Week 10

Future Vision:

The amount of technology in the video and the thought of how it would change my  life is overwhelming . Being able to make new connections at the press of a button or understand  whole organizations in seconds because a billboard told me what its advertising. But it would be tariffing that my whole life would be online that it would be so easy to be scammed or stocked because everything in my personal life would be accessible to the right kind of bad guy. Also the paranoid part of me doesn't like what this would mean for my future freedoms. For example apps that we download like games and or for emoji's, whatever the reason, ask for permissions and gain access to basic information or occasionally even txt messages or voice mails. This just seems suspicious  especially as technology gets more advanced and our securities become more lax.

In some ways it would be better to have that much technology at my fingertips because there is so much good that could be done like having doctors on call to do in home check ups or connecting people in a more affective way could lead to helping people who were once unreachable. This doesn't directly affect me in that I'm not constantly sick or in poverty, but I do believe that we as people have a responsibility to help those in need and this is how we can improve. Also I would hope it could lead to unity in nations and a better understanding of people and cultures.


In the video we see many things like how easy it was to access hotels or find conference rooms to more efficiently work. The bellhop was able to look up his next client, recognize her and know her needs so that he could maximize her stay. At the business lever this is great because it make for a better customer satisfaction which lead to more costumers. At the level of the consumer it makes traveling, that normal can be disjointing and annoying, a easier and more enjoyable experience. In this world of technology everything is clean and organized. All that is seen is upper middle class workers or higher. For one thing it would make lives easier in that people would be able to work and interact in business relationships at a higher more efficient level. Another way that it would affect people is that it would create a bigger gap in the working classes because only so many people are going to be able to afford this kind of constant technology. After the divide is established it would be nearly impossible to fix and lead us into an even more dependent on physical things. This kind of divide and dependence will cause as much strife as much as it will help connect and create.

Week 3

What does work
The Dress and The Salvation Army ad:

The uproar of #TheDress all over the internet lead to all kinds of companies using it to promote or encourage their products. While the consensus is that the dress is ridiculous and defiantly was more popular than its worth, there was one add that I thought used the dress in the best way to make the biggest impact. The Salvation Army used this picture to invoke inner fear and use the bandwagon effect to get their point across.  They use the fraise many did during the dress circulation "Why is it so hard to see black and blue?" and "1 in 6 women are victims of abuse."  to promote abuse awareness. They use the #StopAbuseAgainstWomen and quickly it went viral, getting attention from media users like myself and news feeds like +BuzzFeed. They are successful in that they use shock value and bring attention to an important topic from one that is abruptly common knowledge and very frivolous.


What doesn't work

McDonalds commercial's don't work for a few reasons one being that anyone that has had a McDonalds product knows that what they advertise isn't what is sold from the buildings with the golden arches. From the questionable chicken products and unusual flavored beef McDonalds the reason they have business is from broke teenagers, people with the munchies and when your on the go. I manage to fit into all of those categories occasionally sometimes all at the same time. They attempt to use the bandwagon effect and stereotypes to get people to flock to their restaurants. In their many commercials they use people in their 20's to show that its cool to eat there and everyone does, almost like what they taught us in middle school about what people say to get others to smoke or drink. Funny enough McDonalds is bad for your health too.

 

Week 9

In my experience with music it takes all kinds of reasons for a person to like music the same for hating it. My mom hates any kind of swear words and most loud music. So to say that its hard to find music we agree on is an understatement, Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran are who we both like. So if there's a band that I know she wont like I guess I protect her from my music like I would a small child who shouldn't know what  the F word is yet.

But with my love for bands who scream rather than sing softly. It wasn't just her who looked at my music with disgust. Mostly people who listen to pop look at me like I have a two heads. Personally I couldn't care less but it used to bother me that I had to be crazy not to like pop or country music because those are the only "good" music in existence, naturally I got over it and then eventually made people uncomfortable because of it because why not have fun with peoples stereotypes. I mostly think that people need to get over themselves, sure you don't like it fine an I reserve the right to not like other kinds of music, just not to judge people by their music. There actions can do that just fine in my opinion.

