I have a magic mirror, which is just like the one in white snow. Whenever I come up with a question, it can search the answer for me.
One day, confused about what kind of person I was, I opened my mouth to the mirror. “Mirror, mirror, what kind of person am I?”
Paused for a while, it answered me “Well, first, I think you are investigative.” At its words, reflected on the mirror was the scene when I was alone in the computer lab doing my programming tasks. At a very early age, when I entered junior high school, I began to learn Pascal, one of the almost outdated computer languages. At the very beginning, there were more than fifty students in the class. We sacrificed every Saturday to fulfill our interest. However, as time went on, the programming tasks became tougher and tougher. Sometimes, we had to spend a whole day sitting in front of a computer doing one exercise. Thus, learning turned boring and boring. One after another, some classmates dropped their classes and enjoyed their regained happy Saturday. Though as a youngster, I was fond of playing with peers too; as you may guess, it almost formed my habit to go to computer lab every Saturday. Though the process to work on a problem was bitter, the joy when a problem was finally solved grasped my heart tightly. Sometimes, I thought of quite as well, however, even though I forced myself not to go to computer lab occasionally, I could not help my brain running while sleeping, eating even talking. The more I try to leave it, the more I find I can not live without it. Therefore, after a year, only one classmate and I kept on going to computer lab regularly and learning Pascal by ourselves.
After mirror’s words, I closed my eye and pictured the old time, trying to pick up the lost feelings again. I found I really enjoy the feeling that a tough question keeps my brain working subconsciously. I like to solve challenging problems. That may be why mirror said I am investigative.
“Secondly,” the mirror continues, ‘you are curious.”
“New knowledge and new experiences are always attractive to you. It is you who followed teachers after class to their offices most frequently. It is you who were so happy when encountering a terrible flood in Yunnan Province. It seems that anything new can please you, no matter good or bad.”
Hearing mirror talking, I recalled those pieces in my life. If they were not mentioned by mirror, I almost forget them. Actually I did not really heed them until mirror emphasized them.
“Besides, you are also independent.”
“Remember three years ago, you went to Japan alone. And you could take good care of yourself. Remember you made your won decision to go to Singapore though your father prefer you to study in China.”
“Investigative, curious and independent. Though they are not the whole of you, I hope my words can give you a better understanding or yourself.”
The magic mirror really exists in my life. It is my twin sister, Wu Lingshuang. When I was confused about choosing my major and asked her what kind of person I was and which major I was fit for. She dissected my character as above. She is the person who knows me even better than myself. She is the person who is always there, getting ready to give me a hand. She really deserves my closest friend.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A Book Review of Sophie's World
A Book review of Sophie’s World
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder and published by HarpercollinsCanada is an instructive and interesting book. The reason that why this is so is because the book is trying to teach you the history of philosophy with description that is easy to be understood and attractive plot. The story is mainly about a girl named Sophie continuously received the letter which taught her the knowledge about philosophy. At the beginning of the book Sophie received a strange letter, which said: who are you and where are you from? At the same time she also got some strange presents and letters that should be sent to another girl named Hilde. Then she fell in love with philosophy and during the philosophy courses, she was trying to find out it was who that sent her the letters and what is the truth behind these mysterious letters. The turning point comes when Hilde’s father shown up. The story concludes with a unpredictable ending when we are informed that Sophie and her philosophy teacher live in a virtual world.
The book is set in 1990, Norway; during the period of the beginning of computers’ prevail. The author paints a vivid picture of that time period. This makes it easy for me to visualize the setting of the story. Examples of sentences that show the time are “The postmark was stamped 6/15/1990.” found on page 173.Another description “No, look…5/30/1990, it says.” found on page 171 reinforces the picture of routine. Hence, the book is set in a period very similar to us.
The main theme in the novel is the history of philosophy. The message the author seems to be trying to convey are we should try our best to find out something more important than triviality of everyday life, such as “Who we are, where are we from?” Children own this curious faculty, while the adults lose it and take everything for granted. The message is expressed in very obvious way. I tend to agree with the author’s view because in my own experience, I thought a lot of unimaginable things and thought a lot about just like the questions the philosophy teacher sets for Sophie, but as time goes on, I leave them behind and never think about them any more.
The most interesting character is the philosophy teacher Alberto. This is because Alberto teaches Sophie philosophy in a special way. Furthermore, he is very mysterious; we can just follow the book to know more about him. I can not help but nod in agreement every time the character answers the questions he sets to Sophie in a rational way. For example, on page 72, Alberto says, so that was Plato, Sophie. His astonishing theories have been discussed-and criticized-for more than two thousand years. The first man to do so was one of the pupils from his own Academy. His name is Aristotle, and he was the third great philosopher from Athens. Hence, showing how interesting and wisdom he is in term of the method he teaches Sophie.
