After watching the videos from Kansas State University, I started thinking about college and how much money we spend on it.
Honestly, I'm surprised that anyone in America actually goes to college these days. It is so expensive and just puts us in debt right away getting out of school. This is a horrible thought for me. I don't know if many students actually think about it til the time comes around.
Of course, "studies" show that students that get a college degree are more successful in life. I know plenty of people who didn't go to school and are successful and happy. I'm not sure what I feel about this whole college thing right now. I've been having my doubts, but then again I'm still here.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Everything at Your Fingertips
Having talked about the Iphone and other phones that have internet connections etc and also with the PSP that have wi-fi or whatever, I'm not sure if it is a great thing for our society. I feel that these devices are helpful in many cases, but that they can also effect peoples life in a negative way.
I feel like for business men and people whose jobs depend on internet and staying tuned to everything these products are awesome. They can go anywhere and not have to carry around a laptop and a cell; all they need is a cell with the internet on it. They are small and lightweight, and can pretty much go anywhere you can.
The part I feel can have a negative effect is the fact that some people will just constantly be on the web or phones because they have all these awesome things on them. For instant if you go out to lunch with someone and all they are doing is playing with their iphone that can get really annoying. My brother has one and I know my dad thinks that he uses it way too much, but I think he does a pretty good job of not being overly useful of his fun.
I guess all I'm trying to say is there is a bunch of awesome new products in technology that keep you connected. I just think that if you do go out and purchase one, it is good to be aware not to overuse it and start becoming socially retarded by sitting on your phone all the time.
I feel like for business men and people whose jobs depend on internet and staying tuned to everything these products are awesome. They can go anywhere and not have to carry around a laptop and a cell; all they need is a cell with the internet on it. They are small and lightweight, and can pretty much go anywhere you can.
The part I feel can have a negative effect is the fact that some people will just constantly be on the web or phones because they have all these awesome things on them. For instant if you go out to lunch with someone and all they are doing is playing with their iphone that can get really annoying. My brother has one and I know my dad thinks that he uses it way too much, but I think he does a pretty good job of not being overly useful of his fun.
I guess all I'm trying to say is there is a bunch of awesome new products in technology that keep you connected. I just think that if you do go out and purchase one, it is good to be aware not to overuse it and start becoming socially retarded by sitting on your phone all the time.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Shot Time
Every year there is a time when the flu shot clinics go crazy. There is currently one going on at the CUB here at FLC.
I always get to nervous to get the flu shot and I'm not quite sure why. I've had a bajillion shots, so I don't think I'm scared of getting one. I might just be too lazy or maybe I think I'll never get the flu.
The last few days I have seriously been considering spending $15.00 to get one because I do think the are important.
When I was younger my mom would always make me get them because I use to have asthma so my mom was worried that if I got it I would get pretty sick. Well, I guess I just don't think about that. Haha. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad. Plus, I'm not really affected by my asthma anymore, so I don't feel like I'm at high risk or anything like that.
Have any of you guys gotten the flu shot this year? Did it hurt? And do you think they are really that important?
The Onion
Click here to go to the websiteI first heard about The Onion in high school from a friend of mine. We use to chill during our Channel M class and go onto The Onion website for some good laughs.
The Onion started out as a small magazine, and is now a lot larger and can be found on the web as well. It basically features satirical articles about things going on in the world, country, and local issues. And of course entertainment articles. I've heard it be called fake news.
I would definitely recommend going to the website and browsing around. I think you will find it mildly entertaining; I definitely get a good laugh every time I do. Today, I went on the website and browsed under the tab magazine and it showed all the current magazine covers. Those were enough to make me laugh out loud. There are endless things to look at on the website.
A really cool feature is the AV Club, which you can find interviews in and there are blogs on that page as well.
Anyways, just go check it out. You'll laugh, I'm pretty sure.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Makes Me Laugh Everytime
I'm sure many of you have seen this clip. It is from one of the Jackass movies. Which some of the stuff on those movies crack me up. But then there are some that gross me out, or are just ridiculously stupid. This specific clip makes me laugh everytime I watch it. The boys hide in the trees at a golf course and blow their airhorn every time a person it trying to hit the golf ball from the tee box. I love the part when the golfers comes over after throwing his club at the boys... hahaha. Also the part when the golfer tees off and aims towards where the boys are at; and they still blow the horn.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Zeitgeist-Controversial Documentary
Zeitgeist - click here to watch the documentary. It is the movie, the second video. Not the first on the page which is the addendum.
