Blog #10： My thought about the merit of iPad2

Masashi Yamada

    On January 2, I bought iPad2!! I'm surprised at the convenience of this device for some points, applications, map, schedule, and more! Someone said that Steve Jobs changed our daily life by his "Apple" products, and I think this phrase is true through my experience.

    In my case, I got three merits for buying iPad2.


(Ⅰ)Weight

    The first is to decrease the weight of my belongings when going to university. Last year, I brought my note PC, which weight is 1.9K, for my activity. But this year my labor is going to moderate for iPad2, which weight is 601g! It is welcome for me.

(Ⅱ)Easier for my activity

    I belonged to the organization of the international cooperation. During this activity, we must use IT device because we want to speed up for more effectively. For this point, iPad2 is easier to use than note PC because of simple style.

(Ⅲ)Knowledge about newest IT situation

    Before buying iPad2, I have no knowledge of "app", and I sometimes heard that application for martphone will become the major industry. If this situation will come true, we should learn the knowledge. After doing it, I got some knowledge about "app" by using some of them, Dropbox, Evernote, and so on.

    Some people say there are some demerits by using digital device. I agree with it, but everything has the two things. It is important to pull their merit, and press down them.

Blog #10 ; New Year's Day !!

Kako Furukawa

Do you know about Japanese "New Year's Day" ? There are a lot of traditions about it.
Let me explain some of them.
First,  at the beginning of New Year's Day, there are pines at the gate of houses.
 Japanese people say this pines "Kadomatu".  We decorated our gate with pine branches.
And, do you know the origin?
The old days, Japanese people believed that gods dwelt at the treetops.
So, they decorated pines to receive gods.

Second, have you ever played battledore and shuttlecock?
We often say it "Hanetuki". Old days, people made these battledores with
the wish which girls grew well. So, girl's faces were often drew on battledores.

Third, we often eat rice gruel containing the seven spring herbs
on the seventh day of the New Year. We call it "nanakusagayu"
Why do we eat this rice gruel?
The New Year's dishes sit heavy on our stomachs.
So, we can eat healthy herbs and rest our stomachs.

Fourth,  do you do "kagamibiraki" on the eleventh of January?
It is the custom of cutting and eating a large, round rice cake,
which had been offered to the gods.
In Japan, "kagami" means peaceful, and "biraki" means successful.
With eating hard food, we can make our teeth tough.

Finally, I would like to explain "dondoyaki".
It's like a formality and hold at shrines on fifteenth of January.
this time, we finish the New Year's vacation.
And, we often burn used pine branches or battledores, or rice cakes.
It is said that we don't have fires if we do the formality.

Considering the traditions mentions above,
Japanese may pray to gods for our happiness every New Year's Day.

Happy New Year !! 

Blog #9 : My favorite films!!

Kako Furukawa

Hello. This time, I would like to recommend my favorite films to you.
There are three films. Let me introduce.

Now, Christmas is coming soon. So, first film is an thrilling and romantic story in a Christmas day.
The title is "Die Hard". there are four stories about Die Hard, but, I recommend the first and simple Die Hard. I wouldn't explain the story in detail. Please watch this movie yourself. If you watch it, you may feel uneasy. Certainly, there are a lot of thrilling scenes in this film. But, I think you will find the heartwarming and romantic climax. Please watch this film this Christmas.

And, this is a preview.

Second, I would like to recommend a comical film.
It is "The Blues Brothers" If you like music and bands, you should watch this film. this is very exciting and makes us very happy.
Whenever I feel unhappy, I watch and listening to this music.
 Now, it is very cold. So, please watch this film in your house, with tea and on the sofa.

Then, please watch this exciting music. 

Third film is "The Devil wears Prada". this film gives us energy and makes us cheerful. It may be for women, but men also watch this film. When I watch it, I thought about fashion, personality, work, and love. With this film, we can think and make our lifestyles by ourselves. After watch it, we will find what we want to do. 

Please watch this short preview.

