Two Good Thieves-Thoughts about Book

This June Holidays, I read the book "Two Good Thieves" by Daniel Finn. In brief, the book is about two thieves, who, as the cover says, are good. They are Demi and Baz. They steal from people for a woman called Fay. Then, they steal a priceless ring from a very important woman, and this results in them being caught up in a conspiracy that risks their lives. I feel that this book is similar to Village by the Sea in a number of ways. Firstly, the theme of contrast between the rich and the poor. Demi and Baz live in a slum called the Barrio, which is a dangerous place to be. You have to be tough to survive. A few train stops ahead, and you will reach the luxury of a sprawling city, with shopping centers and huge mansions. At the end of the book, the entire Barrio gets destroyed, to be changed into a whole new, clean office block. When the son of the police captain pays a visit upon Demi and Baz, there is an instantly noticeable difference between the three people. Two are ragged, scruffy children, while the other is a smart young man, prim and proper.
But, what I am most intrigued by is the corruption and treachery present in the entire city. It is a dog-eat-dog world, where you either be strong and live, or be weak and die. Demi and Baz are prime examples; being so poor that they are forced to turn to stealing to earn their keep. Overall, I feel that this book is great, comparable to Village by the Sea.

Lesson 1.My Favorite Poem and its use of figurative language

Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

1.Figurative Language;
coiled in shells of loneliness
love leaves its high holy temple
chains of fear
All of these are personification figurative language
The poet chose to use this type of figurative language as for number 1 and 3, it is used to emphasize on the greatness or severity of loneliness and fear. It is also used to express the high and mighty home of love and how awe-inspiring it is, which is the case in number 2.

2.Why I like it;
It expresses a lot about how we are trapped by the troubles of the world such as fear and loneliness and how it causes us to be deprived of joy and happiness. But then love, in its high exalted position, will eventually come down and save us all. This fits the expression "Love triumphs over all" and shows how great love can be. It also shows that when love comes, it brings about fond memories and happy times. It also can pull us up from our despair and help us in times of need. Thus, I like this poem as it tells us how when love comes, joyfulness will soon follow.

Village by the Sea- Special Qualities of Hari and Lila and Characteristics of and Adventure Story

Here are the Special Qualities of Hari and Lila:
Hari
-Able to Adapt
-Strength of Character
-Positive
-Not Fussy
-Courageous
-Inquisitive
-Lucky
-Determined
-Persevering
-Hardworking
-Strong-willed
-Resilient

Lila
-Inquisitive
-Calm
-Courageous
-Hardworking
-Persevering
-Lucky
-Thrifty
-Does not complain
-Optimistic
-Caring
-Spiritual
-Not affected by problems
-Takes Charge
-Responsible
-Pragmatic
-Down-to-Earth

Here are the Characteristics of an Adventure Story:
Protagonist
-Saves someone
-Faces problems
-Has thoughts and feelings

Adventure
-Unexpected
-Action-Packed

Events
-Vivid detail
-Not mundane

Story
-Longer
-Exciting
-Suspense
-Twists
-Heightened Reality

Village by the Sea-Urbanization

We discussed in groups the potential effects of urbanization in Thul in Village by the Sea. Below are our answers and my further explanations.

1.Environmental Effects
Soil Effects
Soil Erosion
-Trees are cut down to make way for the factory. Without the roots to hold the soil together, wind and rain move large amounts of soil around, causing soil erosion.
-Soil erosion also causes danger to aquatic life in Thul. The soil may be moved inside the ponds, which causes it to become cloudy. Sunlight cannot reach the aquatic plants and they thus die. Aquatic animals also die because plants provide the necessary food and oxygen for the animals to survive.
-Soil erosion causes landslides, putting the people of Thul and their fields, livestock and homes in great danger.

Infertile Soil
-With the coming of the factory, the soil will get insufficient nutrients and will be infertile.
-Farmers cannot plant crops anymore and cannot earn a living.

Death of Soil Microbes

Air Effects
Sulphur Dioxide, Amonia and Dust in the Air
-These are pollutants and are released from the factory

High PSI
-High amounts of pollutants polluting the air.

Water Effects
Harmful Chemicals in Water such as Organic Mercury
-Discharged by the factory
Sub Effects:
-Death of Marine Life
-Poisoning of Marine Life and to the people who eat them

2.Social Effects
Villagers
No place to live
-Factory destroys their homes and takes up their land

Lose Money
-Cannot farm and fish anymore

Shortage of Jobs
-Jobs in the factory not offered to the villagers, and cannot farm and fish

Poisoned by the fish poisoned by the harmful chemicals in the water

Bombayites
Poisoned by the fish poisoned by the harmful chemicals in the water

Pollutes Bombay
-Bombay already extremely polluted
-Cannot stand anymore pollution

Overpopulation
-Villagers coming to Bombay to make a living and live
-Bombay already packed with people

Health Problems
-Villagers unhygienic
-Villagers bring in diseases

3.Light Pollution Problem
Stars not visible
-Actually were visible
-Bright lights of factory prevents the stars form being seen
-Must have been a beautiful sight which cannot be seen anymore

Harm Eyes
-Villagers not used to the glare of the lights

Peace in Village Disrupted
-Bustling Hub replaces peaceful village
-Lights and Sounds everyday disturbing

