A True Barf Blog

The first thing that caught my attention about Barfblog was, of course, its’ name.  Although it put unpleasant pictures in my mind, I actually appreciated the theme once I arrived at the site.  The color scheme goes along with the whole theme, which is pretty creative, in a weird way.  Navigating through the site is quite painless; the layout is very simple and organized.  A straightforward web design is on the top of my list of criteria for a good blog site.  Furthermore, the site is not cluttered with advertisements which is refreshing for a modern day website.  I’ll give the site an A in design. 

Next on that list would be the blogs connections to my life and how I can relate to the opinions being shared.  The first blog I read was about a soccer match that I was actually watching live, so I was originally very impressed with the site.  When I read a few more, I had the realization that most of the blogs were actually uninteresting and even tiresome.  Foe example, I read one about Anzac day, a grim holiday that commemorates the battle of Gallipoli, which apparently was a colossal failure.  This blog would be interesting to a 70-year-old Australian man; however, I do not fall under that category.  The blog’s main purpose is supposedly “to offer evidence-based opinions on current safety issues.”  However, reading these blogs, I didn’t notice a lot of evidence to back up their positions.  While these issues might be very important to a large group, I do not have particular interest in them.  I don’t really want to read blogs about Hepatitis A or how to wash your hands properly.  Minus points in my book. 

My list of criteria continues; blogs must not be too long or they will lose my attention.  While some of the blogs on Barfblog are relatively long, I noticed that the majority of them are pretty short.  I like to see this in blogs because I appreciate writers getting straight to the point, instead of rambling on while beating around the bush. 

As for my final analysis of Barfblog, it appears that the site’s format is exactly what I’m looking for in blogs. The easy-to-navigate design, the color scheme, the lack of ads, and the lengths of the blogs all contribute to my affection for this site.  However, the topics being unrelated to my personal interests makes it hard for me to spend time reading these blogs.  In conclusion, the my lack of interest in the subjects surpass my liking for its design.  I acknowledge that to some, this blog may be perfect as it covers all the issues they care most about.  But this is simply my personal evaluation.

Rhetorical Analysis: Supreme Court

Mr. Clement: Just to clarify, Justice Sotomayor, I'm not suggesting that the Federal Government has any special authority to recognize traditional marriage. So if -- the assumption is that nobody can do it. If the States can't do it either, then the Federal Government can't do it. So the Federal Government –“
MS. KAPLAN: To flip the language of the House Report, Mr. Chief Justice, I think it comes from a moral understanding today that gay people are no
different, and that gay married couples' relationships are not significantly different from the relationships of straight married people. I don't think -­
CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: I understand that…”

Standing up before the Supreme Court to argue a controversial issue like same sex marriage could be daunting to any average man.  It takes courage for Mr. Clement to make a case against the chief justice, and eight associate justices of the United States.  However, Mr. Clement hangs in there, while being interrupted by the chief justice.  Although Mr. Clement is particularly polite, his tone does not affect his negative treatment from the opposition and the Supreme Court. 

In this short excerpt, Clement’s claim is that the Federal Government does not have the authority to define traditional marriage if the states don’t have the authority either.  It is hard to determine his tone in his words, but it seems that his tone is calm and polite.  In his situation, it is crucial to be polite while in the company of the Supreme Court.  This is a useful tool in appealing to the audience.  Not only is his audience the Supreme Court members, but he is also speaking to the court viewers, and all the people that are watching the broadcast of the case.  Furthermore, since this issue is so relevant in contemporary politics, this particular Supreme Court will have a significant audience.  Since the issue of same sex marriage is so controversial, Clement must maintain a neutral tone, or else he will face the consequences of angry petitioners. 

While Clement is making his point, Ms. Kaplan abruptly interrupts him.  This behavior is demeaning towards Clement, perhaps undeserved.  However, Ms. Kaplan interprets Clements claim, offering her explanation.  She brings in “moral understanding” to the equation.  With this, Kaplan is using pathos to appeal to the audience.  Her claim is that gay married couples are no different than straight married couples.   Before she could finish her sentence and offer evidence to back up her statement, Chief Justice Roberts interrupted her.  This is an example of how they received impolite treatment from the Supreme Court, regardless of their manners. 

