Why is Christmas so racist and sexist?

Okay before I say anything else...please take whatever I say here as a joke :D


Why is Christmas so racist you may ask? Well, many carols talk about having a WHITE Christmas? What about a yellow Christmas? Aren't the lights yellow? How about a colored Christmas? Isn't the Christmas tree decorated with many different colored decos?


The white man keeps on trying to claim they created things I tell you :D


Now you may ask me why is Christmas sexist? Well this I blame on the first woman--Eve--and the mother of Jesus--Mary.  What is the day before Christmas called?? That's right--Christmas EVE! Why can't it be Christmas ADAM--after all, he came first.  Then on Christmas day, what do we wish people? That's right--MARY CHRISTMAS!! I mean yea I know that we have to give Mary the credit of being the mother of Jesus, but Joseph was there too right? 




I hope whatever I said just now will be understood as a joke and would not be taken too seriously.


So today is Christmas Adam and I want to wish everybody a very Joseph Christmas tomorrow! I'm dreaming of a colored Christmas!! :D Bye!!

Thanks for the Holidays

The funniest thing about this holiday is that I haven't had time for the computer ><
I mean, when I'm at home, I can't use the internet cos my bro and sis want to fight with me for it.
That lead me to this: I can understand why my sis needs the internet and all, but Reuel just uses it to play games ><" Ever since he got Facebook, he's been wanting to go online everyday. I have to content myself to using the net in the morning before he wakes up...when no one is online to talk with...it's not fun at all.


Well this is not the only reason why I have barely been online.  There's also the fact that I've been very busy...with FUN!




IMpact sleepover was great! Tho the planned things were okay, I found the midnight talking the most fun of it all.  It's good to see that the age gap not mattering so much.  (I talked with a STND 6, two Form 1's, a Form 2, and a Form 3)  


To the Form 3's: I didn't mean to sit with you all so much...I jus saw a lonely Ivan and I went to keep him company ;D




Ice-skating was fun! Again it's great to see a mixed group of Impactors here...the only group we were missing were the Stnd 6's...hmmm next time lar. The only drawback was that the tickets cost way too much.


Narnia was interesting. I can't say AWESOME, but I can't say BAD either.  I loved that part where the Christian elements were still included in the movie. Like this part: 


"In your world, I have another name. You must know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there." 


Ping pong with Aaron  was energizing.  I won the official game!! ;P Tho he beat me in the other games...but still the official game is what counts right?? ;P


Well that about wraps up what I've been up to except for minor other things la...like the Christmas production which I would blog about another day when it'salloverbecauseiwant toincreasethesuspense :)  


K' bai for now :D

The Things I'm gonna miss most about 2010

1. Being 17 - I would really miss this year, because it marked the last year of my 'childhood'.  Next year I'll have more responsibilities. T.T

2. IMpact - Being in the committee this year has been fun :) And i'm gonna miss Impact a whole lot more since it's the group I've been part of for almost 5 years :(

3. Foundation - Although the results are not out yet, I'm quit confident that my Foundation year is over.  No more having classes with the friends of all courses.  Next year degree begins with focussed people all set in doing psychology.  I'm gonna miss the great friends I've made...but we can still meet up :D I'm also gonna miss those dedicated lecturer's.

4. Matr!cs - Being a sub-editor has been fun.  Having to come up with themes for a magazine, and writing articles has been a new experience and through this medium my writing skills have been satisfied :')

5. Main Block - I'm gonna say "bye-bye" to the main block.  Though I wouldn't really say I'm gonna miss the "cockroach-infested, smelly rooms, but i am gonna miss the convenience of food.

Well, as they say..."time waits for no man" but I'm still 17, I'm not a man yet! I have to move on with time and embrace the future that God has set for me.

Probably gonna blog more since I am now officially done with my year's worth of studying :)
Hmmm...maybe I'll focus on my reminiscence about the year...

Final Finals

This is my last semester in Foundation... SOBS >.<"


Today there were many hugs going around as we said our goodbyes to each other (But I think we'll still meet in Finals leh, but then it was sweet to say goodbye :')


Well, I think HELP's Foundation Program has helped grow and mature a lot academically, physically, socially, emotionally, musically, and tons more.


I think what I'm going to miss most about Foundations is the classes.  In degree, everyone will know what they want to do, unlike in Foundations where there are people planning to take different degrees.  I'm going to miss those lecturers who encourage class participation.  I'm going to miss choosing my own timetable.  I'm going to miss, most of all, the friends that have made me into what I am today :')


I don't think I want to go into details into how HELP's Foundation Program has helped me, but one thing I can be certain is that the Foundation Program has definitely improved me, opened my eyes to a wider world, and provided me with a will to be all that I can be.


The most that I'm going to miss is the fact that I was finally fitting into Foundations when I just had to finish.  


