Inappropriate Ads

These days, there are inappropriate ads everywhere you go. Whether it's a pop-up on the internet, a billboard on a busy highway, a television or radio commercial, or something in newsprint - it is hard to go one day without seeing some kind of disturbing or disgusting advertisement.

When I open my Yahoo email account, it has a disgusting 'character,' who is bloody and zombie-like, and the sight of him just makes me sick, which, I suppose, is the point of the ad. It's for a "Howl-o-scream" event at Busch Gardens or some place like that. And yesterday, I saw a billboard with the same disgusting person on it. If it disturbs me, I can only imagine how some children might react. Then again, they might be desensitized to things like that, so maybe it doesn't even bother them anymore. Isn't it sad that children have lost their innocence and naivety?

My sister Jill told me about one ad that featured gross (and I would go as far as to say porn-like) pictures of people on a billboard somewhere, and it said, "Life's short. Get a divorce." Days after it was first posted, the law firm that put it up had many people coming in to get a divorce. It was later taken down because people complained about the images on the sign. Here's the link, so you can see for yourself: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LegalCenter/Story?id=3147979 Like FOX News says, "We report-- you decide."

There are signs galore on the interstate advertising strip joints and other disgusting places, television commercials for problems people should share with their doctor--not me, late-night TV commercials for "hooking up" with some creepy stranger, and the list of examples goes on and on. Why is this filth allowed to be shown to and paraded in front of the population--and to youth people especially? Like the people outraged about the divorce billboard, we should stand up and call for the removal of tasteless things we see. I know society has become accepting of so much, but I think it is past time we label the ads as the immoral, disgusting ads that they are.

Whatever happened to family-friendly ads? I don't need (nor do I want) drugs, promiscuity, alcohol, obscenities, and violence used to sell me something. I prefer ads with professionalism, intelligence, good taste, and clean humor--not to mention ads featuring people who are dressed. Is that so hard to ask?

Finding Old Friends

Isn't it great to find old friends? Wednesday night at choir practice, the director asked if we remembered a guy that went to our church a while back. I was friends with his sister, so of course, I remembered him too. They had moved to Indiana or Michigan probably ten years ago, and I lost touch with my friend (Heather). It turns out that her brother, who I remember as a cute little 5-7 year old, is now in college(!!!), and he's in Orlando for some kind of project or something. Anyway, the choir director is planning to invite him to church Sunday, where he used to be a regular--back in the day. If he decides to come, it will be great to to see him and catch up with what he and his family have been up to for the last decade. :)

So, while I was on Facebook tonight, I decided to look Heather up (which I had before but did not find her), and now we have been reconnected. It's so interesting to see what long lost people you once knew are doing now. That is one of the great things about Facebook. Besides the fact that it is addictive and a great procrastination tool, it helps you keep in touch and reconnect with people. ;) :-D

Not only is it interesting to find long lost people, but it's pretty weird that they become long lost people in the first place, isn't it? I mean--you never really expect people you're around every day to one day be completely out of your life for the rest of your life. I don't know--it's just weird when you think about it.

And then again, you never know when you'll meet someone who will touch your life forever.

Money & Gender

Last night I read an article in which young women were complaining about their mates or dates who complain about the fact that they (the women) make more money than they (the men) do. The women said that their dates often openly admitted or implied in one way or another that they were not comfortable with women making more money than they did. For some reason, the women took offense to this. They wondered why men couldn't accept women being more driven and/or successful in business than men in some situations. Why?

I am one who is all for a woman being successful, getting a top job based on her skill, knowledge, and experience, and bettering herself instead of staying at home making children. As a woman, I am no less qualified or less able to do jobs that formerly were dominated by men. I can tell from the article, that those women agree. But unlike them, I am able to see why men would be upset with women making more money than them.

If my mate/date made more money than me, it would bother me too! I don't buy into the 'conventional wisdom' that says the man is the "breadwinner." I believe a couple should work together and contribute equally in a relationship. The scales should not be tipped one way or the other.

I believe that no matter the gender, people are naturally competitive. So, if a woman makes more than a man, he'll probably be upset. And if a man makes more than a woman, she'll probably be upset. I don't think it has anything to do with which gender earns a better salary.

The women in the article were also saying that sometimes they dated older men because they were more on the same financial level as they were. To me, that is stupid. If you are looking for a mate based on what they make, rather than what makes them a great person for you, then how will you ever be happy? Look for personality--not money, people!

It's time for people to accept the fact that people will be upset when they make more than them--no matter which person in a relationship makes more.

Here's the link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/fashion/23whopays.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin

Can't We All Just Get Along?

I don't know if you girls keep up with the news or not, but have you heard the story about the "Jena 6"? In case you haven't, here's the story.......At Jena High School in Louisiana, there was a tree under which white guys were known for 'hanging out.' One day, some of the black students asked administrators if they could go under that tree, and they were told that was fine. Before the black students got under the tree, they saw that a group of white students left nooses hanging in the tree to taunt them. Days later, six black students beat one white student to the point of unconsciousness. The white student, however, had not played a part in the hanging of the nooses. Now, the black community is in an uproar because they say the black students, who are being accused of attempted murder, are being treated unfairly and getting an undeserved, harsh penalty. Since the occurrence, people have protested the treatment of the students, and the infamous tree has been cut down.

First of all, why do we still have idiots who can't accept people just because they are of a different race? The white guys who hung the nooses are stupid--plain and simple. And the black students had a right to be angry and even to confront the whites for their stupidity. But six guys beating one guy until he was unconscious?? That's outrageous--and the fact that the person they beat wasn't even involved?? How does that make sense--even to those who committed the act?

