Please read this story, thank you- response

Please read this story, thank you, an article by Lincoln Weeks, is about the behavior in public that changes from time to time. In the article the central argument is that behavior, especially in conversation, such words as “please” and “thank you” tend to disappear from our daily lives and the humans come less civil in public. I agree with this as I experience these things from daily live situations in and outside the classroom.

Conversations on the street tend to get more unfriendly over time. Such as being in super markets, or the class room. People show little respect or none at all towards others.

Being in the super market in Germany, waiting in the line and then finally paying, little or no friendliness is shown to me. Even when I go and shop regulary. The cashier is looking like trying to avoid any eye contact, verbal contact or whatsoever. In addition to that, being here in India most of the year, the shocking thing is that also there is no difference 4000 kilometres in a different place, in a contrasting culture nothing like in Germany.

Not only that but also in the classroom, disrespect to teachers is shown, of course not mentioning any names…           Such as in math class. A girl argues for points on a quiz. The funny thing is that her argument is appealing to total ignorance. Trying to get more points with out showing any performance in the quiz or whatsoever. One more instance in the advisor group. Teacher says “you all can come to my house what ever time you like” the student replies with “but keep the fire going so that it is warm.” How nasty is that? That is showing no respect to the teacher. The teacher is nice enough to invite students to her house and gets such an answer.

Over all it is fair to say that the respect towards others has gone down. Even small conversations, greetings in the hallway such as “hello, how are you?” tend to decrease in school, on the street, or any where else. Even appreciation turn into demand shouting.

Does Taste dopend Contex?- Response

The central argument, in the article by Alva Noe, is that humans cannot separate certain products just by taste, we need additional information that tells us if it is good or bad. This could be cost or also the sound we make when we eat it, such as a crunch sound. Not only that but our tastes are said to be “complicated strategies to display wealth and win sexual Partners.” From own experience I can say that I just do not go for the taste, I go for the things that seem “better” this could be because of the price or by the appearance, or reputation this certain product has.

Everyone loves ice cream, but do we always go for the cheapest one, or is it rather the look of the package and reputation? From own experience I tend to go for the more expensive one as I hope to seek greater satisfaction from it. I believe if things are more expensive they have to be better. A perfect example is Hängen-Dazs ice cream. It is yummy and expensive! In comparison a brand called Gut&Günstig (Good&Cheap) also offers the same typ of ice cream. But instead of saving money I go for the Häägen-Dazs ice. But if I think about it is most likely not to be better than the cheaper ice cream, of the same type. I believe that having the “better” product is just better as we can be cooler with it and its a pychological effect that we have the “better” things and this could be due to the fact that we just want to display wealth, show our selfes from our best side. Would I taste the difference with closed eyes? Probably not. It seems unlikely that I could distinguish just by taste, I need more facts.

In addition to that the choosing of partners, friends or sexual partners, also includes if such are cool or not cool, if they hang out with the “better people” etc. That is how I feel when I choose my friends, and this is how people around me think. There is always an outcast in classes, school and everywhere, and one thing is for sure. Not many people hang out with them. Imagine if not a lot of people are around, and everyone is not discriminated. I am sure that the partner and friends will be a little different. Of course every person has likes and dislikes but there is not certain system people will fall in. It could be that just like the Indian caste system would be erased from society. Many people will be treated differently. Erasing the caste system would be like choosing friends without any interference.

Choosing friends with out any interference is like comparing two ice creams with different price, but not knowing which one is better. It is true that we just do not separate by taste, other informaiton influences us. Whether it is the price, or the “System” which is strong and crushes the egg, like Murakami explains in his speech when accepting a prestige Israeli literary award, all these factors help us make our choices about what we choose. Food, people, clothes or more. The “System” decides for us.

 

 

 

The Limits of Science- Response

The central argument in Anthony Gottlieb’s article is that science has limits to explain certain principles. I agree with Gottlieb as there is so much out there that we do not know about and cannot explain as this reaches to our limits. One example is that in Switzerland physicians are working on an experiment to determine unknown particles, still they are experimenting having no results. In addition to that theory’s such of Einstein cannot be really proven as they “go beyond the data that they seek to explain.”

