Some final symbols. (rw5, Lord of the Flies)

The very last sentence of Golding's novel tells us how the smartly dressed naval officer, who compares the boys adventure to Coral Island, to give the boys some privacy as they recover from their crying, "[allows] his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance" (1954, p. 202).

Why does Golding go into so much detail when he describes the officers dress? What is its symbolic importance?
Why does the officer mention Coral Island? What does this symbolize?
And what sort of symbol is the cruiser that concludes the story?

__________

References

Golding, W., & Epstein, E. L. (1954). Lord of the Flies. New York: Perigee.

Carving up roast animals: What do you think?

Read the following introduction to "Carving the Roast Beast", a sixteen page essay and dialogue by Stephen Law.

Every year in the UK, more than 25 million turkeys are killed for our Christmas dinner. Is this mass slaughter justifiable merely to satisfy our preference for a certain kind of meat? Shouldn't we be carving nut cutlets instead?

The Wilson family are sat around the Christmas dinner table. Dad is carving the turkey when he glances a little apprehensively at his eldest daughter, Gemma.

Mr. Wilson: Some turkey, Gemma?

Gemma: Of course not. You know I'm a vegetarian.

Mrs Wilson: Only since last week. And it's Christmas. Can't you join in just this once?

Gemma: No. It's morally wrong to eat meat. I'm not going to do something morally wrong just to make you happy.

Much the same conversation will be familiar to parents around the world. Teenagers are increasingly becoming vegetarians, often on moral grounds. It can be irksome for the parents: special meals have to be cooked and time and effort put into making sure that their offspring get a balanced diet.

Still, while Gemma's views might be inconvenient, that doesn't make them mistaken. And in fact Gemma does have some rather good arguments up her sleeve. (Law, 2003, pp. 124 - 5)

Now, in a comment below, write your response to the topic and main idea of Law's sixteen page essay. Although I've asked you to respond to Law's topic and main idea, this is a response writing, so we can be pretty flexible. The important thing is to respond to the reading in sentences that clearly state your ideas.

I suggest you write for five to ten minutes without stopping, and then publish your comment.

You can also respond to a classmate's comments if you thought it was interesting. You might think it was interesting because you agree or because you disagree with your classmate, or for any other reason.

You can leave as many comments as you like.

You do not have the next fifteen pages of Law's essay: that is not a problem. Don't worry: I'll give you the full essay tomorrow, after everyone has written their response to the introduction above.

__________

References

Law, S. (2003). Carving the roast beast. In The Xmas Files: The Philosophy of Christmas (pp. 124 - 140). London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Political Correctness or Newspeak? (Lord of the Flies and 1984)

The edition of Lord of the Flies that we read at AUA is published in New York, and the Perigee editors have changed a word. On page 180, Golding originally has Piggy describe Jack's group as "a pack of painted niggers", not "Indians" (Golding & Epstein, 1954). British editions, such as the Faber and Faber edition, continue to use the original niggers (Golding, 1997, p. 200).

Do you think that the American publisher was right to change the word niggers to Indians?

__________

References

Golding, W., (1997). Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber.
Golding, W., & Epstein, E. L. (1954). Lord of the Flies. New York: Perigee.

What's right's right! Or is might right? (rw5, Lord of the Flies)

In "Castle Rock", when Ralph blows the conch to call a meeting for the last time at the platform where they first gathered, Piggy proclaims his intention to confront Jack with the conch and ask for his glasses back "not as a favour, [not] ... to be a sport", and "not because you're strong, but because what's  right's right" (p. 171).

What does Piggy mean here? What is he saying about right and wrong?
What is the opposing view of moral right and wrong held by Jack?

Who do you think is right?  Piggy or Jack?
Which view of morality is more common in your culture?
Why does this matter? (Does it matter?)

__________

References

Golding, W., & Epstein, E. L. (1954). Lord of the Flies. New York: Perigee.

Child Murderers in Paradise (rw5, Lord of the Flies)

"The Shell and the Glasses" begins with Ralph and Piggy discussing the awful conclusion to the party, with communal feasting, dancing and singing, which they enjoyed  at Jack's place the previous evening (Golding & Epstein, 1954, p. 155 - 158).

