The End

This last blog marks the end of CMPT376W blogging assignment.  Through this entire semester of blogging, I've practiced a lot in writing, and I've learned a lot through writing.  Through reading the news and commenting on them, I've learned to write in different styles to fit to the context of the news.  Through researching into different topics, I've learned to write in the language appropriate to the topic.  Through sharing my own thoughts, I've learned to write quickly and freely.  All these experiences shapes up my writing skill, and they mark the end of my learning in CMPT376W.  But this is not the end to writing.  I will utilize the things I learned here to all that I have to write in the future.  This is only the beginning to even more writing. 

The End is Near

2013 Spring term is coming to an end, and that also means this class, CMPT376W, is almost over.  Soon, I will no longer hear the familiar PowerPoint start-up sound; soon, I will no longer hear the humorous comments from the professor; and soon, I will no longer need to write papers because I have to.  There is only one week left in class, and I know I will take away many precious writing techniques with me, the techniques that help me to write clearly, concisely and gracefully, the techniques that will stay with me for life. 

Failed Iran Nuclear Talks

The five world powers have been trying to talk Iran out of uranium enrichment program, and so far, they failed in the talk.  In the latest talk on Friday, Iran did not give a clear answer as to abandon the program in exchange for loosened sanction [1].  It seems as if Iran is not willing to back away from its program despite the tightened sanction.  Why wouldn't Iran back down from the nuclear program?  Are they planning something after they get a hold of enough uranium? This failure in the nuclear talk heightens the tension, and the powers will renew the talk on Saturday, hoping to achieve more progress.  

Reference: 
[1]  Barak Ravid, "Wold powers, Iran make little progress in Kazakhstan nuclear talks" (HAARETZ) [Online] 2013, http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/world-powers-iran-make-little-progress-in-kazakhstan-nuclear-talks.premium-1.513750 (Accessed: 5 April 2013)

Easter Monday and April Fool!

This year, Easter Monday and April Fool's Day fall on the same day.  Even though these two holidays have very different origin and meaning, but we all celebrate them by hunting.  If we celebrate Easter Monday, we hunt eggs; if we celebrate April Fool's Day, we hunt our victims.  If we celebrate these two holidays on the same day, we can hunt eggs and our victims together.  But be careful, make sure that you're the hunter and not the hunted. 

Lawmakers to Ban Google Glass Driving

We know that Google is probably going to start selling Google Glass early next year.  But even long before the release date, the lawmakers in Virginia has already tried to ban Google Glass diving. [1] We know using cellphones while driving is dangerous, but what about watching videos while driving? We'll find out when Google Glass comes out. In the future, if we ever go down to Virginia with our Google Glass, we'll have to drive safe.  

Reference:
[1] Neil McAllister, "West Virginia seeks Google Glass driving ban" (The Register) [Online] 2013, http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/25/west_virginia_google_glass_driving_ban/ (Accessed: 25 March 2013)

Earth Hour, Save the Earth

Did you remember to turn off the light during earth hour tonight?  I didn't.  I'm sorry.  But we can see that a lot of people do spend a lot of efforts in saving the earth.  People turn off lights and stop using electronics during the earth hour, saving energy for our mother earth.  A little energy saved is a little burden taken away from earth.  If you were reading my blog during earth hour, it's ok, let's try to turn off the electricity next time.  

Patients Don't Trust Obese Doctors

A new study showed that patients are less likely to follow instructions from obese doctors.  [1] It could be because we all have a negative stereotypical view on fat people.  As a result, we find obese doctors hard to follow.  In fact, it may be natural for us to not follow their instructions.  If obese doctors cannot live a healthy life, how can they expect to instruct the patients how to be healthy? They should practice what they preach.  

Reference: 
 [1]  "Patients find obese doctors less credible" (The Vancouver Sun) [Online] 2013, http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Patients+find+obese+doctors+less+credible/8137681/story.html (Acccessed: 22 March 2013)

Own Some Lands On the Moon

Did you know you could own lands on the moon? I didn't either.  Dennis Hope claimed that he owned that moon, and he began selling lunar properties back in 1980 [1].  He even started his own company called the Lunar Embassy, selling moon lands.  Now we are able to share a piece of moon before it is sold out!  But be careful, there are "other recent phony companies with no claim" of the moon [2].  Don't be tricked.  They are probably scams. 

