Pain

(Note: If you have the time to watch this clip, it will improve the coherence of one of my examples).




Pain may be divided into two types: physical and emotional. Furthermore, it may be used in expressions. According to the OED, the word "pain" was first recorded around the 1300s. Its initial definition, as stated in the OED, is "punishment; penalty; suffering or loss inflicted for a crime or offence; (sometimes) spec. a fine, a tax" and "[on/under/upon pain of ---]: with specified punishment, reaction, etc., as the penalty for not fulfilling the command or condition stated." For example, "on pain of death" - an idiom that is rarely used today (the OED shows in its date chart a leap of the usage of the word from 1959 to 2002) - would mean "liable to the penalty of death." In other words, the subject in question may be given the death penalty. In the modern era, however, expressions involving the word "pain" are mostly equivalent to something being a burden, such as: "Driving back and forth is a pain in the neck." Of course, there is no real "pain in the neck"; it is simply an expression. Unlike the 50 year gap of the first expression, the most recent dates recorded for this one are 1994 and 2000. "I feel your pain" is also another popular expression: although it may not be literal pain, the speaker is acknowledging the situation the listener is going through. The latter two expressions are less formal and more slang, reflecting the current generation's vernacular.

Physical pain is described as "physical or bodily suffering; a continuous, strongly unpleasant or agonizing sensation in the body (usually in a particular part), such as arises from illness, injury, harmful physical contact, etc." and "a single unpleasant or agonizing physical sensation" (OED). The best example is injury in sports. Professional athletes in rigorous sports need to be in outstanding shape to endure the pain their body takes day after day. A lack of rest takes a toll on athletes' bodies, rendering them more vulnerable to serious injuries. In addition, rushing rehabilitation or playing through injuries also hinders recovery time and performance. For example, Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade played through most of last season with a surgically repaired knee, which was not fully healed when he started the season. His premature return to the court led to continuous knee pains and prompted his eventual decision late in the season to shut down to guarantee a full recovery. The same goes for illness: if people who are sick do not take time to rest, their sickness may linger and last longer.

Finally, the OED's best definition for emotional pain is "mental distress or suffering; anguish, grief; an instance of this." Unlike physical pain, emotional pain affects the heart and mind. When emotionally stricken, the pain is not visibly apparent. Sometimes, the heart feels like it is being squeezed or crushed by an immortal hand; at other times, it turns as cold, hard and heavy as a large slab of marble. Amazingly, the feeling is so real that one could actually feel the weight and drag in his or her chest. The mind also undergoes demoralizing processes: it feels as if the world has turned upside down and a clear sunny day would instantly turn into an eternal solemn night. Furthermore, thoughts spin endlessly like they are whirling inside a tornado. Interestingly, humans are also able to feel the emotional pains of others. On the following episode in Smallville after the death of Jonathan Kent, Clark walks into his house and sees his mom watching an old videotape of his dad and him. Even though no words are spoken in a scene, excluding the video, one can feel Clark and Martha's pain, especially if he or she personally has suffered the loss of a loved one. The emotions that follow after watching a live memory of the one who had passed away strains the heart and may even induce tears. Moreover, the symbolism of Jonathan's waving goodbye on the TV further appeals to the emotional pain of viewers. Likewise, the emotional pain felt by Americans after 9/11 were broadcast over TV; even though the bystanders would not directly hurt, they still suffered from watching the horrendous sight of the crumbling Twin Towers. Emotional pain, in this context, negatively shapes Americans' attitudes towards certain races, even if they were no involved in the attack.

It is arguable that the presented examples of physical and emotional pain have existed throughout history. Thus, how does the current generation relate and redefine pain? In class, Truman brought up how war-themed video games appeal to gamers, even though war is truly gruesome and frightening in reality. In addition, Colleen commented on how her friend and her feelings had changed for him before, during and after his return, specifically mentioning how she was constantly worried about his well-being when he was gone and how things were different when he returned. Parika also pitched in on how she liked to "hurt" her friends when they mess around but knews the boundaries of what is and is not acceptable. Regarding war, there is a fine line between fantasy and reality: the fantasy - such as games - creates temporary emotional pain relating to fictional figures that eventually disappears, which is acceptable, whereas the reality - such as war - may truly physically and emotional harm the persons in question, which is intolerable and may remain forever. Also, paintballing and airsoft were brought up in class. They too exhibit boundaries between what is and is not acceptable. Truman said that when he goes paintballing with his friends, his goal (sometimes) is to target a specific friend and bruise him up. If the friend suffers a fatal injury, emotional pain is accompanied by physical pain and the boundary is crossed. Note that physical and emotional pain intersect each other in these situations.

