291 – The Men We Carry in Our Minds – Scott Russell Sanders
Scott reflects back on childhood memories and observations of men working at a prison, on farms, and in the military. He uses deductive reasoning to move from the whole (men) to the parts (types of work and the lack of, home lives-women and children, etc.) and how it affected their lives in the process. He described his father’s progress from a laborer to a white-collar worker. Men’s so-called life privileges baffled him, and he found women’s grievances of life puzzling. If I read this correctly, at some point he became confused thinking that women had better lives than men and made a switch, certainly not the ending I was expecting.
Friday, November 30, 2007
How It Feels to be Colored Me
255 – How It Feels To Be Colored Me – Zora Neale Hurston
Zora feels complete just as she is—colored—but not tragically colored. Her world changes in new places; but she is still she, not a race, just an American living to survive. Her prose is very poetic and metaphoric. Although she is treated differently in the white world, she is living in the present—unlike the white folk around her that reflect her back to slavery. She allows her imagination to take her places that she will never see and where color is not a factor. She is comfortable in her own skin and recognizes the opportunity that others miss by denying themselves the “pleasure of her company” (page 258).
Zora feels complete just as she is—colored—but not tragically colored. Her world changes in new places; but she is still she, not a race, just an American living to survive. Her prose is very poetic and metaphoric. Although she is treated differently in the white world, she is living in the present—unlike the white folk around her that reflect her back to slavery. She allows her imagination to take her places that she will never see and where color is not a factor. She is comfortable in her own skin and recognizes the opportunity that others miss by denying themselves the “pleasure of her company” (page 258).
Red, White, and Beer
189 – Red, White, and Beer – Dave Barry
Dave has a very strange sense of humor. I knew a David Barry as a teenager; it sounds like something he would write. I knew the title was strange, but the essay is not what I anticipated. I never thought of beer as patriotic, but then I never acquired a taste for it either.
Dave has a very strange sense of humor. I knew a David Barry as a teenager; it sounds like something he would write. I knew the title was strange, but the essay is not what I anticipated. I never thought of beer as patriotic, but then I never acquired a taste for it either.
Sex, Lies, and Advertising
168 – Sex, Lies, And Advertising – Gloria Steinem
Gloria explains many ways to control the media through advertising and the difficulty involved in getting advertisers to take women’s magazines seriously. Apparently, advertisers believe that only men make important purchases, and women should be shopping and cooking because they are not technically inclined. Racial, ethnic, and sexual preferences are also causes for advertising discrimination. Many advertisers believed the articles should relate to the ads, while others believed their ads would not meet the proper audience. It seemed to be a vicious circle of cause and effect and overanalyzes, which eventually led the magazine to a reader focused product with no advertisements.
She reflects back to the early 20th century when husbands were the revenue source for magazines, and there were no advertisers. The magazine consisted of information to assist women to be better wives, mothers, and homemakers. However, the magazines turned toward the image of a catalog, due to the invention of clothing patterns and the mass manufacture of household items, which led to manufacturers placing demands on the type of stories adjacent to their products or in the overall magazine (page 183).
She began by presenting a problem, gave examples of advertising problems (maybe too many), and then reflected on its origin. She concludes with a proposition for women to take control of their magazines by making their opinion known to editors, publishers, advertisers, and each other.
Gloria explains many ways to control the media through advertising and the difficulty involved in getting advertisers to take women’s magazines seriously. Apparently, advertisers believe that only men make important purchases, and women should be shopping and cooking because they are not technically inclined. Racial, ethnic, and sexual preferences are also causes for advertising discrimination. Many advertisers believed the articles should relate to the ads, while others believed their ads would not meet the proper audience. It seemed to be a vicious circle of cause and effect and overanalyzes, which eventually led the magazine to a reader focused product with no advertisements.
She reflects back to the early 20th century when husbands were the revenue source for magazines, and there were no advertisers. The magazine consisted of information to assist women to be better wives, mothers, and homemakers. However, the magazines turned toward the image of a catalog, due to the invention of clothing patterns and the mass manufacture of household items, which led to manufacturers placing demands on the type of stories adjacent to their products or in the overall magazine (page 183).
