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in the book they spoke about how the two respective genders are supposed to act a certsin way. the author highlighted the fact that the masculine and feminine traits date back to how society defined them in the past. they stated that men were supposed to be strong, assertive and territorial. while woman are more passive, fragile, open to all. these ancient ideas have been thrown out the window in today society. from music to tv and movies there are more and more signs of the new age man and woman. For example, in music there are alot more woman empowerment songs such as Indenpendent woman by Destiny’s Child and love song by Sarah Bareillei which really reaffirm the idea a new age woman who is strong, confindent and assertive. many of the same qualities men are suppose to have. this flip flop of gender identity is apparentin movies and tv as well. shows such as sex in the city, desperate house wives, and lipstick jungle all have similar characters of woman who are one there own who don’t need men to be happy and use the men they are with for their own gain thigns that men were type casted to be. this phenomenon also extends to the male side of the spectrum. it is now becoming more common to see the anit-man as i would like to call it. a man that shares more feminine traits than masculine. he would be okay with crying in front of people especially woman, he would enjoy watchign chick flicks, is fashionable and senstive. this is reinforced by the media too. there alot men wearing their hair long like woman and putting on make is icreaseing becoming more accepted in society. rockers, actors, and athletes all show one those traits i pointed out above if not all of them, and they are in the spot like and are the famous people spear-heading this movement of the gender flip.this not a bad thing any means. this is what is needed for both genders. i feel if this continues we will be able to gain a better understand of each other as males and females benefit from it so much.

~Ike

Hollywood comes to Michigan

Many years ago movies were made one after another in the state of Michigan. In the United state in 2007 more than six hundred movies were made here, and of those movies only two were filmed here in Michigan.  What happened? Well the majority of movies are being filmed in the Unites States are filmed primarily in California and New York. Recently I have read about Michigan giving incentives and tax breaks to attract filmmakers to come to Michigan and in recent news, governor Granholm signed a whole package of incentive bills designed to attract filmmakers to our state. The package includes a forty percent cash rebate on Michigan expenditures along with a threshold of fifty thousand dollars to the filmmakers. This bill has been in the makings to be approved for the last five years and is finally complete. This is great news for Michigan. The filmmakers will now be spending money on hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and will be hiring. Yes! Crews will be needed to build sets and many jobs will need to be filled such as , make-up artists, carpenters, actors, electricians, assistant managers  and lots of extras will be needed to be cast in the films production. The list goes on for the amount of jobs needed to complete a movie in the makings.  It’s like a ripple affect and now that Hollywood is here in Michigan all the businesses in the areas will be hit with more revenue.  A film is going to be shot this may in Ann Arbor, and Detroit Michigan called “Youth in Revolt”. This film includes the actor from “Super Bad” and “Juno”, Michael Cera. Online right now they are accepting applications for people to help with the whole production set for this movie. I’m really interested in all this film stuff because my dream is to become an actress. I‘ve thought a lot about moving to LA. Or New York, the truth is I need to finish school and those states are extremely expensive. But now that this is happening I feel like why move to Hollywood when Hollywood is coming to me? This couldn’t have came to Michigan at a better time with the economy being in the dumps for quit some time. I know this isn’t going to dramatically boost up Michigan’s economy but every little bit helps, and it’s a step closer to making Michigan the competitive state it used to be. Keeping young intelligent minds in our state, and making up for jobs in the automotive industry is a productive move from the Michigan officials .Some will disagree with this act in giving the film makers incentives to come here when they are already going to be profiting a lot from the films profits. To that I say, there is completely nothing wrong with bringing an innovative industry to our state that is already in an economic crisis. So when your watching the big screen look out for your neighborhood, it just might be in the next movie you watch.

