An Homage to the Lower East Side

I spent my afternoon in the Lower East Side (LES) today, something I have rarely done since high school. Thus said, it is interesting to see how much this neighborhood, my childhood home, has changed over the past few years. To me, LES is a haven for people who are seeking opportunity, something that is becoming increasingly less evident each day.

LES is one of the oldest neighborhoods in NYC and has always been the first settlement for new immigrants. The Dutch arrived during the 17th century and populated the area with farms. It eventually became a battleground with the British, creating the heart of New York. Every new wave of immigrants came to LES. In the 1800's, the Irish settled in the neighborhood's tenement homes as they fled from the potato famine. This was followed by the Italians and Germans and it was the beginning of what America should be: an ethnically diverse community. During the early 1900's, Jewish immigrants moved in, contributing delicatessens, staples to NYC. New groups moved in rapidly during the last half of the century. Blacks and Hispanics began to inhabit the area with the rise of low-income project homes in the sixties. Chinese began moving in during the seventies because of its close proximity to Chinatown. Lastly, squatters lived in vacant buildings in the eighties, which became the root of the punk rock scene.

LES has always been a rough neighborhood. Each ethnic group that lived in LES were shunned from the societal majority in some way. Thus, they have all lived in poor conditions. Every group, from the Irish and Italians to the Hispanics and Chinese have brought large families to live in the cramped conditions of tenement homes, despite inhabiting the space a century apart. Crime rates were always up no matter what decade you were in. As a child living there in the nineties, I was always told to avoid certain parts and to take precaution while playing in the parks. It was because of all this that each wave of immigrants worked hard to move out. Despite the numerous groups mentioned before, they never lived harmoniously for it became a trend for one group to move out their predecessor to move in.

Today, people are not working hard to move out but to move in. At the turn of the century, LES has become a budding hipster scene for its ghetto aesthetics. Tenement homes have been reconstructed into upscale apartments and old factory buildings have become lofts and art galleries. It is sad because you do not get as much street cred when you say you're from LES as you did twenty years ago. Yet, LES still remains to be the home for people seeking opportunity for the young people that are beginning to move in are too seeking possibilities.

Why China Is Bad At Soccer

As I'm sure that many people know, China did not qualify for the World Cup this year. They qualified in the 2002 World Cup but they didn't score a single goal. Soccer is the most popular sport in China and the Beijing Olympics proved that the Chinese aren't too bad at sports. So why can't a country with over a billion people put together a soccer team? The answer lies with Chinese culture itself.

For the most part, Asian countries do not perform well in the World Cup but soccer still remains the most popular sport in Asia. So, if you look at it broadly, it's an Asian thing. Asians excel in individual sports but not in team sports. The medals that China won in the last Olympics were mainly from gymnastics and diving. My parents have always stressed activities like swimming and fencing on my brother and I. The Chinese's take on sports reflects much of Chinese and Asian culture, which stresses individual advancement. If this was to become political, the same applies to the country's economy, government, and sociability. Western culture stresses a lot on teamwork and synergy whereas Eastern culture focuses more on individual practice and repetition.

I don't think the Chinese care much about sports. This may sound critical of me as I speak from the perspective of an American but the Chinese have other things on their minds. As I mentioned in my last post, China's economy is booming and it seems that much of their resources are directed into development and technological advances. Thus, they do not really factor in sports in being the world's greatest superpower. Many of the nations that have done well so far are considered third world countries. Countries like Ghana and Uruguay may be small but they are passionate about soccer and winning. It is not that the Chinese are heartless and unpassionate, they are just not passionate about team sports.

The Anatomy of China's Economy

Happy Father's Day! I had the chance to spend the whole day with my dad today and one of the things he loves to talk to me about is foreign affairs. So here is a very dad-inspired post:

Back in 2007, I was interviewed by an admissions officer from U of Chicago, a school known for its economics program and thought-provoking questions. One of the questions that I was asked was "What do you think of China's economy?" At that time, I was not so politically inclined so I simply answered, "it's so bad that it's good." Now three years have passed, where not only have I matured, but so has China's economy, allowing me to give a more detailed answer to that question.

