Words of Remake

Hello. This essay below is about the self- introduction of me in third person view, rejuvenated with new concepts and in a creative way of writing oneself.

(p.s. If you notice any mistakes in this essay o other previous posts, please let me know by writing comments on the respective posts or comment it in the shoutbox)

Back on those fine, calm days, there were old and young people enjoying themselves at the park under the tenderness of the glorious eye of summer. They strolled, they laughed and they were in the blissful happiness with the companion of dancing flowers as if they were the entertainers for the day. The sweetness of smile pouring itself along the treaded soil as it was the Eden for people. To them, there was no such place for loneliness to root on that holy place. But then, at the back on a large oak tree hide an unknown secret where not a single of those people ever knew the existence of a young boy playing with his pet in his own world. To him, the pet was his only true, loyal friend after his human friends shoved him from the world of ‘humanity’. He did not care about them anymore, though it was against the customs of man- excluding oneself from others for pursue of euphoria.

Everyday was the same; same day, same moment, same happiness to him until one day when he was been discovered by an adult in white tuxedo, bowing his bald head and grinned with those yellowish teeth. His pet was so frightened that it jumped in shock from the boy’s little hands and growled in fear.

“Good morning, sir...what can I do to help you?”He asked the man, shivered to his feet.

“Good morning. What’s your name, my child?”He lighted his cigarette and smoked proudly while exhaling the thick black smoke out to the air. There was no answer given from the boy. He still stayed silent as a tree.

“ I've see you playing here for a while. Shouldn’t you join the kids playing over there? They’re seemed to be fun and friendly with each other...”the man took out his handkerchief and swept the sweat away from his bald head. But the boy still did not answer him.

“Don’t you have any FRIENDS or something?”

The boy was in thunderstruck with his next question. He really wanted to admit that he had his pet as his friend but he knew the man would laugh with that statement and think he was crazy. So, he kept silent like before although the man noticed some change on his face. Surprisingly, the man did not act like what he had thought, but he came slowly and held his little hands. The boy looked up to his blue eyes and somehow, he felt calm when he stared at them.

“I promise you, you can have all the happiness in the world without having to hurt either you or others. But then, in order to have it, one must willingly share and endure the pain together. So, my child, will you keep this promise and do what you should have to?”The man asked him. The boy really wanted to be happy all the time but he did not want to hurt his fragile heart one more time like the last time. He was in total dilemma of choosing the best kind of happiness for him. In the end, he decided to accept the prophecy for the rest of his life, reluctantly.

“Amir Abdillah, can’t you get any faster than this? I know this is the first time for you to climb mountain but we can’t stand waiting you all day to catch up with us. Stop fooling around and hurry up!” A friend of him wakes him up from dwelling deeper into his past and continues moving. Amir and his friends are trying to conquer Mount Tahan and they assume to finish it by evening as they are only a few miles away from the top. It is the highest mountain available for him and his KBU colleagues to climb. If they unable to make it by six, they have to set a camp before night comes and continue on the other day which is a waste of time.

It had been twelve years since he meet that white- dressed man. He wonders if the man is still alive because he really wants to ask his name. But deep inside his heart, he does want to thank him as his words have changed his views of life completely. Without him, he will still stay rotten inside his own cocoon and never spread his splendid wings to fly higher than others. At the end of the journey when they reach the top and shout proudly to the world, he hopes that he can inspire others like his friends and the the man he met during his childhood.

READING LOG (DESERT FLOWER BY WARIS DIRIE)

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?

Waris Dirie recounts her incredible journey from the depths of poverty to the catwalks around the world. Waris was born into a traditional Somali family, desert nomads who engaged in such ancient and antiquated customs like genital mutilation and arranged marriage. At twelve, she ran away from an arranged marriage to an old man. She travelled alone across the dangerous Somali desert, facing dangers like predators, hunger and dehydration in order to reach Mogadishu and her true story began.

What is the main issue in the text?

