Should we Seize the Day

Yes, some may say we should seize the day when we are young, but why? Death is a reckoning that waits for no one, when your day comes, its going to be right in front of you. You never know when death will be knocking at your doorstep, therefore live your life to the fullest. Then comes the idea of living life. Everyday is a present, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift. It's something free, why not use it the best way you can? Fill your time with meaningful things such as an activity. If you want to rest, so be it, fill it with a meaningful nap or a self reflection session that slowly leads you to your sleep. Why daydream and stares into space when there's so many things outside for you to experience? Seize the day, grasp every opportunity because each time you encounter something new, you have just learned something. A man should learn and acquire wisdom until he dies.

What is The Role of Death In Life

Death, serves as a reckoning, a countdown for me. How much time i still have until i achieve all the things i want to in life. It's not scary for me to die, death is merely a experience for me. It's something i even kind of get wierdly excited while anxious just by thinking about dying. Does it hurt? alot? or is it a sweet pain that just numbs you and you don't feel anything. It also serves as a answer for all the things that we wonder in life. The big question in the world since the beginning of mankind is the question of what happens after we die? Religion splits on these views, people write countless things and legends all base on this idea. I want to know if all these things that we imagine and predict are true. Do we really go to heaven? Is there really a final judgment and which God is real? Is Jesus real or is Osiris real. You see, all these ideas of which one is the real God are all societal pressure. Who would have though that we have a man name jesus during the Greek Classical Era, they would have called it Blasphemy. Now, if we say we worship the old gods, people laugh or say they are just myths. You know, jesus might be a myth too.

What quality you think is important in a leader?

It's not intelligence, it is i would say wisdom. Wisdom is something different from intelligence. It doesn't technically have to deal with being smart, it as to do with a over all source of quality of the mind. If i really have to name a leader that i find amazing and astonishing to my personal view, i would say Augustine or Muhammad. Recently i have been studying world history quite alot through the class and i feel that i have learned alot of things from the class. Augustine solved so many problems the past roman empire had with a overall quality of wisdom, which he was able to solve his senate problem by doing things in the back and correct problems where on the outside people think nothing have changed. He was able to control the whole court of senate and at the same time develop a huge empire that stretched all across Europe. Then we have Muhammad. Firm in belief and strong in wisdom who lead his followers of Allah into the golden age of Islam. He lost both of his parents, live in not necessary a state of isolation but he didn't had an easy life himself. He fought wars against Mecca, at the time the biggest nomadic tribes and through the long war, rallied himself more and more men to his cause. Then single handily surged a boom of expansion that devoured the Persian empire, the roman empire and the byzantine empire. All by this one man's belief that lead to wisdom, courage, and all kinds of things that is needed in a leader. It is people like these that could really make a difference. Any modern people i admire? not really, i don't see anyone with this same level of wisdom and ambition who can take a great leap. The world is in a state of lockdown. Not a whole lot could be changed because there are all kids of peace treaty that limits people. At the same time there isn't alot places that could lead to expansion. If Obama is to take out the filibuster, he might actually make some serious change in U.S and i would probably think him as a man of strong courage, but besides that now, most people are average.

Can you ever be too ambitious

No, you can always be ambitious and more and more. However, the key factor is how you accomplish your ambitions. One can be over ambitious in another's eyes but do all the things in his plans. I don't know how to say this in a structured sense on why it isn't bad to be over ambitious. Basically, a man can be over ambitious in his thoughts and stuff without causing him any trouble. It is the actions that you do that can make you crash and burn on your actions and plans. If you have carefully planned out this overly ambitious plan of yours, then you don't have a problem in your life or your goals. However if you didn't carefully plan out what these ambitious goals you have, then you will have a problem. It all lies with the person, can you self reflect on what you are about to do? Can you self predict or are you willing to think ahead of other people? It's a matter of personal wisdom if you can accomplish these overly ambitious goals of yours.

13th warrior

Despite some differences that we saw during class, there was actually more difference in the start. The original Beowulf consists of fourteen warriors instead of 13. There was no Arab is the original story.
The Arab was sent as a ambassador for looking at a woman, which the original version don't have. Then there was that little battle of Beowulf and the son of hrothgar. After that comes the feast where the warriors purposely refrain from alcohol. The feast hall was supposdely deserted for the sake of grendel, but in the movie people are still present in the feast hall because the wendal prey on the whole village actually.
During the battle, there was more then one Grendel which they called them wendal. The wendals are human and took their dead comrades away for unidentifiable reasons. The arab fleed from battle but managed to kill 1 wendal.
THen comes the part where they decide to find the mother and dwelling place of the wendal. A oracle told them where to find the cave of the wendal and there mom, however the oracle warned them about the mother. They found the Wendol's mother and killed her. They then had to escape before the Wendol came back for their head through swimming in an under channel.
Beowulf died by a fire breathing dragon, but not in the movie. The movie beowulf died through a mortal wound when escaping and after he killed the Wendol leader through a blood thirsty fight. They made it dramatic and in the end he died sitting among the pickets like he was enthroned.

