tv time

The Emmy Awards are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life altering kind of a way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

i watch tv because it is a good way for me to relax and spend time with my family. me and my mom watch many of the same shows and it is often something we both look forward to. i also watch tv because it provides foundation for conversations with acquaintances. i can't count how many times i've had quality conversations with someone and gotten closer to someone by talking about tv shows we have in common. it keeps you up to date on current events, and it is always handy to have knowledge on entertainment and things to keep conversations going with people. television is a great form on entertainment if you use it correctly. like mostly everything, it is good in moderation. i do not support young kids watching violent television shows nor do i support kids watching television excessively, but having those weekly shows that your family gathers around the television to watch is in fact a healthy way to bond and bring a family closer together.

Television

What does it say about or society that the emmys are a more talked about, televised, and much more well known event compared to the Nobel prize awards? It displays quite a few things about human nature I believe.

Firstly we must examine why we watch television in the first place. We do it for enterainment purposes do we not? Sure news is a large element of television. But the bulk of television is to entertain us and to keep us interested. I for instince have put off this blog until the last possible minute because I was watching the USA choke away the Ryder Cup and now I am consumed with a deep deep depression. But I was thoroughly entertained and thats why we watch tv.

Thats why we watch the emmys and want to watch the emmys much more than the nobel awards: they entertain us. Our society as we know has moral limitations and right now those limitations and preferences are blatantly displayed through this. We would rather be entertained than honor someone who is making a difference. Its just because difference making can be a bit depressing, a bit dull, and while heartwarming, usually unentertaining. We are imperfect creatures who desire only that which pleases us usually and that is why the emmys have risen to the status they hold.

I will end on how entertainment usually gives no benefits to anyone because mindless television and poor poor golf performance can only decrease your mind's ability to function and in my case give you a headache, soar throat from yelling, and one terrible sleepless night wondering how in the hell steve stricker couldn't up and down from 20ft off the green or how Jim Furyk couldn't win his match up one with two to go or how Webb Simpson shanks one on the par 3 13th or how Justin Rose beats Phil on his last three holes to win. This has been the worst day of American golf in history. I still cant believe we lost.

BBC is all I watch

My reasons for watching tv on a typical basis are not very valid. It's usually a way to evade doing my homework. And evade I do. I don't get a great deal of enjoyment out of the shows that I watch daily, unless it's Friends. Community is one of the only shows that I look forward to watching on a typical weeknight. The only shows that I get truly excited about are made in England. Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Top Gear.

I was that one person in America who was writhing in pain at the fact that Sherlock wasn't winning any Emmys a week ago, when in fact, it deserved to completely demolish every other show in every category. I often forget that it isn't known very well amongst the masses in America, so no one else in the media seemed to be upset at the injustice Sherlock was served. I guess I should be happy that it was even nominated, but that just isn't enough. That is the show that I can rewatch thousands of times and still be completely engrossed in and notice something new each time. I have watched the Reichenbach Fall no less than ten times trying to decipher just exactly how Sherlock did it, and actually managed to figure out one detail of the mystifying stunt. Steven Moffat, the co-creator, has become one of my idols. His brilliance carries over into another show that I quite enjoy watching on TV: Doctor Who. He manages to write brilliant story lines for two completely different shows, that are equally fantastic. I can't resist watching a full on Doctor Who marathon if BBC America is offering it to me. It will eat up an entire Saturday of mine. 

On the subject of shows that I hate: Elementary. Within seconds of watching it, I was already picking out flaws and comparing it to the BBC brilliance. For example: he wasn't  snarky enough, witty enough, and John Watson was a woman. Just, why? Why would you do that? However, I know that I will inevitably end up watching it to fill the void that Sherlock has left until 2013 when season three comes out. I will grin and bear it just to get my Sherlock fill. 

Why and what I love about TV

Television, the ally of modern laziness.Television, the ally of procrastination. Television, the ally of spontaneous news. Television, what I'm watching right now as I do this blog. I LOVE television; watching it more per day than I get hours of sleep. Television consumes my home life.
But why is television so a part of my life? I don't know.
It could be I have a television is almost every room of my house, so there's always one near me, that I can just turn on and watch. Another reason could be that I live a boring life- and that could be because I watch too much tv making my life boring or I watch too much tv because my life is boring. Once you start watching tv it's really hard to stop. There are so many channels and shows and movies, it's easy to get hooked.
And some of the shows that I'm hooked to, are: Big Bang Theory, Psych,Common Law, Phineas and Ferb, and Pair of Kings. All of them pretty much fall under the comedy genre one way or another... which pretty much tells it all!

America's Favorite Pastime

TV has become something that most people watch for at least 30 minutes a day. I however do not watch this much TV. I am constantly on the run and don’t have time for TV until the weekends. Even though I don’t necessarily have all that much time to watch TV when I do get the chance to watch it I get so engrossed in it that it is crazy. I watch TV because it is entertaining and it is also a very convenient source of entertainment. You don’t have to travel to see it or buy tickets in advance, all you have to do is sit down and become good friends with the remote control. My favorite shows are Modern Family, Breaking Pointe, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars. All of these shows (with the exception of Modern Family) are very dramatic. The shows that appeal to me are very dramatic and always have a million different twists and things going on. Modern Family, however is not like this. Modern Family is one of my favorite shows because of the way it presents the comedy. Usually I don’t think that most comedies are funny because most of the jokes are stupid and idiotic. However, Modern Family has very subtle jokes that appeal to my sense of humor. Usually when I watch TV I will only watch the episodes of these shows that I missed during the week. So on the weekends I usually have a lot of catching up to do so that I will be ready for the next week!

TV and My Dying Interest

When I was a younger kid, I watched TV almost compulsively! Some highlights of my childhood memories occured on CartoonCartoon Friday's, when "that one episode" of Spongebob came on, or when Ed, Edd, n' Eddy did "something". I loved the cartoons on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon exclusively, until they all took a one way trip to the garbage bin starting around 2005. CN, formely Cartoon Network, had cancelled all of their classic shows, and the beloved Toonami anime block, and simply cluttered their line-up with cheaply made, unoriginal, and foreign cartoons. Nickelodeon fell when they switched almost exclusively to live-action sitcom. This drop in quality and my adolescence combined to completely erase any interest in those channels. After then, I explored the other channels. I found great programming on FX (movies), Discovery (entertainment with explosions), History (edutainment), and sometimes MTV. I say sometimes because while I LOVE "Ridiculousness" with it's toned-down "Jackass" humor, "Teen Mom" and all it's similiar shows are complete trash. Today, when I watch TV, I usually just scroll through my favorite channels to see if they are showing anything good. If not I just use "Ol' Reliable" Netflix on my Xbox. Also, I am a big fan of YouTube commentators/comedians. A few of which include "Robbaz", "Cr1TiKaL", and "Azuritereaction". So in summary, their ADULT humor and my favorite shows (namely MLP:FiM) on Netflix serve as my entertainment.

