A Mind Opener

Needless to say, this class has definitely been a mind opener to me! I have changed my outlook quite a bit no reading as well as on our society as American citizens.

I used to think that reading was so boring, not interesting, a drag, etc. The literature that we have discussed and read through in this class has definitely made me change my mind. I do believe that when I am searching for a good book to read I will at least read into it a little more than just by reading the back cover or looking at the title. Reading has never been a passion of mine, but I have noticed that it is becoming more lively to me. I also think that by reading and comprehending all these different types of literature has helped me concentrate and comprehend more in my other classes.

By reading and viewing things such as Culture Jam, "America, It's Gotta Be the Cheese", Fahrenheit 451 and the Second Skin documentaries, I have learned a lot about different aspects of our society. I knew that there were hardcore gamers out there but I had no idea of how severe some of there cases were. I also grew angry by some of the things I was learning of our society. As we discussed in my group, a lot of us as American citizens take a lot for granted. We have so many freedoms and privileges that a lot of other people in other countries do not have and will never have.

Our culture definitely shows the themes of "plentitude" and consumerism. These two themes were probably my favorite to discuss because it shows how "greedy" our society is. In a way we are constantly handed things left and right and have everything we want right in front of us. Yet this is not enough. We always want more and more and more and more. We are consumed daily by the advertisements we see on television, billboards, in magazine, etc. This just adds to plentitude in that it makes us want all these other things.

This class has definitely inspired to me to change some aspects of my lifestyle. Instead of going out and buying the newest shoes or clothing, I will try harder to resist myself and realize that I already have enough of these things. I think that I will even start donating some of the clothes I never wear for people who really need them. I've also been inspired to think about books differently. Reading has thus far helped me with my comprehensive skills as well as helped me relax. I think that I will find myself looking into more books in the future and possibly making reading a hobby.

Overall, I think this class helped me learn so much about myself as well as the society I live in. If I had the choice, I would definitely do it all over again!

A World With No Books

Reading books is generally not a hobby of mine. Though I enjoy reading an entertaining or interesting novel here or there, it is not the number one priority on my list.

Books are important in our society. They are filled with tons of information and lots of cool stories. History books tell of our country's past as well as other important events that have happened over time. Medical books help doctors and nurses diagnose and treat people by looking at research that has already been accomplished by other individuals. Novels share with us creative and interesting stories and plots of characters that we may be able to connect with or just like reading about. I think that books have a lot to offer to our culture.

In a world without books, I personally believe that most of us would not have the knowledge that we do. People would be getting dumber and dumber. The internet houses a lot of sources that come from published books. If these publishings disappeared, what would you be able to find then? As a biology major, there are many times in which I cannot comprehend what I've learned in class. By having the textbook in front of me, I can see detailed pictures and descriptions of precesses that may have been confusing me in class. For me, this is a big help.

Due to my use of different books, I believe that I would miss books, but not ALL books. I do not think I would like going on to medical school without medical textbooks. But these books are very different from novels. Though I believe some novels are interesting or cool, not all of them appeal to me. For me, I cannot read a book unless I am thoroughly interested in the content. If a book is boring to me, then I do not even waste my time reading it. For me, I have to either be assigned a book or told that one is really really good for me to want to read it. I know this sounds horrible, but my life is filled with so many other things that reading takes a back burner.

Metaphorically speaking, we burn books everyday. Sometimes we will not choose a book just because we do not like the cover or we do not like the description of the book on the back because we think it looks boring. This is "burning" the book because we are dismissing it without even opening it. People say that books can be dangerous because you can learn so many things. Maybe people are afraid to have so much powerful knowledge. Maybe they think that they won't know what to do with all the information. Another thought is that some books have stories or information against certain individual beliefs. They may not like knowing that their children or relatives or friends could read these books and gain different ideas or different beliefs.

Books are powerful tools of knowledge. A world without them would without them would probably be a gloomy and sad one. If people have nothing to spark their interests, then what would the people be like?

Hunger Games

The Hunger Games movie is supposed to be released on March 23, 2012. I don't know about you guys but I am definitely going to go see it!

