tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072600855621986182024-03-13T10:57:32.435-07:00A Study in EnglandArianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-58471841786357664482012-07-26T09:35:00.001-07:002012-07-26T09:35:47.329-07:00The Transatlantic Chocolate Crisis (Week 10)Chocolate.<br />
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Just one piece of chocolate and instantly time suspends chaos for a moment, the sun warms the soul, life's strifes allow a smile to peek through. "After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers."<br />
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What else is as perfect as chocolate? <span style="background-color: white;">I am not the least bit ashamed to admit I can be bought with chocolate, or that I can consume large and lavish quantities of that delicious goodness. </span><span style="background-color: white;">But this post is not about my love affair with chocolate. I do not have enough time for that. I am not even going to list all the wonderful chocolate shops around London. Instead, I am going to pose a simple question that came from a single chocolate experience.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Why is British chocolate so much better than American chocolate?</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFlC3ZL4jb4/UBFpsP9CqlI/AAAAAAAAAD8/pktaorGOg84/s1600/M%2526Ms.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFlC3ZL4jb4/UBFpsP9CqlI/AAAAAAAAAD8/pktaorGOg84/s320/M%2526Ms.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />While I was wandering around Soho the other day, I made a startling discovery–there is an entire store with <i>five </i>levels devoted to...M&Ms. I fell to my knees and wept. Though M&Ms are not my chocolate of choice, I do love them. Particularly the peanut butter ones (but peanut butter is not a UK commodity so there weren't any in the store :( ). There were, however, plain and peanut M&Ms in any color you could imagine, and a few of the canisters were filled with the rare star, crispy M&Ms. Anyway, some time later I emerged from this haven with a bag of plain M&Ms. What can I say, I was a child in a candy store. To revive myself from such an awe-inspiring experience, I ate a few. And then, surprised, I had to sample a few more. (Note: my definition of 'few' is probably not the accepted definition). The M&Ms were different. They tasted like...chocolate. Real, creamy milk chocolate instead of sugary confection with a stale chocolate taste. This phenomenon of quality chocolate extends to all chocolate: bars, twirls, buttons, nuts, etc.<br />
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So why? Why is even the cheap chocolate better here than in the US? Concerned, I began my research. Simply put, it all has to do with numbers. In the US, for something to be considered "chocolate," it must contain at least 12% cocoa solids with only cocoa butter and solids as the fat allowed. In the UK, that number is almost double-20%-with other fats, such as vegetable oil, allowed. Lower quantity cocoa, my friends, is the US's problem. Instead of filling up the chocolate with cocoa, the US uses sugar to mask the lack of cocoa solids. Also, the US uses the additive PGPR in place of cocoa butter due to expense. Brits, on the other hand, accept the expense and shorter shelf life (why does chocolate need a long shelf life anyway? It's not like it stays on the shelf for long) in return for better chocolate.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">In short, Brits take their chocolate more seriously. In US, chocolate bars are thought of as "candy," targeted towards children, and are therefore mostly sugar and preservatives. Chocolate bars are a sedative, a bribe. On the other side of the pond, the UK sees chocolate as a delight, a tradition, a sanctuary–an attitude reflected in the taste in my opinion. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">So go out, sample some chocolate, and tell me about the differences.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #664433; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-39195486258990875762012-06-22T14:32:00.001-07:002012-06-22T14:32:58.603-07:00Bring 'em down! (Week 7)In defense of...myself.<br />
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For those of you familiar with a recent post by Natalie Johansen, I am the reason for her proclamation defending those odious creatures. But let it be known I did NOT rejoice to see a dead pigeon. I merely stated I was sorry that I did not feel sorry for the death of the pigeon. Had it have been any other bird, I would have felt a pang of sorrow; I'm not completely cold-blooded. However....<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I confess. I hate pigeons.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Ew ew ew ew. I get disgusted thinking about them. In fact, "I'm going to be violently ill" (name that movie).</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfKmqDCmA-A/T-Td_K1Ro8I/AAAAAAAAADk/BnkfZ0w9W0k/s1600/feral+pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfKmqDCmA-A/T-Td_K1Ro8I/AAAAAAAAADk/BnkfZ0w9W0k/s200/feral+pigeon.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">Not all pigeons, just the ones people think of when they hear "pigeons." Specifically, I hate city (feral) pigeons. Misbegotten creatures of a city, pigeons are gray, oily products of humans. They exist primarily because humans exist, a product of our waste. A shameful existence. A debased life. They do not even follow the adage "survival of the fittest;" theirs is survival of ones who happen to be in the right place at the right time. Really, do pigeons even fly across cities? Probably not because they are fed right in their homes. Why bother with the traffic?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Now please know I am not advocating <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY">poisoning pigeons in the park</a>. It is just they are everywhere, infringing on my space. I will not feed them, but they still creep up begging for food. Look at one in the eye; they have red eyes. Devil eyes. If eyes are the windows to the soul, I think pigeons don't have one. Ok, a bit harsh. A pigeon is God's creature. But man corrupted it. </span><br />
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To me, a pigeon is a type of the follies of man. Aggressive, unwilling to share a crust of bread with a fellow bird. Lack of mercy, lack of respect. Show me a pigeon with humility, and I'll show you a man without an ulterior motive. A bit of an overgeneralization, but you get my point. Even the coloring is a symbol of the debasement of men. Pigeons are gray, dull like concrete. The feathers on their necks are the same as an oil spill on asphalt or trash in the corners after a dreary rain. Red eyes and red claws–they are the color of man at war with nature. <br />
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This is why I hate pigeons. They are a symbol of the weakness in humans.<br />
<br />Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-64441207668270217062012-06-22T13:55:00.000-07:002012-06-22T13:55:05.323-07:00A Modern Disappointment (Week 6)I feel like a traitor to my profession. Not to statisticians, but to being an art consumer. I did not enjoy the Tate Modern. No, that is not appropriately expressing my opinion. Not only did I dislike the Tate Modern, I left feeling upset, dirty, and slightly sick. Furthermore, I do not even want to go back to see the Munch exhibit (I love <i>The Scream </i>so this is saying something). It was the art that got to me.<br />
