I will not lie and say that I have always enjoyed writing, or that I even claim to enjoy doing it now. Whenever a paper has been assigned to me, I cannot for the life of me remember a time when I was excited to do it. I do, however, love writing for myself, such as in a journal, or on topics I care about, without a length requirement. Because of this lack of excitement for writing, I have always felt that my writing was mediocre and could have been better. I have always ended up rushing through papers, and leaving out details, which my AP English teacher always got on my ass about because in that class, details in our essays were what got us the scores we needed to get college credit for the class. She told me I had good ideas, I just needed more details to support those ideas. Well I honestly don’t feel as if I have gotten any better at utilizing details to support my ideas, with the exception of my post about MySpace, in which I felt I relayed details pretty well, as you can see here: “MySpace uses simple language, big, bright, bold links to useful operations such as music and videos, and there are usually directions telling you how to use these tools…MySpace really speaks out to younger kids also because of its focal point, to connect with other people and show off your own style. With so many options for your page, such as music, backgrounds, pictures, graphics and text, you can really express who you are on this site. You need to recognize a need to be different and expressive to really use MySpace to your advantage.” When it comes to topics such as this, a website that can be easily analyzed, I have gotten better at writing more descriptive details. I still feel I need to take more time to develop these details to support my ideas and thesis, but I have come further along in that I can at least recognize that lack of supporting details is one of my weaknesses in writing.
A strength I know I have always had in my writing is my voice. I find it very easy to put my own character and personality into my writing to make sure that reader’s can identify my point of view and hopefully understand where I am coming from. When we had the free write assignment in May, I chose to write about my relationships with boys as strictly friends, and I felt my voice came out in that post the easiest, as seen in this passage: “Well for one, my boyfriend had a bitch fit about it, even after I explained I have known Bryce longer than I have know him, and that it would be safer as well. He compared it to him living with some girl he has known for about two years, and I became so irritated, I hung up on him.” Anyone who knows me just a tiny bit can see me actually hanging up on my boyfriend, and I feel like I wrote that story as if I were telling it to a friend the next day.
An attribute I feel I have taken from this class is the ability to write for certain audiences. Honestly, before this class, I never really considered who I was writing a piece for, I always just wrote for my teacher to read. The format of this class as a blog has really opened my eyes to considering who is actually reading your work, and I think I have come to be a better writer in that aspect. My first post about MySpace, as you can see above, was very formal and followed what the teacher wanted to a letter almost, but near the end of the class I found I could add more humor and stray from the path of the assignment just a bit because of the college audience I was writing for. I found I could be more honest in what I really thought, as when we started the unit on Rhetorical analysis, and we had to choose a photograph to write on as an observation, then a reflection and then an argument. I was not ashamed to say the picture I chose reminded me of the kid’s movie Cars, “The first reflection I had about this photo came to me the first time I saw it, and that thought was about “tractor tipping” from the Disney movie Cars. It made me laugh because I could see the scene from the movie where Mater and Lightening (two characters from the movie, for those of you who haven’t seen it) go out into a field in the middle of the night, where the tractors are all sleeping, and then they proceed to honk in front of the tractors to startle them awake…”.
Overall, I am very happy with what this class has done to my writing skills. I feel I am more prepared for future college writing experiences, I just need a little more work. But you can’t fix everything at once, now can you?
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Rhetorical Analysis: Propaganda Used Today
The current debate over the War in Iraq has pretty much divided the country, and many feel that the other party is to blame. Conservatives and Liberals are almost at each other’s throats over what the strategy should be in Iraq. This piece of propaganda I found online clearly demonstrates a Conservative view on a war and how they feel about the Liberal’s in the process. It depicts an American pilot standing in the cockpit of his plane, while squadrons of bombers fly behind him. Red, white and blue lettering and background colors spark a patriotic feeling, despite the text that puts down half of America, stating, “Shut the Fuck Up, We’ll Protect America….Keep out of the way, Liberal Pussies.” The propaganda style of this poster brings back a World War II feeling of patriotism that effectively inspired a nation to support the war effort. The rhetoric being used here is a combination of ethos and pathos, but show a complete lack of logos. Using the image in the style of World War II propaganda, this poster utilizes the ethos of propaganda and the pathos of patriotism to portray Conservatives as the heroes of the war while stating the downfall of the Liberals in America with offensive language.
Original World War II propaganda was used to demoralize the enemies of America and to inspire Americans to put all their effort into the war. This more modern piece targets another set of Americans as the target, namely Liberals, and the text uses comparison-contrast to show that Conservatives are heroic, real Americans, and then blatantly calls Liberals “pussies”. This contrasts the bravery and cowardice of the two political stances. Cause and effect can also be seen when the picture shows that if Conservatives can get Liberals out of the way, we can win the war. It is also using a descriptive strategy by describing the Liberals as “pussies” and the Conservatives as taking care of business. These development strategies employ the rhetorical strategies of ethos and pathos. The red, white, and blue colors used in this poster are examples of the ethos used to argue that Conservatives are more American and heroic than Liberals. Our country’s colors are a symbol for being All-American, and convey a certain sense of credibility and power. The vision of the perfect American pilot, standing proud on his plane, and looking tough all contribute to this piece’s ethos. Americans are usually thought to be the saviors of countries in need, and we are supposed to be good looking and masculine, which is represented here. Overall, the whole propaganda look of the poster brings a certain characteristic of patriotism and being true
American, which is ethos in itself. The original real World War II poster targets the Japanese as being brutal and torturing our troops. This compares and contrasts America’s treatment of prisoners of war to Japan’s, and is aimed at inspiring Americans to believe in the fight against Japan and to not trust them as a race. It too is descriptive in the piece of real newspaper that tells the horrific story Yank prisoners killed by Japanese soldiers.
Propaganda was a form of psychological warfare that inspired our nation during the last big war to stand behind our troops and our nation. That ethos follows the form of propaganda of being super patriotic. When it comes to the pathos of the propaganda, the patriotic colors and images invoke feelings of well, patriotism and reminiscent of a better time when America was at war, but the whole country supported the fight. The scene on the poster also creates that feeling of being proud to be an American, and that adds to the argument that only the Right Wing side of the spectrum can bring us back to the good old days of glory and patriotism.
The style of propaganda itself supposedly has several ground rules, which, according to Charles Roetter in The Art of Psychological Warfare, were making sure it has an aim or purpose, has a target, carries credibility, and is a means of communication or dissemination (24). This piece here does have a purpose of establishing a bias against Liberals, and the target would be Liberals. It is a means of communication, but it hardly carries credibility in its argument, except that the generalization that Liberals are more against the war and want to pull out, while Conservatives are gung ho about the war. This difference arises from the associations with political parties, the Liberals tending to be mostly Democrats, and the Conservatives being Republican. This message is being sold through the use of propaganda which has a powerful effect on the enemy if it carries credibility, but if it doesn’t, it won’t get the attention of the target enemy, or at least it will not hold that attention for very long (Roetter 17).
The message being sold here that Conservatives will get the job done in the war better than the Liberals is presented through the strong use of text and foul language, and vintage pictures of victorious American troops. It is made to look like it was printed in 1940’s America during the Second World War, but there was no kind of debate during that time of whether Liberals or Conservatives had the right idea about what to do in the war, so it is a current piece. Also the use of the “F word” and the name used to describe Liberals were not commonly printed on propaganda to be hung in public. It can be read to mean the War in Iraq. The fact that the words speak the whole message in bold large font while the picture doesn’t really show an aspect of the argument makes the point much easier to catch on to. The viewer can be an average person and simply read the words and then look at the picture to see what he is trying to be told. Making the message accessible to the public will ensure it is spread more quickly, especially across the lower class people.
An offensive, bold poster such as this is going to catch the attention of any average American, and then make its point that they need to place there trust in the Conservative side of the political spectrum to hope to glean any success in the war. It clearly argues, simply through its text, that Liberals do not have what it takes to give America another victory. The propaganda style of the poster invokes patriotic emotions which can lead to patriotic support of the Conservatives and their plan for the war. Using the rhetorical appeals of ethos, with the propaganda style itself, and pathos, the American colors, to convince an audience of the Right Wing way of life compared to the Left.