This author writes in a style that is simple and clear. The words he uses are just right. Words like pillars, demonstrated, infinity, ripple, synagogue, perspective are familiar to me. The author uses literary language such as; all mortals are born at the very tip of the rabbit’s fine hair, where they are in a position to wonder at the impossibility of the trick. But as they grow older they work themselves ever deeper into the fur. These show how skilful Jostein Gaader is. The dialogue is used in the novel is realistic. For example, on page 80, Sophie and her mother are talking about how to celebrate Sophie’s 15 birthdays.
“Aren’t you going to invite anyone? I mean, don’t you want to have a party?”
“Maybe.”
This dialogue could have been a taped conversation between two people in family members, because Mum will arrange a birthday party for her daughter in reality. Hence, I like the writer’s style and would like to imitate his writing techniques.
I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy reading instructive and meaningful stories because it teaches you lot knowledge about philosophy and teaches you how to perceive the world around you. I simply could not put the book down and eagerly look forward to reading the next novel by this author.
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder and published by HarpercollinsCanada is an instructive and interesting book. The reason that why this is so is because the book is trying to teach you the history of philosophy with description that is easy to be understood and attractive plot. The story is mainly about a girl named Sophie continuously received the letter which taught her the knowledge about philosophy. At the beginning of the book Sophie received a strange letter, which said: who are you and where are you from? At the same time she also got some strange presents and letters that should be sent to another girl named Hilde. Then she fell in love with philosophy and during the philosophy courses, she was trying to find out it was who that sent her the letters and what is the truth behind these mysterious letters. The turning point comes when Hilde’s father shown up. The story concludes with a unpredictable ending when we are informed that Sophie and her philosophy teacher live in a virtual world.
The book is set in 1990, Norway; during the period of the beginning of computers’ prevail. The author paints a vivid picture of that time period. This makes it easy for me to visualize the setting of the story. Examples of sentences that show the time are “The postmark was stamped 6/15/1990.” found on page 173.Another description “No, look…5/30/1990, it says.” found on page 171 reinforces the picture of routine. Hence, the book is set in a period very similar to us.
The main theme in the novel is the history of philosophy. The message the author seems to be trying to convey are we should try our best to find out something more important than triviality of everyday life, such as “Who we are, where are we from?” Children own this curious faculty, while the adults lose it and take everything for granted. The message is expressed in very obvious way. I tend to agree with the author’s view because in my own experience, I thought a lot of unimaginable things and thought a lot about just like the questions the philosophy teacher sets for Sophie, but as time goes on, I leave them behind and never think about them any more.
The most interesting character is the philosophy teacher Alberto. This is because Alberto teaches Sophie philosophy in a special way. Furthermore, he is very mysterious; we can just follow the book to know more about him. I can not help but nod in agreement every time the character answers the questions he sets to Sophie in a rational way. For example, on page 72, Alberto says, so that was Plato, Sophie. His astonishing theories have been discussed-and criticized-for more than two thousand years. The first man to do so was one of the pupils from his own Academy. His name is Aristotle, and he was the third great philosopher from Athens. Hence, showing how interesting and wisdom he is in term of the method he teaches Sophie.
This author writes in a style that is simple and clear. The words he uses are just right. Words like pillars, demonstrated, infinity, ripple, synagogue, perspective are familiar to me. The author uses literary language such as; all mortals are born at the very tip of the rabbit’s fine hair, where they are in a position to wonder at the impossibility of the trick. But as they grow older they work themselves ever deeper into the fur. These show how skilful Jostein Gaader is. The dialogue is used in the novel is realistic. For example, on page 80, Sophie and her mother are talking about how to celebrate Sophie’s 15 birthdays.
“Aren’t you going to invite anyone? I mean, don’t you want to have a party?”
“Maybe.”
This dialogue could have been a taped conversation between two people in family members, because Mum will arrange a birthday party for her daughter in reality. Hence, I like the writer’s style and would like to imitate his writing techniques.
I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy reading instructive and meaningful stories because it teaches you lot knowledge about philosophy and teaches you how to perceive the world around you. I simply could not put the book down and eagerly look forward to reading the next novel by this author.
