BLOG 8 INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

International Media : The Himalayan Times (Nepal)

The Himalayan Times is an English-language newspaper distributed in Nepal. It is published by International Media Network Nepal Pvt. Ltd. It was founded in November 23, 2001. It is a Daily newspaper in a broadsheet format. It is published only in English language. The headquarter of The Himalayan Times is located in Anamnagar, Kathmandu which is the capital city of Nepal. The online version of the newspaper is also popular in Nepal. It is ranked as one of the most-visited websites in the country. The Himalayan Times is the highest-selling English broadsheet in Nepal. It has also been credited with putting the murderer Charles Sobhraj behind the bars by publishing his picture in a tourist hub of Kathmandu.

About the Himalayan Times

Basically, The Himalayan Times is one of the most famous and stable source of news and information in Nepal. It is targeted to those people who can read English but to those as well who come to visit out country and are not aware about the "Nepali" language. So, in that case this newspaper tends to be super useful as for the visitors to understand the current affairs going on in the country. According to me, the other main purpose of publishing this newspaper is to encourage more people to learn the English language so that they are able to read it. English is an universal language so there is no harm in people being encouraged to learn it. I like the fact that my country is promoting these things because it doesn't have any negative factor, rather it has so many positive points which should be understood and followed by people of my country. 

The website

                                       https://thehimalayantimes.com/

The website of The Himalayan Times is very popular in my country. It focuses on the current affairs going around in my country Nepal, worldwide news as well, and other basic knowledge on business, environments, entertainment, education, science and technology, travel, mobile and apps, automobile, health, food, lifestyle, women, fashion, and people.

TGIF

TGIF (Thank god it's Friday) is a newspaper that comes along with The Himalayan Times every Friday. In simple words, TGIF is the entertainment sector of the Newspaper. There are definitely fun things on The Himalayan Times as well but TGIF comes every Friday along with THT letting us know about the entertainment world of my country. 

TGIF has to be one of the major part of THT. It helps to keep the user hooked to the newspaper so that they are not only bombard with political, worldwide, or technological news. TGIF gives the overall idea of what the celebrities of the country are up to and who is new in the showbiz. Therefore, the whole idea of publishing TGIF every Friday along with The Himalayan Times is very refreshing.

Conclusion

The Himalayan Times has to be one of the most highlighted media related subject that is very important and popular as well. I have literally grown up reading this newspaper. Everyday, my father used to bring a bunch of newspapers from his work and I used to always grab on The Himalayan Times go through it. My favorite part about this newspaper used to be the horoscope page which was right on the end page and on Fridays my favorite part of THT was TGIF of course. Basically, in a developing country like Nepal, it is pretty amazing to see something have so much value and importance among the people. 

BLOG 7 SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media and older adults : Aging well 

The use of social media is significantly increasing among older adults with the 50 years and older group being the fastest growing demographic segment on the internet. In fact, internet users over the age of 55 are leading the growth in social network usage, according to a recent report from Nelsen, State of the Media. The picture below shows that seniors are joining Facebook, Twitter, and more, proving older adults are not too old for social media. 

In this info-graphic, it is clearly shown that Facebook is the social media that is mostly used by the older adults. I was surprised to see that Pinterest and Tumblr has also been used by the older adults because I've only seen most of the teenagers using it so this was a brand new information for me. 

It has also been said by the teenagers that because the older adults have been using Facebook so much so that they have loosen interest in using. I've myself heard a bunch of my friends saying the same thing. Teenagers nowadays prefer using Snapchat and Instagram mostly. But slowly, we can see that the older adults are moving on to those too. Not my parents but I've seen my friend's parents using Snapchat and Instagram almost as much as the teenagers do.

It is so different yet amazing to see that the older adults are becoming more active and showing the entire world that they can work their ways in things that teenagers are told to be good at. I like how they are not being dependent on us the teenagers and instead figuring out things on social media. Yes, they might have needed our help in the beginning but looks like they are working their way now.



                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPpfR3JtaPA

Basically, this video shows how much parents know about the Social Media. Well, it was obvious to see that the app they are most familiar with is Facebook. Towards the end of the video, one parent said about Facebook that "It is for old people, that's what my kids say". I think this statement is being said by most teenagers nowadays as we can see too many older adults on Facebook which can totally be the reason why the teens are going away from it and moving on to other social media that are not being used by the adults. The app they were completely unaware about was WhatsApp. It is obvious that they didn't know about it because even teenagers don't quite use this app so it's completely normal to see why the adults wouldn't use it too.