China has become a hot topic in recent years, for its government proceedings and more notably, its rapidly growing economy. Since the 1990's, China's economy has been on the fast track much due to the string of economic reforms at that time. Its GDP was ranked third in the world in 2009, right behind the US and Japan, and many analysts predict that the RMB will match the US dollar in thirty years. However, many speculators do not see this sustaining. The rapid economic growth and flaws with Chinese products are some of the reasons that people are hesitant to recognize China as a superpower. Yet, I think these are just a few holes that can easily mended.

China is big topographically and in size, with the largest human capital in the world. What is happening in China right now is similar to the US during the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was a springboard for technological innovations and thus economic expansion but at the same time, hazardous conditions existed in factories and laborers were overworked. Also, during this time, there was a great interest in expanding West which led to the development of the midwest. Like the US, much of China's civilization is concentrated along the shore. There are so many untouched resources and possibilities that will be beneficial in the coming years.

Much of what we know about the China, its sociability and its economics, has been through the lens of Western media. Underneath what we see includes 2000 years of history and a strong culture. All this makes the understanding of China's development both fascinating and complicated.

Buildings, Cities, and the People

On Thursday night, I went to a community meeting at a Carroll Gardens' daycare for my internship to discuss the facility's closure. Present were representatives from ACS (Administration for Children's Services) and 30+ angry parents. Now, you would be upset if your child's daycare was closing down and the nearest affordable one is 5 miles away. There are many daycares in the neighborhood but many of them are out of their price range. This is one of many results of the changing socioeconomic statuses in NYC neighborhoods and across the country. This phenomenon of gentrification has both its positive and negative effects.

Carroll Gardens, like much of North Brooklyn, is facing rapid development. New boutiques and trendy restaurants are opening everyday. The neighborhood's primary residential buildings are brownstones and project housing, leading to cultural clashes between yuppies and the ghetto. Within a block, I was able to find an upscale sushi restaurant and a Crown Fried Chicken. As you can imagine, the individuals who are the most upset about these developments are the ones losing their neighborhood. The same thing is happening to Bed-Stuy, Harlem, and somewhat in my own neighborhood of Coney Island, where I can see this firsthand. There are continuous debates in the community between the developers who want to build condos and resorts and residents who have sentimental attachments to the neighborhood. However, a new resort will bring more job opportunities to a fairly poor neighborhood and thus stimulating the economy. Are emotional values small prices to pay for opportunities that will benefit in the long run?

What upsets individuals even more is that new developments are by private entities and it feels personal that an autonomous group is taking something they believe to be accessible to the public. This is where much of the angst against private corporations are rooted. If this is viewed on a broader scale, the government does not have a lot of money and thus power compared to corporations. Thus, the possibility of have private space is greater than that of public space.

The demographics of neighborhoods have changed greatly between decades and centuries and development has always coexisted with it. Before project housings were built in Bed Stuy, there was a large Jewish community who all lived in brownstone house. There is no stopping the changes created by individuals and time, so development will always exist.

Halfway Through College Review

Today, I spoke at my high school to juniors about the college application process. Most of the students asked the same questions: effectiveness of grades, AP exams, and sometimes dorm life (my high school was pretty nerdy). I was in the same room as someone who is currently attending Columbia University and all the students seem to be more interested in him than me. To be honest, two years ago, I was in the same position as them. I wanted to go to a prestigious university and never expected to end up in Syracuse. Well, I did and I do not regret it.

I was an overconfident freshman. Coming from a large city and from an advanced high school track, I felt like I can do anything at Syracuse. I always had a hard time talking about transitioning into college because I never had issues in doing so. As heartless as this may sound, my mindset fueled me to get involved on campus and do well academically. This coincided much with my involvement in Student Association. After I accomplished my first initiative, I felt like I can do anything on campus in terms of influencing changes on behalf of students. I did accomplished many initiatives afterward but it became more about the experience and that helped me grow to love the school. It was not just about me leaving my mark here but how I can make it a better place. As a student at Syracuse University, I was given the chance to not just grow academically but to tailor make my experience here. I probably would not have received these opportunities at another institution.

Now that I am officially done with everything, it just hit me that I am in the limbo stage between sophomore and junior year and the feeling is a bit surreal. How have I changed these last two years? For one thing, my overconfidence has tapered off and into different directions where it became more about the people around me. That was a result of my experiences and the people I had the pleasure of knowing. For another, I gained a greater awareness of my capabilities- what I can do and cannot do. Together, I hope to use what I have learned and apply it to issues beyond the hill for my last two years of college.

