Mind Map!

This is my Mind Map! I chose asparagus because it is the one food that I have yet and probably never will like. Simply the smell of it cooking makes me nauseous. I wrote a paper on how much I disliked asparagus in fifth grade and I find it funny that since then my opinion of it still hasn't changed!

Texting: A way to avoid confrontation?

I think that most kids nowadays chose to text rather than talk on the phone or god forbid talk in person. It seems as though texting has almost replaced face-to-face conversations. Is texting a way to avoid conflict and avoid what you are REALLY feeling? Rather than calling your friend and talking about the fight you had last night many chose to text. However, this eliminates any tone of voice that you use and alters the way you naturally speak. When you text person, you have control over what you say, how long you take to respond and whether or not you actually want to respond to the text that you receive. It gives us a greater sense of control over what we are saying. On the phone, there is no time to think about what you are going to say next because these conversations cannot be planned. This is the same with "face- face" conversations. You are asked questions on the spot and do not have time to plan what you are going to say and are not given to option to simply not respond. Texting has opened a world to avoiding confrontation, awkward moments, etc. It has limited our ability to have real conversations with people. Or maybe it's just a quicker method to get what you want to say across and eliminates the hassle of having to call the person. Who knows? It may be different for each person but I think that overall it has inhibited the level to which we communicate to one another.

Puzzles

You either LOVE them or you HATE them. Personally, I think you have to be a person with A LOT of patience. I am a somewhat patient person yet I can’t stand them. I get bored within the first five minutes. All of those tiny pieces lying in front of you are overwhelming. I can’t stand staring at all of the different edges not having a clue as to where they fit into on another. You have to be a certain type of person to enjoy puzzles. I feel that some people enjoy it strictly for the outcome of seeing the puzzle fully assembled. Others I think are disappointed when they are finished because for them it is the process that they enjoy: the search to find the piece that fits just right. However, I do have to admit that it is a great feeling when you do happen to find that piece that just fits. It’s a moment of ease, but soon followed by frustration as you try to search again for the next piece that fits. In my opinion, it’s a very tiring and stressful process that is not MY idea of a good time.

Privacy... or what we have left of it.

It’s hard to believe that cell phones have not been around forever. Our generation is so dependent on these portable phones its unbelievable. However, it is not just cell phones that we are dependant on, its technology in general. Thinking about a time where you couldn’t just reach into your back pocket, dial a number and talk to a person of your choice is hard to imagine. My parent’s generation did not have this luxury along with many more before. Communication in the earlier generations was not seen as important as it is today. My mom told me that when she was a kid she would leave her house in the morning and be back by dinner. No questions were asked. She would check in once by a pay phone, but other than that there was no way of getting in touch with her. Parents had very limited means of communication with their children which I think in a way helped kids find themselves and learn to be independent. My generation has lost our sense of self, independence and privacy is now very limited. We used to have a far more privacy before technology began taking over. Now you can track down a person’s exact location from just the press of a button. Don’t get me wrong, technology is very useful and is continuing to help advance our society in a positive way but in terms of keeping our privacy, I feel as though it is working against us. I value my privacy and sometimes I feel as though it continues to slowly slip away as our society becomes further advanced.

Names

At birth, our parents give us all a name. From then on this is our identification, what we are called by for the rest of our lives. But what is fascinating is we have no control over this. You would think that something that will be apart of us for our entire lives, we would have some say in. However, this is not the case. What’s funny is even though we do not have a say in the name that our parent’s chose for us, everyone’s name seems to fit him or her perfectly. Have you ever been introduced to someone and when they say their name you think to yourself “wow, she would be named Grace.” Each name has meaning, whether it’s a family name that is passed down through many generations or is randomly picked. Many do not approve of their birth name but I think that when people change their name it alters a piece of their identity. Parents chose a name for their baby for a reason. It’s the name that comes to mind when they take their first look at their child. It’s a special connection between a child and their parents. Names have meaning; they hold a piece of an individual. So the next time you complain to someone about hating your name, think that it was given to you for a specific reason by your parents and SHOULD NOT be changed.

