Till Death Do Us Part... Or Not?

Divorce is one thing that no couple wants to face. Although divorce rates are dropping due to today's economy and the fact that divorces cost so much, they are still occurring and putting people through the heartache that no one wants to face (Douthat). But what are the main causes of divorce? How do the vows taken at the altar not hold "till death do us part?" There are a variety of reasons as to why divorces occur and couples choose to no longer be married, but we will focus on a few main components. Marriage is no longer a sacred bond between a man and a woman, but instead just becoming part of life.

It must first be examined why a marriage is necessary and the reasons as to why a life partner can overall make life happier and more successful. Marriage has a few basic functions including procreation, division of labor, and economic production and consumption (Clarke-Stewart 30). For the couples who decide to have children, raising a child alone can be difficult, thus having a partner to discuss issues that arise and another adult there for the child can be very helpful. It can also be quite hard to raise a child while having a full time job to support the family; thus having the other adult and partner to divide up the work can ease tension and allow the couple to rely on each other to strengthen their marriage.

Although there are some important aspects of married life, there are couples who cannot make it through a successful relationship and instead choose to get divorced. There is not usually one specific reason why a divorce occurs, but instead a variety of issues that lead to the ultimate end to a marriage. Since women have had more of a stand in the workplace over the past decade, they have begun to contribute 30-40% of the household income, and since they are now more financially independent, "the likelihood they would marry decreased and the chance of divorce increased" (Clarke-Stewart 32). Financial independence can lead to feelings of total independence, and due to this, women feel that they do not need a partner and end up divorcing their husbands. However, many do not realize that court proceedings are not cheap, and a "multi-million dollar divorce case eventually turned into a bankruptcy case" due to all of the time and fees included in a divorce case becoming finalized (Herman 190). Being financially independent for a time does not provide security for a lifetime, so it is important to consider the future when thinking about a divorce just because money is no longer an issue.

Another major factor that influences divorce rates is the age of a couple when they get married. Younger marriages lead to less years being married and a much higher divorce rate. Women who marry under the age of 18 have a 48% divorce rate as opposed to those who are over 30, who have a 24% divorce rate (Clarke-Stewart 36). Psychologists claim that the reason of decrease in divorces as people get older is due to the fact that younger people are still developing as a person overall and are more likely to change than those who have already experienced college and the real world.

As interesting as it may sound, 25% of women blame their divorce on the internet (Clarke-Stewart 30). Since the internet is now full of dating sites and other places for people to meet, they claim it is easier to meet someone who seems more compatible than their current husband. Whether or not they regret this in a few years, the internet is one of the larger sources that women choose to blame their ended realtionship on.

Perhaps the most significant reason couples choose to divorce in today's society is the economic status of America. "The divorce rate and the business cycle move in unison," because it is based upon how the economy is running in the status quo and how it is directly related to the number of divorces that are occurring (South 31). When the economy is up and jobs are readily available, there are less divorces due to individuals not being very stressed, which helps married life as it takes away unnecessary stress that can be brought into the relationship. However, when the economy is at a lower point and there are not as many jobs available, the divorce rate tends to increase due to more tension coming home from the workplace and a less healthy relationship.

Divorce is one thing that no one wishes for and no couple wants to endure. It is a long process that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and cause much more heartache than someone ever wants to experience. There are many aspects that lead to divorce, and although sometimes it is inevitable, fighting through a marriage can be better for some couples who are going through hardship. Once aware of the leading causes of divorce, one can try to ensure to avoid things that can cause separation, like looking at internet dating sites. Every couple is different and will handle their relationship in their own way, but it is important to remember the vows that were taken at the altar: "till death do us part."

Please check comments for Works Cited.

Brittany Molnar

I enjoyed reading your first post about your life to get to know you before reading all of your posts. I would also love the opportunity to study abroad in Europe one day; hopefully you get to! I know we have already been in a group together, but I enjoyed reading the rest of your posts and having the opportunity to see your opinion on a variety of topics. Overall, I think you had great posts and put good effort into each assignment to have a well-constructed blog by the end of the semester.

One of your strengths as a writer is your ability to reflect on what you read and put it into words in a way that the readers enjoys what is being said. This is evident in all of your posts, and I think that it greatly improved by the end of the semester. I would suggest that you reference the sources more often to give your opinions more credibility to someone who has not read the essay you are writing about, but other than that, I enjoyed reading all of your posts.

My favorite post of yours was "CRASH..." because it painted such a picture as to what happened that day with Nancie and her mom, and also gave more awareness about drunk driving and how incredibly dangerous it is. I enjoyed reading your post "Humans vs. Computers" because not only did you give information from the source, but also put your own opinion at the end, which strengthened the whole piece. Even though you did disagree with Minsky, you explained why based off of what he said, and I think you did a great job. Another wonderful post that you wrote was "Who's to really say" because it was evident that you put in a lot of time thinking about what an idea really is, and you asked questions at the end which left me thinking even more about what an idea is. You answered a lot of questions and left more, which would also allow for a great essay.

You did a great job this semester and I enjoyed reading your posts and opinions. Good luck on finals and the rest of the school year!

Whitney Semmens

I absolutely loved reading your first post about who you are! It was very energetic and your passion for life and the future is very evident. It gave good insight as to what your writing style is like and it made me excited to read the rest of your blogs from the rest of the semester. After reading through them, I wanted to point out a few things to you. First, I think you have a wonderful writing style. It is both informative while also stating your opinion. This gives your opinion a lot of credibility because you have facts to back it up. In your "Girl Power" blog, you had both a movie and references to the book for your evidence, and putting your opinion at the end really left the reader thinking about having anything you want and how to achieve this. I also enjoyed your "I want it all" blog because again, you put all the information then dedicated your last paragraph to your opinion which was very well backed up.

Another thing that I like about your writing is the energy and life that you put into it. None of your posts were boring to read, and your personality definitely came out in each of them. I feel like I got to know a little more about you through every post, and I appreciated being able to enjoy reading them. I really cannot think of anything negative about your writing or posts; I feel that you put a lot of time and effort into them and because of that, have a great blog.