When comparing these two different pains, however, which is worse? A search for "physical or emotional pain" in Yahoo! Answers resulted in mixed opinions. Some believe that physical pain - such as having amputated limbs - cannot be worse while others argue that emotional pain may last a lifetime and cause permanent detrimental effects to the mind. Nonetheless, pain is as inevitable as death; yet, it is a friendly reminder that we are all human.

Post 14: Resolution

As I was leaving Storer after Jenny helped me turn in my teacher evaluation form and held the door for me, and Danielle collected the rest of the forms, I was already reflecting about the class. Although I did not have to walk as far as I did on the first day of class, there has been a significant change of tolerance in my arms and legs; they have adapted quite well to my crutches. Walking with crutches has become second nature: during the first couple weeks of class, I easily ran out of breath and energy from walking a couple hundred feet; however, accomplishing that same feat now tests only my patience and nothing more.

Similarly, my approach to this class has also changed from being too picky in my writing to elaborating myself naturally. After re-reading my first couple posts, I noticed that I tried too hard to "beautify" my writing. Over the next 11 posts, I believe that it is not the quality that has changed but the feeling and personality. Ironically, while I initially thought my last half of posts were less adequate than the first a couple weeks ago, I now realize that in the latter posts they are "Bernie," not the "Bernie who is trying to write a perfect essay," talking.

Regarding the style of this class, I personally love it. At first, I thought it was only our UWP class that tested writing narratives and analyzed modern technologies, but apparently my friends taking other UWP 101 classes also wrote about similar topics. However, the idea of "blogging" takes our English class to a whole different level. Despite fulfilling the 6000 word requirement, "blogging" takes away the pressures of having to b.s. 1500 words the night before an essay is due. Furthermore, for those who do not speak much in class, it allows them - including myself - to express themselves in a more comfortable environment at home. In fact, I am actually well-acquainted to "blogging," only that I use an old school blog - Xanga - as my personal online journal. Hence, I feel that I have a comfortable, yet somewhat emotional and private tie with "blogging" and this class.

I am pretty sure that Chris mentioned this sometime during the past five weeks, but "blogging" may become a revolution in not only English classes, but also writing in general. When I showed a friend my "Immobile" post, he claimed that my idea of linking to a picture to the teeth wind-up toy copied that of BDL (a Yahoo! Sports NBA blog). In addition, I was reading an article from a legitimate website (sorry, I can't remember the site and can't find the link) that linked to Wikipedia - a resource that some teachers disapprove of. Blogs have emerged in popular web sites and linking have spawned within the blogs; perhaps someday this style of writing will become an established norm - starting from our class.

Post 13: Immobile

Humans take mobility for granted.




Like Arlen in his "Hour As A Spy," I am sitting in a computer lab, only that it is in the Science Laboratory Building rather than the Hart Media Distribution Room. Unlike his purpose of observing people, I am in here because my "[formerly] endeared friend and [currently] dreaded enemy" is temporarily drained - literally. Part of the plastic insulation of my Fujitsu charger melted over the past weekend and I attempted to wrap the exposed wiring with insulating tape. At first, I thought I had succeeded in repairing my charger, but in a couple of days the tape had also begun to melt and my charger stopped working altogether.

In contrast to the Hart computer lab, there are only sit-down computers in here. The computers are arranged in neat rows, 12 Dell computers in each. I cannot describe the inflow and outflow of traffic because there are only four people in here, including the guy in the blue jacket and myself, and I believe that there have been less than 10 people arriving and leaving since I first got here. Furthermore, as opposed to Arlen's comment about how "most [people] take their cell phone calls outside the computer lab, maintaining the silence of the computer lab," I selfishly and guiltily spoke on the phone for 20 minutes in my seat. Other than that, I am accompanied only by the typing noise a teeth wind-up toy would make in an otherwise realm of utter silence on this quiet Friday.

As for my laptop, it not only served as a medium for watching movies and YouTube and playing games, but also suffices as "[a] workstation on which I process and store nearly all the school related documents. Therefore the laptop’s mobility creates an opportunity to blur the line between study time and personal time" (Huang). To be honest, this line is distinctively clear to me right now: I could care less if my laptop had no programs other than the Internet and Firefox so that I could write my Blog in the apartment instead of asking my roommate to drive me to school and pick me up on a day that neither of us have class. Rick also questions what it would like to "have a UC Davis No-Laptop Day." I have an inkling that there would be a little more people in this computer lab, more people walking and biking around downtown Davis, and more people improving their personal health.

Having no laptop for a few days has made me question myself about peoples' reliance on mobile computers. Although this situation has made me reach out of my apartment in search for another resource, I feel like I have a clear vision of the purpose of laptops. I view my powerless laptop not as a lifeline but as a supplement to my boredom and, occasionally, my work. It has not hindered my personal health and well-being because I am still able to maintain my weight and stay in steady shape. But I have been lying on my couch watching TV and playing my PS2 for the past few days bored out of my mind - THAT might have an effect on my body.

