American dream and decrease in birthrates in the U.S.
    This articles talks about how the Birth rate in the U.S. is decreasing among American born women. For example, the article states “The birth rate for immigrant women in 2010 was 87.8 per 1,000 births, compared with 58.9 per 1,000 births for American-born women.” This quote tells me that women that are born in the U.S. have less children than women from foreign countries. I believe this has to do with the American dream. Typically when people think for the American dream they think of having a nice house, a good job, a dog, 1 or 2 kids, and a spouse. Many Americans following the American dream influences couples to have 1 or 2 kids and in a sense they fulfill a part of their American dream they are trying to achieve.

A Leading America

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/27/opinion/doherty-america-opportunity/index.html

This article talks about building a new "American Dream." America is known to have the the capital and resources to make changes in the world. This is America focusing on foreign aid rather than America itself, which leads to the idea of American Exceptionalism. Americans believe we are superior and have enough power to make these changes. We have this idea that we are supposedly given the right to govern foreign affairs. If America does make these changes, America can spread the idea of the American Dream to other countries. America is the leader, and has the ability to change the future of others. Solving our own problems, like the debt, should be number one on our list of changes for the future, but instead isn't due to how much pride America takes in being the so-called "best."

Change in Shopping Trends

Black Friday sales and bustling shopping centers have notoriously gone hand-in-hand as consumers seek out the best deals of the season for christmas gifts.  In recent years, the American tradition of shopping department stores has been on the decline as online shopping presents an increasingly convenient and less expensive way to shop, particularly on black friday.  This article is a first person narrative cataloging the experience of department store shopping from the view of a young child, highlighting all of the characteristics that make shopping on black friday somewhat of an American tradition.  (Cultural) Hegemony in this context can be understood as something introduced into society which blends with preexisting circumstances and eventually grows to dominate over what was previously accepted as normal.  At one point in time, in-store shopping had clear cultural hegemony during holiday sales such as black friday, but in recent years online shopping has been the first choice of consumers to purchase items as gifts and for themselves.  The author states that what is left of shopping department store sales is nostalgia for those who still value the experience of getting a "Calvin Klein sport jacket for the price of a bag of organic potatoes."  This article emphasizes the change in cultural hegemony in America as online shopping becomes consumers' method of choice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/fashion/why-department-stores-are-vital-first-person.html?adxnnl=1&src=recg&adxnnlx=1354057568-biyAIfPyA2+0/Ixp7zf+aA&_r=0

Cyber Monday+Material Culture

Cyber Monday 2012 has passed, and the figures show that cyber monday sales have increased by about 30% than last year, making it the largest spending day to date. A good portion of the products sold were new the new tablets--i.e iPad, Kindle, etc.
This makes me feel as if a new era of material culture has been ushered in. As Carolyn De La Pena mentioned how there was a craze in the 1800s with electricity and electric based products, it seems that now manufacturers are looking at starting this trend of tablet computers and other technology pieces to create a similar time period.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-amazon-kindlebre8aq0qt-20121127,0,4261081.story

Soccer problems in America?

Soccer, or football as its called in the rest of the world, is known as the most watched, and most played sport in the world. Being as it is the most popular sport in the world, and the U.S is normally dominant in sports, why is it that we have not been able to excel in soccer at the international level? With the idea of American exceptionalism, and the idea that Americans are the best at everything, you would think that we would want to excel in the worlds most played game. But throughout the years, time and time again our men's soccer team just has not been able to put it together. Could it be that because it is not an American made sport that we don't excel in it? This could make sense, except for the fact that we have excelled in other foreign sports like tennis, hockey and golf. What could be the reason? We obviously have the resources to excel in the sport, we just never have on the men's side.

"Before I die, I want to.."

http://www.ted.com/talks/candy_chang_before_i_die_i_want_to.html

Candy Chang talks about her home in New Orleans and how she used art to grieve over the death of her good friend. One of the comments she makes is about how New Orleans has some of the most beautiful architecture in the world, but also contains one of the highest amount of abandoned properties. Change turns one of these abandoned houses into a giant chalkboard that states, "Before I die, I want to.." and leaves blanks for the community to fill in. This concept of abandoned property brought about the idea of the 'American dream' and what it means to the people of New Orleans. When I think of what the American dream is, one thought that comes to mind is the right to own property. However, if New Orleans has many abandoned properties, what could the 'American' dream mean to many of them? Could it still entail the right to own property?

Black Friday

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/black-friday-deals_n_2179567.html?utm_hp_ref=money

It seems strange that many Americans engage in Black Friday merely hours after they finish giving thanks for what they already have. While many Americans are disgusted by the savagery and "hypocrisy" that surrounds Black Friday, I see the consumer holiday for what it is intended: A day to buy things really, really cheaply for your loved ones.

