With Nancy Giles' segment on Barack Obama, one can wonder why she was so excited for Obama to be elected as president. I feel that Barack Obama being elected is a huge step for our country, not just with racism, but also with overcoming our differences outside of skin color. I also feel our country can look forward to Obama as president because many good things will come from it. Hopefully, he isn't all talk. And many American's believe he is not.
image courtesy of tsevis
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Do you think that Burt Todd's Bhutanese stamps are a good way to commemorate the country's history or do they exploit the country and its people?
I think that by going to Bhutan and learning about its culture and people, Burt Todd was doing a good thing. He began to print stamps for the country that became collectors' items and have improved to be incredibly modern. The stamps are not only paper, but also steel, working vinyl records, and now even DVDs. However, because he was a known business man who "loved a good business deal," this could be construed as being a form of exploitation and just another way for him to make a profit. I don't think this is the case though, because he and his family seemed to genuinely care about the country. They really appreciated all that it had to offer and their unique lifestyles. It also continued throughout generations after him. The fact that the stamps depicted the country's history also made it less of an exploitation. This made it more commemorative, as well. I think Todd had good intentions with the stamps.
More information about the history of Bhutan that was depicted in the stamps is available at http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0856915.html
Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond. Image courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk
The 007 movie franchise is the most successful movie franchise in history, and over 100 millions James Bond novels have been sold worldwide. James Bond was created by Ian Fleming in 1952, and was named after the author of a book he saw while writing. Fleming partially based his womanizing, fast car loving, risk taking hero after himself, and used his experiences and stories from his time in the army during WWII to create some of Bonds adventures. In all Fleming wrote twelve Bond novels, and the 22nd Bond movie (Quantum of Solace) was released last week. Daniel Craig is the 7th and latest actor to play Bond. Fleming died 1964 due to a heart attack.
My Question is, what is it about James Bond that has enabled him to be so popular and successful for such a long time (over 50 years in the cinema). So much has changed over the last 50 years yet the excitement of a new James Bond movie or book, and their popularity has not decreased over the years in fact it has probably grown, but why?
I think that James Bond has remained so popular because his character truly is one that all generations love and associate with. James Bond epitomizes what almost all guys want to be, smart, handsome, and a true warrior. James Bond is a the greatest spy ever, and the way he acts and the things he does attract, and intrigue men. I think that Bond is attractive to women of all generations because he is the ultimate good guy, although he is dangerous you know that he is the archetypal hero, and therefore easy to root for. I think that Bond has remained popular because he is a great character, and great characters truly are timeless.
For more information in James Bond click here.
Image courtesy of animals in japan.
I am responding to Julie's commentary about animal testing. I think that a good point that Julie made that really supported her argument was describing how cruel some of the treatments can be like the ones where animals are purposely burned and blinded. This point really generated sympathy for the animals and as a by product support for her argument. I think a point that was made that really didn't support her argument was the fact that the government supports and backs animals testing that that so many institutions are involved in it like prestigious colleges. It made me wonder if animals testing is so bad why is the government and all these enlightened people supporting it? My question is, until we come up with a really effective supplement to animals should we stop testing products altogether, or continue testing until then?
I feel Pat's commentary on the over-diagnosis of ADD and ADHD in children was very true. I agree with him completely that society has become too dependent on medication. I think Pat's best argument was when he told the story about his cousin. Pat said his cousin can sit for hours and watch television, yet he was diagnosed with an attention disorder.I feel Pat's least effective argument was how he mentioned that many teenagers and college students take different types of stimulants when they don't need them. I only feel this was least effective because it didn't go along with the rest of his speech. My question for him is, how can we as a society stop over medicating everyone, and not just those who doctors think have an attention disorder?
