blog 6

The photo I choose was the first one which is pretty powerful stuff. Its definitely not pro war none of the photos are. I don’t know if its possible to make a pro war photo. This photo is timeless in that it doesn’t distinguish itself from other wars. It is a cliché themed but in no way has it lost its meaning. It shows how the war has left this women a widow and a future child without a father. You see the women with her stomach pressed against her (most likely husband) significant others coffin. I think the soldier in the background is to emphasize that this is a soldiers death and a soldiers burial. Its subtle in that we don’t see this women trembling or in horror but at the same time she looks lifeless. The emphasis is really on her stomach. The position of stomach is showing the connection between the women and the coffin. Its as if the photo is saying this is the closest you will be to meeting your father.
You could use this photo to argue that (and all the photos) that the Iraq war is effecting the families more than the soldier. Its not a country duty issue but a family issue. They focus on the single soldier but in an argument about the effects of war on those people who have close ones serving in Iraq I would use photos of a broader scope. Like photos where someone has put a cross for every fallen soldier in Iraq in a field. I would show how large of an issue it is and then focus in on a smaller scale.
Its not really a caption but more of a title “Somebodies Darlin” its actually a t-shirt depicting a field of dead civil war soldiers. Its somebody’s family when they die it touches everyone that soldier had a relationship with. Clearly I would be supporting the argument that when soldiers they leave behind families and lives. The darlin will live on carrying a fatherless child and for what.

Free write The economy

The economy is headed towards recession however it is not techincally in recession yet. As we are becoming more worse off the economy is still continuing to grow at around two percent a year and are GDP. However, the uneployment rate continues to rise and the mortgage system is in shambles. So my point is we are worse off then we were say last year, but in no way are we in as much trouble as we all may think. Recession is a natural part of the economy and throughout history they have become shorter.
Mortgages are failing for many reasons but people can't pay there loans. When mortgage companies seize people houses it becomes a liability of the bank. Banks are not in the realty business so there trying to get rid of the house as soon as possible, so must likely that means taking a loss.
It seems as if oil alone is the reason for inflation. Pretty much oil costs effect every other costs. When you have a large rise in price of oil you are also going to get a modest increase in transportation cost. Being that most things are transported most products prices will go up gradually becauses don't want to forgoe maximizing profits.
The over goal is to improve the economy as a whole, its that politicans have different views and ideas on how to make that possible.

blog 5

Its odd to see a different perception to steroids, it almost like seeing a positive spin on tobacco. Who’s to deny someone who says steroids have caused them no health problems only physical gains. I think when listening to the men of have taken steroids over several decades its more of a mental addiction ,they struggle for perfection. So I believe they do have problems. The video makes me think maybe steroids can be used responsibly but I think these are rare cases of people who haven’t been effected by the drug physically. Its is possible that steroids can be used responsibly if in fact the cases of these two men are truthful. However I recollect on a former professional wrestler Chris Benoit, who in a case of roid rage killed himself and his family. I think like all drugs you become a different person when you are addicted. The benefits are not worth the costs and generally no matter how good you think you look, steroids is usually frowned upon.
It would have to be for all or for no one in the case of steroids, I would choose no one. I believe it is cheating and so does much of America. The best players in the world in our age are being tainted by the conspiracy if they have used steroids or not. So no matter how good you get it in our age there will be questions on whether this person is a natural athlete or did he abuse. For now on there will be an asterisk next to the top athletes like Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds etc. I don’t think you can allow steroids because must likely it is not the ceiling for what is possible with drugs and science. What I am saying is if everyone is using steroids then eventually people will seek alternative methods to get better, faster, stronger. So if steroids then what else.

I am really concerned about...

I am really concerned about gun control laws in that they should be reformed. I don't think that handheld guns should be sold period. They serve no real purpose to regular folks and can be concealed easily. Its probably one of the few macro problems that I am actually concerned with.
Im also concerned about people talking about how we are becoming a weakend economy and that other countries ae catching up to us and that we are losing are swagger as the number one world. What really makes me angry is when people talk about the economy and they have no idea what they are talking about. The candidates talk about how we are economy is in shambles, which to me is ridicoulouis. I know that unemployment keeps rising and the mortgage crisis is scary, but recession is just a natural part of the business cycle and they have become shorter over our countries existince. Free Trade concerns me in not that we are outsourcing work to cheapest bidder. ( which i am also concerned with), but that are debt will continue to rise. In that with all the foregin goods we buy that money we spend on trade is being resupplied to us back from countries like China in the form of investments. We are not saving the money thats is being reinvested therefore we have accumulated too much debt. So I would say the national debt and the economy are a concern to me but in no way am I saying we are as bad off as the media claims us to be. It seems that is all people like to talk about these days is money or their lack of money. It reminds me of a quote from the movie Vanilla Sky what's the answer to 99 questions out of a 100, money.

