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Is Sexism Still Around in Todays World?

Many people would like to think that sexism has long been gone from our society, however I am here to show you otherwise. It may appear that sexism has all but disappeared from todays world, but the truth is it is just deeply hidden. Many people are born into the already present sexism so they don't realize that is going on. I will show you two advertisements which may seem "normal" but upon further inspection show just how real sexism is in todays world.

The first advertisement I am going to take a look at is the ad for the new video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wIZp_E2CxQ). This is an existing franchise which markets a FPS (First Person Shooter) video game, which one can clearly tell mainly focuses in appealing to boys/men. In the existing games and in this new one, females do not really appear in the game at all, and you cannot play as them in the multiplayer feature. However within the first few seconds of the advertisement a female is shown participating in what appears to simulate the games multiplayer combat. The woman is seen wearing what almost appears to be a mid -drift style sleeveless shirt. Her personal appearance also makes it seem as tho she just walked out of a salon, not fighting for her life on a battlefield. This clearly has the woman set up so that she appeals to the males watching the commercial. They make the woman look like a swimsuit model instead of something practical.

The next woman in the advertisement actually happens to be a "gamer" whom is widely known on youtube. You would expect her to maybe be a little more closely related to the men in the advert because she at least plays these games for real... and she is. She's not really made to look like the "swimsuit model" that they first showed. However she still has some stereotypes once you look closer. When she first appears in the advertisement she jumps over two males on a white stallion riding past them just as a grenade explodes and says seductively "surprise boys." Before looking anymore into it that sounds pretty "badass" for a woman in the commercial, so whats wrong with it? Although it is meant to be applied that she was the one that through the grenade, it is never really shown that she was the one who threw it. This is portraying that even though she is made out to be a "woman soldier" she does not get her "hands dirty." Also another subtle clue towards this is the white stallion that she rides by on. White which is generally known to send sort of an innocent and gentle meaning, could this not be easily implied to the woman riding on that very same horse? While the advertisement may be appearing to appeal to women as well as men by including them in the ad, one can easily see that they are just mere props to further appeal to the male audience.

The next advertisement I would like to introduce you to is an advertisement for a new Microsoft computer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7UlE-o8DQQ). This advertisement would seem to try to rake in a wider range of people as it is advertising a computer rathern than a military styled video game. However, after going through the advert it appears to me as though they are generally aiming towards the same genre, males.  This ad, like the one analyzed above, features men and women from many different races to try to establish a sence of diversity in the ad. One of my "favorite" scenes in the ad is of a typical American family, a mother, father, son, and dog. There seems as tho there is nothing wrong with this picture until you start to notice some things. First of all, only the father and the son are using the computers; while the only female in the picture just sits there holding a dog with a silly grin on her face. I can't help believe that the woman is the only one not engaging with the computer, while both of the guys have one, I mean that is pretty much putting her son above her. That just seems a "little sexist" to me. Another thing to be said about this one scene inparticular is the dog that she is seen with. Again like the ad above, the dog is a little tiny white lapdog. Not only is the dog white, but it is also a tiny specimen of a dog. In my mind that is showing that the woman can bearly handle the dog, let alone master the computer both the father and his son are using.

            I'm sure that this is more than enough to show you guys that sexism and stereotypes towards women still exist in todays world, even though they may not be hitting you straight in the face... they're still there. I encourage you to look for "odd coincidences" such as these and try to see for yourself that this kind of stuff is out there. Try to find out what different stereotypes there are out there, see which ones apply to yourself, and see if you agree with them. Chancers are you might not agree with all that you find...

Technology is Volatile!

"Man I wish technology would just stay the same for once in a while. It changes too much." Said noone, ever. We as humans are curious creatures by nature. We love learning and discovrering new things. We always want something new, something different, something extraordinary. Luckily technology provides us with a resolution for our curious attitude, at least for a little while. For the last century technology has changed exponentially. "Well, I haven't really seen anything crazy in the last few years" a young person might say today. Theres a reason many of us young people feel that way. We were born in the middle of all this technology. We grew up and aged along with technology, so it seems that everything 'magical' people are talking about has been with us our entire lives. As for other adults they grew up with hardly any technology, they grew up before computers were even invented. If technology keeps it's current pace, I am sure that none of us around today can predict what the world will be like, what kinds of games our kids will play, what kind of energy their vehicles will run off of, or even what they do for leiserly activity. Many of the things that will make our world even more exciting have yet to be invented yet, but they lay inside the minds of someone like you or me.

Macintosh and iOS, a good tune that just won't leave your head.