Rara!!! So many things to write but I probably get back to studying (I don't want to repeat a semester though it would be nice) ;D

Neverland

For some odd reason, maybe it's my Foundation year coming to an end or it's just the end of the year...I don't feel like growing old.


I want to find Neverland! I want to be like Peter Pan, fighting Captain Hook.  I want to spend my whole day flying through the land with no worries at all.  I can wish can't I?


O...talking about Peter Pan. I love that song from the Return to Neverland: I'll Try.

I am not a child now

I can take care of myself

I mustn't let them down now

Mustn't let them see me cry

I'm fine, I'm fine

I'm too tired to listen

I'm too old to believe

All these childish stories

There is no such thing as faith

And trust and pixie dust

I try

But it's so hard to believe

I try

But I can't see what you see

I try, I try, I try...

My whole world is changing

I don't know where to turn

I can't leave you waiting

But I can't stay and watch this city burn

Watch it burn

'Cause I try

But it's so hard to believe

I try

But I can't see where you see

I try, I try

I try and try to understand

The distance in between

The love I feel and the things I fear

And every single dream

I can finally see it

Now I have to believe

All those precious stories

All the world is made of...

Faith, and trust... and pixie dust

So, I'll try

Because I finally believe

I'll try, cuz I can see what you see

I'll try, I'll try

I'll try...

To fly 

But I don't believe in Pixie dust, but I believe in Jesus :)

To my great and awsum Form 5 friends,

I wish you all the best,

As you take the coming test.

That you'll study hard, 

And take a break and rest.

Learn to breath,

And cope with the stress,

And when it's time to study,

Do NOT REGRESS! :D

Don't forget that 

when life is tough,

Depend on God,

He's the diamond in the rough.

Remember too your friends,

In whom you can depend,

Let them share your pain,

And together we all will gain.

Though stress will come upon you,

Like a pouncing tiger,

Think of the fun we'll have,

When SPM is over!

Dedicated to the form 5s who practically mean a lot to me :)
All the best guys! Hope to see some familiar faces in college next year ;)
I know you all will do great 'aite?

Tis the Season to be stressing

Falalalala...lalalala =)

I know kinda random...but the title already says what this blog post is gonna be about.
Right know is Week 10...and I have to:

1. Send in the Matr!cs: Dear Readers page
2. Sell Food for Marketing
3. Send in Stats MCQ questions
4. Rail Run O_O

On Week 11 I have to pass up:

1. Human Comm assignment
2. Marketing assignment

On Week 12 I have to hand in:

1. Yearbook cover-page
2. Rose Mary Gosling Interview for Matr!cs
3. Rail Run Report

During these three weeks I still have classes, tutorials, and other assignments, and, not forget, the lovely Kebangsaan A -_____-"

After that then I think everything should be relaxed 

Can't wait for the end of Week 12!!!

Wait...after week 12, the presentations start -__________-"

Can't wait for the holidays!!!!

But then again, I end my exams on the last day -_____________________-"

Can't wait to see you again =)

Ah, nothing negative there xD

You are my distressor, my sense of peace =)

I hope you feel that way too ^^

'Til the day I write again!! 

Desensitization

Exams don't seem to stress me anymore...
Hmmm....must be the desensitization effect.


Anyways, the problem with being in college is that college becomes a somewhat priority.  The cons to that is that my focus is so much on college that I feel like I'm drifting from the people that were once dear to me...slowly they are being replaced with assignments. And the worst part is that I won't get to see you so often anymore =( but I'm crossing my fingers for next year ;)


Whatever the case, God is still my priority...he holds the biggest participation marks than anyone on this planet =)


Anywayz back to 'trying to study' ;D 

No One Cared

No one cared

Act 1

They pass me by,

Oblivious to my pain.

They just walk away from me

As if I was insane.

No one cares

Life isn’t fair

I would end my life, if I only dare.

Along the corridor

I hear sounds of joy.

Laughter and teasing

From every girl and boy.

Do they notice me when I sit beside them?

Can they see the pain in my eyes?

Can they hear my pleads for endearment?

Do they even hear my cries?

Act 2

At home is no different

Just a different change of scene

My parents don’t care of what I’ve done

Or the places I have been.

They just spend their time

Fighting with each other.

How I wish I could have

A more caring father and mother.

No one cares

Life isn’t fair

I would end my life, if I only dare.

Act 3

I then decided that life was not worth my time

Not worth a single cent or dime.

I head to my room and planned for my doom.

I thought of many ways to end it all…

About drug overdoses and balcony falls.

The one decision to finish my life

The one decision that can end my strife

With just one move, there’ll be no more pain

Just one action can be my bane.

Into the toilet, in search for a blade,

It was all set, my plans were made.