The main topic in the text is mostly about the rights of women. At an early age, she was circumcised barbarously by the gypsy women so that she could get married and distinguish the view of ‘dirty, oversexed and unmarriageable’ woman. She was surprised that she survived the brutal circumcision but as the price for her living, she had to suffer immense difficulty of urinating and having periods. She was also one of the victims of rape. No matter when she was at the desert or at the town of Mogadishu (and even in London), she found herself almost being raped by the person called men. But now as a Special Ambassador for the U.N., she travels the world speaking out against the barbaric practice of female genital mutilation, promoting women's reproductive rights, and educating people about the Africa she fled so that no women will experience the same thing she had.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?

I like the character of Waris Dirie as a determined and courageous woman. Determined not to allow custom traditions to rule her destiny, she picked herself up and ran to her sister’s house where she was shuttled between her house and those of various aunts and uncles. One of her uncles moved to London and she went there to work for him. While in London, she stayed with an aunt who was a good friend of Iman’s mother which later Terence Donovan discovered her and placed her face on a 1987 Pirelli Calendar, launching her into a highly successful modeling career.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?

Women of Africa are the backbone of the family and the country but they have no rights to voice out their opinion as they are overshadowed by the pride of men. Their discontentments are never to be heard by men because to them women are just people who responsible to take care of their husbands and children and manage the household chores. They never have the place equal to men in making decisions, especially about female genital mutilation which has killed thousands of women in Africa. They have to suffer almost for the period of their lives because there are only a tiny 'matchstick-sized' opening through the genital which to urinate and menstruate .Other than that, they are also can be easily become the victim of rape since there are no proper education in Somalia. As the results, Nomad families become poorer and more isolated to the modern society.

READING LOG (BOY: TALES OF CHILDHOOD BY ROALD DAHL)

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?

The story began with the writer told the history of his family and how he lived with his four sisters and a brother and his parents. But after he lost his own eldest sister, Astri and his beloved father, Harald Dahl, when the writer was three years old, they started to live a new life in Wales and later in England. Thus, the text is mainly about the childhood stories of the writer.

What is the main issue in the text?

The main topic in the text is mostly about the life of the children had to face when young. The author, like other ordinary kids, make friends along the journey from Wales to England and also known as naughty. He also was was bullied by the seniors when he went to English boarding school and confronted with teachers and wardens. In short, life as a child is challenging and exciting, yet most adults nowadays have forgot it.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?

The qualities shown by the writer’s mother aspires me as although she was destructed by the death of her own eldest daughter and his husband (Harald Dahl) and not to mention her family was left ‘stranded in the foreign land, suddenly having to face alone the very gravest problems and responsibities.’ Still, she refused to go back to her motherland and decided to stay there and raise her children without the love of a father but able to give the best for them until the end of her life. I adore her not only because her willingness to sacrifice for the sake of her children, but also the motherly attitude in her. For instance, although she knew his son, the writer, was guilty due to his action of putting a dead mouse into ‘one of Mrs Prachett’s jars of sweets’, he did not scolded him but had a word with the Mr Coombes, the headmaster of his school instead as she believed ‘they don’t beat small children like that where she came from’.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?

During those days, children can enjoy a carefree life without burdened by study all the time. To make sure children would not do the same thing in pursue of their study, teachers are made harsh and strict towards them so that they would behave well and disciplined. They had more respect toward the elders, especially teachers- though most of these children were the victim of them. Still, that did not mean they hate adults but children are also people with feelings and yearned to be treated the same. Thus, bullies in schools started to shape as a common feature in school, especially boarding school. The newcomers were the easiest prey for them, like what exactly happened to the writer.

Classifying Thinkers

We don't really know how to define intelligence. However, this does not discourage some people from categorizing others according to their intelligence or lack of it. In his essay, "Thinking as a hobby," author William S. Golding does exactly this. Golding divides people into three categories: grade-three thinkers, grade-two thinkers, and grade-one thinkers.

According to Golding, 90 percent of the population represents the largest category, called grade-three thinkers. These people are docile. They follow orders and they obey other people's wishes. They never learn to think for themselves and cannot distinguish truth from lies. A dictator could take control of them and make them do whatever he wanted, as if they were sheep. The resulting mob would be brutal and ugly.