She began by presenting a problem, gave examples of advertising problems (maybe too many), and then reflected on its origin. She concludes with a proposition for women to take control of their magazines by making their opinion known to editors, publishers, advertisers, and each other.
Why We Crave Horror Movies
150 – Why We Crave Horror Movies – Stephen King
Stephen gives a brief description of human need for fear induced through media and amusement rides. He uses metaphors to describe our psychic and sanity (or lack of) and to explain why we refrain from doing mean things to others because we prefer praise over punishment. Therefore, viewing these scenes gives us an out from causing harm to others, which explains why horror movies need to be “reactionary, anarchistic, and revolutionary” (page 152). Personally, I prefer action and comedy over horror any day and feel no need to be scared for personal pleasure.
Stephen gives a brief description of human need for fear induced through media and amusement rides. He uses metaphors to describe our psychic and sanity (or lack of) and to explain why we refrain from doing mean things to others because we prefer praise over punishment. Therefore, viewing these scenes gives us an out from causing harm to others, which explains why horror movies need to be “reactionary, anarchistic, and revolutionary” (page 152). Personally, I prefer action and comedy over horror any day and feel no need to be scared for personal pleasure.
What Really Ails America
137 – What Really Ails America – William J. Bennett
William takes a very real problem with America, discusses reasons for it, and proposes a possible solution to correct it. Some would view his reasoning and solution as factual and agree, while others would disagree and fight against his solution. The fact is American morals are in a downward spiral and until steps are taken to correct them, America will continue to be a society in decline (page 137). He ends by telling us to get mad, fight, and never surrender (page 141).
Truth abides in his reasons and solution. This moral decline should not surprise us, as God warned us of its coming. Removal of prayer from schools probably began the spiral. Society lacks understanding of the true meaning of “division of church and state” and has removed the Ten Commandments from many government buildings. Displacements of many priorities have occurred; however, the NCLB act continues to improve the education system. As Christians, we need to continue to build God’s kingdom; those who choose against it will enter into the worst downward spiral imaginable. Unfortunately for them, it will be too late and truth will be their demise.
William takes a very real problem with America, discusses reasons for it, and proposes a possible solution to correct it. Some would view his reasoning and solution as factual and agree, while others would disagree and fight against his solution. The fact is American morals are in a downward spiral and until steps are taken to correct them, America will continue to be a society in decline (page 137). He ends by telling us to get mad, fight, and never surrender (page 141).
Truth abides in his reasons and solution. This moral decline should not surprise us, as God warned us of its coming. Removal of prayer from schools probably began the spiral. Society lacks understanding of the true meaning of “division of church and state” and has removed the Ten Commandments from many government buildings. Displacements of many priorities have occurred; however, the NCLB act continues to improve the education system. As Christians, we need to continue to build God’s kingdom; those who choose against it will enter into the worst downward spiral imaginable. Unfortunately for them, it will be too late and truth will be their demise.
The Value of Philosophy
121 – The Value of Philosophy – Bertrand Russell
Bertrand takes the subject of philosophy and deduces it from the whole into parts, explaining how sciences, such as astronomy, psychology, and others, began as philosophy, but have become their own disciplines (deductive reasoning). Then, he describes the importance of philosophy from the parts back to the whole in the value of its own discipline (inductive reasoning). He uses descriptive language to passionately explain the value of philosophy, which is obviously dear to his heart. He explains that although some independent disciplines have sprouted from philosophy, it is still its own entity and has value.
Bertrand takes the subject of philosophy and deduces it from the whole into parts, explaining how sciences, such as astronomy, psychology, and others, began as philosophy, but have become their own disciplines (deductive reasoning). Then, he describes the importance of philosophy from the parts back to the whole in the value of its own discipline (inductive reasoning). He uses descriptive language to passionately explain the value of philosophy, which is obviously dear to his heart. He explains that although some independent disciplines have sprouted from philosophy, it is still its own entity and has value.
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