Final Blog

Ahhh sorry group!!! I don't know where my brain is I keep forgetting about the blogs!!!!

Looking back over this semester I think I've learned how to really "read" text. I think we've been shown to look below the surface and find the real meaning of what the author is trying to say. Much of what we discussed dealt with out current population and the thought we are lazy/unintelligent. I do agree with some of what we've talked about and sometimes the truth hurts but I can't say I think it is entirely true. A lot of the

books we read were futuristic saying that at some point we will entirely rely on technology and won't be able to think for ourselves. Both Feed and the dumest gerneration hinted at this message. Sometimes I think the level we rely on technology is slightly rediculous but I do not think the owrld is made up of unintelligent people that would ever let things get to the point they are in Feed. I think there are a lot of people striving to create new things, work hard, and learn more as the years progress but there are also those who lack all motivation. Those are the people I think some of these books focus on but I think it is an unfair representation of  our generation. Some of the things we do on our spare time is viewed as "lazy" but I also think our society is so fast pace and stressful that we need to take time to ourselves sometimes.

I think I have learned to appreciate literature and see it's importance. Literature gives people a way to express themselves and makes the reader dig deep to interpret the writer's feelings. I think all the books we read this semester brought the problems in todays society to our attention. However I don't think we should be completely hard on ourselves and think we are useless. We definately aren't and are expected to know more and accomplish more and a shorter span of time then any previous generation. Our expectations are at a much higher level due to the inventions of technology. More is expected and if we don't accomplish all of it we are viewed as unsuccessful which isn't true. However these readings still pointed out the things we need to be aware of so they don't happen and we can improve the part of our population who does fit this category.

Blog 9 - Books

I can't say that I am a huge reader but I definately think I would miss books. A few authors that I particularly like is Jodi Picoult, Meg Cabot, and Lurlene McDaniel. Some of the books written by these authors really made an impact on me and I'm extremely glad I read them. These books made me happy and sad and allow people to relate to them or realize how good life it. While we are on the topic if you're looking for a book to read I suggest one of these authors. I think kids would miss out on a lot of knowledge if books were taken away. In my daily life I can't say I frequently sit down and read a novel but WHEN I do I really enjoy that I have the option to do so. A world without books would be a sad world because many people use books as an outlet. Reading books helps some people keep a stable mind, release stress, look at the world differently, and does the same for the people who write them. Although books aren't something I read as often as I should I still really like them being around as an option to read.

I think we burn books everyday by not using them and instead turning to other references. I'm guilty as many others, to just turning to the internet as a resource instead of looking it up in a book. The less we rely on books the more it is like we are losing the need for them. By neglecting books as a reference we are burning books. Also, we tend to watch a movie instead of reading the book. By watching the movie it is like we are burning the book because we chose not to read the book and never will since we saw the movie. Things like this are how we "burn" books everyday. When you don't use something it is like they are there (or burned).

Blog 8- Woops Forgot!

I really enjoyed the book Hunger Games. I liked how detailed and suspensful the book was, it made it much easier to read. After reading this book I though it working "in conversation" with 1984 because the capitol controlled the districts just like Big Brother controlled the town. It also worked well with the lottery because what seems like an outrageous event gets carried out each year but nobody tries to stop it. The people in Hunger games probably felt very similar to those in 1984 as well as the lottery. I think they felt helpless. Since these people are outnumbered or over powered they are unable to change something like whether they live or die. Someone besides themselves can decide if their life is ready to come to an end or not. I definately found myself responding to Katniss, Peeta, Rue, Katniss's little sister, and Gale. This book really made you connect with the characters each in a unique way.

http://www.naturefootage.com/video_clips/KW60_088

This is an extremely weird link for me to put on here but I really had trouble finding one. This link is of a vulture circling its prey. I selected this because I feel like the gamemakers were like vultures just circling waiting for someone in the games to die. Vultures also fly around looking for "trouble" or animals dying. The game makers look for trouble as well and even started  trouble if there wasn't any occuring by itself. In the book it felt like Katniss was they prey and at a huge disadvantage at the beginning and the people watching were the vultures.

