Studpidity in Our Society

"A recent study suggests that one in five Americans can not locate the United States on a map. Why do think that is?"

This question seems simple enough. Perhaps it's because schools are focusing more heavily on math and English and laying off the social sciences. Perhaps it's because the younger generations of Americans are losing interest in their education and so do not care where our nation is situated on the globe. There are many adequate anwers to this basic question; while this may be the case, all of these responses seemed to briefly escape the mind of Miss Teen South Carolina, competeing for the Miss Teen USA crown earlier last year. What was spoken was a completely incomprehensible babble about "South Africa" and "countries in Iraq" linked together with "such as" and "like, um." I understand that the Miss Teen pageant is considered a beauty contest, but shouldn't inner beauty and intelligence count for just as much as a flawless smile and toned physique? Apparently not.

Stupidity and ignorance are too common in this nation now adays. Pointless television shows such as Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (apparently most contestants are not) and Flava of Love exploit the stupidity that is currently consuming America. Kids who watch this uneducational crap are finding great role models among the completely unintelligable stars of the shows. Even professional athletes interviewed after their games reflect an unintellectual society. The majority of these players can not speak using the rules of basic English. What message is this sending?

Education is a valuable tool necessary for future success. Perhaps we need to begin promoting the educated rather than focusing on the ignorant. This could go far along the road to creating an intelligent America.

Gizmodo Blog

I was intrigued by the Gizmodo Blog mentioned in the last chapter of We the Media so I decided to look online and try to find it. I have to say that I'm really quite impressed with the site's layout and the ample information presented there. I was scrolling down the page ,perusing new electronics, when a blow-up computer mouse caught my attention. A blow-up mouse!! It was pretty cool. There was also a roll up keyboard along with it, both promoting space saving options for business people.

The electronic blog really did have lots of information for the avergage consumer looking to find a new camera, laptop, or cell phone. Complete with detailed pictures of the products and numerous consumer reviews, the site would be really helpful for those looking for information on new and exciting products. Gizmodo features a ton of cutting edge electronics, many of which I had never seen before. There was a sleek looking shelf that doubled as wall-mounted speakers; there was also digital picture frames that created a slideshow of photos taken from your memory card. I think I may be visiting this site more often in the future whenever I want some advice on purchasing new electronic toys.

My name is Jake. I'm addicted to Facebook.

It's true. I said it. I am, in fact, a Facebook addict. I spend an average of three or four hours on the website each day, writing on the walls of high school friends, somewhat "stalking" people I haven't seen in years. I'm sure I'm not the only college student out there who's suffering from this same disease; a number of my friends joined the group "I'm double majoring in napping and Facebook with a minor in procrastination." If only this could be true. (It oftentimes seems like it is.) Even though the website is slowly taking over my life, I feel like its effects on me aren't all entirely negative. I think Facebook is good outlet for me to release my stress. I can take a short break (haha...short) from writing my chem lab or reading my Citizen Media chapter and log onto Facebook where I can keep in touch with friends who live hundreds of miles away. One of my best high school friends moved away to Utah after our junior year. If it wasn't for Facebook, I probably would have lost communication with her after a couple of years. Facebook, even though it might be a tiny bit creepy and stalkeresk, allows me to keep tabs on people who I no longer get to see on a daily basis. I can always check out their recent wall postings or pictures to see what they've been up to now that they went away to college. I have Facebook friends from all over the world: a good friend from middle school living in Japan, a foreign exchange student from Germany, family members living in New York and Virginia. It's nice to be able to send little pieces of information their way in order to let them know how I'm doing here at IU. Although, yes, I probably spend way too much time on the website, I feel Facebook has been a very good thing for me. It is an awesome way to unite so many of the world's youth in one place. So yes, my name is Jake, and I am proud to be addicted to Facebook.

Battle of the Music Videos

I was greatly entertained by the political candidate's music videos presented in class today. They really appeal to the web-savvy audience who can access them easily through YouTube. I was a bit uncertain as I watched them, however; I was wondering whether the clips were made by people in support of or in opposition to the candidates depicted. The Hott 4 Hill video depicted a young woman professing her love and devotion to Hillary Clinton. Does this send out a positive or negative message to those who watch the video? Of course the clip is devoted entirely to Hillary, yet it kind of implies that she might be bisexual. I think the majority of the people who watch the video are going to be pointing and laughing at her instead of joining in together in song...

