Article: Chilean Miners rescued after two months trapped in mine in Copiapo

Chilean Miners rescued after two months trapped in mine in Copiapo

            by Zachary Chin

October 15^th, 2010

            On August 5^th, 33 miners in Copiapo, a Chilean city a few hundred miles north of Santiago, were trapped due to a cave-in that sprung Chilean President Pinera and mining minister Golborne into action. Officials began leading rescue efforts by drilling bore holes where they believed the miners to be.

            On August 22^nd, drilling efforts reached the miners, confirmed with an attached note to the end of the drill stating that there were 33 men split into 3 groups to eat and sleep, and more importantly, that they were okay. Once the location of the miners was discovered, rescue workers began to lower essentials down to the group such as water and food, relieving some of the larger concerns about the health of the miners.

            Comments on ABC News reflected deep fear that the miners would not be rescued until Christmas. The authors’ thoughts and prayers went out to the victims of the cave-in, but little did they know, the day of rescue would come much sooner. Throughout September, correspondence and transportation of supplies continued including motivational T-Shirts, a small projector designed to display a Chilean fútbol game, and an enormous health package filled with tanks of oxygen and tools for communication with the outside world.

Rescue workers lower the second of Phoenix capsules

            Come the beginning of October, officials announced that a rescue mission for all miners would be coming soon. The miners rejoiced when the tip of the drill broke through the 1 km tunnel on October 9^th, and learned two days later that their rescue would be coming soon.

            Viewers from across the globe observed the ordeal and maintained hope that the miners would be rescued, but the consequences of the cave-in were not kept in focus as much as the survival of the 33. The mayor of Copiapo announced before the process of the rescue that the miners’ families intended to sue the government for varying amounts of money.

            The legal action taken by the suffering families illustrates tension between working class individuals and their governments, and many wait to learn the more serious steps  that will be taken after the elation of returning home.

             

Review: The Social Network

The Social Network: A well-timed, well done cinematic gem
by Zachary Chin

October 10th, 2010

Facebook is far more than a $30 billion dollar company and popular employer of extraordinarily talented computer programmers and marketing geniuses. Facebook is a global tool for social interaction of all types. Whether it is used for day-to-day communication with friends and family or a tool to gather supporters for a charitable cause, Facebook has become a staple for any person or group trying to reach out to others in a quick and effective fashion. Its growing importance caught eyes of movers and shakers in the entertainment industry, and it was only a matter of time before we saw its controversial childhood depicted on the silver screen.

The Social Network paints a complex portrait of a computer whiz kid while hinting at a certain ‘whodunnit?’ type of character exploration. The script is designed to allow the audience to decide who possessed the ideas that led to Facebook’s success, and what regulations should be implemented when discussing intellectual property. Aaron Sorkin claims that he does “not want to demonize” any group or individual involved in the creation of facebook. Instead, he more or less exposes the missteps and misdeeds of all of the characters involved in the rise of facebook as an international staple.

The only true sympathetic character is Eduardo Savrin, Mark’s best friend and aspiring business man who wrote the original equation that started Zuckerberg’s popularity explosion. Yet, the elitist attitudes and superiority complexes of the other characters render Savrin an unremarkable leave-behind of the Facebook team. The Winklevoss twins, the perfect scholar athletes, epitomize the idea of modern day renaissance men as rowers and members of the Porcelian. Zuckerberg has a keen sense of human nature as well as an innate ability to write and delegate thousands of lines of code to produce his brainchild. Justin Timberlake plays an irresponsible older brother figure to the rising superstar that infuriated Eduardo by rendering his shares public.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4152690201/ - The Social Network provides a helpful introduction to both the topic of the film as well as Jesse Eisenberg's interpretation of Mark Zuckerberg

Regardless of the lack of belonging that a movie watcher feels among the characters in it, the fast paced script and captivating grey toned cinematography made for an excellent cinematic experience. Facebook’s key components were explored in the film and viewers were able to understand their origin, or at least the movie’s portrayal of it. The chapters are linear, but the manner in which viewers are given information about the role each person played in the creation of the social network is far from simple and truly challenges the concepts of free and fair use, the nature if intellectual property, and the ethics of business in a digital age. For its characterizations, relevance, and ability to captivate, The Social Network is now under “favorite movies” in my Facebook profile.