• Did the children murder Simon? 
• Are Piggy and Ralph as guilty as any of the rest? Are they more guilty? 

__________

References

Golding, W., & Epstein, E. L. (1954). Lord of the Flies. New York: Perigee.

Should the traitors to the nation be punished? (1984)

As their bold words, and actions, make abundantly clear in chapter 1 of Part II, Winston and Julia are clearly traitors to the legitimate government of their nation, Oceania (Orwell, 2008). In Winston's case, we have long known that he is a traitor, and Julia proudly proclaims her own long standing disloyalty.

Should they be punished?

__________

References

Orwell, G. (2008). Nineteen Eighty-Four. London: Penguin Books Ltd.

We didn't ought to 'ave trusted the buggers. (rw6, 1984)

In chapter 3 of Nineteen Eighty-Four, when he should be touching his toes, Winston reminisces about the never ending war that began in his childhood. The specific detail is the awful grief of a gin soaked old man, but Orwell manages to pack a lot more into the short account:

In his childish way Winston grasped that some terrible thing, something that was beyond forgiveness and could never be remedied, had just happened. It also seemed to him that he knew what it was. Someone whom the old man loved--a little granddaughter, perhaps--had been killed. Every few minutes the old man kept repeating:

'We didn't ought to 'ave trusted 'em. I said so, Ma, didn't I? That's what comes of trusting 'em. I said so all along. We didn't ought to 'ave trusted the buggers.'

But which buggers they didn't ought to have trusted Winston could not now remember.

Since about that time, war had been literally continuous (Orwell, 2008, p. 35 - 36)

Discussion Questions

• Which buggers do you think they were? 
• Why shouldn't they have been trusted?  

__________

References

Orwell, G. (2008). Nineteen Eighty-Four. London: Penguin Books Ltd.

(In case you don't have the paper version of the novel handy, it's also available online @ http://wikilivres.info/w/index.php?title=Nineteen_Eighty-Four/Part_I/Chapter_3&oldid=93701 )

Useful AND Useless

Technology has been developed to support the need of human. One way to classify technology is that to categorize by its function, such as communication, transportation and entertainment. Some of them are useful, such as device which Pual Marks introduced in his article "Police radar guns could help identify suicide bombers” in New Scientist. But, some of them leave the question in my head that it necessary in our life. That technology is the phone application from “Smartphone app monitors your every move” by Duncan Graham-Rowe from the same website.

According to “Police radar guns could help identify suicide bombers”, Pual Marks reported that the police radar guns were security instruments, which used for searching “a would-be suicide bomber in a crowd.”(2010, ¶1) Firstly, some of scientists doubted about its accuracy; however, after having an experiment, they were pleased with the result and recommended the US army to provide budget to improve the function of the gun. They also suggested that it would be useful if the guns were use at military checkpoint or integrated with other technologies, such as the CCTV cameras in public places.

The police radar gun, in my opinion, is one of the examples of a beneficial device. However, there are some technologies, which I think that it is unnecessary, such as monitoring software, which introduce in the next article “Smartphone app monitors your every move.” According to the writer, Duncan Graham-Rowe, Jigsaw is Smartphone application, which will record you daily activities and publish in user’s social network website; for example, Facebook and Twitter. The developer, Hong Lu, advocated that the application is “useful to a doctor or fitness trainer.”(¶3)

Police radar gun is helpful. If the guns preciously detect bomb it will not only safe civilian’s life, it also protect soldiers, who work hard at the frontline. This article also remind me about a bomb detector, GT200, which is used in South of Thailand. The military claimed that GT200 can detect a bomb in aircrafts and moving vehicles from far distance. In addition, this device is extremely expensive. Because of the exaggeration, scientists suspect the function of GT200. They inspected its performance then they found that GT200 is just deceptive equipment. If only this device were work efficiently, there would be less soldier die in restrict zone. Then I compare the radar gun with the application from “Smartphone app monitors your every move.” In my opinion this application, Jigsaw, is quite useless. When I take public transport I always kill the time by checking my BB. When I get into Facebook, I notice that many people post a ridiculous comment; for example complaining their partner, posting sad stories and philosophies of love. If Jigsaw is existed, I cannot imagine about what I am going to see in my FB wall. I may know how much calories, which my friend take daily, where they are, and how many step, which they walk in each day. I ensure that this is horrible!