Destiny

Do we make our own destiny or has it already been planned out for us? I am firm believer in the saying “Everything happens for a reason.” However, It can be so hard to believe in it when a tragedy happens or your heart is broken. But one door does lead to another and sometimes you have to lose something in order to get to that greater something or someone. Even though it can be hard for us to believe in this outlook on life when something terrible happens, but I believe that you have to know sadness in order to feel happiness and you have to know pain in order to feel pleasure. I guess we will never know, but I believe in taking fate into your own hands.

Cravings

CRAVINGS: We all get them. They are unique to each individual and hit us all at different times. But my question is why do we crave certain foods? Is it a sign that our body is lacking that type of nutrients and really does need that exact food in order to keep working properly? Cravings also hit us in different situations and come in waves. They may be affected by our mood. If you are sad your cravings may be entirely different than if you are excited or in a good mood. Some may think cravings are simply random, but I think they do have meaning to them. I have a feeling that they are our body’s way of communicating to us. So next time you do have a craving... LISTEN TO IT!

When will it END?

Reality shows are TAKING OVER our lives. Each year a new pointless show airs and is publicized during every commercial. We used to consistent shows that played over a several seasons, now we are being taken over by shows promoting losing the most weight (“The Biggest Loser”), pointless jeopardy-like shows supposedly proving if you are smarter than a fifth grader and my personal favorite a reality show in search of a best friend for Paris Hilton. Has the television industry run out of ideas for acceptable, meaningful shows? How can we be at this point where the only way to broadcast your show is through promoting celebrities participation? We as a nation are overwhelmed with shows such as, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, So you think you can Dance? etc. When will it end? When will people start writing television shows that matter and have a purpose? Actually, I may have an answer to that question. NEVER. Why? Because these shows are aired strictly for entertainment purposes. We are at a time where pure entertainment is what majority of people desire. Maybe in time the reality shows will die down, but for now they are TAKING OVER.

Symbols

"A picture's worth a thousand words." Symbols prove this famous saying to be true. Think about your everyday life and how many symbols you see and interpret on a daily basis. Just by a glance at a symbol, you can sum up the product in milliseconds. For instance, the McDonalds arc, the words unhealthy and fast food come to mind. The Nike swoosh screams athleticism and Nike’s slogan “Just do it.” Whether we are aware of it or not, symbols direct the majority of our thoughts and behaviors. They guide our everyday lives and the advertising that catches our eye on that particular day influences what we are going to do, see, buy, etc. For an example, an advertisement for a restaurant featuring a juicy steak may remind you that you are hungry or may have you consider eating at that restaurant the next time you go out. Next time you are out take a look around and try and pick out the symbols advertised around you. I think you will be surprised when you notice that they are EVERYWHERE.

I am NOT by any means a poet. But since I was little, I have loved this poem by Robert Frost. I think it sums up life. Everyday, we pick and choose which direction we would like to head. Each of these decisions makes a difference even if we are not aware of it at the time. Along with the many opportunities that we are given each day, comes regret. Regret that you made the wrong decision and the anxiety that comes with thinking that you took the wrong path in life. We cannot take both roads so if you find yourself in this situation of having to choose, choose the road that is less traveled.

The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair 
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 
Though as for that, the passing there 
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay 
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh 
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Pepsi Commerical featuring Britney Spears

This Pepsi commercial staring Britney Spears displays qualities of both horizontal and vertical intertexuality. Britney Spears is the main focus of the commercial and takes us through various eras in chronological order by mimicking the music, wardrobe and famous icons that were apart of each particular era. Similar to the example that we discussed in class regarding Lindsey Lohan, this commercial displays qualities of horizontal intertexuality by focusing on the different stages of Britney Spear’s image. In the first segment of the commercial, Britney Spears is shown in a very conservative outfit representing when she was first seen as “America’s sweetheart.” As the commercial progresses she is shown singing and dancing representing when she moved on to be an actress and a singer and finally the last shot of Britney is in her typical scandalous outfit showing her present image as a sex symbol and party girl. This commercial along with all of the other Pepsi commercials staring Britney Spears, also displays qualities of vertical intertexuality. Pepsi does this by requiring the audience to be knowledgeable of previous eras by selling their product in a way that mimics old music and famous people that are no longer around. If one is not familiar with the time periods shown it will be difficult for them to grasp the meaning of Pepsi’s overall message. I interpreted Pepsi's message as it is a timeless product and that it has been a favorite beverage for many generations and will continue to be so for many more to come.

