Chon Buri Perspective

Nintendo. This little piece of technology is probably one of the most valued inventions of the 20th century. It is adored by millions ranging from kids all the way to adults (who probably should have stopped playing years ago). From one amazing innovation, grew this entire gaming community that's devoted to playing, creating newer, better gaming boxes and games, and competing gaming companies. Nintendo video games are definitely a phenomenon of the 20th century. For god sakes, there's an entire store devoted to Nintendo!
Phenomena consist of things, framework, and clockworks. Also all phenomena have a marked beginning, a genesis. Nintendo contains all these factors. Let me break it down.

GENESIS:
Let’s begin with the source. Where did Nintendo originate? What is it’s beginning? Believe it or not Nintendo started with playing cards called Hanafunda. The original Hanafunda were hand made out of mulberry tree bark. These cards could be used to play a number of different games. The owners of Nintendo, Fusajiro Yamauchi and later his son-in-law Sekiryo Kaneda, were very business driven, coming up with new and innovative enterprises (www.nintendoland.com). The one that made a difference was obviously Nintendo video games.

Hanafuda cards

1) THINGS: Physical entities that exist in the sensation of our experiences and impact our senses (Saloojee).

Here are all the things that create the Nintendo “atmosphere�:

a. Controllers
b. Nintendo box
c. Games
d. TV
e. Cords

2) FRAMEWORKS: a set of ideas, principles, agreements, or rules that provides the basis or outline for something intended to be more fully developed at a later stage
(www.msnencarta.com).

I think that the framework for Nintendo was based on technology and entertainment. Entertainment was a big drive in the Nintendo company. They created concepts that focused on amusement, fun, and games. As for technology, Nintendo paved the way for the video game industry.

3) CLOCKWORKS: Framework in which fixed number of things start with a given set of mutual relationships, go through changes in periodic manner and keep returning to an original set of relationship. It is also stable and predictable (Saloojee).

Obviously, the inner workings Nintendo video games are predictable because they run on programs that direct specific commands. If you press this button, your character jumps. Or if you press the other, he runs….you get the idea. The outcomes of the games aren’t predictable, but the actions and consequences are predictable.

Nintendo created a huge video game following. It’s made video games one of the most popular past times. Whether this is a positive or negative phenomenon depends on who you ask. For the majority of the population, they would probably tell you it’s one of the best innovations of all time. So even if you despise Nintendo and what it’s created, you still can’t deny the fact that Nintendo is a huge phenomenon.

Posted by patty khamdam at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Right now in my extremely busy, non-social life, there is one place that I can always manage to go; that place is the TV room. Yes, this place may sound quite insignificant; however, this is the place that I spend most of time. I can go into that room to relax, escape, and become trapped. Let’s see… I take most of my naps there, watch TV, do homework, play games, read, draw, and think. Everyone in the house calls it my room because I spend the most time out of anyone there. And even though they call it my room, it is a community room. It’s where we all gather on Sunday -well now Thursday- to watch our show. It’s where we all sit and catch up with each other’s lives. That’s another reason I love it so much.
Besides the bathroom, the TV room is the smallest room in the house. I would call it very cozy. Seating option is at a minimal. There’s one small couch, one rocking chair, and the floor. This way everyone is close and makes the room more intimate. On sunny days, the large window allows the room to fill up with light; it is very beautiful. On rainy or cloudy days, the TV room is the best atmosphere to take a nap. One other really special aspect about this room is that it encapsulates the décor and attitude of the entire house. Look in this one room, and a stranger gets a very good idea of the rest of the house. Yes, the room is very “old lady� (that’s from its previous owner); however, it also screams college house. The mismatched furniture, all the Nintendo paraphernalia, and random decorations. I find this mismatched aspect very endearing. We all joke, laugh, and appreciate it.
As unimportant as this room may seem, the TV room is my place. When this experience is over, I will associate this tiny, mismatched TV room to my college years.

Continue reading "Meaningful Place" »

Posted by patty khamdam at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Going to the Midtown Market, I noticed that this midwestern market was strangely reminiscent of the markets I've experienced in Thailand. It reminded me of when I would go to the market with my family back in Thailand. In a way it made me sad because I miss those times, but I also appreciated the fact that it brought back the memories and feelings. From this excursion to a local market, I was able to discover a “close� connection between two worlds very near to my heart.
Yes, culturally there are very big differences between the two places; however, the energy (the hustle, bustle, and purpose of the market and the people) is extremely similar. Of course I wouldn't be able to find the same specific products, even though I wish I could; yet, the same types of things are still present in both markets. Random product such as: fruits, vegetables, jewelry, clothes, etc. Both places are filled with people walking about shopping, observing, vending, eating, etc. The excitement exuding from all the people at the Midtown Market was the same.
The creation and exchange of energy is also the same between the Midtown Market and the markets in Thailand. When individuals are interacting through bargaining; buying; selling; laughing; etc., energy is created and exchanged. Energy is also created when people are absorbed by their surrounding. When one tiny movement occurs, energy is created. The list could continue for a long time.

Thai market

Thai market

Midtown market

Midtown market

Posted by patty khamdam at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)