These are my favorite films and they make me feel good every time.

Please watch them and let me know your impressions if you can.

Thank you for your reading!

Blog #9：Our Lecture at Gakushuin

Masashi Yamada

    On December 7, my circle held a lecture about "THE BODY SHOP", the England cosmetic company and it is famous for many women and the people who are interested in contribution to society at our university. It was so successful because 40 and more people joined in it. I was happy so much!

・THE BODY SHOP official HP：http://www.the-body-shop.co.jp/index.html

    I want to introduce 4 points when holding a lecture.


(Ⅰ) Select the Theme and Concept

    "What purpose is this lecture?", and "If this lecture hold, what do you want to change the people who join in it to? My senior advised me so much because if the theme of this lecture was vague, this event isn`t useful for everyone. I obeyed this advice, and decided that the theme of our lecture is "the value of THE BODY SHOP", and we aimed for participant to know new knowledge about contribution to society and fair-trade.


(Ⅱ) Deciding the guest

    It is important whether the guest whom we want to invite can come in the particular day which we thought of. At first, we thoughat to invite a gratitude in our university worked in THE BODY SHOP, but this person can`t have come in this day. So we give up and were introduced to Ayako Yamazaki, the speaker of this lecture.


(Ⅲ) How to Gather the people

    There are many ways to do it. The first is to urge our friends to participate. Second is to request many seminars and student groups to come and advertise. Third is to make ad for gathering and advertising. That is the ad made by me. And the last is to use social media - twitter and facebook. I made "fan-page" in facebook to gather and advertise. About five people know this event for this page and joined.
 

・facebook fan-page：http://www.facebook.com/events/281917955178637/

(Ⅳ) Place

    This event can be held in higashi-nigoukan 201(法経棟) because Isao Sakaguchi, professor of international politics, helped us. Normally, undergraduate students can`t use higashi-nigoukan, but this time, he booked this room by using his seminar`s name. This room can accommodate 55 people, and there were about 40 participants and 15 our circle`s member! So this lecture was successful. Moreover, professor Sakaguchi helped us one more. When using big advertisement, he gave us his name to use it.

    That ad was posted near nishi-nigoukan(西２号館) from December 2 to 8!! When we can have posted this ad, I cried a little because my effort payed in that time.

    As a result, this lecture was so successful, and I felt happy so much!

Blog #8 : I've grown up !!

Kako Furukawa

Hello!! This time, I would like to tell you about my coming-of-age celebration.
Last September, I became 20 and next year, I will join a coming-of-age celebration.
In Japan, people often take pictures before the celebration.So, I had my photograph taken the other day.
November 4th, my family had a good time at Chinzanso and Four seasons hotel. URL and URL.
They are near Gakushuin.

I dressed a long-sleeved kimono and wore makeup. I was very happy and felt special.But, I had very hard time at the photo studio. Can you guess the reason?Because I rarely had my photograph taken, I couldn't make a smiling face and I forced a smile.And the photographer requested that I drew my jaw. I was not used to photography and I was uterly exhausted.So, after the photography, I felt acutely that fashion models and actress worked very hard to make smiling faces.

Moreover, when I wore the kimono, I couldn't walk and eat well. I wanted to eat my favorite "Sushi" in a relaxed posture.
Thank you for reading.

Blog#7: The King's Speech

Hello, I'm Narumi.

I’m sorry to be late to post my blog.(dead line was November,16)

I introduce to one movie The King’s Speech.

I have just finished a presentation about this film in my film study class.

At film study class, one of the students has presentation about one film that won or nominated Oscar at Academy Award.

I choose The King’s Speech as a film on my presentation, because I was very moved when I saw this movie at theater.

The King’s Speech is based on the true story.

You can hear his real speech.

King George Ⅵ suffered from his stuttering,  he has to speech for all citizens.

A key aspect is that "The King's Speech" is based on the true story of the relationship between Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist, and Albert, the Duke of York, who was forced to confront his debilitating stammer in the years leading up to his 1936 coronation as King George VI.

