text based - letter

Dear Kim

Thanks for telling me that. Yes, I'd like to go. Red Stone is a British band who is famous for Rock music and wins lots of awards. This year, they planned to hold their concerts worldwide. How surprising me, they are coming here. It’ll be great if you can get the tickets this week. Because they're sold out very quickly, you'd better hurry up.

Shall we choose to stand? Most of their songs are Rock & Roll. During the concert, people will get higher and higher. They can't help singing and dancing in that atmosphere. So will you. I think it's not a good idea to meet at that time. There will be full of people waiting there. How about 6pm? We can have a drink before checking in.

Did you move out? Good choice. Your old one was too small to live in. Thanks for inviting me to stay. Otherwise, I need to think about where to go that night. If it's ok, I want to go to the museum next morning. Because I heard they had had real dinosaurs in their showroom. It really makes my curiosity.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

All the best.
Kent

text based- graphs summary

These graphs show the distribution of winnings spent between periods from 1992 to 2001.
By far the highest percentage of winning spent in 1992 and 1997 were cars. However, the number declined slightly for last several years, from 30% to 27%. Cars became the second popular in 2001. It is possible that cars become more and more affordable, so that people would rather spend the winning on the luxury items which normally they can’t afford. Although luxury items have fluctuated since 1992, it beat cars to be the most popular one in 2001.
Other transport remained the same at 2% in 1992 and 1997, which is the least of all, and rose by 1% in 2001. In contrast, living expenses increased slightly between 1992 and 1997, but dropped dramatically after 1997 to 2%. Thus, it became the least percentage of all. It is perhaps that people noticed about the changing policy and the unstable economy.
The number of second home has only risen gradually since 1992, but nearly doubled between 1997 and 2001. Comparing with extend travel and holiday, they increased a little between 1992 and 1997, but had fallen fairly sharply to 5% in 2001. It could be argued that more and more people own second home these days, and they might spend their holiday there. Another reason for a dramatic drop in 2001 might be affected by terrorism where happened in United States in 11th September 2001.
Over the last 9 years, there has been a shift away among the winnings spent. This reflects the recent standard of living and stable society which are most wanted.

Week 10 Text Blog Entry 8 - An Article About My Country in the international press

I found a news report in the Washington Post. The headline was about China, it may have cut some key import tariffs. I chose this article because I had found the economy between China and the USA is very complicated and interesting. After the high-level economic talks in Washington, Henry M. Paulson announced that they had made some important achievement the afternoon in the meeting, especially the agreement which can reduce the politically contentious trade deficit between the two countries and global warming. However, one of the most contentious issues, which were the value of China’s currency, was still suspended. America said that China was doing an unfair advantage on world markets. In the other side, China responded that the currency had increased since July 2005, but they admitted the currency was a little undervalued. Although the two countries reached some significant agreements, there were still more than a dozen of others needed to negotiate. America hoped to rebalance the economy in one or two years, but Paulson responded that the idea was preposterous.

Week 10, Oral Blog Entry 7 - Leture Summary 2

Are you ready to save someone? Dave Griffiths provided us with the basic knowledge about first aid in today's lecture. Some simple help may save a life. However, always remember if you want to save others, the first thing you need to do is save yourself. After that, check the person before you make the call. Use the basic techniques to help, talk to the person, tapping on their shoulders, lifting up their chins. If still not responding, go to the next level – heart pumping (CPR). Two breaths and thirty pushes make up the rhythm. The process could last ten to sixty minutes. Keep communicating with the person while you are in the process. Use the same method if they are teenagers or babies by reducing the pressure. It is free to call the ambulance in any emergency, but sometimes it may charge you a little. Be aware of heart attacks that happen in all ages or any other sorts of emergencies. Finally, use anything you can to help. Gain knowledge by doing a first aid course!