References: 
[1] Lindsay, Jolivet, "For a limited time only: Buy your little piece of the Moon," (Yahoo! News) [Online] 2013, http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/limited-time-only-buy-little-piece-moon-144707905.html (Accessed: 12 March 2013)

[2] LunarLand.com, [Online] 2008, http://www.lunarlandowner.com/what_is_this_about.htm (Accessed: 12 March 2013)

Daylight Saving Time Affects Children More Than Adults

Daylight saving time begins tomorrow.  It means that all of us are going to get an hour less sleep, one precious hour that impacts our daily routine.  This hour is proved very important to us  adults, we finish much work within an hour.  However, it is even more so for the children.  Researchers have found that children may "feel the effects of losing a single hour of sleep for up to one week." [1]  Now it seems that we do not have a lot to complain for comparing to children.  

Reference: 

[1] Michelle McQuigge, CTV News, "Switch to daylight savings time hits kids and teens hardest" 2013. [Online]. Available: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/switch-to-daylight-savings-time-hits-kids-and-teens-hardest-1.1188052 [Accessed: 9 March 2013] 

Why Global Warming Seems to Slow Down In Recent Years

Researchers have found that volcanic activities "masks ... the effects of global warming by 25%." [1] The sulfur dioxide emitted from the volcanoes rises to stratosphere and chemically reacted with the air there.  The resulting sulfuric acid reflects sunlight and thus cools down the earth.  The research explains why global warming seems to slow down from the year 2000 to 2010, [1] ending the debate from the global warming skeptics. 

References: 
[1] THE TIMES OF INDIA, "Volcanoes mask effects of global warming by 25%: Study" 2013. [Online]. Available: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Volcanoes-mask-effects-of-global-warming-by-25-Study/articleshow/18804881.cms [Accessed: 5 March 2013]

A Good Man Getting Good Reward

Billy Ray Harris is a homeless man who begs in Kansas City.  One day, he realized that someone gave him a very expensive-looking ring.  Instead of selling the ring, he held on to it and returned it to the owner.  The fiancee of the ring-owner (it was an engagement ring) was so grateful that he started a website for donation to Billy.  Now Billy will receive more than 100,000 dollars because of his good deeds.  When he was interviewed, Billy said the reason why he returned the ring was because he was raised with Christian faith.  He still has "some character", as he put it [1].  Because of his some character, his story is told to many others, and many others are encouraged.  Billy Ray Harris is a good man. 

Reference: 
[1]  The Associated Press, Homeless man to get more than $100,000 for good deed, thestar.com, Feb. 2013. [Online] Available: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/02/25/homeless_man_to_get_more_than_100000_for_good_deed.html

On the Brink of a War

It is not looking good, we may be heading toward a devastating war soon.  We have a lot of tensions with North Korea over the past few months.  The tension rose even higher this week when North Korea posted a video on Youtube showing president Obama and US army burning in flames. [2] North Korea is not going to back down from a nuclear test despite the sanctions and international pressures.  [1]  Unless the US and other nations can do more to ease the tension, we may be staring into a global disaster in the span of a few years, or months.  The clock is ticking.  We have to act now. 

References:
[1] AFP, Photos show new activity at N.Korea nuclear site, Google News, Feb. 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itS9Z91McKNHhDxK2wC2f4C5IXig?docId=CNG.07c084df4030bccdc62b354746da54d6.3c1

[2] AFP, North Korea video shows Barack Obama in flames, Herald Sun, Feb. 2013. [Online] Available: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/sci-tech/north-korea-video-shows-barack-obama-in-flames/story-fn5iztw3-1226582294649

Farting When Flying

Researchers found that farting when sitting in an airplane is better for our health comparing to holding the fart in.  Holding it in, they found, would result in uncomfortable "abdominal symptoms ... [and] stress symptoms." [1] The doctors have spoken.  Now we no longer need to do our best to hold the fart in, all we need to do is to let go.  After all, farting is healthy.  

References: 
[1] McLean Robbins, Passing Gas Mid-Flight Is Good For Your Health, Doctors Find, Gadling, Feb. 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/18/passing-gas-mid-flight-is-good-for-your-health-doctors-find/

BlackBerry Navigates the Stars

BlackBerry has long sent a patent application for its star navigation software, but still had not been granted yet.  I was very surprised when I read this on the news.  I thought the new features in BlackBerry Z10 were very dazzling new ideas already, but this software is an entirely different idea.  We have not found a cellphone app that helps the user to use the stars to find directions -- yes, there's an app for that soon -- when BlackBerry gets its patent granted. 

