Saturday, April 23, 2011

"Apology for Reading"

Today's post actually was written by my awesome little sister, Jaimie Anderson! She graciously allowed me to share it with you.

Apology for Reading

This is not a “Hey, man, I’m sorry that I hit on your wife, but did you really have to break my nose? That’s my best feature!” kind of apology. I feel neither contrite nor inclined to apologize for the fact that I read. This apology is defined as a defense, most commonly associated with Socrates, but please don’t expect a great dialogue because it isn’t going to come from someone whose favorite book is probably Lady Lovely Locks. I don’t care what anyone says. That book is a classic.

I was indoctrinated at a very young age to appreciate books. Whilst I delighted in Pokémon, Winnie the Pooh, and the adventures of Gumby and Betty Boop, I was also being taught to adore books like Peter Pan, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Gus Was a Friendly Ghost (man, he let that mouse stomp all over his non-existent feet.)  I was in training with James Herriot to become a vet. That was, of course, prior to realizing that the sight of blood makes me woozy all over. Reading was a journey into a magical land, not quite the terrifying depiction in the Pagemaster, which just gave me an intense fear that a whale was going to show up in the deep end of the swimming pool. I was thrilled to be given a real grown-up excuse to re-read The Wizard of Oz in my junior year when my history teacher claimed it was a social commentary on the populist movement. Who cares if I believed it or not? There is the problem that prompted this. At this point in my life, I feel like I need an excuse to read.

I cannot stand the question, “Then why are you reading that?” Why do you think I’m reading it? This question is most frequently asked after when you reply, “No,” to “Is that for a class?”  Honestly, people- my dentist does not appreciate it when you ask me that. When I grind me teeth, he probably dies a little bit on the inside. I will freely admit that part of my problem is a penchant for non-fiction books. But, it doesn’t matter if I’m readingPorcupine’s Pajama Party (which is such a clever use of alliteration) *, or War and Peace(which will make anyone religious enough to pray about 50 pages in that Tolstoy will say, “Just kidding, these characters are really named Dick, Jane, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy." I feel like that really would have improved my comprehension); I’m reading whatever book it is because I want to. Reading sends me to a happy place where there’s a string quartet playing, and it’s like in Anastasia when she and her sisters and brother are frolicking through the meadow. Before the part with the creepy demon-y thing.
                                                                                                                    
The government spends billions of dollars a year on schooling (yes, I know there have been budget cuts, but it’s still a significant amount of money). These schools, from Pre-K to 12th, teach you to read and to comprehend (usually) what you’re reading. Ya think that maybe it’s a wee bit important?

People read. It’s a fact of life. Whether they are reading an article on quack-quack shoes,The Rise and Fall of the Roman EmpireStupid White Men, or Playboy (although, from what I hear, that’s less of a reading thing. . .) they are still reading! You can memorize theBombshell Manual of Style or learn to knit for all I care. There are so many things that books can teach us, and it’s not quite like the fascinated clicking on links via Wikipedia that will take you from Cary Grant to the Christian views on the old covenant, which is convenient for the ADD in all of us, but not always the best way to process information.

In fact, some books are brain candy. Those books that we all like to pretend have literary merit, but really don’t. There’s something for everyone out there. You can like fluffy, light romances, gothic novels (mostly these are romances with a mustache-twirling villain and a castle), cars, boats, planes, masculine rhymes, or bananas, and you can find a book to read about it. And, now, thanks to Stephanie Meyer, we can read inane words from a mopey and dopey (or any other of the seven dwarf names that apply) girl, who just wants to be loved. And, also has a death wish. I'm just saying, clearly, there are options beyond what we read in school. Because we don't always like books assigned for classes, but we make it through them, and if you don't, and you're like me, you feel REALLY guilty about it, and end up reading the thing anyway. They can't pick books that everyone will like because, to be totally frank, there is no book in the world that every student will enjoy. It's just something to consider that there is a world of books, plays, and short stories outside of the closet of books that English teachers have.

