Moderator Philosophy

For the positions of moderator of our deliberations in class, I think they should keep people from getting into actual debates on the topics by prompting questions that guide conversation a certain way.  The moderators should allow all sides equal opportunity to bring up their points so that the entire class can better work towards mutual understanding.  I think they should also try to contribute to the flow of the deliberation by adding meaningful points when necessary to highlight certain pertinent ideas.  Their philosophy should ensure everyone in the class is effectively listening to the other sides, as well (this could be kept on track by sporadically incorporating questions).

Environmental Degradation in Asia

Civic issues can affect a wide range of populations from the politics in a small town to the education on a national level to the rights of people throughout the entire world.  I chose to focus my civic issues blog on the major environmental issues of certain continents (a new continent each week).  I will be covering the pertinent natural degradation problems specific to these areas, how they are negatively affecting the people, and any possible initiatives they may be currently working on toward a solution.  This week the focus is on Asia.

According to an online article titled “6 Major Environmental Problems of Asia” on Hernadi-Key.blogspot.com, the Asia-Pacific region is facing serious social and economic consequences as a result of six specific issues with their environment.  The first pressing issue negatively affecting the wellbeing of this continent involves urban excess.  This problem is arising from the by-products of urban migration including factors such as transportation, industrial activities, and the overcrowding of human habitation.  The people are suffering from unemployment, lack of education, and malnourishment as a result.  One potential solution to these urban excesses involves the movement of labor migration out of the focus of cities into surrounding areas.

The next civic and environmental issue facing Asia deals with the repercussions of deforestation and desertification.  The food security is continuously being threatened in Asia as a result of these problems.  These agricultural lands and forests have been consistently exploited in order to turn a profit, but also from a lack of proper knowledge on beneficial farming practices (leading to further pollution, erosion, and downstream flooding).  These problems are becoming concentrated in areas such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.  Officials in these areas believe that educational programs should be initiated on a large scale to teach local farmers about efficient practices that would reduce the possibility of further desertification.

Another issue plaguing the people of Asia involves the water supplies becoming increasingly polluted due to industrial discharges and untreated sewage.  Water shortages are becoming a concerning predicament specifically in India, China, North and South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.  The previous issue of high-use agriculture is further worsening the competition of scarce water supplies.  A plausible solution that could be incorporated is encouraging the use of water-efficient drip irrigation techniques so that less of this finite supply of water is lost to evaporation before even reaching the crops.

Two more of the issues Asia is facing environmentally include overfishing and global warming.  Fish provide one of the largest sources of animal protein for virtually all Asian states.  Fishing is an established portion of their economy as it provides employment and revenue to millions of workers.  There is a current proposition for law enforcement to reduce the possibility of disputes, collision, and pollutions (mainly negligent oil spills).  Additionally, carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, and nitrous oxide are contributing significantly to the warming affect.  Temperatures have “increased .3 to .6 degrees C over the last century, consistent with the rise of greenhouse gases…”  Also, air pollution from vehicles, power plants, incinerators, and industry is culminating in the last major environmental degradation factor in Asia.  Countries are increasingly engaging in global conventions on atmosphere and oceans, protection of wildlife and their habitats, and the handling of hazardous materials in an attempt to combat and ultimately solve these pressing civic issues on the Asian continent and throughout the world.

Notions on Napping

Stress is often a factor that permeates college campuses during the school week as impending due dates for tasks and assignments approach.  Especially at a place like Atherton Hall at Penn State University, honors students are consistently burdened with long nights of work that affect proper sleep.  This week I went around Atherton interviewing students on their opinions about napping in their everyday lives.

As one student put it, “Naps are great.  I took a nap today.”  She went on to explain her belief in the importance of setting aside a time for naps when you don’t get enough sleep regularly.  “I think sleep is the most important thing for success, especially in college.  Lack of sleep affects the brain in ways you wouldn’t think.”  Another student added that he truly advocates napping: “They’re excellent.  I take naps pretty often when I have a one or two hour gap in between classes.  I think they can make you more resilient.  They give you mental stamina.”

Other students do not completely buy into the positive concept of napping, even though they take them often.  Their opinions include the notions that naps can take up too much time and leave you even more tired than before you went to sleep: “I like naps a lot but not for more than half an hour because longer naps can be a waste of time when I could be getting my work done.”

