Monday, December 3, 2007
Everybody Loves Us
I found this article really interesting. I'm Korean however was born here in Canada. As a Canadian born individual, there's a lot of positive things I could say about Canada and I'm sure other citizens could as well. However, I find it very surprising that Canadians don't seem to be liking themselves.
This video is relevant to the article because it states the many reasons why Canadians might be struggling to support themselves. Should we blame the government? society? the images on TV? These are just a few questions that come up in the video and maybe its true. However, if these questions are being asked I cant help but wonder if other countries dont have the same problem. Most likely they do.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Video of Airport Taser Death Released
This is another situation where it could have been handled differently in all aspects. Tasers and stun guns are meant to bring an individual down without any harm. They’re even used on officers so that they can experience what it feels like for themselves. However, it has never had a sole purpose to put someone to his or hers death. I find it extremely unfortunate by the way the officers decided to act to an individual that was so vulnerable even after taking him down to the ground. It was the first time traveling into another country for the polish immigrant and it truly is unfortunate that the events occurred because of the language barrier. Taking his life because of something that could have been fixed with a translator or just patience for that matter is just depressing and to find out that the RCMP tried lying about the case is just unimpressive.
This Youtube video is relevent to the article because it comes from the eye witness and the filmer himself. I think its important that the public is showed this tape because it is said that the RCMP explained what happened slightly different relative to what was filmed.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
The Tabs: No Men Allowed
In today's media, it is rare to see males compared to females hit the front page of a magazine with bold writing stating what they did. Unless it is absolutely serious, anything that has to do with male blunders in the media is often left in a section that may not be as amusing or eye catching. However, Women seem to be the general target for the tabs these days and it has been for a very long time. I believe most magazine companies target market is more focused towards females ranging from almost every age group. When incidents like drug abuse, sex, intoxication and bad behavior occur in the media, it is strongly taken towards women than males. If she has sex, she is portrayed a “whore” or a “slut” and the media loves to tell the entire world know that she is. One incident I remember was when Paris Hilton was arrested for drunk driving. With her name covered on almost every headline, it was a matter of days the entire world knew about it. A similar incident happened when Mel Gibson was arrested for the similar act. He had also said some disappointing comments as well during his drunkenness. After it all, with a few interviews, Mel Gibson was forgiven and it was rarely spoken of again. However, Paris Hilton's problems are constantly reminded even till this day in the media. This could be because people assume these things to be typical male behavior rather than feminine behavior.
Now look at this updated image that I took a snap of at www.starmagazine.com and look at all the women that are listed for news and gossip compared to males.
Friday, November 2, 2007
NBC Executive Slams Apple for "Killing Music Industry"
I will actually have to say that Jeff Zucker has a misunderstanding about the entire iTunes case. I am personally not a supporter of Apple and I have never owned a single Apple product and I plan not to in the near future. I find it pointless to purchase a product that will be remade better and better by minor specifications. However, in this article I will have to side with Apple. I use iTunes and I think its great as a music player and a organizer. I have never purchased any music off iTunes but I think its extremely smart that customers are taking full advantage of it. Think about it. An average album costs from $9 to $30 and contains about 8 - 20 songs and were often left with the curiosity whether a majority of those songs will be good or bad. Its risky buying albums because you never know! However, iTunes allows customers to purchase individual songs that they know is good or preview a short duration of the song to see if it meets there melodic tastes. Its an amazing idea and if anything, its done the total opposite of killing the music industry and has kept it going. Good stuff Apple!
The following clip that I have found from Youtube relates to exactly what I have said above. Apple is the very first company to put everything that past online music companies have done together on one program. It shows the flexibility and how much iTunes has affected the music industry as a whole. Its a music store right at the tip of your finger tips!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Into Africa
Today, China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and it seems the country will be moving into Africa to make some significant moves on the global market and environment. I believe this is a good move for both countries because it allows them to strengthen eachothers relationships. Especially China as they will be constantly importing, exporting and expanding the economy. This is good, however Im dissapointed with China's denyal to Sudan, especially when they are trying to maintain and start new relationships with other countries. China needs to realize gaining power is not gained by looking good infront of governments and definitily not gained by ignoring their social responsibilities. If China can continue to invest in Africa and change the their ups and downs, I have no doubt that they will become a superpower in Africa.
