Fifa 2010

The results have been announced as Spain wins the South Africa world cup 2010. Netherlands put up a great fight against Spain in the finals. The game continued even after 90 minutes of game play (2 halves), the score remained 0-0. Extra time was given (1st extra), yet no one scored in that 15 minutes, Then the 2nd extra time was given and finally Andres Iniesta scores a goal. I wasn't to satisfied because the goal was scored offside, so it wasn't fair. But the referee decides, so Spain won their first world cup in the region of Africa!

Poet 'William Wordsworth'

The poet Wordsworth has always made most of his poems based on nature. One of his famous poems is 'How Beautiful is the Rain.' Here it is:
How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!

How it clatters along the roofs,
Like the tramp of hoofs
How it gushes and struggles out
From the throat of the overflowing spout!

Across the window-pane
It pours and pours;
And swift and wide,
With a muddy tide,
Like a river down the gutter roars
The rain, the welcome rain!

The sick man from his chamber looks
At the twisted brooks;
He can feel the cool
Breath of each little pool;
His fevered brain
Grows calm again,
And he breathes a blessing on the rain.

From the neighboring school
Come the boys,
With more than their wonted noise
And commotion;
And down the wet streets
Sail their mimic fleets,
Till the treacherous pool
Ingulfs them in its whirling
And turbulent ocean.

In the country, on every side,
Where far and wide,
Like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide,
Stretches the plain,
To the dry grass and the drier grain
How welcome is the rain!

In the furrowed land
The toilsome and patient oxen stand;
Lifting the yoke encumbered head,
With their dilated nostrils spread,
They silently inhale
The clover-scented gale,
And the vapors that arise
From the well-watered and smoking soil.
For this rest in the furrow after toil
Their large and lustrous eyes
Seem to thank the Lord,
More than man's spoken word.

Near at hand,
From under the sheltering trees,
The farmer sees
His pastures, and his fields of grain,
As they bend their tops
To the numberless beating drops
Of the incessant rain.
He counts it as no sin
That he sees therein
Only his own thrift and gain.


The poem How Beautiful is The Rain is a poem by William Wordsworth. The poem starts out in a hot and dusty setting. It even describes hot and fiery street in the poem itself. Then the cool rain comes and cleanses everything. The people, kids, and even animals feel that this is a refreshing blessing. The rain makes the desolate street fill with the gushing rain and the poem describes small brooks flowing around and kids happily playing around. The atmosphere exchanges the temperature from hot to cold, what a contrast.
Theme: Refreshing, because the rain comes and cleanses the atmosphere.

"The Sound"

The story "The Sound," was the first place winner of the Wesgreen Book contest judged by an American author married to someone in the U.A.E. Her name is Ms. D. Stevenson. This story along with "Excelo Knights," both won awards in the ceremony. Here is a preview of the prologue and first chapter of the 1st place story for the Wesgreen International School Literary Club Writing Competition:


“The Sound”

By: Arief Zulkifli

Curse (Prologue)
“The house of the curse,” mumbled the shadowy stranger behind the dead shrub. He frowned, “No one’s ever stayed in that creepy house,” the stranger said as if he was talking to someone. But there was no one to talk to, at least not here in what people called the “Street of the Curse.” This street had a bad reputation for haunting even though no one had ever seen a ghost. But it wasn’t a ghost, at least not just a ghost. It was something scarier. “As I said, no one shall ever come to this house!”
But the creepy stranger didn’t know that Jimmy, his older brother John, and his family were moving in tomorrow night!

Anger
“AHHHHHHH, it’s so hot outside!” mumbled Jimmy who was a moderate sized, fair skinned, 12 year old boy.
“Quit mumbling, will ya!” Dad grumbled back to Jimmy.
John was running around the outside of the wide house. The house was pretty nice, John thought to himself. It looks so nice and in well condition, not too run down. John was a tall kid who was accustomed to running as he was a track star in his old school. He wore a cap all the times even though his brown hair was nicely kept. He was 14 years old and was very mature according to his dad. They moved in the house three days ago and right now the family sat having a grill-out.
“Oh man,” Dad said “We left the ketchup in the fridge, can you get it Jimmy?”
Jimmy was gobbling a hotdog and said “Nah, too tired, ask John.” Mom gave John a hard stare then he gave in “Okay mom, Jimmy you lazy couch potato.” He said glaring at him. Jimmy gave a teasing smile to him. John went inside the house and the temperature changed drastically. Whoa its cold in here he thought. He went straight to the fridge in which was at the end of the house. He could clearly see a terrible view of “Wolf Woods.” It was dark but he couldn’t stop looking there. Stop looking there he thought, just stop! But his eyes just concentrated on the dark woods. Quickly he grabbed the ketchup then all of a sudden the lights went out.
“AHHHHHHHHHHH” he screamed and saw in the window two white cold eyes staring at him filled with hatred.
It made the hairs on his back stand. Immediately he ran out screaming but he had a strong urge to look back. He could faintly see the word “you!” inscribed on the window. As he sprinted outside his mother stood looking worried.
“What happened? You screamed,” Mother said nervously. Jimmy smiled and gave him the “you are crazy” look.
“Well, nothing happened mom, really.”
John replied calmly but he couldn’t forget the look of those two eyes. They seemed so angry but why, what have I done? That night John couldn’t sleep, Jimmy who slept on the bed right across the room was snoring loudly. He almost had some sleep but then he heard it. He heard a sound that screeched across the room. Immediately he rose up from his bed and looked at Jimmy who was still sleeping. He heard the screech again, this time it came from the bathroom. He ran there then on the floor was a shell. Not just a shell, but a shell with blood. He turned back but his Moms scissors fell from the cabinet and quickly John moved aside but the scissors fell down so fast straight to his neck! That could’ve killed me if I didn’t dodge it he thought.