In Switzerland the world largest physic’s experiment is going on. Due to some problems that occured just after two days, the ring tube that accerlates high energy particles to almost the speed of light, had to be refixed but eventually it started working again. The high energy particles are shot 27 kilometers through the tube, being shot from both ends. The interesting part for the physicians is when these particles collied, it is possible that tiny black holes will be created. If this would happen there is an indication higher dimensional spaces which would contribute to help of understanding the string theory. The string theory is the physical explanation for the origin of the universe. So far nothing has been discovered and for the tube to work at is full power, it will take another two years. This shows that somethings just cannot be explained to humans, even tho we are trying our best at it, spending billions of dollars and how everything evolved.

Another example is biology and physic’s class. The teachers often conduct experiments, already knowing the result (thinking to know what the outcome will be). Most of the time the outcome differs from what the teacher expects and that shows another serious indication why science has limits. Humans cannot be perfect. Even Stephen Hawking claimed that “we may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature.” But have we? No we have not. The picture always changes “from the picture we might have painted just a decade or two ago.”

Science cannot prove everything. Even great minds like Hawking can be wrong at times. Everyone does make mistakes, called human error and it is found in every little experiment. Humans are not the super “allien” that can read everything with their eyes, compute in their brain and figure it out. Principles and theory’s are very tough to explain and when people who have an IQ of infinity.

What does it mean to be cool?- Response

The central argument of Thorsten-Botz Bornstein’s article, on “What does it mean to be cool?” is that being cool means to display an attitude of being relaxed and calm in every situation.

Thorsten-Botz Bornstein refers back to the term that was established by slavery in the United States of America. Borstein claims that a “cool attitude helped slaves and former slaves to cope with exploitation or simply made it possible to walk the streets at night.” The author also explains what is the modern coolness by mentioning that “cool does not only refer to a respected aspect of masculine display, it’s also a symptom ofanomie, confusion, anxiety, self-gratification and escapism. To define this even more explains what really “is cool?” Borstein answers with the following that “it seems rather that the master of cool handles the give and take of life as if it were a game.”

I agree with Borsntein that being cool is showing an attitude of relaxed, calm style in every situation in our daily life. I agree with him as I see it in every day. At school, in dorms, on the streets.

At school the guards are there to keep the monkeys away. The monkeys can be compared to little terrorists who, where ever they go, anyplace, leave the place in a disorder, unorganized way. These little terrorists can also become quite mean at times and tend to harm others. For such issues we have the school guards. They remain calm when the monkeys come, throw stones at them and run after them with sticks. They always display a cool attitude in these situations.

Another example is at Woodstock dorms. Many students, not I, tend to stay calm when a teacher assigns an english essay for AP english language & composition. While I start working on the first day, planning and writing my essay down many other students tend to display a very cool attitude until the last night. The day before the english essay is due everyone is calm, except for me. Late at night these students still have their cool attitude.

In addition to that, here in India, many people tend to drive cars and bikes like little maniacs. The streets are often dangerous as anyone cannot drive in an orderly fashioned way. Speeding up, just honking the horn, is better than to push the brakes anyways. Many of these drives and local people on the street tend to be cool, everyone except for me who is paranoid of walking in the streets. As if these people were masters of cool just playing the “game” risking life.

To be cool involves a lot of calmness in the mind. The examples show people being cool, at every situation, even at life risking situations they place them self’s in. Whether it are monkeys that practice the art of terrorism in any finest way, english essays that mean 30% to our grade or just life-threatening situations. Some people just play a very cool attitude, being calm and relaxed.

 

Francis Bacon- Of Studies

Sir Francis Bacon’s central argument, in his essay Of Studies, is that studying is good thing to do, but situations can only be understood as experince is gained. By studying Sir Bacon does not mean the school studying, but the learning of actions. I agree with Sir Francis Bacon as sitatuations have to be learned so that they can be understood, whether these situations are in school or anywhere else, it is important that such can be understood, if not we might decide to do the wrong thing.

