNbf7fiUtITLSBMJrfIcnfHH21ZuVym8IhbvSbRivXTXAarnYT4wE26xhD2UqVXxteZ4wfnsYv71p0dcmdyHpuuWWmg33n-vcTIXxLsfhDWVmnR7FHmHyS2ArK7bLQZGFOU9Rk2PgZWrzBufmGGCvnZCMBIeryJIBAvoLieKbiBy_Zx0W8QToQHS01YHH8fOJJg0E_ImhEqFn0sbpu7wP8M973DwSmj8u7jhjVzgzQmRB5ZOM8VLpvGnASLx_fHuQzq5We1xHdJteL7TrtqqFvhDdniPD1WVz0tsfmCzYUvg0o02vvdEM63drcIWnWkQskVUj1cWOS1Z96jDmmMD0t9cIRAihSGGGpROpIkm3opfE#c7018848022704634455

Here is what I commented:
I agree that being a parent is hard as you have to know when to let loose and when to control your child. However I feel that Emily is not a good mother as she was over-controlling. She restricts Richard from inviting his friends to his last birthday party before he leaves for London. She also emotionally blackmails her children all the time just to make them do what she wants them to do. She is also so controlling that she does not even allow Doris to read a book. Anything to say?

Dear readers,
I commented on George's blog post. http://georgeblogging.blogspot.com/2010/08/russian-heat-wave.html#comments

Here is what I wrote:
I pity the vitims of the heat wave too. I feel that this shows that the earth is experiencing global warming and at a very fast rate. I feel that we should start saving the earth now. I f we still continue with our ways, things more terrible than the heat wave may occur and by then, it would be too late to reverse the effects of global warming. Anything to say?

Dear readers,
I commented on Ke Xuen's blog post. http://tankexuen.blogspot.com/2010/08/china-mudslide.html#comments

This is what I commented:
Even though I also feel sad for these people, a natural disaster is hard to avoid. Thus I feel that instead of mourning, we should help the victims in any way that we can, such as donating money as mentioned by you. Anything to say?

Dear readers,

I have commented on Cleon's blog post. http://bloggingcurrently.blogspot.com/2010/08/youth-olympic-games.html?showComment=1282221040876_AIe9_BGsx_X5DhylWggNDA-Q0iVya31IAkTcHpsnI7a2GHmQ0VmQeMPDoZrGc5ZdCPqQ4aOnUWgtJQLUfPC8Bw1XLMnzoDpD3TJRhz5D00pYho4nItcghZchC9oQCPTZuNexzxTcfRMijygxL9aCXsXvPM8kV9UpLwiIpLLieVC0qfdaX_lh9iOd6LPibVysRvM8bgDGVpqiM3ncrOVbYcLJJg1iwlQE4jR4sf7K0S2qdvXn3ebBedpqTsKSeFnrjpooQIn14HGFUe93tLQ_CGlknxslVP2d3SE5YH-kxGEKTQ3d7XGXSczzDMXRVG6XLhoW5_pqmHCOE3RhlmdXGkbSK1t0pnslm0Wr4soOU23lGaFcmXV70Yueq6q2zdTtknJm9fl_Oz3TT1Ysb_NnRNibinqSxikSmd5sXyjlREJTLGGoQ5NQWUKvEGcBarG5nMabLlmZGJVHLfR-_Fz6kaw-coAfdiVTLR57gEyZ_nEgJ9yEaizEUaBlgDHRlG2ml_Nwh1Og4z8ClM5VZTqtRZi2umyQNa0w5QJA3wc9uC9dk7XgeUnqzQl2QYcZPjlVrO-Id94J6TUHaBGm0vKJGnj5wVGe1gFjASSsloEVD8pheXKian5zF_6Tm44P00MLcVFo8x6A5uezrCaeB_PAbzsOBCmLPOYRQL6vhhhNzoKaWwdsuKXFlaVM_pBbKl3g5PNxroQwsRTtFJQFbKoyRIIXbrHFMfHlWh2e-BDQZBzRbxywETXH4lbGYYwwUWNpr6MIQmHyROxpU5ysPWzhhmIFxn3I5czzBfP1rB_io1OgOz85qCzpJkIanB6BrmoPkF7NcyLLeVG0PM54bujoBdhZUE6M_IUyR6HkfSn3UVv0Ou8xIpVRO5HyHk4S68P42GoLWn1lxJaI1ZOLE4zjqkGZ5LCSp-f_G2gEbH-HwFvfsyKB192ze-kUQsKxBvNg2EeqUdHxz23JTtNQluEpSOVlrtCktUbq6TBvRy56GxL20jHLhLbDzRBLWXZKEMTTcdwpedmVc7OQINN-zh5xYXGfsCDpmuLr3eRZ4ixtpzF1pmngRowQg55Ivy0lnjAtO2TaYNwAuxp1#c4148009028179678712

This is what I wrote:

Even though the YOG is an inaugural event and it is held in Singapore, I feel that Singapore did not plan it well enough. This is partly because I did not get to personally watch the events myself as the events are mostly held during school days. I also feel that Singapore did not publicise the Games well enough as there are many empty seats during the games. Even though statistics show that all tickets were sold, many people did not turn up, causing many seats to be empty. I feel that they can resell the empty seats to passers-by who wants to watch the matches. Anything to say?

