Goodbye Blog

I can't believe my time at Buckley is coming to an end.  It has been 15 years since I first joined Buckley, and I am finally moving on.  Buckley has made me into who I am today.  My time at Buckley has gone by so fast despite it being 15 years.  I still remember the Ellis Island project in 6th grade and the native American project in 3rd grade like it was yesterday.  The memories of Buckley are endless.  I am going to miss seeing my friends everyday.  I guess this is goodbye Buckley, I'll see you later.

What to Bring to College

1. pillow
2. blanket/comforter
3. clothes
4. xbox 360
5. xbox controller
6. toiletries 
7. headphones
8. laptop
9. laptop case
10. phone charger
11. towels
12. shoes
13. sandals
14. power strip
15. earplugs
16. night patch
17. sleep mask
18. flash light
19. umbrella
20. air conditioner 
21. tv
22. cable box
23. laptop charger
24. folding chair
25. speakers

http://cleverbot.com/

Cleverbot is a website application that people can converse with.  Cleverbot uses AI to mimic human conversation.  It was created in 1988, however, it has recently began to attract more internet users. What is interesting about this program is that the responses are not programmed in.  Cleverbot finds and select responses that are actual phrases that were entered by people in previous conversations.

Trolino

Trolino is a websites that posts funny pictures that are categorized as meme, demotivation, fail, and text.  Within these categorizes, the posts can be organized from top, newest, and favorites.  People can also rate the posts.   Some of the posts are crude, but it is still quite humorous.  Here is the top post of the day:

http://www.trolino.com

USC Plagarism

USC's definition of Plagiarism

• The submission of material authored by another person but represented as the student’s own work, whether that material is paraphrased or copied in verbatim or near-verbatim form.
• The submission of material subjected to editorial revision by another person that results in substantive changes in content or major alteration of writing style.
• Improper acknowledgement of sources in essays or papers
• Taking someone else’s ideas, words, data, or images and presenting them as your own.
• Direct copying from original sources.
• Direct copying from original sources, but with footnotes.
• Rewording a sentence (paraphrasing).
• Borrowing organization.
• Failing to reference/footnote source material.
• Submitting as a new study old data that has been changed simply by adding new data points.

People Should avoid Plagiarism because:

• It is Intellectual Dishonesty.

• It is Unfair to the Original Author.

• It Misleads the Reader.

• It Misrepresents Your Credibility.

• You Need to Respect U.S. Academic Culture.

• Words are Personal Property

USC Catalogue

http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/catalogue/


Graduation Requirements:

• Total of 128-134 credits throughout 4 years at USC

• GE: 20 credits

• Writing: 8 credits

• Foreign Language: 12 credits

LOWER DIVISION MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

• CHEM 105aLgbL, General Chemistry (4-4) or CHEM 115aLbL, Advanced General Chemistry (4-4)
• MATH 125, Calculus I  (4)
• MATH 126, Calculus II (4)
• MATH 225, Linear Algebra and Linear Differential Equations (4) or MATH 226, Calculus III (4)
• PHYS 151Lg, Fundamentals of Physics I (4)
• PHYS 152L, Fundamentals of Physics II (4)
• PHYS 153L, Fundamentals of Physics III (4)

UPPER DIVISION MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Core Requirements (20 units)

• CHEM 300L, Analytical Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 325aLbL, Organic Chemistry (4-4)
• CHEM 430ab, Physical Chemistry (4-4)

Additional Courses for the B.S. Degree (24 units)

• CHEM 332L, Physical Chemistry Measurements (4)
• CHEM 426, Advanced Organic Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 453, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 423L, Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (4) or CHEM 465L, Chemical Instrumentation (4)
• CHEM 490, Undergraduate Research (4)
• One Science Elective (4)

Additional Courses for the B.A. Degree (8 units)
One course from among:

• CHEM 332L, Physical Chemistry Measurements (4)
• CHEM 423L,  Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 453,  Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 490,  Undergraduate Research (4)

The Indirectness of Safe Sex

Sex without Love, by Sharon Olds, is a very direct poem.  Itconsistently questions how it is possible for two people to make loveless sex.  Olds uses many metaphores to compare with how she views sex. In contrast, Safe Sex, by Donald Hall, seems very straight forward at first, as he talks about people having a "one night stand." This seems like "Safe Sex" is a ""one night stand"; however, by the then of the poem, Hall describes an image of a dead body floating in the pond.  Now, the poem's meaning changes, and it agrees with the poem, Sex without Love, how loveless sex is bad.

Blog

If I were to make a blog, I would simply post comical pictures with captions underneath them.  The name of my blog would be Cholol.  The text/caption would only be one sentence.  The reason I would make this site is because I enjoy looking at funny images on websites such as reddit or trolino, and would post the top images I thought were funny on my blog. I would post at 1-2 pictures every other day.  

