Saturday, February 27, 2010

And the Caged Animals Cry, for More 'Idol' Worship


There's really no reason for world hunger to be an issue to our planet, but we don't see this because we are so blinded by a strong faith in our dependence on money and materialism. We reason with a presumed authority in power, who tells us through emotionally biased news feeds and advertisements that we depend on everything money can offer. As we continue exemplifying our manipulated obedience to conformity, our emotions leave us vulnerable to the feeling of needing to convert in order to survive. We get so caught up in our busy so-called 'lives' that we forget what is really important to us. Of course our intellect, as well as the proper usage of our resources, aren't always the biggest concerns. It is sad to know that the majority in our culture knows more about American Idol than knowing the three branches of our American Government. I as well have been found guilty of not knowing the three branches of our government. If that's not sad enough, I also didn't even know/remember that there were three until today, but I can also say that I have no clue who 'Ellen' is or what it has to do with American Idol.

Apparently, more people typically vote for American Idol than for presidential elections as well. The American society exercises a dependency on emotionally biased and fallacious arguments in order to pay attention and the media uses this to their advantage. Can this really be considered an advancement in our culture? Heck no! If a population depends on their emotions, in response to an exaggeration or a lie, as a basis to forming a decision... then there is an obvious error concerning our overall intellect, and is in dire need of careful observation and concern. No wonder why there are so many people suffering from insecurities and guilt. Our outer, authoritative influences are lying to us, telling us who to be and how to live, in order to gain profit off of our obedience and fear/insecurities. You are free in this country, that is, if you are perfectly comfortable with acting on your emotions and being crammed inside everyone else's 'box'. Knowledge is the key to liberation, something that television/ads do not offer. I believe that our focus is more concerned with what's popular rather than what's necessary.

Edible Landscaping can, not only benefit toward people's personal gardens, but also parks, school properties, churches, and pretty much anywhere. Churches don't even have to pay taxes for their over abundance of land usage, so they could also contribute toward ending, not just our own, but the World's hunger. We don't 'have' to eat meat to survive. We can get just as much, and some can even argue, better nutrients from eating off of plant bearing food and fungi, as long as it's grown in the right environment for it's specie. Egg sharing can also be inexpensive. This could benefit, as fish and chicken are healthier and cheaper meats. We can get protein from chicken eggs, so why do we need to eat 'chicken' beyond that of an egg? Either way, having a good number of chickens around can be beneficial toward human survival, especially for 3rd world countries that are suffering of starvation. If people are to eat meat they should be willing to kill their own food. It disassociates us from understanding where our food comes otherwise, which has led us to forget how to respect the very lives of which we sacrifice and depend on. Tilapia, as well, could easily be bred in large enough quantities to place in local ponds and lakes around the warmer climatic regions, thus resolving our need to depend on money for food.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Shamu

A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld in Orlando. Dawn Brancheau was the victim of these horrific accident. Supposedly Dawn was in the whale holding area about 2 p.m. when she apparently slipped or fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales. The killer whale got a hold of Dawn and violently shook her underwater. One reporter claimed her shoe flew off! When you search "Seaworld Attack" on google, millions of results come up with all different stories. There is talk about shutting down Seaworld entirely since this incident. This is a trajic and very sad story, but if you think about it, its a KILLER WHALE. I'm not sure if there are any repercussions for this whales actions, but I don't think it would be fair. I don't even think its fair for the whales to be taken out of the wild crammed in a fish tank anyways. Prayers go out to Dawn's family.

