Monday, April 19, 2004
Group Presentations
Today, I viewed the first of two group presentations in our class. I must say I was for the most part impressed with both groups, but I do have some comments to make about each.
Biotechnology Group:
Sports and Technology Group:
On another note about the Sports and Technology Group, the person who talked about Fantasy Sports stated that this caused a depersonalization of those involved, meaning that those participating did not need to know anything about a player. I do not believe this is true. I do not participate in fantasy sports myself, yet my cousin does, and I know that participants need to know a lot about a player's statistics, and that it is also not just pure numbers. A player's streaks and long-term reliability is often vital to the game. Plus, the presenter stated that most participants are middle-aged men, proving further that they are not going to pick the big names in the game solely because they have heard of them. This age group is more interested in the players themselves, and pay more attention to the games as a whole, not just the numbers.
Overall, I thought both groups were very effective in conveying their points to the audience. For the most part, both groups were very organized as well, and had presentations that were easy to follow. I hope that my group will follow in their footsteps.
Today, I viewed the first of two group presentations in our class. I must say I was for the most part impressed with both groups, but I do have some comments to make about each.
Biotechnology Group:
- This group was well researched
- I liked their use of statistics
- I'm not sure about the snacks, I see how the popcorn could relate (genetically engineered corn), but what about the soda?
- It was clear that had practiced
- Each group member seemed to know the topic
Sports and Technology Group:
- This group seemed to know a lot about each individual's topic
- Unfortunately, they were rushed, so they may not have hit all the topics they wanted to
- It seemed they had practiced as well
On another note about the Sports and Technology Group, the person who talked about Fantasy Sports stated that this caused a depersonalization of those involved, meaning that those participating did not need to know anything about a player. I do not believe this is true. I do not participate in fantasy sports myself, yet my cousin does, and I know that participants need to know a lot about a player's statistics, and that it is also not just pure numbers. A player's streaks and long-term reliability is often vital to the game. Plus, the presenter stated that most participants are middle-aged men, proving further that they are not going to pick the big names in the game solely because they have heard of them. This age group is more interested in the players themselves, and pay more attention to the games as a whole, not just the numbers.
Overall, I thought both groups were very effective in conveying their points to the audience. For the most part, both groups were very organized as well, and had presentations that were easy to follow. I hope that my group will follow in their footsteps.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
25th Hour
A recent assignment we had for English was to watch the film 25th Hour starring Edward Norton and Anna Paquin to name a few. I found the film very entertaining, yet it was also thought-provoking in the sense that I found myself wondering what I would do in the same situation. Another aspect I enjoyed about the film was that Spike Lee (the director) intertwined his own feelings into the film, and he also made use of different camera angles and scene lighting to portray different aspects of the scene. For instance, when Monty (Edward Norton) goes to visit Jakob Elinsky (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), the room is decently lit for a classroom, with many windows. Mary D'Annunzio (Anna Paquin) sits bathed in the bright light that fills the room, almost giving her an angelic appearance, despite her demeanor. Otherwise, the film seems to be very dark, specifically when the characters are discussing drug deals or other crimes.
Overall, I found the film very interesting. It was clear that Spike Lee added some aspects of his opinion toward America post-9/11. In some parts of the film, I felt this extra was nice, sort of a window into Spike Lee, yet at other times, it seemed very unnecessary and long-winded. The movie is definitely one of importance though, and I enjoyed it.
A recent assignment we had for English was to watch the film 25th Hour starring Edward Norton and Anna Paquin to name a few. I found the film very entertaining, yet it was also thought-provoking in the sense that I found myself wondering what I would do in the same situation. Another aspect I enjoyed about the film was that Spike Lee (the director) intertwined his own feelings into the film, and he also made use of different camera angles and scene lighting to portray different aspects of the scene. For instance, when Monty (Edward Norton) goes to visit Jakob Elinsky (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), the room is decently lit for a classroom, with many windows. Mary D'Annunzio (Anna Paquin) sits bathed in the bright light that fills the room, almost giving her an angelic appearance, despite her demeanor. Otherwise, the film seems to be very dark, specifically when the characters are discussing drug deals or other crimes.
Overall, I found the film very interesting. It was clear that Spike Lee added some aspects of his opinion toward America post-9/11. In some parts of the film, I felt this extra was nice, sort of a window into Spike Lee, yet at other times, it seemed very unnecessary and long-winded. The movie is definitely one of importance though, and I enjoyed it.
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Starsky and Hutch
Last weekend, I went with my roommate, another friend, my sister, and parents to see Starsky and Hutch. I was actually suprised that the movie was quite good. While it was by no means fantastic, it was entertaining, and held my attention. The film is based on the 70s sitcom by the same name and stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The two are the police version of The Odd Couple. Starsky is very prompt and detailed, whereas Hutch is very messy and relaxed. When they are first assigned to be partners, Hutch shows up late. Here is the conversation they have:
Starsky:It's 10 o'clock, you're late; I've been here since 8.
