Vocabulary Enrichment

1.Contagious (adjective)

Meaning : (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact

Example : Influenze H1N1 was a contagious disease last few years.

2.Apt (adjective)

Meaning : appropriate or suitable in the circumstances 

Example : He made an apt description of his nature.

3. Imparative (adjective)

Meaning : of vital importance, crucial 

Example :It is imperative that standards be maintained 

4. Derail (verb)

Meaning : cause ( a train or trolley car) accidentally leave the tracks accidentally

Example : a train was derailed after it collide with a heard of cattle

5. Phenomenal (adjective)

Meaning : great

Example : This is a phenomenal book!

Lights Out

Lights Out

I have read an article entitled Lights Out Review : I’ll Leave You Sleeping with The Lights On recently.Seriously? I don’t know why,but I think this horror movie is the least horror movie I have ever watched.I rarely watch horror movie actually because I am a little bit coward hehe :P When I bought the ticket,I actually have high expectation on this movie.I mean,at least I will recall some scenes when I am alone in the room or when I go to the washroom alone.But actually, I forget Diana right after I stepped out from the cinema. 

I think there are some things that make the movie not too terror.First,you can know when Diana will come out in the movie (well at least you can  expect when is the right time to scream haha).

Diana will come when there is no light,so whenever there are electrical problems somewhat somewhere in the house,she definitely will appear on the screen.And I have no idea how Diana manage to control the power supply in the house.Was she an engineer?I’m sure she’s not.

Second,at the end of the movie,Sophie commits suicide to protect her children from Diana.Yes,Diana cannot live without Sophie,but that means Diana dies too?Then both of them die,no one alive,no more ghost.No wonder I don’t feel afraid to go to the toilet in the middle of the night — I am so sure there is no Diana because she is dead.I think the movie should be more terror if actually Diana become worse when Sophie is dead,or maybe she wants  to do a revenge towards Sophie’s children as they are the reason why Sophie commits suicide.

The Purge ( The Election Year)

The Purge (The Election Year)

My favorite character in this movie is the Senator

First and foremost,we can clearly see that she concerns about her people.This can be proved when she determines to stop purging if she wins the election.She,who nearly become a victim of the president on the purge night,is so surprised to know that there are actually volunteers doctors working on the purge night to treat victims.She mingles with the patients in order to calm them down because it is chaotic night and surely there are people who lose their loved ones.So besides being selfish,she actually uses every second she has to gain trust from others and to make a distinct.

Second,she plays clean politics.The time when she knows that the people are trying to assassin the President,she seriously thinks that is a bad idea.She states that if they assassins the President,they have no difference with the president — killing on the purge night.Plus,she mentions that she convinces the people that she will win the election,even with the presence of the President.

As for me,Senator mirrors a true leader that we want.A leader who is not selfish and always plays clean even in a critical situation.Though it is hard to find a true leader,Senator successfully plays her important role in the movie to show to the world out there what characteristics that a leader should possess. 

Phrasal Verb

1.Lay (someone) off
Meaning : to stop employing someone for reasons that are not about the person's abilities.
Example : Tom loves his job and never slacks off,but his company is having financial problems and may lay Tom off.

slack off : to do something with less energy and effort than is usual or necessary.

2.Run (something) by (someone)
Meaning : to show or tell something to someone so it can be considered,approved,etc.
Example : I like to run my ideas by my supervisor.She always gives me good feedback.

3.Touch base (with someone)
Meaning : to meet and talk as a way of learning about recent news.
Example : Did you touch base with Jenny about our vacation plans?

4.Fall for (someone)
Meaning : to feel a strong attraction to someone ; to fall in love with someone.
Example : I fell for Niall the moment I saw him,and I asked him out the next day

5.Fix (someone) up
Meaning : to arrange a date for someone.
Example : My friend fixed me up on a blind date.

Vocabulary (From TOEFL)

1.   Severe (adj)

Meaning : extremely bad or serious

Example : The company is in severe financial difficulty.

2.   Paradox (noun)

Meaning : a situation or statement with two or more parts that seem strange or impossible together

Example : It is a paradox that some countries produce too much food while many other countries people are starving.

3.   Dweller (noun)

Meaning : a person or an animal that lives in the place mentioned

Example : The city dwellers are friendly.