Shamu

A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld in Orlando. Dawn Brancheau was the victim of these horrific accident. Supposedly Dawn was in the whale holding area about 2 p.m. when she apparently slipped or fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales. The killer whale got a hold of Dawn and violently shook her underwater. One reporter claimed her shoe flew off! When you search "Seaworld Attack" on google, millions of results come up with all different stories. There is talk about shutting down Seaworld entirely since this incident. This is a trajic and very sad story, but if you think about it, its a KILLER WHALE. I'm not sure if there are any repercussions for this whales actions, but I don't think it would be fair. I don't even think its fair for the whales to be taken out of the wild crammed in a fish tank anyways. Prayers go out to Dawn's family.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Skinny Cow

At first glance, you might not find anything wrong with this ad, but as you start noticing the details you'll find that there is.This is an ad for low fat dairy products. Everything about this ad emphasizes on being skinny, from the measuring tape on the waist line to the skinny human female figure of the cow. It focuses on only women and losing weight. This can lead to puting pressure on women to lose weight and have low self-esteem. It could also lead to having an eating disorder. This is a big problem for many adolestants because of the media putting pressure on them to be skinny. Although this is not always the main cause of an eating disorder, it can affect a person greatly. That is why I feel more commercials and ads in the media should put out more realistic images of life even though life is not always "beautiful", it want put pressure on you to be like the Victoria Secret models.

Friday, February 12, 2010

"Im not that Innocent"....!

When you watch television and see all these famous people, they tend to give you the impression of they're role. Just like Tiger Woods for instance when you think of him or see publicity on him you think to yourself " wow what a fun-loving, well-mannered, typical family man. Yet we all fail to realize the truth behind all these people. Im not stating that they all have negative aspects to them but most do. Just like Britney Spears. In her earlier years she was a teen pop sensation and a role model to a lot of younger girls. Progressing through a career, everyone began to see what fame and publicity had done to her. That once "Lucky" girl, ended up becoming not so lucky... Britney Spears disappointed many people when she went through her mid-life crisis. And the reason i compared her to Tiger Woods is because just as Britney had everyone fooled and then dissapointed so did he.

Good Woods Gone Bad

I find this image to be very amusing because of the sort of irony that goes behind it. The once perfect man that portrayed himself as a family man is now on the cover of "Vanity Fair" shirtless, and now is portraying himself as a "bad boy". This just comes to show the reality behind the lives of these flawless people. This situation is also a sad one for all of the Wood's fans who looked up to him and thought of him as their hero, becase that is usually what they are to the fans. They are heroes that can do the impossible, and that motivate fans to be like them. Since Tiger Woods is only an athlete, his life has no effect on our lives. Yes, it might effect our mood at the moment, but in the end, it is just another scandal that will be forgotten shortly after another one pops up.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Tiger Woods Scandal

I found this picture pretty amusing, especially after the article we read for class. Can you believe that all these pictures are now released after the media got a hold of the scandal? Any chance the media gets to degrade Tiger Woods, they will. This image and the one on the magazine cover we looked at in class are released to show a different side of Tiger. He went from the "family man" to the scandalous golf player in a matter of a few days. What tiger did was wrong, but in the sceme of things this happens all the time. Due to the combination of him being a celebrity, and the contributions from the drama indulged media, Tiger is now thought out to be an enemy in many peoples eyes.