Heres a short clip of what the "The Real News" has to say about this.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Turing Test Comic
"Convince the examiner that he's a computer." I didn't really understand this short comic when I first viewed it, however it makes perfect sense. The examiner is being convinced that he himself is not sure of himself because he is unable to determine the reasons why the other participant is a computer. This type of situation can be related to the online gaming today compared to the past. Basically, people are losing there identities over online games and solely being known as what they are in the game. Today there are games like World of Warcraft, Ever Quest, Guild Wars, Lineage and much more that individuals are addicted too. People can choose to be how they would want to be or wished to be in these certain types of games that have a wide variety of customizations. From there the computer creates your identity not the other way around which is what is happening in the comic where the stick man can no longer identify himself.
Here is an article where this type of situation can become extremely serious.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=31536
World of Warcraft Vs Real Life
http://versus.bix.yahoo.com/vs/World_of_Warcraft-vs-Real_Life
Youtube Clip on Addiction
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Voters Roundly Reject MMP
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Too Hyped?
It has been nearly over a week since the release of the final installment of Microsoft’s epic sci-fi first person shooter Halo 3. Shops held special midnight madness sales to please their eager customers who had rushed to pre-order the game. In fact, Halo 3 is now the fastest-selling pre-ordered game in history boasting more than one million pre-orders. The first two previous games which was released in 2001 and 2004, respectively sold a whopping 14.5 million copies worldwide. The franchise, which is exclusive to the X-box platform single-handedly put the game machine on the map. It turned a generation of gamers into fans of the first-person shooter genre.
It’s extremely clear that Microsoft has taken this game to another level by promoting not just the game itself, but other merchandise as well. From action figures, posters, advertisements, beverages, cars, clothing, comic books, consoles and three versions of the game itself. Halo is everywhere and it’s growing out of the gaming industry. While this kind of marketing has worked on lots of levels in the past. I can't help but think that in some ways it might be a disadvantage to the title. Not only does it make it difficult for the game to live up to everyone's expectations as a gaming title, it also leaves other people (some of whom might be fans) wishing they just didn't have to hear about it anymore. Why aren’t other highly anticipated games hyped as much as Halo? Easy.. because its Microsoft.
This Youtube clip (unable to embed) states a lot of the points that I agree on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaGPeTYA6xg
This is relevant to my point of the article because it supports what I think. Simply, I’m trying to say is that Halo is just another first person shooter game that everyone has been expecting, however due to the amount of popularity that has been pumped through it. It is overly exaggerated as one of the best game of all time. This hype is more of a trend than a personal liking if you ask me.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
The Greatest Hamiltonian
With fifty candidates and more to be chosen for the title “The Greatest Hamiltonian”, how do individuals go on about asking themselves answering the question who is the greatest Hamiltonian?
Charles S. Wilcox was the first president of Iron and Steel Company of Canada, which was formed from five companies, including his Hamilton Steel and Iron Company and a holocaust survivor Arthur Weisz came to Canada from Hungary with only a suitcase and built the Effort Trust Company, becoming Ontario's largest landlord outside Toronto. How can one tell one is better than one another? Fact is you really can’t tell who is greater than then the other because they have both contributed their skills in different ways.
In reality, each and every one of these contributors should be awarded the “The Great Hamiltonian” or better yet they should reconstruct the article with the title “The Greatest Hamiltonians.” They all have the privilege to be called great people and that is all.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
The HPV Vaccine
The article from the Globe and Mail explains whether females should be vaccinated with the newly implemented HPV Vaccine. If the question is whether females should receive the vaccine or not, I believe it should be necessary or heavily recommended whether they attend a religious school or not specifically after the side effects are stated or announced. There are the parents that have trouble deciding whether they should have their daughters treated or not. However, knowing this I believe that all females should have the opportunity make a decision of their own without the parent’s consent. Younger females may not have a wide knowledge about the vaccine and the diseases that can harm them, but a simple presentation (like sex education) about it before any treatment may prove to be helpful. I’m sure somewhere along the lines individuals will think that the vaccine will give them a reason to have sex, but life is all about making decisions.
This is releveant to the articl because it further explains in detail how the HPV Vaccine works along with some useful facts. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, which together causes 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. Is it a good idea for females to get the shot?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTTLw_D1BkU