2012 Olympic

            America achieved a first place in the 2012 London Olympic games as many expected. It had 46 gold medals, 29 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. With total 104 medals can’t be compared to any other countries such as China had 88 medals. To get the first place in Olympic, athletes should have had at least 2 years of practices to fulfill America’s sport fans. Hard work always wins at the end no matter what.

            I was not so passionate to Olympics, but watching swimming triggered my interest to Olympics. Moreover, America got the most of gold medals (16) in swimming. I admire Michael Phelps the most. This year, Michael Phelps has made more history in the world, winning gold in the men’s 200-meter individual medley within 2 minutes according to Huffingtonpost. He mostly took the first place at any single Olympic games. I was so impressed when he achieved a new world record that I almost yelled at my home and seemed like all Americans were about to cry. Michael Phelps is also a great leader among his teams. In his interview, he said “he was eagerly anticipating the upcoming men’s team meeting, when the U.S. swimmers and coaches gather.” As he supported his teammates, teammates also supported him at the back that one of his teammates said, “If we’re walking in a crowd, we don’t let him walk by himself.”

            Furthermore, he entertained viewers by competing with his teammates swimmer Ryan Lochte. In 200-meter individual medley, they finished 1-2 in the final. Lochte is also a great swimmer in America who got two golds, two silvers, and one bronze. Before the competition, there were some people who bet over Phelps or Lochte just for entertainment. Also, there is a parody video “Call me Maybe” about Lochte competing with Phelps which gave people entertainment. I believe competing with Phelps gives Lochte motivation not frustration. While Michael Phelps is a great leader, Lochte is a great team member too. When Lochte had a hard time, Michael mentored him and supported him to be able to stand up again. They interact each other so that they both give motivation and support.

            I believe the essential part of winning game is teammates gathering. Since teammates supports each other, they can win the medals. Even if they don’t get any medals, they will be motivated strengthened for next Olympic game. Moreover, sports fans’ supports to athletes play a big role to win the game. Most athletes are strengthened by fans’ applause not depend on victory. I tend to give applause for all athletes who played games since they did their best. I believe doing one’s best arose the best result to any sports. The result of doing best, America mostly took the first place in Olympics every 4 years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/michael-phelps-ryan-lochte-200-im-2012_n_1734498.html

http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/sports/most_Olympic_medals_Michael_Phelps_sets_world_record_113004.html

Restaurant Review

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant 

4060 Maple Road Amherst, NY 14226

 (716) 836-6688

           I went to Kyoto Japanese restaurant with my boyfriend on my birthday. When we entered to Kyoto, the server asked whether to eat Hibachi or at the table kindly. I did not know what Hibachi was, but the server explained to me kindly that it is a traditional Japanese heating device. Hence, we decided to try new culture, Hibachi grill at this time. During 10 minutes waiting time, I found this place really luxurious and clean. All servers were well organized and they were quick. There were many people enjoying the weekend. 

            As soon as we sat on the table, our server came and delivered drinks for us. The server delivered us an appetizer ‘Tuna Tataki’ for free for my birthday. It was fresh so that I felt like tuna was alive. Then, we chose our menu and wait for the hibachi chef. While we were waiting for the chef, I chatted with other people around us about this restaurant. One guy said he comes to Kyoto on every weekend. Also he hoped that this restaurant was right beside to his house. The chef came with a biggest smile and said “Gombangwa” which means “Good evening” in Japanese. He checked our menus, but I could barely understand because he was not fluent in English. So I just told him “ That is correct.” He was cooking a dinner right at the tableside so that we could see everything. Moreover, He had amazing skills that the young girl sat right beside me was shocked by his skills. He threw some sliced broccolis to our mouths, but I failed to eat. The chef was serving rice and noodles first, and he started to cook the main menus. I ordered scallop and steak. My boyfriend ordered shrimp and chicken.

            After eating up rice and noodles, the main menus were served right after. However, I got my steak and salmon instead of scallop. I told the chef that I got the wrong menu. I wasn’t pleased at that time, but it was my mistake too. The chef served me both salmon and scallop for apologize. The quantity of food was larger than I expected. Moreover, I had the best scallop that I have never had. My boyfriend also agreed that food price is very reasonable to compare to the quality of the food. While eating main menus, we also got some vegetables to eat together. Vegetables were also fresh and pleasing. The server recommended us for a great desert, but we had to refuse since we were so full.

 Kyoto Japanese restaurant totally made my best birthday ever. The prices were reasonable compare to all services and food. I was so pleased to its’ service, quality of food, the mood of the restaurant. I regret that I should have had a desert for that night. I recommended to all my friends to visit there, and I can't wait to go Kyoto after my exams are done. 

