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The Top 14 Signs Someone’s Not Qualified to be a Hero
May 29th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Thoughts
- http://www.topfive.com/signs-someones-not-qualified-to-be-a-superhero-part1.shtml
Exercise
May 29th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Thoughts
“Erica, you ready?” “No! Mom I have a lot of homework today, I cant!” “Erica, come on, I’m waiting for you” “Mom please, it’s impossible to finish this today, and you want me to jog on top of that?” “Come on Erica, we’re going” “Ah, fine!” How many of
you exercise everyday? I didn’t, two years ago. However, I actually found out that
exercising everyday wasn’t that bad. Actually, it was really GOOD!
My daily routine after school is to get home, finish as much homework as I can.
When it is 7PM or 8, I change my clothes to gym pants and a T-shirt. I time my hair up
tight, and clip my bangs so that it doesn’t come on my way. I wear a pair of thick socks,
and a pair of running shoes to protect my feet. “I’m READY”
I get out of my house; I do a warm up exercise. I stretch, jump, and shake my
arms. When I’m warmed up, I get ready on the track of Tancheon.
I think Tancheon is a great place to workout. I start to run, no one is next to me it
is really dark, and the only thing that’s leading me is the endless street lamp. It’s like a
light that is meant to lead me. I follow that light for approximately an hour.
I always listen to my Ipod when I’m jogging. When I listen to the music loudly, it
feels like I’m separated from this world. I forget about .. basically EVERYTHING. For
this moment I’m away from homework, test, parents, and my tutor. I don’t have to care
what people say about me. I just can concentrate on myself for the first time. I don’t have
to care about others. I just can think about myself, and be a little selfish that moment.
When I’m jogging, I think of many things. I think about what I did today, and
what I will do tomorrow, I also think about my friends and family. I run and run and run.
I’m so fast that my heart is beating a million times in a minute I never stop until I’m
done. It’s like a competition between two “Ericas”. Will the impatient side win? Or
patient side will win. Its mostly my patient side.
I always do this every time I go to Tancheon. I observe at people. I look at how
they walk or run. Some run with their tiptoes, some walk and run like a penguin. Some
are really slow, some are really fast that nobody can catch up on them. It is really
interesting to see them.
I see people jogging, walking, and chatting. Also see kids and dogs. People who
jog have a red face like a tomato. They breathe loudly and sweat A LOT. People who
walk swing their arms. Basically, their arms are all over the place. Sometimes, I’m afraid
that they might hit me. Most of them wear thick gym pants even though it is REALLY
HOT when you jog. People who chat are mostly old ladies. They talk about their kids and
husbands. I might not know what they talk about, but all I’m sure about them is that they
are LOUD, louder than anyone in Tancheon.
There are kids with their parents. They run around, scream, laugh. They look so
happy and innocent. They have no worries in their eyes. It is so pure. No hatred, only
happiness. They make me want to go back to my happy childhood. Where I can whine,
cry, and do whatever I want at whenever I want. Unlike grown ups or teenagers, they can
truly laugh when they want to and cry when they want to. They don’t have to hide their
feelings. They often fall down and cry. No matter what, their face look so bright and
naïve. No wonder they have no due dates, tests, and homework. Sometimes, when I’m
really stressed out from studying, and all the things that happen around me, I want to
exchange my life with them. I won’t care if it worth my soul, or ten thousand dollars.
That’s how desperate I am sometimes. I just feel like quitting everything. However, I try
to think more positively because I can’t run away from it. Exchanging my life with
theirs is physically and mentally impossible. I just picture myself on the finish line of
education, or something that I’ve started, like Jogging. Because the road that I’m taking
is not always an easy one and it requires endurance to see the last victory wave waving at
me. For that self-satisfaction, I tell myself “I MUST RUN”
Dogs there are so exhausted. They stick their tongues out. Most of them are really
small. I’m afraid that I might step on it. There are big dogs with BIG tongue. Some of
them refuse to run and just lie down on the track. However, I can tell that they are still
happy to come out and spend time with their family, and run around freely on the track.
