#11: IT'S THE END!

As the Koreans would say: hwaiting = fighting

Junsu aka XIA (2pm & JYJ)

Even though it is meant as word of encouragement, it still relates to the fact that the school semester is over! And to everyone that has made it this far, kudos~!

It was enjoyable experience having been able to write these entries this time around. I mean, I wrote a crap ton than I did the last time I did this, but it was all a learning curve. A wide curve, but here I am. With everything from writing projects and LSA lessons, the blogs were probably the most fun. I learned quite a bit with being able to write a bunch but not so much to potentially become boring; however, that was probably one of the things I was most worried about since I can say a lot but not get anywhere.
 It was to write something that is given to you, being able to create and write about anything, that's awesome! It gave more ways for myself to practice finding my voice with using words; although, using pictures is easier and more engaging.
As for taking the blog project seriously... For the most part. I had to make sure there was decent content for the people to read, right? Some things can't be taken seriously when it's about whatever you want as long as it's helping yourself improve in some way. As usual though, there's still space to improve on when it comes to writing.

What else is there to say about blogging?
Well, aside from it being a helpful place to practice rhetoric, it has taught me that it can be a place to vent. it may not seem that way since many of the posts made were either very serious in most ways, it was easy to become involved in the writing and bring some opinion into it. It allows the mind to venture out with the topic without having to be too serious. As for writing for a class as a student, it made having to write the major essays more doable, I suppose? I'm unsure of how to say it, but although it was for a class, it didn't feel as such since we were able to write our own way and not have to worry so much on being "perfect". It gave more freedom when it came to style. Letting our personalities come out more by the way we present each post (assigned or self-generated).
I still think it's pretty innovative to utilize the ability to blog as a tool for students to help improve - at least in the hopes to improve. It's certainly different and glad I got to experience it even if it is for a class; it had done what I'm assuming was its intent, and that's learn more and improve what needed work in. Sadly, I probably won't be able to use this anymore after this is over, but I'm glad I did. I'll put what I've learned through blogging towards my own personal ones that I use for my creative writing. I'll do my best to not put what I've learned to waste. ^^

Sadly there's no next time, but everyone do take care and stay healthy! Annyeong! (Bye~)

#10: Relax

It's nearing the end of the semester for many schools which means studying for exams or cramming in last minute extra credit assignments to bring up scores (used in lower level schooling like middle and high school). Because students are putting themselves in tough situations--despite them not having much control over exam day, but the stress can become overwheleming rehardless. Luckily, there are strategies to help anyone relax and stay calm.

There are many different ways to let your thoughts unwind and just become "mindless". Based on the list brought out from Omharmonics, there were 13 ways to "Relax you Mind", and many of which maybe already known you:

1. Meditate

2. Yoga

4. Eat Right

6. Cuddle with pets (if any)

8. Doodle

10. Nap (10 minutes)

13. Say "Later"

It's a simple gesture for yourself to just flip the switch and at least try not to worry about anything. There are even things on the list that I didn't see that can even be helpful in relaxing the mind and distress.
There's herbal teas that bring the body at ease. Here are a few teas listed from Natural News:

Valerian herb and tea

• Valerian - Helps sleep as well as ease physical and emotional tension, however too much can make a person lethargic; NOT for kids 12 and below.
• Blue Vervain - Also helps with sleep and calm nervous system; suggested to NOT be used for long periods of time.
• Catnip - (Yes, cat treats!) The herb within reduces anxiety symptoms, muscle tension, and helps with sleep - especially if the lack of sleep is causing headaches.*
• Chamomile - Relaxes the stomach and reduces mild anxiety; can be used for children though not for long periods of time for anyone. Can also be added in a warm bath for extra relaxation.*
• Lemon Balm - Goes into the nervous system to help nervousness, anxiety, or if feeling upset, Also helps with headaches. 
• Kava - For moderate to severe anxiety - ability to reduce anxiety ridden thoughts. Asking a doctor for the use of Kava due to possible safety concerns.
• Passionflower - Mild to Moderate anxiety (known safety than Kava); decreases muscle tension and calm nerves, could even help with sleep and headaches.
• Hops - Helps with nervousness and stress, fight insomnia, indigestion and headaches. Also can help with fever caused by stress.
• Green Tea - Contains theanine which helps to relax; promotes alpha waves linked to relaxation. Use decaff green tea if helping to calm down.

* Chamomile and catnip could both stimulate an appetite lost due to stress.

Use with caution!

While there's many tea options and other various activities (some not be listed, but could help you), there's no excuse for someone to say there's no way of relaxing. Whatever is enjoyable to you and that brings you inner peace from the outside stresses, is a form of relaxing. For my case, it's taking a nice vacation away; visit family, distant friends, and not have to think about when the next assignment is due.