Many people have their opinions on how Apple does what they do best, and keep selling all of their products year after year without changing much of anything. Sure Apple does change the innards of their electronics, including faster processors, better graphics chips, and sharper screens but one thing that does not really change throughout all their different generations of products is the operating system. Back when I was still new to the world of electronics, when I was in elementary school, I was given my first laptop to use. Sadly it was not mine to keep, but it was basically mine for the school year. It was an iBook, and it was the coolest thing every to me at the time. Now way back then, I or even anyone for the matter had wifi at their houses, which you would think because you couldn't even get onto the internet at your house because thats all the school had taught you to use. I had no clue what ethernet cords were at the time, and to get onto the internet back then your home phone would be disabled anyway. The iBook was so magical, that I did not even feel the need to use the internet at all. I spent countless hours just digging my way through the computer, like a brave adventurer fighting his way through a thick jungle. Just learning about all that the computer could do, and finding some its neat programs really made time fly.

Now fast forward to the present day, during this last year. I had added a new gadget to my archive of electronics. The MacBook Air. I had not operated an Apple computer of my own since the days of my playing around with the iBook. To my disbelief, the Operating System and user interface had remained relatively the same. It was great, I knew how to use the computer, without ever using it before. It was like looking for a buried treasure that you already knew the location of. I think thats one of the reasons people keep coming back for more from Apple.

Sure the user interface is the same as it was 10 years ago, but this machine is a heck of a lot faster than the old iBook. The hardware had also changed a great deal as well. This was a fraction of the size and weight of the iBook. I thought it was amazing that they managed to pack that and a lot more into such a tiny space. I'm sure there will come a day when Apple does decide to change something about their interface, and when it does it will probably crazier (and funner) than anything we would be able to think of today.

Rhetorical Analysis Blog

Article Being Analyzed

As always with new Apple products, many android and PC fans have to complain and try to keep people from buying Apple products. Here is a favorite meme of mine. I would import the picture, but it's way to huge. Anyway, this article is written from a rather neutral side on the Apple vs Android conflict. Although one could easily infer that he favors Apple over Android. He discusses what many people believe to be the "problems" with the new iPhone 5. Here is the first sentence of the article: "Certainly people knew what to expect more or less." The author is saying that people "hopefully" knew that the iPhone 5 would NOT be something straight out of a science fiction novel. It was not going to be some crazy holograph projector or anything like that. If you had any sort of knowledge of the phone markets over the past couple of years, you would know that... pretty much everything has stayed the same. The iPhone 5, one should expect, as the author pointed out should be no different. However, further down the paragraph the author states: "I mean the iPhone 5 is a far bigger change than what the iPhone 4S brought to the table. This time the actual physical proportions and form did actually change and by a lot you could say." As you probably know, this is the sixth generation iPhone. The actual fifth... the 4S was the same "hardware" as the iPhone 4, but it did introduce Apple's Siri. However this iPhone, like the author stated did change by a lot. The phone, which was already pretty slim to begin with was made 18% thinner than its previous model. The screen was also lengthened, to ensure a more "natural" fit into one's hand. That is the reason they also decided to leave the width of the phone as it was. Another great feature that the iPhone 5 has, is that is just about as light as a feather. Further down the article the author says "From a tech-savvy users perspective there's a lot wrong with the new iPhone. From an average consumers it's the bee's knees! And we all know that in the end money talks and bullshit walks." By saying that money talks and bullshit walks, the author is saying that the average consumer is more abundant than "tech-savvy users". That is why Apple is making so much money. Too average users, the iPhone 5 is great. It's the same interface, which is probably the most widely known one in the world. Plus it's smaller thinner, and just plain looks cool. Why fix something that isn't broken? Thats another thing that I really love about Apple's products. You already know how to use them. Even if there is new features, they're really easy to get the hang of. One of the problems that the author has with the phone is as follows "No NFC (Near Field Communication): This is stalling the whole industry and mass adaption of wireless payment systems and range of other great uses that NFC can be applied to." The author is showing that since the iPhone did not upgrade to use NFC, and a majority of the population use iPhones... many businesses will not upgrade to use the feature either. I have no doubt, that eventually NFC will come to the iPhone. In the last paragraph of his article I cannot but happily agree with what he has to say. "In the end tech-savvy users need to get over themselves and realize that Apple is making this product for the masses and according to its research the best way to rack in the most money is with very minute to no UI changes, instead focusing on refinement of the software, developer technologies and tactile qualities of the product." The author just wants the people who harass people with Apple products, to just leave it alone. Apple has a good thing going, when they're ready they'll upgrade their software. As I said earlier, why would you want to change what is already making you millions of dollars as it is. Hopefully when Apple's next big "thing" is unveiled it might take advantage of NFC or other new technologies "cough cough iPad Mini". Until then, the iPhone 5 is here to stay, and I think it really is an overall great phone.

