Intelligence. A word hard to comprehend. They say it's a gift. They say it's a curse. But I think it's a gift that comes with the curse.
Less intelligent people are usually more happy than those who are more clever. Like Charlie Gordon. His requirement of life was very simple. A decent job and a simple life. That was happiness to him. However, to more intelligent people, they have cynical views about society and thinks the world is challenging against them. So, more intelligent people like Dr Nemur are usually people with more complicated minds, which makes them unhappy.
Knowledge, in truth, should bring happiness to people. But, on the other hand, it brings sadness across to them. Like Charlie Gordon, he was expecting a whole new life after the operation. He thought that he would have friends and knowledge and that was very satisfying. Since time human beings are known to have a great appetite to acquire knowledge. They need to satisfy their hunger for the sake of knowledge. Many great inventors skipped their meals and have gone without sleep to achieve education and knowledge. But they never knew about negative side of it. Will they be happy? This is a question that will be posted to be Charlie Gordon. Was Charlie Gordon happy?
He made a huge sacrifice for knowledge. Even he was always bullied verbally and physically by his cruel friends, his ignorance will ignore it all. If he did not have this intellectual capability, he would still know he had friends. But once he had it, the thought that he still had friends will vanish immediately, leaving him with pain and suffering. And that little great gift would just like become an evil curse.
In a nutshell, I personally feel that to a large extent, the gift of intellect is a curse because Charlie lost his friends and his job, making him lonely and unhappy. However, to a certain extent, I think that the gift of intellect is a gift as this gift provides us with the knowledge to benefit ourselves and the society in a right way.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Should the experiment on Charlie Gordon have taken place ?
This was an experiment which will mark the new beginning of Charlie Gordon's life and probably the start of new science technology, which will enable people to become intelligent all of a sudden.
This will open up a new level for technology and probably be the invention of the decade or century. For Dr Strauss and Professor Nemur, the ability to make this experiment a successful one will help not only the world, but also help themselves become famous overnight. Charlie's parents, Mr and Mrs Gordon, will also agree that the experiment should be done. That is because no parents want their children to be mentally retarded. They want the best for their children. They do not want them to go out into the world and be ostracised for their intellectual level. They want their children to be respected as smart kids that will excel in everything they do. Mr Steven Ng, a representative of the Welberg Foundation which founded the project, will also want the experiment to be carried out. Why? For his and the company benefit. The company will then be acknowledged as the foundation which founded the project and be recognised all over the world.
However, despite all this, there are still some who do not believe in the experiment. Fanny feels that it is not appropriate for Charlie to become intelligent suddenly. She gave an example of how Eve listened to the snake and ate from the tree of knowledge. It was evil, she thought. And how Charlie gained his knowledge is considered bt her as religiously unacceptable. Joe Carp and Frank Reilly cannot accept the fact that Charlie Gordon has become the present clever self. They wanted the ignorance and dullness of Charlie, but since he had become knowledgeable and understanding, they could not bear it. They wanted the old Charlie Gordon, innocent and naive.
And what I think is, the experiment should not have been carried out.
Charlie Gordon was once a man with an IQ of 68. But the change has been so sudden, his IQ had become triple. But he had a trade-off. He gained something less important than what he had lost. Friendship. Nobody wanted to friend him anymore after he turned smart. Never mind if he always got laughed at for his stupidity. Ignorance is a blessing. Probably it is better to don't know the truth than to know it. For Charlie, it might be. He once laughed with his friends over his little mistakes, but now, he cannot even laugh because he has no friends. I would rather choose to be mentally retarded with friends than intellectually capable with no one to love. Though I might be constantly teased at, but I don't know. But I know I at least still have friends who will mingle with me. IGNORANCE IS BLISS.
This will open up a new level for technology and probably be the invention of the decade or century. For Dr Strauss and Professor Nemur, the ability to make this experiment a successful one will help not only the world, but also help themselves become famous overnight. Charlie's parents, Mr and Mrs Gordon, will also agree that the experiment should be done. That is because no parents want their children to be mentally retarded. They want the best for their children. They do not want them to go out into the world and be ostracised for their intellectual level. They want their children to be respected as smart kids that will excel in everything they do. Mr Steven Ng, a representative of the Welberg Foundation which founded the project, will also want the experiment to be carried out. Why? For his and the company benefit. The company will then be acknowledged as the foundation which founded the project and be recognised all over the world.
However, despite all this, there are still some who do not believe in the experiment. Fanny feels that it is not appropriate for Charlie to become intelligent suddenly. She gave an example of how Eve listened to the snake and ate from the tree of knowledge. It was evil, she thought. And how Charlie gained his knowledge is considered bt her as religiously unacceptable. Joe Carp and Frank Reilly cannot accept the fact that Charlie Gordon has become the present clever self. They wanted the ignorance and dullness of Charlie, but since he had become knowledgeable and understanding, they could not bear it. They wanted the old Charlie Gordon, innocent and naive.
And what I think is, the experiment should not have been carried out.