What helps you relax or distress? Comment below on your thoughts ^^

愛

#9: "Age of Distraction"

The perception of media really does change once you start talking about it whether it be in a classroom or among peers, right? Your thoughts start remembering times where the media starts to seem a little more obscure than what was seen as “normal”.

In my case, I don’t really pay attention to the news all that much; however, I kind of already knew that it was a place where everything was basically a form of brainwash towards the people who watch it. Intently anyway and take everything to its literal meaning. Despite that, I have noticed things with my daily routine of how much media impacts me along with my family, and probably many others experience this as well.

With as many years I have lived with the internet being an outlet for my anxiety, or just generally getting “away” from the world. No one can see me, so I could be blubbering like an idiot from a movie while talking to a friend through messaging on my phone or computer, example being:

<< I know that I can’t be the only one that sees this whether it be yourself or the people around you.

Despite the ability to hide the truth, it’s also a very big distraction! At least for me. As I’m typing this, I’m switch tabs here and there to see whatever is happening in the video playing the background on YouTube. While it is a distraction for many, it technically helps me focus more - as ironic as it sounds. Regardless of what I’m doing, there’s always some type of media (music or video) to entertain my ears and let my mind pause to hopefully continue with refreshing ideas or to jog back memories. 

I'm sure at this point many might be thinking "how can something that is distracting keeping you focused?" Well, there's a number of cases where it proves that it does work - of course, not for everyone.

Digging around the internet, I've found a few articles on Life Hacker that discuss where media, TV in this case, can help flow between thoughts during work. While the other talks about how subtle noises of a cafe can also help people focus better, even be more creative. It isn't media related, though it does bring some comparison that regardless of it being seen as a distraction (TV noise or the gentle rustle and bustle of a cafe), it can be helpful at times during "low moments of productivity".

The torment of all college students (c)

Sometimes it never hurts to branch away from a research paper and glance at another site. There's just somethings to keep in mind: moderation and time management. As fun as the internet is, or the general media, it can be too much if there's ultimately nothing happening to what needs to be done.






~ Leave a comment below on what you think on the idea ~
Is having media a good distraction or not? What are things that keep you focused?

Until next time!

愛

#8: Weight Loss?

We all want to be healthy right? Eat right, exercise, all that jazz. Well, with the media being a large part of the world's view on looks like being thin and slender, it's quite hard for many to grasp the idea that it shouldn't be rushed to lose weight. There are also lots of different ways that people do to get to their goal weight the fastest way possible...

From using pills, over exercising, eating less (some times not at all), or even "waist training" where women wear corsets to reduce their waist lines, then gradually shrinking the size of the corset.

Here's a little clip on the dangers of this waist training fad from Freelee:

It's horrifying ain't it.. Seeing, let alone just knowing that there's people out there that are willing to do such lengths merely for a small waist. As said by Freelee in the video, "Why would you do that to yourself?! Why!?" I hear ya, Freelee! Sadly, I don't know why either. She does continue to explain why it's dangerous to do such a thing to your body. It's quick (maybe not as quick as other forms, but still extremely unhealthy). As well as having the organs inside the body being moved due to the small space to keep them in their proper place; in turn, restricting their eating.

(c)

In general, having corsets squeezing one's body to fulfill that much precious hour glass figure, is not worth it! It does much more than just that. Again, as mentioned in the video, it weakens the ab muscles so if a person does take it off - especially those that have such an alarming waist size - can't hold themselves up anymore. Along with many other issues that contribute from it next to re-positioning the organs: curved ribs which ultimately crushes the lungs. Example in the video shows a woman having difficulty speaking, that of which been caused from her lungs being compressed for a number of years.

Now, I could probably go on about the dangers with this new throwback style from centuries ago, but there's a clear reason, even with these minor details given, as to why it's not popular anymore.

If you have any thoughts on the concept, please, feel free to leave them in the comments!

Until next time~

愛

#7: Stupid Men?

How are men usually portrayed in commercials? Stupid, dumb, idiotic maybe. Basically anything that shows how man aren't all that in the brain.

There's one blog whose title alone really just explains what the page is all about:

"Stupid Men and Male Bashing in Commercials. Exposing the Stereotypes of Men in Advertising." 

Even though it was only one page worth of videos - most of which seemed to have been taken down from YouTube, or isn't remotely related to the main purpose (I managed to find a cat video) - each post describes in brief what each video is showing, and what it entails that gives it's reason for why the man in the advert is being represented as stupid or dumb.

