super freaking thought-provoking.

Through creative titles, absurd connections and coincidences, and a unique perspective, Levitt and Dubner analyze prevalent problems in society through an economic lens.  They essentially argue that all of the world's problems have simple, obvious solutions, but that humans are too selfish and naive to actually carry them out.  As printed on the cover, Levitt and Dubner analyze subjects such as global warming, prostitution, and suicide bombings and provide simple, economic solutions to each of them.  For example, they argue that prostitution could essentially be a very profitable business if it were to be legalized and closely supervised by the government. 


They predominantly use factual data and statistics to strengthen their arguments.  This is effective because it builds up a level of trust between the author and audience.  Not many people take the time to check that the statistical information is accurate, so it is inferred that the author is being truthful.  To further establish a relationship between author and audience, humor is used frequently throughout the book.  Biting sarcasm and caustic criticism is often used to emphasize their arguments as well as poke holes in the views of those who oppose them.  The tone is mostly sarcastic and blunt throughout the entirety of the book, which is consistent with that of their first novel, Freakanomics.  


The authors use diction that is widely and easily understood, though the audience must have some background knowledge of the issues that they talk about.  To refrain from turning people away with large words, they sneak in the difficult, economic terms and phrases in parenthesis or follow them up with a definition or explanation.  This was a good choice because it expands their audience significantly.  


I would highly recommend this book.  It was a quick, easy, and informative read and I felt like I learned so much from it as I read.  If you ask me, reading Superfreakanomics was a fabulous alternative to falling asleep on and drooling all over an economics textbook.


For more information or to purchase a copy of Superfreakanomics, click here. 

pick yourself up

To me,

Twelve is an awkward and uncomfortable age isn't it? Don't worry, your awkward phase will be over soon enough.. Kind of. You're going to learn a lot during high school, and I'm not just talking about in your classes. You're going to lose and make a lot of friends, so let yourself lose and make them. I know you're a perfectionist, but you need to realize that you're going to make mistakes.. Lots of them. Don't try and control everything in your life, that's impossible. Please, please don't waste your time being self conscious, that is destructive and can hold you back from some really amazing experiences and people. This sounds like a lecture, doesn't it? But I promise it is for the best.

Pick up guitar.. Do it. You're going to always regret it if you don't. Right about now I am guessing that you are really starting to appreciate music. That appreciation is going to keep on growing the older you get. One piece of advice I have regarding that though is that I don't want you to let your music choices affect your mood too much. It is going to be easy for you to identify with music so I want you to let that love grow.

Lastly, you're going to have trouble keeping healthy physically and mentally during your junior year. I want you to find things that make you happy and want you to stick with them because that is what is going to help you make it through these kinds of times. Learn how to pick yourself up and stick with it.

Much love and good luck,
Bridget Kelly

homework, underwear, and snoring.

Dear Axel,


You really are the sweetest dog I've ever owned (the only dog I've ever owned), but I'd really (and I mean really really) appreciate it if you wouldn't destroy my room every time I leave the house.  Yes, I know that stack of neatly organized, freshly printed paper looks really comfortable, and you know how much I love it when you crumple up my AP Comp papers under your little, spotted body.  And I really do appreciate that you don't eat my homework, but maybe try sleeping on the covers instead of on my homework next time.  Or grab a pillow pet or something to put under your head, not my laptop.  This might be a little awkward to bring up, but my underwear is not a snack.. As much as I wish that I had an endless supply of undergarments, well.. I don't.  Just let me know next time you get hungry, I'd totally understand.  Too often do I come home to little shreds of fabric spewed across my room (way too often) and every time I forgive you because you're cute and you wouldn't understand me if I tried to explain why it upsets me.  One last thing, you snore.  I know this is impossible for you to control, but I just wanted to make you aware of it.  It's okay because it's extremely soothing to listen to you snort in air every few seconds.  So snore on, little Axel.  Snore on.


Much love,


Bridget Madden

amateur photography.

So, I got a camera for Christmas.  And it is now my baby, my best friend, and my boyfriend.. Do you think that's messed up?  I thought I'd do a little picture post instead of rambling about all of the things that I did over break.  My family, friends, dog, and random objects in and around my house have been forced into being my models over the past couple weeks.  I'll probably keep adding pictures throughout the rest of the semester, seeing as I take about 200 a day.  I might not be able to carry it around every day at school, but I haven't gone anywhere without it since I got it.  I'm really amateur right now, but I hope to get better with some practice. 

Practice makes perfect, right? Wait.. right?

Sufjan Stevens vynal.

War.

 

     The pictures that I have chosen clearly depict a view that anti-war protests had an influential role in the ending of the Vietnam War. Through music and protests, the voice of countless individuals in the United States and other countries were heard, influencing political leaders and foreign policy throughout the 1960’s and 70’s.

     Anti-war protests are effective because they place pressure on political leaders to take actions based upon the views of the masses, actions against the war. Anti-war protestors were often referred to as hippies or as members of Counterculture. These weren’t just marijuana-smoking flower children, these people had a very real and influential impact on a very pressing war.

    I have intentionally placed these pictures in a particular order to create a connection for the viewer between anti-war protests and the end of the war. I first present three pictures that are clearly from the 1960’s and 70’s to set the time frame for the viewer.