I am not trying to bitch and whine about myself; the point I am trying to make is that humans take mobility for granted. There are people who have fatalities, from amputated limbs to permanent, life-threatening disabilities, while others simply cannot afford other types of mobility. We should take a little bit of time appreciating with what we have in life instead of worrying about the material things that we want and do not have. I should be appreciative that I still have a computer to use somewhere, good friends who will drive me around, a place to live and watch TV in, a good laptop, and a normal life. The best part is that I will have a buffed-up leg when I heal.




Still, immobility sucks!

Post 12: Impression

What is your first impression of this picture? I ask this because when I first looked at it, I did not know myself. To give a brief description, this picture is dated June 23, 2006, when I was 17 years old. I am standing on the middle log of the front gate at my mom's house in a village in Zhongshan, China. I am wearing the same style of clothing - white T-shirt and shorts - that I wear now and my old T-Macs. Also, my right calf is not deflated and squishy like the way it is now (and no, I don't shave). And that's it - or is it?

An image may capture the physical qualities of something, but it also offers difficulty in discerning the age, ambiance, and emotions that take place in that moment of time. You can obviously analyze the contrast of colors between the brown gates and logs and the white-walled dwellings on the outside. Furthermore, the brick wall is not the casual red that the color bricks are normally associated with; in fact, it blends in with the dull and mellow tone of the rest of the outside in this image. However, what can we tell about the age, atmosphere, and feelings of this picture?

Besides me, everything else has a hint of weariness and gloominess. The wall, buildings, and ground have been worn out, perhaps from years of obediently serving and housing people. Even the wooden logs that I am holding and standing on have cracks throughout them because of age. Similarly, the weather dampens the picture. The weather in China reflects the weather in California, except on a more extreme scale. When it is summer, the temperature stretches over 40 degrees Celsius, which is equivalently over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss in humidity, and you will feel like you are constantly bathed in a warm and sticky bath. Fortunately, I do not seem to be suffering from the heat; in addition, my shirt is not drenched. I guess I was lucky: I must have rested in the house for a while. Plus, having a fan (not shown in picture) helps cooling down, too. Speaking of me, I appear to have a happy smile on my face. Of course, I could also be happily grimacing for the picture, anticipating for the moment my hands or feet slip (but I can tell you that that is not the case). My attitude happily mismatches the monotonous attitude of the environment around me.

*Extensively, as Chris mentions, "this image seems to be all about gates, boundaries, and portals." I must also add that there is a slight theme of imprisonment. From that perspective, it does seem like there are uncountable numbers of "entryways and exits beyond [the buildings on the outside]." However, am I better off entrapped behind the gates?

If I escape, how many more obstacles do I have to go through? Would I rather be engulfed in darkness and loneliness? Is the outside world too much of a mystery for me making me turn back "into" the camera? On the one hand, this gate protects me from the unknown; on the other hand, I will be stuck with what I have within the gate, but I will be safe. This new picture infuses a new perspective into my first image that emits curiosity and longing for something on the outside. There is a brighter world out there, and it might be worth the risk to extend myself through the tall gate to discover different portals and boundaries. I know I am cheating again with this picture, but it is too hard to resist posting it with the discussion of boundaries.*

Okay, so I cheated a little bit while analyzing the picture, but one may also make the same observations by putting a little thought into it. An image may tell only so many things; adding a bit of brainpower may make it a little more real. So, what is my impression of this picture? It is the same as before, only that I feel a little sweatier with a grin on my face.

Post 11: Retrospect

In an era where pagers are remnants of the past, I believe that Danielle's reaction to her broken cell is an insightful and accurate description of what would happen to many cell phones users who lose their precious "connection to the 'outside' world." We have gone from needing to look for a phone to make a phone call to putting our social lives into a phone that is about the size of one's palm - or smaller.

When I was in elementary school, my dad told my sister and I that if we ever needed to contact him when he was not in his cubicle at work, we could call his pager. His pager was about the size of a SLVR, except only thicker and a little smaller. The pager would usually be clipped onto the waistline of his pants. If I remember correctly, the only functions that his pager had were vibrating, ringing, and flashing. Unlike cell phones today, the pager ran on AA batteries, not lithium batteries. When the pager broke after about a year of running, it certainly did not cause a sense of urgency. Perhaps the most simple way I could describe my dad's reaction is, "Oh well."