So, honestly, given that, I don't understand why people brag that they don’t read, or that they managed to make it through high school on CliffsNotes. Self-imposed illiteracy is not a ‘two thumbs up, let’s celebrate with a kegger’ accomplishment in my world, but I don't really care whether you read or not. You could watch a movie that has basically the same effect on your hearing that spending that hour and a half to two hours in your backyard blowing up rubber ducks with fireworks** would. Unfortunately, usually these movies aren’t nearly as amusing or intellectually stimulating (exactly how much gunpowder does it take to blow up a rubber duck?). It doesn’t really affect me. It isn’t any of my business. To each his own, whatever floats your boat, yada, yada, yada, any more of those clichés, but I think you catch my drift. I won’t hassle you for not reading; please don’t hassle me FOR reading.

Please just let me read in peace. I appreciate it.

* Just to clarify, no one has ever asked me if I was reading Porcupine’s Pajama Party for a class. I can only imagine that that would be the best class ever.
**This is not a suggestion because: 1. It’s cruelty to animals (Rubber Ducky has feelings too.) and 2. I don’t trust you goobers with anything more dangerous than silly putty.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Giveaway Technique

I warned you that I was a huge advocate for social media, and this is one technique that increases your blog readership... GIVEAWAYS. Check out this one on Tatertots and Jello...

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Same Time, Same Place

For all of you frequent readers, I would like to take this moment to say "thanks." As far as experiments go, this one has been a doozy from the beginning. Will it continue to garner the same intrigue? Who knows, but let us continue.

If you have forgotten, social media is a big part of my discussions (although if you were lucky enough to read the last post about princesses you just lucked out). I have been reading a lot of articles about optimizing your social media strategies, and I think it can be boiled down to a few key points.

1. Know which groups you are targeting to get a more accurate picture of which mediums to use.
2. Update constantly: In the world of today, we search for new. If you have a page that is old and kind of boring... you may want to consider breathing fresh life into it
3. Speak directly to your audience: One of the beautiful things about social media is that it is a way to level the playing field. Your audience can know you, and better yet, you can know your audience. This makes communicating with them directly easier, and they will appreciate it.
4. Keep on top of it: If you post and post and post but never follow who is reading or looking or consuming, what good did you just do? People may know you, but was it what you had been trying for? With the internet we have the ability to see how many people are viewing the content.
5. Employ open conversation... people will trust you and your product (be it you, a service, or a good) more if they feel like they can talk to you about it, and that you will do something. If you want an excellent case study of a product that did not do this, check out Emeril's Cookware. For every positive review, there are another five-ten negative ones... and the negative ones are frightening.
6. Connect your mediums to each other. Give your consumer the chance to link to you in more ways... as long as those ways are establishing your brand rather than giving you more stuff to worry about that wont matter anyway.

These are just a few tips that I found. What are some interesting articles you have read?

Thursday, March 31, 2011

26. For Who Could Learn to Love a Beast?

Classic Disney, where have you gone?

Where did the days go when people saw the Disney princesses and thought, "YEAH!" In different media outlets recently, I have seen a turn around on Disney princess and their lives. In an effort to become bra-burners, the ultra-feminists (or as I like to call them, anti-feminists), have decided that the princesses have to go. Being a girl myself and growing up with these icons, albeit significantly less present than they are these days, I would like to put in a defense for the princesses that are taking a bashing from princess haters.

I loved the princesses as a kid. Well, I did with the exception of Snow White (due to the fact that her voice was way to breathy for me... bleck). I dressed like a princess. I must have driven my mother mad at times with my little airs and graces. I had "tea," and of course I owned my own castle - even if it was a slightly raised garden of my mother's. However, I never waited until some Prince Charming came into my life. It was way too much fun to just be a princess. The pretty clothes, the fairies... way more tempting to my little mind then some hardly temporal prince that would save me from myself.

