...families were able to achieve, that is until, perhaps, starting around 2008 when the "Great Recession" hit. Many Americans lost their jobs due to the country's fourth-largest investment bank going bankrupt. There was a job shortage, many Americans were laid-off, income was falling, and poverty was rising. Seven years have passed and slowly America has been recovering, but has it recovered enough for the American dream to be alive? For the average American the dream is perhaps a owning a house, car, children, a stay at home parent, medical insurance, vacations, and savings for retirement along with savings for college tuition. In today's society, the American dream is unobtainable because a stay at home parent is rare, bills are a struggle to pay for, vacations are rarely taken, most are not able to save for retirement because of debt, and many college students have to work while in school to pay off their college tuition. The American dream is in fact alive, but out of reach for the average American. In the article "7 facts that show the American Dream is Dead", Eskow states, "There was a time when middle-class families could lead a comfortable lifestyle on one person's earnings. One parent could work while the other stayed home with the kids." (2) Upon looking for the percentage of a stay at home parent for last year, the census states that 10 percent of children live with their grandparents, 79 percent live with one sibling, 15 percent have a stay...
Words: 1533 - Pages: 7
...holding the skinned lifeless body of a fox. There are three main components in this commercial: a pitch black background, an attractive female celebrity, and a skinless animal. Metaphorically, the color black represents death, and it immediately determines the dark nature of the advertisement. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is wearing a black cocktail dress, her black cherry hair matches perfectly, and her red lipstick stands out on her pale, fair skin. As she strikes a glamorous pose by placing her right hand on her hip, the viewer can see that she is holding the skinned fox in her left hand. The bloody corpse is just hanging there, obviously lifeless, but also tortured. It looks like the animal may have been tortured and skinned while it was still alive as its eyes appear to be tightly shut in pain, and its jaws are slightly opened as if it is trying to catch the last breath. The fur remains only on the head and paws of the animal. The viewer can only imagine how beautiful the animal was...
Words: 1180 - Pages: 5
...Tara Mahamad Ms. Leggo HSB4U-1 March.23rd.2015 Social Norms portrayed in The Walking Dead In The Walking Dead's post-apocalyptic world, there is no true form of government, no law enforcement, money has absolutely no value whatsoever, there are no emergency respondents, and there is no clearly defined social structure. This is a world where someone may be your neighbor on one occasion, and the next day they may have been turned into a walker, putting you into a predicament where you must make the decision as to whether or not you will be eaten by the “walking dead”, or you will slay them. People literally abandon their cars on the highways and run for shelter. While survivors hide away in basements and closets, trying to keep silent in attempt to not draw attention to themselves, with a fear that a group of hungry walkers may be near by. Individuals have no frame of reference for how to deal with these types of scenarios, there is no past precedent in history to follow here. To us, this may seem completely abnormal, but to the characters in The Walking Dead, this is a norm. The definition of a norm, is an expectation of how people will behave. It takes the form of a rule that is socially placed by society rather than formally enforced by some sort of government. Norms are societal beliefs regarding how members should behave in any given context. Sociologists describe norms as informal understandings that govern a particular society’s behavior. Although norms are not...
Words: 2113 - Pages: 9
...YOU AND YOUR FUTURE Imagine a tall ladder lean against a wall and (just as your life) in the process of climbing that ladder to a glorious destination designed for you by the Lord – your creator. How tragic would it be to struggle and climb to the top of the ladder against all odds only to find out that you placed the ladder against the wrong wall. What a great tragedy! Only one life to live and you missed it! God forbid you might say, Yes, indeed, may you never miss your future in Jesus name. However, securing a profitable future is more than positive thinking and negative rejection. Your destiny is a choice and not a chance. The task before you is ensuring that you position your ladder on the right wall and climbing the ladder to the top notwithstanding the challenges, obstacles and distractions on the way. You have only one life to live and you must not miss it. God’s plan for you and all his children is to give us a glorious future. No matter whom you are, no matter your background, no matter where you come from, God has a great plan for you. God said: “For I know the thought I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).With this, we have confident assurance that God’s thought, God’s plan for us is a great and glorious future. Every one desires a glorious and profitable future but few eventually enjoy it though it’s God plan for his children. The question then is why? Why do people miss out of...