__________

References

Marks, P. (2010, November 26). Police radar guns could help identify suicide bombers. Newscientist. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19775-police-radar-guns-could-help-identify-suicide-bombers.html
Rowe, D. G. (2010, November 26). Smartphone app monitors your every move. Newscientist. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827885.300-smartphone-app-monitors-your-every-move.html

Do you want to learn in an online class?

People decide to learn foreign language because some people would like to continue study aboard; some people would like to work in foreign companies; some people love learning new languages, and so on. Whatever reasons they give it makes language schools grow up. In Thailand, there are many foreign language schools such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, and English language schools. However, the most popular language in Thailand is English, so there are many English language schools. Each school try to create strategies to attract their student to take course same as the article, Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion.

According to the article, Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion, recently, many people are interested in learning English by online programs and CDs because these methods are convenience and relatively low cost. However, more schools provide extension programs which are online courses for students who have trouble making time or stay far from the school. The online course includes video lectures, readings, exercises and assignments, and provides the instructors to correct and sent them back via e-mail. Although the weakness of online course is the conversational element, online students can practice with another via chat rooms, or the student can also talk on the phone with the instructors in order to practice their pronunciation. However, online courses are suitable for the people who are extremely self-disciplined.

These days, there is intense competition between the language schools to attract students; therefore, the language schools try to organize the course like an online course and traditional course to be choices for student who has limitations. In my opinion, more than reputation, one strategy to organize the flexible course is the one way which convinces people to interest in their schools.

In your case, which course do you prefer?

__________

References

Korkki P. (2010, November 25). Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion, The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/education/26LANGUAGE.html?ref=nationalspecial2

What is the connection between texting and unemployment rate in the U.S.?

I think everyone is familiar with BB which is not Big Brother in 1984, but a mobile e-mail and smart-phone device. Since I have never had one, I have no idea why people especially children are texting all the time. The behavior of texting and unemployment rate seems to be irrelevant topic to me. However, I think Friedman did a pretty good job to show a connection between those two topics in his article “U.S.G. and P.T.A.”

In his article, Friedman expresses his worry about texting behavior of American kid these days. In his opinion, this behavior has something to do with unemployment in the U.S. as well as other factors that he points out. First of all, the international competition is more intense. It is now harder for American applicants to get into their most elite college such as Harvard and Yale, since the progression of education systems of China, India, Singapore, Poland, and Vietnam, the best of these international students has become their strong competitors. Next, globalization and technology has eaten away lower-skilled service and factory jobs; on the other hand, it has generated the requirement for more better-educated and high-skilled workers. Education Secretary Arne Duncan indicated that, nowadays, American adolescents will suffer from financial hardship and social failure, when they drop out. Finally, while the value of higher education has been promoted, the U.S.’s high school graduation rates, college graduation and global test scores in math and critical thinking has dropped behind its peer. From his point of view, the solution incorporates the reinforcement from the top down by the U.S. government (U.S.G) and the bottom up by the Parent Teacher Associations (P.T.A). That is, America requires more dedicated teacher with better performance and devoted parents supporting their children’s higher education studies. On top of that, they need better kids who are ready to learn, not to text. In order to do that, there must be the support “from the White House to the classroom to the living room … to nurture a culture of achievement and excellence”, said Friedman (¶ 8).

I think we should be really worried about the education development in Thailand. Nowadays, the education system of Vietnam, China, and Malaysia has improved a lot more than ours. Tomorrow, Lao and Cambodia applicants may become our challenger. How are we going to keep up with our peers, since our primary and secondary education are still poor? Texting is a problem, but there are others more serious. Apart from a more encouraging intelligence curriculum, we are so desperate for good teachers. The problem is that teacher salaries are extremely low. My friend teaching at a public high school got his first salary around 6,500 Baht. He cannot survive in BKK without support from his parents. That rate is a lot less than those of Malaysia teacher, from I have heard, which is nearly 20,000 Baht or above. Today, Malaysia spends money on education more than military. Actually, Malaysia education expenditure percentage of GDP ranks number 10 since 2002, while that of Thailand ranks number 49 (“Education Statistic,” n.d.). That is not bad, but our education quality are not going to change as fast as our neighbors. I wonder when we are going to have a good education in our society. How many smart and well-educated people are willing to be a teacher receiving a little money? The answer is not many.