Television (A Love Story)

Television offers a unique escape into another world and even more appealingly an escape to nowhere at all.  Television relaxes me and simply provides a mean by which to forget the stressful nature of life, but relaxation isn't my only motivation. I enjoy a good story and I love watching the lives of characters. Shows like Psych and The Walking Dead, while very different in nature, draw me in because of their complex characters who I watch progress and the well crafted stories they walk through. My favorite shows generally fall into the genre of crime shows, action shows, and comedies. USA is one of my favorite channel's because it shows three of my favorite shows Psych, Burn Notice, and NCIS all of which I avidly enjoy because I can invest in the characters and the events they go through. Currently my favorite show is The Walking Dead. Something about zombies draws me in and maxes out my geek meter, and so anything that can include zombies in an interesting and action packed story line full of drama and unique and interesting characters jumps straight to the top of my list.

Popular Culture

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

In today’s day in age, it comes as no shock that something that appeals to entertainment can receive more credit and praise than something that may affect the world as a whole. This is not something that we should celebrate in the least. We are becoming a generation that has traded in Nova Magazines that help us appreciate the world we live in for Seventeen Magazine to find out what type of relationship we are looking for. Children of today simply have lost interest in what affects them most.  Moreover, when we do praise worldly affairs, it is only because they have become a part of popular culture. Look to Steve Jobs, simply because of his death everyone fled towards his ‘legacy’ claiming that he was an amazing man of unprecedented proportions who changed the world completely – why? Because twitter said so. What they fail to recognize is the fact that unlike other rich entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs did little to none for philanthropy, despite his mass accumulation of wealth. Yet why do we recognize him and mourn his death? It is not because he helped save millions of lives, its because he invented something that helped expand our pop culture lust. We have lost interest in persons who truly benefit mankind, and have found interest in people who benefit entertainment and popular culture, why – because its popular. And therein lays the faults of humanity. 

TV occasionally and The Emmys vs. Nobel Prize

               In my house we do not have cable; therefore, I do not watch a large amount of television. In the mornings the TV is on and I am updated about what is happening in the world. When I get home and am eating snack, I will watch a snippet of “Anderson”.   Before dinner we will sometimes, maybe two or three times a week, watch “How I Met Your Mother,” or “The Big Bang Theory.” Both of these shows allow for a good laugh. Now, I don’t watch much TV compared to the average teenager who watches almost four hours a day!  I only watch TV when I am eating by self, cooking dinner or waiting to leave. These times seem to be logical times for me to have the television on because in those situations the television is in the background of something productive. I do not enjoy just sitting in front of the television doing nothing. I feel useless. I am one of those people who always has to be doing something worthwhile. When I am watching television, unless it is the news, I feel like I am wasting my time.                                                                    

                Our society is extremely focused on our celebrities. “Oh, what is Lindsey doing now?” or “Miley’s hair cut looks terrible! She died it blond then put it in a bun and chopped it off.” Sad? Yes. But, that is what many of the teenagers and young adults of this era focus on.  Everyone cares so much about who wins “Lead Actor of a Comedy Series," or any other Emmy award, as if their whole life depended on whether or not their favorite actor receives this high award, that truly only has an impact on the actor’s life. To be quite honest, the Nobel Prize does not have much of an impact on anyone else’s life but the winner as well. The only differences in the Emmy’s and the Nobel Peace prize is that more people watch the pointless Emmy’s then the educational Nobel Peace prizes. People who earn the Nobel Peace prize have likely done something worthwhile. Who was one of the winners of the Nobel Peace prize last year for Physiology or Medicine? Jules A. Hoffmann. Not many people, no matter the age, even know who that is. (He won the award “discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity.”) Not many people will care or know that he won that award. Who won the “Lead Actor of a Comedy Series” this year? Jon Cryer as Alan Harper in “Two and a Half Men.” Now, while not everyone knows he won this award off the top of their head, 13 million people watched him earn the award and an even larger number know who he is. Does it say something about our modern society that more people care about a comedian than a scientist who won the Nobel peace prize for “discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity?” Yes, I believe it does. As a matter of fact, not many people are going to tune in to watch the Nobel Peace awards this year on October 8^th, 9^th, 10^th or 15^th.  But, 13 million people tuned in to watch the Emmy’s this year.                                  

Why I Like TV

As many other Americans and other people around the world do, I will sit down and turn on the TV to watch a scheduled show more than once a week. I do this because of the entertainment, the connection, and the relaxation I receive form watching TV. I watch many silly shows like Wipeout and AFV because they make me laugh. Most of the time they happen to be on when I need a laugh. Shows like Survivor and So You Think You Can Dance provide the entertainment of challenge and arts with somethings that I enjoy doing like dancing or being outdoors. Many times when I go school the next day I can talk about Downton Abbey or something on the news that has shaken the country or the drama going on in a show. I relax while watching TV because it takes me out of my busy and chaotic life for the time I am watching it. It lets my mind wander which lets me concentrate in the long run because I have such an active imagination. I like many shows so I will only list a few of my favs! They are: the ones mentioned above, Wheel of Fortune, New Girl, Big Bang Theory (the older seasons), NCIS, the Mentalist, Inspector Lewis, Sherlock and my favorite of all time right now is HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this show because it is a fun comedy and it is very well scripted with characters and plot! I absolutely loathe the bachelor and the bachelorette, the apprentice, hell's kitchen, and most of all big brother. 

Blog #5

I watch TV because it's a great way to stay entertained if I'm not in the mood for reading or anything else. It can also be great background noise for when I'm home alone and don't want an eerie silence coming from downstairs. I love shows that keep me engaged and make me think (i.e. Doctor Who and House, to name two,) but I also enjoy ones that make me laugh (SNL and Regular Show,) and I admittedly watch some fairly embarrassing-to-say shows that keep me watching for the sake of cliff-hangers that I must know the outcome of (Pretty Little Liars...) On the other hand, I hate most all reality TV, and there's not a coherent answer that I could spell out for you as to why.

