Category: Issues regarding teenagers/Societal Issues
Subtitles must be done accurately: Censors
(link: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/209169.asp)

Subtitles are one of the things that I rely most on while watching movies and TV shows. Even more so for anime, which is usually kept in Japanese dialogue so that it sounds authentic. Nothing is more frustrating than watching a film when you can't make out what the characters onscreen are saying, and you turn to the subtitles for help, only to find them useless. I have had many similar experiences, such as when I was watching a Chinese film and the subtitles for "I don't know" became "soyabean cake". I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

However, on the issue of inaccurate subtitling, I have much to say. Firstly, I agree strongly to the statement "It is also the distributor's responsibility to ensure that subtitles reflect the true content of an anime (that is, animation) especially its dialogue and commentary. If subtitles are not accurate, they can mislead the viewer and also make it difficult for the BFC to classify an anime accurately." From my personal experience, inaccurate translations can have a world of difference from the actual intended meaning. For example, I have seen two translations of the same scene. Translation #1 says: "Do you feel you're responsible for my injuries?" This is the accurate one, while translation #2 says: "Did you even feel a speck of obligation to help me out when I was hurt?" That means a whole lot of difference.

Secondly, I feel that subtitles being accurate in reflecting the true nature of the anime is really important. I feel that the ends do not justify the means in this case. Tweaking anime subtitles just so that they will conform to the Board of Film Censors' requirements does not in anyway justify the ends, which is the result of misleading the audience. I quote the article "the young who may be misled into thinking that an anime is suitable for them when it could be meant for a higher age group." This could be disastrous. Children could be exposed to mature content and usually it will create a deep psychological impact on them. Contrary to popular belief, anime is not all that similar to Western cartoons, which are meant more for younger age groups. I have come across anime that can be extremely violent, and that contain mature themes. There are also the occasional profanities that can appear in them.

In conclusion, I would like to quote a forum user as saying, "One of these things is not like the other. Show some respect to the works of foreign authors and artists-- support accurate translation. Because a bad translation is infinitely worse than none at all." How true.

Category: Issues regarding teenagers
Title: Anime in court: 2 ISPs, 2 different outcomes
(link: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/207695print.asp)

Anime: the hottest craze among teenagers in the society now. It is inevitable that many of us teenagers would resort to downloading this anime episodes through the omniscient, all-powerful Internet. Anime series might just be too expensive for students like us to afford. When your classmates are talking about Gundams, about Naruto, about Bleach, the natural tendency of a teenager to follow the trend would overcome his rational thinking. And there goes another downloader. I trust that at least 60% of teenagers are offenders of copyright infringement, be it movies, music or the latest craze of Anime. But my main concern is how Odex is dealing with this. Is it just "loser attitude", as many of my friends have addressed this issue?
$3000-$5000 is simply too much even for a genuine offender. To rephrase it, it is overkill.
From this whole furore emerges another issue: the rights to privacy of an Internet user. Everyone surfs the Internet in comforting knowledge that our privacy is ensured. With the whole Odex rhapsody, users are forced to think twice. I give due respect to PacNet, with its valiant efforts to protect its users from hungry packs of Odex wolves. And as the old saying goes, good always triumphs over evil. PacNet was successful in its case and managed to protect its users. Singnet, however, has disappointed thousands in our nation. A quote from the article: "If the ISP does not argue for its subscribers' rights to privacy, who will?". Well said.
I am not saying that downloaders are completely acquitted from all blame. In fact,
I do acknowledge the fact that copyright infringement is a serious offence. However, all im saying is that in this era of Youtube and BitTorrent, who doesn't commit an offence once in a while? Humans are imperfect, that is a given fact. Odex should take a page from its predecessor's playbooks and just give out warnings to first-time offenders. Hefty 5000 dollar-fines to first time offenders will just make them more bitter. And it is quite the business suicide as well. There you go, pissing the whole Singapore off with your happy fining antics. What do you get in the end? Boycott. Not a very smart career move, I might add.
On a final note, I will give Odex its due kudos. I recognize the fact that everything I write above is rather subjective. On an objective view, good job Odex for upholding copyright justice, but do remember that overkill fines on teenagers do not go very well with the word "justice", alright?