There were three different blog posts that stood out to me as favorites: "Finding My 'Self,'" "Heaven On Earth," and "Survey: Is Man Monogamous?" In "Finding My 'Self,'" I saw how much you described your own personality and how you try to be true to that no matter who you are around. I think that is a great quality to have, and it's even better that you recognize it and try to be true to yourself no matter what situation you are in. While reading your "Heaven on Earth" post, I did have one question: If you believe there is a higher power but do not have religion, what might this higher power be? This was an interesting post to read and left me with insight about your beliefs and the beliefs of those around you, but I was just wondering what the foundation of your beliefs are. The questions you posted for "Survey: Is Man Monogamous?" were great questions to consider, many of which I have never asked myself. This was an incredibly successful way to get people to think about their feelings on monogamy, and this was probably my favorite post of yours.

Good luck on finals and the rest of the semester, and great job on all your blog posts! You have a wonderful blog becuase of all the work you put into it.

Week 12 Blog Reviews

Aubrie:
Your post on the government and how it should control its people was very well written. You included both sides of the argument then stated your own opinion, which strengthened your claim because you agree with both sides. You had some great examples and pointed out valid arguments which support both sides of the issue, and I think you did a great job. Your second post about finance as a discipline was also very well written. You stated the facts that were included in the article and summarized the whole thing very well. I liked at the end how you mentioned that science is no longer hit-or-miss; it really concluded your writing very well and made me think about how it truly no longer is hit-or-miss.

Mary:
In your post about the government and how important it is, I like how you asked questions to get the reader thinking about what life would be like with no government. There would probably be no order which would change the way that we live every day. You had great evidence to back up your claim about a government is necessary to live, even though people may break the law, which is their own free choice. Great job! Your second post was also very well written. You gave an immediate definition and history of finance, which gave the rest of the blog a foundation. Good job referring back to the text; I enjoyed how you kept this post short and sweet while still including all of the necessary information.

Financial Discipline and Everyday Life

Although the discipline of finance is a newer discipline in the academic and professional worlds, it had been a long time coming and has gone through a variety of changes to become what it is. In more recent years since WWII, economists have begun to study human behavior and actions and translate this into mathematical equations to show how people deal with financial issues. This has turned into the discipline of finance. People look to financial advisors to get advice on how to deal with their money to get the most interest out of it and earn as much as possible.

Due to technology's advancements over the years, the financial discipline has greatly improved. Computer models are now possible to see increases or decreases in income or spending. Scientific calculators can also do more equations quicker than the human brain ever could, so they help compute complex financial equations in a faster and more efficient matter. The American economy has evolved into a very different thing than it was hundreds of years ago, and these changes have also influenced how money is spent. The discipline of finance observes these changes and therefore can give people advice on how to spend and save their money most effectively due to the economic status. The economy influences social change, and social aspects definitely influence how people choose to spend their money. The discipline of finance can help show a population how to spend their money on extras, like clothes and homegoods, while not spending too much. This is important because looks matter to many people, and showing how much is available to spend on extras can aid people in not spending too much, but still be able to enjoy the extras.

The discipline of finance is an interesting thing to research because there are so many aspects of it. The history has made it what it is today and allows it to continue to evolve and strengthen as time goes on. Finance is incredibly important for everyday life, and allowing it to be in academic and professional worlds gives everyone a chance to integrate finance into their lives to most effectively use thier hard-earned money.

The Happy Medium

It seems as though choosing one side of the libertarian/governmental spectrum would be a little bit drastic. I don't even want to think about what America would be without the government and laws. Millions of people live in this country, and if all of our ideas were used because there were no rules to stop them, mayhem would quickly occur. Because of this, there must be a happy medium between allowing people to have independent thinking and ideas and having set rules which govern a group of people.

In Josh McHugh's essay, he describes encryption technology and the effect it can have if it is not stopped. If something like this was allowed to run freely without the FBI having a say in how it is run, imagine what the world would be like. First, digital money could start to replace paper money, which would take away all forms of controlling finances and would therefore give people infinite amoutns fo money (McHugh 441). He also mentions that the internet takes away a sense of authority, which in many ways is plausible (McHugh 440). If there were no laws which determined what can be shown on the internet, search engines like Google could be used to find the secret information that only the government knows and should not be public information.

Since it is obvious that allowing free will and no laws would result in disaster, what about total control from the government? Would taking away people's free will and the chance for positive change to occur be better? New ideas result in new ways of doing things which can lead to improvements, and taking this away would not allow for any change. A government completely controlling the people would force everyone to think the same thing and act the same way, and would take away individuality which makes everyone unique. Due to this, it is apparent that allowing some government control along with free thinking is what is necessary to have a successfully running society.

Week 11 Blog Reviews

Aubrey:
You made some great points while talking about materialism which both supported it and showed how it is something that can be very harmful. I liked how you showed both pros and cons then made your own decision about materialism and how it is overall harmful to not only people but also the environment because of waste. I enjoyed reading about your German heritage and the impact that Germans have had on America. I didn't realize that they had such an influence on the Industrial Revolution, and using sources like the US Embassy really helps solidify your evidence and give you more credibility. Great job!

Mary:
Your post about materialism was very interesting to read. I think that it may have been more effective if you did not list the negative effects then describe why you think materialism is a good thing because it took away from the positive aspects of materialism and why you think it is a good thing for our country. You did list some good sources and have good points as to why materialism is both good and bad. I very much enjoyed learning about Native Americans and they impact they have had. Although they did not come here from a different country, they still greatly shaped the way that America was formed and still continues to run today. You pointed out a lot of ways that Native Americans have shaped America, and you did a great job making this blog!

Italian Influence on America

The Italians have had more of an impact on the American culture and economy than one would assume. First of all, the word "America" is based off of Italian explorer's name, Amerigo Vespucci, who helped prove Columbus' idea that the new islands he found were actually a new continent. Italians were also the first to cross through New York Harbor when immigrants began to travel to the New World. Italian culture immediately began to have an impact on America from the moment that Italians set foot in the new country. They brought their love for food and music along with them, and this still continues today with Italian Americans. Italian neighborhoods were formed where many immigrants lived in homes near each other, and this began to preserve the Italian culture because all of the people living near each other would only buy from each other and share traditions together. The Italian culture has also impacted the American economy in a few ways which have positively changed the pathway that the economy has taken and will continue to take.