__________

References

Education Statistic. (n.d.). NationMaster.Com. Retrieved November 26, 2010 from http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_spe-education-spending-of-gdp

Friedman, T. L. (2010, November 23). U.S.G. and P.T.A. The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/opinion/24friedman.html?src=me&ref=general

Good reasons to watch national films, to go to the movie theatres and say no to piracy

Do you like to go to the movie? Do you often watch films made in your country? Do you buy them? or do you go to see them to a movie theatre? If you buy them, do you buy pirate films?

To go to a movie theatre is a different greater experience than to watch at home a film. At the big screen there are no interruptions of telephone calls, ring door, something more important to do to stop the film, and the most important your five senses are working 100%. I love to go to watch movies at the movies theatres!

The article ¡Acción! in The Economist explain me many question about the Mexican Films I always wanted to know, in particular how is their present situation. It is very interesting to understand the economical development of this Mexican industry because first, Mexico was the most important Hispanic movie maker which cultural and social influences on most Spanish speaking countries, and second its history reminds the film situation of many countries.

According to the article, the number of Mexican films is increase in the last ten years with the help of the state fund, $73.3m, after a crisis. The industry is not as in “the golden age of Mexican films, between 1940-1955”, when the production was 100 films per years and it was the country’s sixth-biggest industry. The benefit is rare. Marina Stavenhagen of the Mexican Film Institute (Imcine) estimate that only very few films make profit, maybe around ten per year, in despite of Mexico has the fifth highest public in the movie theatres in the world with 4, 500 screens and it is the double than Brazil which has the double of population. There are many raisons. Mexican film benefit depend essentially on the people who go to watch the movies (90%) because of piracy in DVD and actually, the Mexican TV networks competition allow to pay very low rights for every film. The Mexican films are showed very few weeks compare with United States films. The government helps also very bad productions. The price of the tickets are expensive.

__________

References

¡Acción! More films, more subsidies, elusive profits (Nov 18th 2010) The Economist. Retrieved November 24, 2010 from

www.economist.com/node/17525912.

Telehealth

Nowadays many new epidemic outbreak such as SARS, Bird flu, mad cow and swine flu. It presents that the world population are at risk for sickness. When epidemic spreads, health organisations would ran sanitation campaign to promote public to avoid risky behaviors As you can see, hand cleaning gels are put everywhere to stop bird flu contracting in public places. Health became popular topic in society. People concern more about their health and how to keep themselves away from illness. Consequently, technology in medication is improved rapidly.

In the article"Wired Up at Home to Monitor Illnesses" in The New York Time by Milt Preudenhem reports the progress of Medicare devices use. Rachel Hofstad, 94, with chronic lung disease is one of patients who attend trial of "telehealth" device. In the morning, she start her daily health check. firstly, touch a screen to log in. Next, put on a blood pressure cuff to see her pressure and also her pulse. Thirdly, measure oxygen in blood by only slide forefinger into sensor. The last step is check her weight on the scale the link to the machine. After that the result will be sent to the doctors at Mayo clinic. This trial project's researcher, Dr.Gregory J. Hanson says that the device could be helpful in the elder with chronic condition such as lung and heart diseases, advance diabetes to follow their doctor and nurse advices. Big multinational companies, for example, G.E., Philip and Intel speed up their commitment about health. However, in the journal by Dr. Sarwat I. point out that in six weeks result there are no significant differences in health status between patients who use this device and patient in group control received usual care. By the way, Dr. Gregory tell that telehealth encourage the elder patient to tell the symptom that they hesitate to tell a nurse in person, and also reduce costs in medical check for long term.