Hunger Games was by far one of the best books I've read so far. I was so interested in it that I couldn't put it down. I found myself staying up until the early hours of the morning because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

The novel ties into the other literature we've been reading in showing rebellion to higher authorities. Like in Big Brother when Winston goes against the Party, Katniss has her ways of going against the Capitol by some of her actions. These include when she decorated Rue with flowers as well as when she was willing to end both her and Peeta's lives by eating the berries because they did not want to kill each other, therefore disobeying the rules of the games.

I really wanted to know all about Katniss and Peeta's love act. I kept wondering if Peeta was truly just acting or if he really did like Katniss. I do think that by the end, he shows that he truly did like her and was sincere in everything he said. I believe that through the novel, Katniss grows to like Peeta. But who does she like more: Peeta or Gale? Is she torn between both? I'm very interested to hopefully find out in the next books how the love story plays out and whether she gets with Gale or if she gets with Peeta. I also liked the part in the novel where Thresh chose to save Katniss because he "owed" her for protecting Rue and respecting Rue. I did not expect that to happen and quite shocked that he spared her life. This shows a lot about Thresh's character as well.

The music below is what I think symbolizes the book. If you look at the lyrics, it makes perfect sense. "Leave the lost and dead behind, now's your chance to run for cover" like when the tributes have to leave behind their dead fellow tributes and save themselves. "But I'm not giving in., I will not bow. I will not break. I will shut the world away. I will not fall. I will not fade. I will take your breath away." This truly reminds me of Katniss. She does not give up. She keeps fighting to stay alive and to keep Peeta alive. She does, in a way, take the audience's breath away by some of the things that she does such as the way she kills, the Rue incident, and how she interacts with Peeta. For me, this song fits very well for the book.

Overall, Hunger Games is a great book! I have already started recommending it to family members as well as friends and coworkers. Even when I was reading the book, if I was sitting out in the hallway, a teacher would walk by and say, "That is such a great book!" I would have to agree. I'm very excited to read the next two books and find out what awaits, especially with Katniss and her love situation she is stuck in.

The Real World: Las Vegas

"This is the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. The Real World...Las Vegas!"

"Real World". Ahhhh what a show. A definition of reality television. Seven random strangers are picked to come together to live in a house and see what happens. "Real World" is already on season 25. It is officially the longest running reality TV show in existence according to celebrity writer Perez Hilton on his website: www.perezhilton.com. MTV noted in a news release that "Real World" ranked number one among all programs in its Wednesday night time slot among 12-to-34-year-olds.

The people on the Real World are shown in real situations; things that happen in their everyday lives. The difference is in that they know they are being broadcast to the whole country as well as several other countries. When you know you are being televised, of course you are going to change some of the things that you do or say. Whether it be to not show your "true" self in front of the world or to try to create drama for the audience. There are cameras everywhere in the house. Each house mate has to sign a contract saying that they are not allowed to go places where the cameras are not allowed in. There are no scripts, and none of the scenes aired are acted. Each cast member receives $250 a week, plus their house expenses paid (except for food).

Episode one of "Real World...Las Vegas" premiered March 9, 2011. In the third episode on March 23, Adam refuses to apologize for his erratic behavior from the previous episode in which alcohol make him lose control. Later in the episode, things get heated between Adam and Leroy after Adam hears the others talking about him behind his back. The roommates also start their job at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas. Their first assignment is working with Carey Hart, a pro motor cross racer. Their boss calls Adam out on his behavior at the Vanity night club. Some people are excited to start the job, while others, not so much. Adam opens up to Nany about being a juvenile correctional facility. Roommates try to patch things up but Adam and Leroy cannot get rid of their beef. Heather and Dustin take their relationship to the next level. Near the end of the episode, Naomi has to do manual labor with the boys while other roommates work the charity table. At the very end of the episode, Adam and Mike learn that they have more in common then they think. Needless to say, it was a pretty crazy episode.

Gabler states, "Reality itself is even more fascinating, holding us in the thrall of life...it has a strange way of captivating, regardless of how much or how little inherent entertainment value there seems to be."

This statement hits it on the bullseye. Why do we care so much to watch seven strangers living together from day to day? Why are we so obsessed in watching how each day pans out and what new drama will pop up? We are so interested in knowing everything about them, seeing if they hook up, seeing if they get arrested, etc. We'll never know how much of the show is actually true. A lot of what we see is edited to make it look like it all happened in a certain timeline.