TV can provide effective entertainment, but I find that if I watch too much, I fall into a catatonic-like state that is not preferable. It completely numbs your mind and body until you realize you just wasted your entire day watching random things that don't provide you with any incentive. That then causes it to be an inane use of time. TV is mostly a thing that can be replaced with much greater things, but it keeps pulling you back in, so you don't replace it.

Television

Why do you watch tv? Why do you not? What television shows do you love/hate.

I really mostly watch tv in the summer to kill time in between morning and afternoon practice. I normally don't watch shows on the actual television but normally go through seasons on Netflix. Most commonly within a couple of weeks since with my addictive personality I tend to did little else when I get hooked on a show.
My favorite types if shows are detective shows because I find them to be the most interesting and I learn the most from them. Some of my favorites are Life, Monk, Bones, Burn Notice, Psych, and the Mentalist.
Some of my other favorites that aren't detective shows are spongebob, Desperate Housewives (cliche I know), Dead Like Me, Scrubs, and The Office, and 30 Rock, and Saturday Night Live. There really aren't any shows that I hate because if I don't like a show I just don't watch it.

TV junkie

I hate to admit it, but I’m definitely a TV junkie. I love it more than anything (but not really) and have so many favorite TV shows. As sad as it sounds, TV is a big thing in my family and something we all really enjoy, especially when all six of us can find a show that we enjoy even a little bit. But, during the week, we aren’t allowed to watch it and can only catch up on our shows on the weekend. Speaking of, my favorites are: Friends (I’ve probably seen every episode a million times), The Office, Craft Wars, Modern Family, The Middle, Pretty Little Liars (super girly show but I don’t care), Survivor, The Amazing Race, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, Awkward, Saturday Night Live, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (shallow reality show, but sorry I’m not sorry), and honestly, the list goes on and on.
I don't really have any shows I hate; I figure if I like shows like KUWTK and Gossip Girl, other people are entitled to have their own guilty pleasures as well. I know there's supposed to be a difference between 'quality' television and 'trashy' television, but what does it really matter? Is TV supposed to be something we actually learn from? What really gets me going is when people judge me by what I watch. If I watch shows that I enjoy and you watch shows that you enjoy, there's no need to get your panties in a wad about it if they're not the same type of program. Is there really a difference between two genres of something that's supposed to suck you in?

I watch TV because it’s just the way I entertain myself. I’m always up for a good comedy (if the show makes me laugh, I watch it) any day of the week. And while people keep saying that they’re not people that like to sit in front of the TV for more than an hour, I don’t care that half of my Saturdays are TV. I don’t watch TV during the week, and I still get things done while I’m watching it on the weekends. It doesn’t control my life at all, but it’s just another thing that geeks me out. I watch it because I like it and it takes me to another place.

TV yo

I'm not one of those people to come home from school and prop my feet up and watch some TV, I never have been. I will occasionally get hooked on a show that will come on once a week but i don't have a set schedule where i know exactly what time my shows come on and how i can rearrange my night to fit the shows. One show I do love is Pretty Little Liars (shocker). I just find it very interesting but it gave me nightmares for a while so i stopped watching it, you think I'm kidding? I'm not. I will watch a reality show every once in a while like Jersey Shore to feel better about myself or Keeping up with the Kardashians. Other than that, i don't really watch TV that much. Especially during the school year when my schedule is so hectic and busy, i rarely have time to watch TV even if i wanted to. I dont really hate any shows except basically anything on MTV and the random TLC shows that come out with a new one literally once a week.

Blog #5: Television

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

I watch TV because I am genuinely entertained by it, whether it's because it makes me think, or because it makes me laugh; I feel like that's a fairly vague answer and makes me seem a little shallow, but most people like TV, right?
I don't watch an excessive amount of TV, really. I watch things on Netflix considerably more than on actual TV, especially because I like to start a show kind of late and go through all of the seasons, like The Office. Currently my absolute favorite show is BBC's Sherlock; far too often I'll come into school and just talk to my friends about it and try to figure out every detail of the show, even after we've analyzed all of it multiple times. I also love Modern Family but I am, unfortunately, a season behind and I need to catch up on it. I started Doctor Who over the summer but I'm currently stuck in the third season because the current companion to the Doctor irritates me a bit more than she should and I'm considerably less motivated to watch it.
I don't really hate any shows, but my respect is lower for some specific shows because of the message they send. I think I might actually be amused if I watched shows like Toddlers and Tiaras but I don't want to get sucked in because it seems to me that it's fairly trashy to encourage parents to enter their toddlers into pageants, to make them think that being pretty is the most important thing in life, and to completely neglect even the concept of their futures, particularly concerning their college education. I understand that some parents will do it anyway, but it seems that making a TV show specifically about it just encourages them to keep doing it and encourages other parents.
This is kind of merging into another question, but regardless, I think television can be a good source of entertainment, but it's better in small doses and it isn't necessarily the best. (This may just be because I am the kind of person who could be just as entertained and maybe more so if you gave me a book and said I could read it all afternoon.) It seems to me that television isn't bad, but if one only watched television, they wouldn't be living for nearly as much.

T.V

Q: Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

A: I believe that TV is not a good form of entertainment. Many people supplement this easy experience of sitting in front of a colored screen for hours, for real life experiences such as actually playing football or hanging out with their friends. However, I also believe that TV plays an important part in today's economy. Since a vast majority of the population watches TV, there is a large audience to market products and sell items to viewers. Advertisers are able to send a powerful message to their consumers in a 30 second commercial in between a TV show. As I mentioned before, it is indeed a waste of time because real life experiences should develop your character, not the television screen. Reading a book, running, or writing are better supplements because they intellectually engage you, and you have to think about what you're doing, rather then the TV, which does the thinking for you.

Television

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

I watch television because it is a quite convenient form of entertainment. There is a large monitor bolted to the wall that just sprays pleasure at me, and I'm rather compelled to see what it has to offer. My favorite show is without a doubt Breaking Bad; this show chronicles Bryan Cranston as a chemist who takes a crack at the meth industry when diagnosed with cancer. The engaging and surprisingly original plot, the consistently masterful directing, the shockingly beautiful cinematography, and most importantly the apparently labored-over acting by all member of the cast combine to create a long-form piece of work that rivals any other masterpiece in history. I would defend this show to any length because I truly believe that Vince Gilligan (creator, writer, director) is a truly talented artist and this his magnum opus. I enjoy other shows as well: absurdist comedies such as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, children's (but not really children's) cartoons like Regular Show, and travel/food oriented shows such as No Reservations.

Yeah, that's what I meant by absurdist.

