Blog Assignment 7

In the writing Synethesia by Elizabeth Glinka, she claims that "This increased acuity is created by a mixing of the senses, where numbers and letters have a distinct color assignment, or words have a specific taste or smell is called synesthesia." My interpretation is that synethesia come from a unique resonance. It's hard to have synethesia since everyone's point of view is different, however, as long as one catches other's feelings, synesthesia itself will showed up automatically.
In the article, the author argues there are uncertainties about the effectiveness of using sensory descriptors. The sensory interpretation may be cleared, and some ideas the students intend to address might be obscure. Therefore the author use plenty of evidence to prove her counterargument. She uses a very persuasive example , a person works on synesthesia field, a self-diagnosed synesthete who published book to be a very strong evidence to justify her ideas.
I think her essay is persuasive. After addressing her claim, the author provides massive evidences, which are synesthesia experts, to support the idea. To write a paper, the most important thing is to pick correct source. What source to pick has been the biggest issuer for the writers. The source in the writing are very succinct and suitable.

Blog Assignment 6

In the essay The Publication of Your Personal Profile by Megan Ramiez, the author writes about some disadvantages of private information on social networks by illustrating many research she's done. One typical example of quotation which comes from Chris Hansen, the author of To Catch a Predator is" An appealing picture, a friendly query, a similarity of interests, or someone who just seems 'cool' is often more than enough for kids to make exceptions and let someone into their site that they don't, in fact, know."(Hansen 135). This quotation can represent the whole idea of the paragraph. The previous sentence states that even some profiles are restricted, their strange friends or outsiders can still access to their profiles. Some the quotation proves to the readers about how and why strangers can have the access. Without the quotation, the author can still use her own words to do the explanations. However, quotes from famous academic scholar can be more persuasive since they are more recognized by audience.
Also, in the coming paragraph, the author paraphrases from Material Virtualities by J.Sunden " signifying that it is possible to meet a person and get to know his or her personality by looking it up on his or her profile without actually ever meeting him or her face to face." It is easy to sense this is not written by a scholar due to the simplicity of the language. So one big advantages of paraphrasing is to make some complex and comprehensive sentences more simple and concise.
The two research tightly focus on the main idea of the whole essay. They make the essay looks more legitimate since they are both from famous academic scholars.

Blog assignment 5

History is often written by the winner since there can only be one who can still be erect after the brutal competition. Winner's histories impress readers quite a bit. Readers give them recognitions. However, Loser's history is significant and should be recognized too.
Napoleon conquered the entire Europe. People were impressed by his intelligences , braves and leaderships. But the most famous thing which related to the name Napoleon is the Battle of Waterloo that declared the end of Napoleon's reign as French emperor. To compare the conquest of the Europe, Waterloo is tiny, but it has indispensible value.
The example like Napoleon who is remember because of his failure is not conventional as others. Loser's histories are easily forgotten as the time goes, but this one is not.

Blog assignment 4

Liu's experiences in Chicago reminds me of my first few weeks in the U.S. I observed myself in his essay which exposes some of commons situations for foreigners who study abroad. However, everyone's story might be slightly different.
Liu was extremely homesick during his year in the windy city. As he mentioned in the essay, it is a totaly alien word for him. He cannot fit in the class, having conflicts with people, eager to speak Chinese even he is in an American college. It's understandable to have these feelings, but how to deal with has to be cautious. I don't approve Liu's solution to the situation he is in. Obstacles won't be overcame, instead, he has to conquer them.
My experiences tell me that it's ok to have problems, and it's encouraged to solve them. When I just came here, I didn't realize it would be tough for me to fit in here. As time went, I figure out the whole system here was completely different. I didn't complain like Liu, to find solutions was more crucial. I found out where problems came from, and consulted teachers, talked to students who did well in class, and had good conversations with the principle. I got abundant information about how to live in the U.S., what were required to get good grades, spending a lot of time with them was a huge benefit for me, paving the way for my future study and living here.
Nevertheless, sometimes for a person like me , it is still necessary to stick around folks from your own country. Living abroad is toilsome. I'm authorized to say since I experienced a lot during my two years here. To be with people from your country is a good way to relieve the stress, anxiety and loneliness. No matter how area they from, which native accent they speak, what kind of believe they put faith into, they will easily get involved, help each other out. That is what I have experienced on this first month, being together which them is great. They are the essential for me to study here.