Some dogs want their owner to carry them, some want to drink water, some just run
around crazy on the track. They are free. They’re no longer locked in a cage, or not
isolated in the house. They can end their day with happiness. It is something that us,
humans don’t appreciate. Just because we always have rights to go out and do whatever
you want. But imagine those poor animals that are locked in a cage just for entertainment
and under a name of “PET”. Being locked in the cage, is like being in a hagwon for a day
for us.
I also like the sound of water flowing through the waterway. It calms me down,
and makes me think about what I did wrong. It makes me confess everything. I promise
myself that I won’t do wrong things anymore. It’s like a confession in the church. I feel
peaceful. It feels like all the chaos is gone. Confusions of deadlines, tests, grades, peer
pressure, and conflicts between your family, or friends.. It just goes away.
I sweat, A LOT! It’s like as if I took a shower with sweat. It feels pretty nasty but
it is an evidence that I am healthy. I breathe in the air, even the nasty smell of my sweat
smells good. I look up on the sky. There are clouds that look like cotton candy. There
are stars shining so brightly no matter what happens. All the meaningless things that I
was stressing over disappears. I actually appreciate something without whining.
When I come out and exercise for a while, I forget about things that were
oppressing me. For example, homework, tests, and tutors. I personally think that
exercising is WAY better than studying in hagwons where they turn on the air
conditioner. They make me cough, and make my eyes hurt. However, in Tancheon,
I can breath in fresh breeze. Even though I’m tired with all my studies, with that one
fresh breeze, I’m good to go!
I like the moment I breathe in the air because mostly, I spend my day at school, or
house studying for tests and doing my homework. Which is very stressing and boring. All
I breath is dirty are that comes out from the air conditioner OR a heater. For students who
are suffering, going to hagwons and studying, I personally want to recommend them to
exercise instead of going to hagwons which they don’t want to go. Because if you force
yourself to study when you don’t want to, that is such a waste of time AND money. You
won’t learn anything, and waste money. On top of that, you will not have time to exercise
which is really good for your health.
When I’m done jogging, I go to my house and stretch for a while, drink some
fresh cold water, and get ready to take a shower. Since I’m sweating, that 15-20 minutes
of shower is like HEAVEN! After shower, I go back to my desk and finish rest of my
homework.
I really like Tancheon track at 8PM. It’s just so interesting. Interesting that there
are many people who walks differently, have different thoughts and live a different life.
There are some drunken people sometimes, kids with their parents, dogs that are exhausted, people with their red cheeks.
It’s like looking at the small version of this world. This world has roughly about 63million of people. BUT If we could turn the population of the earth into a small village of 100 people (people who are at tancheon running.), it will be like a miniature Earth. 47 will live in an urban area, 9 are disabled, 33
are Christians, 18 are Muslims, and 14 are Hindus, 16 are non-religious and 6 are
Buddhist, and 13 practices other religions. 43 of them are poor and live without basic
environment like we have here in South Korea. 18will have to live without water. 6
people will own most of the wealth of the village. 13 are hungry. 14can’t read. Only 7of
them are educated. Only 12 have a computer. This applies the same to Tancheon. Some
of them might be rich, some of them might be poor, and some of them might not have a
refrigerator to keep their food, and a closet to keep their clothes, and a bed to sleep in,
and a roof over their head. But SOME do. It’s like watching a other side of coin.
Sometimes it might be too tough, but it is surely interesting to think in those aspects. It
makes me worry about this world and also makes me think back about how I wasn’t
appreciating the things I had.
Exercising produce endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and make you
think positive. Which leads you to have a successful academic career. I’m telling you this.