Works Cited Page
Roetter, Charles. The Art of Psychological Warfare 1912-1945. Briarcliff Manor: Scarborough House, 1974.
Original World War II propaganda was used to demoralize the enemies of America and to inspire Americans to put all their effort into the war. This more modern piece targets another set of Americans as the target, namely Liberals, and the text uses comparison-contrast to show that Conservatives are heroic, real Americans, and then blatantly calls Liberals “pussies”. This contrasts the bravery and cowardice of the two political stances. Cause and effect can also be seen when the picture shows that if Conservatives can get Liberals out of the way, we can win the war. It is also using a descriptive strategy by describing the Liberals as “pussies” and the Conservatives as taking care of business. These development strategies employ the rhetorical strategies of ethos and pathos. The red, white, and blue colors used in this poster are examples of the ethos used to argue that Conservatives are more American and heroic than Liberals. Our country’s colors are a symbol for being All-American, and convey a certain sense of credibility and power. The vision of the perfect American pilot, standing proud on his plane, and looking tough all contribute to this piece’s ethos. Americans are usually thought to be the saviors of countries in need, and we are supposed to be good looking and masculine, which is represented here. Overall, the whole propaganda look of the poster brings a certain characteristic of patriotism and being true
American, which is ethos in itself. The original real World War II poster targets the Japanese as being brutal and torturing our troops. This compares and contrasts America’s treatment of prisoners of war to Japan’s, and is aimed at inspiring Americans to believe in the fight against Japan and to not trust them as a race. It too is descriptive in the piece of real newspaper that tells the horrific story Yank prisoners killed by Japanese soldiers.Propaganda was a form of psychological warfare that inspired our nation during the last big war to stand behind our troops and our nation. That ethos follows the form of propaganda of being super patriotic. When it comes to the pathos of the propaganda, the patriotic colors and images invoke feelings of well, patriotism and reminiscent of a better time when America was at war, but the whole country supported the fight. The scene on the poster also creates that feeling of being proud to be an American, and that adds to the argument that only the Right Wing side of the spectrum can bring us back to the good old days of glory and patriotism.
The style of propaganda itself supposedly has several ground rules, which, according to Charles Roetter in The Art of Psychological Warfare, were making sure it has an aim or purpose, has a target, carries credibility, and is a means of communication or dissemination (24). This piece here does have a purpose of establishing a bias against Liberals, and the target would be Liberals. It is a means of communication, but it hardly carries credibility in its argument, except that the generalization that Liberals are more against the war and want to pull out, while Conservatives are gung ho about the war. This difference arises from the associations with political parties, the Liberals tending to be mostly Democrats, and the Conservatives being Republican. This message is being sold through the use of propaganda which has a powerful effect on the enemy if it carries credibility, but if it doesn’t, it won’t get the attention of the target enemy, or at least it will not hold that attention for very long (Roetter 17).
The message being sold here that Conservatives will get the job done in the war better than the Liberals is presented through the strong use of text and foul language, and vintage pictures of victorious American troops. It is made to look like it was printed in 1940’s America during the Second World War, but there was no kind of debate during that time of whether Liberals or Conservatives had the right idea about what to do in the war, so it is a current piece. Also the use of the “F word” and the name used to describe Liberals were not commonly printed on propaganda to be hung in public. It can be read to mean the War in Iraq. The fact that the words speak the whole message in bold large font while the picture doesn’t really show an aspect of the argument makes the point much easier to catch on to. The viewer can be an average person and simply read the words and then look at the picture to see what he is trying to be told. Making the message accessible to the public will ensure it is spread more quickly, especially across the lower class people.
An offensive, bold poster such as this is going to catch the attention of any average American, and then make its point that they need to place there trust in the Conservative side of the political spectrum to hope to glean any success in the war. It clearly argues, simply through its text, that Liberals do not have what it takes to give America another victory. The propaganda style of the poster invokes patriotic emotions which can lead to patriotic support of the Conservatives and their plan for the war. Using the rhetorical appeals of ethos, with the propaganda style itself, and pathos, the American colors, to convince an audience of the Right Wing way of life compared to the Left.
Works Cited Page
Roetter, Charles. The Art of Psychological Warfare 1912-1945. Briarcliff Manor: Scarborough House, 1974.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
May 15, 2007: Don't Buy Gasoline Day
Recently while logging on to Facebook and Myspace, a bulletin and event have caught my attention. Apparently people are a bit sick and tired of the spike in prices of gasoline, with the average price being somewhere around three dollars a gallon. Its been called an early spike before the summer traveling season, and is only expected to go higher when summer officially arrives. Well in response and protest to this, a few groups have posted events on these networking sites stating that in 1997, there was a "gas out" where millions of Americans decided not to buy gas on one day, and supposedly, gas prices dropped $.30 over night, because of the huge profit lost by the fuel companies. This idea has been proposed again, stating that if on May 15th, everyone, at least on Myspace and Facebook, should not buy any gasoline at all. If its successful, then hopefully it will cost the fuel giants a profit of somewhere around $2,163,302,190.00. This gigantic loss of profit in the course of one day should prompt them to lower gas prices, if only temporarily. This logic is based on the assumption of course, that we all fill up everyday, and I feel it won't have the exact desired effect, but I will do my part to not fill up that day, unless I absolutely have to, like if its an emergency. I do find it disgusting the kind of profits these companies incur over the year, considering how we are all bitching about the price of gas, but I have my doubts as to whether this "gas out" will work. But I was glad to see these networking sites being used for a reason with depth for once, and not to superficially boost one's self image based on the number of friends they have. True Fan vs. New Fan
As a little girl, some of my best memories are four wheeling through the mountains with my dad, listening to country music. I have always loved country music, because I feel that, at least to me, it speaks to so many people in all kinds of situation, and I have always held the belief that if you want to say something important to someone, you should say it with a country song. Moving to Denver, I was excited to take advantage of places like The Grizzly Rose, which is one of the best country dance clubs in America. They have a great setting for intimate concerts with some of my favorite country artists, and a fairly large dance floor. Going to this place though has caused more irritation lately than fun. First off, every one there on Sundays, which used to be the only night for anyone under the age of 21, line dances. I feel like line dancing is an excuse to not learn how to really dance with a partner, and the kind of people there doing the dances confused me. Country music has a growing fan base these days, but new fans tend to only pay attention to new and somewhat 
different country artists that I, and other older fans, have a hard time as classifying as true country music. Its frustrating to see when a Merle Haggard song is played, no one wants to dance because they don't know it, but as soon as Rascal Flatts is played, they know every word. I should be happy that my kind of music is more popular tha ever right? So why am I so frustrated with ignorant new fans who all of a sudden claim to be country because they bought a Kenny Chesney record?
different country artists that I, and other older fans, have a hard time as classifying as true country music. Its frustrating to see when a Merle Haggard song is played, no one wants to dance because they don't know it, but as soon as Rascal Flatts is played, they know every word. I should be happy that my kind of music is more popular tha ever right? So why am I so frustrated with ignorant new fans who all of a sudden claim to be country because they bought a Kenny Chesney record?Sunday, April 15, 2007
Why can't guys and girls just be friends?????
