for my extra credit i created an account on second life. creating an account was quite easy to do. it only took a few seconds. i named my aviatar van levee. not really creative i know but it worked. entering the second life i had no clue on what to do it seemed like something simple but at the same time hard to get around. as you can see by my screen shot during my experience on second life my avatar ran into other avatars. some flying and others just walking around looking as clueless as me. being on second life reminded me a lot of the game sims even though even with sims i never really got into it. it seems like itd be something to pass the time with but i dont see myself personally getting into it. for a while it was like i was just wondering alone until i ended up here with all these other people. so for some time it was kind of boring and even then nothing much really happened. one other avatar did try to start a conversation with me and all i could think was i dont know you dont talk to me! its pretty interesting to see how people get into these programs. its really all going back to the whole social networking but now with characters and different lives. perhaps the whole taking a class on second life would be more interesting.

Podcast

Lets Talk About It
Episode 1: Topic A Choice Humanitarian mission ends tragically
Intro Music Clip: Title: Natashia Bedingfiled “unwritten” Time: 20 seconds
Intro: Time: 1 minute
Hello everyone I am Vanessa Montemayor and this is “lets talk about it.” First I would like to say thank you for tuning in and I hope that we all enjoy todays topic and hope it fills all of us with inspiration. Today I am going to touch on an event that took place earlier this year in Guatemala regarding a humanitarian mission that ended tragically. I also want to take the time from today’s show to discuss the bigger issue which is the impact of humanitarian missions as a whole.

Segment Music Clip: Titile: “Hero” by Mariah Carey
Segment: Minutes: 2 minutes
On August 24,2008 a small plane crashes in Guatemala killing 10 people. Of those ten killed were five Americans on a humanitarian mission for a group based in West Jordan, Utah. The name of this group is Choice Humanitarian. The group was flying to a small village near El Estor to build homes and schools for the village people, an act to admire indeed. Of those five killed were Sarah Jensen’s father and brother. Her mother survived along with her but suffers from severe burns. It is tragic to hear a family torn apart while trying to help others in need. Their time and efforts are ones to admire they truly died being heroic.

This tragic event should really make us take the time to admire those that do these type of voluntary acts and unfortunately do not make it back. There are a lot of humanitarian missions that do not end successfully; there is a great danger in going to other countries and trying to help them. These accidents tend to be accidental but still seem truly unfair, it is unfair that people that are volunteering their time and efforts have to die. We do not enough time to admire these acts we seldom talk about humanitarian mission unless they end tragically. And even then we talk about it and just move on. I think that these people are truly heroic and should be recognized for their acts. Anyone that can take the time to volunteer and travel across the world with the intention of giving back with their time is beyond heroic.

End Segment Music Clip: Title: Whats going on by All-Star Tribute 20 secs
Ending Minutes: 1 Minute
I really would like us all to reflect on the issue at hand and take the time to feel inspired and do something that will make a difference. Even the littlest acts of kindles tend to go a long way. Let us also remember that the term hero doesn’t necessarily have to apply only to those that are praised in the entertainment industry. Heros are everyday people that make a difference no matter how small or big.

Essay

Humanitarian mission gone wrong
We commonly talk about heroes and the impacts they made in society or in ones individual life. But seldom do we talk about those who are heroes but aren’t given that fame of a hero. Daily there are people volunteering their time and efforts to help others. There are organizations whose primary purpose is to give back to the less fortunate. Yet we don’t take the time to acknowledge them well at least not while their living.
It has become a common habit of society to not really take into consideration people until their gone. I guess its like that old saying, “you never know what you have until its gone.” Rarely do we mention humanitarian workers and the huge impact that they are making in other countries, until we hear of some tragic ending to their mission.
Humanitarians are heroes that we do not acknowledge and we really should. They are doing great things and representing our country in a helpful, caring, educative way. They do not have the fame to follow them but they tend to do things that should be recognized more than what we recognize them.
On August 24, 2008 a humanitarian mission went wrong. Unfortunately a plane crashed in Guatemala killing 5 individuals on a humanitarian mission for the organization named Choice Humanitarian. The plane crash took a total of 10 lives amongst those ten were those five Americans on a humanitarian mission for the choice organization. According to the New York Times the Americans on the plane were traveling to a village near El Estor. The Choice Humanitarian group was going to this village to build homes for the village people. The Choice Humanitarian group is based in West Jordan, Utah (The associated press,2008).
To make matters worse a family is destroyed by this humanitarian mission. A young girl named Sara Jensen lost her father and brother on this mission and her mother faces severe burns (the associated press, 2008). It is inspirational to hear that an entire family took part in this mission. You commonly hear of families taking trips to Disney world or some type of adventurous trip but seldom do we hear of family trips to other countries to make a difference. It is extremely sad to hear that things had to end this way for the family but they truly are in my eyes and I am sure in many others a heroic family. I am sure they could have taken a trip anywhere else in the world but chose to do this one for the better of others.
This isn’t the biggest issue that happened this year or better put it is not the one most talked about this year. Because it truly has an impact of its own, yet we do not hear much about it. Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on other things that seem to affect the greater amount or because a small plane crash is not that entertaining or appealing to the audience. Yet small issues like these are the ones that deserve the biggest attention. These were ordinary people like you and me, volunteering their time and dedication to help those less fortunate. And it really is tragic to hear that their lives had to end this way.