My view

According to me, the connection between social media and older adults is something that is evolving day by day. At first, it was weird to see older adults using the social media but later I got used to the fact that they can also be independent and not depend on anyone else as far as the use of social media is concerned. My parents have Facebook and they like using it but I would love for them to know about other social media as well and learn how to use them. We can see that slowly the use of social media among the older adults is increasing in a good way. The teenagers should understand that the older adults are not going to stop the usage of social media and instead they will be using even more in coming days as we can see that they are really enjoying it. 

BLOG 6 CRITIQUING A MEDIA CRITIC

IMDb : Movies, TV & Video Games Critique 

Type of Site : Online database for movies, television, and video games.

Owner : Amazon.

Creator : Col Needham (CEO).

Website : http://www.imdb.com/

Alexa rank : 47 (February 2017)

Launched On : October 17, 1990

Current Status : Active

More about IMDb

The full form of IMDb is Internet Movie Database. It is basically an online database of information related to films, television programs and video games. This includes cast, production crew, fictional characters, biographies, plot summaries, trivia, and reviews operated by IMDb.com, Inc., which is the subsidiary of Amazon. How IMBb works for the the actors and crew is easy to understand. The Actors and Crew can simply post their own resume and upload photos of themselves for a yearly fee. The US users can view over 6,000 movies and television shows from CBS, Sony, and various independent filmmakers. When IMDb was launched in 1990 by Col Needham, it was incorporated in the UK as Internet Movie Database Ltd in 1996 with revenue generated through advertising, licensing, and partnerships. Then in 1998 it became a subsidiary of Amazon Inc, who were able to use it as an advertising resource for selling DVD's and videotapes. However, from January 2017, IMDb has approximately 4.1 million titles and 7.7 million personalities in its database, as well as 70 million registered users. The other plus point of this site is that it enables users to submit new material and edits to existing entries. Even though all data is checked before going live, the system has been open to abuse and occasional errors are acknowledged. Users are also invited to rate any films on a scale of 1 to 10, and the totals are converted into a weighted mean-rating that is displayed beside each title, with online filters employed to deter ballot stuffing. The site also featured message boards which stimulate regular debates among authenticated users. IMDb had shutdown the message boards permanently on February 20, 2017.

Users reviewing IMDb on : https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.imdb.com

On 2/17/17, laura m. gave 4/5 stars to IMDb and said : "So precise! All the ratings and stars given to movies, tv shows, and events are so precise. Can fetch all the details regarding the cast and the team."
On 1/12/17, Roy B. gave 4/5 stars to IMDb and said : "Good! A place to search for movie reviews if you're hesitating whether to watch or not. Can have some "paid" ratings, but it is good in overall."
On 11/10/16, Sam W. gave 5/5 stars to IMDb and said : "Informative! I use this often to decide whether I want to watch a particular movie or not. The only problem for me is that some movies have ratings much bigger than they got in fact."

My review for IMDb

I personally think that IMDb is one of the most useful entity in the sector of media. Over the years, it has been very helpful to people and they have been liking it as well as using it. I honestly found out about this last year while looking for a critique for my media related assignment. But now when I got a chance to explore more about it, I find it to be a very sensible and important site to view movies, television programs, or video games. Sometimes before watching a certain movie I go through IMDb just incase to make sure that I am not wasting any time watching that particular movie. IMDb gives a correct sense of review and helps the user understand how it works. I would definitely give 4/5 for this site as it is helpful in many ways.

BLOG 5 MOVIES

The Jungle Book (Animated 1967) vs The Jungle Book (Live action animated 2016)

The Jungle Book (Animated 1967)                                          

• Produced by Walt Disney.
• Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's book.
• 19th Disney animated feature film.
• Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman.

Plot : The plot of this movie follows Mowgli, a feral child raised in the Indian jungle by wolves, as his friends Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear try to convince him to leave the jungle before the evil tiger Shere Khan arrives.

Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNVTKXIK7q8&t=92s

The Jungle Book (Live action animated 2016)

• Produced by Walt Disney
• Directed and co-produced by Jon Favreau.
• Written by Justin Marks.
• Live action/CGI film.

Plot : It tells the story of Mowgli, an orphaned human boy who, guided by his animal guardians, sets out on a journey of self-discovery while evading the threatening Shere Khan. 

Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcgJRQWxKnw

                                                       Comparison

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK2yuSQbIjI

Basically, these movies both are very entertaining and well presented in their own ways. Obviously, both consists of the same story plot but the major differences among the two include the version. One is animated and the other is live action animated. There is a huge difference between these two entities. Animated movies are ones in which individual drawings, paintings, or illustrations that are photographed frame by frame. Whereas live action animated movies is a genre that combines both live action with traditional animation or computer animation sequences that add to the plot or sequence of films which can include portraying animated characters interacting with cast members.

Animation has an endless stream of possibilities that cannot be restricted by any such laws of our simple physical dimension.  Animation can stretch across the fabrics of space and time, and even many popular "live action" movies are made with special effect animating. Animating represents infinity, which is a pretty neat concept in itself.  Animation also takes much more work and effort as live action shots only require the movement of a body part or a stunt double to do something crazy, while there are an incredible amount of artists focused on drawing each individual frame, as well as matching audio with visual elements to blend together a spectacular show of emotion and reality. Some animations have given the style a bad name, or bad taste temporarily, but in my opinion, animation is just that much cooler.

My View

I've watch both of these movies and I thoroughly enjoyed both. But if I had to choose one over the other, I would choose the 2016 live action animated version. I am not quiet fond of animated movie so I would prefer the other one. I am not saying that I dislike the animated version, but I feel that the new version is the better one. I have watched it 2 times already and I wouldn't mind watching it again without getting bored. I think the awesome and unique live animated version made me like that movie even more. 

BLOG 4 TECHNOLOGY

Hoverboard 

• Fictional levitating board used for personal transportation.
• It was first described by author M. K. Joseph in 1967.
• It was created by Robert Zemeckis.
• It was popularized by the Back to the Future film franchise.
• The Hoverboard concept has been used by many authors in various forms of media.

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4yiO1Cmv4

A hoverboard (or hover board) is a fictional levitating board used for personal transportation, first described by author M. K. Joseph in 1967 and popularized by the Back to the Future  film franchise. Hoverboards are generally depicted as resembling a skateboard without wheels. During the 1990s there were rumors, fueled by director Robert Zemeckis that hoverboards were in fact real, but not marketed because they were deemed too dangerous by parents' groups. These rumors have been conclusively debunked. The hoverboard concept has been used by many authors in various forms of media.

Guinness World Records recognizes the term hoverboard to include autonomously powered personal levitators. In May 2015, the Romania-born Canadian inventor Cătălin Alexandru Duru set a Guinness World Record by travelling a distance of 275.9 m (302 yd) at heights up to 5 m (16 ft) over a lake, on an autonomously powered hoverboard of his own design. On April 30, 2016, Guinness World Records recognized a new record of 2,252.4 m. The Flyboard Air was powered by jet engine propulsion, and its use allowed Franky Zapata, in Sausset-les-Pins, France to beat the previous record by nearly 2 km. Another method of achieving self-levitation is superconductivity, used by the Slide  hoverboard.

Price

It's impossible to say how much a real hoverboard, like the one seen in Back to the Future II, costs because none are currently commercially available. On the other hand, the prices for scooters calling themselves hoverboards can start from as little as $300. Prices of current popular models: IO Hawk $499.99.

        According to: http://selfbalancingreviews.com/hoverboard-prices/

Review

Hoverboard is one of the coolest technology especially for the teenagers. It is easy to function and is not at all complicated. I've used a Hoverboard once and I thought that it was super fun. These days it is very difficult to find a technology that is as cool and easy as this one. Therefore, I think Hoverboard is a nice technolgy and I would definitely like to use it again. 

BLOG 3 LIFESTYLE OR POP CULTURE

Momo (Dumpling)

I am an international student here at SAU. I am from Nepal, a landlocked central Himalayan country in South Asia. I've been here at SAU for two and a half years now. There are a lot of things I miss about home. From food, to various beautiful places, to the culture and tradition. I simply miss everything about home. In this blog I would like to mention one major thing that I miss about home. It is a food called MOMO.

What is momo?

Momo (Nepali : मम; Nepal Bhasa : ममचा) is a type of South Asian dumpling: native to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim state and Darjeeling district of India. Momo is a type of steamed bun with some form of filling. Momo has become a traditional delicacy in Nepal, Tibet and among Nepalese/Tibetan communities in Bhutan, as well as Sikkim state and Darjeeling district of India. It is one of the most popular fast foods in Nepal. Momos have also spread to other countries like United States (some parts), UK and India.