Blog assignment 3

I remember one commercial says :" Look me in the eyes. It's ok if you're scare and so am I." Well, people sometimes tend to be bashful while they have eyes contacts with others. Eye contacts is considered to be one kind of nonverbal communication which is defined differently in different countries. Some distinctions exist in it really confuse and even separate foreigners and natives. They should be regarded as crucial as our grades.

As it interprets in textbook, eye contacts cannot be ignored. Making eye contacts might sounds easy to majority, but someone feel bashful to do it as I said in the beginning. But it will express whether you would like to talk with this person or not. Sufficient eye contacts will help people making friends, to let others know that you are friendly and respectful to them. But it owns the limitation. It is not recommended to stare at people, especially for two strangers. People will see this as an unpleasant behavior and turn their noses up at it. Therefore learn to control our eyes in a group, glancing is definitely not going to be acceptable.

As the term itself, nonverbal communications is not easy to observe. Ones have to sense it, taste it and experience it from every different place, different angle. There are actually a lot of arts in a bus. They have tendency to not sit together on the bus here in the U.S. expect they are close friends. That may sounds weird for a foreigners. Since what happen in my country is that you don't have chance to pick where you prefer to sit. It is always crowded and the space is limited and people run for a seat. But, we have a different situation here. I was on a bus one day, a gentle man walked on the bus and seek for a seat. There were some pair seats in the back and each of them was only occupied by one person, however, instead of taking a seat he chose to hold the armrest and stood there. I was curious at that point, but after I experiences it a lot. I understand people needs some bubbles as mentioned in textbook to defend and protect their own personal space. It's a non-constituted rule on the bus. As one part of nonverbal communications, space is an indispensible element for us to be conscious.

We can't blind to gestures, either. It's well-know that gestures express intentions, ideas and meanings. Still, there are many ways to convey them, shows inappropriate ways may cause people unpleasant. Universally, people feel uncomfortable when they are pointed at by others. I experiences this several times. When I was try to describe a certain situation, I either have a habit to point at the partner that I'm talking with, or point to some else I'm talking about. Of course, the responses I received were somewhat outspoken and straight. It's a such a serious problem here. I've been observing people around me and they barely point at each other. Other gestures may as serious as this. They probably contains cultural and historical significances. As foreigners understand the history and culture better, they will be aware of those.

Nonverbal communication is an obscure subjects which requires accumulative understandings for foreigners. It possesses something that culture doesn't. We can learn a culture from books, but for this nonverbal thing, we can only experience it, to involve it.

Blog assignment2

As Dr.Leonard Zunin theory,leaving a good first impression to someone you first meet is important and it often will depend how far the relationship will stand. However, It is not wise to totally count on the first impression. You might happen to meet him when he has a bad day. Nobody is expected to be self-confident and happy all day long. If a stranger talks to you without friendliness and enthusiasm, you probably start feeling uncomfortable and intend to end up the conversation quickly. But as time goes on, your perceptions about this guy will change. This case occurs on our lives frequently.
My friend Wayne is one of the most dominant players in our high school basketball team. Our first meeting was on the basketball court. I barely talked to him, he was as arrogant as I thought. It requires some gusts to talk to a six feet five guy when you are under six feet. That's most likely my first impression on him. Like I describe, he is a big guy the court. No matter how hard the defender guard him, he just kept making jump- shots, grading rebounds. And that really took my confidences away. As his teammate, I almost did no contributions for the team. During the break, he came to me and simply:" Just keep shooting, remain confidence." At first, I was a little bit shocked since I expected some smacks from him, instead of it, those concise but powerful words really let me regain me energy. I played well on the second half, helped the team get the win. I changed my bias toward him little by little.