Since I can remember socializing, I have always felt much more comfortable hanging out with the boys in my school than the girls. One reason being that I don’t play those stupid little games girls play behind each other’s backs, and I don’t tolerate it either. I tell people how it is, and I don’t apologize for that, so many girls have had a problem with me. My boys have always been my best friends, since first grade I have hung out with two guys named Jake and Dennis, and I would rather have them stand up for me at my wedding than anyone else. But lately, I have noticed that this kind of friendship is seen as unlikely and even looked down upon at certain points. Recently I have thought of living with another great guy friend, Bryce, who I have known since I was 2, and is literally like my brother. He almost lives with my parents in Leadville, so why not live with him when he moves down here? Well for one, my boyfriend had a bitch fit about it, even after I explained I have known Bryce longer than I have know him, and that it would be safer as well. He compared it to him living with some girl he has known for about two years, and I became so irritated, I hung up on him. Also, trying to find guy friends down here is close to impossible. Apparently, in Denver, it’s highly impossible that a guy and a girl can be friends without anything else being between them. Well, I guess I better learn to be better at being a girl, or I am screwed.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Absolute Impotence
One of the best ad parody’s I could find, this photograph of a “flaccid” bottle of Absolut Vodka illustrates a side effect of drinking too much. This advertisement also uses a quote from William Shakespeare, “Drink provokes the desire but takes away the performance". There is use of comparison-contrast, where this ad contrasts with the original Absolut ads and the message they try to get across. The picture of the weirdly shaped bottle also employs an example or illustration of what the product can do, which is deprive a male drinker of his ability to successfully attain an erection. Another rhetorical strategy observed here is an analogy, where the bottle and its new shape are analogous to what will happen to a man’s penis if he drinks too much. It is more of a visual analogy. The comparison-contrast tactic uses the appeal of pathos, as it is funny to think about the point trying to be made. Logos is implemented as well in all three rhetorical strategies, because it is a fact that alcohol intake can inhibit that appendage from working properly when it is needed to. Ethos comes into play with the brand usage of Absolut. This parody uses the original Absolut ads that boast “the Absolut Man” with a photo of James Bond, and other images like that to show that only the best drink Absolut, because it is the absolute best. The parody ad makes fun of the fact that you are not very close to being the Absolute Man when you cannot even get it up for a night of fun. The social commentary is that we place so much value on being the best, most masculine, whatever. But using alcohol to accomplish that isn’t going to get us very far because all it really does is inhibit us from being our Absolute Best.
Sex Appeal Much?
What is being sold here? A woman’s body or the small scrap of denim she is wearing, but is not doing its job of keeping her covered? This advertisement from Calvin Klein is soaked in sex appeal, which has shown to be one of marketing’s greatest tools for selling almost anything. This particular ad displays a young girl, wearing a small white tank top, a small denim skirt, and white panties which are proudly shown as the girl opens her legs in a very unladylike manner. The tiny glimpse of her underwear add to the sex appeal, as does the skin showing from her midsection, a perfectly flat stomach, an attribute society has decided is so important to be considered sexy. The model’s hand in her mouth can also be construed as sex appeal. The use of this sex appeal has proved to be effective; Calvin Klein has a reputation of being sexy and sleek, and this ad conveys those two attributes. There is a feeling created by this ad that if you buy this skirt from Calvin Klein, you too will be as sexy as this girl on the floor, bearing it all. This ad almost creates the “false need” over exaggeration of pathos. A person exposed to this photograph and ad could feel that they have to have this brand of jeans to be sexy and popular. If they do not, then they suffer the fate of being ordinary. This tactic works well for Calvin Klein.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Analysis of the Elements
The elements of this photograph can be used to convey an argument of nature versus man’s machine. The entire scene is a gray color, except for the light that lights up the bulldozers and the area around them. This bright light contrasts with the rest of the photograph, therefore highlighting the area with the bulldozers in it, while the rest of the photo is gray, the area containing nature and the weather. This could argue that machines are taking the driver’s seat in this world, and nature is moving to the back of the line. The fact that the picture itself is in black and white, with grey tones, can convey the point that this argument is not just black and white, wrong or right. There are shades of grey to this issue, as there are i
n the photograph. The choice of using bulldozers as the focal point of the photograph plays well into the argument. Bulldozers are usually tools used to destroy, whether it is digging up earth or unearthing trees. They play no part in helping nature or preserving it. The photographer’s decision to display them in the center, where the land has already been cleared for what seems to be a construction site of some sort, argues strongly for the side of machine over nature. Perspective is important as well, with the bulldozers a little off in the distance instead of directly in front gives more to the scene, and the sight of what the machines have done in clearing that area. This photograph is beautiful, and its argument can be so ugly.
n the photograph. The choice of using bulldozers as the focal point of the photograph plays well into the argument. Bulldozers are usually tools used to destroy, whether it is digging up earth or unearthing trees. They play no part in helping nature or preserving it. The photographer’s decision to display them in the center, where the land has already been cleared for what seems to be a construction site of some sort, argues strongly for the side of machine over nature. Perspective is important as well, with the bulldozers a little off in the distance instead of directly in front gives more to the scene, and the sight of what the machines have done in clearing that area. This photograph is beautiful, and its argument can be so ugly. Reflection
The first reflection I had about this photo came to me the first time I saw it, and that thought was about “tractor tipping” from the Disney movie Cars. It made me laugh because I coul
d see the scene from the movie where Mater and Lightening (two characters from the movie, for those of you who haven’t seen it) go out into a field in the middle of the night, where the tractors are all sleeping, and then they proceed to honk in front of the tractors to startle them awake, and then they fall over, helpless. It was a comical scene and a great parody on the sacred art of cow tipping, which small town people like me find greatly amusing. It is funny how we use inanimate objects, like the tractors and cars in the movie, to tell stories. It is as if we can’t use human figures to portray life lessons learned through mistakes and heartache. The thing is that it seems we need to use objects that normally are not personified to teach children because they could never believe the lesson if actual people were experiencing the situation. People are seen as incapable of learning a lesson or bettering themselves, we have been changed to look as though we are only selfish and stubborn. We don’t want to change for anyone or anything, unless it benefits our self. What kind of message is this to kids?? Even though it is funny to watch motor vehicles play pranks on each other and parody our every day events, it may not be the best way to show children how to treat each other, because they don’t see people treating each other that way, just cars.
d see the scene from the movie where Mater and Lightening (two characters from the movie, for those of you who haven’t seen it) go out into a field in the middle of the night, where the tractors are all sleeping, and then they proceed to honk in front of the tractors to startle them awake, and then they fall over, helpless. It was a comical scene and a great parody on the sacred art of cow tipping, which small town people like me find greatly amusing. It is funny how we use inanimate objects, like the tractors and cars in the movie, to tell stories. It is as if we can’t use human figures to portray life lessons learned through mistakes and heartache. The thing is that it seems we need to use objects that normally are not personified to teach children because they could never believe the lesson if actual people were experiencing the situation. People are seen as incapable of learning a lesson or bettering themselves, we have been changed to look as though we are only selfish and stubborn. We don’t want to change for anyone or anything, unless it benefits our self. What kind of message is this to kids?? Even though it is funny to watch motor vehicles play pranks on each other and parody our every day events, it may not be the best way to show children how to treat each other, because they don’t see people treating each other that way, just cars. Observations of Photo
This photograph Two Bulldozers by Phillip Mazaud is a black and white shot, taken at night. The focal point of the picture appears to be two lonely bull dozers, under a street light, illuminating the machines and the snow around them. The hills in the background are hardly seen because the clouds are low around them, almost like fog. Snow covers the ground, the mounds of dirt aroun
d the bull dozers, the trees upon the hills, the hills themselves, dumpsters and scraps of wood, and a small, shabby looking building in the left hand side of the picture. The electrical line leading to the lone light above the bulldozers seems to almost disappear as it enters the light, whereas before it was a contrasting line against the background of the foggy clouds. The bulldozers look abandoned, and the scene seems to be very quiet. You can imagine being there, outside when the snow starts falling, and all you can hear is a slight wind. Two more little lights appear by the low building, and large sections of dirt can be seen on the side of the mounds, giving the impression that the snow covering them is the first of the winter. This scene looks as if it were shot in my hometown, with the snow covered hills. It reminds me of a spot by an old mine where kids would go to get scared at night with the stories of a ghost miner who is only visible by the miner cap light on his head.
d the bull dozers, the trees upon the hills, the hills themselves, dumpsters and scraps of wood, and a small, shabby looking building in the left hand side of the picture. The electrical line leading to the lone light above the bulldozers seems to almost disappear as it enters the light, whereas before it was a contrasting line against the background of the foggy clouds. The bulldozers look abandoned, and the scene seems to be very quiet. You can imagine being there, outside when the snow starts falling, and all you can hear is a slight wind. Two more little lights appear by the low building, and large sections of dirt can be seen on the side of the mounds, giving the impression that the snow covering them is the first of the winter. This scene looks as if it were shot in my hometown, with the snow covered hills. It reminds me of a spot by an old mine where kids would go to get scared at night with the stories of a ghost miner who is only visible by the miner cap light on his head. Sunday, March 18, 2007
Reflective Essay: Death of a Marine
It started out as one of the happiest days I had experienced in a long time, my boyfriend was home on leave for Christmas and we were headed home to Leadville for our break. Once there, we were having a great time just sitting around with our families, talking and laughing. One phone call changed all that. When the phone rang, my boyfriend answered it and I could hear his serious tone as he said goodbye. As he turned around, I knew something was wrong. Everything good about that day came crashing down when he said, “Nick Palmer was killed in Iraq today.” All of sudden, my heart felt as if it stopped, and all I could feel for one moment was disbelief. It was impossible to imagine that someone that close to me had vanished from this plane of existence and that I would never ever see him again. Then the pain set in and my tears fell, and I had no control over them. I tried not to cry in front of my boyfriend’s family, but the instant grief I felt took control and I had to leave the room, where I continued to sob uncontrollably. That night as we were lying in bed, I felt all the pain return and once again I lost control of my emotions and asked Landon, “Nick’s really dead, isn’t he?” All he could say back to me was, “Yes.” That moment changed everything about the war for me from that point on.