-Yolanda Mendoza

Affulenza the term used to describe wanting more things.  The media plays a major role influencing viewers to be “somebody in life” we have to have it all. I mean the mansions, yachts, Cadillac’s, and country clubs. I was flipping through the channels last weekend and I flicked on my favorite channel BRAVO. I love Project Runway and Top Chief. Anyway, a new show called the Real House wives of New York City was on. I never watched the Real House Wives of Orange County because I thought it was so lame.  But I really bored last weekend so I watched the season, starring New York City Housewives. There are five affluent, wealthy, Mrs. Jones women. I mean these women were multi-millionaire. There are many people who are rich, but these women have millions and million of bucks. There are five women in this exclusive club.  Bethenny is a natural foods chef and write for health magazines. She was on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She gets paid “thousands of dollars to make meals.”  LuAnn is married to a countess. I mean Countess LuAnn. Her husband’s family gave the Statue of liberty to the United States. Alex is a former actress and model. She now works with Victoria Secret. Ramona is a fashion and jewelry designer. Jill, my favorite is an elite social mogul. Her husband owns fabric boutiques supplying the latest textiles for major events and parties. All these women are extremely wealthy. They have the 10 million dollar apartments, maids, home in the Hamptons, chauffeurs, and stylists. While watching the show, I could not believe how consumed these women with having everything from the newest shoes, to the latest social clubs.   On one episode, Jill was invited to a fashion show, during Fashion Week. Her seat was behind her friend Ramons and Jill was not having that. She got very jealous and left before the show could start. She could not stand sitting behind her friend. Give me break ladies. How insecure are you Jill that you have to be in the front row for every event you attend. What’s wrong with the back row? Anyway, in another episode Jill was being interviewed by her sister, a radio journalist on air. Her sister asked her if it was hard to keep up with the Jones, Jill replied “I don’t keep up with the Jones anymore, I am older now, I maintain being the Jones.” Jill lively hoods involves  bring together extremely wealth people into private social clubs. I just don’t see how people can care so much about being so wealthy you need social clubs?  Why must we as human beings be so shallow to think we are worthless and less of a class because we don’t have all the materials things that our neighbor has. I mean you can’t die with your things. I think it’s really shallow that some wealthy people can act better than everyone else because they have money.  What’s makes you and I different. Money? I don’t think so. Your pockets may be bigger than mine, but that’s about it. I use to think money bought intelligence, happiness, and source of pride. All money brings is comfort. You’re comfortable about not having to worry about not surviving.  We need to get past all the material crap that many people identify with. These five women, from what I have viewed all indentify with their belongings. You are not your things.  You are the awareness of your surroundings. You are the greatness of the world. When I was younger I use to think, when get older I am going to have this and that. Now I am like, I don’t need it all. I don’t all this “stuff” to make me happy. I truly feel people who follow their passions in life, who are truly happy and thankful for what is in their lives are wealthier than the richest people in the world. Don’t get me wrong we all need money to survive and it is nice to have enough money. Money doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s the love of money that will kill people. All I am saying Jill, Ramona, Bethanny, Alex, and LuAnn and every other reader is that you all our better than the material possessions you have in life.

“Julee Mendozaaa”

Recently we read and had to summarize an article on the most controversial rapper to ever live Tupac Shakur aka 2pac. If you were just becoming a fan of rap you would not know the past of Tupac from him attending an acting school with HalleyBerry or his intrest in writing poetry. If you ever saw the imageary of Tupac you would think he was an typical street thug who came up byhaving good rap skills. Tupac was so smart I think he came up with the imagine and personality of the rapper 2pac so he could appeal to a mass of other ethnic groups. Like Tupac I think rapper 50cent also is very smarter than he appears. 50cent aka Curtis Jackson also used rapping as away to venture off into other bussiness. 50cent is the creator of the multi-million dollar venture Vitamin Water, which he sold to Coca Cola for 400,000,000. He also haves a clothing company called G- Unit under Marc Ecko and a tennis shoe line with Reebok. Most people Think of rappers as hoodlums with only one talent, but most rappers or young men are mostly bussiness minded and just need a little chance to display their talents. Jay-z aka Shawn Carter is also a successful enterpenur with serval business ventures under his belt. Jay-z Is A share holder of the NBA team the New Jersey Nets, you can catch him and his girlfriend Beyonce chopping it up in the floor seats watching his investments. I bet if you asked any of them would they ever guest they would be owners of serval business, i bet they would reply no, but they were wishing one day they would.

