Being Different - - This post haved 0 comments

I'm Different

Being different means being yourself. Being yourself means rejecting negative input from outside
sources and embracing things you like because you like them. I never want to see anyone going with the norm, the flow of trends that dictate if you are competent enough to fit in. Every individual is like a bright shining star, their own entity that thinks and feels in their own way. Capable of wonderful things that contribute to society as a whole and the betterment of Mother Earth.

Being different is beautiful. You are able to open up your mind to new things that break normativity. I like to see people that can think outside of the hetero-normative box. Subdivision type communalism is diminishing our populations creativity and motivation. We are more likely to assimilate and become a bland copy of our clique. When we feel strong in a group we are likely to rely on that group for support and see outsiders as possible intruder that will shake our way of life. This leads to bullying and segregation.

Being different and pushing away from the mold allows us to truly be who we are meant to be. Many people with certain social economic standing (the wealthy for example) are bound to be a certain way, never truly experiencing life through their own eyes. They are often blinded by a desire to reach common goals as their peers and forget to please themselves on the way to that goal.

He's Different

It is encouraging to see people who slip out of the social norm and embrace unique talents, beliefs, and general lifestyles. In recent decades we have seen a rise in young adults (and older adults coming into the fray late in life) gritting their teeth and tearing down socially constructed boundaries. With movements supporting a lineup of causes and spreading information to the masses, we are seeing more tolerance grow for different groups.

Being weird isn't just about the way you dress or even act. It is the acceptance of each tiny part of your entity. Expressing your desires, likes, dreams and making them reality. If you like the beach, live at the beach. Don't live in the city because certain people tell you that is where to make a living. If you are LGBT, be proud of it, there are so many people who are willing to love you for who you are. There will always be others who try to influence you life. Make decisions on where you want your life to go and follow those people that want to see you happy for your sake.

Be wild, be creative, be unique. Be who you are, don't try to be someone else. And at the end of the day remember you are special and the possibilities are endless.

Peace and Love

They're Different

Sticky Fingers - - This post haved 0 comments

Stealing is an artform. Thefts are highly thought out, planned, and constructed to be quick and sometimes dangerous.  Of course stealing can be a minor infraction, but I'm discussing a more serious crime with a lot at stake.

I've known people who steal to survive. Selling hot items for money is a big issue in many households below the poverty line. Economics can be to blame. The idea that going into a store and walking out with enough items to sell to make grocery money is easy to understand when people are jobless or homeless. Does that make it okay?

It's certainly not acceptable to steal for the average person. Children are taught not to take things from stores without paying for them first. Stealing is against the law in most (if not all) countries and it goes against many religious mores. Taking what you have not earned is socially irresponsible and brings loss to the person or people that are stolen from.

There are many types of theft including bank robbery, tax evasion, music piracy, kidnapping and carjacking. Clearly some thefts are worse than others and they are prosecuted based on the level of severity. Most thefts go unnoticed. Most serious cases of theft, such as kidnapping, are considered felonies in the U.S.

If you are stealing or know someone that has a problem taking things that don't belong to them, you should consider seeking therapy. Before someone gets hurt.

Country vs City - - This post haved 0 comments

I always feel a little bit torn between my desires to live in the country vs. the city. Growing up in the south there are only a few big cities and a lot of developing farm country. I have to drive 30 minutes to Greenville SC which is the biggest city near me. I visit Atlanta and Charlotte from time to time but only for short visits. I've spent most of my life on a lake. Mobile homes are abundant in the area although I did grow up in a 2 story home.

I believe I prefer country living with a side of city life because it allows me to return to my serenity. A lot of noise can be overwhelming, and upsets the soul. Some people thrive on the rush of the busy streets but I prefer the hum of a lawn mower in the neighbors yard.

City living is fun because there is so much going on. So many lights and signs and consumerism. Too many offices with stuffy suits and combed back hair. Perfumes that make your head hurt. In the country all we smell is nature and t shirts are acceptable.

For now I choose to stay with the trees and absorb the purity of the air. But later I may yearn for the hustle of the mean streets (not the roughneck side) and the cafe on every corner. I love to spend time in the city but I want to hear crickets while I fall asleep.

