Are The TSA Pat Downs Too Much?

Nothing feels better than arriving to the airport right before a fun spring break vacation. With your carry on bags in hand, you arrive to the security checkpoint. You get nervous because all the TSA agents are staring at you yelling a list of things you have to do before you go through the scans. None of them smile and they look at you like you are going to be the next terrorist. You load your bags on to the scanner and proceed to the walk through the metal detector. As you walk through, you hear the alarm go off and suddenly feel fear and confusion. You know you don’t have anything dangerous on you! “Man I forgot to take my belt off,” you say to yourself. The TSA agent looks at you with a stern look on his face and asks you to step aside. There another TSA agent greets you and explains to you that they are going to perform a pat down greets you.

Today, the TSA pat downs have caused quite a controversy. Passengers who are singled out to receive the pat down will have their whole body publicly searched. The new pat down procedure even requires the agent to feel around under the breasts and between the legs. People feel that the new pat down procedure is aggressive, embarrassing, and an invasion of one’s privacy.

There are man stories swirling around about various incidents that have occurred since the new procedure has been implemented. Fox news reported a story about a woman named Cathy Bossi, who ran into a violating experience while flying out of the Charlotte Douglass International Airport. Bossi is a three-year breast cancer survivor was forced to remover her prosthetic breast and show it to the TSA agents. Bossi opted out of the full body scan because she didn’t want the any added radiation to go through her body. Because she opted out, she was forced to partake in the full body pat down, which she described as “aggressive.” Bossi reports that the TSA agent halted the search as she came to her right breast, the breast where she had surgery. The TSA agent placed her full hand on the breast and asked firmly what it was. Bossi replied that it was her prosthetic breast because she was a cancer patient. The agent demanded to see it. Bossi was forced to remove the prosthetic breast or she would be unable to fly.

Stories like these have caused great controversy between the public and the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA responds by saying:

"TSA is in the process of implementing new pat-down procedures at checkpoints nationwide as one of our many layers of security to keep the traveling public safe. Pat-downs are one important tool to help TSA detect hidden and dangerous items such as explosives. Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams, among others."

Do you think the new pat downs are too much?

"Friday" Is Everyone's New Favorite Day

In today’s constantly evolving world, one aspect to focus on when looking at how cultures change is through globalization. Globalization is basically when cultures impact other cultures based on the diffusion of material culture and ideologies between two or more cultures. I think that one of the biggest influencers of globalization is social media. Social media websites such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr can quickly spread aspects of culture between various countries with just the click of a mouse.
There is one specific video that I want to focus on in regards to how Youtube functions in globalization. This is a music video is called “Friday” by Rebecca Black (found at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0). Now, the video has only been around since about mid-March of this year, but last I checked, the original video had about seventeen million views. More than likely, most of you have seen the video and probably laughed hysterically at this young girl’s attempt to become famous. People all over the world are discussing the video and probably making fun of it. It seems that ever since Justin Bieber stepped onto the music scene, up-and-coming music artists are younger and younger. Rebecca Black is only thirteen years old and is already a Youtube sensation with a recording contract. Her video appeals to the younger audience and has a rather catchy tune which makes it get stuck in your head and then you listen to it again just to try to get it out of your head. It think that one of the reasons that the video is so popular is not just because it is funny and kind of lame but also because it is a young person who is being successful, and people see that as a positive aspect of a society. The United States is usually known as a land of freedom and opportunity and this video shows that even young people are given amazing opportunities in the US. Think about it, the Jonas Brothers started out with the youngest being under sixteen years old and rose in popularity with help from Youtube; next came Justin Beiber, and now Rebecca Black.
The music video is an example of how music and pop culture in the United States is easily shared with other cultures through social media. Social media impact globalization and the spread of culture from one nation to another.