Datrell Gaither

More than 50 years ago, The Kinsey Institution, a famous sex-researched institution, conducted a study called the original Kinsey Report. It says that approximately 60 percent of men were unfaithful to their partner before the age of 40.

Now, however, more and more women are unfaithful. Cosmopolitan magazine conducted an online poll of 1,000 men and 1,000 women; 55 percent of guys have cheated on their girlfriend and a shocking 59 percent of ladies said they have cheated on their boyfriends.

Women cheat because they crave the endorphin high from the initial attraction they feel towards a new guy or they may cheat because they feel taken for granted. A new lover will give her the tender loving care their boyfriends don’t.  When women stress out (especially over their boyfriend) they may feel attracted to a new guy for their distraction.

Why do men cheat? Well, because they know they can. Their over-confidence makes them think that they’re invincible. Therefore, if they think they can get away with it, they will proceed to satisfy their desires. This type of over-confidence usually ends up getting men into trouble, because they slip one way or another.

A man’s ego is like Mount Everest … nothing is bigger. Whether it’s flirting or making unsuccessful offers to women, a man must feed his ego one way or another no matter if he is attached. What better way to do that than to see how many women he can get?

Great chemistry with a new woman can lead to desire, which in turn leads to flirting, which eventually leads to cheating. When a chance encounter with a beautiful female erupts, men have thoughts of never getting a chance at it again. This proves that men are the weaker and less disciplined of the two sexes.
            Most men don’t appreciate the power of a good relationship. They don’t appreciate the hard work it takes for women to satisfy them. This goes back to why most men take their good relationship for granted. Men are weaklings for sex, especially if it’s quick and easy. Thus, most men tend not to listen to their hearts.

             Junior, Debra Pickett, said “I dated this guy for a couple months until I found out that he was sneaking over to my best friend’s house at 3 in the morning ‘reading encyclopedias in the basement’. I was extremely upset so I got revenge.” She didn’t tell us how she got revenge, but there is one story about a woman who took violent revenge.

 Clara Harris was sentenced to twenty years in prison for running her husband over in her Mercedes after seeing him and his receptionist in a hotel together. Ironically, it was the same hotel that the Harris’ wed in eleven years before. Clara Harris told the jury that she thought they had a peaceful marriage and never had any doubts about David Harris. But last summer, she noticed he was growing distant. One week before she hit her husband, he broke the news to her that he was seeing someone else.

“Unbelievable. If he wouldn’t have told me that himself, I would have never believed it,” Harris said. “I asked him ‘Do you love me?’ and he turned red and he waited, a few minutes if hesitation which told me immediately there’s something wrong here.”

            Harris told jurors that she tried to save her marriage after finding out about her husband’s affair with David Harris’ mistress. She said she scheduled breast enhancement and liposuction surgeries. She joined the gym, quit her job, cooked her husband’s favorite meals and tried to please him sexually. Harris tearfully said in court she ran over her husband only once and she was trying to hit his lover’s car.  But prosecutors told a different story. Their side was that she deliberately and repeatedly ran over her husband that night in the parking lot. Her defense attorney, George Parnham, argued that she acted out of sudden rage and passion and should have only received probation instead of twenty years

The fact is, you shouldn’t cheat. Cheating is a very serious form of lying. It hurts your boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s not fair for the person you’re cheating with, and — perhaps most seriously — it hurts you. When you cheat, it turns you into a liar. It’s not good for your self esteem, your character or your reputation. If it gets around that you’re a person who cheats, how many people will feel like they can trust you in a relationship?