During times of early immigration, unskilled Italian worked would immigrate to America to get a job and then send money home to their loved ones. This greatly helped the American economy because factories and other businesses needed the unskilled workers to continue their business and not have to pay someone a lot of money for work. In more recent years, Italian Americans have stepped up to larger positions which keep the American economy running in the past and hopefully will hopefully help strengthen it in the future. There are a few Italian businessmen who have founded or run major American companies, which have left a lasting positive impact on the American economy. Bank of America was founded by Amadeo Giannini and the Chrysler Corporation is managed by Lee Iocacca. Although many Italians who live in America today are 4th or 5th generations, they still have the customs that their ancestors had who were immigrants to America. This allows them to still influence American culture and economy in similar ways that their ancestors did, and therefore continue to leave an influence from their homeland on America.

"Fired" Up for Improvements

I am a little biased being from Chicago because I think that Chicago is quite possibly the greatest city ever. I love the skyline and shopping on Michigan Avenue, and I can't even begin to explain how much I love riding the train into the city to spend some time in "sweet home Chicago." However, Chicago would not be what it is today if it wasn't for the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on October 8, 1871.
It was a regular Sunday evening in Chicago, IL, when, as the story goes, Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over a lantern, starting a small fire in the shed around 9 pm. The fire quickly started spreading, but the fire department was not alerted of the blaze until 9:40, when a pharmacy pulled the fire alarm. Since Chicago was going through a drought, all of the dry wood easily caught fire, and this fire started to become out of control. The fire eventually overtook the waterworks building, cutting off water supply to the city, so firefighters had to give up. Finally, on Tuesday morning, the fire extinguished itself because it became too small to continue, and it took down almost 4 miles of the city with it. The fire killed 300 people and left thousands homeless, being forced to rebuild from scratch.
Rebuilding began almost immediately, and many people rebuilt in almost the same place where their homes burned down because they loved Chicago so much. This allowed for the latest and greatest techniques to be used, and because of this, many people were attracted to the city from other places around the country and even around the world. Chicago was eventually built up to what it is today, being one of the most populous and economically important cities in the country. The economy became stronger than it ever was before, and new fire fighting techniques and safety tips also came out because of the fire that were shared throughout the country.
Although the Great Chicago Fire was a complete disaster when it was happening and immediately after, it is now seen as something that helped improve Chicago an immense amount and quite possibly helped other fires be stopped sooner because of the lessons learned from it. I think that part of the reason that I love Chicago so much is the history that it has, and the Great Chicago Fire is something that will never be forgotten.

Week 10 Blog Reviews

Aubrie:
I'm glad we can be in a group together! It was nice meeting you in person. I really enjoyed your story about the golf course and you driving into the pole. It was so funny to read and I almost started laughing at the MU when I read it. You did a great job of presenting the story in an interesting and humorous way, and this is something that can be challenging while also including all of the important events. Great job!
When you pointed out that women should be looked at as individuals and not judged on boob size, I really started thinking about this issue. Lyrics are incredibly condemning toward women, and it is safe to assume that some men are beginning to think this way since they are emerged in this music every day. You did a great job of making points neither defending or supporting the claim, then putting in your own opinion, which gave it credibility because you had already had facts before expressing your opinion. I think this was a very well constructed blog post!

Mary:
Your short story about Abby and her shoes was hilarious! I have a friend who recently went through something similar (she didn't break her ankle or spend $1,200, but embarrassed herself in front of her ex), and reading this made me think of her immediately. It can be difficult sometimes to share a short story because it can be hard to condense it to just a few paragraphs, but you did a great job at this and I loved reading it!
When you mentioned that it is the professionals who promote scandalous behavior and fashion, it got me thinking about this issue more than I ever have. This was a great point to bring up because I think that we as a society do not see the professionals as the ones who come up with these ideas, but instead the popular culture and maybe those in Hollywood. When you ended your post saying that they could show some respect, I think this was a great way to tie it up and get the reader thinking about how this could possibly change. People deserve respect, and flauting our bodies is not a way to earn it, so how can this change?

Allowing Smaller Companies to be the Big Dogs

In his essay, Miller states that the music industry is taken over by major corporations, and is therefore corrupted because new acts and ways of playing music that are not already established will not be recognized or implemented in today's music society. There is now always a motive behind making new music, like making a lot of money for instance, and this is something that changes how music is made. Instead of it being produced purely for enjoyment, it is being used as something for personal gain. Major companies also want to get their names out in public so they are more well-known and respected, so they compete for the best so they can in turn be the best.

There are a few ways to change how the music industry is run to improve music quality and the overall greed that is occurring today. First, the companies could actually work together to produce the best music possible by allowing each other to "switch"artists with each other and make the best music based on each company's strengths. These 6 powerhouse companies could also allow smaller companies to have a chance to produce music and find new artists because this would give a variety of people a new opportunity to not only produce music, but allow for new kinds of music to be created, and therefore expand today's musical options.

Based on the proposed solutions, I believe that allowing smaller companies to produce music from more popular artists would be the most effective way to solve this issue. Today's economy is forcing people out of jobs, so giving smaller companies and newer artists a chance to produce music and make money is very much needed in the economy. This also allows newer musical genres to be produced because it is not the same regular routine as the major companies, so variety in the actual music would therefore occur. It is important for smaller companies to get a chance, and allowing them to do so could greatly affect the music industry in a positive way.

Katie's Lessons

It was a cold January night, and I had just said goodbye to Katie as she walked out the doors of the gymnasium at Praire Ridge High School. We were cheerleaders together, and the basketball game just ended so we were all going our separate ways. She said "Bye Petro!" in the cheery tone she always had, and I just waved goodbye, expecting to see her on Monday at school again. However, the next time I would see her would be in quite a different scene.

