Coffee & TV

I watch TV to escape the real world and be somewhere else for half an hour or an hour. When I watch TV I don't go brain dead, I am always trying to look for clues and details as to what could be the outcome of the show. I try and see what is coming next and no it doesn't ruin watching for me it makes it more exciting and entertaining.
I also watch TV to laugh. I am not a big fan of drama series but the few I am a fan of have puzzles in them to distract my mind.
I also really enjoy learning a little, every Sunday my mom and I watch 60 minutes, well when it is something we are interested in. I also try and watch Jeopardy every day. Those shows I choose to watch, they intrigue me!
My top 10(not in order of course) are:
-Psych- I love this for the laughs and that I can try and predict the outcome!
-Law and Order: SVU
-How I Met Your Mother
-Cupcake Wars
-SNL- My all time favorite show since I was 8 years old. I can never get enough.
-Modern Family
-Jeopardy
-60 Minutes
-The Amazing Race
-House

I do also have some guilty pleasure ones:
-Americas Next Top Model. Everyone in my family makes fun of me for watching but if there is nothing else on, I can be extremely entertained.
-Wipeout. I really do love this show. I try and watch it when I can, not when I'm bored. The commentators are the best part, hilarious!

I don't like tv. I love it.

I love television. Just about everyone can tell you that. In the last two days I have watched 13 episodes of a 40 minute show I average 2-3 hours of tv a night. I don't like tv. Tv is not a good thing. I love it but it an astounding waste of time. Television is amazing in that it allows you to read without the mental activity. It is a drug and an addictive one at that. Not addictive in that you have withdrawal symptoms of headache but in that you have a unreasonable desire to watch the next episode, the next season, next show, get that next dose, and it is always there. I love the show Leverage. It is on hbo in the summer. I hate Lost. I hate it because it makes you keep watching because once you start you can't stop and you can't skip ahead without losing important story pieces. The entire show is a drug and you have to get your fix in an interval or run the risk of a spoiler for the next episode ruining the interest of the show.
As for the Nobel Prizes I feel that while they are amazing and always look for them myself n the news, they get the publicity of what the average person cares. Let's be honest how many people care about television not the Prizes. I am not saying this is a good thing just that is what it is. People do what is the most rewarding especially in the short term. If most had to choose watch half an hour of their favorite show or read about some guy who is way smarter than them, which are they going to choose? I think everyone knows the answer to this, however the better question is,  "is that a good thing?". I dont know and I don't think anyone else has factual evidence either way the common person will probably say that it doesn't matter, the large corporation that tv is what fits the market and when you get down to it the brightest minds realize the world is what it is and stopping its function is a moot point.

for the love of television

it's not necessarily that i love television, but more that i love the shows i watch. this past summer i was in florida during the two tropical storms that went through, needless to say there was a constant down pour for the majority of the end of my visit. to cure my boredom i began watching the television series of  Gossip Girl on netflix, i quickly became infatuated and would spend most of my day with my eyes glued to the television screen (i finished all four seasons in two weeks if this gives you any inclination to how bored/obsessed i was.)  with these endless hours of t.v. watching i began to live vicariously through the characters of Gossip Girl, when i reached the end of the fourth season i was unreasonably upset and now i cannot wait for the new season to start! one week! when i finished Gossip Girl i just had to start a new series, so i chose Grey's Anatomy... even though i have already seen every episode. but in the middle of season three a character leaves and starts her own practice, to my convenience they made another show about it. and its not like i could just ignore that so i began watching Private Practice. 

without television, i would be quite bored quite often. it is apart of my daily routine: come home, change into comfy clothes, lay in bed, watch tv, take a nap, wake up, watch tv, eat, do my homework, watch tv, go to sleep. television can really be a distraction for just about anything, homework, emotions, ect. and without it i would have to find a whole new distraction and thats just really too much work for me right now. 

there are a lot of things i feel that i have learned from television. for example from watching hours of Grey's Anatomy i can say with full confidence that i know how to do surgery (that was a joke.) however, i could carry on a somewhat educated conversation with a surgeon about surgery. all joking aside, i do not believe that all television just rots your brain, spongebob yes, but most programs on air are not. such as the food network, husbands and children all over America with wives that watch this channel are thankful for it without even knowing it. television as a whole is a great thing that benefits many people including myself, if not for anything other that pure enjoyment.

For the Love of Television

If there's one thing that I'm sure of in my life, it's that I absolutely love television. I've grown up always watching shows ranging anywhere from Barney to Cold Case. Usually, I watch TV for multiple hours every day, including in the early morning and late at night. Tonight, I had to sacrifice watching a couple of new TV shows because I had a lot of studying to do (but don't worry, I obviously recorded them on my DVR). TV has become very important to me and it has become somewhat of an instinct to press the "ON" button on the remote when I'm sitting in my living room. Many people say that watching too much TV is bad for people, especially teenagers and children, but I kind of disagree. This may be because watching so much of it has brainwashed me, but I believe that watching TV is a good thing in my life. I watch TV not only because it entertains me, but because it allows me to get placed into a world that could be completely different than what I experience in my personal life. Many of the shows that I watch are comedies or dramas that follow the lives of a few specific characters with whom I often find myself identifying with. I can get lost in the conflicts and emotions that the characters experience and learn things about life, people, and myself that I wouldn't be able to if it wasn't for the big black box that sits in the center of my entertainment center. I don't let TV control my life, though. I have the mental strength to be able to turn off the TV and focus on other areas of my life that are far more important than a new episode of Parks and Rec. So, I am not ashamed to say that I watch A LOT of TV and that I don't think this is a bad thing.

A few of my favorite shows include:

• Friends
• Modern Family
• SNL
• The Amazing Race
• Survivor
• The Walking Dead
• The Big Bang Theory
• LOST
• Gilmore Girls (great show. no shame.)

TV (Blog #5)

Television is something that I once watched when I was younger, but I do not anymore. To be quite frank, the idea of television is becoming quite antiquated due to several new developments in our ability to view media such as Hulu and Netflix. However, none of that applies to me because I honestly not interested in television programs as a whole anymore. I have found that I gain much more entertainment from interactive experiences such as video games than other forms of media. I have come to realize that being able to interact with the characters and setting in a story is much more stimulating than simply watching how the writer would make the protagonist act. That's not to say that many television programs don't have compelling stories, but I have yet to find any that honestly appeal to me. Even the genres of anime that once appealed to me I am beginning to find cliche and stagnant. Now, I would not say that watching TV is a complete waste of time... depending on the programming. Television has the potential to influence any person, whether they be young or old, and there are many directors that use this to communicate positive messages to their audience. Although it is often parodied, many programs do teach viewers moral lessons while still being entertaining, and I think that alone makes it worthwhile to invest your time into watching those programs. Honestly, I wish I could say more on the subject, but television has changed quite a bit in the two or three years that I have stopped regularly watching it, so any personal experience I have with it is quite outdated.

