wow, a REAL commercial ?!

This commercial clearly mocks other tampon commercials, I thought this was hilarious. Just thought I'd share :)

Violence

After reading into more of the novel "A Clockwork Orange," I've come to understand it more. However, I still really do not like it.

But I've come to the conclusion that this is life. I mean, violence just honestly seems to be everywhere. Why do serial killers do what they do? Why do people rape? Why do people fight/ yell/ do anything they do? I think I've thought too far into this, however it makes sense.

After more intense group discussion this week. I honestly wonder if power is truly the answer. I honestly beg to differ. After reading Culture Jam and Feed and watching the clip Killing Us Softley, it seems as though people are just BORED. I mean, clearly this is not the core reason, however it strongly contributes! I mean, in Feed the first sentance states the the MOON was BORING!

I wouldn't think the moon would be boring... but hey that's me. And that's my generation.

This is Alex's generation. I sure as heck hope we do not turn into this. I mean, violence as a hobby.

Does anyone agree?

Also, as I told my group members in class. I thought it was truly ironic about how Alex could see what he saw about himself, and then turn around and say he was in a gang. It seems like people don't learn, they'll just go out and do it again.

One day last summer, my dad caught a man attempting to steal things out of our shed. They caught the man and put him and jail. The police told my dad that they'd seen people like that man all the time, that they would just steal and go to jail, take a break there eat some food, and then get out of jail and do it again!

What the heck.

A Clockwork Orange

This book definitely seems weird. I mean, I've heard of the movie before choosing to read the book, and it is pretty insane. The violence is crazy!!!!

I must say that the word choice and language in the novel is pretty confusing, although it's pretty neat as well. What I'm mostly trying to figure out so far, is how Alex came to be so violent? I mean, he likes classical music, seems to have a good family life (as far as we know) and is somehow the leader of his extremely violent gang!

Maybe we actually have it all wrong, maybe there's something we're missing in his family life. Or maybe this is just the culture, or the "cool" thing to do at the time.

But I do NOT and will not EVER think that beating up an innocent old man is FUN!? NEVER. What the heck?

And when the group beat up the man who owned the shop, they raped his wife right in front of him. That's honestly MORE than just violence ...that makes me sick.

So far, I hate this novel.

Also, in class it was honestly interesting to see everyone's opinion. I truly thought it was strange that I was one of the three that DISAGREED that "everyone should have the right to a choice."

I strongly stand by this choice! You can't just go and kill an innocent person, or an innocent old man in Andy's case for NO reason! Why the heck would you do that? This is just disgusting.

I mean, sometimes when people make choices, ESPECIALLY LIKE THIS ONE, it takes someone else's choice away.

This book is disgusting.

Well, it's over :)

So I can use technology freely now :)

But you know what? I kind of think about it now. It is truly insane on how much we rely on technology. I think of Bark, I think of Culture Jam, and Feed and how I do NOT want to be like those kids in Feed!!

Well, me and my friend Ali went to the gym on Thursday, my last day to keep away from technology. She went right toward the elyptical and treadmill. I'm thinking, um that's technologyyy, so I headed over to stretch and maybe run around the court. She joined me soon after, laughing at me because of how seriously I was attempting to take the project. We ran for a little, and then decided to do a Zumba and Kick Boxing class. It was actually really fun, and pretty amusing because of how out of shape we were!

Honestly, running in general, and running on an operated machine are definitely different.

We are now going to zumba Wendesday and Thursday nights :) and perhaps kick boxing, maybe. Haha :)

Anyway, throughout this whole experience I have definitely become more AWARE. That would truly define my learning experience, ultimately.

I attended Bark's funeral, this Saturday in Malvern, PA. I told my Bria (Bark's daughter) all about my NON-technology experience, and she laughed and said, "yeap, that's Bark for ya!"

I admire his decision deeply, honestly.

All in all, this wasn't as hard as it sounded. I definitely benefited. I can honestly say I actually APPLIED myself more with my homework, found two new hobbies at the gym:), and just have a whole different approach.