Because, when I compared to others,

On where my life fared,

I realized only one thing—

No one cared.

-END

-ReubeN- 

No, don't worry this is not my suicide note or anything.  This poem is written to bring awareness to the people that walk among us with pain behind their eyes.  This is dedicated to the hurt, to the angry, and to the crying.  This poem is meant to illustrate only the surface of their suffering.

So whenever you see that kid, that you've never talked to, or that guy that always sits alone, be a friend to them without any.  Even a smile could save a life.  You never know, you could be the hero that saved them from danger. =)

Oh Stats!

I don't know why, but maths always has its way of making me stressed...
From calculus, to finite maths, and now, statistics...

The coolest thing about stats is that we have assignments that it tells you nothing about what you are supposed to do -_____-"
And the worst part is that it gives you homework with a 6 hour deadline -___________________-"



Well...I guess I need to love what I hate in order to do well :)

---

Yeah...I kinda blogged....

Blog Gap

There's gonna be a great big gap in this blog...


Not because nothing is happening, but because I just don't feel like blogging anymore...


It's my life and I think spreading through the word of mouth is much better...so wanna know how my day has been?? Ask me =)

You know what?

It's been two whole days since I last came online -___-


Can I sue Digi for not saying that 'with Digi broadband, I will disconnect only when I want it to'?

It's a lie, I tell you, a LIE!!!!

Well, Digi has been kinda good, but at random times it gives way.


Should I put two whole days of a blogpost here???
I rather not...my hands might just fall off =P

Taking Comfort?

"I'm movin' on..." -Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts seem to find their way on my blog very often, but this song means so much more to me now.  I'm in a state where I'm feeling rather angry.  Angry at some people in authority that just REFUSE to change.  This group of people are leaders of the status quo.  I mean, what makes you guys think that what worked twenty years ago works now? You guys should be caring more at building the people than for the building.

After five years, I've only been getting more and more disappointed.  I'm most disappointed at the fact that they have become to comfortable.  Just like Sardis.

Brief history on Sardis:

Sardis was a city in the Roman empire that was completely impenetrable.  It was walled on three sides and had a mountain behind it.  Because of its 'impenetrability', the people or Sardis became proud.  They took comfort in their defense and were invaded twice...the same way.

I feel that we are too comfortable--we lack prosecution--we lack fire.  We are content in living in this 'safe' environment we have created for ourselves.  

They say that we have to try to change to status quo, but I have tried...and the more I try, the more I feel like I'm flogging a dead horse.  

I think/hope I only need a break.  I won't know whether this will be only a break or a permanent change.  I hope things can change so I won't have to change...

The problem with college is that sometimes it opens your eyes to the things you were once blind to--it opened my eyes to the world and sin...it opened my eyes to the imperfectness in our world, and I hate it =(

I hate that we are so comfortable...

Hmmm...

I liked the time we spent that day just talking about the world...

Hope we can more of those =)

--------------------------------------------

Results out tomorrow...so gan jiong now O_O

Still hoping to find that one friend to be able to fall back on...

The Drifter

It just occurred to me that I have very little friends I can rely on =/

Well, I can blame this on my introvertedness, my age, and my homeschooling, but in the end it is my fault that I don't have the friends that can support me.  It's funny that I have 246 Facebook friends and yet I don't think I can call on most of them for support.  I know it's not their fault--it's mine--this has to do with my drifter attitude.

I don't want to be left out so much and ignored that I drift from group to group so that I can be accepted everywhere.  I am afraid of intoxicating them with my presence so I disappear before they can get irritated with me.

I have no idea where I got this attitude from.  It's this USELESS fear of rejection that IS getting me rejected all the time!!

I hate being the drifter, yet I like being able to fit everywhere.  I hate being rejected, yet I can't live without friendship.  I seriously hate this symbiotic equation for failure.

It's like I'm a mosquito and I know it...I latch on to people, and I fear that they have bug spray, so I fly away and suck blood from different groups all the times, hoping that they won't spray me...

Okay , I know it's a lousy analogy, but the point is clear.

I don't make friends often, and I seem to be able to loose them more easily...
And I can't live without them...sigh


I think that's more than enough for the world to know...the rest will be said only between me and myself =/

The First

I wonder if anyone noticed that during the second service, I dropped my drumstick??
The worst thing was that I dropped it during one of the fast songs. O_O


Thank God that there was an extra pair on the bass drum and I quickly snatched that one to cover up.  I went into a panic attack after that because my entire body was in shock. Adrenaline was pumping like mad, and I suddenly became so nervous...


It's my first time dropping my sticks while playing in front of people...stupid blister -____-" I hope it'll be the last.

Justified?

What is the point of electing leaders when you are calling all the shots??

Yes, we are young, but we were chosen for a reason.  We were NOT chosen to sit back and be a face; we were chosen to lead....