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

I would argue that television is a wonderful form of entertainment. Granted in many cases, it has developed into a advertisement delivery system, but this is not the fault of television as a medium. Television is merely a short form substitute for film which allows convenient access and the development of serial story-lines. In that sense, television is a very important form of media. However, it is the plague of a capitalist society such as we enjoy to have abundant advertisement. It is only logical for companies to advertise in a language that is ubiquitous to the consumer, and with the convenience and overwhelming pleasure of television, it's rise to popularity and subsequent capture by the biggest companies was imminent. This is of no fault of television; if any other form of activity were so popular, it would be the subject of the advertisers. We are a society of scapegoats, and when we are able to fixate on some concrete source of despair, we rejoice. The "smart ones" like to pat themselves on the back for their honorable relinquishment of television for something more "wholesome" like reading. However, reading ensures no active engagement, artistic merit, or true enlightenment just as television. I am a reader, as well as a television-watcher, as well as a music-listener, as well as a film-buff. I simply consume art and culture and entertainment because this is the source from which I derive stimulation and pleasure. Ultimately, I use these things as a means to provoke thought because I am so constantly in thought that it becomes imperative that I find more information. This is the way in which I am able to navigate this world of "brain-melting" entertainment with relative safety: I am deliberate. I know what I am doing, and I make my own decisions. The world must not be a place of two paths, but of infinite direction; there are not the mindless TV-watchers and the enlightened few. It becomes clear with analysis that any medium can be corrupted with terrible content, so it is each individuals job to isolate the best content available. I do not watch every television show, or read every book, or listen to every album, or watch every film because it is not correct to judge a medium based on the existence of improper uses. There is a large majority of bad television programs, but that in no way diminishes the legitimacy of the good ones. That device, invented less than a century ago by us, is not evil; we are evil to blame it for our own stupidity.

Not at all related, but a fantastic song nonetheless.

Blog 5 TV

When I have free time, I love plopping down to a good movie or episode of my favorite tv show. Watching tv gives me a chance to relax and escape into a different world; it's almost like a break from reality. My all time favorite show is Friends! The plot lines in Friends are realistic enough to be believable and at the same time, they're hilarious. All six of the characters have such distinct personalities that watching the show always makes me want to know what quirky thing they'll say or do next. Also, I love that each episode of Friends is really short. If one day, I've really overworked my brain, I can turn on episode Friends and give my mind a break without worrying about wasting hours of time. TV, for me, is more of a relaxing activity than a form of entertainment. Of course, I do enjoy the stories being told to me, but more than anything else, it allows me to let go of all my personal worries (even if it's only for half an hour). I also love watching tv with my sister (we have similar taste in shows and movies) because it's always nice to have someone to laugh along with you and it's available at the push of a button!

"I'm sleeping tonight with my television on"

I love my TV. I’m not addicted and sit on my bed and watch it for hours on end, but having a TV is really nice. I turn it on when I’m getting ready, cleaning my room, or when I need something mind numbing to wind down. It’s nice to turn on the TV and have some background noise while you’re doing something or to sit down and pop into a different world for an episode or two.

In all honesty I don’t really watch all that much TV since its all on the internet. However, my family and I love watching Chopped, Cupcake Wars, Cake Boss, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Say Yes to the Dress, and the movies on ABC family whenever we have time together. My personal favorite shows that I try to follow are (that I watch online but they’re technically TV shows so I’ll count them) are BBC’s Sherlock (THANKS ANNIE AND PAIGE!), New Girl, Being Human, and Raising Hope.

However, I dislike reality television, as in the whole 16 and Pregnant, Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Toddlers and Tiaras scene. Part of it is that I think it’s trashy and petty, and then there’s also what reality television does to those that are in it. I feel like by being filmed for reality television, people have to change or some of it has to be scripted for it to be marketable. By doing either or it really could damage relationships, but it makes for a good reunion episode. 

For the Love of Television

Q: Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

It is kind of an embarrassment but I absolutely love quality television with some educational benefits. Right now, I am currently trying to balance Rizzoli & Isles, Law & Order: SVU, The Good Wife, Bones, Modern Family, The Big C, and Political Animals; however, while it may seem that I am totally addicted to television, after a long day I want to pursue my interests in a way that doesn't require much energy so each of the shows listed above can be divided into roughly three categories: law/politics, forensic science, and good comedy. It can be said with some certainty that most of the shows that I watch provide some kind of intellectual value whether it be about medical anthropology or the federal court system, there is something to be learned when the show actually makes the viewer think instead of zoning out when watching a show like Two and a Half Men, a program that really bugs me for its crude and insensitive humor.

Q: What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

When addressing this question, we must ask ourselves if we even care about the Nobel Prize anymore, I certainly do, but if one asks a random man on the street he would most likely say "no." His response would be the response of many Americans who spend their time watching sporting events like football or basketball instead of watching the news or watching the presidential debates which could affect their future. Many citizens are oblivious to what is important because they desire entertainment before knowledge or academics, I think the question posed already has an answer that can be seen almost everyday and almost everywhere when one sees someone reading People magazine instead of Tolstoy or watching the Emmy's or the World Series instead of CNN.

#5 TV

As much as I wish I didn't, I absolutely love TV. I follow several shows throughout the year allowing me to procrastinate and waste time. I love TV because it is an easy way to relax and block out anything else happening around me. When I watch television, I completely forget about school and homework or whatever else is bothering me. I also find many TV shows incredibly entertaining. I follow the shows Suits, The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Covert Affairs, White Collar, and The Amazing Race, but I will watch any show that seems entertaining. My interests are broad in that some shows are comedies and others are more serious. For some strange reason, I also will watch incredibly trashy TV marathons for hours and think they are funny (ie Jersey Shore, Honey Boo Boo).
I find most TV to be an unnecessary waste of time, but I do not think that it "rots my brain." I think some TV is an effective source of entertainment because it actually makes you think and pay attention rather than sit back and become a zombie. I definitely recommend Suits on USA because it is an engaging, witty, and dramatic show that most audiences rave over. I believe the value of television is underrated by many because they stereotype shows into boring, predictable, and pointless plots with often cheesy acting.
I have a love/hate relationship with TV and I hope that I will have the willpower to limit my time being spent staring at a screen so I can be more productive in my spare time.

That's Life.

The television presents some mixed views in my mind. I seldom watch TV. I hate knowing that the moment I turn on the TV, I'm going to become a zombie. The world around me appears to disappear, and my mind has no concerns other than those that apply to whatever conflict the current program has chose to present to me. Half the time, I walk away with a blank stare, not completely sure what I just watched, or what it was about. Perhaps there's an occasional giggle or gasp, but other than that, no movement, nor sound escapes me. It's as if the moment I hit the power button I'm sending myself into a sort of trance. I'm no longer with reality, but a sudoreality thrown at me by a network.

