Fridays with DaNte

Fridays with DaNte!

Introduction to my Posts

Hello everyone! Today is Friday, which stipulates its my time to write the blog posts! Even though this is a petulance, it's mandatory for us A2 HL English IB Students (I'm kidding Ms. Jess!). Without further dilatory, I would like to introduce you what my blog posts would be like.

First of all... I would post: Erratic Picture of the Day, Auspicious Quotes, Word of the Day,the Core Topic of the post which can be anything! and lastly, let's end the day with Joke of the Day!

So, lets begin Fridays with DaNte!

Erratic Picture of the Day:

Oh my guthness! Could it be??!!

Auspicious Quotes:

"It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees."

Emiliano Zapata

Hey... this is a pretty inspirational quote.

Word of the Day

Learn something new everyday you lazy unproductive creatures!

Egregious: Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

Quoted from www.dictionary.com

Yay! Finally, the Core Topic!!!

Today's topic is...

"Life. Fair or Unfair?"

It's almost 11.00 PM and I just got home from the Internet cafe after playing for around 2 and a half hour. I've been thinking what to write in the blog. My brain cogitated the whole day in search for a captivating topic (or should I say, an ORGASTIC TOPIC?!). So... after having a flurry of perspicacity, I felt like writing something worth to contemplate. I wanted to write about the FAIR and UNFAIRNESS of LIFE. So lets begin!

I am pretty sure some of you all have thought about this a couple of times. You are trying to fathom something that, to me, is steadfast. Fair or Unfairness of life are judged by our own paradigm, depending on what or who we compare ours with. Let me give you an example.

I have been in the basketball team for 4 years, including this year. I've came to all practices, I obeyed the coach's commands and training tips and I always give my best in practices (well, most of the times). The coach always say to the team that he doesn't need any STARS, only people with commitment, dedication and hard work. Unfortunately, that's not the whole truth. What really happens is the coach always favors the versatile and aptitude players. When I was grade 8, there was a very proficient basketball player who was ALWAYS played in EVERY single game, no matter what. Even though we changed coach, but that's what really happens. Players who got the skills and moves will always hold the ball. I, on the other hand, played adequately and became a docile part of the team. However, I only succeeded playing for the second team, even though I had put a lot of effort to strive for the varsity team. I think I have put more effort than anyone else in the team. I think I have put more time than anyone else in the team. However, it is not I who rate my efforts.

I take that as an act of unfairness. There are lots of other examples in my life that unfairness exists in this imperfect world. However, in every gray cloud there's a silver lining. Hey, at least I made it into the junior varsity starter. In reminiscent of my past performances, I have shown a significant improvement from the past 3 years. I guess my efforts aren't hard and passionate enough. If I think it over, it might be a bit fair.

A very prominent example is why is there poor people and rich people? Why can't everyone be the same and live equally?

We should remember that we all have a raison d'etre. A reason of existing. Each and everyone of us have our own role to commit in this life. Poor people are there so we can look at them and say "I am one lucky $#(@)*($!" (whatever that word is, you decide). Rich people exist so poor people can be helped by them.

If so, then why does my efforts have gone into oblivion? It didn't. I should think that each of us are specifically talented in varied aspects. When we fail something, it doesn't mean that they're a better person than us. They're just better in that aspect than us, and we have something better than they do. Us human being are imperfect, especially with our voracious thirst for something more. We always want something more than what we have in possesion. We always aim for the stars and always think "Why do they get to be the star? Why can't I be one?" without an ephemeral thought of "I've reached the sky, I will aim for the stars, but I am also thankful that I'm given a chance here, and I should also help the one in the ground to get up to the sky". Think about what you have now, and who you are. You should know that almost half of the world live with only 20,000 rupiah a day. You should know that more than 30% children in the world suffered poverty and live in the most destitute parts of the world.

If someone surpassed you in something, you should strive harder and surpass them as a counteract. If someone is behind you, help them to get to your position. If someone has something more than you, look deeply into your eyes and think that I am not less better person, I can contend with him/her and I am competent. Just like what Jesse had posted, it doesn't matter if your a prodigy or not. Hard workers have the potential to surpass the prodigies.

