Don't Worry Be Happy

Long time no see.

2005-11-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanks Giving Day.
I think there are no classes today, right?
Happy Happy~
Enjoy it. See you later.

I'm HOME.

2005-10-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

I arrived home yesterday. Really really my home..
I was very excited to meet my family, but I disappointed when I saw them.
Nothing changed.. Their face, body, and habit..
But just one thing changed, my room was GONE.
When I came home, I surprised, because I couldn't fine my room.
Oh my god.
It was just 10 month, and it was true that my room was changed my brother's bed room.
So, I slept with my brother.

Many people said that they were just envy me.
But I don't know. It was not only comfortable, but nervous.
I was thinking why I felt nervous.
The truth is I have to find my job in next summer.
I thought if I went back to Korea, everything would fine. It was wrong..
I'm very worried about that.
About one year later, if you see me at Carbondale, you can guess that I couldn't get a job.
I left the U.S. about 2 days ago, but I really miss there.
And I really miss my friends, my teachers, and my customers. haha//
If I have a chance to go to the U.S., I'll see you.
See you than.
Take care your health from cold.
ByeBye~

Globalization and music industry *Practice Final

2005-10-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Many people like music, and they can listen to the other country’s music. Nowadays it is easier for us to can encounter another country’s music. Globalization makes it easy for people to listen to music of every country music. It could be good for musicians, because they can get lots of money, and they will be really famous in every country.

I think globalization makes people comfortable, and lets them get some information of music easily. We can listen to a variety of country music; also, we can know many musicians.

Globalization is good for musicians and entertainment. Many people will know them when globalization increases; it means they can get lots of money easily. “Organizations, such as music publishers, simply earn vast amounts of money. They are entitled to these sums on the basis of their agreements with artists where a portion of copyrights are licensed to them” (Dolfsma, 2000, par. 13). For example, in Korea, there is a famous singer; her name is Boa. She started to be a singer in Korea, but many people didn’t like her, because she was very young, and people had a stereotype about her. So, she decided to be a singer in Japan, and she restarted to sing in Japan. Many Japanese liked her, and she was very famous. Nowadays Koreans changed their mind; finally, they liked her, too. Her case is a really good example that globalization makes musicians distinguished.

Also, I think nowadays CD and MP3 are really expensive, so many young people download it. They already knew that downloading is illegal, but they couldn’t buy it, because they don’t have enough money to buy the CD. The music industries recognize that; so, they cannot argue it (Silverstone, 2004). Many of my friends download music, but not always. They buy the music that they like, and sometimes they download the music. I don’t know how big the damage is to musicians, but I think it is not a big problem. Sometimes musicians sue the Internet music site, but I don’t know why they have to do that. If their song is in the Internet music site, many people can listen to their song. In that case, people know whose song that is, and they buy the song if they like. It is a kind of benefit, in my opinion. Silverstone said, “Internet music piracy not only doesn’t hurt legitimate CD sales, it may even boost sales of some types of music” (2004, par. 1).

In conclusion, it is true many young people download and copyright the music. Globalization makes people able to face a variety music easily, and musicians can earn lots of money more easily. It is a benefit to both customers and musicians.

Reference:

Dolfsma, W. (2000, May). How will music industry weather the globalization storm? First Monday. Retrieved from http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue5_5/dolfsma/, Oct. 5, 2005.

Silverstone, S. (2004, Jun. 21). Music downloads: Pirates- or customers? Working Knowledge, Harvard Business School. Retrieved from http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4206&t=innovation, Oct. 5, 2005.

Disadvantages of CAFTA-DR *Research paper

2005-10-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Abstract

The U.S. president signed on CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) in Aug. 2, 2005. He mentioned lots of advantages from CAFTA, but many people are against CAFTA. People think that CAFTA will bring many serious problems, such as losing jobs. This paper disagrees with CAFTA, and I mention lots of problems. CAFTA makes NAFTA problems more serious. And many workers can lose their jobs; also, it is harmful to many industries, such as manufacturing jobs and agriculture jobs. The U.S. government should think about the solutions for CAFTA problems, and they have to make sure of the reason we have to agree with CAFTA.

CAFTA-DR stands for Central American – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement; Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua are included in CAFTA. And Central America and the Dominican Republic is the second largest export region (Wisconsin State Journal, 2005). The U.S. president agreed to CAFTA-DR on August 2, 2005. “CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers” (Bush, 2005, par. 3) and “CAFTA would create a more level playing field” (par. 4). Also he said, “CAFTA would bring the stability and security that can only come from freedom” (par. 5). He mentioned lots of benefits of CAFTA and he signed on it. In addition, CAFTA will increase Central American economics, and it reduces barriers (ITA, n.d.).