Some students are even strongly opposed to the concept of napping, with one student simply stating, “They’re not worth it.”  Another girl chimed in with, “I don’t take naps.  Personally, I feel like I become more tired once I’ve taken a nap.  I haven’t found the perfect length of time to boost my energy, so I find that they make me groggy and less productive.”  Clearly the opinions on napping vary widely, and an ongoing argument still exists.

This I Believe (rough draft)

Well I was originally going to talk about my belief in the importance of binge-watching TV shows.  I would go on about how I felt it created a temporary escape from the pressures of the real world, and allowed the viewers to release stress (and ultimately contribute to increased productivity afterward) by providing the opportunity to engage themselves in the alternate universe onscreen.  But that’s all I had.  This idea certainly did not have enough material for an entire articulate discussion, and I didn’t feel as though it would leave any lasting emotional impression on listeners.

So I procrastinated the idea; I spent days intentionally avoiding the idea so I did not have to admit to myself that this concept I found so personally intriguing did not suffice.  Struggling to determine why I had not yet had any epiphany as to the perfect topic as others in my class seemed to have had, I beat myself up for waiting so long because I have been well accustomed to societal notion that proper planning and time management are lucrative skills.  These traits are more valued as we look down on those who stay up all hours of the night before a certain task is due; unlikely to think that these hastily finished assignments will amount to anything of great worth.  Yet it occurred to me that this is not necessarily what I believe.

I truly believe in the products of procrastination.  The work that is scratched down on a piece of paper right before the deadline or the presentation that is created through bloodshot eyes in the middle of the night can reveal more honesty about the true version of a person and his beliefs.  There is something so liberating in the adrenal rush of sloppily scribbling words on a paper as the clock is ticking to an end.  These moments expose a raw version of your writing, one in which only the thoughts that existed at the readily accessible brink of your mind were capitalized on rather than taking the time to conference with others to mend and repair any potential flaw in the words that could make the piece more distant from those initial beliefs.         [conclude (although we should all strive for time management) about how I think the products/work that come out of procrastination can still be beautiful/beneficial additions to society—we should not assume poor quality right away]

A How-To Guide

In today’s society, more and more people are consistently overworking themselves.  Those with stressful deadlines and pressing responsibilities are increasingly enticed to continue working efficiently without a break, willing to jeopardize sleep in order to complete the task.  This constant determination to persist in working is putting the health of many at risk, which could easily be remedied by a simple nap each day.  There are a few requirements to note in order to optimize the napping experience.  The first step according to “Ultimate Napping: A How-To Guide” is to give yourself permission.  Naps are scientifically proven to “reduce drowsiness and fatigue, restore alertness, improve cognitive performance, sharpen motor skills, decrease errors and accidents, and increase mood.”

The next essential requirement is to choose your time wisely.  If you decide to nap too early, your body may not be ready to fall asleep; however, if you nap too late in the afternoon, you may find it difficult to ultimately fall asleep later that night.  You also have to strategically choose a place based on your immediate environment.  If your only options are a desk or a bus, the nap will probably not be as rewarding as lying down on a couch or in a bed.  Try to make the space as quiet and dark as possible, and be sure that the temperature is not too high (which could cause you to oversleep).

Another helpful tip to get the most out of an ideal nap is to drink a cup of coffee or caffeinated soda right before dozing off if you need to be wide awake immediately afterward.  The caffeine will begin to kick in around 20 to 30 minutes later, which will reduce grogginess and making it far easier to get up from the snooze.  Even if you can’t fall asleep after taking all of these factors into account, the rest and relaxation will still ultimately have a positive effect on your body.

A Passion for Peace and Quiet

I feel passionate about napping.  From the moment I wake up each day after several rounds of hitting snooze on my alarm, I’ve already begun arranging my schedule to plan out a time to take a nap.  Crawling into bed when the sun is still up whether it’s convenient or not, a daily nap is essential to my survival and mental happiness on a daily basis.  Therefore, this blog will be devoted to the topic of this activity I religiously participate in for multiple hours regularly.  I will research and delve into the science behind the ideal nap length and environment, as well as discuss why some people are adamantly in support of or against a mid-day slumber.