A New Addiction

Television has evolved over time into not only being a part of one's life, but being involved in every part of one's life. I too have succumbed to the powerful urge of television. Why do I watch television? I watch it to be informed along with entertained, although there are other ways to do such things. Television has become an addiction. We tell ourselves we have reasoning behind watching it, but the truth is that it is completely unneeded and is only a distraction in our already distracted lives. To be a tad more lighthearted, my favorite shows include SNL, The Daily Show, The Office, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Walking Dead. Though these shows are mainly for entertainment, SNL and The Daily Show are also informative by providing the news to the viewers in a comical way.

assignment 5: 1 &2

Yes, like many Americans, I do watch TV. Not all the time, but when there’s nothing better to do, why not? My favorite show is How I Met Your Mother. It’s always on and probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. I hate the “reality” shows on MTV. The channel was named for its original purpose, to show music. Not to have idiotic people act even more insane to make it exciting and have it called reality, which it clearly is not.

When saying TV is a good form of entertainment, there’s a couple different ways one could take that. I think tv is good at being entertaining, but not a good form of entertainment. Tv is a bad form of entertainment. It sucks the viewer in, keeping them from other activities or exercise. Wasting hours staring at a screen without even noticing a minutes gone by. This might not be true for all, but for the majority, that’s how it goes. But all of that does happen to people because it is good at being entertaining.

TV post

I watch TV for a lot of reasons. Lots of times I want to stay up to date with my favorite sports teams, or with my favorite characters in different shows. No matter why I am watching TV at that time, it always is truly to be entertained at a convenient location for a convenient amount of time. For example, one of my favorite shows is called, How I Met Your Mother. And, this show essentially is based on funny adventures that a average group of friends goes on on a daily basis. There is no lasting story or plot, but instead it is thirty minutes of a brand new adventure every single week. The reason I like this show so much is because it never ceases to entertain me. So, I can just sit on the couch after a long day of school and watch a few reruns until its time to do homework. Its quick, easy and convenient. That is why I watch TV, some easy entertainment while im  bored at home, and that serves a bigger role in my life than I would like to admit.

Yes, I do watch television. Yes, I do enjoy television. TV provides an opportunity to appreciate, absorb, and get caught up in an imaginary world. I personally find TV incredibly amusing, and love watching stories develop. I find enjoyment in watching characters and relationships build, and deal with situations. I do not want to make the argument that TV can be educational, or good for children because it really just is not at all. TV teaches our youth about things they should not know about at their young age ie: sex, drugs, ect. I do not think that TV is good for anything besides entertainment, I am not really a supporter of TV, but I guess I contribute to it due to the fact that I am an avid viewer. #SpectorRoss2012

My Love Affair with TV

I love television. It helps me do what I am best at... procrastinate. In all serious I watch television primarily for the entertainment it provides and occasionally to learn from it. I usually try not to watch local news when learning, however, because it is so negative and depressing. Primetime national news usually yields decent intellectual stories which I can lose myself in. A program like 60 Minutes is an example of a show that will always captivate me. Speaking of shows that captivate me, ESPN's 30 for 30. This is a documentary series on my favorite network, ESPN, which looks into the stories that may not have reached the national scale but still have that ethical dilemma which will always draw me in. 30 for 30 is actually a perfect transition because it is a mix of the two reasons why I watch tv. The moral theme is the learning part I enjoy, but sports is the entertainment. I am fascinated by sports. They are the most appealing form of entertainment for me. From sports we move into what I define as pure entertainment. One thing I love on tv is comedy so naturally shows like 30 Rock, the Office, Parks and Recreation, Community, Modern Family, Tosh.0, and Saturday Night Live are all shows I love. Yet, I my enjoyment is not limited to comedy. I also love love love the show Suits on USA network. I think I love it so much because it has dynamic characters, attractive women, whit, and it reflects what I hope to be when I grow up. Of course, I wouldn't want so many lies and secrets in my life, but being a big time lawyer in a place like New York City would be a dream come true.

Having said that I love television, I must make it clear that reality tv, stupid game shows, tmz-esque shows, and "Judge _______" shows disgust me. I hate them with a passion. It encourages being moronic. I already am displeased with the intellectual direction of society, and to see these on primetime television with millions of people watching makes me sick. I would rather watch paint dry on television than TMZ.

So, yes I love tv. I will probably watch it for the rest of my life, but I do believe that some tv is ridiculous and should be taken off the air.

I watch television because, compared to other forms of entertainment and ways to waste time, it's a relatively cheap way to spend an hour or twenty (especially when you're not the one paying for it).  It's another way to connect with people and to learn and understand more about yourself.  It can be educational.  It's a really good way to distract the kids I babysit when I don't want to go outside or when I have to clean up a mess they made.  Sometimes I really love relaxing on the couch with a cold cup of green tea and a bag of pretzels and a whole season of Gilmore Girls.

I love television because of the plots, the characters, the dialogue in a well-written show.  I love watching relationships bloom or fizzle out.  I love living through fictional people in fictional worlds that are ultimately just parallel universes to ours.  They allow us to have more than one life at a time and to explore options unknown to us beforehand.

I hate television because of the stereotypes and the social schemas they drive into our heads.  Recently TV has been trying to veer away from such things by popularizing the nerdy kid or showing a stereotypically popular person as being unhappy with her life, silently coveting the simplicity of the life of the girl next door.  Sometimes the head honchos decide to make a public statement with their show about a real-life issue, like an eating disorder, or abuse.  While that may not necessarily be a bad thing, it complicates the true objective of the show - to make money.  My feelings on this are complex, and even I don't fully understand them.

I love a lot of shows on CBS and USA.  I watch those two networks almost constantly.  TNT also has some enjoyable shows, as does TLC (I'm a sucker for Say Yes to the Dress) and SyFy.
I like:

• Warehouse 13
• Rizzoli and Isles
• The Big Bang Theory
• Psych
• Necessary Roughness
• Covert Affairs
• Castle
• How I Met Your Mother
• Suits
• White Collar
• Grey's Anatomy
• other cop shows
• other spy shows.

For the Love of Television

Millions of people tuned in to watch the Emmy awards one week ago, and I was one of them. I find no problem in watching television for relatively mindless pleasure and “ooh-ing” and “awing” at the pomp and circumstance of Hollywood award shows. But, a dark shadow is cast when you realize that people seem to care more about who wins best comedy actress than who wins this years Noble Prize in chemistry. This is a clear reflection on the priorities of our culture. It is not just through these award ceremonies that I see this strange prioritization. Why is it that online there is a countdown clock to Kim Kardashian’s birthday on October 21, but not to Alfred Nobel’s, who shared the same date of birth? I will not say that I do not watch television, and I will not say that I wait for the awarding of the Nobel Prize’s every year, but just as an observation I find it very interesting where my priorities and those of many others are. Maybe I need to change my ways, but then again, how can I survive not knowing if Downton Abbey won best drama?
           