Red Bull Gives You Wings - - This post haved 0 comments

I've loved Red Bull energy drinks since they hit the shelves in 2006. For me the drink is a perfect combination of energy and taste. Most people consider it an acquired taste, I fell in love from the first sip. The can design is modern and sleek. The resulting energy is equivalent to a strong cup of coffee. While some people may experience side effects, Red Bull gives me the pep I need to wake up and be productive with my day.

"Red Bull gives you wings." The slogan is stuck in our brains and so far the company has proven to live up to their motto. The Red Bull company sponsors some of the most adventurous and extreme sporting events on the planet.  They own athletic teams including the New York Red Bulls, a soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer. Some of their events are home to many super stars from extreme sports. Recognizable athletes to sign up for Red Bull events includes Travis Pastrana, Sean White and Mark Webber.

Not only does Red Bull invest in extreme sports, they also have some of the coolest celebrity endorsers. Eminem has signed on with Red Bull to produce commercials, make appearances and don the apparel. Travis Barker has been a sponsor of Red Bull for a few years, even making appearances on the cover of Red Bull magazine (The Red Bulletin).

The message Red Bull is sending to it's majority male audience is to get out and experience life. These athletic events are encouraging, exciting and inspires consumers to have their own adventure. Red Bull incorporates extreme sports into their business to demonstrate how well the product performs and how well consumers perform because of the product. Red Bull has been shown to improve driving skill by one college researcher. I'm sure others would support this theory.

I would like to see more focus on female consumers.There are many great female athletes that I would love to see partner with Red Bull. Strong, fierce women that could spark a message of female fierceness. Red Bull brand is powerful, the product is powerful, the endorsers should include powerful women. Including more women in their brand would be beneficial to everyone.

Sexy Fish Sandwich - - This post haved 0 comments

It's nothing new to see sexuality used to sell products. It's also no surprise that Hardees (AKA Carl Jrs) uses over sexualized commercials to sell their sandwiches. From the infamous commercial of Paris Hilton washing a car in a bikini and eating her hamburger to the newest sexy Hardess commercial featuring a bikini clad beach bunny simulating oral sex on a straw.

It's disappointing to say the least. Exposure to overly sexual material leaves little to the imagination. It also makes companies appear overly desperate to sell their worthless product. If the burger was really that good, I wouldn't need a body to tell me so. Seeing too much flesh, at inappropriate times, causes us to lose appreciation for the real deal.

Where do we draw the line? Our society attempts to push the boundaries of every aspect in life, it's important to change and evolve. It is clear that sex sells products, it's cliche. Using sexuality to churn marketing is an attempt to grab your attention at whatever cost. We've seen scantly clad women (and men) used in movies, clothing ads and even car ads. Sexuality touches many aspects of American culture. One place I thought it could be avoided was in the fast food chains.

It's not very surprising that a fast food chain would hop on the bandwagon. You expect to see kid friendly places like McDonald's avoid such antics. However, Hardees leans more toward the adult demographic. Their commercials have always been racy and it's hard to find one that doesn't make your stomach turn. (Check out this article.)

I would love to see sexuality banned from commercials. I love racy, dirty movies and support adult decisions to consume such media. However, I believe these commercials are desensitizing our children and a population as a whole. It is unnecessary to show a woman bent over in a bikini sucking on a straw and making moaning sounds. Especially during the middle of the day when most families are at home trying to enjoy a good sitcom. It also seems shallow and dumb to buy into such marketing strategies. If you like the burger (or product) then by all means enjoy. But don't be naive to think that just because a company is trying to get your attention with such disrespectful tactics that their product is going to be worth your money or attention. Vote with your wallet.

Don't want to give Hardees any attention but I'll let the evidence speak for itself.

Sexy Halloween | Taking Back Our Dignity - - This post haved 0 comments

Male Vs. Female Costumes

Every year, on the last day of October, ghosts and goblins come out to spook the living. It's also typical to see sexy bunnies, bumblebees and other miscellaneous mini skirt costumes. I've always believed that a person should wear what they are comfortable in, as long as it does not upset their morals and the natural flow of things. Wearing skimpy outfits on Halloween is a cry for sexual attention. Everyone is deserving attention. We are all worthy of expressing ourselves and being noticed. But what kind of attention are we looking for and why do we think we need to be noticed sexually?

