Reflection Visit

I didn't really know what to write about until the last day. Today I went to Oakland High School to visit some friends because I didn't have school today. I was absolutely shocked at what Oakland High looks like. I mean Oakland is a pretty bad and good place at the same time. It is good because you might experience things that will benefit you in the future but it is also know to be "ghetto". You probably think this is true too. I actually lived in Oakland at some point of time and I have experienced many things like fights and thievery.

I was actually born in New York and I lived there for 3 years until I moved to Oakland. My parents wanted me to live in a better environment with better schools. So I was actually going to a preschool near this private school called OIS. My brother had the chance to go to OIS and get a good education. But when my parents found out there is a better district call AUSD then decided to move to Alameda. But for that to happen they had to cut back on private school for my brother. By the time that happened me and my brother was sent to a public school near our apartment. I had a great time going there. I might lots of friends and grown close relationships.

By the time my parents saved up money we moved to Alameda as fast as we could. It was really rough for me because I had gotten a very close friend and I had to lose him because of the better education in Alameda. I moved in the middle of the year and I started a fresh new appearance in Alameda. It was actually pretty crazy and the only thing I remember about the first day of school was that my brother went on a field trip so I had no one to play with during recess. So as I grew older I adapted to my new school and every year I go up to a new grade level. Up until today when I visited Oakland High, I saw many of my elementary school friends. They were all so different then i had imagine because I lived a totally different lifestyle then they do. Some of them grew tall, stayed the same height, become more cute, but the one that shocked me the most was my best friend joined a gang. I didn't see him because he went to Oakland Tech.

I just realized how important a environment is to you. I should also be blessed to go a a better school. I also thought to myself what would I have become if I had stayed in Oakland and enroll to a Oakland school. I guess I won't be able to know and no one will know...

Over Priced

Okay. This topic has been stuck in my head since the last post I did and I was wondering why things these days are so over priced. To start off first, why does iPhones and iTouches cost so much? I mean it should cost a bit more because its a branded name and it is the newest things out in the market but why does the producers have to be so greedy? I think ( not positive ) it should only take about 100 dollars to make a iTouch or so. But Apple makes the product sell for up to 300 or 400 depending what model you get and how much memory it has in there. I also think that it is a waste to put so much memory to a MP3 player such as the iTouch because very few people actually use up all the space.

Other things that are over priced like crazy are foods and drinks. For an example, something like a bottle of soda cost around $1.30 or so. But the materials to make the thing is about only 60 cents. Isn't that absurd? Even the produce you buy at markets are expensive. I know that the foods we eat has to be shipped and stuff but the increase of it is a lot. Another example is something at Safeway can be also bought and some place like Chinatown for a LOT cheaper.

Another major increase of a product is clothing. I mean there are different types of materials and that makes the clothing look or feel better when wearing it but when clothing that cost 100 dollars per jeans or jackets or something like that is kinda weird. The only difference is brand and fashion. You can probably get something close to that certain type of shirt or sweater for a lesser value but a different brand. So this means you are actually paying more because the brand says some weird company's name/logo on it.

Microsoft's PC VS Apple

Microsoft's computer are said to have been copied off of Macs. I never owned a Mac so I don't know the functions in it like I do for the PCs. In my own opinion I think that PCs are better. Microsoft has been practically a rival against Apple. It seems that once Apple introduced the iPhones and iTouches the competitors like Microsoft is getting worse end of the deal. Most people say that the Vista for Microsoft is worst than the XP. Just when will Microsoft make a whole new product to make the playing field even? As for us, the consumers, are in the battle field of war. AS electronics begin to get more complex their prices soar like rockets.A funny fact is that Bill Gates said to his children that he doesn't want Apple products in the house and yet he has a Mac for himself. But that is just he rumors that have been told.

I think that the reason why Microsoft is doing so bad against Apple is because Microsoft doesn't sell MP3 players like Apple does. I mean yes they do sell MP3 players but it isn't as good. Which would u prefer an iTouch or a Zune? One of the famous things that Microsoft made was only the XP computer, Halo, and the XBox. However, Macs made the Mas computer, iPhone/Touch,Mac Book Pro, and the revolutionary product that got everything going, the iPod.

Weird question for Microsoft. Why did you guys stop selling XP computers? I personally think that the XP computers are better than the Vista and Windows 7. I don't see why they are selling the things that still have slight bugs in them while they have a whole different product that may be a little bit older but performs way better than the new versions. All I know is electronics are just becoming more of a fashion rather than a tool.