Awesome Berries

Berries may be the smallest fruits on earth, but they boast great health benefits.   They are rich in vitamin C, which is known to protect our immune systems and prevent cancers.  These are not the only health benefits of berries, some of them contain unique substances that would benefit our eyes, heart and overall health.  Next time when we go to the supermarket, we should pay for attention that the berries deserve.  They not only taste great, they also help us live better too! [1,2]

References: 
[1] Shereen Jegtvig, Healthy Foods: Berries, About.com, Jan. 2013. [Online]. Available: http://nutrition.about.com/od/healthyfood1/a/berries.htm
[2] Kathleen M. Zelman, The Benefits of Vitamin C, WebMD, Jan. 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c

Sick-Minded People Getting 30 Years in Jail

Recently, a lot of Taiwanese people have been angered by the decision of the judge on a case.  The case was about four sick-minded murderers who tortured a two-year-old boy to death.  They were sentenced to death in their first trial, however, the judges reverted the verdict later and sentenced them for 30 years in jail instead.  Many Taiwanese people joined a Facebook group expressing their anger toward the four merciless murderers and the judges.  I feel their anger and disappointment, and I am not able to understand why the four murderers were so heartless that they could not even be compared to animals.  We claim that we are the most intelligent species on the planet, but many things some human beings do are much less than intelligent than all other species on the planet. 

BB10 Launched!

BlackBerry 10 is finally here.  After a long time seeing iPhones and Android phones dominating the mobile phone world, I have gotten a little tired of them.  I have waited for a new phone that calls for a new user experience.  Now BlackBerry 10 is out with unique features not seen in iOS or Android devices, it really settles the deal for me.  The new BlackBerry 10 may just be the phone that gets BlackBerry(formerly RIM) back into the mobile competition. 

Tension Rises with North Korea

Recently North Korea tested missiles again.  This sparked tensions in the South Korea and the UN, and the UN had decided to impose sanctions on North Korea.  North Korea perceived this as a hostile move on the UN's part, declaring to take "strong physical countermeasures"[1] on South Korea if South Koreans "participate in the ... UN 'sanctions.'"[1]  This causes a lot of tensions in the US as well, not to mention other parts of the world.  As for me, I too was feeling very tensed when I was reading the article.  I hope nothing too serious would happen.   

References: 
[1] The Telegraph, "North Korea threatens South Korea over UN sanctions" 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9825776/North-Korea-threatens-South-Korea-over-UN-sanctions.html [Accessed Jan. 25, 2013]. 

Engineers are Uncaring

Swedish researchers conducted a study on how caring people are in their respective fields of study.  The result was very interesting -- engineers are "less caring and empathetic than those who [are in medicinal profession]." [1] However, not all engineers are uncaring and cold.  The study shows that the computer scientists are in fact "warm [and] caring." [1] I am glad I transferred from engineering to com-sci now.  According to the study, I am warm and caring too.  

References: 
[1] Lewis Page, Engineers are cold and dead inside, research shows, The Register, Jan. 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/21/engineers_cold_and_dead_inside/ [Accessed: 22 Jan. 2013].

Florescent Light Causes Sleeping Problems

I learned something new yesterday -- florescent light bulbs emit blue light, and it causes sleeping problems.  In nature, blue light comes from the sky.  Our bodies create a chemical that keep us energized when we see blue light.  However, when light bulbs emit blue light at night, it keeps us awake, and we have trouble falling asleep.  

PowerPoint is Evil?

In my CMPT320 class I had an opportunity to explore the different views on Microsoft PowerPoint.  Some assert "PowerPoint is evil" (Tufte, 2003); some other simply "[heart] PowerPoint" (DavidByrne.com, 2003).  It is interesting to see different perspectives on PowerPoint, while it is only a presentation tool that can be used in different ways.  And everyone can have a different take on the same tool when they use it, so can we really blame the tool for not performing to our satisfaction? 

Reference: 

DavidByrne.com (n.d.) I [Heart] PowerPoint. Retrieved from http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/david_byrne_artbio.php#Lectures_Presentations

Wired (September 2003) PowerPoint is Evil. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

Life of Pi

I finally went to see Life of Pi the other day.  The movie was inspiring. Even though it is basically about how a man and a tiger survive together on a boat, it in fact provokes deep thoughts about life.  It tells of how a person's life and belief changes when he face an extreme situation. 

Berry Awesome

Welcome to my blog! This is the first time I am trying blogging, and I am only doing this because it's my CMPT376W assignment.  But since I've made this blog already, I think I might as well make all my posts interesting.  So stay tuned for my interesting comments!