Week9:”Final Portofolio”

  This might be the last or the second to the last blog entry I have for this quarter. So, I would like to consider what I will be doing with my final portfolio. I will probably have the survey essay and my podcast piece go into my portfolio. I already added another part of the literature review into the survey paper. I roughly discussed about how different organizations estimate the amount of loss due to internet piracy. Also, in the discussion, I used more of experiment results to be my reasons. I think this created a better flow for in my discussion section. So, I guess all I need to do for my reseach paper is to have its grammar and format edited. I still have to find a good APA site to learn how to format an APA research paper. These are more of minor changes than the podcast piece editing.

I have more than just one thing to do for the podcast. First of all, I need to wait until I get the mock grade for it to come back. Then I will work on it depending on his comments for the podcast. Hopefully the editing is not too much work because I definitely have the least time to work on them during the dead and finals week. However, I really want to get an A. And, I do not think it is not to hard with my grade so far. I will just work hard a little bit more. J

Week8: "Sample Student Script/Reflective Piece/Podcast"

I am repeating myself but I need to say this: “I should definitely not put the entire song in the podcast." I kept forwarding to find the voice after hearing the Mozart Sonata for 5seconds. So, I will try to have maximum 10 seconds of a song. That will surely help the listener, for this podcast Chris.

The sample reflective piece is a relatively short and concise piece of writing. It describes his/her podcast writing/recording process and how it connects to the rest of Writing2. It does not need a whole lot of effort put into it. Thus, when I am writing my reflective piece, I can just put down what ever I thought while writing, recording my podcast. Then for the part why I chose this topic, I can probably talk about the fact I am interested in going to study abroad in China and spend sometime there. However, because there are so many other options, I can not choose only one yet. I am expecting this podcast assignment can help me organize my thoughts a little bit more. Also, I might be able to find some fresh ideas that I have not thought about. In fact, when we did the peer editing in class, I actually noticed a couple things that I want to include in my podcast. Those are some of pros and cons of EAP in China. Because of those extra ideas by my peer, I think my podcast now covers the topic more evenly than before.

Week8: ""

Professor Dean's podcast was something I really liked to have as an example when I write my podcast. I noticed a couple things. I really like the very last part where he phase out with a question and leave the music to answer it. However, three songs he has in his podcast are to long. I keep forwarding in the beginning to find when his word starts. His podcast followed his script very closely. I might do the something just because I do not want to blank out halfway recording.
When I record my own podcast, I probably use just a portion of songs. But I guess that is not easy because I will probably choose a song that I like and want to add the entire songs to my podcast. Then I can probably choose to use a short part for solo and the rest as background music.
I am thinking to do something like an advertisement of EAP in China. In the podcast, I am an adviser of the EAP office and trying to spread word about EAP in China. I will probably use some really "Chinese" songs. I do not know which ones, but I am thinking to go with at least one traditional Chinese song and one contemporary song. However, I do not want to just list all the advantage of going to EAP. I want it to be a bit more fun to listen to. Perhaps I can add something to spice up my podcast.

Week:7 "The History of Podcasting"

This article was really interesting because I learned something new about podcasting. The podcasting is something that emerged after a blog. Or, the fact that the "pod" in podcasting came from iPods. In my opinion podcasting is easier and more convenient than the blog. Firstly, writers do not need to spend time in front of a computer to type up their ideas. The writers probably spend less time recording their ideas than typing the same ideas. Secondly, readers do not need to spend time looking at computer screens or cell phone displays. They can simply stick earphones into their ears. This is more convenient because the listeners can download a few podcasts in their MP3 players, so they do not need to have access to any internet. Also, it is easier to listen than to read. For example, users can listen while driving but can not read. Thirdly, the preparation for podcasts is easier and more flexible. Hosts of the podcasts can talk freely and explore to a new direction as the conversation carries on. Lastly, also said in the article, podcasts' variety. Because even beginners can easily record and publish their podcasts online, they can record whatever topics they want. The topics do not have t be serious issues or mainstream interests. They can talk about anything they want. 
Thanks to the improved technology, the podcasting is spreading more and more. I like podcasting better because I do not have to read with my eyes (which makes me sleepy after 15seconds).

Week:6 "Extreme Parenting"

The article talks about some common beliefs by a large number of populations. The author, Alissa Quart, describes a "Mozart Effect" study done by Gordan Shaw and Frances Rauscher. To sum up, the study concludes classic music can enhance "a paper-folding-and-cutting test." Somehow over the course of past ten years, this turned into a belief that classic music can nurture babies and create prodigies. I see this as the baby products industry's strategy to sell their products. In one way, the whole process of educating children is for parents to satisfy their own prides. Since the children do not ask their parents to educate them while entertained, the parents are just doing it for sake themselves. Oh babies’ job is to just live the days as they are. We do not have to worry about them being bored or entertained. The babies can find things that can entertain themselves; and often what entertains them is the process of looking for entertainments.
I, personally, think music does not (or unconsciously) affect me when I am focusing on doing something. For example, when I read books, I recognize any music is just a disturbance. When I produce something, I cannot hear anything. The difference is if I am inputting or outputting. When I am writing or outputting my ideas, I just shut down everything other than my outputting function. However, when I am learning something, I receive inputs from my senses so shutting down my ears is a bit harder. In this sense, listening to classic music could be something to stimulate babies’ brain so they can learn to multitask double inputting (reading and listening) or inputting/outputting (writing and listening.)