From own personal experience, I tend to do the wrong things in the first place as I have not eperienced certain situations yet. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I make the right choice but that is very rare. One very good personal example which shows that learning is perfected by experience is by not studying for math tests. Usually when my math teacher announces that a test is coming up, I did not care. I did not study, and if all only on the last night before the test. Of course, many times I failed. It took me a couple of school years to figure out that math can be a very easy subject, especially when I study for it. Since a couple of months ago I figured that out, but I needed to gain the experience that I would fail in order to understand that I need to study.

In addition to that, not only school subject failure showed me that learning can only be perfected by experience but also as I was a small boy I decided to train for Triathlons, join a team, and aim for more, always more. After a couple of years I took it a step higher, focusing on competitive sport. Being sponsored by various companies, train every day and reach for the highest in a race. But what I needed before that was experience. I remember back to my first Triathlon race, I was almost last out of the water, cycling my way through and I just coud not make up for it in the running, which was and still is my strength out of these three. What I had missing was experience, having a race strategy, knowing on who I had to stay with to place my self in a good position etc. Later on, moving towards teenage years, I got bumped up a league in my country state where scouting of talent searchers was present as well. To get me to this higher, better, and faster league it took me years. Training was a huge part and but also gaining the experience was a very important area.

Sir Francis Bacon has a valid point about gaining experience is an important thing to do, before reaching anywhere. My experiences show that the point is true to studying but also in a different environment, outside the classroom.

Francis Bacon- Of Youth and Age

Sir Francis Bacon conducts, in his essay of Youth and Age, that young men are more creative than the old, having the vivacity is important, as they embrace themselfes better. I do not agree with Sir Bacon, as older men, still have the same logic as when they were younger. It still could be the case that younger man do tend to be more liveliness but if they really innovate more is a good question.

One example that shows that elder men are still being able to perform at top positions and are still active is Joesf Ackermann. Ackermann is the chairman for the Deutsche Bank (German Bank) who is at age of 64 years. At the age of 58 he became the only chairman of the board. This is still an old age, but apparently it is still possible, especially as he was listed number one for the top income of managers in the Deutschen Aktienindex (DAX). This shows that the thesis of Sir Bacon is wrong, Sir Bacon mentions that younger men tend to be more liveliness and have greater ideas, this example shows that rather the older men have the innovation to lead.

Another example, not relating to any mental work but relating with physical endurance, is Fauja Singh. Singh is 100 years old and completed an entire marathon in Toronto, Canada. By doing so he is the oldest man that has other done that and he set up a world record. He already accomplished this with 89 years old. This shows that he can repeat it. This shows that older men do have the liveliness, and even some younger men cannot even do a normal jog, either if they are to lazy or just not fit enough.

 

The examples show that elderly men do have the vacacity in them. Both examples show that older men accomplish very tough jobs, that even young men cannot accomplish.

TV is good for you?

The article “TV is good for you” shows studies that have been done in India about the women that live in rural Indian villages. The effect of cable TV, coming to villages, on women displays how married women change their attitude towards their life, such as the beating of the husband, paying attention to the children, and on the fertility rate that has decreased by a lot.

The article “TV is good for you” explains how television changes life of women. Due to the soap operas in which the emancipated women are educated and have control over their own life much more than such women that live in rural villages in India.

The life of such women in the television shows and the life that women in villages have to go through is a huge contrast split, it is like living in two different worlds. Due to the availability of television in more villages, a study has been conducted to follow up on the television watching. It has increased from 40% to 80% watching.

After this the attitude of many women has changed, due to the impact of such shows that are being displayed on television. The changes were that “women’s preference for male children fell by 12 percentage points. The average number of situations in which women said that wife beating is acceptable fell by about 10 percent. And the authors’ composite autonomy index jumped substantially, by an amount equivalent to the attitude difference associated with 5.5 years of additional education.” This shows that a dramatic change in the attitudes of many women has changed after cable television has “reached 2,700 households in villages of four states (Bihar, Goa, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu).” In the time between 2001 and 2003. In that time period the villages that got cable television, 21 villages, the “women’s attitudes changed quickly and substantially.”