However, there are some positive aspects of TV, I think. As weird as this may sound, the TV show I get most pumped over is Planet Earth. Or better yet, Life. Gotta get my Oprah in. 

These two TV shows present me with more laughs and cries than any other program ever wished to have done. When Oprah tells me about how a small male cuddlefish disguises itself as a female by changing colors and shape to mate with the female already "protected" by the larger male, I am in awe. I'm like Taylor Swift recieving yet another award. That is, :-O followed by, "THIS. IS. INCREDIBLE." When Oprah tells me that the baby goat is playing a game of cat and mouse with a hungry fox, I cheer that baby goat on like nobody's business. I literally scream at the TV, hoping it will hear me, and run just a little bit faster and a little more graceful so it can escape. Alas, the baby goat scarcely does so, and the moment the fox sinks its teeth into the small animal, I'm filled with incredulous amounts of sadness, and at the same time, curiosity. After my involuntary overreatction over the loss of a baby goat I'll never have seen with my own eyes, never have forged a connection with, the question penetrates my mind, "Why did the goat lose?" 

This can be answered simply with, "Well, it's a baby. Duh." But if you're me, that's not good enough. And because that's not good enough, your mind is silently BEGGING Oprah to tell you what environmental elements or genetics negatively impacted the goat so that you can justify the death with, "I guess it wasn't really the fox's fault. Dude's gotta eat." 

Some people might call this sort of reaction ridiculous. I call it Life.  

Blog #5 TV

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

I watch TV for several reasons. These reasons include entertainment, boredom, procrastination, etc. I normally don't just sit down and watch whatever's on TV; I just watch my weekly shows. I only watch my weekly shows because those are the things I'm actually interested in, so it's less of a waste of time than watching some random show. But actually, these days, I watch a lot more Netflix than regular TV. I am COMPLETELY IN LOVE with Doctor Who, Sherlock, Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, Pretty Little Liars and Lost. Those are pretty much all I watch, so I don't really know of any shows that I particularly "hate".

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

I think TV can be a good form of entertainment depending on what you're watching and why. If it's something you really like and are really interested in, that's better than just watching TV to be lazy and to avoid doing something else. But, it is commonly used as an inane waste of time. People constantly just watch TV to watch TV. However, I don't necessarily think TV is "just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages" I don't think that's why TV was created, but it is true that it is commonly used now for advertisement. 

Blog Assignment #5

i chose to answer the first prompt

Q: Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

I don't really watch TV anymore. As said before, I don't have cable so my channels stop at 22. But when I do, I usually stick to FOX and ion television. 

Although I used to watch TV every day after school (back when I had cable), I don't think I would have kept to that habit today, even if I did have all those extra fancy channels. Why? I'm just too busy nowadays. In addition, a lot-actually most, of the shows i watch can be found for free on hulu.

What shows do I love and hate? I really really really love the Big Bang Theory. Its genius. There is no description as to why other than how funny and witty it is. In addition, I've always been obsessed with shows like America's Got Talent where I choose my favorite competitor and vote vote vote until they end up (not) winning. I also love Pretty Little Liars because I'm a teenage girl, and I watch Awkward from MTV, although the plot line is starting to really irk me. From Ion television I've started to really enjoy creepy crime shows like Criminal Minds and funny shows that slightly deal with criminal investigation (but not really) like Psych.

Shows that I hate? I'm not very particular about shows so I can't really "hate" any. I realize that all shows, no matter how ridiculous they may seem in purpose, probably have a large audience, so they can't be deemed completely worthless. 

Why I watch TV and Where it belongs in society

(My posts deals mainly with the first and second prompt questions)

I'm not the kind of person who gets satisfaction by watching TV for 8 or 9 hours straight. That's just obsessive. Nonetheless, I do think television does has its place in society. It's opened up a wide variety of entertainment options. It can also be said that some tv programs are more valuable than others.

I think TV is important for providing people with coverage of important events or broadcasts. Among these I would include News Channels, Sports Events, Movies, Music, and some educational or self-improvement programs like those on Health or Environmental Channels. These all provide certain social or educational benefits when viewed in moderation. After all, a billion hours of anything is bad to some degree.

Where I think we as a society go overboard is in the realm of sitcoms and 'reality' tv. In any system, there is needless fat that can be cut off to improve the health of that system. In tv, that fat is embodied by shows like "Jersey Shore". Not meant to offend any fans, but that garbage is a complete waste of time. I have a hard time thinking of any positives except for the occasional laugh at a rude joke.

I don't think tv is a bad thing, but it needs to be incorporated sensibly into one's daily life.

For the Love of Television

I love television. Not like an "I want to marry you" kind of way, but in a "I thoroughly enjoy watching quality television and it sometimes makes me giddy" kind of way. The truth is I could watch QUALITY television for hours and not get bored, something my parents constantly bring up. They believe that television rots the brain, then I bring up the History and Discovery channels and they say "when do you ever watch that?" and its one never ending argument.
I do not believe that all television rots the brain, so to speak. There are shows on television that are very well written, directed, and acted, and this is a certain kind of art. Like any art, it should be appreciated when done well and criticized if not, with of course room for interpretation. Also, TV spawns creativity. A well written script or an interesting plot twist can bring up morality questions and other things that can make viewers think critically about certain issues.
TV is an avenue for advertisers, but the effectiveness of the ads is always a question. Also, with DVR a lot of people (myself included) skip the commercials to focus on the shows. TV is entertainment, but it also provides hope, and possibly an escape. For example, MASH was a show that found the light in the dark. It gave humor to war and its situations, and for that eased people's minds, if only a little, about the atrocity of the war. I believe TV is an awesome way to relax, and while it doesn't compare to a day of reading or real learning in terms of brain stimulation, quality television can bring up many critical thoughts to the viewer.

Blog Post #5--Television

Question:  Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

As soon as I saw this question, I immediately assumed that I could think of some good reason that I watch TV.  I figured, "Hey, I watch TV all the time; there must be some reason that I watch it."

This was certainly not what happened.

After pondering for a few minutes about why I sit down and watch Friends when I come home from school, I gave up and went to Google, to see if it could spark some ideas for me.  "TV can be educational and informational," it said.  But let's get real:  a 16-year-old girl doesn't usually watch TV to get an educational value out of it.

Then, I started thinking about why I like reading so much.  Books allow me to leave the world I'm in, travel to different times, and just lose myself in a great story.  I could sit down for hours on end with a good book and be perfectly content.