I researched the movie reviews on a big paper in the U.S.

“The King’s Speech” takes a relatively begin view of the monarchy, framing Albert as a somewhat poor little rich boy condemned to live in a fish bowl, an idea that Mr. Hooper unwisely literalizes by overusing a fisheye lens. 

Like many entertainments of pop-historical type, “The King’s Speech” wears history lightly no matter how heavy the crown. 

 

Manohla Dargis/The New York Times/November 25.2010

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/movies/26king.html

There’s a sly moment when Bertie is wistfully transfixed by a motion-picture newsreel of the epoch’s most potent orator, Germany’s new chancellor, Herr Hitler. Now there’s a fellow who doesn’t hold back! (George Orwell was only one of many who believed that the hooplah inherent in a constitutional monarchy saved Britain from domestic fascism.)

The grand finale has the whole nation listening as invisible Lionel “conducts” the King’s declaration of war in ’39—hard-won eloquence discreetly goosed by Hooper’s use of gradually swelling background music. That’s the official Rocky moment, although the movie really finds its voice in those therapy sessions, when it bids to be a feature-length episode of In Treatment.

 J.Hoberman/Village Voice/November 24,2010

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-24/film/the-king-s-speech-how-therapy-saved-monarchy/

The King’s Speech is evaluated a lot of critics, but some say that this movie has a problem that it is not completely true story.

Will Hitler Kill "The King's Speech"?

The New York Times today raised an interesting question about the Oscar front-runner for best picture, "The King's Speech." It wondered whether the real King George--who aggressively endorsed a policy of appeasement toward Hitler, something the film entirely ignores--might derail the film's chance for capturing the golden statuette.

The Jewish Times Submitted by Eric Herschthal on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 20:05

http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/well_versed/will_hitler_kill_kings_speech

I’m interested in the two aspects of one film.

Narumi Tsunashima

 

BLOG#7 The exciting festival

Shuhei Wada   

 I would like to introduce you about the festival called La Tomatina

What do you imagine when you hear the word festival?

This La Tomatina would exceed what you imagine!

 “La Tomatina” is a food festival in Spain. During this festival, people throw tomato each other. It was held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. There are no historical evidences that when did La Tomatina start. However, La Tomatina already had existed since 1944. No one is completely certain how this event originated. One theory is that the event started as a quarrel. There were no rules at that time. Local people just throw tomatoes each other. Today, more than 20,000 tourists come to the tomato fight and enjoy this cultural event. State of Buñol created the certain rule of tomato fight. Tourists will enjoy this forever. 

Picture from wikipedia 

For more information

latomatina.org 

spain.info

Blog #6:Table For Two

Masashi Yamada

    There are the billion people who are starving, but on the other hand, there are also the billion people who have the problem of obesity. This problem is often called "Imbalance in the diet". On 2007 some Japanese people founded the system which solves this problem. It is one of the international corporation and that names "Table For Two".

・Table For Two official HP：http://www.tablefor2.org/

    What is "Table For Two"? This is the program that if we buy the food or drink which Table For Two covers once, 20 yen are sent by Table For Two to African children, which countries are Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and 20 yen changes a school meal in Africa. That means 20 yen is relevant to the price of an African school meal. These foods and drinks which are covered by Table For Two are "healthy", and these calories are low. That is because Table For Two aims at solving the problem of obesity in developed country. In the long run, Table For Two can solve the two problem - our obesity and African children 's starving. Still more, this international corporation system has other merit. We can join in this program easily and continuously because what we have to do is only to buy the food or drink which Table For Two covers, and eating is the act which we do every day. This is the innovative system!