In addition to that, the study revealed that, the villages who had lived in more tradition before had a bigger change of attitude towards life than other villages had that did not live with a lot of Tradition before television reached them.

The way that television has changed women’s life in the villages is quite big. As the study proves that many attitudes of married women do change after watching television shows that resemble a life in urban areas and where women get to have their own choice about life. The percentages of women that belive that having a boy as a child decreased, as well as the acceptable beating by husbands. Not only that but also the preference for education grew as it became more important. Overall it can be said that the women attitudes towards traditional life in rural villages in India has changed in a big way.

Why Good Advertising Works

Advertising does not always seem to work, that is what most people believe but what they do not know that advertisement influences our behavior over time, in order to reach this goal advertisements have to be rememberd by the people.

At least every single person knows an advertisement that is stuck in their mind. It could be for any product but there are some advertisements that are shown on television and they are just weird. That is why we remember them. The goal of an advertisement is to be remembered by many people.

To reach this goal is very tough, as today’s society is becoming more distracted. Every month, week, day new electronical devices appear on the market, everytime there is something new. When I buy a phone today, suppose it is an Iphone from Apple, the next couple of months it will be already “old” as other companies (e.g. Samsung or LG) already launched a new and “better” phone with more features. This cycle continues every time.

For an advertisement to really work it has to be rememberd. An example is the advertisement from Old Spice. The advertisement is unique due to the fact that no other firm in this industry has done a similar advertisement. Not only that but the advertisement amuses people and due to this fact it is remembered.

The audience receives messages differently, depending on individual’s. The people watching the advertisement have to be attracted to this certain product. There are so many advertisements shown, that when watching television it is most likely that the last advertisement can not be remembered and the product it was related to (speaking from personal experience) due to the fact that we are just bombet with advertisements, 24/7.

If people believe that they are not influenced by advertisement they are wrong. As they remember even one advertisement, due to a catchy song etc. they are influenced. By knowing the content of the advertisement the product related to it is also known.

The reason why advertisements are trying to be catchy is because the firm, selling that certain product, wants you to build up a relationship with that product, a feeling of joy and a good feeling.

Most of the times the advertisements does not let you react “Just what I need!” Usually it is just another advertisement, like any other.

There are so many advertisements that we do not remember most of them. Most of them do not affect relate to us. For an advertisement to be remembered it has to be really unique.

 

TOP 50 Songs- The Black Eyed Peas

Pump It

The song by the Black Eyed Peas has a very nice rythem in it. It is fast and fits very well with the singing. The element that makes this track so special is that the rappers built a very good harmony with the beat. In addition to that the performers always take turns to sing. Especially when Fergie sings and after that the men start singing again. This is a clear pattern in the singing. The singer that starts at the beginning always raps a sentence, after that another singer says a word. This is especially when the singer sings “Pump it” and after that another one sings “Louder!”, and repeated over a couple of times. By this the song is given the element that makes it special. Of course all elements in the song are combined well, which makes it so amazing, but the singing really does stand out.

College Question 188

Do you think that you have the qualifications of a good parent? Discuss.

I do not think that I have qualifications of a good parent. I have been living for 16 years now and experienced various situations but still I do believe that I would not have the qualifications of being a good parent.

Being a good parent is a very challenging thing to be, it is like a 24/7 job. Children are always around. They always want something whether it is attention, food, money etc. I dont know how my parents survived with me in one house. I would probably not survive if I would have a child that is like me.

To have qualifications of a good parent is very hard, I would not have these qualifications. The first thing that comes to my mind is that having temper is very important and I already pass on this point. Sometimes things annoy me, and then things are not funny anymore. I imagine being around children, and most likely there is nothing more annoying than children that want something from you.

Sometimes I just need time on my own, where I can listen to music, go run or something that relaxes me, as being with children 24/7 would kind of take this time away. I do think that I could feed them, play with them but after all I the chances are very high that I could not take it anymore.

To really have these qualifications of a good parent is admiring. Not everyone would have them, the worst years would be when the child is around one to ten years old, after that they are a little less annoying but just wait until these children reach puberty…