Stars of Cyberspace: The Asian Variety

One of my final papers for this semester was for my Contemporary Asian Americans class. The research topic? Asian Americans on YouTube. Because it is a blog worthy topic, here is an excerpt/ summary.

From Nigahiga to Happyslip to David Choi, Asian Americans are proliferating the channels of YouTube. Many of the top 50 channels on YouTube were created by individuals of Asian descent and has caught the attentions of the blogosphere and Asian American based panels. This is surely a phenomenon. The videos range from beauty tutorials by Michelle Phan to humorous portrayals of everyday life by KevJumba. All of these individuals are second generation Asian Americans and almost all of them are under 30 years old. YouTube and the internet have collectively become a venue that allows accessibility and advocacy of groups that are traditionally underrepresented. These videos have promoted the image of Asian Americans by presenting common issues and topics in a positive manner as they are created by the very individuals themselves.

The videos portray a wide variety of issues faced by Asian Americans. KevJumba, for example, frequently has his father in his videos. The relationship portrayed between him and his father can be related to many individuals' own relationship with their parents. Between the accent and affectionate teasing, he might as well be Papa Kong. Interracial dating was brilliantly discussed in "Yellow Fever," a video by Wongfu Productions. Yes, many White men date Asian girls- sorry to all the Asian men who think this is an issue. Timothy DeLaGhetto's videos are very much influenced by hip hop culture, showing much of his persona. Do you know how many Asian guys follow the hypebeast/sneakerhead culture? Well I know too many.

So why YouTube? YouTube is easy to use and has a large audience. For individuals like KevJumba and Nigahiga, who are currently college students (both my age in fact), it is a noncommital venue. Thus, they can upload videos at their own leisure. Other individuals like Michelle Phan and Wongfu Productions have used YouTube as a springboard to launch their careers. In fact, many of them have received recognition and opportunities because of their videos. YouTube has proved to be a valuable venue for self expression. For Asian Americans that find it difficult to have their breakthrough in Hollywood, YouTube and the internet will always be there, creating new stars with changes in time.

A Lusterless Dimon

Syracuse University has caught the attention of national media not for its basketball team or academics, but for students' discontent over this year's commencement speaker, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase.

Personally, I do not see anything wrong with the choice of commencement speaker but I am not overly ecstatic to hear him speak. Dimon certainly has a long list of accomplishments. In fact, he is the badass of Wall Street. During the financial crisis, JP Morgan reluctantly accepted TARP funding from the government, but paid it back. As CEO, Dimon oversaw the acquisition of Bank One and Washington Mutual and made JP Morgan into one of the leading banks in domestic assets. His personality can be defined by him accepting $1 as his yearly salary but a $16 million bonus, something he is not ashamed of. His bank has constantly been lobbying against government reforms and Dimon himself, has wrote a few op-ed articles on this issue. I am neither a supporter nor opponent of JP Morgan, but I am pretty impressed with what he has accomplished.

So why are SU students so worked up about this? Dimon may be the hero of Wall Street but a villain to humanity (or at least as regarded by students). Students overlook Dimon's achievements and become upset over what he represents. Because of our current state of economy, people do not want to see a figure of Corporate America, someone with so much, to be lecturing them. Also, JP Morgan Chase has a strong presence on campus. From its name plastered on the first floor of Lyman Hall to the creation of the GET program, it seems like Dimon "bought" his title to be this year's commencement speaker. As a result, students believe that they did not have a say in the choice in their speaker because it looked too easy. As a student liaison to the Board of Trustees, I can attest that it is not true. Syracuse University is one of the few schools that allows students to decide on their commencement speaker. A list of speaker is created by a student committee, which includes class marshals and Trustees representatives. Although I did not play a part in this process last year, I am fairly certain that Jamie Dimon was on their short list.

Commencement speakers are chosen based on the premises of innovation, humanitarianism, and honor and connection to the university. Jamie Dimon does embody those qualities but I wish that a less controversial speaker was selected, perhaps someone who isn't such a strong political figure for our state in time. I respect my fellow students' right to free speech and protest so those who don't want to hear him speak shouldn't have to. However, as a change agent of our time, I think his speech will be worthwhile.