Works Cited Page
The New York Times. 24 August 2008. The New York Times. 21 November 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/world/americas/25guatemala.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Choice Humanitarian Tribute Site. 2008. Choice Humanitarian. 21 November 2007. http://www.choicehumanitariantragety.com
American Aid Workers Mourned After Plane Crash. 26 August 2008. You Tube/The Associated Press. 21 November 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tKTlAQOiVs

Individualism

project 2 essay

Has text messaging become the new standard of communication? Instead of calling friends and family do you believe that people are resorting to text because it is a less personal way of communicating? Or do you believe that it is just a form of convenience and leisure?

Cell phones have taken a huge role in the lives of people; from the first introduction of a phone with its simple purpose of calling others to the now modernized form of phone use. As cell phones begin to adapt new functions people adapt to them as well. Cell phones are not being used any longer for the solemn purpose of making a call to a friend. In fact not much phone conversation is taking place anymore aside from the sending of text messages with brief conversations. “Texting has surpassed calling as the primary source of cellular communication, based on a recent survey by AT&T” (“Texting is all the rage,” by McClatchy found in the Tribune Business News)
It seems as though society is moving away from the phone calls into the text messaging form of communication. A lot of people would say that it makes things less personal. It is much easier to send a quick and brief message to a friend that have to face their voice on the other side of the line and feel forced to keep a conversation going. To some it is a form of communication that makes matters less personal but to others it seems like the easiest way to communicate. Some find it convenient to just send a brief message instead of taking time out of their oh so busy life to sit and have a conversation via phone. John Narcise said in an interview for the article found in, The Herald Dispatch, entitiled, “Texting goes well beyond a fad,” that he likes text messaging because he can keep things brief.
According to the Nielson Mobile survey found in the article entitled “Americans text more than they talk,” by Marguerite Reardon, people receive an average of 357 text messages per month and only receive 204 calls a month. Marguerite Reardon also points out that the younger teens are making more use of text messaging. They send and receive about 1,742 text messages per month. It is pretty evident that the younger population would be more into the text form of communication. It is hard to say if teens use it just because it’s easier or because it’s less personal. I believe that teens tend to be more social and perhaps do not find trouble in holding phone conversations. Perhaps it’s just because it is a convenient form of communication.
As a teenager I admit to take more use out of the text messaging on my phone than I do of the making regular phone calls. I find that if I have to make just a brief comment I do not want to be bothered with feeling forced to carry on a conversation and might be faced with the awkward silence that we all dread. Instead I send a text messaging say what I have to say and end it there, with no time wasted on senseless talk just to avoid awkward silence. I do not mind making phone calls though if I feel the need to catch up with a friend or have the need to carry on a conversation.
Yet it is not just us teenagers anymore that are taking part in the text messaging world. Corporate people and parents are taking part in text messaging as well as mentioned in, “Texting goes well beyond a fad,” by Jean Tarbett Hardiman. People in the corporate world use text messaging because it’s fast, brief, and quiet. They can text from meetings with out interrupting people. That perhaps is leisure of texting, the fact that one can do it from practically anywhere without having to bother others. And parents are now taking part in text messaging because it’s a quick way of communicating with their children. I am sure we all dread to have our parents call us while we are out with our friends to bother us and ask what time we are coming home. It is best for both if they just text us and we respond quickly without out being embarrassed to say, “it’s my mom again!”
Yet like everything there is always a down fall. The down fall to text messaging is obvious. Though it is an easier form of communication the reality is that it is drawing people away from interacting with each other. Things are done faster, briefer, and easier now. It is like everything has to revolve around this fast paced world of text messaging. Texting limits the amount we can actually say to each other. And we must admit that a lot of phrases used on text message are hard to interpret without hearing the emotion in the person’s voice.
Works Cited:
Tony Holt. "Texting Is All The Rage. " McClatchy - Tribune Business News 27 October 2008 ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI. 6 Nov. 2008