I went to my friend's house that night and put my cell phone in my purse, not expecting to use it until morning. When I woke up the next morning, I checked my phone and had 7 missed calls, 4 voicemails, and a number of text messages. I immediately listened to all of the voicemails and could barely believe what I was hearing. Katie had been in a car accident the night before and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but was in a coma and it was unsure if she would survive through the day. She was bleeding in her brain, had a broken pelvis, and her face was almost unrecognizable it was so swollen and beat up. She was in the intensive care unit at the hospital, and when my friends and I got there, Katie's mom was sitting in a chair in the waiting room grasping on to a pillow. I had never seen anyone so pale before. She didn't even realize we walked in the room, she just continued to stare at the floor. After talking with her dad, we learned that Katie had already been in surgery, but it was unknown if and when she would ever wake up. My friends and I were not allowed to go see Katie, but we made the 45 minute drive to the hospital that she got transfered to every week until she woke up 8 weeks later.

When Katie finally woke up, she did not understand what had happened to her or where she was. Her short term memory was gone, so she would ask the same question every 2 minutes, and she easily confused people's names. She had to live at a rehabilitation institute for almost 3 months after waking up from her coma, and her memory slowly began to come back to her. Katie had severe brain damage from the accident and had the mentality of a young child for many months, but eventually began to improve. Although she will never be the same Katie that she was before the accident, she is still a wonderful and caring person who only thinks about others. This part of Katie never changed, and she taught me what being a good friend is, through the thick and thin.

Week 8 Blog Reviews

Brittany:
Your blog about biology and fate was very interesting to read. You did a great job in showing the claim that biology is a key component in relationships, then tied up your post with your own opinion, which was very effective. Your opening paragraph about Disney movies making girls think that their prince will someday come was a great way to begin discussing the topic and gave a good example of why some girls think the way they do. You could have had more quotes from the text, but overall this was a well tought out post!

It was very interesting to learn about hyenas. I have never heard anything about them before, and I enjoyed reading about them and how they are so different than humans in that there is not a very big difference between males and females, if there even is a difference. You presented the information and stated your opinion in a great way because it was informative but still opinionated, and left the reader thinking about their own opinion on hyenas. Again, you could have quoted the source more, but I very much enjoyed reading this post.

Megan:
Your blog on women being more attracted to taller men than shorter men was very interesting to read. I have never considered it, but now that I think about it, it is probably true. I enjoyed reading the sceintific proof that this claim is true, and you did a great job of explaining the article that you read while shortening it up to fit in a blog post. You wrote this very professionally, making your work very credible, and I very much enjoyed reading about this.

When you pointed out that we do not know the motive behind animals who demonstrate homosexuality, it got me thinking about the motives behind human homosexuality. You did a great job on this post because it left the reader thinking but was also full of information and direct quotes from your sources. I always enjoy reading your work, and I think this is one of your better posts.

Victoria:
Your post on love and finding our prince charming was written very well. I enjoyed the opening paragraph about all the things girls do at a young age to find our true love, including playing M.A.S.H. and already having the wedding planned. It is every girl's dream from a young age that we will live that fairy tale, and being told that it is not a fairy tale, but instead biology that has us pick our mate is almost a dream crusher. You described why a fairy tale ending is so important for girls, and effectively ended the post with explaining how just biology would not work. Yes biology may play a part in it, but how would we first be attracted to a potential mate if it was all biology? You did a great job explaining this and I very much enjoyed reading your post.

You brought up good questions to think about in your blog about homosexuality and animals. It effectively argued both sides of the issue about if animal's homosexuality tendencies should be compared to humans, and really got me thinking about the issue. I think that you could have put in more references to the source to solidify your argument and show that animals should not be compared to human homosexuality behaviors, but overall your post was effective in making me think about the issue and my stance on it.

The "Natural" Way to Live

The idea of naturality when dealing with homosexuality can be a touchy issue. People who do not support homosexuality argue that being in a same-sex relationship is just not natural. Since you cannot reproduce and have a child in a homosexual relationship, this means that you should not be in this kind of relationship at all. Also, people believe that a child should not be raised by two people of the same sex. They claim that a child needs to be raised by a parent of both sexes to learn both the maternal and paternal insticts and ways of life. It can also be argued that since animals who do not have human will are in heterosexual relations, and this is natural, unlike homosexual relationships.

Although the topic of homosexuality can bring up a variety of issues, there are also some other topics in human behavior that can be debated as not being natural. Prostitution is an issue that people argue as not being morally right because people believe that selling your body to earn money is not a way to live. They say that your body is a temple, and selling your body for someone else's pleasure is not what our society accepts as natural or right today. Another unnatural issue that is present in today's society is the plastic surgery movement. It can be argued that modifying your body image becasue you are not happy with the way you look is not natural and is therefore unaccepted. This is an ongoing issue that has valid points coming from both parties, but will always be argued an unnatural.

We are raised in this country learning from a young age what is natural and what is not according to our culture. Because of this, nature can be used as an argument to justify certain situations, but can also be used to condemn people's actions. It is the culture that we are raised in that teaches us our morals and values, and these values vary from culture to culture. Someone who is raised in a town where plastic surgery is common and accepted will think that naturality is different than someone who was raised in a more conservative environment who thinks that your body is natural and should not be altered. Our culture teaches every person what is natural, and since there are differences in cultures, there will be differences on naturality.

The Real Foundation of Love

It can be difficult to distinguish what aspect of a relationship is the most important. This could include biology, chemistry, love, and a variety of other aspects. It seems that all of these are incredibly important, and Helen Fisher describes this as a "love map" (Fisher 304). She says that it is predetermined in the brain what kinds of people we will be attracted to, and we follow this unconsciously throughout our lives. Fisher also explained how she believes that "love at first sight" comes from nature. It is instinct for animals to grab their mates so no one else can have them, and this is similar to human's views of love at first sight (Fisher 305). Since the love map and love at first sight seem to be natural instincts, all of the "mystical" things that come along with love are actually all predetermined.

After realizing that most love engagements are unconscious and predetermined, cultural beliefs and behaviors could be drastically changed. Some cultures have arranged marriages, and they could change these ways because love has a biological component that proves that two people are meant to be together, and they cannot know if their arranged partner is actually the love of their life. The "wooing messages, dinner dates, and odor lures" cannot happen with arranged marriages, and this does not allow the partners to know if they are right for each other (Fisher 303). People who do not have arranged marriages would also date less because they would know if they had the chemistry and biological connection sooner. Based on "love at first sight," after a few dates, a couple would know if they were meant to be together, and if they were not, they would end it sooner (Fisher 305). Proving that relationships have a biological foundation could greatly change the way that we look at them in general.