However, many people disagree with CAFTA, because they think that CAFTA will bring lots of problems. The problem is that the U.S. family farmer will have damages; also, Birns (2005) said that CAFTA causes the U.S. workers to lose their jobs, because the U.S. businesses want to use cheap labor in Central America. And it is harmful to many industries, such as manufacturing jobs, agricultural jobs, and textile jobs. People think that it is just problems of the U.S.; it is really big problems for Central American countries, too.

I think CAFTA will cause lots of damages to the U.S. and Central America. The president of the U.S. cannot think of the two sides of CAFTA. He thinks about advantages of CAFTA, but many people cannot agree with him. This is because of NAFTA problems, and also because they cannot believe what Bush said. I think the president already agreed to CAFTA-DR, but he should think about some problems and find solutions. The U.S. government cannot make the same problems as NAFTA; they have to make sure that everyone agrees with CAFTA. I know they cannot cancel it; they have to make solutions so that people can agree with CAFTA.

First, we can see lots of similarity between CAFTA and NAFTA. They are free trade agreements, and the U.S. president agreed with these negotiations while he was thinking just of advantages of NAFTA and CAFTA. CAFTA makes NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement, problems more serious. Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are included in NAFTA, and the U.S. agreed on it in the early 1990s. It caused many problems; that is why people are worried about CAFTA. NAFTA and CAFTA are similar negotiations, so people think that CAFTA will bring similar problems with NAFTA.

When Bill Clinton agreed with NAFTA, he said that NAFTA would make lots of jobs, but he was wrong. In the U.S., they lost more than 879,280 jobs (Texas Farmers Union, n.d.). Also, G. W. Bush spoke of similar advantages to what B. Clinton said. People don’t believe what G. W. Bush said, because he made the same promise as B. Clinton, but they already knew Clinton couldn’t keep his promise.

According to Morong (2005), in 1994, when the U.S. agreed with NAFTA, there were 17 million manufacturing jobs in the U.S., but it has fallen down by 3 million, so it was 14.3 million in 2001. It is a really big number; also, we can imagine how many people have lost their jobs. I think CAFTA will make that problem of unemployment more serious. “CAFTA has more in common with NAFTA than just sharing a similar name. It is based in the same premises and same promises as its older sister agreement” (Texas Farmers Union, n.d. par. 8). The Texas Farmers Union also mentioned, “CAFTA would be destined to bring us the same results as NAFTA: fewer jobs for Texans and an increased international trade deficit” (par. 9). NAFTA made lots of problems, and CAFTA is similar cooperation with NAFTA. I think CAFTA will bring serious damage like NAFTA.

Also, NAFTA caused damage to farmers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when B. Clinton agreed with NAFTA, he promised that would make 54,000 agricultural jobs, but they lost about 16,000 agricultural jobs in the U.S. (AFL-CIO, 2005). When G. W. Bush signed CAFTA, he said the same thing as B. Clinton said. That is the why people worried about CAFTA. If Clinton had kept his promises, people would believe Bush’s opinion that CAFTA will bring lots of advantages. But it was not true, so people cannot believe CAFTA will be helpful.

Second, many people who live in the U.S. will lose their jobs because of CAFTA. CAFTA is not good to improve human rights. CAFTA nations people are kind of poor and most people have job that are very low-paying and are in unsafe places. The U.S. companies will use them, because they are cheaper than people in the U.S. In that case, the U.S. people will lose their jobs. “CAFTA does not place any pressure on Central American nations or the Dominican Republic to pass tougher environmental laws or even enforce those already in place” (Sanderson, 2005, par. 8). In addition, many kinds of U.S. businesses want to use cheap labor in CAFTA nations, and already Central America products entered the U.S. without tariffs. They don’t need negotiation about free trade, because it will make more problems. Also, Birns said, “CAFTA countries today can freely export to the U.S. at no or very low tariffs and already are the second-largest U.S. export destination in Latin America, receiving $15 billion of the U.S. exports…” (2005, par. 7).

Especially, this problem will be more harmful to African Americans. There are lots of African Americans in manufacturing jobs. But CAFTA will make many manufacturing jobs disappear, and then many African Americans will lose their jobs (Lee & Shelton, 2005). “(B)lack men and women are now much more likely to be displaced from long-tenure, good-paying jobs than their white counterparts” (Lee & Shelton, 2005, par. 3). I think African Americans do more hard work than others, but they cannot make lots of money. CAFTA makes that they lose their jobs; also, they cannot make money.

