Final Thoughts on Final Presentations

Bottled Water

Years ago, I had heard about the dangers of drinking water from a bottle that has been roasting in the sun.  I remember one of those chain e-mails went around, claiming these bottles caused cancer.

I have to admit that I didn't give it much thought until I saw Corey's presentation recently.  The only thing that every really bothered me about water bottles was the cost, especially if you buy one from a vending machine.  For just a dollar more, you can get a whole pack of Nestle Pure Life.

Corey had suggested that we refill our own bottles.  This process is cost effective, but is it really safe?

One of my fears with re-usable bottles is the bacteria that builds up.  I heard that in a span of 3 weeks, over 8 strains of bacteria can form.  Sure, you can scrub your bottle really hard and follow tips like sticking with stainless steel and buying one with a wide mouth.  But truthfully, who has time to thoroughly disinfect his/her bottle?  Moreover, who wants to take the time?  Not me.

Then there's the whole convenience factor.  In the time it takes me to disinfect my bottle, I could reach for a Nestle Pure Life.  Then I can throw it away without thinking about the new bacteria strains that may have just formed.

I think Corey's argument was compelling, and I will try my best to use my own water bottle.  I have to confess one point though.  Until I have undeniable proof that someone I know caught cancer from bottled water, I will probably still buy them from time to time. 

Human Trafficking

When Lisa mentioned that human trafficking is prevalent here in Ohio, I was not remotely surprised.  Evil lies everywhere, even in the Midwest. 

My best friend, on the other hand, was shocked.  "That kind of thing doesn't happen here," she exclaimed.

"Why not?"

"Because...we're more civilized here."

She explained to me how we don't beat people in the middle of streets or bribe citizens like other countries.  I just shook my head.  Of course we do that.  It's just not as mainstream.  The media convinces us that these tragedies are just anomalies, but they're not.  They happen everyday, hidden from our middle-class eyes.

Let's talk about the Philippines for a moment.  The age of consent there is 18...allegedly.  The truth is that anything can be negotiated as long as money is involved.  The place that Lisa referred to that features children under 16 is 100% acceptable because the government and police force receive profits from that group.  As long as the cash flows, the government is willing to ignore the law.

Now let's get back to the U.S.  We may not publicly participate in crooked behavior like that, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.  As I type this, there are teenage prostitutes who survive by turning tricks.  There are cops who look the other way because they are being paid by pimps.

We may be more "civilized" as a whole, but we are all humans underneath it all with desires (some of which are very twisted).  And where there's good, there's bad.  Human nature sees to that.

Election Aftermath

Lisa Bishop and I had the pleasure of assisting Juliet at WYSO with some research on some of the major campaigns.  We surfed the web for credible resources on each of the topics.  Then Juliet put together a summary on WYSO's political page that showed where people could go to learn more about the results.

As I was sitting there, I couldn't help but consider how this process must have functioned years ago.  People must have used faxes as well as telephones just to exchange information. 

The crew at WYSO had pulled all-nighters just to stay current with the news, but they were grateful to have the Internet as a tool.  It helped them acquire information instantly.

Last week, I was having dinner with some friends.  We engaged in a conversation about just how much communication has evolved or devolved over the years.  One of my friends said that during the Lincoln/Douglas debates, people devoted 21 hours to hearing the 7 debates.  That's how dedicated they were to politics.

Then I thought about today. 

People complained about dedicating 6 hours to 3 debates.  There's one simple reason for this change:  technology.  We now count on the Internet to tell us how we should feel because it's easy and quick. 

As future elections occur, I wonder how our new way of thinking will impact our decision-making process. 

What the Frack?

When Lisa mentioned that some of the pollutants from fracking ended up in Warren, Ohio, I felt compelled to do some research.  I am from Akron, which is about an hour east of Warren.  The oddity for me is that I never once heard anything about fracking until I moved to southwest Ohio.  Either northeast Ohioans are oblivious or they just don't understand the implications of this process.

Warren did not have any laws or regulations against fracking.  They simply had the freedom to dispose of waste in their sewer systems.  However, once the EPA became involved, they did have to shut down operations.  Another interesting point that I discovered was a local article that downplayed the dangers of fracking. It had indicated that fracking does not contaminate well water.  This fact explains why northeast Ohio folks do not get up in arms about this topic.

Last week, there was an earthquake in Kentucky.  Many of my Cincinnati friends felt the tremors.  This got me thinking about fracking because many scientists have linked fracking to earthquakes.  I think it's time for everyone to get on board with this.  Fracking doesn't just pollute our water; it causes irreversible destruction.

True Power for Anonymous

After doing some research on Anonymous' attack on Scientology (which was well deserved), I came across an article where Scientology head, David Miscavige, declared the group losers.

Miscavige said, "Having run into the Church of Scientology, they [Anonymous] are no longer laughing out loud or otherwise. Nor are they any longer anonymous."

Now that's hilarious.

Apparently, Miscavige doesn't realize the power of exposure.  While much of the group is truly anonymous, those who have come forward have brought an even higher level of awareness to the group.    

And that's a win for any protest organization.

The Numbers Debate

According to The Washington Post, Romney and Obama mentioned "middle-class" a total of 29 times. 

I wish I had implemented a drinking game!

If I would have added Medicare to my game, I would have drunk 59 more shots.

But what we really need in this country is a strong leader.  Ironically, the two only mentioned "leadership" twice. 

So what does that say about these candidates?  That perhaps we should focus on Gary Johnson instead.  Drunk or sober.

Lady Gaga: Satire or One Hell of a Marketing Scheme?

At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga sported an entire outfit made from real meat (see below). This fashion choice created quite a stir among the public, but Gaga claimed to have had a message behind it. She stated that she was tired of the media treating celebrities like pieces of meat.

So one could argue that this stunt marks Gaga's satirical attempt at influencing a change in how the public views famous people. 

On the other hand, however, if she was really against Hollywood, she might have made a bolder statement by avoiding the award's show altogether.  A real protest against the standard that Hollywood set in place.

Nonetheless, this dress is now as famous as J. Lo's green Versace from the 2000 Grammy's.  And that dress's only claim to fame was a severe plunge that left little for the imagination.

Lady Gaga at the 2010 MTV VMA's.

Saturday Night Art Protests

Art comes in many forms today, both electronic and in print format.  Perhaps one of the most recognizable methods is television or the silver screen.

Each Saturday, I tune in to Saturday Night Live (SNL).  Although it has lost its comedic value over the years, I feel like it's my duty to appreciate the pop culture significance that it provides.

One of the major themes that SNL dives into is politics.  For the past season or so, they have done all in their power to exploit Romney's ignorance with the public.  They portray him as wishy-washy and out-of-touch.  Meanwhile, Obama shines with a smile.

As I think about artists like Banksy who use the power of art to get their point across, I can't help but include SNL in this category.  As long as I have been watching, I have witnessed the writers' partial behavior towards Democrats (much like a lot of Hollywood).

Whether you're into politics or not, anyone can see where SNL's loyalty lies.  Thanks to the power of art as protest.