Ghost...

What do we know about ghost? What do we not know about ghost? Many people have many different beliefs about ghost. However the most obvious category is those who believe in ghost and those who don't. In Europe, ghost - or spirit or apparition - is thought to be the energy, soul or personality of a person who has died and has somehow gotten stuck between this plane of existence and the next. Mostly people believe the these spirits do not know they are dead and some they have died under traumatic, unusual or highly emotional circumstances.

There are many kinds of beliefs in this world about the types of ghosts. In Chinese belief, besides reincarnation, a ghost can also become immortal and become demigod, or it can go to hell and suffer till externalities, or it can die again and become "ghost of ghost". 

In India, The Indian Mumiai (pronounced moo-mee-eye) is like a poltergeist, a ghost who throws things around and attacks people. They especially like to make trouble for people who are lazy or criminal. The believe also there is a ghost which be friendly that guarding village to against evil spirits called Bugaboo. 

In Japan, there are two most ghost that japanese believe known as Umi Bozu and Shojo. The Umi Bozu is a huge sea ghost who haunts Japanese sailors. It is bald and has enormous, terrifying eyes. Meanwhile the Shojo, is a sea ghost that have bright red hair and love drinking and parties. In fact they can be lured from their usual pastime of dancing on waves by offering them sake (strong rice wine).

In Malaysia, there is a common belief among Malaysians in the existence of certain categories of ghosts such as, poltergeists, vampires and spirits that bring ill fortune and disease. Another belief is that ghosts or spirits often reside in animals, trees, rocks, empty dwellings, swamps and rivers. A popular Malaysian ghosts and spirits:

Hantu Raya - ghost that acts as a double for a black magic practitioner.

Pocong - ghost jumping around wrapped in a white shroud.

Hantu Jepun - World War II Japanese ghosts. They wear WWII army attire and carry samurai swords. Most are headless.

Orang Minyak - the "Oily Man". Loves to rape virgin.

Hantu Penanggal - heads and intestines flying without a body. Loves to suck the blood of a newborn child.

Harimau Jadian - huge tiger ghosts.

Bunian - good ghosts or jinns living in the jungle. They like helping humans.

Hantu Kum Kum - a female ghost carrying a tombstone as a baby asking for milk.

However as a muslim, it is clear guidance from Quran and the Sunnah, there is absolutely no such thing as ghosts! The only beings whom Allah has created who have the choice to do good and evil as he wills are the human beings and the jinns according to Allah Says in the Holy Quran in surah al-Dhariyat verse 56 that means : " And I did not create the jinn and minkind expect to workship Me."  In Ghosts are nothing but the imaginations, whims, conjectures and guess-works of the ignorant people. In the end, despite our cultural beliefs in the supernatural, I suppose that stories of spirits, huntings and ghostly attacks on people, whilst may be real, have not and cannot be verified by any objective measurable standards.

The Hunger Games VS Battle Royale

 Battle Royale

Author(s)               Koushun Takami

Translator              Yuji Oniki

Country                 Japan

Language                Japanese

Genre(s)                Dystopian

                        Thriller

                        Horror

                        Alternative history

Publisher               Ohta Shuppan

Publication date        Film was released on 2000

The Hunger Games

Author(s)               Koushun Takami

Cover artist            Tim O'Brien

Country                 United States

Language                English

Genre(s)                Dystopian

                        Advaenture

                        Science fiction [1]

                        Action

Publisher               Scholastic Press

Publication date    Film was released on 2012

Story Line / Plot

The Hunger Games, at it's core, is a science fiction adventure story with a dash of political drama.  The dystopian setting, futuristic vehicles and genetically modified whatnots add to this formula.  It functions with a realistic voice from the narrator who is contained within a world that she doesn't agree with and has many disputes with.  It's supposed to be a fun and exciting story to experience, something that is relatable because of the bond that we can form with the characters.  In regards to the violent centerpiece of the story, the actual Hunger Games, within the context of the story, it is viewed purely as entertainment.  Which speaks volumes about how we should view the story itself.

Battle Royale is quite different.  The idea that the country has descended into madness is only a setup for what the story holds.  There is no real subtext within the killing or the love story of the two leads that relates back to the idea of the country in turmoil or the purpose of the BR act (punishing the children).  It also handles its violence with a very tongue-in-cheek quality at times.  Examining the amount of blood that shoots out of a freshly made wound in Battle Royale is proof enough what kind of style it's taking.

