Fyi, lol, bac, ovr, mor, thn, hs, hw, lmao, rofl and ect. So, what on earth does all this mean?
Well if you are a teenager, you may have a chance at understanding what I just wrote. Although I think that how people communication today is very clever, however, I do think it is killing the English language. School are accepting it exams and term papers, kids are forgetting when they write in a school text to a text message and it has gotten a little out of hand. I also think that it has left some parents feel anxious and suspicious over why this is happening and to the extent that it is. Like I said, I think that it is clever (I love texting myself). They can cut down words quite a lot. We use text slang here all the time. We accept it and most embrace it, so why is there much concern over this new wave of text language? I believe that it has to do with the fact some students use their slang words in their school work.
Maybe we should try to all look back and maybe discover that maybe there are few more concerns than getting sidetracked.
For teens, it may be something as simple as a brand of jeans they choose to wear or a new hair style they try after seeing Amy sporting it on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Although, for the stars that have an impact in the media it can be a quick reality.
A prime example of this is Charlie Sheen with his character of Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men, that has entertained audiences for years with a character who is reaching middle age with girls hanging off his arms although, he also has to deal with a brother who does not have a lot of money and a nephew who grows up on the show to still be as dumb as a stump but still has some fantastic witty comebacks. Charlie Sheen over the years appears to have become unstable as a father and inconsiderate of those who surround him, mainly the mother of his twin boys and his producers. According to Charlie he is not bipolar, he is "biwinning" and ladies and gentleman, he has tiger blood running through him. His character of constantly having women hanging off of him has turned into a reality. He now lives with his goddesses.
Another example of a television character getting the best of someone is Jamie Lynn Spears, that's right Brittney Spears' younger sister. In 2007, at the young age of 16 she got pregnant. Although, her story is a little different, her character on television was a tween at boarding school dealing with roommate and boy drama. She did however make a statement after her pregnancy was public knowledge that said "I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in."
The price of fame for some can be overwhelming, being constantly in the eye of others, with the constant judgement and disappointment. Celebrities in a lot of ways have it rough when it comes to their personal life being on display. As much as we believe that money will solve all our problems or they just should have known better, we've never stopped to think if we would do any better if we were in their shoes. We would all like to think we would but, would we really?
We always have the opportunity to experiment with things such as drugs, sex and alcohol, does it mean it is a smart idea? No, not really but do we anyway? Sometimes yes, for some all the time, for others no. I'm not say that yes we should go out and test ourselves to see if we can handle having a baby or "biwinning" although, I am saying that we don't actually know what could happen. We have the opportunity to do our best with what life hands to us, we try to make wise decisions and create better opportunities in the future.
The longest unit in media studies this semester was Gender Roles and Stereotypes, where we spent two months learning how women were objectified in the media. I vaguely remember a brief sidenote, saying 'Oh yeah, sometimes men are objectified too". Is this focus really deserved? As a guy I feel an enourmous pressure to be the fit, muscular alpha male constant depicted in every form of media that needs a male lead. However, this happens mostly in movies, with most young males preferring the big screen than newspapers or online media. muscleheads are everywhere in film. Even nerds are buff. In kickass, during one of the 'suit up' scenes (I couldn't find a better clip because the school blocks searches such ass 'kick ass', but this one works sufficiently) you can see that even Dave(kickass) , a social outcast is muscular under that wetsuit. I especially felt the pressure after watching 'Snatch' a movie about brad pitt playing an anatomically perfect illegal boxer.
Most of Brad's scenes are spent with the camera under him, making him look heroic, powerful and intimidating, in greyscale scenes with sharp and definite lines, because Brad's a man's MAN'S man. Be like Brad. He's the man.
I remember once I felt so bad about my own body image that for an instant, the words "If I'm not muscular my girlfriend won't have a reason to love me." crossed my mind. Of course , these words were instantly followed by a facepalm so hard I could have painted the wall with my brains. Guys are under just as much pressure from the media as girls. The main difference is that most guys are just ashamed to admit it, or cave under pressure and develop addictions to steroids, or even addictions to working out itself. (Not to say that girls don't develop psychological disorders aswell, of course.)
Rumours are horrible things that NO ONE likes have spread about themselves. If that's so then why do people spread them about other people? To make them feel better about themselves, or maybe just the slip of the lip. No matter what the reason rumours hurt innocent people. As rumours get passed on and on, the more people add onto them. Rumours happen in the media, through social networking, in schools. They are hard to get away from, try to ignore it.
When I remember first coming into Cawthra at the young age of 14, fresh out of middle school one moment at the orientation still sticks to to me. The Dress Code talk. Now I've had these before...but never in such detail with mannequins and all. But I understood. I agreed.
