How Plugged in Are You?

For the past few days I have been watching, learning, and observing students on campus. Yes, this may sounds a little creepy, but I was observing how "connected" my small campus is. While adventuring out on the 10 minute walk to my first class, my first instinct was to plug in my headphones and listen to "Whip My Hair" by Willow Smith, but then I hesitated and decided to unplug from the music and listen to the car horns, and engage in early morning pre caffeine conversations with my classmates.


During this quick walk I observed many people listening to their various MP3 players, texting, talking, and playing games on their cell phones. With a quick "hello" to people they know and the occasional stop and chat I observed that most people did one thing: stay plugged in.

As a College student I myself am plugged in almost all the time. Emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter all on one device I sometimes catch myself needing a break. We are constantly refreshing our Mozilla Firefox to see if someone has "posted" or "tweeted" on ones profile.



Last night I had the chance to unplug myself from technology and read a book for an hour or so, yes read a non school related book. At first my thoughts were, well what if someone important tries to get ahold of me.... it is sad that I myself can't keep my thoughts off of technology for more than a few minutes, I either can change my habits or limit the amount of time I am "plugged in" or continue to be engulfed in technology

Who are you calling UGGly?

This morning I woke up to freezing temperatures in my apartment as I had failed to close a window and the  temperature was at a blustery 35 degrees.... this called for one thing as I slowly got dressed and prepared for this cold drizzly day... UGG's 


As an avid UGG wearer ... I believe I am on my fourth or fifth pair... including an ugly magenta pair that I wore freshmen year in high school. UGG Boot's were never meant for women, men, and children to sport in the cold weather or around town in the winter. UGG's became popular in the 1960's for competitive surfers who used the footwear to keep their feet warm after their competition. After UGG Holdings, Inc. was sold in 1995 to Deckers corporation, UGG's emerged as a fashion statement and trend. Celebrities were seen wearing them first on the coast of California. Soon after teens, soccer moms, and Wall Street executives were all seen sporting this cozy boots on the weekends or lounging around in. 


For me UGG's are go to footwear when the temperature is below 50 degrees, which in Spokane is quite often. But for other's they see UGG's as a ridiculous and "UGGly" piece of footwear. I hear this mostly from boys, especially in my demographic of 18-24. They view the boots as unattractive and do not understand why they are so popular with their female peers. This does not mean that UGG's are not popular with certain men, UGG's has expanded exponentially since 2006 when they started to be all the buzz in the US shoe market. From the point of a consumer I have seen UGG's grow before my eyes. 


On a recent trip to Nordstrom's I counted five UGG displays in just the women's shoe department. The boots ranged from more fashionable styles that were upwards of $200 to slippers, mocassins, and the classic short boot. 


Opinions are quite different when it comes to this brand of footwear. Some may say they are ugly, gross,  and unattractive, but others including myself have to say that they are cozy, cute, and comfortable. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlrVySqacQc

Who's In the Relationship Here?

My heart broke a little bit yesterday when I found out that Courtney Cox and David Arquette were separated. I have always been a fan of both of their work and have become invested in their relationship. But why? This is a personal matter for the two of them and their daughter Coco? Why was I so heartbroken when I have never met either of them in person?

I have followed them on Twitter, seen pictures of them in US Weekly and watched countless of episodes as Cox portrays obsessive and OCD Monica Geller in Friends. I have never met the Cox-Arquette family in person but have always admired them so why is it affecting me so much?

As a culture we put our energy in to someones life. We connect with maybe one or two characteristics that the specific celebrity possesses and thus become enthralled. We watch their every move, every bite of pizza and ask "Why can't that be me?"

This past August my family traveled to the Aloha state for some R&R. My Dad sat by Eddie Murphy's brother on a flight and rumored that Eddie along with a motley crew would be arriving at the same resort we were staying at the next day. Eddie arrived along with numerous children...... and the aura and vibe that was around him was hypnotic. People could not believe that they were surfing or eating sushi next to Murphy. Those people, myself include, who now can say "Oh yeah Murphy was staying at the same resort as me on Maui and we totally made eye contact" are invested in his life. They want to keep updated on his life.

As I write this I have began to wonder, "Why am I interested in Cox and Arquette's separation?" It does not affect be directly or indirectly for that matter. As a human being we try to relate to these celebrities and their marital troubles and are glad that hey, at least that isnt me.

I Love The Way You Lie

You swore you've never hit 'em

Never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face
Spewing venom
And these words
When you spit 'em
You push
Pull each other's hair
Scratch, claw, bit 'em
Throw 'em down

This past Summer Eminem released his latest hit "Love the Way you Lie" featuring Rihanna. The two's collaboration was an instant hit around the United States and beyond. Young girls and college bros alike belt the song on the top of their lungs, but do they know what they are actually singing? Is Eminem supporting physical and verbal domestic violence?

Eminem as well as Rihanna have both been involved in acts of domestic violence. Rihanna's case was in the public eye for all to see when she and then long time boyfriend, Chris Brown, got in a physical and verbal altercation causing Rihanna to bruise as well as the couple to split up and Brown sentenced to jail.

Rihanna has blossomed and poured her emotions from the domestic violence experience into her music including Eminem's song "Love the Way you Lie" In the video the very sexy and popular actress, Megan Fox, and the actor Dominic Monaghan from the show Lost portray the couple that is in the abusive relationship.

They fight, scream, and throw objects at each other then have a very passionate love scene. They are in a relationship of pain but also one of sexual attraction and lust which is keeping them together. The women in the video as well as other women are too afraid of what may happen to them if they leave. Two bruises on the arm and a black eye are better than what they see happening if they leave the situation.

