Why Friendly Divorces Annoy The Hell Out of Me

Shocker: Katy Perry and Russell Brand are divorcing.

*Rolling eyes*

Okay, I tend to be a very oblivious person, but even I knew that was coming. It wasn't that I picked up on the "signs", but just like with getting married and having a baby, divorcing has become a celebrity fad.

And to be quite honest, I find it to be the most disturbing fad yet (even worse than that whole plastic surgery thing).

Why? Oh, boy, let me tell you.

According to TMZ, Mr. Brand says that he will always adore his soon to be ex-wife and that he is certain they will remain friends.

...

Are you kidding me?

Now I am all for world peace (I have an anxiety disorder and will probably give myself a fatal heart attack one day if some semblance of peace is not achieved in my life), but there is something so wrong with this amicable split up.

Have you ever been stuck in traffic for more than an hour because of some small little fender bender? Isn't it just infuriating when you see that the cause of the traffic was two cars hardly damaged with nobody hurt and blocking absolutely no lanes?

Isn't it just maddening that there isn't a ten car pile up with glass shards all across the road and EMTs rushing to save the lives of multiple people?

I know, I know. It sounds cruel. It's only a couple of hours sitting in a car, and just as long as no one is hurt, I shouldn't mind.

But here's the thing.

Whenever I'm stuck in that kind of traffic, I can't tell you how many times I almost get run over by impatient drivers or have a fender bender of my own because I'm distracted. It's dangerous out there, and it's hard to see the additional danger as justifiable when the only thing damaged in the accident was the front bumper of a Ford Focus.

The EMTs and cops can shut down the highway for all I care if people are seriously injured and cars are totaled, but a dented bumper?

Grr.

So back to divorce.

When couples get divorced, whether they like it or not, damage is going to occur, just like any car accident. It is going to cause hardships for many people, more people than the couple probably realizes.

The divorce is going to consume the time of not just the couple but their friends and their family. It may even create further problems down the road (especially if children are involved).

Which is why this amicable divorce stuff pisses me off.

I've never been divorced, but I've experienced quite a bit from my parents' divorces (yes, plural).

My parents divorced each other after my dad had a child with another woman. My dad destroyed any semblance of trust my mother might have had in him, and his actions implied that my mom, my sister, and I weren't really wanted. I shudder at the thought of my parents marriage. If they had stayed together...no, I'm not going there. It would have been bad to put it mildly.

They did the right thing. It saved my sisters and I a great deal of chaos and stress in our lives. Did we still have some issues? Loads.

But guess what? It wouldn't have been much better if my parents had gotten divorced because of some "irreconcilable differences." My parents would still have had to split time with my sister and me. Child support would still have to be paid. Problematic differences in parenting would still have developed. The tension would still have existed, and my sister and I probably wouldn't have felt all that loved by either parent.

Okay, so Russell and Katy didn't have kids, but what about their friends and family involved? They may be able to separate from the situation easier, but it sure puts them in an awkward spot, even with the "Oh, we'll still be friends" thing. Picking sides is bound to happen, and with that, bitterness is sure to follow.

Whether it's a serious crash or a small technical difficulty, divorce can cause a great deal of traffic.

So, why are we so accepting of something that hurts and creates chaos?

Nowadays, car companies are trying to create an intelligent car that would nearly eliminate traffic and significantly decrease damage in accidents. This would truly be an amazing thing for our world. Too much time and money is spent because of traffic and accidents. It needs to stop.

So when are we going to start looking at our relationships in the same way? We can't keep thinking of divorce as a quick fix for when things aren't going right.

It's just like with a car. I could probably pound out a few of the dents I sustained in a crash, but without proper inspection, I could go years driving a car that is completely out of alignment. As we all know, that's just asking for another crash.

Marriage is hard. It requires a lot of sacrifice and humility. My estimate of how much is probably still too little. If you say that you are still going to remain friends with your spouse after the divorce, then you probably aren't doing everything to save your marriage.

I am friends with a married couple who have been through the ringer over the past few years. They haven't always gotten along, and for awhile there, I wasn't even quite sure they liked each other. It was messy. It was hurtful. It was scary. It still is at times.

But they still joke around with each other. They still schedule date nights. They still have food fights. They still hold hands. And they still want to be together!

Life is never going to turn out the way you expect. Marriage is the same, so rather than cut your losses and make a run for it, why don't you fight? You may just even make your marriage greater than your expectations.

Or we can look at it this way: Katy's wedding ring - estimated $75,000. That's more than I make in two years, and their marriage lasted a little bit more than one.