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Though I am not an art historian, a critic, or even an amateur artist, I appreciate art. I have taken so many art history classes and been inspired by many artists. And being a human, I can enjoy art for art's sake. I enjoy pretty scenes, thoughtful slogans, even political statements in art.<br />
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None of which you will find in modern "art". At least, you have to look hard, trudging through the sleaze.<br />
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Am I being too harsh? Just because "I don't get it" I say I hate modern art? That would not be fair, if it were true. I don't get some of it, but that is not why I don't like modern art. (Besides, "getting" the art is not always an uplifting experience.) Artists are a mirror of society; what they paint, why they create, reflects the mores and opinions of people. Society creates the atmosphere where artists learn. Look back on history and note the evolution of art.<br />
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Stone Age: <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Survival of the human race. The art focuses on fertility of the land and the race. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Cave art, Woman of Willendorf </span><br />
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Egyptian: <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Concern with status and afterlife</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Pyramids, Book of the Dead</span><br />
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Greek: <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Balance in everything. Perfection of the body</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Parthenon (the most visually correct building in the world), the Discobolus</span><br />
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Middle Ages: <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Church, religion is supreme </span><span style="background-color: white;">and man is nothing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> Notre Dame, buildings to commemorate God<br />
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Renaissance: <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> Humanism, rebirth of ideas in sciences, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> techniques, and religion</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Michelangelo, da Vinci </span><br />
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Baroque: Religious wars<br />
Rembrandt, Caravaggio<br />
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Romanticism: American and French Revolutions<br />
Turner, <i>Liberty Leading the People</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Impressionism: More revolutions, people getting restless with old art</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gHqE857kHY/T-TbHC-HUHI/AAAAAAAAADU/izaswy2IA-0/s1600/Pollock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gHqE857kHY/T-TbHC-HUHI/AAAAAAAAADU/izaswy2IA-0/s200/Pollock.jpg" width="200" /></a> Monet, Pissarro<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Cubism, Futurism: WWI, Russian Revolution</span><br />
Picasso, Leger<br />
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Surrealism: Great Depression, WWII<br />
Dali, Duchamp<br />
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Pop art: Cold War, revolts<br />
Warhol, Pollock<br />
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Yes, I skipped a few art movements, but you can see the trend and correlation between society and art. So what is today's world focusing on? Throughout the last few decades, people have been growing more and more secular and apathetic about everything else. Think about it: in "civilized" countries like the US and UK, people are focused on other people (how much time did you waste on Facebook today?), anything to get them from taking responsibility for their own lives, anything to stop them from looking beyond the surface, the constructed front everyone has. Days have become routine, and to break the routine, people do the same thing (usually involving getting drunk or spending money on clothes or vacations or glossy magazines). They work, they spend the money, and they waste time, just waiting for...something. Self-reflection is a fad, religion is a joke, and living for and in the moment is void. And the trend of dissociating oneself from life and reality is growing ever stronger. People are growing lazy; if they want something, they want it now, a quick fix, the snap answer.<br />
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Modern art reflects this disease of apathy for reflection, dissociation from reality, and need for instant gratification. Modern artists aren't interested in developing technique, patience, or thought. They are going for the shock value. Pornographic, bizarre, and just plain disturbing–that is what is seen as art now. It is almost a challenge from the artists; this is art, can't you see? If not, you must be a closed-minded freak.<br />
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Looking at some of the pieces in the Tate I could not tell what the artist was thinking or trying to convey. All I got was the artist must have been bored or psycho. The art was not for a cause, none that I could see anyway.<br />
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So, is this art? What constitutes art?<br />
<br />Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-43091118112986823402012-06-11T12:32:00.000-07:002012-06-13T10:51:12.660-07:00Gonna Go Down the River Once More (Week 5)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The time shall come, when, free as seas or wind,</div>
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Unbounded <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Thames</span> shall flow for all mankind,</div>
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Whole nations enter with each swelling tide,</div>
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And <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">seas</span> but join the regions they divide;</div>
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Earth's distant ends our <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">glory</span> shall behold,</div>
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And the new world launch to seek the <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">old</span>.</div>
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–Alexander Pope</div>
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One of my favorite parts of London is the Thames. Though it pains me not to be able to jump in (I sometimes have these urges to play in any body of water), I love just walking down on the Thames path right next the banks. It even has tides; I dare you to name one river in Utah with tides. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XV4cJQGXhXM/T9XMLoTOsZI/AAAAAAAAACE/a2OxTfpNpk4/s1600/Thames+at+Sunset.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XV4cJQGXhXM/T9XMLoTOsZI/AAAAAAAAACE/a2OxTfpNpk4/s320/Thames+at+Sunset.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not only physically central in London, the River Thames is central in London culture and history. In short, the river embodies London. At least, it embodies my perception of London. First of all, it is flithy and disgusting. Like the city, the river is completely polluted. But one usually does not dwell on that fact. The pollution in the city is overlooked for the more impressive sights of ancient cathedrals and churches welded together with modern apartments and offices. Likewise, the river's pollution is (typically) unnoticed as one sees famous landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, or the Tower of London abutting the banks. And the bridges! One should be willing indeed to forget the muddy waters for the engineering of the bridges from the Tower Bridge to the Millenium Footbridge.