Music is something that I've always been around beginning with my parents influances and then gragualy making my own deciacies as we all do. My mom listens to mostly Christian and classical while  my dad listens to 80's rock. When I was younger this was what I love to too, until I discovered the radio. After a few misguided years of pop and country music I finally found that my genres are typically but not limited to Alternative and folk. I've gone to Warped Tour in Portland for the last 4 years and plan to go again this summer. Basically its an all day concert that lasts about 10 hours and has about 4 to 5 stages playing at once with 7 all together. The bands range from famous to up and coming and locals. When my sister used to go years ago and she saw Paramour and Lincoln Park. In my 4 years I've seen  multitude of bands a few being A Day To Remember, The Mighty Mongo, Mayday Parade (twice and my favorite), Falling in Revise (another favorite) and a Band who had very weird music, a guy in a mouse costume covered in blood wielding a chainsaw. So there are defiantly some interesting things that go in but I love the atmosphere. Even with the moshing people are very friendly and the whole thing is just a relaxing day with people who love music, very different than some of the other concerts I've been to. My favorite band and of their songs are as listed: Mayday Parade- Jamie all over, Ed Sheeran- Give me love ( amazing in concert and hopefully again this summer), Falling in Reverse- Raised by Wolves, ZZ Ward- Move Like You Stole it, SafetySuit- Annie (only the first album though).

Week 8

On my bookshelf in my bedroom I have a the worn favorites from my childhood such as Harry Potter, Matilda, Winnie the Pooh and Granger the Overlander. To the new ones like City of Bones, Hush Hush, Long Lankin and lots of crime novels. These books say that I never grew out of my love for fanciful worlds and adventure. Mix in a taste for murder and horror. Also 20 or so books that I've bought that are partially read or waiting to be next.  That's what's on my shelf and scattered around my room at the moment.

I think that these books talk about my love for adventure and a passion to see the world, to know more than the small town I'm from. Cliché? Yes but true I read the books I do because for now that's how I stand going to school. Taking classes I don't always understand in hopes of one day seeing cultures and traditions that have lived far longer than any history book. It sounds kind of dark but my books are my inspiration and soon a goal accomplished.

My books, like friends, have come from all over picked up in all kinds of book stores. Mostly form Powell's in Portland because they have current used books and I can take my old unloved books there to get credit sometimes ones that I got from Powell's in the first place. The rest are I've picked up from the Book Bin, Borders and, my favorite, random secondhand bookstores that you can hardly walk in.

In the next 10 years my bookshelf is more likely going to be a book room and the genres will change to more sophisticated writers as they have in the past. But I think a lot of the same things will remain just for nostalgias sake and I doubt I'll ever completely grow out of my favorites even if their childish. And trashy clichés are the best for passing time on trips so there here to stay for sure.

The transition from books to eBooks is taking the market by storm and I am one of those consumers but I will never completely change over unless I'm forced to. The eBooks might be cheaper and easier to carry around but I hate the headache the glow gives me, the complete detachment that is involved in buying online books rather than carefully selecting for hours the best one to bring home. Not to mention the completely wonderful smell and feel of books you can't get that from an iPad or Tablet. But in 10 years I might not have the option of buying printed books or they will be astronomically expensive because publishers know they will make more of a profit if their produces are online.

Blog Project #2

I chose this "Blood of my Blood" by Barry Lyga because its a series I've been waiting to finish for over a year and have been reading books by this author for years. I started reading it because I like murder suspense books and this one had a twist that I'd never seen before. Plus the other books of his that I've read were very good "The Astonishing Adventures of Fan boy and Goth girl", "Goth Girl Rising" and "Boy Toy". That's what made me want to read this series.


My Book Review:

"Blood of my Blood" by Barry Lyga

The "I Hunt Killers" trilogy by Barry Lyga is about a boy named Jasper Dent who's father is a notorious serial killer. Not only did his father terrorize the country by torturing and killing over one hundred women but took Jasper with him. Teaching him everything from dismemberment to hiding evidence that is till his father gets caught and sent to prison. Fast forward a few years and there is a new killer in in town and Jaspers the prime suspect as he works to clear his name. There are many twists  in this gripping series and everything will be answered in the end of book three "Blood of my Blood" by Barry Lyga.