Just think: Rather than wasting money on a wedding ring and a wedding for a marriage that wasn't going to last, Russell and Katy could have covered the expenses for several people in third world countries for a couple of years. They could have also helped someone who lost their job because of the bad economy. They could have helped someone and avoided the drama!

Ah, but I'm just sputtering nonsense.

That's My Baby!

Okay, so if you've ever heard me talk about my car, then you probably know that I treat it like it's my child. She has a name (Carrie). She gets fed on a regular basis (High mileage oil is her favorite), and she gets applauded every day that she runs well (the summer heat has not made this easy).

My car is twelve years old though and on her last leg, which means that I need to get a new car soon, but I cringe at the thought of having to say goodbye to my baby (no matter how much of a pain in the ass she is can be).

I wonder what life would be like if we treated more of inadimate objects like they were human beings. Maybe we'd have less environmental problems? I know that if I looked at a tree as I did Carrie then I would do anything in my power to keep her (or him) from being cut down by a bulky, sweaty lumberjack.

So what if we treated our companies like they were our babies?

Yes, I know I sound like I've gone into my over-caffinated la-la land again, but there really is no time like now to start thinking out of the box when it comes to our economy.

I have currently been reading Onward by Howard Schultz (yes, the guy who conquered the world with that horribly evil company Starbucks), and I am continually amazed by how much love he has for his company. He views it as if it was another one of his children. He wants it to grow and succeed. He often speaks of the company in his book as my mother speaks of me to her friends. Proud and affectionate. In Howard Schultz's mind, Starbucks is a force that can greatly improve the world if pointed in the right direction but can cause great harm if neglected and used selfishly.

It's the same with any human being.

So what would happen if we looked at all our companies this way?

Would scandals like Enron become nonexistant? Ha, no, not with the way we Americans tend to act. All of our problems would certainly not be solved. Starbucks may even have another episode in the future.

It is possible though that if we viewed our companies more like we viewed our children (or like any loved one if you don't have children), we could maybe save a few of them and avoid the great harm that a failing company has on the economy. We could maybe even make these companies better! Can you imagine what might have happened if Enron's leaders had thought of it as more than just a money making machine? (Whoa....)

I hope that someday in the future when I oversee a company that I have the same affection for it that Howard Schultz has for Starbucks, and I can't help but hope that his book will inspire a few other entreprenuers out there as well.

But in the meantime, Carrie gets all my love.

Sorry, boys....

Maybe a Little Reverse Culture Shock?

Am I experiencing reverse culture shock? I don't know, but this question has compelled me to write on my blog for the first time in a really long time.

I must admit that I am frustrated. I have absolutely no concentration, I am eating as if I've been told that the chocolate and doughnut supplies of the world are soon to run out, and I feel as if things have changed in my little world of Austin, Texas in ways that could only mean bad things.

Traveling this summer was a blast. I got to see my mother in Phoenix, I saw my family in Colorado, and we all traveled down to Cancun to see my older sister get hitched. After that I traveled across the Atlantic to London for a six week study abroad program.

When I got back, everything seemed fine. My last semester of school was supposed to start. I was going to be working on this awesome paper about the coffee industry. I was going to live in this awesome apartment right near downtown and close to school. I was going to get to see the buddies I had so desperately missed while I was gone.

But something is off now.

School just doesn't feel like a good experience any more. I'm tired of spending most of my day on campus either in class, working, or studying and then going home to do more of the same. I'm tired of spending money I don't have for books and tuition. I'm tired of falling asleep every time I sit down to read for one of my classes. I'm tired of researching and reading hundreds of boring journal articles that sometimes answer my questions and sometimes just further confuse me.

My apartment is great, but the honeymoon stage is over, and the air conditioner has started leaking. Now I'm sitting in a very hot apartment because I don't want the leaking to ruin any wiring. Also, I can't regulate the temperature whenever I take a shower, so by the time I get into my pjs and into bed, I am wide awake from all the little shocks of cold and hot that I got.

I still love my friends and everyone here, but there's a fragmentation among us now. What used to be a large community is now splitting up into cliques, and some of our most loving and giving friends are getting left behind. And how do you discuss that with anyone when you know that all it will lead to is more hurt and offense?

Is this all just a bit of reverse culture shock? Am I just reacting badly to the changing nature of this world after I have been gone for so long? Or am I just in a rut?

