Walking on the wild side

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For my walk on the wild side I decided to talk about Tupac’s death, so the question is, is Tupac dead or did he fake it? A lot of people believe Tupac faked his death for two main reasons. The first reason is on his autopsy photo there is something missing on his neck he had a tattoo that read “Makaveil” which he had gotten two months before he died. The second reason being his driver’s license information does not match the information on his coroner’s report.

Tupac had gotten a tattoo that said Makaveil on it because Tupac loved Makaveil, someone who had faked there death which leads people to think Tupac would do the same since he loved him so much, but the funny thing is in the autopsy photo you can’t see his tattoo that he got two months before that photo was taken.

Here is a link to the photo of the autopsy: http://autopsy.mywebcommunity.org/2pac-autopsy.html

And here is a link showing the tattoo on his neck: http://www.inkedcelebrity.com/2pac.html

You be the judge on the photos.

Now the driver’s license does not match his coroner’s report his id reads that he is 5’10 and his coroner’s report reads 5’12 and in the id it said he weight 168 lbs but on the report it said 225 lbs now the funny thing about all this is Tupac had gotten his license only a few months before his shooting so that makes people wonder how you gain weight and grow taller in a few months?

He is the link to his driver’s license: http://www.cybergorillas.com/random-cool-ishh/tupacs-drivers-license/

And here is a link to his coroner’s report: http://so-me-apetece-cobrir.blogspot.com/2010/04/bastidores-da-musica-parte-19-tupac.html

Here is a video of people talking about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb53FxsPWAI&feature=related

Again you are the judge on that one, now how can I say this information is all true? I really can’t so much info is put out there for us to see and people even have the power to change things up so I’m not 100% sure he faked his death, as much as I love his music and as much as I would love to hear new songs from him it’s just not going to happen in the end I call this a hoax I believe Tupac is dead and will not be coming back and I don’t think he faked his death it would take too much time and money to do it plus it’s against the law to fake a death so even if he did once he came out he would have to be put behind bars. Here is a reporter from Las Vegas where Tupac was shot and died she pretty much had the only report on a day by day basis

http://www.cathyscott.com/artcls/Tupac%20death%20certificate%20details.html

  

    

Reading Quest 3

Digital natives, digital immigrants- I think the main thesis in this short story is that kids waste more time on video games, or a computer then reading in other words he thinks kids are not learning as much as they use to because we use technology for everything now, he even goes to say because of technology kids have their own language and if you’re an older folk you won’t understand unless you keep up with the times, he thinks if the only way kids will learn is with using technology and using “there language” then do it! Kids will learn better because it’s something they can relate to! The only backing Marc Prensky has is from Dr. Bruce D. Perry of Baylor College of Medicine saying the brain learns differently due to the way you grew up, Prensky has multiple degrees himself so he might know a thing or two. Honestly I agree what with what he has to say kids are lazy when it comes to learning the traditional way so why not change the game up and put it in a way kids would pay attention and learn? I know it works just from this very class here!

The internet- I think the main thesis in this short story is that internet and social networks are taking over TV and its taking over us! Only because the internet makes us work unlike TV because with TV we sit back and be lazy as we see things happen on the internet or on social network sites it makes us work in order for something to happen to got to make it work, your always looking for a friend to stay connected and all of this is good! According to Steven Johnson saying “The rise of the internet has challenged our minds in three fundamental and related ways: by virtue of being participatory, by forcing users to learn new interfaces, and by creating new channels for social interactions” Johnson has come out on many TV shows, has written many books, and for web sites all saying the same thing on trying to get his point across, nobody in the story backs him up its all him but I like what he says he gets his point across and it seems true people are always blogging the numbers are so high you would think its America watching an episode of “Lost”, all of the internet and its social media is making us work all to stay connected but hey if it makes me not seem “lazy” why not?

Learning to think in a digital world- I think the main thesis in this short story is that Maryanne Wolf is trying to say that before we get all hooked up on the internet and the digital world we need to learn how to read because it’s a beautiful thing knowing how to read, because the new way of learning nowadays is some digital format weather its blogging, watching a video on the internet, or using email to communicate, teachers and parents wonder how teaching will be like years from now and will kids pick it up? I say yes they will times are changing and changing fast! Just look in 1999 email was a big thing from your house off a phone line now I can check my email off my phone or use my laptop in a café without a phone line all wireless so I think we will be able to adapt a way of thinking and learning with technology, Wolf came out with this herself no one really backing her up or at least was not mention but I do agree we must learn how to read before we move on to this digital world because it will only make it easier.

Learning theory, video games, and popular culture- I think the main thesis in this short story is that James Gee is saying that playing video games is good for the brain and in learning which I agree 100% without him needing some support because video games can challenge the brain and make it react in a way that a book or video cant yes you can learn that way but you can also learn with video games, Gee goes on to say that “the mind worked like a digital computer, calculating generalizations and deductions via a logic-like rule system” he got that from (Newell and Simon, 1972) he also goes on to say when playing a video game you can see yourself in it because your controlling the character in the game with games like World of WarCraft, Sims and on Tony Hawk Skate he talks about how you can build your own skate park, so all these games are making you think opening up your mind which is a good thing, that’s why I agree video games is a good way to learn and challenge yourself, Gee has so many quotes from different books which I like and makes his story and point stronger.