I believe that there is definitely a chemistry between two people, and that biology is a firm basis for this. However, I think that it may be a little bold to claim that it is solely biology and chemistry that make up relationships, and that a love map is predetermined. Unless we get a chance to experience the world and what people have to offer, we cannot fully know what kind of partner we want for the rest of our lives. Biology has more of an impact on relationships than we give it credit for because it cannot be solely based on human opinion, but I do think that there is some wiggle room for people to discover who they are and what their identity is before choosing a partner, and this can be accomplished through dating and meeting others.

Week 7 Blog Reviews

Brittany:

I really enjoyed reading your blog about how women can drive too. I have experienced this too, and it can be very frustrating to hear no other excuse than "well, you just can't." This was a great point to bring up about gender differences because although men and women can be similar drivers, men do not want to hear it, and would rather be superior and dominant over women. You tied in Tannen's point very effectively by saying that men and women communicate differently because this directly ties in to the male dominance issue. Good job!
Your blog on relationships was interesting to read. You brought up great points about how women want their "perfect man" and will continue to look for this for a long period of time. Wright mentioned that people are not meant to stay together, and you explained his reasoning in a very effective way. I liked that you did not put your opinion in until the end, because it can be difficult to play devil's advocate, but I think you did a great job at it. The questions you asked at the beginning of the post really got me thinking about what the rest of the post was going to be about. Great job!

Victoria:

I really enjoyed your post about men! It was so funny to read, and I completely agree with you that men can quite often give the cold shoulder and it is so very frustrating. I have gone through the same thing with my dad and boyfriends, and I would never understand why it was so necessary to ignore me until this reading either. Men are so different than women, and you proved by all the stories that you have about your dad and ex boyfriend. This was a great blog to read and you did a great job!
Your blog about marriage and how it needs to stay sacred brought up great points. You talked about Wright's view on marriage and why people should be able to move from one partner to the next, then stated your own opinion which showed a lot of thought about the topic. When you described all the things that people should stay together through, like cancer, morning sickness, and the flu, it really showed how important marriage is and why we need to be there for only one person for better or for worse. You did a very good job on this post!

Megan:

I can tell you put a lot of thought into your post about men and their different communication styles. I feel the same way about my brother: him not talking very much while I talk about most of my feelings, and this proves how different men and women are in their communication styles. Mentioning your cell phone and how it can be difficult to communicate was a great topic to bring up. It can be hard in general to communicate over texting because you can never tell emotion, and trying to text a male can be even harder because it can be very difficult to figure out what they are saying. This was a very thoughtful post and I enjoyed reading it.
Your blog about marriage was interesting to read. You referenced the text quite often, and had a very good argument about being sure about the life-long decision many people make a year. No marriage is easy, but this does not mean that a marriage needs to end just because it is difficult. I think that this is important to remember, even though Wright may not believe this. Your post was very informational, and stating your opinion on the topic will enforce your argument and show how you feel about it. Good job!

Till Death Do Us Part

Although marriage can be one of the hardest things that a man and woman go through together, it is something that must be preserved and stay sacred. Although monogamous marriage has "aquired some blemishes," we still should work to keep marriage between a single man and woman (Wright 280). When two people take vows on their wedding day, they make lifelong promises to each other, closing it up with "death do us part." With divorce rates at an all-time high in today's society, these vows seem to no longer be promises, but just phrases that two people say to each other when they are embarking on a new journey together. Wright says that "human beings are designed to fall in love," and this should only be to one person whom someone can share their deepest and darkest secrets with (Wright 280).

"The human mind, like any other organ, was designed for the purpose of transmitting genes to the next generation" (Wright 280). Since the body was designed to reproduce and carry on human kind, it is not necessary to break the bonds of marriage to do so. Once someone has picked their life partner, they must realize that offspring are usually a part of marriage, so they need to marry knowing that children could very well be in the future. Monogamous marriage has been around for thousands of years, and just because our society has changed today does not mean that marriage should.

With affairs and divorce comes jealousy and despise. If someone finds out their partner has cheated on them, they become jealous of the other person, and the relationship can quickly fall apart. Wright states that "the modern environment has carried them [jealousies] to new heights, making marriage dicer than ever" (Wright 285). If monogamous marriage has worked for so many years, why are affairs that cause jealousy needed? They just aren't. Our society has turned marriage into a different bond than it used to be, full of affairs and divorce, which only causes heartache. Looking back on the thousands of years of monogamous marriage and the better relationships and lives people lead, it is apparent that monogamous marriage needs to stay an integral part of today's society, no matter what the media says.

Emotional Women and Not-So-Emotional Men

It can be quite difficult to talk to men about emotions. Having a boyfriend, a brother, and a father around me often, I have learned that avoiding an emotional topic is usually best. Most men that I have met are very literal, and only think, don't feel. This can cause conflict because women are generally emotional like to talk about their feelings, so it can be difficult to relate to men sometimes. If I have a conversationwith a guy, I make sure to make it as unemotional as possible. This avoids any awkward silences or looks, and helps the conversation go as smooth as possible.

Deborah Tannen showed a perfect example of an unemotional guy and a more emotional girl. A guy might say, "You shouldn't feel bad because your problems aren't so bad," while a girl would say "You shouldn't feel bad because I've had similar experiences" (Tannen 243). This shows how a man is less emotionally attached while a woman tries to feel for the other woman and share the problem with her. Talking is also a sign of closeness for women, or intimacy (Tannen 244). Since men are so unemotional with their converstaions, it can be difficult to relate with them because women are more emotional in general, and they can feel like they are lacking intimacy when lacking genuine conversation.

Week 6 Blog Reviews

Brittany:
I think you picked a great movie to describe a "wild woman." Helen had her own life which she loved and it quickly turned around and she had to care for others more than herself. You did a great job of describing Helen and a background of her life before explaining what happened to her and how she had to immediately become a responsible adult. I found it difficult to find a movie to describe, and I think you found a great one.

