O.J and happiness
O.J. Simpson created an uproar Wednesday with plans for a TV interview and book titled “If I Did It” — an account the publisher pronounced “his confession” and media executives condemned as revolting and exploitive.
Wow – I saw a preview for O.J.’s interview, that said something like “how I would have done it, if I did it,” referring to the murder if Nicole Simpson and it was so unbelievable, I laughed out loud. Not because it’s funny because it isn’t, and I shouldn’t be so shocked by his behavior - because so many people are only concerned about making fast, easy money – but I am. He actually wrote a book about how he “would have” killed people. That is just not normal. The article quoted someone as saying that he didn’t think the book would sell, but I’d have to disagree. I think that the fact the publishers are distributing the book says that there’s a market for it.
So it seems that the “pursuit of happiness” part of the US constitution needs a little help. When 80 000 people around the world were asked to rate their own happiness, the US placed 23rd out of 178. Not bad, except that my true north strong and free placed 10th. IN YOUR FACE!
I kept reading blogs that were negative and complainy, so I searched for blogs about happiness, which mostly resulted in blogs that included “loss of happiness” or “happiness is gone” or other such pessimistic views. This was one of the blogs that I found – it’s not happy, but it ranks countries in order of happiness, which is kind of interesting.
Nickel and Dimed
Ehrenreich’s story about not getting by in America was very eye-opening. I was shocked that there are people out there who have jobs but are homeless. The author mentioned the living situations of her co-workers at the hotel and one of them lived “in a van parked behind a shopping center.” I always just assumed that homeless people didn’t work, which is why they’re homeless. It was also shocking that some people are so desparate to keep a job that they’ll come into work early and stay late without getting paid, put up with any behavior from management, and that management would take advantage of it to the point of making a person continue working after sustaining a serios injury on the job. There were so many shocking occurrences throughout the book that the author revealed in believable, matter-of-fact language and dialogue. She wrote of characters who were obviously real, but also in a way that made them relatable. I can relate to grabbing a bag of Doritos for lunch or some other inexpensive snack, because I don’t have time or money for anything else. Ehrenreich’s portrayal of her experiences was gripping because she included both minute and significant details of the circumstances and people that she encountered.
Hunger as Ideology
In Bordo’s essay about women’s weight issues, she mentioned that “women are continually bombarded with advertisements and commercials for weight-loss products and programs,” which only portryas part of the image that women are expected to live up to. Women are inindated with pictures of models wearing size 2 gowns, with air-brushed skin and fan-blown, professionally set hair. How are we supposed to live up to that? Even with the knowledge that I will never look that good, if only because I can’t afford to pay for the look and not that I’m unattractive, I still strive for that unattainable beauty. I have never been satisfied with my appearance. There’s always some aspect of my physique that could be better. When I weighed 110 pounds and looked good in anything I tried on, I looked in the mirror and focused on the gap in my teeth, my bushy eyebrows, my undefined calves, my lackluster lashes, etc. etc. etc. I can’t feel good about myself and it shouldn’t be that way. It doesn’t help that my mom made disparaging comments, like “I was skinnier when I was your age.” I will never say anything like that to my daughters. Even if my daughters aren’t strikingly beautiful, I’m going to tell them they are in hopes that they can be happy with their appearance and worry about important issues.
I just happened to stop on Dr. 90210, which is a television show about plastic surgery. One woman had a tummy tuck, breast implants and botox injections all at once. It’s awful that as women we feel compelled to go to such great measures to look good. I can’t imagine having surgery to change the way I look, but I often think that if I could afford a personal trainer I could reach my goal weight. But, I also realize that celebrities have time to work out for hours everyday and can afford to have personal nutritionists, and if I want to look anything like them its going to take alot of hard work and dedication so I guess its not a real priority or I’d put in the effort.
The blogger who responded to a professor’s oppositional attitude toward a “deaf culture” should have edited her response. She didn’t really convince me that she knows more than the guy who she was trying to defy. She didn’t clarify her point or make it strong in any way and she went on a rant about the Galludet conflict that didn’t quite fit in her argument. She didn’t convince me that her side of the argument was more worthy than his. She could have researched information that would have better supported her point. She claimed that events happened but didn’t back them up with evidence, which left me wondering about her sources. I personally believe that a”deaf culture” exists because I have taken several classes in Communication Sciences and Disorders which have exposed me to information regarding the deaf culture, but if I wasn’t already convinced, the author’s response wouldn’t sway me toward her view.