About a week and a half ago, my dad was on a business trip and came down to Austin. He picked me up and took me out to dinner at Kirby Lane. We had queso and margaritas, and he helped me with my fantasy football draft (although, I don't think he made very good suggestions on my defensive line). It was an odd experience since my dad and I haven't gotten along very well over the past few years, but it was good in that some of the hurt and bitterness between us had disappeared. I didn't expect him to actually call me while he was in town. To be honest, I didn't expect anything of him, but it did turn out to be a great experience.

So I have to ask again, am I experiencing reverse culture shock? Can culture shock happen with a good experience?

This all reminds me of last year when I first began to grapple with the bus system of Austin. I remember crying at some of the bus stops saying to God, "Hello? Not funny!" It took until about halfway through the semester to get used to it all. I struggled, but eventually survived.

Maybe I shouldn't be asking whether or not I am experiencing some reverse culture shock, but rather I should be thinking about those times when I was in a rut and never thought I would get out of it. There is usually a light at the end of every tunnel, so maybe I should start looking for it.

Until then though, there is always my House box set to make me feel better.

Accident Forgiveness

Do you remember those commercials for Allstate? You know, the ones that say that your rates won't go up even if you are in an accident?

I've gotta say I really like this idea.

I've never been in a car accident before (well, at least when I was the driver), but from what I have observed with my family and friends, I believe I can safely assume that everyone will be in a car accident while they were at the wheel at least once in their lifetime, so I can't help but wonder why car insurance companies would even think to raise their rates for an individual when the inevitable, such as a car accident, happens.

Why punish someone for something that is likely to occur? I don't know.

This seems to be a very widespread characteristic of businesses though. It's understandable that especially after the recent recession companies would be extremely touchy about anything that could negatively affect their earnings. Some are even battling severe losses, so "accident forgiveness" is understandably not a high priority of business executives.

This isn't a phenomena that just started with the recession though. For years, several companies in the service industries have implemented what are called "change fees" or "cancellation fees" to deter anyone from making costly changes to their service requests while also guaranteeing the companies some sort of positive return on their investments.

And I have to admit that this is still understandable even without the excuse of the recession. Just because a company is supposed to serve a customer, it does not mean that a customer has free reign to do and change whatever they want. If that were true, no business would survive.

But I fear that we have become too unforgiving. How many of you have had to change a flight because of a family emergency only to be charged hundreds of dollars in change fees? How many of you have tried to cancel service with a cable company because it is becoming too expensive only to find that the early cancellation fees would only place you in even greater financial strife?

Everyone makes mistakes or is faced with some event that greatly alters their life. Business executives and managers should understand this. These strict, no-exception policies are hardly fair when we consider the failable nature of human beings, and they may actually be more harmful to companies if they anger enough customers. Implementing a more flexible fee structure that adjusts to each unique situation would, in the end, be beneficial to both consumers and businesses alike.

A little while ago, as I sat here at the Coffee Bean with mi madre, enjoying a peach tea and writing, an older gentleman spilled his just purchased, full cup of green tea all over the floor. The baristas mopped up the floor and provided the man with a refill of the drink he had not been able to enjoy.

Businesses know how to be compassionate and understanding, but we need start making changes before we completely forget.

Loyalty Can Be A Real Pain

Raise your hand if you've ever called up a friend and canceled your plans with them because you were "sick" or "busy" or "tired" or whatever and then complained to someone about how annoying or stupid it would have been to go.

...If you're not raising your hand, I'm going to punch you.

Come on, admit it. You've acted like a certified jerk to your friends and family sometime in your life. You've thought, "I'm too cool for those losers. In fact, I'm so cool that I think I'll lie around in my room doing absolutely nothing instead of actively developing a wonderful and fulfilling relationship."

I have. (I know, shocker!)

I'm not just pointing fingers though. Of course, we all have been a victim of this abuse.

We can all remember a day when we fretted over ever single action we had taken over the past 24 hours, wondering if we offended our friend in someway or another because they seemed somewhat annoyed when they said they weren't feeling well enough to come visit on our birthday or were explaining why they didn't show up for our coffee date the other day.

Soooo....what do we do? How do we end this malicious cycle?

It seems like just normal human nature, right? I mean, we aren't perfect. It's just a natural reaction sometimes; some people deserve it. Also, we all need time to ourselves.

Neglect and egoism are part of what makes the world go round, right?

...Right?

As most of us know, introverts are people who become exhausted through contact with other people. That's why they don't like crowds and typically keep to themselves. To them, interaction is work, not play. I know this because I am an introvert. Time by myself is the best way to reboot.

But does that mean I should not challenge myself to overcome this discomfort? Should I just accept that as the way it is and be happy? If I'm not "up for it," is it alright to renege on a promise?