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_2LEOZPze0/T9ZCrm8eqkI/AAAAAAAAAC0/JB2Jffc01Q0/s1600/Thames+at+night.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_2LEOZPze0/T9ZCrm8eqkI/AAAAAAAAAC0/JB2Jffc01Q0/s320/Thames+at+night.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Besides walking up and down and over the Thames, my favorite part of the river is how it looks at night. The River Thames, an eerie cold gray in the perpetual rain transformed to a glittering mirror of the lights at night. The new imposes itself on the old. As the lights swim across the inky black, from bank to bank, the harshness of the concrete city is blurred. For a moment, London is only light and air with the clamour tucked under the bridges binding the river. If you have not seen the River Thames at night, you are neglecting an entire facet of London. Yes, the footpath winds in and out of various restaurants which may get a little wild on Friday nights. But seeing the lights on the water cumulates the London experience. It is modern and classic, barely growing and ancient. Here you have a river that stalled Julius Caesar, that allowed the Vikings to penetrate Celtic tribes, decorated with engineered starlights of a modern civilization. It shows the city trying to contain nature but nature still managing to creep out of its bars. </div>
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Recently, I had yet another experience on the Thames. John Burns, a member of parliament representing Battersea, claimed that "The Thames is liquid history." And that's exactly what I saw. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Flotilla floated down the Thames, mimicking the flotilla of the Queen's coronation. History right there. Unfortunately, I only saw glimpses of that history being made. Mostly, I just saw the backs of heads and glares when I tried to get closer to the bank. We got there early; well, what I thought of as early. Though we two and a half hours early, we were essentially too late to get a comfortable spot. We were approximately five or six rows of people back, but given that the Thames was not at the end of those people, there was not much to see. I got a sore calf from standing on my tippy-toes and a couple of rather blurry photos (that one isn't mine), but I was there.<br />
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In short, the River Thames does not merely snake through London; it is London. History is made on the river, culture is displayed, and the ambience of London is personified.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-71572521342341636372012-06-01T07:14:00.000-07:002012-06-01T07:14:05.787-07:00Keep Calm and Pick Your Poison (Week 4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08dh-RcUofg/T7zZZOeFtxI/AAAAAAAAABM/va2ch9EnRvc/s1600/Scan-of-original-poster-1939-300px.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08dh-RcUofg/T7zZZOeFtxI/AAAAAAAAABM/va2ch9EnRvc/s320/Scan-of-original-poster-1939-300px.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div>
Of all the exported brilliancy of British culture, the motto to "Keep Calm and Carry On" is most likely one of the most famous. More common than humbugs, more quoted and parodied than the Queen, and more far reaching than high tea, this wartime slogan is British culture in more than one way.<br />
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First of all, KCCO was designed during a critical time period in England, a time of lasting influence. Created at the beginning of WWII, KCCO was part of a three-poster to strengthen morale in case of war. Though not widely distributed during the war, its association with WWII made it an icon. While it is certain that World War II is a scar for every country, for Great Britain, it was a defining and intense development of its culture. During the Blitz, Britain stood alone in Europe with no certain survival, and its people hoped and believed, defying the bombs and doom. Today, the shrapnel shards still pepper buildings and roads all around London as a reminder. The holes could be filled, but instead they remain as part of the culture. So it is not really a surprise that when the KCCO slogan was rediscovered in 2000, it became an instant British icon.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm4Z6FE7SV0/T8ib4LFPmDI/AAAAAAAAABk/nEALDPjIovs/s1600/calmchocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm4Z6FE7SV0/T8ib4LFPmDI/AAAAAAAAABk/nEALDPjIovs/s320/calmchocolate.jpg" width="224" /></a>Another way KCCO is British culture is the way it completely sums up British outlook. Basically, mind your own business, do not get over excited, and keep going. That's not to say no one in England gets upset or angry because they all do (some rather publicly too). But it seems to be frowned upon, this display of emotions. When someone is arguing, others around either push their noses further into a book, walk away with a remembered errand, or otherwise try to make themselves as tinny as possible. In short, they avoid the display, refusing to take part or worse, take a stand. Another example–on Wednesday after a long work day (at least it was for me), some man missed his bus. There was another one coming...in ten minutes. Oh the horror. He let forth a slew of choice words, albeit words I would not have said. Everyone else around was waiting for the same bus, in the same situation as the swearing man. But no one commiserated with him–they kept calm and carried on with their business, namely ignoring the anger. On the tube, people do not raise their voices or even their eyes. They just carry on with staring into space, tactfully keeping calm and ignoring everyone else.<br />
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While my observations are generalization, they hold for a majority of the English a majority of the time. Yes, there are demonstrations and marches and even riots, but compared to other countries, they are mild and relatively tame. People march by, but others not actually in the demonstration advert their eyes, change their path, or passively watch the participators go by. Things typically do not get out of hand because the English take events in their strides, carrying on with their duties.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-51138219152284887772012-05-29T05:25:00.001-07:002012-05-29T05:25:02.880-07:00Watch: the Fabulous and the Functional (Week 3)I love watches. Classic elegant, neon green rubber, suave leather, blingy gold, snap-on pink – so many options, it's just so exciting. As a fashion-forward child, I always wanted a watch (because I would go through them pretty quickly; don't ask how). Unfortunately, I never needed a watch. No one really does. In elementary school, I couldn't tell time anyway. Junior high and high school were dominated by bells telling people when to leave and come, and every classroom and hall way had at least one clock. Besides, around the time of high school, everyone had cell phones for the time. Watches were basically obsolete, functionally; they became merely a fashion accessory.<br />
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Ever since I got a cell phone, I stopped wearing my watch. Occasionally I'd wear one if I had an important test in an unfamiliar building or if I wanted to look more professional for a presentation. But most of the time, there was no need for it.<br />