Off the court, Wayne happened to be in my History class. During the class session, he participated in discussions, presenting his comprehensive thoughts, but also showed some sense of humor. My previous image about him was totally over turned. But I lost my confidence which I should possess to become his friend. Dramatically, one day after class, he invited me to come to his house to have dinner with some of his friends. I had no more to say but"yes". From that day and on, we become in-tight friend everywhere around school, sweating on the court, chilling in the hall way, we even went to the principle office together for keeping missing class. I found himself a completely different guy from the first time I met him.
In some cases Dr. Zuzin intellectual ideas may be right. But plenty of cases have proved that this is not reliable as it sounds like. It is imprudent to stick on the first impression always. The first impression is crucial indeed, but it is surely not the only element we can dwell on for having a serious relationship with people.

Differences about launguage using in varied situation

I never take a second thought about significances of conversations until I read "Mother Tongue "by Amy Tan. Indeed, we automatically adjust our ways of speaking and use different words while we switch our talking partners. I flashback about conversations I had with friends, parents and faculties in school, some differences surely exist among them.

My friends always go to my horse to sleepover. We have dinner and play games together. During the dinner, my parents and my friends sit around the table . I will say some words that I will never use in an essay in a causal talking with my peers. We talk about the latest release ps3 games, about Phillies baseball and all the kind of pop news, even rap out some Lil Wayne's. But I observe that my parents have been ignored. Therefore I withdraw myself to their concerns and it somehow become kind of serious. I have to ask them about their daily works to see if everything is going on well. You definitely don't expect use a high, excited tone to talk about topics like that. I have to calm down my tone a little bit. Meanwhile, it's a tradition to show respects to elder people. I never talk to my parents with discourteousness as I am taught to be polite like everyone else is. It is also similar in a formal situation. In a formal situation, I will keep my voice down since it is rude to talk aloud in a formal meeting, conference or convocation. And some more academic vocabularies must been used in this situation to impress listeners. In the contrast, I think no one will speaker like a british-style gentleman in a less formal or even causal situation. No expatiatory sentences or complicated grammars will appear in a less formal conversation. It's even fun to have some grammatical mistakes. The people you are talking to in this situation will not be the one who grades you test.

It is interesting that there are differences of conversation in varied situations. These differences are not easy for people to realize. And people somehow have tendencies to speak in different ways while they encounter different things.

to my folks

Yo,yo yo, what'up!! Folks!!! I'm Shaochen Feng. It's a great chance to be a bluehen and study with you guys. I can't tell you how excited I get accepted from UD and become of the largest and the greatest class of 2013. My major is Engineering Technology which is kind of weird since no one else has the same major.
I have been the U.S. for two years, ironically, as you see, my writing skills are still at the same level as I was in China. I could have done more, but I squandered all of them. However, I do have some invaluable experiences about American cultures and people. If you guys encounter some unexpected troubles, feel free to talk to me. In the future studies, hopefully we can work together and get everything done. And for our base members, keep in mind Smyth 003!!!!!!

On Memorial Day, we remember...............

Today, at Arlington National Cemetery, a wreath with red and white carnations which placed by the President is arresting, solider were carrying flags emotionally to commemorate their friends, brothers and sisters who are killed in combats. I quote as Obama said: “waged war so that we may know peace.” For people who have lost their families, it is a tough and tragic day. The U.S War Marine Corps War Monument will let them to remind of their sons, their happy time in families, baseball courts and churches. But today, their only memories are all about those videos types which were taken before they died serving the country.

After this, someone might say it’s wrong to have ware in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kabul or stop the war, make love. And here is a quite interesting story. At the intersection of Warren Rd and Hanshaw Rd, a sign sticks to the fence which updates once in a while says: “ I personally vote no troops in Iraq.” Oh my lord, he or she must be a frantic fan of our loved President. Does it make you FEEL good? But, do you THINK it sounds logical? Sometimes people FEEL to much, they don’t THINK. I can’t say to my upcoming freshman year advisor that I feel I can do very well in math class. I have to prove my abilities in tests. Feeling sometimes cheats you.

Is it unnecessary to have armies? Is there no violence around the planet? THINK about it, “feeling” people, fortunately, it is not rockets science for God’s sake.