Life is a bitch, but it is mainly because we make it that way. For so many years, I thought of relationships as an obligation and people as an incovenience. In doing so, I made my thoughts real. Hanging out with friends became a challenge, and I became isolated. I disappointed the ones I loved because I was convinced that nothing good could come out of any sort of commitment I had to them, and eventually, they returned the sentiment. I became an inconvenience to them.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

The golden rule still holds true despite it's difficulty to put into practice: Treat others as you would treat yourself.

I want to have loyal friends and family who want to see me and love me. I don't want to be disappointed or hurt by them.

In order to get this though, I'm going to have to change my ways. I am going to have to give as I have never given before. I am going to have to love as I have never loved before, and I am going to be challenged as I have never been challenged before.

Loyalty is a bitch, but so are we at times. I'm thinking it's about time we changed that.

Where Did Christmas Go?

'Tis now the 27th of December, and the holly jolly of Christmas is slowly disappearing as more and more decorations are packed up, gifts are returned, and food is thrown away.

Damn. It's so sad.

I guess the real problem is that with the end of the Christmas season comes the end of my stay with Mom.

And that is a sad thing indeed.

From shopping for Christmas presents and spending the day at wonderful coffee shops with sparkly pastries to watching dozens of movies and chatting with friends, we rarely had a moment of boredom, and we are still busily working away, packing up and getting in any last minute festivities.

It only get's harder, doesn't it? The leaving?

The summer after I had graduated from high school and traveled off to Austin for school, I could not wait to get away! In fact, I was so intent on staying away that I made myself physically ill at every thought of a permanent return trip home.

With every visit I made to see my mother after that first move, I always felt sad when I left but excited for what was to come.

Nothing quite like getting hit by a car to change things a little, eh?

Now leaving is horrible. This past Thanksgiving, I was extremely upset when I had to return to school. I even took out my anger on a paper that I had to work on during break (I did this by pulling almost two all nighters. Worked out so well...)

Anyway, I guess you never really know what you have until it's gone (like a car). Life can be so cruel at times.

I must not dwell on the negative for too long though. Mom and I will see each other again (after this year, we're damn near indestructable), and I will just have to look foward to that day.

Adios, Phoenix. It's been fun!

Movies Galore

For several months, my days consisted of class, work, homework, sleep, and buses (yuck). Moments to just hang with friends were like water in the desert, rare but oh-so-desired. By the time Christmas break rolled around I was about to break (While trying to write a research paper in a coffee shop, I began to cry hysterically.)

But that is all behind me now, and something much more enjoyable has taken its place....

The television.

Mom and I always reserve our movie watching until we are able to visit each other, and this Christmas break has been no exception.

So now without further ado, my movie reviews for Christmas Break of '09.

The first movie I will talk about is Julie and Julia, which receives five stars from me. This film is about the lives and, well, cooking escapades of two women: Julia Child and Julie Powell. Meryl Streep is fantastic as Julia Child. I almost forgot that it wasn't the actual famous cook playing the part. The side story of Julie Powell is also great in contrast to Julia Child's. It really illuminates the differences between her positivity and motivation and that of modern day people. This is definitely a cute movie, and I would suggest everyone see it.

Now onto something completely different: G.I. Joe. Two thumbs down for me. I agree that the actions scenes are impressive. They look realistic and not computer generated at all, but oh, my goodness, the acting! It was horrible. One of the characters finds out that an old friend was alive instead of dead and how did he react? I'm not really even sure he did. There was also supposed to be some love plot somewhere in there but obviously had no intensity or emotion. I think I'm going to skip out on the sequel.

Mom and I also saw I've Loved You So Long which was indeed very intense and heavy but definitely a well done film. The movie follows a woman who has just been released from prison after fifteen years for murdering her son. Yes, it is a bit depressing, but what was so amazing about this film is the sense of hope it engenders. The woman had hit the ultimate bottom, yet slowly and surely, she began to rebuild her life. In it's own way, it was very inspiring.

Continuing with the foreign movies, mom and I also watched Paris. This movie contained several different characters with interconnected stories, but it mainly centered around a young dancer who is in severe need of a heart transplant. The story is cute, but it is hard to get any feel for the purpose of the film or what direction it was trying to point. While the background music was great, I'd say that there are better movies out there to be watched.

Because I've Loved You So Long and Paris contained actresses from the English Patient, mom suggested that we watch that movie as well. I have heard over and over again just how wonderful this movie is, but oh, my goodness gracious! It was so long! It would not end, and I just couldn't help but feel that a story lasting about three hours needed a little more substance and purpose.