Third, CAFTA will damage farmers. CAFTA nations have better and cheaper vegetables, so if these vegetables will come into the U.S., farmers have big damages. And it is not just the U.S.; it will be big disadvantages in Mexico. For example, NAFTA obliterated 1.7 million agribusinesses in Mexico, and CAFTA will make this problem more serious than NAFTA (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005). People believe that NAFTA made a big problem, and CAFTA will make the same problem as NAFTA.
However, the U.S. farmers will get problems, because of Central America, but it is not good for Central America farmers, either. “Farmers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and other nations will be forced to produce at full capacity in an effort to survive and over time will not be able to compete with big agribusiness flooding these markets with cheap goods” (Sanderson, 2005, par. 4). CAFTA will bring lots of problems to both the U.S. and Central American countries.

Also, especially people who are against CAFTA mention the sugar industries. The U.S. sugar industries will all be damaged, because CAFTA will increase sugar prices (Sparshott, 2005). Up to 16 states are growing sugar cane, and 7 of these states were against CAFTA in the Senate on June 30. According to J. Sparshott, “Imperial is a lonely voice in supporting CAFTA in an industry that almost unanimously opposes the pact. The company is not owned or operated by sugar cane or sugar beet farmers and would benefit from some additional imports” (2005, par. 12). In addition, people said that CAFTA would hurt textile industries. According to Birns (2005), CAFTA will help China’s cheap textiles come to the U.S. It is a big problem for textile industries. CAFTA will bring lots of damages for many industries; how can people agree with CAFTA?

In conclusion, the U.S. had lots of problems from NAFTA. People don’t want to have the same problems. They believe that CAFTA will bring the same problem as NAFTA, or CAFTA will bring more serious problems than NAFTA. “After NAFTA was implemented in 1994, U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers suffered job loss, stagnant or rapidly worsening trade flows, falling prices and revenues, declining incomes and a long string of failed promises…” (AFL-CIO, 2005, par. 2).

CAFTA has lots of problems, and it makes many employees lose their jobs. Also, farmers and Central America and the Dominican Republic employees will get a big problem. According to the article, “CAFTA would only extend to Central America the disastrous job loss and increasing inequality caused by NAFTA” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005, par. 7). I think CAFTA will make the U.S. and Central American people lose their jobs, and cause big damages to industries.

The president of the U.S. agreed with CAFTA, but he has to recognize that CAFTA has lots of problems. CAFTA will have benefits, but there are fewer of them than disadvantages. The government should make an effort to find a good solution so that people who are against CAFTA can agree with CAFTA. “Forty percent of Central America’s workers earn less than $2 a day and workers’ rights are routinely abused. CAFTA does absolutely nothing to protect workers’ fundamental human rights” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005, par. 16). The U.S. government cannot make the same problem as NAFTA anymore; they should think about that carefully and they have to keep the promises that they made, such as increasing jobs and raising human rights. I want the U.S. government to find solutions, so CAFTA will be useful to the U.S. industries and jobs. The U.S. government should make sure of the reason we have to accept CAFTA.

Bibliography

AFO-CIO. (2005, Jun. 12). CAFTA: a bad deal for farmers. America’s Union Movement. Retrieved from http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/globaleconomy/ns06072005.cfm, Sep. 27, 2005.

Birns, L. (2005, Jun. 3). CAFTA and its discontents. La Prensa San Diego. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Aug. 25, 2005. pp. 1, 8.

Bush, G. W. (2005, May 12). President discusses CAFTA-DR. White House. Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/print/20050512.html, Sep. 13, 2005.

International Trade Administration (ITA). (n.d.). Welcome to the CAFTA-DR gateway. U.S. government. Retrieved from http://www.ita.doc.gov/cafta, Sep. 27, 2005.

Lee, B. & Shelton, H. (2005, Sep. 26). CAFTA is a bad deal for African Americans. The Hill. Retrieved from http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Comment/OpEd/072105.html, Sep. 27, 2005.

Morong, C. (2005, May 4). NAFTA and job losses. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.geocities.com/cyrilmorong@sbcglobal.net/NAFTA.htm, Sep. 26, 2005.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (2005, May 29). Say no to CAFTA. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005. p. J-2.

Sanderson, C. (2005, Aug. 1). CAFTA is bad deal for all workers. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005.

Sparshott, J. (2005, July 11). Sugar industry fights CAFTA agreement. The Washington Times. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005.

Texas Farmers Union. (n.d.). CAFTA: bad for Texas and bad for USA workers. Retrieved from http://www.texasfarmersunion.org/cafbadfortex.html, Sep. 26, 2005.

Would CAFTA benefit U.S. businesses, workers? Briefing on CAFTA. (2005, Jun. 1). Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 6, 2005, p. 10.