Nick was one of my very good friends, and one of the proudest Marines I have ever met. Ever since I had known him, he wanted to be a Marine, and he was living out his dream in Fallujah, Iraq. We talked every once in awhile on MySpace, and he called when he had the rare chance. But our communication was not what I wished it had been, and I find myself regretting that every day. The bizarre thing was that the last time I had talked to Nick, in November; he had made a statement about something that went along the lines of “If I ever make it back…”
Before Nick went to Iraq, the war seemed so distant and almost ineffectual. The thought that one of my friends would be killed in combat over there never even crossed my mind. It was just something he had to do for a little bit, but he would be home in March, and we had already all made plans to party it up again. Of course I watched the news and heard about the few soldiers and Marines being killed each month over there, and my heart went out to the families who had lost their sons or daughters, brothers and sisters. But when my turn came around, I was not even prepared for the emotions I would feel, how my opinion and view of the war would change, and how I would deal with the death of a great friend.
The War in Iraq is different from most of the wars America has ever fought. Most Americans do not feel a connection to the war, it is just something they see on television and feel the need to voice an opinion on whenever it is brought up. Even when you know someone who is fighting over there, you hardly think about it. The minute I found out that Nick had been killed, that all changed for me, and the majority of my friends. All of a sudden the war was a very real situation that had been thrown too close to home. The pain and grief Nick’s death brought changed the reality of the situation over there. It has been three months since Nick was killed, and now every time I watch the news and they present their segment on Iraq, which they do every night, I cry. I pray for the military forces over there every day, and I appreciate what they do so much more. I also find myself defending what our armed forces are doing over there even more. I was patriotic before I lost a friend, having a boyfriend in the service, and numerous other friends, but these days I feel as if I bleed red, white and blue. When other people make comments about the “waste of life in Iraq”, I become very passionate that it is not a “waste” because those who give their lives in the service knew what they were going into, and they chose to defend our country. It is a sacrifice they make for us to keep our basic rights. But I also feel more conflicted about my views on the war now. As much as I support our soldiers, I pray every day for their safe return and for this conflict to be over. I do not wish the loss of a loved one to the war on anyone else in this country, but I know that as long as we stay over there, more young men and women will sacrifice their lives for our country. On the other hand, I feel that if we just walk away from this fight, it’s a disgrace to the soldiers killed in it. We need to finish this war for their sake, for Nick’s sake. Nick was so passionate about what he did, about being a Marine. He never questioned what he had to do, and so when he left, neither did we.
Losing a friend over in Iraq has to be so much different than losing a friend in the same city. As I wrote this paper, all my pain for Nick came out in torrents, and as hard as it was to continue writing, I felt I had to for Nick, and for myself. The catch with having a friend killed so far away is that it takes longer to feel the grief because they are not instantly gone from you sight. It is not as if you saw him hours before, and then all of a sudden he is dead. It has taken me these three months to feel the full effect of Nick’s death. I finally have let it sink in and become part of my reality. Tears can now flow more freely for Nick’s sacrifice, and I can talk about those couple of days more easily with friends who also lost Nick.
Nick was one of my very good friends, and one of the proudest Marines I have ever met. Ever since I had known him, he wanted to be a Marine, and he was living out his dream in Fallujah, Iraq. We talked every once in awhile on MySpace, and he called when he had the rare chance. But our communication was not what I wished it had been, and I find myself regretting that every day. The bizarre thing was that the last time I had talked to Nick, in November; he had made a statement about something that went along the lines of “If I ever make it back…”
Before Nick went to Iraq, the war seemed so distant and almost ineffectual. The thought that one of my friends would be killed in combat over there never even crossed my mind. It was just something he had to do for a little bit, but he would be home in March, and we had already all made plans to party it up again. Of course I watched the news and heard about the few soldiers and Marines being killed each month over there, and my heart went out to the families who had lost their sons or daughters, brothers and sisters. But when my turn came around, I was not even prepared for the emotions I would feel, how my opinion and view of the war would change, and how I would deal with the death of a great friend.
The War in Iraq is different from most of the wars America has ever fought. Most Americans do not feel a connection to the war, it is just something they see on television and feel the need to voice an opinion on whenever it is brought up. Even when you know someone who is fighting over there, you hardly think about it. The minute I found out that Nick had been killed, that all changed for me, and the majority of my friends. All of a sudden the war was a very real situation that had been thrown too close to home. The pain and grief Nick’s death brought changed the reality of the situation over there. It has been three months since Nick was killed, and now every time I watch the news and they present their segment on Iraq, which they do every night, I cry. I pray for the military forces over there every day, and I appreciate what they do so much more. I also find myself defending what our armed forces are doing over there even more. I was patriotic before I lost a friend, having a boyfriend in the service, and numerous other friends, but these days I feel as if I bleed red, white and blue. When other people make comments about the “waste of life in Iraq”, I become very passionate that it is not a “waste” because those who give their lives in the service knew what they were going into, and they chose to defend our country. It is a sacrifice they make for us to keep our basic rights. But I also feel more conflicted about my views on the war now. As much as I support our soldiers, I pray every day for their safe return and for this conflict to be over. I do not wish the loss of a loved one to the war on anyone else in this country, but I know that as long as we stay over there, more young men and women will sacrifice their lives for our country. On the other hand, I feel that if we just walk away from this fight, it’s a disgrace to the soldiers killed in it. We need to finish this war for their sake, for Nick’s sake. Nick was so passionate about what he did, about being a Marine. He never questioned what he had to do, and so when he left, neither did we.
Losing a friend over in Iraq has to be so much different than losing a friend in the same city. As I wrote this paper, all my pain for Nick came out in torrents, and as hard as it was to continue writing, I felt I had to for Nick, and for myself. The catch with having a friend killed so far away is that it takes longer to feel the grief because they are not instantly gone from you sight. It is not as if you saw him hours before, and then all of a sudden he is dead. It has taken me these three months to feel the full effect of Nick’s death. I finally have let it sink in and become part of my reality. Tears can now flow more freely for Nick’s sacrifice, and I can talk about those couple of days more easily with friends who also lost Nick.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Skiing behind horses?!?!?
An amazing event took place this weekend in my hometown, Leadville, and I took the trouble of driving over 100 miles to see it, and I dragged my disbelieving roommate with me. Luckily she had just a good as time as me. Every year for over 30 years, a sport has existed called Ski Joring and what it entails is a gutsy skier being pulled down the main street of my town that has been packed with snow. That skier must ski through gates, collect six rings using a baton, and go over three seven foot jumps to the finish in the fastest time. It’s a rare thing to witness, but I have grown up in the sport, having a dad who has won the Championship four years in a row back in the glory days. I have even competed in the event as a kid, winning a gift certificate to a sporting goods store. The crowd that is attracted to Ski Joring mainly consists of cowboys, ranchers, and the curious tourists, but my kind of crowd is the rowdy cowboys
There is also a dance on each Friday and Saturday night, and for those of you who don’t know me, dancing is a great love in my life. It’s a country dance, and that makes it ten times better. I have not lived in the same state as my father for the last 10 years, so now that he lives in Colorado, we take every chance we get to go two stepping together or to swing across the dance floor. On Saturday night, I seriously had the most fun I have had in a very long time, and I felt that I would rather drive that far to dance with my dad at a small town bar than pay $15 to get into a night club.