Just Like in "The Deer Hunter" But for Hipsters

What I meant by the awkward title is the deadly game of chance known as "Russian Roulette," which was the center of the 1978 film The Deer Hunter. I remembered watching that movie when I was little with my dad, not knowing what the plot line was about nor the concept of the game. My dad had to explain what "Russian roulette" was to me and I was a bit horrified. Now 32 years since the film's release, a new spin on the classic game of roulette by a Russian teenager hits the internet known as Chatroulette.

Chatroulette is a game of interactional chance on your computer. All you need is a webcam, and it brings you face-to-face to a world of strangers and potential new friends. The attention that the site has gotten is incredible. Celebrities are using it. Reporters are using it for their "articles." Creepers use it to creep. And hipsters use it because they think that it is cool as it breaks the boundaries of social media. A chatroulette party took place in a Brooklyn bar as the website was projected onto a big screen as patrons sat in auditorium-style seating and watched. Ben Folds used it in a segment of his concert as he serenaded users with his audience cheering him on. So is this site all that it is hyped up to be? I gave it a spin myself.

For a long time, I was scared to use the site. So for my first time, I made a few of my friends to go on it with me. As we huddled over my macbook, we explored the wild west of the internet. Together, we saw awkward teenage boys, awkward middle-aged men, random college students like us, musicians, blank screens, imperative writing on paper, and a few inappropriate images. We had a few conversations with people but we didn't know how genuine the other end was because we made up fake names for ourselves. Although a warning pops up when you first go the site about being over 16 and no pornography, no one follows that rule, which makes it kind of funny. My first time on chatroulette was a bit traumatizing because I would never look up some of these things up. Yet, my intrigue trumped that trauma and I went on it a second time but by myself.

My second run with the service was a bit disappointing. There were less conversations but more awkward moments. For many of the people that I came across, our conversation only lasted about 10 seconds as they automatically deemed me boring and clicked off to the next person. At first, I was offended bur frankly, I did the same thing. I did not want to have a conversation with a strange man, cradling his laptop in bed. It was much less awkward and more fun with a group of friends because you do not have to take it as seriously and you have other people to work with. Thus, despite the accessibility of the site to people around the world, human nature trumps as many people do not want to be face to face alone with a stranger.

In Opposition to the Health Care Bill

Tonight history was made when the Health Care bill passed on the House Floor, 219-212. Call me a closet conservative but I am very against the bill and here's why:

1. The government doesn't have the money for it
With our national debt in the trillions, the United States government is in no shape in providing universal health care. Supporters of the bill cite that countries such as Holland and Australia have a similar system. However, the debt in these countries aren't as high as the US. In addition, these other countries do not face the same issues we do and not as extreme. Personally, I think this money (if it exists) can be put into better use like education reform, research, and technological innovations, moving our country forward.

2. Higher taxes
One of the greatest concerns of the bill is the higher taxes that people have to pay. These taxes will affect all people on the income spectrum. This bill only benefits a small percentage of Americans who are uninsured and hurting many hard working middle-class Americans with insurance. I am not calling anyone out as lazy but it is simply not fair for those who worked hard for their insurance. Nancy Pelosi in her closing remarks stated that this is groundbreaking change, similar to the Social Security Act. In my opinion, the Social Security Act led to detrimental consequences and the consequences of this bill are that of the Social Security Act on steroids.

3. Mandated insurance?
Health care is not an inalienable right and not everyone wants health care insurance in their lives. Thus, having the government mandating that you need health care is just wrong. Who is to say what you can and can not have? I am a staunch believer in individual choice and free society, as these ideologies promote able citizens. Supporters of the bill exemplifies a group of elitists deciding what is right for individuals, limiting citizens ability to choose.

4. People taking advantage of the system
As soon as the bill passed, I called my parents up letting them know the news. Their initial response was of outrage, mostly because of higher taxes. My mom went on ranting about how people in Chinatown clinics take advantage of Medicare and Medicaid without really needing it. As outlandish as her example may be, she proves a point. How do you determine who is really sick and who is taking advantage of the system? Although I would like to believe their are good people out there, people take advantage of what is free. As time progresses, corruption of the health system will take place, limiting its quality.

