Love and Money

In my opinion, I think that money definitely has its importance in the sustainability of relationship between couples. In this modern world, money has became an essential need to our survival. The world now is very realistic, nowadays more and more couples value money more than relationship. Due to the temptation of money that lead people succumb to it, the sanctity of love gradually vanish over time. Now, love is just a figure, a vague expression towards love ones. Money has literally overtook love, if love is to compare to money, it’s no doubt money will be the first and love comes second. Thus, there’s indeed an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over qualities of love partner. However, I believe pure love shows a greater significance in relationships, as love signifies tolerance, understanding, and attachment between love couples. Money is a medium of exchange which satisfies the materialistic needs of people, while love is a desire for somebody, to actually emotionally want the person be with you, spent the rest of the life with he/she. Money is just a short term satisfaction that gives people a luxurious life, it cannot determine the strength of relationships. Imagine he/she loves the other gender just because of money, how will their relationship sustain? Obviously, when he/she get what he intend to get in the first place, he/she will leave his/her partner as the relationship is based on money not love. However, if love involve in a relationship, the couple will be emotionally attached, they will learn to tolerate and trust each other. The relationship will be in its purest form, as the couple truly love each other with no any dark intentions or aspirations. Hence, love is more important than money, the sustainability of relationship will be higher if true love is what matters.

As I mention above, money is rather important in a relationship. In this society where people work and work to earn money, it clearly indicates how money becomes the priority in life. It also displays the role of money as the highest authority. I sincerely believe that without money, the relationship will not sustain well or even formed. The relationship will be a harsh one, the low financial status of couple may lead to further conflicts. They will have arguments over money as money linked up the basic needs of humans. Without money to support these needs, the survival of a person is not ensured, moreover the sustainability of relationships. These actually contributed to the upward trend of relationships valuing money over other qualities. People start to think materialistically and consider the important element of money that will figuratively fulfil the needs of them. With the possession of money, their financial worries will be minimized. This eventually affect the relationship between people, due to the materialistic mind of people, they will judge their feelings based on other’s financial status. They will actually succumb to it and pretend they love each other. The qualities of partner will not be considered anymore as they think those substances show no importance in their life. More and more people get into relationship for the sake of money rather than the sake of loving each other. A lot of life examples actually support these facts such as the recent case of two celebrities who are TingFeng and Cecilia Chung. Their marriage manage to last for a short period only, and they soon divorce. Why is it that? Is it the lost of genuine in love? In conclusion, love is not sincere anymore, the source of attraction is money not the qualities of their partners behold. Hence, there is no doubt the trend has changed from people value love over money into people value money over love.

How has war evolved from past to present

War has gradually changed in time to time, the revolution of war has been diverse throughout ages. The definition of war is a conflict carried out by force of arms, like between nations or parties within a nation. Some may enquire the origin and evolution of war. It can be traced back till the stone age period or even the rise of mankind. So how has war evolved from past to present modern days? Historians spend years of excavation and attempt to trace out the warfare used in the past. To their discoveries , they found out that people used weapons like swords, arrows, spears, axes etc. During the past times like China dynasty, they recruit a vast number of soldiers and commence war with each other. The weapons are all for melee combat except arrow, hence they mostly have to confront each other, pierce, slash and thrust, fight violently with no fears. In the end, slaughtered limbs and bodies were everywhere, concealing the earthen dust like the land of the dead. Besides weapons, they used horses to strengthen their force by charging their enemies with great agility. When guns and explosive materials are invented, the old traditional way of fighting slowly disappeared and the new era of war arise with gun fires, explosions and destructions, shaking the earth. The upheaval of modern warfare also caused unrest and sufferings among civilians. These weapons hold a huge amount of destructive forces that can easily sweep away a country. Thus, the war now is more destructive and involve a lot bloodsheds. There is also warfare like herbicide which is potentially dangerous to the people, which has a lasting effect on them and maybe fatal. In other words, this warfare cause slow death which is extremely painful and torturing to a human soul. An example of the destruction caused by modern warfare would be Japan, the first country to experience the force of an atomic bomb. Two bombs were released on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in split seconds, the states were completely wiped out and disrupted by the massive force. Though some survived, but they still suffered from illness like cancers possibly because of the radioactive released after the bombing. These show the contrast between the past and present of war in forces and the way war is carry out.

Besides the changing trend of war in style, there was also a significant change in the motifs and objectives of war. In the past, war was carried out when parties try to showcase their powers and abilities or expand their territories by conquering others to increase the strength and force of their countries. To ease the struggle of getting resources, people also commence war on others to snatch their resources, fulfilling their needs. As time passed, it change. Now, people war not because of the lack of resources or showcasing power, rather for some complicated matters in the society or nation. Example, the America Civil war. People fought for justice and equality, and to also express their unhappiness towards issues like racial inequality and inadequate behaviour of opposing party. The war lasted quite long and caused a lot unrests and bloodsheds as well. War has obviously evolved from the past to present either in their objectives or forces. But definitely war has changed.

HBL online work

RAINBOW DEATH

America did not foresee

Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!