There was no blog post for 10/1.

Victoria:
Your blog about the movie "Crossroads" was a great description of a "wild woman" and referenced back to the reading in a very good way. Tying back to Thelma and Louise gave the movie you chose a lot of credibility and proved how the movie was a true example of a "wild woman." You described Lucy's life and her longing to have a different lifestyle in a very effective way and I enjoyed reading your description about the movie. You tied up the idea of a wild woman in the movie at the end of the post and this was a great conclusion.

There was no blog post for 10/1.

Megan:
You did an excellent job on the first blog post about the movie. You went into a lot of detail to describe the film then tie in how it relates to a "wild woman."I think this was a great movie to choose because you talked about more than 1 woman in the film, but rather all of the main characters and how they separately live lives of a wild woman. You did a great job explaining how Thelma and Louise also could relate to these characters, and I really enjoyed reading your post!

The blog post on D'Emilio's essay was very well thought out and I think you brought up some excellent points. Explaining the growth of capitalism and the different communities that came along with it is very important because it shows the importance of family life even after all the new technology has erupted. Technology has helped homosexual couples be able to have a family, which leads back to family life, making it a full circle. You pointed out that capitalism has created new societies online, which help people meet. This was good to point out because it allows for homosexual couples to have more chances to meet each other, therefore showing why capitalism is necessary.

Economic Status Changes?

The American family today is significantly different than it was years ago. Gay and lesbian relationships are more accepted and some couples adopt a child to complete their family. There are still heterosexual relationships with couples that have thier own children to make a family, but both lifestyles are becoming more common among Americans. D'Emilio suggested that capitalism allows for more independence, therefore giving a gay or lesbian life a chance (D'Emilio 235). Since every person must survive on their own and make a living for themselves because of capitalism, surviving for some people may be living a gay lifestyle. We are allowed to live a life with free will, and becasue of this, the American family is turning into whatever two people may want it to be.

The past 100 years have encouraged each and every person to be independent and live a life that pleases them personally. This allowed for some people to declare themselves gay or lesbian, and due to this, the birthrate began to drop. It is physically impossible for a gay or lesbian couple to concieve a child, so the more couples there are, the less children there will be. As D'Emilio said, the decline of children born has affected every part of America and every social class (D'Emilio 229). When social classes and groups of people are impacted, the economic structure will drastically change. If there are not as many children, there will not be a need for new schools, which will impact the careers of teachers. A variety of outcomes will happen due to less children being born, and all of these otucomes will affect the economy.

Another economic change that occurs due to gay and lesbian relationships is the social aspect. Gay and lesbian bars are becoming more popular for couples to meet each other. There are also places like the YMCA, local libraries, and different clubs and associations (D'Emilio 230). While these environments are gaining popularity, heterosexual clubs, bars, and other meeting places are also growing and being built. Since there are two different environments now that must be built so people can meet each other, more money will be made, which will in turn help the economy.

There are a variety of ways that the "modern" American family is changing the economic status of this country. It may not seem that gays and lesbians cause such an effect on the economy, but when considered, it is apparent that many aspects of the economy are changed because of it.

Woman in a Man's Role?

The film Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie perfectly portrays the breaking of a woman's gender role while also holding on to important aspects of a woman's identity. John and Jane Smith are married, but are both secret assassins. Neither knows about each other's secret second life, until they are assigned to kill each other. In the end, they much choose which is more important: their personal life or their secret career.

Jane Smith seems like the typical housewife when she gets home from the office every day. She cooks dinner for her husband John, sets the table, and cleans up the mess afterward. She is always perfectly put together, makeup and all, and never hesitates to be nice to the neighbors. Her home is beautifully decorated and in pristine condition. She seems far from the "female road outlaw," but her seperate identity is truly one of crime and murder (Boozer 209).

When she leaves for the "office" every morning, her entire indentity changes. She is an undercover assassin who is the best in her firm, and is definitely not scared to shoot a gun. A whole different person comes out when she is at work: an aggressive, hostile woman who does not care who gets in the way of her mission. This is until her husband gets in the way. Jane must decide what is more important to her, and in the end she realizes that John is the one who she should pick. The Smith's end up working together to accomplish the mission they were both sent out on before they were assigned to kill each other. Jane Smith is much like the character in Sleeping With the Enemy because she is not scared to take on a more masculine role and kill others (Boozer 212).

Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a film that takes away from the female stereotype of being the perfect housewife. It proves that women can be as forceful and intelligent as men can, and since it was such a box office hit, millions of people got the opportunity to see this point of view, which is important for every woman to see.

Week 4 Blog Reviews

Krista:
Artifical Intelligence
You wrote a great summary of the artifical intelligence article. It was very informative without throwing in your opinion, which is very important while summarizing someone else's work. It was great to point out that Wright "unbiasedly" discussed Chalmers' and Dennet's points of view. While it is important that you do not throw in your opinion, it is also important that the author does the same thing because that can easily take away from the opinions of the people that are being discussed. You did a great job of mentioning the examples that the author used, and this was overall a very well-crafted summary.

Frida Kahlo
I very much enjoyed reading about Frida Kahol's painting. You did a wonderful job explaining the meaning behind the painting, and you mentioned things that I would not think of when first looking at it, showing that you took a lot of time on this post. The beginning was very informative and showed different aspects of the painting that led into your personal evaluation of the piece. Talking about not only the person in the paiting, but also the background really gave good insight into what was happening and how she was feeling since it was a personal portrait. This was a great post!


Lauren Angulo:
Can Machines Think?
This was a very interesting blog post to read. I enjoyed how you asked questions about artificial intelligence then answered them with references from the text. This gave the questions that you asked a lot of credibililty and showed that you put a lot of thought into the blog post. I think that it was good that you brought up the point of consciousness and how machinces cannot have consciousness unless we create a new species of life, and how this starts to travel into the philosophical world.

Frida Kahlo
The painting that you described was a very good one to pick because there were so many different ways to describe it. When I first looked at it, I did not realize that Frida was standing in the middle of the two countries, and you did a great job explaining the artwork and the meaning behind it. The descriptive part was very informational, and it was good that you explained why you chose this article beacause there was clearly thought behind choosing this specific one. You also did a great job at explaining the difference between the two sides and pointing out that Frida liked Mexico better because she was holding the Mexican flag.