I showed a friend on the floor the videos, and she showed me another she had previously seen. It was a battle between Obama Girl and Giuliani Girl, singing back and forth about their respective candidates. Honestly, neither of the girls said anything substantial about their candidates, but rather just chanted their names and other such things. I know that these political videos will come more into play as election day draws near, and I think they will greatly draw in the teenage crowd who are more attracted to this type of media.

Filling My Inbox With Listserv

I have to say that lately I've been getting lots of mail from IU listservs I signed up for earlier last semester. I'm usually excited to see that I've got new mail in my inbox, but sometimes I get annoyed if it's just page after page of emails from various listservs around campus. I've received at least 100 emails from the Health Professions and Prelaw Center letting me know about opportunities around campus that may interest me. I oftentimes get these same emails again on the Chemistry Direct Admit Listserv run by the Chem undergraduate councilor. I do appreciate being updated on important dates and meetings, but receiving seven emails from these sources each day becomes a little excessive. Add on top of these the numerous pieces of mail I receive from the Honors College (primarily from Barbara Edwards), Circle K, and Operation Smile Student Association, my inbox sometimes "overfloweth" with information. I feel really stupid complaining about these listservs. Honestly, if I were not a part of them I would miss out on lots of important reminders sent out by the organizations I'm involved in. Sometimes it's nice, however, to receive a piece of mail addressed individually addressed to me. These messages are my favorites.

Best of YouTube

I've compiled a list of my top five favorite videos on YouTube. They are as follows:

5. Charlie the Unicorn- This may rub some people the wrong way. Though it can only be only tolerated in small doses, I felt this clip was extremely funny the first time I saw it. The unicorn voices get annoying fast, but the surprise ending makes the whole thing worth watching. I especially enjoyed the leopluridan.

4. My Hands are Bananas- Perhaps the weirdest video I've ever seen, this German made music video is centered around (surprisingly) a guy with bananas for hands. The lyrics are kinda catchy, and the German accent makes them very interesting... Although the "milky pirate" creeps me out, this clip is good for a laugh. (Keep the monkeys away from my hands!!).

3. Cunningham Muffins- Wow, just looking at Kyle Sullivan wearing his blond wig and oversized bifocals makes me laugh. His unflinching stare and terrifying smile just add to the hilarity of this piece. I'd definitely have to say I'd order an Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Muffin; they look to be the tastiest by far.

2. Little Monster Annie- Ahhhhhhh! I have never seen something so terrifying (and yet so entrancing) in my life. It's the little things in this movie that make me laugh: the dizzy woman; the gruesome, snaggle-toothed smile; the Barbie chorus... What a great remake of a heartwarming classic!

1. Little Girl and Monsters- The little girl in this clip has to be the cutest thing I've ever seen. She speaks with such confidence and sincerity for someone so young. Don't worry about buying a dog to keep the monsters from the movies at bay. All you need is this girl to kick the monsters' "asks."

The Hilarity of Cosmo

So a group of friends on the floor and I were flipping through the most recent issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. I have to say it was the funniest things I've ever read. The horoscope at the end said that I needed "to start being a hardass." OK.... It also told me that my "lust days" are the first and second of this month. What useful information!!

It comes as no surprise that the magazine is marketed towards the teen/young adult, female sector of the population. Within the pages are revealed vitally important secrets that these girls just have to read, including trendy makeup tips, popular sex positions, and embarrassing stories sent in by the readers. One of these stories in particular caught my attention. Entitled "Monumental Booty," the short tale told of a couple having sex on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. What the hell? Who really wants to know this extremely personal information?

At the end of the magazine there was a "How much of a flirt are you?" quiz. The hilarity of the topic encouraged my friends to take it (mostly just to read the ridiculous questions and answers). It turns out that they are "averse flirts." Hmmm.... There are so many magazines like Cosmo on the market today, selling millions of copies each month. It is definitely apparent how our society is incredibly consumed with sex and beauty. What great morals we have!

Big Brother is Watching You

Over winter break I was told about an interesting new feature present on Google Earth. I've always been a fan of this program; I tend to use it frequently in order to get accurate directions to places I need to go. The new feature on Google Earth allows the user to obtain views of a city from the perspective of a driver on the street. It's possible to cruise through a city in a virtual car while gazing at snapshots of the local scenery. What's a little freaky about the program is the fact that you can see actual people (and sometimes recognize them) alongside the streets. Luckily, my house is in the middle of the country, so the street view is not available there. It's kinda weird seeing people and places you know through a series of photos online.

