Flashforward

When I think about what the future might hold for us I am honestly not too sure what to expect. We have come so far with technology that I can’t even imagine how much further we could possibly go. The part that scares me the most is the possibility of being overrun by computers. Will humans have a job in the future or will computers replace them. If you traced back 30 years and asked people if they thought computers would be doing what they are today I am sure they couldn’t have even imagined that phones would be talking. (Such as Siri for the iPhone)
There is one concept that I think could be really interesting and that would be time travel. To be able to go back in time and see how out grandparents lived or explore the age of the dinosaur would be amazing. However I am sure that someone out there would abuse that ability to the extent of ruining it for everyone else. There really are an infinite amount of possibilities that the future may hold for society. Thirty years from now automobiles may be flying like in the cartoon the Jetsons or we may begin to inhabit space, you never know! I can only hope that the changes the future holds are only positive and bring exciting new adventures.

Abracadabra

Take a scary movie that occurs when one character is left in an empty house. The movie finishes, and suddenly there is no more sound. You've just been primed for fear by the movie, and your emotions are running high. A shadow moves outside, and you freeze for a moment, imagining the face of the axe murderer/psychotic prisoner/whatever right outside your window. You hear a noise, and your mind compiles all of the horrible and painful ways that you could be about to die. It happens. And then, the next time you're in a similar situation, you might start feeling the same way all over again. This is one way that you cannot trust your mind. The key to getting rid of this is to think, "Why am I scared?" And then, if you trace the fear back to a movie you saw, you ask yourself "Is it reasonable for me to be scared of a fictional creation?" This is a way that you can begin to trust your mind.

Alternatively, if you've lost a loved one, you might hear them, see them or feel them in particular contexts that evoke strong emotions in you. This is something that may never go away, but instead lessens over time.

Trending

After reading Jeff Changs’s, “Stakes Is High”, I came to the conclusion that hip-hop has come to be the way our entire generation sees their world. When rap first became popular it was more of a political art form filled with anger and rebellion. The song “Cop Killer” by Ice-T is an example of the anger and hate that was being expressed. These songs brought truth to what was going on at the time. As this age died out the music changed to a different aspect and it became more about money. The tone changed to having expensive cars, houses, big wheels, and money.. Hip-hop is more mainstream then we think, with endorsements, clothing, shoes, and many more products backed by hip-hop artists. It is a new empire for the new generation, out with the old, in with the new. Actually I think that all music has a generational aspect to it.
To the idea that it is mainstream because of its popularity, I admit that such an assumption is valid. Hip-hop has had a great influence on the world. People in other countries have adopted not only the culture and lifestyle, but have reproduced it with infusions of their own culture. Hip-hop has become a way of life for many people, so much that instead of it being considered rebellious it is now normal and regarded as conventional. It is definitely the dominant trend in opinion, fashion and arts.

Environmental Awareness

The importance of environmental awareness is that it aids individuals in understanding the impact we as humans have on our planet.  Being aware of even the smallest details can help us find ways to keep our surroundings clean and green; such as planting a tree or recycling.  An activist is someone who speaks out about the environment and the proper management of it resources.  The importance of an activist is to push for change either through campaigning at the political level or simply by educating.  Without activists this issue would disappear and be forgotten.  Activists push to keep the environment fresh on the minds of the people. We need to protect our planet now so that when our children bring their children into the world there will be a place worth living in. Caring for the environment can help to bring back the earth’s balance that man has made his mark on. So the more aware we are of the problem the more we can do to help!

The Need For Prisons

In my opinion, the prison systems serve a purpose.  However, I think in a lot of ways it should be more regulated. There are prison systems that are way too lax and I feel this encourages repeat offenders. There is no fear of being incarcerated. They don’t have to work, worry about what to eat, or where to sleep. This concept keeps the doors of the prison revolving. The constant revolving door manages to stuff millions of dollars into the pockets of the government. The amount they receive is not the amount put back in to help rehabilitate the inmates. It keeps the hierarchy happy and they in turn build more prisons. If an inmate was forced to work, to learn a trade and earn his keep, I think this would spill over into the inmate’s non-incarcerated life. Education is the key to preservation, and I think that is the same point Foucault was making. I feel like he almost felt the prison system was a conspiracy, and in a lot of ways it probably is. Sadly, there will always be someone that breaks a law and that will need to be incarcerated. There will also always be someone that is afraid of those people. Those are the people that will push to keep the prisons open and running. It just creates a never-ending cycle of imprisonment and a reluctance to dispense with it.

Packing List

After reading “The Things They Carried”, by Tim O’Brien, I was a little put off by how he first described Jimmy Cross. Mainly because I know the duties of the officers that are leading platoons and he was painted as a mindless lieutenant that could care less about the men that he was leading. Luckily by the end of the excerpt Jimmy Cross sort of redeemed himself by finally realizing that there are more important things that wandering around daydreaming about some girl from back home. His job is to lead the men of his platoon and provide guidance so that they do not do stupid things that could get them killed. Smoking dope and drinking while on patrol is also an absurd statement since that is nowhere near available to them. Also O’Brien states that they carried tranquilizers and morphine. What most Americans do not know is that no matter what injury it is for our soldiers are given nothing more than ibuprofen. Honestly it was a little unnerving altogether that O’Brien would even say that the soldiers would be carrying such things. It is stories like these that make people believe that our soldiers are overseas for nothing but a paycheck. I guess that is the veteran and military wife coming out in me. It is sad that I should feel the need to have to defend what our military is doing overseas. However, the story did point out some good points about the other things that soldiers carry. O’Brien says, “They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die.” Now that is something to think about. Sure those men are tough, but deep down they carry the fear that the next minute could be their last. I think it is heartbreaking that our military risks their lives so that you can live yours, without so much as even a thank you from most people. Thankfully, by the end of the story Lt. Cross reminds himself that his obligation was not to be loved but to lead. That statement makes him sound more like an officer and one that I would prefer to be in charge if my husband were part of his platoon.

O’Brien, T. (2010). The Things They Carried. In M. Krasney and M. E. Sokolik (Editors) Sound Ideas (pp. 406-420). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Strength In Love

     I am a military wife. To some, this may be just a title but it really is much more than that. I love my husband very much, but I spend more time kissing him goodbye than I do actually spending time with him. When you marry someone that is in the military you are really marrying into the military. You are dedicating your life to someone and to something that is way bigger than you could ever imagine. It requires a lot of dedication and a love that is strong. Our love has endured four deployments to Iraq that have stretched longer than four years of time. Most people cannot even handle being away from a loved one overnight. One night would be a blessing. You have to be able to communicate through letters and very short phone calls. And once you make the decision to bring children into the world, you need to be able to explain to them why daddy has to go away. It can be a very tough way to live. I am not saying that I love my husband more than another woman may love hers, just that it can be very difficult. I can say, however, that I have become an incredibly strong willed and tough woman. Love is a powerful word that some people may have never experienced, but I can say with pride that I love my life, my husband, my children and every single obstacle that may cross our path and I would not change it for the world.