Girl, Interrupted starring Wynonna Ryder and Angelina Jolie was wonderful. Maybe it is because I often feel a bit crazy and like I am about to lose my sanity, but something about this movie really caught my attention. The mind can be a very mysterious thing, and this film explores just how dangerous it can get. Angelina Jolie really did deserve the Golden Globe she received for this part. If you have not seen this movie, you need to. NOW!

Inglourious Basterds. Two words: Brad Pitt. Hilarious.

And finally for this blog entry (although, mom and I have watched many more) is the Devil's Advocate. Ooh, I loved this movie even though it was rather perverse. The story follows an up and coming lawyer who receives an unbelievable offer from a firm in New York, but when his wife and him settle in, things start to get strange, disturbing, and downright evil. What I loved about this film is its portrayal of the influence of money, how it engulfs and suffocates the soul. Wonderful acting. A must-see.

Warning about some of these movies if you do see them: A lot of full frontal nudity.

Anyway, mom and I have not slowed down in our movie watching, so look forward to another review blog.

Until then though, Merry Christmas!

Away We Go

My plane has just arrived, and then I am off to enjoy a Thanksgiving with mi madre, but I do have time to post another paper that I wrote this semester.

I know, I know. These papers haven't been on the most interesting subject matter, but I think you all will like this. I had to write a critique of a poetry reading.

If nothing else, read it because I mention the beauteous Dr. House.

As the fall semester begins, so does the next season of House M.D. on Fox network. Medical mysteries and captivating conflicts wrapped in a blanket of acerbic wit are all in store for fans of the show, which has already garnered talk of Emmy nominations. A television series as provocative and complex as House M.D. is rare these days though. Hundreds of thousands of scripts grace the desks of television and movie producers, but very few of them actually contain any substance and creativity. This is true for most forms of literature as well: movie scripts, novels, poetry. Quality is now just a foreign concept to a majority of works. The pieces read at Ruta Maya’s poetry open-mike night were no exception as most lacked inspiration, structure, and emotion.

The subject matter of most of the poems was generic and mind-numbing. For example, several of the writers wrote about government oppression and conformity. “Propaganda for the Poison-Hearted” listed several social problems of the world and could have substituted for a speech on human rights. “Armageddon Tomorrow” mentioned several fast food establishments which are taking over the world, and “Ancestors” discussed the issue of global warming. The stereotype of the liberal art student had never appeared so obviously than with these poems. Science was even a popular topic. Down syndrome, chromosomes, and COXI were all mentioned sometime throughout the night, making the show feel like a class instead of a presentation of art. One poem was even about attending a class! Poetry should describe the aspects of life, not explain how it works, how it should be, and how it is being ruined. That is subject matter for a text book.

The atmosphere of the poetry reading was also extremely uncomfortable. The first poem presented, called “Lingering near Midnight,” described sex in a very graphic manner, but the words of the poem were not the most disturbing aspect of the reading. The writer spoke the intimate piece in a low, monotone voice while staring at his notebook as if some dark abyss would swallow him up the moment he looked away. His insecurity with the poem made me feel insecure, and I could not concentrate on what his work was trying to convey. This was the case with most of the poems. There was one exception to this though. A fiftyish, British man had great stage presence. Whether he was reading about falling in love or getting the best out of life, he would react with the piece. When he spoke of fire, his voice was excited and strong. When he spoke of quiet and softness, his voice was light and gentle. Whenever he took the stage, I was always sucked into his story, and I could better relate to what he was trying to say.

Several of the poems also lacked organization and contained awkward or distracting word choice. Very few of the pieces had any sort of structure. Most were freestyle with no recognizable rhyme or rhythm, and none of the main ideas of each poem were presented in any sort of organized form. For example, the poem, “Little Bits of Color,” is either about traveling on the S. Congress bus, a broken girl, or a broken girl traveling on the S. Congress bus. Because of the descriptions were so disjointed, it was difficult to know what his topic was. The diction used in a majority of the poems was also a problem. Several of the writers cursed within their poems, almost as if to fill in the gaps for when they could not think of a proper adjective to use. Instead of adding to the tone of the reading, it detracted from it, and most of my attention was on that one word. I could not focus on the rest of the poem.