This feature of Google Earth reminded me a lot of the "transparent society" concept we were talking about in class on Wednesday. People from all over the globe are able to locate your house online and see closeup visuals from the street out front. That's just a little bit creepy. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with pictures of myself being shown online when I am not able to monitor who sees them. What if I were standing in the window or by the street as the Google Earth camera car drove by taking photos? I could be seen by anyone who downloads the program. Perhaps this advanced mapping feature is just a little two "Big Brother" for my taste.

What Would You Reveal for $500,000?

I am currently watching the premier of Fox's new game show The Moment of Truth and must say that it has to be one of the sickest shows I've seen in a really long time. The player of the game must answer extremely personal questions truthfully in front of his/her closest family members and friends in order to win large amounts of money. Some of the questions are truly shocking. Talk about a marriage killer!!

The first contestant answered question after question revealing information that could potentially leave his marriage in tatters. After each answer, you could see the shock and hurt in his wife's eyes as she watched in disbelief. It was revealed that Ty, the contestant, had touched female clients inappropriately, had refrained from having kids with his wife because he didn't believe she was his life partner, and had had sex with a woman on the same day he met her. I felt soooo awfully for Katia, his wife, who I'm sure didn't know what to believe anymore.

What a horrible TV show!! Why would anyone reveal such personal information (killing their reputations) for mere money?? It is truly sickening. I mean, if you want to exchange your friendships, marriage, and self image for some quick cash, go right ahead. All I can say is that I have no respect for these people.

Heath Ledger Dead?

As I walked back to my dorm room after dinner this evening, I was informed by a friend that Heath Ledger was dead. I was first a little shocked. Deaths of famous actors are not really common occurrences. Apparently my entire floor had heard the news earlier this morning and had about the same response as I did.

I was told that Heath had died of an apparent overdose on sleeping pills in the apartment of Mary Kate Olsen in NYC. The story just kept getting more and more complicated. 1. Heath is dead. 2. He died of an overdose. 3. He was found in Mary Kate's apartment. I thought I'd google search "Heath Ledger" to see if these facts were indeed true.

Yes, I verified the facts; Heath Ledger was most definitely pronounced dead earlier this morning. That's where the truth stopped and the rumor started. Although a couple sleeping pills were found next to the body, an autopsy had not yet been conducted to determine the cause of death. Furthermore, Heath Ledger was not found in the apartment of Mary Olsen but rather in his own. I was kinda surprised at how quickly (and incorrectly) the rumor of his death spread around my floor. This goes to show that you can't always believe everything that is reported on the Internet.

An Excess of Skype

My roommate seems to be on his computer nearly every waking hour of the day. If he's not talking to family members or friends at home using Skype, he's playing Star Craft with a group of high school buddies logging on from around the nation. I know it must be extremely difficult to leave Honolulu, Hawaii to come to school in Indiana, especially when you know noone in this area, but is it really necessary to be online 24/7?

Skype, Star Craft, and other Internet "chat" applications are really inexpensive, convenient ways to keep in contact with people living thousands of miles aways. Just a click of the mouse and you are connected to everyone you've left behind at home. The Internet and these programs have greatly facilitated longdistance communication in this country and around the world. Using Skype, my roommate can not only speak to his parents but can see their faces, as well, on the screen of his computer. I think this fact has seemed to eliminate some of the homesickness that accompanies a nearly 4000 mile journey from home.

While this may be the case, I've found these longdistance chat programs to be extremely restricting as well. I mean, can you take a small break to step away from the blinding glare of the monitor screen? Shutting oneself in one's room while talking to friends thousands of miles away does not necessarily promote friend-making here. These Internet programs, while they can be helpful in moderation, are very harmful to shortdistance relationships when used in excess. Perhaps limiting the web-conversations to an hour or two a day and leaving the room more often would make Indiana feel more like a home away from home.

Nice Guys Finish First

I am a HUGE fan of The Amazing Race and was extremely excited to see that TK and Rachel won the final leg tonight. It's pretty awesome that a team who avoided bitterness, animosity, and confrontation throughout the course of the show came out on top. In every season so far there have been countless teams that bickered and fought amongst themselves about every trivial thing. I remember Jonathan and Victoria from season 6 arguing literally 24/7. I still recall him screaming at her to run faster as she struggled to carry his backpack along with her own. I understand that the race is probably a very stressful situation, but I don't believe this warrants constant arguments between teammates. I definitely wouldn't be surprised if a number of the dating couples racing together ended their relationships following the end of the race. **Cough** Nate and Jen **Cough**

I was just sooooo glad to see a couple that remained respectful and kind to one another and other teams throughout the entire race win the million dollars. I honestly can't recall a single instance within the dozen episodes where TK and Rachel fought even a little. The fact that they won the prize is testament to the fact that nice guys really can come out on top. The genuine kindness and respect shown by this team is hard to find within current reality show contestants. This decency is a nice change from the harsh incivility commonly present on TV nowadays.

