Blogging Around

Julie made a captivating post about how people who win large sums of money are not always deserving of it or content with their new found wealth. There are many obstacles to overcome and they must adjust to a new way of life.

"I share this same view that people are not always happy after winning millions of dollars. There is a show on cable network TLC that shares where big lottery winners are now. They discuss how friends and family suddenly remembered who they were again and acted friendly in hopes of getting some money. The winners have also had to manage not spending all of the money at once and save some for the future, which was more of a challenge for some more than others. In short, money does not always bring happiness and those who work hard feel more deserving of what of they have."

Marina had a post about the movie Blue Valentine and its meaning/connection to the real world. The film itself is very realistic and does not sugarcoat the trials and tribulations of budding romance or married life. This kind of topic is very interesting to me since my views on marriage and love are a bit paradoxical. I believe in marriage, but only if both sides can safely say they truly love one another and are completely honest and real together.

"First of all, this was a fantastic movie and I'm really glad you thought so as well. We share different views about love, however. Being in love is something that not everyone can say they have felt, or will feel, but what's the problem with trying? It is fact that people get hurt in a relationship when it is over, but that is to be expected and will happen many times over. It is the fact that you were happy during the relationship that counts and that those months or years were well spent. Nothing lasts forever, whether it be from divorce or death, or simply parting ways but the pain/hurt is always worth it."

Best of Week 4/18

During this past week, we have discussed many different subjects in class. Whether it was during this week or a couple weeks previous, the discussion on how technology is running our lives really stuck with and impacted me. How we are practically attached to our cell phones and how we get dopamine rushes in the brain each time that little red one pops on Facebook or each time you receive a text message. We have become addicted to this dopamine and depend on it to make us happy and to feel a sense of self-worth. Without it, we become antsy, impatient, unable to sit through a 10 minute Youtube video or unable to read an interesting newspaper article or disinterested in class lectures. Our minds are always focused on getting this dopamine that we are always checking our phones and other mobile devices for signs of activity to get us excited. I notice this in myself, actually quite often unfortunately. The other day, I decided to watch one of my favorite childhood movies, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the one with Ivan Ooze (aka, the best one) and all throughout watching, I was constantly checking the internet and alternating between the many websites I am hooked on. Before I knew it, the film was over and I did not remember even watching it.  Sad? I know. But this isn't the only case. When reading books assigned from English at home, I catch myself checking my phone during each chapter break or even pauses in the page. Why can't I just sit through a full chapter, say 20 pages, without feeling cut off from the lives of friends or the internet world?