The Psychology of Distrusting G.M.O.s

Article: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/08/the-psychology-of-distrusting-gmos.html

In this article, the author is concerned about people's feelings about foods that are considered unnatural, specifically genetically modified organisms (G.M.O.s). First, the author starts off with a hook that refers to the author Michael Pollan's negative attitude towards an article about the potential of genetically modified oranges. The author then goes more general by saying that there are many other people who feel the same way. She includes studies by psychologists and researchers about people's reactions to G.M.O.s and goes into depth about people's distrust of these foods. Then, the author gives a few reasons why G.M.O.s might gain more acceptance in the future: people may gradually become more familiar with G.M.O.s, and foods that are highly necessary may face shortages without genetically modified alternatives. The author concludes the article by referring back to the idea of genetically modified oranges.

The article's structure is pretty simple, and the author does a good job describing people's feelings about G.M.O.s. Her analysis progress really nicely. In addition, the studies that she includes in the article are very interesting and relevant to the topic. I also like the hook, which is effective, and how the author ties the beginning and the end of the article together by referring back to the hook in the last paragraph. The article itself is intriguing.

Especially by reading the last two paragraphs, it seems that the author believes that people's suspicion of G.M.O.s is illogical. However, I think people's views on these foods are valid and reasonable in some degree. While the author overlooks the disadvantages of G.M.O.'s, I am aware that it is possible that G.M.O.s pose some health risks. There are those who say that G.M.O.s are perfectly safe, but I doubt it because there is not enough evidence to support their claim.

Artificial Meat: Grow Your Own

Article: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/08/artificial-meat

In this article, the author talks about the development of artificial meat and the public's response to it. Mark Post, who grew the beef, did so by harvesting the stem cells of two live cows and then causing the cells to multiply. The tasters of the artificial meat described it as "not that juicy," but nevertheless Post believes that it is "a good start." The author then lists some advantages of artificial meat over natural meat.

The article is easy to comprehend, and its structure and organization are pretty simple. By reading the last paragraph, it is evident to the reader that the author is pleased with Post's innovation. I think the article would be better, though, if the author was a little more objective, but at the same time he did a good job supporting his view.

The article is very interesting. I have often found many scientific and technological innovations and discoveries very intriguing, and the development of artificial beef is no exception. I agree with the author that artificial beef would ultimately benefit the world. First of all, raising cattle requires a lot of land, so growing meat in factories or at home would free up tremendous space for the growing world population. Also, the growth of artificial meat would help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions contributed by raising livestock. In addition, I recently read a book that describes the extremely dangerous conditions that workers at slaughterhouses face. The development of artificial beef would certainly prevent a lot of pain and suffering by significantly reducing the number of cattle that need to be slaughtered for consumption to meet demands.

Toss Your Old Phone? Think Again

Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323971204578629753345215708.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEFTTopNews

In this article, the author talks about the growing market for used smartphones. Because this market is booming, carriers see a new opportunity to profit from the sale of used smartphones. As a result, carriers are more sure that they can make enough profits from trade-ins to allow more frequent updates. The author also mentions that the value of old phones is much higher than most people think.

This article's title caught my attention because I have a strong interest in technology, including smartphones. I was also curious about why people should not discard their old phones. As expected, I thought this article was very interesting. I was particularly surprised that an iPhone 4 used for over three years can be sold for a good $130. Selling used phones is something I would certainly keep in mind. Although it is not yet clear what the new trade-in plans mean to consumers and device makers, I am generally optimistic about the new trend regarding used smartphones. I like the idea of being able to upgrade to a new phone more often by trading in an old phone instead of having to pay the full price for a phone. Also, as mentioned in the article, trade-ins may encourage the sale of newer devices. In addition, the sale of used smartphones enables people who have never even touched a smartphone to finally afford one.

Overall, the author did a good job explaining the situation and including interesting facts in the article. The video on the top left-hand corner helped clarify the content of the article and gave additional interesting information. Also, the link "Do This First" (located in the middle of the article) leads to another article that provides very useful information on what to do before selling a phone.

O.K., Glass

Article: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/08/05/130805fa_fact_shteyngart

In this article, the author is concerned about a new gadget called Google Glass, which is kind of like a smartphone attached to glasses. In the first page of the article, the author talks about a nondescript forty-year old man's experience with Google Glass. Then, for the remainder of the article, the author talks about his own experiences and thoughts on the device.