Wilfred Owen was born on March 18th 1893, to an apparently wealthy family; however, within two years his grandfather died on the verge of bankruptcy and, missing his support, the family were forced into poorer housing at Birkenhead. This fallen status left a permanent impression on Wilfred's mother, and it may have combined with her staunch piety to produce a child who was sensible, serious, and who struggled to equate his wartime experiences with Christian teachings. Owen studied well at schools in Birkenhead and, after another family move, Shrewsbury - where he even helped to teach - but he failed the University of London's entrance exam. Consequently, Wilfred became lay assistant to the vicar of Dunsden - an Oxfordshire parish - under an arrangement designed so the vicar would tutor Owen for another attempt at University.

Although commentators differ as to whether Owen started writing at the age 10/11 or 17, he was certainly producing poems during his time at Dunsden; conversely, the experts agree that Owen favoured literature, as well as Botany, at school, and that his main poetic influence was Keats. The Dunsden poems exhibit the compassionate awareness so characteristic of Wilfred Owen's later war poetry, and the young poet found considerable material in the poverty and death he observed working for the church. Indeed, Wilfred Owen's written 'compassion' was often very close to morbidity.

It was after this latter battle, when Owen was caught in an explosion, that soldiers reported him acting rather strangely; he was diagnosed as having shell-shock and sent back to England for treatment in May. Owen arrived at the, now famous, Craiglockhart War Hospital on June 26th, an establishment sited outside Edinburgh. Over the next few months Wilfred wrote some of his finest poetry, the result of several stimuli.

The following is a poem that he wrote:
The End
After the blast of lightning from the east,
The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot Throne;
After the drums of time have rolled and ceased,
And by the bronze west long retreat is blown,
Shall Life renew these bodies? Of a truth,
All death will he annul, all tears assuage? -
Or fill these void veins full again with youth,
And wash, with an immortal water, age?
When I do ask white Age, he saith not so:
'My head hangs weighed with snow.'
And when I hearken to the Earth, she saith:
'My fiery heart shrinks, aching. It is death.
Mine ancient scars shall not be glorified,
Nor my titanic tears, the seas, be dried.'

Summary
The poem is pessimistic about the end of war. Even after war, the people who died can never be revived. Anything to say?

Siegfried Sassoon was born on 8 September 1886 in Kent. His father was part of a Jewish merchant family, originally from Iran and India, and his mother part of the artistic Thorneycroft family. Sassoon studied at Cambridge University but left without a degree. He then lived the life of a country gentleman, hunting and playing cricket while also publishing small volumes of poetry.

After the war Sassoon spent a brief period as literary editor of the Daily Herald before going to the United States, travelling the length and breadth of the country on a speaking tour. He then started writing the near-autobiographical novel 'Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man' (1928). It was an immediate success, and was followed by others including 'Memoirs of an Infantry Officer' (1930) and 'Sherston's Progress' (1936). Sassoon had a number of homosexual affairs but in 1933 surprised many of his friends by marrying Hester Gatty. They had a son, George, but the marriage broke down after World War Two.

He continued to write both prose and poetry. In 1957, he was received into the Catholic church. He died on 1 September 1967.

The following is one of the poems that he wrote:

Aftermath
Have you forgotten yet?...
For the world's events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you're a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.
But the past is just the same--and War's a bloody game...
Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you'll never forget.

Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz--
The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets?
Do you remember the rats; and the stench
Of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench--
And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain?
Do you ever stop and ask, 'Is it all going to happen again?'

Do you remember that hour of din before the attack--
And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then
As you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men?
Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back
With dying eyes and lolling heads--those ashen-grey
Masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?

Have you forgotten yet?...
Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you'll never forget.

Summary
Aftermath, was written after the war in 1920. While the imagery is stark and realistic, the poem retains classical elements, including rhyme, and the invocation of the pastoral theme at the end of the poem. Sassoon's retention of these elements is particularly interesting in this poem, as he is asking for the horrors of war to not be forgotten. Anything to say?

