Violence in the Media

Violence on film and television play a integral role in the emotional development of young people. Entertainment in our society is saturated with simulated violence of all types from reality shows to movies to role playing video games. The problem is that for young kids who don’t know any better, this violence is seen as okay and they have become desensitized to it. This may contribute to a confusion in the difference between reality and fiction and can ultimately be confusing for young people who are not given the explanation of the difference between the two.

Helmet Laws

There are many measures passed in order to protect the drivers of a variety of vehicles including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and scooters. Each driver needs a certain qualification or license. However, when it comes to the riders of two wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles, the really important laws seem to have become very relaxed. It has come to my attention that wearing a helmet while on these vehicles is optional for riders over the age of 18. I believe that helmet laws should be mandatory for everybody riding these vehicles regardless of age. Whether you are 15 or 50, you can still suffer serious head injuries or a fatality if you are not wearing a helmet on these vehicles.

Competition in the Marketplace

Competitive marketing goes hand and hand with consumerism. PDA’s such as the iPhone and the Blackberry are the markets top products in this field. Each company is always trying to out-sell the other one. Apple throws out new products frequently and it is hard for any other company to compete with them due to the fact that they are the top selling products. The market place is overly saturated with the new blackberry “Storm” and the iPhone 3G. How can any other digital communication company compete with these two giants?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day when we take time out of our normal lives to be grateful for the things we have and for the people that are in our lives. Thanksgiving tradition is embedded in American History and is studied very closely by American students. In light of the recent economic crisis lately, as well as the mortgage business and the bank buyouts, many people have suffered financially and have had their lives change considerably. Giving thanks is especially important now because many peoples lives have changed for the worst over the course of the past year. We should all be appreciative for what we have and should spend this holiday with our loved ones.

Gas Prices

Over the summer of 2008, gasoline prices soared to nearly $5.00 a gallon. These ridiculous prices caused many drivers to dust off their old bicycles and use that as an alternative mode of transportation. The gas prices have come down considerably in the past few months probably because many of the drivers paying for gas decided that they did not want to pay that much for gas. Gas prices have lowered all the way down to $1.95. This might mean that we are going to see more people spending more money on gas which may cause more cars on the road.

Social Networking

The world has shrunk in size thanks to the sensation of online social networking. Social networking such as Facebook, Myspace, Youtube and Ebay have all contributed to the ease with which we share information. These social networking sites all share information and goods. These sites help us stay in touch with friends and family, do business, and learn more about the world and the people in it.

Hands-free Driving

The new law regarding hands-free driving has proven to be very beneficial to drivers and pedestrians alike. As I come to traffic lights and stop signs, I have noticed more people using headsets which allows them to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. I think the new law is very efficient and has made the driving in Los Angeles a lot safer.

Traffic Tickets

Speeding tickets are a good issue for debate in this city. As a driveR who has received many of them in the past few months, I have formed my own opinion on the subject matter. Speeding tickets or traffic tickets are meant to be issued to drivers breaking laws and putting themselves and other drivers in danger. Having to pay a fine for breaking common traffic laws is meant to force drivers to be more careful and responsible on the road. However, many traffic policeman issue out traffic tickets even when no laws have been broken. They simply need to fill a quota, a certain ammount of tickets that they are required to issue everyday. Many drivers get tickets when they don’t even break the laws and this causes a lot of people of the roadways to resent traffic regulations and therefore they tend to ignore them even more.

Army Recruitment Advertisments

I recently went to go see a film and couldn’t help but notice the advertisements playing before the movie. I have recently noticed more and more that there are so many army recruitment ads being played not only on TV but also in movie theaters. They are well produced and look like big budget action movies. The advertisements are really attractive to younger people who have the desire to prove themselves in this world and who also seek adventure. In reality, these recruitment ads are giving viewers the wrong impression of what it really means to be in the army. I have noticed that none of the recruitment ads show scenes of death and violence. The ads only show the exciting and heroic parts of being a soldier.

Drive-ertisements

Drivers everywhere can’t go a fraction of a mile without seeing some type of advertisement, whether it be on a bus, a billboard, the side of a car or even the hub caps of that car. It is bad enough that many of our e-mail inboxes are swamped with junk mail and spam. But to be subjected to constant advertisements while on the roadways can pose a serious threat to drivers and pedestrians alike (forget about the new hands-free law!) 

Each time I drive down Sunset Blvd., I am almost forced to take my eyes off of the road and be fed clothing advertisements, fast food offers, and sales opportunities. For goodness sake, even the entire side of a huge commercial building can serve as one giant billboard! Billboards are very distracting and the new digital ones that show footage of new TV shows and movies are becoming more and more dangerous to drivers, especially those already prone to distractions.

More and more quickly we are becoming a culture of constant flashing lights and forceful consumerism. If the standards for advertising keep going the way that they are going, what lies on the road ahead?