Beware the Ides of March

Unless you go to one of few select universities, March is the longest month for many people, with no breaks or long weekends. Thus, the creation of many random holidays, including Pi Day and National Potato Chip Day last Sunday and St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. Yesterday was the Ides of March. No, it is not really a "holiday" but I feel a need to write about my night for it is the right amount of absurdity for a blog.

I met up with a friend to see "Next to Normal" on Broadway. We got there at the 6PM for the lottery only to face over 100 tourists and gay men as our competition for the 26 front two row seats that were available. We didn't win the lottery but we got partial view seats as "lottery losers," which we were very happy with because this was our third time trying to get tickets. The show was amazing despite Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit's absence. I was tearing up throughout the entire second act but was comforted to hear so many people sniffling besides me.

After the show, we had dinner. My friend's parents gave us a call and said they were in the city and can pick us up in about half an hour. This was 11:15PM. Since the restaurant was closing, they were very much ready to kick us out but in a friendly way. We decided to wait at Parson's nearby Fashion Building, home of Project Runway. As we walked down the street, I witnessed stressed out men in suits walking disorderly down the street. Who were these men? Surely, accountants. In fact, that is exactly what my friend's parents were doing- trying to get their taxes in before 12AM deadline. As we waited in Parson's lounge, my friend received frantic phone calls from her parents about postage stamps because they apparently don't sell stamps at the post office after hours. When they finally picked us up at 12:15AM, they told us horrific stories of people at the post office. Picture hundreds of Manhattan businessmen trying to get their forms postmarked on time- it can get pretty scary.

March 15th is always a frantic day for New Yorkers. Whether you are trying to win lottery tickets for a Broadway musical or trying to get your taxes on time, chaos ensues. Well maybe it is just like any other day in the city.

To Be An Orange Technite

So, I started writing about the Health Care Summit two weeks ago but got distracted by schoolwork, meetings, and bi-polar weather conditions. It is a bit irrelevant to continue and post it so instead, I am making better use of this post by writing about the start of my Spring Break (aka yesterday morning).

I flew down from Syracuse to NYC Wednesday night in for my Trustees meeting Thursday morning. This was the first time that I flew from 'Cuse to NYC. It was the shortest flight I have ever been on and I have never been on such a small plane. There were approximately 30 passengers and it was safe to say that none of them were convicts but many of the NY Times crossword puzzles bearing type.

I got up excruciatingly early in the morning to commute to the Upper East Side. On the subway, I ran into my high school music teacher. We have ran into each other on the train a few times in high school and our conversations were usually awkward. Conversations like what kind of toast I was having for breakfast or how my mallets are missing again. But I guess things change when you graduate where either I became more mature or there were less limitations on what I am able to know. During that 45-minutes ride from Coney Island to Atlantic Avenue, I learned the latest Brooklyn Tech gossip, how 80% of teachers never intended to be teachers, and how people think you are important if you are dressed up. When my teacher stepped off the train, I became immensely grateful to have had teachers that were so passionate with what they do and their devotion to their students. Things like this make me proud to be a Technite.

As I continued with my ride and eventually arriving at the Lubin House, I became aware of the things that make me proud to be Orange. I felt out of place with my attire but for a good reason. All the trustees and Chancellor's cabinet were wearing orange for the game against Georgetown at noon, prompting me to go want to go shopping for more orange business casual wear. They actually moved the meeting from 11AM to 8AM so they can make the game at noon. It makes me happy to see how alums are so proud of where they came from and how trustees are so enthusiastic about the decision-makings of the university. Despite the fact that many people do not agree with the decisions that are made, including I some times, trustees go out of their way to give back to the University the best they can.

Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of the schools I have attended for some really good people shaped my experiences. It is a bit nerdy to talk about school to kick off my spring break but I am looking forward to a busy week ahead.

Greyhound Buses and Red Envelopes

Instead of my usually commentaries, I am writing about my trip home for Lunar New Year.

The two bus trips I made were the most intense/interesting rides I have taken in a while. For my outbound trip, my friend and I sat across from three recently released prisoners. At first glance, you would have a hard time knowing that they were prisoners. They had an all-beige uniform on instead the traditional orange and carried a mesh baggie with textbooks and school supplies. That's borderline Kindergarten or cult-status. I had an inkling but how did I know they just got out of prison for sure? They talked about it rather loudly the entire trip and exchanged witty banter with the bus driver (we were sitting in the back). I was not disturbed because of their presence but more annoyed that the bus was so rowdy. On the bus back to Cuse, I was supposed to meet up with the same friend to take the 7:15PM bus. However, my phone died when I got to the station and she didn't make the bus. It was an uncomfortable bus ride because I was freaking out over the fact that I abandoned someone at the bus station and the woman that sat next to me had a baby who was fussing the entire ride. My freaking out status got up to the point where I got off at the Scranton station to charge my phone next to the water fountain. When I got back to campus, I felt much better knowing that my friend missed the bus and was safely on the next one.