TEA: Lauren's Photo

T: The man grows tiresome of his daily routine, and wishes to break free and explore the world.

E: The man stares off outside, through the widow, which glows with a white sense of purity, while everything else is dull and black.  He also stops and ignores the pile of dishes that he has to wash in the sink.  His shrugged shoulders also show that he has a sense of sadness or regret.

A: The man wonders what he has done with his life thus far.  He wishes to be adventurous and see what more the world has to offer.

TEA: Icarus Fall

T: Despite the death of a man who has "achieved greatness," the world goes on without notice

E: Even though Icarus was screaming as he fell to his death, the farmer kept plowing, the shepherd kept herding, and the sailors kept sailing.

A: Men's accomplish, no matter how momentous it seems, still pales nothing to the world.  Life simply goes on.

Blogs

economist.com/blogs - I have always wanted to read the economist, but never had the time.


trolino.com - comical images 


collegehumor.com - funny video blog skits

Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hughes urges people to hold on to dreams because without them, life is meaningless.  Dreams are what constitutes the meaning of a persons life, and we can not let them go, "Hold fast to dreams/For if dreams die/ Life is a broken-winged bird/That cannot fly."  Hughes then compares losing dreams to life being a "barren field/Frozen with snow."  If men can not dream, they can not hope.  I find this poem inspiring because it pertains to everyone.  Never give up on your dream.  Dreams are what we yearn for in life, and without dreams, life because boring and "barren."

Genesis

It is quite odd that the scientific theory for the creation of life on earth is in the exact same order as how god created it in "Genesis". First there was vegetation, then aquatic life, land dwelling animals, and finally people.  Could this prove that there is actually a God that oversaw this development of life and conveyed it to his people?  Or is it coincidence?  Although both agree on the order of the creation of life on earth, the two differ on the creation of earth.  Scientists believe that earth was, at first, a hot molten rock that eventually cooled down and obtained water (from either volcanos or meteors that contained water).  In "Genesis" god states that earth was a gigantic planet of water, and he formed land masses.  Could we be wrong in our theory on how the earth was formed? 

Conformity: 1st paragraph

Conformity is used as a tool for both society and individuals.  Society gains peace and unity by the conformation of individuals.   Although conformity is necessary for the progression in society, it can cause people to lose sight of who they truly are.  A common theory of conformity: to conform until it starts to negatively affect, or alter the individual, has helped people create a balance between conforming and being an individual.  When my grandma moved to America, she had to integrate into the American culture to become accepted and to be able to communicate with her fellow citizens.  However, she still retained her cultural values from her homeland, Korea, and was able to raise her children with a strong Korean background.  Conforming does not necessarily make one into a sheep that just follows the masses.  Although, there are some instances where this is true,  conforming keeps order throughout society.  The natural conformity is also what guides people to behave, what is considered proper in society, through years of tradition and what is thought to be "right/just."

Intro Paragraph: Conformity

Conformity and rebellion have actively shaped and guided people since the beginning.  Both ideals have their positive and negative aspects, and cannot be strictly classified as good or bad. The classification of good or bad is dependent on the perspective of the individual.  A rebel can state that they are a freedom fighter, while the conformist are simply sheep following the masses.  On the other hand, a conformist can state that they are perserving the peace, while the rebels are creating chaos and anarchy.  Aside from the classification of good/evil, both are needed for society to evolve and prosper.  Without conformist, there would never be order, and without the rebels/individuals, there would never be change.  Experiences in life has a big affect on people's decision to be a rebel or conformist, because it impacts the mind/thought process.  My grandma had lived through the Korean War, and when there was word of another war starting in Korea, she decided to flee the country so that her children would not have to endure the hardships of war she had faced.  My grandma had used the theories of conforming and rebelling/being and individual to her advantage. In America, she had to adapt to the culture and society in order to gain a stable lifestyle. However, she was able to stick to her Korean culture, since there were some Korean communities.  

Brainstorm Conformity:

Conformity and rebellion have both been apart of humans since the beginning.  The view on both is dependent on perspective.  A rebel can state that they are fighting for freedom while the conformist are simply sheep following the masses.  On the other hand, a conformist can state that they are perserving the peace while the rebels are creating chaos and anarchy.  However, both are needed for society to evolve and prosper.  Without conformist, there would never be order, and without the rebels/individuals, there would never be change.  Neither rebels nor conformists should be seen negatively.  Although, there are some negative consequences in being a rebel, such as becoming an outcast, and a conformists, losing one's true self.  

Conformity: Grandma Cont.

