Entry #4 Looking back

Looking back on blogging I enjoyed the new experience. Connecting to your audience can be difficult. When I heard I was to make a blog I thought this must be a joke... right?

No it wasn't, but now that I have put the time into my blog to make it my own, I actually am considering keeping it for my family and friends. I can say that I did take blogging seriously, although some topics were more difficult than others. I enjoyed the freedom to write about anything of my choice, and found myself spending time and thinking of something that I would actually read about. Blogging is definitely a great way to learn about rhetoric and connecting to your audience. It is a fun way to see the different styles of writing and getting your voice out the way you want. It is definitely a useful way to help perfect tone as well.

The only problem I really had with blogging was trying to learn where everything this is and what to do next. Multiple times I know that I hit the wrong button and lost all of my stuff I just worked so hard on :( I then needed to redo it again... This was a real drag but I managed to make it through. Maybe if I had a key to tell me what the different buttons were or how to do what would have been helpful. I must say though I got good at being able to add picture and videos.

 If there was more time I feel the topics could have expanded more. Also I think the commenting would expand more and help learn rhetoric even more. The freedom to choose to write about what is on your mind is a great way for a student, like myself, to get their feelings out. Blogging can be a great tool for a student to vent or ask for advice as well.

 I liked all the topics I have written about but one thing I would have liked to do was more free topics. I enjoyed them the most. One down fall to blogging is that anyone can do it, which also means anyone can also say what they want even if its not true. Its a form of social media like Facebook or Myspace. It can be customized to any style and any attitude. Just like Facebook and Myspace it can be addicting and as a reader or writer it should be limited and not take over a persons social life. If you have never thought about making a blog, I would recommend it, take the chance, you will never know if you like it until you give it a try.

Professor Chris thanks for giving us the challenge of writing this blog. Although it might have been difficult overall I really enjoyed it and the ability to freely say what I want to say.

Entry #3 Farmer or Factory? Food Inc.

 

Have you ever wondered what your really eating when you go through the drive-thru at McDonalds, or when you pick up a box of twinkies from the grocery store? Recently watching the movie Food, Inc. really made me question what is going into mine and my families bodies. Here is the Official trailer for the movie.

 

 

To start it off the abuse of the animals was appalling! I could only cringe. Knowing that buying these products I am supporting this! To watch a cow be pushed around with a forklift is heart breaking. Then to watch cattle be fed a diet consisting of corn because it is cheap; however the government allowing it was even worse. You might be asking what is wrong with corn... well cattle is not supposed to consume corn. With the corn diet the cattle are producing more bacteria. Bacteria that is unhealthy mainly E-coli. Yes E-coli that can kill! The E-coli producing cattle are then slaughtered and through processing and chemicals are put onto store shelves. Did you know when you look at meat in the market and it has its pink color that is from a chemical?

 

One thing about corn I was stunned by was how many products use it: Diapers, Batteries, Motrin, Kool-Aid, Charcoal, and Fast Food to only name a couple. Corn is used in engineering as a filler, causing the use of less meat making unhealthy food more cost effective, thus easier to get ahold of.

 

Above all my biggest question is why is the government allowing us to poison ourselves? Why aren't they stopping these large corporations from ruling our food supply and making unhealthy food less expensive, and our healthy food more expensive?

 

I hope I haven't scared you away too much as this documentary is really eye opening, so if I haven't, I highly suggest renting it or find it on Netflix. I don't suggest trying to snack while watching it. After watching the movie ask yourself, where would you rather get your food?

 

Farmer?

 

Or

Factory?

Cold dogs!

Having three dogs during the summer time in Arizona is tough. I am constantly trying to find ways to keep them cool during the hot months. I have always given my dogs ice water, and ice cubes to chew on; however, I wanted a new cool treat for them. The dogs enjoy the occasional frozen bananas, but I wanted something else. On a recent visit to the pet food store, I was given a sample of Stewarts Frozen Dog Treats. I was skeptical at first not knowing anything about the product. I decided it was worth a shot to give my dogs something new and cold at the same time. They loved it!! They have multiple flavors; Vanilla apple crisp, Mixed Berry, Fresh Harvest veggies & fruit, and Berry Fresh.

The treat comes in a small 3.5 ounce container and are fairly reasonably. I found leaving them out on the counter for a few minutes before trying to serve them has worked best. Sometimes I just let them lick it out of the cup. One thing I like the most is they are made in the U.S.A!!

 

I also began looking into making frozen treats for the dogs to enjoy and recently came across this recipe for Peanut butter & banana treats.I found on Pinterest which linked me to creative housewife.  They treats were very simple to make and I know what went into it and how it was prepared. It made me confident to give my dogs a little something extra to help keep them cool.

 

Have you found any frozen treats for your pets? Do you have any recommendations on ones that you have tried? I  hope you take into consideration this summer that a dog can only cool down from panting and through their paws unlike humans. Help keep your pets cool and safe this summer!

Gun exchange and poptart firearms

Immediately when someone hears gun exchange they think of the real thing... right? What about a toy gun exchange? I am beyond appalled that society has come to such a ridiculous event. Children should be able to grow up playing cops and robbers. The principal feels that a toy gun "desensitizes" children. I myself have grown up around the fake things, along with the real guns. My family has pictures of us as children shooting rifles and handguns, does that make me a bad person? No, if a child has been raised and taught safety, I do not feel that their is anything wrong with a child playing with toy guns.