Sure, the timing of the holiday is a little peculiar. However, the reason it is the day after Thanksgiving is because the day after Thanksgiving is the first day to begin celebrating and indulging in the Christmas spirit. Therefore, it makes sense to celebrate the start of Christmas holiday spirit by having an extreme Christmas shopping fiasco.

I don't think that Black Friday is truly meant to show the savagery and disgusting relationship humans have with things. Rather, I feel the holiday allows individuals to begin indulging in Christmas spirit by buying their loved ones things. As well, isn't it better that they are spending low amounts of money on gifts they would, eventually, have to get? And stimulating the economy at the same time? I'd say so.

And yes, it seems sad that the article states how it seems that money can buy you almost anything, including happiness. But I don't think that is the mindset of the shoppers. I feel the shoppers are just engaging in tradition that brings them their own sense of joy. As well, a bunch of the shoppers are there to give, not get. They buy for others, not themselves. The sales lure them in, yes, but because of the potential of gifts they see for their loved ones.

Tara Storm

Cyber Monday

     Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving when stores offer great sales online. People find it more convenient shopping on Cyber Monday than Black Friday because they do not have to wait in line for hours. This reminded me of American Ecxeptionalism by the way that Americans are always trying to improve themselves and make their lives easier. In this case electronic technology is used, chick can be related to De La Penas readings because it talks about people using technology to improve themselves as well.


http://useconomy.about.com/od/demand/f/Cyber_Monday.htm

Fights on Black Friday

We all know the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. A day where people literally fight over discounted items a day after we gave thanks for things we already have.  These two holidays that are back-to-back are polar opposites of each other.  One advocating thanks for what we have, and the other advocating greed.  It's interesting how this "holiday" has become ingrained into our culture, and how we participate in it every year, although we know of the negative impacts that it has on both a cultural level, and a personal level (mainly injuries).  It's similar to the lawn people who use pesticides even though they are aware of the risks they entail.  Walmart spokesperson Dianna Gee said it best, "No amount of merchandise is worth someones life."

Link to an article talking about the "highlights" of Black Friday 2012: http://sourcefednews.com/black-friday-2012-the-highlights/

Gangnam Style Explosion

It was probably the "Summer Jam" for a lot of us, especially the ones who stayed in Davis and went out to the bars but to Psy, Gangnam Style has changed his life. It is now the most watched video on Youtube and has the most likes ever on a video.

I have a lot of Facebook friends that were appalled by the fact that the number one song on iTunes wasn't even in English. Racialization clearly played a big part in this song coming to our great country. Since everyone has ethnic differences, it is hard to describe what will and won't be accepted among an audience of people. Psy is now seen as the one Asian dude who dances like he is riding a horse. Instead, we should be embracing his actions and dreams. In the end, his song was the new soulja boy and dougie.



http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/gangnam-style-most-viewed-youtube-video-time-134533498.html

Republican Lesbians are Unicorns?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/us/politics/lesbian-republicans-long-a-rare-political-breed-raise-their-profiles.html?ref=us&_r=0

This is an article from the New York Times.  I thought that it was interesting because it compared republican lesbians to unicorns because of their rarity.  The most shocking part of this was the woman who helped write the law that bans same-sex marriage is now fighting to overturn that same law.  This just goes to show how policies are fluid and how America changes throughout the years.  The gay rights movement is parallel to the women's suffrage movement as well as the African-American suffrage movement.

Black Friday

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/black-friday-deals_n_2179567.html?utm_hp_ref=money

After reading this article the idea of Black Friday as an ideology came to mind. To most people Black Friday is just a day of massive sales and shopping. However, as I thought  more about it I began to realize that it is a tradition that controls us. 

As the article states: "Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may have been proven stronger than ever this year."

Even though we know the craziness that has ensued in the past people still flock to stores as if their lives depended on it. This also reminded me of the Robbins' Lawn People article because of its story at the beginning: the woman knew the chemicals were harmful but she used them anyway. We perpetuate the insanity of Black Friday because we prove that we have a strong desire to have these materialistic items, which are provided by retailers and producers of consumer goods who know we will always buy these things.

As a side note, my definition of an ideology may not be very sound so I will be interested to hear other people's thoughts about my theory of this ideology. 

Psychiatry - Less talking, more fixing

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/magazine/psychotherapys-image-problem-pushes-some-therapists-to-become-brands.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This article describes how psychiatrists have trouble filling their client lists until they 'brand' themselves to particular specialties, such as an example from the article one says she has an affinity for technology then loads up her client list with patients ( mostly parents ) who are concerned about cyberbullying, sexting, etc.

