Media Log

Friday:
9:30-11:30 -> Internet
1:30-2:30 PM -> Internet
2:50 - 6:30 -> I went to the mall which means that I was open to different media things (television, etc.)
Saturday:
10:45 - 1:00 -> Movie
1:30-3:00AM -> Internet

Rituals

As a Korean-American, there are some holidays that I conserve while others do not. In addition to this, there are some additional things that my family and I do on holidays than what the average American does.
One such tradition, or ritual, is to make and eat a special soup when it is one's birthday. I never found this soup tasty or even necessary, I took it for granted until one day my family decided to withhold from me this "privilege" and forgo the soup for my birthday.
At first, I did not think much of it at first, I mean it was only a soup. But as my day progressed, I started to feel nostalgic and saddened by the fact that my family had not spent time and effort providing me the most necessary thing that one has on his birthday--the soup.
Although in the end I ended up eating my soup, I realized that rituals do not have significance in itself, but it's the fact that one goes out of his way for this "burden" that makes the ritual that much more special.

Google

I thought of google as just a typical search engine that just happened to gain popularity, but as I read Google's "Ten things that we know to be true", I understood why Google is used and trusted by millions.
What struck me about Google is the pure ingenuity of their business. What they have created is basically a simple, easy outlet where the public decide what goes on. With such things as "PageRank", Google seems to put the public first by letting the public tell them what they want. Secondly, Google has incorporated things that every consumer wants, such things as speed, accuracy, simplicity, and freedom. The fact that they do not advertise obnoxiously or obviously present to their audience that they put them first.
Finally, I really liked the tenth thing on their list:Great just isn't good enough. I think that this should be the motto for every company in America. Google's desire to always be better, and their belief that nothing is good enough tributes to their success immensely.

Acumen

I really enjoyed what Seth Godin said about Acumen and it's program. I, myself, am studying to go to medical school and ultimately become a doctor, so when I heard Seth Gordin's advice on not going to medical school I was intrigued. As I heard his argument, I saw that he was right. It is a broken system and there are always going to be doctors in the US. I do not think that we will ever run out.

The number one thing that I love about this organization is that it is made up of people who all want to be there. I think it's so inspiring hearing about people who have traveled halfway across the world to do something for a cause that they believe in.

Overall, I really like the aim and mission of this organization, I believe that it is very worthwhile what they are doing. I like how they encourage failure and being independent and different from others. I hope that I can have the same courage as they do and be able to go halfway around the world for something that I believe in also.

Why waste paper??

As I was thinking about this topic, which was very difficult, I was thinking about things that society consumes on a regular basis. Things that we take for granted, and things that we waste constantly. The first thing that I thought of was something that we all use and need: paper. According to www.digital-publishing.co.uk, the United States alone consumes 1/3 of the world's paper. So, what is an efficient way to stop consuming so much, yet still supply for the demand?

I was thinking of a machine that could produce paper from feeding it leaves and branches. It would have to be small, compact, light, and most of all efficient. Something that one could carry to school, to work. Because it seems like leaves are everywhere for people to use, yet we do not use it for our benefit. There is so much potential stored in these thin, fragile bits that we take for granted everyday. 

By doing this, we could cut down the levels of rainforest destruction drastically and lessen the effects of global warming because there would be more trees. I believe that this would be very efficient, and it will ultimately help humanity in their quest to find a solution to global warming.

Care vs. Cash

When hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coast some years ago, the flood of aid and volunteers seemed endless. America as a nation rose to the occasion in order for us to help those that needed out help. This patriotism and down right kindness is a reason that this calamity did not get overhand.
Yet, when an earthquake hit in China 2 years ago, leaving half a million dead, the aid was not overwhelming; the reaction was great, but the desire to give aid did not personally resonate in the hearts of Americans as it did in Hurricane Katrina. The US gave millions of dollars in aid and supplies, yet the affects of that earthquake is still being felt today by the Chinese.
In another example, North Korea has been receiving much aid not only from America, but from other countries as well. This has been happening for years and years, yet little, if at all anything, has changed. North Koreans are continually suffering even with the outpoor of aid.

These three examples prove to us that money is just paper that can be exchanged for a product. It does not provide relief; it does not bring about any big change in hearts. The only way to bring about a change in the way people believe and people react is personally. Money only goes so far, it's personality that makes the distance

Iced tea

Last summer was the best summer that I have had. I went on a missionary trip to the Philippines that changed my life. I went with two girls that I did not know, stayed at a house that was teaming with mosquitos, and was engulfed in humidity and heat everywhere I went, yet I loved every moment of it.

In the Philipines, my job was to organize children's ministry and teach them about God. It was a big responsibility and I did not know if I had the courage or the abilities to reach these children. I was very nervous; I had done things like this in the past, but not entirely by myself.

My plan the first day was to go to the plaza, get to know the kids, and play games to win them over. So, with my gray backpack and a sun hat that screamed "tourist", I left for the plaza with someone that served as a translator

I was so nervous. But, to my surprise, the children were so willing to learn and to play. It was not only me teaching them what I had to give, them teaching me their lives. They showed me how they caught fish in the sea, the banana boats that they used to go everywhere, and unique, crazy fishes that lived in the water.

An hour passed, and two quickly followed. I lost track of time and continued to play with them. Then, one of the girls said how she was thirsty, and we all realized that we all were thirsty as well. I had water back at the house, but I did not have cups for everyone. As I was thinking of what we should do, I saw one of my kids with a huge jug full of brown liquid, followed by another child with another giant pitcher running towards us.

"Iced tea, Iced tea"

All the kids rushed to it and we were full of smiles and compliments to the kid that had brought the drink and we shared the tea among the 30 of us with only two cups.

They gave me the first cup of iced tea and As I was drinking mine, the children were all looking at me. Their eyes big and full of curiosity of what I would say. And as I was drinking my iced tea, I forgot that I had been thirsty. That iced tea served a deeper purpose than just quenching my thirst, it took on a meaning that united us together. The language barrier and the different cultures that we came from that proved to be major obstacles, all didn't matter. We were all connected by this simple mixture of powder and water.

I gave them a big smile and then they proceeded to tackle the rest of the drink.

It was the best drink that I had ever had, and now everytime I drink iced tea, I remember the Philippines and my kids.