So "Zeitgeist" is probably one of the most intense things I've ever seen. It pretty much blew my mind. It covers many controversial issues in America and life today. It is a two hour documentary that is split up into three different parts. These parts are religion, 9-11 and the war on terrorism, and lastly money/taxes in the government. Some of the things in this movie seem plausible for sure because they have many good facts. But they also have some not so good facts. If you do watch it, which I recommend, don't let it brainwash you ,but rather inform you on things you might not know, and to make your own decisions. The film-makers are trying to show that the government is brainwashing citizens in a way and that media has a large part in this. The government only allows what they want to be seen or heard go out to the citizens. But also try to remember that the people making this movie might be just like the government by leaving facts out, or trying to brainwash people into believing bad things about our government. I have my beliefs and whatnot of all the issues in this movie, some were tweaked a little after watching this, but I still believe certain things. All I'm trying to say is believe what you want because who really knows what the truth is. That's how twisted our media is.
The first part about religion talks about how current day Christianity is based of the Egyptianism ways of religion. It shows many connections between astrological aspects compared to stories in the Holy Bible. The Egyptians worshiped the sun, and Christians worship the Son. Coincidence??? It talks how a lot of the stories in the Bible are plagiaristic stories. Another aspect of religion it talks about is the 'end of the world' and how people are freaking out about it and saying that it is coming, but that the end of the world was really meaning end of the age( the astrological age). The main point these people are trying to get across is that current day Christianity and other religions are all based of the Egyptians ways. So, I was raised in a Christian family and believe in God and Jesus, but I also see the similarities these people are talking about. It just makes you think, and I feel like that is what these guys wanted people to do when they watch this movie.
The second part of this movie is about 9/11 and the war on terrorism. This is probably the most interesting part of the movie to me. It basically says that 9/11 was an inside job partly planned by our government. There are many hard facts that they have on this idea. It talks about the engineering of the towers and how they were build to uphold such things as a plane hitting them and how they would fall if a plane did hit them. It talks to witnesses from the buildings that survived, and who had heard loud explosions before the planes even hit the towers. There is a lot of sketchy details that Americans don't know about. Do you know about tower 7??? I didn't. It fell in the same way that the two towers did except a plane didn't hit it, only a small fire caused this. Hmmm. I'm not sure what I believe about 9/11 yet but the facts seem very believable to me.
The last part wasn't as interesting to me but it talked about the debt of America and Americans. One of the main point was about how there is now actual law that says you must pay income taxes. I haven't actually looked into this or done any research, so I'm not positive about the facts here. But they had interviews with former IRS employees, who could never find any laws of that kind. These people have quit working for the government and having filed income taxes since. Another main point in the third section was how Canada, America, and Mexico were working on making a new currency calle the Amero. And that there was going to be the Northern American group, African group, Europe group, and Asia group, and how they are going to work together to create a one government world. I don't think this will ever happen but....
Anyways this movie is very controversial and makes a person think. It definitely fits into the class of mass media and how media literacy is so important. It might mess with your brain if you watch it, but if you like that kind of movie; I would surely recommend this movie.
So "Zeitgeist" is probably one of the most intense things I've ever seen. It pretty much blew my mind. It covers many controversial issues in America and life today. It is a two hour documentary that is split up into three different parts. These parts are religion, 9-11 and the war on terrorism, and lastly money/taxes in the government. Some of the things in this movie seem plausible for sure because they have many good facts. But they also have some not so good facts. If you do watch it, which I recommend, don't let it brainwash you ,but rather inform you on things you might not know, and to make your own decisions. The film-makers are trying to show that the government is brainwashing citizens in a way and that media has a large part in this. The government only allows what they want to be seen or heard go out to the citizens. But also try to remember that the people making this movie might be just like the government by leaving facts out, or trying to brainwash people into believing bad things about our government. I have my beliefs and whatnot of all the issues in this movie, some were tweaked a little after watching this, but I still believe certain things. All I'm trying to say is believe what you want because who really knows what the truth is. That's how twisted our media is.