Grade-two thinkers, Golding's second category, are less likely to be influenced by a dictator. These grade-two thinkers, who make up 9 percent of the population, see corruption in the world. For example, grade-two thinkers may question the honesty of religion or political institutions,but they fail to find new ideals to believe in.

The remaining 1 percent of the population are what Golding calls grade-one thinkers. They not only see corruption, but they also know how to seek truth. Their lives are defined by beauty, wisdom and knowledge. Such thinkers are creative and imaginative geniuses, like Mozart, Michelangelo, and Einstein, who opened new worlds in music, art and science.

One wonders in which category Golding would place himself. Surely not among the "sheep"! Golding may prefer to believe that intelligence prevents people in the top tenth percentile of the population from following political dictators, but the number of doctors, teachers, lawyers, and writers in many countries who were willing supporters of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao shows that this belief is incorrect. In fact, sometimes the common sense and compassion of the ordinary man is all that stands between civilization and barbarism. As one of the so-called sheep, I say bah to Mr. Golding!


Answer the Questions:

1. Circle the thesis statement. How does Golding classify people?
The thesis statement in his essay is "Thinking as a hobby," author William S. Golding does exactly this. He divides people into three categories: grade-three thinkers, grade-two thinkers, and grade-one thinkers.

2. Underline the topic sentence of each body paragraph.
Body Paragraph 1: According to Golding, 90 percent of the population represents the largest category, called grade-three thinkers.

Body Paragraph 2:Grade-two thinkers, Golding's second category, are less likely to be influenced by a dictator.

Body Paragraph 3:The remaining 1 percent of the population are what Golding calls grade-one thinkers.

3. How does the author describe 90 percents of the population? The remaining 9 percent? The final 1 percent?
According to Golding, 90 percents of the population are called grade-three thinkers. They are docile. They follow orders and obey other people's wishes. They never learn to think for themselves and cannot distinguish truth from lies. A dictator could take control of them and make them do whatever he wanted, as if they were sheep. The remaining 9 percents are grade-two thinkers. The grade-two thinkers are less likely to be influenced by a dictator and see corruption in the world. The final 1 percent of the population are what Golding calls grade-one thinkers. They are not only see corruption, but they also know how to seek truth. Their lives are defined by beauty, wisdom and knowledge.

4. Underline the examples used in the third body paragraph to describe "Grade-one thinkers."
Mozart, Michelangelo, and Einstein

5. What is the writer's opinion of Golding's essay? In which paragraph do you find this opinion?
Golding may prefer to believe that intelligence prevents people in the top tenth percentile of the population from following political dictators, but the number of doctors, teachers, lawyers, and writers in many countries who were willing supporters of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao shows that this belief is incorrect.

6. What support (facts, examples) are used in the conclusion to argue the writer's point of view?
In facts, sometimes the common sense and compassion of the ordinary man is all that stands between civilization and barbarism.

Word Collocation

A collocation is two or more words which often go together.

Natural English Unnatural English

fast food quick food

a quick shower a fast shower

(Tip:when you learn a new word,write down other words that collocate with it)

Eg.: make + the bed/ time/breakfast/friends/fun/a joke/money

Exercise
Both options make sense.Underline the one which forms a common collocation

1. Many small houses and huts were (flooded away/washed away) when the river bursts its banks.

2.Poor farming methods are responsible for soil (devaluation/erosion )in many areas of Saharan African.

3.During the earthquake,many people were( buried/covered )alive.

4.The forest fire left a wide area of the mountainside blackened and (ablaze/smouldering).

5.Villagers are hoping for rain this month after nearly a year of (dry weather/drought.)

6. Before the hurricane struck,many people were (evacuated/shifted) to higher ground.

7.Thousands of children in the famine-striken area are suffering from (malnutrition/undernourishment).

10.Heavy snow has fallen in the mountains and many villages have been (blocked out/cut off) for the past two days.

11.The Aids (epidemic/plague) is having serious effects in some countries.

12.Many small islands in the Indian Ocean are threatened by rising sea (waters/levels).

Spoof Advertisements

advertisements above were put up to promote movie-viewing by a group of cinemas.

1. What is the underlying message of the advertisements to encourage more people to go to the cinema to watch movies?

the hidden message shown in the advertisements is that the person can always fantasize about their dreams in the movie.