Week 5, Oral Blog Entry 2 - Film Review

"300” is the story of King Leonidas and the eponymous. Three hundred Spartan men who put their lives to defend their city form a half-million story force of Persian invaders. This is a violent action movie which tells about Vin Disel would always disarm the nuke in time. Although “300’s” storyline is regarded as the lack of complexity, the plot is not really important. Instead, the director mainly focuses on the emotional journeys of men facing the difficult situation. So it makes “300” worth watching. The violence sections can be seen through the eyes of the Spartans, who expressed the savage of their lives at the most end. And the most impressive part in the movie is the ecstasy of the battle. They use slow-motion to create a sequences and fluid scene. It is reported to be successful because of being full of rich and raw senses of sexuality. In the story, Leonidas loves his Queen and his soldiers, bringing the true heartbreak with each broken body in the Spartan ranks. Their target audiences are boys, but not entirely. It is said that Spartan is one of the best unmarketable graphic novels ever produced, and also it is a film that is accessible and truly heroic.

Week 7 Text Based Blog Entry 5 - My Break

During my Easter break, I had a one-day trip to Hamilton Garden in Hamilton. The natural environment was awesome. It covers an area of 58 Hectares at the Southern end of Hamilton City Council. I’ve been there several times and still can’t help visiting here again. We were very lucky to have a fine weather on that day, because it was supposed to be shower. “Fingers crossed” worked! We spent a bit more time walking around the beautiful landscape, breathing he fresh air and enjoying the lovely sunshine. After that, we lied around on the grass next to the lake, enjoying our yummy food, which included sandwiches, muffins and some fruits. We really had a good time on the rest of the afternoon. After seeing the beautiful sun set, we decided to make our way home. It was a different experience every time I had been there, and I was sure we would come back soon. I was looking forward to it.

Week 4, Text Based Blog Entry 2- Effects of Globalisation on My Life

Is globalisation a right wing thing? I doubt it. However, it does affect my lifestyle. Compare with a few years ago, now I can easily find a number of famous brands and logos in my home town which were hard to find in our country, including some top international brands. From the biggest hotel chains to the smallest luxuries, and I don’t even need to go overseas. Globalisation gradually enters my life and it become more and more widely use. When I need something, I always choose the brand I can count on. For this reason, famous brands and logos become my first choice. Analysing the whole situation, I realise that globalisation not only affects my past and present, but also has a big influence on my future. Because it pushes hard on the globe economy, the new technology has to back it up quickly. Thus Internet plays a significant role for that. In the coming future, I might talk to the person face to face without sitting in front of the monitor or doing the surgery ten miles away. Who knows! From my point of view, I think the bigger globalisation grows, the smaller the world will be.

Week 5, Text Based Blog Enrty 3 - Book Review

Title: I, Robot

Author: Harlan Ellison & Isaac Asimov

Plot: The story is about Susan Calvin, a robot psychologist, who explores and study robotics for her whole life. A reporter named Bratenahl is asked to find out about who was this secretive woman. Bratenahl does his research on Susan Calvin, so he talks to the people she worked with in the past. To his surprise, he finds out Susan had a robot as her part-time playmate when she was six. Following this evidence, he discovers her father worked for US Robotics and arranged a robot to live with them. However, her mother considered that it was too dangerous to have a seven-foot-tall robot at home with Susan. Thus, the robot was sent away permanently one day. Priority information with his findings is the rules which are set for robot, called “Three Laws of Robotics” are running in an unexpected way. This may cause a serious danger to all the human beings. Another secret is about the time Susan took part in a manned mission to Mercury, and how she almost died by fixing a temporarily cuckoo robot who had received unclear instructions, and finally helped the ship to leave Mercury and return to the Earth.

Writing style: Science Fiction

Characters:
Susan Calvin – Legendary robopsychologist
Alfred Larning – Mechanical Man
Robert Bratenahl – Journalist

Overall impression/ recommendation:

Suspendful, logical and touching.

Highly recommend.