Definitely The Love Part

I won't pretend to have some super cool explanation for my obsession with the tv. Tv shows are my escape, they tell stories that couldn't happen in real life. That's why I love watching the tv: it's alike reading, only much more passive. If that makes me lazy, then okay, I'll take that. I wouldn't say that my love of tv shows has to do with being lazy, though I doubt I'd pay as much attention if it did have some sort of required exercises to go along with watching tv. My love of tv comes from intricate plot lines and character depth, and the way they can make you feel for characters who aren't real and who will never be real.

It's pretty lame but I get really excited at the prospect of even telling people what my favorite tv shows are. I've always loved cartoons, though I have several non-cartoon shows that I enjoy as well. All of my favorites from my childhood still matter to me, like Avatar or the new Avatar series, The Legend of Korra. I also like Phineas and Ferb and I was in the middle of watching Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes but I just sort of stopped watching it. Now, to prove that I'm not entirely immature, I have other shows that I tend to obsess over more. Who can resist falling in love with Sherlock (I mean the show, the character, as lovable as I find him, is a jerk) for its intense storylines and amazing characters? While I also like humorous shows such as Modern Family, The Office, Parks and Rec, and Community, my favorites tend to be the type of overly melodramatic stuff that...well...is just that. The original Star Trek series might give some people headaches from how silly it is, but I love it for what it intended (though I do laugh at some of the cheesy lines sometimes.) I've also liked anime since I was little, and only recently have begun moving away from those as my main favorites. And lastly, Dominik has recently made me start watching Doctor Who (which I already knew I should watch, he just gave me the final push) and I've fallen in love with the story and the characters as well.

For the Love of Television

The idea that television poses an absolute corruptive influence over our society is absolutely preposterous. It's strength in comparison to the hype received by the Nobel Prize is rather unsettling, but the fault lies not in our societal fascination with television and Hollywood but rather the lack of fascination in intellectual pursuits. That, however, is an entirely different discussion.

It is true that television has been abused and twisted on occasion into quivering hunks of processed drama, but to say that all television is bad, or that the excitement and glamour of the industry is undeserved, purely on judgements on those few shows (might I mention Maury) is entirely baseless. I was raised on shows like The West Wing, which taught me more about responsibility and morality than any other source on this planet. In some ways, the television acted in a parental role, reaffirming the teachings of my true parents with moral teachings presented in an entertaining and interesting way. As I grew older, I found joy in escaping the dullness of the required routine that is school through shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock, Merlin and The Newsroom. Any fan of these shows would tell you that they are entirely worthy of praise and adoration, of ever accolade society can offer. Their entertainment value aside, the value in education and stimulation is beyond measure. When I return to my home, few things please me more than the chance to relax and take part in a life so far from my own, to see and feel things nothing in my life could ever produce, to enjoy a perspective on the world that I had never even imagined. These are the things that inspire joy, pleasure, and passion.

Should their be change regarding the discrepancy between entertainment culture and intellectual fascination? Yes. But should our passion, our fervor, for fantasy be in any way diminished in the pursuit of higher knowledge? No.

Never.

Post 5

I watch tv for multiple reasons. I watch it for entertainment mainly, but also to be informed of what is going on i.e. the news. I watch it to escape from real life and all the events that are going on and just to relax for an amount of time. Don't get me wrong I like being outside way more than being inside watching tv but sometimes that is what I need to do. But I can get fed up with tv very easily. I cannot sit inside all day just watching tv, it bores me and I'm to restless. Tv shows that I enjoy are sports games, and family guy and some sitcoms. Oh, I almost forgot SPORTSCENTER.

TV Today

Last year nobody in my host family watched TV, except for one time my sister watched a special on African Cats. One time I tried to show them Germany’s most popular show, The Big Bang Theory. Who doesn’t love Sheldon arguing with you in German? Nobody, that’s who. Well, except for my host family. It was after that when I realized how big a part of my life television was. I guess I was too addicted to the stories of the shows I watched to ever stop watching them but it did make me start thinking about how time I wasted while watching it. This year, now that I get home later and have much more homework, TV as a part of my daily life has sort of faded away. Now, watching TV has become a privilege for me rather than a time filler.

As much as everyone hates TV, I appreciate the essence of it. Not the shows about pregnant 16 year olds or housewives that want to kill each other but the pure form of entertainment that it is. Everything in moderation. TV is a wonderful way to sit back and relax but it shouldn’t be something that people watch for hours on end everyday. I know that it has to be balanced and not over the top. There is a clip of a woman on Wife Swap that was infamous in Germany, she said that TV was good for her husband and children because it taught them things like how to raise children and how to cook. This is what is wrong with TV nowadays. It is no longer a form of entertainment for most people. It is a lifestyle. This is what has to change, if TV wasn’t a way to cater to laziness and boredom and for few to make millions it wouldn’t be as abhorred today as it is.

For the Love of Television

When I first came to the United States 8 years ago, my TV was my English teacher. I would watch Kim Possible for hours and try to make sense of what they were saying. Television was a great tool for my entire family to help our listening and learn new words, it was something that we did as much as possible. That was why I watched television then. That is not exactly true now. Although I do learn new words and sayings by watching TV, I watch TV for pleasure more than anything else. Right now, Dominik got me hooked on Doctor Who. He made me watch it and now I'm obsessed. I absolutely love this show. I love the plot and the adventures that the Doctor has and the aliens that he encounters. I could (and do) watch this show for hours, not that it pleases my mom though. Watching TV is something I can do while I fold laundry or workout or when I'm just absolutely bored out of my mind. Television has taken me to New New York and to Satellite 5. And although it can be a waste of time, I love it.

For the Love of Television

I would consider myself one of the biggest television watchers in the world. My TV is on almost literally 24/7, minus the hours that I am not at home. I watch TV because it is an easy thing to do when there's nothing else to do, and because I'm a self-proclaimed addict. Almost every room in my house has a TV in it, so no matter what room I'm in, the TV has to be on or it feels incomplete, even if it is on mute while I'm studying or sleeping.

 I watch a variety of shows from many channels, so my favorites would have to be The Office, Pretty Little Liars, and, unfortunately, a show I love to hate, Jersey Shore. Television provides a sense of mindless entertainment to pass the time, and unless it the show is educational or informational, it is an inane use of time (especially with shows like Jersey Shore).

