Tis' The Season...To Shop?

Shopping is key to the American economy. But it has become a past time as well. We buy things because we need them, we want them, or we just have to have it. Christmas is about love, family unity, happiness and, of course, presents. But somehow the gifting aspect seems to win first prize for attention factor every year. Even before Thanksgiving, malls are decorated with red and green, blasting jingle bells from every corner. It may be to promote cheer, but mostly it just reminds the bustling crowds that it is time to spend spend spend. According to this youtube video 99% of what we buy is trashed within six months. And some newspapers are saying our standard of living is decreasing? Spending may be good for the economy, but does it get in the way of our morals?

Is having the trendiest clothing and most modern lap top more important than adopting a family or donating to a charity for Christmas? We lose ourselves in commercials with Taylor Swift and Lebron James billboards. Individuality is something to be valued and maybe this Christmas you can get back in touch with your true self instead of the latest trends.

The Good Ol' Days

I was the managing editor for "The Viking Views" in high school. It was a while back, but I am still proud of that publication.  Check out our senior issue. I wrote the article on page 4. 

Global Warning.

Our world is always changing. But some changes are not for the good. Global warming has recently caught my full attention and concern. There are ways to curb greenhouse gases, but our society will not change. Green electricity is a great way to eliminate carbon emissions, or solar panels. However, the expenses of solar panels are astronomical. Also, Bush's failure to agree with the Kyoto Protocol put this problem in the shadows. But it is a problem that must be faced. We must create a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren. Deforestation creates mass carbons.  According to a quote from this article in IPS news, "there is about twice as much carbon stored in forests and soils as exists in the atmosphere." If we continue to cut downs forests, all of these carbons will eventually be released. Another energy source must be utilized. Wind and solar are an option, but at night or when there is no wind, where will be draw our energy from? There is no off switch for electricity, we lose what we do not use. But at the rate we burn fossil fuels, our planet is heating up. Animals are losing their homes, and one day, we might too. 

Ambition

"Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds." -Albert Einstein

A student is defined as an "observer" in the online merriam-webster dictionary.  We cannot be observers in a world that is crying out for colossal change.  College students are the most ambitious, hopeful, active, idealistic people.  Our dreams are still far above what we will ever achieve.  Ambition is the fire behind our perseverance.  It helps us get through the overflowing amounts of papers, research and tests.  We can wait to be realistic; we can wait to be in a bustling city with suits and coffee runs.  Right now, it is all about us. Others may need to lift the worry off their minds and join our starry eyed view of the world.  Cynical is not yet a word we use to describe ourselves or each other.  With a recession and a war there is no doubt that skeptical people have a right to justify their views, but for now I think cynicism has no place here.  America needs now, more than ever, new bright ideas.  From new energy sources to high tech ways to deliver media to saving the Everglades; our generation has a lot to do.  Maybe the bet way to do it is from storybook, happy ending point of view.  

Privacy on the web!

Through my investigative journalism class, I have discovered the unlimited amounts of information available to anyone and everyone.  The most disturbing might be information that people can find about you on the internet.  Social Security Numbers can, in most cases, be found among other personal details. 

 

This link is a story by Robert Mitchell who did research on what he could find about himself on the Web. The results were shocking. There has to be a line where public meets private, and it seems the internet has yet to find it.

Attack of the Texters

If you’re chatting on the phone waiting to buy a caramel latte at baker, you’re fine.  If you’re chatting up your best friend while you’re sitting in a lecture, you are in dire need of some fine college etiquette.  Obviously our generation has a whole new set of social manners, but at what point do we take it too far?  I think the mass amount of technology given to us has changed us and yes, it is a blessing but sometimes our overuse is quite prevalent.

            I, however, do not rule out myself from this category.  My mom visited on mom’s weekend like several thousand others.  Various times she lectured me for texting while we were conversing.  What can I say?  When it vibrates, I check it.  When I think it rings, I answer it.  Our generation will probably set the record for most words typed in one minute.  Not only that, but we also have other skills.  We can text without even looking at the keyboard, like when we are driving.  It’s an addiction and many of us do it even when we’re not thinking about it.  And when we bring out laptops to class, it is not to take notes.  Countless times I have sat in my psych class and watched the girl in front of me facebook creep the same boy every day.  This is when our addiction does not bother our social ability, but our learning ability. 