~ Ike Mbanugo

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So it was about two months ago, and i’m not even sure who it was who told me but i was informed that two of my favorite bands presently were going to be coming to town at the Emerald Theater, Spoon and The Walkmen.  I was extremely excited called up my friend and told her about it and told her we had to get tickets for this show.  About a week later i was at Gogol Bordello show at the Royal Oak Music Theater  and i saw an old friend who worked at The Emerald along with one of my old bosses from my old job at the State Theater (aka Fillmore) he said he could get us in no problem.

So another week passes and i hear from my girlfriend that, her friend who works for Camel says that she can get us tickets, and that they’re the ones who are putting on the show.  I guess they put on concerts and buy most of the tickets and then give them to people at bars along with free cigarettes.

Anyhow speed up to April 6th the day of the concert…….I was able to get a total of eleven tickets,but only 8 of my friends ended up showing.  We all met up and went up to the line waiting to get in, as this guy who was working the door came up with this giant replication of the tickets we had, and personally escorted us directly into the venue without even having to wait in the line outside, that the other people who had paid for tickets had to wait in.  He brought us inside and explained where all the Camel stands were, and what kind of cool stuff they were giving away.

So me and my friends wondered around, and saw about four different booths setup for Camel cigarettes alone, each stationed with 2 pretty girls.  We walked up to one, to get our free cigarettes and the girl asked me for a pack of cigarettes that i smoked so she could scan them (their way of seeing what people smoked), i told her that i left my American Spirits in my car.  She said no problem then proceeded to give me two packs of Camel’s of whatever kind i wanted, she then scanned my driver’s license to get all my info, marked my hand with marker as to signify that i already received my free-bees.  She then gave me a flash-drive and told me that they have an area where people and their friends can get their photo taken, and then they put the picture on the drive.  So you are able to take the zip drive home and download the picture.  She also had stated that they have an area for making t-shirts for you.  I almost forgot she then handed me a ticket and said that it was good for a free drink.  We all walked over to get our free drink.  Then proceeded over to the T-shirt area, which was really cool i have to say.  They had like five different print types to choose from, and all different colored shirts to choose.  So you pick out the pattern and color, then they take it over to this ink area where they had guys laying peoples shirts out on these big tables, and then applying the ink with these huge rollers.  It was pretty cool to watch, they were like little shop workers inking up our custom shirts.  I felt like a big kid at a carnival getting free stuff.

Now all in total i received free tickets to a good line-up concert, free cigarettes, photo , zip-drive (not sure how much it can hold tho), t-shirt, and cocktail.  Wasn’t sure to feel completely grateful or weirded out.  Why would a company spend so much money on me, were they just grateful that i still smoked (which i’m in the process of quiting), not even sure if that could be true because about half of my friends there didn’t even smoke.  Or are they studying what i listen to, what i drink, and what i wear.

We headed back to the upstairs bar, and in walks Britt the lead singer of Spoon.  I was so excited, no one else recognized him or cared.  I walked up to him and said the lamest thing i could “Can i buy you a drink?” (what a nerd) anyway he declined.  So i started to chit-chat, i asked him why he was up there.  He said that he wanted to keep an eye on the Camel people, and to make sure they weren’t pushing cigarettes on people. He said that they had a problem with them at another show. Britt seemed genuinely concerned about his fans.  I wished him a good show, and he said he would send a song out to me.

How does a band that is on the rise get into a concert like this?? Is it money?  A contract that they have to for fill for their label.  Why would a guy who seemed so anti-smoking be headlining a Camel show?  Is there a bigger picture?  Is the cigarette companies just showing appreciation, or are they devising a new plan of attack on getting people hooked?  I don’t really have the answers.  I suppose you can draw your own conclusions of why they do these things.

As much as Britt disapproved, he was still there performing.  As much as i thought it was a twisted ploy to smoke, i still attended & even smoked for that matter.  Even the friends that didn’t smoke didn’t really have an issue with it, except maybe that they said it was definitely really smoky.  So who is this really hurting?  Weren’t we all adults, participating? Was this concert a type of experiment on me and my friends?