Let us look at this life at a whole different perspective. We should see less privileged people or people behind us, and say: "I am lucky". When you see someone beat you, you say "They're just lucky this time. I will surpass them someday." And when your heart and mind say "Life isn't fair", say to yourself "Life is fair. My time has just not come yet."

JOKE OF THE DAY!!! WHEEE!!!

This is for you STRESSED IB STUDENTS!

Yo momma so ugly just after she was born, her mother said, "What a treasure!" and her father said, "Yes, let's go bury it."

That is the introduction of my post! Please read it and give comments. I hope that this will bring inspiration to you and it will be stuck in your brain! Yeah! Remember to read my blog entry Friday next week! Have a good weekend!

Written By: DaNte

Social Politics

How to learn politics through friendship and our school society

If you happen to have an opportunity to talk with youngsters, confront them with this question, “Do you know anything about politics?” There is a very high chance that the youngsters would be blank in expression, say a phrase or two that their parents had drilled into their minds, or think you are an alien from the “geek world”. The reality is that politics are not very well known among the young generation, which includes me. When I decided to participate in the Harvard Model Congress, I thought to myself, “Am I out of my mind?!” Perhaps I was. Nevertheless, a surprising revelation enlightened inside my head as I discovered the essence of politics can be related to the way friendship and people works based on my experiences.

In this world, there are countries in which its decisions matter more in a global scale. For instance, America is inevitably taking over the world’s hegemony, at least as of this moment. Likewise, in every friendship or group of friends there is always a dominating person who seems to be more powerful than anyone else. Another prime example can be taken from the Group of Eight concept. The Group of Eight is an international forum for collaborating governments that are thought to be leading the world’s economy. These countries include Canada, France, the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Are you aware of a certain group in your school that is dubbed as “the popular ones”? The way they treat others can elevate or crush them.

Little did they know that there are future rising powers that can thwart and overhaul them. If we look at the countries of the world, China and India are drastically and rapidly mounting up in terms of their economy. In fact, statistics declared that the growth of national income per annum from Brazil, Russia, India, and China will surpass that of United States, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Even more, by 2025, the economy of those countries will twofold the whole of G-7 (Group of Seven, due to the exclusion of Russia). Have you noticed the kids in our grade that might not be the most popular, athletic, or physically appealing yet have certain qualities that creates an outstanding distinction apart from the rest of the crowd? Like China and India, those people know how to use their unique talents and capabilities to their fullest extent and succeed many achievements in doing so.

Another striking resemblance is how each country or friend treats another. Occasionally a person or a country wants to be recognized as one of the “superpowers”. They are tired of being trampled upon, tired of being incompetent, and tired of their pathetic existence. Thus, they would politically or socially “flex their muscles”. Russia had recently been known to be “saber – rattling” – test firing ballistic missiles, flying long – range bomber patrols, redeploying its troops to other regions – in hopes to counter balance the United States and other powerful states. “Showing-off” is the term for people who are doing what Russia was doing. Bullying is also another technique that is often implemented in both political and social worlds. For instance, Russia wanted to reclaim the former Soviet Union states together. However, these former SU states such as Ukraine and Armenia wanted independence from Russia. In spiteful revenge, Russia temporarily shut down its electricity to these countries that have to endure long, merciless winters, generating a sense of fear and insecurity. Bullying in a social context is no different than such act, whether it is a physical, verbal, or emotional assault.

To conclude, there are two words to summarize the similarity of politics and friendship – never ending drama and conflict. This is due to the fact that these systems or relationships are based on human beings who in nature are filled with selfishness, arrogance, and moral debauchery. The bitter truth is, friendship can appear and vanish ever so swiftly in our lives, just like how the alliance of countries can break apart and become enemies in a few fatal decisions. All we can do is to strive and hope for the best for our society.

"Natural Genius or Meticulous Hard Work?"

Tuesdays with Jesse

“Natural Genius or Meticulous Hard work?”