Who's on First?

Tonight I braved the freezing cold temps to go to an improv show at the Union with a group of friends. Who's on First?, a troop of college students performing improv skits, was kind of like the television show Whose Line is it Anyway? The group was composed of around ten to fifteen individuals who took suggestions from audience members present. We got to shout out ideas for skits or characters that we thought would be humorous. I was kinda surprised how many sexual themes popped up...

The show was a very good example of citizen media in that it allowed the actors and actresses to express their ideas and opinions through the scenes they chose to depict. In one game, the performers were asked to act out "the world's worst campaign slogan." "Bush and Cheney" was the first response, resulting in quite a bit of laughter from the audience. In many of the scenes, the actors would portray (in an over-the-top manner) famous individuals often appearing in tabloids and on the news. Mimicking Brittany Spears, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rosie O'Donnell, the improv comedians were able to poke fun at the celebrities they found ridiculous. The whole show was a reflection of their views of popular culture and the media. The group is performing again next Saturday; I think I might go back to see what else they have to show.

Colbert's Green Screen Challenge

Almost a year and a half ago, Steven Colbert issued a "Green Screen Challenge" to his viewers on his popular television show, The Colbert Report. Wielding a light saber, he stood in front of a green screen on set and asked his viewers to fill in the rest of the video. I was surfing YouTube today and came across several of these clips depicting Steven wildly swinging his weapon in varied settings cleverly edited by fans. Among these were a scene of him fighting a giant grizzly bear amidst a scene from Star War, a scene where he attacked a crowd of people on the front lawn of the White House, and a clip in which a silhouette of Steven danced around swinging an iPod in lieu of a light saber.

There are some highly creative individuals out there; many of these clips were incredibly impressive. I was highly amused with the humorous editing seen throughout the videos but was again reminded of my inferior graphics skills. I could have possibly come up with an idea worth using, but this still would have been insufficient. Having creative ideas is one thing; knowing how to manipulate these ideas graphically is another. Hopefully through the course of this semester in Citizen Media, I will be able to learn how to construct similar pieces using iMovie and other such programs.

Need for Involvement

I had an interview with the Indiana University Student Association last night in attempts to become one of their freshman interns. One of the questions I was asked really opened my eyes to how little I know about what's actually going on on campus. I was asked what issues I would like to address if chosen for the internship. I was honestly not really sure how to answer. I told them I was interested in enforcing the current smoking ban recently established at IU. I knew that this would be a difficult undertaking, yet I felt it was necessary for the health and well being of the students living on campus. Apart from this problem, I really was unsure of issues that needed "fixing." Since arriving at IU I feel like I've been rather sheltered. I have yet to become significantly involved here, and so I don't really have a good look at college life as a whole. This semester I am forcing myself to become more involved. I'm hoping, if I'm selected as an intern, I will be exposed to issues on campus that will open doors for future opportunities, bettering my time here over the next four years. I will be more aware of the issues facing students at IU, and therefore, will be able to formulate my own stance on such things. For now, I think I just need to open my eyes a bit wider to the world around me and make the effort to involve myself in activities that interest me. Perhaps this way, I will be more likely to find things about IU that need changing.

American Idiot

I am currently watching American Idol on my tiny dorm room TV; this has to be like the thousandth season by now. The show is still in its audition phase when thousands of wanna-be superstars sing (or sometimes scream, whine, and shriek) in front of the judges. Although there are few naturally talented singers in America, it is honestly surprising how many awful singers truly think they are amazing. I know several people who only watch the show in order to see these terrible performances. In many ways, American Idol has become a show that promotes embarrassment and ridicule, marketing these things to the American public. The show, in some aspects, serves as an example of how the media oftentimes points out and isolates the underdog. Because of this, most of the singers appearing on the show dress up in ridiculous costumes and purposely sing as awfully as humanly possible in order to gain a shot at fame. Why are we putting these people on TV? I don't really want to watch a man wearing a leotard butcher the National Anthem. Through shows like this and in many other reality shows, the media is exploiting the flaws of the American people instead of celebrating their strengths. Perhaps we need to find some new shows that are geared on the positives of human character.