Are Lover's Blind?

I think it depends. This is a conclusion based on personal experience for seeing so many couples forming up and breaking up all around me. I myself have been through times where i became blind numerous times, and after a few month realize that she isn't the one i'm looking for. After numerous of these occasions, i'm actually much more cautious and selective in the love picking process. Before i jump into a relationship or decide i'm going after someone, i would always make a clear and careful identification and personality check to see if i will and really like this thing that a person is prone to do. I don't consider myself blind because i actually know what i will be facing when i am about to date someone. It's all after careful considerations that i launch myself in a actual relationship or flirt status. While on the other hand, there are quite a handful of people that would just launch themselves in a relationship because so and so is attractive. I am totally not like that, despite for my physical and outside appearance, that is all, i don't know, a public entertainment for creating a fake image i guess.

Why tell stories in songs?

I actually have quite alot of songs that i remember all the lyrics. The one song that i listened for about mroe than 1000 times is called love sic pt.2. The lyrics are just so beautiful and it doesn't really have anything to do with love. Well, some connection to love in a universal level. 

I think what made it so memorable was the combination of the wording along with the music behind. The background music is just a simple violin rhythm. The wordings and that the song write Nujabes created a lasting impression in my mind. Every time i see something that resembled of the imagery i created myself to the song, the lyrics flows into me like a flood. My mind just sings the song over and over again until something else catches my mind. 

The thing that really made a lasting impression of the song as i said was imagery. If a song could create a lasting image with just its words, then i would remember the song. Doesn't matter if it is the lyrics is well composed, as long as i could find something to relate to, i will remember it. 

Is Honor Worth Dying For?

This is a hard question to answer since in modern society chivalry and honor is getting much less attention. People don't care about their dignity as much as the medieval societies do. For me, i say honor is worth dying for. Despite the fact that honor is something invisible and some might argue honor is crap, i say they are all wrong. Honor is what marks a person in a society. Someone is respected because they could accomplish deeds that no man could do. When such act is done, honor is build in the people. A person without honor is like a person without dignity. When you don't fight for anything, you will fall for everything. I would die for honor, because to me it is a important thing. Without honor, a man could just be anything. They don't believe or represent anything at all. They are simply like the puppets of other people, being blown to whichever direction the wind of fate pushes them to.

Revealing your own character in writing

Chaucer had himself depicted at the start of the verses

Now in that season it befell one day
In Southwark at the Tabard where I lay, 20 As I was all prepared for setting out To Canterbury with a heart devout, That there had come into that hostelry At night some twenty-nine, a company Of sundry folk whom chance had brought to fall 25 In fellowship, for pilgrims were they all And onward to Canterbury would ride.

This is the start of the poem as he began his journey and came into contact of these people. Chaucer presents himself as a courtly scholar is what i would say. His words and beautiful descriptions of the start of the season is breathtaking just to think about all the imagery that was presented. 

You can't really find Chaucer in the prologue rather piece of piece here and there. The other part i found was that he advised them to leave early at the start as well. 

His really polite in his story as he constantly asks for forgiveness if things turn sour or the language turn ugly. like lines 715-720

This is all i have found as to Chaucer appearing as a character in the story. 

What has the power to corrupt?

So to begin this journal, as a fun fact that i just saw this picture from someone. I really want to say the power to corrupt comes from the vagina. IF you actually compare the vagina oval system, it is the same shape as the Satanic horn.
back to topic
Temptation, has the ultimate power to corrupt. a woman seducing a man, money seducing a politician. What does all that have in common? temptation. It is the temptation that can make a person evil. To be corrupt, you have to really suffer through a whole lot of trouble and hardships to have your mind really cracked up. All kinds of things has the power to corrupt, but the most obvious thing in history and still now of having the power to corrupt is definitely money. It is something that every body wants and it can give a person almost anything. It is the gateway to worldly pleasures. It is the catalyst of a person suffering through the attachment process of life.

What Make A Great Character?