The Setting

The general set up for the two stories is similar.  A dystopian future where in a group of children are required to fight to the death until there is a victor.  But is it really that simple?  In Battle Royale, the country is in shambles for no particular reason; it can probably be linked to an economic crisis with so much of the population out of work as the prologue suggests.  As a result of the downfall of Japan, the students have protested school and the adults being in fear of the teenagers pass the “Battle Royale” act.  The act chooses one classroom of teenagers in the country and places them in a location to fight to the death in three days.

The Hunger Games, on the other hand, is set up with a country divided into different districts, all spread around the country of "Panem" - what remains of the United States and Canada.  There was, at one point, an uprising against the totalitarian government known as “The Capitol” in which one of the districts was completely obliterated.  As a result, every year two “tributes” are chosen from each district, a male and a female, to fight to the death as a way to acknowledge that The Capitol is still in control.

 

Now, it should be noted that “District 12,” where the main character Katniss Everdeen lives, is indeed a “poor” district, but this not a reflection of the country of Panem as a whole.  So, as far as the setting is concerned, Battle Royale has a country falling into a chaotic downward spiral, The Hunger Games has a country that functions as a country does today with richer and poorer sections and a fully functioning class system.

 

The set-up for the games are also quite different.  Part of the aesthetic of Battle Royale is that the group of children selected are in the same classroom and thus all know each other.  This reflects the very sadistic nature taken on by the Battle Royale act itself.  The children are also selected in an effort to teach the remaining population of children “behave or this could happen to you”.

 

When the children from The Hunger Games are selected, the only ones that know each other are the ones from the same districts.  Presumably, they might not know each other either considering their ages could be range from 12 to 18.  This works toward the favor of the games as it should make it easier for them to kill their fellow tributes if they don't know them.  But in Battle Royale, where the very fact that they know each other and by their very nature should refuse to kill them is again part of the very sadistic nature of the story.

The Characters

The behavior of characters in a story is a very important. It takes their decisions and actions that form what the story becomes and why you remember a character from the story anyway. This is entirely true for both of these stories.

 

The Hunger Games, Katniss is a relatable young woman with pathos and and fervor behind her. She serves as our gateway into the story, and does so well.  As a character, she is familiar with The Hunger Games and though she never anticipates actually playing in them, strategy and forethought are always at the back of her mind. The supporting cast in the story are also important regarding what's happening here.  Not all of them are in cahoots with The Capitol's devious ways, some of them are there for Katniss.  They help them get into a mindset that is necessary in their achievement throughout the story.

 

If you took all of the characters from Battle Royale and lined them up and then threw a rock at one of them with your eyes closed chances are the one you hit would be a complete and utter psycho.  Except for the two main characters in the story, almost every single other person is bat-shit insane.  There is very little moderation in this story, everything is to one extreme or the other.  While the two leads do act sensibly, and they do stand out for it, the moments when they break character and lose it for a second are far more memorable than when they're sitting in a ditch or a shack crying about how they love each other.

 

To me this is the defining difference between these two stories. Sure, there are some characters in The Hunger Games that are crazy, but literally almost every character in Battle Royale is totally off their rocker.  There is little to no similarity in terms of character dynamics and behavior between these two.

FAIRY TALES STORY

Fairy tales story is a short story that typically feature like fairy tale characters,  as elves, fairies, goblins,  dwarfs, giants trolls or gnomes, and something also involve magic or spells. However, there is a few of fairy tales short stories refer to fairies. Fairy Tale story for kids may nevertheless be distinguished from other types of folk narratives such as ballads and legends and explicitly moral tales, including beast fables. As a general rule, legends imply a belief in the veracity of the described events. For the first story, I choose to research about The Master Cat or Puss in Boots fairy tales because it have fascinated me. 

Puss In Boots

Puss In Boots is the most famous of the animal helper tales. Today Puss In Boots have been storied in film. However it have it's own story and in most centuries it is known as a cunning cats as a fairy tale literature. Puss In Boots actually came from French that also called as Master Cat, Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botte', The Booted Cat. Puss In Boots may looks like other cats in this world that have claws and still lives as a cat but it differently because this cat is really brilliant which always uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and also have influence in marriage a princess and his master.

The story started by when a miller was died and leave only a mill, a cat and his ass to his three children. The oldest brother got the mill, the second took the ass and left that cat, Puss to the youngest brother. So of that, the youngest brother feel so disappointed as he thought he would be die of hunger and his brother have enjoy their life. However Puss showed it was no ordinary cat and can make it's master be rich by said "do not be concerned, my master. If you give me a bag and a pair of boots, I may scamper through the dirt and the brambles, then you shall see that you are not so poorly off with me as you imagine".