My Lunar New Year celebration was uneventful this year, as was my Valentine's day. I had reservations about going home because of other obligations but my parents eventually coerced me to do so. It felt like any usual weekend home. I had dinner, debated on current events issues with my parents, annoyed/motivated my brother about school, and did my homework. On top of all this, I was sick for the weekend but I received red envelopes to make up for it.

Needless to say, I did enjoy the time I spent with my family and my cold went away over the course of the weekend. I am definitely looking forward to the new lunar year because that means any resolutions I broke in the last six weeks, I can do that now. 新 年 快 乐！

An Unnescessary Education

At what age did you start school? I began my schooling at the age of three at a private Catholic daycare and continued throughout my Kindergarten years. At the age of six, I began my (rather lengthy) public school career. So yes, I did received a "boost" in my education at an early age, and one that came with a price tag. However, in the 21st century, some parents are pushing their children to attend some of New York City's most selective elementary schools before they can even start walking.

This post is my reaction toward the cover article of this week's issue of New York Magazine. There are parents out there who have been pushing their children as early as age one to prepare them for the best preschool and elementary programs in the city, in hopes of putting their children on the right track fast. They spend hundreds of dollars for a private tutor to prepare their children for the ability examination that is required for gifted programs offered by both private and public schools. This examination consists of a booklet filled with multiple choice questions, similar to many of standardized tests you see today. Now, imagine being 4-years olds and taking an examination like that. Personally, I've been through a watered-down version of this. I remembered prior to attending my elementary school, I had to interview a woman who asked me some fundamental skills questions. I also remembered being smart-alecky throughout the process and not knowing why I was there. When she asked me what color roses are, I answered they can be many different colors. When asked why the children were wearing galoshes and rain coats, I answered because it is either raining outside or to match their outfits. No, my process is not as hard as the ones that many children endured today, but intense competition to get into a good school still remains.

Now, is all this really necessary for a successful life and career? I do not think such an intense preparation is necessary. The process is even harder for private schools, which includes observations, interviews, and examinations. When admitted, the tuition is around $20,000 a year, which is more expensive than some colleges. All this to buy your children a good education and bright future, which is not even guaranteed (just look at those NYC Prep kids). My advice to all the the parents out there is to send your kids to public schools- it builds character- and invest your money into something that your children are passionate about.

Some Criticism and Praise of Last Night's SOTU Address

I haven't been able to post anything or update my blog in a while because of a hectic first two weeks of classes. Since my last post, a lot has happened in the political realm, including Scott Brown winning Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts, advancing a bill that legalizes medical marijuana in New York State, and the latest State of the Union address. For today, I am going to write about the latter.

Praise
Everyone expected this speech to be one of Obama's most pivotal point in his career. What is he going to do with health care reform? Instead of focusing on health care reform, Obama mentioned the issue briefly and addressed other issues, particularly the jobs and economic development and many other things. Because he covered so much ground, Obama was able to please both parties. Democrats and liberals were pleased with his strong stance on tax cuts, repealing the "don't ask don't tell policy" for gays in the military, and proposing a job bill. The Republicans were particularly satisfied with him insisting that large banks pay back their bailout money.

Criticism
Although Obama covered a lot of ground, he didn't go into much detail on one particular subject. When he said he wanted a job bill soon, he didn't go into any further detail in regards to the framework of the bill or its timeline. He did, however, hinted that it will be tied to technological advancements in energy. The biggest problem I had was his strong stance on the federal government spending freeze for the 2011- fiscal year. First of all, McCain proposed this idea back in 2008 and Obama was very much against it. Second of all, Obama did not have the strongest rationale: "I am absolutely convinced that the stimulus was the right thing to do, but families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions and the federal government should do the same."

