The Life of a Guard

I found an article that demonstrates modern-day parallel to the bad working conditions situations we have been discussing in class. Recently, a group of life guards in New York joined the Teacher's Union, seeking a voice, a better pay, and improved safety in their jobs. "New York State United Teachers announced today that state-employed lifeguards who protect pools, lakes and beaches from Lake Erie to Montauk are affiliating with the 600,000-member union. The NYSUT Board of Directors will formally vote to accept the new local union — known as the New York State Lifeguard Corps — on Saturday, ending a nearly six-year legal odyssey that started when lifeguards began seeking better pay, improved training and safety equipment, and a voice in their working conditions." After 6 years of petitioning, it is great that these lifeguards finally took action. Tom Donovan, leader of the new statewide lifeguards union, said, “After so many years, I’m thrilled to have a union that will work with NYSUT to improve conditions for all lifeguards across the state." This is truly a significant movement if it is able to improve working conditions for lifeguards in the entire state. Hopefully, it will be successful and able to spread to other states where lifeguards are faced with poor working conditions.

It is ironic that a lifeguard's job is to save other peoples' lives, but nobody considered the safety of their own working conditions. I consider a lifeguard to be a very important position, and it upsets me to hear that they have been mistreated for so long. NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi believes lifeguards “deserve what all working people deserve — fair pay, a consistent discipline process, good working conditions and the right to sit down with management to discuss their concerns.” This reminds me of the many deaths caused by Triangle Factory Fire. Bad working conditions were ignored, and it ended up resulting in a catastrophe. Something similar could happen if the bad conditions lifeguards work in prevent them from saving lives.

Beverly Hills Recession

I came across an article on CNN titled "9021-Ouch: Recession Trickling up to Beverly Hills." It instantly reminded me of our new unit, Cultures of Priviledge and Poverty. I would consider Beverly Hills to be one of the most privilged cities in the US. Shows like The Hills and 90210 portray frivolous lifestyles of the rich buying expensive clothes, dining at pricy restaraunts and spending excessive amounts of money on parties. When I think of the economic recession, I picture poor cities getting hit, not lavish Beverly hills. This article mentions how the recession has affected sales; since people do not have the money to buy expensive items, stores are going out of business. "Fewer sales mean fewer tax dollars even for this well-funded city."

This article made me realize that "priviledge" and "poverty" are subjective terms. Someone might think "Everyone living in Beverly hills has the lavish lifestyle of the girls on The Hills," but this is not necessarily true. Small stores and boutiques are going out of business, and the people who work there have to find new jobs, just like the rest of the people in America affected by our economic recession.

Chris Brown and Rihanna?

Everyone has been talking about the grammys this year. The most popular topic of conversation seems to be how Chris Brown abused his girlfriend, Rihanna. The story started out that Brown was "investigated by the LAPD in an alleged assault on a female." People automatically assumed that the woman he assaulted was his girlfriend, Rihanna. Now that she was a part of the story, it had even more hype. But it didnt stop there. Singers Leona Lewis and Keisha Chante were added to the mix, accused of being involved in the fight too. Rumors got so out of control that Lewis' spokesman had to release a statement. "Leona was at the pre-Grammy party with her family and boyfriend and had nothing whatsoever to do with any argument that may have ensued between Chris and Rihanna. Any allegations that the pair had flirted are completely false," states her spokesman in an article.

It is clear from the first article that not a lot is known about this story. Most of the things people are talking about are rumors, and may not even be true. So why are we even talking about it that much? Its because these people are celebrities, and everything they do is automatically more interesting than regular people. What would the story be like if the people in the fight were completely average and not famous at all? Some might care, but the story certainly would not have been blown up this big. All this hype reminded me of our past unit on the common man. "Do we still glorify the common man?" was one of the questions we looked at in class. The whole Chris Brown-Rihanna-Leona Lewis drama supports the thesis that we do not support the common man, because we are only interested in what the celebrities are doing.

Romanticism...in 3D!

Recently, I saw a commercial for the upcoming "Jonas Brothers 3D concert experience." The title alone is romanticized. It claims that a concert movie, a mindless form of entertainment, can be considered an experience.

The commercial began dramatically, with the words "The concert that had you screaming...is burnin' up the big screen" in a bold, silver font, complete with suspenseful sound effects. The trailer also claims this movie is "an all new 3D experience...like you've never seen them before." Again, this commercial tries to convince viewers that their movie is so great, it cannot even be considered a movie, it is an experience. Usually, the term "experience" is used to describe personal aspects of ones life, like the experience of backpacking in the wilderness, or the experience of attending New Trier High School. I have never heard watching a movie about someone else described as an esperience.