Interesting thoughts on last week's lesson
Crimes in reality are quite different from crimes in novels. In a novel, the criminal usually has a careful plan before committing a crime. All the proof and witnesses tend to point to the criminal. A famous detective just needs to dig it up. Through his careful observation and logical thought, the detective discovers some clues or evidence that can put criminal into prison. Sometimes, when the truth is divulged, the criminal may fight against the detective but the law usually wins. While in real life solving a case is not a piece of cake for policemen. They need to investigate every lead and question every one involved in detail. At times, cases remain unsolved for years. Nevertheless, with advanced technology, they have help gathering evidence against criminals. For example, the lie detector , the fingerprint machine and forensic tests etc. However, in real life the solution is not found at the end of the novel which is quite challenging for the policemen.
Wealth does not mean happiness. At the same time, happiness does not mean wealth. To a certain extent, wealth and happiness does have some connection. We can say that wealth is one condition of happiness but not a necessary condition. It is true that when some people become richer they do become happier but in my opinion life is like a cup and wealth is the tea in the cup. When we enjoy drinking we actually do not need to drink a full cup each time. Enough is the limit. If our cup is full of tea then there is no other space to contain other glorious things. We need money our life. It is undeniable but too much money money may become our burden. Not only do we need money but also other things such as friendship and love and all these all things together can make a cup of real happiness.
Everyone pursues happiness, however, in reality there exist many people suffering form unhappiness. What on earth makes people feel happy? How do we keep happy in our hectic life? In order to find the answers to these two questions, it is necessary for us to look into the reasons of unhappiness. From my view, the impractical desires or expectations are the most common sources which trigger unhappiness. People tend to feel frustrated or disappointed when their desires cannot be met. However, sometimes their desires are just beyond their ability to reach them. So, they would feel happier if they should learn to be self-content and avoid demanding too much. It is also said that humans are born greedy. In most cases, what we desire to gain is not a requisite or the basic necessities of life. Why do we have to persist with these impractical desires; that is not to say we should not pursue the better life or improve ourselves. What I mean is that we should set practical goals for us and then strive for the goals. However, it is not necessary to be overwhelmed by negative emotions when you cannot accomplish your desires. After all, happiness is the most important priority in life. What makes people happy is not how much you have gained but how satisfied you are with all you have.
Wealth does not mean happiness. At the same time, happiness does not mean wealth. To a certain extent, wealth and happiness does have some connection. We can say that wealth is one condition of happiness but not a necessary condition. It is true that when some people become richer they do become happier but in my opinion life is like a cup and wealth is the tea in the cup. When we enjoy drinking we actually do not need to drink a full cup each time. Enough is the limit. If our cup is full of tea then there is no other space to contain other glorious things. We need money our life. It is undeniable but too much money money may become our burden. Not only do we need money but also other things such as friendship and love and all these all things together can make a cup of real happiness.
Everyone pursues happiness, however, in reality there exist many people suffering form unhappiness. What on earth makes people feel happy? How do we keep happy in our hectic life? In order to find the answers to these two questions, it is necessary for us to look into the reasons of unhappiness. From my view, the impractical desires or expectations are the most common sources which trigger unhappiness. People tend to feel frustrated or disappointed when their desires cannot be met. However, sometimes their desires are just beyond their ability to reach them. So, they would feel happier if they should learn to be self-content and avoid demanding too much. It is also said that humans are born greedy. In most cases, what we desire to gain is not a requisite or the basic necessities of life. Why do we have to persist with these impractical desires; that is not to say we should not pursue the better life or improve ourselves. What I mean is that we should set practical goals for us and then strive for the goals. However, it is not necessary to be overwhelmed by negative emotions when you cannot accomplish your desires. After all, happiness is the most important priority in life. What makes people happy is not how much you have gained but how satisfied you are with all you have.
Tasks
Task 1
Find about economics, money and finance on the Internet. Write a group essay on the topic. Post it on this blog.
Here are some sites to get you going.
http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2329479.stm
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1815
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/40974-why-we-cant-end-world-hunger
Task 2
Pick one of the following tasks
a) Look online and find a joke that you think will make the whole class laugh.
b) Look online and find as many online dictionaries as possible. Evaluate their usefulness. Introduce the best site to your class and post the information on this blog.
c) Look online and find as many online English learning sites as possible. Evaluate their usefulness. Introduce the best site to your class and post the information on this blog.
Find about economics, money and finance on the Internet. Write a group essay on the topic. Post it on this blog.