Blog and Questions

            The articles “Conflict and control: The war in Afghanistan and the 24-hour news cycle” and “Live TV and Bloodless deaths: War, infotainment and 24/7 news” have same thesis but with different approaches. While the author of “Conflict and control: The war in Afghanistan and the 24-hour news cycle”, Kieran Baker tells her own experience to readers, the author of “Live TV and Bloodless deaths..” Daya Kishan Thussu tells readers informatively.

            I find Baker’s experience draws more attention to readers since it touches readers’ hearts. She tells the story sincerely so when readers reading it, they can understand her emotions and her behaviors. She had to go to Pakistan reluctantly because she had to report every single circumstance that happened during the war. She tells how bad was life in Herat by telling the boy "looked at her with desperate eyes." This touches readers hearts and makes them to have sympathy. Furthermore, she puts importance on 9/11 war live coverage. 

            Different from Baker’s way of telling, Daya Kishan Thussu tells reader more like textbook. He analyzes the effects and trends of medias closely. I find his way of telling is more objective than Baker’s way of telling. I like the way he develops his argument by giving more information as he can. Through reading “ The pressures of live reporting part’ I was appalled that all journalists and reporters work under the unimaginable pressure to make story as dramatically as possible. People created this pressure since they eager to watch drama and entertainment news as soon as possible. However, I think news have to focus on what the news are for. They have to be objective and informative instead of giving entertainment.  Thussu criticizes 24/7 news cycle because 24/7 news sometimes forgot to cover the root causes of conflict in countries.  Similar to Baker, Thussu also thinks 9/11 war live coverage is important and unforgettable. I think Thussu should have put some stories about others experienced like Baker did so that readers could be more triggered to his story.

Questions

1. Why do you think people desire drama and entertainment in the news?

2. What do you think about 24/7 news cycle? Do you find it useful? 

           

Problems with gun rights

      In America, it is legal to have guns for people's safety and security to defend themselves. There are many examples on the news that guns could be used for a good cause. However, sometimes guns cause a serious problem such as massacre. It has been issued whether people to have gun or not.
     For example, in April 16, 2007, on the campus of  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people and wounded others in two separate attacks, before his suicidal. It was the deadliest shooting by a single man in US according to Wikipedia.
     Because of guns, a plethora of people injured and lost their lives every year. Guns make people more likely to think of suicide that lead to death. People should consider guns as weapons not just for protection.

Different perspectives in Iraqi War

       As I already mentioned in the first reflection on "Iranians and Media Coverage of the War in Iraq", I could not fully understand about the Iraqi war. I suppose that the authors thought that the audiences would have some essential knowledges about the war.
      On the first essay, "The Self-Absorbed Bully", I did not think of the "Bully" would be the metaphor for the United States. The metaphor amazed me in some way since it was fresh to me.  The author well expressed the article by giving us the main issues why the war happened: Oil problem, the United Nations, The Empire Strikes, and  George W.Bush.  I strongly agree that the  oil was the main trigger to the conflict in iraq. If Iraq did not have any oil, then 'The Self-Absorbed Bully', United States, would not forced to reserve the oil. Also, on the third example where he mentioned about George W. Bush, as " The Cowboy President", I was amazed that the different perspectives would make the person totally different. Throughout this article, I certainly see that Brazil is against the United States unlike the next article in China's perspective.
      " The Chinese Watching the Iraqi War", as I mentioned on the last paragraph, takes a neutral stance. I was wondering how they decided to stay in neutral between Iraq and the United States? Similar to the "Iranians and Media Coverage",  how can the news and all medias lie to the citizens and report the biased opinions? In nowadays, medias take the enormous role to our lives. It is take for granted that we believe what we see in the television; I also could not believe that 'Chinese did not have the privilege of watching a major war on television because of the government's control over the incoming information.' The author analyzed the article by the China media situation.
     Both articles are well written but they do have different tones. In my case, I could understand "The Self-Absorbed Bully" more because of the layout and word choices. In "The Chinese Watching the Iraqi War", I saw the few words that mislead me for a second. 

Questions

1. Where do we get the books?
I went to the bookstore and I couldn't find the 'Joining the Conversation'.

2. What is the curve for the grade?

Introduction

 Hello everyone, My name is Hyeryung Song, but you can just call me Katie because my original name is difficult to pronounce. I am from Korea, but I studied in Canada since I was 14. I am not that fluent in English, so I hope you can understand that. I am now junior  Biomedical science at UB. Let's rock ENG 201 everyone!