♥ Now Charging Admission Fees! ~AvesterLand

Friday, February 29, 2008

Column 47

It's application time. I might as well sum up LA this term with an interesting blog post. Click on the above link to get a copy of the text (in Mircosoft Word) to refer when necessary. The text is a script.

Let's start. First, there are the 4 methods to the traditional approach of meaning making. Let us focus on the biographical evidence bit. From the text and the author's past encounters, we can greatly infer that the text is clearly referring to a major event in the author's life at some point in time. As studied in the author-god theory, eveything the author pens is not fully credited to him, as his work was, at some point, being based on outside sources. So, what can we assume about the text? Can we say that some portions of it was due to the author-Avester-'s life?

Next, we shall move on to the three theories. Wolfgang Iser stated that the author will leave gaps in the story and it is up to the reader's own imagination to fill in the gaps and perceive the story based on the reader's own way(s). There are portions in the text left unclear, portions made out of puns, portions which are just difficult to comprehend when just reading without comprehending. What are these important 'filling points' that are needed in order to see the author's true intentions when he wrote the text?

Stanley Fish's Interpretative Communities state that people from the same community will understand a text the same way. So, who are the targeted readers to this text? And how is it related to them?

The two fallacies: The Intentional fallacy is the error of referring to outside sources when trying to interpret a text. Based solely on the given text, can we imply that there are no additional meanings to the text? Must we refer to outside sources to understand the text? But since it is wrong-how can we truly interpret the text?

The Affective fallacy is the error of interpreting a text based on one's state of emotions. A sad person will therefore see the text as a sad story-but is it really a sad story? Or is it intended to be funny?

The textx may have a number of 'hidden' connotations too, a noticeable one would be the word 'call'. The word 'call' can mean two things, such as labelling a person by 'call'-ing him his name, beckoning him to do something etc. The other meaning is to make a telephone 'call'. So, how does this connotation-and several others, inclusive of bad puns, tell us about the author when he was writing the text? Can we also infer anything about his life, feelings and personality just by these connotations?

Indeed, when we get right down to the point, the onus is on the reader who take the time and effort to see through the author's intention of writing the text. Few can really be successful at this, it takes time, skill and knowledge, but don't worry. Sometime soon, you will probably get the idea of the above text. And sometime soon, your struggle for meaning will come to its swan song. Just wait and see...

Struggle With Avester!!!

Posted by Avester @
6:13:00 pm

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1...Cannot beat my score don't talk so much... [there's an error in Level 1 score: its 1108, not 08...that would be embarrassing...]

Avester's Column 46-Take A Walk On The Wild SLIDE...

The title of Avester's 200th post has nothing to do with the content-phew!!!

This is my 200th post on the blog! So, let me talk about some boring things, such as how everyone screwed Maths, failed Bio and is too busy mugging for LA test to bother. Actually, it doesn't really matter. For LA test, just go Class Blog and get the powerpoint, go through it, understand the 4-3-2-1: 4 methods to traditional Approach, 3 reader response theories the 2 fallacies, and THE AUTHOR-GOD theory. That is how you mug. So quit whining and complete reading this post!!!

Okay, we have come to the main issue I wish to address today... and that is mugging.

Unless you have caught the 2nd meaning of the previous post, (some of you still stuck on the 1st meaning lols), then you probably need to read on.

Why must you mug???

1. We are under pressure to do well in exams, therefore having to sacrifice socializing and entertainment time to pump studying and homework, which we all know it is completely ineffective and yet we are all doing it anyway.

2. It makes us look good, as if we are studying, but in actual fact we are not... we are just killing time and putting on a false front...

3. All of the above...

Why must you NOT mug???

1. It is detrimental to your health. Trying to act like a hardworking soul is not helpful-unless you really are one...

2. If you listen in class-you will find 75% of mugging useless. So just listen...seriously...

3. All of the above.

Yes, I know all of you are stressed. Very stressed. So stressed you cannot bear to see the word 'stress' one more time or it will stress you out...oops...

Okay anyway, let me suggest things for you to do that will really make your poor unentertained and completely bored-from-mugging souls a little more lively. Try to beat my scores: I WANT A CHALLENGE!!! I WANT A REAL GOOD CHALLENGE FROM SOMEONE I KNOW!!!

Can you handle the pressure? Or will you Let it Slide???

Posted by Avester @
7:59:00 pm

Monday, February 25, 2008

Double meaning intended.

Posted by Avester @
7:59:00 pm

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Avester's Column 45

So I'm studying for my CA1 and squeezing every little bit of brain muscle mugging. And trying to write this, but mostly mugging. And occasionally killing time on Neopets.

I have a literature powerpoint due tomorrow, about 90% of the first five slides complete. Guess I'm screwed, eh? Anyway, I still haven't studied for Maths test and Geography test, but we all know that Literature is much more important-right?

Of course! it's so seemingly important that I cannot afford to waste anytime procrastinating and typing out long boring and unwanted posts like this one!

Let's get on with the post.