Late-Night Television in the Form of a Blog Post

There was once a period in my life where television was part of my daily routine. Now, not so much. I've found that as time passes, and one grows older, there are far too many other obligatins to get done in the day and sitting down in front of the t.v. for hours on end is just simply not a possibility. That is not to say that I do not, every once in a while when I have spare time, relax and take a break for an episode or two and just let my mind wander and not think. It's moments like those that make it worth the hard work I put in order to deserve that reward.

The television is a tremendous outlet. It does not have just one aspect, for it can be entertaining, or educational, or annoying, or even a waste of someone's time. It all depends on what the viewer chooses to watch. There are those people that do not believe in the television or think it to be a corruption of the mind. I, frankly, don't agree with that argument. Yes, there are shows that are aired that are ridiculously idiotic and I wonder why they could ever be considered substantial enough to be broadcasted publicly, but yet on the other hand, there are also other shows that significantly benefit their audience. Take the news for example: without them, how could one stay up with current events? Sure there are newspapers and online forums, but only the television provides such easy accessibility and delivers to such an outstanding scope of the population. I remember I learned most of my rudimentary math and deduction skills from watching CyberKids on PBS every day. Those were the days... The television can not be judged by such a broad generalization because of the huge diversity it offers just through the simple pushing of a button to change the channel. Depending on what one chooses to watch, and for what purpose, t.v. will serve that person in a different way each and every time.

Now, as I finish up this blog post, I realize that I have been an extreme overachiever seeing as how this isn't due until Sunday. Considering I have no other work that needs to be done, I might as well go and watch an episode of one of my all-time favorite shows, Doctor Who. There's a new season and thanks to mountains of homeowork, I haven't been able to watch it. Now seems like a perfect time to catch up!

Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

The Emmy Awards are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life altering kind of a way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

Check out these sites for more information:

Turn off your TV

Television and Health

Positive Benefits of TV on Toddlers and Children

Due Sunday September 30th at 11:59 pm 

June 6, 1944 was one of humanities finest hours, although at the time that depended on your perspective. D-Day, as it is commonly known, was the invasion of Normandy in France by hundreds of thousands of ally soldiers. I have chosen this image to represent it because I believe it has a powerful  perspective. Unlike many photos and film, this has a head on view. It almost depicts what it would be like if you were an ally soldier. You know that you are probably walking into your own grave, but you also know that you have to persevere because the balance of the world rests on your shoulders. I hope to never experience a similar situation, but if I do I hope that I will have the same courage that these men showed despite there likely fear and anxiety. Around them had to have been on of the most horrid sites a man has ever seen. Blood red water, corpses everywhere you look, bombs exploding, destruction in every direction, yet they had nowhere to go but straight into the thick of it. Before this photo was taken there was chaos across the world, nobody could be sure of what was going to happen in the future, but thanks the these men it became a secure, safe future.

A World in Pictures

 

This picture was taken on January 28th, 1986, the day when the Space Shuttle Challenger launched into space. 73 seconds into its flight, the Challenger broke apart, eventually disintegrating over the Atlantic Ocean. All seven of the crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, were killed in the horrible tragedy.

Because McAuliffe was to be the first civilian to go into space, the audience for the shuttle launch consisted of almost everyone in America. When the spacecraft broke apart, everyone who was watching was taken aback by shock and awe. Even though I wasn't born at the time, I can imagine the emotions that onlookers were feeling at this tragic moment in history. There was so much excitement and anticipation that was built up around this event and the sudden unpredictable turn of events surely horrified and surprised those who were watching. When I look at this picture today, I see the smoke from the explosion and I think about the seven people who were inside of the shuttle at the time. Thinking about the loss of life greatly saddens me and it enables me to get somewhat of a feeling for what the viewers of the accident, the families of the crew, and the NASA employees that conducted the launch were feeling. For me, this picture provokes thoughts about just how precious life is. Even in the midst of something great like the launching of a space shuttle, tragedy can strike and lives can be lost. On this somber day in history, Americans were shown just this, and I believe that many were moved to view life as a very valuable thing and to not take it for granted.

Fly Me to the Moon

"That's one small step for man, one giant step for mankind" 

Neil Armstrong is the person in this photo. The first man ever on the moon, duh. This photo is of the first man on the moon, but it also has the American flag placed on the moon that will be there forever. Neils quote describes exactly how this photo makes me feel. Putting a man on the moon is one of the most amazing things to me. I am extremely confused but amazed by space so the fact they people discovered how to navigate out there and land on another planet than ours just baffles me. I will never know enough about space or ever understand space but this photo shows how much we actually do know about the mysterious place. This will always be an amazing event in our history and can never be forgotten. 

Blog 4

This is a picture of the Miracle on Ice. Not just a fantastic film, but an incredible story. The classic story of David vs. Goliath. In the shot you see the celebration of the USA hockey team as they celebrate a victory over the "unbeatable" Soviets. What we see is pure ecstasy as the American's trumped the world's super power against all odds. What we don't see is all of the hurdles they had to overcome. They are all college athletes as professional hockey players were not allowed to compete in the Olympics. They were forced to practice in a high school ice rink, and on limited time at that. Most importantly, what we don't see is the sweat and dedication by these young men to reach this incredible victory. All of the United States felt united behind this one team, and this victory raised the morale of an entire nation as we were recently coming out of a dark time of Post-WWII and Cold War. It made people feel proud to be American again. #GoAmerica

A World In Pictures

This picture depicts a group of prisoners at a concentration camp during the holocaust. Many of these pictures were extremely disturbing and shocked America. These pictures helped with the American war effort and encouraged many Americans to help out the effort in any way they could. The pictures that were brought back showed everyone how horrible the enemy was treating their prisoners, and that it needed to end.

Uncle Steve the Marine

This picture is of a soldier in Iraq interacting with three young girls.  I could have chosen a dark and dreary picture of a bomb explosion or a dead civilian or a number of other things, yet I chose this image instead.  My uncle is enlisted in the Marines, and is in for 5 more years to be discharged with disability, and when he can finally be out after so many years of service, his pension will be quite nice.  I like to imagine that this is what his duties were like.  In a dark and dangerous time and place, when all hope seems to be gone, the smiles on these girls faces would be enough to get him through another horrific day.  This picture, and others like it, were taken to show the moments of life in the war.  Their purpose were to invoke to the ethos of civilians, to comfort those back home, to tell them, "Don't worry about your loved ones; they're alright, and they're making other people's children smile while protecting their own."  The light colors in this picture, compared to the dark colors of bomb pictures or the trenches, show a more positive view of the war.  I hope that's how my uncle saw it.

a world in pictures

This picture, of President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, was taken moments before his assassination on November 22, 1963. Although this is not a world-class photo, why would it be? No one, besides the shooter knew he would have been assassinated on that day, no one, besides the shooter knew that that would be the last day to take a picture of the current president of the United States of America, no one knew. By the faces of the President and his wife, I infer that it was a joyous time, a good day. Maybe their kids were being extra well behaved that day, this makes it even more saddening for me. A perfect day ruined, by just one bad man with one good shot.