Invasion of the Nerdfighters

Throughout the course of 2007, several of my best friends had watched regularly (and gradually had become gradually obsessed with) the online blogging series Brotherhood 2.0. The blog follows two brothers, John and Hank, who decided to only speak to each other through video blogs throughout the duration of 2007. I never really started watching the vlogs, only one here or there, but I found the concept of the series very interesting. The brothers used their vlog to announce important events in their lives over the past year, as well as to entertain the numerous viewers tuning in to watch the latest installments posted daily. I especially remember one episode filmed preceding the release of the seventh Harry Potter book where Hank sang a song entitled "Accio Deathly Hallows." I have to admit, it was a pretty hilarious piece. This blog definitely serves as an example of the ever increasing presence of the Internet in our lives. I couldn't imagine talking to a close friend or family member solely through video blogs for an entire year. Brotherhood 2.0 is citizen media in that the two creators are using the blog to express their thoughts and experiences in a form that is accessible to millions of web surfers daily. Although John and Hank's year of messaging through videos is over, they still occasionally post more pieces online.

"Junkie" for President

It's more than likely common knowledge now that Barack Obama admitted to using cocaine and pot as a teen. The issue was again brought up this past weekend when Robert Johnson, the founder of BET, snidely referenced this information during an appearance alongside Hillary Clinton. Though he didn't come out and say it outright, it was more than obvious what Johnson was insinuating with his comment. In my opinion, who cares that Obama was once a druguser? Who cares that he made a mistake years ago? It seems to me that the fact Obama himself came clean about this use without the poking and prodding of opposition is testament to his honesty and integrity.

So should we elect a man who has used drugs in the past? This question is ridiculous! Shall we judge a person on their past indiscresions or, more appropiately, on the content of their current character? How can we equate druguse that occured more than twenty years ago during Obama's adolescence with actions such as wiretapping, perjury, and adultrey that occured while a president was in office? I think its unbelievable that the Clinton campaign is using this notion as a way to slander the name of a respectable human being. What does that say about their character?

Hannah Montana Fantaticism

My younger sister can definitely be dubbed a "Hannah Montana fanatic." She's memorized every song appearing on the show's soundtrack and can give an in depth synopsis for each episode airing so far. I knew that Hannah Montana was a popular series, yet I was reminded of its popularity while watching television over Christmas break. Apparently there had been a Hannah Montana essay contest; the winner was to receive free tickets and backstage passes to a concert featuring the star of the show, Miley Cyrus. A 6 year old girl won the contest with an essay claiming her father has died in Iraq. Yes, this is a touching story... if only it were true. It turns out that the essay was completely fictitious, a big lie conjured up by the girl's mother to win her daughter the sought after tickets. This story left me completely shocked. A woman was willing to claim her husband died in Iraq just to receive some stupid children's concert tickets??? How disrespectful and defacing this is to the men and women who are actually risking their lives overseas each day for our country! How could a person sink so low for anything, let alone something so insignificant?

On Friday another story in regards to the popular show caught my attention. Apparently Hannah Montana was using a body double in one of her concerts. Heaven forbid, a "fake" Hannah was singing on stage for 10 seconds!! Why is our media so obsessed over such an unimportant show. I don't seem to recall Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers gaining this type of press. Perhaps Hannah Montana should just stick to the screen in order. Maybe this will lessen the unnecessary hubbub that follows her everywhere she goes.

Campaigning Through Facebook

Sometimes its difficult to view the current political candidates as human. Although on television they often present themselves as cold, unemotional, monotonous robots, I found it interesting that the majority of the front running candidates actually seem normal, personable beings from the information presented on their facebook pages. Facebook is a way of life for most college students; I know I tend to spend several hours on it daily. Campaign pages on facebook are a great way to spread a candidate's message to the younger sector of the population. Who knew that Barack Obama's favorite TV show was Sportscenter? John Edwards loves basketball and running. Mitt Romney transferred from Stanford to BYU to pursue his high school sweetheart. It's really surprising how much more ordinary and down to earth most of these politicians appear on their pages. This is not the case, however, for all of them. Giuliani's page was written in third person. I can read a biography about him anywhere; what I want is a personal chat with Rudy himself. The third person perspective makes him seem distant and impersonal. In my opinion, Hillary Clinton's page made her seem even less like a living thing than before. I don't care that she is a bestselling author. I'm aware that she is a champion of woman's rights. What I'd like to know is what she likes to do in her free time. Hillary, are you a fan of To Kill a Mockingbird? How about The Godfather? Do like to spend time shooting hoops with Bill and Chelsea? Some small amount of personal information would be nice to shatter your icy exterior.