One quote in particular, “Nobody wants to buy therapy anymore... [they] want to buy a solution to a problem”, reminded me distinctly of De La Pena's The Body Electric. Men of the turn of the century sought discreet solutions to their anxiety over masculinity as to avoid talking about it and drawing negative attention to themselves.

Americans have evoked a similar feeling, by wanting to skip passed the "... blah blah sounding message" and getting straight to some solution, but also take it a step further. They not only avoid talking about issues out of embarrassment, but out of impatience. To keep up with the busy lifestyle required, multiple jobs / school / family, things need to happen right and happen right now.

Made in the U.S.A

It is almost impossible now to find a product made in the United States.  Most of the products we buy from stores are made in foreign countries.  Today as I was walking down the aisles of the retail store I work for I was stopped by an older customer.  He asked me about the quality of the tool kit we were having for sale.  I answered all his questions, including the one about the country where the tools were made.  The customer responded by saying, “Nothing is made in America anymore, all these Chinese products are inferior!”  This response made me think about American exceptionalism that lives inside of many of the conscious minds of the people I interact with.  It’s ironic that people consider anything made in the United States superior, but to people’s dismay most products even the ones that say made in the U.S.A are made outside of the country.  This goes to show the ignorance of people in context of the United States compared to the rest of the world.  At a young age we are told that this country is the best, and for many this idea is engraved in their minds.  

As American As Apple Pie

This Thanksgiving I saw an advertisement for the typical "American" holiday dinner, and the "American" traditions that go along with it, for example, having a turkey and apple pie.  The ad continued on to talk about how "your holiday feast won't be the same without them", and I was surprised at what the advertisement company constituted as "American".  It brought up questions about what it means to be "American" on national holidays like these, and why almost every family follows the exact same traditions throughout the years.

What it means to be an american

http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/secessionist_20121114/

I remember reading this cartoon after some states were threatening to secede after Obama won. Reminded me of how in order for one to be "American" one had to be white and that the definition of white has changed through many supreme court cases. It seems that for some people, what it means to be an American hasn't changed since the 1800's

Black managers

http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/21/black-advertising-executives-pay-it-forward/

I found this article on CNN talking about how black managers in the advertising industry population is very low. It said that only 7% of the managers are black. This data reminded me racialization and color blind racism. The PDF link showed that there is not a huge percentage difference in the number of employees between whites and backs but when it comes to managers, a huge gap in the numbers form. I thought this has to do with the hegemonic control of the whites in the industry.  I am guessing their power in the industry puts blacks in a disadvantaged position and ended up with a statistic like this unconsciously.

Regarding "Code Words" in Letter to President Obama

I came across an interesting article that talked about the racial connotations particular words have. The link below is not of that specific article, but a response from republicans regarding the accusation by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. that they used "code words" in a letter to President Obama that had underlying racial meaning.  Clyburn claims the use of the word "incompetent" to describe Susan Rice, the African American, US ambassador to the United Nations, was a way of racializing a particular decision she made. Clyburn, an African American himself who grew up in the South went on to say that such words historically have been used negatively towards minorities. This article allowed me to connect with the ideas presented in Bonilla-Silva's "Racism without Racists" and Douglas Bayton's "Disability and the Justification of Inequality in American History." Like the many people Bonilla-Silva interviewed who claimed not to be racist, the republicans that responded to Clyburn's accusation also claim that they did imply any racial deficiencies by describing Rice they way they did. Of the over 90 republicans who signed the letter, some of which were from southern states, could have edited the letter because they probably understood the sensitivity of using such a word, but they didn't. The way in which Clyburn presents his argument makes it seem that the republicans were suggesting that Rice is ill-equipped for a position in the President's cabinet because of her race. Her being of African American heritage, as Bayton claimed, is like a disability that will prevent her from successfully fulfilling a role. People may claim that Clyburn is taking the word out of context and even playing the infamous black card, but within the context of our course, it's quite possible that this is a form of color blind racism and an attack on African Americans being incompetent due to their race. This just goes to show that that even though reform and law have eliminated civil injustices, eliminating the ideology of the white establishment is far from a democratic process.

http://thehill.com/video/campaign/269041-house-republican-says-rep-clyburn-absolutely-false-about-gop-letter-on-amb-rice

TVs for Sale

http://bfads.net/Ad/Best-Buy-2012

This is a Best Buy ad for black Friday deals. One interesting thing I see around black Friday are ads with a big screen T.V. on the front page. This ad in particular has one on the front page and at the very beginning. This I believe promotes the idea of having a bigger and better T.V. for every household and its been working. Many houses I have been in have a big T.V. in their living room. I see American Exceptionalism because I think the size of the T.V. resembles the power the owner feels. Let me know what you guys think.

