Limitless

Our planet has greatly changed to where in the 16th and 17th century where people would only create clothes, weapons and other things if need be. Yet in our society today, we allow ourselves and other people to consume and produce an unlimited amount of objects, foods and services even when they are not needed. Is it really necessary for a family of three to buy a Suburban? Or a Hummer? Consumption is destroying our planet and creating a world inhabitable by even the native species. Global warming is wiping out entire species like frogs and fish. Faustian Economics by Wendell Berry says that "The idea of limitless economy implies and requires a doctrine of general human limitless: all are entitled to pursue without limit whatever they conceive as desirable." This shows that we have shifted as a people, from taking only what we needed to striving to have everything. We want nothing more than to be like those people in the world who can buy and take whatever they want just because they can. We humans have become greedy and it has taken a toll. Destroying our environments around the world and reducing human to human contact. When will we realize that we have put a death clock on the planet and ourselves? Hopefully before it is too late.

The Effect of Advertisers

With so much product placement and advertising in our world we must step back and determine if it's all for the greater good. When I say the greater good, I don't mean who will go to heaven or anything like that. My approach, is advertising really necessary today and has it caused more harm than good? In Layouts and Illustrations by John Caples, he states, "They (the advertisers) want to jar the readers and stop them on the spot - to rouse them and stir them to action." A great example I can think of is Sarah McLaughlin and her ads about donating to the Humane society. The objective is to make you feel bad for the abuse animals they show and in this form of advertising it is appropriate. Similar ads that come to mind like this one would be donating to other relief organizations helping victims in Japan and Haiti. However, on the other end of the spectrum are advertisements like commercials to buy you products for your personal care or promoting some sort of good or service. In these commercials or ads, the consumer or promoter is generally famous and good looking, giving off this sense that if you use this product or service, you will look and feel like that person. Much like how Layouts and Illustrations is trying to show that these types of ads are not healthy for our country which have led it to consist mostly of consumers. A country full of consumers socially, economically and environmentally are dangerous for they care only how people see them and will do anything to be at their best whether that be spending money or driving a fancy SUV. It's time we switched the habit and became more independent than dependent on things we do not need.

Advertisements and Connections

In our society there are many things that intrigue a person from colors, to actions, or from the location of what is going on. In the article "Making Connections" by Anthone Greene, he states, "Links between things, events, people and our actions--so-called item associations--are the reason certain objects evoke reminiscence and become keepsakes." Our society has become one of advertisements in which everywhere we look you can find an add. In a newspaper, magazine and most prominently in movies and television giving consumers the idea that product placement is only natural. A great example of this can be found in "Madison Avenue and Your Brain" by Matthew Blakeslee. Blakeslee states, "How deep these new ideas will penetrate into civic policy and individual self-conception will be interesting to watch." Here the author is stating that with all the advertisements used in society, the presence and presentation of these ads will become second nature to people. A coke turned to show the label in a movie, a giant McDonald's sign, all big name brands we know and see in movies and instantly recognize saying, "Oh hey! He's drinking Coke too!" This is not healthy for our society and presenting products like that in movies does not make the movie more realistic.

Mindfulness

I practice mindfulness everywhere especially when I'm in Tacoma. Being aware of your surroundings can prevent people from trying to steal from you, like say a pickpocket. Or when your walking in a rural setting and a car swerves in your path on the road, mindfulness will allow you to to dash off to the side in a ditch to avoid a reckless or unaware driver. Through D.A.R.E. this organization wants the new generation to be mindful of what drugs and alcohol do to the body. Or when you take a driving test and the instructor is teaching you to always be mindful of other drivers on the road. But of course through social networking there are those people who encourage other to come to a party. Maybe even youtube videos of people peeling out of stop signs in their new mustang GT. Whatever the case, I guess it depends on how you were brought it up and the people you surround yourself with. But that doesn't mean you can't change who you are, there is still time for everyone.

Blog Numero Uno

The postmodern world, according to Anderson, is one in which is changing everyday. Where old cultures are battling the new ones trying to rise up and where cultures are disappearing or being reformed. In Anderson's "Welcome to the Postmodern World", he quotes on page 23 paragraph 1, "It is commonplace to observe cultures change when the use of money is introduced." Cultures who are used to their old ways are now able to be exposed to the world and it's many different ethnicity separating the old way followers to the new way discoverers. Another example of this somewhat out with the old in with the new example is a quote from Miss Brill in the second to last paragraph, "But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?" asked the boy."Why does she come here at all-who wants her? Why doesn't she keep her silly old mug at home?" I think this quote relates to the change of cultures but more specifically what our next culture is becoming with Facebook, Twitter, texting and new communication. On Facebook you will see people posting things about how this person is this, or that and was looking like this with that person. With technology, it has made communicating easier and that's all aspects of it. But also with this new technology comes the change of cultures, where we no longer have to dial a phone to talk to someone or walk a mile to see them. We can text, drive, Facebook and with all these changes I'm not sure they are for the better.