Achieving high rankings have been the desires of anyone especially since they dwell in a contemporary competitive world. This obligation has been known to be another core to individuals whom in which wonder why there are such injustices in the world. To elaborate, ever wondered how some people are able to flawlessly ace mathematics test, obtaining such perfect score without any requirement or effort of studying? Yet there are also people whom studies with immense effort, passing through their limits and yet could only achieve little less than perfect? This discussion does not specifically relate towards mathematics or other forms of academic education, however, it is as well implied towards sports activities, games, music; basically anything anyone are able to perform or accomplish. These two different types of people are subcategorized into mainly two aspects: Genius and Hardwork. Thus, through these two aspects, their whole entity differs with each other.

Natural geniuses tend to be very much unwilling and lazy because they do not require studies or practices at all. They are less motivated in terms of doing the specified accomplishment because they are just able to carry out without the willingness and motivation to actually accomplish. Though some geniuses tend to take pride and can be quite arrogant (especially those who think highly of themselves in knowing that others just cannot match), there are still others whom are willing to help others to raise and improve them and probably find a competition to go against.

Hard works are basically those who are full of initiative, encompass colossal enthusiasm and bestow limitless effort in the things they do. They have always willed to achieve improvement, even as minimal to the margin as possible. Thus with sufficient hard work, they do achieve that improvement. Their circle of accomplishments surrounds this fixation called ‘hard work’ and that ‘hard work’ has contained gigantic amounts of work (or joules in physics terms; as to units of work). With going through and overcoming again and again the gigantic amounts of work, they will be adapted to that and in the long run, have no difficulty in surpassing themselves for they are used to the term ‘difficulty’. Comprehended?

For those who might be bothered with the fact that geniuses are solemnly just impossible to be surpassed, think again! Hardwork does surpass genius, especially in terms of effort. Their willingness to improve shoves them to become the spotlight in their surroundings, not to mention that for those whom are hardworking have less difficulty to improve than genius as they tends to suffer quite exponentially to improve. This is due to the fact that they rarely or even never experienced the feeling of needs to improve. Once they experience the need, it would be very complicated as they are not accustomed to that form of study and that a requirement to change into that type is a compulsion for the better; if one seeks it. Hardwork type will not be as much surprised in a situation where they would have to improve because they are accustomed to it and would most likely abide to it. Having able to surpass their limits once, then twice then continues on gives them the sensation that they will always improve.

There are some speculations in which both elements of genius and hard work exist in one individual. And yes it does! The question is, is one able to use both the same time? It might be a little complex to understand this, yet it itself cannot be found in many areas of anything as well as there is no requirements in using both elements the same time.

To end this enigmatical topic, maybe it is best to wonder which of your areas of abilities lies within the genius (and requires no effort in using this ability as others might use quite some effort in achieving a minimal standard in this ability) and which of your areas of abilities lies within the hard work.

"Success is 1% genius and 99% hard work" - Thomas Alva Edison

Thus, Tuesdays with Jesse – What Would Jessica Do?

Daddy's Rules :)

So this isn't really A2-HL-related but I found this on my friend's website and yeah I just think it's pretty funny. Guys out there, be very careful when the girl you're dating is daddy's little princess! :)

Daddy's Rules

Rule #1: If you pull into my driveway and honk, you had better be delivering a package because you are sure not picking anything up.

Rule #2: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, as long as you're not looking at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or your hands off my daughter, I will remove them.

Rule #3: I am aware that it's considered fashionable for boys your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off your hips. Please do not take this as an insult, but you and all your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open-minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants 10 sizes too big, and I will not object. However, to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule #4: I am sure that you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier and I will kill you.

Rule #5: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter back safely at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early".

Rule #6: I have no doubt that you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is ok with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule #7: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule #8: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, police officers, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, hand holding, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff showing T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided.. Movies that feature chainsaws are ok. Hockey games are ok. Old folk's homes are better.

Rule #9: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a pot-bellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has been. However, on issues related to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule #10: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little time to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice party near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway, you should exit your car with both your hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

P.S: My turn to write blog entries in on Thursdays, and I'm pretty sure my entry will be the one with a lot of random things and pictures! I want to make it all pretty and cute and girly and beautiful and oh-so-awesome! Seriously, just because we have guys in this group, it doesn't mean this blog is supposed to be a masculine blog. The color's navy blue already, so boys, you should be HAPPY, no complaining.