Racisssm

Article: http://diverseeducation.com/article/49589/

This article deals with the issue of a ban on affirmative action that was deemed unconstitutional in Michigan 8 to 7. People in the article claim that the playing field is equal and that racism is non existent. The Michigan attorney general believes that the“Entrance to our great universities must be based upon merit.” And thus by saying that is showing us the color blind racism in the presupposition that "Black students do not enter 'our great universities' based on their merit and superior white students do." The affirmative action ban, has been deemed "openly biased" as well, as demonstrated by the decrease in black students since it was instituted in 2008. This article shows color blind racism in an assumption that white people deserve to go to college more than the black people.
This article might also tie into the ideology that everyone has a fair chance at college, when in reality it is obvious that sometimes this is not the case. If we were to reverse the argument against blacks and say that they are getting in when they deserve it, then the whites do not have as good of a chance of getting in.
Overall, this article was one that can create emotions from both sides. Some, believe that blacks do not have equal opportunity to get into college and therefore deserve extra help from their harsh beginnings, and others believe that they have had enough and are not on a even playing field. What do you think?

Achieving the American Dream

http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/20/real_estate/home-building/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

This CNN article discusses how the rate of home construction this past October has risen to its highest point in the past four years.  This growing trend applies to both single and multi-family housing projects.  In relation to the course concepts covered in this class, this article shows how although there are numerous other financial commitments that Americans are concerned with such as the rising cost of education, environmental disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, and the upcoming holiday spending period, the concept of owning one's homes remains an extremely important factor in achieving the American Dream.  In addition, the idea of buying a house demonstrates the rather American concept that through hard work, one can achieve social mobility and make a better life for them self.

"American Cuisine"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071222144339AAma75o

while browsing about on the internet, i stumbled upon this interesting Yahoo! answers® question of the true american food. Is there such a thing as the one true "American" Cuisine? many may agree that the hamburger is the answer, but after a quick dig, it's origins can be traced back to the German town of Hamburg (hence the name "Hamburger"), and invented by Otto Kuase . what about barbecuing? Brought into the Americas, by the Spanish. so, does that mean there is no "true" American Cuisine? the answer is complicated, since what i see as being the true "American" cuisine, is the Americanization of other dishes. This makes sense, at it solidifies the melting pot concept of America, wherein just like the immigrants, who are taken and blended into this melting pot, to create the modern american, these culinary "influences" are taken in together and combined to create something unique, something american. if you notice, authentic Mexican tacos are different than Americanized tacos; Mexican tacos are usually served with 6 inch diameter soft tortillas, loaded with choice meat and topped off with onions and cilanto, while americanized tacos are served with crunchy folded corn tortillas, with ground beef, and lettuce. like being thrown into the melting pot, an immigrant loses the specific distinction of themselves as an immigrant, and takes up a "unifom" notion as an american.

Romney's "gifts"

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/15/opinion/martin-romney-gifts/?iref=obnetwork

This is an opinion article by Roland Martin as a response to Romney's "gifts" comment over his loss in the election. Romney's comments are a very clear example of racialization, in which he associates non-racial issues in a racial way. In the statement where Romney claims that Obamacare was a big incentive for African-American voters, he also "subtly" tacks on the claim that for "somebody making $25, or $30, or $35,000 a year... free health care is a big plus". Romney's additional information is also an example of Bonilla-Silva's "color-blind racism" ideology, in which he tries to provide a logical explanation for  racial matters by rationalizing why Obamacare would be extremely appealing for the black community. Although it can be agreed that poverty is indeed a large issue being faced by the black community, poverty affects people regardless of race. However, Romney takes it a a step further by then associating black people with poverty through his rationalization of why he lost his campaign.

Midlife Crisis

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121119-apes-happiness-midlife-crises-science-animals/

This article talks about how chimps and orangutans go through mid life crises just like humans do. This article mentions that in both apes and humans alike if a graph of overall happiness and well being was made, it is seen to be a U shaped graph, with the middle of the life being the lowest in happiness. It also talks about how during this time period, the apes need more attention or enrichment, or more items. This reminds me of the electric belt, and the concept of material culture, that the men in this time period seemed to be going through what might be considered a crisis, and they were turning to material culture and objects to try and help fix their problems.

What foreigners view America as

The video is from YouTube: http://youtu.be/ybDKfGEw4aU

This video from Saturday Night Live is about Americans who complain about the privileges of technology we have and compare them to Chinese who live in third world China and have less privileges. The video shows how Americans are view as selfish, materialistic, naive, wealthy, diabetic, lazy, and other negative connotations. At the end of the video, the Chinese could not think of any products made in America and ask if diabetes count as a product made by Americans.