Lovemark

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My lovemark has to be Beats by Dr. Dre they are headphones, I own two pairs and saving up to get my third, I don’t know what it is about these headphones I mean they are very pricey and some people say I’m dumb for wasting my money on them but I love them they are the best headphones out there from clear sound to strong bass. I just feel like the biggest “bad ass” when I wear them like no one can touch me! I know I look good when I wear them or use them because they have a sleek look to them which I love. You can’t beat these headphones I will still be wearing them when they go out of style because I love my headphones and ear buds.

http://www.beatsbydre.com/

Pop Music Website Analysis

For my “Pop Music Website Analysis” I picked Ice Cube a rapper from Los Angeles, CA you might know him from a late 80’s rap group called “N.W.A” and a film director with movies such as the “Friday series”. When you look at his website its colored red and black a real dark rough color, which seems like an Ice Cube kind of style he is known to be real rough and tough in his raps and even movies (But not including movies like “Are we there yet” you have to remember he is a business man), the font and text is real “gangsta” and it has a “West Coast” feel to it which Ice Cube is all about the West Coast. The imagines on the web site are all pretty much of Ice Cube and they all are pretty much the same facial expression which is a “mean mug” look like he is just pissed at the world but if you listen to Ice Cube his music is pretty much forget the world kind of attitude as if he had a chip on his shoulder, so the dark colors and the west coast font/text all look like an Ice Cube look. But Ice Cube isn’t all about forgetting the world he shows a family side by promoting his son “OMG” an upcoming rapper, he is putting his son’s mix tape and a YouTube video of his son on the main page of the web site. And of course it couldn’t be his web site if it didn’t have things about him, he also promotes himself by showing his latest music and hits on a playlist and upcoming movies that he is in or that he made such as the new movie “21 Jump Street”, he also has a Twitter widget and it has the latest tweets which on the tweets he talks about his son’s music, movies and touring (He is touring the U.S in July). And just like any web site it has a store he has his own line of clothing “Solo by Cube”, also tour dates like where he is touring, a blog where you can talk about him and latest news on new albums and his son’s album. I think this web site says what kind of man Ice Cube is a rapper, a father, and a business man, and it fits all together I don’t see anything wrong with the web site that would work against the artist the web sites imagine or message is simple he is a rapper so of course it’s going to be rough and tough, and it has the west coast feel to it which is what Ice Cube represents, it has a small family feel which he promotes his son and his son has a similar style to his father so it fits in perfect. Overall I found this web site to fit the style of Ice Cube I couldn’t find anything wrong it could be because he is one of my favorite artists, but that’s what the assignment was an artist I like.        

http://www.icecube.com/

Find your Tweeps

Ok for the "Find Your Tweeps" assignment I chose to follow Mike Vick and Dwayen Johnson, Mike Vick is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles; he was a number one overall draft pick back in 2001 from Virginia Tech by the Atlanta Falcons, I picked Mike Vick because he shows that no matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it, or from the mistakes you have done in the past that if given a second chance you can seize the moment and prove everyone wrong, in his case he was sent to prison with dog fighting charges and spent a little over a year in prison, but came back to the NFL and in his second year back he was a starting QB won “Come Back Player of the Year” and took the Eagles to the playoffs, he is once again considered one of the top QB’s in the NFL. He was once on top of the NFL he fell off and again was able to bounce right back up even with all that was happening in his life, I guess I want to know more about him or I guess kind of be like him because I myself have had a bumpy road in life so someone like him can coach you or guide you in a way to make life the best when the going goes tough, you can see in his tweets he is working out getting better and giving back which is two things I look into.

Dwayen Johnson or as many people know him as “The Rock” from WWE or WWF if you watched him in the 90’s like I did, The Rock was my childhood hero I wanted to be just like him I saw a tall strong tan man and it made me feel like I could be him (of course at the time I didn’t know wrestling was fake) it made me feel like when I grow up can I be just like him? And now when I see him he is an actor doing many films and of course making the money! I still want to be just like him, he is rich, on the media, people look up to him, I want that and I follow him because he is like Mike Vick he gives back and works out to get better, faster and stronger, I would ask him how life was growing up being a tan kid and how hard did he work to become the successful person that he is today because I one day want to be as big as he is physically and media wise.

So I guess I chose Mike Vick and The Rock because they are both of color and grew up a rough life and now are living a dream of money and fame, Mike Vick playing in the NFL and The Rock a former WWE star and now actor, so I would think they have the credentials to show me a thing or two which is why I follow them on Twitter.     

Movie Poster

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Negative Pop Culture

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The imagine of being a super thin model is becoming a problem in today’s society in an article back in 2006 by USA Today a former Victoria Secret model Frederique van der Wal says “This unnatural thinness is a terrible message to send out. The people watching the fashion shows are young, impressionable women," and even Nada Stotland said "We know seeing super-thin models can play a role in causing anorexia,” she is a professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical College in Chicago and vice president of the American Psychiatric Association.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-09-25-thin-models_x.htm

In another article back in 2007 in Science Daily Laurie Mintz, associate professor of education, school and counseling psychology in the MU College of Education said "Most women do not go to a counselor for advice; they look to Seventeen or Glamour magazine instead," Mintz said. "These unrealistic images of women, who are often airbrushed or partially computer generated, have a detrimental impact on women and how they feel about themselves”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070326152704.htm

What women need to know is that being super thin is not a good thing, its causing anorexia which can lead to death! They need to be happy with their bodies, the image that modeling is sending is a bad one and something needs to be done, even former models are seeing it and so are researchers. back in 2007 ABC news did an article and they mentioned a model who died at the age of  22! “In August, 22-year-old Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos died during Fashion Week in Montevideo after reportedly surviving on lettuce and diet drinks.” I mean what more do I need to say or prove that this is a negative impact on modeling and in pop culture.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=3883944&page=1

Then and Now

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I think it's funny how things can change in 10 plus years from music, fashion, technology, to everything that we think is "in". But things that were in then were the best things in the world just like they for us today.

Fabs and Trends

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twitter

got my twitter up and going follow me! @Urenda12

First Post

Okay so not going to get fancy with my first post here haha, just going to test the waters out first.