Disadvantages of CAFTA-DR *Argumentative Essay

2005-09-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

CAFTA-DR stands for Central American – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. And Central America and the Dominican Republic is the second largest export region (Wisconsin State Journal, 2005). The U.S. president agreed to CAFTA-DR on August 2, 2005. “CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers” (Bush, 2005, par. 3) and “CAFTA would create a more level playing field” (par. 4). Also he said, “CAFTA would bring the stability and security that can only come from freedom” (par. 5). He mentioned lots of benefits of CAFTA and he signed on it. But many people disagree with CAFTA because they think that CAFTA will bring lots of problems. The problem is that the U.S. family farmer will have damages; also, it will be good for Central American operators, but not their employees. Also he said that CAFTA causes the U.S. workers to lose their jobs, because the U.S. businesses want to use cheap labor in Central America (Birns, 2005).

I think the president already agreed to CAFTA-DR, but he should think about some problems and find solutions.

First, the U.S. sugar industries will all be damaged, because CAFTA will increase sugar prices (Sparshott, 2005). Up to 16 states are growing sugar cane, and 7 of these states were against CAFTA in the Senate on June 30. According to J. Sparshott, “Imperial is a lonely voice in supporting CAFTA in an industry that almost unanimously opposes the pact. The company is not owned or operated by sugar cane or sugar beet farmers and would benefit from some additional imports” (2005, par. 12).

Second, many people who live in the U.S. will lose their job. CAFTA is not good to improve human rights. Some countries make jobs that are very low-paying and are in unsafe places. “CAFTA dies not place any pressure on Central American nations or the Dominican Republic to pass tougher environmental laws or even enforce those already in place” (Sanderson, 2005, par. 8). In addition, many kind of the U.S. businesses want to use cheap labor in CAFTA nations; also, Birns said, “CAFTA countries today can freely export to the U.S. at no or very low tariffs and already are the second-largest U.S. export destination in Latin America, receiving $15 billion of the U.S. exports…”(2005, par. 7).

Third, CAFTA will damage farmers. CAFTA nations have better and cheaper vegetables, so if these vegetables will come into the U.S., farmers have big damages. NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement, obliterated 1.7 million agribusinesses in Mexico, and CAFTA will make this problem more seriously than NAFTA (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005). “Farmers in Costa Rico, Nicaragua and other nations will be forced to produce at full capacity in an effort to survive and over time will not be able to compete with big agribusiness flooding these markets with cheap goods” (Sanderson, 2005, par. 4).

In conclusion, CAFTA has lots of problems, and it makes many employees lose their jobs. Also, farmers and Central America and the Dominica Republic employees will get a big problem. According to the article, “CAFTA would only extend to Central America the disastrous job loss and increasing inequality caused by NAFTA” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005, par. 7). The president of the U.S. agreed with CAFTA, but he has to recognize that CAFTA has lots of problems. CAFTA will have benefits, but there are fewer of them than disadvantages.

Reference:
Birns, L. (2005, Jun. 3). CAFTA and its discontents. La Prensa San Diego. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Aug. 25, 2005. p. 1, 8.

Bush, G. W. (2005, May 12). President discusses CAFTA-DR. White House. Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/print/20050512.html, Sep. 13, 2005.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (2005, May 29). Say no to CAFTA. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005. p. J-2.

Sanderson, C. (2005, Aug. 1). CAFTA is bad deal for all workers. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005.

Sparshott, J. (2005, July 11). Sugar industry fights CAFTA agreement. The Washington Times. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 14, 2005.

Would CAFTA benefit U.S. businesses, workers? Briefing on CAFTA. (2005, Jun. 1). Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 6, 2005. p. 10.

Disadvantages of CAFTA-DR *Research Paper Proposal

2005-09-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve just started learning about business and society. All of our topics were really hard for me, but I chose this topic, because I wanted to know about CAFTA. I heard lots of times about CAFTA, but I didn’t know about it. That is the why I chose this topic, but it was hard for me, also. CAFTA-DR stands for Central American – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. And Central America and the Dominican Republic is the second largest export region (Wisconsin State Journal, 2005). The U.S. president agreed to CAFTA-DR on August. 2. 2005. “CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers” (Bush, 2005, par. 3) and “CAFTA would create a more level playing field” (par. 4). Also he said, “CAFTA would bring the stability and security that can only come from freedom” (par. 5). He mentioned lots of benefits of CAFTA and he signed on it. But many people disagree with CAFTA because they think that CAFTA will bring lots of problems. The problem is that the U.S. family farmer will have damages; also, it will be good for Central American operators, but not their employees. Also he said that CAFTA causes the U.S. workers to lose their jobs, because the U.S. businesses want to use cheap labor in Central America (Birns, 2005). The president already agreed to CAFTA, but they should think about some problems and they have to find solutions.

