Naughty or Nice?

How would you feel to recieve a gift that doesn't exist? Or better yet, what would it be like to see a person's reaction as they open a present only to find there is nothing in there but a sign that taunts, "Gotcha!". The new GotchaBox, sold through The Onion, is basically an empty box advertising a fake gadget.

When I first read this article, I thought it was really funny and intresting a company would ever think about selling fake stuff for profit. The whole idea of the GotchaBox is amusing and I would probably be one of those people to pull a prank like this. Even though the fake present might not make the person's Christmas day a joyous one, if it makes your Christmas day worth it, then go for it!

to read more go to:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/16/gotcha.boxes.onion/index.html

Furby comes to life~!

Recently, scientists have rediscovered the existence of the pygmy tarsiers. For 8 decades, these creatures have long been considered extinct but scientists working in Lore Lindu National Park on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi accidently trapped one while trapping rats.

Many people have said that these species look similar to the Furby. The first time I saw this article, I was amazed and a little creeped out when I saw how similiar the pygmy tarsiers and the Furby looked. Even though I'm not a big fan of the Furby, I think it's really amazing that scientists were able to rediscover these creatures becuase now scientists can track where these creatures live and possibly help them to repopulate.

"designer babies"?

The idea of the "designer babies" have been lurking around the news for the past few weeks. The word "designer baby" is a term used by the media describing the new idea of human genetic alteration to create "select" babies. Meaning, parents can decide what they want their child to look like and what they want their child's personalities to be. Scientists are looking more into this new discovery.

Overall, I think this idea is morally wrong because I believe that humans shouldn't have the power to change what people look like or should look like. However, I think that this method could be beneficial in a sense that it could help parents to detect genes that could put the baby more at risk of a family disease and prevent that gene from being passed on to the baby. I know that in the future, more people are going to start to accept this idea and "designer babies" will become more common, but at this moment, I feel that, unless parents are willing to use this method solely to help prevent passing on disease genes, it should not be considered. But I know that that's not going to happen...

Fall

Lately, I've been really occupied with homework that i haven't realized the trees were starting to change colors. I only realized this yesterday as I was running around my neighborhood. The variety of colors that surrounded the scenery were so breathtaking, that i stopped running and just stared for 5 min.

I would say that Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. The aspects of Autumn that i love so much are the colors of the trees and the crispness and freshness of the air.

McCain = Bush?

This year's presidential election has been a hot topic among U.S. citizens. Especially, since the rise of economical, environmental, financial, as well as war issues, many people have gained intrest as to who are new leader should be. Both candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, have approached these situations in a different manner; however, many people have started to question, is McCain just another Bush?
I think that John McCain has a couple of well thought out ideas but, overall i have the feeling that most of his decisions are made too hastly depending on what's happening now and that he hasn't taken in full consideration of what lies ahead and what future consequenes could occur. In addition, because McCain has aggreed with Bush's ideas and his strategies 90% of the time (CNN Political Ticker), i think that his desicions are based on or revolve around Bush's ideas and strategies.
Today, Obama and McCain came face to face in a presidetial debate. And one of the topics they touched upon was how they were going to deal with the war in Iraq. Senator McCain had kept stressing on the idea that U.S. troops should come home in vicorty and in honor. Also, he kept mentioning how U.S. should be victorious and win the war. But he hadn't really talked about how this war costed many depts and many lives. In that sense, i think McCain is a lot like Bush because they both seem to have the idea that U.S. is the leader and should thereofre act more superior over other countries and that they have to show that the U.S. is more powerful. And it is because of that thought, that i think made them agree on entering this war back in 2002. I just think that if McCain is elected, then it'll be the same as Bush getting another 4 years in office.

Video link about Iraq : http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/26/debate.friday/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

THE Musical Genius

What comes to your mind, when you think of classical composers? Majortiy of people tend to mention either Mozart or Bach. However, many fail to mention Chopin. Chopin, like Mozart and Mendelssohn, was one of few musical prodigies. But unlike the other composers, Chopin's style of music is very personal, deep, and emotional. Auther Hedley, a English musicologist, scholar, and biographer of Chopin, quoted, "Chopin had the rare gift of a very personal melody, expressive of heart-felt emotion, and his music is penetrated by a poetic feeling that has an almost universal appeal.... Present-day evaluation places him among the immortals of music by reason of his insight into the secret places of the heart and because of his awareness of the magical new sonorities to be drawn from the piano."

Chopin has always been my favorite composer. The way his music caresses and indulges the mind as well as the heart, helps me to relax and to let go of all my problems. One of favorite songs is the Nocturne op. 9 no. 1. Chopin is truly a musical genius. He has manged to not only compose amazing pieces, but for each, he poured all his soul and emotions onto the paper through the notes. Not many people may know about chopin; however, once people listen to his works and learn to truly appreciate and enjoy his music, they won't be able to get enough of him.