We see American Exceptionalism, apolitical ecology ideology, and hegemony playing in the image of America. We see how Americans think we are the best of all countries with a lot of privileges to everything and have easy access to everything.We see how Americans do not care or think about the third world countries who are making products for us and living so poor, so that we can afford stuff at a cheaper cost. We see how America is influencing China to become like us through these big corporations expansion to third world countries. All of this play into our minds when the three Chinese laborers commented on the Americans complaints. The video critiques American Exceptionalism, apolitical ecology ideology and hegemony. It could also critiques about other American concepts such as the self-made man.

Nosy America?

foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/18/us-britain-warn-about-risks-israel-becoming-involved-in-ground-war/

The United States is giving advice to two autonomous countries on how they should govern themselves and regarding rocket attacks between Israelis and Palestinians. Neither nation requested advice regarding the conflict, but Israel is allied with America, so America feels it has the right to counsel Israel even when it is not solicited. The U.S. is also attempting to get other countries in the Mideast to intervene to gain peace. 

This relates to the idea of American Exceptionalism. The U.S. believes because we are such a well-developed nation and superior to these quarreling nations, we have the the right to tell them how to govern themselves “properly” and to suggest a “better” foreign policy. 

How to Live Without Irony

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/how-to-live-without-irony/?ref=opinion

This New York Times article discusses our generation's creation of the hipster. It describes the hipster as a problem free, careless person, who gains benefits from society without actually contributing anything. The style and overall lifestyle was thought to be created because our generation has little to do in terms of culture. We have the belief that everything has already been done, so we dress, talk, and think ironically all the time. This article really applies to how America is a consumer culture. We not only rely on material things, but our lifestyle revolves around them, making our generation the "ironic" one.

Surgical advancements

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/business/single-incision-surgery-via-new-robotic-systems.html?ref=science&_r=0

Modern day technology allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery that limits scarring, improves recovery time and prevents prolonged disability. Robotic surgical procedures allow for much smaller cuts which in turn improves recovery time. The reduced recovery time removes the short term stigma of disability. For those of us who have had surgery in the past, the dependence on caretakers can be frustrating. While disability resulting from surgery is usually for a short period of time, it makes you appreciate the heroism of caretakers of the chronically disabled. The time and patience involved with taking care of a disabled person is truly incredible. The new robotic system shortens the recovery time of a relatively minor procedure. Hopefully, developers can create similar technologies to shorten the recovery period of trauma victims (especially war veterans) and common disorders of the elderly.

The First Black President of North America?

http://www.theroot.com/views/who-was-first-black-president

Many Americans believe that Obama was the first black president of North American, including myself, until I found this article, correcting the popular belief.  A man named  Vicente Guerrero, the second president of the Republic of Mexico in 1829, was the first black president or as his opponents referred to him, "el Negro Guerrero" .  Race was and still is important to many civilians, many believe the color of your skin is an indication of an individual's mental capabilities.  Over 179 years later, would America break the barriers of racializing the qualifications for presidency.  Does this imply America is less socially evolved then Mexico and other countries? 

The Iconic Flag

http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2012/09/20/obamas-bastardization-of-american-icons-shows-disdain-for-states/

Though this is from September, I found it relevant due to the election being earlier this month. Trying to take our personal views of politics out of the equation, the idea of one of America's greatest icons (The Flag) being altered is one many find disturbing. The Flag is a representation of our country and one many of us drew when visualizing America in class. What do people think of this alteration of the flag and the reasons claimed for doing so?

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/11/14/nick-shore-mtv-gen-y-millennial-making-america?hpt=hp_t3

This idea of the American Dream is changing for everyone. Having the perfect ideal American Dream is defined differently by everyone. In the past, many people defined the American Dream as to having a home in the suburban area with a wife, children, and a family dog. Along with that people had an ideal job, such as a businessman or an office job. The ideal American Dream was an achievable dream that many could accomplish with their salary. Today, the ideal American Dream has changed for many people. It is now believed that in order to achieve the American Dream, one should graduate from college with a sufficient amount of education and a degree. It is estimated that it would cost over $20,000 because of the outrageous college debt. This example of people trying to achieve the American Dream due to the idea of hegemony. Since it is believe that if one has a degree, then it means they've accomplish a part of their American Dream. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore since many students are graduating with sky-rocketing debts.

I believe that the American Dream can not be reached because everyone defines it differently and people are constantly wanting to better their lives by wanting what they can't have.