I'm not prejudice against you, but you are sure giving me tons of reasons to be...

Sigh, I hate when things have to be done...I just pray that I'll make the right decision

When the Sand Runs Out

Recently one song has been playing on my songlist.

I know I sound like a Rascal Flatts fan, but it's only because Rascal Flatts have good songs.

This song really made me think about my life, and like the person in the song, I want to keep running until my sand runs out.

When the Sand Runs Out

I spent the morning at an old friend's grave

Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man

He spent his whole life spinnin' his wheels

Never knowin' how the real thing feels

He never took a chance or took the time to dance

And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye

Today is the first day of the rest of my life

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on

And learn how to face my fears

Love with all of my heart, make my mark

I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net

That's what I'm gonna be about

Yeah I wanna be runnin'

When the sand runs out

'Cause people do it everyday

Promise themselves they're gonna change

I've been there, but I'm changin' from the inside out

That was then and this is now

I'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new man

And when they carve my stone they'll write these words

"Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth"

And as the cold wind blows across the graveyard

I think I hear the voice of my old friend whisper in my ear

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on

Learn how to face my fears

Love with all of my heart, make my mark

I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net   

That's what I'm gonna be about

Yeah I wanna be runnin'

When the sand runs out 

I wanna keep running, climbing, travelling, flying...until I reach that pearly gates and here my King say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

I want to live my life to the fullest in God...

Intro --> Extro

"I wanna be running when the sands run out." 

-Rascal Flatts

Dunno why is it suddenly I'm feeling more like an extrovert...
I know I'm an introvert, but recently since college began, I've been acting more extroverted.

Hmmm....

Could it be that I was really suppose to be extrovert, but being a homeschooler made me introvert?

or...

Could it be that I was so introverted that I have observed extroverts enough to be able to imitate them?

or...

Could it be that I am just somewhere in the middle??

or...

Could it be that being an introvert I couldn't make enough friends, so I told myself to be more extrovert to be able to be more sociable?

Whatever the reasons...I believe I am still who I am because God made me to be like this...

Off-topic much?

Today in BK we talked about...



Wait for it...























almost there...










Whether it was okay for us (17) to have GFs or BFs...super off-topic =P




Anyways it feels like most of us are still in the good boy/good girl stage...or might be the fact that we were in a church that our answers were very good...

--------------------------------------------

Was that a sign?

Next Sem (No Boundaries parody)

Next Sem

(While reading hum Kris Allen's No Boundaries)

Assignments, assessments, and so many things.

You can imagine the stress that they bri-i-ing.

Every moment lasts forever, so I've got to try my best.

Waking up early in the morn,

Looking at marks and then saying go-o-one!

Can you give me one good reason, to work hard to beat the rest?

But here I am still holding on!

Every Sem begins a new adventure,

I just hope it won't end in disaster!

I'll make it through the stress

At least try my best!

To get to the next Sem!

Just when I thought this lecture was going no where,

We learn somethings that we can all share

It took us by surprise, it opened all our eyes!

We've got to fight harder.

We've got to fight harder.

Was humming this tune the whole of last night =P

Have fun with the finals =)

The Death Penalty: the Damage has been done.

What to we learn in college? To research on contradictory topics, and make arguments for and against them.

And since this essay is done, I felt it was a waste to just let it be between me and my lecturer, so here's my term paper.

WARNING: Plagiarism will not be tolerated!
See Reuben can write long essays ^^"

 The Death Penalty: The Damage Has Been Done

When the death penalty is brought up as a topic, it is very hard to avoid taking a stand.  Though the arguments against the death penalty are strong, they can be seen as fraud after thorough researching.  The death penalty is seen by many as a just and effective punishment.   In a recent poll conducted by ABC news, one out of every six Americans support the death penalty (Merkle, 2010).  Maclean (1987) states that the main reason why so many people favor the death penalty is because of their fear and also of the rising death rates.  The current problem with the death penalty is that many a times the criminal will wait on death row until his crime is forgotten. It is much better to carry out the sentencing as soon as it should be.  Prisoners on death row, when proven guilty without a reasonable doubt, should be executed as soon as possible.  Not only because it is fair to the victims, but also because the rest of the world needs to remember the reason as to why these criminals deserve to be executed in the first place.  Criminals should also be executed as soon as possible to stop unnecessary fear among the public.  The death penalty is not an inhumane judgment because history has proven that the death penalty—or the fear of it—has kept the status quo. The death penalty has been in effect as far back as eighteenth century B.C. in Babylonia, proving that even in ancient times it was seen to be just (Randa 1997). The term death penalty means ‘death as punishment for a crime’ (Miriam-Websters Dictionary of Law, 2010).  The death penalty will save lives and create a more secure society. 