Music Players

So recently I brought a new iTouch from Apple. The iTouch is great and all except one thing, that is the use of iTunes. I had so much trouble with syncing my iTouch to my laptop. Really confusing actually. Its also because I use to use a different music player. What I can't stand is doing extra sorting for music. Its also got me wondering why there are so much different music players. I personally prefer RealPlayer and I understand why companies make music players but for Apple, its just freaking confusing. If you haven't tried iTunes and you are use to using a different music player I suggest you use something different. iTunes maybe one of the worst music applications ever. I mean sure you can argue about but, there is something I , personally, don't like about it. That is the syncing of iPods to computers. I don't see why they do that because it just confuses people. I mean iTunes probably good IF you know how to use it well but its just to confusing for me.
Sharing music is also another thing I want to talk about. I don't see why people have to copyright things. I mean they get the money and stuff. I don't see why we are not suppose to use it. Like for an example, Youtube is cracking down on the cases for the copyrighted songs. People listen to music for entertainment and enjoyment. The companies that produced the songs gets a lot of money already so why can't they let the copyrights go? Are they scared that someone else will reproduce it and make it better? I don't think they are really scared of that. Some artist copies rhythms from other songs. Another thing is the artist that produced the song is already recognized. However, these are just my opinions. What do you think?

How I Annotated "Can We Talk?"

(3.) Some examples will highlight the process. Several years ago one of my students conducted a research project investigating preschoolers’ conceptions of[4] Native Americans. Using children at a local day care center as her participants, she asked these three- and four-year-old to draw a picture of a Native American. Most children were stumped by her request. They didn’t know what a Native American was. But when she rephrased the question and asked them to draw a picture of an Indian, they readily complied. Almost every picture included one central feature: feathers. In fact, many of them also included a weapon—a knife or tomahawk—and depicted the person in violent or aggressive terms.

Most of these ideas are true. Children these days are very stereotypical. I annotated " They didn't know what a Native American was." I thought that this was important because the kids are so use to their own group they are use to or don't know anything else from the outside world. The kids were only exposed to the races of their local area. Another important annotation that I noticed was that the kids drew the pictures of Indians very aggressively. So basically they drew a stereotypical Indian with feathers and knives. I thought that this was very important because just like the first annotation this mean a lot like the same.

Just Hear Me Out

I took me a while to think about what to write next. I thought I could keep writing about environmental things but it turns out that I can't. So, yet again, I am going to write about something different. What I am going to write about is music. I think that music is a very important part of teenagers life. Music can vent out so much bad things. Its also weird because now, some people listen to songs they don't even understand. For an example, if you are Chinese you CAN listen to Korean or Japanese music. The diverse world is mixing together and everything from foods to musics are mixing. I am actually a person who listen to Japanese and Korean songs even though I don't understand a single word. Some of my friends do the same thing too.

Some famous Korean artist, such as Big Bang, 2PM, SNSD, and DBSK, are also making the change so that everyone in the world can listen to their music. Music popularize as the years get greater and thus, better MP3 players comes out. Major MP3 companies like Mac produce such good MP3 players such as the iPhone and iTouch get lots and lots of money. I think that the company like mac and Microsoft charge lots of money for their electronics.I think that a 32gb iTouch isn't suppose to cost that much. Since they are the only brand that sells that type of electronic they can sell at what ever price they want.

Another thing that is crazy is that I'm finishing my blog through my iTouch. I also though this is impossible. Technology these days are just freaking crazy. It's only been about a hundred years since we made the first computer and now big companies like Mac or Microsoft is making flat screens and etc. I'm also wondering when we make the first super computer? Or has it already been made? It's funny how the government has high tech things that we don't though about. It can actually be possible that we made a computer that surpasses all other things. If you are wonder what it is search it up on Google because I might not know either. From 100 years from what the world though was possible came true. However, the world is also scared that computers might contol the world. One other opinion I would to say is that people that aren't expose to the new and the latest technology is actually better for them. I only think because people that are to caught with the Internet gets drowned with many socializing sites. This means that the people that don't use the Internet that much is better because they are not addicted to it because IF the Internet is down the world MAY just stop. I have actually tried not going on the Internet for a week and I tell you it is freaking IPOSSIBLE! If you do use it about at least three hours a day or somewhat that time and you try to quit it's not possible. But laying off the internet once in a while good for you.