When you really think about it, television can have a similar effect.  Why do I watch Friends once I'm home from school?  I watch it to forget about homework and school for half an hour, to just enjoy marvelous jokes, to de-stress!  Also like books, some shows have awesome writing and original plots that are so complex, you have to wonder how the writers do it.  When I watch Doctor Who, I am constantly baffled at how the plots are created, how someone could have possibly come up with those ideas.  I could sit down for hours with that TV show and never be bored.

I watch TV to escape my life, and enjoy good plots and characters.  It's that simple.

Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

The Emmy Awards are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life altering kind of a way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

Check out these sites for more information:

Turn off your TV

Television and Health

Positive Benefits of TV on Toddlers and Children

Due Sunday September 30th at 11:59 pm

Assignment #4: Nuclear Bombs destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The day that the American Air Force flew over to Japan was a day that changed both America and Japan drastically. America was filled with the sigh at the end of a suspenseful moment, joy, and turned into a fear free environment. People now knew that the US was able to do something about the war and in the world that will drastically change the future of both countries. Self esteem in the US boosted.

While in Japan devastation was in the air. Many were killed, some people suffered radiation sickness. Some families were genetically altered for many generations, and some still are, because of these bombs. Japan was defeated. The critical blow put them behind the allies in the war, resulting in a loss for the axis. This was the changing point in the war for both parties, one positive and the other negative.   

The Game that Healed a Nation

This photo shows the Greek National Soccer Team celebrating after a 1-0 upset win over Russia during the UEFA Euro 2012 Soccer Tournament in June. The win earned Greece a place in the coveted Knockout Stage. When we think of Greece these days, we draw our minds to their severe economic crisis going on in the country. Before this, many Greeks were suffering emotionally through hard economic times. But when the Greek Captain Karagounis scored to put Greece ahead of mighty Russia, everything else seemed to disappear temporarily. This win means a lot to Greece going forward. Even though the tournament lasted only for a month, they were able to forget about everything else and just focus on enjoying the thrill of sports together as one nation. That's a big step for Greece in putting their economic struggles behind them.

Moment Captured

This photo was taken in Manhattan, right after the first same-sex couple got married in Manhattan's city clerk office. This photo is very powerful in the fact that it shows that gay people are really just people. They are no different from us. They react just as a man and a woman would after they get married. Nothing here can diminish the sanctity of a marriage, and nothing here is wrong. Humans are humans and this picture shows one of the first moments in which gay people are treated the same as anyone else, because, after all, they are the same. Most importantly, though, this shows love. This shows that love is no different between men and women, women and women, and men and men. This moment is truly a change in the future of not only our nation but the entire world. 

That Early December Morning

Pearl Harbor. The bombing of this Hawaiian base literally changed a nation. It was the critical event that brought America into World War II. It changed the lives of almost every American, what with the majority of the eligible men being drafted into the war. It also had drastic effects on the city of Honolulu where the event occurred.

Not to sound over dramatic, but I probably would not be here if the bombing of Pearl Harbor didn't happen. My grandmother was born in Hawaii, so she personally witnessed the events. She once told me that on that December morning, she and her neighbors were standing on her house's roof, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening at Pearl Harbor, when a Japanese plane flew literally right over their heads. She recalls actually being able to see the man's face.
At the same time, my grandfather was enlisted in the army and on a ship headed toward the Philippines. When they got the alert that Pearl Harbor had been bombed, they were immediately redirected to Honolulu. As you can probably deduce, this is how my grandparents met.

Upon reading this assignment, I knew immediately that I would write about Pearl Harbor. I know firsthand how much it affected my grandmother's life, along with all of her family and friends living in Hawaii. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be living in Hawaii at the time. They were all living in fear that they would be taken over by the Japanese. They could have been living in prison camps if history had been different. Great changes were made to their every day lives, what with strict curfews about when they had to be home at night, and having to cover their car lights with black tape so that any Japanese planes overhead wouldn't be able to see them. My grandmother's stories are told with such ease nowadays, but they still manage to give me chills with how close in proximity she was to this major event in American history.

And the Wall Fell Down 28 Years Later

The Berlin Wall separated West Berlin from East Berlin. The 

Eastern Bloc claimed that the wall was up to protect the population from fascist elements of the Socialist state is East Berlin. The wall also served to prevent the massive emigration and defection from the communist Eastern Bloc. The Berlin Wall’s construction started on August 13, 1961. The wall was more than 87 miles long.  When the wall was constructed, many families were split and many East Berliners employed in the west lost their jobs. East Germany was isolated, only West Germans and citizens of Western countries could visit East Germany. Many of these visitors had to apply for a visa before they could enter east Gremany. On November 9, 1989, the wall was considered to have fallen, but the wall was not entirely down.  For the days that  followed  people brought sledge hammers, hammers, chisels. These people created several new crossing and East Germany recognized ten new border crossing.  Crowds on both sides cheered bulldozers which took away parts of the wall. This picture shows two men, one an eastern guard the other a westerner speaking through a hole in the wall. If this image were to be zoomed out, we may see people striking the wall with hammers and such. The wall would likely be chipped in many sections covered in anti-wall graffiti. The guard could have harmed the westerner for whatever reason. The guard does not appear to be angry therefore, this picture displays members of both of the societies comfortable talking to each other. The picture demonstrates that both sides wanted the wall to come down.The wall But no, the two men are having, what appears to be, a peaceful conversation after 28 years of separation. 

MLK Jr. "I Have A Dream"

This is a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. making his most famous speech, "I Have A Dream" at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. As everybody should know MLK Jr. was a civil rights activist and a very inspiring and courageous leader; and he gave many, just as inspiring speeches. But what makes this one the most remembered is the setting in which it was given, how it was given, and then how many people saw/received it. Martin Luther King delivering this clairvoyant speech of hope and equality. On the footsteps on the Lincoln Memorial, the man who freed slaves, and gave Martin Luther King the freedom of speech to deliver this speech. And then the millions of people gathered to hear this speech and the other millions watching it on their tv or listening to it on their radios. All these things play a factor into why this speech had such a significant impact in the civil rights movement, in the ending of segregation, in the road to equality, and in American History.