Reality TV- Jersey Shore season 2

I chose to watch Jersey shore because I think it is one of the most watched reality shows at the moment. Reality television is definately trashy at times.I'll also agree that the producers set the characters up for failure by forcing them or putting them in scenes they know will lead to arguments or drama. However, I do think there are people that really act like those on Jersey shore. Sometimes it seems like reality shows are a bit extreme but  if we think about it there are moments/people that act like the people on Jersey shore in each of our personal lives. There's definately couples out there that always seem to be fighting and people who seem to be on a mission to make bad decisions. For this reason, I don't think reality tv is totally fake. This group of people living in a house together at Jersey Shore with no responsibilities but to have fun would ultimately lead to some crazy incidents. These people really don't have anything to do all day but have fun. Also if you think about how many months are being filmed versus the hours that are actually shown on television it may actually be relevant. The producers have months to get "good" film and it is very possible that they will end up with a few crazy incidents. I think reality tv definately focuses on drinking, humor, fun, and sex. It seems like it's always the same story everyone on Jersey Shore goes out to drink, dance, bring back a "buddy", Ronnie and Sam fight and then they all go to bed. I think we are drawn to this because we enjoy watching how people handle and act in certain situations. We enjoy watching people have fun, be happy, fight and make up. All these things are pretty much the story in everyones' life maybe not in the exact same way as Jersey Shore but we all experience the same emotions they do. Our role as viewers is to respond to what we enjoy. If we like something we watch it and follow all the other shows that correspond or relate to the show, like after show where they discuss what we didn't see. Personally I don't revolve my life around these shows but I can't say I hate to watch them. I am definately the type of person who likes to see other peoples' reactions and how they handle certain situations.

Blog 6- Privacy

I would say we definately give up our privacy today in order to keep our basic rights secured. It sound contradictory to give up privacy to keep freedom and other rights. Although we give up our rights, I do think it is necessary in order to stay safe . In all reality we don't have to worry about the government taking complete control. This is not a worry because in order for laws to get passed it goes through a lot of people, it's not an easy process so no one person has the power to "take over/away" our rights. "Big Brother" exists in scenarios like airport security but without this protection we could crumble because when things like 9/11 it takes an extremely long time for our country to get back on its feet. I think privacy still exists and if you are especially worried you can ensure this by filling out papers. For example, at the library some people have pop-ups that come up under their name saying the patron filled out a privacy paper so we are not able to release any information about that person. Other examples include HIPPA. HIPPA is a privacy act that ensures all people receiving medical treatment can be sure their information will be held private. I do realize there are cameras put everywhere but for the most part a lot of these cameras are not continuously being watched. In a lot of cases they use the after something has happened to find who did it. Overall I am willing to give up certain rights for safety, not all my rights of course, but definately some of them. 

Blog 5 - Choice #2

Many people would think living without a Feed would be awful but I think it was one of the best decisions I have made, despite not being given a job I deserved. I experienced being mistreated and not given certain opportunities but in reality if those are the people hiring me I would rather not work for them. Today as I walk through society I see how corrupted the people around me have become because of their feeds. They have been raised with the Feed in their head since the day they have been born. All they hear is all the great things the Feed can do for them but they've never experienced what they could do without the Feed. It is a shame what the Feed is doing to the people around me without them even realizing it. The language I now teach is considered dead and now all I hear is unit this unit that, meg this and meg that. People no longer know how to express themselves in words and think for themselves. Nobody reads or writes anymore it's all m-chatting and slowly but surely it'll all be dead. They have been raised with a blanket over their eyes and never given the opportunity to think or act how they want. Everything is supplied to them through the Feed hiding all the terrible things it actually does. I gave into the silliness and allowed my daughter to get a Feed and it ended with losing her. However, nobody will focus on incidents like this because the Feed has taken over their lives. Society is slowly dying just like the language and I'm glad I'm not dying with it. I'm one of the few without a Feed but one of the few that is experiencing what life is. For these reasons I am glad I don't have a Feed and just wish I would have never allowed my daughter to get one either.

Last Day =)

Today is my last day without technology and I am extremely happy. I have been productive with my school work while not having my technology but I usually am even with my technology. It's nice not having people constantly texting me since they know I can't text them back. However I am definately excited to get my phone back and have the option of watching television if I want to. I don't like feeling like I'm being punished/secluded by not being able to talk to people. I still get to hang out with people it's just hard making plans. Another thing I miss is talking to my family it seems like it has been two weeks not just one week. Normally my dad sends me short e-mails every other day and I usually call to talk to them for a little once a week but this week I haven't been able to do at all which was something I'm not used to. Regardless it is over and I'm glad. A few things I did while off technology is homework, sleep, take my friends' weiner dog for a walk, and went running.