Article: New iPhone May Face Fierce Competition from HTC Incredible

New iPhone to Face Fierce Competition from HTC Incredible

            by Zachary Chin

June 12th, 2010

            Apple has announced its release of the iPhone 4 to be June 24^th, less than two weeks from today. The official announcement finally gained legitimacy when Steve Jobs claimed that the iPhone 4 would have the biggest differences from the rest of its kind, suggesting that the improvements made will be well worth the wait.

            Customers eagerly await new technology such as the front-facing camera, streaming video on both Wifi and 3G networks, and a brand new physical design. The installment will likely be the last product that AT&T has exclusivity with as a network, for the deal the two corporations made has nearly run its course. Other networks, such as Verizon Wireless, are expected to vie for a place onboard the seeming unstoppable Apple bandwagon.

The iPhone 4 will be available in both white and black skins
and will have a new, thinner design.

            Yet, with the economy in its fragile state and consumers looking to save dollars in as many ways as possible, can we expect the same craze for new iPhones this summer when they will be as expensive as ever and the HTC Droid series as possible competitors?

            Verizon stores have been clearing the shelves of the HTC Droid Incredible and Droid X, and iPhone’s success has not yet hindered that of the HTC series. Though brand is an important aspect and Apple has laid claim to that advantage, the cost of the HTC smart phones is dramatically less and may hinder iPhone 4 sales when its release occurs.

Boasting well-acclaimed features and price, the HTC smart phones may not have the brand-war won, but they certainly provide a popular alternative for consumers not looking to spend money on the iPhone or switch their plan from Verizon to AT&T.  

Despite any kind of price speculation, the explosion of word-of-mouth excitement and the lighting of blogs about the new Apple product is often what drive consumer to the white-walled stores. In a recent poll conducted by zcchronicle.com in Manchester, 7 out of 10 consumers claimed that they not only are they comfortable paying more for a phone if it is an Apple product, but intend to buy the iPhone 4 when it is released.

In less than two weeks when the iPhone 4 is released, Apple hopes that the value of HTC phones will not hinder their revenue and strike and unprecedented event where enormous amount of consumers avoid flocking to the shelves of Apple stores across the nation. 

Article: The Biggest Box Office Hit Ever: Avatar Going for Round Two?

The Biggest Box Office Hit Ever: Avatar Going for Round Two?

            by Zachary Chin

April 15th, 2010

            James Cameron’s Avatar was the highest grossing film to ever appear on the silver screen, and at the start of the New Year, Avatar’s facebook page and bloggers on MTV’s website quoted a very interesting statement from Cameron about a possible sequel, adding what many believe would be another heavy-hitter for the box office.

            Cameron said to MTV that he has a “larger story in mind” for Jake and Neytiri, the movie’s in-focus characters. The first film chronicled Jake’s journey from cultural ignorance to complete assimilation with the Navii of Pandora. It came off as a sort of Pocahontas tale with Neytiri as the native princess, teaching the naïve Jake the many customs necessary to survive in her world.

Bloggers believe Jake and Neytiri, pictured here sharing
a close moment over archery, will be having children in
the Avatar sequel.

            Bloggers on MTV made it very clear that they would welcome a sequel and want to learn a little bit more about “what the Navii heritage was and the history of the various landmarks such as Hometree.” Facebook contributors to the Avatar page made clear that they want to focus on the central storyline, continuing the progression from the end of the first film. One commenter claimed that a good portion of the film’s success will come from “Jake and Neytiri having children.”

            Since Cameron’s first installment of Avatar took over a decade to complete, it stands to reason that viewers can expect a sequel no earlier than 2014 or 2015. Despite the length of time, excitement about the continuation of the Avatar franchise has been substantial. Though other projects stand between Cameron and his labor on the new movie, he has been forthcoming about his intentions to continue the story.

 The director himself expressed his interest in exploring more of the life on Pandora, particularly the oceans. Movie-goers can expect an exciting addition to the Avatar saga that will take the famous story to the depths of the seas.

            

Editorial: The Effects of The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation

The Effects of The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation
            by Zachary Chin


June 10th, 2009


        The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, a supplement to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (better known as NAFTA), has been the catalyst for many grievances surrounding labor and employment. The goal of the agreement was to allow for massive deregulation, such as tariff reduction or elimination, which, in turn, would increase trade among Canada, Mexico & the U.S. The new agreement has had only modest impact on the relationship between Canada and the U.S., but the effect on U.S. and Mexico has been immense.