Blog #4

This is a picture taken by Buzz Aldrin on July 21, 1969 of the first footprint on the moon. On that day, Neil Armstrong put his left foot on the moon and uttered the famous words "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," being the first person to set foot on the moon and creating the first footprint on it. His footprint will stay on the moon for a million or so years due to the fact that there is no wind or anything else to erode it.
When I look at this photo, I imagine actually living at this moment, watching intently as man sets foot on the moon for the first time. Everyone would take in a collective gasp, holding his or her breath while Neil Armstrong set his foot down. Then emotion would overcome as everyone realizes that he or she just witnessed a huge moment in history. Personally, I would have been awestruck knowing that there is so much out there left to be explored. It makes me realize how insignificant and small we all really are and makes me appreciate life and science and the universe. Humanity's curiosity will never run dry as long as the universe is here and is ever-expanding.

The Drop

This is the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Anyone born after the day this bomb was dropped has lived under some level of fear of the Atomic weapon. The moment this device landed in Japan the world was changed for ever. Man had the power to wipe itself out in a matter of seconds. Before the dropping of the first Atomic bomb defeating an enemy completely took months and millions of soldiers, but nuclear weapons could decimate the planet in a matter of hours. Never has the human race created such an avenue for its own self-destruction. The world was forever changed into a landscape of fear and the world would go MAD. For thousands living in Hiroshima life would end or be changed forever and the war that had pitted world powers against one another would come to a close thanks to the necessary horror of the Little Boy.

Pearl Harbor

This is a photo of Pearl Harbor from all those years ago. The sheer image of it provoked a sense of horror throughout the nation-as well as a sense of unity and camaraderie. Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, which was ironically used as a preventative measure, was actually what pushed the United States to join the war. The moment that the bombs were dropped, every life involved was changed forever.
It seems to me that it is a bittersweet thought to know that disaster is what consistently draws together a nation (or really, any group of people). Like 9/11 to our generation or the generation just older than us, everyone from this time knows exactly where they were when they heard about the bombing. Emotionally, America was knitting itself together with every citizen. This is essentially why I chose this picture-I love the idea that everyone pulls together and makes something good out of an awful time. Despite the horror and the pain involved, something good comes from this.

In remembrance

In one of my favorite picture and one of the most recognizable pictures in American history  (featured above) ,taken on August 14, 1945, it represents the feelings of the country after the victory over Japan, or V-J day. This picture was taken in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt of an American soldier kissing a nurse. A similar photo was taken from a different angle by Victor Jorgenson titled "Kissing the War Goodbye".  This photo was published in Life magazine while Jorgenson's was published in the New York TImes. The two photos represent the celebration of the Americans after they had defeated the Japanese, as the news had been announced just before the photos were taken. In the background of the photo you can see that everyone else is also rejoicing. This photo served to comfort and reinsure the American population that America had come out, yet again, on top. 

The First Picture of Earth

The nineteen sixties were some of the most tumultuous years for the United States. Unprecedented revolutions swept the nation year after year and ranged from all manners of subjects. Racism, the Veitnam War, the JFK and MLK assasinations, as well as other occurences dramatically changed the course of this nation. That is what this picture did for the country going forward as well. This distant shot of our earth was the first photograph of our planet captured by astronauts on the moon. The beauty of our planet was something that the American people, and the world for that matter, had never fully experienced and it was that beauty that spurred a great environmentalist movement in the United States.

People looked for the first time upon the vibrant greens and blues and whites that earth contained and collectively thought: this world is truly magnificent. Not all of these people did something about this enlightenment, but some people did start the "green" movement. That is why this picture can be considered one of the most influential images of the modern era, because of the differneces that have been made to keep our planet as natural and as mystifying as this picture.

Islamophobia: The Disease

This following depicts Reagan White House Middle East Special Envoy, Donald Rumsfeld, shaking hands with Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein during his visit on December 19,1983. Rumsfeld would vissit again on March 24, 1984, the day the U.N. released a report that mustard gas and Tabun nerve gas had been used by Iraq against Iranian Troops. The NewYork Times reported from Baghdad on March 29, 1984, "American diplomats pronounce themselves satisfied with relations between Iraq and the United States and suggest that normal diplomatic ties have been restored in all but name."

This Picture coupled with those to follow reveal America's true nature. America has shielded its citizens against its true self and the irony that laces Saddam Hussein's attacks against America. America gave Hussein his rise to power in Iraq in terms of military power (In such cases as depicted by the picture above), in terms of economic assistance, and in terms of his rise to power as a dictator - all for two things: Iraq's assistance against Iran and oil. However, like most dictators, Hussein became power crazed and turned on America, in which case America cut all ties and proclaimed war against him.

Following Bush's War on Oil... I mean Terrorism, America met Tragedy with the attacks on the World Trade Center. This horrific event led to the mourning of millions of Americans, but they did not stand alone:
In the picture above, we can see America's true nature expounded upon as we put 9/11 in comparison with the rest of the world and the atrocities caused by the United States. Here, once again, the shroud cast by the United States may be removed and we may see America at its finest.

After the 9/11 attacks, Islamophobia,Fear and hatred of Islam , became something celebrated every 11th of September. America began to believe the biggest misconception in the history of Islam: 'Muslim extremists' and 'Muslims' are the same. With Osama Bin Laden admitting to the attacks against the World Trade Center, millions flocked towards the fact that Islamic extremists killed thousands of innocent Americans but wrongfully attributed this to Islamic teachings and principal. Islam teaches "Love for All and Hatred for None" and "Acting through non-violent means". In fact, the following lines are written in almost every other chapter of the Qur'an.
The picture above is depicts Muslims mourning the death of Americans in attacks in Libya. Here we see a Islam's true nature as it promotes 'Love for all' and Peace.

I Have a Dream.

Theres

This picture is of the view from the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Monument on August 28, 1963 as Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his I Have a Dream speech in Washington D.C. The speech has been called the greatest American speech of the 20th century, and the paramount of civil rights movements. The crowd is filled with civil right activists, including the queen of gospel Mahalia Jackson. I think what provokes me the most about this image is the fact that the number of people who attended this speech starts at the Lincoln Memorial and goes all the way back to the Washington Memorial. It makes me proud that so many people attended, with the assumption that more wanted to come than could, and, at the same time, it makes me disappointed that we had to have such an event in the first place.
"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination."
There is still a great amount of discrimination in our nation today, whether it's against African Americans, same sex couples, Muslims, whomever. And it's a sad day in America when anyone is discriminated against due to such prejudice. America is a salad bowl country, and I believe that anyone who doesn't see that such prejudices will tear us, as a country, apart, just as it has before. I have a dream that one day, America won't experience such... foul wizardry.