Julie's commentary about animal testing was very well done. She addressed an issue that, as she said, most people know of but few people know much about. Julie stated several relevant statistics and facts that gave information about animal testing. She also presented several startling examples of the testing that takes place. In addition, she talked about companies that participated in "good" and bad testing and presented alternative methods for testing products that do not involve live animals. Most of her points supported the argument that animal testing is cruel and inhumane, however, the main argument was ambiguous at times. Some facts actually supported animal testing, such as its affordability, ease, and accuracy. However, in the end, it seemed that most of the class was educated and convinced that animal testing is not a good thing. After the commentary, I was left wondering if Julie sees an end to animal testing anytime in the near future, or is it more of a currently unreachable ideal?
Elton John said that, "acceptance for who they are and what they love," was a key achievement for the actors of Billy Elliot the musical.
In the segment on Elton John's creation of Billy Elliot the musical from Sunday Morning 11.9 the inspiration for the musical was what Elton dreamed of his relationship with his father to have been. Growing up Elton John did not recieve the attention from his father that he desired. He claimed that his father never said I love you to him at all. Billy Elliot's character is much that of what Elton John wanted and at the end of the movie Elton John was moved by Billy's father coming to his performance. Elton John never recieved the joy of having his father come to a performance of his. The character of Billy Elliot is inspiration to Elton John and therefore he took the movie he loved and made a musical.
In the quote above Elton John proclaims the acceptance that the character of Billy Elliot and the actors that play him achieve. However Elton John also was able to achieve that acceptance through the play. Even though his father never showed his love the musical can give him a sense of that love symbolically.
Check out Billy Elliot and Elton John
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Emily spoke about smoking in public places and how many smokers don't seem too be considerate of others around them. Emily stated that two major points she wanted to make was the affects that smoking as on children and businesses. Smoking around children was keyed as being the parents responsibility to care for their children and their health. Businesses should enforce regulations like being a certain distance away from the building to smoke. The major points she wanted to bring a crossed portrayed the point that people that do not smoke should not have to be subjected to it. This supported her main argument of the importance for smoking to be regulated in public places. Another key point she made about smoking in public places is that it should not be an issue for the government to band smoking in public places because of all the facts that are out there about smoking. However it should be an issue. There are facts also that show many bar patrons smoke. Businesses are and will be affected by smoking bands. I believe there should be a band but it should be one that benefits everyone.
My question would be, since smoking seems to be prevalent on campus what are some regulations our school could have to help benefit everyone?
Photo Coutesy of Dr. Jaus
Laith's commentary about soccer's lack of popularity in the United States was both interesting and unique. He presented his arguments well and used good examples such as the sports writer who was converted to a soccer fan through experience. He also provided a good explanation of why soccer is not as popular in the U.S. and then discussed how this could be changed, specifically by expanding the MLS and acquiring more skilled players. He also mentioned that education was a key part of increasing soccer's popularity during his talk, however he did not elaborate on how to educate the public until later in the discussion. Overall, he made a very convincing argument and came up with good ideas for increasing soccer's popularity in the states. My additional question to Laith is what are some other easy ways for current individual soccer players and fans to help the sport grow that don't involve large scale advertisement or widespread education (just small things that can make a difference, especially if more people do them)?
Zach's presentation on communication and the effects technology has on it was very intriguing. He presented the helpful versus hurtful ways technology can effect are communication. Multitasking by talking to someone and texting is not a good way to be a good listener. By being in two conversations at once we are not focused on either conversation to the extent that we should be. This is a hurtful way in which our communication can be effected by technology. A helpful way Zach pointed out was that by texting and instant messaging children learn their pronunciations better. His main argument was that of whether technology is bringing down are communication skills. The helpful versus hurtful example provided different scenarios of technology effecting us and these examples were important in bringing Zach's point a crossed. His example of quality not quantity was good however is it really the quality of our communication that matters and not quantity? Shouldn't it be both? We communicate everyday and therefore I think the quantity should be important to your communication as well. If you don't communicate isn't that just as bad as there being little quality to our communication? We should want to have both good communication as well as wanting to express it. I would have to question whether he agrees with me on this?
Photo Courtesy of Sean Dreilinger