2.How is the idea of fantasy as seen in the romantic movie "Titanic" and the idealized version of whales in the movie " Free Willy" contrasted with the slogan "reality sucks" of the print advertisements?

It is because in the real world, the person who imitate the poses shown in the printed advertisements will be harmed by the surroundings. They will put themselves in the danger zone and vulnerable.

3.What is the stereotypical image of wild animals in captivity and love cruises?

The image represents the wild animal in captivity is tame and will not harm people, although it is in contrast with the real life. Mostly, people will think that cruises is the place who loving couples to date but in reality, it is just like other dating places and there are actually nothing special about it.

Working retired

There are only a few magic numbers in American civic life.You can vote(and get drafted)at age 18.You can drink at 21.You can become president at 35.You can retire at 65.

But on that last one-do Americans really want to?Now that so many Americans are living healthfully until 85,fewer and fewer actually retire at 65.Today there are 5 million people 65 or older in the U.S. labor force,almost twice what there were in the early 1980s.And that number is about to explode.
Some people are working past 65 because they have to:Health care costs are rising,and Social Security payments-at an average of about $1,000 a month-don't cover what they used to.But the bigger trend in Senior Work is the fact that Americans love -and now that we're living longer,we want to work longer too.We just can't get enough.My friend and mentor Harold Burson,the co-founder of the global PR firm Burson Marsteller,where I am CEO,just turned 86,and comes to work every day,bursting with ideas.
On average,Americans work over 1,800 hours per year,substantially more than most workers around the world.Although we get fewer vacation days per year than other Western countries(13 days,compared to 28 in the UK,and 37 in France),we let more than twice as many go unused.And really,what's a vacation to us these days without our BlackBerry?In 2006,almost a quarter of us (23%) checked our work e-mail and voice mail while away-up from just 16% in 2005.A lot of us love to work.
In fact,the impulse to work is so basic that the Fourth Commandment is to take off one day a week.Not working for a day is right up there with not murdering,not committing adultery,and not stealing.We tend to assume that most people want off-waiting all week for the Friday afternoon whistle so they can stream out of work.To be sure,many jobs are terrible-even life-threatening-and people reasonably can't wait to get home.But as work overall has become more managerial,consulting,and software-oriented-and as manufacturing jobs have been on the decline-a lot of people have changed their attitude toward work,and the number of workaholics has skyrocketed.How many times have you heard the old saying that no one ever lay on his deathbed wishing he had spent more time at the office?And yet,a lot of people are doing just that.The sandwich generation is going to be in for a shock when they call their 70-year old parents at the office and find they are just too busy to babysit their grandkids.
Add to America's general obsession with work the fact that it is now the baby boomer generation who is nearing 65,and it becomes clear that the traditional idea of "retirement"-with its gold watch,rocking chair,and golf course-is just about ready for retirement itself.
Boomers reinvented youth in the 1960s and economic success in the 1980s;they are not to do their senior years by someone else's formula.According to a 2005 survey by Merrill Lynch,more than 3 in 4 boomers say they have no intention of seeking a traditional retirement.Rather they look ahead to their 20 more years (when Social Security was created in 1935,a 65 year old could expect just 13 more years)_and they say Bring It On.Some want to keep their health insurance,or have enough funds for the extra years-but more of the boomers surveyed said they wanted to keep working in order to stay mentally and physically active and to stay connected to people.


"Microtrends-the small forces behind tomorrow's big changes" Mark J. Penn (2007)Hachette Book Group

Questions

1. What do the magic numbers of 18,21,35 and 65 represent in American civic life?

Number 18 is the age that you can vote(and get drafted). You are allowed to drink 21. You are eligible to be voted as the president at 35and finally you can retire from your occupations at the age 65.

2. Why do some people work past 65?

It is because many Americans are living healthfully until until the age of 85 and they have to live that long as health care costs rises, and wages about $1,000 monthly as an average will not cover their Social Security payments. Besides, Americans love to live longer because they can work longer.