So for this entry, i figure i have alot of things to write about. What makes a great character? first of all, i think this have to do with his surrounding. For us readers, what really brings out a character and find one so memorable is how he overcomes his obstacles. One of the perfect example that i have read recently is Hajima no Ippo. This is a mid weight boxer in a japanese comic. The character started out as the underdog, one who have been abused all the time. However the tide turns once he realized his love for boxing. All the time, in every match Ippo would meet a boxing prodigy or some sorts. He would always be scared and doubting himself, but at the same time he put unprecedented faith in his trainer. His immense hard works and practice always paid off as he narrowly wins every match.
Despite the fact that the comic is not really well drawn, but out of all the characters from novels, comics, movies, or cartoons, this is the character that i remember the most. Why? because of that hardwork and hard fought personality deep in Ippo. Through his training and hard work we see the character grow and become stronger each time he comes out for a match and always prevail despite the odds against him.
It is this defiance of fate that makes a great character. For me, i love it when a character faces all kinds of challenge and he counters them all and win in the end. I'm not saying that a character win in the end because he is incredibly smart or anything, in fact Ippo is quite a dull person. He left a great impression in my mind at the end because he prevail through the efforts he put into his preparation. He works so hard for each match and that is the kind of character i want to read about. Not someone that is super strong in the start but someone weak but with good potential. As the character matures he slowly evolves and turns out to be a great hero. That, is what makes a great character, hardships and never dying faith.

When are people most alone

When they are spiritually alone
why? because they have no supporters. What i mean by spiritually alone is not that they are in a new environment, is that they don't feel connected at all. When you move into a new environment, there are infinite possibilities as to who will be your friend. However, after a time and you have no friends or companion, you will be truly alone. leaving school alone, having dinner or lunch alone, unable to enjoy activity with friends. That is what i call truly alone for me.
Some people could live alone without companionship, but i can't, not in a million years. I have felt truly alone before, it was a few years back when my friends betrayed me and turn on me. When that happened, i had no one to turn to and no one to go to. My other friends are in another school and the current school, i was friendless. I dwell into a state of lonership and even bullies suddenly came creeping up behind me. I was blackmailed and threatened during middle school. No friend came and my mom couldn't do anything about it.
What happen then? i snapped
that one day when 3 guys crept up behind me demanding me to do some stupid ass shit again, i snapped and i lunged myself on top of them. i got a few punches and kicks on me but i didn't care. I had enough and i went raging. The three guys were bleeding afterwards and they ran off. They never came back again and the story spread throughout middle school. No one messed with me anymore but i was still in a state of weird angry nerd isolation. That was a real hard year for me until finally the wave of fear or something past. Then i had a few friends for a while before i went back to Taipei.
I know what true lonely meant and how scary it was. I often walked in the night alone and rethink the moments during my sort of social exile. That wasn't fun at all, it was depressing and sad without any piers with you and play with you. I had no friends, i was wimpy but in the same time scary for the wimpy kids. I fear that time of bully, desolation, loneliness and fear would arise again. Therefore i improve my image, my class, almost everything to make myself suitable for social standards. loneliness really is the greatest fear in my heart.

How do dreams inpire you

Dreams are a very important part of my life. Often times i have deja vu or like a very inspirational dream while i was sleeping. However, the only inspirational dream i have had before was what dog i should get.
The one dream that i constantly dream of is about zombie apocalypse. I don't know why i always have these zombie apocalypse dreams and i always remember everything. It seems that everytime i would appear in a different location or different people but i always have a gang. I had 2 dreams that reappeared quite a lot of times.
I really don't know what these dreams mean but i really hope they are not foresight dreams. As for inspirations, the zombie dreams don't give me any clear idea of being inspired, but i kind of get wary the next day of things to happen.
Dreams can really have a devastating effect on me but as for when the dream will occur i really wonder. I think this is a chance event for inspirational dreams to happen.

How does evil manifest itself in Beowulf?

How does evil manifest itself in Beowulf?
How does heroism manifest itself in Beowulf?

From the story up to Grendel's mother, i saw alot of mentioning of God and something about banishment in the story. For example, when it mentioned Grendel at the start it talked about Abel's death. I am not particularly sure who Abel is, but i think he might be some sort of demon like Satin. Abel was banished and he split into a thousand different manifestation as evil spirits. He was like the embodiment of evil, therefore it somehow became the nature of Grendel. It is the origin of Grendel that made himself the manifestation of evil for the people in Beowulf.
As for the manifestation of heroism in Beowulf, he on the other hand acquired the characteristics of God. At lines 310 to 315 mentioned all kinds of things how Grendel was caught in the iron grasp of Beowulf. Beowulf's presence was a sure grip on evil's throat. The story described Beowulf in all kinds of shimmering light as the protector or the strongest man on earth. Heroism itself slowly manifested in the character Beowulf.
The notion of Justice triumphant over Evil is once rooted in alot of people or stories. When evil is being punished like Grendel, the idea that people have in mind is that Beowulf is justice. If it is not justice and heroism that Beowulf represents, then what could possibly have triumphant over evil? These ideas are implanted throughout the start of the story to describe the roles of the different characters. In fact, alot of the places in the story clearly defines the evil and heroism in Beowulf.

