Layna's Blogs :)

Wii Fit Parody :)

2011-03-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

They start the video off with a definite kernel of truth relating the Wii Fit board to “a little white thing you stand on.” This sets the mood for the rest of the video. I find every single part of this video funny. The sarcasm in this video is hysterical. If you have or have been on a Wii Fit you will certainly understand because they are simply telling the truth but doing it in a matter like how on this product it allows you to exciting new exercises like moving side to side or lifting your leg or maybe your other leg.

While its telling you that it has amazing graphics and engaging game playing you’re looking at this girl try and balance herself on the board while looking at a screen that’s balancing her weight on each of her feet.

It also mentions that if you don’t want to invest three dollars and nineteen cents on a hula hoop why not just pick up a Wii for three-hundred dollars? This part is making fun of the fact that we are spending a ton of money on a product that makes you virtual hula hoop instead of the real thing.

“Go far beyond working out” while this guy is doing pushups on the machine. The video shows definite sarcasm because you cannot do cardio on this “little white thing you stand on”

“Instead of having your kids go outside to play and get exercise why don’t you have them stand in front of the TV?”

“Step-up-on-the-white-thing game” is referring to dancing. It’s using sarcasm by calling this dancing.

The narrator used words like “exciting” for a good portion of the movie as in “exciting titles like roll the ball in the hole.” Hahaha. This is using heavy sarcasm. He is making fun of the fact that we get so excited about doing those sorts of things only because we aren’t actually doing them.

“Nothing says fun to kids as a good fun or chart” (when looking at the graph of your family’s progress within the program) is complete sarcasm.

“Wii fit is bringing families out of the back yard and putting them back in front of their television” is kernel of truth because that’s exactly what its doing. Instead of exercising outside and feeling the fresh air the people that own these are making themselves think that they are exercising by moving there leg side to side and balancing themselves.

To end it off he says “find out today why people all over the world think they’re getting exercise with that little white thing you stand on.” This has a kernel of truth and sarcasm. We like to think we are getting exercise doing the easy tasks found on this device and the narrator uses sarcasm because we aren’t really getting too much of any exercise on it.

Visual Essay

2011-01-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

www.animalhumanesociety.org/

The moment we got assigned this project I knew I had to do it on something I was passionate about. I knew that I had to do it on animals in some sort of way. I chose to make mine just like the ASPCA commercials you always see; however, I wanted a different twist. The only thing I can’t stand about their commercials is it makes it seem like all they want is money “to help the animals.” But why wouldn’t they make a commercial showing the animals available in the local shelter and convince you to buy one of these pets? I think that these animals would rather have a home and love than anything else the shelter could get with money.

I wanted my movie clip to stand out to animal lovers, the people that are looking to buy pets from a breeder or even the people that are on the verge of buying from a breeder and the humane society. They are the ones that would adopt animals from local shelters.

The introduction starts of slowly and smoothly to get you into that mindset of feeling sad for the animals in the images. I wanted to find the perfect pictures and have a mixture of black and white photos to show the depression yet a subtle amount of hope (the photos with color). I knew that if I was going to have people think about the adoption path I would have to have very sad looking animals behind bars. I thought it was weird not being able to use words, although, since I couldn’t all of the images you saw have a huge purpose. I had to find pictures that could convey the fact that there are so many animals in the shelter homes yet most people choose to buy from breeders. I chose pictures of dogs that looked emotionally and physically drained. I wanted their eyes to look full of confusion and sadness. The kind of look that shows there is no hope.

At the end of my movie I wanted to show people with their dogs making the viewer think of how happy all these dogs have the potential to be. I liked the idea of showing a bunch of people with their dogs for a short amount of time when the music turned to just instruments to show a whole different side, just like the music. I hoped people could see how happy the owners are with their dogs and to show if you don’t really have a dog you aren’t truly living.

I chose Adele’s song, “To Make You Feel My Love” because every word in that song can relate to what all these dogs have dreams about…to feel loved and to have somebody to love. I couldn’t use any words so I knew that I had to pick a song with very powerful lyrics to help me get the point across. The tempo if the song is slow and the lyrics are meaningful. The slight sense of acoustics is present in the song but not to the point where all you can focus on are the lyrics. The song gives you time to think and reflect about your past, present and future decisions. “When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case, I could offer you a warm embrace to make you feel my love.” These words can even reach out to the people that have dogs, maybe even bought them from a breeder. I want all the people who bought a dog from a breeder to feel shame at the end of this video because I know I did. I wanted all the pictures to go with the lyrics. I felt wrong if they didn’t. I also wanted the pictures to change when the clauses and sentences changed to give it that extra effect like the ASPCA commercials. For example, when she sang “I'd go hungry, I’d go black and blue, I’d go crawling down the avenue…” I found pictures that went right along in with the words.

