10th and Final Post!

Since we did not have a prompt to expand on I choose to do a review on the 7 Eleven that is connected to the University Center (UC). I would just like to start out by saying thank you to whoever planned to put a 7 Eleven right next door and extra kudos to whoever approved the door that connects the two. I am from a small town in southern Illinois called Danville. In Danville we do not have a 7 Eleven, we have convenient stores but no 7 Eleven. I love 7 Eleven! I'm not even trying to be funny but 7 Elevens have this atmosphere that no other convenient stores have, which might have something to do with their widely commercialized name. I believe that this 7 Eleven is family franchised because there are only four or five people that work there, the same shifts every day/ night, who are really nice and I have come to know (since I'm in there so much). My favorites are the guys who work the night shifts because they are pretty funny and very friendly. I particularly love having a 7 Eleven connected to the building I live in because it provides easy access. I do not have to get dressed to walk to 7 Eleven, I can go in my pajamas if I want to. Its really cold outside now and I love Slurpees so I get to avoid the hassle of trying to unthaw my hands so I can make a Slurpee; I can just take the elevator downstairs and go through the little door and voila! Which brings me to my next point; I love Slurpees! My favorite is the mix between Fanta Cherry and Mountain Dew Freeze with a little more Mountain Dew Freeze then Fanta Cherry (about a 60 to 40 percent ratio) and the best part about it is that it is only an elevator ride away. Another perk of having a convenient store connected to the building is that they have almost anything you need; food (hot, cold, cooked or uncooked), toiletries, supplies, just about anything to get you through the night. One of my favorite 7 Eleven dishes is their donuts. They get restocked at about two o'clock in the morning and they are fresh, soft, and delicious. After a long night of partying or whatever, what is better than coming home, sitting back enjoying a Slurpee and fresh donuts!? 7 Eleven is also very reasonably priced and they give cash back on their purchases so I do not have to make a trip to the bank to get some cash. 7 Eleven has proved its worth to me countless times and I could not imagine what my college experience would be like without it.

Response to Prompt 9 (Assisted Suicide)

I have never heard of assisted suicide and quite frankly I think that idea is so messed up that anyone would help someone end their life. Since I have no knowledge of the topic I have a lot of questions. Who would you ask to assist in the ending of your life? What kind of person would agree to that? I hope a person who considers them-self a friend of a mentally unstable person would not agree to their wishes. Why would you try and talk them out of it? Show them how great life is, show them how it is going to get much better, and how it could be much worse. Whenever I hear something about suicide I assume that there was a lonely tormented person that could not take it any more, and if there are people with someone willing to take their life, why aren't they willing to show them real love and that no matter what happens, if their family friends or spouse turn on them that someone will always be there to go through their troubles with them. Why wouldn't assisted suicide be considered murder or manslaughter? Even with proof that the person wanted to die, it is not justifiable to kill someone. Not to sound in sensitive or anything but if a person is too much of a punk to do it themselves, they do not even need to consider suicide as a solution to their problems because their problems are obviously not that bad. Suicide is bad, assisted suicide is even worse.

Response to Prompt 8 (Thanksgiving)

I agree, I feel that Thanksgiving is another holiday that has fallen to the commercialization of the economy. All holidays have become commercialized, the true meanings behind holidays have been lost for quite a while and it has only been getting worse. From a business stand point, holidays are prime times to get people to spend their money. Something that i think is very true and will never change is, holidays are time where people get together and everyone wants to impress everyone else. So people go out and splurge on decorations, new china, and an outfit to wear. Although I do not believe that holidays are all about impressing those who I will be around, I still give in. Thanksgiving in my family has stayed consistent, the same people cook the same dishes every year, the same people host at their house, and it is at the same time every year, and I never get tired of it. I think since my family has all of the logistics planned out (thoroughly) we are allowed the time, that many lack, to sit back and reflect on how grateful we are for each other. During the preparation of the dinner I have so much fun with my family just doing simple things like setting up the tables or running around town looking for a certain type of juice because not just any juice is acceptable. We laugh, we congregate, we fellowship, and I love it! I do not think the true meaning of Thanksgiving will ever leave my family. Although it might sound corny, before we can start eating we have to stand in a circle and talk about what we are thankful for, recite a bible verse pertaining to that topic, and contribute to the prayer. I feel all of our small traditions keep us together, we are forever leaning new things and gaining new appreciations for each other. In my opinion, Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to reflecting on what God, your parents, your family, and your friends have done for you. Its a day to spend with the ones you love and have a great time. I do not see harm in people going to clubs or bars on Thanksgiving, unless they are making getting to that venue their priority then there is a problem. The younger side of my family will go out after dinner while the older members sit around and watch movies or listen to music and have their own party. In my family Thanksgiving is not just one day, Thanksgiving goes from Thursday to Sunday, so after we have had our dosage of all that love we are grounded. I think showing gratitude is one of the easiest things you can do, buying an appreciation gift, card, or flowers always works but a simple thank you makes a huge difference.