I had a great time, and it created great memories with friends but, I can’t help but feeling a little dirty about the whole thing.  In fact i overheard an older bar-hag type say in her raspy voice” i got 4 packs, that’s four days of good smoking!”.  Ewww, i never felt so trashy about being a smoker than i did right then.

–SuAnn MItchell

Extra Credit// continuation of advertising blog

In my blog today, I want to talk about the movie Birdcage starring Mr. Funny man, Robin Williams.  In this movie there are four guys who are men, but instead poses as celebrity crossdressers and are homosexuals. Now to some of you that might be a big deal especially with us guys, but these men do not have a swagger or do things that heterosexual men do. Why are men or how do men become homosexuals. Some people say it happens at birth where your genes can get mixed up in the process or some men can just become homosexuals. Many people have not come up with the real reason, but if I was to say I think that it gets split at birth if you have a twin or just a sister or brother. In the Birdcage these guys were homosexuals, but not in real life. How can four straight guys pass off as faggots in the movie. I guess someone pay me 2 million dollars I will play a gay part as well….lol. My namae is EArnest Evans and this is my post.

Who ever said men and women are equal must be blind. Women have always taken the back seat to men in our society. There has always seemed to be one set of standards that apply to men, and another set of standards that apply to women. You can see that at home, workplace, and all throughout society. Some of the differences that we learn about our gender, which will enable us to better, understand men, and women. Our roles as men and women start at the hospital when we are born. Boys get blue blankets while girls get pink blankets.
Also while we are growing up, gender roles are highly defined by our parents and teachers as well as media. Boys are taught to do “boy” things like football and girls are taught to do “girly” things like cooking. The toys that kids play with growing up are targeted at either males or females. The activities that are encouraged by adults show the influence of gender roles on today’s youth. Little boy toys include cars, guns, soldiers, and super hero action figures. While toys made for little girls include Barbies, kitchen utensils, dress-up, and doll houses.

Moms are always teaching their girls how to cook, and dads are taking the boys out fishing, to a baseball games or playing basketball.

These expectations will follow as all through out our lives. like high school for example were boys are suppose to play sports and anybody who doesn’t or is interested in something else like Playing a musical instrument or acting was thought of as feminine.

Even as adults men are expected to do things women aren’t like be tougher and more successful. Even though we have came along way form the early 20th century, when women were expected to stay at home, take care of the house and men go out to provide for their families. We are still a long way form being equal. Women are getting paid over 20% less than men for the same job. the reason for that is that women take Leaves of Absence More Often than men usually for parenthood reasons, they are also viewed to be less committed to their jobs, mainly because if she is married then she is only a secondary provider next to her husband they are also thought to have less time for their jobs since they have other things to take care of like children or house chores.

 Gender roles will continue to influence as form birth. No matter where you go, gender roles are always being pointed out among boys and girls. As long as parents are drawing a line between their children’s toys, and activities gender roles will continue to be outlined.

Motaz Wraikat

I wanted to write about music because I feel that it is in some way or another, a part of every one’s life. Like the discussion in class, I not only want to discuss the memories attached to music, but the emotional impact that music can have on an individual. Even though music is written and sung by others, the music itself is personal to its listeners. Music is what the individual makes of it.

I don’t know of any reason why we attach memories or feelings to songs, or how the beat of a song can change the way we feel. Or even that the slightest change in tune can make a difference. The fact is that its true.

I like music for that reason, for the fact that it can lead emotions in an individual. Couples put a lot of thought into the theme love song for their wedding, and so do the relatives of the deceased for a funeral. When people listen to music, that music can change their emotions depending on the song. Or it can be the other way around, a person feeling a certain way might want to listen to music that would enhance that emotion. The theme song for the Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, has an amazing characteristic of appealing to opposite emotions in all audiences. The song inspires love and hope, and at the same time despair and sadness. The lyrics of the song have hopeful words but the music itself has a sad tone to it. Probably the best selling feature of the movie, other than its nominations, is its theme song.