Overall, I think Obama did a decent job. Unlike his precedent speeches, he was more realistic where he acknowledged that change would not be easy and he cannot do it alone. However, I did think the GOP had a few wins last night. There were a few points that deserved criticism from the conservatives and the GOP response was very well delivered. Governor Bob O'Donnell of Virginia delivered the speech, specifically criticizing Obama's safe approach to terrorism. The speech was live, with people around O'Donnell, and an Asian man, a Black woman in the background to strut the party's diversity for the camera. Definitely a step up from Bobby Jindal.

At least I sleep in on some days at school

I am back in Syracuse and just got settled in my room. I am proud to say that I had a very productive break, where I was probably busier than I am at school. Over winter break, I . . .

1. worked and as a result, made enough money to pay my parents back for the new macbook they bought me (after the incident)
2. met up with various people and friends (a more diverse variety than I usually hang out with over vacations)
3. spent ample time with my parents and family
4. completed many internship applications
5. and subsequently going on a few interviews, leading to some offers
6. wrote wikipedia articles for "Project Syracuse Wiki"
7. organized buses again for winter and spring break
8. had a root canal on New Year's Eve, resulting in a very trippy night
9. wrote an angry letter to the MTA about the bus line in my neighborhood
10. read A Farewell to Arms, The Good Earth, and Blink
11. went to the cinema and watched Up in the Air, Sherlock Holmes, and The Lovely Bones
12. tried Sri Lankan, Tibetan, and Ethiopian food and Cakeman Raven
13. completed 195/195 countries on sporcle.com
14. became a aficionado of 90's German techno
15. started this blog

How did I do so much? I worked four days a week where I got up at 6:30AM on those days. On my "off" days, I did not sleep past 9AM to get things done. I did not spend any days lounging at home or spend much time at home. My commute to work was about 3-4 hours every day, where I had time to accomplish miscellaneous tasks. So, my winter break was not really a "break" but a period of time where I had a chance to do non-school things. I am looking forward to this semester because it'll probably won't be as busy as these last four weeks.

Two Tales That Disprove the Myth of Rude New Yorkers

I was standing idly on the West 4th Street platform the other day, waiting for the F, crossword puzzle in hand, trying to look cool. To my left, was a row of platform seats, where a homeless man sat, surrounded by garbage bags and a ragged coat over his head. About 50 feet left of the man, stood an elderly Chinese woman. This woman was accessorized with a grandma hat and a rolling backpack. I watched as the woman unzipped her backpack, revealing numerous red Chinatown grocery bags, and pulled out a steam bun. She then approached the man cautiously and nudged him with her foot. She handed the bread to him with a napkin and said "Here Chinese food" in broken English. The man looked at the woman with curiosity and awe, taking the food hesitantly. No words were exchanged between the two but from their expressions, I can see the enormous gratitude held by the man and the great sense of satisfaction felt by the woman.

Similarly, this happened over the weekend: http://thecomicscomic.typepad.com/thecomicscomic/2010/01/seeing-a-man-on-the-subway-tracks-what-would-you-do.html

In the wee hours of Saturday morning, comic Sean McCarthy was returning home after work when he found a man out cold on the subway tracks. Immediately seeing this, he alerted the MTA staff on duty. They proceeded to inform the conductor of the next arriving train but it was too late. As the train was approaching, McCarthy frantically flail his arms shouting at the conductor to the stop the train. Luckily, it did. The man was rescued from the tracks and McCarthy saved the man's life. Now, remember that subway hero last year who jumped into the tracks and pulled a man out? No, McCarthy did not do that but he did something that was physically possible for any human being. Personally, I cannot pull a man from the subway tracks but I can certain flail my arms in an attempt to stop a moving train.

Not to preach from the Coplin camp of "do good," but even the simplest acts of good deeds can benefit others greatly. You may not have food to spare to a homeless man or the audacity to stop a moving subway but acts like holding the door, giving up a seat on a bus, or simply saying "thank you," these are things that everyone can do.

Going Down the List of New Year's Resolution

One of my New Year's resolution was to create a blog to share my thoughts, interests, and encounters. It will also serve as outlet for procrastination (like this exact moment). The title of this blog translates into "Bonnie's words" and is a play on "bon mot," which as a title was already taken (along "bonsmots," "les bons mots" and every other variation of it). So here's my blog and I promise to update it as often as I can.