Sitting in front of the desk with your pencil and a textbook won’t make you smart. If you
are not able to concentrate, that’s just a waste of time. Again, Exercise when you don’t
feel like studying. Instead of watching television or playing computer games. Exercise
and release your STRESS!!
Eat right, work out daily, study hard, then you can spend your one and only high
school life with full of energy and fun! Not only that I also want you to see things in
different aspects, or point of view. Then you might realize something new or different
like I did. The other side of the coin, and learn lessons that you can’t learn in schools.
Not only you can improve your health, you can LEARN life lessons that you can’t learn
with money.
Tragic or Evil?
May 29th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Essay, Thoughts
Last semester, I wrote a paper about whether Macbeth is evil or tragic, and I decided to go in to more deep thinking.
Is Macbeth a tragic character OR is he too evil to be tragic? How did he become so evil? What caused him to be so evil towards the end of the play? (Environment, his wife lady Macbeth, or the witches or their predictions?). Macbeth is known as a tragic novel, however can Macbeth be considered as a tragic character, and a tragic book? Macbeth wasn’t JUST evil. It was his environment which turned Macbeth in to an “monster”. There are three things, that changed him. Firstly, witches. Would he have murdered the king when he didn’t listen to the witches’ prediction? Maybe it is when his deep desire and ambition woke up inside him.
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!
(Macbeth.1.3.49-51)
Next, Lady Macbeth played an important role in murder plan for King Duncan. She more like forced Macbeth when he refused to murder King Duncan, after the feast.
We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honor’d me of late, and I have bought
(Macbeth.1.7.32-35)
However, lady Macbeth was furious with Macbeth. She wanted the plan to proceed. Was it her personal ambition to make Macbeth a king, and make HERSELF a queen also. If it was her personal ambition, Lady Macbeth IS the evil character not Macbeth. If it was love (wanting her husband to be in a high status), then I, personally want to know what LOVE means to Lady Macbeth, because her so called love is destroying Macbeth
Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress’d yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valor
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would”
Like the poor cat i’ the adage?
(Macbeth.1.7.36-45)
Witches and lady Macbeth has played a big role in changing Macbeth evil, however it was mostly HIM deciding what to do, and what not to do. Part when he decides to murder king Duncan, part when he decides to stab the king, the part when he decides to blame it on the guards.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
(Macbeth.2.1.33-34)
Personally, this is the part when Macbeth “starts” to turn evil because this quote tells me that supernatural temptation (temptation of Macbeth wanting to be a king) doesn’t seem like a bad thing. However, he is still afraid of his horrible thoughts that he have in his mind to make the three witches’ prediction to come true. He is YET afraid of murder, and he does NOT want to commit a crime. Lady Macbeth played an important role in convincing Macbeth to kill King Duncan. However, it was 100% Macbeth’s decision to choose to kill or not to kill the king. Therefore, all you can say is that he became evil throughout the play. If he had strong will, he wouldn’t have committed a crime.
[Aside.] Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme-I thank you, gentlemen.
[Aside.] This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.
(Macbeth.1.3.130-145)
Moving on, Macbeth kind of thought that if it is fate, then maybe he doesn’t have to kill someone in order for him to be a king. However he committed murder. If he KNEW that if it is his fate, then why would he even think about killing King Duncan? Is it human’s basic instinct?
[Aside.] If chance will have me King, why, chance may
crown me
(Macbeth.1.3.147-149)
However, he wasn’t COMPLETELY evil. He is afraid of when he have done. He heard weird sounds, and couldn’t sleep. He is traumatized. At least he feels afraid and knows what he did was wrong. That’s how we can tell that Macbeth is not completely evil.
I’ll go no more.
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on’t again I dare not.
(Macbeth.2.2.52-54).
As time passes by, and his ambition of wanting to be the king gets greater, he is not afraid to step over ANYBODY who’s in his way. It seems like Macbeth will use ANY method to get himself to be a king, EVEN MURDERING.
[Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see
(Macbeth.1.4.50-55)
If he wasn’t completely evil, IF THEN, since when did he become evil and why? One of the important thing that made Macbeth nervous and kill people who’s in his way is him feeling insecure. He feels threatened. He feels like Banquo’s son Fleance is going to overthrow him and become the king since the witches have stated that. He plans to murder his good friend Banquo and his son Fleance. However Macbeth realizes that he have ruined his own peace for Banquo and Fleance’s benefit. It seems like Macbeth would do anything to be safe. When it comes to survivals, there is no such thing as friends.
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo.
For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind,
For them the gracious Duncan have I murther’d,
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings -the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, Fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance! Who’s there?
(Macbeth.3.1.50-74)
This is when Macbeth went psychotic, and mad. This quote basically states… He’s my enemy too, and I hate him so much that every minute he’s alive it eats away at my heart. He plans to kill his friend Banquo. On top of that, he takes an advantage of the fact that he is a king. He misuses his power. He tries to hide his plans from others. It seems like he is NO LONGER afraid of murdering like he was at the beginning of the play.
Macbeth wasn’t EVIL originally, however, as time passes by, and pressure of Lady Macbeth and the three witches got bigger, he couldn’t handle it. The quote below explains a lot if he is evil. ‘I don’t believe those evil creatures anymore. They tricked me with their wordgames, raising my hopes and then destroying them.’ He’s not afraid of evil creatures (voices, symbols and ghosts that Macbeth was seeing and hearing) which means that he is TOO evil, so that he is not afraid of evil creatures any more. (Maybe he became one of those evil creatures). This is the part (climax) where I felt that Macbeth was COMPLETELY EVIL, and MAD
Maybe it was his environment that made him more evil. For example Lady Macbeth and the three witches. If the three witches didn’t give Macbeth the prediction of him becoming the king at the first place, maybe he wouldn’t have committed a crime, and Macbeth wouldn’t be a tragic ending. OR IF Macbeth had a wise wife who truly loves Macbeth, maybe Lady Macbeth would’ve stopped Macbeth from murdering King Duncan and Banquo. What does LOVE mean to Lady Macbeth? Fulfilling your ambition? Or truly caring the person you love?
I would have to say that Macbeth is SURELY evil. Thanks to Lady Macbeth and the three witches who have helped or maybe FORCED Macbeth to be evil throughout this play. However, I’ll have to say Macbeth IS A TRAGIC CHARACTER, because he was mostly forced in the beginning by Lady Macbeth, when he didn’t want to commit murder. It was mostly forced, and after that, he didn’t feel guilty anymore. If it wasn’t for the witches and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth could have ended with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth lived happily ever after.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alikaragoz/161921588/
Mr.Feather
May 29th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Review, Thoughts
Hey Mr. Feather do you think you’re really flying
Mr. Clever she is fool enough to trust you
Mr. Stupid you are not like anyone
Mr. Famous I don’t know your real name
Mr. Tiny your dream is so big
Mr. Clumsy what you’ve made is so art
Mr. Doubtful don’t you trust yourself at all
I’m Mr. Complain
Yeah my life is sh**
Give me something that’s I’ll never fail
Give me something that I understand
Give me something that I’ll never lose again
Hey Mr. Smiley do you smile when you are sad
Mr. Crazy where is the border of sanity
Mr. Jealous hope you don’t have any secrets
Mr. Money what do you want for next Christmas
Mr. Perfect have you ever pulled it off
I’m Mr. Complain
Yeah my life is sh**
Give me something that I’ll never fail
Give me something that I understand
Give me something that I’ll never lose again
You are not here You are not here You are not here beside me
You are not here You are not here You are not here
Yeah my life is sh**
Mr. Feather do you think you’re really fly
Mr. Clever she is fool enough to trust you
Give me something that’s I’ll never fail
Give me something that I understand
Give me something that I’ll never lose again
This lyrics above is by a band in Japan called “Ellegarden.” First time I heard them sing was in a commercial of a mobile phone. They were singing in English like a native English speaker which made me think that they were American band. However after watching their music video, I was quite surprised by the fact that the band was a Japanese band. There are many people around the world who are able to speak English fluently. To be honest, many people don’t expect Japanese to have a perfect pronunciation. I mean I know it because I’m Japanese and I had that Japanese accent when I spoke English before. But seeing these Japanese sing like native Americans make me proud of them, myself and my country. There are some more bands and singers like Utada Hikaru, she even released an album in the states, Teriyaki boys, M-flo and so on…
[kml_flashembed movie="http://kr.youtube.com/v/q0HLMXCX9F0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Tokyo Drift (fast and furious) by Teriyaki boys
I really felt that this world is quickly globalizing and people are getting smarter and smarter every minute. Now, we really don’t have barriers understanding other countries’ songs because they are smart enough to write it in a language such as English.