How is it made?

A simple white-flour-and-water dough is generally preferred to make the outer momo covering. Sometimes, a little yeast or baking soda is added to give a more doughy texture to the finished product. Traditionally, momo is prepared with ground/minced meat filling, but over the past several years, this has changed and the fillings have become more elaborate. These days, momo is prepared with virtually any combination of ground meat, vegetables, tofu, paneer cheese, soft chhurpi (local hard cheese) and vegetable and meat combinations.

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI-m_EHsQUU

Varieties

There are typically two types of momo, steamed and fried. Momo is usually served with a dipping sauce (locally called chutney/achhar), normally made with tomato as the base ingredient. Soup momo is a dish with steamed momo immersed in a meat broth. Pan-fried momo is also known as kothey momo. Steamed momo served in hot sauce is called C-momo. Newly formed types of momos are the green momos and open momos. 

Verdict

I personally love Momos. It is definitely one of my all time favorite dish. I can never have enough of it, ever. I went back home last winter for 25 days of vacation. When I was there for those days, not a single day of my vacation passed by without having Momos. I pretty much ate Momos every single day and sometimes twice a day. It was a good 25 days of my life. I had a great time. I would give 5/5 for this dish as it is my favorite.

BLOG 2 TELEVISION

Keeping Up with the Kardashians 

Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an American reality television series that airs on the E! cable network. It focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian-Jenner blended family.

•  Genre : Reality television
•  Created by : Ryan Seacrest
•  Original Release : October 14, 2007
•   Starring : Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Kourtney, Kim, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall, Kylie Jenner, Scott Disick, Kanye West
• Number of Seasons : 12
• Number of episodes : 181
• Location : Los Angeles, California
• Running time : 22 minutes (season 1-6), 42 minutes (season 7-present)

Keeping Up with the Kardashians (often abbreviated KUWTK) is an American reality television series that airs on the E! cable network. The show focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian–Jenner blended family. Its premise originated with Ryan Seacrest, who also serves as an executive producer. The series debuted on October 14, 2007 and has subsequently become one of the longest-running reality television series in the country; the thirteenth season of the show premiered on March 12, 2017.

The series focuses mainly on sisters Kim, Kourtney, Khloe Kardashian, and their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. It also features their parents Kris and Caitlyn Jenner (previously known as Bruce Jenner), and brother Rob Kardashain. The significant others of the Kardashian sisters have also appeared on the show, including Kourtney's boyfriend Scott Disick and Khloé's ex-husband Lamar Odom. Caitlyn's son Brody made cameo appearances in the early seasons before joining the show to appear regularly, along with his brother Brandon, and Brandon's wife, Leah. Kim's friend Jonathan Cheban and Khloé's friend Malika Haqq have also been part of the show.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians has received very poor critical reviews since its premiere. It is often criticized for the high degree of emphasis on the "famous for being famous" concept, and for appearing to fabricate some aspects of its storylines. Several critics also noted the show's lack of intelligence, and described the family as "self-absorbed" and "desperate" for fame. However, some critics recognized the reality series as a "guilty pleasure" and acknowledged the family's success. Despite the negative reviews, Keeping Up with the Kardashians has attracted high viewership ratings, becoming one of the network's most successful shows and winning several audience awards.

The series' success has led additionally to the creation of numerous spin-off series, including: Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Khloe & Lamar, Kourtney and Khloe Take The Hamptoms, Dash Dolls, and, most recently, Rob and Chyna. The network has also broadcast several television specials featuring special events involving members of the family.

Season 1 intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41C8CbMyFDo

New Season intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Mbov0qht8

My view

I personally think that Keeping Up with the Kardashains is an entertaining show. People who like drama and full on entertainment should definitely watch this show. The series mainly focuses on sisters Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Over the years, millions of things has changed in their lives. From the intro of their series to the people they are involved with, everything has changed in a vast manner. These type of changes tend to make the show more interesting. I used to watch this show when I was back home and I have continued to watch this show after I got here as well. The best part about this show for me is that the entire cast is funny and witty in their own ways. My personal favorite character of the show are Khloe and Scott. I think both of then are slightly more funny and entertaining than the rest of the clan. Overall, I am very much fond of this show and I hope it continues to entertain us further.