Another recent incident that comes to mind is the child who bit his poptart into the shape of a gun. Here is the video in case you missed it.

 

 

 

Not only was the boy suspended for 2 days, the school offered counseling to students who were affected by this. Are you kidding me? Even if he did purposely bite the poptart into a gun and say bang, bang, what harm is he causing? Its loaded.... with filling! Now that I am all worked up, what is your opinion on the subject? Are toy guns bad for society? What harm do they bring? Has society taken it too far? 

Entry #2 Typical Family Life... Technology Interference

Society is on a run away train when it comes to technology. Watch this animated clip and let me know what you think.

 

This film is comical however it greatly points out the flaws in the American society with the average family. This video hits home for me. I work in a restaurant and walking through the dining rooms all you see is some sort of technology on probably 90% of the tables. Children are being entertained by gaming systems or Ipads, while the adults are checking their email or on facebook. As I walk through the dining room I hear some conversations, however it is rare to overhear a meaningful family conversation. Have you witnessed this in your daily life?

As I sit here entering this blog entry I have the laptop open with multiple tabs, the TV is on a recorded show I enjoy, and my cell phone is sitting next to me and I check it periodically for emails or facebook. I know I am not the only guilty one. Heck my grandma is in her 70's and I was laughing last time I visited her because she had her laptop open and using it next to her actual computer, the TV on, the house phone ringing. I never would have thought... then I see her send a text. I hear people say its just my generation, but its not its all around us. Yes my generation is very guilty, but its everywhere around us, forcing us to feel the need to use it. Do you feel that urge from society to have that technology at your hands? Do you feel out of touch with society if you don't have it? Some things to ponder.

 

 



Bridal Showers

Along with planning a wedding you have to plan a bachelorette party and a bridal shower. This is tradition some people choose to skip for costs or lack of importance to them. However to me I feel that it is a fun tradition to continue and a must. The bachelorette party is a brides last chance as an unmarried woman to have fun with her girl friends. The bridal shower tends to be more family oriented, as my girl friend put it "invite anyone that you can not see holding a penis lollipop or wearing penis glasses!" I couldn't help but laugh but it was a good way to put it since all that is saved for the bachelorette party.

There are many traditions when doing a bridal shower. Typically a bride is not supposed to help plan but however I enjoy being involved and my bridesmaids don't mind. I understand the old reason being that your shouldn't plan a party in honor of you but I feel that this way of thinking is outdated.

Another tradition I stumbled upon was that whoever you invite to the bridal shower better be invited to the wedding. I have a hard time with this. As the economy went down the drain we have chosen to stick to a smaller family only wedding, helping to reduce the ridiculous wedding costs. However still wanting to have close friends involved and friends of the family included were opting away from this old way of thinking. Everyone who is invited to the shower and not invited to the wedding understands the circumstances surrounding the reason, and I have personally talked to all of them and they are okay with it.

I never knew there were so many rules of etiquette when planning a bridal shower, most of this I found out by looking online at other blogs for tips and advice. To me being involved is important. I can see why these are traditional etiquette but were in the 21st century, its time to revive the bridal shower process. After all society has gone from the traditional cakes to cookies and cupcakes like this what is wrong with the updating the rest of the bridal shower?

Entry #1 Discovering blogs

While trying to figure out the whole layout of how I wanted my blog to be, I found others online for inspiration.... or not so much inspiration. The internet is a great way to learn new ideas or market yourself, however because its not monitored some sites are pure opinion and can be taken the wrong way. I remember watching this commercial for state farm where the lady believed everything on the internet. She learned this from, of course, the internet.

I enjoy personal blogs myself, Professional blogs I find too corporate and boring? I understand corporate blogs aren't always supposed to be enjoyable but this to me is so impersonal I cant spend over 5 minutes on it. McDonalds blog is all focused on sustainability which is great, however for the average consumer this does not mean much to them. Their blog too focused on sustainability it lacks the personality that keeps the reader wanting to read and coming back for more. This is great for those who are concerned with sustainability but what about those who are not and just want more in aspects of the corporation or the products?

 Now Walmart is a giant company as everyone knows. They have a TON of information all over on the site that I find interesting but its also confusing. If the layout was more appealing and easier to follow would make the site more eye catching. However the overall spectrum of topics that they cover is great. I see that you can share the post and all but there is no comment section. So it doesn't feel much like a blog, more so an informational site. I did find that you can submit inquiries to the journalist under media contact, along with a phone number, which makes it feel that they care to hear what you might have to say.

I don't know what you enjoy, but I would rather enjoy myself, after all I am learning and doing it for entertainment. When I am looking for a blog I find myself usually on a craft blog or sewing blog, I like instructions that are clear and with pictures. However with the wedding approaching and all the planning left to be done I find myself on a ton of wedding blogs for DIY projects. These blogs are so much more personal and appealing. I would rather have someone's input or opinion in something that is not so serious and their way of giving a person an alternate view or helping. This sort of blogging feels more personal and has a way to draw in the reader into something that truly matters to them.

Overall I want to follow a more personal blog feel while still trying to appeal to readers on a higher level. I am learning while working on this threw expressing myself so I know it will not be perfect right from the start, but everyone has to start somewhere. Tell me what you think, which would you prefer to follow?