Even though home medical devices are still limited in function and accuracy, they are possibility to develop the program the response the patient needs in the future. The home medical devices in Japan and Europe are more popular than in America. Home medical devices are the tool that help patients to be able to stay home even they need a care under doctor control. The progress of home medical device would solve a number of health problem in society. For example, it will decrease an epidemic because we can find the patient who is a carrier faster. Moreover, it reduce worried about the elder care in their descendant. Thank to researcher that they have developed technology in medical for flighting with illness. How about you ? What do you think medical device can do in the future?

__________

References

Freudenheim, M.(2010, November 22). "Wired Up at Home to Monitor Illness". The New York Time. Retrieved November 23, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/health/23monitor.html?_r=1&ref=health

Safety

Now, many people travel around the world by plane at airport. At there we can’t avoid the Pat-down. Do you enjoy the pat-down?

According to the article, “Pat- Downs at Airports Prompt complaints”, one traveler was patted down at Dallas – Fort Worth International Airport because of a tissue and a hair band in her packet by the body scanner. At that time she didn’t expect her to touch his vagina through her pants. Like this situation, in the three weeks travelers have a lot of complaints with threatening pat-downs of passengers at airport security checkpoints. General passengers say that they make them surprised by unreasonable and impolite searches and seizures. So, critics ask whether the pat-downs will be the legal careful examination, also legal experts are divided over whether the courts will find the searches reasonable.

I remember that The U.S.A has had more carefully Pat-Downs at airport after the 9.11 terrorism. When I read the article, I remember my travel from Bangkok to Hawaii. At that time officials did pat down very seriously, so I felt terrified even I don’t have any dangerous things. This situation was not the same as other county. But I understood because of safety. But the situation in article, I don’t understand. It is not reasonable and the security was excessive.

How do you think about pat-down?

Can it check anywhere in your body for safety?

__________

References

Stellin, S. (2010, November 18).“Pat- Downs at Airports Prompt complaints”. The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2010 from

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?scp=1&sq=%E2%80%9CPat-%20Downs%20at%20Airports%20Prompt%20complaints&st=cse

Be careful for your responses.

Nowadays, many people around the world use the internet. The most popular kind of website are social network websites, such as Facebook, Twitter. Everything that you respond, you must be responsible. And I found an interesting news about this in The New York Times "Chinese Woman Imprisoned for Twitter Message".

According to the article, Ms. Cheng Jianping from China who respond the message that her fiancé, Mr.Hua Chunhai, whose the message posted on Twitter about urging recipients to attack the Japanese Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo by mocking message and she add some words in it, was seized together with her fiancé last month in the southeastern city of Wuxi and sentenced to one year in a labor camp because her message. Ms. Cheng is a weiguan, freelance advocates who go around the world to show up the dissension of someone who on trial at courthouse. However, in China, according to the law, many social network websites have been blocked by the government but some people can reach them by holing the government’s firewall. For this case, it's show the Chinese government's anxiety over social networking services.

Before I read this news, I know that Chinese government are blocked many websites which people can reach and do something harm to nation's security. For this case, it looks like the same idea to put Ms.Cheng in a labor camp to sentence her. For China, I think it's the large country and there are many people, the government want to control people by the rules according to the capitalistic administration system. In the past, the government can control most of people but some people were rebels and against the government in many ways. However, many technologies are developed such as computer and internet networks, the rebels use these ways to do their works, even though the government can control but not at all.

By the way, for personal responsibility, what did you do, you must be responsible even you know that's right but if it against the law, you must. Using internet nowadays is easy to reach from everywhere, people can connected with relatives, friends and others people easily. For social networking services, everything you done on it, many people known. And if something that you done were disturbed or violated someone or againsted the law, you must be responsible too.

__________

References

Jacobs, A. (2010, November 18). "Chinese Woman Imprisoned for Twitter Message". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/asia/19beijing.html?_r=1&ref=technology

I want to be a human.

“Howl’s Moving Castle”, a 2D cartoon from Studio Ghi Bi, is one of the most famous animation movie among Japanese teenage. It is produced in traditional style. Actually, I am interested in this style and the way how the animators draw or render. Nowadays, 2D-style changes to 3D-style and 3D-style try to imitate the real things and create characters with nature-likeness. People accept and give more attention in 3D-style. “Animation and robotics”, this article talks about increasing humanness in computer graphics and robots and how people feel about it.