Finance

Finance

The study of finance is primarily about learning how to make financial decisions for organizations.This course emphasizes the knowledge to understand and take part in the global economic system besides examining the techniques of financial management.The financial services are incorporate with variety of other businesses providing services including accounting, insurance, banking, brokerage,real estate,risk analysis,asset management, and investment.

We can never deny the importance of educated business and finance professionals in our industry.So,the first reason I choose finance as a major is because a person with finance background is needed by a broad variety of employers.As a finance major, I will not be pigeonholed to a certain type of company only,but instead I can choose among various types of business or nonprofits.

Next,finance graduates are in need in most organizations. Now more than ever, individuals,state and local governments,small businesses, and large corporations need educated business and finance professionals to plan for the future.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for several finance careers looks very promising.This is proved by a study where researchers found that the number of Financial Analysts and Personal Financial Advisors are expected to grow faster than average at 23% and 32% respectively from 2010-2020.

Last but not least, finance,banking, or investment play important roles in making money.Based on Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census,most billionaire make money from finance,banking, or investment.This leaves industrial conglomerates and real estate behind. 

As a finance graduate, I can involve myself in many field of work.For example,I can become a financial analyst.A financial analyst researches macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions along with company fundamentals to make business,sector and industry recommendation. They also usually recommended a course of action,such as to buy or sell a company’s stock based upon its overall current and predicted strength. An analyst must be aware of current developments in the field in which he or she specializes as well as in preparing financial models to predict future economic conditions for any number of variables.

In addition,I can also become a personal financial advisor who provide advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances.Most personal financial advisors work in the finance and insurance industry or are self-employed. They typically work full time and may meet with clients in the evenings or on weekends.Employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 30 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the population ages and life expectancies rise, demand for financial planning services should increase.

Animal Farm - Is it still relevant now?

       Allegory is defined as a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.The novel Animal Farm,written by George Orwell is an allegory of the failed Russian revolution of 1917.The story is about the rebellion of a group of animals against human from the farm they live so that they could live equally. However,the new rule becomes a cruel tyranny of its own led by pigs.I believe that this novel is still relevant now as it makes us realize the importance of education and gives us a warning that should not be ignored.

We can clearly see from chapter 3 onward,there is a divide between ‘the more intelligent animals’ which are the pigs,and the ‘stupidity and apathy’ of the other animals,like the horses and sheep.From this,Orwell has clearly stated the power of knowledge in every one,so that we will not be fooled easily.People in the rural area,for example,usually have lower education compared to the urban population.As education nowadays required a lot of money,only people with rich parents can pursue their studies in top universities and colleges,while the people in rural areas just get basic education and simply trust all the lies given by the leader.I believe that this happens in every country,and the apathy of these people makes it easier for these leaders to bribe them with just small amount of money (or attention) to gain supporters.In the book, Boxer worked really hard to build the windmill and was kept subordinate until his labor was no longer useful,and no longer a threat to the pigs’ power.This blind loyalty finally killed himself when the pigs sent him to be slaughtered when he was sick.

If we remember back in early 2011,Egypt was also suffering from a hard master,during the reign of Hosni Mubarak.The situations there were almost the same with the novel Animal Farm.Hosni Mubarak was associated with corruption, torture and press censorship, as well as the increased in number of imprisonments without trials.When the freedoms were limited and rights were restricted,the people in Egypt come out with the idea of rebellion and they successfully overthrown the government.Mohammad Morsi,was elected as the new leader.I could say that Morsi mirrors Snowball so much based on their similarities in the story.Abdel Fattah El-Sisi,who demonstrates Napoleon in Animal Farm successfully squeezed himself into the storyline  when he managed to unseat Morsi,just like Snowball who lost his power. Sisi has turned the people’s focus against the deposed,exactly the same with how Napoleon turned the farm’s attention toward Snowball.Morsi and Muslims were blamed  and accused for everything bad that happened. Sisi had executed numerous number of Muslim Brotherhood and anyone who supported Morsi,happenstance same with the story in Animal Farm,where Napoleon killed various animals that he claimed supported Snowball.At the end of Animal Farm, Napoleon reconciled with the humans and begins to take on their characteristics ; so El-Sisi was elected as the president after a rush election, and press censorship and imprisonments without trial have resurfaced almost as if Mubarak had never left.

Believe it or not, Orwell had warned us years ago about this political situations that happened since 1917.I know it is naive of me to feel the amazement that a book like Animal Farm could have any relevance today and to think that  Orwell’s warning has been ignored by so many.