Evil: My definition

What are the qualities that define evil?
Evil is everywhere and it is rooted in mankind's soul. Why would i say that? because evil is selfishness. We could talk about all aspects of evil, but the sole concept of evil is the disregard of others. Looking at the actions that are often consider as evil such as killing, it is a disregard of other people's life. The people kills the other man out of disregard and there fore the action is done. When people kill another person, all they were thinking about was themselves, either it is hateful feelings or it is a wish of another man, these are all ideas that stem from personal self interest. A person's personal self interest in theory is selfish thoughts.
Now stirs the question, are selfish people evil then? No, not necessary, selfishness is a quality that all people posses, it is the action that determines if a person is evil. The qualities of evil could be define by a number of different things but the fundamental quality of evil i believe is selfishness.

Late Policy

what would be a effective late policy for this school?
Students should be in school by 8, not 7:55
as for the classes, people should be in class when the bell rang, but the break should be longer, from5 minutes to 8 minutes. Therefore the students in the school will have time to gather their things and move to the next class while being able to use the restroom.
The kick out policy and lock out policy is plain stupidity and useless. To be honest, i went to the bottom of the reason why the tardy policy have gotten so suddenly messed up. It is simply because of two person, and i doubt those two person even know that it was their fault. This late policy on the classes could be negotiate with the teachers, however, this lock out policy have proven just extreme and unnecessary.
late policy in the school is a waste of time and learning. We pay lots of money to this school to receive education, if the students are simply locked out of the school, then where are our money? The head of the school needs to get some sense in her head and remove or readjust the school's policies.

the #1 rule

What is the #1 rule that to you makes a classroom work? why?
I believe the number 1 rule is discipline although i hate it. I am not a person of rules and regulations, i like to give away little loopholes on my rules or beliefs however, discipline is truly the number 1 thing that makes a system works. I used to believe that joy and happiness would bring much greater obedience to people, but after reading Machiavelli's "the Prince" my views toward discipline and fear have totally changed. Now, i believe the greatest way to ensure people listen to you is through fear, as of discipline, its just like fear. By having fear and respect in the hearts of people prevents them from doing against the norm. They would follow orders given from the teachers, be aware of the deadlines and respect the teacher. I learn this lesson hands on in the classroom of Ms. Brown.
Ms. Brown's classroom wasn't fun, but she ensured us of discipline and knowledge. I learned a great deal from her since she was quite the fearful looking person i have ever met. Whenever she do something in class or say something, no one, and i mean nothing would dare disturb her at all. A look from her would alarm us to behave. That, is respect for her way of dealing and fear of what she might do. The methods of Ms. brown wouldn't work for everyone, but i believe through her example and "The Prince" i have understand the true meaning and power of discipline and fear.

Why, oh why

What is a question that you often find yourself asking?
I have always and constantly been asking myself the question of, "Is this all worth it?"  I have always wondered if all these works that i have been doing or the things i will be doing worth doing. Should i study in school everyday and study SAT when i don't need them in the future? should i go to college while the economy is so bad? Often times lately i find myself being so paranoid about the future and now.
Right now, a lot of the things that i am going through and paying all my effort and time too are not getting anything back. I spent all this time drawing and painting, despite the fact that i like it, however my mom and dad just feels, eh. I spent so much time on reading and reading and learning new things, but when it comes to the eyes of my parents, it just feels the same, eh. I feel as if nothing i do right now is worth it. I may like it, but  i wished that i could get some approval, even if a little. Since my childhood, i have been actively participating in all kinds of things from sports to clubs. To me, i find that my wide interest and proficiency in taekwando and swimming as where my pride lies, however to my parents they seems to be just normal. It is not until recently where i realized that i have been constantly trying to gain approval of my parents, but it seems to me none worked. For this reason, i begin to start questioning more and more things if it is worth it. this small question and self boost turn all my future thinking into dust. The question might be a simple thing, but it evolved into a big part of my mind. I became constantly worried that i might not be doing enough or my skills or knowledge isn't sufficient enough. Is this all worth it? is what i am doing now worth it if i think is pretty bad? It got me questioning everything.