A Look at Immigration Reform from the Republican Side

I was browsing the daily articles on Yahoo today, when I noticed this particular piece talking about a what-if scenario if certain Republican candidates had their take at immigration reform. It was rather interesting to see the wide spectrum of opinions on the subject: some were open to the idea of citizenship for illegal immigrants in exchange for a temporary moratorium on legal immigration while they "assimilate", while others would not even entertain the idea. I think the most radical idea came from Sen. Lindsey Graham who said that legalization should be paired with the repeal of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. I found this article to be very relevant to our course in relation to the concept of citizenship, and the differences between cultural citizenship and legal citizenship. What does being a citizen entail?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republican-led-immigration-reform-look-204220812--politics.html

Expansion of Same-Sex Marriage in the US

This articles talk about how the push for gay marriage is being pushed in the United States. According to this article nine states including Washington, DC where same- sex marriage is or will be legal soon.  This articles states that it is the younger generation that is making the main push for the same-sex marriage to be legalized. This can be related to the melting pot concept and asking whether gays or lesbians are able to “Fit in” the American culture. Its asking the question whether gays and lesbian marriage should be legally allowed.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/us/advocates-of-gay-marriage-extend-their-campaign.html?ref=us

Brain on Fire

http://shine.yahoo.com/book-club/-brain-on-fire---a-writer-possessed.html

A normal healthy 24 year old woman suddenly went into a state of paranoia, psychosis, catatonia, and also began seizing. Doctors could not identify the cause of these symptoms until Dr. Souhel Najjar came along. When he was a child, he was labeled 'stupid' so would not come to be anything great. This article relates to how we see illness and disability nowadays. The article comments about how many years ago, if she had come in with these symptoms she would have been institutionalized or assumed to be possessed or possibly disabled. Neurological autoimmune disorders are under diagnosed and how these disorders work has yet to be determined.

The concept of disability and the way it is defined came to mind when I read the article. If her disease had not been discovered, would she have technically been described as disabled or would she be considered just ill?

Victoria's Secret

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/victoria-secret-apologizes-fashion-show-gaffe-194400804.html

There was controversy about some model wearing a Native American headdress in Victoria's Secrets most recent fashion show. It reveals how Americans stereotype these Native American individuals in pop culture. Even though VS's intention was not to offend anybody, I find it pretty pathetic for them to even portray women wearing close to nothing, let alone a Native American headdress.

Breaking Down Medical Class Walls

Mechanical Engineering students at University of Illinois are expanding prosthetic technology to those who did not have access to it before. Approximately 80% of the worlds amputees live in developing countries and this new prosthetic arm can be made cheaply and does not need to be custom fit.

The frontier is typically thought of as the edge of the settled country,  or the edge of what is comfortable. This is expanding the frontier of the medical world where accessibility is universal. Where access to healthcare is a basic human right and not just that of the wealthy.

http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/11/01/ts-prosthetic-arm.cnnmoney/

America Poster

I saw this poster at the library the other day and I had to stop to take a picture because it instantly made me think of this class.  The other day when we were talking about cultural narratives such as the American Dream (which is mentioned above in the poster) it made me think of all the things that we associate with being American.  In the example it says "white bread" and "apple pie" which I have heard of being associated with America but "mom" is not something that I have heard of as being strictly American.  What interested me was the purpose of this poster and why was it displayed in the library?

Schizophrenics Aren't Cuddly

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/08/nation/la-na-jared-loughner-20121109

As a mentally ill person, I find it disturbing and sad the way that Giffords' disabilities mark her as a victim while Loughner's disability, schizophrenia, marks him as a menace.  Also, in all of the media coverage that I've read and heard he is always described as "having been" schizophrenic, as if schizophrenia is a transient state.  I guess a cocktail of meds can now keep him sane enough to be punished.  Bloodlust, anyone?

Expanding the Frontier of Medical Technology

http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Man-with-thought-controlled-bionic-leg-3998896.php#photo-3672333

After losing his right leg in a tragic motorcycle accident, Zac Vawter volunteered to be the test subject for a new electronic prosthetic.  Funded by the Department of Defense, this prosthetic is unique from other electronic leg prosthetics in that it’s movement controlled by electrical impulses from the brain. 


In his Frontier Thesis, Frederick Jackson Turner defined the frontier as not only the geographic boundaries the US, but also the point of greatest change in a given field.  



The technological frontier is nothing new in America, but until now, little has been invested in the development of leg prostheses controlled by brain impulses.  Once the prototype is fully tested and deemed ready for the market, this new electronic prosthetic will expand the frontier of medical science and the development of artificial limbs.  

Female Viagra

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-11-07/news/34977438_1_sexual-desire-sexual-dysfunction-new-drug

So apparently there is a new product that has been developed in Canada that is the female equivalent of Viagra. The product, called Tefina, is administered through the nose, which will of course increase the sexual desire for the woman. 

I found this article interesting because, for the longest time, sex has been mostly geared towards the man and fulfilling his needs, with such products as Viagra, and the electric belt (although the electric belt never did anything to aid the user, it was more a product of the time). As woman's rights and needs are being met more than ever, as they should be, we see the emerging of products such as Tefina that cater towards them. 