I plan on writing that CAFTA will be harmful to the U.S. First, the U.S. government will yield to Brazil on the FTAA negotiation, and then the U.S. sugar companies will all be damaged. Second, many people who live in the U.S. will lose their job, because companies want to use cheap labor in Central America and Dominican Republic. Finally, CAFTA will damage the U.S. farmers, because the U.S. will import cheaper and higher-quality vegetables.

I have found lots of background information of CAFTA in website, and have found many articles that help to know the advantages and disadvantages of CAFTA. I need more articles about why people disagree with CAFTA and how much CAFTA attacks the U.S.

Reference:
Birns, L. (2005, Jun. 3). CAFTA and its discontents. La Prensa San Diego. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Aug. 25, 2005. p. 1, 8.

Bush, G. W. (2005, May 12). President discusses CAFTA-DR. White House. Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/print/20050512.html, Sep. 13, 2005.

Would CAFTA benefit U.S. businesses, workers? Briefing on CAFTA. (2005, Jun. 1). Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 6, 2005. p. 10.

The preparations of CAFTA

2005-09-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

The author who wrote “Would CAFTA benefit U.S. businesses, workers?; Briefing on CAFTA” discussed what CAFTA is and how the U.S. could prepare for CAFTA. First the author gave a definition of CAFTA, Central American Free Trade Agreement. These countries are very important for the U.S. because Central America and the Dominican Republic is the second largest export region. Even though Central American countries’ products already pierced the U.S., there weren’t high tariffs. Some countries that are included in CAFTA have to prepare lots of things for CAFTA. The author mentioned the U.S. exports, agriculture, sugar, textiles and apparel, access to services, technology and trade secrets, worker rights, and environment.

I agreed earlier that CAFTA is good, but after I saw some article about CAFTA, I became confused about whether CAFTA is really helpful to the U.S. And I changed my mind and decided that CAFTA has some problems.

First, I found some information on CAFTA, and I saw an interesting article. It was about “sugar industry.” It is one of the problems because some companies in Florida complained that the sugar import would be increased by10% or more. It is serious for companies in the U.S. because if the U.S. agrees to this convention, the U.S. government will yield to Brazil on the FTAA negotiation, and then the U.S. sugar companies will all be damaged.

Second, I mentioned jobs, but I was thinking a lot, and it was big problem, too. If the U.S. agrees to CAFTA, many people who live in the U.S. will lose their job, because companies want to use cheaper labor. And Central America and the Dominican Republic have cheap labor. It is big problem for Americans.

Third, CAFTA will damage the U.S. farmers. If CAFTA is agreed to, lots of vegetables, fruits, and cotton, etc. will come to the U.S. without tariffs. Farmers in the U.S. have damage, because the U.S. will import cheaper and higher-quality vegetables.

In conclusion, I was thinking a lot, and I recognized my thinking was wrong, so I changed my thinking. But until now, lots of Central America and Dominican Republic products have entered the U.S., so the U.S. government should think carefully and they have to find solution for CAFTA or disagree about CAFTA.

Reference:
Would CAFTA benefit U.S. businesses, workers?; briefing on CAFTA. (2005, Jun.1). Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Sep. 6, 2005. p. 10.

CAFTA is bad for the U.S.

2005-09-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

In “CAFTA and its discontents,” Larry Birns says CAFTA is bad for the U.S. Especially, CAFTA is bad for the U.S. family farmer or his Central American complement. Over 80% of Central America businesses already pierced the U.S. market and American products are gained more than 40%. Also, CAFTA presidents use the U.S. that worried about China because there is cheaper labor, and it is easier to get more spirited in globalization. If it will occur, they can lose lots of jobs. In addition, the EU and China will threaten North America’s power. CAFTA is just one-sided, so the Bush administration might consider that there are two sides of CAFTA.

In my opinion, CAFTA is good for the U.S.A, because nowadays there are a lot of China’s products in the U.S. So, the U.S. can use CAFTA to restrain China’s products.

First, many kind of goods are made in China, because they have cheap labor, and lots of people are there. The U.S. businesses want to go to China, so Americans can lose their jobs. The U.S. can use CAFTA to protect lots of goods from China. If CAFTA will be actively progressed, Central America countries can export to the U.S.

Second, I think that if the U.S. agrees with CAFTA, they can use cheap labor in Central America. Also, they don’t need lots of money, because it could be cheaper than using American labor. So, they can help Central Americans who are poor and don’t have jobs. It is good for Central America and the U.S.

In conclusion, CAFTA has benefits to the U.S. and the U.S. has to agree with CAFTA. If the U.S. agrees with CAFTA, not only can they save their money, but also they can stop importing lots of Chinese textiles. Also, they can help Central Americans who don’t have jobs. It could be good for all countries.

Reference:
Birns, L. (2005, Jun. 3). CAFTA and its discontents. La Prensa San Diego. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis, Aug. 25, 2005. p.1, 8.

