Ellen's View

Ellen DeGeneres has a way of describing technology that can only make you laugh. She feels that everything, every little advance made to further convenience the population, is a curse. I think the best part is its all true: the flimsy toilet paper in public restrooms, call waiting, the mobile floors in airports. They all SUCK. I couldnt agree more with her sentiments though because they speak so truthfully. Modern luxuries are unknowingly destroying our lives. Nothing requires any effort anymore and I find this maddening. I enjoy physical activity, not hauling rocks or something that could cause immense pain, but simple everyday things like opening doors and cranking windows. The little things that most people take for granted now because they are automated. If only I were born 100 years ago.

Johnson & Weingarten

Without a doubt these are the most interesting articles I have read for class. Johnson made an arguement that tried to counteract the popular belief that modern forms of entertainment do not actually dull a person's cognitive awareness and focus but in fact improve it. I agree that while reading from conventional text should be an instilled joy for children other, more contemporary forms, are very beneficial as well. He argues that the reason why reading is in a decline is because it is no longer the sole form of knowledge and with only so much time in a day that all of the newer forms have taken precedent. Weingarten's article was really long but definitely worth the read. I had never heard of Joshua Bell before, so I looked online and listened to some of his performances....WOW. The man is amazing; whats more is the near complete lack of recognition he recieved from passerbys, aside from music afficianados and oddly enough young children. I found his analysis of why children stopped really insightful. "All babies are born with a knowledge of poetry because the lub-dub of the mother's hear is in iambic meter. Then life slowly starts to choke the poetry out of us." People nowadays seem so completely out of touch with their surroundings, unaware of potential beauty and awe inspiring sights like Bell's performance. I recommend reading both articles. They rocked the foundation of my beliefs about culture and entertainment and im sure they will do the same for anyone else with a genuine interest.

Massive Overload

I feel an immense sense of overload and pressure lately. After going to my small group advising session and learning that I'll have to bust my hump for the next three years without a break in order to complete my degree in four years I can't help but feel a weight dropping on my shoulders. I was truly hoping I'd be able to semi-relax my last year of college and enjoy my time there...but I guess that its just too much to ask for. Oh well. In a way this actually helps my class performance; Ms Williams class isn't nearly as stressful to me now.