Brit and K-Fed Splitting?!Britney Spears is saying bye-bye to K-Fed. The pop princess filed for divorce Tuesday from her husband, former backup dancer and aspiring rapper Kevin Federline. The Los Angeles County Superior Court filing cites “irreconcilable differences.”
I can’t believe this is news. I really don’t care whether britney and kevin break up. Why am I drawn to such headlines? I guess its a way of forgetting about reality and focusing on others’ problems rather than my own. I really would rather look at news about celebrities than watch the actual news and get depressed. I say I don’t care about what’s going on with celebrities, but the tabloids always catch my interest. It helps me put my own life into perspective someitmes, even if I know the stories aren’t necessarily true, at least I know my worst moments aren’t splayed on magazine racks.
Julie Lindquist
In Lindquist’s essay, Class Identity and the Politics of Dissent: The Culture of Argument in a Chicago Neighbodhoos Bar, she states that “whether or not Smokehousers will tell you they are “working class,” they want you to know that they are people who work. In so saying, she seems to be interpreting their talk of work as boasting that they work, but I think people talk about work because its a big part of their life. Most adults put in at least 40 hours a week at work and don’t just forget thier jobs as soon as they’re off the clock. Most of us have jobs that we bring home with us, such as teachers who grade papers and plan lessons at home. Many of us develop relationships at work and just want to talk about those relationships with others. I don’t think that working class people necessarily talk about their work because they want others to know that they’re contributing citizens. I think its just something that’s on our minds. I only work part-time but I still talk about what goes on at work because its a part of my life and in talking about my day with, I may mention a funny experience or I may have accomplished something that I want to share, but that doesn’t mean I’m announcing that I work.
I wouldn’t work if I didn’t have to and I’m not afraid to admit it. Alot of people say they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they couldn’t go to work, but I do not see myself having that problem. If I could afford to stay home and not work I could find plenty of things to do. Things that I can’t find time for now, like having a dog, shopping, working out, visiting my family… and so many other things they’re too numerous to mention.
news and blogs
As Republicans fight to keep control of Congress, both parties hope to mobilize young voters who turned out in record numbers in the 2004 presidential election and who some say could tilt Tuesday’s congressional races toward the Democrats.
Its great that younger voters are participating more in elections. As americans we can assert some control over who leads this country and not enough people take advantage of that control. I know that when I was younger I never used the opportunity to vote for government officials because I had no interest in politics. Because I had no interest in listening to politicians lie and spread rumors about the opposing candidates, I never paid attention to their political standpoint, so I never felt educated enough to vote. I didn’t want to vote for someone because someone else told me they were a good choice. I felt I didn’t have enough information to vote. Now, I realize how important it is to educate myself about the candidates, or at least their party, so that I can make an informed decision when voting.
John Kerry is such a bag of douche.
I can undestand why this guy is mad, but I believe that John Kerry was referring to George W. when he made that comment. He was trying to say that W. is the stupid one who didn’t apply himself because he has the lowest IQ of any president, and that is why our troops are in Iraq. As a veteran himself why would he say something like that about fellow soldiers? I really don’t think he meant any disrespect to our troops. Being in the military is one of the most respectable positions a person can hold and I don’t think anyone would disrespect those who fight for the liberty of all Americans.
news and blogs
costumes or lingerieHalloween costumes have taken a turn for the worse, as princesses and hobos take a back seat to bunny costumes and french maids.
I think halloween costumes have become too risque. It’s October for crike sake. Its just an excuse for girls to show off their bodies, which is horrible. A female should not have to expose herself in such a demeaning way. I mean, save something for the imagination. You can be completely dressed and still be sexy – and by the way respectable. I would never expose myself to the elements just to get attention from the opposite sex – its not worth it. If you’re gonna do it, do it in the warmer months.