Here are some sites to get you going.
http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2329479.stm
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1815
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/40974-why-we-cant-end-world-hunger
Task 2
Pick one of the following tasks
a) Look online and find a joke that you think will make the whole class laugh.
b) Look online and find as many online dictionaries as possible. Evaluate their usefulness. Introduce the best site to your class and post the information on this blog.
c) Look online and find as many online English learning sites as possible. Evaluate their usefulness. Introduce the best site to your class and post the information on this blog.
WAR
My view upon war is always changing. Sometimes I think it is bloody and inhuman. We human are so stupid that we kill each other. But sometimes I persuade myself to look upon war calmly since war is inevitable and necessary. There is no substitute for war. Hence, my attitude towards war is swaying between to extremes.
Recently, I read the famous book Mao’s quotations. In his theory, with the developing of the society, there will be some barriers. We need to overcome these barriers through war and then we can develop again. I support his idea. Although it sound sad, but there are some issues that we can not resolve but using the power of war. Jimmy carter said that “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good.” I can not imagine what will happen if we have another war in the future. it must be more horrible. Just as Einstein said, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but world war four will be fought with sticks and stones.” There will be a disaster. However, chairman Mao once said, it is impossible to have nuclear war.
I hope so.
Recently, I read the famous book Mao’s quotations. In his theory, with the developing of the society, there will be some barriers. We need to overcome these barriers through war and then we can develop again. I support his idea. Although it sound sad, but there are some issues that we can not resolve but using the power of war. Jimmy carter said that “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good.” I can not imagine what will happen if we have another war in the future. it must be more horrible. Just as Einstein said, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but world war four will be fought with sticks and stones.” There will be a disaster. However, chairman Mao once said, it is impossible to have nuclear war.
I hope so.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
A blog forgot to publish
I watched the film “The purchase of happiness”. The hero in the movie is named Chris. He his job was to sell a new kind of machines to hospitals. However， the machines were a little more accurate but twice more expensive. Thus they were very difficult to be sold out. As a result Chris was hardly able to support his family. His wife left him for he was so poor. One day his came up with an idea that he wanted to be a broker. After seeking for a long time he finally found an opportunity of an internship which however had no salary. During the intern he went through a very tough time. He had to work very hard in the company which offered the intern in the daytime. After that he had to pick his son up. As he was too poor to rent a house he and his son had to live in a refuge. At the same time he had to spare some time to sell the machines so that he could get the money for his and his son’s food. On those days he spent only a little time for sleep. However he did not give up. Fortunately he managed to complete his internship and as he did very well in the intern he was employed by the company as a broker.
After watching this film I realized that to be successful we have to work hard and never give up. A successful man has to be able to put up with big obstacles in the way to success. We have to be confidant though all the others say that is impossible. We have to be strong that we dare to face difficulties and failures. We have to be single-minded so that we will never give up.
Find something for women
——Book review for “Pride and Prejudice”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Jane Austen chose a special background, the late 1700’s in England country of Hertfordshire which is nearly 50 miles outside of London, for the story “Pride and Prejudice”. The story illustrates the difficulty for women of that time, with little control over their own fortunes or fate. As eighteenth century English society placed a great deal of importance on social status and one’s own manners and accomplishments, women went to great lengths to attract husbands of good fortune. A good marriage almost means everything of a woman’s life.
Mr. Bennet and his wife with their five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia, live in Langbourn. This is a foolish family except Jane and Elizabeth. Jane is an amiable, beautiful young lady, while her sister Elizabeth, good-looking, but not as beautiful as her sister, is intelligent and proud of herself on observing others. Though Mr. Bennet has read many books and has a good knowledge, he is lack of respectability and thinks little about the family affairs. What’s more, he does not care about his young girls’ unguarded and imprudent manner at all. When it comes to Mrs. Bennet, she is no better than her husband. She is a foolish, chattering woman whose primary interest in life is finding wealthy husbands for her daughters. The three younger girls are rather foolish and dull like their mother, though Mary lacks the talent and beauty of the others.
One day, a handsome young man of good fortune, Mr. Charles Bingley, moves to Netherfield Park becoming the new neighbor of the Bennets. “Nothing could be more beautiful”! In the party, everyone likes Mr. Bingley, for he is quite young, wonderfully handsome and extremely agreeable. While Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mr. Bingley’s best friend, is not as popular as his friend after everyone finds him to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased, especially Elizabeth. Jane is such a shy girl that she does not show her love as Mr. Bingley does. It makes Mr. Darcy misunderstand that Jane does not love Charles and he tries his best to detach Mr. Bingley from Jane. Of course, Jane’s shyness is not the only reason. Little fortune and the family members’ unrespectable behavior almost make the marriage impossible. Well, no matter what happens, true love will finally beat everything. Jane becomes Mrs. Bingley in the end.