A World in Pictures (Blog #4)

On Friday, March 11, 2011, over a year and a half ago, at 14:46, off the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku, one of the five largest earthquakes in the world occurred. This earthquake, while it caused much damage, was only a precursor to the true destruction that would soon be wrought. While most of America was sleeping, tsunami waves, some reaching heights of 133 feet, ravaged the Sendai (and general Touhoku) area. In a matter of hours, Sendai had been absolutely devastated.

 

This picture captures just how badly this area of Japan had been hit by these disasters. However, yet another threat soon emerged. The Fukushima plants, because of the damage wrought, pumps inside of the plants stopped working, causing reactors to overheat. This led to more problems that eventually resulted in a 12 mile radius evacuation due to radiation leaking from the plant and a ban of food grown in a 50 kilometer radius. This triple disaster resulted in 15,870 deaths, 2,814 people missing, and at least 235 billion dollars in aid. Lastly, it has caused a political divide in Japan between those that still wish to use nuclear energy and those who want to rid Japan of nuclear energy in fear of a similar crisis.

The disaster that Japan endured in March of 2011 was truly a tragic one, but at the same time, it showed the resilience and selflessness of the Japanese people. There were often people who refused medical aid or assistance, claiming that someone else near them needed it more. Since this disaster, the Japanese have worked hard at rebuilding what had been lost. It is truly inspiring to know that in the one year, six months, and thirteen days since this disaster that much of the debris has been cleaned up and that the Japanese government is starting to make efforts to rebuild that which has been lost.

blog #4

This photograph is of an explosion caused by the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. It was created by the United States to end World War II. This picture was a mixture of shock and comfort to people all over the world. At the time, no one had ever seen a bomb as huge as this one; it was the first of its kind. Wiping out thousands of people instantly, everyone was shocked by this bombs power. The picture is taken too far away to show people in it, but no doubt about it, they were in pain. This picture also gave its viewers a little comfort behind all its destruction. It caused the end of the war, one that had been going on for six years and killed millions of people. No one could take much more of this war going on; it was what needed to happen to stop all the fighting.

Soviet Execution

In the times of Soviet turmoil, execution, disappearance, deportation, and excommunication were all regular parts of life. Yet throughout the nation's turbulent history, never was there more fear and death than during the Great Purge in 1937-38. Under the hand of a paranoid dictator, nearly 2 million people were executed for crimes of supposed political dissidence. Russian intelligentsia, ex-kulaks, Mongolians, Chinese, and Westerners were killed by the thousands to satisfy the leader of the Union during the Yezhofshchina. It was largely assumed by Stalin's fellow leaders that they, as staunch, powerful members of the party, were immune from this treatment. Yet the head of the murders, Nikolai Yezhov, was the victim of one of Stalin's final paranoid executions. He would, over time, be erased from Russian history, airbrushed from photographs and blacked out from documents, to ensure that nobody would ever think of him again. This was the fate of millions, not simply death but obliteration.

Blog #4: A World in Pictures

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most inspiring leaders of the Civil Rights Movement for his belief in nonviolent rebellion. This picture, taken in 1963, is of him when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. In it, he is addressing over 200,000 people about his dream of racial equality and no discrimination whatsoever. You can see the look of content on his face as he is waving to the crowd, so we can tell the feeling is one of content and overall hope, especially in the people. They had just heard one of best speeches ever, and were feeling more than ready for a change. Along with what we can see, this picture provokes one to think about the true influence MLK had on his supporters.

Pictures Blog 4

At the time, the Hindenburg was considered one of the most technologically advanced invention. But, the airship eventually went up in flames. This is one of those images that people cannot forget, and can influence millions of people. Similar to the titanic, the airship was supposed to be a very safe way to travel in luxury, and similar to the titanic, it ended in a horrible disaster. I think the reason this photo resonates so much with people is because the huge flames that are ravaging the airship. These are memorable because if the Hindenburg, which was considered safe, can go up in flames like that it seems that anything could do the same thing. Obviously today we know not to put hydrogen in the blimps, but back when it happened people could not as easily explain it. So, it created a sense of uncertainty in the lives of thousands of people.

Post 4

 Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech, is among the most influential speeches that have ever been given in America. This speech helped break down the color barriers and was essential to the civil rights movement. Because of that speech now segregation is not a problem like it used to be. Everyone is equal and has no discrimination to them. That is the speech that united America as a whole, that led us to be who we are today.

A World In Pictures

During times of religious turmoil in India and conflict about fighting for the independence of the country, there was one figurehead who was known around the globe as an advocate for peaceful relations between the Hindu’s and Muslim’s and the British and India. This man was Mohandas Gandhi. The 1948 picture above was a reminder to the Indian public, and the world, that there are ways to send messages and make oneself heard that do not require violence. This picture was very influential because, without doing or saying a harmful thing, Gandhi made people listen to his views. Gandhi fasted, a feat that is only self-impacting, but impacted many people emotionally. If, without hurting a fly, one man could have so much self-discipline and determination, the rest of the country could do the same. For a place facing multiple, and potentially violent, struggles this was an important message to be sent.

The World After the War

Everyone has seen this picture: "V-J Day, Times Square, 1945", known by many as "The Kiss" or something of the sort, was snapped during the celebration of the Japanese surrender. While not nearly as romantic as most would assume (neither member of the picture knew each other, as the soldier had been kissing everyone and just in general being ecstatic, and the nurse allegedly slapped him after the kiss) it quickly became a symbol of the excitement of the end of the long second world war. While Germany had already surrendered at this point, soldiers were still faced with the concept of having to ship out to the Pacific front, an idea that comforted few; the surrender of Japan meant the actual end of the war, end of the fighting. This image came to represent the overall feelings of relief and happiness that the long war was finally over and that peace could possibly be given the chance. While it was not a change, it was the symbol of a change, and comforted the people as it really solidified that the war was indeed over, and the soldiers could come home. 

The Photo That Ended a War

AP photojournalist Eddie Adams once wrote, “Still photographs are the most powerful weapon in the world”. He took this photo of an officer shooting a handcuffed prisoner at point blank range in 1968. Named “Murder of a Vietcong by Saigon Police Chief “, this photo changed many American’s ideas about the Vietnam War, earning him a Pulitzer Prize in 1969.  Americans saw the real violence and destruction of the war. Even now, 44 years after this photo was taken, it has such a resounding effect on the ideas of war and violence. When one sees what really goes on, the kind of violence that occurs during a war it is sickening. This photo became an icon of the war’s savagery and it shows the terrifying consequences of war. The man who pulled the trigger was General Nguyen Ngoc Loan was from then on was vilified and persecuted for the rest of his life. The photographer felt so bad for taking the photo that he admitted, "The general killed the Vietcong; I killed the general with my camera." This shows just how much impact one photo has on a people and how it really is worth 1000 words.