Globalization: Deal With It

Always a topic up for debate is the concept of globalization. Some people think it is good for society at large while others are opposed to it and I can understand both sides of the argument. On one side, I can see the whole of problem of going to Germany to get some food and running in to a being disappointed when you run into a McDonald’s restaurant. The world at large has definitely gotten similar and similar over the years. One of the main reasons you go to a foreign country is to experience and see new things. Arriving in Italy expecting to get some grub and seeing a KFC would definitely be a buzz kill for my experience. I see enough KFC's in America and I would rather see something new in Italy. However, you cannot blame the countries for taking these American ideas and placing them in their homeland. It would be one thing if they were trying to be “more American” but they are not. They are simply doing what just about the entire population strives to do each day; make a profit. You are simply dumb if you see the success of restaurants like McDonald's or KFC and at least not try it out in another area. Chances are, they are going to be successful, and they have been. And, they are able to do this while still staying true to their culture characteristics. For instance, in class we discussed how German McDonald's have beer on tap for customers. Now in America, that would seem a little odd, but in Germany where beer is something that Germany is known for, it makes sense. The same sort of deal is happening over in India where they apparently do not sell a lot of, if any, meat products because a vast majority of Indian people are vegetarians. It is things like this that makes me confident that we will never become a world where everyone is the same or where history and culture is forgotten. Even with something as cookie cutter as fast food restaurants, there will always be at least a little foreign flavor to spice up that chicken McNugget or beer in Germany’s case.

To Play or Not to Play?: Violence is the Question

There is constant debate over whether violence in gaming negatively effects the brain; however, no evidence has been presented that can unquestionably prove or disprove this theory. I personally believe that it is fine for there to be violence in video games and it will not damage your child’s ability to discern right from wrong. Many people are acting as though video games are the first portals to introduce violence to youth, when in fact our grandfathers and great-grandfathers were playing cowboys and Indians while running around and shooting each other with fake guns: the only difference is the lack of exercise video games provide. Violence has always been and will always be a fact of life and maybe on some level it is actually preparing these kids for the violence they will witness in their lives. It is then the parents’ responsibility to educate their children about the consequences of violence and to make sure the video games never become a reality; however, as long as this is done there are virtually no negative effects on the social skills of boys and girls who play video games. Growing up I was always surrounded by my family of 4 older boy cousins and 2 younger brothers, needless to say I have watched and played my fair share of shooting games. All of the boys in my family have grown up to be emotionally stable young adults who occasionally still enjoy playing an hour or two of Call of Duty. For this reason I feel that in such extreme cases as Columbine, where violence in video games was named as a cause, the responsibility should fall on the shoulders of the parents and not the gaming industry. As long as the violence remains in the game it can be a safe way for boys to release some aggression and provides no immediate harm to society.

When You Wish Upon A Star

When I think of America and what defines it as a country many things come to mind. Freedom, Fast Food, and fast paced life styles are only some of the many things that define America culturally. However, one thing that has changed my childhood and defined the youth of not only America but also several other countries was the emergence of the well-known Disney industry. Walt Disney had no idea how much his small ideas would grow to form an empire. The name Disney is extremely well known and has come to stand for something more than just a last name or a theme park. Disney is an ever changing wish and an ever-changing dream. Not only did the Disney corporation create a land for children to believe was filled with magic, but they helped the community, inspired the youth, and reached out for them to grow and be enlightened. I know that the way I perceive life would be different if I had not watched countless Disney movies that persuaded me to follow my heart and my dreams. Disney has done an amazing job of selling their message to the public. Their movies, theme parks, and organizations stir emotion in the common American, whether they are age five or age ninety-five. The Disney organization never fails to make people happy and wanted and they reach out to all types of ages, races, sex, and religions. They have created a global community of happiness and that is just what this world needs. As I grow older and older each day, I continue to believe in the messages the Disney industry promotes to the public and continue to wish upon stars.

