Fascination And Its Consequences

Hahaha. This week has been the biggest lead of all the weeks so far. I've got to re-write my essay on 'Paradise Lost', which is about 1500 words, then write another essay for 'Death Of A Salesman', study for a Chemistry test, and finish writing up my personal statement. Not to be dramatic, but I wouldn't mind dropping dead and be reincarnated as a writer living in Paris.

But one thing struck me as quite funny today. We were giggling over some of the typing errors in the Maths text book when Mr Hayes (the most boring teacher to have ever been inflicted on mankind) said that all books had errors. Chapman quickly replied "What about the bible? I bet that has no errors in it." Then came the golden moment. James Higham rebutted, "the bible IS one big error." The whole set just burst into laughter, and Mr Hayes tried desperately (and vainly) to defend the bible.

Sorry if that was offensive. I'm simply recounting an event that happened :P

I guess I have always been fascinated by religion. Not just Islam, but all the major ones, and the not-so-major ones. It's not so much the rituals and the rules but the philosophy behind it, the reasoning, the logic, and the consequences. It's the ethical ramifications and the lengths people go to to convince themselves that they believe in this concept of organised religion that I'm interested in. My interest in literature was also inspired for my interest in the theological side of society, or rather the philosophy of it.

I've also been captivated by the parody religions that have sprung up over the years. It's sites of mock-religions like Pastafarianism, Googlism, The Invisible Pink Unicorn and Last Thursdayism that I go to time and time again for some kind of comic relief, and often intellectual content. I don't know. Atheism has it's charms.

I'm really looking forward to coach weekend. Although before that I have to get through one personal statement, two essays, and a test, possibly even two, all in the space of three days.

Signing out

Over and out

The Product Of Chance & Inevitability

We are insignificant. We are the product of the marriage of change and inevitability. We are merely here because we're here. We are nothing.

Our individual existences are meaningless. Our collective existence is also meaningless. We are nothing but absolutely nothing. Our goals in life are merely illusions to keep us content with being alive, rather than to be petrified by the fact that after all is taken into account, we are left with nothing, absolutely nothing.

On a happier note, we finished reading 'Death Of A Salesman' today. And so we got out of the lesson 20 minutes early. Waiting for the statistics lesson. Had a fun albeit unproductive weekend.

Signing out

Over and out

It Was The Day Of The Emancipation

No. Please. Don't give me hope. The last thing I need right now is false hope.

I am here again. Waiting. Are you waiting for me too? I don't know if you are. Should I know? I think I know you. But then everytime I think I know someone, that someone comes out with a surprise. Is that supposed to be normal? Or is it my tendency towards complacency?

Life is harsh. It's not the greatest thing in the world.

Am I making sense?

Am I?

I hope I'm not. I don't want to think myself as being too transparent.

Heh.

Signing out

Over and out

The Genre Of Comedy & Tragedy Juxtaposed

I feel a little tired today. Last night I got back to school from Stratford just after midnight, and damn, it was chilly. And today I've been filling in my free periods with work, specifically researching on Milton's Paradise Lost.

I really enjoyed going to see Twelfth Night last night. It was performed by The Royal Shakespeare Company at The Courtyard Theatre. It was the same place where I went to see The Seagull. The play itself was quite funny. I didn't know this play very well, and barely only knowing parts of the story just by listening to people talking about it. The whole thing was well-acted. I especially liked Feste. He could sing and play the piano so well. And he was so witty and funny. In hindsight, I think he's probably the most intelligent character in the whole play. As they say, it takes a genius to play a fool. The character of Malvolio was quite sad. At first you couldn't help but despise his up-tight, party-pooper attitude, but as the play goes on, you feel so sympathetic of him, and I guess serves as a reminder that not everyone can be happy in real life, or even in a comedy such as Twelfth Night.

One thing though. The whole play seems a little homoerotic. The character of Antonio was obviously in love with Sebastian. And Orsino still calls Viola by her 'male name', Cesario, even when she reveals she is not a man. So is Orsino in love with Viola, or is he in love with the male side of her, that of Cesario? I guess that's intentional of Shakespeare.

Paradise Lost is one hard poem. Just to do one essay, I'm supposed to read at least four critical books on him and his poem. I guess this is an early taste of how people work in universities. The thing is, I've got two days left till its due.