Big mama

2005-08-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of musicians in Korea. They are all very good singers, but especially my favorite musician is Big mama. Big mama is a group with 4 people, and they started in 2003. This album was their second album, and I really like that. But I have stayed in U.S., so I couldn’t buy it. Usually singers are really pretty and thin, but they are fat and a little ugly. Their voice is pretty good, and if you take a look at the picture, you might think they don’t have good voices. But the truth is you must listen to them, then you can judge.

Think of globalization

2005-08-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ralph Peters, who wrote “Myths of globalization”, discussed some untrue stories of globalization. Globalization is new, sometimes harmful, and will make perfect peace. He mentioned two things about globalization; one of them is that globalization doesn’t have history, so it could be easy to destroy. And second, globalization will make perfect peace; he said it is “Utopian Peace.” But he disagrees with these stories. The author said the time of peace that had gone will not come back because war had made exhausted and hegemonic power. We have to think about globalization that can make terror, such as 9/11.

In my opinion, a long time ago, there was a globalization, too. For example, in Korea, people wanted go to China because they wanted to learn skills about making clothes or how to grow plants. Especially, Moon Ick-Jom, who was really famous in Korea, carried some cottonseeds to Korea from China. At that time, we didn’t have good clothes, so many people died from cold weather. But after he carried some cottonseeds, we could make clothes. So, they went to China for study. It could be a kind of globalization, too. Nowadays some students go to other countries for study. It is the same as a long time ago when our ancestors did it. They cannot save the lives of their countrymen, but after a long time, they will be distinguished people who will be proud that they are Korean.

We have to think about some countries’ own cultures. If globalization will spread more than now, we can see every culture in our home. I like to know about the other cultures. So, I usually surf the Internet and I can see that. I can see all over the world in my home. And I can buy some traditional things from each culture if I want. Sometimes it is good, but sometimes it is bad. For example, we can eat Korean food in the U.S. Also, we can eat American food in Korea, too. It could be a good experience, but if this phenomenon will be more increased, some countries that have their own cultures can’t protect it. We have to think about that.

If globalization makes peace, why has war occurred? I think war never finishes. People always desire lots of things, so some people are fighting to get it. It is a kind of war, small war. Maybe globalization will bring war that is more serious. People can recognize what the other countries have. So, they want to get it. It makes war, such as the Iraqi war. I disagree with Bush’s opinion about the war, so I think it is one of the examples of globalization. The war never ended and it could more serious, I think. The globalization can bring peace, but I think it will bring more violence and war.

The world is getting smaller; we have to think about that. It can be good or it can be bad. We should accept good things from globalization, and reduce bad things. This article was really hard for me, because I never think about business and I have a weak knowledge about it. But I want to say globalization will be a more general thing in our life. We should know about the whole world, and we have to prepare to jump in to the global world.

Reference:
Peters, R. (May 23, 2005). Myths of globalization. USA Today. Retrieved August 23, 2005, from Lexis-Nexis. p.11A.

Computers and crime

2005-05-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

The main idea of “Computers and crime” in Academic Encounters by Kristine Brown and Susan Hood (2003) is that nowadays there is a lot of computer crime. In 1993 and 1995, similar events happened when someone stole money by computer. People who steal money by computer steal not only money, they also the other person’s information. We call this hacking. Hack means to break into a website, change or steal information without permission. Also, computer viruses are so harmful to the computer. The viruses attack computers and they copy the information, too. The computer crime became common very quickly around the world. Especially, the companies are affected by computer crime because the companies depend on the computer a lot. But it is so difficult for the police stop the computer crime because they need special equipment and skills. Sometime the computer is good affect to police. For example, law enforcement agencies in the U.S. are can display photographs of suspect and wanted criminals on the Internet. I think the computer crime will be the most serious crime in the future. You can protect your computer. For example, you can download the anti-virus program and you can check the virus once a week, etc. It is serious crime, so the government should try that stop to computer crime.
First, we use a lot of computers and depend on that. All people use the computer. They save the pictures, important papers, and private information. If hackers commit the hacking or fraud, we can lose our information. We can easily find example of the computer crime. In Korea, for example, one person who operated a restaurant wrote into his own computer about his restaurant’s information. One day, one man hacked his computer, and then he is stolen the information about the restaurant and deleted all information in the computer. Later, the police caught the hacker and he went to jail. But the owner was lost all information about the restaurant. I don’t know exactly police caught criminal, I heard they used IP address. I don’t know what IP address is, so I can’t explain more. But I know it needed a long tome. It is a simple event. We should protect to ourselves. We have to sign out, after you used your own page. And we should check to run virus scan at least once a week.
Next, many people can’t feel that seriousness of the crime because it is not painful and difficult to catch the eye. For example, when I stayed in Korea, a virus came into my computer. I used the computer everyday. One day it couldn’t work anything and the screen was changed to the black one. I was so surprised and I called the service center. They said the virus came into my computer, and I needed to reformat the computer. So, I lost all my pictures and my important papers. It is not first time. Many times the virus came into my computer. So, I downloaded an anti-virus program, which is protected, to my computer from the virus. But someone who never experienced this happening doesn’t know that seriousness of the computer crime. Before my computer had a virus, I didn’t know that how virus harms for the computer. I think if you want to protect to your computer from the virus, the anti-virus program is good for your computer.
Finally, the computer is develop continue. People make the computer which is so fast and intelligent. So, some people who want to earn money but don’t have ability using the computer for steal a lot of money. Because it is such an easy way that steals money if you have a smart brain. In the future, if computers are more developing and people are more intelligent, the computer crime will be a common. So, we need such a strong low about it. For example, “If you do hacking, you can’t use computer about 10 years,” A person who did hacking can’t use the computer and he or she don’t know about the computer after 10 years because computer is developed continue, but he or she couldn’t use it. The government should make efforts that stop to computer crime.
The computer is good affect to us, but sometime they are used for bad crime. Computer criminals and their victims are people. It means we make the crime ourselves. Until now, it was very difficult that caught the computer crime’s criminal, but in the future, we have to find a solution that solve this problem, so we can find the criminal easily. I don’t know about the computer very well; so I can’t say exactly, but I believe someone make a means of a trouble. We should try to use the computer just for our benefit. And the people should think about that they could be victim of this crime.