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

This well-known photo was taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23rd, 1945 on Mt. Surabachi, Iwo Jima. As you can see, it depicts five US marines raising the United States flag on the summit after defeating the Japanese forces on the island. This was the second flag raising of the day, the first flag being too small and warranting a replacement. And so, as Joe Rosenthal saw in his peripheral vision the flag starting to rise, he dropped to the ground, swung the camera into view and snapped a picture. Having no idea, what it looked like, when the photo was developed it was widely recieved and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. The picture was a really moving moment for our country, finally taking finishing off the epic comeback starting in 1943. Before then, the Pacific theater looked bleak, and that America would lose the war. However, this photo encapsulated the sentiment that America had achieved victory in the war. Personally, it makes me think of the personal sacrifice these five marines gave for their country, knowning that three of the men died shortly thereafter in the ensuing final conflict. One of these men, Franklin Sousley was born in Hill Top, Fleming County, Kentucky and he is the second man from the left.

The Dust Bowl

This photograph is one of the more powerful that I have seen. It conveys a crushing feeling of desolation and strife. The colossal wall of dust that is consuming the plains is a very strong image that was surely ingrained in many lives during the 1930s. The dust bowl was a destructive force for the economy of these growers in North America and of their own doing. It represents a large disregard for growing habits and lack of environmental concern. The photo shows what the environment is capable of when not properly treated.

For me, this photo represents a large warning to humanity. It begs us to make strides in environmentally-conscious living lest we succumb to the terrible consequences of our own general carelessness. Outside of these figurative implications, I find this photograph aesthetically overwhelming. Sometimes the most terrible things are also the most beautiful.

The Hubble Telescope

This picture was from the Nevada Space Grant Program's website. This is a picture of the Hubble Telescope orbiting the Earth. 

Launching the Hubble Telescope amazed the nation and the world. The pictures that have been sent back and are still being sent back continue to open up the study of space. The pictures allowed scientists to learn about star nurseries, which we had almost no idea about before the Hubble sent back its first pictures. These pictures also allowed scientists to answer some of the questions that have been asked for hundreds of  years. When the Hubble first went into space, one of the lenses was blurry, so soon after, NASA sent a crew of astronauts to outer space to fix the lens. From then on, the pictures have been breathtaking, drawing many young students into science-a main focus of this county. 

I choose the Hubble Telescope because from a young age I have dreamed of going into outer space. Plus, I am insanely interested in how space works because it provides so many unbounded opportunities in exploration of space and discovery and in creating devices and robots that will travel up into space to do the researching where humankind cannot reach yet.  Also, I have the privilege to talk to someone who worked on the Hubble Telescope- my mom. That part is still  in the Hubble Telescope and is working to date! 

This is called a Spiral Galaxy taken by the Hubble Telescope.

This is a Pillar and Jet Nebula taken by the Hubble Telescope.

(Yes. This is a real picture!)

Vancouver riot's kissing couple

    This photograph is one that seems a little out of place and odd if you're not aware of the background. It was taken on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, following game seven of the Stanley Cup, where the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Extreme riots followed in the city, with many fires, fights, and car flippings. Police officers filled the streets and tried to stop the rioters, but it wasn't expected that there would be this many angry people going to such measures. There were 17 cars burned (including police cars), windows smashed in, looting, transportation problems, and a total of 101 arrests made. This photo shows a man kissing his girlfried (later known to be Alexandra Thomas and Scott Jones) amid all the fights and riots. Apparently, they had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and were knocked over by police officers. In that moment, she was freaking out and he kissed her, trying to calm her down so he could help her. It went viral in the days after the Stanley Cup final.
   I just learned about this photo, but I find it fascinating. I think it's a great symbol of love in the middle of hate and while it's simple, Jones showing his care for Thomas in this kiss is powerful. In this moment, there are cars being burned and windows being smashed in all around this couple. These people had been pushed around trying to get out of the riots just before this photo was taken, but in this moment, the couple felt care for each other. Call me a sappy romantic, but I find this photo beautiful.

2010 Haiti Earthquake

The January 12, 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti (7.0 in magnitude) was the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in 200 years. The devastating earthquake left more than 220,000 dead, 300,000 injured, and a million homeless. The earthquake also destroyed most of the governmental, technical, and educational infrastructure throughout the region. Not only was this earthquake costly in lives, it was also estimated to cost approximately 7.8 billion dollars (120% of the country's GDP). Lack of preparation and poor building practices also intensified the tragedy people felt. At the beginning of 2012, though lots of progress had been made, approximately 519,000 people were still living in tents and temporary camps and only about half of the rubble had been removed.

After researching and looking for a suitable picture, I started thinking about what these people were feeling after the earthquake struck. Everyone was in absolute chaos and panic. Those who were already impoverished were now homeless and without family members. Even if you were lucky and still home standing, it wasn't safe to stay in a building anymore. The aftershocks of the the earthquake shook standing structures and were constant reminder of their unstable situation. The survivors of the disaster, with nowhere to go were forced to live among the dead. Scared and alone are the two words that come to mind when I think of the disaster people had to endure in January of 2010.

A World in Pictures

This is a picture of 13 year old, Hector Pieterson after he was shot for protesting against the establishment of Afrikaans in schools (disregarding the local dialects of the South Africans). Afrikaans was the language of the Dutch settlers and they started changing the ways the schools were organized to benefit them. A group of 30 students started singing traditional songs to protest and the group grew. The police showed up and released tear gas on the crowd and then went on to start shooting randomly at the protesters. 400 people died from the shootings, but this picture is so famous because he was only 13, his friend is carrying him and the girl is actually his sister. This picture became a huge icon for the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

Today in Soweto there is a memorial dedicated to him in front of the Hector Pieterson Museum, honoring all of those that gave their lives for the cause.

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami

This is a picture of the tsunami caused by the earthquake in Japan. It was the most powerful earthquake in the history of Japan, and it was the fifth most powerful earthquake since record-keeping began. Japan was devastated; according to the National Police Agency of Japan, there were 15,870 deaths, 6,114 injured, and 2,814 people missing. The damage done estimates to be tens of billions of dollars. Entire cities were brought to rubble by the powerful tsunami and 4.4 million houses were left without electricity. Power plants were shut down following this disaster and one had a nuclear meltdown allowing radiation to spread. Japan has still yet to fully recover.

I am shocked by this picture because there is no protection against the water and it is pouring into the city and will wipe out buildings and drown cities. I am also shocked that there is a boat sailing behind the flood seeming to float well. Unfortunately, I am sure that boat soon capsized and was taken by the current. The people of Japan must have been afraid because for many, there was little to no chance of survival. It is scary that a natural disaster has the capability to practically destroy a powerful country, and the people of Japan will never be the same.