How Scientific is my Calculator?

The following are extracts from my scientific calculator manual;

"To fully utilize its features no specl al training is repuired, bur we suggest you study this operation manual to become familiar. with many abilities"

"to help ensure it's longety....avoid hard knocks and unduly strong key pressing... Never use volatile fluid such as lacpure thinner, benzine.ect. when cleaning the unit. FOR servicing. contact your retailer or nearby dealer."

"Before starting calculation. be suer to press the on/c key and to confirm that "0" is shown in the dispiay
Special care should be taken not to damage the nuit by bending or dropping.For exampledo not cerry it in your hip packet."

"When this key is depressed, the calculator is turned off"
(what happens when the key is suicidal?)

""DEG" mode - Entries and answers are in decimal dogrees"
(So can I pat them?)

" This is used when real parts of comples numbers are to be Inputted and when calling the real parts of calculation results.
This is used during coordinate conver sions when the x coordinate of the rectangular coordinates (x . y) is input of when ther polar coordinates."

At least the actual machine seems to work...

Christa Cooper 2

As I bitterly left the class, a younger girl slipped passed me fearfully, head hanging. She made me think of myself in my first year at Koanui. Same dejected posture, and harried but unbroken eyes. Maybe she could have been a friend, if this wasn’t my last week. The last time I’d had friends was when I was still with my brothers and sisters, before we were separated. We’d had friends at the depot they left us at while they did the paperwork to send us to homes. Other kidnapped homeschoolers had been there. Two had been sent to Koanui with me, but neither wanted to associate with “the little terrorist” Noah, the boy, lived in fear. He had changed his name to Zen, and became a model student, saying what he was told, doing what he was told, and joined one of the extreme branches of Benevolence Youth Club. All to cover his past. The other, Ruth, tried to walk a middle path. She was known as Rainbow, but sometimes signed her real name. She had joined Benevolence, but missed meetings. She, like me, had a tiny electronic bible hidden in her bed, but never got it out, in case she was caught reading it. In the same way, she liked me, but couldn’t face me because she was ashamed of herself for halfway giving in.

The rest of the week past in the same way. In science I was supposed to give one proof evolution. Instead I tried to disprove it. It wasn’t very good, but I didn’t really know much about the issue. Books on the subject are forbidden, of course. That evening, Mr. Krimp gave me a pamphlet telling me about what happened to those who weren’t culturally accepting, and didn’t respect other’s opinions in our land of freedom. Scribbled in the margin were four words; Silence or be silenced.

I failed in every exam. My math teacher risked his job by commenting “you would have passed fifteen years ago…” The question had been “Would one plus one equal three if our Exulted leader said so?” My answer had been “No, one plus one would equal 1984”

With the other dropouts, I was sent to the principle’s office. Ruth and Noah had both failed as well. Ruth was almost pleased she had. She would rather have the honesty than further guilt. Zen sat apart, crying. He had invested all he had into a personality change, but the system knew his past. He had lost himself and gained nothing. The principle droned on about how we had failed our responsibility to society, how with hard work we could perhaps climb the ladder, how important university is, how we had disappointed him, and let down the school and our Exulted Leader. What a façade. He knew full well that our failing had nothing to do with our work or intelligence, and so did we.

I sidled over to Zen. “Would you like anonymous revenge” I hissed “for your parents and crushed life?” He looked up. “Then find an excuse to turn the intercom on.” I sauntered away.

“Sir” He said, “Please may I use the intercom to apologise to the whole school for failing them?” I could have cheered. Noah actually found the courage to pull through! The Principle looked a little surprised, but was obviously pleased. “Of course you can Zen, but don’t take long.” Noah flicked the switch, and quietly made his apologies in a cowed fashion. Then, he forgot to turn the intercom off again.

I stood up, and looking at the principle I shouted for joy. I told him that I was free, that I had failed because the government didn’t control me, Christa Cooper. They had taken my family, my home, and my privacy but they couldn’t take my heart. I told the others to thank God they failed. They looked at me like I was nuts. How many taboos had I just broken? Then I sang our anthem, the old anthem, God save New Zealand. Tentatively, Ruth joined me. She was free too. Zen cowered, petrified by what he had done, still bound by fear. The glory faded as the principle rose up, white-faced. “You crazy idiots! I could lose my job. Get out Get out Get Out!”

When we left, a committee was waiting for us. The biggest Benevolence Youths surrounded and led me and Ruth to a downstairs classroom. We sang the whole way. When we reached it, I was surprised to see another committee coming towards us. In its center was the girl who had passed me in the hall. She was yelling scripture like a mad person. Then the three of us were locked in the room. As soon as the door was shut, the girl whispered “Christa, don’t you remember me. When I heard you say your name on the speaker, I was so happy I lost control.” It was my little sister, Hadassah Mary.

They left us girls in the room for 3 hours. It was wonderful. We sang and read our bibles, basking in our victory. Then the Benevolence Police sent a van, and put us in a mental hospital. They said they would give us liberty if we give up our creed. But what can they do? We are already free.