     The first picture is a poster from Woodstock, a well known music festival held in 1969. The slogan of the festival was “3 days of peace & music”, which is clearly an anti-war statement. I thought it was important to have the Woodstock poster in color, not just because it is visually pleasing, but also because it is a well know, recognized poster and I thought to strip it of its color would reduce its impact. Secondly, a picture of bearded men holding posters that read “make love, not war” is displayed. This was a popular anti-war saying and I once again am getting the viewer familiarized with both the time period and stance that I am taking on war.

    Similarly, the third image contains more posters reading “hell no, don’t go” which clearly is urging people not to participate in the war in Vietnam. The black and white photographs enhance the idea of the time period as well as give an idea of the seriousness that this issue held. The first three images of the video are of anti-war protests building up to a climax of the fourth image, the New York Times’ announcement that the war is over. This photograph is obviously black and white, for the fact that it is newspaper print. I linger on this picture longer than the previous three because I want the viewer to be able to figure out what it is and make the connection that I am providing them with.

    Similar to the first four images, the next three include two anti-war messages, with the third being a photograph of a soldier coming home to his family. Once again, a couple anti-war images are followed by one that indicates the end of the war. Also, the image of the soldier returning to his family is more focused upon than the others time-wise, for the need to make the connection between anti-war protests and the end of the war. One of my pictures shows veterans of the war protesting in our nation’s capital against it, which gives the viewer an idea of just how big the anti-war movement really was and the massive impact that it had. Additionally, I display pictures of the Kent State shooting, women and children protesting, men protesting, and more reunions of soldiers with their families.

    One of the pictures that I would like to highlight in particular is at 0:10. It is an image of an anti-war poster that was circulated around during the movement. It shows three women, with exposed legs and a slogan that reads, “girls say yes to boys that say no” which gave a sexual appeal to being against the war. The women’s faces give some indication as to what they would be saying “yes” to if a guy decided not to join the war.

     I spent a lot of time making my musical selection for this video. The most obvious choice was a song that I grew up listening to on my record player, “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. But I thought that there must be some other song from that time period that was more influential. I listened to anti-war music for hours (and secretly really enjoyed it) until I found a song that really unsettled me. I chose “Vietnam” by Country Joe, which was actually preformed at Woodstock in 1969. The lyrics to this song are meant to make the listener uncomfortable. The artist hollers for joy at the thought that everyone will die, which is clearly the opposite of what he actually means. If the viewer were to listen to the whole song, it might give them an idea of how critical Country Joe was of the war. Because the song is so upbeat and he invites the crowd to sing along with him, the viewer automatically assumes it is a positive song, but in reality it is very harshly critical of the war in Vietnam and the American soldiers who fought in it. Country Joe only uses one guitar in this song and is also the only one on stage singing, which creates a sense that his personal opinion was being expressed to the audience through this piece.

and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin for?

don't ask me i don't give a dam, the next stop is Vietnam,

and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well there aint no time to wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gunna die.

Saturday Night Live - Crazy Doctor's Office - Video - http://www.nbc.com

Saturday Night Live - Crazy Doctor's Office - Video - http://www.nbc.com

fire.

I am not musically talented whatsoever.  Like at all.  Zero.  Nothing..

I can barely keep a beat, can't come up with my own lyrics or improvise, and my singing is reserved for in my car (when I'm alone..) and my shower (when I'm also alone).  I dance, but I don't think that dancing to music makes me musically talented at all.  For some reason, at some point I became hopelessly obsessed with music.  

Like every other kid, I spent my entire adolescence going through phases.  These weren't the typical girly, tomboy, angsty, preppy, nerdy types of phases though.  I had music phases.  There were points in time when I was into just instrumentals, rap, indie, heavy metal, classic rock, pop, electro, and pretty much everything else under the sun. 

It took me until around tenth grade to find a solid, static music genre interest to really stick to.  I find this curious because that's the point in my life where I also kind of "found myself".  Yes, it sounds stupid, but for me, my music choices have really reflected points in my life through lyrics and artists as well as the instruments themselves (piano, violin, and acoustic guitar are my favorites).   

Certain artists and songs will remind me of specific instances in my life.  For example, the band Keane reminds me of freshman year because I had a phase where I would only listen to their Under the Iron Sea album.  Blue October reminds me of freshman year as well because I had a phase with them too.  Music brings me back and helps me relive points in my life, whether they be pleasant or unhappy ones.

There are people that are lyrics people, and their are others that just listen to the back beats to determine whether or not they like an artist or a song.  I'm personally more of a lyrics kind of person and that is ultimately what I listen for first in a song.  

Ever since sophomore year, I have pretty much stuck to the same kind of music.  I currently listen to rock bands such as Three Days Grace, but also really enjoy folk bands like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes.  I know, the two don't really make sense together, but these are the types of music that really get through to me.  Last Christmas, I got a record player and am absolutely obsessed with it.  I love how the sound quality is sort of scratchy and distorted, it gives songs character and texture.  I usually listen to the folk and indie stuff on there, but also have a bunch of old vinyls from bands like Aerosmith and U2.

There are a lot of people who would assume that I just listen to KDWB and that my playlists consist of the Black Eyed Peas and Demi Lovato.  I surprise them when they jump in my car and see that I've been listening to 93x or The Current. 

Music has helped me sort out a lot of situations in my life and I think it has been a really profound influence in how I have grown up and turned out.  I think a person's music choice says a lot about who they are as a person as well as their beliefs.  You can tell a lot about someone by flipping through their music once or twice.  

Fire by Noah Gundersen (my current obsession.)