From my extensive experience with napping, I have found two common responses one’s body feels upon waking up each time.  The first is the blissful sensation of feeling rejuvenated.  These naps are typically shorter in length and are the key to a successful day.  One wakes up from these feeling exceedingly productive; noticeably increasing his efficiency on work for the rest of the day.  These help lift one’s mood, and they provide the energy in order to tackle remaining responsibilities.

The other type of nap is dreaded and dangerous: one in which a person awakes in a zombie-like state.  These naps are often much longer than anticipated and occur often times from heavily sleeping through multiple alarms.  One wakes up from these consistently confused, possibly sweaty, and seemingly in a different time zone.  A lethargic feeling is present for hours afterward, with symptoms typically including a lack of knowledge as to what day it is anymore.  Frequent nappers strive to experience the satisfaction and renewed energy of the first type of nap, yet often fall prey to the crankiness that ensues after taking the latter nap.  One can only hope to turn his day around with an effective nap, and I will continue to document my experiences with these afternoon spans of sleep.

This I Believe ideas

A potential idea I have for my “This I Believe” podcast is my belief in the importance of binge-watching TV shows.  I think that taking a temporary escape from the pressures of the real world and engaging oneself in an alternate fantasy universe on screen helps to release stress.  Viewers become emotionally absorbed in the plot and personalities of the characters as an outlet from the actual drama that occurs in their daily lives.  I think setting aside time to commit to a TV show will ultimately result in greater productivity (contrary to many people’s opinions), after those watching have been able to relax in that way.

Fresh isn’t Forever

The maps long since tucked away, all of the meals at Redifer repeatedly tasted, a plethora of memories already accumulated.  The time period from when you consider Penn State your school to when it is automatically referred to as your home is full of uncomfortable and awkward blunders as a result of the many adjustments that come with independent living.  I’ve experienced my fair share of embarrassing moments from times as simple as losing my ID to assimilating to the football fan culture to fire alarm faux pas to sprinting across campus.  Looking back on these days initially with a cringe, I’ve come to realize that even these memories will remain with me for the rest of the life.  I already know I’ll never forget all of the people I made these mistakes with as I spend the next three and a half years learning from them.

From all of these struggles I thought I was facing alone, a sense of community quickly became apparent to me.  Whenever I felt hopelessly lost amidst the towering trees, looming buildings, and ever-present squirrels, I knew I could easily reach out to someone else and ask for help with the situation.  Whenever I felt out of place from the memorized cheers in the student section, it was comforting to know that every other person before me had experienced this same emotion.  Maybe the mistakes that come along with being a freshman aren’t something of shame.  Maybe I’ll look back on these days with a sense of longing for all this finite time to come back.  Maybe the looks of upperclassmen that were once perceived as condescending judgment are merely looks of jealousy, for we still have so much time and opportunity to continue making these memories at the place we love.  We are freshman now.  We are Penn State forever.Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 5.54.52 PM

RCL Post: TED Talk

I believe TED talks are a significant new rhetorical development because they are an easy way for an average person to access information on a wide variety of topics.  The presenters are able to address not only a live crowd but the entire Internet with a multimedia presentation that remains focused on the basis of rhetoric: speech.  Reflecting on my personal TED talk, I think I did well on the majority of memorization, as I usually have trouble with this even when I use notecards.  I definitely could have improved though, as I did not speak as fluently as I had wished and said “um” a few times as well.  Overall, I enjoyed the project because I’ve never had the opportunity to present in this sort of way before.  I’ve found that now I’m more interested in watching TED talks in my free time, and I’m learning more about a large range of subjects as a result.

Ideas for TED Talk

One of the potential ideas I have for my TED talk is the transition from people being proud of solely attending college to the pressure for students to be admitted to the most prestigious university (and the stress on younger people that comes along with this).  Another idea I have is based off of an article I read in a Time book about the adverse affects on people, particularly children, of environmental poisons.  These toxins can surprisingly be found in simple places around the house and in everyday items such as toothpaste and lipstick.  The concept of the article is ultimately to educate citizens about alternative ways of handling products rather than just disposing them to landfills, and I could discuss this topic in detail during my talk.