Response to Prompt 7 (Influence)

Yes, I would definitely second the idea that the media could possibly give you ideas and influence you to do something; however, I do not think that you could blame the media for the bad actions of a person. I think the media (music, movies, books, television) is a means of expressing ones passion through their particular art form. Art is supposed to be evocative and produce certain feeling and emotions but when I hear about people committing criminal acts or reenacting some psycho acts that someone has seen and/or heard about I am appalled that someone can be so weak minded to believe fictional acts committed by fictional characters. I highly doubt that the writer of a song, script, or book has the intentions of giving crazy people ideas or fantasies to live out. In a way, I feel that when someone takes an artist's idea and doing it is tarnishing the artist's work. I really feel bad for that unstable person out there who has no ethical or moral values The news is played all day everyday on just about every channel reporting on any and everything, I think hearing about what people do or have done in real life can be more influential than a fictional movie, book, or television show. Many things I have seen and heard through the media have influenced me; starting with music, I love music, I am a musician and when I hear a talented vocalist I will try and imitate their style then make it my own, if I hear a good song I think about making a cover of it. A really playful example of the influence music has is this new dance-songs movement, when you hear songs like Walk It Out you start walking it out, when crank that Soulja Boy came out with Crank Dat everybody was doing the dance, and more recently Beyonce's Single Ladies; although it is not a "dance-song" it made everyone want to do that choreography and women all over began to pressure their boyfriends to "put a ring on it." When I watch a music video or live performance from an artist I highly respect I will take note of what their doing and why people love them. There are certain books and movies that have been made specifically to inspire and influence certain actions like the "Chicken Soup saga." I think movies contain the most "i want to do that" moments and everybody will say that but at the end of the day, its all fiction.

Response to Prompt 6 (Music)

I would have to absolutely disagree with the notion that the genre of music you prefer to listen to defines you as a person. Music is very influential however if a person out there that has no beliefs or opinions of their own and who need to be told how to think and/or feel they deserve to be pre-judged. Music is a powerful force and it should not be taken for granted. I do feel that some artists abuse their talents to influence certain movements but I think most of them are just gimmicks. Music is art. Music is for your entertainment. Actions, views, personality, ethics and morals define who you are. The way you were raised, the experiences you have been through make you who you are. I do believe that the type of music you listen to can definitely influence your person in small ways like style and taste. You can often easily assume someone's preferred type of music but then you would be stereotyping. I do not think it is right or fair to judge someone at all, let alone for the type of music they listen to. The music industry is vastly changing, many artists are starting to become more versatile to cater to a more broad audience. Many artists are collaborating with other big artists from other genres. Although, it may or may not be true that everyone has one ultimate favorite type of music, many do not. Speaking for my self, as a musician, I just love good music. Genres are just categories that, at the end of the day, do not matter to me. I love music that caters to the emotions, if I am happy I want my music to boost my happiness and if I am sad I want to listen to an artist that has put music to their struggle so we can go through it together. As an artist, I absolutely think music as a whole has definitely molded me into the person I am today and I also feel that the people who are willing to judge someone on the music they listen or the music they think that someone listens to is just ignorant.

Response to Prompt 5 (Eating Meat)

I have been a vegetarian for, going on, two years to date. Although, I love animals and I am very passionate about the well being and proper treatment of them, that is not why I stopped eating meat. I stopped eating meat because I started to notice that it started tasting different and I would not feel all that well after eating so I initially limited my meat intake, then I eliminated red meats, until I finally just decided to stop eating meat completely. Ever since I have been meatless I my life has seriously improved. My body got a lot more toned and I lost what baby fat I had left, my skin cleared up, I was not as prone to breakouts as before, I gained a lot more energy and stamina, I could perform under scorching lights in an elaborate costume without being extremely exhausted, and the list goes on. When I first eliminated meat completely I was not sure how long I would be able to keep it up since I lived in a family who loved to grill, fry, sauté, and bake any and everything they could. But it became a personal challenge to me, I would say to myself "I'm in control of me" and I would not give in to my cravings. The cravings never stop, every time I think about what my favorite dishes used to taste like I want to just give in for a little while and indulge but end the end I do not think it would be worth it. Being a vegetarian is not easy in a society that is just now warming up to the idea, when going out with friends and/or family to restaurants my options are always limited, and that gets very annoying. It can also become very expensive, I cannot just go to a fast food restaurant and order a meal off of the value menu, I am normally limited to french fries and a drink, and that is definitely not a meal. Tofu is an alternative and when cooked correctly and mixed into the correct dish is great; however, in my opinion, tofu has no flavor, it just tastes like whatever you season it to taste like. I think that the meat industry has become extremely corrupt in the sense of how they are raising their meat and and pumping them with steroids so my answer to the prompt is no, i do not think we should eat meat.