Published Reviews:

"Lyga's burial of the I Hunt Killers trilogy cements it as one of the most ambitious thriller series in YA history and the absolute cliff from which teen readers can dive into the grueling world of adult crime procedurals."-Booklist (amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-My-Hunt-Killers/dp/0316198706

"The mystery pulls you in from the fist pages, and Jazz in a more chillingly charming protagonist than Dexter Morgan."-Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series (back of the book)

Bio:

Barry Lyga was born on September 11, 1971 and currently lives in New York. He majored in English and received his BA at Yale University. He has written 13 graphic novels and books with another due to come out in August. He has a blog that he uses to update his fans on new books, signings, free looks at essays and short stories along with how to contact him for advice on writing. He also has a Facebook at Barry Lyga and Twitter @barrylyga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Lyga
http://barrylyga.com/novels/

This book is similar to his other books in that it has a shock value in it. Something that I've noticed in his other books is that there not the run of the mill story about teens still in school there stories about murder or suicide or another more taboo subjects . Its different in that it has suspense and life and death situations unlike the other that I've read. The ideas are different than most books in this genera in that most murder suspense novels it doesn't involve the murder's families.

This book is important because it not only is an entertaining story but about coming of age and becoming more than our parents. It relates in culture because of the books target audience, late teen to early 20s. It targets the age group that is coming into their own. Take social media accounts for example, its were people connect with other outside their families and creating their own opinions, ideas and rebellions, the character's defiantly represent that. The book also has a deeper meaning pointing out our consumerism and herd mentality and how that can get you killed metaphorically and physically. Lyga does this to provoke the reader into thinking about their role in society."Blood of my Blood" is a well written novel that captures the reader in unusual but realistic situations.

Personally I loved this book and a couple of hi other novels and while there all different there all good and to the same high standard. Its memorable because its not like the other murder mystery's I've read that that's saying something because I've read a lot of them. Also because of its intensity and captivating story.

I enjoy Barry Lyga's writing and sadly haven't been able to pick up another one of his books but I will when I get the chance. There's one that I'm looking at, its a comedy called DE 'souled. Its about a man who sells his soul to the devil, it looked good on Amazon. I lent my copy of "The Astonishing Adventures of Fan boy and Goth girl" she really liked it. She has my copy of "I Hunt Killers" (the fist one in the series) now so hopefully she'll be as hooked as I was.I learned a lot about Barry Lyga in that I knew nothing about him other than he wrote books that I've read. And that its important to look for the deeper meanings in books even if there just for fun.

Week 6

        I would read a newspaper if it contained things that I would be interested in. Like what is happening in my school like tuition rates raising or different program that are being picked up or dropped because of costs. Those are important to me because I am going to Linn Benton on a Scholarship kind of program and I wouldn't be able to go to school without it. And if something like that got cut I defiantly would want to know about it, along with a lot of other people to. But beyond programs being cut things like new classes being offered or books that weren't bought by buy back advertised by the owners how want to sell them. Things like that would get myself and other collage students more interested in a newspaper.
    
       Also things like what to do in Albany on a budget or for free would be something else that would make me want to get a newspaper. Things like the annual jazz festival or movies in the park during the summer are wonderful for collage students because there free and easy to get to. Something my family and I didn't even know about until it was the year after we moved to Albany. Along with things like bowling coupons or a few dollars off food would be another good way to get the people who are on a budgets attention.

     From what Jeff Jarvis has said and from the Page One video it doesn't look good for newspaper companies if they don't get their act together. From getting on board with social media and the app world to have a constant stream of information. Waiting for the next day to get out information worked before I could look up the tweets about the Kardashian vs. Rose debate while it was still going on just so I could understand my twitter feed. While this is complete trash that I'm horrified I know about at least I'm in the loop now and that's . That's what newspapers lack is the urgency and news right now. This could be rectified by having people scanning social media very few hours for the newest information. While this seems ridiculous it is one of the few ways that will put the newspaper business back on the board. This goes along with the app in that  people would not have to go buy or wait to receive a paper in the morning. This would accommodate their views needs and schedules making them more popular and their own form of social media.

Plog post 5

Freedom of speech is important aspects of life from having choices in how you can vote for to being able to have ay kind of conversation that you want. Freedom of speech is important to me because I like to be able to say what I think. Like when I'm doing things for SkillsUSA such as recruiting or handing out fliers and I'm able to do that with freedom of speech. I think that commercials have gone to far with freedom of speech, using it to bend the truth and press all sorts of fake promises down possible consumers. They do as much as possible to force themselves on to people so that they can make a sale. I have gotten to the point that I don't even watch cable because I cant stand all of the commercialism junk that I'm being forced to watch. Now it's not all products that get to me its the ads for lawyers who will use any excuse to get clients or the ads for the elections spewing all sorts of crap about what there going to do (bought for them by them), Or even better them slandering each other like its going to win my vote. They should be limited to speaking only the truth about what there doing or what they will do for you. Simple as that.