Something I found interesting also is that the product is administered through the nose. This might be so that someone can't slip the drug into them without their knowledge. Or that's the only way for the drug to work, I don't know.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkErhC2ufeQ&feature=player_embedded

Beyond Tolerance

In the November 1st, edition of The California Aggie there is an article explaining the importance and benefits of Beyond Tolerance, "a campus program that provides support and resources for various campus clubs and organizations to promote knowledge and respect of the many diverse cultures that exist in our community."  It was very interesting to me, yet unfortunate that even after so much time has past where people live in such a hybridized culture, unfortunately discrimination like this still exists and people are constantly striving to eliminate it.

Lance Armstrong: A Fallen Hero

          Lance Armstrong, once the face of hope for all those with cancer. But with his latest steroid scandal, those days are far gone.  After pleading guilty for use of steroids Armstrong's wins from 98-05 in the Tour De France were nullified. What does this mean for his legacy? Not just as a cyclist, but for his once highly admired "Livestrong" foundation.

           In correlation to the concept of the body and disability in America in our class, Armstrong was one who rose above the odds and beat cancer. He was a symbol of hope and strength for cancer patients not only in America, but worldwide. But with the latest discovery of his use of steroids, what is to make of his rise above the competition. Was he really unable to beat his competition without the use of steroids?  Did all the hype about being able to beat cancer and giving hope and belief to the masses dissolve with this latest discovery? If anything, he might have contributed to the idea that those with disabilities need help and to be fixed. Instead of training like a normal cyclist he took outside help, he used steroids to compensate. The once great hero has now hurt more than he ever helper, without even realizing it.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/12/lance-armstrong-quits-livestrong-entirely/?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/sport/lance-armstrong-usada-cycling/index.html?iref=allsearch

The Racialization of Hip Hop

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/fashion/yale-graduates-seek-a-degree-in-hip-hop.html?ref=technology&_r=0

This news article expresses the increasing popularity of a website called Rap Genius, founded by three Yale graduates, that deciphers hip hop lyrics.  Recently, this website has garnered attention due to racist comments coming from both the rappers and the people who work on the site.

This article is an example of racialization, the process in which racial meaning is given to something that is non-racial, because those in hip-hop and often the industry itself have constantly been surrounded by racial stereotypes and stigmas against black people causing such statements to be said aloud.

The last paragraph of the article states:
"Mr. Moghadam [one of the founders] insists that the beef was largely tongue-in-cheek, and that the bluster is just part of the pugnacious hip-hop world. 'Dissing is their vocabulary,' he said. 'If they're dissing you, they're showing you respect.'"
I feel this could fall under Bonilla-Silva's ideology of color-blind racism, in which people aren't directly racist but use a cover-up explanation in which they talk about it in a different way, because this quote makes it seem as if rappers and hip-hop music may not always explicitly express racist comments but it doesn't mean that they are not still in the music only covered up by various other methods.

As a side note, I wanted to write about this because I really don't know much about hip hop music so I was curious and interested to write about something I hadn't really thought that much about. I am interested to know what people think about the article.

Thanksgiving getting more expensive?

After looking across various articles, I found one that caught my attention because of how peculiar it was. 

The headline read "Thanksgiving dinner cost may increase...price of turkey increasing." Essentially, the article details how on average, purchasing a turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner will cost more than it has in previous years, as proven by a new study from the American Farm Bureau. Across the nation, the price is expected to increase about 5-6%. 

The immediate thought that came to my mind when I read the headline was the concept of "hegemony." I know that it seems like a long shot, but here was my logic behind it--during Thanksgiving time in America, it is obvious that turkey is in high demand and that many individuals go to extreme lengths to get them--essentially, it is a seller's market, and they can manipulate it however they please, because they know that their turkeys will still sell. 

If we recall the general notion of hegemony: A dominated class gives consent  to the ideology that dominates them, we can put these two concepts together--in this situation, the consumers take the role of the dominated class, and they consent to the ideology that governs them (meaning they will continue to purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving, no matter how much the price goes up). 

I mean, let's be honest, there is NO WAY that consumers will boycott the purchase of turkey because the price goes up--we all know that, the producers know that as well...so we are almost giving turkey distributors permission to do with the prices and quality as they please. 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/11/thanksgiving-dinner-may-cost-pretty-penny-as-survey-shows-price-turkey/?test=latestnews

Black Friday

I know that it is still 12 days away, but somehow I am more excited for the Black Friday sales that are going to happen this year. I am thinking about splurging on an iPad myself. I was looking at Apps that I could download because I am definitely an Apple junkie. When I came across the the newest Angry Birds game,  Angry Birds meets Star Wars I got really excited since, I am a Star Wars nerd and I am so excited that a Star Wars 7 movie is in the works. I hoped on my computer and opened CNN.com and you wouldn't believe what article I found. It was telling me all about the new Angry birds game and what special powers the birds will have, not to mention that the arena is called the "Pig Star". As my excitement wore off and I started writing my post, I thought to myself... it is really sad that I am more excited about the Angry Birds game and getting an iPad than I am to actually go home for Thanksgiving and see some of my family members that I haven't seen in forever.