The reason I chose to write about this is because this weekend was the first time I have watched my dad compete in 11 years, and I had to reflect on how proud I felt all weekend to tell people that the Legend, Jerry Kissell, was my father. I felt sad for a good portion of the weekend as well because I remember when we traveled to Montana to compete at Red Lodge, the Championship race, and the group of friends we had. Hardly any of them are to be found at the event any more, due to age and families. But this weekend was my chance to return to those memories and to enjoy myself once again as a tiny hick town threw one hell of a party.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
A Moment in Time
In a crowd, one rarely notices what is going on with other people within the crowd with them. This one moment in time is an exception, because everyone notices when love is around. Anyone who has a loved one off to war can relate to this photo of an unknown sailor embracing his girl for a passionate kiss, with the smoke from the train billowing around them. It is hard to say whether they are saying hello or goodbye, but the emotion of the photo is one of passion and love. The bystanders sitting inside of the train share the surprise of the girl swept off her feet, and laugh and smile at the couple’s lack of embarrassment. Coming home from war can bring an overwhelming feeling of relief not only for the sailor, but for his family and loved ones. That overwhelming feeling could easily explain the extremely public display of affection which has not only affected the couple, but everyone else watching. If by chance the sailor was leaving to go to war, then this last moment, frozen in time in the photograph, would be one he would carry with him to the other side of the world to fight and possibly die. It takes a moment like this to make people stop and see that the simple things in life, like a great kiss, are much more important and worth more than any amount of money.
The History of the Button
“The History of the Button” proved to be one of the most interesting blogs I have seen in a while. A blog completely devoted to discussing the button sounds fairly boring and uninteresting, but as I started looking over the site, I found that the posts were rather intriguing and kept my attention. The blog was very easy to maneuver through, with the articles posted in the order of time, meaning the most recent posts appear at the top, and then as you move down, earlier posts can be read and seen. On the right hand side of the screen, there is a list of the most recent posts about the button, and below that is an archive section for each month, and even further down is a section of categories, so you can find posts about buttons in different contexts. On the left hand side are only three links, Home; FAQ; and Email. It is a simple layout that makes the site easy to navigate.
The author of “The History of the Button” uses the color blue to denote links to comments, categories, archives, and different posts. This makes it easy to see what a link is and what is not, and the same color keeps the reader from being confused about what a different color might mean. The images used in each post show the different buttons being discussed so the reader can see what is being talked about and doesn’t have to use their imagination too much. Simple colors like white, grey, blue and black make the site easy to look at and the text easy to read.
The History of The Button is interesting because the posts on the site discuss how buttons have evolved through the ages, and the interaction design behind buttons. But the site is not just about buttons, but also about the technology and new gadgets, how we perceive and interact with buttons, and what the evolution of buttons means for the future. An example is that one of the posts discusses the new Apple iPhone, with its lack of buttons and touch screen technology. They also discuss the icons on the buttons and how we take each icon to mean.
Layout wise, The History of the Button blog is set up pretty similarly to my own, with the posts in chronological order and with the images embedded in the posts. The links on the side of the page also match up with the links on my blog. My color scheme is bit more extreme that the one found on the Button blog, but both are still easy to read, at least I think so. The History of the Button blog does have a great deal more posts than me, different links, and advertisements. It also contains an image with its title of a woman in the fifties pushing a button, but other wise it is organized the same way as my blog essentially.
A very interesting blog was what I discovered when I had to check out The History of the Button, and I had a fun time browsing the site and learning about the button.
The author of “The History of the Button” uses the color blue to denote links to comments, categories, archives, and different posts. This makes it easy to see what a link is and what is not, and the same color keeps the reader from being confused about what a different color might mean. The images used in each post show the different buttons being discussed so the reader can see what is being talked about and doesn’t have to use their imagination too much. Simple colors like white, grey, blue and black make the site easy to look at and the text easy to read.
The History of The Button is interesting because the posts on the site discuss how buttons have evolved through the ages, and the interaction design behind buttons. But the site is not just about buttons, but also about the technology and new gadgets, how we perceive and interact with buttons, and what the evolution of buttons means for the future. An example is that one of the posts discusses the new Apple iPhone, with its lack of buttons and touch screen technology. They also discuss the icons on the buttons and how we take each icon to mean.
Layout wise, The History of the Button blog is set up pretty similarly to my own, with the posts in chronological order and with the images embedded in the posts. The links on the side of the page also match up with the links on my blog. My color scheme is bit more extreme that the one found on the Button blog, but both are still easy to read, at least I think so. The History of the Button blog does have a great deal more posts than me, different links, and advertisements. It also contains an image with its title of a woman in the fifties pushing a button, but other wise it is organized the same way as my blog essentially.
A very interesting blog was what I discovered when I had to check out The History of the Button, and I had a fun time browsing the site and learning about the button.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Observational Essay: Day of Beauty School
“Beauty school drop-out, no graduation day for you. Beauty school drop-out, missed your midterms and flunked shampoo.” The famous song from the musical Grease gave the original perception that students of beauty school had little to offer and were not cut out for the real world. Unfortunately, Grease was wrong, and cosmetology students have better opportunities than university students when it comes to careers and they are not taking the easier path through higher education, as I discovered when I went to observe Ashley Tedesco, a cosmetology student at the Littleton Academy of Hair Design.
Walking up to the small white brick building, you would never expect to discover twenty or thirty giggling girls learning the fine art of creating beauty in others. The conspicuous building off of Powers Street in down town Littleton provides students with an opportunity to learn hair techniques, how to apply acrylic nails, perform facials and other beauty services. As someone who knows very little about beauty rituals, watching a typical day at the beauty school became rather informative and revealing.
Inside, a client is greeted by a receptionist sitting behind a desk holding a shampoo display, and accented by a neon purple wall holding the portrait of an ideal woman in 1985. The brightly lit, long room reveals two opposing walls lined with mirrors decorated with each individual girl’s names and personal photos with black salon chairs in front of the mirrors. Beneath the mirrors are counters holding styling tools such as curling irons and hair dryers. The smell of chemicals needed for performing permanents, high lights and full colors, for creating acrylic nails and cleaning instruments is everywhere. You feel like you might get dizzy if you stay to long, but soon you get used to the scents and you quickly forget them. As I sat in the black, vinyl, swivel chair that usually holds a client, I began asking my first questions of the student I was watching.
“Yea, we do actually take real classes, such as anatomy and electricity, because as someone who is working on the human body, we need to know how it works and the equipment we work with.”
This is evidenced by the anatomy book seen peeking out of a black school bag labeled “Tennessee School of Beauty”, the previous school Ashley had attended. The common perception of beauty school students held by traditional university students is that they are lazy and taking the easier path to a career. No one would expect to hear that these girls are expected to take biology classes and other difficult subjects.
“I have homework at least three nights a week and I have to pass my classes with at least a B.”
Of course, the expected courses exist as well, such as hair cutting and coloring classes. In a little room in the back of the building, several girls were practicing applying acrylic nails on “sugar hands”, latex gloves filled with sugar and used to mimic the human hands they will someday be working on. Heads of mannequins are scattered around the building, with various hair colors and cuts, a display of the practice that is ongoing in the school when clients are scarce.
Slowly, clients start trickling in and begin their appointments with the different girls on the floor. Down in the basement the rest of the girls are still taking classes and practicing with instructors. An older woman with red hair and gray roots sits down at Ashley’s station, and instructs her on the way she wants her hair dyed, while Ashley tries to explain that the style she wanted wasn’t possible with the way it was presently. Finally, an instructor, Chanda, comes over and begins explaining to the client exactly what Ashley was saying not a moment before. This time, the woman listens and Chanda begins helping Ashley mix the color formula behind the sinks for washing hair. As Ashley begins applying the color mixture to the woman’s roots with a wide bristle brush, her teacher Chanda observes and gives instruction when it is needed or Ashley asks for it. Eventually, Ashley takes over and Chanda runs off, laughing loudly and making jokes with the rest of the girls. Ashley’s client sits silently, never attempting to make conversation with Ashley, who doesn’t mind.