Rhetorical Analysis

Original Article (http://www.cnet.com/iphone-5/).

Hello everybody! This post I wanted to talk to you about the Cnet review of the latest and greatest apple product. The iPhone 5. I really like Cnet's reviews because they are completely unbiased, and they usually go about reviewing the piece by a professional point of view. By this I mean they don't go all crazy about just how cool it looks, or how "pretty" it is. They talk about the technical aspects of the phone. Anyway, head out to the hyperlink listed above and check out the article. "...if you want a great, all-around, beautifully engineered smartphone that covers all bases, here it is." I think that this portrays the iPhone exactly as it should be. The author shows that he really appreciates the quality of the phone, but he also describes the phone as a great, all around phone. Earlier in the article, he talks about how it is not simply the "God" of the smartphones. For instance he stated that the Samsung Galaxy III in fact has a larger screen. He also talks about the better phone battery life, being the Droid Razr Maxx. I think this helps prove to anyone reading that he is simply not just an "apple fanboy". I mean he did give the product a 4/5 stars. Heres another quote describing just how light the new iPhone is. "After a few days with it, the iPhone 4S will feel as dense as lead." Before the iPhone 5, the 4s... which shared the same physical dimensions as the iPhone 4 was a typical size for a smartphone. Apple has publicly stated that this is the lightest smart phone on market. Apple was able to make the screen larger, but at the same time make the device an incredible .3 inches thick. Apple was able to do this by combining, the chipsets responsible for talking, and using 4GLTE wireless features. On other phones those are two different chipsets, resulting in a overall thicker device. Many people believe that the iPhone 5 is simply a longer iPhone 4s. As you can see you should not judge a book by its cover, its on the inside what really matters. I'll try to include a bonus, "Opening" of the iPhone 5, as well as a short review. Whenever it is my phone happens to get here that is, godspeed FedEx, godspeed.

Memories from the early 2000s (Revised)

When I was younger, about ten years old to be exact, I saw a movie called I, Robot. It was a movie about the future of the world, where humans utilize robots as “servants” aiding them in people’s everyday lives. A robot breaks one of the three robot laws, which every robot must follow and kills a human. The robot is later found to have a sort of consciousness. Anyway a favorite actor of mine stars in the film, Will Smith. In the middle of the movie he has this huge car chase where he is following a big truck filled with robots and the robot that killed the human is activating all the robots to attack Will Smith. Since Smith and the robot carrier were traveling at such great speeds... and it was the future, his car was driving itself automatically. Smith goes into manual mode to better dodge incoming robots trying to stop him from chasing the robot carrier. The next day, Smith’s boss questions him as to why he switched his car into manual mode, pointing as to it was nowhere near as safe as having the on board computer drive. For those of you that have not seen the movie, Smith was a Cyborg. Many people did not know this because Smith had used a material resembling skin to cover up the part of him that was now robotic. I thought that was the coolest thing ever, having a computer be better at something than a human. I thought it would be even cooler, if that sort of thing would be around in my lifetime.

Throughout the next couple of years of my life, technology began booming. The once popular Motorola Razor flip phone was now a thing of the past and touch screens were becoming the “norm”. I became more and more interested in gizmos and gadgets. I had watched a documentary surrounding a computer that had defeated the world’s best chess player. The computer was given knowledge of each of the world’s best players strategies and used those to surpass every move the human had challenged it with. I knew it was only a matter of time before all of those science fictions movies I loved became a reality. Sadly, no one had announced the driverless car yet, but I was sure it would be around soon enough. One day while browsing through random internet news sites, I saw it. It was like seeing that one present you had waited for all year under the Christmas tree. The company Google had been working on driverless cars. For over 300,000 miles the cars had successfully driven on public roads in Nevada without causing, or getting into a single accident. The article had stated that going that distance without a single accident was better than the average human driver. This was it, computers were becoming more reliable than human beings. Today, Google’s driverless car software and hardware is street legal in both Nevada and California.

There will no doubt be much controversy over having autonomous cars replacing human drivers. Although if California and Nevada provide positive results of them allowing autonomous cars on their streets, there is no doubt that eventually other states will allow them as well. Having autonomous cars could also solve the countless number of automobile related fatalities worldwide. How these cars function in California and Nevada will ultimately decide the fate of autonomous car usage in the United States. As I stated in the previous paragraph, 300,000 miles without an accident. I have complete confidence in Google’s street ready product. The driver seat is not completely empty. As in the movie I,Robot (humans will be able to take over the vehicle at any time) just incase something does actually go wrong. I hope when I am middle aged that autonomous vehicles will be rather common throughout the United States and that one could obtain such technology while still having the social status of middle class.