I am a direct example to what de la Pena was talking about. People need their "fix" of energy. Mine energy a direct link to what I can purchase that will be so cool that my siblings will be jealous. I think that there is a fine line between a healthy relationship with technology and the path that I am headed on. De la Pena was very direct by saying that middle to upper class people felt tired and stress and needed an outlet to "fix" their issue. I know that I am tired and stressed and I know that my justification to why I need an iPad is so that I can do my work "on the go" instead of always needing my computer with me. That my friends is an unhealthy relationship with technology!



http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/08/tech/gaming-gadgets/angry-birds-star-wars/index.html

The beginning of cyborgs?

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/2012-2013/09/20120926_telescopic_eye_implant.html

As some of you probably noticed last month, the UC Davis main page featured a large diagram of the human eye, with some slogan about a surgery that took place and some mention of new technology being used.

Back in May of this year, UC Davis Med Center was one of the first to successfully implant an FDA-approved telescopic 'eye' ( http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/telescopic-eye-implant-approved-by-the-fda/ ) onto the eye of an elderly patient who suffered from a degenerative disease that causes blindness. It's news resurfaced recently to confirm that the patient is seeing "better than ever" after just a couple months.

If you haven't clicked the link to see what the implant looks like, go do so now. It just plain looks cool.

Being a techy major myself, I was most impacted by the De La Pena readings and discussion. The news of this implant furthers my belief that we are still seeking to use technology to improve ourselves in every avenue possible, much like the citizens of America in the late 19th century. I ask myself: How long will it be until we're grafting technologies, like telescoping eyes or prosthetic limbs, onto ourselves for pleasure, or to improve our healthy selves, instead of fixing medical problems? Will a normal lifestyle, one without technological enhancements, soon be considered a disease of itself? A hindrance on the rest of society, much like how people viewed ( and maybe still view ) handicapped people in their respective times?

I think so, but in a 'good' way. I personally support technology improving humans however it can. Thoughts?

An American Opportunity

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/black-electorate-responds-mightily-to-perceived-voter-intimidation-efforts/2012/11/07/d7596304-2900-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html

The article focuses primarily on responses to Obamas reelection and specifically on African American's responses and statistics dealing with the re-election. Early in the story, an interviewee mentions how “This is a man who is fighting for the opportunity for all people to reach the American dream." This directly has to deal with the concept of the American dream that was discussed in class. They believe that Obama can help them achieve this goal. Further, this article also deals with color blind racism as it is evident in the article that there were dozens of billboards indirectly hinting to largely black communities that "Voter Fraud is a Felony" and mentioning that committing this action can cause 'jail time and hefty pines for violators. Although, the organizations that put these signs were not directly racist, they were indirectly racist, by targeting these ads at black communities, which indirectly says something about their character.

Welcome and Instructions

Welcome to the blog for Intro to AMS, Fall 2012, for Daniel's sections! Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you will), is as follows: During weeks 7, 8, 9, and 10 you will be responsible for posting to a class blog. The entire section will be split into two groups – either A or B. During the week that your group is assigned to post, the other group will be assigned to comment on your posts. Your posts and comments are expected to be at least four sentences long. We expect these posts to engage current events taking place during Fall 2012 because they are meant to be real-world extrapolations of the course materials. You can pick a current news item and then think about it in terms of the course concepts or the course readings. If you want to apply the course concepts to popular culture then feel free to do so (believe me, I have lots to say about hip hop, and am conversant in both Bieber fever and NBA trades.) Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say!

John Sununu, Colin Powell, and the racialization of Black American politicans

In this news article on CBS.com from October 26, the writers state that John Sununu, a Mitt Romney surrogate, said that Colin Powell, a Black American Republican political official, was supporting President Obama for re-election because Colin Powell and President Obama are both Black. Sununu said, "When you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to look at whether that's an endorsement based on issues or he's got a slightly different reason for endorsing President Obama."

Link to story: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57541013/sununu-suggests-colin-powells-obama-endorsement-racially-driven/

This statement is an example of racialization, the process by which non-racial things (like supporting a candidate for president) are understood to be racial issues: because of Colin Powell's skin color, and that of the President, Powell's endorsement was understood to be about skin color, rather than politics. Although it is true that race and racialization invariably play some part in politics, it is clear here that Black American politicians are held to different standards and expectations because of their perceived race. Sununu himself, for example, is never accused of (or has implied about him) that he is supporting Mitt Romney because they are both white.