The 4 B's. NO Butts. NO Bras. NO Boobs. NO bellies.
Pretty straightforward...right?
In grade 9 I would say I didn't notice much. A couple bra straps the occasional short shorts that were a little TO short but overall not much problem.
It hit me this year...BAM.
WOW.
What's with all this revealing clothing? That COMPLETELY goes against the basis dress code.
Crop tops? Your belly is completely exposed! Sure some of you got the tummy to show...but when its almost up to your bra line...Don't you feel a little revealed?
Lace tops. sure they are nice and low cut tops and strapless tops are nice as well...but when you can a) completely see your bra through it(especially when its neon or patterned...) and b)when your boobs look like they are read to pop out of their hold...it's a little far.
A little Bra strap never hurt to show...but entire bras or complete bra straps with a strapless top? That doesn't even MATCH in colour?
Short shorts will never disappear...but your underwear and butt cheeks are not needed to be seen. High waisted short shorts aren't long enough either. Just because there is extra fabric at the top...doesn't make them longer over your backside.
WHERE DID THE DRESS CODE GO?
WHERE are the teachers who are supposed to enforce the Code?
It's not like they haven't seen all the people walking around school in this attire...it's everywhere.
Maybe we all have just began to accept this as acceptable for teenagers?
I'm just hoping this is a fad that will quickly fade...and not get more revealing.
My true question still stands though. Where did the enforcement of the Dress Code go?
Many shows and movies right now give off the impression that it is all for laughs and jokes and the occasional challenge when you are pregnant. A few of these movies and shows are 16 and pregnant, teen mom and knocked up. 16 and Pregnant is a show about teens who are pregnant and how they handle life before the baby is born, teen mom is an extension showing the lives of a few of the teen mothers.
Originally, it was argued that teen mom and 16 and pregnant were shows that helped to spread awareness to teens around the world about the risks surrounding teen pregnancy. These shows were used as advocates for abstinence in the past although, things have recently changed.
These shows have turned into scandals all over the media, on
magazines, online and on television. Every time you leave the grocery store you see Amber or Macy's names all over the covers of magazines. If you think about it though, do you actually know Macy or Amber's last name, do you see how the father's of their children live their lives every day?
Yes, you get to see the problems and drama between the stars of the show but, does everyone realize that these problems can be avoided, some teens may feel differently. These shows and movies can be dangerous for teens because they may have a different interpretation. They may read pregnancy as the source of all problems and never wish to have children, or some may believe that becoming pregnant may help their chances of becoming famous. It may just seem like another popularity contest, who they've slept with, who the father of their child is and if MTV will be calling them to ask to film their drama filled lives. Is that what really happens though, that you magically get a call and get on television, think back to how many people are on these shows, maybe 4 or 5 sets of parents, and how many of them do you see struggling to keep their relationship a happy or civil one, or how often do you see them fight.
So what is so funny about a couple who end up having a child because of a drunken night at a club, or an abusive girlfriend, or constantly being reminded of the child you gave away. Is it a confidence bust that your life is not actually that bad because you could not go to that concert, or is it a refresher for why you take precautions when it comes to the opposite sex. What ever your reasoning is, remember there is always more than one side to things and that even if you laugh now, if the situations were reversed it would not be as funny.
Teenage abortion rates, by age of women at end of pregnancy, women aged 15 to 19, Canada, 1974 to 1997
Data sources:References 5,6,7; Health Statistics Division; Canadian Vital Statistics Data Base; Canadian Institute for Health Information
This is just a quick update considering I only finished my last blog a day ago.
The NBA finals is officially set to be the Dallas Mavericks of the Western Conference to face off against the Miami Heat of the Eastern conference.
This means that each team is the champion of their own respective conference... but who is going to be the team to be the league champion?
If memory serves right, then it will be the Miami Heat to win the title, and it is a tough argument for sure. Wade, Lebron, Bosh and the healthy Udonis Haslem is a strong line, but the Mavericks won't go down without a fight.
The Mavericks lost to the Heat a few years ago in the NBA finals, were Dywane Wade led his team to the title. He since then has recruited some more talent, but so has Dallas.
You should already know my stand on Dirk and the Mavs, and I still hope that they win, not only because I favor them, but because Dirk doesn't have a championship ring. He won the NBA MVP in 2007, but has not gotten to be named on a championship team.
Dirk has been phenominal, and I can't wait to see how this series turns out.
With all the talent on these two teams, I wouldn't be surprised if it went to all 7 games to decide the winner.
I just want to get 2 things out of the way. 1, if your not a super hero geek, close this blog right now and read another blog, um I don't know, how bout a blog about Twilight? or Rebecca Black? or about how Justin Bieber got a haircut? Idk pick. 2. If you want to read my blog about a nerd geeking over superheroes in the media then continue.