Few writers have provoked as much excessive praise and scornful condemnation as English poet Rupert Brooke. Handsome, charming, and talented, Brooke was a national hero even before his death in 1915 at the age of twenty-seven. His poetry, with its unabashed patriotism and graceful lyricism, was revered in a country that was yet to feel the devastating effects of two world wars. Brooke's early death only solidified his image as "a golden-haired, blue-eyed English Adonis," as Doris L. Eder notes in the Dictionary of Literary Biography, and among those who lauded him after his death were writers Virginia Woolf and Henry James and British statesman Winston Churchill. In the decades after World War I, however, critics reacted against the Brooke legend by calling his verse foolishly naive and sentimental. Despite such extreme opinions, most contemporary observers agree that Brooke—though only a minor poet—occupies a secure place in English literature as a representative of the mood and character of England before World War I. Here is an example of one of the poems that he wrote.

Safety
Dear! of all happy in the hour, most blest
He who has found our hid security,
Assured in the dark tides of the world that rest,
And heard our word, `Who is so safe as we?'
We have found safety with all things undying,
The winds, and morning, tears of men and mirth,
The deep night, and birds singing, and clouds flying,
And sleep, and freedom, and the autumnal earth.
We have built a house that is not for Time's throwing.
We have gained a peace unshaken by pain for ever.
War knows no power.Safe shall be my going,
Secretly armed against all death's endeavour;
Safe though all safety's lost; safe where men fall;
And if these poor limbs die, safest of all.

Summary
This is a war poem by rupert brooke. It is about the abyssasl horrors of war. It is also about finding peace in death and that suicide is better than having to go through the sufferings of war. Anything to say?

In this post, I will be writing on the themes in the book and also be explaining on how they are shown in the book.

Tradition
Only boys were allowed to go overseas and study(pg 17)
Boys were supposed to inherit the family fortune(pg 37)
Men were allowed to have mistress(pg 41)
Women's role was just to be a good cook and hostess(pg 17)
Practices sexism towards woman(pg 17)
Woman were also not allowed to marry man from other races. They were supposed to marry babas.(pg 47)

Change
Urbanisation(pg 52)
Emerald hill was once a house full of live and parties were held regularly but everyone left and it became a lonely place with only emily living in it
Emily turned from a controlling and domineering mother into a understanding women. She has learnt to let Doris and Charles go when she was older. (pg 46, 47)

Sexism
Girls were not allowed to study (pg 17)
Girls were supposed to know how to cook (pg 17)
Girls were not allowed to go overseas (pg 47)
Girls were not allowed to marry man from other races. They were supposed to marry babas(pg 47) Anything to say?

In this post, I will be posting on the bad characteristics of Emily. I will also provide evidence to support my point.

Manipulative
Towards Richard by blackmailing him emotionally(pg 17)
Towards Kheong by priasing him to make him do what she wants(pg 17)

Calculative
Talking good about Richard in front of Father-in-law to make him love Richard more(pg 37)
Helps mother-in-law massage and praises her when she wins to get a big diamond ring(pg 12)
Critical
Of Susie's singing(pg 35)
Of Ah Sim(pg 51)
Boastful
Richard's results(pg 37)
Of her singing talents(pg 36)
Rash
She did not consider consequences when she went to see Richard. (pg 24)

Pretentious
In how she talks to different people(pg 30)

Over bearing
Tries to run the family even after everyone has left the house. (pg 51)
Demanding
Towards servants (pg 51)
Towards Children (pg 17) Anything to say?

In this posts, I will be posting on Emily's good characteristics and i will be providing evidence to support my points.

Thoughtful
Helped Bee Choo by giving her accomodation (Pg 50)
Helped sister-in-law to find servant (pg 51)

Loyal to husband
Makes an effort to care for Kheong even after he left her for his mistress. (pg 34-44)

Understanding
When she became older, she has learnt from Richard's incident and has learnt to let Doris go(pg 48)

Self awarness
She knows that her childen does not like her(pg 48)

Organised
Planned Richard's party well(pg 19-22)
Knows all of Richard's plans (pg26)

Sociable
Praises Mr GP Chee for being a good business man. (pg 21)
Tends to everyone during Richard's party (pg 19-22)

Responsible
Makes sure that all her children are well provided for.
Responsible to Kheong as a wife by providing him with good food and care.

Sensitive
Towards Bee Choo's feelings(pg 50)
Helpful and generous
Helps sisters-in-law to buy food and find servants(pg 51, 3)
Helps Bee Choo by giving her accomodation(pg 50) Anything to say?

This is my english ace blog and i will be mostly posting on Emily of Emerald Hill and war poems. Hope you will ike it :) Anything to say?