Walking up to the small white brick building, you would never expect to discover twenty or thirty giggling girls learning the fine art of creating beauty in others. The conspicuous building off of Powers Street in down town Littleton provides students with an opportunity to learn hair techniques, how to apply acrylic nails, perform facials and other beauty services. As someone who knows very little about beauty rituals, watching a typical day at the beauty school became rather informative and revealing.
Inside, a client is greeted by a receptionist sitting behind a desk holding a shampoo display, and accented by a neon purple wall holding the portrait of an ideal woman in 1985. The brightly lit, long room reveals two opposing walls lined with mirrors decorated with each individual girl’s names and personal photos with black salon chairs in front of the mirrors. Beneath the mirrors are counters holding styling tools such as curling irons and hair dryers. The smell of chemicals needed for performing permanents, high lights and full colors, for creating acrylic nails and cleaning instruments is everywhere. You feel like you might get dizzy if you stay to long, but soon you get used to the scents and you quickly forget them. As I sat in the black, vinyl, swivel chair that usually holds a client, I began asking my first questions of the student I was watching.
“Yea, we do actually take real classes, such as anatomy and electricity, because as someone who is working on the human body, we need to know how it works and the equipment we work with.”
This is evidenced by the anatomy book seen peeking out of a black school bag labeled “Tennessee School of Beauty”, the previous school Ashley had attended. The common perception of beauty school students held by traditional university students is that they are lazy and taking the easier path to a career. No one would expect to hear that these girls are expected to take biology classes and other difficult subjects.
“I have homework at least three nights a week and I have to pass my classes with at least a B.”
Of course, the expected courses exist as well, such as hair cutting and coloring classes. In a little room in the back of the building, several girls were practicing applying acrylic nails on “sugar hands”, latex gloves filled with sugar and used to mimic the human hands they will someday be working on. Heads of mannequins are scattered around the building, with various hair colors and cuts, a display of the practice that is ongoing in the school when clients are scarce.
Slowly, clients start trickling in and begin their appointments with the different girls on the floor. Down in the basement the rest of the girls are still taking classes and practicing with instructors. An older woman with red hair and gray roots sits down at Ashley’s station, and instructs her on the way she wants her hair dyed, while Ashley tries to explain that the style she wanted wasn’t possible with the way it was presently. Finally, an instructor, Chanda, comes over and begins explaining to the client exactly what Ashley was saying not a moment before. This time, the woman listens and Chanda begins helping Ashley mix the color formula behind the sinks for washing hair. As Ashley begins applying the color mixture to the woman’s roots with a wide bristle brush, her teacher Chanda observes and gives instruction when it is needed or Ashley asks for it. Eventually, Ashley takes over and Chanda runs off, laughing loudly and making jokes with the rest of the girls. Ashley’s client sits silently, never attempting to make conversation with Ashley, who doesn’t mind.
“I am usually concentrating too much to talk to the clients, unless they are my friends, then I feel more comfortable and can chat a little bit.”
Finally, Ashley finishes applying the color to the woman’s hair and provides her with a magazine as she waits for the color to set so she can finish the appointment. The school’s mascot, an elderly woman with reddish-purple hair and black tips named Rosie, walks around making small talk with the girls and helping Ashley clean up. She stops to talk to us, making gossip about other girls in the school who she clearly doesn’t think very well of, but making us all laugh all the same. For the next twenty-five minutes, Ashley sits next to me and gossips about other girls, what she thinks about them, and what she plans to do next when she graduates in April. The pace of the school seems to be slower than regular college, and pretty laid back. Students can sit around and talk, or just practice various techniques without much stress.
The time comes around to rinse the client’s hair of the color mixture and to give her a new cut and style. Ashley proves to be meticulous with her shampooing; making absolutely sure all of the color is out, then washing the hair twice with almond scented shampoo. She gently massages the head, almost putting the woman to sleep, and then rinses the conditioner out to begin the final step. Before she is allowed to cut anything, an instructor must be called over to approve of the process and discover how the student intends to proceed. Once the procedure is approved, Ashley begins snipping away, constantly concentrating on her movements and actions, the picture of a perfectionist. Once again the woman makes no conversation, until Ashley finishes blow drying and styling her hair, and the woman says a quick “thank you” and walks off to pay the receptionist. Ashley rolls her eyes and gives me a look of relief, and begins sweeping the floor of the hair lying around, deprived of a head to belong to. It’s been a long day, and she looks glad to be leaving. But she does say she enjoys her days at the academy and is excited to start her career in a few months.
Stepping out of the building into the evening sun, I feel as if I have seen another speed of life, a speed where a career is practically guaranteed and hard work is still expected. These girls are following a passion and are learning through experience, which can prove to more valuable at times than a certain amount of classes.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Random much??
Randomly Chosen Words: addicted, belligerent, commandeer, domestic, enmity, flippant, gullible, hypocrite, ischium, jojoba, kurtosis, larceny, meningoencephalitis, nematocyst, ostracize, pituitous, quixotic, rabbinate, shibboleth, talaria, undersexed, ventricose, weasand, xenophobe, yenta, zounds.
Although being addicted implies dependence, it is possible to be dependent on a drug without being addicted. In times of war, belligerent countries can be contrasted with neutral countries and non-belligerents. Policemen used to commandeer cars more often. Domestic policy is policy existing or occurring inside a country, not foreign or international. These nouns refer to the feeling or expression of deep-seated ill will. Give them visual queues, what videos you like, what looks you like so the VFX people could have a point of reference. Dolphins are allergic to shrimp. Porpoises are not. The goal of this page is not only to inform you of whether you are a hypocrite or not; it is to inform you of the type of hypocrite you are or are not. The cup-shaped acetabulum is formed by the superior part of the ischium, the superior part of the pubis, and the inferior part of the ilium. Jojoba grows to 1-2 m tall, with a broad, dense crown. A distribution with the same kurtosis as the normal distribution is called "mesokurtic. Larceny is divided in some states into grand and petit larceny depending upon the value of the property stolen. After, nausea and vomit are followed. What if your body also consisted of delicate gelatinous tissue that would easily be destroyed by a struggling prey. As for scientists who might be tempted to pursue the theory, he says, they worry that their colleagues might ostracize them for stepping out of line and that their funding could suffer. Color compositions useful for effecting designs on substrates comprise a color in a thickened aqueous mixture containing a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer. I only managed to excavate deeply enough into said box, because I’m infected with a bad case of startitis and needed to find the perfect needles for something(s) new. The Chief Rabbinate consists of The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks and his cabinet. Shibboleth is standards-based, open source middleware software which provides Web Single SignOn (SSO) across or within organizational boundaries. Our works have appeared in films and museum exhibits, in classrooms and lavish homes, and in hotels and even on the Nightly News. Many serial killers were undersexed. Distended or swollen in the middle, at the side or round the base. Weasand is from the Middle English wesand and the Old High German weisunt meaning windpipe. Xenophobia is hatred or fear of strangers or of anything foreign or strange, and a xenophobe is a person who has that hatred or fear. Yenta is pleased to provide you with an area to find out "how to do just about anything." "Someone must have slipped one of those post-anarcho-syndicalist pamphlets in with these guys' Beano comics!"
Although being addicted implies dependence, it is possible to be dependent on a drug without being addicted. In times of war, belligerent countries can be contrasted with neutral countries and non-belligerents. Policemen used to commandeer cars more often. Domestic policy is policy existing or occurring inside a country, not foreign or international. These nouns refer to the feeling or expression of deep-seated ill will. Give them visual queues, what videos you like, what looks you like so the VFX people could have a point of reference. Dolphins are allergic to shrimp. Porpoises are not. The goal of this page is not only to inform you of whether you are a hypocrite or not; it is to inform you of the type of hypocrite you are or are not. The cup-shaped acetabulum is formed by the superior part of the ischium, the superior part of the pubis, and the inferior part of the ilium. Jojoba grows to 1-2 m tall, with a broad, dense crown. A distribution with the same kurtosis as the normal distribution is called "mesokurtic. Larceny is divided in some states into grand and petit larceny depending upon the value of the property stolen. After, nausea and vomit are followed. What if your body also consisted of delicate gelatinous tissue that would easily be destroyed by a struggling prey. As for scientists who might be tempted to pursue the theory, he says, they worry that their colleagues might ostracize them for stepping out of line and that their funding could suffer. Color compositions useful for effecting designs on substrates comprise a color in a thickened aqueous mixture containing a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer. I only managed to excavate deeply enough into said box, because I’m infected with a bad case of startitis and needed to find the perfect needles for something(s) new. The Chief Rabbinate consists of The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks and his cabinet. Shibboleth is standards-based, open source middleware software which provides Web Single SignOn (SSO) across or within organizational boundaries. Our works have appeared in films and museum exhibits, in classrooms and lavish homes, and in hotels and even on the Nightly News. Many serial killers were undersexed. Distended or swollen in the middle, at the side or round the base. Weasand is from the Middle English wesand and the Old High German weisunt meaning windpipe. Xenophobia is hatred or fear of strangers or of anything foreign or strange, and a xenophobe is a person who has that hatred or fear. Yenta is pleased to provide you with an area to find out "how to do just about anything." "Someone must have slipped one of those post-anarcho-syndicalist pamphlets in with these guys' Beano comics!"