Overall, the poetry reading at Ruta Maya was a great disappointment. Rather than listening to modern interpretations of the world, I was presented with work that was hastily created and incomprehensible. The depth and creativity craved by audiences could not be found in the poems presented. It was not a job done well, and I almost fear for the fate of the literary world. I can only wish that the next time I attending a poetry reading, the pieces will be a hundred times more satisfying. But as House likes to say: You can’t always get what you want.

Voulez-vous couchez avec moi?

Okay, so because I am so badass, I did write a paper in French. Now, I know that I made a couple of mistakes here and there, but my prof gave me props, so I have to post it.

Most of you probably won't figure out what it says (it's not that interesting anyway), but doesn't it look pretty?

Est-ce que la mondialisation est une bonne force dans le monde où une cause à combattre ? Elle pénétrait tous les aspects de la vie. L’économie, la politique, le partageant de cultures différentes, tous ont les grandes améliorations grâce à la progression de la mondialisation, mais il y a aussi des problèmes avec cette progression. La pauvreté, le chômage, la pollution, et l’homogénéité continuent de ruiner les vies de beaucoup de personnes et blesser le monde dans lequel nous vivons, et malgré les tentatives pour supprimer ces difficultés, les problèmes ne deviennent que plus grands. Même s’il y a tant de luttes, le monde devient un meilleur endroit à cause des avantages de mondialisation, et il est possible que celle-ci aide à annuler les difficultés qui existent encore.

D’un côté, la mondialisation contribue à la croissance de l’économie et la diversité des produits, aide à continuer la paix et supprimer les disputes entre les pays, et facilite les personnes à se partager de leur culture unique.

D’abord, la mondialisation a une grande et bonne influence sur les économies du monde. Grace à la mondialisation, chaque pays peut partager ses produits uniques avec d’autres pays qui sont très lointains. Si un pays a besoin d’un certain produit qu’il ne peut pas produire, il peut l’acheter à autre pays ou l’échanger avec un autre produit qu’il possède. Par exemple, les Etats-Unis achètent à l’Amérique du Sud et aux iles de la Pacifique les bananes, les ananas, et des fruits tropicaux qu’ils ne peuvent pas faire pousser sur leurs terres. La mondialisation encourage aussi la diversité des produits et donne aux consommateurs la liberté de choix. Quand on entre dans un magasin, on n’est pas obligé d’acheter un t-shirt spécifique ou le même jean que son ami porte. Il y a une variété de vêtements, de couleurs, et de qualité qu’on peut choisir. Cette diversité aide aussi avec le coût de ces produits. Parce que toutes les entreprises veulent vendre leurs produits, elles baissent les prix pour rendre leurs produits plus désirables.

De plus, les difficultés et les disputes politiques entre les pays disparaissent avec l’influence de la mondialisation. Pendant plusieurs siècles, les pays ne voulaient pas se communiquer ou s’aider. Chaque pays avait sa série de règles, et il fallait se protéger des autres pays. En effet, il y a eu beaucoup de guerres qui ont duré plus d’un siècle. Puis, il y a eu la Première et Second Guerre mondiale qui ont menacé la vie de toute la planète. Après ces deux grandes guerres, le danger de ce comportement agressif est devenu très apparent, et maintenant, beaucoup de gouvernements essaient d’établir les relations paisibles pour la sécurité des personnes qu’ils dirigent. Les organisations qui inclurent plusieurs de ces pays comme l’ONU travaillent à maintenir cette paix et à encourager les autres pays à les joindre.

Enfin, la mondialisation encourage l’éducation continuelle des cultures différentes. Avant la mondialisation, le monde était très réduit pour les personnes qui y habitaient. Il n’y avait pas de voitures ou d’avions, donc les voyages étaient très durs et longs. Il n’y avait pas non plus d’e-mail ou d’Internet, toutes les choses qui permettent le transfert facile de renseignements. En effet, toutes les nouvelles et les renseignements des autres pays du monde étaient très lents et peu sûrs. Avec l’amélioration des communications et les inventions de véhicules pour voyager, la connaissance des cultures d’autre pays s’est propagée, et maintenant, les influences de ces cultures différentes sont partout. Par exemple, les chinois peuvent manger de la nourriture française, américaine, russe, et cetera et vice versa. L’apprentissage d’autres langages est beaucoup encouragé. Si on sait parler deux langues ou plus, on peut trouver un meilleur travail. Beaucoup d’écoles encouragent aussi les élèves à étudier dans un autre pays.

On peut voir que la mondialisation est très bénéfique dans beaucoup d’aspects de la vie, particulièrement dans l’économie, la politique, et la connaissance des cultures différentes.
Mais d’un autre côté, bien qu’il y ait beaucoup d’avantages grâce à la mondialisation, celle-ci est la cause de beaucoup de problèmes désastreux pour l’environnement, l’économie, et la diversité de cultures.