By that time, his master spent money to possessed upon a smart pair of boots made of buff-colored leather. After received what it had asked for, he went to a place where there is a great abundance of rabbit. It put some bran into the bag, stretched himself out as it was dead, and when foolish little rabbit come and eat the food, it ran quickly closed the bag, took and killer the rabbit without pity. After that it brought the rabbit to palace, met the king and give the rabbit as a gift. It said "Sir, I have brought you a rabbit from my noble lord, the Master of Carabas." So Puss then pays several visit to local king, claiming to be a member of the household of the Marqius of Carabas, each time bringing a gift which it caught itself.

One day, it knew the king have a travel along the riverside with his princess, Puss asked its master to put out his clothes and enter the river. After Marqius of Carabas did what it was asked, suddenly the cat scream "help, help, my lord is going to be drowned." When the king stops and asked to the cat, it say that his master was been bathing and robbed of his clothing. The king immediately commanded his wardrobe to fetch one of his suits for give to Marqius of Carabas and asked him to enter the coach with his princess who falls in love with him at once.

The Puss In Boots very happy when see how its project was succeed and hurries ran ahead, met the country folk. It said "My goo fellows, if you do not tell the king that the meadow you are mowing belongs to my Lord Marqius of Carabas, you shall be chopped up like mincemeat". The cat's master came at last to a castle inhabited by an ogre.Puss knew that it would can not against this ogre by  its, so it taunts the ogre into proving his powers by transforming into a mouse, and then Puss eats him immediately. After the king arrived at that castle and impressed with the bogus Marqius and his state, the king lad the princess marriage with him. At the end, the cat Puss In Boots enjoy with its life as a great lord who runs after mice only for his own amusement.

Moral:

1. There is great advantage in receiving a large inheritance, but diligence and ingenuity are worth more than wealth acquired from others.
2. If a miller's son can win the heart of a princess in so short a time, causing her to gaze at him with lovelorn eyes, it must be due to his clothes, his appearance, and his youth. These things do play a role in matters of the heart.

PINOCCHIO

Pinocchio is a story about a woodcarver, called Geppetto who lived without a child and made a puppet, looks like a real boy who he named as Pinocchio.  His wish upon a star is that Pinocchio “might be a real boy.” His wish is granted by the Blue Fairy, who brings Pinocchio to life but does not make him human. That advanced state must be earned by learning the difference beween right and wrong. As Pinocchio has no idea what the difference is.

When Geppetto was getting finished, suddenly the puppet laughed, kicked him and then ran-out of the door. He running around on street before a policeman got custardy him. After asking the people around that this puppet is belongs to Geppetto, the police capture and hold Geppetto as because Pinocchio’s naughtiness. As a punishment Pinocchio was asked to stay at home alone as long as Gepetto arrested.

 

In school, Pinocchio went to the puppets show and joined that show. At first, the vendors of that show was so furious but be friendly to Pinocchio and have given him five gold coins. During he went back to home, he met with a fox and a cat and trying to steal his money. However he can avoid it and runaways by climbing an oak tree. Pinocchio was salvaged by a beautiful fairy. He said to the fairy that he had lost his money, and then swiftly his nose grow be longer and longer. The fairy laughed and said “that what happens when you tell lies”. He asked to fairy that he really want to be a real boy.

After a few days, Pinocchio met again to the fox and cat, both of them did steal his coins. He asked to police but the cop detained him. In the same time Geppetto was not around because went to sea, and before back home the ship wrecked in a storm. After Pinocchio release from prison, he friends with with bad bad boys. They go to Land of Toys however he became donkey since he disobeys his promise to fairy to become a good.

Since be a donkey, Pinocchio worked there as donkey but not too long because his leg broken and he was throwed into the sea. Once he putted into sea, Pinocchio turned back puppet. In the bottom of the sea,a huge fish swallowed Pinocchio,amazed to see Geppetto also in it's belly.The blue fairy had been watching them,turned to Pinocchio a real boy.At last the old man and Pinocchio became delight and lived happily long.

Moral:

1. The moral of the story is do not speak lie because ine tiny white lei can turn into a huge problem.
2. Besides that based on the story Geppetto, Pinocchio's creator or father, is a sad, lonely, poor old man, so he decides to create this puppet. The moral value here is as a child should never ignore our parents.
3. One other moral is that if you disobey your guardians then you just get led into treble. Because they're there to help and protect you. (like not getting turned into a donkey!!) 

BABY DUMPING...

Baby is a priceless gift from Allah SWT. However, baby dumping is a social crisis and has a chronic increase as many cases are occurring in Malaysian society. The baby dumping refers to discarding or leaving alone, for an extended period of time, a child younger than 12 months of age in a public or private setting with the intent to dispose of the child. Almost everyday there are reports on dumped baby cases. When you read it on the front page of the newspaper or see it on the nightly news. A newborn baby found in a back alley. This scenario had been more serious from day to day although there are a lot about this in the media.