Sunday, February 4, 2007
What is hair gel for??
I would never ever claim to be “put together” or to know anything more about doing my hair other than brushing and straightening it. That is why for my observational essay, I plan to observe my good friend, Ashley, as she attends cosmetology school at the Littleton Academy of Hair. I want to research this subject because for one thing, I want to pick up some tips on how to make myself more competent in being a girl, and second, it is something I can easily observe and pay attention to without becoming too distracted. Another important reason for me doing this subject is because Ashley has been my best friend since fourth grade, and she has been living out of state for the last two years, and now that she is back in Colorado I want to get to know the new her better and see what her life is going to be like in the future. Researching this topic will help me understand her chosen career path and where she is going in life.
The first item I started to research was the school itself because I wanted to know what kind of setting I would be observing and how my friend would be acting during the day, and what she would be doing. At the Littleton Academy of Hair Design, I expect to see small classes, with a large amount of personal attention from the teachers and mentors there. My friend is already “on the floor” which means she is done with classes for the time being, and works in the salon part of the school with actual clients, with little help from the teachers. They are always there to assist though when needed. This website tells me that the school is run by Joe George, and his letter on the site makes him seem very friendly. I am hoping to have a relaxing experience while observing Ashley preparing for her future career.
Concerned about the job market she would be entering, I “googled” some facts about the cosmetology career field and what I found was pretty positive. According to the Career Academy of Hair Design, 9 out of 10 professional hair stylists would not change careers, 76% of salon owners couldn’t find qualified professionals to fill empty positions, cosmetologists enjoy a 0% unemployment rate, and Money Magazine stated that cosmetology ranked among the top 50 most desirable growth jobs.
And finally, I had to know, what is cosmetology?? Well luckily I found the site, Wise Geek, and I learned that being a cosmetologist requires more than knowing how to wash hair and use a pair of scissors. Yes, anyone who is in the hair cutting or barber business is a cosmetologist, but that field also includes knowing how to do manicures and pedicures, facials, coloring treatments, and make-up techniques. To become a cosmetologist, you have to pass a State exam to get a license to perform cosmetology. More than knowledge of what hair style is in this season is required. Students have to take anatomy, electricity, and other science courses to understand the human body. It seems like my observing will be a little bit more that watching hair get cut…
The first item I started to research was the school itself because I wanted to know what kind of setting I would be observing and how my friend would be acting during the day, and what she would be doing. At the Littleton Academy of Hair Design, I expect to see small classes, with a large amount of personal attention from the teachers and mentors there. My friend is already “on the floor” which means she is done with classes for the time being, and works in the salon part of the school with actual clients, with little help from the teachers. They are always there to assist though when needed. This website tells me that the school is run by Joe George, and his letter on the site makes him seem very friendly. I am hoping to have a relaxing experience while observing Ashley preparing for her future career.
Concerned about the job market she would be entering, I “googled” some facts about the cosmetology career field and what I found was pretty positive. According to the Career Academy of Hair Design, 9 out of 10 professional hair stylists would not change careers, 76% of salon owners couldn’t find qualified professionals to fill empty positions, cosmetologists enjoy a 0% unemployment rate, and Money Magazine stated that cosmetology ranked among the top 50 most desirable growth jobs.
And finally, I had to know, what is cosmetology?? Well luckily I found the site, Wise Geek, and I learned that being a cosmetologist requires more than knowing how to wash hair and use a pair of scissors. Yes, anyone who is in the hair cutting or barber business is a cosmetologist, but that field also includes knowing how to do manicures and pedicures, facials, coloring treatments, and make-up techniques. To become a cosmetologist, you have to pass a State exam to get a license to perform cosmetology. More than knowledge of what hair style is in this season is required. Students have to take anatomy, electricity, and other science courses to understand the human body. It seems like my observing will be a little bit more that watching hair get cut…
Friday, February 2, 2007
The SuperBowl Shuffle
DISCLAIMER: This video contains professional athletes attempting to dance and rap. Viewer discretion is advised.
Many people will agree that just because you are famous for being a stud on the gridiron doesn’t mean you should get to make a music video where you attempt to rap, pretend to play instruments, and dance. But thanks to YouTube, our generation has the pleasure of experiencing the 1986 Chicago Bears perform the Super Bowl Shuffle.
Unfortunately, the Bears did not make it to the Super Bowl that year, the Denver Broncos had the lucky chance to go and lose to the New York Giants, but at the time of this wonderfully cheesy video, the Bears were known as the “bad ass Bears”, according to my mother. Everyone felt this music video was awesome and made the Bears that much better than the rest of the teams in the NFL. They did have an incredible season, finishing 14-2, and that confidence probably prompted the idea of the Super Bowl Shuffle. I felt this video was appropriate for this assignment because today the Chicago Bears participated in Super Bowl XLI, and as you all hopefully know, they had no reason to repeat the Super Bowl Shuffle because the Indianapolis Colts walked all over them.
The focal point of this video was to make the Bears seem invincible and “bad ass”, to intimidate other teams with their own confidence that they would make it to the Super Bowl. Looking back at it, we would not understand that because as I stated before, this song and dance is horribly cheesy, and its almost painful to watch quarterback Steve Fuller try to dance to the rhythm of the song, and find that he is at least half a beat off every time. The Bears even rap at one point “We’re so bad, we know we’re good”. It is also interesting to see starting quarterback, Jim McMahon, who has an interesting history with alcohol, rap in his cool shades. I guess back in 1986, those were the style, and he could brag that he wore his sunglasses at night, but he also suffers from “white man syndrome” and admits it openly with his line “I can’t dance, but I can throw the field”. My favorite aspect of the whole thing was watching these professional athletes, people who were looked up to and admired, pretending to play the bass guitar, electric piano, drums and saxophone. They are not even trying to look like they know what they are doing.
The online community understands this video because a portion of it was around to witness the Super Bowl Shuffle when it was new and cool. There children, or us, get to see it from our perspective and laugh at what our parents thought was cool back in the day, which was a Wednesday in case you didn’t know (Dane Cook, had to throw it in there.) The fact that we are watching this on the internet is because no one who respects themselves would keep this on VHS. But we search for it and watch it so that we can get a handle on what was acceptable and awesome at a different period of time. The Chicago Bears were the “end-all, be-all” of football at that time, creating such groups as “Da SuperFans”, who today would be proud to be cheering for “DA BEARS” on this Super Bowl Sunday.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Cultural Contexts of MySpace
2) Consider the same website you chose in question 1. List all the cultural contexts (who, what, when where, & why) of the site you need to recognize in order to understand the content fully. Does the fact that one may not comprehend all the references effect the overall message?
Culturally speaking, MySpace seems to be operable by almost anyone. It’s who is virtually anyone, what is to bring people closer together and make new friends, where is the internet, or anywhere in the world for that matter, when is today, this day in age, and why is because humans have the basic need to connect to other. We are social creatures.
MySpace uses simple language, big, bright, bold links to useful operations such as music and videos, and there are usually directions telling you how to use these tools. The older crowd may have a more difficult time navigating and utilizing the site because it does require some knowledge of technology. I know my grandmother has a hard time understanding how to use her email sometimes. For the younger generation, who learns quickly and is born into a world bound by technology, MySpace is easy to figure out. The majority of people on MySpace are between the ages of 16 and 24, I would guess. Once in awhile you stumble across older people on the site, like my best friends dad, but they seem to have an understanding of the technology and purpose of the website. The website is aimed at all cultures and races, so that really doesn’t become a factor. The language is not upper class suburban or slang, but simple, easy English.