D’une part, la condition de l’environnement est très grave. La population continue à grandir tandis que les ressources qui sont nécessaires pour vivre continuent de disparaitre. Parce que les ressources sont limitées, beaucoup de personnes ne peuvent pas trouver de nourriture tous les jours et meurent à cause de sous-alimentation. Les actions des entreprises rendent aussi le problème bien pire. Par exemple, les usines polluent l’eau qui est utilisée pour boire et la terre qui est utilisée pour produire la nourriture et où on habite. De plus, les émissions de gaz qui sont produits par les usines non seulement réchauffent de l’atmosphère mais aussi menace la santé de tout le monde.

D’autre part, la mondialisation de l’économie a beaucoup de désavantages bien qu’il y ait plusieurs avantages. Les économies du monde grandissent mais le chômage et la pauvreté grandissent aussi. Parce que la main-d’œuvre est moins chère dans certains pays, les pays avec les salaires les plus élèves déplaceront souvent leur main-d’œuvre dans d’autres pays. En effet, beaucoup de personnes perdent leur travail et ne peuvent pas en trouver un autre. Elles n’ont plus d’argent pour les dépenses nécessaires de la vie. Ces personnes habitent malheureusement dans des conditions horribles and difficiles sans l’espoir d’atteindre une vie meilleure.

Enfin, les caractéristiques uniques de chaque culture disparaissent avec l’influence de la mondialisation. Bien que l’échange des cultures soit très important pour one meilleure compréhension du monde et des personnes qui y habitent, les différences s’entombent avec le temps. Par exemple, beaucoup de pays ont maintenant un McDonald’s, un Starbucks, et un Walmart. La nourriture et les vêtements qui sont vendus dans ces magasins sont touts les mêmes. Si cela continue, les cultures et les pensées de chaque pays disparaitront et deviendront homogènes.

En bref, à cause de la mondialisation, beaucoup de pays souffrent de problèmes économiques, la condition de l’environnement continue de se détériorer, et les choses qui faisaient une culture spéciale et unique sont menacées avec supprimer.

La mondialisation influence le monde de plusieurs manières. Bien que l’économie du monde, les politiques de chaque pays et les cultures différentes aient vu des avantages, la mondialisation menace l’économie de certains pays et l’environnement et crée un monde homogène, mais ces problèmes ne sont pas une partie exclusive à la mondialisation. En établissant des règlements sur le commerce pour empêcher les usages impropres de la main-d’œuvre et la croissance de la pauvreté, limite la pollution et la consommation excessive et encourager la diversité de la vie, la mondialisation peut continuer d’exister sans les effets désastreux. L’élimination de la mondialisation ne supprimera pas forcement les problèmes. Il y a la possibilité que cette action contre la mondialisation puisse heurter davantage le monde.

En conclusion, je pense que la mondialisation n’est pas une force à combattre mais doit être acceptée comme quelque chose de très bénéfique pour notre monde. Nous apprécions beaucoup d’avantages de la mondialisation maintenant, et les avantages continueront de grandir en s’améliorant avec le règlement de commerce et les limites sur la consommation des ressources limitées. Nous ne sommes pas parfaits et ferons des erreurs en ce qui concerne la mondialisation mais ce qui est important est que nous reconnaissions ces erreurs et les fixions, sans pour cela supprimer complètement la mondialisation. Il y a de l’espoir pour le monde mais avec un peu de travail.

Yes, I Know My Poetry

So, since I have no time to write a new blog, I figure I might start showcasing what I have been working on these past few months.

We will start with my paper on Shakespeare's 27th sonnet (yes, I know I'm a finance major).

On average, I take from about an hour to two hours to fall asleep each night. Before my mind can shut down, it must first walk through my entire schedule for the next week, choose a weather-appropriate outfit for the next day, manage my finances, solve my latest Sudoku puzzle, select Christmas gifts for my family, day dream about the cute boy at church, and think about several other unimportant subjects. In addition, my mind is usually not content until it can analyze the value of meditative breathing for insomnia or contemplate the effect of sleep deprivation on sanity as well. While I crave to rest my exhausted body, I also cannot stop myself from giving more of my time thinking of such things. My overwhelming desire for them overrules my need for sleep. William Shakespeare’s twenty-seventh sonnet describes this oftentimes frustrating struggle between the needs of the body and the desires of the mind

In this sonnet, Shakespeare depicts a particular night in which he cannot sleep. He explains that, while his body is exhausted and demanding rest, his mind is still at work, bringing thoughts of the object of his affection. Instead of heavy eyes that close of their own accord, his are wide open, searching for that which he wishes to see, and when his mind creates an image of his love within the shadows of his darkened room, he is completely and utterly entranced by the picture formed in his mind’s eye. Any thoughts of sleep are forgotten. Shakespeare is neither excited nor angry about this occurrence but rather states his predicament as if it just a normal fact of life. Even though he has an overwhelming and obvious need for rest, his desires will always take precedence. He has no choice but to accept these circumstances no matter the consequences.

