Rodeos Happen Not Only in Houston

Its rodeo time all over Texas, especially in Houston, Texas.  However, I am more excited for the local county fair and rodeo.  Its the time of year when school aged children up through high school will be missing school to show their pigs, goats, steers, rabbits, and more.  In fact, in my hometown there are even "fair days" where school is canceled because so many would be missing anyway.  This is an extremely important time of year where everyone is so busy and excited.

For as long as I can remember, I have gone to the rodeo every year.  The fair grounds and the rodeo barn are well-known and well-utilized in my town.  In fact, the rodeo held there each year is well-known around local small towns because these are nationally, and world renowned cowboys and competitors.  Of course, its the neighbors' children who participate in the mutton bustin' and its one of your good friend's boyfriend who is on a steer wrestling team but the rodeo is not just some local, podunk show.  This is serious business.  

The atmosphere as soon as you enter the rodeo barn is filled with excitement and dust.  Lots of dust. There is the smell of roasting nuts and leather coming from the little nooks and crannies filled with retail you can buy and of course, the sweet smell of animals and hay.  People dress all fancy to come to the rodeo.  Some wear dresses, or their nice jeans, with a button down shirt, flashy belt, and their Sunday boots.  This is the social event of the season where you see everyone you went to high school with and catch up on all those who have came back into town for fair week. 

Once in your seats, after the national anthem, the recognition of the world renowned cowboys who came to perform, and a prayer for the safety of the animals and the competitors, the rodeo starts with the first bucking bull out of the shoot trying to throw the cowboy who is determined to keep his seat for eight seconds.  There is so much energy and excitement that is held throughout the bull rides, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, mutton bustin', steer wrestling, and more.  Everyone is cheering loudly, drinking beer, and eating funnel cakes and curly fries.  There is so much community in those moments when the team ropers catch those horns and the slippery back hooves as the crowd erupts with applause at a job well-done.  There is a sharp intake of breath as the cowboy flies off the bucking bull and the clown jumps between the fallen cowboy and the bull and is inches from the dangerous horns.  There is a communal heart pounding 12 seconds shared with the girls cutting the corners infinitely close to the barrels and hoping they stay upright.  There is laughter shared when the boys just can not get that pesky steer across the line with their friend on top holding the strap of the saddle that he prays will stay on for just a few more seconds and him with it.  There are the good times, the intense seconds, and the good moments that make a person proud to be a Texan, proud to be part of such an event that has so defined our culture.  The history of the rodeo and the fact that a lot of these competitions evolved from useful practices for working the cattle back in the old days where the land was more open and there was less modernization that helped with the hard work, all of these emotions stick with a person in a profound way.  

To me, the rodeo is about this up-front and personal experience shared with half of my hometown community.  I don't need some fancy concert, I am perfectly content with my heart-wrenching and exhilarating, feeling of belonging, and pride to be a part of this great state of Texas and the tradition that is the rodeo.   

Happily Ever After is not so Once Upon a Time

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." -C.S. Lewis 

When someone mentions fairy tales one of the first things that comes to mind is all of the Disney Princesses and their happily ever afters.  However, fairy tales, even today, include so much more than charming princes and magic potions.  They are stories of people that have extraordinary circumstances and overcome extreme obstacles.  And yes, of course, most of the time there is a love story involved.  In today's society these stories are uplifting and inspiring and maybe somewhat predictable.  Nonetheless, fairy tale endings were not always so expected.

Fairy tales have been around for centuries and centuries and even predate literacy.  In fact, the Grimm Brothers were possibly the most influential in the preservation and evolution of the fairy tale.  These men took the folklore that was circulation about the time and wrote them down, probably putting their own spin on them.  And as we know today, the stories written by the Grimm Brothers are gruesome and not everyone finds that happen ending that so characteristic of fairy tales.  In fact, some of the first tales were told not only to children but also to adults and were meant to teach a lesson. In ye olden days, these stories reflected the circumstances of the time.  As compared to now, the people in the fairy tales were more in control of their situations and their outcomes.  The good things that happened and the happy endings were earned rather than magically falling together.  The people of the times led rough lives and maybe through the stories found hope.  Hope is a common aspect of all fairy tales that circumstances will get better rather through cleverness and independence as in the old stories, or magic and luck as in the new stories.  In today's world there is less room for magic and extraordinary circumstances but yet we cling to fairy tales and retell them, see movies about them, buy princess merchandise, and visit theme parks.  There is the hope that life is more than what is seen and magical worlds with dragons once existed, possible still exist.  

The origins of these stories are unclear but maybe, once upon a time, there were real people and real events that inspired the tales and there trials and misfortunes were retold in order to serve as a warning for others.  One thing is clear, the more the stories were told the more they changed.  The more the times changed and the circumstances of the common folks changed the more the story altered to appeal to the audience.  Take for example the classic story of Cinderella.  There are many stories across many cultures across many centuries but one thing remains the same, Cinderella finds her prince.  

Fairy tales and magical endings are more important today than ever.  They hold so much history and culture from generations past to share with future generations.  Without fairy tales we would lose an important part of the inspiration for imagination.  Without imagination there is no hope and without hope there is no future.  Fairy tales are much more than Disney versions, they are everywhere in literature and all around in  every day life.  They are the bedtimes stories we tell, and the fantasy novels we read, and sometimes, the very lives we lead of adventure and yes, romance.  Everyone is affected by fairy tales rather they know it or not, no one can escape the magic, or the lessons learned.  Everyone deserves their happily ever after.  

