Sunday, March 30, 2008
What's Wrong With TV?
What’s wrong with TV? Why is it that so many of us use the TV as if we couldn’t live without it? The TV is addictive. It really is. It draws us into watching things that really don’t even matter in life. Like game shows for instance, when is the last time you watched a game show? Was it really necessary for you to watch it? Could you of been doing something else? Something you needed to get done, something productive? But you had to see if the contestant won the million dollars, right? A lot of the time when we watch TV we do it just because. We don’t really have a reason. Maybe we’re just bored and want something to do, or are too lazy to do the things we’re supposed to be doing. Most of us could just sit on the couch and search through channels and channels just to see if there is anything on, even though we’ve already gone through the channels twice before and know that there’s nothing on that would be worth watching. But yet, we still search. The TV is honestly addicting, it pulls us into many shows and movies, and even commercials. It’s like chips or candy, you can’t eat just one. Once you’ve gotten a taste and liked it, you have to go back for more. Think about it. A lot of us have our TV shows that come on once a week, and we’d die if we missed a new episode. But lucky for us, technology invented Te-bo, which lets us record our favorites so that we don’t miss anything important. So many things and new technologies make it so easy for us to be lazy. When I come home at the end of the day and walk in the door, most of the time our TV is on and my family is gathered around watching. Whether it be educational shows, cartoons, comedy shows, investigation shows, or even just the news, it catches the attention of them all. And when I arrive I can’t help but join in on the watching, and try to figure out what’s happening. I hadn’t even been watching the TV show, but yet I became so interested, so fast. When my family watches TV, they watch TV. They don’t like talking during the show, especially when people ask questions to try to understand. They hate that, it annoys them so bad. They become so into the show that they don’t care about anything else in the world it seems like. You have to wait for commercials to even get a question in about reality. It’s crazy how the TV does this. Another example is my mom. If you’ve ever watched the lifetime channel, you know there are a lot of shows about drama on there. My mom loves that channel, and can be caught watching it a lot. She doesn’t care if the show has just begun or if it’s in its last 15 minutes, she’ll get drawn in by the movie, and watch it until it’s over. I’ve caught her crying when watching a movie that she’s only seen the end of. I mean talk about getting your attention. She hadn’t even seen the show before, let alone she was only watching the last ten minutes. But it drew her in enough to make her cry. Addictive, that’s what the TV is. We get so caught up in the action and drama of the television that it takes us out of reality and places us in place where we just sit and watch. It shows us things that we know we don’t really have to be watching, but for some reason it just seems like you can’t get away. You’re stuck in the show, and you can’t get out of it. That’s what’s wrong with TV— once you’ve started, you just can’t seem to get enough.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel written by Charles Dickens that tells about a young boy who strives to be greater in many ways, but ends up realizing a lot of what wished for wasn’t really what he wanted. Many themes are illustrated in this book, such determination, self-improvement, and friendship. During the book Pip experiences these, along with the other characters. But one theme in particular that Pip finds is that affection and loyalty are more important than social advancement and wealth.
“Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.”
- Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. With Connections. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1990. Page 237-238
This passage is said by Joe to Pip as a farewell after their awkward meeting in London. Pip, now a gentleman, has been uncomfortably embarrassed by both Joe’s commonness and his own lifestyle. Becoming a gentleman changed Pip’s life and brought length to his relationship toward Joe. While at the same time, Joe feels like a fish out of water in Pip’s luxurious apartment. They have just become so different now because of Pip’s expectations that being in each others presence has become awkward.
In the passage Joe is telling Pip that he does not blame him for the awkwardness of their meeting, but he does blame the natural divisions of life. He creates a metaphor of metalsmithing to describe these natural divisions: some men are blacksmiths, such as himself, and some men are goldsmiths, such as Pip. In these terms, Joe arrives at a wise and resigned attitude toward the changes in Pip’s social class that have driven them apart, and he shows his inner goodness and loyalty by blaming the division not on Pip, but on the unchangeable nature of humanity.