My grandma was afraid of the talk of war that was arousing between North and South Korea.  She had experienced the Korean war, and wanted her 7 children to have a better and safer life.  She had the opportunity to immigrate to America, because her sister already resided there.  My grandma had a difficult time integrating with the american society due to her incapability of speaking english.  She felt some prejudices due to her lack of communication (Didn't speak english) but she successfully ran a market and created a stable environment for her children.  She strongly stressed receiving a good education because she wanted her children to have economic opportunities.

Conformity Questions:

1) To what extent do you believe people should conform to?
2) Would you conform to society, for the greater good of the public?  Even if it means losing some of your autonomy?
3) What were the pressures to conform during your childhood/teenage years?
4) Would you be independent, even if it ment being a social outcast?
5) Which choice would you make? To completely conform to society, or be completely independent?
6) What pressures you to conform or be independent?


Additional questions will be added

Conformity

The general mass should conform to society.  By conforming, order is created and maintained.  However, people should conform to the extent where conforming goes against their morals or is detrimental to his/herself.  Without order, there is only chaos and anarchy, where anyone would be able to do as they please.  However, there must also be those independent minds that help drive society forward.  Without those independent thinkers, everyone would be sheep, simply doing what everyone tells them to do.  Usually, conforming people is either for the benefit of society, as a whole, or a benefit for the individual.  Such as conforming to the notion how education increases the rate of being successful in the future.  If children were not forced to go to school, there would definitely be a steep decrease in the attendance of schools.  However, knowledge is a must for intellectual development, and through this, we can help society progress.  Therefore, conforming is needed to maintain order, but independent thinkers are also needed to progress society, and keep it on the right path.

Pressure

My grandma lived during the time Korea split into two and the war ensued.  She moved to the south and constantly worried about her sons being drafted into the army.  As a result, she moved to America, where she faced many prejudices and tried to make a living to feed her 8 children...

HoD: 2nd Body

Contrasting the id, the superego restrains the mind from running wild.  The presumption that whites are restrained and sophisticated is a false ideal, and it is shown that the natives can also display restraint according to their situation, as seen by the cannibals, and the enslaved africans in the outer and central stations.  Cannibals are often thought as monstrous, violent animals that would eat one another the second they had the chance.  However, on Marlowe’s boat to the inner station, they are seen to have complete restraint over their hunger, even when the run out of food.  Marlowe even comments on their restraint “QUOTE”.  This example depicts how even cannibals can show a superego when in the right circumstance.  The situation of employment the cannibals are in, undoubtedly demands them to restrain themselves and act more civilized.  The consequence for not doing so could be either not receiving payment, or a harsh punishment.  The natives are also seen as savage beasts that are barbaric and have strange rituals, as seen in the inner station and Marlowe's journey to the inner station, where they are attacked by natives.  However, in the outer and central station, they are enslaved and obediently follow their masters.  The fear of being punished is what most likely keeps the natives tied down.  So, the environment can not only cause civilized people to run wild, when there is a lack of restraint, but also force those that were wild and free to become subservient and "civilized."

HoD: 1st Body

As seen through the novel, acting upon the id seems to be the best means of survival as one travels deeper into the heart of Africa.  The id uncovers the true nature of characters by allowing them to act freely and upon instinct, which perfectly reflects life in the chaotic wilderness.  Kurtz is an ideal example of a refined, universal scholar that has turned native after journeying into Africa.  When spoken about by people residing in Europe, such as his fiancé and cousin, Kurtz was revered as a brilliant, humanitarian leader.  European society has laws and customs that dictate human behavior to be “proper,” by restraining the impulsive urges of men, which Kurtz had seemed to follow so closely to.  However, when he journeyed to Africa, a lawless land, where barbarious acts to Europeans seem cultural/spiritual to the natives, the consequential effect of the unrestrained environment allowed Kurtz to act impulsively, which altered his personality.  Kurtz’s superego no longer had any control over his thoughts as actions, as it did in Europe.  It also seems that as one travels deeper into Africa, from the outer station to the central and inner station, people become more insane and act brashly.  Marlowe’s journey, meetings with others, and his own mind seem to be the vehicle in which Conrad portrays the rise in insanity as one travels deeper into the “heart of darkness”. The accountant in the outer station and Marlowe seem to behave normally in the outer station.  At the Central station, the “men in charge” seem to be more corrupt and self-concerned, and Marlowe begins to become very impatient and mistrusting of others.  When the manager and Marlowe travel down the river to the Inner Station, they seem to be on edge, and Marlowe seems to hallucinate.  At the Inner Station, Marlowe meets Kurtz, who is in an extremely ill state and is on the path of madness.  Marlowe strangely admires this man and isolates himself from the rest of his crew by siding with Kurtz.  Conrad unmistakably alludes the reader how the environment plays a large role in  people’s mind.

