Visual Literacy

The Zac Efron cover shot is by Go Magazine. In the photo, it looks like they whitened his teeth and made him look tanner. The background color matches his suit so it makes him stand out more. On the cover Go sticks out behind him but he is the highlight of the cover they make him really stick out. The picture shows Zac in a suit he looks very dressed up, I don't see anything missing. No, I don't think this photo is emotional he dressed up, looks normal. This photo seems truthful they added a little bit to him but not a lot like other magazines do.

On the cover of Self Magazine is Kelly Clarkson. The photo on the left, its seems like they whitened her teeth and slimmed her down. The white background with her purple shirt makes her stick out. Again in this photo she is the biggest on the cover then Self next to her sticks out as well. I think this photo shows people can lose weight too. I don't see what could be missing from the picture. I think this photo could motivate people to lose weight. I think they are showing a before and after shot- to inspire people. I think these photos appear truthful it shows what Kelly did to take off her weight.

On the Outside cover there is Lance Armstrong. It's seems like they brightened up his skin tone. Maybe took away some wrinkles. His shirt matches the roof behind him. There's a little bit of a shadow on him. In this picture he looks tough. The picture seems truthful. But I don't know about his shirt.

When you look at a cover on a magazine you are looking at person but a very changed person. People sometimes judge themselves and wish they could look like the cover. Sometimes it makes people feel bad about who they are. This can be very negative. On most covers you are looking at a false person. I think magazines need to start showing the really person on the cover not the fake. Show who they really are, that is better than showing fake. 

Brick Walls

1. My mom, dad and brother I would say are my critics. Sometimes they say things that I don't like but then I realize later that they are only trying to help me. My family tells me they believe in me, that I can accomplish anything I put my mind too. So when I do something they know that I can do better they tell me "we know you can do way better then what you are doing". They always are there for me and so is the rest of my family. They always say things in a kind way. Which helps me grow as a person.

2. When I first got my job as a lifeguard I was very grateful for my brother. We both work as lifeguards and my first day at work I was messing everything up. He helped my fix my mistakes. He didn't baby me, he told me straight up that I was not doing something right. I'm glad he was there and was willing to help me.

3. My grandma always tells me stories about when she was younger. I use to think she would tell me these stories so I could learn about her past. But really she is trying to help me not make some mistakes she made. I always know now when I listen to her stories that she is trying to teach me something out of each one. One story that has always stuck out to me was don't let others judge you. She told me the story of when she got glasses how everyone teased her. She told me how it made her feel bad and different. But then one day she just walked into school no problem, she ignored the comments others made about her. So now if anyone has anything negative to say towards me, I ignore it just like she did.

Politics 2.0

1. Both Obama and McCain set up official channels for their campaigns on Youtube. The Internet and Campaign 2008 said that 39% of voters watched campaign videos during the election. This was a very good idea for both candidates, since the internet has become more and more popular-epically Youtube. People would rather watch videos, instead of going on campaign sites. Senator Obama got a total of 1.9 billion views while McCain only received 1.1 billion views. I think Obama put out more videos that people found more interesting. This helped him receive more views. The video McCain put out about the celebrities and comparing Obama to them, I feel hurt McCain.    

2. All over the world the internet is very easy to access. This makes it more convenient for people to watch videos. I think it is good for voters to have access 24/7, this makes an easier decision for the voter. Some people don't have time to watch the news to find out what is going on. So for most I feel it is more convenient for them to go on Youtube. I think this can be very positive for candidates, the internet is a great way to spread information. The internet can definitely help get any message across that the candidate wants people to hear.   

Law and Technology

Cyberbullying is becoming more and more common. There are so many ways for people to reach you. Cell phones, email and all kinds of things make it easy for people to bully. This makes an easy target for bullies out there. Cyberbullying has lead to many suicides, now states are thinking of passing a law that would criminalize cyberbullying. With this new law I think it would put an end to this. People deserve to be punished for their actions.

Text messaging I feel needs more monitoring. If someone was sending mean messages or abusing text messaging then I would have it turned off on their phone. If they countinued then I would have it turned off for good. When you text it is meant to be to your friends not to make fun of people. 

Ethical Behavior

Many students do not realize what plagiarism is. Students copy work from friends and copy, paste things from online all the time. The internet is so easy to access making it easy for work to be taken. Students are lazy they don’t want to take the time to do their own work. It’s easier if your friend has it done. Many people put off their work and rush to get it done. So they resort to taking work that does not belong to them, and call it their own. 

I don't think there is much schools can do about plagiarism. It is very easy for students to do today. The consequences are very strict. Plagiarism seems to occur when students put off their work. Students should just watch what they are writing and take the time to do their own work.

Fear and Privacy

Teachers from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were punished for posts they made on Facebook. I think this is a lesson for everyone. You need to watch what you say, you can't say everything you think or feel. They should have thought... Is this okay to post? Would I want others to see this? One teacher was suspended for saying, “I’m feeling pissed because I hate my students!” You can't say things like this just because you in a bad mood. Not only teachers need to watch what they say but so does everyone.

 A student from North Syracuse was suspended for making a Facebook page about a teacher. The article didn't say what was on the page, but the student shouldn't have posted anything about the teacher. Things spread easily people tell their friends and it ends up were everyone knows about it. Facebook is a way to talk to your friends; you don't need to write things about other people. Like I said above in the other article response, you need to watch what you say.

 Many employees all over are being disciplined for Facebook posts and other social sites. Many employees are warned there is no excuse. It is fine to have a Facebook but you do not need to share all your opinions on there. If you don’t like someone there is no reason to write about it. About 25% of employees are being disciplined for something that a grown up should know not too do.  

Justin Layshock made a fake profile of his schools principal. There was fake information about the principal which caused more and more people to see it. The profile was seen by many students around the school. Justin should have never made that profile. He deserved the punishments he received it is not right to write things like that. When you say mean and fake things about someone on the Internet they are going to find out. This should be something for everyone to learn from watch what you say.

What if?

My life would be way different without Internet. I use the Internet daily to communicate with my friends and even for school. The Internet is very convenient for sending emails and just quickly talking to friends. It's a way to stay in contact with people. I couldn't imagine not having the Internet.

If the Internet was shut down in the US this would affect many people. Internet is so easy to use and is everywhere. The Internet is used for entertainment, it's in small businesses for easy access. People use the Internet for jobs, school and just for fun. Without the Internet things would not be as simple to do like they are now.