Hook, Line and Sucker..

Advertising is quite awful. Blasting images and sounds at the viewer/listener in hopes that it will persuade them to buy their product. I heard recently (unknown source) that the advertising companies realize that it really doesn't work so well. I guess the ads where a new product is shown are fine but when companies like Coke and Budweiser keep putting ads out there, I think that is lame. The freakin world already knows that your product exists, why can't you leave well enough alone?

They even put product placement in t.v., movies and video games! I already paid for the movie or game but now I have to watch your ads cross my path while I'm trying to escape and entertain myself? I think that's where it should stay out but like I said, advertising for a new product or service is quite alright, just leave it out of my movies and games.

Obama v. King

Comparing the two texts, one by Obama and one by King Jr., I've found many good and bad points from each. On one hand there are many modern views of racism brought to the table by Obama. This makes things much easier to understand for the people who were not around in Kings' day. He also brought up points about how we are all, in a way, racist, not just the whites or just the blacks. There are hardships that we all face from the prejudices of each other and Obama does well by pointing this out. He says that America is in a racial stalemate. There really is only one flaw I could identify (I read through it quickly), and this was the fact that he could possibly be saying all of this as a tactic in his campaign. I know he has a good deal of personal feelings involved but by including this speech during his race to the White House, he has weakened the grip that this subject could take.

King on the other hand was well written. He has quite a large vocabulary and it may be intimidating or just simply not understandable to some people. I'm not quite sure if this is just a sign of the time he came from or more of the fact that he was actually very well educated. King was in the middle of a revolution of sorts and the text reflects this. It is more aimed at the beginnings of racial movement rather than Obamas' progression of it. One downfall about Kings' letter is that he is mainly speaking to one person and is only supporting the viewpoint from black eyes. I find it hard to relate to the man because he seems to come off as rather prejudiced or racist himself against the white community.

Both men have a really great understanding of racism and are very intelligent as both texts imply. Obama would certainly be a bigger influence in the American society today, simply because his views and ideas are modernized and attack problems concerning America today, rather than a number of years ago like Kings' ideas for his own time.

What's in a Family?

My family originally consisted of a nice group of four. My mother, father, sister and obviously myself were the original members of the Cook household. Now my parents are divorced and both have remarried which has added a considerable amount of people to the group of people I call family. The divorce happened when I was 12. Both parents remarried within a couple of years and now I have one full-blooded sister, one half-sister from my mother and my step-father and seven new step-brothers and sisters!

I moved with my father at fifteen years old to New Richmond, WI where I graduated and got to know my step-mother, Rita, through the years. This was pretty fortunate because when my dad passed away from a heart attack in 2005, I was living with them at the time. I was able to help Rita through the troubles and she in turn helped me.

I still talk with my mother but usually once a month or so on the telephone and I see her only a few times a year. I don't know my step-siblings all too well but I've grown accustomed to them and when I see them we have a pretty good time. they range in age from 12 to 36. This lends to some interesting conversations, fun and games at the family events. I've grown to learn and love my family regardless of blood or marriage relation.

Argumentative synthesis..

Well, I have to be honest. I've been sick for a week and I haven't thought of a solid topic. There aren't really any concerns on my part other than finding an appropriate topic but I know I will do fine with that. I am feeling much better lately so I will be able to go ahead and proceed with everything I need to.

Fuck Milk. Got Pot?

After viewing the film Go Further, I feel that there is much to be learned by humans. I've been witnessing a change in the eating habits of people where they are moving away from chemically grown foods and eating strictly organic. This is also following a trend in fuels where we are trying to find a replacement source for oil. The film touches on these subjects and tries to convince the audience that "green" is better. The use of star power from Hollywood actors and musical artists makes this point have an even greater effect on someones opinion. If (big star) does it than it must be right. If I had not already been trying my hand at the "green" life, I would probably see the film a little differently. It is quite effective with the messages it is sending, maybe not the whole pot issue as it seems counterproductive to the issue at hand, but looking beyond that one characters personality and watching how he changed from his experience makes the film actually strong.

What's in a name?

My name, was, for the longest time, George. Well, this is what my father wanted to call me. So, while i was in my mothers womb, she started calling me her little "Spenny". Her cutesy version of Spencer. It later developed into Spencer John which, obviously, later both my parents agreed to name me. According to www.behindthename.com, Spencer means "dispenser of provisions". I've known this meaning since I was a child but it holds no relevance to who I am or why I was named Spencer. It just kind of "fell" into place and is just supposed to be what it is.

What about the library...

I learned, while at the campus library this past Monday, that there are quite a few different areas to go to if I would like to find something to read. There were multiple forms of information available including standard texts, newspaper, magazines, journals and E-books. I found that I could access the database that the library contains, along with what they can get for me from other locations, from home via the internet if I so choose.

Now a concern I may still have is I am not entirely sure about what it is I am to write about. I have a specific topic nailed down but, alas, no real understanding of what is being asked of me. I understand this is to be somewhat of just an informative paper but it was explained to me that I am not to make it sound like an encyclopedia. What on earth is an informative paper that doesn't sound like that? Its all information, all the facts, laid out for you and you make your own assumptions. Well, I guess I'll just have to ask and find out now.