The paradox is that ROBOT-MAKERS and the animators face with situation which people like a cartoon in tradition style more than simulacra. For example, two films were released in the same time to very different receptions. “The Incredibles” was successful more than “The Polar Express”, which people named the subtitled as “The Night of the Living Dead.” The problem is a eerie perception of people when they see an object or image looks and behaves more like the not-quite-human. Masahiro Mori, a Japanese roboticist, proposed the idea of the uncanny valley. It is about relationship between “human-likeness” of computer graphics and robots and the viewer’s level of shinwakan (variously translated as “familiarity” and “comfort level”). The shinwakan level increase when the viewer see image which looks and behaves more like a human. After that, Dr Ho and Dr MacDorman accept the idea of the uncanny valley in general, but they change one factor from levels of shinwakan to levels of eeriness to cover all factors happening in experiment. They can know exactly how people feel about a particular robot or animation.

It seems useful information that people are ever to perceive with robots or computer graphics in a comfortable way.The video-game industry and movie industry are continually trying to increase the realism of humanness. The thing is when human can imitate ourselves in cyber world or real world as a love doll. Can you imagine? What happens next? I found two different things. First, we do not pay more attention in how real it really is, but we are looking for further development in computer graphic. The most successful movie in 2009 by James Cameron, “Avatar”, makes use of synthetic and computer-generated characteristics of actors and actresses. To create a physical appearance of human, the characteristics of human appearance is far from the real humanness. It seems like this movie using high developed technique and traditional style as 2D in five or six years ago which quite similar to Japanese animated musical film, “Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.” And this movie uses the real human as tool to combine with computer graphics. They probably start and enjoy replacing the real human with computer-generated versions. “A world without celebs?” What do you think?

However, everything has 2 sides as a coin. There are problems in game industry which increases the realism of its characters. Game players are completely addicted and obsessive in virtual reality. Sometimes they can not separate the fake world from the real world. They are struck in virtual world and lost the real relationships with real people. Three years ago, one boy committed a crime by shooting at people and he said that he did it as he played in video game. I wonder if you will be a obsessive game player. Can you imagine yourself what you look alike? Can you separate virtual world from real world? Why? Or why not?

__________

References
Animation and robotics. (2010, November 18). The Economist. Retrieved November 24, 2010 from http://www.economist.com/node/17519716

Martin Jetpack

Have you travelled by flight? Or how about even personal flight? There are a lot of airlines around the world as many as we can go wherever we want. Although the world is very wide and each country is very far from each other, we can get to there easily by spending a number of time on a plane as if this world is a small area. Nowaday, even island closed to the ground we can go by plane instead of boat when we want to spend shorter time. If some day human can fly in the air as free as a bird by themselves, it will be possible whether or not?

In the article, "Martin Jetpack" published by Time magazine. It was voted to be one in the best 50th inventions of 2010 and be the best one in transportation field. The Newzealand inventor, Glenn Martin has spent for 30 years to develop it by using inspiration from cartoons, such as Buck rocker and films, such as Jame bond in Thunderball part since he attended an university then achieved it in 1981. It consists of 2 stoke V4 engine-4 vertical cylinders- with 2000 cc of all cyliders, the body parts made with carbon fibre composite and the 1.7 ft diameter rotor made with carbon kevlar composite. Its total weight is 240 kgs, but it can tranmit torque about 200 horsepower at 6000 rpm as much as Honda Accord engine. It can take pilot to fly maximum over ground about 8000 ft at 63 miles per an hour. Energy comsumption is 32 mile per 5 gallons of gasoline fuel. It will be sold with cost $100000 in 2011. The company informs that you might not have ability enough to fly with it though you are a millionare because you have to get many practices and attend training from them then pass their examination before you get right certificate. Moreover, flying with jetpack which is legal or illegal depends on each country law.

Acually I should have picked a news on NY times or the Economist to post on this blog, but about one week ago I just knew about something interesting from Time magazine. That is an announcement about the 50th invention is available on Time magazine. I always follow it every year in particular robotic, transpotation and bioengineer field. There have been a lot of inventions to spend my time to learn and read them. Although some invention has been created and invented by budget of companies or foundations, and their article sometimes seems to be commercial more than human innovation, at least it states that nothing is impossible.