The princess fallacy states that little girls are taught to simply wait until some handsome prince comes around to live their lives. Well, do you give your daughters dolls to play with? Or worse, Barbies? Well, there is no going back now. Plastic surgery and anorexia are the only course of life that your daughter can now take. I hope you are happy with yourself!

Do we take these positions without giving them thought? Maybe the parents should concentrate more on what their reactions teach their daughters. A lot of information can be conveyed through the way you live your life, and if you don't invest the time, she might just take herself into a fantasy world where she will someday have somebody who really cares about her!

Now, I know that this is my personal opinion, but this is media that I have consumed. It was also my childhood. I like to think of myself as a competent adult now. I am not waiting for my prince to save me. I can save myself! As for waiting for life to begin with my prince, I would just like to say for the record that my life began the day I was born, and it can only get better from here! Happiness is where you find it, and if you attach too much influence on what the media says, those you can about will see... and act accordingly.

Interested in this Topic?
Princess Prophecy?
Cinderella Ate My Daughter
Disney's Princess Page

25. Angry Eyes and Happiness

Are you one of the people who when they feel a strong emotion has to turn to music? Do you have a song for every word people say? Do you occasionally wonder if you might go nuts if you didn't hear a song... and soon?

Well, join my happy throng of Angry Eyes and Happiness!

You might wonder what sparked this name. It is very simple. There I sat, in one of the most craptastic moods that I have ever experienced. My frustration was undiluted. I needed an outlet. So where does one turn? Me, I immediately turn to my angry music. It may seem trite, but there is something about people singing out all their anger that makes me relax when I am stressed. In fact, I have a mix that I never listen to unless I am super upset. With the ability to vent my emotions through the music, I can then move on to happiness. 

For me, music amplifies everything for me... unless in the case of anger, it dissipates the emotion. No matter what has happened, there has been a song for that, and I am the queen of finding that song. 

What do you turn to when you get upset? Are you willing to let the music wash over you, or do you turn to something else? Just curious.
(By the way, do you like the images? I like the title, but I am not sold on that smile. Let me know of other ideas for happiness!)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

24. The Power of Mass Media

The power of mass media is undeniable. You may know what you are looking for, but those in the media have the power to turn your head with a simple word. As long as it is a word that has meaning to you, that practitioner may have you hooked. How do they use this power though? Are they creating nations of media zombies that only act on what is said in the media?

So what I guess I am trying to say is that if the media doesn't want it covered, you will be hard-pressed to locate the information you are searching for. The media sets the agenda.

It is present in society's today as Egypt tried to pull the plug on the internet because of the power found therein. It is seen in Ghadafi's efforts attempt to squish the voice of the common man. It was present in the propaganda/ media blackouts from war times. You can see the wash of media affect cultures such as those in the Middle East (we have discussed this, don't worry)!

But what about those places that do not fall under tyranny and autocrats? What about in our own dear United States of America where the eagle flies and the flag waves and the sun always shines? The media still sets the agenda. Is it newsworthy? Is it presented fairly? These are questions that should be asked, but let us be honest, how many times do we not see something because it is unpopular or does not have the same impact that might be had.

For a (very) brief case study, I would like to introduce fall of 2005. August of 2005, Louisianna was hit by Hurricane Katrina, resulting in the loss of about 3,000 lives. President George Bush was criticized for his tardy reaction. In a blow that nearly completely wiped out New Orleans, the USA was devastated. A mere two months after this tragedy, an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude brought Pakistan to its knees. With over 900 aftershocks in the next three weeks that often reached over 5.8 on the Richter scale and nearly 75,000 lives lost, Pakistan suffered horrendously. Where were the stories though? How many heard about this devastation? The press knew that the citizens wanted to know more about Katrina effects. So they fed the desire.

Who makes the news?

While disintermediation is allowing more people to have an effect on what is covered, the people who make news are the people who care.

The media chooses the underdog and wants people to connect” Mosharraf Zaidi