It seems like a lot of the cast members that are chosen all have different attributes that contribute to the show. Adam was a drug dealer who also participated in a shooting. He established the creek to College program that encourages residents to pursue education. Dustin grew up in a small town with a bi-polar, drug addicted mom and an abusive stepfather. He worries whether he will develop bipolar disorder as well. Dustin also lived in the house featured on Frat Pad, a live webcam site in which he and other men engage in sexual activities with one another. Heather grew up with a brother struggling with brain cancer. She felt constant neglect and turned to alcoholism. Leroy was removed from his birth mother when he was 10 years old. He is seen as "an open, reliable guy who doesn't judge people based on their backgrounds." Michael moved between his grandparents, stepmother and father beginning at age five due to his parents being heavily involved in drugs and serving jail time. He recently lost his virginity and looks for women with a compatible personality. He is definitely the brains in the house. Nany is a a Dominican and Cuban woman. Her mother suffered from alcoholism and her father, who has never met her, was jailed on drug charges before she was born. She is determined to find him. She hopes to become a parole officer. Last but not least, Naomi is a Puerto Rican/Portugese American. She hopes to obtain a master's degree in international politics. She is an advocate for immigration and gay rights. She is described as "self-reliant" and a "firecracker" as well as "completely open about her life." She has had twelve sex partners since attending college and regrets none of them.

By having this array of personalities, you get a mix of emotions. As shown in the highlights video below, some lose their temper because of alcohol or drugs or purely because of rage. Some of the cast members hook up. Emotions stir. Tempers rage. Parties are off the wall. Adam is even shown getting so drunk and angry that he punches the wall and knocks the picture off the wall. The show is alluring to me because it's interesting to see people with such different backgrounds living together. Of course these issues come up and some have more in common than others. It is interesting to see the way they interact with each other and get to know each other. Gabler states, "Real-life stars, however, allow us to connect directly with them because they are us- people who are separated from us by nothing more than the break of getting on the air."

Have We Lost Our Privacy?

“Privacy is to be left alone.”

No matter where we go, no matter what we do, someone is always watching us.

Clothing stores have hidden cameras, there are computer chips In cars that can track your every move. There are even tracking computer chips that you can put into your skin.

Consultants and telemarketers select you for special attention based on data purchased from a vendor.

There are many people that could be watching you: a spouse, a girlfriend, boyfriend, boss, cop, or thief. People in our society think that they are safe when telling friends, family, and lovers personal information. Are we truly safe? Can you really trust these people?

Technology has made it so simple for someone to track who you are, where you live, your credit card number, telephone number, school you went to, etc. When you search something on Google, it gives you almost anything you are looking for.

I feel as though many of us do not even think about some of these things. And sometimes, it doesn’t even matter to some people. “When pollsters ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. 60% say they feel their privacy is ‘slipping away, and that bothers me.’” – MSNBC.com.

“But it’s like health: When you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.” – MSNBC.com. This statement is so true. When you are guaranteed privacy, you barely notice it, but once you lose it, all hell breaks loose. How do you know when too much has been taken away? Think about it. What would it be to you if your Social Security number was left in a data-storage device such as a laptop left in the back seat of a taxi?

There are business deals in society that trade discounts for personal information. For example, you go to Wal Mart and they offer you 10$ off your purchase if you provide you name, address, and telephone number. Is this an invasion of your privacy? Bribing you with a coupon? Do you ever think that someone could gain access to this information and rob your home or steal your identity?

I believe that we need to think about our own privacies. We need to realize things we need to keep private and things that are ok to publicize.

It is so easy in today’s world, by technology and new advances, that our privacy can be quickly taken away. What do you think?

The Advertisements on My Feed

I think that I chose to do the advertisements option because my life is filled with them daily. There are always banners popping up across my homepage as well as billboards everywhere I'm driving. There are also so many commercials that screen across the television, so I might as well show the advertisements that would be featured on my feed.

Number 1:


Every time I watch television, I at least see two or three Orbitz commercials. Orbitz is a travel agency online in which you can find cheap flights, hotel rooms, and package deals. A lot of people in today's society want to travel to getaways to get away from their everyday lives. I totally agree. I'd love to travel to see the world and everything there is to offer. Orbitz would definitely pop up on my feed a lot because I'd always be looking at different places to travel to. In 2010, Orbitz reported a net income of $9.7 million. It really is a good site to get fair prices for airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, package deals, etc.