HoD: Intro

In Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlowe begins the story by juxtaposing the Romans, English and Africans.  These comparisons create a sense of vagueness that questions who can truly be defined as a savage.  As the story continues, it can be seen that everything is situational, and the environment has a significant impact on people's mind.  Kurtz ideally depicts the transformation of the mind as one travels to different environments as he was once considered a respectable, universal scholar that eventually becomes a savage power mongering brute.  The people that occupy the outer, central, and inner stations also display the deteriorating nature of man as they travel deeper into the "darkness."  So, as people journey further into the heart of Africa, their id seems to be the best means of survival, and it takes over ones mind since there are no restrictions that allow the superego to tie down the conscious from acting on instinct.

HoD: Essay Idea

For my Heart of Darkness Essay, I would like to examine the effects of the environment and restraint have on the human mind, id, superego, and ego.  While in England, Kurtz was adapted to the social norm set in that society, and was revered as a intelligent man destined for great things.  When he journeyed to Africa to try to enlighten the savages in the land, the european ideals ultimately failed and he was ironically transformed into a savage.  This displays the situational factors that need to be taken into consideration when dealing with ideals and human consciousness.  The wild and chaotic nature allowed Kurtz to alter his mind set to fit the environment that had no restraints, and led to the discovery of his true-self in nature.

Fredrick R. Karl: Heart of Darkness

Karl discusses the extent of corruption people can achieve due to the lack of restraint, specifically, Kurtz.  In Africa, one's primal instincts kick in where it is the survival of the fittest, and where there is no restraint by societal standards.  Kurtz is able to become the ultimate, savage monarch, having complete control of a tribe, despite not having the same background them.  He loses connection with human sympathy as displayed by the heads on stakes that "greet" him every time he steps out of his abode.   

Heart of Darkness: "The Horror! The Horror!"

Which direction is she spinning for you?

When Kurtz says, "The Horror! The Horror!" lying on his death bed, there are many influences that could have caused him to say this.  One view is that Kurtz has had a "flashback" and relived his entire life to see that what he has done was horrendous and barbaric.  Another view is how Kurtz is disgusted by the European culture, taking advantage of others, and how he regrets not being able to live amongst the africans sooner and longer.  No one can tell for sure what Kurtz is thinking when he speaks that famous line; however, I would like to presume that, aside from fearing death coming so soon, he has come to realization that Africa has revealed his inner nature being a monster.  While in the darkness of Africa, his mind had been open to his animalistic behavior, but once on a boat exiting the enlightening area, he has come to see who he really is.  I believe that the irony that Europeans are bringing enlightenment to Africa is that it is actually the opposite.  By journeying into Africa, one can become more enlightened in who they actually are, once in an environment where ones natural instinct comes into play since death can come at any time.

Heart of Darkness Savages

A passage I have decided to focus on, due to its comicalness, is the statement on the cannibals having restraint.  The cannibals are described as "Fine fellows--cannibals--in their place." This label on cannibals being people who savagely eat one another, is a misconception that many of the europeans have.  Commonly, these cannibals eat other humans if they are captured enemies.  The Europeans are actually the ones that have no self-restraint, and are massacring a large amount of elephants to harvest their tusks for piano keys, and severely mistreat and abuse the natives of Africa.  

Heart of Darkness Blind Woman

Kurtz's painting depicts a blindfolded, caucasian woman that is carrying a source of light.  This painting highlights the irony in the English's quest to enlighten the savages in Africa.  There is no doubt that the english had better technology and a acceptable moral code that they wanted to integrate with the Africans; however, they themselves did not follow their own ethical standards, and acted as "savages" when dealing with the Africans.  While the english were saying that they were going to enlighten the Africans by teaching them european customs, they abused and exploited them, with a materialistic goal for money.

Marlow: "Emissary of Light"

Before Marlow's journey to Africa, he sees his aunt.  His aunt describes his role on the journey as a "emissary of light."   This means that Marlow, and the rest of the english migrants, are going to be the ray of enlightenment that will bring the savages in Africa to modernity.  However, Marlow disagrees with this statement and states that he simply wishes to travel their for monetary gain.  This act of self-interest is quite the contrary to what his aunt believes, and displays how the english are simply going to exploit the Africans.  The interactions between the english and africans will consequently lead to an integration of the english ways into Africa, but it seems to be a side effect rather than their goal. 

Heart of Darkness Q.2

In Heart of Darkness, Africa is a land known for being dirty and chaotic, while London is a place known for its elegance and modernity.  However, Marlow reminds the reader that London also faced dark times where bandits ran freely and wildly, when it was being colonized by the Romans.  The role of the people of London have switched though, since they are now colonizing Africa, and see it as a place of anarchy.  This reminder shows that every country/civilization had a starting/dark period of time it faced.