Google VS China

For the past few months, Google has been threatening China that it would leave the market after being hit by a series of cyber attacks that were traced back to China. With evidence and proof, Google has decided that it would definitely leave the Chinese market. However, this time round, China has condemned the decision of lifting the censorship. On the other hand, there also reports stating that Google would be losing out if it pulls out from the Chinese market as China's internet search market is growing 40% annually. This implies that in this matter, it is not China that is losing out but Google. However, reports also have cited that with the pull out of Google from China, it would not affect the relationship of US and China, unless "politicised" by others.

The abovementioned summary of the article is a good example to illustrate computer mediated communication. In the case of cyber attacks, the computer has been used as a medium with its own netiqutte and hypertext. However, the culprits of the cyber attacks have misused the medium to their own advantage to cause such a trouble. This has resulted that such a influential organization to pull out from a fast-growing economy. Like what Fraser said, "Cyberspace is a unique equipment that affects not just how we communicate, but also what we communicate." Therefore, I hope that in future as netizen and cyberspace users would be mindful and considerate as to what we we say and do.

LINK: CHINA CONDEMNS DECISION BY GOOGLE TO LIFT CENSORSHIP

My Name Is Khan

MY NAME IS KHAN

To begin with, this movie review is not about an English movie, but a Hindi movie. In this movie, well-known celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Jimmy Shergill and Zarina Wahab. This movie is about how the name of a particular person could cause an impact to many people around him.

This is how the review goes:

Rizvan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), is a very simple Indian man who is living with Asperger's Syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder. Since as a young child, he was inculcated with the values that his mother (Zarina Wahab). However, on the other hand, Zakir Khan (Jimmy Shergill), who is Rizvan's younger brother feels neglected as the mother shows all the attention to his elder brother. Many years later, after Zakir has completed his studies, he migrates over to America to find a better life. He settles down there with a business and a good life partner, Hasina (Soniya Jehan).

Soon after the demise of the mother, Rizvan also moves over to America in support of his brother. He helps out with the sales of his younger brother's company products which are beauty products for women. During this period is when Rizvan meets the love of his life, Mandira (Kajol).

Mandira is a divorcee who lives with her son, Sameer (Yuvan Makar). In a short period of time, both Rizvan and Mandira get married and live happily in a small world that they created for themselves. In the meantime, of their neighhbours, Mark Garrick (Dominic Renda) dies while fighting the war against Iraq. On the other hand, being unable to accept the fact death, Mark's son, Reese (Kenton Duty) takes revenge on Sameer by not talking to him and saying that Muslims are the ultimate cause that his father passed away. When the two boys were fighting on the school field, a much older student interrupts and starts physically assaulting. That is when Sameer was knocked down by a football and eventually, died.

Mandira, was very lost with the sudden death of her son and starts blaming Rizvan for marrying her that caused the life of her son. During a conversation, she will ask him to meet the President of the United States of America to prove that he being a Muslim, he is not a terrorist.

Therefore, My Name Is Khan, is a story about how this young Muslim man goes around with very little money in hand to fight justice for the death of his step son. This is truly a touching story as it talks about a step father could fight so much for his step son and how love is blind in terms of race and religion. It also emphasises how the world should not discriminate or blame the Muslims for the terrorist events that are happening all around the world.

This movie actually links to how the mass media has influenced people about issues. Live coverages of wars and disasters, footages of people being brutally killed and videos of live fires have impacted people a lot. Furthermore, with the wars happening in the Middle East, it also gives people the impression that Muslims and terrorism have a very close connection. Once again, all these impressions that are generated are by the mass media itself. The mass media is a very powerful influence that people actually believe what they read, see and hear. However, the mass media does not have a particular stand as to what is wrong or right and the perspective the audience have to bear.

All in all, My Name Is Khan is a good story of the influence and domination of the mass media on people.

Tell Me Your Name

In life, we do meet a lot of people as we venture out to many places. These people as time passes by, we tend to forget them except for a few. Among these few people, some are remembered for who they are, some for their characteristics, actions and many other factors. However, there are many people around the world who would be remembered for their names.

In a recent survey conducted by a parenting company, it has released Britain's most embarrassing and bizarre names. The following are the names that were released in the survey and how some of them are closely linked to some common words that we frequently use:

• Barb Dwyer (barb wire)
• Hazel Nutt (hazel nut)
• Ray Gunn (ray gun)
• Helen Back
• Stan Still (stand still)
• Jo King (joking)
• Lee King (licking)
• Terry Bull (terrible)
• Mary Christmas (merry christmas)
• Max Power
• Paige Turner (page turner)
• Sonny Day (sunny day)
• Tim Burr (timber)
• Teresa Green
• Will Power
• Anna Sasin (an assassin)
• Chris Cross (criss cross)
• Doug Hole (dog hole)
• Justin Case (just in case)
• Barry Cade (barricade)

Personally, I feel sympathetic towards the people who are carrying the abovementioned them. In times, when they have to introduce themselves to someone or a crowd of people, they may face a lot of embarrassment and could also be poked fun at their names. However, the parents of these people might not have been aware that the names that they have given to their children would cause such a great impact in their lives.