The use of diction also plays an important role in the effective language used by Clement and Kaplan.  For example, the use of the word “special” referring to the government authority makes the audience realize the unequal powers that the government has.  The use of “traditional” in context is a useful word to make marriage seem like a regular aspect of our culture, and that all people should be able to have the same right to tradition.  Kaplan’s use of “moral understanding” is a powerful form of diction as well.  Every person wants to be ethical and proper, so the use of this word makes the audience want to accomplish “moral understanding.” 

Reading the dialect of the Supreme Court cases are filled with rhetorical devices and appeals, and for a good reason.  They intend to use their language effectively, with the goal of convincing and persuading the audience.  Tools like diction and tone are useful in shaping your argument in a way that can directly make the audience feel your words.  It’s impressive to me that these professionals are able to use language in such an effective way. 

The Adventure of Food

            If anyone told me that food does not represent one’s cultural identity, I would surely disagree.  In fact, I might take it personally because of the effects food has affected my life individually.  Growing up, I had a religious upbringing.  My family followed the rules of Judaism very strictly when it came to food.  We were restricted from eating many foods if they did not follow certain regulations, and this became an enormous factor of my childhood.

            According to the rules, mixing dairy and meat was forbidden.  Even if the food was completely dairy, it couldn’t even be cooked in the same kitchen as something with meat.  This limited the amount of restaurants my family could eat at. Ultimately, we would have to pay much more money for groceries, which was a challenge.  And the food that we could eat, there was a specific blessing we had to make on it, before and after eating it.  I remember going out to dinner with my unreligious relatives and watching my cousin devour a cheeseburger, something I could never enjoy.  Furthermore, many foods like bacon and shrimp, I couldn’t eat under any circumstances.  Imagine watching all the food advertisements on TV knowing you can’t eat any of it.  (Which is part of the reason why I never watched television.)  Or, imagine attending your Little League pizza parties and bringing your own pizza in tin foil.  That was my life, and I despised it. 

            The older I got, the worse it became.  I was becoming more aware of the real world of food, and knowing that I couldn’t be a part of it killed me.  I remember very vividly the first time I broke the rules.  Me and three (unreligious) friends went to a resort for a weekend, and there was an amazing dining hall.  I gave into the peer pressure and consumed every possible food that was against the rules that was available. I took pleasure in every bite.  Once my parents got divorced, my father, being less religious, gave me the option to eat whatever I want, while my more religious mother maintained her convention.  Because I never had a choice before, this resulted in me eating everything and anything.  It was like being on a wheelchair until high school, and then suddenly one day you can walk.  Well, I ran for miles.  I had gone from one extreme of food, to the other.  My religious past completely explains my admiration for every food that I have today.   I am now open to trying all sorts of new foods, weather it’s octopus in a small village in Spain, or a one-dollar burger from a local fast-food place. 

            Looking back on my childhood, I can’t completely resent the rules I once followed, for they have taught me so much today.  Because I once had such few options, I have learned to value every food that I am able to eat today very greatly. Most importantly, I now live a life where eating food is an ongoing adventure, where I explore all different cultures within each meal. And although I don’t make the same blessings on my food as I used to, they taught me to realize my fortune of having a meal to eat every day, and that is a blessing itself.

Does Free Trade Affect Culture?

There are many positives and negatives of having a free trade market.  But first, let me define some terms. Free trade is a government policy of reducing or completely abolishing all tariffs (taxes) on foreign goods and services, allowing globalization to successfully take place. On the contrary, protectionism is a policy of increasing tariffs on imported goods and services. Proponents of free trade argue that it increases cultural exchange between nations. Opponents argue that it undermines cultural stability. 

The topic of a free trade market is often disputed regarding its affect on culture.  One theory is that cultures tend to become very uniform because of the exportation of cultural models.  Due to differences in economical and political power, certain countries have a bigger impact on the global market. The culture of these countries consequently spreads and become a common thing. Local cultures disappear in favor of this new global way of life. In some ways, globalization only leaves room for a culture based on consumerism.

Globalization can affect culture in a few basic ways. One interpretation suggests that globalization disperses any and every culture throughout the world, making the planet more heterogeneous, forging deeper connections between different groups. For example, teens in the United States gain an understanding of Japanese culture through animation, comic books and video games, while teens throughout European countries learn about the American way of life by watching U.S. TV shows and movies.