The explosive growth of low wage factories in Mexico, as a result of the new opportunities for American businesses to outsource, has dramatically reduced the number of American jobs, as well as impairing the health and well-being of many employed Mexicans in the “maquiladoras” (factories that manufacture a foreign client’s goods) that do not adequately protect their workforce. Deregulation has been bitterly criticized by Americans who have lost their jobs or have had their wages suppressed, as well as those who have witnessed or felt the harm to Mexican laborers and the damage to the environment in Mexico.

Between 1994 and 2002, the Economic Policy Institute reported that NAFTA had resulted in a net loss of 879,000 jobs in the United States, 80% of which were in manufacturing. Those companies who did not move to Mexico used outsourcing as a threat to gain leverage over workers and labor unions. Because the American workers wanted to keep their jobs, the owners of these companies were able to hold down wages.

South of the border, thousands of manufacturing plants have been operating to serve American companies and have delivered dramatic increases in the profit margins. There are those who believe that, while the laborers in the United States were harmed by the Labor Agreement, the unprecedented outsourcing of American businesses has helped employment along the border. Yet, the competition for work among Mexican laborers at these maquiladoras has kept wages very low – about $2.30 per hour in U.S.-equivalence according to Ellwyn Stoddard, a professor at University of Texas El Paso and an expert on Mexican borderlands culture.

The labor conditions of these maquiladoras pose another deep concern. Without adequate health and safety regulations, such as those provided by OSHA in the U.S., the American Medical Association labels these Mexican factories "a virtual cesspool and breeding ground for infectious disease.” The workers in the maquiladoras have been subject to numerous respiratory diseases due to the air pollution in the factories. While Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product has grown healthily as a result of NAFTA, the welfare and long-term livelihood of the Mexican laborers are still much in doubt.

In the end, does NAFTA’s labor supplement boil down to the U.S. trading away jobs for healthier corporate sales and profits?  Does the global competitiveness of American firms always require such a horrifying Faustian bargain, where Americans face unemployment, while their jobs, along with labor and environmental abuse, are shipped to our neighbor?  The United States must consider a more holistic concept of trade, beyond the exchange of goods and services, beyond global competition and trade surpluses and deficits.  Jobs are, in and of themselves, precious assets too, not just the revenue or earnings growth they produce for corporate America.  Moreover, turning a blind eye to labor and environmental neglect in Mexico will have downstream consequences to both trading partners.

Article: Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme yields greater consequences

Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme yields greater consequences
     by Zachary Chin

January 4th, 2009

     Police arrived on the scene early Tuesday Morning to find Rene-Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet, a victim of Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme, dead in his apartment after losing over $1 billion to the Madoff Investment Securities LLC hoax.

     Reports say De la Villehuchet used a box-cutter to make lacerations on his wrists after overdosing on sleeping pills. The scene introduces a horrific element of the backlash of Madoff’s corporate crime. De la Villehuchet’s ties to the French aristocracy, his membership in the New York Yacht Club, and his passion for high-priced investments made him a perfect target for Madoff.
     Madoff allegedly coerced high rolling executives and aristocrats into using his hedge fund, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, to manage their money. He had them deposit their money into his personal account, reported fake figures that far exceeded realistic returns, and in his own words: “used the money in the Chase Manhattan bank account that belonged to them or other clients to pay the requested funds.”

Madoff in his New York City office circa 1999, around the time
Henry Markopolos began trying to expose the corporate scheme. 

    Victims like De la Villehuchet were shocked to discover that the reported returns were not backed by real money, and that they had been misled in a pyramid style scheme. In 1999, there were already serious concerns about the returns that the hedge fund had been reporting. Since then, there had been multiple requests for the Security and Exchange Commission to investigate Madoff’s business, but the corporate scheme continued until Madoff privately confessed to his son that the entire fund was “one grand lie.” 

     Henry Markopolos was the first to try to expose Madoff’s practices and was responsible for multiple attempts to alert the SEC. Yet, his whistle-blowing tactics went unrecognized despite numerous examples of how the figures reported by the investment fund were statistically inconsistent and “literally impossible”.
     Madoff now sits in house arrest in his Upper East Side penthouse apartment while victims are left to recover their lost funds and cope with their broken spirits. Madoff is set to go on trial in March of this year and is being charged on numerous counts of fraud, obstruction, and perjury.