Kim Kida had no blog posts.

Torrent. "Paintings and Sketches by Frida Kahlo." Torrent Corp.

www.torrentreactor.net. Wednesday 16 Sep. 2009.

http://www.torrentreactor.net/torrents/920246/paintings-and-sketches-by-frida-kahlo.html

The "Portrait of a Woman in White" was painted in 1930 by Frida Kahlo. It is a painting of a woman in a white wedding dress with a very somber look on her face. She is looking away from the artist, with her hair pinned up and a small pink flower in her hair. There is light makeup on her face, and the makeup brings out her facial features. Her neck is draped with a small gold necklace which follows the cut of her dress. She is wearing long white gloves with her hands folded in her lap, holding something white. The woman is sitting in front of a window with burgundy curtains that are tied back with gold ties. There is a banner above her head that has no words inside of it, almost seems unfinished.

The woman in the portrait truly does not seem happy about something, maybe the wedding that is about to occur. She does not have a smile on her face, and her arms are neatly folded in her lap, showing calm compsure and patience. It seems that she is sitting, which would show even more composure. Her wedding dress is very modest, with thick straps and a higher neckline. It is apparent that she is a nice woman due to her facial expression, body language, and clothing choices. The background seems to reveal that she is in a nice house or church, with royal colored curtains and brass railings. Because of this, it seems like she is either marrying into wealth or she is wealthy herself.

I think that this picture depicts a confused woman. Although she may seem peaceful, I still think that she does not know what to think about the future marriage. It seems as though she is going along with something that may have been arranged, and she had no choice. Since the painting was not finished (there is nothing in the banner above her head), there may be something that could have been explained that was supposed to go in the banner.

Will Machines Have Consciousness Like Humans?

When Robert Wright began his essay, he introduced his topic with a story about a man playing chess against a computer to try to "help defend our dignity" (Wright 140). He went on to explain how he believes that the smarter computers get, the more soulless we may get as humans.

Philosophers are considering more than ever what consciousness is and where it comes from. With the debate about if computers will surpass the human race a big topic, philosophers are having to try to figure the strange phenomenon and explain why consciousness is such a basis to mankind. Consciousness is a foundation for common sense, something that computers may never have. Wright points out that "the hardest thing for computers is the 'simple stuff'" (Wright 141). Computers do not have common sense and cannot recognize a face or a joke.

A major aspect of human beings that computers do not have is emotion. Emotions are what make people, well, people, and computers lack this integral part of humans. Wright addresses this issue in a great way: "The lights are on, but is anyone home?" (Wright 142). The thought processes may be present for a computer, but the emotion and consciousness are greatly lacking.

Although philosophers, including Colin McGinn and David Chalmers, agree that computers will not ever top human consciousness, they still do not totally understand what consciousness is. Although they may use robots such as the robot "Cog" to try to help explain consciousness from basic human movements, this does not explain the human consciousness that includes "a feeling of heat and pain, subjective experience, consciousness" (Wright 143). There are different aspects of consciousness that may never be explained, and because of this, machines will never be able to possess these types of consciousness; that is, "everything they do will be explicable in strictly physical terms" (Wright 144).

Although Chalmers believes that there is an answer to the basis of human consciousness and McGinn does not think that this puzzle will ever be solved, they both agree on one thing: consciousness is a mystery that will take much work to figure out. Machines will not have the abilities humans have, and to create one that would have equal consciousness as a human would "exercise powers reserved for God" (Wright 146).

Week 3 Blog Reviews

Krista:
Your first blog about Ideas and Thoughts being somewhat intertwined was a very good way to look at it. Although thoughts and ideas are not exactly the same, they do have similar bases and this was a good thing to point out. I also enjoyed reading about the conscious and subconscious aspects of ideas and thoughts. Your whole post was very well thought out and written with great thought.

Your second blog about computers being smarter than humans was also very well thought out. It was great to mention what computers were like not even 20 years ago and what they have turned into now. This perspective really made me think about technological advancements over the years and what technology will turn into in the future. I agree with you that machines will never advance over humans. Emotions are a huge part of human beings, and since computers will never have emotions, they will not be able to advance us.

Lauren Angulo:
Your blog about what thoughts and ideas are had great references to the text in it. I agree that thoughts include both philosophy and science, but I do think that you can define what a thought is and what an idea is. It may be difficult to come to a definite definition of what a thought and an idea are, but in my opinion, it is possible. I do completely agree with you that the ability to think is one of the greatest elements that make us human. Our ability to think is what makes us individual and unique, and therefore makes us all different.

The way you addressed both sides of the argument about if computers will surpass humans was a great way to show your thoughts on the issue. Explaining different views really shows knowledge about the subject, and therefore helps enforce your opinion. I completely agree with you that computers will not ever have the capabilities that humans have, and because of this, will never advance human beings. You were very descriptive in your post and this made you seem very knowledgeable about the subject. I really enjoyed reading it!

Kim Kida had no posts.

According to Minsky, there are a few different ways that a computer can surpass the human brain. He points out that "a computer can be programmed to keep a record of all its internal states and then trace back to these" (Beedles 120). This means that a computer would be able to go back to any event and respond the same way it did at the time. It is not possible for a human to go back to a specific event at any time in their life and remember what happened, or even respond the same way.



Since these computers are so advanced and are able to do a lot more than the human brain, Minsky claims that they are smarter than human beings. Although this has caused much controversy, Minsky has stood by his claim and does not mind the opposing view. His view on artificial intelligence is not very popular among his collegues, however, he continues to research and support his stance on artificial intelligence. He has done much research about artificial intelligence, and from all the work he has done for this research, his stance is not going to change.



Even though Minsky may bring up a good point that comptuers can do more functions than the human brain, I do not believe that a computer will ever be smarter than the human brain. It seems impossible that a computer will ever have emotions like humans do, and since emotions lead to so many different actions, I do not think that a computer will ever be able to top a human. Computers may know more than a human and may be able to trace back to certain moments better than a human ever could, but that does not mean that a computer is necessarily "smarter" than a human.