Now that that’s out of the way, on to my blog. It’s a great time for us Superhero geeks, actually, its an amazing time. The highly successful theatrical movie release of Thor got pretty good reviews, with a 7.5 stars out of 10 on IMDB.com, IMDB are tough critics. On top of that, Captain America, X-Men First Class and Green Lantern movies right around the corner and are scheduled for a summer 2011 release. What about next year? Summer 2012? The highly anticipated Dark Knight Rises which is the final chapter of the 3 movies, The Amazing Spiderman reboot and my personal favourite The Avengers, things really couldn't get any better for us geeks.
Oh wait, yeah they can, what about the video games? Don't forget about the video games too. New super hero video games are also in development, like Batman Arkham City, the sequel to the game of the year contender Batman Arkham Asylum. Along side Arkham City, are Spiderman Edge of Time and X-Men Destiny. I would mention the upcoming movie games like for Captain America, Thor and Green Lantern, but movie games tend to be awful. Also, if you haven’t already played Marvel Vs Capcom 3, then get on it, you missing out on life.
Kick Ass, my personal favorite superhero/superhero movie.
Another favorite superhero is Daredevil, lets not talk about the movie.
But my blog won't be about having an unhealthy obsession over superheroes. I could talk about them all day but that’s not what I want to blog about. I want to discuss super heroes in movies: Why are super hero movies so damn successful? Why are they so popular? Have movies such as The Dark Knight and The Spiderman movies changed your opinion on super heroes? And what makes these movies so intriguing?
Lets begin with Marvel Studio’s strategy when it comes to movies. I wanna quickly point out that I can not wait for the upcoming Avengers film, scheduled for a Summer 2012 release. Why is it so awesome you ask? Well every comic book nerd would know that The Avengers is a super hero team that consists of Captain America, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Thor. Yep, those movies and trailers that we’ve all seen on the big screen in the past. And if you stay long enough after the credits, there are even little easter eggs that make the fans get even more pumped for the Avengers movie. The point of the ending easter eggs are that they are all being connected into the Avengers Movie, and that all those movies (Hulk, Iron Man, etc) are being crossed over and leading up to the Avengers Movie. I really like how Marvel Studios is doing this. The Avengers movie has been in development since 2005. Oh, I’d also like to add that this is the Marvel Comics movie being produced by Walt Disney Pictures ever since they bought Marvel Studios back in 2008, so its kind of a big thing.
That+ That + That +That + That + That = That
Meet the cast of The Avengers.
Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth. Chris Evans. Sam L Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo. BTW they forgot Cobie Smulders in this picture.
The Dark Knight is the perfect example of an amazing super hero film. Not only is it so spectacular and chaotic, it just combines super hero action and drama, scene after scene, the audience is so into it and cannot take their eyes of the movie. The Dark Knight was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and winning two of them, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Yeah, Heath Ledger won an award for the role as The Joker while he was dead, the movie is that good. Also, it isn’t your typical comic book super hero movie. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the mastermind behind Inception and Memento. Thank you, Nolan, for making me really like Batman and The Joker.
Another point that makes these super hero movies so intriguing, is the fact that they give us a chance to escape reality. Superhero movies have explosions, chase scenes, action and adrenaline and even drama, giving the audience a fictional yet beautiful world. Watching one of these movies gives us a chance to escape the real world and forget your stress and problems. But to us freaks and geeks, these super hero movies are just realizations of our favourite fictional worlds. What about the CGI? The computer generated images in movies are another reason why we watch them too. Look at movies like Thor, Iron Man or even Transformers, the CGI in those films are just hands down amazing. CGI is also another reason why super hero movies are so damn popular. CGI has become so realistic that they can recreate all those fantastic super powers, creatures and worlds in a believable and beautiful way. Check out the Transformers 3 Trailer below for a perfect example of amazing CGI.
To wrap things up, Superhero movies are amazing and is definitely my favorite types of movies. They give us viewers a chance to escape the real world, and live in the fictional world, filled with beautiful CGI. Not only are the super hero movies fueled with intense action and adrenaline, but they also give us real life drama to make the characters and conflicts feel more realistic. Super hero movies isn't just aimed at nerds anymore, their main demographic is anyone. If you thought super hero movies are for losers, then do yourself a favor, grab some popcorn and go watch The Dark Knight if you haven't already.
Always wondered Johnny Depp, Olivia Wilde, James Cameron and Seth Rogen's favorite super heroes are? Check out Celebrity Favorite Superheroes video above.
