Assignment 1-3

Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers

The article is a book review. The review is about a book called "Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers," written by, Mary Ann Mason and Eve Mason Ekman. The book takes a close look at how to balance family life and a fast track career. The main question in the book is, "how can women have it all?" In addtion, they specifically look at when such women have children and when their careers take off. Only now, in the early twenty-first century, after a full generation of women has entered male-dominated professions in significant numbers, Mason contests, can we begin to see clearly ‘‘how the story of women on the fast track unfolds from university education to retirement." To make the reader understand these issues Elkman conducted interviews with several women, which is her primary contribution to the book.

In her findings they concluded that there must be "transformative solutions" in the work environment. They propose that employers create more flexibility for women at the front end of their careers so that they have more options should they want children and that employers help women return to work after a short or long hiatus. Establishing paid family leaves is most important, Mason asserts, and fathers should be encouraged as well as women to take leaves without career jeopardy. Mason also rallies for greater stability and opportunity at the second tier, such that, for example, part-time instructors are given job security, benefits, and better pay.

Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers. (2008, December). Journal of Popular Culture, Retrieved December 15, 2008, doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2008.00565.x

Assignment 5-1

Top 25 Greatest Movie Character' List
by Jonathan Crow on December 2, 2008

British movie magazine just released their list for top 100 movie characters of all time. These are the top 25 picks:

25. Yoda (Empire Strikes Back)24. Ash (Evil Dead)23. Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)22. Red (The Shawshank Redemption)21. Michael Corleone (The Godfather series)20. Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump) 19. Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction) 18. Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)17. Hans Gruber (Die Hard)16. Neo (The Matrix trilogy)15. Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)14. The Terminator (The Terminator series)13. Gollum (The Lord of the Rings trilogy)12. John McClane (Die Hard series)11. James Bond (007 series)10. Vito Corleone (The Godfather I & II)9. Ellen Ripley (Alien quadrology)8. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy)7. The Dude (The Big Lebowski)6. Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones series)5. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)4. Han Solo (Star Wars trilogy)3. The Joker (The Dark Knight)2. Darth Vader (Star Wars series)1. Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

To see the full list go here: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/empire-100-movie-characters.html

So was Tyler Durden (Fight Club) really better than Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) or Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)? I believe they are all worthy of being on the top 25; however, if I made the list my top three would be:

1. Forrest Gump


2. Jack Sparrow


3. Hannibal Lecter

Forrest Gump was the first character of its kind. He was a mentally challenged boy who faced many obstacles in life. Even though he faced challenges he still was able to live a full life. He enlisted in the army, he played college football, he built a great friendship with Jenny, he was a captain of a shrimping boat, and he had a son and later married his sons mother the love of his life, Jenny.

I noticed that the list doesn't contain many female actors. I can think of several female characters that are worthy of being on the list such as, Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman) and Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany's).

If you made the list who would your top three be?

Assignment 4-1

PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive

People Magazine is an American magazine that covers celebrities. The stories in People magazine are the most reliable compared to other celebrity gossip magazines. People is perhaps best known for its yearly special issues naming "The Most Beautiful People", "The Best and Worst Dressed", and "The Sexiest Man Alive".

This years Sexist Man Alive was announced today. And the winner is...Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman is best known for his role in "X-Men."

Others that made the list are, Daniel Craig, Jon Hamm, Zac Efron, Robert Buckley, Blair Underwood, Ed Westwick, Michael Phelps, Blake Shelton, Lang Lang, Mark_paul Gossselaar, Javier Bardiem, Robert Pattinson, Joshua Jackson, and David Beckham. My vote would have been David Beckham as number one. He has been in the spotlight a lot lately (almost too much), yet you can't deny his outside beauty. However, I like the fact that People chose Hugh Jackman since his new movie "Austrailla" is coming out next week. It looks like a great movie and perhaps more people will see it since it has been getting a lot of publicity.

Past winners of this prize have been, George Clooney (2006), Matthew McConaughey (2005), Jude Law (2004), Johnny Depp (2003), Ben Affleck (2002), Pierce Brosnon (2001), Brad Pitt (2000), Richard Gere (1999), Harrison Ford (1998), George Clooney (1997), Denzel Washington (1996).

If you made the list, who would be in your number one spot?

Assignment 3-1

The Atkins Diet

One may ask what the Atkins diet is. The Atkins diet is a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. The theory of this method is that too many over weight people eat carbohydrates so, by restricting their carbohydrate intake they can lose weight. If you keep your carbohydrate down to 40 or below each day you should be a weight loss success.

