Verizon advertisement: Answering the call

The advertisement released by Verizon features audio played of various individuals who have previously been rescued by first responders. The individuals each call the people responsible for saving their lives and identify themselves with them by explaining what the rescue was as the rescuers are not able to remember each and every person they have saved in the past.

The audio of each phone call is accompanied by the pictures of the moment each caller is rescued. This addresses pathos. It attempts to make the audience feel sympathy for the callers but at the same time, proud and delighted that this opportunity was given to them to get in touch with the people who saved their lives. Having still pictures rolling in the background allows the viewer to really get into the atmosphere and plays with the viewer's thoughts giving them a better feel for what the atmosphere was like.

The advertisement addresses logos by linking the first responders with the people they have rescued. It shows the importance of our first responders. The very first firefighter called responded immediately with “oh my God. You kinda caught me off guard here.” as the caller identified herself as someone he rescued 4 years ago. This shows that our first responders are greatly unappreciated and receive hardly if any, acknowledgment or appreciation from the victims they have rescued despite doing what they do for a living and saving lives every day.

Verizon, being a service provider, secures ethos at the end, with the line "They answer the call. Our job is to make sure they can get it". Through this, the company is stating their involvement with first responders. They are portraying themselves to the audience as a vital part in saving lives by connecting those that need urgent help, to those who can help. 

            

This We'll Defend

My stepdad served the US Army as a ranger.
My dad served the Singapore army as an armor infanteer then as a police officer.
I have served the Singapore army as an infanteer, and this commercial hit me hard.
I feel like the men and women in uniform of this country are represented poorly by media, especially news providers. They are not just robots who are produced in a factory. They are not programmed to do something and follow without emotion. They are very real human beings who live their own individual lives. They are real people that have flesh covered in skin. They feel, physically and emotionally, like everybody else.

The nation's flag means so much to us. It's not just a piece of cloth. It's more than just a simple symbol. It represents victory and pride. Power and our strength. It represents us.  It is the last thing we see on the coffin of a fallen brother or sister.  Protesters who burn the nation's flag here are extremely lucky that the government considers it "freedom of speech". That's all it is, luck. I understand that they are upset with the government, but an attack on the flag is NOT an attack on the government. It is an attack on your home, your family, and friends. It is an attack on you.

This commercial was created by Grunt Style, an organization run by veterans who design apparel. The commercial was originally supposed to be aired for the super bowl but they couldn't make the financial commitment.

My other hobby. Somewhat...

I remember many years ago my parents bought me a little camera for my 9th birthday. At least I believe it was my 9th. Anyway, that sparked an interest in me to start taking photos of almost everything and anything. I would play with different angles and lighting but eventually, that interest died off. A few months ago I had once again grown an interest in photography, more specifically aerial photography. While I do enjoy taking pictures outside the airplane when I'm in the air, I also enjoy creating videos of certain milestone flights that I have done. Here is one of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkhMudc9coU&t=5s

This short film is from my long solo flight requirement for my commercial certificate. It was a flight from Lewis to Cape Girardeau to Carbondale and back to Lewis. It is the longest flight I have ever completed solo and it was an amazing experience. I hope you enjoy the video!

Video filmed and edited by me,

Music: Tove Lo - Habits(Stay High) - Hippie Sabotage remix

A new experience...

So I've recently been given the opportunity to work in the aviation department as a student worker. Basically as an office boy helping out with paperwork and whatever else the faculty and staff may need help with. This is a position that I've been hoping to get for a while now and I have finally gotten it! This is the first job I've had since my time in the army in Singapore. The atmosphere in the office is welcoming, with an amazing group of people who run it.

I believe this experience is going to help me better understand how the aviation department works and that I may possibly play a part in helping the department assist its students in any way that I can. I believe that the experiences I gain here are going to be beneficial for me, both in the near and distant future.

Discipline

"If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another"-Adm. McRaven, commencement speech at the University of Texas, 2014.

Basic dicipline starts from the moment we wake up. The amount of work we get done throughout the day can often be determined with how much we get done in the first 30 minutes of when we get up. It is the small tasks like making our beds, washing up, and wearing our clothes properly that gives us the sense of dicipline and stays with us subconsiously. If we are unable to complete the smaller tasks like these, there's no reason why we should expect ourselves to get anything bigger done for the rest of the day. Dicipline starts from when we wake up.

Studying and living abroad

Being so far away from home for such a long time is a challenge. This picture that you see is what I used to see every day back home in Singapore. I came to the United States in January of 2017 to become a professional pilot because some of the best courses are offered here. I've only been home once so far in December, and my next trip home will probably be during our next winter break. It may be tough but I'm not complaining. Each one of us has our own problems and we each deal with them differently. If anything, I probably have it easy! My stepdad is from around the area, so although my parents are hardly around, I do have some family nearby. Also, Singapore has become westernized in many ways making the adjustment to the social life here easier. My military training on top of all things has taught me how to overcome hardships and work towards achieving my goals.

Although it may have been easier than expected for me, I wonder what the transition is like for other international students. There are many issues that they may face and it usually boils down to the differences in culture. Food, weather, language, behaviors, and pace are just some of the many challenges that some of the students have brought up during our International Student Association (ISA) meeting last week. One of the main challenges I personally face here is transportation. I can hardly get anywhere without a car! I never thought much about it before but this made me extremely appreciative of the public transport back in Singapore. I do however have amazing friends and family here who offer to drive me places.

I do miss my family, friends, and food back home, I miss the warmth of the tropical island and the country itself, but being here is a fun adventure, and I do enjoy studying and living abroad here in the US.


*Picture taken by Ross L. Harris