Shocking pictures blog

Pearl harbor was one of the most shocking events of the twentieth century. It sparked us into joining World War II and stopped our isolationist stature from earlier in the war. Just before this picture was taken Japanese bombers dropped multiple bombs on the naval base Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. Outside of the picture we were combating several fires from other explosions. The people taking the photo were horrified because not only did many die but we were completely unprepared for the attack. What made me think of this picture was the explosion in the picture of the twin towers. 

The Burning Properties of a Revolution

 

The picture above depicts Thích Quảng Đức,a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on June 11th, 1963. He was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnam's Roman Catholic government. He set himself on fire, known also as self-immolation, and died without making any sound or movement. When I see this picture, I can not even begin to fathom the amount of self-determination that man must have had to let his entire body burn - a painstakingly long experience where it would seem like every nerve in one's body would be ignited both literally and figuratively. I also regard him with a huge amount of respect for his courage to stand up for what he believes in. The image itself is shocking and worthy of cringe, but the story behind the lense, at least for me, is truly inspirational. If by doing this, Thich managed to get police officers bowing and praying for forgiveness before him as he burned, imagine if that sort of dedication and conviction was transferred to our current society where, in comparison, some of our hardships and complaints seem extremely trivial.

A World in Pictures

When I look at this picture (and others from the Holocaust), it makes me want to cry. At first glance, it is kind of hard to tell what this is. Then you realize that the piles on the ground are people. That the white is their clothing, what little they had; and the little "twigs", their arms and legs. In the left hand corner, a person dressed in black looking at what has been left there. The thought that this could happen is terrifying, that corpses would be piled up to rot and so many. Looking at this image, I feel scared and I feel sad and I feel mad that this happened; that it was a reality, that we as a human race allowed for this to happen, that these people were tortured so brutally. 

Evil vs. Good, because evil deserves to be first sometimes.

I think life is a just a large spectrum of gray.  There is no black or white.  There is no right or wrong.  What you believe to be correct or just is the opposite in someone else's eyes.  No one can know exactly what someone else is thinking, no matter how hard that someone tries to explain every ounce of thought.  Even if the words appear to be crystal clear, the tone of the sentence or the connotation of the chosen words can be interpreted differently.  "Good" and "Evil," "Right" and "Wrong" are just hierarchical ideas to make one person better than another.  Someone could have a heart of gold, but not be able to provide for his family, and in order to do so, must steal some food in order to take care of his babies.  Stealing is thought to be wrong evil, but so is neglecting a family.  Is it better to protect your own heart or be in a one-sided relationship just to make the other person happy?  Is that selfish?  Some would think so.  Others would think it's just stupid to be in any form of relationship that is not somewhat symbiotic.  Good and evil do not have to exist.  They shouldn't.  But that doesn't mean that the world will ever be rid of them.

Assignment 4: A World in Pictures

On Monday morning, you could have stood on the top level and witnessed the beautiful eccentrics of New York city. On Tuesday morning, you would have run in horror.The two tallest buildings in New York City fell on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and because of the consequential pain and destruction, America would forever be changed.

On September 11, the majority of the nation watched in horrific silence as they saw the pictures of chaos.

This picture from New York Magazine marked the start of a new era for America.

Pictures show us what we cannot know first-hand. They can make a statement or argument. They can educate on the reality of the world. They can change how a person thinks about an idea or event. This week, find a picture that shocked, comforted, or changed a nation or community of people (falling of Berlin wall, JFK assassination, etc.)

Include your picture, a description of it, and what it provokes you to think about in your blog.

If you're facing writer's block, consider the following:
What happened just before the photograph was taken?
How do the people in the photograph feel?
What is happening outside the frame of this photograph?

Due Sunday, September 23 at 11:59 pm!

Prompt 3.. Bo Phillips

            I feel that each person is capable of completing good and evil actions, yet I do not think that there exists within our universe a stand alone pure good or pure evil. The logic here is that every action is viewed differently, therefore creating separate opinions.
            An extreme example of this is the events that happened on September 11, 2011. (Before I delve into this topic let me make it clear that I am in every way possible opposed to these events and felt and incredible amount of grief for our country and all of the people affected.) American's recognize this day as one of the darkest hours in our 236 year history, paralleling Pearl Harbor. As the victims we will always refer to these as "acts of terror," but to the members of Al-Queda they aren't terrible at all. In fact, in their opinion they were heroic. It is easy for them to justify what happened, an obvious argument; just as it seems obvious to you and me that the acts were despicable and malicious. Depending on who you ask the events that happened some 11 years ago could be viewed as pure good or pure evil. Since the opinions vary, the actions cant be clearly defined as good or evil.
             Situations like these are what cause me to come to the conclusion that good and evil, while things that occur frequently, cannot be associated to every action without any conflict in defining what category it falls under.

Evil vs. Good

Just to start out, I don't think anybody is truly "good" or "bad". Though people are often given these titles, it is completely based upon the viewpoint of the person giving the names. In order to be a "good" person we are expected to fight human nature when it comes to things such as lust, greed, envy, etc. But after all, we are human, and we are bound to make mistakes or bad decisions in our lives. To go even deeper into this argument, who even decided the values of a "good" person? Was it religious leaders or just a basic understanding amongst everyone? No matter what lead to it we will always have an idea in our minds of someone that is a "good" person even though they may be the very opposite in someone else's view.

good vs evil

Evil is anything that causes someone or something either physical or emotional pain, may also include selfishness. Good is anyone who does nice things for others for nothing in return. I do not believe in absolute good and evil. I don’t think that there has ever been absolute good or evil in reality, that it is just a fictional idea. Not one person is completely one or the other, just different mixtures of the two. Even the best good person has done at least one evil act, no matter how small. The same for an evil person, they have occasional good acts, too. Good and evil are things that have to exist. As humans, we were created with emotions, thoughts, and different ways of dealing with them that makes no two people the same. Some people will always be tempted by “evil” things and some will have more self control against them.

Good Vs Evil (Blog 3)

The concepts of "good" and "evil" are completely conceptual and therefore may be interpreted differently by different people. If one goes with a standard definition of both, it is clear that they are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other because if evil no longer existed, how could we define good (and vice versa)? Everything, I believe, can be defined as being either good or evil, even supposedly neutral actions. Let's say you saw a wallet on the ground and decided not to pick it up. This supposedly neutral action has in fact had results that one could easily interpret as negative. By leaving the wallet there, you are not only not helping the person who dropped it, but you are also indirectly giving someone else the chance to steal it. At the same time, you give someone else the chance to find it and take it to its owner. Basically, you are leaving the result of your actions in someone else's hands rather than your own, and that result can either be good or evil depending one what he or she decides.