Hutch: 8 o'clock? I didn't even know this place opened that early.
Starsky: It's okay though, because crime called in sick, it's going to get a late start too.
Hutch: Crime called in sick, I like that...
The entire movie is filled with humorous dialog such as that. The supporting cast is quite large as well, including Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg, Juliette Lewis, Amy Smart, Carmen Electra, and Jason Bateman. There were also cameos from the original Starsky and Hutch. The film had its share of laughs, crys, and action. I enjoyed the film a lot and would actually consider buying it.
Last weekend, I went with my roommate, another friend, my sister, and parents to see Starsky and Hutch. I was actually suprised that the movie was quite good. While it was by no means fantastic, it was entertaining, and held my attention. The film is based on the 70s sitcom by the same name and stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The two are the police version of The Odd Couple. Starsky is very prompt and detailed, whereas Hutch is very messy and relaxed. When they are first assigned to be partners, Hutch shows up late. Here is the conversation they have:
Starsky:It's 10 o'clock, you're late; I've been here since 8.
Hutch: 8 o'clock? I didn't even know this place opened that early.
Starsky: It's okay though, because crime called in sick, it's going to get a late start too.
Hutch: Crime called in sick, I like that...
The entire movie is filled with humorous dialog such as that. The supporting cast is quite large as well, including Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg, Juliette Lewis, Amy Smart, Carmen Electra, and Jason Bateman. There were also cameos from the original Starsky and Hutch. The film had its share of laughs, crys, and action. I enjoyed the film a lot and would actually consider buying it.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Research Paper: The Third and Final Frontier
Okay, so as I am winding down with the research paper business, I have decided to have one more post on my progress. Seeing as though it's the day before it's due, I think I have a decent final copy, one that needs to go through a few more slight revisions though. I will spare you from posting the entire eight pages on here, but I will include an excerpt and some of my thoughts afterwards.
Piece of the puzzle:
"Modern state crime labs seem almost primitive compared to the resources used by the television detectives. Not only does the equipment used seem ancient in contrast to the fictional counterparts, there is also a lack of funding to hire more analysts. Americans are receiving a false perception of their detectives’ capabilities, not due to their incompetence, but due to a lack of personnel and materials. Yet as Donahue states, 'it's not enough to hire more police officers. You've got to allocate the money to buy these great machines.' With large budget cuts resulting from the economic waves caused by September 11th, many police departments and crime labs lack the finances in order to support the new technology and staff being released for crime solving."
Basically, here I am comparing the real labs with the fictional ones on television. A point brought up in one of my sources is that not only are labs short money, but also the people to run them. I am attempting to focus on this aspect here, yet it still needs more developments. Overall, the paper is looking very good, and I look forward to turning it in tomorrow.
Okay, so as I am winding down with the research paper business, I have decided to have one more post on my progress. Seeing as though it's the day before it's due, I think I have a decent final copy, one that needs to go through a few more slight revisions though. I will spare you from posting the entire eight pages on here, but I will include an excerpt and some of my thoughts afterwards.
Piece of the puzzle:
"Modern state crime labs seem almost primitive compared to the resources used by the television detectives. Not only does the equipment used seem ancient in contrast to the fictional counterparts, there is also a lack of funding to hire more analysts. Americans are receiving a false perception of their detectives’ capabilities, not due to their incompetence, but due to a lack of personnel and materials. Yet as Donahue states, 'it's not enough to hire more police officers. You've got to allocate the money to buy these great machines.' With large budget cuts resulting from the economic waves caused by September 11th, many police departments and crime labs lack the finances in order to support the new technology and staff being released for crime solving."
Basically, here I am comparing the real labs with the fictional ones on television. A point brought up in one of my sources is that not only are labs short money, but also the people to run them. I am attempting to focus on this aspect here, yet it still needs more developments. Overall, the paper is looking very good, and I look forward to turning it in tomorrow.
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Research Paper: Part 2!
Another source that I have decided to use for the research paper is that of data from actual forensics labs across the United States. I have found information from the New York State Lab and the Georgia Lab. I personally have been to one of the smaller forensics labs in Georgia, and will be sure to include information I learned in my paper. The state website is also very informative. What I am looking for from these labs is their budget information, equipment, and other various aspects that assist with my argument. I think this could possibly one of the greatest sources of information, given that I am comparing real labs with those portrayed on TV. Maybe I should entitle my paper: I'm Not a Forensics Lab, I Just Play One on TV." I'm not too sure what sort of reaction would be received from that though.