Shortly after, my dad subscribed to a "cellular" phone plan and acquired this Nokia handphone (except it was black). The only purpose of the phone to me was playing snake and beating my previous high score. It was in high school when I finally owned my first cell phone. I thought it was cool because it was the first sliding phone I had ever seen; furthermore, when it was closed, it would fit in the center of the palm of my hand. But even then, my social life did not revolve around my cell phone; I was more concerned about the physical condition of my egg phone instead of the possibility of losing everyone's phone numbers.

Nowadays, we have Blackberries and iPhones that connect to the internet, store music, and even play videos. Currently, I own a SLVR that can only text message, store phone numbers, and use bluetooth. However, if it were to break like Danielle's phone, my body would probably undergo the same increase in heart rate, neuron firing, and cortisol release, despite the technological drawbacks my phone may have compared to more advanced phones. Why? Cell phones are now the new medium for communication. I do not know anyone who still use phone books and none of my friends have home phones in their apartments. To some people, a broken cell phone is like losing a best friend. How has the world gone from utilizing technology has a supplement to treating it like it is a vital detached organ?

Danielle also mentions that "the fact that the breaking of a cell phone disrupts not only one's contact with everyone they know but also disrupts their body's [homeostasis; it] shows that we have become dependent on technology." Indeed, our lives have become so reliant on technology that if Y2K were to occur, we...well, we would not know what to do anymore. We have gone from utilizing technology as a supplement to our lives to infusing a part of our souls into a little piece of machinery. Yet, it is interesting to try to live without solely relying on technology.

Two summers ago, there was a major blackout in my neighborhood - we were without electricity for three days. Without my PS2, TV, laptop, refrigerated food and drink, and even ice (local 7-11's and supermarkets were sold out of ice), there was little left to do. Thus, I drove to my local community center to work out, play basketball in the gym, and write daily journals on my laptop (there was no public internet access). At night, my parents would light candles and my family would spend hours playing card games. When the power finally came back on, I realized that living with no electricity opened my eyes a little on what else was out there in the world. Additionally, I actually survived with no Internet, which was my main form of communication at that time.

Technological dependence, like Danielle states, is truly depressing. If we all try to treat technology more as a supplement rather than a lifeline, we would be able to appreciate the things around us a little more. We do not have to be glued to our cell phones every day or wired to the Internet to survive. We should revert back to more traditional forms once in a while, such as writing letters and using phone books (so that we would actually start knowing numbers again). Who knows - maybe life would be more fruitful and consist of better relationships by diverting away from technology and revitalizing the most simple forms of communication.

Post 10: Unstoppable

Before I elaborate on this commercial, I just want to throw out a disclaimer that I will not be analyzing "Impossible Is Nothing" because that slogan is better suited for a five page essay.

Mobility is an aspect in life that we value dearly every day (assuming we do not become hypnotized blobs like those in WALL-E). At least for basketball players, this commercial advertises a shoe that hints at invulnerability in terms of mobility: those who possess the shoes cannot be stopped. There are four elements that function to display mobility in this commercial: color, size and quantity, and speed.

There is a stark contrast between the colors of Tracy McGrady's clothing and the helicopters, humvees, and the soldiers' clothing. The polar opposites of white and black suggest defense and offense. The "white" team is quick on covering ground and air; however, McGrady's mobility is even more impressive since he can still move while being binded by ropes. One may notice that McGrady's shoes are also white; the contrast between McGrady's dark clothing and white shoes serves to emphasize the "power" of the shoes.

Size and quantity also contribute to the theme of mobility of this commercial. Although helicopters and humvees are realistically larger than a person, the wearer of these shoes make him or her larger than life. In addition, the number of vehicles and soldiers are irrelevant. Despite the amount of rope that the soldiers shoot and throw out of their vehicles (which may represent defense) McGrady manages to continue moving - with the shoes of course.

Finally, the speed of McGrady's movements is in slow motion as opposed to the "real time" around him. Similarly, the commercial contrasts two things - slow and fast speeds - to make a statement on mobility. McGrady is like a rolling cannonball: he might be moving slowly, but since his mass is so big his momentum would carry him and he would run through or crush anything.

Combining these four elements result in this commercial not only selling shoes but also displaying a person's unstoppable mobility by wearing these shoes. Unlike the mobility of technology allowing people to multi-task using one device, the commercial suggests that the mobility of these shoes allow people to break out of being uniform or one; in other words, they allow one to break constraints and do things that normal shoes would not allow them to do (specifically break down opponents and be able to jump). Ultimately, the commercial says this: Wear the shoes, move freely, and become unstoppable.

Post 9: Perspective

I started taking abacus lessons when I was in the first grade 13 years ago and quit when I was a sophomore in high school. During these nine years, I had accumulated unforgettable memories and friendships; those years remain fondly close to my heart because they helped shape the person I am today. When I quit, I took a year off to focus on schoolwork before returning and becoming a teacher's assistant for abacus classes for beginners once a week for an entire year.

