Appreciation

Thank you to whoever it was (at least, I assume it was one of you) who left the book in my mailbox. I think there are few gifts better than a well-chosen book and this one looks terrific. Thank you!

Nike and Don Imus... say what?

Nike is an icon in the advertising world, and that swoosh is something we all recognize without batting an eye. So what does it say about the company when they use the recent Don Imus scandal over his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team? Is it because they want to start a dialogue on race and culture? Do they want to use this for their own gain? What does this label say when it steps outside of the clothing and into a discussion on values? What does that discussion of values look like, and who controls the topics? Lots of questions, and lots of things to discuss. See the ad here.

Consumerism

When we talk about what the label says, its important to think about why we want the label.

Consumerism is often talked about as a why. Check it out here
and tell me what you think.

Go Green!

With so much negative talk about Wal-Mart, I knew I had to post this when I saw it. I don't know that I'm sold yet on the megalopolis, but this surely helps.

Another View

As we're wrapping up the semester, I've realized that I've been remiss in including information contrary to the novels on the website because I've been so wrapped up in trying to support the bulk of the reading. And so, I found this - the first of a few articles that toot a different horn. Read up and tell us what you think. Do you still agree more with Affluenza? Or is this direction more what you have in mind?

Global Corporatization

At ReclaimDemocracy.org I found some more information on globalization - around the venue of what we've been discussing in class. Take a look at some of the "issues" in the side bar and tell us what you think and what you found.



REMINDER!
A few of you have mentioned to me that you have done more posts on the blog than I have given you credit for. Make sure that you aren't commenting on old posts that I have already closed. The ONLY way to make sure you're not doing that is to read the comments on the post before you write your own comment. If it is closed, there will be a statement on there from me saying "This post is closed for comments." After I leave that comment, I DO NOT check the comments for that particular post any longer. I do this when the posts are two weeks old.

ALSO: If you are behind on blog posts, you still have time to get more of them done. I will check the blog before class on April 28 to see what last minute comments there are. That will be the LAST time I check the blog - but that means you still have two full weeks to comment your little heart out!

What's missing?

Take a look at the picture below. It is an artist's rendition of a proposed development site. The question I pose to you is: What's missing? For this to look more realistic, what would have to be included in the drawing? Do you suppose these things were left out intentionally? Why or why not?

Cartoons

I love cartoons because they generally have an interesting way of saying something that needs to be said. Take a look at these couple and let us know what you think of them in relation to the class and the readings.

Fast Food Nation

Originally, Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation was on the reading list for the class, but I removed it in the final planning stages of the course. In case you purchased it and haven't yet returned it or in case you want another book along the lines of those we've been reading, I encourage you to check it out. To spur that possibility, here's a review from The New York Times Book Review for you to read. Whether you pick up the book or not, this review will give you an idea of what you're missing. For your response to the review, tell us what you think of the book in relation to the other things we've been reading this semester.

Adbusters

I know this is in the sidebar, but in case you haven't mosied on over to the Adbusters site, here's your chance to tell us what you think about it.