The love between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is more difficult. Mr. Darcy is, at first, nothing but arrogant and disagreeable to Elizabeth, and she has very little respect for him. What is more, George Wickham, the son of the late Mr. Darcy’s property manager, says many things which are not true and brings Mr. Darcy a bad reputation. It makes Elizabeth treat Mr. Darcy as a cruel person. When they meet again in Pemburley, Mr. Darcy proves himself to be perfectly well behaved, polite and unassuming through his behavior and attitude towards Elizabeth’s uncle and aunt. Like many other stories, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth live happily ever after.
This story also has many things we have to face to. English law during that time declared that only male relatives would inherit property, so to find a good husband is the only choice for almost every girl. There is no doubt that Charlotte Lucas is the best represent. What she wants is just a husband and a comfortable life after marriage. There is such a sentence in the book “Charlotte’s kindness was only to secure a proposal of marriage for herself, as she looked to marriage as financial security, rather than a union of love.” When you get it, you will find it is not surprising that she marries Mr. Kolings. Certainly, she gets what she wants, but will her life be happy? It remains to be seen.
Find something for women! Today is a different day. Women should have their own powers. Every man can choose his life, so can the female, but there is still unfairness in many respects such as job-hunting, social reputation and so on. Everyone should do something to bring all the female a better life.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Jane Austen chose a special background, the late 1700’s in England country of Hertfordshire which is nearly 50 miles outside of London, for the story “Pride and Prejudice”. The story illustrates the difficulty for women of that time, with little control over their own fortunes or fate. As eighteenth century English society placed a great deal of importance on social status and one’s own manners and accomplishments, women went to great lengths to attract husbands of good fortune. A good marriage almost means everything of a woman’s life.
Mr. Bennet and his wife with their five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia, live in Langbourn. This is a foolish family except Jane and Elizabeth. Jane is an amiable, beautiful young lady, while her sister Elizabeth, good-looking, but not as beautiful as her sister, is intelligent and proud of herself on observing others. Though Mr. Bennet has read many books and has a good knowledge, he is lack of respectability and thinks little about the family affairs. What’s more, he does not care about his young girls’ unguarded and imprudent manner at all. When it comes to Mrs. Bennet, she is no better than her husband. She is a foolish, chattering woman whose primary interest in life is finding wealthy husbands for her daughters. The three younger girls are rather foolish and dull like their mother, though Mary lacks the talent and beauty of the others.
One day, a handsome young man of good fortune, Mr. Charles Bingley, moves to Netherfield Park becoming the new neighbor of the Bennets. “Nothing could be more beautiful”! In the party, everyone likes Mr. Bingley, for he is quite young, wonderfully handsome and extremely agreeable. While Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mr. Bingley’s best friend, is not as popular as his friend after everyone finds him to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased, especially Elizabeth. Jane is such a shy girl that she does not show her love as Mr. Bingley does. It makes Mr. Darcy misunderstand that Jane does not love Charles and he tries his best to detach Mr. Bingley from Jane. Of course, Jane’s shyness is not the only reason. Little fortune and the family members’ unrespectable behavior almost make the marriage impossible. Well, no matter what happens, true love will finally beat everything. Jane becomes Mrs. Bingley in the end.
The love between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is more difficult. Mr. Darcy is, at first, nothing but arrogant and disagreeable to Elizabeth, and she has very little respect for him. What is more, George Wickham, the son of the late Mr. Darcy’s property manager, says many things which are not true and brings Mr. Darcy a bad reputation. It makes Elizabeth treat Mr. Darcy as a cruel person. When they meet again in Pemburley, Mr. Darcy proves himself to be perfectly well behaved, polite and unassuming through his behavior and attitude towards Elizabeth’s uncle and aunt. Like many other stories, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth live happily ever after.
This story also has many things we have to face to. English law during that time declared that only male relatives would inherit property, so to find a good husband is the only choice for almost every girl. There is no doubt that Charlotte Lucas is the best represent. What she wants is just a husband and a comfortable life after marriage. There is such a sentence in the book “Charlotte’s kindness was only to secure a proposal of marriage for herself, as she looked to marriage as financial security, rather than a union of love.” When you get it, you will find it is not surprising that she marries Mr. Kolings. Certainly, she gets what she wants, but will her life be happy? It remains to be seen.
Find something for women! Today is a different day. Women should have their own powers. Every man can choose his life, so can the female, but there is still unfairness in many respects such as job-hunting, social reputation and so on. Everyone should do something to bring all the female a better life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)