Making the Perfect Cover Girl

            This article addresses the issue of excessive photoshopping in todays media. It specifically talks about the magazine Glamour which sets standards on just how much is TOO much. I agree with the author opinion. She says "It’s one thing to be cool with zapping out a zit on a regular person’s avatar, but it’s another ball of wax entirely when a company is trying to sell a product based on an image that couldn’t possibly exist in the real world." (Williams 1). I think using too much editing to make models look like mannequins causes body image issues, especially among teens. 
            The article opens with a simile. "Retouching is like tequila. Sure, a little makes everybody look better. But go too far and you feel like puking." (Williams). I thought that it was the perfect blend of truth and humor. She also uses more casual humor in another paragraph where she directly calls out some of her readers. She writes, "For one thing, unless you’re blatantly faking your looks for a dating profile (PS don’t), chances are whatever altering you do of your photos isn’t in the service of selling somebody an unattainable bill of goods." (Williams 1).  The main target audience for this piece is probably people in their teens or 20s, but older people could probably enjoy it as well. 


http://www.salon.com/2012/02/10/making_the_perfect_cover_girl/

Just Another Post About the Superbowl....

Hey Wes, "almost" doesn't count. 

           This particular article is called "A Tale of Two Catches" and basically stated the game was decided in two or three plays. Yeah, I don't want to talk about it. I'm sick of reading about "How the Pats lost the game" or "another devastating loss". Enough already. We get it. I will say though, that both teams made some stupid mistakes. Twelve men on the field? I'm sorry but have you ever played football before? Oh, yeah, maybe you forgot but you guys get paid millions of dollars to catch a ball, wear tight pants, and tackle the other team. I mean everyone makes mistakes, but really? That shouldn't happen.
           This article, and every other article uses a lot of pathos evidence to get the readers even more emotional about the big loss. And of course, brings up how if Gronk was healthy they would've won. "If the Pats had had a healthy Gronkowski, they probably win this game. But they didn’t. And when the chips were down, Brady and the Patriots couldn’t get the job done – and Manning and the Giants did." (Kamiya 1). Okay, enough excuses. We lost. Finding a reason for it doesn't change anything. 


http://www.salon.com/2012/02/06/a_tale_of_two_catches/

The Absurd Life of an Abercrombie and Fitch Model

            This article was about "how a regular guy stumble into a job of emaciated youths and anonymous six-packs" (Mccoy 1). This guys was "discovered" on the streets of New York and got hired to be an Abercrombie model and  gives his readers the inside scoop of what really goes on in the popular clothing store. He doesn't make it seem very fun and is extremely sarcastic. i don't have a personal comment on the article but I did find it quite amusing.
             This guy uses great descriptive skills. He describes the store as "Everything’s dark and loud and confusing. You half feel like you’re playing laser tag and half like you’ve bumbled onto a reshooting of “Eyes Wide Shut.” The cultural aesthetic of the store straddles all of these notions. It’s a confounding, bombastic and erotic slice of our American zeitgeist. Put another way: White people love it." (Mccoy 1). We all know the feeling. He describes the job as "crushingly boring". He is very sarcastic and just seems embarrassed by the whole thing. He says "This was related to the fact my pants weren’t tight enough. Weren’t tight enough by far. At Abercrombie, I cannot overstate the cultural impact of wearing very skinny jeans, then plunging a thumb into each front pocket. This stance is very important. If you haven’t tried it before, I suggest you do." (Mccoy 1). That's how to get on the Abercrombie shopping bags. He actually makes fun of the whole thing in his first paragraph. He writes "Hey, guys — what’s going on? I am Ambercrombie & Fitch. I model for them at their store in the financial district in New York City, but I also do way, way more. I can find different sizes for you if you need it, but if not — hey, that’s cool. No pressure. I can also muss with clothing. Oh, and did I mention that I can shimmy? I can shimmy and gyrate and smell good doing it. I am Ambercrombie & Fitch." (Mccoy 1). I thought the a story was well written and funny, and the author appeared to be a quite the character. 


http://www.salon.com/2012/02/04/the_absurd_life_of_an_abercrombie_fitch_model/

Are high tech classrooms better classrooms?

           Here's the question everyone seems to be asking these days. With all this new technology in schools, people seem to think the more computerized the better. Myself and the author seems to have similar opinions. In some cases, technology is extremely useful and can improve a learning environment. Other times, technology can serve as an expensive distraction or annoyance. The technology is not good if people don't know how it works or if it doesn't work.... a problem we seem to have here at HHS. Sometimes if people get used to having all this technology do all the work for them, they forget what it's like to not have it and all hell breaks loose when their laptop breaks. It shouldn't be like that. It should be used as a tool but should not be singularly relied on.
          This article uses a lot of rhetorical strategies to try to perswade readers to see past the shiney surface of technologies in schools. For example, the author uses rhetorical questions and directly addresses his readers. He writes, It sounds exciting — a rise of the machines that promises educational utopia rather than “Terminator”-style cataclysm. Or does it?" and "Ponder, for starters, the much-discussed issue of financial efficiency. " (Sirota 1). He challenges the readers preexisting opinions about the beloved apple products in classrooms. He asks another rhetorical question later in the article, "n lieu of empirical data, why are schools rushing into this brave new world of technology?" (Sirota 1). He uses a variety of examples while providing a variety of reasons to support his opinion and refutes the opposing side well, making his argument extremely strong. 