H2O

There are a variety of brands of water sold today. Why are their so many different brands selling the exact same product? Are the different brands of water really that different? Actually, I think they are. For instance, Dasani tastes completely different than Smart Water. Smart Water has a much fresher taste than Dasani, which tastes as though I am drinking tap water. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Smart Water has far more electrolytes in it or maybe it has to do with where the company got the water. I think that the level of filtration also has to do with the taste. It just seems odd that all of these water brands don’t go out of business because they are all selling the same product.

Superheroes

Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Superman… The list continues. What do all of these figures have in common? They all represent STRENGTH and POWER. It amazes me that we are predisposed to this supposed definition of a “hero” starting in elementary school. However, what amazes me is how our definition of what a hero is changes, as we get older. Rather than strictly relying on the physical attributes of a hero (built, tall, handsome, etc.) we begin to focus on the actual qualities that classify a person as a hero. We also tend to drift away from a consensus view of who is a hero and begin to focus on the individual qualities of that person on an emotional level. As individuals, we choose who are our heroes through our own personal relationships. Heroes are seen through each of our eyes and all possess different heroic qualities based on our personal opinions. Whether your hero is your mom, dad, sister or a dear friend, they all possess different qualities that we admire and the best thing about a superhero is that they are uniquely special to YOU.

Tired? - I recommend taking a POWER NAP.

NAPS: The perfect cure to your puffy eyes. Just as your eyes are beginning to shut, falling asleep in the closest chair, works wonders. Naps are tricky though because the length of the nap is crucial. If it is too long you could risk being groggy for hours after, however, if they are too short they may not do the trick. From my personal napping experiences, I have discovered that a 30-minute nap is the most effective, as I like to call it a “power nap.” It gives you that burst of energy that is needed in order to make it through the rest of the night. So if you are feeling like taking a nap anytime soon, I would recommend a 30- minute nap, a 45- minute nap MAX....zzzzz

10/1/08- The Zogby Report

THE ZOGBY REPORT: Transformation of the American Dream - 10/1/08

John Zogby began his lecture by announcing the two main areas that he would cover in his hour’s stay: His book regarding message transformation and the election. Mr. Zogby summed up his book using three words: HOPE, CHANGE AND OPTIMISM. These particular words were used because his book focused on a variety of people earning all different salaries but how they were somehow all in the same situation. Whether they were a single mom trying to raise her kids and pay the mortgage or a husband struggling to support his family, they were all cases where each person was being paid significantly less than at their previous job. Each person also refused to give up their current lifestyles as a means to adjust to their new salary. Many of them chose to skip a days worth of meals if it meant keeping their BMW and their large home in an area that they can no longer afford. They all had one thing in common: their refusal to let go of the American dream. They wanted to hold on to what’s good and positive and still wanted to live a life with meaning and self-fulfillment. This is confusing to me because then I ask myself why make your family suffer when you could easily give up a few luxuries and be fine? WHY DON’T YOU JUST CHANGE YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? Mr. Zogby used the phrase: “WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE.” I agree with this saying, sometimes you just have to deal with what life gives you whether you like it or not. The next topic Mr. Zogby covered was the election. He informed us that 75% of Americans say that the U.S is in a crisis and 80% say that the U.S is heading in the wrong direction. He rated the president at a 20% and the congress at an embarrassing 9%. However, he also did include that locally the congress is favored but that quickly changes as soon as they begin work in Washington. Another interesting point that Mr. Zogby brought up was that he thought that Katrina was the main reason that drove all of the numbers down because it “didn’t work.” Lastly, he touched on the fact that this year’s election is transformational and no matter who is elected (McCain or Obama) the U.S will have a period of 6 months to a year of change. He referred to it as an “or else” election. This year we have a total of 132- 135 million voters, which is far larger than the previous years, for the simple reason that no one wants to be RESPONSIBLE for creating a loss generation in American politics.

Are we headed toward a Great Depression?