Gaming Goddess

Today in class, the discussion of women and gaming was brought up. There were many different views on how women used to be seen as sex symbols. Looking at the previous Tomb Raider’s protagonist, Sara Croft is barely wearing any clothing. Her breasts are abnormally large and her stomach is concave and un-proportional to the rest of her body.
Do women play these games, where women are considered sex goddesses? As a female, I would not want to play a woman that is created to appeal to men. That would just seem weird and freak me out. However, I would not want to play a man that was deemed as “sexy” either. Other than the fact that men are normally the main characters and women are sexy, why do women rarely play video games? I never play video games but I do not have the time. Sometimes I watch television, but even having that much extra time is rare. I believe women prioritize much more than males; therefore, they do not have the time in their day to play such games.
Many games with women featured have moved from sexy and barely clothed to fierce and confident with much more clothing. Is the gaming industry trying to appeal to women now? Will men be appreciated of this transformation? I believe the gaming industry would like to see women playing video games but I am not sure that this will happen. Maybe if they appeal to younger girls, these girls will begin playing these games and then the industry will gain the revenue of an entire generation. Making female characters more confident rather than sexy is a good example for these young women. Men will probably not find these new women as interesting as someone that is barely clothed.

America: The Hotspot for Athletes

In class we have read articles on Yao Ming and Sammy Sosa. Both athletes left their native countries to come to America to peruse their professional sports careers. Having a few foreigners come to America to play professional sports may seem normal due to the world becoming a more global and diverse place, however, over the past few decades America has been a hotspot for foreigners to migrate to peruse their professional sports careers. By being a sports fan I know that professional athletes migrating to America is a trend.
Dozens of professional hockey players are from Russia, baseball players migrate from the Caribbean, soccer players come from Europe, and football players come from Samoa – a small island in the South Pacific. The reason that so many foreign athletes are migrating to America to play professional sports is because of the money professional athletes earn in America. Unlike in many countries, professional athletes are rich and idolized in America. In Europe or China if you are a professional basketball player you are by no means “rich”. Professional basketball players in Europe and China make average salaries and are not considered celebrities just because are talented basketball players.
The sports culture in America is much different than it is in the rest of the world. Fame, money, and the spotlight are all things that come with being a professional athlete in America. Many athletes who grew up abroad, like Sammy Sosa, did not grow up in the best conditions. Sosa grew up in a poor family that struggled to pay the bills but when Sosa took his professional career to America, he made millions and was able to send money back to his homeland to help out his friends and family in need. Athletes from abroad come to America for reasons like Sosa; they want a further pursue their professional careers and help provide for their loved ones back in their homeland.
This tend of foreign athletes coming to America to play professional sports makes me question if America is paying their professional athletes too much. Is Sosa really worth millions of dollars more when he plays baseball in America? Is Yao Ming only a worthy basketball player in America? The salaries that professional athletes area getting paid for simply doing their job is getting ridiculous. I do not mind professional athletes making money and being famous but it is only appropriate to make sure their salaries grow out of control. Something needs to be done to control the salaries of professional athletes.

Steroids? Good Grief.

Sports games are suppose to be fair competitions between players who work hard to become successful and to outshine their opponents. However, with the introduction of steroids to sports, the idea of a fair competition is distorted. Many players now cheat their opponents, teammates, and their own bodies by using steroids to enhance their muscles without the hard work that was once required. The use of steroids have drastically increased in the numbers of players throughout the years. The majority of steroid use has been involved with baseball. It can be seen from this cartoon that Stahcer from The Columbia Dispatch has a strong argument about this issue. First of all, it is evident that the two characters in this cartoon are wearing baseball gloves, inferring that they are playing baseball. Next, the use of ethos in this characters helps establish the credibility of Stahcer’s argument. Everyone knows who Charlie Brown is. Charlie Brown is a very popular cartoon of an innocent, little boy who hangs out with a group of innocent children. The innocence of Charlie Brown’s character in this cartoon establishes Stahcer’s argument that the use of steroids is very common nowadays. This argument is supported by Lucy’s quote bubble that says, “Good grief…Not you, too?”

Steroid use has not only changed the way that players play the game; it also changes the perspective of inspiring fans that watch their games. Especially with the young children who look up to certain athletes as their role models, the use of steroids could influence the children to do the same. This negative influence now makes the society frown upon athletes who decide get involved with steroids. In a parent's perspective, they don't want their children to receive bad influences, so to prevent them from the influence of steroid use, parent's are more likely to prohibit their children from attending sports games. So the use of steroids can lead to the decrease in the number of fans the athlete will have and it could also lead to a bad reputation for the team that he or she plays on. With the bad reputation, the team will not be favored in any way, which could lead to a decrease in motivation in the teammates to do well and gain back acceptance from fans.