One of the classes had about 25 students, all of whom were five to seven years old. Managing a class of that size combined with immaturity can be chaotic at times but is to be expected. While the teacher, Ms. Huang, was introducing herself, I patiently waited for my turn to speak and managed to take a glimpse at each student; I was trying to deduce whether he or she was a loud or quiet type. However, as Ms. Huang's words faded I realized I was inevitably caught in a web of memories and began reminiscing about my younger "abacus" self.

Back in first grade, I was the quiet and shy type - in some ways, I still am. I remember experiencing the same things that my students were experiencing: fidgeting in my seat, waiting for class to end, wondering if my mom was still outside waiting for me, and doing anything but listening to the same teacher, Ms. Huang. As I grew up, I discovered the art of cheating and occasionally copied answers from the back of my workbooks until I was caught by my mom. Even though I told my mom not to tell anyone, she ended up informing Ms. Huang and I was given a short lecture about how cheating will not help me improve. I also remember neglecting practice and wanting to quit as I reached high school; when I finally did quit, I regretted it and wish that I had continued competing against my friends until I knew that I had done my best.

As Ms. Huang's introduction began solidifying back into audible words, I saw myself in some of these students. During my time as the TA, there would be kids who cried because their parents were not in the room with them, cheated by copying off the wrong answer key, and frustrated because they could not understand a concept or figure out a problem. I helped these students by utilizing my experiences to make them feel more comfortable and confident. Furthermore, I encouraged them to practice as much as they could so that they could be faster in calculating than everyone else.

If there was one thing that I could say about being Ms. Huang's TA, it would be the profound connections over a realm of differences. Although my students were mentally and physically different, they were also me. We all had different branches, but we also all came from the same tree.

Post 8: Awaken

It is 5:44 A.M. I am sitting at a square wooden table in a Starbucks on G Street, sipping a cool, refreshing, but seemingly tasteless, venti caramel frappuccino. By no surprise do I still feel like a robot; it is as if I am sleepwalking in a dream...

...When I first walked in, there already was a lady – she was most likely in her late forties – wearing a wheat-woven hat (I do not know what else to call it), sitting on a small, circular table that is opposite to the painted wall that I am currently next to. The cashier, who was at least a pretty six feet tall, and her co-workers, gave a dull, but friendly, “good morning.” There must have been at least five people, most of who included a “good morning” and “have a good day,” that have walked in and out since I sat down – similar to the hat lady, most of them appeared to be in their forties. Diagonally to my left is a college student: with his left elbow making a 45 degree angle on his table from both sides, he is resting his forehead on the palm of his hand and painfully forcing the contents of a book into his mind. In the background is the familiar Goo Goo Dolls song that I cannot seem to pinpoint, singing “And I don’t want the world to see me, ‘cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.”

The shoveling of ice cubes, which oddly reminds me of people shoveling snow and paving the icy ramps at the end of ski lifts, the blending of unhealthy calories and caffeine, and the chit-chat of the employees are apparently nonexistent to me unless I want them to be something: I did not notice them while I was observing customers until I just allowed my senses to curiously expand and absorb each aspect of this Starbucks, slowly but surely. Younger customers have come and gone, always more cheerfully and quicker moving, as time passes by. 40 minutes have expired; I effortlessly glance outside and notice that the gentle glow of dawn has come out of hiding and confidently brightened the skies. Unfortunately, the summer weather must have also awaken and have started brewing the temperature – it was about 73 degrees when I woke up and got here, and now it must almost be 80...

...My frappuccino, usually devoured in ten minutes, is still more than half full; my mind is still half empty (or asleep), perhaps still stubbornly unwilling to wake up. And yet, the bubbly beginning of Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” has just come on; interestingly, I suddenly feel a comfortable nudge in my head and feel like it is a sign to really get up. I take another sip of my frappuccino - it tastes a little sweeter. I am awake now: I can finally start my day.

Post 7: Happiness

One of my favorite aspects of our UWP class is how we are able to take one simple thing, such as Wednesday's comic, dissect its elements and plunge ourselves into an engaging discussion based on the original thing. I cannot remember everything that we spoke about, but I do recall sitting there, thinking about how we went from analyzing "The Unexamined Life" to personal happiness in more than an hour's class time. Responding to the comic, a student commented that American life is all work and money. In addition, the student mentioned how people in Latin America appear to be more happy than those in the United States because of reduced working hours. I made a mental note to myself, agreeing that Americans are too caught up in work and money and do not have enough time to be happy and to enjoy life. What do you think? Have you ever found yourself stressing out over studying, work and life in general? Do you ever wish that you had more time to relax yourself and be more happy?