Well that was the preview and hopefully the story will get published with a few modifications! Thanks for reading.

School Water Day 2010

Today was my schools water day which is a day where we play water games. It was very fun and mostly everyone got wet. There was the soap field, water fight, water sponge race, water dumping, and a survival game which involves passing through all obstacles with people throwing wet sponges at you. Admission for the Soap Field was 15DHS for 10 minutes. The other activities for 15DHS also for 9 tries. All the money raised will go to charity to people without water like in Africa. There was also a catering canteen which came and sold burgers and shawarma. It was a burger,fries, and drink for 10DHS. Compared to our school canteen, that's a bargain! That profit money also went to the water day funding. The funny thing is that they are trying to raise money for clean water in Africa or places in need although they're wasting water for the activities. It was really fun though and i got really wet my all the guns. :)

Hatta, Part of U.A.E and Oman

Hatta was a beautiful place with vast deserts and mountains. It was a taste of Arabian country life. Particularly, i visited and climbed up three different mountains, they were small but still hard to climb. In fact, i wasn't using gear. It was great and i found lots of Camel poop (Yuck!). Climbing on was hard and dangerous. I slipped a few times and once there was this thorny bush which i sat on. That really hurt. My friend who was climbing with me wore the traditional Arabian gown which was nice for him because it was so hot outside, If you wear it, it makes you cooler. After that i visited a Dam. It was a beautiful site for saving water and that's where i ate. Indeed it was a magnificent experience and we stumbled upon a few locals there too. I'd like to go there again, definitely!

Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia. It consists of mostly beaches. It is in the state of Kedah and, Langkawi is also known as the "Jewel of Kedah." It is a very nice place which consists of beautiful nature all around. The hotels there are also great! For more information on that go to:

http://www.fourseasons.com/langkawi/

A very nice place for the family would be the GeoPark. It is seriously nice. In the language "Malay," Langkawi means Brown or red headed eagle. Indeed it does have eagles there which can be a great sight.
Here are some informational pieces from Wikipedia:

Wikipedia

"Langkawi is particularly known for its beaches which are among the best in Malaysia. Some of the most popular are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Burau Bay, Pantai Kok, and Datai Bay. Pantai Cenang is a picturesque beach with seemingly unending stretches of fine white sand. The beach is contoured by tall coconuts and casuarinas. Pantai Tengah is separated from Cenang by a small cape. Burau Bay, fringed by rocky outcrops, is the favorite place of migratory birds in Langkawi. Pantai Kok is a peaceful beach with the backdrop of limestone hills. Datai Bay has wonderful combination of forests and sea.The milky beach is backed by lush forest.

Sea around Langkawi is perfect to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Marine life in Langkawi waters is prolific, thanks to strict enforcement of environmental laws. Fish like black tip sharks, barracudas and giant groupers are regularly sighted. Coral life is rich, consisting both soft and hard corals. Pulau Payar Marine Park, located near Langkawi, is tailormade for scuba diving and snorkeling. Apart from these two sports; angling, fishing, and swimming can also be enjoyed in Langkawi.

The Langkawi Cable Car takes visitors up to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang, where the Langkawi Sky Bridge is located."

Truly you should experience the true heritage and magical attractions in Langkawi!

Visit:

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkawi

-http://www.langkawi-info.com/

New Music Beat Game (2010)

For the iphone/ipod touch the new game Riddim Ribbon is out made by Tapulous. On the app. store it costs about $1.99 Dollars. It is a game just like Guitar Hero but you race around in the beat of the music. Purchase or find more about here:

http://tapulous.com/

You can get a free bonus mp3 song which is "meet me halfway" remix by Black Eyed Peas.

The game category is: Music and bits of racing.