"Why sometimes I've believed in as many as six impossible things before breakfast." -Lewis Carroll 

eBooks or real books?

In today’s society there is the moral debate over rather books will eventually become superfluous due to innovations such as the internet and more specifically creations like eBooks.  In the two blog posts, “Why is it better to read eBooks? Environmental friendly books” by Henry Conrad and “Why I Read [actual] Books” by Dave Rohde, two opposite sides of the argument are represented in unique manners. 

                In the first blog, “Why is it better to read eBooks? Environmental friendly books” by Henry Conrad, introduces the topic of eBooks by first informing the reader of the importance of reading in today’s society and how reading will continue to impact daily life.   He then transitions into what an eBook is and the benefits to eBooks as opposed to books.  There are three bullet points are short concise reasons eBooks are better followed by a paragraph long explanation.  Conrad’s writing is informative and to the point but only explores the benefits and does not mention any disadvantages.  One advantage is of course, the accessibility, “On the other hand, you can easily search for an eBook or eBooks without having to go somewhere.”  In the end there is an easily found conclusion that clarifies eBooks are the way to go, “EBooks are more eco-friendly...”  The writing, as customary to blogs, is very personal with the repeated use of “you” which speaks directly to the reader and how eBooks can further impact the individual’s life in a positive manner.  In addition to his praise for the eBooks and their benefits, there is a picture of what can safely presumed to be an eBook on an iPad.  Conrad appeals to the pathos and the manner eBooks directly impact the individual.  His tone is somewhat assertive as if he knows what is the right choice and the reader should agree.  This post was a very strong claim for the continued, and possibly expanded, use of eBooks because of the importance of reading and access to the written word in our modern day society.

                In the second blog, and “Why I Read [actual] Books” by Dave Rohde, the tone is softer and affects the reader’s emotions more gently.  Rohde also presents his claim with a semi-comical and more enjoyable approach.  As stated in the title, he is a fan of books that are tangible.  “No one ever walks into an Apple Store, picks up an iPad and says, ‘I love the way this thing smells.’”  He speaks of his personal experience, which increases his ethos, and mentions how he has grown to appreciate books and reading.  Also in terms of ethos, Rohde quotes two outside gentlemen.    Rohde’s claim supports reading adamantly and expresses how important the “medium” is, in this case, books.  He uses the word “I” often throughout the piece which increases his appeal to readers because this claim is obviously important to him and impacts him directly.  According to Rohde “We need to allow books to inspire us and alter our worldview.”  He uses powerful language and diction that provokes thought and inspires passion for those readers who are struggling with the technology that is taking over the literary world.  Rohde has written a piece that defends the continued use of books even as the world changes.

            Conrad and Rohde, although arguing different sides of an interesting question over rather or not books will become obsolete, both men have used blogging as the means for communication his opinion.  However, Conrad and Rohde have different manners of presenting their claims and informing the reader of the benefits of eBooks/books, through the use of diction, ethos, pathos, and more.  Moreover, both ways of presentation were effective, informative, and persuasive. 

http://xtendedview.com/general/why-is-it-better-to-read-ebooks/2038/

http://www.daverohde.com/?p=1089

A Village the Size of the World

According to Alison Gopnik's Diagnosing of the Digital Revolution,

"There is an anthropological observation that most of us can only keep track of a couple hundred people- a village-worth.  The rise of cities just led us to define that village sociologically instead of geographically."

As a college student, I come across a couple of hundred people everyday walking to class, eating lunch, studying in the library, going to see a movie, and more but I only know a small percentage of the people I see and even interact with.  The fact of the matter is although I pass by people, wait behind them in line, stand in elevators with them, ride the bus with them, even sit in the same classes, I hardly ever really interact with any of them.  In fact, the only strangers I talk to are the ones taking my order or the ones I accidentally run into when not paying attention to where I am walking.  This is an extremely small percentage.  Moreover, come to think of it, I hardly notice strangers specifically at all because I am so in tune with my phone and communicating with my friends through text messages and Facebook.

The size of the world is shrinking in terms of communication of social interactions.  The amount of people I "keep track of" does not include the plenty of people who I go to class with or even the ones I share a dorm building with.  My friends are across the nation; the ones I met while on a cruise, a trip to Europe, the ones I went to camp with, the family members I see only occasionally and yet I know the triumphs and trials of their lives through Facebook and text messages.  These interactions are trivial and nothing like a real face-to-face conversation so the question becomes, if our everyday technological society is losing a bit of their humanity through limiting interactions to words on a lighted screen? 

These interactions are now a part of the culture that makes up today's society.  This is a global phenomenon that only seems to be increasing in one direction of innovation on a monumental speed.  Of course, the ability to remain in close contact with family members and dear friends with great distances of separation is a huge improvement but do these innovations just give individuals an excuse to move far from their hometown?  One begins to consider rather or not in future generations anyone will stay in their hometown or will families begin to separate further and further across the globe? 

 Society's way of life is ever changing, innovating, demanding, and restructuring the culture of today sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.  Only time will tell how far we can improve and how much we will be impacted.