Who can finally close Guantanamo Bay, or.........

The release of interrogation memos accidentally reminds me one thing, or one place---- Guantanamo Bay. I wasn't focusing on him during his campaign, can't confidently say that closing Guantanamo prison.( Did he actually campaign that?) But at the first speech to the Congress, he did mention it at least twice. He used cogent lecture voice to acclaim that what kind of bay will be closing soon. It's just a simple question:" where else on the earth is available for detainees, could you think of any?"
Again, let me clarify my position to those die-hard Obama's supporters. I rationalize myself some actions of the previous administration are illegal. People put faith on BO, having huge expectations on his presidential movements and his believes.
"Change", the most frequent word I've heard so far. To change somehow means to put something in a more dangerous situation, to risk things where they have been inherently stable.
What motives people to change? Apparently, there aren't big changes in Ithaca since the recession began. People still maintain their jobs, teens go to Applebees' as usual, not to mention, the gas price goes up after soaring for a few months.
Of course people from other areas have been suffering a lot since last year. however, after the stimulus plan released, did the "change" occurred among them? All I know is that the unemployment rates hit nine percent on April.
Sometimes, ones can not be motivated to change even there is no choice but to change.

Not consistent, but critical consistent

(this is a draft)

April 16th, 2009 happened to be a notable date in records of Obama’s administration. He released four interrogation memos written by officials of Bush’s administration which intends to justify what CIA had done to terror suspects. Obama engages justice and equality with state torture, opposing any illegal or moral problems in interrogations. However, Obama is somewhat mishandled after math. He is devoid of some necessary consistencies, even though his intention toward banning torture is praised.
Now, I’m sincerely urging to those Obama’s die-hard supporters: pleased be critical, unbiased and consistent.
First of all, Obama’s intention is to ban hard techniques used to suspects, which is welcomed to all man-kind. In the point of equality and justice, everybody would agree prohibitions of it. No moral problems should have ever existed in our society. We have been suffered spiritually through videos, photos and diaries of victims trampled, tortured and executed by lots harsh, cruel, immoral measures. This gross violation of human rights ought to be banned by any means of necessaries.
Nevertheless, in a more critical angel, I have a distinctive perspective to this political movement. During the past eight months, America has been suffered so badly due to the economic crisis. The unemployment rates used to be almost nine percent, only less than the Great Depression in 1930s. House owners are losing their possessions, manufactures are laying off workers. Auto-makers declares bankrupt one after another. It is sad to say but this is a crucial and tragic time for people living in this country. But after Obama get elected for the President, he quickly passed a stimulus bill to help those areas and people to recovery.
Domestic problems have made Obama and his cabinet very hectic, not to mention global issues. It’s not an appropriate time to release memos since he doesn’t have enough time to focus on it, in another to speak it, he is somehow lacking of consistency.
Ruben Navarrette Jr., the member a member of the editorial board of the San Diego Union-Tribune, says: “President Obama made a total mess of his position about torture.” on his commentary. According his critical analysis, after Obama releases interrogation memos, he totally mishandled this whole incident and underestimates its upcoming consequences.
On one hand, he obviously criticizes Republican side for allowing abuse of interrogation harsh techniques. It ignores and violates human’s deserved rights. But, he also makes his own side pissed off. At first, he said the officials and layers who wrote the memos should be prosecuted, but not even two days later he hands the whole thing over to attorney Hodler and after nobody barely talks about the prosecution. Democrats are totally disappointed by the consequence.
Now, assuming you were extremely conservative, you probably would say: “ What a hypocrite!” However, it is not completely correct.
Navarrette stresses out in his commentary: “All I care about is that Obama choose a position and sticks to it, and that, as commander-in-chief, he fully grasps the enormous responsibilities that came with the office.” Moreover, I think he is not consistent.(“consistency” is key word here as I mention through the entire article) He is not consistent toward his attitude after he released memos. Senior political contributor Ed Rollins pointed out: “At the same time he said he had no intention of prosecuting the drafters of those memos.” He and people who supported him finally gave up about prosecutions to officials. They somewhat can stick to their belief and action they have done, miscalculating how tough process is going to be and how serious consequences will come out. As long as they are being criticized, they suddenly become inconsistent to profound plans they set. Meanwhile, I emphasize one more time that the purpose of releasing memos is encouraged, but it is just not a right time to do it and President is lacking of consistency to this particular case.
Consistency plays an inalienable but subtle role not only in politics, but in our daily life. Sometimes your ambitious determination is no longer important to you unless you are strongly consistent, never lose your faith on things you have been doing and continue sticking on that. I, as myself , is a persuasive example. When I work out, I have to be consistent to the same amount of set-ups which I have to do everyday. Some day, I might get sore muscle or being assigned plenty of homework, but I still drag myself to weights room. One day, two days, or three days are not enough but years after years to be consistent to have a healthy body and living style. And only being consistent is not enough if you want to have a great achievement. Being critical consistent is both effective and influential. Still in terms of fitness, you have to sketch a critical plan to work out. It will be imprudent to do a hundred step-ups or running 5 miles for the first day since tomorrow you will hardly sore bone and muscle which will make you not able to walk. Thereby your plan might just end right up, meanwhile, frustration and pain will destroy you willing to go to weights room. Having great determination is encouraged with critical consistency.
Then, in politics, if there was only one thing that Republicans are right about, if there was only one thing that Democrats ever overlooked, if there was only one thing that President Obama forger about, if would be consistency, critical consistency.
In all of campaigns before get elected, Obama mention not only once about the intention of closing Guantanamo Bay detention camp. But after four months of his inauguration, his intention becomes an idea. They gradually recognize it’s not possible to finish this mission. No place is available for them to settle down prisons and criminal rate won’t appear a negative derivative because of that. After that they headed to some East Europe countries asked them if prisoners could go there. Unfortunately, their responses are: “You can go to hell!” Without critical consistency, Democrats confronted and will continue confronting numerous obstacles.
Consistent is after critical. You ought to think twice, considering every angle you can possible cover and then to be consistent. Currently, President Obama works so hard to lead this country on the right track, there is no question about that. His intention to promote universal health care, ending up war in Afganistan, enhancing education has always been supported and praised by people. His leadership should not be doubted. Poise, humbleness, generosity, and thought surround this great leader, and he ages a lot after being head of United States, I can perceive the old wrinkle on his sideburns, but, I am sorry but I have to say he is a little bit lack of critical consistency.