Response to Prompt 3 (Success)

In my opinion success can mean many different things depending on one's dreams and aspirations. My dream is to become an international pop sensation, money would be a perk, and a great one at that, but I want fame , I want to be known, I want the paparazzi to photograph every move I make. I do not need a mansion and seven different cars as long as I am always dressed to a tee in haute couture and looking fierce I would be happy. Although money is a huge factor in every aspect of life, i do not think that money defines success. To me success is all about establishment and money, connections, and power have a big part to play in being established. So I would have to agree with the idea that influence plays a bigger role pertaining to the topic of success. My list of successful artists would include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and Diana Ross. Being successful goes farther than just money, influence plays a big part. As one can see in my list of artists, they are all pioneers in the music industry that have played a big part in the world of music and many have tried to follow in their footsteps only to find that they could never imitate, let alone, duplicate their style. I would not go as far as saying all of my friends and/or family members are successful but there are a few. The people who I think are successful are the ones are those who have climbed to the top of the ladder in whatever field that have chosen. My aunt started out as a teacher's assistant and now she is head of the school board and she loves her job, she is not filthy rich but she does get paid well. I would not give up all my ethics, morals, or lessons that I have learned for success; however I would go to extreme lengths to accomplish my goals, but I would rather make it to the top with pride and dignity than regretting the path I have chosen.

Response to Prompt 4 (Movies and Violence)

I do think that movies, and all other forms of media, can influence a weak minded individual to act upon a suppressed urge. There are crazy people that look to horror/suspense/mystery movies as inspiration for the action they are plotting. If some mentally unstable person could relate with the character to which is committing the violent acts, I could imagine a scheme to imitate those actions. I also think that movies have a big effect on younger people who; a. Don't know right from wrong, due to a lack of discipline from their parents. b. Have been bullied and/or teased by their peers. or c. Have really vivid imaginations. I also think that the movies do a horrible job of stressing the fact that the killers have serious mental problems but when a movie like Saw or the show Dexter is made into a saga with the story line of a "mastermind" killing people who do wrong, I think that can send terrible messages to the views like its ok the kill that bad people. I only believe that movies can have this big of an influence on those who are incapable of thinking for themselves. I feel that it is the parents job, as parents, to instill the ideas of right and wrong in their child. Many serial killers anger comes from past vendettas with their parents so as long as the parents love and teach their children I don't think that a movie will be able a youth to sway into the mindset of a killer

Response to Prompt 2 (Drinking Age)

I think the drinking age is appropriate as it is; although, I do not like that at eighteen one can fight for his life yet not get the privilege of drinking. However, I do not feel that it should be lowered to eighteen. I think eighteen is too young because most eighteen year olders are not mature enough to handle the full responsibility of having a driver's license let alone the burden of drinking. Most students are eighteen while in high school and I feel if there are students in high school who are legally allowed to drink, high school would have to become a lot more strict. If students could purchase alcohol most of their younger cohorts would pressure them to buy alcohol for them then there'd be more younger kids drinking. There's also be the difficulty of chaperoning a school function, how would you stop the quarterback from hitting up a bar to "ease" some pre-game jitters, not to mention if the football team won a game then the whole team would go out and celebrate and put their whole career in jeopardy. Then there's prom, if eighteen was the legal drinking age there would be twice maybe three times more pregnancy after prom, and not to mention all the students who would come to the dance drunk and/or spike the punch bowl. I also feel that lowering the drinking age would, not only, raise the teen pregnancy rate but also the teen drop out rate, teens in jail rate, teen death rate. Also the statistics of students going to college after high school would also plummet. I don't feel that most young adults know what "drink responsible" mean. My cohorts drink to get drunk, not to be social or to intensify the taste of a dish. Sometimes I question if twenty-one is even a logical age because I see may twenty-somethings with the mind set of an teenager. But I do think that twenty-one is more appropriate then eighteen.

Response to Prompt 1 (Sports and War)

I do not feel that sports, as a general topic, mimic war; however, I do feel that there are some sports that were inspired by the idea of battling. If the topic in question was directed straight towards contact sports like football, boxing, or maybe even hockey, then I could see more similarities and more violence, but then the sports like baseball, basketball, or swimming that don't necessarily require contact. The common denominator in sports and war is victory, but competing to win is an everyday part of life, whether its for an employment position or a part in a show. Neither do i believe that violence is promoted in sports, it just happens, and when it does there are penalties to prevent it from happening again. Comparing current sports when gladiators fought for their lives as entertainment for a king and a crowd, there is no violence in sports today. I'm really not sure how i feel pertaining to the positive and/or negative impact on our culture, since sports are like a foreign language to me. I do think sports have supplied a great deal of inspiration to the arts, some of the most dramatic and evocative movies to ever be filmed have had a sports story line. Then there is the athletes themselves and their scandals, but all figures in the public eye are bound to have at least one scandal to taint their name, but that has nothing to do with the actual sport. The biggest negative impact sports has provided our culture is steroids, without sports there would be no need for that drug and all its baggage. In my opinion sports are just another good form of entertainment.