Ironically, I just found an article indicating that North Americans are among the world's happiest people. Specifically, the United States is the 16th happiest country in the world out of at least 97 countries. In addition, two of the countries in the top 10 are Latin American countries. I thought to myself, "Either I'm a pessimistic guy or the world, in general, is just

."
In the article and YouTube video, Ronald Inglehart states that there are three factors contributing to happiness: prosperity, democracy, and high social tolerance. Findings include positive correlations between happiness and peace, and democracy and peace. However, Inglehart declares, is that "the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives." This does not mean that economic prosperity and income are not important: the article notes that "lowest ranking nations struggle with legacies of authoritarian rule and widespread poverty" and that as prosperity rises, personal choice becomes more important.

Based on the article, Americans should generally be happy, but why do some of us feel just the opposite? It is because of our personal choices. We are given the opportunity to succeed but we rarely use it to our fullest extent because we are too caught up in expectations not just from ourselves but also from others. These expectations divert us from the outlets that we need to keep ourselves happy at the same time. Perhaps if we close our eyes, take a deep breath and focus clearly for even a minute, we will realize that we don't have it as bad as we think and that happiness is always right around the corner - we were just too blind to see it.

Post 6: History

What designates an event to become part of history? Everything that you have done today may certainly already be history, but what specifically allows it to be written in stone, so to speak? Also, how can we distinguish what is true and false in works that adapt famous, historical or existing, things and events?


Captured frames of time through videos is one way. For instance, professional basketball has been around for over 60 years, but video accounts of memorable events have existed for about 40 years. There is no doubt that the greatest moments in basketball history in the 50's and 60's had occurred; huge crowds witnessed the events and photographs of memories, such as Wilt's 100-point game, proved that they were no hoax (the same might not apply today because of the endless possibilities of using Adobe Photoshop). Nevertheless, videotaped games that emerged in the 60's only solidified unbelievable moments, such as (sorry, I got a little into video posting):

"Havlicek stole the ball!"...


Dr. J's reverse...


Magic Johnson's junior junior skyhook...


Reggie Miller's clutch 3's...


Jordan's final shot of his Bulls' career...


...and Robert Horry's finishing 3 against the Kings.


These events are forever recorded into the history books, reminiscent of the greatest moments in basketball history.



In contrast to videos, books rely on material drawn from reliable sources. In Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, Brown uses real, historical, present-day places, treasures, and landmarks, from famous paintings to CERN to St. Peter's Square. In Angels and Demons, Brown goes as far as utilizing anti-matter and the Illuminati to mesh fiction with non-fiction: anti-matter, although it can be artificially created, is not abundantly fused in labs; the Illuminati, which formed in the late 1700s, is unlikely to be active today.

Unlike memory, history is definite and recorded - it will remain forever. What determines history may rely on visual accounts, present-day structures, or even the history of another event. Personally, history is a mundane subject and I have always been trying to avoid it; all the same, when I grow up everything I am experiencing now, such as the Iraq War and the crashing down of the economy, will be recorded in the books. I will be a speck, standing in a sea of billions of other specks, ground into the stone.

Post 5: Consumption

From which perspective of consumption is more prevalent, needing or wanting? New Keywords states that early usage of "consume" in the 14th century signaled destruction, exhaustion and waste. Presently, the economical analogy between producers and consumers, where consumers purchase products developed by producers, represent the neutral or positive consumption. In addition, consumption may apply to what living organisms do every day: eating. Furthermore, before discussing "consumption" in class today, I always thought of the word representing food. However, after Smaill informed the class of his pessimistic insight, I also began to perceive "consumption" from a negative point of view.

Below is a clip from Smallville, where Clark attempts to save a drunk Santa Claus. I have included the times that are significant to this argument:
0:00-2:03
5:54-end.



How does this tie in with consumption? Santa is disappointed in the world because “it’s all take take take, bitch bitch bitch.” He is implying that people are thinking about what they want and complaining if they do not get it. Likewise, humans have become narrow-minded in desiring the best of everything and not giving back to the world. Humans have become engrossed in consumption for their own desires and not for their own needs. The last minute of the clip is the conclusion of the scene, where Santa realizes that “the spirit of Christmas isn’t dead after all” because there are some, like Clark, who sacrifice their own desires to help others. In addition, Smallville uses peaceful music and special effects to add emotion and excitement to the scene. These elements supplement the viewers to help them understand what Santa is trying to say and how he changes his perspective of the world.