Article: Ben Affleck expresses mixed feelings about McCain’s defense of Obama

Ben Affleck expresses mixed feelings about McCain’s defense of Obama

      by Zachary Chin

October 29^th, 2008

           

            Actor/director Ben Affleck appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher and provided a fresh perspective on the recent defense of Senator Barack Obama by McCain. Affleck criticized the popularized dialectic between people of Arabic descent and the term “decent people.” What Affleck finds disturbing is not only the false labeling of Obama as a “Muslim” or “Arab”, but also the assumption by so many that these terms imply poor character and indecency.  

Weeks ago, supporters of Senator John McCain collectively booed their candidate at a rally in Lakeville, Minnesota after McCain parried an attack by a woman who attended the rally who claimed Obama could not be trusted because he was “an Arab.” The crowd groaned at McCain’s defense of his opponent and his assertion that voters should be “respectful.” With November not far away, heated attacks by both candidates have been popular, and McCain’s sudden shift away from the fray evidently disappointed a stadium packed with republican voters from Minnesota.  

Known left-leaning public figures such as Rachel Maddow have come forth to say McCain has taken the high road and that he should be commended for his integrity. His defense of his opponent did not go unrecognized, and many believe that McCain did the right thing in dialing back the attacks on Obama.

Links to videos:

 McCain booed at rally in Lakeville, MN

 Ben Affleck's take on the perception of Muslims and Arabs in the United States

Others, like Affleck, are not as easily convinced that McCain is having the right argument with his supporters. Responding to the woman’s concern, McCain shook his head and replied that Obama was a “decent, family man.” Affleck is concerned that in McCain’s defense of his opponent, he made the implication that Arabs could not be decent people, for McCain did not respond simply by correcting her perception of Obama’s ethnicity.

Fox National News has devoted over ten segments to exposing Obama’s true heritage. Some argue that he is a Muslim or is of Middle-Eastern descent and others claim he is not, but many shrug their shoulders and ask “So what?” According to Affleck, McCain’s response to the woman’s attack on Senator Obama just reiterated the same language that there is a natural opposition between Arabic people and trustworthiness.

With disgruntled republicans criticizing McCain’s defense of Obama from the right, and others criticizing his method of defense, support for the Senator may suffer as voting day draws near.

Article: Senator Clinton criticizes Obama’s softness on Farrakhan

Senator Clinton criticizes Obama’s softness on Farrakhan
            by Zachary Chin


February 28th, 2008


       During Tuesday night’s debate, New York senator Hillary Clinton criticized her opponent, Illinois Senator Barack Obama for what she believed to be a lack of conviction in Obama’s denunciation of Louis Farrakhan’s support for his campaign.
       Farrakhan is notorious for his extreme anti-Semitic views and his leadership in the Nation of Islam*. Many suspect Farrakhan to have been involved in the murder of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (commonly known as Malcolm X) because of the civil rights leader’s sudden shift away from the politics of black supremacy. In his comments following Shabazz’s death, Farrakhan neither confirmed nor denied the suspicion, but instead used the opportunity to communicate a message of warning and intimidation.

Farrakhan during a speech regarding the 
death of El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz 

       Obama immediately retorted Clinton’s accusation of his softness on Farrakhan by saying that he has “denounced” the support offered. The back-and-forth continued after Senator Clinton distinguished the terms “denounce” and “reject”, the latter of which she thought Obama should have done in his comments directed at Farrakhan.
       Bloggers began chiming in during the debate, claiming that this sort of bickering was not conducive to a good discussion and that Clinton should just “cut the chatter and get to the issues”, said one commenter. The New York senator’s distinction of terms, evidently, did not register with voters quite as well as she may have suspected.
     The final talking point on the issue came from senator Obama, who replied to Clinton by saying that denouncing support implies rejection, but to put the issue to bed, he announced his formal denunciation and rejection to Farrakhan’s support to a live audience and the viewers at home.
     Though hardly a bump in the road for Obama’s campaign, the suggestion that perhaps Obama is not as ideologically opposed to black supremacists raises the question of how big of a problem are these issues going to be for the Illinois senator as his campaign continues. Some accusations about his place of birth, religion, and experiences with drugs have already appeared. If successful in earning the democratic nomination, senator Obama may face increased attacks from right-wing figures leading up to the general election.


*Despite its comprehensive sounding name, The Nation of Islam does not by any means encompass the entirety of the Muslim community, nor does it reflect identical values and beliefs as the general Muslim community. Both groups draw their ideological bases from the Qu’ran, but The Nation of Islam refers to a specific movement involving figures such as Elijah Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan, and Malcolm X.