Others argue that globalization makes culture more homogenous, leading to a unified world culture that consists of watered-down versions of regional cultural trends. Japanese sushi can be consumed in virtually any country in the world, and favorites from French pastries to "American" fried chicken can be found from Florida to Hong Kong. Proponents argue that this only affects things like consumer goods and the media, while critics worry that it weakens traditional culture

Globalization is most likely to damage local culture in regions like Scandinavia that are lightly populated, not very hierarchical and looking for new global cultural symbols. But the rest of the world’s population is in countries — China and India, of course, but also Brazil, Mexico, Egypt and Indonesia — that do not fit that description. “ The Indian music market is 96% domestic in origin, in part because India is such a large and multifaceted society.” (Tyler Cowen, NY Times) In India, Hollywood movies and American music are not favored like they are in other, smaller, countries.  These smaller countries are more vulnerable to being affected by globalization. 

One of the most common arguments against globalization is that it forces American culture onto the world, Westernizing other nations. Will everyone one day wear blue jeans and eat at McDonald's? We don't know. Globalization can work both ways: Even American blue jeans were forged from different cultures. They were developed by a German immigrant; their denim comes from the name of the French town where it originated, De Nimes.  (History of Denim)  My theory is that free trade markets are positively affecting culture throughout the world.  The American market has become more multicultural, and more multilateral as well because free trade markets enhance the U.S economy, while also maintaining it’s important role in a global society. 

Works Cited

CHANG-TAI HSIEH. "The Impact of Outsourcing to China on Hong Kong’s Labor Market." Faculty.chicagobooth.edu/. N.p., n.d. Web. .

Wolf, Martin. "Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf." Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. .

"History of Denim." Garmento.org. Garmento, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. .

Outsourcing; China's Race to the Top

                                                  Outsourcing; China's Race to the Top

             The discussion of outsourcing has become a topic of significant dispute over the last few years.  Many argue that outsourcing is negatively affecting the U.S economy by giving their jobs to other countries for lower labor rates.  In 2011 alone, the United States outsourced 2,273,392 jobs overseas (Statistics Brain).   However, “plummeting technology costs and globalization of trade has made offshore outsourcing ubiquitous” (Tom Reilly, Outsourcing Opportunity).  Whether it’s a call with a customer service representative in the Philippines, the use of software developed in India, or the purchase of an iPhone manufactured in China, it’s all around us. It has become so common in corporate life we hardly notice it.  Nowadays, it’s not unusual to own numerous goods that read “Made in China.”  Furthermore, China has become one of the most dominant players in the economic realm.  Due to its large population, cheap labor costs, and experience, China is rising to the top of the outsourcing industry. 

            China, with the largest population in the world, once was home to the most advanced society, economy and sciences.  It declined however during the 19th and 20th century due to famines, foreign invasion, civil discord, and military failures. China's economy was revived during Deng Xiaoping's reign in China; he focused on a free, market-oriented economic development that dramatically changed the living standards of its citizens. This also led to its rapid industrialization, which made China one of the most important economies in the world. 

            With an enormous population of 1.3 billion people (Google Public Data), China has more inhabitants than any other country.  With such an astounding number of consumers, China has the potential to impact the biggest manufacturers and retailers in the world. In addition, the country’s market is growing rapidly; “China's current outsourcing market is growing an estimated 30 percent annually” (Sourcing Line).  On this rate, China will surpass India, the current dominant offshoring country, competing as the destination of choice for companies looking to outsource all parts of their operations. 

            In today’s global economy, attaining a competitive edge is vital.  According to Bryan Huang, president of BearingPoint Great China, an engineer costing $4,000 a month in the U.S would cost only $500 in China. And that’s for an engineer in Shanghai.  According to ChinaHr.com, the salary level of an engineer in places like Xian or Dalian is closer to $250 a month. In short, the cost can be said to be between a sixth to an eighth of what it would be in the U.S. This is the simple reason why U.S companies seek to outsource to China.   As businessmen, it is essential to take advantage of low rates, “ensuring that you are getting the best price possible for inventory” (All China Sourcing).  Due to these cheap labor rates, on top of a colossal population, it appears that China is becoming unstoppable in the race to the top of the outsourcing industry. 