Evolution
May 26th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Thoughts
Today, mobile phones are the most widely used communication tool all over the world. Almost everyone has it. Teenagers, housewives, workers, even kids for them and their parents to be in contact. There are variable functions in mobile phones today. For example, MP3, movies, games, vibration, text messages, camera, and sending pictures and movies.
It is fascinating how fast the mobile phone evolved. It seems like I just had black and white phone, and soon I have colored ones, and later one, there are MP3, cameras, touch pad, games, and internet added to it. It evolved so fast that I don’t even know when was the first time I got the colored mobile phone.
Video below shows the evolution of the mobile phones. The phones in the beginning was big and had antennas and was hard to take it so it was limited to be used in the car. However, the size suddenly got smaller, they got rid of useless parts of the phone, and added functions such as cameras. Take a look…
[kml_flashembed movie="http://kr.youtube.com/v/78UiLUVIPjY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
We are living in a world with great technology. Today, you get a new phone from apple, and the next day bam, there is a new model from apple. What would happen in the future? Will we have smaller cell phones? More functions?
August Rush
May 26th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Review, Thoughts
[kml_flashembed movie="http://kr.youtube.com/v/-5ab6RtA-KE" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
This is my second movie review after Speed Racer. I would like to recommend you one extremely great movie that movie plays a major role in the movie. August rush, “August Rush” Starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, and Terrence Howard was in theaters November 29, 2007 in Korea.
Personally, I am a great fan of music. I literally listen to all the songs that I can find. One day, my friend Pola asked me out to watch a movie with her. She told me the title “August Rush” I thought it was an action movie like speed racer, but I was wrong. This was about a music prodigy named August Rush. He knows how to play guitar even thought he was never taught. It seems like he was influenced by their parents. Mom, who is a professional cellist, and father who is a band singer. However, August was sent to an orphanage because of some misunderstanding, and this movie shows August’s steps for finding his parents with music included. For more details, you should find out by watching the movie.
The movie plot itself pleased me, but the music that was in the movie was astonishing. I LOVE the soundtrack of August rush. Some of them are This time, August’s Rhapsody, Elgar/Something Inside. Here is my most favorite song by Jonathan Rhys Meyers – “THIS TIME”
[kml_flashembed movie="http://kr.youtube.com/v/yUy64Jx_9dY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Hope: Do you like music?
August Rush: More than food.
“I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales.”
The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen.
Speed Racer
May 26th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Review, Thoughts
[kml_flashembed movie="http://kr.youtube.com/v/tO2jcwgIi8o" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
I grew up around cars. My father used to lull me to sleep as a child with a trip around the block in his dragster. I spent many weekends during my youth at the racetrack. So it’s no surprise I like television shows with great cars and, as a kid, liked a cartoon about a boy and his car - Speed Racer
Speed Racer, directed by the Wachowski brothers. Starring Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox was launched on May 8th 2008. My family and I decided to watch that movie as soon as it was launched at the Korean theatre.