Week 2 Blog Reviews

I really enjoyed reading Krista's blog. I did not consider that you can tweak a first impression online so much. I did realize that you craft a first impression into whatever you would like it to be, but I did not consider that you can change this impression before submitting it if you do not like how it turns out. I also did not consider that there are so many different types of first impressions when meeting in person. This was a very good point to bring up, and I think it was great to point out that first impressions really do come down to each and every student. When talking about if people can be good without God, I think it is a personal opinion, no matter what studies may say. They may prove that people who believe in God act differently than people who do not, but I think it depends on a personal definition of what "good" is and what kind of impact God has on your life.

I completely agree with Lauren Angulo's discussions about being able to get to know each other even through an online class. Although it may be harder to get to know someone becasue we may never know if they are really telling the honest truth about who they are, there are some aspects that may allow us to get to know a person better. For example, someone may be able to express their feelings in writing better than they would in person, and an online class allows this writing to occur. I completely agree that morals are made beyond just religious beliefs, but I don't completely agree that someone can be good without God. They may have excellent morals and live a fulfilling life, but I do think that it is necessary to have God in your life to be "good."

Kim does not have any posts from Week 2.

Any Ideas?

What is an idea? According to Webster, an idea is "a transcendent entity that is a real pattern of which existing things are imperfect representations" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/). When someone comes up with an idea, no matter what it may be for, there is a personal pride to it. Whether it be for a business concept or personal development, an idea can either help or hurt a situation. Personal morals can affect an idea and drastically change the way a problem is looked at. A variety of different things can be built off of an idea, and can morph into a dramatic change of events.



Webster defines a thought as "serious consideration" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/). I believe that a thought is built off of an idea. A thought is a person's feelings about a situation, and can be expressed through a variety of ways, including verbally, physcially, or emotionally. Verbally, a person will say their feelings and build off an idea. If someone is upset about something for example, they may walk away, showing their thoughts about the situation. Some thoughts may lead to a person start to cry or even laugh, showing their emotion due to the thought. After condsidering a situation, thoughts arise and lead to an action.



Ideas and thoughts come from a person's beliefs and morals. Someone who believes in God may have completely different thoughts and ideas about a situation than someone who does not. There may not be a solid answer as to where thoughts and ideas arise from due to the fact that so many outside sources can influence them, but it is definite that thoughts and ideas are expressed from an inidividual and can drastically change the way someone lives.

Who is God? And can we be good without Him?

People may have many different opinions about God and if He even exists. Especially these days, there are many views about God. People are encouraged to believe what they want, and this can cause much debate between groups of people. To answer the question if we can be good without God, a person must first answer another question. How do you define God? Is He the Creator, the Savior, just some object, or something that doesn't even exist?

If your belief is that God is the Savior and Creator, then the good inside you reflects your relationship with God. You want to do things that the Bible commands, and when you do those and choose to live a life according to Biblical principles, you are good as long as God is an active part of your life.

If your belief is that God is some object or even something that doesn't exist, your definition of good may be everything that pleases your personally, which could include money, objects, etc. This is not to say that these things are not good more most people, but they be more pleasing to a person that doesn't believe that God exists rather than a person who has total and complete faith in God.

Personally, I believe that it is impossible to be good without God. Being raised in a Christian home gave me the Biblical foundation that I try to make a part of my everyday life. Since I was raised learning these principles, I believe that you must have God in your life to be "good," and because of this, I try to live with God as an active part of my life.

Expressing Ourselves Through Writing

The overall concept of being enrolled in an online class has both its pros and cons. Although an online class fits anyone's schedule better because it can be completed at any time, it may be harder because students may never get the opportunity to meet their classmates or the professor. Erving Goffman described first impressions as being incredibly important. "When the interaction that is initiated by 'first impressions' is itself merely the initial interaction in an extended series of interactions involving the same participants, we speak of 'getting off on the right foot' and feel that it is crucial to do so," he says (Goffman 47). First impressions greatly shape how students and professors view each other, and although this is an online class, first impressions are still quite strong and greatly shape how the rest of the semester will go in this course.

I believe that it is possible to get to know classmates through an online class as long as everyone is honest about their feelings through the blog posts. It could very easily occur that someone may put up a different persona since there are no actual face-to-face meetings. A person could make up any personality they want and use it throughout the semester. However, as long as everyone is honest about who they are and true to their personality, I think it is very possible to get to know a complete stranger through an online class. As Goffman says, "Information about the individual helps shape the situation, enabling others to know in advance what he will expect of them and what they may expect of him" (Goffman 42). The information we choose to post is what people will get to know us by, whether it is our true selves or not.

Since this is a writing class, we may get to know each other even better than we would in a traditional in-person class. I know that I express my feelings much better through writing than I do speaking, and since I don't know anyone in the class, I feel like I will express myself even more than I would if I did know someone. We may be strangers on the street due to never being formally introduced, but I believe that we will be no strangers in this course. We may even get to know a different side of each other that no one else knows!

Lauren's Life

My name is Lauren Petrovich and I am a sophomore at the ASU Tempe campus. I love meeting new poeple and being involved, which is why I am part of Greek Life here on campus. Traveling is something that I love to do, and I have been to Europe a few times, Central America, and Australia. I enjoy being in a different culture and having the opportunity to learn about how other people live. After college, I would love to be able to travel the world.




I love being around children and helping them as much as possible, and because of this, I want to one day be an occupational therapist. I had a friend in high school who was involved in a car accident which left her in a coma for 8 weeks and living in a rehabilitation institute for about 3 months, and having the chance to see her progress after going to occupational therapy with her every week inspired me to want to one day help other kids have a second chance of living a regular life after an unfortunate incident. This is what keeps me going when I am struggling through a hard class.





On a higher note, one of my favorite things to do is hang out with my friends. I have the best support group in my friends and I don't know what I would do without them. I have the wonderful opportunity of getting to live with many of them this year, and so far it has been the best experience I could ask for. I am so lucky to have such a great group of people in my life and could not ask for anything else. We do almost everything together, and I am loving every minute of college because of my great friends.