Sunday, February 7, 2010


"...I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no great war. No great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war... Our great depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't, and we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off." -Fight club
Values are like water, able to fit any shape they're poured into. People seem to be disconnected from reality, their lifestyles disassociating them from the world and from the idea of us as both individuals and interconnected beings. Do we really need to know what a duvet is? Curious of what a duvet was, I looked it up online and read... "A DUVET cover is just a fancy name for a comforter cover. It is essential to cover and protect your down comforter with one. Another great reason to buy a duvet cover is to use it over your regular comforter." WTF? Why is this 'essential' for such a small fragment of our evolution? Life is instantaneous. Time is short. Our lives, our present selves, fill such an insignificant portion of time. Why do we concern ourselves with names, items, and glamor? We are not the clothes we wear. Name brands and fancy nicknames do not define us! A bed cover is just a bed cover and that's all it needs to be; something that covers you and keeps you warm. A car is just a car; it helps your lazy fat ass get from point A to point B faster, does it really matter how big or shiny it is? Furniture is just furniture. What about it defines you as a person? People exist outside their selves, trying to be like everyone else, afraid of the hidden jewels with in. The television doesn't tell you how to be human, rather it enforces an image and a life style that people seem to be convinced will complete us. To feel complete one must first look with in and observe their inner selves with out social perception because this reality you see on the t.v is not real and distracts people from finding their true potential. We are all brain washed mindless sheep all ready to jump on the next bandwagon even if it leads us to the slaughter house. A person recently posted on Facebook..."P.S. Forgot say my new shoes have 4 1/2 inch heels and I cannot walk in them but they sure look GOOD!" and then a later quote "I am putting my UGGS in the car plus __ is dropping me off and picking me up at the elevator - I could never walk from the parking lot in my new shoes. My sister says how are you going to dance and my response was: You know I have always been a believer of being in pain and being beautiful". If you can't walk in shoes then why the hell are you buying them? I wonder how much money goes to this frivolous material crap that could've went toward technology or ending world hunger. People make me sick. We are a disgusting parasitic hazardous mindless specie that seems to believe that we are somehow supreme. We value our ego as the supreme. Our ego defines us. We don't own our egos, rather the ego is in control of the actions we make. What makes you fit in? What makes you beautiful or look 'good'? Is your answer rationalization or circular reasoning? Why do we buy crap that we don't need, showing no concern for those that don't even have the things they need. I like what I said in class while we were having our group discussions about our comparison/contrast essays. "If natural resources come with a price tag where's the equality?" People should build houses because they want to give others shelter. People should educate because they'd like to see a decrease of the plaguing ignorance that seems to be abound in our society. People should grow food because they want bellies to be fed. We have options, we have resources. With equal opportunity to be fed sheltered and clothed we could do good things out of pleasure to contribute not because we have to to survive. The idea of slaved labor, as it is a reality in cooperate business, is also a lie. An illusion to keep us busy and free from thinking. Is this really freedom or are we the caged monkeys, rattling and screaming about, unaware of the key to salvation that lies with in? I still haven't seen Fight Club, though I do like the idea of Brad Pitt's manic episodes kinda like in 12 Monkeys mixed with Edward Norton's gorgeousness, I'm also not a big fan of unnecessary violence. I understand that maybe it added to it's shock value and appeal, but that doesn't mean that I need to see it. It seems like most of my philosophies Andrew relates to this movie anyway. I found out this weekend that there's also a book... so I'm going to check that out.

Friday, February 5, 2010


Facebook, as we all know, has exploded over the last few years. Everyone from elementary/middle schoolers, to grandparents can be found on facebook. As with everything, facebook has its pros and cons. Some pros include: contacting lost friends, advertisement, and its a great way to meet people. Cons tend to outway the pros this time. Cons include: tagged photos (in some cases), facebook stalkers, addiction, and many more. Facebook is a great networking site. but sometimes people need to know when to stop.

So you think your cool huh?


Have you ever just been skimming through a magazine and you pass a page where there's a remarkably beautiful woman posing taking up a huge page, modeling? If your looking through a fashion magazine or a magazine made just for woman, you'll probably notice on the bottom that there's a little paragraph stating all of the companies of which the apparel the woman is wearing and all of its prices. Now days everything's about "fitting in" and trying to be a part of the cool crowds. These magazines advertising want you to leave an imprint of their clothing in your head so that you'll have that "drive" to want their clothing. I mean i completely understand that now days you cant look bad or just dress crappy because that's just not how things are anymore and of course you do want to feel good about yourself and impress others. Its just something people do for themselves. But the problem starts when people don't want to shop at places like Target or Kmart for clothing because apparently that's just for people who "don't have money", and those are the people out there spending hundreds of dollars in name brand stores like Coach or Abercrombie, all just to be able to say "Oh yea i got this in Abercrombie", because apparently that makes them high class. And to top it off the people you see spending those amounts of money on top notch clothing are probably the people that dont have the money!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Lost

This photo goes hand in hand with my narrative essay. "Peligro" means danger, and this was the first sign I learned when I arrived to Costa Rica. Before arriving, I never really thought about how important and helpful signs are, and when I was surrounded by all spanish signs, I then realized how important they are. Luckily after about two weeks I had learned what most of the signs meant, and thankfully never got in any trouble not obeying them!