With the few that have active videos, they were quite amusing once I was able to add a visual with the description. However, it's fairly simple to have something else pictured in your head to have just the words to the posts without videos. Regardless, each one is telling and/or showing how the male role is portrayed to be dumb or play dumb in the scenario.

It's hard to choose just one video that truly represents an overall, but I think the best one, would be this; along with it being a personal favourite: 

It's pretty simple to see what it is that the commercial is trying to sell: Windex (a streak free shine, every time) Overall, the advert is describing how the product keeps things clean (doing from a dingy room into a brightly lit room). You as the consumer won't believe how different something simple as a well-clean window could do (man getting confused after his nap). As for the laughing birds at the end, it's as the blog page has stated about the video, "add[s] insult to injury..." as birds seem to be known for flying into closed windows, however the man had done just that instead, bringing it to be rather humorous.

I'm curious to see what possible videos you thought were funny! Talk about them below~ Until next time ^^

愛

#6: Baby Language

Babble, gribble, dribble, and spit - that fairly sums up an infants way of speech right?

At least to me it does.

Recently, I had some family come over for this weekend, one of them being my one and half year old niece. I've gotten the chance to spend an entire day with such a child, just starting to pick up on some words, both English and Bosnian, but still most of the time speaking some sort of gibberish when it comes to "explaining" herself.

What exactly is happening during this moment of though when a child at this age is trying to speak?

From my assumption, it's the child starting to pick up on the sounds of others talking around them, such as its parents, other family members, or older people they come across. By that, the child is starting to "practice" how to speak once it comes time to creating sentences once getting to know more words as months go by.

Kids Health states that, "[To utilize a] baby's own "talking" to have a "conversation." If [a parent hears their] baby make a sound, repeat it and wait for him or her to make another. [The parent is] teaching [the] baby valuable lessons about tone, pacing, and taking turns when talking to someone else."

Based on that alone, I feel my assumption is fairly accurate.
Most of an infant's speech development is mostly based on sound, and progressively produce simple words or names.

(c)

I suppose, overall, when it comes to babies making jibber-jabber about whatever it is, I believe it's a mother intuition on possibly knowing what their child is speaking about as mentioned earlier, to create "conversation" for the child to feel comfortable as they get older.

Any thoughts? Leave them below~

愛

#5: Less Time = More Stress

Apparently ASU wants to eliminate roughly 7-8 weeks out of the normal 15 weeks that are currently implemented.

WHAT?!

At least going by this article here

Now, I understand that it is supposed to cut time in about half  to make things quicker in order to finish college quicker; and have those that are taking short online courses not have to wait for the following semester to sign up.

There's just one thing I feel that is missing...

What about those students who aren't fully capable in keeping up with quick-paced classes? I'm sure we would all LOVE to finish university within 2-3 year span, but not all students can. With many who attend courses, online or in-person, time maybe already cut short due to other things in like work, children, or other possible handicaps that only a 15 week course can help a student plan out assignments, due dates, and still manage personal life such as working. There is a reason for personalized schedules when enrolling, so we as students aren't like this:

So... is it really necessary to have ALL classes be 7.5 weeks long?

I mean, I thought that what online course were for, right? For people who are ABLE to utilize their time (whether or not they work and/or have kids). However despite having the online courses, there's downsides, that the article had even briefly mentioned:
"[N]ot all academic subjects are best taught in an accelerated format." 

With that said -- especially with the knowledge of students that aren't fully capable of understanding a certain subject -- sometimes even 15 weeks isn't enough to retain the information needed for a student; while 7.5 weeks wouldn't be enough for classes that have labs and lectures (mostly for science courses). Or in my case, trying to get English papers done within 5-8 week span, while still putting in all the effort possible to get a reasonably decent score. Sometimes there's just not enough time for some to possibly end up going to class everyday.


Although the plus sides of cutting the time short with each semester: less time taken which means graduating sooner, and less waiting time between semesters to move forward in one's degree. Problem with it is there are too many attributes that go against the idea: certain classes need the length (eg. science and math), and students may need the lengthy semesters to keep their sanity. Perhaps a compromise of some sort can be done -- where some are already put in place: online courses and late start classes that run for about half a semester's worth. Maybe some test courses to view how well accelerated learning may or may not work with the short amount of time given.

All in all, from a personal stand point, no. I just don't see this working at least for myself since online classes would have me fail miserably, and with personal issues, the length of time during semesters gives me time to plan and do well in the end. I know I can't be the only one with this concept, if anything mix things up as well between 15 week courses and 7.5 weeks. Get the best of both worlds~



Comment below your thoughts on this idea!

愛