Online Learning Week- Urbanization has arrived in Thul

In the small village of Thul, on the west coast of India, urbanization has arrived! The normally sleepy fishing village, located away 14km from the bustling civilization of Bombay now getting a fresh new look as a whole city of factories are being built there. Factories, housing colonies, bus depots, shopping centers... there are just too many to be counted! It is the new Thul-Vaishet fertilizer complex! Tens of thousands tons of fertilizer will be made and sent all over India. This could bring a new wave of revolution to Thul! Many of the villagers, especially the boys who do not want to fish with their fathers, are excited at the prospect of finding new jobs. “It is better to have a job, to earn daily wages. And then there are all the other benefits-free lunch in the canteen, a doctor to see you if you are unwell, paid holidays-that’s’ the life!” said Ramu, a boy looking forward to the jobs available in the factories. Even though he has no experience of working in factories, he thinks he can learn.
But not everyone is happy. Ardakar, a villager, has led a group of other villagers to Mantralaya to protest to Chief Minister Sahib. He is quoted as saying “We have come to tell the government we don’t want the miserable sums of money they are offering us-our land is too valuable. We are not going to be turned into slaves working in their factories, we have always worked and lived independently and been our own masters.” They have started a petition and are giving it to Chief Minister Sahib, hoping that it will make them change his mind.So will the factory continued to be built, and will it bring benefits or harm to the village and its villagers? This remains to be seen in the near future.

Online Learning Week- Piece of Music suitable for a Scene in Village by the Sea

I chose the song- Chaotic World by the Ambassadors as my piece of music suitable for a scene in Village by the Sea. It expresses chaos that is displayed when Hari's father comes home from his toddy drinking with his friends. They were very rowdy and created chaos everywhere. Please click on the link to view it.

Online Learning Week- Indian Recipes

Difference of Indian Recipes
Chapatti and Roti Prata:
Roti Prata
- Thick, flat, round, dough
- Made with wheat flour, sugar, salt and water
- Fried with ghee.
- Cooked on a flat or slightly concave iron griddle called a tawa.
- Staple accompaniment to other foods, can be spread with ghee or yoghurt, used as a scoop, or rolled up with a filling.
Chapatti
- A type of Roti or Indian bread eaten in South Asia and East Africa.
- Made from dough of Atta flour in a microwave oven for five to ten seconds.
- Often, chapattis are brushed with ghee.
- Variations include replacing part of the wheat flour with pearl millet or maize or flour.
Chapattis are usually eaten with cooked dal (lentil soup) or vegetable (Indian curry) dishes, and pieces of the chapatti are used to wrap around and pick up each bite of the cooked dish.

Jalebi and You Tiao
Jalebi
- Sugar-dipped and Orange
- Pretzel shaped, made by deep frying batter in oil and soaking it in sugar syrup
- Something which is included in the regular diet of all the people born with a sweet tooth.

You Tiao
- Breadsticks fried in pairs (two sticks stuck together).
- Cut it into small chunks or just eat it as it is
- One of the most versatile and widely-consumed Chinese food
- A very popular Chinese-style breakfast, usually served with hot soya milk;
- Also great with chicken rice porridge or plain rice porridge, and complements the Chinese spare-rib soup (just like croutons).



Recipe for Jalebi
Ingredients
• 2 cups All purpose flour (maida)
• 11/2 tbsp. fine grained semolina or rice flour
• 1/4th tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp curd (plain yogurt)
• 11/4th cups warm water
• 1/2 tsp. saffron threads, slowly dry-roasted and powdered
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 2/3rd cups water
• 1/2 tsp green cardamom seeds powder
• 11/2 tbsp. kewra water or rose water
• Ghee or vegetable oil for frying
Method
• Mix the flour, semolina or rice flour, baking powder, curd and 3/4th cup of the water in a bowl (preferably a ceramic bowl). Mix well with a whisk.
• Mix well and then add remaining water and 1/8th tsp. of saffron powder, and whisk until smooth.
• Set aside for about 2 hours to ferment.
• Whisk thoroughly before use.
• Prepare string syrup by dissolving sugar in the water. Just before the syrup is ready add saffron and cardamom powder.
• Heat oil in a kadhai. Pour the batter in a steady stream (or coconut shell with a hole) into the kadhai to form coils. Make a few at a time.
• Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown.
• Remove from the kadhai and drain on kitchen paper and immerse in the syrup.
• Leave for at least 4-5 minutes so that they soak the syrup.
• Take them out of syrup and serve hot.
Recipe for Chapatti
• 1 cup wheat flour (or 1/2 white +1/2 whole wheat)
• 1/ 2 cup Water

Put our in a large bowl with half the water. Blend the two together until it holds. Beat and knead well until it forms a compact ball. Knead dough until it is smooth and elastic. Set aside for 30 minutes. Knead and divide dough into 4 to 6 parts. Roll each ball into a circle about 1/2 cm thick.
Heat an ungreased skillet (tava). Put chapati on it, and let it cook for about 1 minute (The top should just start to look dry and small bubbles should just start to form). Turn and cook the second side for 2 3 minutes until small bubbles form. Turn again and cook the rst side pressed lightly with a towel. It should puff. Serve warm.