http://www.salon.com/2012/02/03/are_high_tech_classrooms_better_classrooms/

Superbowl Ads- with a slice of beefcake

           This article was about Superbowl commercials portraying women in an "unrealistic" way and how the only way companies seem to think they can capture peoples attention away from the game is to stick a half naked female model in the commercial. Now, I guess, according to this article, there are more articles that feature half naked MALE models to appeal to the female viewers. Personally, I don't see the big deal. According to this article, about 46% of superbowl viewers are female. Therefore I think it would be smart that ad companies start to gear at least some of their commercials towards women.Whatever, if people only pay attention when you wave a half naked model in their face, then go right ahead. You don't like it? Don't watch.
          The main audience of this article is women who wach the superbowl. Anyone could read it who feel that modern ads are depicting women as and "object" or in a "disrespectful" way. To support her thoughts, she gives examples of Superbowl commercials. She writes about a toyota commercial "Among its creations: a traffic cop who hands out speeding tickets but also invigorating massages, a motor-vehicles department where you can play pinball and get soft-serve ice cream, a blender that plays Lionel Richie, and of course, curtains made of out of pizza. But the real show-stopper is Toyota’s “reinvented couch.” A nebbishy man opens his front door to discover his furniture has been transformed into a row of bikini-clad beauties, no doubt just waiting for him to park his rear upon their collective lap. It’s your typical ad-agency-concocted dude fantasy, until the scene changes to a replica row — this time of seven six-pack toting guys and the announcement that “It also comes in male” — prompting the surprised homeowner to give a little shrug of approval." (Willaims 1). She also adds a lot of humor to the article. In the opening paragraph she writes "For starters, there’s Mr. Posh Spice, aka David Beckham, promoting his new line of bodywear for H&M. He flexes his numerous tattooed muscles to the tune of “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” glowers in an “I mean business here” way that’s remarkably persuasive, and uh, I forget what I was talking about" (Williams 1). It sounds like someone is talking to me instead of me reading their writing.  


http://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/super_bowl_ads_now_with_more_beefcake/

Memoir #2

For my second memoir I'm reading My Lobotomy by Howard Dully.

Happy Hour at Starbucks?

           This article was about a Starbucks chain in Seattle has announced it's going to spice up their menu a little bit. They will soon be offering alcoholic beverages and "premium food offerings" to their coffee shop. Some stores also say they are going to rearrange their seating plan to help accomodate groups and bigger parties for meeting or larger outings. I personally think it's weird, winding down after work at a Starbucks for a glass of wine? I don't know, I think they should keep it a casual coffe shop. I see where they are coming from though, they want to make it a more "around-the-clock" stop for their customers and make more of a profit by expanding their audience. Whatever, I'll still see it as a coffe shop and probably won't be stopping in for dinner any time soon.
          The main purpose of this article was to inform the readers about the new addition to the menu and to inspire them to voice their opinions about the change. After describing the change and reason for it, the last few lines ask readers "Do you think the menu makeovers will actually give these eateries a boost? Any of these new selections sound appealing to you? Tell us in the comments section." (Halzack 1). Those not-so-rhetorical questions are meant to be answered by the readers so Starbucks may gain some insight on how well this change might work out. The author also explains other popular eateries that have made similar changes. For example, Dunkin' Donuts offering lunch items in addition to breakfast, and Subway offering breakfast as well as lunch/dinner options. Those example of changes that worked persuade readers to think that this could be a positive and useful change and bring in more profits to Starbucks. 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/starbucks-happy-hour-is-retailers-latest-effort-to-expand-its-reach/2012/01/24/gIQAZ7DsNQ_story.html

Pay Hundreds of Dollars Not to Eat!

Gwyneth needs her organic wine, and she needs it now.

         
           Gwyneth Paltrow says "Buy my overpriced cleanse!"... okay not really but that's the truth. Who would want to pay hundreds of dollars  ($425 to be exact) to not eat anything but protein powder-ed "food" and a bunch of pills and vitamins? No thanks, not me. Oh but the occasional Glee guest star uses it- oh wait, still no thanks. As Williams  says, "Suddenly, deep fried stuffing looks better and better." (Willaims 1).
            The author basically hates the idea of a celebrity advertising for a cleanse for hundreds of dollars that probably won't even work. I actually think she's jealous of Goop. She writes as an added note, "Goop does note that the invitation to cleanse is 'not intended as medical advice' and is 'just a suggestion,' thereby covering Paltrow’s toned, slender butt." (Williams 1). Then she basically humiliates Paltrow's credibility and asks rhetorical questions like, "Not Emmy-winner Mariska Hargitay, who says that the system “has changed my life.” Not celebrity divorcee Demi Moore, who calls it “the best!” Mmm mmm, what could be better than a “filling” 90-calorie shake composed mostly of rice protein concentrate, rice bran and rice syrup solids?" (Willaims 1). She also deems her  “tone deaf… Marie Antoinette” (Williams 1). 


http://www.salon.com/2012/01/23/gwyneth_paltrow_buy_my_overpriced_cleanse/