Anyway, I am quite confident that this source is a resourceful one, not to mention I would consider it very "scholarly" and reliable. Nothing could represent actual forensics labs better than... actual forensics labs. The difficult part with these sources, particularly their websites, is that it is hard to sort through the unimportant information. I feel that these will be beneficial sources though.
Another source that I have decided to use for the research paper is that of data from actual forensics labs across the United States. I have found information from the New York State Lab and the Georgia Lab. I personally have been to one of the smaller forensics labs in Georgia, and will be sure to include information I learned in my paper. The state website is also very informative. What I am looking for from these labs is their budget information, equipment, and other various aspects that assist with my argument. I think this could possibly one of the greatest sources of information, given that I am comparing real labs with those portrayed on TV. Maybe I should entitle my paper: I'm Not a Forensics Lab, I Just Play One on TV." I'm not too sure what sort of reaction would be received from that though.
Anyway, I am quite confident that this source is a resourceful one, not to mention I would consider it very "scholarly" and reliable. Nothing could represent actual forensics labs better than... actual forensics labs. The difficult part with these sources, particularly their websites, is that it is hard to sort through the unimportant information. I feel that these will be beneficial sources though.
Friday, March 26, 2004
Research Paper!
Recently, I have been working very dilligently on my research paper for English 1102. As a class we were told to choose a cultural text or media that we would like to work with (such as a TV show, movie, or novel) and a topic with which to discuss. The assignment is to discuss how the technology used in the text affects Americans today. My thesis basically states that CSI and CSI: Miami use technology to distort Americans' perception of forensics and crime solving. While these are two of my favorite shows, and also the line of work which I am tentatively pursuing, I do feel like both shows are providing citizens with a false sense of security. Yes, I agree that with the new technology, forensics is becoming more accurate and trustworthy, yet at the same time we as Americans should not have the wool pulled over our eyes about the crime situation in America.
One source in particular I found to be very resourceful is that of a Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper article written by John Kieswetter. The article (which can be found here) is intended to promote the shows, particularly the Miami-based version. I, however, found the article very informative and very beneficial to my argument. The article included many quotations from some of the show's big-wigs. For instance, the show's technical advisor Elizabeth Devine states, "We cheat time on our show. We do DNA in 15 minutes. . . . it's not accurate, but it's a television show, and we have to do it." Also, the article details some of the finances necessary to maintain a lab as elaborate as the one on Miami. This assists with my argument in the fact that very few crime labs across the United States have the budget or the manpower to develop the type of lab seen on the shows, and also the amount of time spent on a crime in the shows is also unrealistic. The review is a very useful source for my purpose.
Recently, I have been working very dilligently on my research paper for English 1102. As a class we were told to choose a cultural text or media that we would like to work with (such as a TV show, movie, or novel) and a topic with which to discuss. The assignment is to discuss how the technology used in the text affects Americans today. My thesis basically states that CSI and CSI: Miami use technology to distort Americans' perception of forensics and crime solving. While these are two of my favorite shows, and also the line of work which I am tentatively pursuing, I do feel like both shows are providing citizens with a false sense of security. Yes, I agree that with the new technology, forensics is becoming more accurate and trustworthy, yet at the same time we as Americans should not have the wool pulled over our eyes about the crime situation in America.
One source in particular I found to be very resourceful is that of a Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper article written by John Kieswetter. The article (which can be found here) is intended to promote the shows, particularly the Miami-based version. I, however, found the article very informative and very beneficial to my argument. The article included many quotations from some of the show's big-wigs. For instance, the show's technical advisor Elizabeth Devine states, "We cheat time on our show. We do DNA in 15 minutes. . . . it's not accurate, but it's a television show, and we have to do it." Also, the article details some of the finances necessary to maintain a lab as elaborate as the one on Miami. This assists with my argument in the fact that very few crime labs across the United States have the budget or the manpower to develop the type of lab seen on the shows, and also the amount of time spent on a crime in the shows is also unrealistic. The review is a very useful source for my purpose.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Woodruff- The Dining Hall for Everyone
As part of our study of White Noise we were given a task to spend one hour in a place and submerse ourselves in the sensory data being presented to us. We were then asked to filter out what is relevant and what is not. Here is my interpretation of my experience:
The other day, I spent an hour sitting in Woodruff Dining Hall on West Campus. I know what you're thinking, "an hour in a dining hall? That's disgusting!" And yes, let me tell you, it is.