The most overdramatic statement of all was that "this film will take you where no fan has gone before." I have seen other 3D concert movies, and they have been entertaining, but definitely not taken me to a place I have never gone before. It is comical how this commercial portrays the movie to be a life-changing experience. Nick Jonas even claims that "in this movie, we want to invite you into the family." I highly doubt that by watching the Jonas Brothers perform in 3D, I will feel like I am a new part of their family.

After watching this commercial, I just might see the movie, to see if it lives up to the romanticized expectations of an "experience that will take me where I have never gone before AND let me become part of the family." Who knows, it may change my life forever.

Hyperbolic Peanut Butter

Recently, the newspapers have reported a "peanut butter salmonella outbreak." When I was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at lunch, my friend told me, "stop eating that right now! You could get salmonella!" I was curious how big this outbreak really was, so I did some research. One article said that the only types of peanut butter containing salmonella were King Nut and Parnell's pride brands. Even more specifically, the exact jars of peanut butter containing salmonella were "distributed only through food service providers in Ohio, Michigan, North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida. The peanut butter was not sold directly to consumers." The article also says that the FDA ran tests and it is still unclear whether or not the salmonella cases came directly from peanut butter, because there is a possibility of cross-contamination from another source.

After doing my research, I realized that dramatic headlines like "Huge Salmonella Outbreak" are very hyperbolic. They are grossly exaggerating an issue that is actually very small. Six people died from peanut butter salmonella, which is sad, but certainly not enough to be considered an "outbreak." I think the news should not use such grossly exaggerated headlines, especially not when it comes to health issues, because it makes people overreact and panic. The contaminated peanut butter was not even distrubuted to Illinois, yet I heard numerous conversations at school about how people should avoid all brands of peanut butter.

The hyperbole is a good literary tool, but it must be used in the right context. Mark Twain used it very well to provide satire in "Huckleberry Finn." However, hyperboles should not be used in non-fiction works, like the news, because it can stir up innaccurate gossip. People rely on the news to provide them with facts about current issues. In this case, a hyperbole misinformed people about a current health issue and made them panic for no reason. The news should provide us with the important facts and not use hyperboles to try to make it seem more interesting or exciting.

Nature Vs. Nusiance

Recently, I came across an article in the New York Times titled "Nature, Nusiance, or Worse?" In this article, a young woman from Berkely, California saw a turkey on her roof and "was initially charmed. Turkeys! In Berkeley! How quaint! How colonial!" However, she later realized that the Turkeys would become a nusiance if they arrived in large quantities. During mating season, male turkeys become very vicious, and will attack anything that moves with the sharp spikes on their legs. The author then went on to reference other animals that have been a nusiance in urban areas, such as "a deer who ate $300 worth of landscaping and a racoon who took a marshmallow from her neighbor." Her husband jokingly suggested that if a the turkeys became a nuisance, she should shoot them. And the woman actually took his suggestion seriously!

If Emerson were to meet this woman, he would probably tell her that the turkeys are actually doing a favor by letting her experience nature, something that doesn't often happen to people living in urban areas. "In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in the streets or villages," Emerson wrote in "Nature." These turkeys could help the woman discover something more "dear or connate" than her daily life in Berkeley.

In my opinion, the turkeys, deer, and racoons who "destroyed" components of urban life can help remind people what is really important. Is it really necessary to have a $300 landscaped yard? Does one marshmallow really matter? According to Walden, these trivial items do not fall under the essentials of life, which are "Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Fuel." By wanting to shoot the turkeys, Emerson and Thoreau would say that this woman is placing more importance on urban luxuries than nature and wildlife. Nature is something that is greater than us, part of the "bigger picture," while marshmallows and expensive landscaping are extremely insignificant.

Dear Santa

I came across an article in the Chicago Tribune about childrens' letters to Santa being reflective of the current economic crisis. The writers of the article went to the post office and looked at letters from several very poor children from the south side of Chicago. "Officials believe the nation's financial turmoil prompted the spike, as traditionally optimistic requests for video games and bikes are often supplanted by pleas for basic necessities such as pajamas and socks." Children whose parents have lost their jobs are realizing the basic necessities of life. "A 10-year-old boy is sure Santa will bring diapers for his baby sister. A girl in 3rd grade asks for slippers to keep her feet warm. Two brothers say their mom needs help making the rent."

This article instantly reminded me of the chapter "Economy" in Walden. Thoreau writes, "Some things are really necessaries of life in some circles, the most helpless and diseased, which in others are luxuries merely, and in others are entirely unkown." (pg 6). People from the North Shore "circle" would never even consider asking for diapers for Christmas, much less diapers for someone other than themself. Diapers are something that are already there in most homes, and are taken for granted. Reading Walden made me realize how lucky I am to enjoy so many luxuries, and this article made me want to do something to help those who are less fortunate during the Christmas season.