Words: 994 - Pages: 4
...Quantum mechanics Rohan Agarwal It is common knowledge that matter is comprised of particles. Or is it? We all think that light consists of waves. How true are these claims? Although it may seem counterintuitive on the surface, various experiments and supporting theories have proved that the line between what is particulate and what is wavelike is finer than we imagine. At a fundamental, sub-atomic level, matter and light are both wavelike and particulate; it is only on the macroscopic scale that the divisions become better defined. The study of the physical laws that govern the realm of the very small, such as atoms, protons, and the like; developed from Planck’s quantum principle and Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle are termed as quantum mechanics. The principles of quantum mechanics revolve around two major theories- the wave-particle duality, and, in extension to this, the theory that it is possible for absolutely small particles to be in two different states at the same time. Theoretical physicists have arrived at these conclusions after powerful observations of experiments, and these will be discussed in due course. Before doing so, it is imperative to understand that this quantum strangeness does not transfer to the macroscopic world, and so some claims in this article will seem absurd. In order to demonstrate this, Erwin Schrodinger published a paper in 1935, containing a thought experiment, now popularly known as Schrodinger’s cat. A cat is put in a steel chamber...
Words: 1219 - Pages: 5
...instead of accepting the reality they were facing. “The choice of illusion is related to the strong emotions of love, hate and empathy.” (Taylor, 2013) In chapter six –the third expedition- is clear that the humans’ illusion is to have their beloved dead ones back. Despite the Captain’s reservations and warnings, everyone accepts the illusion of Green Bluff, Illinois in Mars, which suggests unreality given that it may not be possible to copy an identical place in a different one. However, this acceptance brings comfort to the crew who are blinded by the emotion of having their resurrected family back; these families “were given a second chance to live in a new world” which, at the same time, is unreal because there is no way to bring back a dead person. The Martians linked this illusion to the strong empathy with the crew’s emotions through telepathy in order to carry out a dreadful funeral. Earth men never suspected what was happening until the last moment when they were killed because they couldn’t resist this emotion. In another story, Spender is under the illusion that everyone will understand his concept of Martian culture and his desire of preserving it. He starts killing everybody in order to avoid humans from destroying Mars and turning it into something totally different. Nonetheless, his illusions are broken apart when he realizes that no one will follow...
Words: 1153 - Pages: 5
... The prominent images of the wolf caught in the manmade net on the cover depict the purpose of the Endangered Species Act. The background is blurred out green, but shows that the pup was captured in his own home. The dark tones represent the tragedy at hand. The wolf’s sad eyes are calling out to the reader for help. His arms are folded in defeat. He is stuck. All the reader wants to do is set him free. The print at the bottom right side of the cover says “The Endangered Species Act,” giving the reader a reference to obtain more information on the innocent animals. The caption just above the act states in large capital letters says “DEAD OR ALIVE.” The play on words designates the continuous battle between hunting and protecting endangered species. The hunters want them dead for their meat and fur, while the environmentalists want them alive and thriving. With the combination of the depressing photo and the bold quote, the reader can only root for the wolf’s survival. It is in human nature to let their heart out to the young victim. Next, the cover’s underlying message portrays that humans cannot help seeing themselves in other creatures. When an American views them in the wolf’s situation, they feel unfair captivity. The United States...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...history was then discovered on April 22, when a large oil slick began to spread at the former rig site. The oil flowed for 87 days, dumping more than 200 million gallons of oil into the ocean- until the leak was capped on July 15. Because of this awful man-made mistake, thousands of animals died immediately, including some of the very humans that helped cause this catastrophe. (Source 1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found 1,014 birds with oil on them, causing birds to lose their buoyancy and the ability to regulate body temperature, 997 were dead, and 749 were alive. The NOAA also found 528 sea turtles, with 400 dead, and 128 alive. Also, Mammals could have ingested oil, which causes ulcers and internal bleeding- 51 mammals were found, with 47 dead and 4 alive. Also, dead and dying deep sea corals were discovered seven miles from the Deepwater Horizon well, along with many fish. Many of the dead fish found were cut open and oil was found in their gills and their heart. According to Source 3, “Some scientists say there are indications of complex, long-term effects, but warn that five years is too soon to understand their significance.” Although many of the long-term effects still remain unclear, today we are already starting to discover many...