blog 4

The articles discuss the idea that action figures may distort the male body image. Popes article takes a timeline of action figures and measures there changes over the years. The article concludes that action figures have become more muscular and defined over the years. However, they conclude more research needs to be done to connect action figures with steroid use and the warped ideal of mans image. The second article is disagreeing with Pope’s argument and insulting his research. Its not that he doesn’t disagree that the male image isn’t being distorted in the media however he believes it coming from people like Mark Maguire and other television figures. The second article is pretty much saying with everything else going on in the limelight you are going to research action figures, come on.
The tone of the first article is very informative and is presented almost like a journal entry. It relies on the facts and doesn’t really carry a voice. The second article however has a sarcastic tone, pretty much destroying everything the first article is saying. The second article gives a few examples of what else could be causing the male body image to be changing; it mainly suggests how ridiculous the argument is.
I think that GI Joe and action figures in general are not necessarily reflecting actual people. I think they allow you to believe they carry qualities beyond human capability, but at the same time we are still striving for these qualities. What’s fun about playing with an average looking man, nothing. I used to like wrestling action figures when I was younger because I could pretend I was a wrestler while playing with them. So in away, I can see Popes point. If I idealized my figures at a young age it might be imprinted in my head that the action figures body types are ideal as well.

blog 3

Anything can become acceptable if you have people to accept you. No one likes to hear they are wrong and when you are able to support each other through these sites of course you are going to reach a comfort level with your disorder. These sites promote the idea that eating disorders is part of a quest for perfection. The people with eating disorders believe that they are unique and that there’s nothing wrong with them, but in reality they keep their disorders a secret. If there is nothing wrong with you, then why do you live lives of confidentiality and find comfort from people you don’t know on the internet. There is a reason that pro-Ana support is primarily online. The problem with pro-ana websites is that it encourages eating disorder behavior instead of warning of the dangers. The majority of people with eating disorders are aware they are dangerous but continue to pursue. Instead of talking with people who are promoting your inevitable self destruction you should first recognize that you have a problem.

Society is telling us no, no eating disorders are wrong and dangerous. All of the negativity towards the subject has leaded those who have eating disorders to hide in the dark. The pro-ana websites let those who don’t believe they have disorders, but express this lifestyle, a place of comfort to talk about there situations. In a place where insecurity is high and self-esteem is low pro-ana website users find comfort and gives them the ability to express how they feel without being scrutinized. If feeling good is good enough, then pro-ana websites are a comfort.

blog 2

My initial reaction when I read the first part of this ad posted on the blog was, this is ridiculous. There’s nothing adventurous and cool about running down back alleys and finding dead bodies, but then I read on and enjoyed the ad. This article to me is presented with a sarcastic tone that tries to appeal towards emotion. The perception of the ad and the narratives make it humorous and effective. The idea I think the ad is trying to say is that we were born to run and we ourselves are what is holding us back. I would consider myself a slow runner but not a jogger. As a runner I connect to this ad especially when he is talking about passing joggers and telling them to hustle. If you our not pushing yourself then what’s the point, you won’t gain any progress. The values this ad are personal drive and motivation. I think that the author is just poking fun at the jogging population, basically saying we are better. I don’t think you can alienate the jogging population to any extent because it is the same thing, just at a slower pace. I don’t see companies coming out with jogging shoes. Izumi ad appeals especially to ethos. Based on his use of narratives and his point of view, I connect with author and find him creditable. As much as I thought the first ad was effective, the second ad to me is more effective because it is graphic, simple and gets right to the point, it’s a strong case of Pathos. The shock value gets you thinking right away, I don’t think it’s as clever as the other ad but more effective.

blog 1

I don’t think anyone who joins the military bases there decision on a videogame nor would I want that to be the case. I don’t think you can indoctrinate ideologies of war through a video game. Just the Idea of using a video game as possible requirement material is not worth the reputation of the military. I think the decision to join the military is based on patriotic and economical situations. You can’t make someone a better soldier by playing this game because this game is not reality.
The website stands out in that it doesn’t standout at all. It's dull and there is too much text. I don't see it as heavy requiritng material but more as an entertainment simulator. I think this game promotes violence but in know way is it any worse then what else is order available. This game is an after thought of all the fear and violence that is pumped into you by the media. This game may promote violence but I don't think there is any concrete way to single out this game.