Final Project: Toddlers and Tiaras, Do We Love It or Hate It?

HACKED!

Today I was talking to a friend and she was telling me about this computer virus that had taken over her computer. She was working on homework with a friend and a message popped up telling her the FBI was looking at her computer for illegal downloading and activity. She was actually not illegally downloading or doing any activity of the sort. On her computer then, a screen shot of her at that moment was on the screen in the corner. While she began to panic and wonder what is going she asked a friend what she thought about it. Her friend replied that had happened to her roommate to and not to worry it was just a virus. She shut the computer off and turned it back on to a white screen and no functionality. While this is sad for my friend I would like to dig deeper into the "Hacking Culture" and just what hacking and virus creation is serving. The typical understanding of a computer virus or hacker is they are negative and malicious. While this can be true for some, there is a parallel that should be seen. A group by the name ANONYMOUS is a group of the best and most clever hackers. ANONYMOUS is responsible for completely eliminating child pornography from the web. The best hackers are the ones that cover their tracks well enough to not be found. That is why the members chose to call the group ANONYMOUS. Hacking can serve a positive and negative purpose as we can see, but just why do people do it? In an age where creativity is virtual and diminishing hacking is the newest form us of creativity. Creating solutions and breaching something that technology experts thought was hack proof is the new creativity. The hacking culture can then be compared to video games saving the world, while I dont believe that in ANY way playing a game will save the world, I do believe that hacking the game could. The logic connected to gaming and saving the world can be better applied here. People need the "Epic Win" discussed in gaming, hacking is that epic win. You are forced to create solutions and the materials necessary are all available. Hacking has become the actual "game" that will save the world. With hackers growing in number and in intelligence nothing is hack proof and societal problems such as child pornography can be eliminated. What does all of this have to do with my friend? Hacking in the simple and beginner states can start with simple computer hacking an virus's. Being hacked and getting a computer virus is also more common. The connection is clear hackers in training and professional hackers are increasing and it is up to the hackers and society to use this ability in an ethical manner.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has won the official 'Sexiest Man Alive' contest that People Magazine hosts. Im sure the people from People Magazine saw every man alive in order to narrow decision for a vote. In seriousness though what is going on? Could this be a masculine movement to "princess culture" or is this another way the media is shaping hyper-masculinity? I would argue this competition is a movement toward the princess culture while maintaining hyper-masculine characteristics. The twitter feeds are going crazy with Channing Tatum parasocial madness! "Sooo Channing Tatum is from Alabama?! Ummm I love you #dreamguy #sexiestmanalive" and "sexiest thing about the sexiest man alive? hes a loyal, good, real husband to his wife @channingtatum #sexiestmanalive." Just as girls are obsessed with princesses and the culture created, Channing Tatum in this case is the 'prince charming' most of the princesses are looking for. In People's article when talking about his wife states, "Her Alabama-bred heartthrob of a husband is also a sculptor who quotes Edgar Allan Poe, loves to give her massages and can't wait to start their family." This is not what is leading the movement to the princess culture. On the web page for People Magazines Sexiest man alive, some quite comical categories unveil the movement. Headliners such as, "25 Sexy Chests to be thankful for", "Hollywood's Sexiest Family Guys", "The United States of Sexy"and "The Sexy Man Tool Box." A large contributor to the narcissistic princess culture is the competition for Miss America and other beauty pageants. Welcome to Mr. America everyone. The United States of Sexy web page has a "sexy" man from each state and a small blurb about them. These men are hyper-masculine princesses. Instead of the make up compact they have a "tool box" for sexy men. Instead of Ms. America, they have sexiest man alive. The way men maintain hyper-masculinity within the princess themed competitions is interesting then. In women's competitions there are no headlines for Sexiest Family Woman, and 25 Sexy Chests to be Thankful for has a completely different meaning! Superficial values such as tan skin and bulky builds are in place but the interesting thing to look at here is why is this competition not held the same way. Unlike the public broadcast of the Ms. America pageants, a magazine hosts the competition and audience participation then is completely different. Values that get expressed in Ms. America pageants are consumed here by the value of a 'family man' that is tall dark and handsome. The masculine non-verbals posed in all of the photographs help maintain masculinity. This acts as guide for men that want to be sexy because that is what sexy looks like. Ultimately what makes this seem to be a hyper-masculine situation is the constant reiterations of going to the gym, giving your wife massages, being from Alabama, whatever makes the females heart throb and the males eat their heart out.  One other interesting question is why are celebrity males considered to be  the only men alive in this case? Society as a whole should ask themselves one question why do we do this, allow this, and call it entertainment? 


http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20315920_20647632,00.html

SEALs punished for role in developing ‘Medal of Honor’ video game.