Like with all of Shakespeare’s sonnets, the theme of his twenty-seventh is split into four parts: three quatrains and a couplet. In the first set of four lines, the focus is on Shakespeare’s physical exhaustion and his need for rest after a long day of work. Shakespeare then contrasts this description of the body with portrayals of his mind’s liveliness and activities in the last two quatrains. The second quatrain specifically explains to where the mind wanders while the third quatrain illustrates the images that the mind brings back from its journeys. Then in the concluding couplet, Shakespeare reveals his acceptance of the situation, despite his lack of rest.

The organization of these sections facilitates the recreation of the event for the reader and ultimately lends to a better understanding of Shakespeare’s struggle. Since the descriptions of the body and the mind are separated into distinct sections, the conflicting nature of the two is emphasized, but the unequal distribution of the poem’s quatrains to each subject highlight the overall strength and success of the mind over the body. Shakespeare’s exhaustion was no match for his imagination. The sonnet is more than just a contrast between physical exhaustion and mental activeness though. Because the sections were also arranged chronologically, the sonnet becomes a story with the reader as its main character. What Shakespeare feels and sees is what the audience feels and sees as well. The emotions he experienced can be shared through this narrative structure much more fluently than with any other arrangement.

The sections of this sonnet though would be nothing if it were not for the small nuances within each line. The poem sticks to the conventions of a sonnet in that it is in iambic pentameter with a rotating rhyme scheme, but slight changes within these conventions accentuate the main theme. The first word of the sonnet is an example. “Weary” consists of two syllables in which the first syllable is stressed. An iambic meter though is the opposite of this. It begins with an unstressed syllable. This opposition draws attention to the word which describes the condition of Shakespeare’s body. Because of the extra emphasis due to the odd placement of the accent, his condition is underlined. Also noticeable within the first quatrain is a deviation of beats on the third line. The other lines of the quatrain all contain eleven beats, but the third line only contains ten. This calls extra consideration to the subject matter at this part of the section. It is here that Shakespeare’s mind is first introduced into the poem which is an integral part of the theme, and the difference in beats signals its importance.

The conflict between body and mind that Shakespeare undergoes is greatly conveyed to the audience as well through his word choice and personification. Terms, such as “weary,” “toil,” “expired,” all accentuate the exhaustion of Shakespeare’s body by inserting a sluggishness into his actions, making it seem as if he is doing them in a foot of mud. His rush to bed changes from a quick and easy task to a long and arduous one with the use of these words. In addition, the heaviness added to Shakespeare’s body by the phrase “drooping eyelids” also increases the overwhelming and disabling nature of his exhaustion. On the other hand, “jewel”, “beauteous”, and “new” all convey the intense and young energy of the mind. With the use of these words, Shakespeare’s imagination contrasts sharply against his physical condition. Instead of the heaviness and sloth of the body, the mind appears light and full of color. Also through the phrases such as “begins a journey,” “zealous pilgrimage,” and “presents thy shadow,” the mind becomes more than just a piece of Shakespeare. It begins to take on a separate personality, develop its own thoughts and dreams, and come alive. Because of this personification, the mind seems to jump throughout the sonnet as it wishes and overtake the poem. It is through this effect that the reader can firsthand experience the struggle with his mind of which Shakespeare writes.

In the end, all the conflict, imagery, and personification that shapes Shakespeare’s twenty-seventh sonnet was ultimately written for one thing: the object of Shakespeare’s desire. Whatever this object may be, whether it is his writing, his wife, his children, it is what wears his body during the day and excites his mind during the night. There is never a time when he can find reprieve. It is all-consuming, and it is in this place that I, too, find myself when I lie down in my bed at night. Wherever my body’s work stops, that is where my mind begins, and it is all for that which I love. Now when three in the morning rolls by, instead of angering thoughts and curses, I may just think about Shakespeare’s similar problems with insomnia and find comfort. But then again, there is always Ambien.