The people who beat the victim should be convicted of attempted murder--I don't care if they're aqua colored with purple polka dots! I find it hard to swallow that some black people would support these thugs just because they are black people who were offended by something other people (not the victim) did. I don't say, "Hey, let so-and-so-white-guy out of jail after he beat up a black person just because he's white, and I am too." I say, PUNISH THE GUILTY. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, as usual, are standing up for the wrong things for the wrong reasons and leading some of the African-American community astray--others, thankfully, think for themselves and know that the black students in this case were in the wrong no matter what.

Violence like that which has occurred in this case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. I also think the white people who put up the nooses should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

As for the tree, I don't like when people cut down trees. Couldn't they have just planted flowers all around it, so students couldn't congregate under it? :-P

"Tree Huggers"

Thank God I have my sister to ask what I should write about every now and then! Tonight, she sent me this link to an article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7000991.stm When I read it, I was disgusted.

In case you don't get around to reading the article, I'll give you the gist of what it said. It talked about the Beavan family, who embarked on an "experiment," where they shut off their electricity, used bikes and walking as transportation, quit using toilet paper, and used baking soda, vegetable oil, and the like in order to clean themselves.

I'm in favor of helping the environment, but many of the things Mr. Beavan was having his family do were ridiculous--to the point where I believe his child should have been taken away from him by child protective services. There are those who are interested in things like recycling, and then there are nutty people like the Beavans who go way beyond ridiculousness. Luckily for the Beavans' child, the family "experiment" will not be carried out for the rest of their lives.

I recycle and turn off the lights when I'm not in a room, but I'm not about to stop using soap, toilet paper, refrigeration, and air conditioning for the sake of an "experiment" done to in some minute way to "save the world."

UCF College of Education

After reading Olyvia's most recent blogs about her problems with UCF's College of Education, I figured I'd share my dilemmas about it too, since I can't think of anything else to write about tonight.

Well, UCF has let me down in one way or another every semester I've been here. I swear they try to keep you at this place until you're old and on the verge of death. Often times the classes I needed were full, and they wouldn't let me enroll, so I would either have to try to get an override or pray that the class would be available the next semester.

The College of Education specifically is awful about informing students of what they must do for the program. For probably four to five semesters, I mysteriously had to get overrides into classes even though they WEREN'T full, and then someone finally said, "Oh, well, you're still listed as Education Pending." Well, what do you know? Nobody noticed that and called it to my attention for several semesters?! What's the problem?!

The advisors (or at least the two that I've had) STINK. They never seemed to know what the heck was going on or what I needed to do. Why are they hired to do something they do not and apparently cannot do? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

And now, because of all the fooling around and messing up UCF has done to my classes and scheduling, I am being forced to graduate a semester late! I went to the office last week to get my internship 2 application signed, even though I knew I still had to take 2 more classes (which I wanted to, tried to, and should have been allowed to enter earlier in past semesters but couldn't because UCF messed everything up...) I figured they would let me do the classes during internship 2. But nooooo. It turns out, that they want me to take the 2 classes I'm missing and a surprise third class BEFORE internship 2. So, this means, I won't get to graduate on time in spring 2008 like I had hoped and tried so desperately to do. I'll have to take the 3 classes (and probably a fourth one to keep my Bright Futures scholarship) during spring 2008 and wait until fall 2008 to do my last internship! I am sooo sad, frustrated, and mad about the whole situation--even though there is nothing I can do now. I've tried so hard to fight against the program that has sabotaged me so many times, but it looks as though they won.

Anyway, THIS MESSES UP EVERYTHING! I was sooo upset when they wouldn't let me take the classes with internship 2. I really can't wait to be rid of this school--not only because it's terrible and many of the classes treat us like we're elementary school kids, but also because I AM PASSED READY TO BEGIN TEACHING! I can't wait! And now that I'll be graduating in the fall, I'm pretty sure that will dash my hopes of getting hired at the school of my choice, since it will be in the middle of the school year.

So thanks, UCF, for ruining so much for me. I'm praying that God will make something good of what I consider to be a real bummer--for lack of a better word. :-/ I could definitely use your prayers for patience!

Classical Music's Effects on Children

My last blog featured me spouting off about the negative effects of the "hip-hop culture" and entertainment on young people today. Now, I will move on to something that has a positive effect on children's minds - classical music. Keep in mind, if you will, that the following will be from my own random thoughts, research that I have heard via news articles and/or classes I've taken, and from my own experience. (Therefore, I cannot cite things, since I do not remember where I heard the research--I'm thinking it might have been from Yahoo articles and textbooks???)

I have heard (somewhere) that studies have shown that classical music does wonders for students. It somehow stimulates their brain and allows them to think clearly, focus, and sometimes even perform better academically. Not only do I think it is wise and beneficial to expose children to something that could have such a positive impact, but I also believe that exposing them to different forms of musical genres is good for them - especially to those whom have a musical mindset (Gardner's Eight Multiple Intelligences.)

My very own experience with the positive effects of classical music began when I was in third grade. During handwriting, my teacher would put on a tape of Beethoven or Mozart, and I remember really enjoying that time of writing. I somehow felt very calm and relaxed, and I seemed to focus well with the music playing in the background. Music effects mood as well as academic progress. It would seem to me, then, that teachers would want to encourage students to listen to classical music during class time (and even at home) and use it to help themselves.

Classical music is not only beautiful, calming, and good for the brain, but it is also a simply wonderful alternative to the many inappropriate songs one can hear on the radio today, and that is why I plan to make it an integral part of my future classroom.