A Gibson guitar is what many think of when one asks about the peak of guitar manufacturing. However, at ranging at $1000-$15000 grand a piece, one would ask if they're truly worth it. An Epiphone Les Paul Standard is anywhere from $400 to $600, about 10-15% of the cost of its Gibson counterpart, at $4,000. They are made by the same company, have the same inner cavities and same hardware, excusing the pickups. Epihpone pickups are $50 ea. Gibson pickups are $100 each. Somehow, I don't see how that becomes the criteria for a $3500 price hike.
The price creates a certain social class; if you are to own a prestigious instrument like a gibson you are to have mastered your instrument. The prices are increased further, because people will pay with their first born in order to become a part of that class. And as the price hikes, the exclusivity increases, making the class of higher and higher stature. One gibson guitar, named The Citation, has one pickup, and one volume knob. (most electric guitars have atleast two pickups, volume knobs, and tone knobs for each. This guitar, is literally the bare minimum of guitar manufacturing and versatility. While you would expect a guitar of this type be priced less than $300, this guitar prices in at $30,000. 300 year old Stradivari violins don't cost that much. This is little more than a polished garbage pile. This guitar is the epitome of materialism-based class structure, a piece of pretty wood that was so expensive that you're too scared to ever use it, only for the most 'elite' of collectors.
When you think of eating disorders, what comes to your mind? Girls or boys? I bet the first gender that came to your mind were females, right? Although eating disorders are the most chronic illness in the female adolescent population, about 10% of the total statistic is male. Male's are more at risk then female's because most of the time, male eating disorders are misdiagnosed.
There are two main eating disorders, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. What are each of these specifically? Anorexia nervosa is a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Bulimia nervosa is restraining of food intake for a period of time followed by and over intake or "binging" period that results in feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. Both of these are considered female illnesses even by the men who have the illness. Just because the majority of people who have these illnesses are girls/women it doesn't mean the men are homosexual. About 80% of males with eating disorders are heterosexual. Also, 5-16% of patients with bulimia are male, and since they are males, many are denied treatment. Because of this, many male cases go unreported.
Another popular way for men to lose weight and gain muscle is by taking anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are artificial substances that are extremely similar to the male sex hormone, testosterone. These are used to increase their physical appearance where bigger is better, also referred to as reverse anorexia. When people take steroids, they can either be injected or they are in pill form.
All the pressure girls feel having to have the "perfect" body, guys feel it too. In the media it is portrayed that all guys should have amazing abs and extraordinary arms so they can get all the chicks. In most cases girls are looking for an average guy, someone who let's them feel comfortable in their own skin as well.
The movie Inception just boggles my mind between its talented actors, the layering of dreams, and the idea of being inside someone else's dream, its all so... exciting... and its such a creative way to look at dreams! I absolutely loved everything about this film!!
For those of you who don't know, I will give you a quick insight to the main storyline. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the part of a professional dream thief who assembles special teams to steal knowledge and secrets from the unconscious mind of his target. "Inception" is defined as the planting of an idea in the subconscious mind; the concept of inception is exactly what Leonardo's character is trying to perform while someone is dreaming.
I believe that Christopher Nolan, the producer, the director and the writer of this film, wanted to pose many unanswered questions for his audience such as; is this life real? Could we possibly be in a dream state right now, but we are just made to believe this is our story?
Many of the concepts used in Inception like possibly living another life and dreaming are used in other films including the Wizard of Oz, Coraline, the Narnia series, and the Matrix. Throughout this film, Nolan has clearly used the concept of media construct reality. The 'media' used by the characters is just not one that we are familiar with. It is fictional media that uses chemistry, electronics, and special mental abilities. (I am not sure this would be a good thing, but then print has been used for evil as well as good - right?) Nolan uses the film to present a 'better than our reality' world where people have these unique abilities. It seems that there is no limit for the concepts of reality used in Inception as not many people could possibly imagine what it would be like to take part in someone else's dream. I know that as I finished watching Inception, I had many questions and a new outlook on life as I'm sure many other viewers also did. The movie also opens our minds to different possibilities for our world's future and what reality truly is or could be.
Even Star Wars contain msn slangs.
Most of Brad's scenes are spent with the camera under him, making him look heroic, powerful and intimidating, in greyscale scenes with sharp and definite lines, because Brad's a man's MAN'S man. Be like Brad. He's the man.
So what is so funny about a couple who end up having a child because of a drunken night at a club, or an abusive girlfriend, or constantly being reminded of the child you gave away. Is it a confidence bust that your life is not actually that bad because you could not go to that concert, or is it a refresher for why you take precautions when it comes to the opposite sex. What ever your reasoning is, remember there is always more than one side to things and that even if you laugh now, if the situations were reversed it would not be as funny.