YAY! N.J. court opens door to gay marriage
If same sex couples want to get married, they should be able. Marriage has turned into a joke in this nation and maybe they can model what a marriage is supposed to be – until death. Although this looked like a good article at first, the state didn”t actually pass a law, the court said the Legislature “must either amend the marriage statutes to include same-sex couples or create a parallel statutory structure” that gives gays all the privileges and obligations married couples have. But at least its a step in the right direction.
Richard Rodriguez
Richard Rodriguez wrote of concerns that are very familiar to me, although in a prose that failed to spark my interest. He spoke of a “scholarship boy” or the child who lives a life at home that is separate and in opposition to the life he has chosen in school. I’m not a scolarship “boy” but I had similar experiences. Although my mother adapted to life in a small American city, her beliefs were deeply rooted in her native American culture. She taught me and my siblings what they didn’t choose to teach us in school. Just as the author corrected his parents knowledge by saying “My teacher told us…,” I was skeptical of my mother’s knowledge – I just didn’t say so aloud. I was silently skeptical about what my mom’s history narratives. Even though her accounts were passed through generations of first hand experiences, I chose to believe my teachers and text books. It seemed logical to me that their teachings were true because they were reliable sources of information. It was impossible for me to believe that my mother, with her ninth grade education, was more reliable than all of my history teachers, with their college degrees. I thought their credentials denoted integrity. Toward the end of the essay the author writes that education is “a nurturing never natural to the person one was before one entered a classroom,” which immediately struck me as true. If our schools are put under scrutiny its clear that children are expected to become archetypes. They’re persuaded to adopt scholarly ideals and to accept the “white” world’s view. Educators are predominantly white, so what can they offer our diverse student body? Teachers follow a curriculum full of holes, to celebrate our government. They take advantage of children’s very moldable minds. They shape children in a way very inconsistent with any ethnic upbringing. Our cultural differences should be celebrated and nurtured, so that we’re able to form our own opinions about the world.
Blog and news
Liars are revealed in EVERY election. People seem surprised that politicians and other officials have a tendency to lie about previous errors in judgement, but to me it seems like being a liar is prerquisite for becoming a politician. I wish people with the power to influence others would start DOING something, rather than complaining. Sure it seems like they’re contributing by making it known to the public, but what effect does that actually have on our nation? Nothing’s changed, and those who have the means to change don’t do their part. For instance, I became really angry with Howard Stern for allowing Bush and the FCC to force him off of free radio. He has a huge fan base, plenty of money, and connections in media. I thought he could have fought harder to keep his and America’s freedom of speech. I guess I shouldn’t complain either because I use the excuse that I don’t have connections, or money to effect the population, but I try to avoid political debates altoghether because I know I’m going to continue to sit back and watch the rich get richer, without even trying to make changes.
More “Most of us long for politics where we have genuine arguments, vigorous disagreements, but we don’t claim to have the whole truth and we don’t demonize our opponents and we work for what’s best for the American people,” Clinton said.
I wish that politics worked as Clinton stated they should in the above quote. I’m so sick of hearing ads that expose any negative propaganda about the opposing runner. I find myself not even wanting to look at a newspaper, bypassing the news channel as fast as I can and changing the channel when the ads appear. I wish politicians would just talk about real issues in our society. I feel like I don’t know anything about their stance on the issues.
Frederick Douglas
Its hard to imagine that such cruel injustices happened to the black people in the days of slavery. For me, its hard to believe the injustices that continue to occur in the year 2006. The author used very descriptive language to talk about his experiences after being born in to slavery. It makes me appreciate the fact that my mother was always there for me and that I had the opportunity to grow up with her in my life. I felt very sorry that the author never bonded with his mother and that he spoke of her passing as if a stranger had passed. I guess I can sort of relate because I never knew my dad, and when de died I didn’t shed a tear. But I did feel angry that he never even tried to meet me. Its hard to feel sorry for myself, though, when I learn of someoe having had to live through much worse circumstances. The author living conditions in such detail, it made me weary. Reading of how he worked form sun up until sun down and had to sleep on a hard floor for an inadequate amount of time shed light on a subject I couldn’t even fathom. I don’t know how slaves kept the will to keep living through all the hardships they were forced to endure. Its amazing that the author was able to overcome his lot.