The first part about religion talks about how current day Christianity is based of the Egyptianism ways of religion. It shows many connections between astrological aspects compared to stories in the Holy Bible. The Egyptians worshiped the sun, and Christians worship the Son. Coincidence??? It talks how a lot of the stories in the Bible are plagiaristic stories. Another aspect of religion it talks about is the 'end of the world' and how people are freaking out about it and saying that it is coming, but that the end of the world was really meaning end of the age( the astrological age). The main point these people are trying to get across is that current day Christianity and other religions are all based of the Egyptians ways. So, I was raised in a Christian family and believe in God and Jesus, but I also see the similarities these people are talking about. It just makes you think, and I feel like that is what these guys wanted people to do when they watch this movie.
The second part of this movie is about 9/11 and the war on terrorism. This is probably the most interesting part of the movie to me. It basically says that 9/11 was an inside job partly planned by our government. There are many hard facts that they have on this idea. It talks about the engineering of the towers and how they were build to uphold such things as a plane hitting them and how they would fall if a plane did hit them. It talks to witnesses from the buildings that survived, and who had heard loud explosions before the planes even hit the towers. There is a lot of sketchy details that Americans don't know about. Do you know about tower 7??? I didn't. It fell in the same way that the two towers did except a plane didn't hit it, only a small fire caused this. Hmmm. I'm not sure what I believe about 9/11 yet but the facts seem very believable to me.
The last part wasn't as interesting to me but it talked about the debt of America and Americans. One of the main point was about how there is now actual law that says you must pay income taxes. I haven't actually looked into this or done any research, so I'm not positive about the facts here. But they had interviews with former IRS employees, who could never find any laws of that kind. These people have quit working for the government and having filed income taxes since. Another main point in the third section was how Canada, America, and Mexico were working on making a new currency calle the Amero. And that there was going to be the Northern American group, African group, Europe group, and Asia group, and how they are going to work together to create a one government world. I don't think this will ever happen but....
Anyways this movie is very controversial and makes a person think. It definitely fits into the class of mass media and how media literacy is so important. It might mess with your brain if you watch it, but if you like that kind of movie; I would surely recommend this movie.
Last.fm- An Awesome Music Website
My brother and I have always been people that love to share good music with each other and our friends. We have pretty similar taste in music and we like a wide variety of music as well. He called me this last week and we were talking about free torrent websites, where you can share and download music for free. But for now we are both on a website called last.fm. I just signed up this last week, and I am loving it so far.
This is how it works. You sign up which is free, pick a screen name and whatnot, then you start by adding some of your favorite bands to your library list. You can see biographies, pictures, and tracks of your favorite artists. Also, it will recommend new artists that you might like based upon your favorite artists already listed. I think that might be one of my favorite aspects of the site; that I can find new artists that I love. Finding new music is one of my favorite things in the world. I love to find artists that play music for the love of the music/art and not for the money.
And another really cool aspect of this website is that you download the last.fm software to your desktop and it will connect to your itunes library to upload all your favorite artists whom you listen to on your itunes daily onto your last.fm profile page. So they can tell who you listen to in general all the time and give you more great recommendations. It shows who your most listened artists are and a few of your favorite songs based on this info.
Another thing that I am still learning about is the different stations you can be a part of. You can listen to a station based on the artist you type in. For example, this morning I typed in Chromeo, which is a band i listen to, and they came up with the "Chromeo Station" which consisted of some of their songs and other bands that are similar to them. The cool thing about these stations is that you don't even have to be connected to the website when you listen to them. It's just an icon on your desktop, similar to itunes but you can listen to new music you haven't heard before. I'm still trying to figure out what the stations are all about.
Lastly, you can add friends on this site and groups if you would like, but you don't have to. For me it's more of finding music that I love. But it is nice to be able to talk to others that might have the same taste in music as me. Anyways, I just wanted to share this with anyone that loves music because you will fall in love with this site.