Martin company sells it about $100000. That is it is more expensive than personal plane about $25000, and its safety is still a serious topic for me. If fuel was empty in the air when we use it, a trouble happened from bird, blower engine was damaged during flying, it would scare me. The solution to those problem which is shown on their website is not clear enough for me to have confidence to use it. Nothing on their website makes me feel safe because it is technical solution which give me a little imformation. However, acually it may have very high safety, but because I do not buy it and participate with them, so it is hard to define it is safety enough wether ot not. By the way, some day everybody has it in all families as if it is a basic needs in our dairy life. We use it to go to a supermarket, a cinema for a film, travel place, such as Chiang Mai in long weekend or so on. Personally, the company who sells it should set up landing area like a run way at the airport, many fuel stations, and even repair and maintenance shop at everywhere. Do you think what should be provided to support from using it? Do you have any suggestion about its ability when you read it finished?

Acually I want you to imagine. It is not serious news, and also you can learn more with a video of trial.

__________

References

1. Bill Saporito. (2010, November 11). "Martin Jetpack". Time. Retrieved November 22, 2010 from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2029497_2030622_2029786,00.html

2. "The Martin Jetpack". Martin Aircraft Company. Retrieved November 22, 2010 from http://www.martinjetpack.com/the-martin-jetpack.aspx

Does Peace mean Peace?

Each year, there are five Nobel Prizes are given, one of them is Nobel Peace Prize. According to Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize should be awarded to the person who “…shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. This year, a divergence about Nobel Peace laureate is growing stronger and more complex, according to the article “Nobel Winner’s Absence May Delay Awarding of Prize” by Andrew Jacobs and Alan Cowell, published in New York Times.

The writer reports that “the Chinese government has come up with a less magnanimous approach to the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to give the peace prize to the dissident Liu Xiaobo, 54, who is serving an 11-year sentence for subversion”. The Chinese government oppose the decision of Nobel Committee. Mr. Lui’s wife has been isolated since news of the award broken last month. Moreover, there was no immediate reaction from another family members of Mr. Lui. The news is the Nobel ceremony may delay because the winner and his family members can not attend, but Geir Lundestad, the secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said “The ceremony will definitely take place”. A commentary said that “Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo once again reflects the strong attempts of Western countries to intervene in the political process in China,” and “It is a well-planned event, premeditated and long organized by Western countries, and is part of a series of actions by the U.S. and its allies and companies to undermine China.” On another hand, Chinese people had accepted the government’s contention that Mr. Liu was seeking to push China into chaos through writings that called for free elections and an end to single-party rule, according to Andrew J. Nathan, a political scientist at Columbia University who has been studying China for four decades and he also said “The Chinese people I speak to have quite readily absorbed the government’s point of view that this guy is a criminal nurtured by the West”. There are some countries support China such as Russia, Iraq, Cuba and Kazakhstan, but 36 other countries support the West.

After read this article, I consider that “Is it a peace prize?” There are many intentions behind the prize with a strong “smell” of political. Is the winner worth to take the prize? Or he is just “a tool” of some powers. Nowadays, the power of the global has been changing, it is not for the West only but it is coming to balance between the West and Asia. It means the nations in Asia especially China which is growing rapidly in economic and political. What happen if the authorities from both sides do not have “the same voice” at the ending time? Do we need to care about this issue? Do you have any opinions about this issue? I would like to know your response for this article. Thanks.

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References

References
Jacobs.A and Cowell.A. (2010, November 18).Nobel Winner's Absence May Delay Awarding of Prize. The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/asia/19nobel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=nobel%20winner

Lingering Dis-ease

Do you remember the latest earthquake disaster in Haiti? At that time, more than 3millions people had to undergo loss, and people around the world sent help to them. However, the problem still goes on. Now, those sufferers are encountering to the cholera. Because of waste infrastructure and unhealthy consumption, so the disease fast spread out, particularly slum areas. Nowadays, Haitians have a new carrer with good payment. If you were they, would you interesting?