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In London, there is a need for knowing the time all the time. I've worn my watch almost every day since I got here. And I'm not the only one. Places are pretty stingy with clocks, and phones have gotten so big they have to go in a purse or large pocket. Because it is so important to have the time right then, it is very difficult to dive into a purse, conduct a search for a phone, and emerge triumphant. It is much easy to wear a watch. <br />
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Before, I thought I was fairly monochronic with my time. I don't like to be late, and I follow schedules pretty well. In fact, it drives me nearly bonkers when someone flakes on me or fails to have a concrete plan. But I am nothing compared to the giant system of London. It runs on schedules and precise planning. London is Time, a giant clock commanding everyone's life.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJWmNnWfjkk/T8S-RA-24DI/AAAAAAAAABY/SBWVLCYT4EY/s1600/tube.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJWmNnWfjkk/T8S-RA-24DI/AAAAAAAAABY/SBWVLCYT4EY/s320/tube.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
A main cause of London's monochronic personality is the public transport. Usually, I'm not too bothered by waiting for the Tube or a bus because there is nowhere I <i>have </i>to be at a particular time. However, my Wednesday trips to Southampton are proving to be intensely involved. I have to be at Clapham Junction at a particular time to catch the train. To get to Clapham Junction, I have to switch from the District line to the Overground. Each change has to be calculated so I will have enough time to catch the right train. If I'm late, I miss the train, and I have to wait and wait forever until there is another one. If I'm early, I have to wait some more.<br />
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Because trains are supreme, people wait. Because everyone needs to be somewhere at a specific time, people wait. Because being late is frown on, people wait. The monochronic atmosphere in London forces a Molbius strip: monochronic system gives value to time which the inhabitants waste waiting for the monochronic system. Like time, this dilemma will not end. <br />
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<br />Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-20873741465589333402012-05-22T10:37:00.000-07:002012-05-22T10:37:28.757-07:00Fight fight fight! (Week 2)On my way home from school today, I saw something frightening–a fight almost broke out on the tube. Yes, Londoners were actually snapping at each other and being very rude. More specifically, a business man (in a tailored suit–need I say more) was arguing with a tube worker A perfect storm of a long day and tired people, the antsy disagreement crescendoed into fifteen to twenty minutes of waiting for the tube to continue on its way. (Note to future self: don't argue against the man with the power to hold the train; you can't win.)<br />
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It was about seven, the end of a long work day. And a Wednesday no less. The tube, like usual at rush hour, was pretty crowded. Because we were at Clapham Junction (the end of the line), hordes of people were waiting while everyone got off. Naturally, it took a while to unboard and reboard. When everyone was getting on, somehow the door kept closing. There are a thousand of reasonable explanations as to why. Well, at least two: it just does that or someone kept knocking the close open accidentally. But some tired P.U.S (poor unfortunate soul) was convinced it was the station worker purposefully closing the door on him. I guess when P.U.S gets tired, his mind doesn't make very logical conclusions. Then again, maybe he actually does believe the world revolves around him and his suit.<br />
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Whatever the reason, his mind or his suit, the P.U.S stood there, hating the tube. While he never raised his voice, the P.U.S kept arguing with the man with the power–the tube worker. "You're abusive, that's what," said the P.U.S, repeatedly. I couldn't actually hear what the worker said ever, but I gathered that he wanted the P.U.S to step off the train to deal with the situation. Of course, however, the P.U.S had other ideas, namely he wanted to go home. Unfortunately, so did everyone else except the worker, who held the train. For twenty odd minutes. Waiting the the P.U.S.<br />
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Later, once we were out of the line of fire, I started to think about the clash of personalities. In the US, I don't think the people in the compartment would have been so quiet. During the incident, there was one man who would periodically yell for the P.U.S to quit arguing, and one mother with an autistic child who was worrying (and the child who was...getting anxious). Oh, and one other man who was trying to smooth out the situation. Everyone else was either silent or having a very quiet conversation with one other person. In the US, this probably would have been upgraded to calling the police to subdue the train because everyone would want to have his opinion known. As it was in London, I think people were super annoyed with P.U.S (at least, I was), and I think they were surprised at the argument and didn't know exactly how to handle it. So, being English, most minded their own business.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-71258745931690256742012-05-16T13:05:00.000-07:002012-05-16T13:05:06.097-07:00Journey to Southampton (Week 1)I always thought how quaint the Tube stations' names are: Parsons Green, Picadilly, Oxford Circus, Clapham Junction. They just sound so innocent and utterly English, like you can just stroll through the station with your umbrella tapping out a melody on the ground. Not true. Usually, that same umbrella is sopping wet. The stroll is in fact a mad dash from station to station, desperately ducking out of the mass of suits' way. Case in point: Clapham Junction. I supposed I assumed it was a junction of old lanes with a history of being where Queen Victoria would walk with her husband or where Cynthia caught the London Coach. I never thought of the vast network of rail work, hordes of uptight businessmen, and the stench of stale coffee. There were 18 platforms. 18! It was a stressful maze. But we managed to catch the right train (to Woking, as it happened). I truly felt British when we successfully transformed to another train to Southampton to meet with the dreaded Dr. Woods.<br />
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As it turns out (as things like this usually do), Dr. Woods doesn't actually bite. Or snarl or glare. He did sort of bounce off the walls a bit, but he was willing to sit still long enough to actually have a conversation with me. He was interested in my project, and worked with me on it by asking me questions while helping me answer the tricky ones. It was interesting–he was clearly the more intelligent one, but I was still in charge of my project. A good start for my statistics.<br />
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One odd note: Brits have a strange obsession with shut doors. The math building I was in was small (tall, but narrow) but each floor had at least four sets of doors for halls and staircases, and all the office and classroom doors were closed, making the halls very dark and claustrophobic. Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-14219986651967842272012-04-09T10:23:00.000-07:002012-04-09T10:23:10.264-07:00Cultural Immersion (LJ 4/9)As this is my last learning journal for the semester, I want this to be a fun one to write. One of my concerns (from a bit of list) about my field study is spending too much time chained to my computer. Or even being inside too much. It's England! I need to immerse myself in the culture--otherwise there is no point in my going. In order to get myself out of the stat lab and away from my computer, the following is a list of things I need to do to get myself into the culture. (Having a list will motivate me a little more to get out and about.)<br />