Before reading this article, I never quite understood the point of Google Glass even though I kept hearing about it. This article caught my attention because I have a strong interest in technology, and I was curious about what Google Glass is like. Although the article was long, it was very interesting as expected. I think it is very cool especially that Google Glass can easily used to take pictures and record videos (except when I am the one being recorded). Also, it might sometimes be more handy than a smartphone. Despite these advantages and my general optimism about new technology, I am not sure if Google Glass will be better than a smartphone. Google Glass is not yet fully developed and is likely to be more expensive. It is also hard to tell if the new device will be highly successful despite the existence of smartphones, or if it will be necessary to have both devices. The author's friend, Christine, finds herself using her iPhone less often, while the author himself does not. In fact, the author needed to get an Android smartphone even though he already had an iPhone. Carrying around two smartphones while wearing Google Glass seems inconvenient and ridiculous.

The author did a great job describing his experiences with Google Glass. Therefore, it is easy for me to imagine myself as a Google Glass Explorer. The article's structure is also simple and well-planned.

Why Summer Makes Us Lazy

Article: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/07/psychology-why-summer-makes-us-lazy.html

In this article, the author is concerned about how summer can decrease productivity. She begins the article with a hook, which is a complaint by the Harvard librarian John Langdon Sibley about the summer heat. Recent studies suggest that Sibley's observation is still accurate today because people tend to be less productive when the weather is pleasant, and it is the opposite with bad weather. Even the thought of nice weather can interfere with people's cognitive abilities. The author primarily uses surveys throughout the article to explain the role of weather on productivity. She also says that a person's cognitive ability seems to improve up to a certain temperature and then deteriorate. She concludes the article by suggesting that a person can maintain the level of his or her concentration when the weather gets hotter by eating something cold and sweet such as ice cream.

Overall, I found this article to be intriguing. It obviously makes sense that extreme weather can affect a person's concentration, and I already sort of knew that pleasant weather can lead to thoughts on doing fun activities. However, I was mostly surprised by what research has shown because I have never imagined that weather or even the thought of it can play such a significant role in a person's cognitive ability and his or her ability to work. I tend to be a little unproductive sometimes, and it was interesting to hear about one of the possible reasons why. I also found the conclusion striking.

The article itself is well-organized, well-explained, and has an effective hook. These aspects, along with the surveys the author provided, make the content logical and easy to comprehend. Therefore, the article gives ideas of what a good essay should look like.

E-Book vs. P-Book

Article: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2013/07/29/130729ta_talk_surowiecki

In this article, the author talks about Barnes & Noble, the only major bookseller left, in an age during which e-books are on the rise and seem likely to replace printed books. Because I like to visit a B. & N. store every few weeks to read magazines, this article caught my attention even though it is concerned with printed books rather than magazines. After B. & N.'s Nook division lost almost $500 million last year and the C.E.O. of B. & N. was resigning, it looked like the company was going to close down like Borders, another major bookseller, did two years ago. However, even though sales fell last year, B. & N.'s profits actually rose, and the author gives a few reasons why and then suggests ways the company can improve in order to stay in business. Despite the advantages of e-books, physical books have an appeal that e-books lack. Also, the growth in e-book sales slowed down last year and many people who use e-books still use physical books. The author concludes the article by mentioning that physical books are not outdated, and that B. & N. just needs to make sure it is not, either.

Although in my free time I read primarily magazines and newspapers rather than actual books (which I usually read for school) and strongly support technology, I agree with the author that physical books have a unique quality that is absent in e-books. Also, even though I rarely buy anything from B. & N., I find B. & N. to be highly valuable, and I want the company to stay alive because it provides a convenient place to read both books and up-to-date magazines. Therefore, I am glad to hear that  B. & N. still has a chance to survive.

The article was interesting to read because I am enthusiastic about technology, and at the same time I like to visit a B. & N. store periodically, as I said before. Overall, the author clearly explained why e-books are unlikely to completely replace physical books and ways that B. & N. could stay in business. I was particularly surprised to hear that a staggering percentage (ninety-seven) of e-book users still read printed books and that such a low percentage (three) use exclusively e-books. I was also fascinated by the study showing that people comprehend less when using e-books rather than physical books. However, in my opinion, the cartoons did not contribute much to the article. They did not really help me visualize or understand the whole situation.