Charlie Gordon was once a man with an IQ of 68. But the change has been so sudden, his IQ had become triple. But he had a trade-off. He gained something less important than what he had lost. Friendship. Nobody wanted to friend him anymore after he turned smart. Never mind if he always got laughed at for his stupidity. Ignorance is a blessing. Probably it is better to don't know the truth than to know it. For Charlie, it might be. He once laughed with his friends over his little mistakes, but now, he cannot even laugh because he has no friends. I would rather choose to be mentally retarded with friends than intellectually capable with no one to love. Though I might be constantly teased at, but I don't know. But I know I at least still have friends who will mingle with me. IGNORANCE IS BLISS.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Differences between the NOVEL and MOVIE
1. In the novel, Percy's teacher who turned into Fury was his Math Teacher, but in the movie, the teacher was his English teacher.
2. In the movie, Percy battled a Hydra at Parthenon which spewed fire but not acid but in the novel, there were no such recount.
3. In the movie, Luke, the son of Hermes, wanted to overthrow the Olympians because he wanted new rulers but in the novel, he did it for Kronos.
4. In the novel, Percy was mentioned to have had a duel with Ares but Ares was not mentioned in the movie at all.
5. In the novel, Percy had to find the pearls he needed to escape the Underworld but in the movie, the pearl was given as a gift to him.
6. In the novel, Clarisse appeared at Camp Half-Blood but was not mentioned in the movie at all, similar to Ares.
7. Also, in the novel, Mr D was around but in the movie, Mr D was not included at all.
8. In the novel, nobody knew of Percy's father, who was Poseidon, before Capture the Flag. But in the movie, everyone except Percy knew about Poseidon being Percy's father even before Capture the Flag.
9. The novel says that not only did Percy stole the Lightning Bolt, but he also stolen Helm of Darkness from Hades, but this was not incorporated in the movie.
10. In the novel, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief only when he had returned to Camp Half-Blood after giving Zeus the master bolt but in the movie, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief at the Empire State Building.
1. In the novel, Percy's teacher who turned into Fury was his Math Teacher, but in the movie, the teacher was his English teacher.
2. In the movie, Percy battled a Hydra at Parthenon which spewed fire but not acid but in the novel, there were no such recount.
3. In the movie, Luke, the son of Hermes, wanted to overthrow the Olympians because he wanted new rulers but in the novel, he did it for Kronos.
4. In the novel, Percy was mentioned to have had a duel with Ares but Ares was not mentioned in the movie at all.
5. In the novel, Percy had to find the pearls he needed to escape the Underworld but in the movie, the pearl was given as a gift to him.
6. In the novel, Clarisse appeared at Camp Half-Blood but was not mentioned in the movie at all, similar to Ares.
7. Also, in the novel, Mr D was around but in the movie, Mr D was not included at all.
8. In the novel, nobody knew of Percy's father, who was Poseidon, before Capture the Flag. But in the movie, everyone except Percy knew about Poseidon being Percy's father even before Capture the Flag.
9. The novel says that not only did Percy stole the Lightning Bolt, but he also stolen Helm of Darkness from Hades, but this was not incorporated in the movie.
10. In the novel, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief only when he had returned to Camp Half-Blood after giving Zeus the master bolt but in the movie, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief at the Empire State Building.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
10 Questions About Avatar
1.According to the film, which is set in 2154, humans are mining for a mineral called unobtanium. Is there such a mineral called unobtanium or is it just something the producer made up?
2.In the film, the atmosphere of Pandora was toxic to human so it couldn't have any oxygen present, but how come a fire could be obtain in Pandora?
3.Everything in Pandora is coloured differently from what it really is, but the trees are of the same colour. Why?
4.What do the Na'Vi's eat as the primary food source?
5.Were the Na'Vi's designed to feel like aliens or humans, as they had two eyes and a mouth like humans but were 3m tall and were blue, suggesting signs of alien-ness.
6.Why are the Na'Vi's designed to look extremely tall, almost twice the height of the normal human? Is it they are actually tall or is it that the conditions of Pandora makes them look tall?
7.How come only the Na'Vi have two eyes but most other creatures in Pandora have four eyes?
8.The Na'Vi, besides having human and alien features, it also have features like a cat, for example their big ears. Why is it so that?
9.Native Na'Vi have only four fingers and four toes, but in the film, avatars developed had five fingers and toes. Why is it like that?
10.How long have the practice of developing Avatar been performed and how long have humans been in Pandora in their avatar form?
2.In the film, the atmosphere of Pandora was toxic to human so it couldn't have any oxygen present, but how come a fire could be obtain in Pandora?
3.Everything in Pandora is coloured differently from what it really is, but the trees are of the same colour. Why?
4.What do the Na'Vi's eat as the primary food source?
5.Were the Na'Vi's designed to feel like aliens or humans, as they had two eyes and a mouth like humans but were 3m tall and were blue, suggesting signs of alien-ness.