However, no one is truly evil, and at the same time, no one is truly good. Even those such Hitler or Stalin have done good deeds, and important religious figures have committed sins. As long as life exists, so will good and evil; it's an inevitable consequence of being sentient creatures and having the ability to decide our actions.

Good vs. Evil

I believe that we live in a world that is filled with both good and bad things, but there is no clear cut distinction between a "good" person and a "bad" person. For there to be categories of good and bad or good and evil, there would have to be universal agreements on the definitions of good and bad/evil, which definitely do not exist. Although there are many things that most people would always believe are good or bad, many things depend on how the individual person views them. There could be a person that you think is a terrible, immoral, evil person because of what you believe and how they compare to yourself personally, but they might perceive themselves as a very good individual. Something as simple as cheating on a test, for an example, can be viewed in completely different ways. Some people might see cheating as just another tool that can be used to be successful in high school and that it is completely fine, especially when it's something as simple as letting your eyes "drift" onto a fellow student's paper when you can't come up with a couple of answers on the big test. However, there are also people who believe that any form of cheating is wrong and immoral and would feel terribly guilty if they were to take someone else's answer. So is cheating good or bad? That's up to the individual to decide. So, I think there is clearly a gray area that exists when categorizing things, people, actions, beliefs, etc. as good and evil. And, with everyone having different beliefs and opinions, I believe that everyone will continue to struggle with the concept of good and evil and that it is the individual's responsibility to be confident in what they believe and how they choose to live their life, no matter what other people might think about it.

Good Vs. Evil

I have always been a firm believer that whether or not a person is good or bad is determined by what they do when nobody is watching. As for the person who returned the wallet in the prompt, he could have kept the wallet and nobody would ever. Except, he would know. So, knowing that he could not take the wallet and maintain a clear conscience he returned it to it's owner. Similarly, in California recently, there was a bank robbery that led to a car chase. It was televised live o people knew where it was happening. Then while in a residential area the robbers started to throw money out of the windows to draw people in the street and slow down the police. It worked and hundreds of people crowded the street to grab as much money as possible. One person in the scramble was a middle aged man who saw the chase on the news. He was able to grab a little over $10. Then, he immediately took that money to the bank to return it. It would have been much easier just to keep the money he got and not say anything about it. But, when he was asked later why he brought back the he simply said, "I wasn't mine." This is a perfect example of a good person because he does what he knows is right even though nobody would ever know the difference. On the other hand, do I think the people who didnt return the money are evil? No. But, I wouldn't say that they are good people either. I think the reason why I cant say they are evil is because there is so much evil that is shown to us we tend to ignore it, but when someone does something good it is very recognizable.

Blog Post #3

From what I believe, I don't believe there is an absolute good and evil. I think that it is just really a gray area with people who do good AND bad things, as no one is perfect. This can even be seen in superheroes in movies and comics. An example would be Peter Parker in the new The Amazing Spider-Man. In the beginning of the movie, (spoiler alert) Peter purposefully lets an armed thief steal from a store for revenge against the cashier, though he has the power to stop it. Even though Spider-Man is a hero, does this act technically make him evil? I don't believe it does, showing the exact gray area between good and evil people. I believe that good and evil exist, but they can't be eliminated because they are natural for everybody to do and be. Even though we all might want to believe that we are good people, we all do evil things as well.

Post 3

I do not believe there is a clear cut between good and evil. I believe that sometimes people's situations can make them do things that appear good to them, but evil to other people. For example, someone who's family is starving and have no money, they steal food to provide for their family. The family would view it as a good deed but for instance the store owner would view it as evil. So i guess there is a gray area between good and evil, but certain things are distinguishable between good and evil. Murder would definitely be an evil thing, while saving someone from a fire would be a good thing. But once again, circumstances play a part!

The Two Dogs...

The other day I was wasting my time on Pinterest when I found a quote by George Bernard Shaw, he said, “A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.” I don’t believe that there is one good or one evil, or that one will always rise above the other. I believe these are traits inside of us and our life is a struggle to determine to which we turn. Good people can do evil things, evil people can be good. I cannot say that the difference is a clear-cut issue. People are capable of both, take Adolf Hitler for example, a man known by all as evil. He was the first in history to start an anti-smoking ban, invented and initiated the highway system in Germany, and united a nation that was crumbing under the weight of a failing economy. Now, if any other man had done things such as these, they would be celebrated and acknowledged but it was not a good man who did these things. Somebody evil, who did some of the worst things that have ever happened in the world, did do some good. It makes one wonder what makes some one evil, “are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”  as sung in one of Stephen Schwartz’s songs. This issues obviously isn’t black and white, there is no one line to be crosses. It is much deeper.

Good vs. Evil

Depending on the situation, sometimes there is a clear “good vs. evil” but other times there is a murky gray area based on individual perception. When Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor was it considered good or evil? The rich in the classic tale of Robin Hood would most likely not revere him as good and a hero, but the poor probably would. Often times different peoples’ perceptions of situations can cause one person’s hero to be another’s villain or visa-versa. On the other hand, determining “good vs. evil” can be very clear-cut. Take the Spiderman series for example; to most people it is pretty obvious that Spiderman who is trying to save the town is the hero and Dr. Octavious, or whom ever the villain trying to destroy the community is, the evil one. Labeling the good vs. the evil can be clear or very murky depending on the situation.

Assignment 3

Is there a fine line between good and evil? yes. As far as actions go you can be a good person that makes bad mistakes, that is understood. The main difference is the motives for completing those actions. If one has selfish, self-rewarding motives for doing a good deed I don't believe that makes them a bad person, I just don't think that makes them a good person. There is some grey area around this concept. I believe it all comes down to selfishness vs. selflessness. Good people look for ways to help others, and assist others purely for the help they provide for the other. In contrast, bad people might do good actions, but do it so their social standard rises, or they get something in return for those actions. A prime example of a good person is Tim Tebow. He consistently goes out of his way to help others, and goes through extensive measures to make sure the media does not acknowledge his good doings because he does not want to be perceived as someone who does these good deeds in order to raise his social status. Good will always prevail over evil, but the battle will always be around. Good will never defeat evil, and evil will never defeat good.