I give music the credit of a depression medication that has no negative side effects. I know this not by any sources than my own experience. It seems that music can motivate some one in some way or another. The whole point of living is to have a purpose, and music sometimes helps people find their purpose. It can make such a difference as making an entire day feel good.

Another feature that music has is its lack of limitations other than the instruments that have not been invented yet. Music keeps on changing, and even after a genre is no longer popular, years later it is reused or revised. Techno is a form of music that is also new and weird. Music is so unusual that it depends even on the band or artist creating it. Just like people are different and gifted in different ways, so does the music depend on its artist.

Music is generally composed of lyrics and noise, with a certain beat or rhythm. Some music may be just the beat. Some people like the music because of the way it makes them feel, while others attach their own definition to the lyrics. Songs about love, unlike the one mentioned earlier, tend to be more dependent on the lyrics, even though the actual sound is important as well.

Music is a general part of society that it is cultural and depends on the era. Music is known to depend on its time frames, as it is mentioned in genre. Because people are spread around the world, music has characteristics such as language, that is why it differs, because it is not all the same society. Yet it is similar in such ways that every society is involved with music just as every new born cries the same.

Music is a part of life. It and life itself can not be taken apart “until death do it part”. Music is like a photograph in time but in the heart of a human soul. It brings back memories, sets new ones, and improves the health and well being of its listeners. It is a topic that never looses its purpose, even if the purpose is a source of entertainment.

-Ronza

Gender is one topic that has many different aspects. One of the more obvious aspects is sports. Men are usually favored more than ladies when it comes to playing sports. Sports just as basketball, football, and baseball are looked at like manly sports. When a women plays sports people automatically think they play soccer, or tennis. Men play sports because sports are intense, rough, and show they are a true man. Since we are children we are taught there are certain sports for girls and certain ones for boys. So, since we are let to believe this as children we carry it along forever. While children we see that men play strong sports and as little girls we feel that men are stronger, and tougher than girls. In addition, when playing sports women are not suppose to win, only suppose to lose in sports. When a man loses to a lady it affects then emotionally, but I thought that women are only suppose to be emotional.
picture http://pro.corbis.com/search/Enlargement.aspx?CID=isg&mediauid=33C7222D-F405-4921-A6FB-7E6F97EE50DE
Guy sports vs. Ladies sports
 
Women are affiliated with the color pink, and guys with the color blue. Before a child is born the gifts given are either blue, or pink. When the sex of a child is unknown before birth people usually just give a yellow, or green color. People are categorized before they are even able to speak.
Appearance is also another very important aspect of gender. Ladies that wear make-up are true ladies that give respect to there gender. On the other hand, ladies that do not like to wear to much make-up are considered boy like, or tom boys.
Ladies with make-up and lots of pink vs. ladies with out make-up and sporty.
 
Next, another aspect of gender is politics. Politics has seemed to be a male position, so when people like Hillary Clinton run for president there are people that do not agree with a lady being a president. Women and men are equal, and this should be put into every aspect of our world.
Following, why are men still getting paid more than ladies? Men and women work the same jobs and do the same exact things, but men are still getting paid more than women. This is totally unfair, we are living in America and we are all suppose to be equal and all have the same rights and values. Also, some jobs such as construction workers or race track workers are looked at as a mans job. Ladies can be construction workers, and great race track drivers.
However, there is one thing that ladies can do that guys can not, and that is having children. Guys can not naturally deliver birth to a child. Ladies are suppose to carry a baby for nine months, and breast-feed the child. Ladies are expected to be emotional, loving, and nurturing; but some ladies are tough because they have to stand strong. Ladies are so nurturing when it comes to raising there children and taking care of them. This aspect of gender allows us to be superior to men, and something men can not accomplish.

Overall, man and women are equal, and we should be treated equally. Men and women should be looked as equally, and should be respected. Men and women each share different aspects to gender.
Lisa F.