MySpace really speaks out to younger kids also because of its focal point, to connect with other people and show off your own style. With so many options for your page, such as music, backgrounds, pictures, graphics and text, you can really express who you are on this site. You need to recognize a need to be different and expressive to really use MySpace to your advantage. You also need to recognize the tools to connect with your friends, such as messaging and instant messaging. Knowledge of basic instant messaging and emailing is essential to use these functions on MySpace, therefore you need to at least have access to a computer and know how to use it.
Where you are using MySpace from should not matter, it was created for all languages and nations, and I have personal experience with an international user. My friend Anna from Germany just found my page and we have been contacting each other almost daily through the site. It can be put into different languages, so it is not something that is strictly limited to English speaking countries. The site has probably bridged gaps the previously existed between different countries. In a sense, it’s made the world a little bit smaller.
Why you would use MySpace is easily recognizable, and someone would have to know that before they started on the site. It is because of a universal want to connect with people. It’s a basic need. If someone did not understand all of the references would not affect the overall message of MySpace. The headline of MySpace is “A place for friends.” What clearer message is there?
Culturally speaking, MySpace seems to be operable by almost anyone. It’s who is virtually anyone, what is to bring people closer together and make new friends, where is the internet, or anywhere in the world for that matter, when is today, this day in age, and why is because humans have the basic need to connect to other. We are social creatures.
MySpace uses simple language, big, bright, bold links to useful operations such as music and videos, and there are usually directions telling you how to use these tools. The older crowd may have a more difficult time navigating and utilizing the site because it does require some knowledge of technology. I know my grandmother has a hard time understanding how to use her email sometimes. For the younger generation, who learns quickly and is born into a world bound by technology, MySpace is easy to figure out. The majority of people on MySpace are between the ages of 16 and 24, I would guess. Once in awhile you stumble across older people on the site, like my best friends dad, but they seem to have an understanding of the technology and purpose of the website. The website is aimed at all cultures and races, so that really doesn’t become a factor. The language is not upper class suburban or slang, but simple, easy English.
MySpace really speaks out to younger kids also because of its focal point, to connect with other people and show off your own style. With so many options for your page, such as music, backgrounds, pictures, graphics and text, you can really express who you are on this site. You need to recognize a need to be different and expressive to really use MySpace to your advantage. You also need to recognize the tools to connect with your friends, such as messaging and instant messaging. Knowledge of basic instant messaging and emailing is essential to use these functions on MySpace, therefore you need to at least have access to a computer and know how to use it.
Where you are using MySpace from should not matter, it was created for all languages and nations, and I have personal experience with an international user. My friend Anna from Germany just found my page and we have been contacting each other almost daily through the site. It can be put into different languages, so it is not something that is strictly limited to English speaking countries. The site has probably bridged gaps the previously existed between different countries. In a sense, it’s made the world a little bit smaller.
Why you would use MySpace is easily recognizable, and someone would have to know that before they started on the site. It is because of a universal want to connect with people. It’s a basic need. If someone did not understand all of the references would not affect the overall message of MySpace. The headline of MySpace is “A place for friends.” What clearer message is there?
The MySpace Era
1) Consider a website that you visit often, or one you visited once that made a strong impression upon you. What is the focal point of the site? What are some conventions of websites as a genre & how does the site adhere to them? Does the site alter these conventions in anyway? How so? Furthermore, how does the medium of blogging & other forms of web-based writing differ from that of traditional print/paper-based writing? Provide specific examples in your post. Hint: It might be helpful to insert a hyperlink to the site you write about.
If you were to ask any fifty students on campus if they were on MySpace, I would estimate that at least half, if not more, would answer that question with a “yes”.
MySpace.com has become one of the largest networking and blogging sites on the internet, with over one hundred and fifty million users. I am almost ashamed to say I am one of those users, and I find myself on MySpace almost everyday. The reason MySpace has become so immensely popular is because its whole reason for being is to connect us to people. We can network, message, comment, picture comment, instant message, or simply stalk people through a safe and risk free environment. MySpace is all about bringing people together, helping us find new friends and rediscover old friends.
MySpace adheres to the convention of letting the user customize the site to their liking by giving them the tools to create their own backgrounds and layouts, add their own personal pictures, and add any graphics or text they want to their own MySpace. The site is also easy to use from the home page because it has different categories, such as music, comedy, and videos, listed at the top of the page in tabs. I can always find what I am looking for on MySpace, and the site itself is easy to use because there are clear instructions everywhere on how to personalize your page and contact others. Simplicity makes MySpace available to all people, young and old.
MySpace offers a blog on your page, and blogging has become a much more popular way of expressing yourself on the internet. More and more people write down their most personal thoughts and feelings in a blog, hoping others will read it and hopefully comment, and providing insight into life’s most pressing questions. Or, they write funny stories and jokes, just to make others laugh. Regardless of the content, blogging has become a way to see what others think of us. Traditional writing, like in a private journal or just on paper, doesn’t allow for feedback from others unless stolen by your siblings and read aloud to embarrass you. I have a friend who is a faithful user of DeadJournal.com, and he gave me the URL so I could read what was going on in his life. He wrote some of the deepest and most personal entries, that I learned a whole new side of him. If not for the medium of blogging, I never would have heard those ideas or feelings from his own mouth. Another example is I, who doesn’t take blogging very serious too often. I usually post stupid jokes or lists, like Drunk Dialing Rules, or Nicknames. I once posted a deep thought, and no one responded like they did to my funny ones, so it was the last. My point is that blogging has changed what we keep personal and to ourselves. We seek the approval and advice of others through blogging, without the face to face confrontation or embarrassment. With paper based writing, we have to wait too long if we mail others, or we have to sit in front of the person and suffer that anguish. Blogging has given us freedom to be ourselves emotionally.
If you were to ask any fifty students on campus if they were on MySpace, I would estimate that at least half, if not more, would answer that question with a “yes”.
MySpace.com has become one of the largest networking and blogging sites on the internet, with over one hundred and fifty million users. I am almost ashamed to say I am one of those users, and I find myself on MySpace almost everyday. The reason MySpace has become so immensely popular is because its whole reason for being is to connect us to people. We can network, message, comment, picture comment, instant message, or simply stalk people through a safe and risk free environment. MySpace is all about bringing people together, helping us find new friends and rediscover old friends.
MySpace adheres to the convention of letting the user customize the site to their liking by giving them the tools to create their own backgrounds and layouts, add their own personal pictures, and add any graphics or text they want to their own MySpace. The site is also easy to use from the home page because it has different categories, such as music, comedy, and videos, listed at the top of the page in tabs. I can always find what I am looking for on MySpace, and the site itself is easy to use because there are clear instructions everywhere on how to personalize your page and contact others. Simplicity makes MySpace available to all people, young and old.
MySpace offers a blog on your page, and blogging has become a much more popular way of expressing yourself on the internet. More and more people write down their most personal thoughts and feelings in a blog, hoping others will read it and hopefully comment, and providing insight into life’s most pressing questions. Or, they write funny stories and jokes, just to make others laugh. Regardless of the content, blogging has become a way to see what others think of us. Traditional writing, like in a private journal or just on paper, doesn’t allow for feedback from others unless stolen by your siblings and read aloud to embarrass you. I have a friend who is a faithful user of DeadJournal.com, and he gave me the URL so I could read what was going on in his life. He wrote some of the deepest and most personal entries, that I learned a whole new side of him. If not for the medium of blogging, I never would have heard those ideas or feelings from his own mouth. Another example is I, who doesn’t take blogging very serious too often. I usually post stupid jokes or lists, like Drunk Dialing Rules, or Nicknames. I once posted a deep thought, and no one responded like they did to my funny ones, so it was the last. My point is that blogging has changed what we keep personal and to ourselves. We seek the approval and advice of others through blogging, without the face to face confrontation or embarrassment. With paper based writing, we have to wait too long if we mail others, or we have to sit in front of the person and suffer that anguish. Blogging has given us freedom to be ourselves emotionally.
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