I’m not a big fan of action movies that includes car, and bunch of guys fighting. I went to the theatre because my mom wanted to watch the movie because she wanted to see the Korean singer (Rain), act in the movie. I wasn’t really interested. HONESTLY, I didn’t like the movie for the first 30 minutes. I thought the animation-like background and effect was unrealistic and it was hard to watch because so many things were going on in one scene. I was confused.
However, something started to change. The movie actually touched my heart. It moved me with Speed’s love for his family, and his pure passion for car racing. I was moved by how family worked together to solve problems. Today, it is really hard to see family doing things together. Kids are busy hanging out with friends and going to hagwons, and parents are busy working and doing chores. Story overall was extremely well-made. I guarantee that you won’t regret watching this movie.
Rise and fall
May 26th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Thoughts
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over,
And it seems as though the writings on the wall,
Superstar you finally made it,
But once your picture becomes tainted,
It’s what they call,
The rise and fall
I always said that I was gonna make it,
Now it’s plain for everyone to see,
But this game I’m in don’t take no prisoners,
Just casualties,
I know that everything is gonna change,
Even the friends I knew before me go,
But this dream is the life I’ve been searching for,
Started believing that I was the greatest,
My life was never gonna be the same,
Cause with the money came a different status,
That’s when things change,
Now I’m too concerned with all the things I own,
Blinded by all the pretty girls I see,
I’m beginning to lose my integrity
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over,
And it seems as though the writings on the wall,
Superstar you finally made it,
But once your picture becomes tainted,
It’s what they call,
The rise and fall
I never used to be a troublemaker,
Now I don’t even wanna please the fans,
No autographs,
No interviews,
No pictures,
And less demands,
Given advice that was clearly wrong,
The type that seems to make me feel so right,
But some things you may find can take over your life,
Burnt all my bridges now I’ve run out of places,
And there’s nowhere left for me to turn,
Been caught in compromising situations,
I should have learnt,
From all those times I didn’t walk away,
When I knew that it was best to go,
Is it too late to show you the shape of my heart,
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over,
And it seems as though the writings on the wall,
Superstar you finally made it,
But once your picture becomes tainted,
It’s what they call,
The rise and fall
Now I know,
I made mistakes,
Think I don’t care,
But you don’t realize what this means to me,
So let me have,
Just one more chance,
I’m not the man I used to be,
Used to be
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over,
And it seems as though the writings on the wall,
Superstar you finally made it,
But once your picture becomes tainted,
It’s what they call,
The rise and fall
Craig David- Rise and fall
There are times in life where things you have dreamed turns out the way you never expected. There are times in life when people you believe in turn their backs on you. This is a great song for people like above to listen in such cloudy day like today.
Project Global Cooling Concert [PGC]
May 26th, 2008 by kericat10 · No Comments · Thoughts
PGC concert poster (Mr.Joo)
May 17, 2008 at Club SPOT in Hongdae (Hongik University, 4:30PM), a concert set up by PGC club with Mr.Burell was launched. There were people from Korea International School, Seoul International School and so on. The show featured, Rated-E, Jeong Joo, Poppa Midnight, Kong 151, E.X.Plosive, Dog Soup, ABC Analysis. Not only students, but teachers participated. Like Mr.Joo, our KIS chemistry teacher. Poppa Midnight, featuring KIS faculty members Mr.Bushnell, Mr.Brightman, and Mr.Campbell. The concert was well organized by the PGC club, the show was recorded and was on the internet for the whole world to see.
Mr.Joo performing on the stage (taken by Lynn HOng
PGC concert was launched to stop earth from Global warming which is threatening our planet. This concert was held in other countries also. For instance, China. This was a brilliant idea to tell the world about the seriousness of Global warming, and giving us a brief idea about how WE can be in danger. We are all living in the same world. I believe it is “OUR” job to save our world.