Words: 670 - Pages: 3
...and now-astronaut Mark Watney as his mission on the planet Mars goes awry and his 5 crewmates evacuate after a severe storm. Debris slams into Mark and his suit is punctured, so they decide to abandon him behind, assumed dead. But luckily enough, a series of events lead to Mark’s survival against all the odds Mars could throw at him. Personal Response: The Martian is a believable novel dense with scientific explanation but with no shortage of hilarious quips and witty dialogue. Developing the plot of Mark’s Martian mission of survival, I can best describe Andy’s work as a slow escalation to a gripping climax. An insightful look at the...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...Research Paper World War II was a global conflict from 1939 to 1945 when the war ended. Many nations around the world were involved including the great powers which later on formed two opposing military alliances : the Allies and the Axis. One of the Axis’s leaders was Adolf Hitler. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Germany. The Jews were hated the most by the Nazis because Hitler blamed the Jews from Germany defeat in World War I. This hate towards the Jews from Hitler led to “The Holocaust”. The Holocaust was the systematic annihilation of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II. Even though we know millions of people died in this sadly event, many people survived, as well. Many years after the Holocaust one of the survivors Elie Wiesel wrote his book Night telling his life story in the Holocaust. Wiesel was the first to give the name "Holocaust", which literally means destruction by fire, to the experience of European Jews in World War II. Elie Wiesel was a Jewish from northern Transylvania annexed by Hungary. Wiesel started the most difficult journey of his life when Nazi German forces took him and his family to the concentration camps. Night is basically about Eliezer struggles with his father throughout the Holocaust and how Eliezer managed to survived. Wiesel narrates in his book Night his experience in the concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945 at the height of the ...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...Organ Donation Organ donation is a topic which contains many conflicting views. To some of the public population organ donation is a genuine way of saving the life of another, to some it is mistrusted and to others it is not fully understood. There are some techniques that can be used to increase donation. Of these techniques the most crucial would be being educated. If the life threatening and the critical shortage of organs were fully understood by the public, organ donation would more likely be on the rise. An effort is needed throughout the world to make people aware of the benefits this process contains. With communication, technology, and donors, organ donation can improve a person’s outlook on life by giving them a second chance on their own. (Egendorf 110-115) Technology has improved organ donation so much in the last couple years. There are numerous benefits of becoming an organ donor. Becoming an organ donor is one of the most selfless acts that a person can engage in. The facts on organ donation are staggering: there is an extreme shortage of available organs for patients that are in need. Understanding what organs can be donated can be vital in becoming an organ donor, as well as other factors’ including how being an organ donor affects the recipient who is eligible for donation. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, every day 19 people die who are waiting for organ transplants due to a shortage. (Holmes) The benefits of organ donation are...