Before stating the points to support the death penalty, the perimeters of this paper will be set and a brief history will be given.  This paper will be set in the United States of America which is one of the few first-world countries that still maintains the death penalty and also has the largest collection of data on this particular issue.  The United States legalized the death penalty from its very beginning until 1973 when the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty went against the Eighth Amendment in the controversial Furman v. Georgia (408 U.S. 238) case, but the death penalty was reinstated at 1977 with stricter restrictions and a tighter perimeter.  Randa reported that the first ever execution in America was held in Jamestown on 1608, only two years after the Europeans settled there in 1606.

 

Before we move into the reasons as to why the death penalty is a fair punishment, we first must know who will be those receiving the death penalty.  Those who may receive the death penalty are those who commit unforgivable crimes such as murder.  In fact only murderers can be sentenced with the death penalty because of the Eighth Amendment. Rape was once punishable with the death penalty but ever since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1977, the Supreme Court has prohibited non-murderers to be sentenced the death penalty (Bohm, 1999).  Under Governor Pataki, New York’s death penalty law was reinstated and more clearly defined. Those who qualify to receive the death penalty in New York are those who commit crimes like murdering a police, parole, court, probation, or corrections officer.  Other crimes that qualify a felon for the death penalty are murdering while already serving life in prison or escaping from prison. Being a contract killer, serial killer, or those who torture their victims may also result with the death penalty being imposed in the state of New York (Pataki, 1995).  Even history can prove the need for the death penalty. Ever since the beginning of civilization, the death penalty had been there to keep the order, but the crimes that were punishable with the death penalty were a little absurd.  In 1612, Virginia adopted the Divine, Moral, and Martial Laws which approved the death penalty for very minor offences.  These crimes included offences such as killing a chicken, stealing grapes, and even trading with the natives (Randa, 1997).  It is a good thing that the authorities ‘came to their senses’ and reformed the crimes punishable by the death penalty, or else most of the population would be on death row at this present time.

The main cry of those against the death penalty is that if the defendant is wrongly sentenced, there will be no turning back time.  That is why before a death penalty can be enacted, the country’s judicial system has to be stricter and more thorough.  According to O’Neil Patry, and Penrod (2004), the current issue with the judicial system is that the jurors’ attitude and viewpoints may influence their decision on a case; therefore, the accused may be falsely convicted.  To avoid any mistakes with the sentencing, a long and thorough trial will be held.  The accused can only be sentenced the death penalty if—and only if—he is proven guilty without a reasonable doubt.  A recent study conducted by the Death Penalty Information Centre (2010) showed that the United States’ judicial system has exonerated nearly a hundred and thirty prisoners out of 1213 prisoners on death row from 1976 to 2007 meaning that the present system is not a hundred percent effective. George E. Pataki (1997) explained, in his article in the USA Today, the most efficient way the death penalty can be in effect.  In New York, like in the rest of the United States, the jury has complete sentencing discretion.  Therefore, when deciding the defendant’s sentence, Pataki states that each jury member must consider the defendant’s ‘prior criminal history, mental capacity, character, background, state of mind, and the extent of his or her participation in the crime’ before considering the death penalty, and when the death penalty is considered, the jury must reach the verdict unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt before the defendant can be sentenced.  The selected jurors also cannot have any emotional attachment in any way to the case at hand so that their judgment will not be clouded.  

  

With the implementation of the death penalty, it is logical to conclude that crime will be controlled.  Dudley Sharp has clearly listed down some ways how crime will be controlled through the death penalty.  Sharp (2003) gave examples such as the negative consequences factor, survival factor, and other deterrent effects.  The negative consequences factor—the fear of any negative effect from an action—are the reason why many would-be criminals never came to be.  The negative consequences factor can be best explained with the psychological theory of operant conditioning.  The survival factor is the will to live and is a logical deterrent effect to the death penalty.  It is clear that with the death penalty in place, anyone will have second opinions with committing a crime deserving the death penalty for fear of the consequence.  Pataki (1997), the fifty-third governor of New York, wrote in the USA Today about how the death penalty has helped his state’s crime rates to decrease.  Pataki wrote that only a year after the death penalty was reinstated the crime rates in the state dropped by eleven percent compared to the prior twenty-two years when the death penalty was on a hiatus.

