i-how can one letter mean so much?

This week, I read an article on BBC about "i".

The summary is as follows:

It started over a decade ago with Apple's iMac and caught the imagination of a generation through the iPod, spawning a whole family of products.

Today, the name of many products and service has "i", for instance, the iTeddy and iDog.

By 2008, the BBC's iPlayer had adopted the same snappy title form - even its developmental name of Integrated Media Player was shortened to iMP - and last year "i" was chosen by Magazine readers as one of 20 words which defined the last decade.

Its promotional blurb gives a few clues as to the reasoning behind the choice, peppered as it is with words like intelligent, incisive, interesting, influential and ideas.

"It's about the power of people. Them saying 'I want this; I want that. You're going to give me what I want on my terms'," says the head of marketing company Brand Forensics. Today's use of the letter "i" is much more sophisticated than early attempts to jump on the "cool" bandwagon, says Mr Gabay."Brands are doing everything to say 'you're in charge'. It gives products more credibility," he adds.But "i" works best because its meaning has become "completely ambiguous", he says. Whereas with iMac it stood primarily for "internet", the iPod - and many products since - have left customers guessing as to whether it might be internet, information, individual or interactive, argues Mr Thorne. "Even when Apple originated the iPod, it seems it didn't have one precise denotation. iPod had already been patented as the name of an information kiosk," he says.

When I read this news, the social network service "mixi" occurred to me. Searching the origin, the word "mixi" is made by the developer and taken apart for two, "mix" and "i". According to the official site, "mix" means to communicate and "i" means people. This may be influenced by the trend of "i".

By the way, this is the last class of electronic print media. In October, I didn't know how to read newspaper, choose interesting articles, and make use of electronic print media. However, now I can read news on internet freely and mention my opinion better than before. Also, thanks to this class, I can communicate with people in different faculty and people who are different age. This is a good opportunity for me to know many things. For example, I learned about Chinese culture. Now, I am interested in China and sometimes read news about China harder than before. In addition to that, Takashi, who is 4th grade in the department of science always told interesting story about physics. For example, there are aliens in the universe! If I had not taken this class, I couldn't have be interested that kinds of news. Thank you for exiting class, Mr.Jaques!

Adam Lucas. "i-how can one mean so much?"

BBC 26 Oct. 2010: n.pag. Web. 19 Jan.2011.

Michael Jackson's doctor to stand trial

Hello! There are only two classes. I miss that.

This week, I read NZ Herald, a New Zealand news paper. This is because I listened to home stay episode in New Zealand of my friend! He stayed in New Zealand about two weeks, and his host family is honey farmer! He said “my host family looks like Winnie the pooh because they always eat honey.”  When I imagined that scene, I burst into laugher! Then I asked him “Did your all friends stay with farmer?” He said, “No! Only I stayed with honey farmer, and my friends stayed at salary man’s home. I always ate honey. For example, as a breakfast, we laid honey on bread. ” I laughed again. But he said “it was very enjoyable days, and I think I had a good time.” Yes, he had a nice time, I think so, too. If I have an opportunity to stay with host family, I want to stay with farmer!

This time, I read an article about Michael Jackson’s death. This article contains so much medical language that it is hard for me to read.

The summary is as follow:

A judge has ordered the personal physician of Michael Jackson to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop superstar.

The ruling against Dr Conrad Murray came after a six-day preliminary hearing in Los Angeles.

Authorities contend the 57-year-old Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol mixed with other sedatives then failed to provide proper care.

A coroner who performed the autopsy on Michael Jackson testified today that the pop star's death was a homicide - even if the singer gave himself the final dose of the anaesthetic propofol.

There are four reasons why Michael Jackson’s death was a homicide.

First, based on the quality of the medical care, the doctor didn't administer the propofol to Mr. Jackson."

Rogers, chief of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner said propofol should not have been present in the bedroom because it is meant only for hospital settings and, "If there was propofol there, the doctor should have been prepared for the effects.”

Second, Murray was improperly using the powerful anaesthetic propofol to treat the musician for insomnia, and that Murray was wrong to leave Jackson's side while he was under anesthesia before he died.

Third, an anesthesiologist concluded that the propofol could not have been self-administered, given the configuration of the IV setup.

Last, she also noted that Jackson's IV tube was connected to his left leg below the knee and it would have been "extremely awkward" for the singer to reach it, especially if he had been sedated.

When I read this news, the word “willful negligence” occurred to me.

However, it is bad not to take care of his patient, but I think it cannot be called murder, because the patient might attempt suicide. If it is truth that Michael Jackson committed suicide, the death is his responsibility.

If the patient had not been Michael Jackson, the judgment might have been different, I felt.  

AP. "Michael Jackson's doctor to stand trial."

New Zealand Herald 12 Jan. 2011: n.pag. 12 Jan.2011

Ryuichi Sakamoto to experiment with piano

 A Happy New Year!　This year, I'll try to study harder than last year!

This week, I read The Korea Times, which is Korean news paper, because I'm going to visit Seoul for sightseeing in a week! I read an article about Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The article is as follow:

The New Year kicks off with an array of star-studded events, including a much-awaited tour by Academy Award-winning artist Ryuichi Sakamoto on Sunday. The Seoul Arts Center recital marks the pianist-composer return to Korea for the first time in 10 years since 2001.

The prolific musician is known for critically acclaimed film scores and electronica experiments, new wave rock numbers as well as bossa nova and classical romanticism in the tradition of Debussy — but moreover infuses a distinct style that makes his pieces his very own, regardless of the genre.

Do you know Ryuichi Sakamoto? He is a Japanese musician. I’ll show his profile.

Sakamoto rose to international prominence through the group “Y.M.O” in the late 1970s (Eric Clapton famously sampled their music). Afterward as a solo artist he ventured into various musical styles, from working on synth-heavy collaborations with Korean media artist Nam-june Paik as well as Iggy Pop to Italian futurists and pop artists such as Dee Dee Brave, David Sylvian and Marco Prince.

In the 1990s he worked on the music for prominent filmmakers including Pedro Almodovar a Bernando Bertolucci. He also worked on bossa nova projects with the genre pioneer Antonio Carlos Jobim in Rio de Janeiro.He is famous for the music of “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”.

Of course I know him, but I don’t know that he is also famous in Korea. To hear the success of Japanese musician, I felt very happy. His music is nostalgic and beautiful, so I love it! Many people may think he mainly make serious music, but he produced a comedy music group, which member is the famous “owarai” group, “downtown”.

Another musician who flourishes in the world is Jo Hisaishi, I think. Do you know him? He is so famous for the music of Ghibli movies. Without his music, the movie would be boring one.

There are many Japanese who success in the world. For example, Hideki Matsui and Ichiro, baseball players are popular in America. Also, Yoji Yamamoto is a famous fashion maker. These days, Akira Suzuki, a professor of Hokkaido University won a Novel prize!

I want to success in the world following them!

I have a question. Who is famous Japanese in China?  I have no idea. Let's ask alf!

Lee Hyo-won. " Ryuichi Sakamoto to experiment with piano"

The Korea Times 4 Jan.2011:n pag. 5 Jan 2011