Marguerite Reardon.“Americans text more than they talk” CNET news 22 September 2008 http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10048257-94.html 6 November 2008

Jean Tarbett Hardiman. “Texting goes well beyond a fad” The Herald-Dispatch 18 August 2008 http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x809654908/Texting-goes-well-beyond-a-fad 6 November 2008

Activity 3 question 2

When one grows up in a generation that is full of advancing technology it is assumed that we are all technology adapted, that we can work anything and everything that is based on technology. Older generations tend to assume that the younger generations are fully aware of new technology because they grew up with it and assume that they all know how to work with it. And of course the people who like to take advantage of the ohhs and ahhs of something new is the marketing world. They tend to design things according to those interpretations that young people are technology pros and enjoy these things. They market their devices around this “world,” that they believe is based solemnly on technology and that everyone can operate it the same exact way.
Vaidhyanathan argues in his article entitled, “Generational Myths,” that young people can be categorized into a “one-size-fits-all system,” as he explains it. Vaidhyanathan believes that by creating this one-size-fits-all system everyone would eventually adapt to it, “…force an otherwise diverse group of potential users into a one-size-fits-all system that might not meet their needs. Then, lo and behold, young people rush to adapt to those changes that we assumed all along they wanted.” (Vaidhyanathan)
I believe that Vaidhyanathan is correct to some extent. It’s true that with the education of technology people assume that everyone uses technology for the same things, therefore they create based on that one society that they assume everyone belongs to. Vaidhyanathan assumes that everyone is going to take part in any new advancement. That just because something is presented in their generation they should rush to learn to use it.
Being from this generation based on technology I can tell you that my experience with technology is completely different form a lot of other peoples. Even the people that are from my social group use technology in a different way than I do. I am no pro at using a computer or any other technological gadgets. I can type sure, and surf the web but I would not be able to trigger with other things aside from the basics. Where as some people can do just about anything with a computer. Even though the world seems to revolve around computers I do not find myself forced to learn to do things beyond my basic know ledged. I do not find the interest in it because I believe with what I know is sufficient to operate a technological gadget for essential uses.
Yet we must realize that as hard to believe as it is everything is revolving around this technology based system. Nothing is made simple anymore from phones to music players. Everything tends to connect you to the world by just one click. Phones are not used just for the solemn purpose of making a call anymore. They can do so much more than that, you can check and send email from your phone, check the news, weather, and so forth. All these new gadgets are aimed to bring everyone into this one-size-fits-all society. You can not find simple appliances anymore everything has buttons and triggers that a lot of times are left un-used because of the lack of knowledge. Walk mans as I remember are not as popular anymore now we use MP3’s filled with thousands of songs, videos, and pictures instead.
Society is trying to aim everyone to keep up with its advances. I can guarantee that there are a ton of young people who do not even know how to operate a computer therefore I find that things shouldn’t be made into a one-size-fits-all system. We should continue to promote other forms of education. Education should be a hybrid ideal for everyone. We should not assume that everyone can come into a room and use a computer.

arthistory=headaches!

This is my second year at the university of michigan dearborn and i found that things seem to get easier. That is i have learned to get the hang of the whole college experience, it seems like i know what to expect now. the work doesnt seem to get easier though.
So this semester i thought i knew what i was getting myself into i wasnt to worried about it until i steped foot into Arthistory!!! my exerience in this class has been terrible! its sad to say but this class is the class thats stressing me the most. mind you art history has nothing to do with my major and im only taking it to full-fil school requirements!
i hope not to offend anyone whos majoring in arthistroy but to me its such a pointless class. well at least if you arent majoring it. i just got done taking my second exam in that class this week and it didnt get any easier instead it got a whole lot harder! what good is it going to do to me in the future to know the exact dates, name, material, and findspot of ancient monuments. the history behind it all somewhat interesting and the monuments are impressive but the idea of learning those facts is timeconsuming and worthless.
my major doesnt require math or science either but see those subjects i see some use out of. i spent so much time studying for my past exams in this class more time that i ever spent on any other class. its ridiculous! memorizing facts isnt my thing. i like concpetunal stuff not just memorizing. again what am i gettting out of that. trust me once i walk out of that class on exam day i forget what day what was made and what its made of. and to make matters worse you have to spell the names correctly if not you loose points!! i can hardly pernounce any of the names let alone spell them.
for anyone whos planing on taking art history a big GOOD LUCK to you.
perhaps im exagerating things but thats just how horrible this class makes me feel. im beyond ready for it to be over with. and hope i make it thru with at least a C! yea thats pathetic to just hope for a C .
i may be exagerating things but i guess since i just got done with the exam im still stressed over it.