<ol>
<li>British Museum. I still have not seen the Lindow bog man. Poor Pete was on loan last time I was in London, so I was unable to meet him. And three years later, I am still disappointed. </li>
<li>National Gallery. I'm a bit of an art history fanatic.</li>
<li>St. Martin in the Fields. Free piano recitals, but not of third graders who never practice. </li>
<li>Borough Market. Food. Enough said.</li>
<li>Queen's way. Kebabs, waffles, and a high concentration of cigarette smoke--c'est la vie!</li>
<li>Gardens</li>
<li>Science Museum. I'm a mathematician, k? </li>
<li>Bridge Walk. This was my favorite thing to do during my study abroad. There would be a group of us who would walk along the Thames from the Center to the Tower Bridge at night. </li>
<li>Tube at rush hour. I'll just make sure I leave valuables at home that day.</li>
<li>White Cliffs of Dover</li>
<li>Theatre, anyone?</li>
<li>Pub crawl, just without the alcohol. </li>
<li>Biking through London.</li>
<li>V & A. I only spent probably 45 minutes here last time. For shame.</li>
<li>Area around the V&A. I never managed to explore that area of town.</li>
</ol>
This is just a sample of activities to do to get involved in London's culture. There will be need to be another similar list for Southampton, but one thing at a time, love.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-31045309031169692302012-04-05T13:20:00.000-07:002012-04-05T13:20:11.571-07:00You can't do a study abroad for statistics! (LJ 4/6)Yep. That's what my professor told me today in my Modern Regression method class. He was bemoaning the fact that there are no field trips we as stats students could take. There was just no point. Statistics is the same around the world.<br />
<br />
"I attended a meeting," he said, "about teaching for a study abroad. But statistics? The people were so patient and long suffering.<br />
'You need to teach something in the country.'<br />
And I said, ok...I'll be in the country.<br />
'No, teach something related to the country like Victorian literature or Shakespeare.'<br />
Ok, I can teach Shakespeare...I won't be amazing at it though.<br />
'Not literature. Something related to statistics.'<br />
Shakespearean statistics? You can't do a study abroad for statistics!"<br />
<br />
This was when I pointed out that I was in fact doing a study abroad. In England. Studying statistics. "So what...you'll visit Bayes' grave? Fisher's house?" Lots of incredulous laughter.<br />
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I'll be the first to admit, there is no need to studying statistics in a foreign country. You can <i>use</i> statistics in a study abroad (i.e. carbon dating artifacts in Rome, analyzing a survey in Finland, setting up an experiment about mother education in Mexico), but you do not need to study statistics in another country. That is not to say you can't; it just isn't vital. A mean is a mean is a mean, regardless of where you are.<br />
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So...why is a field study a good match for me to study statistics? It has been a struggle for me to justify it. I will not gain anything by "visiting the grave" of a statistician, even a famous, significant one. In my field study proposal, there hardest part is answering "How will you benefit at this point from a program aimed at cultural immersion and understanding?" and "Is the proposed experience relevant to the program location?"<br />
<br />
Therefore, the justification for my field study does not come from the statistics; it comes from the personal experiences I will gain. As a statistician, it is necessary to be able to discuss and brainstorm with others from different backgrounds. Other perspectives lead to different approaches, analysis, and hence results. For example, in fitting even simple data, there are over ten different approaches to fit a line. And in those ten approaches, there are countless ways to apply them (cleaning data differently, having different cut-off values or significance rates, or even using different software). It is then necessary to collaborate with others to compare methods in order to be complete and more accurate in the final results. On my field study, I will be learning how to work with people of a different background. Currently, the only experience I have with collaborating is with my fellow graduate students and my professors--all Mormons, mostly from Utah. Even when I worked with the VA, the project manager was a Mormon, and my partner was my office mate.<br />
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In addition to needing to work with a British statistician, I need to be in England. Well...'need' is a strong word. But it would be beneficial for me to be in England because it will get me out of my comfort zone (by a ways) and force me to work with people I have never met before; good preparation for my real life that starts when I graduate.<br />
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<br />Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-49989914574721452012-04-03T21:07:00.001-07:002012-04-03T21:07:24.108-07:00Doctors in the House (LJ 4/4)So, I apparently have an obsession with British doctors. First there was Doctor Who, and now there is Doc Martin. My dad recommended that I watch Doc Martin when I was on my hiatus from Doctor Who. Doc Martin is about a high-powered, brillant London surgeon who inconveniently develops a fear of blood at the height of his career. Forced to step down, Dr. Martin Ellingham becomes a GP in a small village in Cornwall. In the series, Doc Martin and the villagers are consistently at odds with each other as they are forced to interact with each other. <br />
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Don't worry; there is a point to this learning journal. In all of the episodes I have watched, there have been perfect vignettes illustrating several phenomena noticed by Kate Fox in <i>Watching the English</i>. For example, when Martin is first setting up his surgery, all of his "patients" come by just to talk about the weather, which of course infuriates Martin who is all about efficiency, not chitchat. The "Importance of Not Being Earnest" is clearly shown in the humor of the show.<br />
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It has been helpful to actually see the "English" in their natural habitat rather than just reading about it. Not only is it easier to see the bits of culture come to light, but also I can notice the response from all the participants involved in the situations so I can learn what to do and what not to do. It gives me something more concrete to emulate. And what words are insults and should <i>not </i>be repeated.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-20153238302160013332012-04-02T10:58:00.001-07:002012-04-02T10:58:35.646-07:00Depressing Culture Shock (LJ 4/2)The premise of my learning journal today is from reading "Coping with Culture Shock." First of all, did anyone else notice that the list of culture shock symptoms was basically a list of depression symptoms?<br />
Boredom, withdrawal, need for excessive amounts of sleep, compulsive eating/drinking, loss of confidence, and fear of the worst happening: manic depression disorder in the making. Even the "treatments" for culture shock follow the guidelines for preventing depression (my dad's a psychiatrist so that's where I know these things). For example, "learn to live with ambiguity", "make a conscious effort to be empathetic", and "learn how best to manage stress" most certainly are part of a treatment program. So I am not sure why there needs to be a separate title for culture shock; just label it an on-set of (mild) depression. I realize that culture shock and depression are not identical. It was just interesting to note how similar parts of them are.<br />
