Saving People / Hunting Things

           Reading has different connotations for different people. Mentioning “books” may light up the eyes of many book worms in a room, or it may serve to bring about a grimace of disgust in others. In the article “Superman and Me”, the author and speaker of the piece, Sherman Alexie, describes the impact of reading on his life. The occasion of the work is 1998 and its immediate audience is the readers of the LA Times in which it was published, as well as the Native American people. Its purpose is to inform its readers, and to imbue those who are in need of inspiration. The subject of the piece is the impact of reading on Alexie’s life. The tone of “Superman and Me” is reminiscent, calm, and assured simultaneously.

            The “SOAPST” of “Superman and Me” is useful in building ethos. It also allows readers to go through the piece with more insight and understanding. It helps the audience grasp the initial purpose of the author, while allowing the freedom the judge whether or not this was done successfully.  

            This piece is effective as it successfully puts to use the appeal of pathos. It has the capacity to affect its intended audience of Native Americans, but one does not need to belong to this group to feel the striking effects of Alexie’s piece. Though a great deal of his article involves personal anecdotes, a firm connection is made between his projected words and the audience. The conclusion emits hope, a hope that even those who seem to have given up on their lives have someone looking out for them. 

             

Kingpins vs. Florida Mom

“Aaron Paul Calls Out Toys R Us for Pulling ‘Breaking Bad’ Figures”  

By: Christine D’zurilla

Source: LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-aaron-paul-breaking-bad-toys-bryan-cranston-toys-r-us-20141024-story.html

            On Wednesday, October twenty-two, the famous toy company, Toys R Us, recalled its line of action figures of characters from the acclaimed five season show ‘Breaking Bad’. This action was taken as a result of a petition initiated by a Florida mom, Susan Shrijver. The petition managed to collect an approximate ten-thousand signatures from people who opposed Toys R Us’ "decision to sell a Breaking Bad doll, complete with a detachable sack of cash and a bag of meth,” because it “alongside children's toys, is a dangerous deviation from their family-friendly values" (D’zurilla, 1). A new petition with nearly thirty-thousand signatures has formed, but this one opposes the toy company’s recent action. Stars of the show such as Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul voiced their enmity of the withdrawal, the latter tweeting, “Wait, so @ToysRUs pulled all of the Breaking Bad figures from their shelves and still sells Barbie? Hmmmm...I wonder what is more damaging?” (D’zurilla, 1) . The opposition’s main argument centers around the hypocrisy expressed by the company, as the company continues to carry toys that promote violence and unrealistic beauty standards for children. Another argument is that the Breaking Bad figures are marked as “15+” and are found in the adult section of the store.

            Though this is not the most important of news, it should not be dismissed as trivial. Whether or not one believes the toys should have been removed off of Toys R Us’ shelves, the hypocritical nature of the company’s actions should be understood. Toy stores should not be hypocritically selective in what they remove off their shelves. If they exerted the efforts necessary to remove toys suggestive of drugs in the adult section of the store, then they should not hesitate in removing toys that involve guns or other promotions of violence. They are also warranted to wipe their shelves clean of Barbies and other toys which promote unrealistic “beauty” standards for young children, as these are highly detrimental to their psyche, as science has proven. 

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1000) // Overdone Song Reference

In order to examine the extent to which our schools provide a true education, one must first examine what a “true education” entails. As nothing can be found or explained in its “true” form, it is more convenient to examine a subjective analysis of the term through the eyes of an adolescent.

             Too much talking is done in our schools. The conversation is one-sided, however. Students are (for the most part) taught to remain silent and respectful from a young age. Repression does not respect any party. Though an evolution is underway in the school system, attempting to “open up” students, allowing greater freedom of expression and critical thinking, a surfeit of conversation is in order. Students should be taken outside more often, where learning would primarily be based off of observation and any ensuing natural responses. This type of environment is devoid of the artificial nature of the common classrooms of today.

            Though a certain degree of learning inevitably occurs within the confines of a classroom setting, students should be granted mobility in their studies. This would not limit them to the assigned homework assignments, and would instead allow them to undertake research projects on topics of interest to them. This direct, hands-on approach to learning allows for an inveterate absorption of knowledge.  This mobility should not only be an intellectual one. Students are granted limited physical mobility within classrooms; they are not allowed to use the bathroom without permission, they can not sit wherever they please, and they are not allowed to walk around. An improvement in the aforementioned faulty grounds of education within our schools may pave way for greater reform.

I Can See Clearly Now

"Man Treated for Google Glass Addiction"
By: Jacque Wilson
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/15/health/google-glass-addiction/index.html?hpt=he_c2

            Most people may have heard of one of Google’s latest innovations, Google Glass. The eye wear technology allows users to access the internet, take pictures, record videos, and send messages to others. These functions are put to use through voice commands or contact with the minute touch pad on the corner of the glasses. However, “Google Glass Addiction” is a much less heard of phenomenon. Despite the satirical nature that may seem to underlie this problem, a thirty-one year old San Diegan man who checked into the Navy's Substance Abuse and Recovery Program for alcoholism treatment was actually found to have this new found disorder. He reported using the technology for eighteen hours daily, only daring to remove it whenever he slept or bathed. He showed signs of Google Glass withdrawal by reaching for its touch pad even when the eye wear was not on. He exhibited symptoms that other users of this technology frequently exhibit, such as decreased awareness and headaches. “While in the treatment program, the man experienced withdrawal symptoms that he reportedly said were much worse than the withdrawal he went through from alcohol” (Wilson 1). He was recently treated for the aforementioned problems, but still has dreams that appear to be perceived through a screen.

            This piece of news demonstrates the dangerous effects of the ever advancing world of technology. While it remains true that most of these advancements reap countless benefits that may serve to better the world, they also possess the dangerous capacity to build over-dependent relationships with users (with the users being the dependent subjects in this case). It is important that consumers remain mindful of the symptoms that may arise as a result of excessive use of such technological products, and retain an air of self-control as the times are changing.