House Singing is coming soon. We're defending our title from last year. No idea yet what the unison song would be. But I'm sure Mike would do very well choosing the song and making us sing, since he did win the Best Composer (or something) award last year.

Anyways, off to the house and read some essays, then do mine.

Signing out

Over and out

An Honest Thought For A Coordinated Mess

After reading Dibs's blog, and her 'honest' personal statement, I thought I might write my own. Hahaha. Here goes:

Hey. I decided to take English Literature in your university because:

a) it's in London,

b) it's in London

c) if it's not in London, the grade requirements aren't that high.

To be honest, I don't know why I should be told how to feel when reading a novel/play/poem written by a guy who's been dead for a few hundred years now. I don't like all this formal bullshit telling you that you should appreciate this poem because it was this and that. Shut the fuck up. I'll appreciate it in my own way, you fucking moron.

And why the fuck am I taking a hard subject like English Literature when I could take something I could cruise in, like Maths? Oh, if it isn't the moneybags, our government. Thinking that just by getting more English teachers would solve the problem of Brunei people failing their English O'Levels, they gave me a chance to waste their money on taking a subject I'd sturggle in university in anyway.

So I was a Corporal in Army Cadets. So what? I did absolutely nought that's worth mentioning. Did it teach me leadership skills? Most of the time I was being shouted at and told to do push-ups. Yes, I was being led alright.

I'm pretty much skeptical about the idea of examinable and formal education. So fuck, I don't really have any reason to go to your university, except to wait for my ten-year teaching contract, and get loads of money saved to start my own media empire.

Please take me in to your university.

Much love.

Now Is The Time For A Resolving Revolution

Right now life as an upper-sixth at Severn Hill has been a crazy one. I guess the more we grow up, the more childish we want to become. We've been playing pranks and doing crazy stuff since the start of term. Of course the occasional throw-abouts after lunch are still there. That's a given. It's things like posting up directions to Lowcock's room on walls with sigs such as Cock-a-doodle-do, or Cock-a-shock, or sticking a piece of plasticine shaped like a part of the male anatomy on his door besides a sign that says Low, that makes all the hard work in lessons bearable. I tidied up my room yesterday, and Geo put up a sign on the back of my door that said 'Your room is too tidy. Sort it out. Nob.' Quite funny, I thought.

I stayed up for Sahur at around midnight last night, and woke up Mubin. We only had instant noodles cooked with a microwave oven, because we have no stove in the kitchen. And because of fasting, I didn't go to breakfast this morning, so I slept till 8.30, knowing full well I had a PR first lesson.

I feel like I really belong in Shrewsbury now. Most of the upper-sixth know me (even though admittedly I still struggle with their names). I don't have problems finding a table of people to sit with during lunch or tea like I did the first month last year. And other small things like that make for a very comfortable second year - so far.

I wanted to post a longer entry, but time doesn't permit. Chemistry in one minute.

Signing out

Over and out

Colours & Numbers Will Give You Wonders

So I haven't updated in a while, and by a while, it's actually just barely over a week. But yeah, this week has been a filled and busy one. My flight to London was alright. It was quite a coincidence that in the plane I sat next to another vegetarian, so it made me that bit more comfortable being in an enclosed space when I'm eating. Hahahaha. It turns out I was on the same flight with 15 new A-Level scholars. They were alright. I was careful not to act like the oldie in the group, although I did give them a few pointers when we got to Heathrow.

Anyways, so I spent the weekend (just the Saturday, really. Had to go back to school early Sunday) with my cousins, Nana (Mel) & Yayai (Mell), and their friends. Ate at Satay House, went to Trafalgar Square for the 'Disability Rights Festival', watched '1408' at Leicester Square. It was fun. Enjoyed my time with them. The three MJs in the UK. Hahahaha.

School's been great. My new Bruneian Severn Hill housemate, Mubin, is alright. He's great. Apparently I'm assigned by Mr. Vicars, our housemaster, to be his mentor. Oh well. I don't really mind. Football's been awesome. We beat Riggs 4-3 in 2nd Leagues, but lost 3-0 to School House in 1st Leagues. Not that we deserved the beating, although we didn't deserve to win either.

Oh, by the way, I'm so happy when I found out I got full marks for my Shakespeare module in AS English Literature. 90 out of 90. You can't see it, but I'm grinning my ass off. Heh. And oh, my brother is going to the UK, gonna study at Bedford School, where Eric and Onn are. Flight's this Sunday.

Signing out

Over and out