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Given the similarities, I am going to suggest more ways in which to prevent or alleviate culture shock besides the obvious "preparation" the article gave. First, exercise as soon as you arrive. Not only does physical activity stave off jetlag, but it allows you to get into a routine quickly as well as increase your endorphins. Second, get sun. In the article, this would fall under the "familiarizing" oneself with surroundings and basic life skills. Get outside, be adventurous, but don't forget a map. Lastly, socialize. With depression, this entails connecting with family and old friends, but in context of a field study, this means getting to know your host family.<br />
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I am planning of having a horribly rough first few weeks of my field study. But having already accepted this and implementing the above "treatments," I should be able to make it through the rough parts and then being able to enjoy the rest.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-14288430583871636682012-04-01T20:23:00.002-07:002012-04-01T20:26:34.594-07:00Source (4/2) Last one!!Schoemaker, Paul. "6 Habits of True Strategic Thinkers." <i>The Strategic Decision. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In my project, I will essentially be the boss. At least of myself. Even when I am collaborating with Dr. Woods, I do not want to appear incompetent, lazy, or stupid. I want to showcase my work. This article lists a few points to ensure I can lead myself and propel my research and project forward. First, anticipate. The article meant anticipate the future of a company, but in my case, I need to anticipate future problems of my research, questions from other colleagues, and holdups. Second, think critically. "Critical thinkers question everything." This is definitely a skill I need to work on. Next, interpret. This is particularly helpful in my project. I need to make sure I understand what the idea is behind statistics before I can push forward. By interpreting and repeating what I think is going on will help make sure I am not wasting time down a wrong road. The next item is decide. "Leave perfection to higher powers." Finally, learn It doesn't matter if I occasionally ask a stupid question as long as I am continuing to learn.</span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-3462613707483714852012-03-30T10:15:00.000-07:002012-03-30T10:15:42.325-07:00Source (3/30)Busby, Daniel. "Hierarchical adaptive experimental design for Gaussian process emulators." <i>Reliability Engineering and System Safety. </i>94 (2009): 1183-1193. Electronic.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Researching computer simulations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Computer models, denoted as simulators, are used to predict the behavior of complex physical systems." However, the more complex the situation, the longer the simulations take. Using Bayesian statistics, there are algorithms to predict the "best" area to sample or simulate to allow for the most useful collection of data points. This paper proposed an new design called hierarchical adaptive design that uses the least possible number of simulations. The most useful part of this article is the structure. Basically, this will be the structure of what my thinking should be. </span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-7733522635308128402012-03-28T11:02:00.000-07:002012-03-28T11:02:25.611-07:00Doctor Who? No, Doctor Who!!! (LJ 3/28)This is a response to Kayla's recent post about Doctor Who. And yes, you <i>have </i>to watch it, for research purposes.<br />
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I also ran across a few articles about Doctor Who while reading through the newspaper, gleaning culture bits. But unlike Kayla, I have been...obsessed...with Doctor Who since last summer. Here's how it happen: I was in Boston on an internship in an apartment without air conditioning during Boston's one heat wave. As I am a Utahan through and through, the humidity almost killed me. I couldn't run, or even go outside because that entailed moving. So I laid on my bed, sweated, and watched Doctor Who because that was all I could get on my laptop. I've been in love ever since then with the Doctor and the show.<br />
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Doctor Who is British culture. Unlike US shows, it is clever and funny. The characters are not the perfect models you always see on TV here. I think especially telling are the Doctor's companions. They are pretty, of course, but not stick thin and not always blond. They actually look like real people. In general, the characters aren't glorified and glamorized; they are someone you could learn Englishness from.<br />
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Watching Doctor Who is a great preparation for the field study. Truly. Now, I know exactly how to react when Big Ben is destroyed by aliens. Actually, it typifies English reactions (just don't react) and their relationships with each other (don't ever verbalize anything and always underrepresent what you think).<br />
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Only a week and a half until the end of Lent--then I can go back to watching Doctor Who.<br />
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<br />Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-72056111895164960812012-03-28T10:21:00.000-07:002012-03-28T10:21:06.506-07:00Source (3/28)Perez, Victor M, John E. Renaud, and Layne T. Watson. "Adaptive Experimental Design for Construction of Response Surface Approximations." Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at University of Notre Dame and Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This article shows an application of adaptive experimental design, allowing me to grasp a better, more concrete idea of the theory. That way I can understand how the theory works and what needs to be done for my project. </span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-5083801644736758182012-03-26T09:52:00.001-07:002012-03-26T09:52:03.047-07:00End of the World (LJ 3/26)...aka the end of the semester. Occasionally I get into a rut, thinking the semester will last forever. And I start to slack off, reasoning I have plenty of time to write that paper, study for that last midterm, finish (or start) my projects. Then I see a calendar and realize that we only have two and a half weeks left! Panic mode. While I just want to be done, there is so MUCH to be done that it is frightening. A lot of it has to do with England. Not only is the proposal coming along sluggishly, but I am leaving for another country in about a month. What is worse is if I fail my comps next month. Then my entire field study is a sham, a waste of time. <div>
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Deep breath.</div>
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After breathing for awhile, I realized I'm going to England, not the Kalahari. Yes, culture and people and studying will be different, but manageablely so. Reading Fox is useful and helpful. Not useful in that I'm going to memorize what specific word I am supposed to use to be viewed as a high class citizen, but useful as a small insight to what I should expect. I am not going to stress out about "supper" or "dinner," but it is an interesting insight into class culture, something I want to observe for myself. </div>