I've been squeezing a little more time (not that there's much left to squeeze from) to do some research on Pahang trip. Bascially in case something happens to me on land, I've brought some supplies of plasters, medicated oil, antiseptic, bug repellant, 'gauze' and a few other important stuff. Yep. I can pretty much save my own life when something happens.

In the water, well, things are much different. I CAN TIE A STANDARD LIFE-SAVING BOWLINE AROUND MYSELF, thank you for asking. I'm just worried aboutt wo things-if me, or someone else REALLY drowns, where the heck are we going to get the rope to save a life? And who is going to perform CPR???

Sorry, my imagination just ran wild. (And ran off...) Obviously nothing is going to happen, we all know that, it's going to be perfectly fine and safe and not life-threatening in any way *sneaky eyes*

Next, we must prepare supplies. Cards, Biscuits, Strength, Ammo (I sound like we're going to fight a war...lols), because THE PILLOW FIGHT is scheduled on 4th march...haha! let's see who owns and who gets kicked out...pillow first! (And the cards are for us to taiti on the train...) Maybe we'll consider a pillow war until midnight, or until a teacher tells us to go and sleep...but hey! This is supposed to be a fun, relaxing and enjoyable camp-right? Not that 2 star hotels are bad, but...I have my doubts...

As long as they give us comfy, soft and light pillows...I think i can manage.

Then there's the hike. Haha-let's see who can manage...wait I sound so evil... Never wear shorts on the hike...you can tell why. Bring salt, repellant, medicated oil, a lot of water, a torchlight, mentos...etc. So now let's go through the clothes I'm bringing..

I need to bring 4 shirts. 2 must be VJC PE T-shirts. Then 2 other comfortable ones...Arrow Roundneck and VS PE t-shirt... (the Arrow T-shirt is very comfy, we all know that...) 4 pants. 2 VJ, 2 VS. That settles it. 3 pairs of VS socks.

Yeah. that's all quite important. Well, we are all looking forward to the water games (I keep thinking about Shenkuu River Rush...I have high expectations of the water games, that's why I'm practicing my bowline everyday), and definitely the pillowfight! As for the hike and sleeping in a damp, filthy, mucky (not really) cave, well, I have my doubts.

I will always have my doubts.

Guess I should stop procrastinating and start studying...huh?

Maybe not.

The village we are going to is poor and uneducated, and we're supposed to play with the kids, help them, donate stuff...that would be interesting. And fun...as in 'fun' in a way I'm still trying to imagine...'fun'...

I don't have anything to donate to them...or maybe I haven't found anything yet. Battery operated? No. Small chokable parts? No. Hard to assemble structures? No. So my list IS exhaustive. No, no, no...where DO I get stuff...?

Do stuff just fall from the sky?

I have my doubts.

I have my doubts about the sturdiness of my bowline (not really), have doubts about the pillowfight (aw man...), have doubts about donating stuff...have doubts about the trip...have doubts about why I am not spending time on my literature powerpoint but instead furiously typing here, have doubts about how prepared I am for the tests tomorrow (BIG BIG doubts), have doubts about the T42 session...

Yup. Time to stop posting and strat studying. Onward to doubting!!!

Posted by Avester @
12:42:00 pm

Saturday, February 23, 2008

It has been another great, crazy, quirky, HANDY week, and here are some photos to prove that! (The last one is a fractional distillator-yes we broke it...)

Posted by Avester @
8:05:00 pm

Thursday, February 21, 2008

New spellings and abbreviations for subjects.

Language Arts (LA)- Ellay (EL)
Chinese(HCL)- Help!!! (HCL)
Integrated Maths (MA)- Aeieeematz (AE)
Chemistry (CH)-Kemis3 (KE)
Biology (BI)- Byorlogee (BY)
Physics (PH)- Fesyx (FE)

Integrated Humanities:
Geography (GE)- Joggrafee (JO)
History (HI)- Hyz3 (HY)
Literature (LI)- 1337richure (LE)

Combined Sciences:
Kemix-(KX)
Feyo-(FY)
Bytree-(BT)

Yes, that's basically the only spellings and abbreviations i use/communicate with on MSN as of 21/2/2008. it's time to spread the contagious disease...of MEEZPELING!!!

Posted by Avester @
6:57:00 pm

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Wait-weren't there supposed to only have 6 facets of the mind...what the...

If any teacher sees this, I'm as good as dead.

Posted by Avester @
7:26:00 pm

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

VJ vs TJ.

if any of you VJ-ers read this, don't complain. Thanks to Joelle who contributed the TJ facts.

Dismissal Time:
our class around 3pm everyday, monday 4.15pm
TJ: friday 12.30pm, Wednesday 3+, the rest in between.

LA:
our first theme: Struggle For Meaning
TJ first theme: Self & identity (which bears a striking resemblance to our second theme...)

Chinese
both taking GCE-O Level Chinese.

7 Subjects:
yes. the same.

CA1:
VJ: severe mugging. slaving over projects.
TJ: No Ca1. Just projects.

Class Size:
VJ: 4 classes of 29
TJ: 3 classes of 21

And please-this is pretty much considered 'classified info'. Don't go spreading it.