Expecting others to pay a high price.Now thinking twice?

Toll on the innocent and unborn.Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.

Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.

All the deceit continues to spread.

Nefariously America led astray -Generations untold WILL pay –

Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

Hubert Wilson

HBL Task 1

Background Info

Reference: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow

http://www.lewispublishing.com/orange.htm

This poem “Rainbow Death” is written by Hubert Wilson. He had been a Vietnam War veteran same like his brothers who served in the USAF Security Service. He participated in the Vietnam war which was a fierce battle between the communists in Vietnam and USA along with non-communists in Vietnam. The Vietnamese fought fiercely and used unforeseen tactics against the American armies, it was a nightmare for the American armies. There were lots of bloodshed and the war was considered as one of the most terrifying battle in America History. Not only that it costs thousands of soldier’s lives, it was also engaged in Herbicidal Warfare – A modern warfare that can heavily affect people’s health. And Hubert Wilson was one of the victims. During the Vietnam War, he accompanied with his friends were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska. Unfortunately, the place was highly contaminated and after a period, he started to have symptoms like headaches and limb pains which cannot be explained. Doctors were unable to indentify his health problem. As days flew past, his healthcare got worse and worse and finally he was not able to move. In his later life, he then turned to writing poems and books due to his mobility issue.

The conflict represented in the poem is the use of a modern warfare that involves herbicide and intoxicated chemicals which is the “Agent Orange”. Agent Orange is a kind of gas weapon used by the US military during the Vietnam War. They started this program when the Vietnamese used a guerilla tactic which they hid in the dense forests and ambushed the Americans. That tactic was repeated and many American soldiers were dead because of that, thus they launched a program which is the Herbicidal Warfare. It caused a lot of horrible and painful deaths of the Vietnamese, also the Americans that came contact with it. The Agent Orange is so intoxicated that it caused 400,000 deaths and disabilities. It also affected the next generation, 500,000 children were born with birth defects. The answer to why is it so incredibly harmful is because it contains TCDD that can cause different kind of diseases, and some of them may lead to death.

HBL Task 2

1. Point of View

This poem was written in first-person point of view by a former American soldier – Hubert Wilson. It is written from his perspective which sufficiently create a clear imagery to the readers. This poem conveys his feelings and thoughts towards the herbicidal warfare America used during the Vietnam War. The way he express his sympathy towards the victims gives an insight of his character. He most probably had experienced the horrifying war and suffered from the effect of herbicide chemical. He shows a great disapproval of America using the herbicidal warfare which had caused lots of trauma and torture to the innocent victim. It is evident from the poem “America did not foresee, Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!”. This shows that America did not consider the effect of the herbicides. And also “Nefariously America led astray –Generations untold WILL pay” shows the seriousness of such warfare and America should take the responsibility and always take the weapons used in consideration seriously.

2. Situation and setting

The situation described in the poem is terrible and harsh. The poem portrays the Agent Orange as a kind of herbicide weapon that creates a lot of destruction not only to the victim but also the side – America who releases it. The usage of Agent Orange have killed a lot of innocent Vietnamese victims and the effects was unexpected. At first America tried to take revenge on the Vietnamese, and conduct ways to make them pay. But on the other hand, they did not foresee that their actions will subsequently create more destructive and sufferings to themselves as well. To make matter worse, the following generations will also be affected. It was a great massacre of the innocents. America had to bear the consequences which the “generations untold WILL PAY” , because of the America abuse their power and authority, it had created ongoing sufferings till now.

3. Language / Diction

The poem’s title is “Rainbow Death”, this indicated the different colors of herbicide which were supposed to counter the Vietnamese guerilla tactics which is the ambush from forests. With the usage of herbicides, millions of people died under the horrible effects of agents. Thus, it’s called the “Rainbow Death”. The poet’s tone seems angry and is blaming the America for the destructions it caused ,”Expecting others to pay a high price, Now thinking twice?”. America wanted Vietnamese to pay back, however in the end even its own people also affected and involved in the sufferings and pains caused by those herbicides. The poet express its feelings of depress and sympathy with usage of words like “toll” to describe the number of deaths and casualties in the war. “Innocent and unborn” also further emphasizes the “execrable” effects of Agent Orange. Overall the poet’s language shows a great disagreement against the use herbicidal warfare and hope America will learn from this disaster.

4. Personal Response

I personally feel that this war has open the mind of people. I think since we are all humans and live on the same planet, why must we start a war? We should always solve problems and misunderstandings between each other peacefully and avoid disruptions. Even though war make two parties suffer greatly in both mental and physical, people still want to involve in war. Isn’t that very ironic, it is like walking into a dead end that leads to nowhere and in the end the innocent people have to bear the consequences and suffer. Hence, we must learn to walk in other people’s shoes and understand each other to avoid such disaster to happen again.