Miss Jess, I promise, when I have to write my real blog entries every Thursday, I'll be more serious than this :)

xoxo Dita

A Somber Saturday

" To wait or not to wait" that is the question that keeps revolving inside my mind for the past three days. For 2.5 years I have embraced the torture and the aggravation of this painful product of biotechnology advancement, and it is the most exulting moment to know that this torture has coming to its end! This is also the time where teenagers (like me) become hyperactive for they can breathe the sweet scent of freedom through their mouth. What is it? Of course it's the day when I took off my braces! (or should have been the day I took off my braces)

It all started in an usual "braces monthly check-up" when my doctor told me that I can took my braces off next month. After check-up, I spontaneously make a reminder in my handphone with many exclamation marks on it. At last, after counting many moons and crossing the calendar day by day, the day have finally arrived last Saturday! Yet, it was quite disappointing...

The Saturday started serendipitously: I woke up at 8 because there is no badminton practice today, but my friend and I decided to take a walk to school because we thought that the gym is still open for sports. Once we had reached the gym, it turns out that the gym was closed and so we walk back to Taman Danau Biru and went home to be ready for the doctor's appointment. At 11, my friend picked me up to the hospital (I have a transportation dillema in Jakarta). After arrived at Siloam, we wait at the hallway for approximately 45 minutes (of boredom). When it is my turn, the doctor checked my teeth and she told me to go to the radiology department to get my teeth x-rayed. What's very annoying is that I need to pay 250.000 rupiah and must wait for another 15 minutes!!! what a rip off and waste of time! This X-ray is unexpected, and I don't have enough money to pay it, so I borrow my friend's.

After getting the result by waiting for another 10 minutes, we went back to the doctor and she told me to wait for 5 minutes because she was serving other patient. During this queue, my friend have to leave because we thought that the brace removal process would be long, excluding the retainer stamping. Since my friend have a basketball tournament at 2 in Tomang, she have no choice but to go at that time; leaving me alone. When it is my turn again to enter the doctor's room, she told me that my teeth is straight enough and the braces can be removed but some parts can still be tightened. Hearing this dilatory information, I literally shocked in front of her and decided to have my braces removed next week. The reason I did this because I have spent millions of money for this torturing thing and I'm expecting an equivalent and satisfying result. So I thought: "I have already waited for 2.5 years, waiting for another week is no big deal."

The worse part is making its reappearance again. When I want to preregistered for next week, the registration lady told me that the doctor is going to have a furlough for 2 weeks starting from next week!! Distressingly, it leaves me no option but to take off my braces after her furlough; which is days after my birthday!!! I went out the hospital grumbled and muttered, and I went home using ojek. Luck is not on my side indeed!

"My patience is being tested in a horribly way..."
"...to sacrifice another birthday with braces...*sob*"

The Bright Beginning

G.r.e.e.t.i.n.g.s.!.!

Unexpectedly, this blog is created when IB has managed its way to blend with the teenager demands.Who's the teenager? Us of course!!

The five of us are uniting as one jubilant team and will have our fingers "worked out" just to produce the hottest and coolest daily news ever. These news can be either from our personal experience or factual occurrences.

Assortment of emotions will be poured down in every pieces of our blog entries: happiness, exhilaration, love, hope and many more.

Unpleasant emotions such as awe, depression, hopelessness and remorse might also appeared occasionally. Yet, their presence is for all of us to be aware to the bitterest truths of life that can befall upon anyone at any condition.

Besides...it's better to shout out our problems rather than keep it to our heart and have miserable days.

Through this blog, we hope that all of you (especially the IB students) can still be up to date even with all the innumerable assignments that we have. (hopefully, it can decrease the suicidal rate of IB students)

"Let's make this lugubrious life into a rowdy rapture!!"

P.S what would Miss Jessica do when she sees this?

only time will tell hahaha

Yours truly...

Agnes, Edward, Jesse, Dita, Donny