A person on the Atkins diet can eat serveral foods. The foods include, meats, cheeses, fish, chicken, butter, vegtables, and eggs. Basically anything high fat, high protein, low carb. There were several low carbohydrate foods that were introduced to the market years ago. Many have faded away but, some still remain on the market to this day.

The results of weight loss on this diet can happen rather quickly. One can lose anywhere from 10-15 pounds in the first month alone. Add workouts to the diet and your results will happen much quicker. It is tough for some to workout on this diet because energy levels can be rather low due to low carbohydrate intake.

This diet was introduced years ago, yet it still is a popular diet. Both my parents went on this diet a few years ago and lost a drastic amount of weight. Both have since gained it back so, I don't know the likely hood of keeping the weight off long term on the Atkins diet. It may not be a long term fix; however, people use it as a quick fix to lose weight. I think it will continue to be a quick fix for those trying to lose weight quickly for many years to come.

Has anyone in Pop Culture class used this diet? What were your results like?

Assignment 2-2

Madonna
The reason I choose Madonna is because her name has been in the tabloids a lot recently. Most of the tabloid stories have been about her new tour and her recent divorce from Guy Richie. I'm not particularly a fan of Madonna but, I respect what she has done with her career.

What it means to me: I remember running around my Grandma's yard listening to my cousin sing Madonna songs. All of her songs were extremely inappropriate for children our age. My cousin and I laugh about it now. We should have been singing more appropriate songs like music from Sesame Street. Even though she is not a family artist, she truly reminds me of "family time" with my cousin.

Friends
I choose this show because it was something I watched weekly. Since I watched it weekly I am very familiar with the show and all the characters. The show was on for 10 years and it was widely popular for all of the years in existence.

What it means to me: The show reminds me of my brother. My brother and I don't have a lot in common yet this is one thing we both loved. It brought us together every Thursday night. I had to come home when the show was on. I couldn't tape it and watch it later. I had to watch it during the live showing. The main characters were all very unique and different. The shows concept hadn't really been done before. I think that is why I loved it so much. My favorite character was Rachel (Jennifer Anniston) and Chandler (Matthew Perry).

Grey's Anatomy
I choose this show because it is a show that is currently on air. I love watching this show weekly and have to be home to catch every episode. I love discussing at the water cooler at work the next day.

What it means to me: In my opinion, this show means that there is still good TV to be made. It seems like most new Television shows have gone down the tubes. I can't remember a new show that has come on and really hit the core of the audience. I hope this show stays on TV for a long time.

Assignment 2-1

Quantum Of Solace

The news James Bond movie is getting mixed reviews. I have yet to see the movie, and am looking forward to updating this post with my thoughts.

I found several reviews online from Robert Ebert to the Sun-Times. Overall it looks like this movie is good, but not as good as the previous installation, "Casino Royale."

In the newest 007 Bond is out for revenge more than ever before. Chicago Reader digs 007's new gritty feel: "A few years back, the easy sexism and narcissism of the James Bond series looked dated to the point of obsolescence, but 'Quantum Of Solace' proves that a revenge motive is just what's needed to rejuvenate all the Bond clichés."

Daniel Craig plays the new James Bond. He is getting rave reviews for his role, although he was not well perceived in the first 007 he stared in. The movie itself is getting bland reviews though compared to the classic Bond movies.

They ask this question at the end of the article. Does Bond get the girl at the end of the movie? You must go see it to find out!

Assignment 1-4

Kanye West says he's 'voice of this generation'11/13/2008 4:00 PM, APDerrik J. Lang

In this article Kanye West states that he was given the opportunity to be the best because good artist such as Justin Timberlake, were too busy taking vacations. He said when Justin was vacationing he was making music.

"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice," he said in an interview on Wednesday. "It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan." -Kanye West

He might go down in history as being the loudest voice; however, he may also go down in history as being one of the most arrogant artists too. Kanye displays very little tact when discussing his skills and the skills of his peers. How can he compare himself to one of the greatest basketball players?! Music and sports are not even of the same profession. I think a dose of humbleness would do this guy some good.

Another thing he states in the article is that his mother's death made him more humble. His mother Donda West died from a freak plastic surgery accident several months ago. How can he say he is humble by making such bold statements as "he is the voice of this generation." I think he is contradicting himself greatly.

Do you think Kanye is a hypocrite? Do you think he needs a dose of humble pudding?