Defined and Confined: True Color of Race

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081214/ap_on_re_us/obama_s_not_black;_ylt=AtmLcu5jqQKkhdJh3BQAaxBvzwcF

The official race that President-Elect, Barack Obama, represents with should not be as definitive as people are demanding it to be. I think that he can both acknowledge his black self and his white self if he wishes and call himself by whatever he sees fit. Mixed, mutt, biracial, half-black, or half-white should all be acceptable because all are true. I understand where they are coming from but the biggest separation in our country seems to be these dividing lines of race. They aren't necessary and in the end don't matter to the issue at hand.
It's amazing that the words "black" and "white" can have so much history connected to them. For example, in this article one person associates the label "black" as being warranted through the fact that one's ancestors can be traced back to slavery. In this case, I understand that there is a certain struggle that is attributed. On the other hand, being labeled "white" should then have the same historical references too. But, it seems that there is no general idea that "white" equals being of ancestors who lived in America with fair skin. Anyone, who has fair skin will be called "white". So, making such a bold statement creates interesting discussion on the topic because majority of the population, black or white, are being grouped into something they may not agree with in the first place.
Do words have history? Should it matter what word he chooses to represent himself? I say no, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Questions About Language

Why do we think about random things during the day? Does our language side of the brain just wonder about things on its own when we aren't actively using language?

Why are slogans so catchy? Do we have a fascination with rhyming and pun?

How are words invented and who has the authority to make them official?

"Music as a technology of the self"

http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.library.nd.edu/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VC3-3YCMDW2-2&_user=489835&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F1999&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000022718&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=489835&md5=45d331ec887ff79d056fba9fa74f2ed7

Although this article talks mostly about music sounds, it does touch on lyrics and the influence that lyrics in music plays. Very interesting ideas are found in this article.

"The attribution of emotion and meaning to song lyrics"

http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/uploads/tx_researcherprofile/04-Polskie-Thompson_Russo.pdf

This article touches on the relationshiop between music and lyrics with three experiments that test emotional response, meaningfulness, and effects of repeated exposure. This article has really interesting theories and associations between the music and lyrics found in songs.

Self Expression and Lyrics/Poetry

So, after reading the article about the love songs of the Bedouin I began thinking about he role that lyrics and poetry have played in my life. As a hopeless romantic, I pride myself in being able to appreciate the words and emotion behind some of the worlds best poems while listening to some of the sappiest love songs ever written. Yes. I am one of those girls. An any case, I find it intriguing that these songs are used to release emotional tension and to satisfy the need to express emotions as well. Both the receiver and the sender are using the peice as a tool and supposedly both find satisfaction through it. Poetry is used in the same way. We write poems for people, find poems that express our emotion, or we recieve poems that help us understand the way someone else feels.

I think that the lyrics of a song make it so intriguing. A well-written song lasts forever and this can be attributed to the fact that its lyrics touch people deeply. We express ourselves and everyone knows that a good song can get you through a break-up, help you in a rebellion, help make a happy moment, or create a romantic situation. So, think about why that song is "your" song and why you listen to that one jam a hundred times a day.

Are you saying something that you really aren't saying?

The reading "The Decline and Fall of the Private Self" reminded me of a blog that I once discussed in a sociology class. We did a project on prostitution and the blog was an insight into the lifestyle. It is probably something that should be kept a secret in our society but it is interesting to see how willing and able this girl was in sharing her secret profession with the public on the internet.

http://collegecallgirl.blogspot.com/


In the same context, another website also breaks the barriers of personal information with the posting of people's most intimate secrets. This website is the popular http://postsecret.com.

My Log

Log- Sunday November 9, 2008

Texting:

Started at 11:19am

Sent 24 messages by midnight

Phone Calls:

Call: cousin
Started at 12:03am- Call Placed, Lasted 7:39
12:11am- lasted 2:22
12:13am-lasted 16.59
12:31am- lasted 9:23

Call:sister
Started at 12:40am- Call Placed, Lasted 4:28

Call: cousin 2
Started at 12:47-Call Placed, Lasted :05

Call: friend
Started at 12:48am- Call Placed, Lasted 11:16

Call: cousin 2
Started at 1:39am- Call Received, missed

Call: cousin 2
Started at 3:17pm-Call received, missed

Call: cousin 2
Started 3:32pm- Call placed, :01

Call: mom
Started 3:38pm- Call Placed, Lasted :57

Call: brother
Started 3:43pm- call placed, lasted :04

Call: cousin 2
Started 4:21pm- call received, lasted 4:27

Call: brother
Started 4:50pm- call received, lasted 2:29

Call: brother
Stared 4:53pm- call placed, lasted :51

Call: friend (home)
Started 4:28pm- call placed, lasted :09

Call: cab
Started 5:01pm- call placed, lasted :27

Call: cab
Started 5:02pm- call placed, lasted :09

Call: mom
Started 5:28pm- call received, lasted 1:13

Call: friend
Started 6:03pm- Call placed, lasted :46

Call: friend 2
Started 6:05pm- Call placed, lasted 1:18

Call: friend 3
Started 6:07pm- call placed, lasted :23

Call:friend 3
Started 6:13pm- call received, lasted 1:07

Call: friend (home)
Started 6:22pm- call placed, :02

Call: mom
Started 6:22pm- Call placed, lasted 2:51

Call: friend 3
Started 6:28pm- Call placed, lasted 0:17

Call: friend (home)
Started 7:24pm- call placed, lasted :30

Call: friend 4
Started 8:41pm- call received, lasted 1:09

Call: friend 4
Started 8:46pm- call received, lasted :14



Internet Use:

6:05pm-6:11pm-email
Received 4 emails
Sent- 1 email
6:13-6:28pm- news (CNN)
6:10-6:25- facebook
8:36pm-8:46pm – IM convo
8:44-9:11pm- IM convo
8:51pm-8:52- IM convo
9:15pm- IM convo (family)
9:46-11:28pm- IM convo
9:25-10:44pm youtube surfing, articles

Movie:
11:36pm: Under The Tuscan Sun

Tim'es Person of the Year: You

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html

During this past week's discussion about new media, I wanted to learn more about how media is influencing the world around us. We spoke of the negative aspects of media, like the promotion of loneliness and anti-social behavior. I understand how people can feel that way but I have always seen new media as a way to connect to more people. The people we see face to face is limited to our location, our resources, and our social skills but through the Internet we are able to travel the world, meet new people, and never have to change out of our pajamas.

Time magazine came out with an article two years ago this Christmas naming YOU as their coveted person of the year. I was very impressed with the optimistic perspective this article took in praising the world's use of the World Wide Web. We have innovated, created, and celebrated on the Internet whether it be through facebook, myspace, YouTube, google, wikipedia, or more. We have brought the world together and now we can share information in milliseconds about our lives, our interests, and our dislikes. We have taken advantage of New Media by shopping online, exploring new music on itunes, blogging about nonsense, and "befriending" people around the globe.

I am proud to be a user of the World's most powerful social tool and a member of the world's largest social experiment: the Internet.