I also believe that the world today is focused more on what people want as opposed to what people need. For instance, in class we talked about televisions. At one point in time, a person who owns a 30' flat screen would be of "high class." However, a few years later, owning that same flat screen would become embarrassing because others may have larger and more "advanced" televisions, such as 70' HD TVs. Yet, is it necessary to be able to see every single bit of detail on TV? Isn't a TV that is moderately viewable good enough?

Another example would be purchasing hybrid cars. I was talking to my friends once when I casually brought up my desire to own a hybrid car. They were in shock. Why? Their reason was that hybrid cars are not stylish. I retaliated by indicating that a hybrid would produce less carbon byproducts and that it would help me save money. Again, they smirked and said that they were not worried about global warming and the costs of a gasoline-powered car.

These are just a couple of examples that blatantly depict that people are more considered for the superficial than the beneficial. On the flip side, humans are programmed to take care of themselves and to appeal to others - no one is perfect. We all want to have the good things and the things that others have. Similarly, mankind wants to continue to develop technology and make new discoveries (which is not necessarily bad), but the "wants" generally outnumber the "needs." Hence, the combination of these factors ultimately leads to the negative connotation of "consumption," or the "wanting" of the best of everything.

Post 4: Memory

It is 10:50 P.M. I am sitting in a comfortable beige couch, with two pillows supporting my back. It has been nearly two hours since I first planted myself here, reminiscing about the past, listening to "Eternity ~Memory of Lightwaves~." When this fourth, random blog was announced and assigned in class in what seems like a year from now, I was adrenalized by the endless things that I could write about, whether it was about my favorite sport or my horrible addiction to Smallville. In reality, this possibly endless blog has caught me off-guard, taunting me with its blank white slate, in which I can fill with anything. And still, the memory of the past remains.

What is a memory? Is it a fantasy or a reality? Does it exist to remind one of happiness or to mock one with pain? New Keywords defines memory as "an indispensable condition of effective human life" and states that John Locke believed that memory contained "the storehouse of our ideas." Also, there is no doubt that psychologist have studied the profound concept of memory. Even movies, such as Memento, have used the theme of memory, something that is not fully understood, to mentally challenge and thrill viewers. All those things may further define and elaborate memory, but memory itself has no definition mentally or physically. Bits of memory slowly fade, but most, especially heart warming and heart crushing, memories remain.

I can remember what happened yesterday. I left class, excited about the limitless boundaries of the fourth blog, and talked with a friend (and ended up missing the bus). I can remember January 12 of this year: my heart was sweating and pounding, yet happy and full of love, while I was at the end of a 50 candle lit and flower arranged path, standing under a gazebo in the Arboretum, and dancing to Slow Jam with a special someone in what was like a heaven-like dream. I can also remember the middle of senior year of high school, when my heart was stabbed in the back, crushed mercilessly by a hand, and transformed into a heavy rock. These memories still remain.

What do memories mean to you? Are they your heaven or hell? Do you remember or try to forget them? Think of the random moments, the affectionate instants, and the painful marathons. Try to relive them and to escape from them. They are frozen pictures and videos in time in a photo album that take a form of our head. These memories will always remain.

Memories are neither fantasy nor reality. They have no physical form; they take on any shapes. Perhaps they exist in a form that reminds us that we are human, that we go through happy as well as sad times, that nothing is perfect, that things sometimes go wrong, and that we cannot always have what we want. Memory reminds me that I have been sitting on this beige compressed couch with two swished pillows behind my back, for almost three hours, thinking of what to write, only to find the answer in the form of the past. Memory is unbelievably abstract and really questions you what it is and what purpose it serves in life. Nevertheless, I cannot spend an eternity squeezing out the energy from my brain to figure out what it is; I will give up for now.















Still, my memories remain.

Post 3: Theory

In class, we initially discussed theory as a scientific term, and it may very well be. However, I was thinking of something completely different. Personally, my very first experience with theory was drawing oval-shaped bubbles with lines sprouting out of their right side. When I was younger, I would be thinking to myself, "What's the point of doing piano theory? Aren't I supposed to be practicing playing piano instead of writing out harmonic scales and drawing triads?" I later realized that, as it is with everything else, learning theory is a fundamental component of learning how to perform and perfect anything.

A definition of theory in the New Keywords textbook is "a hypothesis that has been confirmed or established by observation or experiment, and is propounded or accepted as accounting for the known facts." In addition, a student in class mentioned that a theory also has opposition. Interestingly, contradiction arises between opposition and theory's definition: how do these two coexist? Musicians (or at least I) take a general set of rules when writing and playing music for granted. For example, when playing a piece (on piano) in A major, there would be three sharps: F, C, and G. However, there are certain exceptions where one does not have to play these sharps, in which the F, C, or G note has a natural sign or a double sharp sign.