            Since when do people say “OMG” in a face-to-face conversation?  They do now, and yes I have too.  If that does not signify stupidity, I don’t know what does.  “Ttyl,” “hbu,” “btw,” or “ily” are several more examples, which are probably more than familiar to our generation’s screen adjusted eyes.  Texting lingo is fine, as long as it stays in texting.  When it creeps into your everyday conversations is when you know you are being sucked into cyberspace.  Even worse, students sometimes let it creep into their papers.  Teachers are probably not impressed, but that’s just a guess. 

            Recently, one of my professors suggested that our generation was completely self-absorbed.  At first, I was offended.  He pointed out that we constantly update our status on facebook.  We repeatedly check to see if someone posted a comment in response.  We thirst for attention.  Did technology do this to us?  Maybe not, but it has helped us take a click in that direction.  So maybe for a day, if you can make it, don’t check your facebook.  Instead of sending a text, give your best friend a phone call to remind them what your voice sounds like.  Also, it can be refreshing to keep your “status” to yourself for a day.  There’s always tomorrow.

MTV movie awards

Where else would you see Eminem with his head between the legs of a dangling man with wings? More surprisingly, I never thought LeAnn Rimes would sing “I jizzed in my pants.”  This year’s MTV movie awards bordered on outrageous, and our generation thirsts for nothing more.  On May 31 at 9 pm, most of the campus was tuned into MTV ready for the awards and fresh from The Hills season finale.  While The Hills finale went out with no sound because of a malfunction, the MTV movie awards were not silenced.  It might have been the most entertaining and quirky one yet.

            The sexual tension between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart as they accepted their award for “best kiss” had me holding my breath. As Pattinson leaned into Stewart for a smooch, the crowd was left disappointed as they laughed and turned away.  Kristen Stewart turns out to be just as awkward as the character she plays in Twilight.  Gasps were practically audible across the entire campus as she clumsily let the award slip between her fingers.  She commented on her awkwardness while the man dressed as a popcorn bowl retrieved it for her.  But, for some reason, it makes Twilight fans even fonder of Kristen.  Surprisingly, there were other movies and events besides Twilight, which is seemingly seeking MTV domination.

            Twilight’s domination was downcast though as a man came from the ceiling wearing a thong and angel wings.  Shortly after, he was literally on top of Eminem.  According to Eminem’s interview on MTV.com by Jem Aswad, the accident was planned.  He went on to gloat in the article, “I’m thrilled that we pulled this off better than we rehearsed it.”  So, ladies and gentlemen, once again something on MTV is not real, but scripted.  The one event that had everyone buzzing was the one that was meant to get your attention.  However, Eminem’s outrage seemed quite legit.  His obscenities were quite passionate and his disgust quite prevalent. But in the end, all we can really know is that Shady definitely stood up.

            Andy Samberg made his move as host from Saturday Night Live to MTV in one inelegant step.  His antics seemed somewhat forced and judging by the look on Megan Fox’s face after he jokingly asked her to leave with him, the celebs felt it too.  But overall, Samberg is loveable and slightly frivolous.  His commercials leading up to the night were more enjoyable than some of his jokes at the awards.  But maybe that was the point because the awards had a whopping 5.3 million viewers according to TVbythenumbers.com.

            Our guilty pleasure as Americans is undoubtedly our thirst for celebrity gossip.  Watching beautiful people with excessive ‘bling’ is addicting.  Twilight swept us off our feet winning 5 awards.  It may also be the first time anyone has called Megan Fox ugly or being told it’s okay to fart in a public place.  I was mesmerized by this year’s outrageous event at the awards.  If you’re into serious television then skip this one; if not, you missed out.  No worries!  You can download the entire show on demand at MTV.com.