For my digital essay, i was focusing more towards the impact of Hurricane Sandy on correlation to the news. I plan to write along the lines of how the international news over exaggerates and blows matters out of proportion posting headlines such as “NYC under water” meanwhile although things got pretty bad, that headlines was definitely not the case. Also want to mention its influence on the international public which due the news causes them to react dramatically.

Im not very sure as to what im thinking on doing for the digital project as of yet. Since im not very artsy or creative i guess im leaning more to the video. The video may consist of a news reporter taking a matter and being excessively dramatic along with somehow portraying the comparison reactions of people from America and foreigners.

As listeners, i guess comparing and judging is bound to happen. On thursday when we were told to listen to two speakers talk about their writing, by the reaction of the students it became obvious who the more favorited was; Etgar Keret. My reaction to keret was a bit ironic personally because i remember dreading into the conference center trying to wake my self up mentally to prepare for another speech; meanwhile earlier that day during Toibin’s speech i was up and ready and maybe even a bit excited to see the author who’s book we read over the summer. Even with my exhausted state Etgar Keret took it away and didnt fail to grab my attention.

Both speakers had completely different ways of speaking and tones in their voice. Toibin even with my utmost attention towards couldn’t get much of a reaction out of me. Though his story was deep and thorough and his words made sense and were meaningful he lacked some qualities of a entertaining and inspiring speaker. Some qualities which Etgar definitely expressed. He managed to successfully maintain the attention of the crowd by getting his words out there and also crack jokes to get the audience laughing. Almost everything Etgar would say has a certain tone to it. Either it was through his sarcastic remarks about his wife and kids and the german tv show person or when he was reading his different texts out loud or when he randomly asked someone for a tissue because his nose was running OR was it just his thick accent that i got a kick out of. I overall enjoyed just being there in his presence as he continued speaking. And even was a little disappointed when he had to leave early for his flight. Meanwhile in the earlier Toibin speech i felt totally indifferent, if not maybe even a bit relieved when it was over. Not intending that Toibin was a bad speaker or anything. Just when compared to Keret, Keret definitely has my vote.

All i can think about right now is how hectic and stressfeul yesterday was for me. As a commuter, traveling for about 3 hours total each day is pretty exhausting task. However when weather conditions start to interrupt things are just totally out of control. Due to the “storm” warning yesterday my main attempt was to get home quickly and safely as i can. Rushing out of school i quickly tried to speed walk to the R train on broadway while experiencing what felt like hypothermia on my feet since like the idiot that i was (or atleast thats what Phil who was walking with me made me feel like…thanks Phil), i decided to wear moccasins to school and bring no gloves or a scarf or hat.  Finally after the longest walk and drenched shoes..pretty much drenched everything,,,and mascara running down my face since of course yesterday i wasnt wearing water proof i finally made it to the station. Anxiously bouncing in place waiting for the train, and maybe to produce more body heat the R train finally strolled in.

As the doors opened i stood there with my mouth dropped after seeing how tightly the people were packed in there already. Instantly reminded me of chinese rice in a carton. Tightly packed stuck to each other. I was also pretty hungry at the time. The jerks before me managed to push and shove their way through and then there was me to tried the same and charged but bounced right out, Doors closed and train left. Glaring at the clock i panicked even more when i realized that only had 15 min until the 6:16 LIRR train left. Once again eagerly waiting for the R which took its SWEET time to finally get there i hopped on then got off at herald sq trying to get my feet which i practically lost feeling in to sprint that highly crowded block against the winding and snow flakes in my eye only to watch the 6:16 train pass right before my eyes leaving me there. And so i stood there right by the gate prepared and confident for the 6:35 to come and me being one of the first ones to enter…which i successfully was. Sitting there on the seat in relief the announcement was made “Due to weather conditions all LIRR lines are suspended” The rage that i felt inside of me after hearing that is indescribable in any language. After a detour to queens me and my friend who i thankfully met up with took, we ended up catching the 8;30 train (the first line to run after the suspension) and got to our home station. Of course my car was buried in snow and the only option was to brush it off with my bare naked hands, so i did. i FINALLY made it home and took the hottest shower of my life until my purple hands and feet and frozen body was fully thawed. What a great day

So here i am once again anxious, nervous and stressed before completing my first draft. I always tend to find myself brainstorming a million thoughts and ideas relating to the book and the topic but of course when its time to tie them all together and transcribe them on paper..my mind hits the wall and im in brain coma. Once professor Kauffman chose my topic as one of the options i thought phew “this is gonna be a breeze cuz duh i thought of it” errrr wrong! with my mind running in so many different directions i might just end up writing about all three topics.