Perceptions about the Stimulus Plan

A month after the historic inauguration, President Obama has taken several steps to recovery the catastrophic economy. Even though intentions of this stimulus plan are positive, responses from everywhere in the society are different and pungent. Some people believe this landmark achievement will rescue their losing jobs, their house mortgage, their children’s educations. Others doubt this will higher taxes which is the result of unemployment benefits, some part-time workers do not deserve the same benefits as full time workers. But no mattre what, the new president and his cabinet have always been trying to lead us to a right track

Let’s just put it in a simple way: It’s better than nothing. I remember Obama said at his first prime-time conference: “This plan is not perfect, and no plan is.” In the 1990s, Japan also suffered from economic crisis. Differing with the U.S, Japan’s government didn’t take some quick, effective steps to help the economy recovery. As a result of that, Japan had no economic growth in the whole decade. To contrast, Obama quickly promoted a plan to rescue, saving turbulent economy and society. In this regard, he has put a splendid mark on his presidency.

Now, if we review U.S History, a relevant situation to this is the Great Depression. F.D.R unveiled New Deal, which is similar to the stimulus plan, to reform economy. Most people thought it was a terrific plan that saved them out of abyss. But those criticisms couldn’t be ignored. Historians said it split the chance to radically reform capitalism. Moreover, critics complained the New Deal was undergone some changes of communism. Although it was a successful economy recovery plan, it was still being questioned. And the enactment of it was 6 six years, from 1933 to 1939, even in 1939, the unemployment was still high. But Obama used not only a month to come up a plan which has been working among us now. The practicability sill need to verify, every big plan does. It means to need to find out leaks and fix it, not destroy it.