Opponents of the Death Penalty argue that the death penalty is inhumane and that life behind bars is a more humane and just punishment for murderers.  They also believe that the death penalty will give convicts time to recover from their crimes—giving the prisoner a chance for rehabilitation (Murdock, 2001).   However, Murdock reports that giving convicts life in prison when their crime undeniably deserve the death penalty only gives them a challenge to escape, terrify the public again, and commit more unforgivable crimes.  Murdock also states in the same article that, while the ideal prison was meant to cause the prisoner to reflect upon his mistakes, some prisoners will ‘stop pondering their misdeeds and seek greener pastures beyond the penitentiary walls.’   Another argument against the life imprisonment of criminals that deserve the death penalty is the incapacitation effect (Sharp, 2003).  The incapacitation effect plainly means: executed murderers cannot harm or murder again.  It is simple logic to understand that living murderers have an infinitely higher chance of murdering again as compared to murderers who have been executed.  Giving the life-time imprisonment as an alternative to the death penalty is wrong.  It is unfair to the victims, unjust to the criminal, and uncaring to the public.  Crimes have dropped dramatically when the death penalty was reinstated in 1977.  Houston, Texas, which is the most active death penalty sentencing and execution jurisdiction in the United States, has seen a staggering seventy-three percent drop in the number of murders since it reinstated its death penalty law in 1982 (Sharp, 2003).  When New York reinstated its death penalty laws in 1995, it saw crime rates drop by eleven percent (Pataki, 1997).  These examples prove that the death penalty does cause would-be criminals to think twice before they commit any felony. 

Instead of looking for ways to prevent crime from happening, many opponents of the death penalty focus on sustaining and rehabilitating the criminals.  They argue that the death penalty costs more than their alternative—life without parole.  Logically thinking, a simple injection or even hanging cannot cost more than a lifetime in jail, but because of the long and complex judicial process for sentences that require capital punishment, the cost of execution in the United States is very high (Death Penalty Focus, n.d.).  The opponents’ claim that the death penalty is more expensive is correct, but not when the long term considerations are checked (Sharp, 1997).  Over time life without parole outweighs the cost of the death penalty.  The money that is used to keep prisoners in their safe and comfortable prison cells can be directed to crime prevention agencies such as the police force and other emergency response organizations.  Taxpayers need to see their money funded into more productive things than giving hospitality to convicts or the current government may find themselves out of office after the next elections.

Opponents of the death penalty argue that mistakes can happen, but mistakes can happen anywhere and not just in the case of the death penalty.  No matter how thorough a court case is mistakes are bound to happen, but we should not let those mistakes stop the course of justice.  In the theory of utilitarianism, as long as one action leads to greater happiness to the greater number of people, it is considered moral.  If the execution of a murderer would prevent him from ever harming a human being again, then in the case of utilitarianism, the execution of the murderer is morally right.  This paper has given examples from real-life places when the death penalty was established or reestablished.  From the examples of Houston and New York, one can conclude that the death penalty will indeed decline crime rates.  By getting rid of life without parole, would-be criminals will realize that committing any felonies would be just not worth the possibility of receiving the death penalty—in other words, criminals will be scared.  Criminals would not be able to harm again if the death penalty is in effect and, therefore, creating a better and safer environment.  The cost of the death penalty against life without parole is debatable, but in the long run, the death penalty will be considered the better choice.  Though the death penalty can be considered inhumane or unnecessary by the opponents, the results and research can show the need for the death penalty in modern society.  Maybe the day will come when society becomes mature enough curb crime in a more efficient way, but until that day, the death penalty is our best solution.    

The Irony

Wanna know something ironic?

I drove my friends car the other day...





And I...


Didn't crash it =P


But then.......


When I passed the car back to him...


He knocked into another car ><"


Ironic right??

Anyways, back to assignments...

I am...

Tired
...

...

Exhausted
Drained

...
...

Down
...
...

...









SHOCKED!!!!!!!!


Has it already been 15 weeks since the last holiday?
Has it already been 17 weeks since the last finals?
Has it already been 25 weeks since the beginning of college?

Unlike the first semester, this semester has gone by in a blast...
Like really really fast...
It's going by so fast that sometimes I don't even know what day it is...
But at least I have absorbed most of my subjects...at least I'm not bad in any subjects, (not like calculus)

I was told that the second semester was suppose to be the hardest semester, but I think it's the easiest to date.  Well compared to the previous semester la...

It's not because things are simpler...I'm taking five subjects this semester O_O and all of them have a reputation of having failing students...it's actually really tougher...

I think it's because I'm used to the system now...
I'm used to waking up everyday at 6:30...
used to taking the bus...
used to that awful feeling the smell of KFC in the morning gives your stomach...
used to assignments and presentations...
used to shaking everytime I present...
used to being noisy in class...
used to lectures...
used to lecturers...
used to eating with friends...
used to eating alone :(
used to spending RM5 a day...
used to overspending sometimes ;p
used to 'ta pao'ing' food...
used to eating in DSA...
used to using this notebook during breaks...
used to wasting time playing ping pong in DSA...
used to talking and playing a fool...



Well in other words I'm used to college la =D

But I AM TIRED...
But I'll keep going on...
To Infinity and Beyond!
*sorry watched Toy Story 2 yesterday* ><


Volleyball later...weeee!!!