Eminem broadcasted this cycle of violence for the whole world to see and sing to. Recently I even overheard some young children singing along. Do they really know what it is truly saying? Eminem and Rihanna have experienced this horrible violence and in my opinion are not promoting it they are putting it out there for those who have experienced the same thing to know that you are not alone, that there is hope for the situation. It is an evil cycle but it needs to be broken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q_T9Oqcuo4

xoxo gossip girl

Spotted: Chuck and an unknown leggy blond canoodling in Central Park? Could this be a summer romance gone to long, or a stab in the heart to his lost love Blair? 

When I was a middle school student in the early 2000's I spent every night reading and pouring my life whole heartily into the series of Young Adults books, Gossip Girl. I believed I was Serena, Blair, dating Nate and going to upper crust, elite society events.

Prior to my Senior year of High School I heard rumors of a series to be produced of my favorite (and still is) series of books. I couldn't believe it. How would they create the characters I envied into characters on T.V. With the success of the teen drama The O.C. the CW pegged Josh Schwartz as the perfect person to produce Gossip Girl.

Gossip Girl premiered September 2007 and American viewers were awed and surprised at how these teens were living such scandalous lives. Viewers wondered if this is what actually went on in everyday life in such elite private high school on the Upper East Side of New York. Did girls really dress like Serena or have a "man whore" persona such as Chuck Bass?

As the first season evolved I kept thinking back to my days as a young teen laying on my couch on a lazy day reading and involving myself personally into the books. I was upset that the storyline did not follow exactly with the books, but was intrigued where Schwartz was taking each and every of my favorite characters.

Every Monday I found myself along with my Mother, who I still laugh at receiving a text my Freshmen year of college "Sarah do you think Chucks eyebrows are a little different this season" watching, oowing and awwing and the marvelous fashion choices, and wondering if that could be me? The thing that stuck with me was that Gossip Girl, the person man or woman we still do not know, who is behind the website and deception has still remained anonymous.

The characters on Gossip Girl, Blair, Chuck, Serena, Dan, Nate, Vanessa, and many more characters whose stories have intertwined through the series, which fourth season premiere was last Monday,  are people we may be jealous of, see characteristics of ourselves, and jump into their storyline. I mean wouldn't anyone kill for an expense account like Chuck or a closet like Blair?
Until next time ..... You know you love me
Gossip Girl

What's So Real About this World?

"This is the true story... of eight strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World." (MTV.com) 

Since 1992 televisions around the world have been tuning in every week to see eight strangers live, learn, fight, drink, hook-up, with each other. These young adults are practically strangers who are thrown together in an elaborate house provided by MTC for three months and are told to entertain. 

When the first Real World (New York) premiered on MTV in 1992 viewers had seen nothing like it. Why would anyone want to live with random people for an extended period of time and basically get paid to party? The first few seasons of The Real World were much more raw and even had some substance. In season three, San Francisco, Pedro Zamora, a cast-mate who was not open gay came out and told the other castmates that he was suffering from HIV. Since that season it has focused more on hookups, fighting, work, and drinking. 

In the most recent season, Season 24 in New Orleans,  the cast all had hopes and dreams to go beyond The Real World, some of which were in the entertainment industry. The casts 24 seasons ago were on the program for the experience, not to seek fame, what little of it they may have.

How is this program and experience any different than the ever so popular Jersey Shore? They are strangers put in a house to live together for two months, but they barely work, if you call working at a shore clothing store and gelato shop hard work. They are there to party. Yet the Jersey Shore cast has seen so many more opportunities and fame and fortune. They are the new generation of The Real World. 

With the Real World season 25 in Las Vegas premiering later this year the viewer has to wonder if it is really worth your while to tune the t.v. to MTV at that set time. You know what is going to happen, the cute girl will hook up with multiple boys in the house, there will be one ethnic female or male and at least one GLBT cast mate. Why do we keep watching if we already know all of this? 

We crave it

Who's Following You?

As Social media expands and progresses at a rapid pace more and more people are engulfing themselves into this social phenomena that is spreading across the world. Different age groups, cultural groups, and people from all backgrounds are jumping on the train and one has to wonder why are we broadcasting our lives for public display? Why do we want people to know what we are doing at every minute of every hour?

As a college student I myself participate in many facets of social media. It is the communication airways of my generation. I am broadcasting my life on the web for others to see as well as voice their opinions on what I do and say and even how I look on a particular day. My life as well as my peers are not kept a secret one bit.

One area of social media that I participate in on a daily basis and am constantly checking is Twitter. I joined Twitter the Summer of 2009 when it was just catching on but did not actively start "tweeting" until last Fall when other peers starting being active on the Twitter scene. I felt odd tweeting when I would ask well if my friends are not reading who is? Who are all these followers I have?

I sent myself a picture of my twitter profile from my iPhone. Who says you need anything other than a smart phone to survive these days. Right now I have 125 followers but follow 433 which seems a little obsessive. I follow not only celebrities which many Tweeters do but also my friends, news organizations, local restaurants, shops, workout tips as well as celebrity personal trainers and discount websites that give you the first look at upcoming deals. Twitter is a great way to self promote, advertise, and put yourself out there for free.

Such celebrities as Kim Kardashian is paid in upwards of $20,000 for tweeting about a specific product or a promotion that is going on. With over 5 million followers her tweets are read all over the world by her followers then by word of mouth from her followers. It is an advertising gold mind.

Twitter has been call a "fad" or a way for our culture to disconnect personal communication even more. Twitter in my opinion has advanced communication and can get you in contact with people, places, and networking like no one else. I mean who doesn't want to know what President Obama ate for lunch? 

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-march-2-2009/twitter-frenzy