Number 2:


I also see a lot of Coca-Cola commercials. As a soda fan, Coca-Cola is definitely one of my top picks. I drink at least one can of Coca-Cola a day. I feel like it is almost an addiction to me. I crave it with any of my meals or even if I am just thirsty. I don't really drink water (yes, I know this is bad) so I tend to go with juice or soda. There is always a case of Coca-Cola in my pantry. In 2006, the Coca-Cola Company spend about $2.6 billion in advertising. This includes commercials, billboards, labels on other products, etc. Since then, costs of advertising have increased. For a thrity-second advertisement during the Super Bowl, it costs $3 million. Revenue for Coca-Cola rose to $7.51 billion in 2010.

Number 3:


I LOVE jewelry!!!! I especially love diamonds! Zales is the perfect representation of a jewelry advertisement that would be on my feed. I love going shopping for jewelry whether it be for a birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas, or a "just because." I have so much jewelry I don't know what to do with, but I still love to get new things. Diamonds are eye-catching, and I love to see them sparkle. Zales is located in 48 states as well as Puerto Rico and Guam. In the first quarter of 2011, Zales had revenues of $327 million. (Zales Corporation) I definitely love bling!

Number 4:


Can I just say "WOW!" I am really into sports bikes and sport cars as well as exotic cars. The Audi R8 is actually my dream car that I plan on having by the time I retire. I love driving motorcycles and definitely love speed. I believe that car ads as well as motorcycle ads would always pop up on my feed. I love just looking at exotic cars and seeing the different creations that car manufacturers have produced. From January to November 2010, Audi sold 1,003,900 cars. Over 1 million motorcycles are also sold each year. Motorcycles are a huge addiction to me. If I had the money, I would probably buy a few just to have different ones to ride all the time.


Advertisements are shown all the time in our daily lives. We cannot escape them unless we turn off the television, the computer, and do not leave our houses. Billboards are everywhere. There are always commercials in between television shows. There are also many banners that screen across the homepage of our innernet sites. If there was a feed, the advertisements that would be shown would be of the types of things we like or like to do. If we constanly search something, advertisements will start showing similar products, places, etc. When your mood changes, the advertisements on the feed change as shown by the characters in Feed.

Nature vs. Mankind?

After reading the articles from Emerson and Thoreau, it made me realize some things about the world we live in.

"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep."

In society today, we are so busy with our hectic schedules, electronic devices, and craziness of events around us that we fail to realize the true beauties of nature and life. We spend every day knowing that there is something we HAVE to do...whether it be going to work, going to school, going to get groceries, updating our Facebook statuses, and many more other priorities that are important to us. By doing all these activities daily, I feel as though we fail to see the world around us. When we see butterflies do we just see them as pretty little insects? Or do we see them as once being caterpillars that have transformed from metamorphosis into this beautiful creature? I'm sure that most of us would just think that butterflies are the pretty little insects.


I believe that people today do not value the reality of life. We use our cell phones as alarm clocks instead of waking up by the sun. We use an electronic gps to figure out what direction to go in instead of using our natural instincts. We have become so intertwined with technology that simple things in nature are foreign to us. On a nice summer day, instead of taking a hike to see a serene waterfall atop a beautiful mountain, many people would rather play video games or chat on their cell phones.

For the Thoreau challenge, I honestly do not think that I would be able to give up my technology. I could not work out without music. I could not stand not being able to use my cell phone. I definitely would go crazy without my computer. I guess I take these things for granted though. If I could get rid of technology in my life I know that I would learn way more and be a better student. I would be able to concentrate on homework more as well as the more important things in life such as enjoying a peaceful walk outside, hanging out with my family, etc. Technology does have a big impact in my life. I'm constantly checking Facebook or texting my friends. I guess I am addicted. I do believe that valuing nature and life have truly taken a backseat in my life.

I do believe that people need to step back and see the world around them. Our world is changing and so is everything in it. Lakes are being wiped out. Species are becoming sparce or extinct. Do we even realize these things going on? Or are we too involved in watching our television shows, chatting, etc.? Our world has beautiful wonders about it. From the Amazon Rainforest in South America to the deserts of the Sahara, there are many remarkable features of our mother Earth. If only we could take the chance to experience nature and all that there is to offer. We might just "awaken" and keep ourselves awake.



 Just a few "wonders" of our world.