Category: Environmental issues
Title: Time to tackle deforestation
(link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Sil3nceBoy/article2.jpg)

Deforestation, such a common problem, mentioned everywhere. Newspapers are often flooded with articles about how deforestation is destroying our world; and how we humans are commiting chronic suicide. Yet nothing is being done, at least nothing significant. Much of the effects of deforestation damage, especially that which is dealt by Indonesia, is being tasted here in Singapore. I recall how the air quality in Singapore fell to unhealthy levels last October. Walking out in the open, I felt like a piece of salmon getting smoked. I was pretty sure that was how apocalypse would smell like.

Deforestation is one of the main causes of global warming, and to be honest, weather patterns all across the world are kind of screwed up, all thanks to our friendly neighbourhood global warming. For example, warm winters have been experienced recently all across the globe. Frankly, I would be pretty pissed if my country stopped snowing. It is scary how the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" could very well be the fate of our world in the future.

I feel that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) would be quite an effective way to stop deforestation and subsequently global warming, although there aren't any tangible effects as yet. In my opinion, deforestation is carried out primarily in the pursuit of economical profits. Once again, money is the root of all evil. But the selling of "credit" for improvement in emission of greenhouse gases sounds like an innovative and attractive way to improve the situation. I can empathise with the Indonesia point of view, and i understand how hard it is to let go of money in your hands. But please, think about your grandchildren and help save the world.

A question to ponder though: What gives us the right to clear these forests by the hectares? What gives us the right to cut down these living, breathing (sort of) trees? They have been on the Earth much longer than any one of us have. They have existed probably since the beginning of time, and furthermore they support our puny, selfish little lives on this earth by acting as a air filter to give us nice, clean oxygen to breathe. So what allows us to desolate large areas of these trees for our own selfish purposes? Is it just because we have limbs and can move freely while they don't? Or because we have brains and they don't? I may just be a secondary school student, and there may be many complicated issues in this world that I am neglecting while writing this response, but what i do know, is that we are, as a matter of fact, commiting chronic suicide.

Category: Educational issues/ Issues regarding teenagers
Title: Students of top schools worry more about elitism
(link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Sil3nceBoy/article1.jpg)

I chose this article as it closely concerns me and the issue concerned is an emerging problem. I feel that elitism, if neglected, will gradually transform the pride within a person into arrogance and snobbishness. Personally, I think that elitism is pretty rampant nowadays. Just to illustrate, many RI boys refer to neighbourhood school students as "pai kias", or bad boys in English. I feel that this is indiscriminate stereotyping, and is unfair to these neighbourhood school students. Being academically weaker does not, in any way make one "bad", especially in character and morals. I know this from my own experience, after getting to know some neighbourhood boys after playing basketball regularly with them. They might be weaker in studies, but in other areas, they are just as strong, if not stronger, than many of the so called "elites" here in Singapore.

With reference to the article, I agree to a large extent that students of top schools worry more about elitism. Students in top schools are often thought of as smart alecks and show-offs. On the other hand, many "elite" students think that they are superior just because they are able to excel in studies. As a result, they look down on those studying in non-elite schools, and often can be heard making snide remarks in public. I have experienced these quite a few times, even with some friends of mine. I recall once when a friend of mine exclaim in public, "Those paikias too dumb to know what we talking about lah!" Walking next to him I could somehow feel myself blushing up and I felt many stares landing upon us. However, much of this can be accreditted to stereotyping. From the non-elite school students' perspectives, those from top schools are definitely smart (and nerdy to some). As days pass and everyday remarks are passed, the mindset that top school students are "elite" is drilled into their heads (even if they are unwilling). On the other hand, the stereotyping of non-elite students (that they are dumb, to be blunt) is also a major factor causing this undesirable elitism to surface. In this sense, elitism and stereotyping are two closely connected concepts.

To sum up, I feel that elitist attitudes are shaped up in a person from both the school environment and family background. More often that not, those who come from "elite" families have a higher tendency of possessing an elitist attitude. However, the school environment can be gradually changed to remove elitist mindsets from "elite" students. Maybe students could receive more education on this in CLE/CME lessons. Most importantly, peer influence can be a major factor in helping to remove elitist attitudes. Elitism is probably the distinct line separating the elite and the non-elite, and by removing it any social stigmas caused by it will also be solved.