           

  

                                                            Works Cited

"Advantages to Outsourcing in China." Web log post. Advantages to Outsourcing in China. All China Sourcing LTD, 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Eltschinger, Cyrill. "China Rising." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 Nov. 2007. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Zhang, Jacqueline. "Outsourcing to China, Part 1." Sourcing Mag. CTQ Media, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

"Outsourcing in China." Sourcing Line. Sourcing Line, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Reilly, Tom. "China Outsourcing." 'China Outsourcing' Next Horizon, 12 Apr. 2007. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Offsourcing

I must admit, I was not surprised one bit to learn that a majority of my every-day products were made abroad;  My soap, produced in Canada.  My toothbrush, China.  My Sony speakers were produced in Japan.  Although I found that China manufactures the most, there is a large variety of countries that produce my every-day goods.  With each product, a new country. While many argue that outsourcing leads to a loss of American jobs and a declining standard of living, I argue that outsourcing is an effective way of making the world a smaller and friendlier place, allowing us to share our products beyond our borders.  

I like to call myself an international boy.  I am a student in The Center for Global Studies, I am a frequent traveler, and I have learned five languages throughout my lifetime. Thus, I am an owner of mostly imported goods.  I sleep on a bed from Indonesia, while the sheets are from the U.S.  Now, as a globalist, I like to think about outsourcing differently.  I see outsourcing as a way of taking the best products of the world to Connecticut, while paying the lowest rates.  For example, I drive a BMW made in Germany.  I could choose to buy an American made car, however I prefer German engineering and service.  Furthermore, I play a Fender guitar manufactured here in the States, as I prefer their products over other foreign options.  This guitar is shared all over the world; millions of musicians play a Fender outside of America, and it is because they prefer the quality.  

 While I know that hyperlocal is the trend, global is still what defines me.  I watch Spanish soccer because they have the best competition, I eat sushi because their food is different, and I have friends all over the world because they teach me that the world is much bigger than Norwalk, CT.  I feel the same about outsourcing. These foreign products bring together our world.  As an American citizen, I agree that outsourcing may effect our own economy and jobs.  But I am a citizen of the world beyond America, where countries should be able to share their useful goods with their neighbors.

Word games

Lenguaje is a game.  A word game.  This game es purely a competición to get your point across.  Each persona has their own game; some are better than otros.  Meaning, some people are better at communicating a common meaning than others, and can convert their thoughts to words more efficiently.  Every language has a different word game; different languages contain words that express more thoughts than others. Diferentes lenguajes contienen palabras que expresan pensamientos más que otros.  So, in this battle of terminology, why can’t we manipulate numerous languages at once in order to accomplish the most efficient use of conveying our thoughts? Bien, podemos, pero no muchas personas entendería una mezcla de lenguajes.

Do we have to think in a specific language? I spent 6 months abroad en España listening to only español for all 24 hours of the day. Now, interestingly enough, my subconscious occasionally switches lenguajes while I am dreaming, without me knowing.  I try to think about why this occurs.  It could be because some words in Spanish mean much more than their counterparts in English.  My subconscious analyzes my thoughts and converts them to whichever word game expresses my thoughts more accurately. Thus, a person who knows a million languages would have the most efficient word game, meaning he could express his thoughts more accurately and efficiently, but, like I said, nadie lo entendería.

So how do we aquire lenguaje?  Is language inherited or learned?  Pues, some would argue that kids are born with a language and others would say they must learn it from their parents or a school.  However, I am hesitant to believe any claims so fast.  In order to find the answer of this mystery, I have thought of a simple test.  What would happen if you locked a baby in a room and for their whole life only communicated to them through musica?  What would their language develop to be?  It is certain that they would have thoughts, but how would they express them?  Would they use tones and vibrations to convey their thoughts?  No podemos saber esto. 

La Reflexion

I think I was able to communicate meaningfully in my Spanish dialect.  Someone who knows Spanish would be able to understand my thought process in this blog much more than someone who didn’t know Spanish.  For example, when I said “lo entendería.” This form of conjugation is intended to express a hypothetical feeling of the verb.  Translated to English it would mean, “ Would be able to understand hypothetically.”  I think that this phrase in Spanish is more accurate to my thought than in English.  This process was liberating because I felt that I had more, and in certain situations, better choices of language to convey my thoughts more appropriately.  I think that Anzaldua accomplished the same task in her experience with code switching.  She was able to express her thoughts more accurately by essentially doubling her vocabulary.  In conclusion, people that know more than one language are able to convey their thoughts more efficiently by having access to more words that correspond to their thoughts more accurately.