You Say You Want a Revolution

I just got back from watching Across the Universe with my floor at the union. The film, taking place during the Vietnam War, reminded me just how much power the news media has over the American people. With increased coverage by television news crews, Vietnam became a war fought in the living rooms of the viewers following the graphic violence on the screen. The increasing numbers of casualties reported, along with a lack of reported successes, led to strong antiwar sentiments on the home front. The "make love not war" revolution called for the withdrawal of US troops overseas. The way the media portrayed Vietnam, primarily from a negative angle, gave rise to a nation strongly opposed to the ensuing brutality. It's amazing just what a large influence television has on its viewers. This same influential grip is still seen today through media coverage of the US involvement in the Middle East. Emphasizing the failures more so than the triumphs has a bad effect on the morale of American citizens; it also reduces their faith in the government.

This is one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet.

I had seen the previews for Juno about a million times on TV before I finally got around to seeing the movie with my friends over break. I've been a pretty big fan of Michael Cera and Jason Bateman ever since I was introduced to the series Arrested Development by a friend last semester. I wasn't sure what the premise of the movie was exactly but was fairly certain that it was going to be pretty much hilarious. I was right. The creative one-liners, completely random soundtrack, and numerous awkward scenes came together to make a pretty awesome comedy. The only problem I saw here was the message the film was sending to the young girls who watched it.

I hadn't really thought much more about it until I was watching Inside Edition's coverage of a breaking news item later that week. Jamie Lynn Spears was pregnant. Wow, stupidity must run in the family. I have to say that I wasn't completely shocked, but I had to think of the millions of young girls around the nation who watch her every day on Nickelodeon. Mom? Is Zoe 101 pregnant? She's not much older than me. What a great example for the fans, Jaime Lynn.

Teenage pregnancy is definitely a hot topic in the media today. The way it is presented kind of bothers me. Is it some kind of laughing matter? Is it okay to become pregnant like the teenage stars on TV? With all of the current hype surrounding this topic, I hope that young girls don't get the wrong message. I'm glad at least that in both of these instances the babies were not aborted. The media did something right in that respect.

Tears of Fears?

So finally, after nine weeks of waiting, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report were forced back on the air by the Comedy Central Network (Woohoo!), despite the fact that the Writer's Guild doesn't seem too keen on stopping their strike anytime soon. One of the main stories appearing on both shows last night was the new Hillary Clinton emotional breakdown video. Hillary in tears?? I had to watch...

The clip was played.

What the heck? Where were the sobs? The tears? The anguish? I was a bit confused. All that was present on the TV screen was a woman, exhausted from her strenuous months of campaigning, finally speaking to the voters like an actual human being. Now I'm not the biggest Hillary fan, but I am a bit confused why the media had such a large reaction to what really amounted to nothing. Here, from the media coverage, I was expecting the woman to release the floodgates and drown the room in her sorrow. What I saw was a pleasant change, Hillary speaking like a personable woman, not like the inhuman-cold-unfeeling person she sometimes appears to be. Is this change in demeanor a mark of weakness, of vulnerability? New Hampshire apparently didn't think so. Was it a ploy to gain support in the primaries? I don't know. All I can say is that from my perspective the media totally got everyone worked up over nothing.

First Attempts at Fame

I've never actually written a blog before, so this is a new experience for me. I have to admit, I'm a bit apprehensive about this thing. I can only hope that this provides an effective means of getting my ideas out there. Feedback will be appreciated!

Now where to begin...

I decided to watch a view episodes of LonelyGirl15 on YouTube to get a better feel for what the show was all about.

I was kinda shocked to see that the first video clip had over 3500 comments (a bit much for such a short vid). I found the clip to be pretty amusing, especially the random Psycho music in the middle, but was a little confused as to why the series became so popular in the first place. Any ideas? I guess each episode provides a realistic glimpse into another person's life; however, I was extremely surprised when I read that the girl in the clip was only acting the part. The entire show was a hoax! I wonder if the fact that all of the depicted events were fictional added to its popularity. There are so many video diaries online of genuine people talking about factual experiences occuring in their lives. Why haven't these vloggers gained some fame as well?