I admit that my idea of theory in music may appear somewhat ignorant and naive; it is hard for me to even think of music as hypotheses or in terms of rules because I am like a robot following a written code. In scientific terms, brilliant minds test out their hypotheses and, if their experiments succeed, then their hypotheses become theory or fact. However, if you think about it, these hypotheses are developed based on previous ideas, which may be true or not true. The bottom line is that these ideas are generally taken for granted; they are theories that few people attempt to disprove or not believe. Hence, the definition of theory and opposition to it coexist in a sophisticated way.

If none of this makes sense, I can at least say that our UWP 101 class is very much like theory. Unlike other mundane English classes, we are able to test out new ideas, such as writing blogs and examining key words, and see if they work. If they do work, then we continue with it. Similarly, if the ideas fail, then we find another approach. Our theory for this class, as of now, is randomly picking key words and composing a blog on them each day. Not everyone may agree with this trial and error, but this is just how it is for now - and that, in itself, is a theory.

Post 2: Race

After cooking myself a little something after returning to my apartment from class, I sat comfortably on the couch and stared blankly at the television. I let my brain rot and mold like how it should over the summer - for five hours straight. Of course, I took short 30 second breaks in between to grab some food and drinks to keep myself plump and cool. Inevitably, at the end of five hours, after finishing my unusual television marathon, I finally reached for my New Keywords textbook and proceeded to reboot my brain. I laid down on the couch, and began reading, "Race is a politically charged and ambivalent word that has evaded precise definition..."

It is profound how one word can instantly instigate a flurry of memories, is it not? Reading and thinking about race was like watching a film strip: memories of my being in different environments involving people of different races flashed right before my eyes. To be honest, I only thought of playing basketball and sitting in my Asian American Studies class. I closed my eyes and speculated on how I was to discuss race in those two different environments in a narrative...

On one hand, I figured, race is not an important factor that players think about while playing basketball. More importantly, it does not separate them from one another. In all my uncountable visits to the ARC, I have never experienced a moment where a players excluded one another from playing because of their race. On the basketball court, you may be white, black, yellow, brown, or even green. No one cares - as long as you have talent. In other words, the players are a diverse, homogeneous group.

On the other hand, my Asian American Studies class from the past spring quarter was - predictably - a class full of Asians. We talked about similar key terms in the "Race" chapter discussed in New Keywords, such as racial groups, race-mixing, racial profiling, racial stereotypes, and racial hatred. For example, we all, literally, have heard of stereotypes about different races, such as "Asians are smart" or "African Americans are good at basketball." Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to walk around and be devoid of labeling because of race. Yet, this may be either a good or bad thing; it just depends on how one perceives it. Nonetheless, race somewhat defines the identity of a person.

Having procrastinated for about five hours and working and taking a break, back and forth, for two hours, I believe that this is an appropriate and general analysis of my experiences with race. Although race is a broad topic that may be approached from many directions, there is one fact about it: race is always a part of one's identity.

Post 1: Narration

What has the world come to: hearing the flipping papers of closing notebooks and the zipping of spacious backpacks - no offense to the Professor - I assumed that it was the end of class. In addition, while the Professor added some last words, I pulled out my cell phone out of my cool, silky pocket and targeted the time: it was only 11:10 a.m. I carefully balanced myself after the class was dismissed, placed my two best friends - my left and right crutches - under my armpits while inhaling the irritating rubber fumes, and limped out.

That was just the commencement of my 30 minute trek to, into, and out of the UC Davis money-ripping emporium - I mean bookstore. I went through ten minutes of repetitive dreary motions of hopping forward and swinging my crutches out in front of me, unbalanced because of the jagged, pebbly cement, while draining myself of my breath and energy in the dry, summer air. Frustration and anxiety flowed through my mind and body, reassuring myself that in one week I will be able to walk again.

When I finally arrived at the bookstore, I had a few goals: to hop downstairs, grab the Keywords book, jump back upstairs, and pay at the register while maintaining my balance and avoiding accidental mishaps caused by my crutches. I was successful for the most part; however, I failed to find the textbook. Yet, I did bump into a friend, who happened to work at the bookstore. She was actually yelling out my name while I was going downstairs to tell me that there was an elevator that I could use. She escorted me to the mysterious elevator that I had never noticed - it reminded me of the door to the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter - and brought me back up to the first floor.

I left the bookstore empty-handed, ten minutes after I arrived, but content and sympathetic because of the help of my friend. Furthermore, a kind stranger helped me open the door so that I could walk out of the Memorial Union. I spent the last ten minutes waiting for my roommate to pick me up at the bus stop outside of the MU, thinking about how simple and kind gestures can flip one's mood right-side up, how I should do the same for others, and how much fun I would have spending time on a hobby, not a chore or an assignment.