Week 5: "Poll of Popular Technology Usage"

I believe this Research paper is a very formal and professionally written. The paper describes everything very clearly. Everything from head to detail. I really like the paper because a reader can understand the research well. However, some explanations can be a bit repetitive in the beginning. For example, in Methodology and Sample Characteristics section, the survey methodology for both adults and students re described. I understand that the fundamental ways of reaching out for the population is the same but having 2 paragraphs was a bit boring.
The other good part of this paper is that the experimenter analyzes each question in detail. Almost all the numbers are described and rezoned in one way or the other to get to a small conclusion for each question. I can learn from this paper the fact that when analyzing the numbers, I have to write down all the numbers.
However, I personally think I will have hard time analyzing this paper because I simply can not collect that many answers. Another thing I noticed about the paper is it does not have a review of literature section. Perhaps the experimenter did not need it but I personally wished to see one. For my paper, I am unsure of what to write for the review of literature because that is one of the biggest sections and can possibly tie the experiment together. From my view point, analyzing the numbers and other explanations for this experiment are easier to write than the review of literature.

Week4: "Accounting for Taste"

I love this!! This article is really over my expectation. There are so many comments I want to make about some statements in the article. Also, those pictures in the article are also my favorite ones. They are really playful.
One important thing I realized after reading this article is that I better respect others’ art taste. To me personally, music and other forms of art can not irritate me like to the point that I want to brake up with a boyfriend. But I guess some people pt so much weight on their art taste. I definitely do not want to up set that kind of people.
Some statements are honestly impressive such as "the most popular method for reducing stress was listening to music-ranking just above watching TV and talking bath," or "sensation seekers also particularly drawn to pornographic and horror films." These are new things I just learned but still trustworthy. At least, I can believe. Other research conclusions like country music listeners vote for McCain or rap, funk, or electronic/ dance lovers vote for Obama were just hilarious. I laughed out loud when I first read it.
The point I want to make after reading this article is that when some body studies something, DO NOT over generalizes the result. I am positive there are so many factors contributing in determining the choice of election.
Overall I liked reading about this article, the relation between the taste of art and personalities have a deep connection. These are tied at subconscious level.

Week3: "Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior Among Youth"

 "the Jump Off" by Lil' Kim

I do not agree with what this article is talking about. There are couple reasons. And the first reason is that their ways of controlling the experiment is just not working well. I have taken a lot of physics and biology classes. I know the fact that a lot of experiments can fail easily just by making one tiny mistake. There are so many other reasons that the teenagers who participated in this experiment to learn about sex. The exposure these teenagers experienced can come from anywhere, family, TV, internet, etc... Some numbers that are presented in the article is also very difficult to compare with a situation that has no impact from degrading music. They were not in a well controlled environment. The result a bit too vague for us to conclude degrading music lead teenagers to increased sexual activities.

Just another thing I kind of disagree with the studies is the lyrics itself. Often when I am listening to songs, I do not listen to its lyrics. Sometimes lyrics are really hard to follow because of the way they sing. There are differences between people who only listen to the songs and people who go to the concerts a lot, because singers can visualize the "degrading sexual" attitudes in their costumes and dances.

Overall, to me this study is not very solid and I assume the tester can easily conclude the data differently at the end of test.  After all these experiments are not done in the lab with humans who interact with nothing but music.

Week 2: "The Last Days of Brother Ray"





In the reading by David Ritz, he tells the story of Ray Charles in a honest voice. Ritz learned about Charles while spending a lot of  time around him. Ritz concentrates mainly on Charles' deepest feelings not much about what he accomplished. The text focuses on the deep side of Charles. It starts with Charles' view on death. He has been looking deeply into "death" since he was a kid. Ritz goes on with the fact Charles is a brave, fearless man. Yet, he became sick, perhaps some kind of cancer. Ritz talks about the very end of Charles' life.

I admire him for being confident about himself. I see his personal life as somewhat messed up life. To me having 12 children by 10 mothers is just impossible to believe. However, as Ritz says "God will not dare touch Ray"(115 Ritz) in his book. Charles is an impressive man. He dared to dive into the world of revolutionary music that most of the elder generation at the time disliked. He dared to do what other would not do. Also it is interesting to see how Charles changed after the disease. his body weakens day after day. At the end he started to believe in a religion. I do not think that he believed in the god. But rather he believed in the idea of religion. This is almost like a mentally training so he could think he is better. However, until the very end, he kept his "routine". I like the fact that he is really determined till the very end of his life.

Here is a song in his last album, Genius Loves Company,

Sweet Potatoe Pie