Mostly,among teenagers always seen to be involved in this situation. Teenage parents give birth in a motel room and leave the child for dead in a dumpster. A girl gives birth in a school bathroom at night. throws the baby into the garbage or in the toilet.These stories relate to one of the most frightening realities of our culture today.

More recently, the tragedy of Baby Dumping has begun to be addressed by state legislatures throughout the nation. For example, a number of states have passed laws to provide funding, care, and services for dumped children. These legislative actions have also established 'safe houses' - public centers such as fire stations, police stations, and other public areas where women can bring unwanted children rather then leave them in trash receptacles. The hope is that, by offering an alternative to dumping, women might leave their children with people who can help the baby. Surprisingly, these cases have got a lot of attention from the community. 

Spanish People

Spain. A country full of wonderful culture, of mystifying tradition, of beautiful faces. The home country for the world's famous football or soccer team, FC Barcelona. The country that holds the small yet exuberant Ibiza. In short, there is nothing not to love about Spain.
Spaniards, or españoles [espa'ɲoles] as the people in Spain prefer to be called, are just a general name for  a heavy mixture of Regionals, Castilians, Balaerics, Valencians and many more.

But their language differentiates them from each other. Castilians, Balaerics and Valencians, speak the language of Catalan, a distinct Roman language in Eastern Spain. Basque, speaks, well Basque. Then the Galician, having their tounges familiar to Portugese, being descendants of the Galician-Portugese.

 But the interesting of all, is the Romani people. When we were children, if we behaved badly our parents wold scare us that gypsies would come to take us, if some remembers. Romani people, or as often being called gypsies, are part of a subgroup of the Iberian Kale. Spanish Roma, for many reasons, are considered "foreign" by the government. They, the Romas, are more connected to the Andalusians.

The peninsular Spain are generally  divided to two main dialects; Castillian Spanish, being up on the north, and Andalusian Spanish, down south. Although so, many large parts of Spain speaks "transitional dialects", a mix of Andalusian and Castilian Spanish.

Linguistically, Spanish is a Romance language, and is one of the aspects that causes Spaniards being labelled as Latin people. Shockingly, Spanish language were influenced strongly by Arabic language. At almost 4000 words being from Arabic origin.

Mass Killing of Innocents

Genocide. Mass-killing. War.

What do these have in common? There are many words that can be related to the killing of innocents. But these three are the best contenders we picked.

The world today, we only understood that mass killing of innocents happens in the Arab world. True, that is an undeniable fact.

In World War II, the gutless army of Adolf Hitler shook the whole world, killing millions of Jews. Their Ideology, that they are the Aryans, a mighty and undisputed race, was adamant enough to have them build their own empire, out of a simple book made by their great leader, Adolf Hitler, conquering almost a quarter of Europe. Ruthless and unstoppable, they almost had the world bent down to knees.

But that was World War II.

Now the world we live is not at war. The world today is more open, and accepts many ideology with open arms. Ideology is now being studied, now being implemented in today's politics. But why do innocents still die?


The question might lie in today's economy state. With the price of crude oil slowly hiking up, developed countries are struggling to find the simplest way to get raw materials. But why do we have to wage war against a basic needs? Why cant we find alternatives to find another energy source?

If we do read articles on new energy sources, we would find nothing surprising to us. Nuclear energy, a clean way of producing energy, has been found even at the verge of World War II. Many other alternatives of finding a better way to produce electricity, and these alternative are relatively old technology. But why has all this not globally commercialized?

Bullying

Bully, a term used for the exploit of fear and mental capability of another person, has been a serious case worldwide. Mainly people would focus their ideas on bullying in schools, where a bigger student would oppress and intimidate someone smaller than his size.

But bullying has more means to that.

As the meaning for the term bully, the exploit of someones fear or intimidation, or weakness, can go to many places we had never imagined before. Sexual harassment, calling someone that they are not comfortable with, not giving ones right as a human, are all in the field of bully. The common idea of someone big beating on a smaller person, has to be altered slightly. We might not know it, but what we say to people may hurt them, not on the outside, but on the inside. That is considered as bullying.  Some people might not have the talent to express how they feel directly. Some would hide it in them, and the problem of a psychopathic killer comes from this.

 What we always think of bullies are that they are the ones that have the more to loose. But recently, the ones being bullied have been showing up in many news lately. Mass killing, school shoot-outs, are all being done by people who were bullied.

But how do we stop bullying? Leave a comment, tell us how and what your views on bullying. :)