Television and children

2005-05-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

The main idea of “Television and children” in Academic Encounters by Kristine Brown and Susan Hood is that many children watch TV for a lot of time and they can see many murders and violence. In the United States, 99 percent of all homes have a television and U.S. children watched 200,000 acts of violence. Violence is the threat or use of physical force; TV dramas and cartoons are higher than the other programs that have the violent. All studies agree that TV violence influence children to be more aggressive. And they suggest that it is important to consider how violence is portrayed. For example, many crime dramas and cartoons are not realistic and usually they are shown “bad guys” can’t win. Also, children follow TV programs actors because they believe everything they see. This influences young adults. Most young adults believe that TV violence makes a lot of violence in the society. Finally, children can’t understand the difference between fiction and reality so, some children follow that they saw in TV programs. For example, a child who saw “Superman” was jumping up and down on the sofa and then he got hurt. But, in my opinion, television violence effects children but it is not serious.
First, many children watch violence cartoons but higher proportion are satisfied with watching it. For example, a young boy committed a violent act, but we don’t know it is really television violence to blame. We can guess his home life has a problem or he has bad friends. If sometime his father hit his family, it makes a child is more aggressively. Also, he has a bad friends, it is very bad effect to him because many children likes their friends and follow each other. So, Korean parents say, “It is very important that when you are a child, you meet a friend.” Many children who watch television violence know it is just fiction. Modern children are intelligent and smart. They already know a lot of violence.
Next, many television violence show good person win. Children who watch that good person win think they want to be a good person. All television cartoons which are for children are always bad person losing and good person win. And sometime good person has a trouble, but around the cartoons are finish he or she is overcome the problem. Children watch this situation; they think that good person’s life is always good and they want to be a good person. It is a good effect to children.
Finally, violence of the war teaches the history to children. We have a lot of cartoons which stories are ancestor’s life and they had a lot of war. Many children can know the history and the ancestor’s life. For example, in Korea, we have a cartoon which story is about “Lee Sun Shin.” He was a very famous general in 1545. The story is all about the war between Korea and Japan. When children watch the cartoon, they learn the history and his life. Also, they learn the leadership like the “Lee Sun Shin.” A lot of people say violence of the war is bad effect to children, but I think it is good for children.
Children can watch violence easily, but it is not all television blame. I think it is parents’ blame. Parents should protect their children from the television violence. If the children grow up and they are adult, it is not necessary. But the parents ought to take care of their children. Professor Wilbur Shramm says “Children who are raised in a loving home by kind, nonviolent parents are not affected by television violence. They do not commit the violent acts they see on television. On the other hand, children who are raised on abusive homes often mimic the violent acts they see on television.” I agree with his idea. The television violence is not good always, but it is not bad, too. We should think about that.