Seal Team 6 is the Navy seal team responsible for killing Osama Bin laden. On May 2, 2011 the members of team 6 shared a life changing experience and peak moment in History. Since the initial glory days of recognition, the members of team 6 are undergoing serious changes and facing serious charges. While it is confidential the identities of these men, alternative identities, even physical characteristics are given in the recent lime light of these men. Mark Owen the alternative identity of one of the seals wrote a book called no easy day. The book recounted Owens experience in the seals as well as the day Bin laden died. Taken from Wikipedia, "On August 30, 2012, the Pentagon announced that it was considering legal action against the former U.S. Navy SEAL for material breach of non-disclosure agreements with his first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The DoD's chief counsel, Jeh Johnson, sent Bissonnette a letter threatening him with legal action in an effort to pressure him and his publisher to withdraw the book from release until it could be vetted by the DoD. According to the DoD, Bissonnette had signed a Classified Information Non-Disclosure Agreement and a 2007 Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Nondisclosure Statement that requires pre-publication security review under certain circumstances. Bissonnette's lawyer, Robert D. Luskin, responded that the non-disclosure statements only require review of items that touch certain, highly classified programs, and Bissonnette's book does not meet that description." Also from Wikipedia, "co-author Maurer's statement that, "After spending several very intense months working with Mark Owen on this book, I know that he wrote this book solely to share a story about the incredible men and women defending America all over the world. Any suggestion otherwise is as ill-informed as it is inaccurate." The outcome of this issue is still being decided. The question that needs asked here is, is the discourse “No Easy Day” has caused good? Do we as Americans have a right to know what our men and women are doing over seas? Does the Government have the right to persecute a soldier who is not making false, or threatening claims? If Owen had committed libel or slander legal action would have already taken place. Will the discourse caused by truth open the eyes of Americans?

            Owen is not the only seal facing harsh legal consequences based on “Confidential” Information. On November 8, 2012 NBC News headlines read “SEALs punished for role in developing ‘Medal of Honor’ video game.” It is said that the seals involved in giving information to the MOH makers were investigated because of the incident with Mark Owen. The seals in the MOH case are accused of giving classified information to the makers of the game.  Many former and current Seals are upset about the breach of contract. With all this talk about video games, and the media this is the perfect case. Is this wrong? Will this Continue? 

Resources: 

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/navy-seals-punished-for-video-game-secrets-breach-20121112-29719.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Easy_Day#Controversy

 

Ignorant America

Hate, Freedom, Ignorance

Situations like Matthew Shepards are unfortunate, and in almost all cases preventable. The rhetorical analysis of the Shepard case opens up the opportunity to look at an issue the authors did not cover. Society has a problem that is leading and has led to the plummeting quality of life, and the country. Americans seem to have forgotten what 1.) it means to be an American and 2.) the values our country was founded on and we as Americans are so proud of. I feel that Americans have forgotten what it means to be an American, and this is because of ignorance produced by the media. To be an American means you live in a land of freedom, opportunity, and equality for ALL, regardless of our differences. It can even be said that to be an American is to be different, to be your own individual that makes you a special member of society as a whole. I feel these ideas are forgotten on a daily basis by society, and we allow the very thing we pride ourselves on, being different, to maliciously desecrate society. Hate crimes can be prevented if Americans can remember and accept the privilege it is to be American. I feel that Americans have forgotten our founding fathers, and the many lives lost for people in today's society to live a free and equal life. Our founding fathers created this country so that they as a people could be free, they could provide equality for all cultures, and built a land of opportunity. They have forgotten this because the media is constantly placing ignorance in the minds of all. This ignorance is portrayed through scandalous on-goings, that appear scandalous to us because the media tells us they are. The problem however is these scandals are based on differences one person has to a majority of the public. Since the media is our information and entertainment source it then can be inferred that the media has cause ignorance for differences causing hate, and negating the true heart of America. No equality for all and no opportunity for all is the new heart of America. The media is slowly killing human moral, let alone stripping the soldiers and our elders of the justice they were serving while losing lives, and injuring themselves for a life time. What about those Americans? Do you think they might have been different from you? Does that justify the ignorant actions of Americans today? Those men and women fought against the powerful governments and went to wars to ensure the protection that each American can live in appreciation and acceptance. It is the duty of society to remember, to give thanks, and live the lives so many lost theirs so we could have. I feel that the founding fathers and our war veterans would be ashamed, and society needs to redirect the media we consume.

Princess vs Reality

Princess vs. Reality

The Princess Culture, is something that entirely intrigues me, and may or may not be an addiction. Growing up in the 90’s Disney had just finished what they call the Princess Collection. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t religiously watch them all and pick my favorite while playing with my barbies. I remember having princess costumes and dressing up like Jasmine just to go to Wal-Mart. Today I do like to think of myself as a princess but disagree with Laucius’ notion that being a “princess” goes hand in hand with being a “narcissist” there may be connections between the two but, not for most. I feel that young girls that grew up in the 90’s when the movies were most popular received a better message than the young girls today. When I was younger it seemed to me the stories the princesses were associated with gave a positive, clear, life lesson. The princesses displayed a certain confidence, hope, independence, and strength. As a young girl watching these beautiful women as perfect examples makes the inner princess strive to be like those women. Today the message girls are getting from the princesses is about clothing and hair styles, about being “better” than the rest in a competitive way. I would even go so far to say the princesses have become a race issue. Jasmine was my favorite princess and from the movie Aladdin. Recently (since around 2001) jasmine has been essentially eliminated from the “Princess Brand” items can be found, but it is much harder to find Jasmine themed anything. All the others remain the same, yet Jasmine is missing. In 2001 America went to war, Jasmine is Arabian and therefor is our “enemy”, or at least they make it seem that way. Also recently a new princess was added to the collection, the princess and the frog, the princess is African American. I am ALL FOR teaching equality through interracial characters, in fact I believe it is NECESSARY. I disagree with the way the market has hinted at the racial issues facing America today. The story lines could even be analyzed as racist story lines, this is teaching stereotype and inferiority at a dangerously young age.