When Joe tells this passage to Pip, he tells it in a way that most people wouldn’t. Although Pip acts annoyed and uncaring towards Pip, Joe doesn’t change his voice and actions to match the situation. In other words, Joe doesn’t react in ways that some of us might, when talking to someone who doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t change his values and act annoyed back, or become stubborn towards Pip. He takes it in and tells pip part of reality. Joe explains that even though he might not notice, Pip’s new way of life, or great expectations, have changed him, and others as well. He doesn’t see people the same as he should. He sees where people stand, or what their worth according to the world instead of who or what they really are.
By the time Pip realized what Joe had really said, he was gone. He didn’t have time to adjust his behavior and prove to him right then that he understood and wanted to change. He realized that one’s social status is in no way connected to one’s real character, and that wealth and class are less important than affection, loyalty, and inner worth. Although Joe said to have forgiven him for his choices of becoming a gentleman, Pip felt guilty for leaving behind the most important things for things that didn’t gain him much at all. He had lost part of a close relationship because of his wants to be higher and greater.
There are many examples of this theme illustrated in Great Expectations. All throughout the book there are many little things that happened that should have stuck out to Pip in helping him to realize what he was leaving behind. But a lot of the time Pip was too focused on what he wanted to become. Not realizing until later that what he had of loyal friends and affection towards others was far greater than what his desperately wanted expectations turned out to be.
“Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.”
- Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. With Connections. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1990. Page 237-238
This passage is said by Joe to Pip as a farewell after their awkward meeting in London. Pip, now a gentleman, has been uncomfortably embarrassed by both Joe’s commonness and his own lifestyle. Becoming a gentleman changed Pip’s life and brought length to his relationship toward Joe. While at the same time, Joe feels like a fish out of water in Pip’s luxurious apartment. They have just become so different now because of Pip’s expectations that being in each others presence has become awkward.
In the passage Joe is telling Pip that he does not blame him for the awkwardness of their meeting, but he does blame the natural divisions of life. He creates a metaphor of metalsmithing to describe these natural divisions: some men are blacksmiths, such as himself, and some men are goldsmiths, such as Pip. In these terms, Joe arrives at a wise and resigned attitude toward the changes in Pip’s social class that have driven them apart, and he shows his inner goodness and loyalty by blaming the division not on Pip, but on the unchangeable nature of humanity.
When Joe tells this passage to Pip, he tells it in a way that most people wouldn’t. Although Pip acts annoyed and uncaring towards Pip, Joe doesn’t change his voice and actions to match the situation. In other words, Joe doesn’t react in ways that some of us might, when talking to someone who doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t change his values and act annoyed back, or become stubborn towards Pip. He takes it in and tells pip part of reality. Joe explains that even though he might not notice, Pip’s new way of life, or great expectations, have changed him, and others as well. He doesn’t see people the same as he should. He sees where people stand, or what their worth according to the world instead of who or what they really are.
By the time Pip realized what Joe had really said, he was gone. He didn’t have time to adjust his behavior and prove to him right then that he understood and wanted to change. He realized that one’s social status is in no way connected to one’s real character, and that wealth and class are less important than affection, loyalty, and inner worth. Although Joe said to have forgiven him for his choices of becoming a gentleman, Pip felt guilty for leaving behind the most important things for things that didn’t gain him much at all. He had lost part of a close relationship because of his wants to be higher and greater.
There are many examples of this theme illustrated in Great Expectations. All throughout the book there are many little things that happened that should have stuck out to Pip in helping him to realize what he was leaving behind. But a lot of the time Pip was too focused on what he wanted to become. Not realizing until later that what he had of loyal friends and affection towards others was far greater than what his desperately wanted expectations turned out to be.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Great Grandma Nola
When’s the last time you spent four hours visiting with someone over the age of ninety? I know most of us don’t have many relatives or close ones that live to actually be that old, but there are some of us that are lucky. I happen to be one of those lucky ones. I’m the type of person who loves to be around older people. I love to hear what they have to say about their lives. Whether it be about when they were young and reckless, or gray and old, or even just the wise advice they have for everyone. I don’t know why but I really do find it interesting and entertaining to visit with the elderly. (So, if you ever need anybody to go visit some older ones, I would maybe go with you.)
This past weekend my family went up to visit my great grandmother. She is living in an assisted living home and is taken care of very well by her family, and the staff there. She has been in and out of the hospital escaping death many times, but has always seemed to make it through in the long run. She is doing a lot better now. She is on oxygen and medication, but not nearly as heavily as she was before. She is 92, and will be turning 93 during the summer.