According to the article "Haitians Plunge Into Muck to Stem Cholera" published in The New York Times. The crew of four Haitians plunge into the muck river for clean the canel by hand with rarely any tools and less equipment to protect them. Among plastics bottles, bags and plenty of death animals such as dogs, rats and goats, they have to duck their head under the water for cleaning out. Those garbages stucked in the canals effect flood of wastewater. While rivers so dirty, people use it to wash dishes and clothes even consume it. Then, the cholera widespreads more than half the country. The disease has killed more than 1,000 people and hospitalized around 17,000 people. This job pays 112$ a month that enough for them whose suffered from the quake. Although they know the danger of cholera that carried in water, but they need the money and try to not worries about it.

When I finished this article, I don't think that can solve the problem. Those crews might be a little part of cholera eliminate process, but it might not work for long term. They have high advantage to contract a disease. In my point of view, UN or WHO should hurry get rid of those garbages as soon as possible. As a result of the squalor in water, cholera spreads to everywhere. For example, use helpful tools or machines to scoop garbages, wear protection clothes. That's just my opinion. What's your opinion or response to this article?

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References

Randal C.,A.(2010,November 19). "Haitians Plunge Into Muck to Stem Cholera". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2010 from
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/world/americas/20haiti.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Godfather!

I do believe that everyone in this world can remember their father name. There are a group of people, who do not even know or may forget the name of their father. I used to believe that this group is the identity of Thailand until I read "China’s Censors Misfire in Abuse-of-Power Case", which was published by Michail Wines in the New York Times.

The consequence started at one night in October. Ms. Chen Xiaofeng, who was a daughter of poor farmer, was crashed by drunken driver. The driver, whose name is Li Qiming, attempted to escape by speeding up, unfortunately security guards seized him. During the interception, he claimed that he is the son of Li Gang, who is the deputy police chief in the Beishi district of Baoding. Michael mentioned in his article that “The tale of her death is precisely the sort of gripping socio-drama — a commoner grievously wronged; a privileged transgressor pulling strings to escape punishment.”(¶4) After the incident, Communist party tried to conceal and pretended like the accident has never happened. They restrict television network companies about broadcasting the event. The programs, which interviewed victim family, were banned. However, the efforts were unsuccessful, the news rapidly spread in internet and people are interested because the case is about the equality in society. The words “My father is Li Gang” which Li Qiming said when he was arrested, have become a popular over China.

The situation happened in China, likewise, two famous cases in Thailand. The first case is related with son of the member of the house of representative. The powerful man, who was intoxicated, drove through an alcohol checkpoint. He was stopped and forced to do alcohol test. He denied the test and struck a police suddenly, according to the declaration from police. The circumstance was published in every newspaper in Thailand in next day. The privileged son refused the accusation. He declared that police were not impolite and attacked him first. The next case is quite similar. The event was happened many years ago but I do believe that Thai citizen can remember it. It is about a police was shot in the nightclub by the son of politician. The privileged man avoided the detainment by leaving Thailand. His father work hard to help him. At the end, he came back and stay in Thailand peacefully.

The similarities of these three incidents are that all of them are the son of the influential persons and they mentioned that who is their father. This is associated with the equality in society. Mr. Chen Lin, Ms. Chen Xiaofeng’s brother, stated that “In society they say everyone is equal, but in every corner there is inequality, how can you live in this country and this society without any worry?”(¶20) The inequality is likely a culture of developing and undeveloped countries. It is seem like no solution if people in the counties accept this condition. Almost all people do not want to make any problems with powerful one because they have no chance to win. Although commoners win the case, they would get nothing. On the other hand, they waste a lot of money to fight in court and may loss something from vengeances. It would be better if they accept their proposition and sadly feign that the situations have never happened.

Do you think we should let this situation happen again?

What is your solution?

And

If this were happened with a member of your family, what would you do?

For me, as I said this is culture of developing and undeveloped countries so I let it be.

The solution is that I should catch any opportunities to make a good relation with influential persons or become a powerful guy myself. I think this is the best way.

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References

Michael, W. (2010, November 17). China’s Censors Misfire in Abuse-of-Power Case, The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/world/asia/18li.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1