Category: Political/Societal Issues
Title: Singaporeans need assurance over growing population
(link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/257677/1/.html)

I feel that Singaporeans do need to be assured over the growing local population. The current reactions of the local people are pretty negative, as they are afraid that a targetted total of 6.5 million number of people in the next 40 to 50 years will cause increased competition for jobs, housing and in school.
I think that the main concerns are of employment and housing. Firstly, unemployment has already been an issue in Singapore. An increase in population will mean that there is more competition for jobs, and thus people are of course afraid of being unemployed. I can empathise with this mindset, as unemployment is indeed a big problem in the current society. The stress of raising a family without stable income is unbearable, and has led to many suicide cases. However, I do believe that the society and local industry will expand in conjunction with the growing population. The economy would also probably have improved much. Besides, the government will take measures to pave the way for an increased population.
The other main concern would be housing. It is pretty intriguing how the small red dot on the map would be able to accomodate 6.5 million people. It is thus a worry how to contain another 2.5 million people on this island. Most people are worried that there is not enough space for the construction of housing for the increase in population. An interviewee in the article said, ""May not have enough of space unless you develop more reclaimed areas." Personally, I am not completely relaxed about this matter, but property analysts expect Singapore's landscape to change with more taller buildings to make up for the lack of land. Changes in apartment sizes are also imminent (one storey might have had 2 apartments, but in the future one storey may have 3).
Somehow, the idea of population growth has caused much anxiety among parts of the society. Perhaps it is the "kiasu" mentality working, as there would be more competition in aspects of their life, such as employment. Thus, I agree that assurance is needed to soothe any tensions that may exist in the society created by the projection of a future with 2.5 million more "kiasu", durian-loving Singaporeans.

Category: Environmental
Title: Scientists Add Shark Species to Endangered List
(link: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40465/story.htm)

The above article came as quite a big surprise to me, waking me up in how ignorant I am of current environmental issues. Sharks have always been portrayed as a dangerous, aggressive and ferocious beast. The general public has misconceptions of the animal due to films like the "Jaws" series. As a result, there is a general idea that sharks have no problems surviving in the wild, because of its strength and ferocity.
However, this article came as a awakening. The fact that the shark population has been dwindling throughout the years is now becoming very clear, as several species of deep sea sharks were added to the World Conservation Union's endangered Red List. And the cause? What else but humans. The demand on shark's fins have been growing, and new markets have developed for their meat. Due to overfishing, they are now endangered. Even though there are supposed to be protective measures, they have not been strictly regulated.
It is horrifying how the human race, supposedly the most intelligent and fittest species of animals, is gradually destroying the world. Pollution has been our "specialty", leading to global warming, which is becoming a very real issue at hand. It has also led to the destruction of many habitats, causing animals to lose their homes and thus their lives. What have they ever done to deserve death and destruction at our hands? Is is just because we are a supposedly "superior" species? In fact, come to think about it, silkworms sacrifice themselves just to create silk, lizards help catch pests, bees make honey, but we humans just take, take, take and never ever give.
I am not saying that I have been the "green"-est of persons. I admit that I do sometimes litter, or do environmentally-unfriendly deeds, and I do feel that the little things I do will not do much harm to the environment. But i was wrong. From the article, I realised how a little thing can go a long way in the destruction of the environment. For example, feasting on shark's fins. From a regular person's point of view, drinking a bowl of shark's fins soup might be a trivial thing, but when every single person thinks the same way, the demand for it increases, and so does the rate of hunting. Ultimately, it has lead to the overfishing of sharks.
I believe that everyone of us can play a part in conserving the environment. Just possessing a little bit of environmental knowledge can help a lot in conservation. If only humans were less self-centered and been kinder to nature.

hello.
ohmyhomies this is the first post of this blog.
:0
tis some weird ball english blogging assignment.
errrrr.
okay. byebye.

gerald
3H07
<3 sleep






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