Week 2

     I have had social media for years and twitter is no different. I use it for multiple things such as pure comedy and staying informed on current events. Some of my favorites are @Banksy who post about harsh truths, @Girlposts because their hilarious and @Heforshe so I can watch the progress of women's equality. The picture to the left is an example of one of @Banksy’s posts. Social media can have two different affects on people, it can either inform or blind its followers to the real problems in the world.

 
 
 

    The most impact that I've seen from a tweet recently was one that talked about the expectations we have in out society about how we treat women. This boy did what he assumed would be the norm but the fact that he was wrong in heartbreaking. Social media is not always used in the best ways from tweets about the latest drunk celeb or a nip slip. But in cases such as these it shows how much we need to improve as a whole.

   I do believe that social media has helped me more then if it wasn't around from becoming more informed about the world around us but also in doing smaller things . Second to twitter my Pinterest account is what I use the most because I can learn so much more the if I had to use word of mouth or take a class. For example I use recipes that I can then use to sell baked good to people or make crafts for friends. One of my most recent challenges is that I taught myself how to knit and yes its getting better each time.

media blog post project 1

        Now we've all seen the singing ads from J.G. Wentworth with the lines 877 Cash Now that gets stuck in our heads for the next three days. While affective in forcing its watchers to remember the product and its information it completely irritating its viewers. This form of marketing is as obnoxious as it is successful. This is why I think that their commercials are successful. They combine this with plain folk actors to make the commercial seem good for all kinds of people, especially collage students and the unemployed because they are the ones most likely strapped for money. 
(Here's an example of one of their commercials and a parody that's just for fun.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbGw3A9Dg-Q normal commercial
vs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KF2ZuguEAQ parody video
      
        Another reason they have been successful is when they play their commercials, and the audience that they appeal to at that time. J.G. Wentworth shows their ads during the cheapest part of the day while shows such as Judge Judy and the Daily Show are on. This is also when people are most likely coming home from class or are taking a break from filling out job applications.
    
       They use the association principal and story telling to make their commercials seem more personal to their consumers so that they can reach a wider audience. They use situations such as unexpected triplets and basement flooding to force fear into their prospective customers. They relate through using actors that would have similar jobs to their viewers such as bus drivers, concessions workers and business workers. This is something that has been done time and time again by others to create a "personal" relationship with the viewers but they add their own touch to these cheesy commercials by making the actors sing opera both annoying and unusual, and who can forget the Vikings.

       J.G. Wentworth has been around for almost 23 years and have become well known for their obnoxious commercials and the hope for lots of money but those didn't start until about six years ago. Before that all they had was their website and word of mouth. And surprisingly they have managed to become and stay popular with little to no social media influence. Their Facebook and Twitter didn't even exist until early this month, but even then their followers and likes have been shooting though the roof. Thus spreading there business even further then imagined in such a short period of time.

        From the updates from BusinessWeek about their smart investments and their steady growth. With their website nice and cheery along with all of the help with finances and guides to save what could go wrong. Under the guise of smooth transactions and happy costumers is what people really think of J.G. Wentworth's business because like any company there will be critics. some of the most common being that much more money is taken then given and once paperwork is signed good luck getting your money on time. Below shows the J.G. Wentworth website as apposed to review website.

http://www.complaintsboard.com/jg-wentworth-b116090costumer complaints
vs.
http://jgwentworth.com/ the website

          Form this I've learned that this is a complicated business that has managed to survive the economy and use only small amounts of media and commercializing. All in all there are many aspects to this company I would not recommend or us in on the future for two reasons. One because I don't believe in barrowing money unless it life or death. Secondly I've heard too much from the company that I don't have enough concrete facts and I don't know anyone who has used this service.

week 1

I took this class because it looked interesting and I have always been intrigued by the way media affects society. I currently am not a journalism major but it might be something to consider in the future. My hobbies include reading, baking and  an organization known as SkillsUSA.