Gopeng

My second ever secular camp was great!!!

When I first heard that I kena'd the camp I was like -_____________-"
Then I saw it was Gopeng then I was a little happier...
I heard lots of good things about Gopeng and since I've already been to the Melaka camp...

Anyways here's what happened...

Day one...

The bus ride


I expected to have a noisy bus ride since it was filled with half the social sphere people--especially Klex--but then it was so quiet...

for the first half of the journey  =D

After that the life returned and we started talking.

Earth Camp

We saw our dorms, and I immediately thought: "When they thought about the dorms, did they think about mosquitoes?" Seriously there were spaces in the dorm that a monkey could climb in. 

And that was the worst part of the camp...

Day Two

Gua Tempurung

Visiting caves is not a new thing to me, but this cave experience was different.

This was my first time getting wet in a cave...

We had to slide down some parts of the cave and then swim through others...

The best part of the cave was the water was so calming and cold...I would not mind lying in the water for the whole day.

High Ropes

I am not afraid of heights...I'm afraid of falling from a great height.  That was what I overcame at the high ropes...I needed to trust the cowtails to hold my weight.  

It's easy to trust the cowtail when you are one foot from the ground, but we went 15 meters in the air...which was extremely scary... 

I was one of the last of my group to go so I cheered them all but then Xiao Wei asked me to shut up -__-"

I was giving you confidence okay...

Day Three

White River Rafting

no words can define the feeling of gliding on water...

But it was tiring...

Nothing much to say...

except it is a must at least once in your life...

Lori Rides

The best part of the whole camp was the Lori rides...

All the wind on your face...the branches to duck...and the fun talking...

It was a fun-filled camp...

cold but clean water...

Now I'm exhausted...

I fell sick and slept from 6pm until 6:30am

Not like some people who skipped class...I didn't!!

One good outcome from the camp...

The band is back!!!

But whether we are still going with No Credits is not decided...

Ain't I spooky =P

I should...

probably update about the Gopeng camp...

But I shan't cause there are too many things to talk about...

And I don't have the time since finals is on the way

And I also have two presentations to prepare

So I shall not update about the camp yet...

Emotions Unleashed

"I wonder if I ever cross your mind, to me it happens all the time..."

-Lady Antebellum-

Like the title suggests...this is gonna be a totally emo post, so those who don't wanna read emo stuff, SKIP THIS POST...

I wonder if you noticed me as much as I have...

I changed only because you told me to....did you notice???

I can still remember you telling me to stop wearing black shirts cos it made me look emo...and I listened to you.

Did you notice??

I stopped wearing black shirts whenever we were going to meet...I purposely wore colorful and bright shirts for your sake....

Did you notice??

If it was someone else that told me that I looked emo in black, I wouldn't have listened, but it was you who told me...so i did listen...

Did you notice??

Did you notice that I changed for you??

Did you notice that you make me smile??

Did you notice the way I act so awkwardly whenever you're around??

I wonder if you really ignore me or am I just imagining??

Is it just my imagination when I see you smile more when I'm around??

I just wish that I have more @@#$^%# guts!!!!

It's so embarrassing to think so much about telling you the truth when I can't even talk so deep with you.

If you know that I'm talking about you...if you still remember me...can you give me a sign??

I don't know what sign, but at least tell me by the way you act or speak....or even the way you sms me??

You can't hurt me anymore than I'm hurting myself thinking about you.

The worst you can do to me is make me realize that I have to move on...

So can you please help me??

I'm a shy guy..so can you please make the first move?? =)

Not by Me

Verse 1:
Let my words, speak what You say.
Let my actions, show them the way.
Lead me to new heights every day.
Then I will, in Your presence, stay.

Verse 2:
Let me reach out with Your love,
Let me reach out my hand and serve,
Let my faith never falter and curve,
Give me what I deserve.

Chorus:
It's not by my strength,
Not by my power,
Not on my own understanding,
Not by my might,
Not by my will,
But by Yours

Verse 3:
Make my life, be a testimony,
Make me be strong and speak with clarity
But remind me of Your mercy
For none of these is by me.

Bridge:
I know I can do all things
Through one alone
He died for you and me,
His mercy shown,
Jesus took all our sins,
Our pain he'd known,
He rose again,
And now he sits on the throne.

Jesus NEVER stops inspiring me to write...

Driving!!!

OOOOOoooohhhh...

Guess waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

Today I......

DROVE!!!!!!!!

Okay so it was an auto car but...

I drove!!...

My first time I ever really drove. 

And the best thing was...

I did it almost all on my own...

I also successfully did a vertical parking ON MY OWN!!!

Weeeee~~~~

Now back to reality.

I haven't finish my term paper yet -____-"

But I'm almost done!!!