Words: 3369 - Pages: 14
...Bergman utilizes the setting of a medieval, plague-ridden landscape to metaphorically investigate the existence of god and meaning of life. The film follows the knight, Antonius, as he returns from the Crusades with his squire, Jöns. Bergman uses black and white to enhance the mood. The film’s vivid imagery and powerful score challenge the viewer to interpret the film’s messages and assign them meaning. The film investigates the deepest philosophical questions of humanity. Compared with Akira Kurosawa’s film, Ikiru, the Seventh Seal expresses a darker outlook on the world. Bergman’s cinematic masterpiece remains a relevant work of art in a world that struggles to address the deepest questions of religion and the phenomena of simply being alive. Seventh Seal begins with a shot of the heavens as a powerful orchestrated piece of music plays. A passage from the Book of Revelation is recited, "And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour," (Revelation 8:1). Antonius and Jöns lie on a beach of pebbles. The land is framed proportional to the sky, juxtaposing the kingdoms of heaven and earth. A chess set sits to the right of Antonius. The camera pans away from him, zooming in on the chess pieces. It symbolically equates Antonius as a piece of the game. A man cloaked in black approaches, revealing himself to be death. He states that he has come for them. Antonius challenges him to a chess match. Death agrees that if Antonius...
Words: 1056 - Pages: 5
...The marketing of dead celebrities has become big business. Some estimates have valued the the royalties and licensing income at about $2.5 billion One of the first advertisers to employ dead celebrities was Diet Coke back in 1991. The TV commercial was staged in a hot nightclub, with Elton John leading the band. Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and Louis Armstrong were all incorporated using old movie and TV clips - and the technique opened the doors to a whole new casting conversation. This week on Under The Influence, we look at Marketing Dead Celebrities. It's become a $2 billion dollar industry. The marketing of dead celebrities not only attracts lots of big brands, but lots of controversy. We'll trace the use of dead celebrities in advertising, we'll analyze "Dead Q Scores," we'll list the top-grossing dead celebrities, we'll tell some fascinating stories about ads that featured Audrey Hepburn, Michael Jackson, Fred Astaire, Kurt Cobain and Marilyn Monroe - and how their families felt about those commercials. Hope you join us. It's a brave new world, now that nobody's dead anymore. Twenty-six miles from Palm Springs, in Indio, California, a large event is staged every year. It's called the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Started in 1999, it's a big two-weekend gathering that draws over 80,000 people a day. Nearly 180 musical acts perform, and while the festival has hosted big acts like Paul McCartney, Madonna and Foo Fighters, it's also an important...
Words: 3391 - Pages: 14
...Abortion: Where Has Morality Gone? In today’s society, often times many people do not even consider the question of morality before taking certain actions, because the subject of morality has become a gray area in which morality can scarcely be defined. For instance, Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines morality as "the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct” (Webster Online). However, everyone has a different opinion of right and wrong. There are approximately 46 Million abortions per year worldwide about 1.37 Million abortions here in US (abortionno.org). This difference of opinion on what is moral causes many disputes such as in the topic of abortion. Some people believe it is a woman’s prerogative to choose whether or not to have a child, while still many others believe it is “morally” wrong to have an abortion. On the other hand, there are moderates who disagree with the idea or the morality of abortion, but agree that there are certain circumstances that should give the woman the option. Since abortion is essentially the killing of an unborn child, why are women who abort not convicted as murderers, just as women who kill their children face such charges? Morality should be a standard at all times and abortion should be no exception. In fact, abortion is destroying the life of a child; therefore, it should be considered morally wrong, except when extenuating circumstances leave no other choice for the woman. Abortion...
Words: 1138 - Pages: 5
...Interstellar and off-world tales are fully engrained in the fabric of entertainment. As consumers, we ingest wide variations of outer space fiction – with the most popular and obvious examples being Star Wars and Star Trek. But, space exploration isn’t always about alien encounters or laser-themed weapon. Sometime it’s simply brings out the finer qualities of humanity. In Ridley Scott’s (Alien, Prometheus) latest directing effort, based on the novel (of the same name) by Andy Weir, Matt Damon stars as Mark Watney – an astronaut that’s stranded on Mars alone when his crew is forced to abandon him after an accident leads them to believe he’s dead. But, it turns out Mark is very much alive. N.A.S.A. also believes Mark to be decease, although...
Words: 1078 - Pages: 5