I'll try to add pictures or do a video of what happened in class today. The newspaper-made 'disembodied' hand that was so fragile is with me. it's going to haunt a few people tomorrow-hahahaha! *hey i sound so evil...lol*

Posted by Avester @
8:45:00 pm

Completed 12/12!

Let's have some quick data of Avester's overview:

Easiest Story to understand: A Succession of Sundays-Three Sundays In A Week

Most Difficult Story to Understand: Metzetgerstein-A Tale in Imitation of the German

Favourite Story: The Fall Of The House Of Usher

2nd Favourite: The Cask of Amontillado

Most hated Story: The Purloined Letter

Most Irritating Story: The Black Cat

Most Re-read Story: The Tell-tale Heart

Favourite Sector: The Terrorised Mind

Easiest Sector to Understand: The Criminal Mind

Not that the last statement implied anything-hahaha!

I'm so happy of finishing all my literature texts! Now I can happily apply them to LA: Struggle for Meaning! Does this add value to my life? Take a good guess...because i know after this all of you will, like me, start your mugging on various subjects...

Posted by Avester @
7:54:00 pm

Monday, February 18, 2008

The strain of homework is none like the strain of a long friendship-Avester

Epigraph by Lau Seng teck...

I finally AM feeling the strain of homework. Literature Powerpoint-The Tell-Tale Heart, Chemistry Practical 2, Physics Assignment, Maths Homework, 听写, Chem & tests, EU writeups, Class Videos, Class Parties...

KABOOM.

Hey I'm still alive! Anyway, Chemistry had always been my easiest subject, so I'll take care of that last. then there's LA...

LA! I almost forgot! One of my favourite subjects, one of my favourite teachers, the chimmest subject, ah...

KABOOM.

Posted by Avester @
9:19:00 pm

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Boredom plays an integral part in my life. And by the way, I should now try to start every post with an epigraph-from MYSELF!!! Hahahaha...

Original Post Deleted. There wasn't any lols...

Posted by Avester @
9:17:00 pm

Friday, February 15, 2008

*will be overseas from friday evening till Sunday afternoon.

Okay, I have spent so much time on the class blog this week that it has been overflowing with fantabulous (self-praise) class videos. Looks like I don't have much time for my blog. Anyway, you can listen to Podcast 15: Valentine's Day Special [Poem Time With Lau Seng Teck 3] by clicking the links found everywhere except on this post-haha!

Basically, you probably need a quick laugh or two. I shall attempt to summarise the week's events in a few pictures. Try not to laugh.

Hahaha! Last one's a class picture of 08V14-free for all to use. Right click 'save as'.

And if you haven't gotten enough of the red cloth, here's my class video 3 (made by me of course-self praise again). Enjoy.

Posted by Avester @
4:36:00 pm

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

If you're from 08V14 and you are reading this, take my advice.

Don't go school tomorrow. There will be chaos.

Chaos.

Posted by Avester @
1:29:00 pm

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Happy new year everyone! Enjoy your angpow! Next post I'll probably reveal to all of you what I'm doing with all my angpow money...*shifty eyes*

Posted by Avester @
10:27:00 pm

Sunday, February 03, 2008

If there is one thing I can do, it's drawing inanimate objects out of pure fictitious fantasies.

This drawing was the same one I uploaded for Chinese New Year last year. But now more people will get to view my expertise. Or sort of.

Still early for new year. Hmm...

Posted by Avester @
8:22:00 pm

Saturday, February 02, 2008

It's time for sai kang!

Yay! Weekend homework...includes one animation to be completed, Chinese homework and artistic (hahaha) poster decoration by yours truly!

That locks up my whole weekend. The worse part is that I left my math file in class...so I can't revise my quadratics! (By the way, quadratics were my least favourite topic last year, but this year is isn't screwed-yet).

*sighs*. Promised to help welfare do some fancy animation. AKA sai kang.

But wait...what if I added something else?

LOOK OUT FOR SOME CHANGES *COUGH* TO CLASS BLOG VERY SOON...

PS: Hoped you like the background. Already planning on my blog's Mid-February Header.

Posted by Avester @
4:44:00 pm

Friday, February 01, 2008

Application Time!

Now, stop thinking about egg beaters and toasters, I'm talking about applying what we learnt (sounds severely corny) in LA to...I dunno... to something...

Doesn't matter. Let's start. One of the theories we learnt in LA insists that When a person of a certain era understands a story, his mindset may be different compared to one that interprets the story centuries ago/later.

Let's see...

John loved Mary. Mary didn't want to marry him. Dragon kidnapped Mary. John rushed from the castle and slain the dragon. John saved Mary. Mary agreed to marry him. They lived happily ever after.

Now let's tweak it...

John loved Mary. Mary didn't want to marry him. A hijacked aeroplane filled with kidnappers kidnapped Mary. John flew in his private helicopter and shot the kidnappers. John saved Mary. Mary agreed to marry him. They lived...

You get the idea. It's very cheesy and all... Still don't get LA? Hmm...

Oh, and I'll be changing the background tommorrow. It'll be much better that way...trust me :)

Posted by Avester @
8:10:00 pm