Although she claims her life was “full of enjoyment and learning experiences,” she would prefer it if her life came to an end soon. Her relatives and close friends would love to have her stay around longer, but she feels the opposite way about life. “I hate being old,” she said, “It makes you feel… well, just old.” She told us this while visiting her almost every time we had to walk her somewhere. Whenever she takes a step her knees give her pain, causing her to take her time to get where she needed to go. She also is almost blind. She has special glasses that help a little, but for the most part she can only see figures and lot of purple dots. These add to her list of reasons to give up on life. She told us, “I’m knocking on heaven’s door, but no one’s answering.”
Well, I do have to say, thinking of her not being alive anymore really does make me sad. She is the most fun person to be around. She’s always making everyone smile with her funny jokes and stories. Even if they aren’t too funny themselves, the way she tells them, and the way she laughs and smiles will definitely crack a smile on anyone’s face. But out of all the stories and memories she tells, her dreams are the most interesting to listen to. Like one she told us about was while she was lying in a hospital bed. She had woken up to a purple room (that may of just been because of her eyes, but who knows?) that was filled will peaceful animals. She told us they were everywhere, all around her bed, just silently watching her. She called for her son to come in, but no one came. It was just her and the animals. But it was peaceful, she wasn’t frightened or scared, she was just amazed at what she was seeing. She said she saw a bright light, but then was woken up by her doctor for real. She told us she honestly thought she was dead, and then brought back to life again. Crazy story huh? That was just one of the many stories she’s told us about being “practically dead” as she calls it.
Although none of us would like to have her gone, I almost think that putting her out of her misery here on earth would be better for her. Not saying I’m going to kill her or anything. Just saying that if she were to die soon, I wouldn’t be able to get too upset over it because I know that she will be loving where she’s going a lot more. When she does go though, no one will ever forget the loving, thoughtful, and wonderful person she was while she was here. It’ll be hard to forget such an amazing lady like her.
This past weekend my family went up to visit my great grandmother. She is living in an assisted living home and is taken care of very well by her family, and the staff there. She has been in and out of the hospital escaping death many times, but has always seemed to make it through in the long run. She is doing a lot better now. She is on oxygen and medication, but not nearly as heavily as she was before. She is 92, and will be turning 93 during the summer.
Although she claims her life was “full of enjoyment and learning experiences,” she would prefer it if her life came to an end soon. Her relatives and close friends would love to have her stay around longer, but she feels the opposite way about life. “I hate being old,” she said, “It makes you feel… well, just old.” She told us this while visiting her almost every time we had to walk her somewhere. Whenever she takes a step her knees give her pain, causing her to take her time to get where she needed to go. She also is almost blind. She has special glasses that help a little, but for the most part she can only see figures and lot of purple dots. These add to her list of reasons to give up on life. She told us, “I’m knocking on heaven’s door, but no one’s answering.”
Well, I do have to say, thinking of her not being alive anymore really does make me sad. She is the most fun person to be around. She’s always making everyone smile with her funny jokes and stories. Even if they aren’t too funny themselves, the way she tells them, and the way she laughs and smiles will definitely crack a smile on anyone’s face. But out of all the stories and memories she tells, her dreams are the most interesting to listen to. Like one she told us about was while she was lying in a hospital bed. She had woken up to a purple room (that may of just been because of her eyes, but who knows?) that was filled will peaceful animals. She told us they were everywhere, all around her bed, just silently watching her. She called for her son to come in, but no one came. It was just her and the animals. But it was peaceful, she wasn’t frightened or scared, she was just amazed at what she was seeing. She said she saw a bright light, but then was woken up by her doctor for real. She told us she honestly thought she was dead, and then brought back to life again. Crazy story huh? That was just one of the many stories she’s told us about being “practically dead” as she calls it.
Although none of us would like to have her gone, I almost think that putting her out of her misery here on earth would be better for her. Not saying I’m going to kill her or anything. Just saying that if she were to die soon, I wouldn’t be able to get too upset over it because I know that she will be loving where she’s going a lot more. When she does go though, no one will ever forget the loving, thoughtful, and wonderful person she was while she was here. It’ll be hard to forget such an amazing lady like her.
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