Week 9, Oral Blog Entry 6 - Picture Comparison 2

In the following two pictures, I shall assume that there are two sharply contrasting pictures of educational practices. Comparing the first one to the second, students are more motivated asking and answering questions, rather than just sitting there and listening to the teacher quietly. From the two, it shows two main priorities of teaching methods nowadays- the reflective paradigm and the standard paradigm. They both have their own characteristic and beneficial contribution to education. However, more and more people choose the reflective model for their education system. It is because they realise that their aim is to teach students to think and solve the questions by themselves, not just acquire the knowledge by absorbing information from the teacher. Teachers are supposed to be a guide, not playing an authoritative role in the class. For this reason, I prefer the new teaching technique to the normal one.

Week 9, Text Based Blog, Entry 7 - Diploma Trip

I really enjoyed my Diploma trip last Tuesday. It was amazing! On that day, we first all met in a nice cafe named La Vinci for morning tea in Titirangi Town. There was a big floor-to-ceiling window, catching the stunning sights. From the window, you could see the beautiful natural landscape. Before heading out to Cornwallis, we arranged and shared the cars. We were very lucky to have beautiful weather, because it was supposed to be showering on that day.

The first sight we approached was the lookout in Cornwallis. What a stunning view it was! I was dying for these stunning views, and I can't help taking photos in this environment.

After arriving at Cornwallis Beach, we settled down under a shelter, spreading all the delicious food and drinks, enjoying the lovely sunshine. Jan told us doing some exercises were very good to us, so we decided to walk along the beach, joining the rest of the students who had reached the wharf. It was such a long walk, but finally we made it. And I found a hidden view that you might have never seen.

Finishing the yummy lunch, I went with our classmates who loved fishing. They taught me some techniques on how to catch fish, but the result was disappointing.

However, one of them caught a big strange fish, and I don't know how to call it. It is the best moment when you focus on doing something that you are keen on and the result you are happy with.

I really had a good time there, and I looked forward to another one. Here are more photos!!

Week 7, Oral Blog Entry 4 - Picture Comparison

Both of these pictures are related to markets. The first one is of a bright, clean super market. The second one is of a local market which is full of people. As you can see from the first one, obviously it has a cleaner and better shopping environment. I think most people would like to spend their time looking around in such a comfortable place. Comparing the two pictures, I can say that the super market has more choices, and you may even find some kinds of goods that are not from local area. However, shopping in the local market also has benefits. Negotiating with the seller may help you to have a cheaper price for the same stock. I would probably choose the super market because of the better services and my poor negotiating skills. I'd rather pay a bit more to enjoy my shopping time. Although I know a lot of older people may prefer the local market that they are familiar with.

Week 8, Text Based Blog Entry 6 - Domestic News Headlines

New drug trial gives hope to couples suffering recurrent miscarriages. Here is the link to the full article. The research is taken in New Zealand, England and Scotland. The studies show using a combination of asprin and heparin can help women to have more succeful prenancies than those who do not receive any. It also shows it would be benifical to combine these two. Isabella, now six-month-old, is a successful example. Mrs Capunitan said the new drug had offered her hope after 3 miscarriages. And she believes the drug combination was the key aspect for her pregnancy. Now, there are five New Zealand women involved in the testing. The results suggest the drug takes positive effects on them. If the testing can be proved successful, it could help up to 300 women in all three countries. The researchers hope to have definitive results in the coming year.

Week 8, Oral Blog Entry 5 - Domestic News Headlines

I heard this story on Morning Report on National Radio on Monday April 30th.
There are 6 stories during the report.

The Herald: 2 stories
Dominion Post: 2 stories
the Press: 1 story
Otago Daily Times: 1 story

Well, let's look at the front page, the transcription is "the new drug trial offering hope to the women with the history of miscarriages."

Here are three pronunciations features which I noticed in colour:

Consonant to vowel link:
the new/∂/
Extra linking sounds:
history of /ri/
Weak forms of prepositions, articles, modal verbs, auxiliary verb:
The new drug trail offering hope to women with the history of miscarriages./∂/