Book Review: Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code

Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code

This is the third book of Artemis Fowl series. The main character – Artemis Fowl, a criminal genius mastermind is return with a money-making scheme that will risk the entire fairy species underground. In the first and second book, his fame had been widely spread across the world for his incredible mind. Everyone encountered with him had known what’s fear. Although being just a teenager, he has a great IQ that goes beyond a normal person. The first book talks about how he is going to plot the biggest crime the world has ever seen that will involve a group of intelligent species – Fairies. And he is going to make billions from it. Now in the Eternity Code, he attempts to plot one last crime before he embraces his father’s wish to start a new life, forgetting the traditional ways of the Fowl family.

Several months after he saved his father from the kidnappers, Artemis promised his father he will stop his crime businesses. Before he decided to retire, he carried out a last dirty plan that will give him a fortune and secure his entire life. He builds a cube using stolen fairy technology and some of his own intelligence. It’s called the C-Cube. Its function is devastating. It can just do anything to the entire world’s computer systems, technology and even satellites. The cube technology he harnessed is beyond any human technology that can found on earth. With the Cube, he invited a dangerous Chicago businessman Jon Spiro for a little trade. Artemis demonstrated the cube ability to the guy and tries to threaten him to trade a big sum of money or else he will release the cube to the market. Jon Spiro recognizes the cube’s power and it can easily destroy his company. Just when Artemis thought his plan is going smoothly, everything just went horribly wrong. He was fooled and ambushed by Spiro. In the end, he stole the cube and instructed his bodyguard to kill Artemis and Butler, Artemis’ bodyguard. During the escape, Butler was nearly died protecting Artemis. Couldn’t bear to lose a best friend, Artemis tries all sorts of ways to save Butler’s life. Fortunately, lucks go with him, he managed to restore his life using cryogenics and bait Captain Holly Short, a fairy from the LEPrecon squad to heal Butler using healing magic.

The healing turned out pretty well except Butler became older due to a little malfunction in the healing process. Thus, he was unable to follow Artemis and protect him anymore. After reviving Butler, Holly Short wanted an explanation of the incident just now. Artemis then reveal everything happened and the invention of C-Cube. It shocked Holly as the C-Cube may aid the human in discovering the fairy species and by then there will be a war between species. To make matter worse, it falls on a ruthless, evil guy like Jon Spiro. The consequences were very serious. Luckily, Butler had a sister named Juliet who mastered martial arts like him and could effectively protect Artemis. Juliet also agreed to aid Artemis recover the C-Cube. Besides, the LEPecron team and a kleptomaniac dwarf Mulch Diggums also agreed to help Artemis retrieve the stolen cube from Jon Spiro. After Artemis plot his mission in breaking into Spiro’s company, Fission Chip, they then began their mission.

Mulch Diggums is a dwarf that is skilled in digging tunnel underground and known for stealing anything he desires. In the mission, he came in useful as he could help to break into the company and clear bodyguards using his dwarf gas which could blast away enemies with high pressure. As for Captain Holly, she had been in contact with Artemis for quite a long time and she saved Artemis from danger for considerably lots of times and of course Artemis trusted her. Dealing with a guy like Spiro was not easy, he was an opponent that worth Artemis’ respects and managed to give Artemis a great challenge. His security was totally mad with sorts of devices equipped almost everywhere in his company. Although having awesome securities, Jon Spiro was still no match for the fairy technology, moreover facing a genius centaur, Fowly who could easily hacked every security systems in the company like CCTVs. With the amount of efforts the team put in, Jon Spiro was finally beaten up. After the team successfully broke into the company and find the location of the C-Cube, Jon Spiro was tricked by Artemis. Artemis first purposely walked into Spiro’s trap and operated the C-Cube, while in fact Fowly actually transferred his voice into the C-Cube. They lured Jon Spiro to go to his industry enemy’s company. Then the team came out from the company surrounded Jon Spiro. Soon, Artemis had the Cube back.

Returning back to Fowl Manor, the fairies thought that Artemis is too dangerous as he knew too much about fairies. With reluctance, the LEPecron had to prioritize the safety of their colonel and chose to erase every fairy related information around Artemis. Artemis agreed to be mind-wiped and decided it's the time to say farewell to the fairies. Of course, a genius like Artemis would not let his memories lost like that, he actually had a backup plan which could trigger his memory back after the mind-wipe. He gave Mulch Diggums a coin that contained every knowledge about the fairies. He acted like he was giving a farewell gift to Mulch but in fact, he tried to hint Mulch to come back and give him the coin to let him revive his memories of the existence of fairies. So what will truly await Artemis in the next book?

I personally feel that this book is very interesting and fun to read. There are a lot of actions and adventures involved in the book. Especially with those cool fairy technology devices and mysterious creatures like mad genius centaur and kleptomaniac dwarf that spits dwarf gas. Besides continuous action packs, there are some humors in the book too. Overall, I learnt a lot of values in this book. One of them is friendship. In the book, it shows how Artemis repeatedly find solutions to bring back his old friend, Butler from death. Although Butler is Artemis’ bodyguard, he have a strong bond with Butler and could not bear to lose his only close friend. I learnt to appreciate friendship more, as they guide us along in our life, motivate us to keep moving in life, never give up.