Illusion of Words

Stories

I found out that recently, I really did not have much to do on the computer. Despite the fact that staring at the screen boredly is better than not touching the dear computer, I think it’s time I did something that doesn’t waste time.

I’m considering posting a couple of my mainly silly stories, plus a couple which were printed in ‘Beyond’, a teenage magazine with a pathetic number of readers. That magazine has only one column for English stories, and best of all, my mom is in charge of that column! Which means I can get my stories there regularly - as long as I write them out before the printing of the next issue. Not many competitors, in fact, there was only one in the one year history, which means the pay for the published submission is almost as good as mine.

Cheating? Nah, just an easy way. That doesn’t mean I simply do anything for the stories, it still takes a couple of hours and some afternoon classes where the teacher doesn’t care what we do. Those times are really good for inspiration.

Expect to see something better next week, for now, this is Codename Alias signing off.

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ipod nano

Apple just released a new member of the Ipod family - Ipod Nano. And by first glance, it obviously beats ipod mini, its poor deserted brother.

I actually considered buying the mini in KL during the trip last last last week, but fortunately I kept my cool enough and did not spend precious ringgits on it.

And look what happened. Something better came out.

I’d consider buying an mp3 player two years later. After all, here in Sibu, going places take only 5 minutes, 15 at the most. You just don’t have the time to listen to your ipod. Traffic jams seldom happen (only during accidents), and we can’t go anywhere too far in a car. Anyone would choose a plane over a car ride, with all those silly winding roads filled with holes. Actually, they’re considerably better already, although a million lightyears away from a modern highway.

I think I digress too much. Anyway, I’d wait. Unless I can get one for free, forget it. Two more years and iPod should be either much better or out-of-date. Let me just wait till then.

Isn’t it so horrifically cute?

iPod nano link

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Prefect Duty

I know it’s quite illegal to say anything about the inner working of the prefectorial board of my school, but who knows who I am anyway?

If you’re in my school, you’ve got to be amazed at the prefectorial board. It’s the thing which keeps the school’s discipline together. They do everything from patrolling classes to traffic control. And while it’s quite bothering, I feel proud to be part of it.

In the morning, unless you’re lucky, you’ll have to patrol the class. Actually, babysit the class. Walk around making sure the kids have books on their desks and keep quiet. The worst thing is that you have to babysit the senior 3 classes. Senior 3 students are 18 years old, opposed to prefects aged 16 and 17, of which I am the former age. It’s really intimidating, because after all they’re older than you and more prone to being rebellious.

Of course, the junior 1 kids, 13 years old, are the best to babysit. They’re cute as babies (some of them, really), they’re scared of prefects and better to control.

So that’s the morning session. 15 minutes of pure torture in the class, which could have been used for doing last-minute homework. If you get to the correct ’station’, instead of babysitting classes, you patrol parking lots, stand at gates, etc. I prefer those.

The break time, 20 minutes, is a definite no-rest. Some patrol, those who babysitted classes in the morning stand near the classes they babysitted. Usually, that’s the best time. And you get to leave the class 10 minutes earlier!

Then comes to the traffic control. I have never seen any other school whose prefectorial board directs traffic. It’s simply crazy; why is it so nessecary? Just let the cars jam their way around. Oh yeah, I forgot, some picky teachers will complain.

The first time I learned about the whole traffic controlling system, I was in awe. From the parking lot to the main street, everything is integrated seamlessly, communication close to perfection. The system is a little too long and complicated to go into details here, but you just need to know that it is amazing. I salute the ‘founder’ of the thingy, even though I hate the fact that I have to do it.

It’s a bother at times, true, but in the end, I have learnt a lot, and am still learning. How many people learn how to direct traffic, waving gloved hands about? How many deal with rebellious students (whom I’m really scared of, ashamedly)? How many learn how to check students’ appearance (I forgot the word for it) and ‘raid’ classrooms for forbidden articles?

Still, if only the two-and-a-half years of service would pass quicker.

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Pride & Prejudice

I found the book by Jane Austen on the trip to KL, a cheap RM 8.90, so after some struggle, I chose it over Les Miserables (which was much too long!).

And I struggled through it for nearly a week, with days-long breaks in between. Perhaps I’m not yet up to that standard yet, or I’m too lazy. In any case, I finished it, rooting most for the 2nd couple, Jane and Bingley.

For one thing, I didn’t like Darcy. Prejudice, I guess. Always happens to the ‘first’ couple, why that is I don’t know. And Elizabeth was much too spirited for my liking. The ‘old’ English took more brain-power than usual to understand what they were babbling about.

But the characters were done nicely, and I can see why it is called a classic. While there aren’t many exciting parts in my opinion, the best part for me was the Lydia-ran-off-with-Wickham part. Although I couldn’t quite understand why they had to have Lydia marry Wickham and be so worked up in first place.

One day, I’ll take up the book to read it more carefully through, but for the meantime, I should wait until I understand more fully and desire to read it again.

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