Shades of Gray

People are neither good nor bad. That I believe to be a fact: every human being has the capability to do either good or bad. There is no such thing as "being" good or evil, unless you look in books or movies. Truly evil people are unlikely to exist; just because they are mostly bad doesn't mean that they can't do good. Don't think I'm saying that Hitler was a good guy; what I'm saying here is that at least he didn't add animal cruelty to his list. That also doesn't mean that I'm going to tell you that he really wasn't a bad guy. He was bad, that much I can say. But he didn't have to be. That's just how it happened, that's where he went with his life. If he'd been accepted to art school, who knows how the world might have turned out.

So, about this whole "war between good and evil" thing. I don't really think there's a huge war between good and evil raging all around us. As awesome as that would be (give or take a universe or two) I can't say with any certainty where I'd end up being shoved in that one, since I myself feel thoroughly in the gray area. Personally, I like the way Good Omens shows it. It's a great little book about the apocalypse and the war between good and evil. Now, there are number of points the book makes (and keep in mind that it was mostly supposed to be humorous) and they all settle around three characters (or at least the points that I'm going to bring up do.) Of these three characters, I'll start with two of them: the angel and the demon. Both of them have spent a while on Earth, and having done so have realized something: they're not all that different. That's the way I see it; both sides have a little bit of both in them. The demon, Crowley, brings a bird back to life after the angel, Aziraphale, accidentally kills it. That's simply a small example of it, but really my point being that anti-heroes and anti-villains exist. Their very existence is because it's more realistic to us, because there is no such thing as a perfect person (like there may be in books or movies.) As a quick ending to my lame excuse to talk about a book I really like for an assignment, the third character to mention would be Adam. He's the antichrist, who is supposed to bring the apocalypse. Only, because he grew up with humans, he's just like them: neither good nor bad, with a capability for both.

Good Omens is a book all about the war between good and evil, but it's also twisting the idea upon its head. Because that's the way I feel like it would be. Even if there was a war of good and evil, somehow, I feel like neither side would be able to claim complete good or evil. In the end, I'm pretty sure humans are just that: perfectly flawed. One thing that Harry Potter got wrong is that one can live while the other survives: if not for evil, then what in the world would good be?

Good vs. Evil

I don't think that people are good or evil. I think that some people try to do good things some dont but       poeple are neither good nor evil. The lady who gave the wallet back isn't better than anyone else she just did a good thing. Neither can defeat the other because their are no absolute goods or evils. I don't think it is even necessary for them to exist because who can judge if we all  "bad" things then how can we say we are "good" or have the right to say someone else is not good? I think that interns of examples one of the best is Gatsby of The Great Gatsby in terms of who is good or evil and how they don't necessarily exist. He is presented throughout the entire book as good at least through the narrator's eyes but many of us see Gasby as bad or evil. If he were actually are real things they are at least fluid ideas not concrete definitions. When we don't agree on if a single character is good, how can we rule if a person, who has a entire life not just what a book tells us of a character's life, is good or evil?

Evil Doesn't Play by the Rules

Deciphering between good versus evil, when really simplified into their basic structures, isn't as clear cut as it would appear to be. What one considers good or evil is most certainly not what someone else might consider, and from this stems the controversy over the difference of the fundamental basics of wholesome and malevolent actions. Looking at popular movies for aid in attempting to distinguish between the two, I chose two examine The Princess Bride and The Shining. For the first, the rivalry between the two forces is evident with Prince Humperdinck being the vicious ruler and Westley acting as the hero of the story by saving Princess Buttercup. With the latter though, this distinction isn't as obvious. In The Shining, one could argue that the force of evil was the murderous father who attempted to kill his family and the good forces were the mother and the boy who worked together to try and stop the father. But if one chooses to analyze the plot even further, as I have, an argument could also be formed for the source of evil being not the father but the malicious forces of the house that acted upon the father and forced him to perform the actions we deem as "evil". In that case, is the father truly evil? But what constitutes an "evil" action? Is it the infliction of pain or death, is it social disruption or cheating? In that same light, one could also question what the root of good is. Is it employing a sense of honesty or friendliness towards someone, providing help, or simply not indulging in what is deemed and evil action (i.e. self-restraint)? Seeing as how our society is so deeply embedded in these two values that we judge all actions, our own or those of others, by their standards, I don't believe that we could ever foster a definition for either nor could we function as a proper society if these two values were removed. I would consider both good and evil two gray areas of human life that will permanently remain that way, never to be defined, for as we as a people continue to grow, so do our beliefs and values and they will forever continue to change our perspectives on the two topics because wherever there is one, the other will shortly follow.

Assignment 3: Come to the dark side, Luke

The news does not shy away from stories that show the moral flaws of humanity. Read any newspaper and there is always something about the latest crime in its pages. Every so often though, we are fortunate enough to hear stories of people who still want to do the right thing. For instance, Leah Kleppinger recently found a wallet when no one else was around. When she opened it, she saw $4,600 in cash and credit cards and had every opportunity to pocket it, but instead returned it to its owner.

But just because we hear about bad things and nice things happening does that mean there is a true battle versus good and evil? Is Leah Kleppinger the epitome of good while someone who would have kept the wallet the definition of evil?

So...you're prompt for the week:

Do you believe in absolute good and evil? Is it as clear cut as Harry Potter versus Voldemort, the Sith versus the Jedi? Is there no war at all between good and evil; is there just this gray area where sometimes good people do bad things? Are good and evil even things that have to exist? Can one eliminate the other once and for all? What is evil? What is good?

Use examples when applicable!

Your post will be due by Sunday September 16th 11:59 pm

Video Killed the Radio Star

Just to start clear, technology is an amazing invention. It has changed our lives and the rest of human life forever, but like anything else there are pros and cons. Everyone can probably name a billion pros because technology is awesome, but I have lived multiple cons of technology.

I have a very big opinion on the negative impact technology has on society. Most of the time I use technology for playing games, listening to music, deleting emails and tweeting from my ipod. Or doing work, typing, research, playing games and checking my favorite freebie and social media websites on the computer. I don't do a lot of technological communication. It's not real to me. With technology in the way what communication is real? People are so different behind a screen than in person. There is so much to say about it but I am at a lose of how to describe it. 

Texting and driving makes me very angry and it happens everywhere, all the time. Is any text really worth it? My mom will hand me her phone to text for her so she can focus. 

Since my dad upgraded his black berry to an iPhone, ughhh. The laptop at his house doesn't work but since he can access everything he used to need a computer for on his phone he hasn't replaced it. Now I am computer less at his house and I don't like to use my iPod for everything. Also he is always on that thing, always. I try and have a conversation and it's not a conversation, there is a disconnect. I either get a generic response or a what, can you repeat that? 

Technology is also my biggest distraction. So many website, so many apps so many ways to find the answer to everything but I have other stuff.

I guess I have a more negative view of technology than most teenagers, but I think I have legit reasons and have had different experiences. 

Dat's life.