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<br /></div>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-26923652952834257102012-03-26T08:59:00.000-07:002012-03-26T08:59:45.826-07:00Source (3/26)Sharma, Gaurav, Terje Haukaas, Robert Hall, and Suraj Priyadarshini. "Bayesian statistics and production reliability assessments for mining operations." <i>International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment. </i>23.3 (2009): 180-205. Electronic.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Adaptive experimental design depends on Bayesian statistics, so this article was helpful in learning how to apply Bayesian statistics in novel situations. To decide how to change the trial in an adaptive design, researchers need to use data mining as a way see what is applicable. The "</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">utilisation of Bayesian inference facilitates the inclusion of data –</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and subsequent updating of the production probabilities – as more data become </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">available."</span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-690613125648387622012-03-22T19:37:00.000-07:002012-03-22T19:37:17.723-07:00Source (3/23)Dr. Peter Muller from the Department of Mathematics at the University of Texas. "A Bayes Rule for Subgroup Reporting."<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dr. Muller was the speaker at this week's seminar. And his entire talk was on the background to my project. In the presentation, Dr. Muller addresses various problems associated with design analysis and how using a Bayesian framework can help alleviate some of this problems. Subgroups can be picked up in a trial and then, using that preliminary information, determine to push the trial in a different way. In other words, using Bayesian statistics, researchers can change a trial in mid-operation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As I am still trying to understand what my project will be, this talk was helpful, enabling me to sort through terminology and convoluted wording. I got a better grasp at my problem through this talk.</span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-55994965193317564292012-03-21T11:38:00.001-07:002012-03-22T12:46:18.295-07:00The Guardian (LJ 3/21)<span style="background-color: #783f04;">As I won't be in class today, I felt like I at least needed write about the newspaper assignment, focusing primarily on film, photography, and religion. Unfortunately, these typically aren't the sections I read in a US newspaper, so it was difficult (but not impossible) to distinguish the "Englishness" and the differences from American culture. But here are the most interesting headlines and blurbs.</span><br />
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<h1 style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(214, 29, 0); border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: rgb(214, 29, 0); border-right-color: rgb(214, 29, 0); border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 2.166em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.154; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 460px;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">
Pro-choice supporters plan first ever protest against anti-abortion activists</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Counter-demonstration to be held at British Pregnancy Advisory Service clinic in London targeted by religious groups</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">"In America women are routinely harassed and abused outside clinics and abortion providers fear for their lives. Now US anti-choice groups are setting up shop over here.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">'We need to send a very clear message that we will not tolerate that sort of activity in the UK.'"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Obviously, if this is the <i>first ever</i> protest, the UK does things differently. Not only are protests accepted in the US, they are expected. True, violence isn't condone per se, but it is fairly typical especially with such a divided issue. But in the UK, it isn't tolerated; you should just keep your opinions to yourself.</span><br />
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Church warns against Sunday trading laws being relaxed by the back door</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">
Church leaders fear that Sunday trading laws could be permanently scrapped by the back door, following an “emergency” suspension for the Olympics</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">I think this is not even an issue in the US. Utah maybe, but not the US. This article shows the importance of tradition in the UK. And even religion. I think that in the US we are so concerned about separating church and state we wouldn't even have this article or concern. </span></div>
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Beatles' Yellow Submarine relaunches</span></h1>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlMc0PQ1bQ8/T2oSQSkBo8I/AAAAAAAAAA8/x2EzixHfUkk/s1600/beatles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: black;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlMc0PQ1bQ8/T2oSQSkBo8I/AAAAAAAAAA8/x2EzixHfUkk/s320/beatles.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #783f04;">Apple has digitally remastered the 1968 film, which was out of print for years, and are planning the full reissue treatment</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">It's the Beatles. Is there anything more British? And yes, that is the photograph included for the promotion. In the US, I think an actual picture of the Beatles would have been included, not pop art.</span><br />
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Harry Potter star jailed for two years for violent disorder during London riots</span></h1>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuVolJzC--g/T2oV5odg6GI/AAAAAAAAABE/CQOHGw2JTRg/s1600/crabbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: black;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuVolJzC--g/T2oV5odg6GI/AAAAAAAAABE/CQOHGw2JTRg/s200/crabbe.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #783f04;">Jamie Waylett, who played Hogwarts bully Vincent Crabbe, also admitted swigging from a stolen bottle of champagne</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Compare this photo and headline to the recent one on both msn and yahoo of Clooney being arrested --for crossing a police line. With Clooney, there was a picture of him actually being arrested. Here, there is only a tiny photo to id him, mostly. And the headline is hardly sensational for poor Crabbe. "Swigging from...champagne"--hardly detrimental by Hollywood standards. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">In searching for a typical photo, I realized nudity is not much of a problem. Sensual, blatant, or even mundane, it seems to be more integrated in the culture so it is not as much of a problem. Maybe? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Aside from that, the "typical" photo in the Guardian simply did not have the same amount of raw emotion. For example, the following photographs are about the same story: the Toulouse Jewish school shooting. Both show grieving females, but there is a difference in the emotion and privacy of the subjects.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">The first photograph is from the UK Guardian. You can tell she is upset, but there isn't a full face shot of her tears and pain. If you were to met her in the street, you probably would not be able to point her out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #783f04;">However, the second photograph gives a close up of two women, both clearly distraught. But the photo is close up enough that you can see her tears, her scrunched up face, and her red eyes. There is not really an attempt at privacy or discretion. This photos represents the differences in privacy and public emotions in the US and UK.</span><br />