However, lately i do feel like i see the light of hope and decided to somehow merge topic #1 and #3…fingers crossed. Hopefully we once again have the one on one conferences with the professor since it actually did help me in terms of organizing my thoughts and correcting my reckless unsupported claims. With the reference of a fairly interesting book along with my opinion on the topics, i feel that this essay at some point will be better than the previous one and will more clearly justify my claims for the topics

Considering that i’m going to a business school and hoping to pursue a career in business finance, handling money and maintaining a budget is a skill i should possess. Maybe for others in terms of giving advice, but for myself i don’t think i possess one ounce of intelligent money management. Earning hasnt been the same since summer since i only work one day a week now. However, spending most of my time in the fashion capital of America New York City, resisting myself has been harder than ever.

Money just seems to stroll in and then poof! leave with twice the speed and still my shopping list never looks shorter. It’s safe to admit that i have a serious problem. Regardless of what it may be from new trending boots to eye catching scarves to the delicious lingering smell of cart food and sudden thirsts for starbucks. I guess i’m just too weak. Popping my debit card out and swiping it feels like the easiest task in the world until i notice the pathetic digits next to the word “account balance” at night (which do act as my reality check) but then the cycle start all over again the next day :/ fml

I must say that reading the first few pages of this book, unlike other assigned books, had me drawn into the novel as a reader. There was just something about it that made reading the pages much easier and interesting. Or it could be just the exhilarating story of this women who i can relate to in some ways going through such a traumatizing experience, which actually is factual and occurred in real life that catches my attention.

The case about doctors retrieving her cells without her permission is something i qualify about. Yes it was wrong to take advantage of her illiteracy but she also became the reason such a medically advancing discovery came about. Yes she died, but her research of her cells did accomplish to save many other lives. Despite of what her result was, due to her cells still alive today, her name will forever be known and precedented to scientists all over therefore immortalizing her existence; which i see no harm in.

Though “Forgiveness” by Rebecca Brown was an attention catching short story that triggered a million thoughts in my head, conveying those thoughts on a piece of paper in a certain form of a case study was just as hard. As i mentioned in my cover letter, i tend to just ramble on with the various thoughts and ideas in my head that may make sense to me, but may lack sense and flow to another person; so this would definetely be something that would need extra attention and revision.

If i could think of something that i’m excited about in regards to this paper, i would come up with nothing. But if i could think harder, i would say that i am excited about how clear, thorough and not boring readers could possibly find my essay after all the revision and improvements to be made. This will also be my first essay assignment in college for me so i am also excited/anxious about my first essay grade(which fingers crossed hopefully won’t be soooo bad, since Ms. K mentioned earlier about her strict grading policies).

Reading this text definitely had me thinking all types of things; and to be honest, i truly didn’t know myself as to what side i think is morally correct. Yes i do believe that the human race is no doubt the superior race on earth so therefore surrounding means are there to fulfill our needs. However, does that mean they are not deserving of any other type of care or importance? Along with that, i also am a major believer of the natural equilibrium. That being said, if chimpanzees are already endangered, how can humans interfere and haste the process even more?

Okay yes the implants of chimpanzee hearts in human bodies may act as a temporary “bridge” and may delay death. But have people ever given thought to the idea that if these implants keep occurring and chimpanzees keep being sacrificed for the human race ( as they are already endangered) what will happen when the chimpanzees become extinct? Will we move on with scientific advancement and target/extinct the next closest species to humans? yeah i hope not. It needs to be realized that this is just a temporary solution and science cannot be depended on all the time to continue to delay death or prevent death for each individual. If we become consistent on taking the wrong advantage of other important species on earth, we may just become the last species to survive with no other biological surrounding! (extreme thought) Therefore, i believe other species are inferior to the human race and exemplify to do so as well by becoming our meals and clothing however, taking an even further advantage through scientific means and that too temporary is not worth the extinction of a significant species.

The definition of Bioethics in a straight and more commonly manner would be the study and research of biology and medicine through human morals and ethics. However, what is the significance of bioethics to our society? The levels and standards of technology continue to rise and advance, therefore its influence and  effect towards the human society cannot be ignored. The whole purpose of establishing the field of bioethics in my eyes is of course to benefit the human race, but the question is: is it really benefiting us?

The UNESCO had the same concern when they adopted the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. I agree on the points on “reflecting on the rapid developments in science Continue reading →