Christa Cooper 1

When I overheard the pastor talking to mum at the door, I knew what to do. We picked up our long prepacked bags, and I and my five siblings slipped out the window. Carrying the baby, we carefully slipped into the whitewashed concrete tank that had been empty ever since water was put under state control in 2017. In its safe shell, I whispered to the small ones what was happening. Rev. George had found out that the Benevolence Police were coming for us. We had been living on borrowed time anyway.

Our parents were old fashioned. They believed in the second coming of Christ, they homeschooled us, and worst of all, they defied the social norm by speaking their thoughts on ethics aloud. Old fashioned means Terrorist. Everyone knew what happened to terrorists; they quietly disappeared, either nabbed and disposed of, or forced into hiding. And their children were taken by the Benevolence Police to “homes” like Koanui, Whanua Nanakia, or Whare Aroha.

That wouldn’t happen to us. We had a plan, and surely that would protect us? We were supposed to meet our parents at the back of the reserve early the next morning, amongst the trees, but the Benevolence Police met us instead. I don’t know what happened to our parents, but my brother told me he saw them sitting in the bushes, hidden from the secret police, but helpless to soothe their whimpering children. Perhaps they got away.

That is how, ten years later, I, Christa Cooper, have come to live in the ill named Koanui (Much Happiness) Home. I learned the ropes pretty quickly:

Be culturally accepting (Liquidly believe in anything except conservative Christianity).

Nurture trust (don’t ask questions).

Respect other’s opinions (don’t state your own, unless it agrees with the government’s).

Work together to build community (do what your told), and

Be Happy (Don’t complain AT ALL TO ANYONE).

If you look in the Koanui School register, you will find an entry for the girl Crystal Koanui. The girl I was supposed to become. But now in my exam week, in my final year of school, my true identity holds me stronger then ever. The little terrorist. Knowing my parents may be alive, knowing that the worst the system can do is fast track me to heaven, has given me hope. Hope gives you courage, courage to have integrity. Integrity gives you dignity, which sets you above certain animals. Animals like many of my teachers and peers. So my hope gives me strength, and my strength lets me struggle.

The teachers pretend I don’t exist. If someone is cruel to me, the teacher doesn’t see, if I ask for help in class, the teacher looks at Mona who sits behind me, and asks if she said anything. And exam week is the worst time of all. You see,high school isn’t really about learning. It’s about sifting through the teenagers and choosing who will have jobs, money, and social standing, and it’s those who toe the party line who are chosen to pass exams. You learn literacy at university, as another blank indoctrinated young person fresh from high school.

Monday, Mr. Trimp announced that anyone belonging to the Benevolence youth club could receive extra exam tutorage. Like anyone actually needed it. When I went into my first exam, English, the teacher handed everyone a paper. It read “Write that the greatest book is Mien Kampf II, updated by Our Exulted Leader, and you will pass.” The exam question read: What is the most influential book ever written? I wrote in the true answer “The Holy Bible”. Mien Kampf II was Hitler’s book, all Our Exulted Leader had done was add a II. It certainly didn’t inspire the hospitals, Aid organizations, martyrs, and beautiful art and music that the bible has inspired. All Mein Kampf II inspired was hate and genocide, and those who killed martyrs.

As I bitterly left the class, a younger girl slipped past me fearfully, head hanging. She made me think of myself in my first year at Koanui. Same dejected posture, and harried but unbroken eyes. Maybe she could have been a friend, if this wasn’t my last week.

to be continued

smelly

This is a squat loo.

and that's all.

Pictures

Welcome to Akko!
An old crusader town, the old city is now falling into neglected disrepair. This makes it one of the most fun areas to see, as you can climb on all the walls, and poke into corners, since nothing is cordoned off.

These are some pics we took when we were there; a street scene, an old market, a fish stall, and Jack dreaming about cannoning me.

18th Century Alphabet rhyme

In Adam's fall
We sinned all.

Thy life to mend
This Book attend.

The Cat doth play
And after slay.

A Dog will bite
A theif at night.

An Eagle's flight
Is out of sight.

The idle Fool
Is whipped at school.

As runs the Glass
Man's life doth pass.

My book and
Heart
Shall never part.

Job feels the rod
Yet blesses God.

Our King the good
No man of blood.

The Lion bold
The Lamb doth
hold.

The Moon gives
light
In time of night.

Nightingales sing
In time of spring.

The royal Oak was
the tree
That saved his
Royal Majesty.

Peter denies
His Lord and cries.

Queen Esther
comes in Royal
State
To save the Jews
from dismal fate.

Rachel does mourn
For her firstborn.

Samuel annoints
Whom God
appionts.

Time cuts down all
Both great and
small.

Uriah's beauteous
wife
Made David seek
his life.

Whales in the sea
God's voice obey.

Xerxes the great
did die
And so must you
and I.

Youth foward
slips.
Death soonest nips.

Zaccheus he
Did climg a tree
His Lord to see.

- The New England Primer, 1727.