After I finish my term paper,

there is still...

1. Proofreading seven articles for matr!cs.

2. Writing the Argumentative essay for Advance English

3. Psychology research paper.

Stress!!!

And today I barely played ping pong! =O

So I played volleyball instead.

volleyball volleyball

volleyball volleyball

volleyball volleyball

volleyball volleyball

volleyball volleyball

volleyball 

volleyball

I droooooveeeeeee....

Superbly proud of myself now...

 =D

Term Papering

I really regret not taking an easier topic =_______=

Must be an ego problem that made me choose the death penalty as a topic, when I could have so easily taken homeschooling.

Well now I have to pay the price and work hard....

On top of this, I have about six papers to proof read for matr!cs. SIGH!!!

But I think I'm just too distracted.

I think I would have it done now if I didn't have Facebook -__-"

Facebook seems to be a bigger problem than a tool for socializing.

If I do not finish my assignments by Monday, I'm going to deactivate my account...seriously.

But why am I blogging? Well, blogging is not a distraction.  I'm blogging now to process all the sources I'm reading.  I really would not want to be a judge after reading what I've read.  

The death penalty is an interesting topic but it's quite morbid and dull after reading enough.

Anyways...back to my term paper. =)

The End Semester Pile Up

It's here the time when all lecturers want their assignments handed in...
And I mean every lecturer has their own subjects they want handed in so for me that means five assignments!
On top of that, there's other responsibilities that have to be fulfilled...like Matr!cs and SASA.

It's nearly the end of the semester which means assignments and quizzes.  Well it's not what I didn't know already.  But last semester was so relaxed compared to this.  T.T

Well progress does come with a cost.
Okay back to my Term Paper!!!

Ipoh...

One thing can be said about Ipoh....
Everything is BIG here...

But thats a good thing =)
The food portion is so BIG!

But this trip has not been very great =/
1) Cos I had to skip IMpact...sorry guys.
2) Cos I had to skip PJEFC...but I still went to church =P
3) Cos I had to skip BK...sorry Auntie Lily...
4) Everything has changed...

On this trip I wanted to--not only eat--but also find my heritage.  It's so sad to find that even the road named for my great great grandfather is gone =( Does anyone know where Jalan Lam Looking is?? And to top it off, all the buildings that my great great grandfather built is also gone...and the ones that are still standing have taken away his logo...

All my Heritage is gone!!!! I should have taken more time to search for these sites when they were still around...and now they are gone and replaced with the future...the only thing that I have that proves that my family were once one of the big families from Ipoh is this picture...

Can you see it?? It says Lam Looking Building...that's my great great grandfather's name.

If this is what you call progress...I don't want it.  If we are suppose to learn from our ancestors, how on earth can we do that when our history is gone??

So it's obvious that my trip wasn't as exciting as I thought it would have been...but at least I have some sort of proof.

A message to my Responsibilities...

The whole world is weighing on my shoulders...and I can't hold it up anymore.
If I let go, will I lose everything?
Can I just let go of a few?
Can I just fade??
Responsibilities...

At least midterms is over...and I got a three day Holiday??
-____-" now the next holiday is eight weeks from now.
Hope I can tahan.

Still super tired from Fete de la Musique and midterms.
Hopefully I'll recover in Ipoh...





Dear...

Family,
I know I'm drifting apart.  It's because I'm so busy now. Please don't think I'm ignoring any of you.  You were there for me when I had nothing...I won't give up on US.

Friends,
I know I'm weird....I know that I'm different, but thanks for giving me a chance.  I really appreciate.  Thanks for everything...

HELP,
You have taken up so much of my time...but I know it's a necessity.  Thank you for....accepting a person like me.
 
IM:pact,
I want so badly to stay in touch...to stay updated, but it's getting tougher.  I really need your prayers, and thank you for supporting me as your leader. =)

Ping Pong,
Whenever I want to ignore you always seem to shout right into my ear -_________-
Well, thank you for being the time killer.

Bible Knowledge,
Sorry for not giving you attention, but you see, you are not my priority right now.

Drumset,
Sorry for not taking care of you.  I know I haven't touched you in four months, but don't worry, I'm gonna play you so much whenever I can now.

Matr!cs,
I'm pretty new to this magazine thing, but I promise to be the best sub-editor I can be =)

Lecturers,
I can't promise HDs but I promise I'll try my best =D

My timetable is nonsense now... I want to find a good and silent place to get away.
Now the holidays are gonna end, and I still have things to do...meetings to plan, assignments to finish, and work to send in...
But this can wait until I'm done here...

There's something about blogging that can help relieve stress.  Wanna know why it's better than FB?? You can blog and fell like you are achieving something, but when you are on FB, it feels like you are wasting time.

GO BLOGS =D