The Beauty of Data

In class, we started off with random questions that were related to the video. It's called The Beauty of Data Visualization (click for video) by David McCandless. He talked about how data was easier to understand by visualizing. Most of his sources came from the media or online sources. What we see from these sources is what we believe in because of the controversy created by the news reporters. He states that we pay attention more with our eyes but we aren't as aware of it.

David starts off the video saying, "So, visualizing information, so... makes more sense, or it tells a story, or allows us to focus only on the information that's important." (1) He is saying that data is more legible to understand when it's graphically designed. Without visualizing any collected information, the data would be more of a hassle to follow through. If the data was organized in a simple but complex way, informational problems could be pinned down and resolved quickly. Anyone who is basically looking or studying the data would worry about the biggest problem first rather than the small one.

Throughout the video, he presents a variety of visuals that he created: the $Billion Dollar o-Gram, Mountains Out of Molehills, the break ups, our senses, the military budget, the balloon race, and lastly, the Volcano vs. Plane. The visuals that were amazing to me were the visuals about the break ups, the military budget, and the balloon race.

During the pre-discussion in class about the break ups, Cindy and I talked about holidays, spring, and summer. We said our reasons and chuckled a bit. While watching the video, we were shocked about how on target we were. David had quoted that it happens in Easter and two weeks before Christmas. (2) They had collected the information which was directly from Facebook updates. It was hilarious, because that's what I see the majority of the time.

The second remarkable visual was the military budget: who spends the most money, who has a bigger population, who has the most soldiers. In my opinion, we Americans don't recognize the other countries as much, because of our past relations with other nations. All the details are left out on the media.

The balloon race blew my mind. I liked how there was an interactive program. I've done animation before, and I thought it was cool. Many supplements are prescribed by doctors or advertisements found on television. I've never seen the majority of the supplements, but I think they were some type of home remedy or herbs/medication passed down through generations.

Overall, I agree with what David had to say, especially at the end, "So, visualizing information can give us a very quick solution to those kinds of problem." (4) He is saying that with the technology and programs we have today, it's better to create visuals based on collected information. Once the data is composed into a visual, you can make theories, suggestions, conclusions, and question why things are the way they are.

Just Ignore the Stereotype

The photo shows a blond woman, who is obviously white, with a question, "OMG, I have to read a lot and write a lot to be a writer?" The artist basically manipulated the blond woman with a stereotype, saying she is dumb. In my opinion, it was a dumb reaction and or question but I wouldn't blame her. What was being said in the reaction is true.

After reading it, I thought about how the illustration related to the prompt about reading and writing that we did earlier in the semester. You have to read in order to gain knowledge, and you have to know how to reword the knowledge for your own comprehension in order to write it down. So, being a writer takes more than just reading and writing. They are just the basic building blocks to becoming a good writer.

For a personal example, I would use my International Baccalaureate History Internal Assessment. In order to "write" a passing research paper, I had to do plenty of reading. The essay has a format that is separated into six categories: A) Plan of Investigation, B) Summary of Evidence, C) Evaluation of Sources, D) Analysis, E) Conclusion, and F) Sources and Word limit. I believe that the word count was 1,500 to 2,000 words without the footnotes, headings, and works cited. It was pretty tough to complete, but I pushed myself because it was a big part of my overall grade. I had the summer to start the paper, but I waited last minute until the due date to make an excuse. I told Panian, the IB History teacher, that I was having difficulties with my topic, so he gave me another week to choose something else and turn it in.

In class, we talked about the process of writing and how it's cyclic. If you are planning to write something, you need to read a couple of resources: online, in a book, or in the newspaper to collect information. Before you write, you need to brainstorm or create an outline in order to create a first draft. From then, you can expand and clear up points stated within the writing piece. The next thing is to correct any typos, grammar, and punctuation. The publishing of the writing piece will be "perfect" at the end.

Anyways, I think this simple reaction made a big impact in everyone's mind. The picture itself was old fashion, somewhat like pop art or retro. It was just simple bold colors and minor details. Many ideas and connections were brought up in the class discussion which I thought were useful, but I decided not to talk about them.

Seventeen.SevenFive Years

I’ve been thinking lately.

After reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I contemplated about my life. I felt like Eddie. I’ve been living and doing the same thing for so long: school. I felt like I had no purpose in life, that I was just there. Many people notice me, and I notice them. Just a simple wave.

I don’t bother to speak to some people.

My whole life was dedicated to school. My life wasn’t fun at all. All I did was stay at home, do homework, sleep, eat, and browse the internet. During my weekends, family members would invite me to go somewhere; I simply denied. I didn’t like getting out of the house at all.

My life is school and school is life. Sometimes, I wonder why I have to go to school. I learned that school is vital. It’s where I’ve learned everything I know now. The knowledge comes from lectures, conversations with friends, movies, videos, documents, textbooks and more books, you name it. Without any of these resources and knowledge, I wouldn’t be as successful. I’ve been called a nerd, computer geek, math freak, smart, and a typical Asian. I take it as a compliment.