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</div>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-43151689238451200772012-03-20T21:15:00.001-07:002012-03-20T21:15:26.600-07:00Source (3/21)Collett, David. <u>Modelling Survival Data in Medical Research.</u> London: Chapman and Hall/CRC. 2003. Print.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This book provides an introduction to survival analysis and experimental design. In order to be able to apply certain statistical principles, the experiment must be set up in particular ways. This provides a succinct introduction to experimental design, giving me a foundation so I can understand how adaptive design differs and what assumptions are different.</span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-4997249885391682952012-03-19T12:55:00.001-07:002012-03-19T12:55:53.197-07:00Source (3/19)Paninski, Liam. "Efficient adaptive experimental design." <i>Department of Statistics and Center for Theoretical Neuroscience</i>. Columbia University. March 12, 2009.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Some of the benefits of using adaptive experimental design includes "avoiding the curse of insufficient data," improving nonparametric estimators for the function, and selecting stimuli (under a neuroscience approach) more efficiently. The rest of the article outlines one way to implement an adaptive experimental design for a neuroscience project. Though the topic is not applicable to my project, the practical implementation was helpful. The article helped me see how the theory can be applied in various fields.</span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-56896194235194433362012-03-16T09:44:00.002-07:002012-03-16T09:46:05.777-07:00IRB drafts (LJ 3/16)Last night as I was reading over the IRB drafts for the mock IRB, I realized the importance of reviewing anything written before you turn it in. One draft I read logically was consistent, and the project seemed cohesive. But the only thing I could focus on was the sloppiness of the proposal. Comma splices, incomplete sentences, strange capitalizations, misused words (like fare instead of fair), and misspellings in general. I know this is a draft with probably a lot of cut-and-pasting going on, but even so, it seemed as though the writer did not care about the project. In turn, I as the "reviewer"did not care about the project. If the writing is sloppy, I assumed the project was as well. It does not matter if the idea is sound; the communication of that idea needs to be flawless.<br />
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As I am working on my own IRB draft and the field study proposal, I need to be careful that my writing and the product of all my work is clean and professional to give an appropriate impression to the "higher powers that may be." Oftentimes, it is just the product of the work (a paper, a presentation, etc.) that gets noticed. Sometimes, I just get sick of the project, and the end work is a little messier than it should be. But it doesn't matter about all the work that went into the project; if the final product is lacking, that it was is reflected on me.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-25287930637019153512012-03-14T10:20:00.000-07:002012-03-14T10:20:35.403-07:00Charming the Gatekeeper (LJ 3/14)According to Neuman in "Choosing a Site and Gaining Access," it is "ethically and politically astute to call on gatekeepers." For a field study, there are several gatekeepers to call on and charm my way into their hearts. Or at least, their approval of me. First off, there is the gatekeeper of where I will be living. As I do not have any information on that yet, I do not know which of my "charms" I will need to sharpen for that situation. But for the next gatekeeper, he who holds the key to the design study group, I have more concrete data to work with. I have read his papers and skimmed over his CV. While hardly the end-all to understanding "the inner feelings of others," this helps me gain academic rapport which in turn will help me build social rapport. In order to smoothly enter into the dynamics of the design study research group, I need to charm over the head of the group so he can have something good to say about me when introducing me to others.<br />
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To Do: email Dr. Woods. I have to start building rapport and trust because I personally cannot fake "concern for and interest in others...and sharing feelings." So to jump-start my rapport-building, I need to start before I enter the field. Also, I need to practice my "social skills and personal charm." Usually, it takes me months to feel comfortable and trusting around others. I won't have months; I'll have mere weeks. To speed up my usual process of building rapport, there are a few things I can do now to practice. First, I suppose I could try to look less intimidating. Unfortunately, I am told I need to stop glaring or "being cold" all the time. I don't mean to,especially with the glaring. (I had huge glasses and a tiny nose as a child so I had to scrunch my face to keep my glasses on. I guess I never stopped.) So, I apparently need to appear more open (good grief, does that mean I'll have to <i>smile</i>?). Second, I need to practice drumming up a conversation with someone. Time to learn how to chit-chat. And finally, I need to diligent in researching, studying, completing homework, etc. so I do not come across as a good-for-nothing, lazy, entitled American slacker. I can definitely start practicing that now.Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107260085562198618.post-24790347838685251272012-03-14T09:21:00.000-07:002012-03-14T09:23:50.812-07:00Source (3/16)Nelson, Nancy J. "Adaptive Clinical Trial Design: Has Its Time Come?" <i>Journal of the National Cancer Institute. </i>102.16 (2010): 1217-1218. Electronic.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This relatively short article explained about the evolution of adaptive trials. It begins by describing BATTLE, one of the first adaptive design phase II clinical trial. Since then, it has been proven that adaptive designs can work in a "complex trial that assessed multiple drugs and biomarkers and required tissue collection and biomarker analysis." Though there were only 3 or fewer adaptive design studies started per year between 2003 and 2006, in 2007 there were 13, and the numbers are continuing to rise. This rise is perhaps due to the "growing acceptance of the Bayesian statistical framework" which, 10 years ago, was never accepted by the FDA as a valid design analysis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Unfortunately, "adaptive trials are great for learning, but are not a panacea." Adaptive designs take an extra 3 months to plan and involve everyone with even an interest in the process. Also, the design demands "an infrastructure to facilitate real-time learning, a flexible drug supply, and frequent data intake." On top of all that, not very many have extensive training in Bayesian theory. There just is not a "big enough sample size to get a definitive result." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Enter computer simulations, which I will be researching next. </span>Arianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12452756134952434049noreply@blogger.com0