Let's not let technology control us, okay?

no technology number two

Yesterday morning, my best friend's step-dad died from cancer. I have known the family since kindergarten, and it was definitely a devastation. We have so many memories of him taking us for rides on the tractor when we were little, and as we got a little older taking us to the mall and movies or wherever really, and recently just being there, as we'd run throughout the house getting ready or whatever, and always having such a positive attitude. Disregarding making fun of how long we took to get ready, of course.

Anyway, why does this relate to anything?

Bark died from a natural death. He did not want radiation treatment, or chemo treatment. That was just not what him nor his family believed it. It just wasn't part of their culture. It just wasn't, an option.

As I think of what I'm attempting to do, complaining and having all my friends laugh when I go to turn my hair straightener on, and they turn it off, it actually isn't SO bad.

I respect Bark's decision. It's his life, his decision.

So for me doing this for a week, hey, it isn't so bad.




RIP Bark Cantrell, you will be missed by many <3

Extra Credit, NO TECHNOLOGY?!

So I'm attempting for this week to NOT use technology. I started this Wednesday, and I'm going through withdrawel. My phone is being a piece of crap, regardless of the extra credit experiment.

Honestly, I wouldn't call this a project. I'd call it an experiment. So far, I don't know what I would consider to be passing.

Well, I'm not using my laptop for Facebook, as much, although I sort of forgot and logged on. My roomate came over and yelled at me to get off SO I did. But I CAN DO THIS. Hahahaah, this is pathetic.

My name is Kiersten and I'm a Facebook addict.

Not only am I a Facebook addict, but I'm a cell-phone and hair straightener addict. I have straight hair, honestly so I actually don't even need to straighten it. So I haven't been. I haven't even blow dryed it which I usually do EVERY DAY. This is TERRIBLE for hair, so I'm hoping this is semi-beneficial for my hair regardless of the messy poneytail it's been pulling off lately.

My phone is driving me insane. It turns itself off, and won't turn back on. :( I'm dying. I won't be getting another phone until next weekend. Honestly I feel disconnected from reality AND my boyfriend AND my best friends and it's driving me insane.

Honestly, it really is pathetic how dependable we are on technology. Like, we have no idea what to do without it.

BUT I'M GETTING SO MUCH HOMEWORK DONE.

My phone is a dud, my straightener and blow dryer are hidden by my roomate, and my car is in the shop, and my Facebook is probably loaded with "updates." UGH

But at least I'm getting homework done much more efficiently.

I READ FOR GOVERNMENT. Points for meee! :]

Wish me luck.

"Feed"

Honestly, I liked this book. It was interesting, and even more interesting because these kids were our age, and didn't use historic lingo. Funny thing, they used pure futuristic lingo by far!

What is the "feed?" It's a tiny computer chip, basically like a giant Google/ internet/ GPS/ etc. THING in the brain that basically you didn't even need a brain for anymore. It's pretty insane, if you ask me.

That seems to be exactly what the novel is about, our dependency on technology and how we just seem to be letting it happen. It seems as if humans are never satisfied! Take this for example, on page 45 Titus describes a painting of a boat in a lake on the wall of the hospital bed, "I couldn't find anything interesting about that picture at all. There was nothing that was about to happen or just happened. I couldn't figure out even the littlest reason to pain a picture like that."

This clearly portrays the future. With the feed, it seems as though you do not have to appreciate ANYTHING else. I mean, I know I'm not a HUGE art fan or anything, although that's not exactly the point. The quote just demonstrates how "null" or bored everyone is with the little things.

Furthermore, on page 47, Titus states "everyone is super smart now. You can looks things up automatic, like science and history, like if you want to know which battles of the civil war George Washington fought in and shit."

This claims that basically, schooling is unnecessary, seeing as everyone is "super smart." Although later on in the novel, schooling is NOT run by the gov't, and students learn how to use their feeds, not information on the world. So basically, you can find out information about history, or mathematics, etc., only if you WANT too. To these teenagers it just seems "null."

Ultimately, I thought this novel was mega interesting and semi-scary. Will this happen to us? These people are so dependent on their feeds, they feel lost without it. During his hospital visit, after Titus (just waking up) searched his brain for a few minutes, realizing he couldn't reach his feed, he FINALLY opened his eyes. OPENING MY EYES WOULD BE THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO! The ending sentence of the page was "so I opened my eyes." That's insane.