During my senior year, I started going out with family members and friends. Yes, I still finished my assignments on time. I expanded my horizons and I became more sociable. It felt good to see areas of San Diego that I’ve never seen before and to experience the new things I came upon.

The Typical Teen

You sit there in this solid, chair. What is there to write about? As you look onto your Word document, the cursor’s blinking rate is following the rate of your heart. You think, think again, and think harder. Nothing. This paper is due this tomorrow. You’ll do it later. No big deal, right? 

The key to not writing a paper is to procrastinate. It’s something all teenagers do and soon, it ends up being an abominable habit. Procrastination is putting an assignment aside and worrying about it the last minute.

In the meantime, you’re stalling as much as you can. That stomach of yours is growling fiercely. It’s only 3:30, time to enter your refrigerator and find something to eat. You’re not satisfied - eat some more. Look at the time now. 

What’s next? You lay down on your comfy, old bed. While grabbing for the remote, your stomach tightens. After you turn the television on and watch a movie or two, you fall asleep. As the time flies by, you don’t know what time it is. You wake up in the dark with a daze from your television. Oh, no, it’s 9 o’clock!

Immediately, you rush to open your door to take a shower. Afterwards, you get ready. Constantly going through your mind, you decide to make the most staggering paper ever written! Therefore, you turn on your laptop, determined to write the paper. The laptop is done loading. You open the word document to a blank page. Finally, you go on Youtube to motivate yourself with music. By opening a couple new tabs: signing onto Facebook, chatting with your friends, playing video games, and browsing the internet, you get distracted. It’s now 2 in the morning. What happens now? You go to sleep. 

You wake up in the morning and go to school, completely ignoring the fact that you didn’t do your assignment. As the day passes by, you get to that class. What are the consequences to not writing your paper? Making up excuses, asking for more time, and failing the class. Procrastination is a problem: don’t do it.

When was the last time you had one?

A flashback is a literary device used to tell a descriptive memory in non-chronological order. In most stories, the flashback narrates a significant insight to a character(s) and or background information. 

In The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, Eddie’s flashbacks gave him pieces to the puzzle for his lesson. The Blue Man tells Eddie the story of how he died. Eddie never knew the Blue Man’s perspective about the little baseball game and once the story was told, it made sense to him. 

Flashbacks are valuable. I’ve noticed that flashbacks interrupt what you’re doing. Pretend that you’re at the park with your best friend. You guys have a typical conversation, enjoying each other’s company. One of you will say, “That reminds me of..." and "Do you remember when..." They are followed by flashbacks to what occurred at some point in the past. Flashbacks can be good, bringing you happiness, and bad, bringing you unhappy memories about something that you don’t want to think about.

This is ODD.

Strengths Finder 2.0. Did I really have to buy the book? Thinking to myself, I said no.  Until the day that we had to use the code, I found that there was no way to just buy a single code. Instead, I headed down to the book store and bought the book. 

Finally. I could actually get some work done. I thought I’d just take the assessment and not bother reading about them. Before the exam in class, I realized that I had to read my strengths to do an okay job for the exam. I was shocked that it fit me. 

*Adaptability: People who are especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.

*Responsibility: People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

*Context: People who are especially talented in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.

*Strategic: People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

*Achiever: People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

*These are my strengths in order from 1-5. Taken from my report online.

The majority of these strengths have been developed throughout my middle school and high school years. During high school, I tended to go with the flow a lot due to the scheduling of school and family. I did all my school work before it was due, but I wasn’t in a rush to finish it like a procrastinator would. That’s where responsibility comes in. I am responsible for waking myself up, getting to school on time, doing my work and my own actions. When it comes to doing a new project, I think of old ideas from the past to create something unique. I like putting a twist onto assignments. My strategic strength comes into play every day. If I have to do it, I’ll do it. If it has to be done in a certain way that I dislike, I’ll still do it. Lastly, I am definitely an achiever. I’ve been called an overachiever a couple times, but I don’t like sacrificing quality for speed. I’d rather get the A than B or C grade. Polishing is what I like being seen; it keeps me motivated.

Am I a nobody, or a somebody?

Lighters - Eminem Feat. Bruno Mars

Peter Gene Hernandez aka Bruno Mars is a Puerto Rican and Filipino singer-songwrite and record producer who grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. He moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue his music career. He currently signed to Atlantic Records and his music displays a variety of genres. 

Eminem is a white rapper who grew up by 8 mile road in Detroit. He survived a drug addiction and abusive home life to achieve his dreams. He currently writes, preforms, and produces music on his own label, Shady Records.

Lighters is about the struggle of a few men, and how they don't let others affect them. The meaning of the song is about accomplishing something and following your dreams. Eminem and Bruno mars went on a journey and became famous. Eminem establishes his name in rap, saying he is one of the best-- King of Rap. 

I have a strong attitude that flows consistently just as the song does. The song is a representation of my willingness to face adversity.