When picking out a costume, the options are limited for women. Men have multiple costumes that aren't as sexually explicit. When a woman, who does not desire to be nearly naked, is looking for a costume her selection is diminished to outfits with the word "Sexy" in the title. Sexy Nemo, Sexy Batman and Sexy Kitty. Why can't women find costumes that don't make them appear to be desperate for sexual attention? Also, our young girls costumes are also growing sexier as the times change. The shorts are getting shorter and skin is popping through many different holes. This is not the way our children should dress and it is not a good example to be setting for our children.

This world has always been male dominated. And men want nothing more than to see tail on Halloween. If you choose to wear a sexy costume on Halloween, you are only giving in to the male desire. Some arguments can be made that NOT wearing a sexy costume is the same as giving up your rights because of male opinion. It's understandable to feel that way. But in reality, women who wear skimpy costumes ARE looking for the wrong kind of attention. They are looking for approval from males and the approval of other females that are looking for the same male approval.

There has to be a line drawn, however, so that we do not participate in slut shaming. Obviously, we are supportive of sexuality and sex. But it is important to realize that retailers and manufacturers are the guilty parties and that women are only acting on what they think they are "supposed" to do. While I do not aim to shame anyone for their sexuality, it is still important to have sexual dignity. Know your limits and don't wear something just because it's the only option on the shelf. We should not feel pressured to wear sexual outfits to satisfy sexual, male fantasies.

Halloween is about letting your hair down and expressing yourself in some creative way. Wearing the same Sexy Kitty costume as 15 other women is NOT creative. When did a scary kids holiday turn into a day of sexuality? Use your common since on Halloween, girls. If you wouldn't let your bits hang out on a regular day, don't demean yourself by doing it on Halloween. Use your imagination to come up with an amazing costume that still allows you keep you dignity in tact.

This Video Says It All

*As always, this is my opinion and I don't suspect everyone will agree.

Consumerism: I Shop Therefore I Am - - This post haved 0 comments

Consumer culture has bombarded American society and fed into our every greedy desire. The media swamps us with ads and contributes to our purchase identity. We are told what we should have and to obtain mass quantities of products we shouldn't even need. Our interests have turned to luxurious spending on luxury items. We have blurred the line between necessity and luxury. Society has created the desire to own, and that desire has manifest into crisis level spending.

Half of the world lives on $2 a day while America accounts for over half of the world's private consumption spending. We are told to believe if we spend more our economy will thrive. What does it say about our country, when people are knee deep in credit card debt yet still continues to contribute to the problem by spending more than they make? There is a bottomless hole in some of our pockets, and endless need to posses and own.

Consumption and ownership is only natural. It's the lengths that we take it to that are obscene. In 2009 American's reportedly owned 500 million cars. That's 1 car for every 12 people. Yet America is still not the worst. New Zeland, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy all beat out America when comparing the number of cars owned. North America and Europe have more cars combine than in the rest of the world put together. It is understandable that we will want to have cars, it is human nature to make our lives easier, it's understandable that we would use a lot of products that make our lives simpler.

The problem evolves when we begin to over consume and take more than our fair share. We begin purchasing things that we will never even use, for that "just in case" moment. Every new cell phone, 10 grey tshirts, 40 pair of shoes... and the list goes on. How many forks are in your house, how many do you actually need. We all have possessions, it's when we loose the value of those possessions that we begin to corrupt ourselves and our consumerist nature.

How do we avoid becoming obsessive consumers? First we have to analyze our individual and social spending habits. Are we spending more than we are making or saving? Where is our money going?  Second we have to accept that we do not need possessions to enjoy our lives or to make us happy. We should learn that value is subjective when it comes to possessions, but the value we find in ourselves and our fellow humans is important to our life's fulfillment. If you can't feel it in your heart or if you can't justify needing it, you shouldn't assume it will improve the quality of your life.  You have to learn to suppress your desire to own and possess, focus your interests on what really makes your soul rejoice.