Is Dove really so good?

This commercial added on YouTube by greenpeace.org is interesting because at first I thought it was going to be a different version of the Dove Self-Esteem Advertisements because they are modeled exactly the same. However, this ad is not pro-Dove at all. In the ad we watched in class with the beautiful little red-headed girl for Dove self-esteem, the advertisers and Dove are making Dove out to be a image conscious brand that has your best interest at heart. However, they are similar to other beauty companies in the fact that they are trying to get people's attention and still sell their product. This YouTube clip shows Indonesia rain forests being cut down to produce palm oil which goes into Dove products. This is a huge problem because the world is not being environmentally conscious about our depleting resources. Not only is this destroying the forests, but it is ruining the homes of animals in the rain forests. Basically this is changing the landscape of a nation and ruining these peoples' homeland. Something should be done to put a stop to it. In addition, I find it very interesting that greenpeace.org used this tactic of advertising to situate its cause against Dove.

World's Oldest Person Turns 115!!!!!

On Sunday Edna Parker of Shelbyville, Indiana, will turn 115. Edna was born on April 20, 1893, and is recognized by Guinness World Records for being the oldest person in the world. She is known as a supercentenarian, which are people who have made it passed the 110 age mark. Scientist use supercentenarian's DNA to study the secret to longevity. Edna has definitely had a life full of longevity considered she has outlived most of her family members. Her husband died in 1938 of a heart attack and her 2 sons have passed away as well. Edna has had brushes with death but has survived them all to tell about later. It is unbelievable to live 115 years and the fact that she is in fairly good health is amazing. Edna has lived through so much in her lifetime, and much of it we only hear about through the history books. 

PostSecret

These images are from PostSecret blog created by Frank Warren and I find them absolutely amazing and fascinating. Frank Warren has people mail in homemade postcard with a secret about themselves written on it as apart of an community art project. It is amazing to see what is on people's minds and see what secrets they have filling up inside of them.

Polygamy sect in Texas?

When news broke of this strange polygamy case in Texas, I was interested and a little creeped out all at the same time. After a 16-year-old girl called an abuse hotline claiming to being raped and beaten by her "spiritual husband" who is more than three times her age, police raided this polygamist sect's ranch in Eldorado, Texas, near San Angelo. Here at this ranch there were 53 girls aged 14-17, and 31 of the girls already have children or are pregnant. These girls are forced to "spiritually marry" older men when they are very young, and these older men have multiple wives. These girls have led a life of isolation and the large majority have never seen or heard of the outside world. When the police raided the ranch they took all of the women and children away. However, now the officials have taken the children away from their mothers and placed them in foster care. The women are outraged because they have never harmed there children, but the officials feel as if the women have placed their children in harms way by not standing up to the controlling men. I just cannot imagine the lives these people have led. These women and children look like they just stepped out of "Little House on the Prairie." They all wear long cotton dresses, boots, no makeup, and have long braided hair. They do not know any different, and they have lived like this for generations. I do not think it is right to take these children away from their mothers who love them and place them into the foster care system that could even be worse. I believe these mothers and children need to be together again just separated from the manipulative male forces in their lives. However, time will only tell what happens to these people.

Miley Drama

Lately Miley Cyrus has been in the news a lot for not being the perfect role model that she has always been known for. Several provocative pictures have come out on the internet and now Miley has posed for Vanity Fair. Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz took the pictures where Miley is topless wrapped in a blanket. The magazine has not even hit newsstands yet, but it has already caused a lot of problems. Miley issued a statement saying that she thought at the time the pictures were artsy, however now she is just embarrassed. Disney even said they thought Vanity Fair was just manipulating a young girl in order to sell more magazines. This is a big deal because Miley is only 15 years old, and to be posing topless is not okay. However, while watching this clip of Miley during the photo shoot, you can tell she is having a great time and is not embarrassed at all. Miley's parents are even there with her. Miley is one of the most famous teens in the world because of her hit Disney show Hannah Montana. That show is geared toward young girls who look up to Miley, and these photos could send the wrong message. However, I do feel for celebrities and people like Miley because they are in the spotlight constantly and do not get a private life. But when you choose to be in the entertainment business, being responsible for your actions as a role model are apart of it. 

Ban on Cell Phones in Louisiana?

Recently I heard from my friends and family at home that Louisiana legislators are trying to pass a law that would ban the use of cell phones while driving all together. I understand that cell phones can be a distraction while driving, but I know I do not want to have to give up using my cell phone when in my car. Cell phones have become a huge part of our culture, and sometimes I believe that they have taken over. However, people spend so much time in their cars everyday that not being able to use a cell phone could also hinder them. People conduct business on their cell phones and talk to family, so not being able to use a cell phone while in a car so much would be inefficient. This is could be a good idea to help keep others safe, but I know people would not be happy and enforcing this law would be a big challenge as well.

The Bachelor has gone Down Hill!!!!

As we all know The Bachelor is not intellectually stimulating but it is just a entertaining show to watch. I have watched The Bachelor for several years and I remember watching it even in junior high. However, tonight as I was watching The Bachelor with my friends I feel it got a little trashy. This episode was the fantasy date and the girls have the option to go back to the fantasy suite with the bachelor. The girls always go so that's not a real big surprise. But when one of the last girls named Chelsea went back to the suite she turned the heat up a bit. On most of the dates the girls just cuddle up with the guy and kiss a bit then the show is over. Chelsea, on the other hand, allows the cameras to come into a room while she takes off all of her clothes then slips on a see-through black dress for the bachelor, Matt. This has never happened on The Bachelor, and Chelsea wanted everyone in America to know that she is kind of a slut. This show comes on ABC at 8:00 so families and kids see this show. ABC has definitely completely changed the tone of the show with this last episode. I guess they are going by the philosophy that "Sex Sells."