I got a book, the Godfather, the other day. Though I have watched the movies adapted from it several times, I am still keen to read it over. Besides the attempt to access my general reading ability, I enjoy reading this book because I think it goes to such an extent that it is not simply a matter of telling the story of a Mafia family but also serves as a guide for those who are in conflict with their nature and the reality. Showing no interest in his family's business at first, Michael eventually became a new generation of Godfather who was kind to those who give respect and ruthless to anything that stands against the good of the family. Maybe that is a part of growing up. The following lines are excerpted from the book: "He has long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eyes open, can take his revenge on the most powerful. It was this knowledge that prevented the Don from losing the humility all his friends admired in him."

以下四段台词即可表现王佳芝的情感历程

1 (TO 暗杀小组) 我加入

2 (TO邝裕民) 你本来可以, 为什么不

3 (TO易先生) 走啊

4 (刑场, 无语)

Sometimes, history just repeats itself. I didn't get enough time to get prepared for my first TOEFL six years ago and neither did this time. This morning I was a little bit uptight when checking the score. To my surprise I got 93 (Reading 26, Listening 26, Speaking 17, Writing 24). I had though I could not score more than 80 which is the bottom line for admission. Maybe that is God's way of telling me to continue. Though it is no better than the previous one, I am content with it because I just got two weeks to make preparations after not using English for over five years. Recently I do feel about how my poor vocabulary aches of which I used to be proud. Little do I know whether I can make it except for knowing that there is still a long way to go. Anyway I could take further steps as well as keeping learning.

The day before yesterday I watched the movie American History X which was recommended by Hope. This is a tale of racism and brotherhood. After his father being murdered by a black guy, Derek (Edward Norton) vented all his rage on the minorities and became a white supremist. He gained respect of local neo-NAZI skinheads by his personal charm and led a series of white power movements such as robbing a local super market which hired some illegal immigrants. His orgies of hatred culminated in a brutal murder of two black guys who tried to steal his car one night. Ironically, the judge sentenced him to three years in prison for aggravated battery. There Derek met Lamont, a black guy who got six years only by stealing a TV set, and forged a friendship with him. Under the help of Lamont, Derek's view towards the minorities changed and he was ashamed of his past. After returning back from prison, he found out his younger brother Daniel was deeply influenced by himself. He was reluctant to see Daniel becoming a skinhead and tried to save him up before it was too late. Unfortunately Daniel ended up dying under the gun of one of his schoolmates.
Until finished watching this movie, I never really got so vivid impression of racism (KKK, Zionist). If you think it is just a movie and not a big deal, you could just try googling "the Jenna six".

Yesterday when Hope, my personal tutor, and I were walking home from class as usual, Hope saw some people gathering on a bridge and looking down at the river. It seemed something interesting was going on and we decided to join the fun. Actually the river dried up and there is a sewer at the middle of the riverbed. Hope found out that there was a little dog drowning in the sewer in which the water is very dirty and smelly. People were talking about the dog and it seemed that nobody was about to help it. Finally I made up the mind to do something, so I got down to the sewer and picked the dog up. To be frank, though it was not difficult, it was disgusting. Before long we realized that this recently born dog must be homeless and he was dying. Hope mentioned the Animal Control and I told her there is no such kind of organization to turn to in Dalian. We were depressed, knowing that we could do nothing more. Hope said that anyway we made a difference; at least he can die warm.
Today I passed through the bridge, found the dog lying on the ground and dead. It cuts like a knife, quick and painfully.