Therefore, it is very important that parents be mindful when it comes to naming their kids. I must say that every parent would have the desire to name their kid with a name which they like or something that is unique. But they should also be careful that their short-term desire does not create a long-term destruction in their children's lives.

Even though, the above article may appear as amusing to many of us, I feel that this also talks about group communication. These people who share bizzare names could be considered a group. Everyone of them share the same feelings and needs. Each of the people who are in this group would be able to understand how it feels to have a bizzare name. When facing difficult situations as a group or an individual, this group would be supportive of its group members.

I, Barakathunnisa, might have a long name but definitely not a bizarre one.

ARTICLE: STAN STILL, GET A MOVE ON

3 youths arrested for facebook remarks

Facebook is a popular social networking site that is being used by millions of people all around the world. With it, people are not only able to keep in touch with their friends, but they could also set up interest groups, play games, tag photos, update status, share personal information with their friends, share links, upload videos, send virtual gifts and many others. In other words, it actually gives you the lee-way to do what you want.

Though it is a social networking site, some "black sheep" among the users have misused it for other purposes. And, I am talking about the recent case of three youths who were arrested for their Facebook remarks.

The Chinese youths aged between 17 and 18 posted racist remarks. They set up a interest group named after a derogatory term to describe the Indians. The trio were arrested on Sunday after a report was lodged on Saturday. They are out on bail now and investigations are going on.

Time and again, such cases have been happening. Even though, we may talk about freedom of speech and with the vast availability of internet, we can do it on a more extensive scale. There are many forums and social networking sites to discuss topics, ranging from micro-organisms to macro-economics. On such sites, people are also free to discuss and share their opinions about the topics. But at times, they do also put in crude and discriminating remarks.

Personally, I feel that this act by the trio portrays the immaturity and the lack of racial tolerance. Though, it may not have been done to steer up racial instability in the country but purely for joke, it is still unacceptable. We have to realize that living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society, we have to think before we say. Although certain things to us may be fine, but to some it may not. We also have to put ourselves in the shoes of our fellow people to know how they may feel if such remarks are made against them.

Therefore, it is important that parents at home and teachers in school do emphasize the importance of racial harmony in Singapore. Though the internet is a power tool, they should also remind that youths should not misuse it and educate them what consequences they may have to face if failed to do so.

All in all, be a wise citizen and netizen.

By coming across the above article, it reminds me of cognitive schmeta, which is the metal framework that we have developed over time. This applies very well to the teenage boys who have wrote such comments against the Indians. They could have encountered past experiences that could have casued them to write the deregatory comments. However, this does not mean I am supporting them in any manner. But it is typical of the human brain to come to a conclusion of something without looking at it through other perspectives. This is the mistake that the boys made. The boys also predicted future behavious and govern personal action and response based on their past and personal experiences. Therefore, it is important that teengaers should be careful in what they do or say on public forums and social networking sites so as to avoid getting into any form of trouble.

ARTICLE: THREE YOUTHS ARRESTED FOR FACEBOOK REMARKS

Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS), the integrated resorts (IR) to be located at Sentosa, had its first phase of opening up the attraction to the public last Wednesday. Four out of the six hotels to be located there, were opened. Reservations for the hotel rooms and amenities started on the previous week. The four hotels that have opened the door would be Crockfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel Singapore.

RWS, which was built by Malaysia's Genting Bhd for a cost of S$6.6 billion. The four hotels consist of 1,340 rooms with a 7,300 seat ballroom, whereby the first event will be held by the end of January 2010. The IR also consists of the Universal Studios Singapore which is built based on the movie themes, Shrek and Madagascar.

Along with RWS, around April, Singapore is also expecting the opening of the other IR located at the Marina Bay area, which is called the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resorts (MBSIR). MBSIR would focus more on the casinos, where the first ever in Singapore would be located there. Moreover, three tall buildings being the five-star hotels would be topped with a one-hectare big sky garden.

Since the plan of building IR in Singapore started in 2006, many people have given different views and opinions about it, with social and economical views being the most. Many have opposed to the idea, however, the government has taken full responsibility for this project. This has also initiated the establishment of the Casino Regulatory Authority and National Council for Problem Gambling. Such government bodies and step up boards helps to regulate rules and regulations in regards with gambling and also helps individuals with their gambling habits.

In my view, even though I do not agree with the idea of casinos in Singapore, I still think that by having such help provided to the people of Singapore, would create social responsibility and awareness among the people. Furthermore, the opening of the IRs has also been delaying since the last quarter of 2009. However, with the partial opening of RWS, I am sure that it would create an influx of tourist arrivals and boost the economy in the upcoming months. Once the casinos are also fully operational, its also expected to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by a percent. Such a move is also commendable with the nation's focus shifting from manufacturing to finance and tourism.

Personally, I am sharing a very pragmatic perspective in terms of criticism. Although, the government decided to have casinos in Singapore, I do not think that they have considered the cultural factors of the society. For example, in Singapore we have a large community of Malays and Muslims. In Islam, gambling is forbidden. However, with such an idea proposed, this is not helping in anyway to the Malay and Muslim community to discourage them from gambling. Even though, on one hand I disagree to the idea of casinos in Singapore in terms of religious perspective, on the other hand, I also support it in terms of economical perspective for the country.

ARTICLE: SINGAPORE'S FIRST CASINO-RESORT PARTIALLY OPENS