Overall, I had a great time doing this project. I loved finding pictures and putting together my movie. I learned a lot about animal adoption even though I couldn’t use words. I saw pictures and sayings that were indescribable. I now know that when I have my own place I am going to find my new best friend at a homeless shelter.

BLOG #5

2010-12-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

Alayna Sigurdson- Rhetorical Modes

Narration: Animal testing has been around since the 18th century. However, for the last 10 years we have been not only researching on animals but on small skin cells in petrie dishes. The method that we have been using for a hundred of years is becomming unreliable, too expensive, and too cruel. The human cell method has been one of the great discoveries in the cosmetic industry for a long time yet many companies chose to stick with their old way. But how long will this cruel method stay around?

Description: However, there are not that many testing boundaries set up for cosmetic testing. Ethical boundaries are greatly pushed.

Example: "Leading ophthalmologists report that rabbits' eyes are considerably different from those of humans and for this reason not only are Draize Test results highly suspect as determinants of chemical effects on human eyes, but could actually be dangerous since something that is safe for a rabbit may not be for humans."

Comparison/Contrast: Its hard to compare animal testing to much of anything because of all the pain and suffering that comes with it. But one example is cockfighting and dogfighting. If you have ever witnessed the matter tears would be brought to your eyes. Once again it is all for the humans sake, never the animals.

Process Analysis: When you are at the grocery store and your just getting your usual mascara that you are running out of do you ever look on the back of that product and see if its tested on animals. I'm guessing you do not. If this is the case you are basically one of those Mom's at a football game cheering your kid on(the manufacturer). YOU keep these companies going and you are one of the many that are paying for animals to be routinely blinded and killed each and every day.

Division of Analysis: Therefore we need to stop animal testing all together and use different methods. Putting an animals dignity and life up for sale is no longer an option and is no longer going to be reliable anymore.

Classification: There are 3 types of people when it comes to testing on animals for cosmetic purposes. There are those who are 100% for it, 100% against the matter and the other people that couldn't care less either way.

Cause and Effect: What if the animals become immune to being tested on and when these companies are in even a greater need of help we will not get the accurate information we need. We are so busy testing on animals that a lot of companies are not even trying to research other affective ways. By the time these animals are immune to all of these horrible diseases that we are putting in their eyes it will be too late.

Definition: Animal testing for cosmetic use is experiments done on animals for the humans sake. Monkeys, dogs, rabbits and mice are tested on daily to determine the consequences of a certain product.

Argument/ Persuasion: Everyday thousands of companies test their makeup on innocent rabbits, monkeys and dogs even when animal testing is not needed. There are many other ways to test make up then on rabbits and mice and such. These ways are more reliable and less expensive.

"Mrs. Decker, I STILL dont get it?!"

2010-11-18T17:46:00.000-08:00

It all started on October 20th. I sat in advanced placement composition with my fellow classmates and day dreamed about the upcoming weekend. This day dream was quickly interrupted when our teacher, Mrs. Decker, announced the two simple words "your homework."I quickly sat up straight and started writing down notes in my assignment notebook. The instructions were as simple as “a narrative story about a time you were confused. I quietly thought to myself, how in the world can I go wrong on this topic? The instructions were so vague, easy shmezzy I thought. I waited until the night of the 11:59 PM due date. It took me nearly an hour to just to come up with a topic. Geesh, I started thinking, this is a little harder then I had originally planned. I GOT IT! TROPHY HUNTING! Once I had my topic there was no stopping me. Nearly 20 minutes later I was doing the finishing touches and adding a few visuals. "Oh boy, how could Mrs. Decker not like this? I have a good topic and even some pictures this time,! I silently thought" But oh boy, was I ever wrong. 16/30, an F, are you serious? I did everything I was assigned. I got no feedback on my blog from our teacher. Not one comment. Now she was asking us to redo our "confusion blogs" when I didn't even know why I got the grade I did in the first place. We did not know how we were going to be graded, nor why we received the grades we did. She also mentioned that it would be beneficial if we took a look at Sam and Barry's blogs. Psh, are you kidding me. You’re telling ME to look at Sam and Barry's blogs. Is this a joke? At that point I was head over heels in confusion and anger.
I still do not know what I am being graded on while writing this blog. I do not know what Mrs. Decker is looking for. It's a narrative and about a time I was were confused. I believe it fits in both of her 2 qualifications. So I believe I am done here.
When there is no sense of direction, the herd will be lost. I therefore am definitely lost.

CONFUSING....

2010-10-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Trophy hunting. Are you serious? Does it really bring you that much joy that you killed a beautiful animal that probably had a family, and instead you would rather show it off in your basement? You might say, well it is just an animal but on the contrary so are your pets at home. I didn’t think it seemed right to hang your dog up on the wall so all your friends can pretend to admire it.