    Table For Two started in 2007, and at present, this program is introduced to many company, cafe, convenience store, and university cafeteria! Recently, FamilyMart started selling the products which are covered by Table For Two. According to Table For Two, 444 organizations import it. Plus them, Table For Two in America started in 2009, and this program started in some countries - Korea, England, Taiwan, India, and Switzerland.
    On the other hand, how did African situation improve by Table For Two? I will explain children 's situation. After introducing Table For Two, the situation and tendency of children improved for some aspects - nutritional and health status, powers of concentration and motivation of studying, and the school attendance rate! For example, in Rwanda, 15% elementary school students could pass the examination which are decided to by the national government. However, after introducing Table For Two, children 's situation came to improve, and after all, 100% students could pass it! That is the valuable thing!

Table For Two×FamilyMart；http://ow.ly/7rIJ9

    I participate in Table For Two University Association. That is the community which students who are interested in this program, and take the responsibility for it in their university participate in. At now, there are 82 universities which introduce Table For Two. But Gakushuin, our university,  dosen't. So I and my circle member do our best to introduce this program in our university!

Table For Two University Association HP：http://tftua.jimdo.com/

Blog #5:Gakushuin.com

Masashi Yamada

Recently, I was followed by an account in twitter. It names "Gakushuin.com", and I was surprised that this is an internet web-site for our university students, and this site is managed by our university students!

・Gakushuin.com：http://gakushuin.jimdo.com/
・twitter account：http://twitter.com/#!/gakushuin_com
・facebook account：http://www.facebook.com/pages/%E5%AD%A6%E7%BF%92%E9%99%A2com/214940491907752

Next, I want to explain "Gakushuin.com". According to this site, it was opened on October 31, this year, and the reason why that was opened is that there is the situation that it is difficult for us, our university student to expand the information which we want everyone to know. For example, when we want to spread information, we use the notice board for students（学生掲示板）, but this site says if we want to use this board, there are many terms and regulations. So, it isn't easy for us to use it. To solve these problem, this site was opened, it notices.

When doing this blog article, I come to remember a web site. It is "WASEDA-LINKS", which is the web site for Waseda university students, and made by them. And I think the people who managed "Gakushuin.com" referedd
to "WASEDA-LINKS" in the aspect of making the web-site for stundets.

WASEDA-LINKS URL：http://waseda-links.com/

However, there are two problems in this site. The first is no students spread their information in this site. That is because this site was opened on October, and most of Gakushuin university students don't know the existence of this site. And if more and more sutudents know it, what will this site be? I'm interested in this point.
The second is this site dosen't write the name of the responsible person. This is very serious problem! Because if some problem occurred in future, who takes the responsibility? The people who manage this site should open their name.

Although this site has some problems, but I think the manager of this site can't afford to renew that. In addition to this point, the replacement rate of this site is very quickly in the aspect of open date, 31, October. I want this site to become the platform among the studnts who want to expand their information, and who want to know some information. If this situation will be realized, the values of Gakushuin University may be better.

Thank you for your reading!

#5; My best of the movies (Narumi)

This blog, I’d like to write about my favorite films.

I like movie, especially heartwarming, adventure and action movie. I will announce my best three films.

No.3 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

The story is about human drama among the participants suffered from mental illness in the hospital.  Main actor is Jack Nicholson.  His acting is so good and attractive.

Firstly, the story goes on with comical. However, this film contains serious part.

You will be surprised at the climax scene.  After seeing this movie, I became so nervous because this movie had a heavy topic.  Anyway, I recommend it strongly!!

No.2 The Beautiful Mind (2001)

This movie is based on a real person’s life.  His name is John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Main actor is Russell Crowe.

 This movie is included some genres, for instance, suspense, biographical and human drama. If you see this film, you will be surprised and cry at the climax scene.  And I thought about the importance of friend and family.

No.1 Back to the Future (1985)

I love this movie because this movie is full of dream and hope. Main actor is Michael J. Fox. I always want to ride DeLorean when I see this film. I also recommend that the Universal Studio’s attraction Back to the Future.

   In this attraction, you can ride DeLorean and move to the past and the future as if you you were in the movie!

You can feel how the attraction does at this URL.

You can find and see these titles in LL class at 6th floor Chuo-to.

Please tell me about your favorite movie if you have one.

Thank you for reading.