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.

Wait, Who's the President???

After reading the articles about Mark Bauerlein's book The Dumbest Generation, a lot of thoughts ran through my head about how knowledgeable or unknowledgeable people around my age are.

"Two thirds of high school seniors in 2006 couldn't explain an old photo of a sign over a theater door reading COLORED ENTRANCE."

- This quote is very sad to me. Segregation is a big part of America's history. There were many things that changed over the course of history due to segregation. Look at Martin Luther King, Jr. He fought for equal rights no matter what race you were. For high school students to not understand how segregation has changed America or even what is was is quite rediculous to me.

Knowing history is important in some ways because we need to know our country's background. We haven't always been a free people, and we have made many changes throughout centuries upon centuries. By learning America's history, we learn how we, as a country and as a people, have changed over time. If it weren't for history, how would we know where we came from? Or why things are the way they are? Or why both races can walk into the same bathroom together? Not knowing some of America's history is like a piece of the brain missing.

After saying this though, I am kind of biased. I feel as though we, as students, are expected to learn and know everything and anything about America, it's past, its government, etc. As I do believe that all of these aspects are important, I can see why some teenagers as well as young adults do not retain as much of the information that is taught. I feel that all of us are so busy with daily things in our lives that some of the historical aspects slip our minds.

Trying to learn everything about America and remembering it all is almost impossible. I, for instance, have no interest in politics whatsoever. So when I have to learn about politics for a class I may remember the parts that were interesting or that I needed to know, but for the most part, I will forget much of what I have learned. I believe that this goes with Lasn's idea of "information overload." We are being thrown so many different chunks of information at a time that it is so hard to retain everything. It's not that what we are learning is not important, it is that so much information and knowledge is hard to store in our memory for long periods of time.

I feel like people need to take a second look at our generation. Though we may not remember a lot about the past or the names of people in Congress, look at the changes we have been making. New breakthroughs are being found every day whether it be new medicines, new therapy techniques, or even new teaching methods. Maybe we are actually becoming more knowledgeable in different aspects of life.

Instead of being called the "dumbest generation", why not be called the "generation of change."

I also believe that it isn't just the younger generation that is considered dumb. As you watch the clip below, look at the age range of people answering the questions:

Did you notice the older man that didn't even know how many wars there were???

So is it really just the YOUNG generation that is "dumb?" Or should we also take a look at Americans as a whole and see where the people of our country stand.