6.Why are the Na'Vi's designed to look extremely tall, almost twice the height of the normal human? Is it they are actually tall or is it that the conditions of Pandora makes them look tall?
7.How come only the Na'Vi have two eyes but most other creatures in Pandora have four eyes?
8.The Na'Vi, besides having human and alien features, it also have features like a cat, for example their big ears. Why is it so that?
9.Native Na'Vi have only four fingers and four toes, but in the film, avatars developed had five fingers and toes. Why is it like that?
10.How long have the practice of developing Avatar been performed and how long have humans been in Pandora in their avatar form?
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
What is Thematic Apperception Test:
It consists of a series of pictures of relatively vague scenes with no clear meaning to what it is and the person tested is requested to make up stories about what they see in the picture and what they think is going to happen. The test protocol provides the examiner with a rich source of data, based on the subject's perceptions and imagination, for use in the understanding of the subject's current needs, emotions, and conflicts, both conscious and unconscious.
It is widely used with the Rorschach test to determine the personality of the person, through the imaginations and fantasies he/she derives from the images shown.
It consists of a series of pictures of relatively vague scenes with no clear meaning to what it is and the person tested is requested to make up stories about what they see in the picture and what they think is going to happen. The test protocol provides the examiner with a rich source of data, based on the subject's perceptions and imagination, for use in the understanding of the subject's current needs, emotions, and conflicts, both conscious and unconscious.
It is widely used with the Rorschach test to determine the personality of the person, through the imaginations and fantasies he/she derives from the images shown.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Short Story - Parson's Pleasure and The Umbrella Man
It was an arid day. Mr Mokoko was embarking on his journey to his mother's new house at the countryside. On his way there, he lost his way. He got out of his car to scan the surroundings for a route out. As he walked around to look for a way out, he passed by a small little cottage with a small garden surrounding it, with a fence covering it.
His eyes immediately landed on an umbrella with holes on it. Although it was broken, he knew it was an antique. He had read about it recently. He knew if the owner knew it was antique, he/she wouldn't leave it outside of the house. His conscience suddenly pricked him. He was in a dilemma. He thought, " Should I cheat it from the owner?".
Well, that was an antique, by not having it, he was letting himself down. He went out to the cottage and called for the owner. Then, there appeared a frail little old man with a stick in his hands to balance himself. He strode up to Mr Mokoko and asked him what he wanted.
"The weather's hot, so I thought of buying that umbrella to block out the sun," Mr Mokoko said as he gestured to the umbrella.
"But it's broken!" the old man retorted
"Fret not, I'm just trying to block out some sun," Mr Mokoko replied gently.
" Well, five bucks for it!" the old man said in excitement.
"Deal!" Mr Mokoko agreed, without hesitation.
The old man thought Mr Mokoko was a fool to buy it for twice its original price, but he didn't care. Mr Mokoko then realised he didn't take his wallet with him. He went back to retrieve it. The old man was kind enough to help him glue a cheap cloth over the broken umbrella so that the holes were covered.
When Mr Mokoko came back, he was shocked. The umbrella will not sell as much as its original price. It would be 50 times lesser, or maybe 100 times. After this incident, Mr Mokoko never cheated again.
His eyes immediately landed on an umbrella with holes on it. Although it was broken, he knew it was an antique. He had read about it recently. He knew if the owner knew it was antique, he/she wouldn't leave it outside of the house. His conscience suddenly pricked him. He was in a dilemma. He thought, " Should I cheat it from the owner?".
Well, that was an antique, by not having it, he was letting himself down. He went out to the cottage and called for the owner. Then, there appeared a frail little old man with a stick in his hands to balance himself. He strode up to Mr Mokoko and asked him what he wanted.
"The weather's hot, so I thought of buying that umbrella to block out the sun," Mr Mokoko said as he gestured to the umbrella.
"But it's broken!" the old man retorted
"Fret not, I'm just trying to block out some sun," Mr Mokoko replied gently.
" Well, five bucks for it!" the old man said in excitement.
"Deal!" Mr Mokoko agreed, without hesitation.
The old man thought Mr Mokoko was a fool to buy it for twice its original price, but he didn't care. Mr Mokoko then realised he didn't take his wallet with him. He went back to retrieve it. The old man was kind enough to help him glue a cheap cloth over the broken umbrella so that the holes were covered.
When Mr Mokoko came back, he was shocked. The umbrella will not sell as much as its original price. It would be 50 times lesser, or maybe 100 times. After this incident, Mr Mokoko never cheated again.
Friday, January 22, 2010
My Blog Policies
1. You may not spam my blog posts
2. You may not engage in any conduct that: is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory,deceptive, fraudulent, obscene, invasive of privacy, or contains explicit or graphic descriptions, or intimidates an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, age or disability; impersonates any person, business or entity, encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense.
2. You may not engage in any conduct that: is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory,deceptive, fraudulent, obscene, invasive of privacy, or contains explicit or graphic descriptions, or intimidates an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, age or disability; impersonates any person, business or entity, encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)