3. What does the phrase " bursting with ideas"when he comes to work at the age of 86 implies about Mr. Harold Burson?

Mr. Harold Burson has tonnes of ideas in his mind every time he comes to work. This means that despite working people working during their Golden Age, it does not reduce the ability of the brain to think actively.

4. Give examples to show that American employees are workaholics by choice?

On average, Americans work more than 1,800 hours per year which means they they work more than most workers around the world. Unfortunately, they only a few vacation days per year than other Western countries (13 days, compared to 28 in the UK,and 37 in France) and more than twice of it go unused. In 2006, almost one fourth of them (23%) checked our work e-mail and voice mail while away-up from just 16% in 2005. A lot of them love to work.

5.What is the tone of the writer when he mentions that "not working for a day is right up there with not murdering,not committing adultery and not stealing"?

The sound is noticeably serious when they decided to take off a day from work and equates it with other actions.

6. What example is given to show that the grandparents of the present generation do not fit with the traditional stereotypical image of grandparents in the past?

One example given is the sandwich generation is going to be in for a shock when they call their 70-year old parents at the office and find they are just too busy to babysit their grandchildren.

7.Explain in your own words the sentence"it becomes clear that the traditional idea of "retirement"-with its gold watch,rocking chair,and golf course-is just about ready for retirement itself."

In my opinion, the traditional idea of "retirement" is not practiced anymore nowadays since the lifestyle of the people has changed the concept of "retirement". Most of them prefer to work rather than having a pleasant time to rest and have their time filled with useful jobs than wasting it. To them, their work is their life and they love it.

Word Collocation

Which word completes each set of collocations or fixed phrases?

a) an instrument panel
a panel of experts
a control panel
a wooden panel

b) a secret ballot
a secret agent
keep it a secret
meet in secret
the secret of success

c) take stock of the situation
it's out of stock
the stock exchange
the stock market


d) a time sheet
a time zone
only time will tell
long time no see
for the time being


e) a child minder
child abuse
child care facilities
a child prodigy
behaving like a child

Phrasal Verb

verb + preposition/s
eg. : run down
run out of
run into

1. Guess who I ran into at the club!
2.She's always running down her husband.
3.I need to go to the market.I've run out of oil,meat and rice.

Put in a suitable preposition in each space.


1. Hundreds of people turned up in the rain to see the celebrity.

2.Most of my time is taken up with answering the phone.

3.Don't be put off by the price,a cool $ 20,000.

4.Something funny is going on.

5.I think she made up the whole story!

6.Not many people turned up for the last lecture.

7.Don't worry,you can count on me.

Create your own slogan/tag line for the advertisement

Grandma! have you over shaved lately?

Looney Teens

What does the cartoon have to say about teenagers and their lives?

1. How does the teenager feel about exam tension?

The teenager is well prepared for the examination. But then, when when he wants to answer the questions, he is unable to cope with the tension during exam. Hence,it makes him feel distressed and his mind unable to focus and unable to answer the question paper.

2. In what way is there a communication gap between the teenager and his parents?

The same old question the parents ask the teenager is due to the lack of knowledge of the parents about the teenager's life. Perhaps the teenager is having a hard day, some misunderstandings occurred between him and teachers,friends or his girlfriend. The initiative from parents by being extra attentive, observant, and asking the right questions would be a way to actually make the teenager feels that the parents understand him and are available for consultation,suggestions,or opinions.

3. What point is the teenager trying to get across to his father in this cartoon?

He is trying to say that his father has know little about technology,especially the Internet.Internet problems have occurred quite a few times and every time the teenager tells his father about it,his father unable to do anything. So, he tells his father that an immediate solution is needed to solve the Internet problem.

4.In what way does the father understand his son well?

The father understands his son so well that the son will always talks to him with sarcasm and full of deep words. Therefore,sometimes he faces difficulties understanding what his son trying to say when he tells him something.

Words of Introduction

hi, everyone. I'm Amir Abdillah and it is a pleasure to meet you(although we have not see face-to-face yet). This is my first and only blog I've made in my whole life and you're welcome to comment or even criticize my works.Hey, no pain no gain, right? If you're quite shy to do so, you can always email them to anytime. I'll try my best to answer them. So who wants to have a cup of tea,anyone?