A movie star's death

2005-04-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

02. 22. 05. A famous movie star “Lee Eun-Joo” died. It’ was very surprised and it made many people was sad. She was just 25 years old and her life looked good , but she committed suicide. That event has received a lot of attention in the media. Because she was very famous star in Korea and she had a surprised problem with herself. Also, after she died, there are a lot of groundless reports in the media. But until now, nobody know why she killed herself exactly, we just know that we lost a perfect movie star.
Lee Eun-Joo was very famous movie star in Korea. She appeared a lot of movie, for example, “Going to the bungee jump” “The novel of entertainment” “The Taegukgi is frying” “The scarlet letter” etc. There are famous movie in Korea but she was died very painfully in all these movies. Especially in “The scarlet letter”, she was locked in the car trunk with her boyfriend a long time. So, she can’t tolerated, finally she asked kill her to her boyfriend. It’s very painful dead. After finish the film she couldn’t collect her mind because she was very absorbed in her role. The media said it is one of the reasons why she died.
A few days later, the police announced about her dead. It was very surprised. They said she had a lot of responsibility and stress. Maybe all of the entertainers have like these problems. But her case is a little different. She had a depression and then she went to a lunatic asylum, but she couldn’t cure her depression. Just then she had film “The scarlet letter” after the film, her depression was growing worse. So, she couldn’t overcome she decide die to the last. After she died, many depression patients were died because they couldn’t tolerate after heard the Lee Eun-Joo event.
After she died, in media, there were a lot of groundless reports why she died. We don’t know why she died exactly but many people supposed the reason and it spreader in media. The media or many people said she was a pregnant, she had of debt a lot and she was a psychiatric patient. But they don’t know exactly why she died. These rumors are spreader quickly and many people believed these rumors. It makes her death is more inpatient. I didn’t understand why people tell like that. It makes her family was angry. I think, if one of their families was dying, they can’t say like that. Anyway, these rumors have received an attention with this accident.
She was very good actress, I liked her very much. I think most Korea liked her, so, it has received a lot of attention in the media. And many people interest in this event, they wonder the exactly reason. This scandal has received attention for about one month. I am not interested in government so, I choose this event but Lee Eun-Joo’s death gave a strong shock to me.

Reporting the facts (summary)

2005-04-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

The thesis of “Reporting the facts” by South China Morning Post (1998) is don’t believe the stories that is all of in the media. News reporters are giving us incorrect information. Because they want a story to be more newsworthy and they don’t reaffirm it for correctness. They are giving us for example that Bob Hope. He is not die but media said he was died. Sometimes the media has confused with measurements and they didn’t occur at random. And they said, news stories are needed a check. But occasionally it leads to misquoting. This happens in broadcasting, too. Also, the Internet originates a lot of rumors or undemonstrated stories. For example, riots in Malaysia sparked fright that prompted people to stock up on food and lock themselves indoors.

The Internet in my Country

2005-04-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

In my country, South Korea, we have a lot of computer. All computers has Internet so, we don’t need to set up the Internet ourselves. Everybody has a computer and all the companies use the Internet. We use the Internet in education. The Internet is very valuable thing. But, the Internet isn’t always good for us. The people who don’t have a computer (or Internet) are feeling a sense of alienation because all people have a computer so, if you don’t have a computer you feel shame. Also, young people can find a bad homepage very easily. We should protect the children.
The Internet has a lot of affect in Korea. Many people want to learn the Internet. We have a lot of computer institutes, of course, they teach Internet. They teach that “How can we use Internet” or “How can we find a information easily.” There are a lot of people who go there regardless of sex or age. Furthermore we have a lot of Internet cafés. We call that PC room. There are a lot of computers and many people go there, then they play the computer games or find information. Sometime young people don’t want to go home after school they go to the PC room and take up their time. Usually we are paying $1 for an hour.
We use the Internet everywhere in Korea. First, we use the Internet in education. We use the Internet since elementary education. The teachers prepare the information from Internet because they have a computer each classroom. So, the teachers find information that use in class first time, they use that all time. The Internet has an important role in education. In addition, we can find a friend who we didn’t see for a long time. For example, “www. Cyworld.com” it’s very common homepage in Korea. Almost student use this site. A lot of people signed up and introduced themselves and found their friends, of course, me, too. I found my friends, so, we connected each other. We can be concerned with friends.
On the other hand, the Internet has bad influence on people. They want to have a something, which the other person has. I think it is Korea culture. They want to have a better computer than the other person. And if I don’t have a computer I feel shame. The computers are just option in our life. They are not necessary, just one of comfortable thing in our life. We should think about that. Also, in Korea, we have a lot of bad homepage. For example, we have a homepage that teach how kill to themselves easily. It is an illegal action but some people who want to die see this homepage. The government must protect to us from bad site.
The Internet has a lot of influence on our life. The Internet is an important thing in our life and we can’t imagine life without the Internet. We should use computers for advantage. We must think about children and ourselves first. Computers are invented continually and sometime computer will become better than people. So, we must go ahead of computers. No matter how correct a computer, it can’t better than human. We should remember the future.