Reality television, dominating the tube right now, is about the behaviour of real people in real situations. Reality shows are about humiliating and insulting others. It is an irony as they are unreal because only the wanted key moments are staged in the show. Reality shows are unscripted drama just like sports. They are cheap to produce therefore they are profitable. They can still be unpredictable and it is a great new way of writing a story as the themes are usually very relative to everyday life. Humans are voyeurs therefore reality shows are popular amongst us as they erase the boundaries between publicity and privacy. Therefore reality shows will always have a place in television. However, viewers will get bored over time and the act of humiliation and ridiculing, somehow, ruins the reputation of the network.

Labels: summary

According to legend, an Ethiopian goatherd skipped around after eating coffee cherries when he saw his goats doing the same after eating the cherries. Coffee was a simple food and beverage for African tribesmen. Now, it is sold in large quantities worldwide. All coffee exporting countries depend on coffee as the main income. Many people depend on it for their living uncounted millions down it by the potful. In 1975, a frost killed almost half of Brazil’s coffee trees which sent retail prices into orbit. In 1979, frost hit Brazil again and the income loss is huge considering 15 million trees were lost. Brazil had to stop the export of coffee. Importers bought it in bulk afraid of the shortage. Prices increased and farmers planted more. Coffee was in available a lot and the prices fell. Farmers began substituting coffee for other crops. Producers and consumers agree that the only sensible solution is to limit output to what the market can absorb, plus a standby reserve, and sell at prices reasonable to both sides.

Labels: summary

According to legend, an Ethiopian goatherd skipped around after eating coffee cherries when he saw his goats doing the same after eating the cherries. Coffee was a simple food and beverage for African tribesmen. Now, it is sold in large quantities worldwide. All coffee exporting countries depend on coffee as the main income. Many people depend on it for their living uncounted millions down it by the potful. In 1975, a frost killed almost half of Brazil’s coffee trees which sent retail prices into orbit. In 1979, frost hit Brazil again and the income loss is huge considering 15 million trees were lost. Brazil had to stop the export of coffee. Importers bought it in bulk afraid of the shortage. Prices increased and farmers planted more. Coffee was in available a lot and the prices fell. Farmers began substituting coffee for other crops. Producers and consumers agree that the only sensible solution is to limit output to what the market can absorb, plus a standby reserve, and sell at prices reasonable to both sides.

Labels: summary

Lukas family was worried because they were afraid that he might have wandered off and got lost in the heavy fog. They searched for Lukas till nightfall as the fog started to clear. Their worse conclusion is that Lukas might be stepped on bigfeet and die. Footsteps that are unspecified were found but it might not belong to Lukas. Even at midnight, they searched for him and even set up a fire to shed some light as to where Lukas should head if he was still conscious. They created a search party that includes woodcutters and even the constable and it went on for eight days. The search party adds up day by day till on the eighth day, 40 men were searching for little Lukas. On the eight day Martiens, himself, said that Lukas could no longer be alive.

Labels: summary

Lukas family was worried because Aunt Gertie said that Lukas was missing. Malie, Sofie and Elias searched and called out for Lukas until dark. Aunt Gertie stayed with Barta. Martiens told her to stop it as they would find the child. Martiens also said he will search to the south. Dawid, goes west. Koo to the north and Elias goes east. Every hundred paces they will call out. On the tenth call they will turn back, move over fifty yards. Sofie's husband left for Deep Walls at daybreak to tell the nearest forester about the missing child. By midday, fourteen woodcutters took part in the search and on the next morning the constable came from the village to help as well. Towards the evening they heard the constable calling for help. When they got him back to the Island, he told them that he is afraid that the child can no longer be alive. On the fourth day twenty-four men were searching. On the fifth day, there were thirty and on the sixth day there were forty. And at the end of the eighth day it was Martiens who took it upon himself to say that Lukas can no longer be alive now.

Labels: summary

LOST MEMORY

The days of Surya’s life were not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam worked hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh wakes him up and cycles Surya to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh then goes home, has breakfast then together with Darshini he cycled to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thought that he could do better for his family. He had a thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he would need a citizenship.

“Sir, were you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

“I mean this is so unreasonable don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini as he paces up and down infuriatingly.

Dinesh brought his family to the nearby empty field on Surya’s 10^th birthday. He just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing was Surya was supposed to learn how to ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh fell on his back. Surya got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh laid on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words and pulls Surya’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily moved in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting. “OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WORTH MORE THAN OUR CITIZENSHIP.” They marched along the street uniformly.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya was in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wanted to get in a university but how was he suppose to achieve that when he does not understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gave up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s friend Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing at the praise, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage and went to appeal for a slot in the University, forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After he gave two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally gave up.

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and Surya was staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that it is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at will! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya said in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

already edited . but inly for SHIF in Tense.

Labels: essays

LOST MEMORY

The days of Surya’s life were not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam worked hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh wakes him up and cycles Surya to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh then goes home, has breakfast then together with Darshini he cycles to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thought that he could do better for his family. He was thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he would need a citizenship.

“Sir, were you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

“I mean this is so unreasonable don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini as he paces up and down infuriatingly.

Dinesh brought his family to the nearby empty field on Surya’s 10^th birthday. He just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing was Surya was supposed to learn how to ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh falls on his back. Blake got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh laid on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words and pulls Surya’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily moved in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting. “OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WORTH MORE THAN OUR CITIZENSHIP.” They marched along the street uniformly.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya was in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wanted to get in a university but how was he suppose to achieve that when he does not understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gave up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s friend Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing at the praise, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage and went to appeal for a slot in the University, forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After he gave two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally gave up.

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and Surya was staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that it is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at will! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya says in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

Labels: essays