I am confused about the amount of satisfaction brought to trophy hunters. They say that we have trophy hunters to go out and kill certain animals that might be getting too dense of a population in a certain area. However, Darwin’s circle of life is not represented in that statement. Now days they have guns that can shoot from a mile away… is it really safe to say that you could call that the circle of life? To me, trophy hunters are cheating. The animal that you’re going for a mile away would have no way of knowing that it is being targeted therefore this recreational activity is ridiculous and should be banned. Personally, I feel that sure if you catch a deer or such with your bare hands then you might have the right to keep it, but when you’re so far away the deer can’t even see you the whole situation does not make too much sense. Yes, our ancestors did have to hunt in the olden days when they HAD TO. They also shot with bow arrows. Now days, we shoot with guns. Guns are way more reliable and can shoot at greater distances. People back in the day had rights to do so. This was their way of food, life and survival. We, as in everybody living today, have no excuse to do such things to animals. We have grocery stores and butcher shops for a reason.

The fact that trophy hunting is still around in the first place just makes me sick. I would never be the one to kill an animal, let alone be reminded of that killing every day. Is there something I’m missing about the concept that makes it so great that it’s still around today? Too confusing…

How would we like it?!

A little something that I like to think is pretty funny...

2010-10-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

There are things in life that simply will never get old, no matter how many times you do it, say it, or hear it. One of those things to me is looking back at videos that my grandpa would take of me and my cousins when I was young.

There is hardly anybody that can remember there whole childhood. It consists of all those fun times that you wouldn't even know where to start if you had to describe it to someone. The feeling of overwhelmed is quite an understatment (in my condintion at least).

Those videos makes me realize how I was just living carefree, every single day. I had no worries in the world. I didn't care that my parents were divorced. It hadn't even hit me then. I was always able to move forward, I never had to think about the past, the only thing I was thinking about was that day...and that day only.

Watching the videos of my early ages makes my smile, giggle, laugh, and basically all of the above. It's funny, because I can just be watching an "episode" of me sitting in my small wooden rocking chair pretending to read a book and I can always find something to laugh about. Whether its the tight hot-pink stretchy pants that I'm not even sure how my mom could get around my chubby legs, or just how small yet ackwardly cute I look.

I love seeing how I would interact with my cousins and how inseperable we were when we were together. I love seeing myself walking around with my moms ugly old purses that were as big as I was and sporting her big chunky jewlery along with some high heel shoes. I will never grow old of the videos of me trying to riverdance in my church shoes at my Grandpa and Grandma's.

I think its important to know where you came from. I feel that without these videos a part of me would be missing. I would only be able to see pictures. We all know pictures can't always express why you were crying or why you happened to be laughing so hard. Videos can.

Are there truly any benefits to writing?

2010-09-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Many people write. But why? With the little amount of time we are on this earth why do some people chose to spend a lot of their time writing. Is there something most of us are missing about the concept that some of the world has came to a realization about?

Writing gives off different vibes, moods, and benefits to everyone. For example, to one person it can help them relieve stress by writing about it. While to another writing can serve as a way of organizing their words creating an email.

When you improve your writing skills you are also improving your speaking skills whether you realize it or not. When you get to the point where you are actually satisfied with your writing skills the way you share you feelings with others will skyrocket.

A mental factor is involved. When you can write your feelings down its almost like the more you write the more stress you are relieving. Taking time out of your day to "reflect" is helpful to all ages. By writing your feelings down on paper is no one can judge you for what you put on your paper. Only you can. Something else you can do with all this reflection notes is look back on them when you get older. By looking back and reflecting on your past reflections it enables you to be more able to learn from your mistakes while yet cherishing the memories that had passed you by.

When you are certain that you can write a paper or do a journal entry that will not be graded or have to be turned in some time in the future you know that you can just go at it, full force. This forms individuality. Your time to make mistakes that you will never feel like you have to correct. Your time to use words that might not make sense with the context in the rest of the sentence, and your time to be you.

Writing can benefit you on so many levels. But unless you start writing you will never truly understand how beneficial it can be. I mean sure, you might say, "Well I hate writing." But everybody has special moments. By just writing those down you are creating a sense of memories that you can regain when you look at them again in the future while improving your stress and writing skills.

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

So pick up a pen and a pad of paper. What are you waiting for!?

Alice Adventures in Wonderland; Should it be banned or not?

2009-10-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

In 1931 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was banned in Hunan, China because it portrayed animals and humans having the same characteristics. The provience of China stated, "Animals should not use human language, and that it was disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level."

In my opinon there are thousands of very successful published books out in the world that are not realisic to reality. For example, "The Little Mermaid," "Harry Potter," "Cinderella" and many more. With this in mind, for China to take such an action like this is quite ridiculous.

This book should not be banned. I say this for several reasons. One being this book is simply for kids. So with China stating the fact that "animals and human beings on the same level" I feel the book is just trying to show kids that animals can be friendly too. Plus, its not everyday that a kid is going to fall down a rabbit hole(ha)...so Hunan, China deffinately should not have made such drastic measures!