The food alone could cause an elderly woman to faint. Thankfully, I spent my hour in the penitentiary, err... dining hall on chicken nugget day. While some of the nuggets could be bounced across the room, others were causing chipped teeth. Sigh, this is campus food for you. Actually, it's not that bad. Plus, you can always resort to making a delicious waffle, or bowl of cereal. Hmm... the waffles. Made by those meant to eat it, the waffle maker is always there, warm and ready, and always smells fantastic. No matter what Woodruff is serving that day, you always come out smelling like a smorgasbord of fried and overcooked foods. This smell is distinct. You can go up to any member of West Campus and simply state, "I smell like Woodruff," and they will nod knowingly.
Cuisine is not the only horrific etinty being served up at Woody's. The relationships between those that eat together are often times so petty that it makes me sick. Everyone feels the need to keep up conversation when they are together, whether they have just met or have known each other for years. Most of these conversations are quite meaningless. The table of three boys (clearly freshman) sitting near the salad bar were discussing the pros and cons of AP (Advanced Placement) courses being weighted for their difficulty. Why is it that Tech students tend to overanalyze every situation? You are in college already, AP classes are a thing of the past! Then there was the couple off to the side, attempting to be discreet while they cuddled and peered into each others eyes. Yuck. They were definitely pre-first fight. Most people our age have a predetermined view of how life will be for them when they are finally in love. Many of them spend their lives attempting to mold all of their relationships into that ideal, when they should really be enjoying that person's company and letting their relationship blossom on its own. The two of them were attempting to plan out their week, as if everything they did needed to revolve around one another. Sitting over in the corner near the couple was an older male, attempting to study for a test. He maintained minimal intercourse with any one who passed, often ignoring everyone around him. He slowly chewed on his sandwich, attempting to cram for whatever exam he had that day. He seemed content to be alone, with the books or without. The hustle and bustle of the everyday dining experience did not faze him, even from his perch by the doors.
Most of the interactions between people in the dining hall were shallow, nothing of depth. Every conversation overheard was based on the weather, sports, overanalyzation, food, or some other mediocre topic. Nothing really held any relevance, which is the case with almost every dialogue between mulitple people. In fact, I cannot recall anything I heard that had any degree of substance to it. Possibly the only thing of relevance within the entire dining hall that had any significance are the nutrition facts posted above the courses, but even that is not important to some.
As part of our study of White Noise we were given a task to spend one hour in a place and submerse ourselves in the sensory data being presented to us. We were then asked to filter out what is relevant and what is not. Here is my interpretation of my experience:
The other day, I spent an hour sitting in Woodruff Dining Hall on West Campus. I know what you're thinking, "an hour in a dining hall? That's disgusting!" And yes, let me tell you, it is.
The food alone could cause an elderly woman to faint. Thankfully, I spent my hour in the penitentiary, err... dining hall on chicken nugget day. While some of the nuggets could be bounced across the room, others were causing chipped teeth. Sigh, this is campus food for you. Actually, it's not that bad. Plus, you can always resort to making a delicious waffle, or bowl of cereal. Hmm... the waffles. Made by those meant to eat it, the waffle maker is always there, warm and ready, and always smells fantastic. No matter what Woodruff is serving that day, you always come out smelling like a smorgasbord of fried and overcooked foods. This smell is distinct. You can go up to any member of West Campus and simply state, "I smell like Woodruff," and they will nod knowingly.
Cuisine is not the only horrific etinty being served up at Woody's. The relationships between those that eat together are often times so petty that it makes me sick. Everyone feels the need to keep up conversation when they are together, whether they have just met or have known each other for years. Most of these conversations are quite meaningless. The table of three boys (clearly freshman) sitting near the salad bar were discussing the pros and cons of AP (Advanced Placement) courses being weighted for their difficulty. Why is it that Tech students tend to overanalyze every situation? You are in college already, AP classes are a thing of the past! Then there was the couple off to the side, attempting to be discreet while they cuddled and peered into each others eyes. Yuck. They were definitely pre-first fight. Most people our age have a predetermined view of how life will be for them when they are finally in love. Many of them spend their lives attempting to mold all of their relationships into that ideal, when they should really be enjoying that person's company and letting their relationship blossom on its own. The two of them were attempting to plan out their week, as if everything they did needed to revolve around one another. Sitting over in the corner near the couple was an older male, attempting to study for a test. He maintained minimal intercourse with any one who passed, often ignoring everyone around him. He slowly chewed on his sandwich, attempting to cram for whatever exam he had that day. He seemed content to be alone, with the books or without. The hustle and bustle of the everyday dining experience did not faze him, even from his perch by the doors.
Most of the interactions between people in the dining hall were shallow, nothing of depth. Every conversation overheard was based on the weather, sports, overanalyzation, food, or some other mediocre topic. Nothing really held any relevance, which is the case with almost every dialogue between mulitple people. In fact, I cannot recall anything I heard that had any degree of substance to it. Possibly the only thing of relevance within the entire dining hall that had any significance are the nutrition facts posted above the courses, but even that is not important to some.