The use of steroids have many consequences that don't just affect the player but it also effects their teammates, coaches, and even their fans. If a professional athlete is found to be taking steroids, serious measures ought to be taken to aware others to not partake in such an activity. The punishment should be the banishment of playing professional for the rest of their life. This severe consequence can scare athletes away from using steroids to ensure they will be able to play.

Copyrights? They're not that important, right?

File-sharing. Free (illegal) downloads. Most people in modern day society use these phrases everyday to discuss their favorite music, favorite television shows or favorite video games. Millions of Americans, both young and old, frequent sites that offer pirated music, movies and other programs without a thought for the copyrights held by the artists and producers of the work that the consumers download illegally. What are copyrights exactly and why do so many people illegally distribute and utilize copyrighted materials?
In today’s society, individuals would probably define a copyright simply as the protection of the work produced by an individual. However, the laws associated with copyrights are far from simple. As demonstrated in the cartoon above, copyright laws often appear to be written in another language. In most cases, the conditions applied by copyright laws work to protect the works created by an individual, as well as any company associated with the work of that individual. In the entertainment industry, the corporations behind artists and actors are quite wealthy. These huge companies are major supporters of copyright laws, which are meant to protect the billions of dollars of revenue raked in by these companies every year. So what’s the harm in illegally downloading one illegal song? Well, people don’t download just one song. Millions of people download millions of songs for free, which means that the producing artists and the record labels don’t get their fair share of revenue. CD and movie sales, specifically, have fallen drastically since the idea of free downloads surfaced on the web.
Let’s look at the other side of the argument: the position of the American public. From this point of view, we can see that the music, movies, games, shows, and every other copyrighted material are all part of the everyday expression of American culture. Even though downloading pirated material is illegal, major corporations are suing individual families for thousands of dollars that the families do not have. In other instances, these lawsuits are filed against people who have used copyright work to create original images, videos or songs. The entertainment industry prepares to launch a campaign against piracy, a strategic move that would allow them to look at a person’s computer history and record their actions. Do copyright laws prevent the public from creating their own unique piece of work from compilations of copyright material? Do these laws prevent the expression of our culture? Would the actions of the entertainment industry infringe on the privacy rights of Americans? It is said that originality doesn’t exist anymore. It is my belief that organizations like Creative Commons, an organization that works with individuals who want to share their works with others while retaining certain rights, show the direction that the debate between the American public and major companies is headed. In order to resolve the copyright conflict, the public, the creator and the companies need to work together to achieve to allow the creativity of upcoming generations to remain mostly unrestricted.

During class we watched Thank You For Smoking, featuring a man named Nick Naylor who goes through some rough times in the occupation he chose. This is one of those movies that have two completely opposite viewpoints: to smoke, or not to smoke? And yes, that is the question at hand in this movie.

During the part of the movie that we watched on Wednesday, Naylor son, Joey, goes on the business trip with him. In my opinion, I’m with Joey’s mother and would not want my son to go on a business trip with my ex-husband who works for a cigarette company, promoting the use of cigarettes and that they are good for you. Let’s not fail to mention that health issues were never mentioned in this movie. It is supposed to be set in the future, when all the health risks have already been addressed, or there are no more health risks for it. But we all know what too much smoking can do to you.

In my opinion, smoking is terrible for you. Whether or not you choose to smoke is all based on your opinions on it. As young adults just starting out in college and being on our own for the first time for some of us, we are now able to think for ourselves. Our parents are only voices in the back of our heads now. We are able to make our own decisions based on what our parents have told us growing up. Most of us listen to them I hope. Lots of people smoke like it is no big deal, as if there are no health concerns. This was what they were portraying in the movie. But we all know the dangers of smoking, even the ones that do smoke.

It is all about personal preference. Smoking is not the only controversy in today’s society. Underage drinking, drug abuse, and pregnancy are among the few that are well known. We are all going to try these different things at some point in our life. As long as we are the legal age if decide to continue doing this, then all is well. We know what is right from wrong. Whether or not we apply it to ourselves is the question at hand.