Memories from the early 2000s

When I was younger, about ten years old to be exact, I saw a movie called I, Robot. It was a movie about the future of the world, where humans utilize robots as “servants” aiding them in people’s everyday lives. A robot breaks one of the three robot laws, which every robot must follow and kills a human. The robot is later found to have a sort of consciousness. Anyway a favorite actor of mine stars in the film, Will Smith. In the middle of the movie he has this huge car chase where he is following a big truck filled with robots and the robot that killed the human is activating all the robots to attack Will Smith. Since Smith and the Robot carrier were traveling at such great speeds... and it was the future, his car was driving itself automatically. Smith goes into manual mode to better dodge incoming robots trying to stop him from chasing the robot carrier. The next day, Smith’s boss questions him as to why he switched his car into manual mode, pointing as to it was nowhere near as safe as having the on board computer drive. I thought that was the coolest thing ever, having a computer be better at something than a human. I thought it would be even cooler, if that sort of thing would be around in my lifetime.

Throughout the next couple of years of my life, technology had begun booming. The once popular Motorola Razor flip phone was now a thing of the past and touch screens were becoming the “norm”. I became more and more interested in gizmos and gadgets. I had watched a documentary surrounding a computer that had defeated the world’s best chess player. The computer was given knowledge of each of the world’s best players strategies and used those to surpass every move the human had challenged it with. I knew it was only a matter of time before all of those science fictions movies I loved became a reality. Sadly, no one had announced the driverless car yet, but I was sure it would be around soon enough. One day while browsing through random internet news sites, I saw it. It was like seeing that one present you had waited for all year under the Christmas tree. The company Google had been working on driverless cars. For over 300,000 miles the cars had successfully driven on public roads in Nevada without causing, or getting into a single accident. The article had stated that going that distance without a single accident was better than the average human driver. This was it, computers were becoming more reliable than human beings. Today, Google’s driverless car software and hardware is street legal in both Nevada and California.

There will no doubt be much controversy over having autonomous cars replacing human drivers. Although if California and Nevada provide positive results of them allowing autonomous cars on their streets, there is no doubt that eventually other states will allow them as well. Having autonomous cars could also solve the countless number of automobile related fatalities worldwide. How these cars function in California and Nevada will ultimately decide the fate of autonomous car usage in the United States. I have complete confidence in Google’s products, they would not release such technology without it being perfectly safe for human interaction. It is not no one is sitting in the driver seat. As in the movie I,Robot (humans will be able to take over the vehicle at any time) just incase something does actually go wrong. I hope when I am middle aged that autonomous vehicles will be rather common throughout the United States and that one could obtain such technology while still having the social status of middle class.

New Technology

As I'm sure you have heard before, technology is always changing... getting better. Now I absolutely love it, I mean i don't think I would be able to live without it. There is also a downside to technology evolving so fast... there is always something new. It's almost like whenever I get a new, really cool gadget, not a month later, a new, better and more advanced piece of tech is already being released. That makes me so frustrated and angry! I also hate how technology depreciates so quickly, especially when a new generation of the model you have is released. You only end up getting a fraction of what you actually paid for the phone, and that's if it is prime condition. Here is a web page with information on the release dates from the original iPhone, to the brand new announced today iPhone 5. It has pretty much been a new iPhone each year from 2007 to today. Now I wouldn't mind that if most phone contracts didn't last for two years... Which makes it hard to upgrade to the version each year because you have to pay a contract early termination fee. Adding onto that you have to start a new contract so that you can get the new phone for a much cheaper price. It would be much better in my opinion, if mobile carriers shortened their phone contracts to a year so that you can keep up to date with the newest phones. Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep up with the iPhone 5 unveiling twitter page.

Engadget: The Newest topics in technology and science!

Hello everyone, TechTalk here. Today I wanted to share a website with you that you will absolutely love. The website is called Engadget (www.engadget.com). They focus on many of the same topics as my blog will cover, with the addition of some cool science stories. To show you just how interesting some of their stories are here is the title from one of their latest posts. "Moon farming, self powered health monitors and bringing a 50,000 year-old girl to life". Head on over to their website to check it out. Being a pretty big in the science and technology game, Engadget gets access to private conventions such as E3... or the Electronics Entertainment Expo. The newest information that they have just provided me with is some information on Google's Project Glass. As shown in this article, unless you want to spend $1,500 dollars on a developmental pair of the glasses, you will have to wait until 2014 to get your hands on a pair. Engadget has a bunch of different writers who specialize in many different topics, so you can't really get too bored of reading the same stuff. One of my favorite writers is Steve Dent. He mainly covers new visual gadgets, such as cameras, projectors and different computer software. He also covers a lot of the Curiosity rover on Mars. Be sure to stay tuned to my blog, and don't forget to check out Engadget for all the latest news on technology and science!!