Last.fm - to sign up and see what it's about
Taylor's page- to see an example of a page. This is actually my page.
This is how it works. You sign up which is free, pick a screen name and whatnot, then you start by adding some of your favorite bands to your library list. You can see biographies, pictures, and tracks of your favorite artists. Also, it will recommend new artists that you might like based upon your favorite artists already listed. I think that might be one of my favorite aspects of the site; that I can find new artists that I love. Finding new music is one of my favorite things in the world. I love to find artists that play music for the love of the music/art and not for the money.
And another really cool aspect of this website is that you download the last.fm software to your desktop and it will connect to your itunes library to upload all your favorite artists whom you listen to on your itunes daily onto your last.fm profile page. So they can tell who you listen to in general all the time and give you more great recommendations. It shows who your most listened artists are and a few of your favorite songs based on this info.
Another thing that I am still learning about is the different stations you can be a part of. You can listen to a station based on the artist you type in. For example, this morning I typed in Chromeo, which is a band i listen to, and they came up with the "Chromeo Station" which consisted of some of their songs and other bands that are similar to them. The cool thing about these stations is that you don't even have to be connected to the website when you listen to them. It's just an icon on your desktop, similar to itunes but you can listen to new music you haven't heard before. I'm still trying to figure out what the stations are all about.
Lastly, you can add friends on this site and groups if you would like, but you don't have to. For me it's more of finding music that I love. But it is nice to be able to talk to others that might have the same taste in music as me. Anyways, I just wanted to share this with anyone that loves music because you will fall in love with this site.
Last.fm - to sign up and see what it's about
Taylor's page- to see an example of a page. This is actually my page.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Banned Books
This last weekend I was walking downtown Durango and happened to go into one of the local bookstores. I could spend days in a bookstore. Anyhow, when I went up to purchase my book, there was a huge area of stickers, bracelets, and whatnot that were talking or making a statement about banned books. So my friend I started having a discussion to the man behind the counter about the banning of certain books. I felt like I was in mass media class all over again. He showed us that they were celebrating banned books either for the week or month, I don't quite remember. Every single book that was on the banned list in other bookstore, this book stored carried and they all were tagged with orange cards to let the customers know. They were proud to be carry banned books and were even highlighting them to get customers attention. After he told us that, we went back through the store and looked at all the band books. It was a very interesting afternoon so to say because what we learn in class has relativity t everyday life.
The Darjeeling Limited
When we were given the assignment to blog about a movie or do a mini review of one, I had the hardest time deciding which one I would talk about because I love film. Well of course, it came to me, I had to do one of the movies done by Wes Anderson. He is most definitely one of my favorite director/writer. So his last released film "The Darjeeling Limited" was what i figured to review and tell you about.
It's about three brothers on a spiritual journey on a train through India. They go on this journey to try and strengthen their bond because they are not very close at all. All the brothers played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, have very unique different personalities from each other. But through out the movies they have trials and obstacles which strengthen their brotherhood by the time the movie is over. The movie has some pretty dry comedy, definitely not the comedy some Americans are use to, but I loved it. I don't want to give to many things away about the actual plot because I would prefer that if you haven't seen it to actually rent it and watch it. I would recommend that with any of Wes Anderson's films.
A short prequel called Hotel Chevalier was also a part of this movie. When I went to see it in theatres last year it had not been added on to the movie yet, but I had seen it because my brother had told me to watch it before seeing the movie. Now I believe it is at the beginning of the DVD.
Some other films that Wes Anderson has done are Rushmore, Bottle Rockets, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic with Team Zissou. If you have seen any of these movie and enjoyed them, I would say you are sure to like The Darjeeling Limited as well. One thing about Anderson, if you watch most of his movies, he uses a lot of the same cast. For example, Bill Murray, Angelica Houston, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson have all been used numerous times with his movies. They do a great job every time as well.
I can't get enough of Wes Anderson's films and can't wait for future films to come. If you haven't heard of Wes Anderson or any of the films above I encourage you to do so.
Here is a interview cite with text and a video of Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman and MTV if you are interesting in watching how far they have come from Rushmore to The Darjeeling Limited.
http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1571111/20071003/story.jhtml
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