A Revolution in the Making

Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324063304578522812684722382.html?KEYWORDS=3d+printing

In this article, the author talks about how advances in digital technology is revolutionizing manufacturing and may revive American industry.  The article begins with Ken Hislop, a manufacturing engineer who works at a General Electric Co. factory.  The author describes how digital technology impacts how Hislop works.  The author then talks about how advances in technology can lead to a new Industrial Revolution.  After that, the author talks about the 3-D printer, which enables manufacturers to produce items in a new way significantly different from the old production-line model.  By a process called additive manufacturing, 3-D printers can fabricate various three-dimensional objects such as shoes, fuel nozzles for airplanes, and even artificial limbs and human tissue using a variety of materials. One 3-D printer actually succeeded in duplicating itself.  3-D printers can produce higher-quality goods with much greater efficiency.  Also, the decrease in prices of these printers will facilitate their widespread use.  Despite all of the pros of 3-D printing, these printers also pose new challenges.

As a strong supporter of technology, I am optimistic about the potential of 3-D printers to positively impact people's lives.  However, I am also aware that there are a few cons of 3-D printing as well.  As Romin said before, 3-D printers, which have the potential to create an endless supply of goods, can cause the global economy to crash.  Also, the possibility to create a functioning gun with a 3-D printer can increase gun violence by making guns easier to acquire to those who should not handle them.  Therefore, the upcoming wave of new technology is exciting but frightening at the same time.

How the next battle over Obamacare could be the ugliest yet

Article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/30/politics/obamacare-summer-battle/index.html?iref=allsearch

In this article, the author Halimah Abdullah is concerned with the fight over Obamacare (officially known as the Affordable Care Act), a law which would provide free health care for all citizens of the United States.  Liberals argue that all people deserve the right to health care, while conservatives point out Obamacare's problems such as its high cost.  The U.S. Supreme Court already declared that Obamacare is mostly constitutional, but conservatives are still trying to repeal or severely handicap the law.  Therefore, the battle over the health care law is far from over.  In fact, Abdullah indicates that the battle might become even uglier.  Abdullah gives examples of how each side will try to win the battle over the health care law.  Liberals are using tactics such as using social media and the Internet and targeting minorities and young people.  On the other hand, conservatives are fighting Obamacare in ways such as keeping it in the headlines and linking it to a scandal.  In the last paragraph, Abdullah talks about the public's general opinions of Obamacare.  For example, Abdullah mentions that some families are confused about health care, which seems to digress a little from the emphasis on the controversy over the health care law.  Throughout history, struggles for certain rights such such as black civil rights have been long and often frustrating.  The struggle for the right of all American citizens to have health care is no exception.  Obamacare is still a very controversial issue, and it will remain so for at least quite some time.

Did Asiana pilot have enough 777 experience?

Article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/08/travel/asiana-pilot-questions/index.html?iref=allsearch

Last Saturday, a terrible accident occurred: an Asiana airplane crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport.  Fortunately, out of the 291 passengers of the plane, only two have been confirmed dead.  To me, it seems that the accident was caused by the pilot by mistake.  However, right now, people have not yet confirmed what caused the plane crash.  People have also not confirmed if the pilot Lee Kang kuk's experience played a role in the accident.  In this article, the author, Thom Patterson, is concerned with whether the pilot's flying experience played a role in the crash.  Patterson introduces a brief history of Lee's flying experience: Lee had over 10,000 hours of flying experience in aircraft other than the Boeing 777, but his forty-three hours of experience in the Boeing 777 is obviously not a lot.  Patterson also shows concern about pilots changing planes from time to time.  Did the pilot's experience really contribute to the accident? Patterson introduces different perspectives on the issue: those of Mary Schiavo (former Department of Transportation Inspector), Mark Weiss (aviation consultant and 20-year airline pilot), and Deborah Hersman (NTSB Chairwoman).  Schiavo believes that experience matters, while Hersman does not.  Weiss is a little more neutral, but he believes that it is possible that the pilot's experience played a role in the accident. Patterson did not take a side on this issue.  He is only sure that more evidence will come to prove whether the pilot's experience played a role in the plane crash and what was the exact cause of the accident.