Wealth Inequality Around the World

income inequality | Create Infographics

One morning, I found a youtube video about Wealth Inequality in America. I started to wonder whether the distribution like in my home country, Thailand, and other parts of the world. I searched for it in the internet for a while, but it seems like I could not find any graphs or chart on this similar topic. So, I decided to do some research on this topic.

Then, I found the data that I want from World Development Indicator which is the one of many database of World Bank. But I just do not like the chart that it had on its web interface, so I designed to create my own chart, called 'Income Inequality', about this topic using Infogr.am. I found that using this type of method is a good way to convey the information to other people.

I want this post to be all about how I get to make this infograph, so if I did not put any of my interpretation in this post since we should separate between facts and opinion. Nevertheless, others still argue that by displaying numbers like this infographics, a creator intended to persuade readers to a certain direction which is already an interpretation of a creator.

Note: If you want to learn more about infographics, you can learn more about it from Cool Infographics Blog by Randy Krum

Change: Israel love Iran Campaign

     Today, I have a chance to listen the Ronny Edry talks. If you do not know who he is, you are not alone. I went to event without having no idea what he did, but I am interested in the issue of Middle East especially the issue of Israel and Iran country.

A Trip to War Memorial of Korea

War Memorial of Korea, Seoul, South Korea

     This was my first time visiting Seoul, South Korea. Apart from the palace (Gyeongbokgung) and Namsan Tower, I had limited knowledge about Seoul and places that I should visit. One day, I had some time in the morning to look up for places that I wanted to go. I found this war museum, and I immediately knew that I had to go to this place. I was really excited to learn more about the history of Korea.  

The Script for the talk at ICISTS-KAIST 2013

Giving a presentation about computer science education in South Korea, 2013

     I would like to share my script for the talk that I gave at ICISTS-KAIST on this blog, so that others can have a chance to read and understand some tiny point that I want to get across our current situation on computer science education. You can also listen to me talking for 13 minutes on Youtube. Also, I also wrote more details about the conference as a whole in the other page that I encourage you to see if you are interested in the conference.

Here is the script:

ICIST-KAIST 2013

Presented on the two days project about new technology

There is a progression for my blog from just a way to post some photos to a tourist's journal that keeps track of all the places that I visit, but now it became a place for me to write down some experience that I think worth sharing to others.

This time, I attended a conference in South Korea, called ICISTS-KAIST which mainly focuses on the integration between technology and society. The conference itself is wonderful and I was really impressed that all of these were created by only undergraduate students from KAIST, one of the top university in South Korea. Many famous people attended this conference including Walter Bander (a founder of One Laptop per Child project) and David Christian (Big History on Ted Talk).

Osaka Garden: Too close to be true

Jackson Park's Osaka Japanese Garden

What do you think when you see this photo? My first time seeing this photo is from one of my friend's facebook photos, and I just cannot believe that the place is just a mile away from where I live everyday for two years near University of Chicago. Once I confirm the existence of the place, Osaka Garden, through google, it does not take too long for me to go there and see it by myself. 

Facebook Social Graph using Netvizz & Gephi

   
     Since I used Wolframalpha to analyze my facebook data (by just typing 'facebook' into it) in a minute back in 2012, I found it is really fascinating to make my own social graph using data from my own facebook account and see the connection that I have on facebook. Then, I found a blog called 'Persuasion' by Sarah Joy with a page called 'Using Netvizz & Gephi to Analyze a Facebook Network' about how to easily make a social graph using only two softwares: Netvizz and Gephi.

    - Netvizz allowed you to quickly download (if you do not have that many friends) your facebook data from the website as a gdf file.
    - Gephi will let you visualize gdf file easily with many options to change your own graph.

    I will not go into detail of how exactly to do this because you can find it extensively at the page I mentioned above. But I will tell you of what I found in my own social graph. It made me realize many friends that I used to keep in touch with and how those people are very far in connection with people that I am with now.

Social Graph for Me from Facebook Data

My first NBA game: The Bulls Game

Michael Jordan Statue in front of The Bulls Stadium

     When you talk about basketball, I always think of  The United States and NBA. Many of my friends back in Thailand followed basketball closely, but I am not one of them. I played basketball with my friends during high school for fun but I have never been good at it. I found this sport is pretty fun.

Geyser from Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful Geyser: the first geyser in the park to receive a name

     Old Faithful Geyser is one of the biggest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, but the most fascinating about this geyser is how humans can predict with an accurate precision within 5 minutes. If you think about it, how can we predict when the water will be heated by magma underground is hot enough to erupt the next time. It is famous because of its high frequency within 90 mins. 

The largest mall in The United States: Mall of America

Me. In front of Mall of America

     I was standing in front of the largest mall in the United States. It was unbelievable enormous and I could not comprehend the purpose of this building. There was also a small amusement park inside the mall which, I think, is pretty cool and awesome.

Green River, Chicago

Green River, Chicago

     Green River is one famous thing in Chicago that I have heard many times since I came to University of Chicago. It was stunting and unbelievable to see the whole section of river turned to green for celebrating Saint's Patrick Day.

Bunker Hill, Boston, MA

Bunker Hill, Charlestown,  MA

     Boston is one of big cities that I have never really experienced until now. I have heard many good things about this city and looked forward to seeing it. Apart from many great restaurants and all great schools in Boston, one thing that I forget about this city is the American history lying behind this great city. Boston is the city where American Revolutionary War started and the United States was born here. There are so much more in this city that I have not had enough time to learn, so I wish I will have a chance to come back some time soon.

     Bunker Hill from the photo above is really similar to Washington Monument in Washington DC. I'm not quite sure which one is built first. The park ranger told us that the reason for the monument to be like this is because American did not win on this hill. They tried as hard as they could but without supplies and a good leader, they could not conquer the British troops. Not until George Washington came later and reorganized the whole military that American armies could win the war.

Sun set at Sears

On Top of Sear Tower

Being on the top of the most tallest building in Chicago and the United States makes me realized how far I came from three years ago when I was just a senior high school in Thailand and ready to graduate. I remembered when I sat in my four-people dormitory room and looked up some colleges in the United States that I might want to go. I remembered that I did not even dream to come this far: working in a astrophysics labs, taking classes from best professors, having lots of good and great friends, traveling around the US. I'm so excited to see what will happen next. I want to see what I will be able to do and accomplish while I'm in America and what I, as a person, will become once I finish my long journey away from home.

Fire

Fire

     We went camping at the beginning of fall quarter, but it was still pretty cold at night. This fire is the only source of heat that we have through out the night, so there is no other thing for us to do except gartering at this campfire. Many people that I have never known before were sitting around the campfire and waiting for someone to talk or even just make noise. We talked and we laughed in the middle of coldness.
    It was a good time for me to be able to learn more about other people, but the most important part of camping is "s'more", my favorite camping food. We can just simply put marshmallows on fire, eat them with a quarter of chocolate bar and a cracker.

Light Pole in Snow

Light Pole in Snow

   Minnesota was much colder that I expected. I got off the plance in Minneapolis with green grass everywhere. But just once I woke up again in the morning, everything was completely white, making me feel like I just got transported through space while I was sleeping.
   The light pole is the only man-made objects in the photo, but it still the focus of the photo. Sometimes, I just felt like I was focus on only myself and totally forget everything around us.