Cell Phones

For my topic, I chose to do text messaging. It is a very broad topic right now, but I haven't yet decided what I am going to narrow it down to. The four sources I chose were the essays given to us, and I am also planning on looking for additional ones. Some things I learned about my topic, from reading the essays were that cell phones have definitely taken over our lives and texting has become the new rage with kids and adults. We cannot take cell phones lightly, because they are apart of our lives and we have become attached to them.

The first essay I chose to read was "The Affliction," because it discussed the fact that cell phones have made people rude, and have seriously taken over society. When we don't have our phones on us, we feel "naked" and that is hard to think about. The fact that we rely on our cell phones everyday of our lives is just crazy. The second one I read was "Our Cell Phones, Ourselves," which talked about how we always reach for our phones when put in uncomfortable situations. I liked it because it said that our cell phones are used for security, making us feel safe in times of need. In the third essay I read, "Text Messaging as a Toy or Tool," it discussed the topic of kids using texting as a reason to get away, it is private. Parents can't read the texts as they walk by, so kids are able to talk to friends right out in the open. Lastly, the fourth essay, "U R 2 Old" says that texting gives the child a separate life away from the parents. But, more parents are learning to text so they can be more close with their child and stay in touch with them. For me, all these essays really helped in seeing the different view about cell phones and texting, and how this specific technology has taken over adults and children everywhere.

"The First Technological Revolution and Its Lessons"

After reading "The First Technological Revolution and Its Lessons," by Peter Drucker I was very confused at the beginning because it kept talking about irrigation cities and I didn't quite understand what Drucker was trying to say about them. But, then I realized that irrigation cities are what started the "technological revolution." Drucker discussed the fact that technology just keeps expanding and there is always going to be social and political issues when it comes to new advances in technology. If technology continues to advance, I'm sure it will cause more social and political issues, just by the fact that it already causes people to not talk to others and be completely unsocial. Text messaging has become the new rage and talking has gone out the window.

Technology is definitely moving up and it is a little scary to think what the world will be like in the future after seeing all the technology they have come up with so far. New devices keep coming into our stores everyday, like the iPhone, a touch screen computer, newer ipods, and it gets harder and harder to keep up. One has to wonder, what will they come up with next, what will the future hold?

Great American Vacation Destinations

The three videos I chose from "America at Leisure," were Claremont Theatre, The Roller Skate Craze, and Basketball, Missouri Valley College. When I watched the Claremont Theatre video, it was interesting to me that the people dressed up for the movie, so in that sense it was more like a play. Similarly, the movie is played throughout the day and people are always together and talking when they come out of the theatre. I think one of the emotions that is brought up when going to the theaters is excitement, because you want to see the movie and you are glad to be with friends and family. The next video, Roller Skate Craze, showed clips of people skating around town, falling, being with friends. Things have definitely changed since back then, because we now have roller blades, but they aren't even the rage anymore. Roller skates brought up excitement, nervousness, and more. The last video, Basketball, amazed me because the girls were actually wearing dresses while playing. I know when I play basketball, I am happy, but also frustrated when something doesn't go right. The way things were back then are in some ways different than today, but I think most of the similarities come from the emotions we get when doing them.

So, I was very excited to watch the Disneyland video, because Disneyland is a huge part of my life. I have never been to Disney World, but most of the things there look very similar to Disneyland. When tourists visit this magical place, I think they have the best time, because they get all they expected and more. They have a ride that takes you around a tour of the entire park, stores galore and rides for both children and adults. Every time I go to Disneyland, it seems like there is always something new and I always have the greatest time. I think it has only changed a little bit since back then, because they have tried to keep that magical feeling. Some things that have changed is the rides, some have become more like movies to keep people interested, and prices have certainly gone up. Other than those things, I think the park has stayed exactly the same. I used to go to the park every summer of my life, it stopped at the beginning of high school, but I have gone a few times since then, and it never gets old to me. Whether your a teenager or an adult, once you step into Disneyland, you become a child all over again.

"Why We Travel..."

While reading this article I was having a hard time understanding the last half of it because it began turning into metaphors about travelling and the different meanings and I just wasn't getting what Pico Iyer was saying. But, I did understand the beginning and his thoughts about travel. When we travel, we like to forget our troubles and just "lose ourselves to find ourselves." We like to see a new setting from what we are always seeing on a day to day basis, allowing us to feel alive and free to do what we please. Then Iyer started talking about tourists and how they can destroy cultures, but also revive them. I totally agree with this, because they take away from the culture's uniqueness, but they also allow them to show their skills when making things for tourists to buy. Travelling does many things for people, including changing our moods and states of mind.

I can say that travelling is a big part of my life, not that I go outside of the United States, but I do love to travel. When I travel it takes away so much stress in my life, allowing me to be in a happy mood the entire trip. I think I also love to travel because it gets me away from home life, and puts me into a completely different environment where there are new sights to see. I think everyone should travel every once in while; it not only gives you a different outlook on the world, but also relieves you of normal life situations.